TITLE: The Power of New Beginnings

SUMMARY: AU VERSE! After the events of Beauty of a Broken Angel, can Ianto balance recovering from his imprisonment, controlling his powers, and working for Torchwood Three, all while struggling to understand his growing feelings for Jack. Closely follows Pre-season Canon in later chapters.

PART TWO OF SERIES: The Five Elements (AU Verse)

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood, because if I did Ianto would be immortal!

Words: 1900

Notes: The chapter I've been waiting for! Enjoy!

Chapter 16: Jeopardy And Deception 2 (2005)

8th March 2005 (Same Day)

Throughout the drive, Ianto filled Suzie and Tosh in on what Raymond had said. They all agreed they couldn't let the files reach the Press. Once something was on the internet, it would be impossible to remove every copy.

"Tosh, any blueprints on this place?" Ianto asked, pulling up outside the units.

"Sent to your PDA's. Latest copies are dated 1980's, so we can't rely on their accuracy."

"Any sign where the main base is set up?"

Tosh shook her head. "It doesn't say, but the scanners are presenting an unusual levels of signals broadcasting from the left-wing of the furthest Unit."

"Okay, Tosh, Suzie, head over there. Cancel the files from sending but be careful. Keep a low profile for as long as possible." Ianto ordered, collecting both his stun gun and standard weapon from his kit bag. "Owen, with me. We'll search for Jack."

"I've calibrated each PDA to track heat signatures." Tosh added, passing a couple over to Ianto and Owen.

"Be safe." Ianto declared, taking the offered device. Tosh and Suzie both nodded then slipped from the car, vanishing towards the left-wing.

Ianto and Owen climbed out in turn, heading through the right-wing access door and methodically searching each room they came across. Ianto kept an eye on his PDA, tugging Owen's arm in heads-up as two red dots appeared on the screen. It provided only a couple seconds of warning before footsteps approached, and ducked behind some storage crate, waiting silently for them to pass. They crept up behind each man, simultaneously pressing their tasers hard against their necks, and they dropped to the floor instantly, shouts of pain muffled from the hands clamped round their mouths.

"That was for Jack." Ianto declared, pulling some zip ties from his suit pocket, and fastening their wrists behind their backs.

"Careful, guys. They're armed." Tosh's voice shared over the comms.

"Great. Just what we bloody need." Owen's voice dripped with sarcasm as they dragged the stunned men insensitively across the floor and into the shadows. Ianto patted down the man's back and sides transferring the hidden pistol to his waistband beside his own.

"We need to keep moving" Ianto stated, straightening back up. "These two came from somewhere, it must be where they're holding Jack."

Gunshots in the distance caused made the pair freeze, and their comms hissed seconds later as they burst to life.

"Owen! Suzie's hit."

The alarm in Tosh's tone conveyed the urgency of the situation but Owen hesitated, torn on choosing between his teammates.

"Go." Ianto ordered, making the other's mind up for him. "Suzie needs you first. I'll find Jack."

Owen flashed one last look of uncertainty, before sprinting away in the opposite direction. Ianto watched him disappear around the corner then continued forward, tracking two heat signatures on his PDA. He flashed a brief glance around the next bend. The corridor opened into a large chamber, but his eyes were drawn to the far wall recognising the same corrugated metal Ianto from the photo.

Jack.

An access hatch was built into the wall, the heavy metal door sealed shut with an electrical locking mechanism but had also been double bolted with a crudely added padlock. A green light shone above the hatch, exposed wires trailing down the wall into the large control panel.

One man had been left as a guard, standing with his back against the wall in front of the panel and Ianto switched over his weapons. There was only one entrance to the room, making it impossible for him to get close enough to stun the guard without being spotted.

"Move and I shoot."

The man hesitated as Ianto rounded the corner, but recovered quickly, his face reducing to a sneer. He stared Ianto directly, his eyes revealing nothing before he elbowed a switch behind him.

"No!" Ianto didn't register his own shout as he fired, the bullet striking the man high in his shoulder, propelling him backwards. A siren screeched in warning as a green light vanished, flashing red above the door.

"What did you just do!" Ianto shouted, making no attempt to be careful as he secured the man's hands. "Tell me!"

"Decontamination."

The voice was hoarse, but a smug grin settled on his face. Ianto's eyes widened in fear, barely noticing the man's eyes flickering shut as he passed out from pain. Ianto's eyes tracked the tubing from the control panel across the ceiling to a collection gas cylinders stowed in the opposite corner of the chamber, freezing momentarily over the yellow Skull & Crossbones symbolising a toxic hazard.

Formaldehyde gas.

He leapt to his feet, slamming his fist against Emergency Stop, the silence that descended equally as deafening as the process shut down. He hit the door release next, turning from the panel and sparking a flame in his palm as the mechanism clunked to signal the lock disengaging. Conscious of the flammable gas the other side of the door, he kept the flame impatiently low, aware of each extra second passing was another Jack that was trapped for, as he waited for the padlock to melt.

After what felt like hours, the remaining fragments of the metal lock clattered to the floor. Hauling open the heavy door, he jerked aside as a familiar form fell forwards, no longer supported against the door.

"Jack!"

Ianto dropped to his knees beside Jack, out of breath both from the exertion of using his power and weight of the metal door. He forced a few deep breaths, before focusing on the still figure in front of him.

"Jack. It's me, Ianto. I've got you. You're safe." Jack hadn't moved from where he'd fallen face down, and Ianto carefully rolled him over onto his back. "Jack?"

Jack's face was slack. His eyes were closed and his lips a startingly shade of blue.

"No…" Ianto whispered, the word catching in this throat, shaken by the sight. He shook Jack's shoulders desperately, trying to rouse him. "No! Come on, Jack! Wake up!"

He set his hand in the middle of Jack's chest, hoping for something, but he was unnaturally still under his palm.

Nothing. Jack wasn't breathing.

Ianto refused to believe it, he couldn't be dead. The white spark still flickered unaffected at the back of his mind as it always did in Jack's presence.

With the last of his hope, he reached out mentally, searching for anything of what he usually shared with Jack.

There was nothing but silence.

Ianto backed up against the wall, sliding down it to the floor, staring numbly at the still form.

He was too late. Jack was dead.

Shifting forward, he pulled Jack's limp form into his arms. He held him close, ignoring the cooling touch of his skin as he stroked his fingers lightly through Jack's hair. Ianto tightened his hold, leaning forward to softly press a final, faint kiss to Jack's lips.

"I'm sorry." He murmured quietly, lips brushing against Jack' forehead as he spoke. "You're free now."

~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~

Coming back to life felt like dying in reverse, but with sharper pain and a burning coldness coming from deep within. His body spasmed as he was forced back into consciousness. Gasping and choking, his lungs rebelled the lack of oxygen and he tried to curl inwards protectively but found something, no someone, preventing him.

His memories returned in chunks, panic and reflexes rearing as he thrashed as hard as his renewing strength could allow. He fought against the supposed assailant, trying to escape from the firm hold.

"Jack! Stop it, it's me."

The familiar voice made him freeze.

"Ianto…?" Jack scanned his eyes from slowly around the room, before landing on Ianto form still holding him closely. "Where…?"

"You were dead." The voice faltered slightly. Ianto was staring at him in shock, and the realisation of what the younger man had just witnessed sobered him like a stone.

Jack composed himself then manoeuvred out of Ianto grasp more calmly. "I'm fine"

"How…?"

"Not now, Ianto. I'll explain later. Promise." Jack cut off Ianto's question, rising unsteadily to his feet. His insides were twisting as he read the blatant suspicion that materialised in Ianto's eyes, and he wanted nothing more to explain, but other matters had to come first. He still had no idea where he even was, his memories of everything after being attacked at the Docks muddled. "What's been going on? Where are the others?"

"The other side of the compound. Suzie was hit." Ianto spoke succinctly, standing himself.

Jack drew in a slow breath at the words, releasing it at the same speed. "She alright?"

"Haven't heard anything." Ianto returned, tapping to unmute his comm. "Owen? Tosh? I've got Jack. How's Suzie?"

Jack didn'thave his own comm to hear the reply, but was close enough to Ianto to hear the words 'Through and through', 'shoulder', and 'stitches' coming from Owen over the line, reassuring him that their teammate was at least alive and, hopefully, would eventually be alright.

"Okay, we're coming to you." Ianto declared from beside him. Jack looked towards him expectantly, but the other strode away wordlessly, leaving him catching up.

Tosh embraced him tightly on his arrival, relieved to see him and then brought him up to speed with what had happened as they cleared up the scene.

There were three fatalities on the workers side, but without another option available, they'd resolved to retconning the remaining few involved that were merely stunned. As much as Jack would have wanted to see them rot in jail, the other employees apparently back in the cells at the Hub would also need to be retconned over the next few days, including Raymond, but waiting would at least give them a while to stew on what had happened before they were forced to forget.

Ianto hadn't directed another word at him since he'd revived and vanished almost immediately after they returned to the Hub, Jack staring after him dejectedly. Tosh flashed a puzzled expression between him and the door the Welshman had taken, asking if anything was wrong, but Jack brushed her off gently with the excuse of needing a shower.

Entering his office, Jack found his greatcoat neatly folded on his desk, his Vortex Manipulator and Webley placed carefully on top. Picking up his VM, he ran his fingers over the worn leather reverently, before shakily fastening the strap back around his wrist. After all of his years, his arm felt bare without it.

He skipped the shower, opting to sit in silence, as he waited for the inevitable confrontation. Owen and Suzie were already leaving for the night, the medic driving her home due to her injury, but the seconds ticked by slowly until the alarm blared signalling Tosh leaving.

At just past midnight, Jack looked up nervously as Ianto appeared in the doorway of his office. "I think we need to talk, sir."

Notes: Soooooo sorry but the temptation to leave this here was too compelling! Next Chapter up tomorrow I swear! All reviews welcome!