Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or its characters

Chapter 10

It took a couple more days of work but eventually Jack and Ianto stood back to look at the rebuilt manipulator. Jack and Ianto kept lifting the schematics and diagrams up over his eyes and down again. Ianto had pulled up the CCTV of that day and zoomed in on the machine. Jack walked around the machine looking between it and the image. He stood back and grinned.

"I think we've done it Mr Jones!"

Ianto nodded, only managing a weak smile. "I believe we have" It unnerved him to see it again, after the damage it had caused, physically and emotionally. He could feel himself trembling slightly, but Jack didn't seem to notice.

"Time seems to move differently in our universe so hopefully I won't have been gone too long. Or if it has hopefully Gwen will hand command back over to me".

"I'm sure she will Jack. For one thing I doubt she will want to put up with all that paperwork you like to leave to build up" Ianto gave another small smile. Jack laughed.

"Probably" Jack headed back to the computers to look over more readings.

Ianto just looked at the finished machine. He hated it. He wanted to tear it apart with his bare hands. The machine that had taken his family and lover away, and was going to take Jack away. He wished more than anything that it had never been built. That Jack had never come up with the idea. If it hadn't been for it, he would right now be watching his two best friends get married. Instead their corpses were lying in cold storage, next to his other best friend and the man he loved. He clenched a fist.

"Ianto can you come here a sec? I need your help checking some of these readings from the first time".

Ianto took a deep breath and released the fist. He went to where Jack was sitting.

"Can you pull up the fluctuations from last time?" Jack asked. Ianto nodded.

Jack watched the young man and noticed he seemed tense. "Are you ok Ianto?"

"Fine" Ianto said shortly. His tone threw Jack a bit. He could see something was bothering him.

"Ianto what's wrong?. Have I upset you?"

"No" Ianto replied. "Just trying to concentrate."

Jack wasn't convinced but would leave it for now.

"Ianto what will happen after I've gone? Will you contact UNIT?"

"They're probably on the way. We're supposed to make contact every 10 days. No contact means something has happened or we are being prevented, so they will send a team. The team will obviously find all of this" Ianto gestured around the hub, "and me."

"Do you think they will help you rebuild Torchwood?" Ianto shook his head.

"To be honest they have wanted to absorb it for years. Wanted access to all the alien tech and research. Jack wouldn't have it. He and UNIT never saw eye to eye even after the 456 incident. Now they will have their chance."

"What about you Ianto? Surely they will have a place for you? You are the last Torchwood member standing and you are the archivist. They won't just get rid of you." Ianto smiled ruefully.

"Jack there won't be anywhere for me. They have their own people. It's been made clear that no one from Torchwood would be welcome amongst their ranks."

Jack was surprised. "So what will happen to you?" Ianto shrugged.

"I guess I have to start again somewhere. Jack and I lived here in the hub. Everything I owned was in the bunker. It's all gone. I have literally lost everything."

Jack's heart broke. He had wondered whether he should ask Ianto to come back with him. He desperately wanted him to. He doubted they could have a romantic relationship. He wanted to, God he wanted to, but it wouldn't be fair on Ianto to even think about it. But even being around him made Jack feel better. Just seeing him, having him round the hub, would be better than what he had now, no Ianto. He was scared to ask in case Ianto said no. Then he looked at Ianto again, and saw his face. The tightness in his jaw and his tone, he could see Ianto was tense. Was it because he was afraid? Afraid of him leaving? Jack took a deep breath decided to take the chance.

"You could come back with me."

Ianto stopped typing and looked at him. Jack couldn't read his expression.

"Are you asking me to come to your universe and work with you?"

Jack hesitated. "Erm, yes?"

"Work in your Torchwood? Be your archivist? Sort out your chaotic archives into some sort of order?"

Jack could see his mouth twitching, trying not to smile. "Erm, yes?" he said again.

Suddenly Ianto face grew into a big grin. "Thank you Jack. Thank you!"

Jack gave a small laugh. "So do I take this as a yes?"

Ianto let go of Jack and nodded. Jack could see relief in his eyes, all the tension had melted away.

"Of course I'll make sure you have your own place. Somewhere less confined than the hub. Will probably have to change your name slightly, since you're legally dead."

Ianto laughed. Jack loved that sound, and he couldn't wait to start hearing it around his hub again.

"Right well as I'm guessing I will be doing most of the admin I'm sure I can sort something".

The computer beeped and the readings Ianto had been looking for came up. Jack stood behind him and looked over his shoulder.

"Jack what exactly IS your plan on returning?"

"Originally? Get you out and far away from the hub and replicate what happened. Now, we replicate the scenario again except you will be by my side and I will hold you so we don't get separated. Hopefully we will end up back in my universe. That's the best case scenario".

Ianto turned to face Jack. "What's the worst case?"

"We get blown apart and trapped in the rift forever."