A/N: I am so sorry I took so long to update. Over Christmas my laptop died (luckily I had saved all my fics on a USB just before). I have just got a new one so I should be back to regular updates now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or its characters.

WARNING: Swearing

Chapter 9

Jack put the muffins in the oven and put the oven gloves on the counter. He washed his hands and looked at the clock. He was worried about Ianto. Tosh had called him and reassured him that Ianto was fine and would come back once Owen had seen to him. Still, the thought of Ianto hurt panicked him. His stomach turned in knots and his chest tightened as he imagined Ianto lying hurt. He had wanted to rush to the Hub as soon as Tosh had told him, even though he had no idea how to get there, he just wanted to rush and see that Ianto was ok. He couldn't understand why he felt so protective of him.

Jack was pulled out of his thoughts by a knock at the door. He was puzzled as Ianto normally let himself in. Maybe someone had brought him back? Or he had lost his keys? Jack opened the door and saw a woman standing there. It took a moment for him to remember her name.

"Gwen?" he said, unsure. Tosh hadn't said Gwen was coming. Was she here to take him to Ianto? Was he hurt more than they originally thought?

"Hi Jack" she said smiling. "I've brought someone to see you. He's an old friend of yours. He's been very anxious to see you. He's been so worried about you."

John suddenly stepped in front of Gwen and grinned. "Hi Jack. Remember me?"

Ianto was way over the speed limit but he didn't care. He'd charge any speeding tickets to Gwen. He looked in his rear view mirror to see Tosh and Owen in the SUV behind him, both wearing grim expressions. Ianto pushed his foot down on the accelerator. He hoped he wouldn't be too late.

Jack stumbled backwards as John walked in. He hurried to the kitchen, with John following him, like a hunter following it's prey. Jack backed upagainst a wall.

"Y-You're the one who did this me. It was you who wiped my memories!"

"That wasn't meant to happen" John said. "It wasn't meant to wipe everything."

"Just stay away from me. I want you to go" Jack's voice was trembling. He looked over John's shoulder at Gwen. "Please go!"

John walked up to Jack and put his hands either side of him. He leaned his face into Jack's until their noses were almost touching.

"John" Gwen said warningly. John ignored her.

"Look at me Jack. Remember me. Remember us. We did so much together. We were amazing. We were unstoppable. I'm not asking for much Jack. All I am asking is that you remember me."

Jack could feel himself trembling. He watched as John became angry.

"Remember Jack! I know I am in there! REMEMBER ME! REMEMBER ME!"

John was suddenly pulled off him and thrown against the opposite wall. Jack's legs gave way and he slid down the wall.

"Jack? Jack are you ok?" Tosh's face came into view. She was kneeling in front of him. He looked over her shoulder and saw Ianto had John face down on the floor cuffed, with Owen and Gwen yelling at each other. He couldn't stop shaking. Ianto looked up and saw the state Jack was in.

"Jack its ok I'm here." Warm arms enveloped him. He leaned in as Ianto rubbed his back and whispered comfort to him.

"Ianto! I'm taking John back to the Hub. Tosh will stay for a bit." Owen said. He glared at Gwen. "You can help me load him into the SUV and come back to the Hub. Don't think of going back home. You're not off duty yet." Owen dragged John off the floor and left the flat with Gwen following, head down.

Jack jumped as the timer on the oven went off. He curled up closer into Ianto. "Muffins" he mumbled.

Ianto nodded at Tosh who took them out of the oven. She out the kettle on and started making hot drinks.

An hour later the three of them had eaten through the batch of muffins, and Jack was a lot calmer. Ianto rose from the sofa and took the empty plate and cups away.

"I'm heading back to the Hub." he said. Jack looked at him in alarm. "Jack I won't be long. I want to make sure they got back ok and John is back in his cell." His expression darkened. "And I need to deal with Gwen."

"I'll stay with you Jack. Maybe we can watch one of the James Bond films you haven't seem yet?" Tosh said.

Jack pulled his knees up to his chin. He looked between Ianto and Tosh then gave a small nod. Ianto grabbed his keys and before he knew it he was kissing Jack on the head.

"I'll be back really soon Jack. Then I won't leave you on your own again. I promise."

Ianto left the flat and walked out to his car, steeling himself. He was ready.

He heard shouting as soon as he entered the Hub. John was sitting on the floor handcuffed to a chair whilst Owen and Gwen were yelling at the top of their voices.

"For fuck's sake Gwen I told you not to take him! I told you this as a medical professional! That it in MY medical opinion it would cause Jack more harm! Who here is the doctor Gwen? Where did you get your medical degree from? Fucking Google!"Owen yelled.

"I was just trying to help! I thought seeing John would help Jack's memory! I didn't mean any harm!" Gwen cried.

Ianto intervened before Owen could explode. "And yet Gwen harm has been done." he said as he approached. "Weeks of progress we have made with Jack have been undone because of you. Jack is back to how he was when we found him. Terrified. Too scared to be left alone."

Gwen opened her mouth to speak but Ianto raised his hand. "Owen told you, over and over, that seeing John would not help Jack regain his memory. He told you that it would only cause Jack distress yet you still went ahead."

"You know there is an easy way out of all of this." John said. Everyone turned to look at him. "Just kill him. Bullet to the head, he resets and comes back. Job done."

Next thing he knew he was flat on the floor with blood pouring from his nose. He saw Owen holding Ianto back.

"That's your answer to everything isn't it!" he hissed. "Just kill them when things don't go your own way!"

"Ianto maybe he has a point. I don't like the idea but maybe having him reset would solve the problem" she said tentatively.

Ianto stared at her in disbelief. "Right. So anytime Jack is ill or hurt you immediately think to kill him to heal him quicker? Well time for some home truths. It is agony each and every time he revives. His very being, his soul, is dragged over what feels like broken glass. When he comes back his nerves are on fire as they reignite. His lungs burn as he gasps for air. That is all without the after effects of each death. He is normally still healing when he revives. He can be in pain for days afterwards, especially when he has had a bullet in his head. I have nursed him through some horrendous headaches."

Gwen and Owen stared at him, shocked at these new revelations. Ianto continued.

"Just because he can come back doesn't mean his life is worth less than yours. If he wasn't immortal would you be suggesting putting a bullet in his head? No you wouldn't. So why suggest it? His life is just as important as everyone elses!"

There was silence before Ianto walked up to Gwen and stood in front of her.

"Gwen Cooper I am suspending you for two weeks on full pay. You will not be permitted to enter the Hub in that time. You are not to contact any other Torchwood member. You will be contacted when you are due back."

"Why are you suspending me?!" Gwen gasped.

Ianto narrowed his eyes. "For endangering, not for the first time I may add, the life of a Torchwood operative. For ignoring clear and specific medical orders with regards to Jack and his recovery."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "You don't have the authority. You are not in charge."

"Yes he is." Owen said. Gwen looked at him shocked. "I was second in command Gwen, not you. But I don't want to be, so Ianto has been given the position. He keeps Torchwood running in the background, and he kept us aloat during Jack's absence. You don't know half the stuff he did whilst Jack was away. Hell I had no idea! Jack made it official and the meeting he was going to have with us the afternoon he went missing was to announce this. And I fully support Ianto and this decision, as I know Tosh will"

"And if I was head of Torchwood, Gwen, you would be sacked and retconned for this. But as I'm not, it will be up to Jack when he returns. Until then Gwen I will have your ID and gun." He held out his hand.

Gwen stood up and handed them over to Ianto, before leaving. Owen and Ianto cleaned John up before taking him down to the cells. As Ianto turned to leave John called out to him.

"I didn't mean to hurt him. I just love him and I just wanted him to remember me" He looked down. "I just want him to love me". He looked up at Ianto, who was surprised to see tears in his eyes. "Why you?" he asked softly. "What is it about you?"

"Do you want the truth John? I don't know either." Ianto replied before walked away.