It was a warm, pleasant evening for so early in the year, the late winter sun casting long shadows as it lazily began to set below the Cardiff city skyline. It had been nearly five days since Jack returned and, though the atmosphere in Gwen's flat had certainly improved, she was beginning to long for the time she and Rhys would have it to themselves again. There just wasn't room for all four of them in such a tiny flat. Her and Rhys had kept their bed room at least, Ianto still taking the sofa while Jack, who didn't sleep much anyway, had made up a suspiciously large bed on the floor beside it which Gwen made him fold away every morning. He had already started talking about rebuilding Torchwood. Not the hub itself, that was too far gone after the explosion, but setting up somewhere else nearby was certainly a possibility. Rhys had been far from impressed with the Idea but Gwen knew he would support her whatever and at least he and Jack seemed to get on better these days than when they first met. Meanwhile, Jack himself had hardly let Ianto out of his sight since he got back but the young Welshman really hadn't minded, not after thinking he would never see Jack again only a few days before. He could hardly believe they were all together again, after everything that had happened. That they had all come out of it OK.
That evening Ianto was in the kitchen, searching through Gwen's cupboards for the correct type of pan for his ravioli while Jack and Gwen sat opposite each other at the table, flicking through the housing adds in the local newspaper as she tried to persuade Jack there were plenty of other places he could crash on his own, or with Ianto, other than her flat until he could get his new torchwood up and running. Spotting a decent sized flat near the bay, not so far from the old torchwood hub, she pointed it out, thinking it looked perfect.
''Hay, what about this?'' she suggested brightly but Jack had begun to lose interest, his attention drifting elsewhere as his wandering gaze fell on Ianto's heroic efforts in the underequipped kitchen.
''So, Ianto'' he began, a wide grin stretching across his handsome face. ''How about going out tonight instead? I heard about this wonderful new French place, opened up a few weeks ago, might be worth a visit.'' He raised an eyebrow suggestively. ''So, what do you think? Interested?''
Ianto looked over as though he was about to say yes but instead, he flashed Jack an apologetic smile, a slightly crestfallen expression on his young face as he replied. ''I'd love to'' he answered flatly ''but unfortunately, I can't. It's my turn to cook tonight, remember?'' he pointed out, his eyes flicking over to Gwen with a questioning look.
Sighing, Gwen shook her head, brushing his objections aside with a smile. She was sure they could do with some time alone as a couple, just the two of them, and she and Rhys could certainly use the same. ''Don't worry its fine, really. You go out and enjoy yourselves. You never know, maybe me and Rheys'll do the same. There's this great seafood place down the road we've been dying to try.''
''Perfect! ''Jack exclaimed breezily in answer. ''There you go then, everyone's happy.''
Half an hour later and the four of them filtered out into the street, laughing and joking as the two couples split their separate ways for the evening, Jack and Ianto making their way leisurely towards the centre of town. They had only got a few meters down the street however when Jack stopped abruptly, a sudden memory of borrowing Gwen's key making him pause.
''Ianto, hold on a sec'' he grinned. ''I've a feeling we might be back rather late tonight and If I'm right, Gwen won't be happy when she finds out I still have her keys.''
''No'' Ianto agreed flatly, a slight frown appearing on his face as he imagined a fuming Gwen waiting for them when they returned, locked out of her own apartment. ''She certainly wouldn't. Best return them.''
With a grimace, Jack came to the same conclusion. ''Right. Don't go anywhere without me'' he joked as he turned back towards the other couple, still outside their flat.
In an unlit side street, unnoticed and out of sight, a shadowy figure lurked silently in the darkness. His grip tightened on his weapon as he raised it, his eyes fixed intently on the two figures as they spoke.
''This is for my brother, Jack Harkness'' he spat, the pure hate abundantly clear on his fishlike face as he spoke. ''You'll be seeing him again soon... in hell.''
Jack was completely oblivious to the danger as he ran over to Gwen, housekey in hand and a placating grin on his face. At just the same moment, just as he moved, Krelko pulled the trigger, his shot missing its target by several feet because of the captains unexpected movement.
For Jack, the world seemed to move in slow motion as the shot sounded, the boom of the plasma rifle filing the empty street as the terrible sound echoed around them. He skidded to a halt, his head turning to the shadowy alley, the source of the noise, but a split second later a startled cry of pain from behind caused him to flip round and his heart froze. Ianto was standing there, a look of shock and sudden pain on his face, a deep crimson stain spreading swiftly from the jagged hole in his immaculate shirt and waistcoat. Before Jack could react, Ianto's eyes rolled up in his head, his knees buckling beneath him and he dropped limply to the concrete ground with a sickening thud, laying still.
''Ianto!'' Jack shouted in sudden fear and disbelief as he ran to him, barely registering Gwen's return shot or the slight wet thud as the dead blowfish hit the floor. ''No, no no no no no …...'' he repeated desperately as he gathered Ianto's limp form into his arms, pulling him close and cradling him against his chest, just as he had done the last time, when he had lost him for what he thought would be forever. ''Ianto?''
A slight groan was his only reply and Jack turned to Gwen in desperation, ''Gwen phone an ambulance. Now!'' he yelled, panic rising in his voice.
He shrugged off his coat, tearing off his dark blue shirt to press against the wound, trying to stop the steady flow of blood gushing from the jagged rent in his lover's chest.
Ianto gasped in agony at the pressure, his eyes snapping open as the pain dragged him back to consciousness, shaking uncontrollably in Jack's arms.
Jack winced, wanting to pull back but he couldn't, he knew. ''Shh, I'm sorry'' he murmured gently, not wanting to hurt him but knowing he had no choice. ''I'm really sorry but I have too.''
''Jack...'' Ianto managed after a moment; his voice slightly slurred and filled with pain.
''Hay, Ianto...'' Jack forced a smile, blinking away the tears pricking his eyes. ''it's all right... you're gona be fine, ok?''
''No...'' Ianto shook his head weakly, and Jack held on to him just a little tighter. ''I'm … sorry.''
''Sorry? What for? You've got nothing to apologise for Ianto'' Jack assured him, his voice hoarse.
''Sorry for... for leaving you again'' Ianto whispered softly, his first thought for Jack, for what he knew his death would do to him, not for himself.
''Shh... don't talk like that'' Jack told him, frantically willing him to be wrong. ''An ambulance is on its way, just hold on'' he pleaded, his heart breaking as he looked into those beautiful, sad eyes, full of regret and pain.
But the look on Ianto's face showed that he knew Jack was lying, to himself as much as to him. ''We both know …. it'll be too late.''
''No!'' Jack protested forcefully, unable to accept that, or to hold back the threatening tears any longer as they rolled down his face. ''No, you just hold in there Ianto jones, I won't let you die again... not this time.''
''Jack,'' Ianto forced out as assertively as he could, each word a struggle now but needing to be heard, needing to say this before it was too late. ''Just listen...''
But Jack couldn't. He couldn't let Ianto give up, not now, not like this. ''No, save your breath, you can tell me later.''
''jack…...'' he begged; his voice desperate. ''please... ''
Jack looked down at him, really looked and a small part of him, somewhere buried deep at the back of his mind tried to tell him what he didn't want to hear, what he couldn't accept. But what if it was right? Seeing the desperate look in Ianto's eyes he knew he had to listen, to let him speak... just in case.
He gave a slight nod as he reluctantly agreed. ''All right.''
Ianto took a shaky breath before he spoke, his weak voice barely more than a whisper as he struggled for every word. ''You…... you promised... remember?'' he managed, looking earnestly into Jack's anguished eyes. ''Don't you dare... try to follow me...again...''
Jack shook his head, gently cradling Ianto's shaking form, his voice breaking as he spoke. ''I won't have to, you'll be just fine, just stay with me.''
The young Welshman opened his mouth to speak but before he could get any words out, a sudden coughing fit overtook him, his body shaking with each racking cough as a few crimson beads of blood spattered onto his pale lips.
Jack just held him tightly, trying to steady him. He had never felt more helpless in his life as he watched the man he loved die in his arms for the second time. All he could do was try to reassure him, until the violent coughing subsided and he fell limply back against Jack's chest, totally exhausted.
''Gwen, where the hell is that ambulance?'' he snapped, his panic-striken voice filed with fear but she just shook her head, looking just as helpless as he was, Rhys standing tearfully by her side.
''It's on its way Jack but... '' she trailed off, both of them acutely aware of what she meant. Even if it arrived now, she wasn't sure it would make much of a difference.
''Jack...'' Ianto pleaded weakly, still needing an answer, needing to be sure, and the captain's attention was back on him in an instant.
Jack didn't want to promise, didn't know what he was going to do without him, but he couldn't let Ianto die like this, afraid of what Jack would do because of him, blaming himself for it. He couldn't bear to see that helpless fear of his own eyes reflected back at him. So, he agreed.
''All right... I promise'' he whispered; his shaking voice hoarse with tears.
A look of relief crossed Ianto's face for a second at Jacks words before his eyes started to drift shut, the last of his strength spent.
''No no no, just stay awake'' Jack warned him desperately, shaking him gently, then a little harder when he got no response.
Ianto groaned softly, his eyelids fluttering open again but this time his eyes were glazed and unfocussed as he gazed up at Jack's anguished face.
''Hay Ianto, look at me... look at me please, just try to stay with me a little longer'' he pleaded, willing the ambulance to arrive, for everything to be OK even though he knew that wasn't going to happen.
Ianto gave him a weak smile, his eyes sad, knowing this was the end. ''Jack... '' he breathed softly; his voice barely audible. ''I love you.''
''And I love you too …'' Jack replied, his voice thick with tears. ''Ianto, please don't leave me...'' he begged, ''not like this... not again. Please!''
But even as he spoke the young Welshman's eyes fell shut, his body shuddering for one last time before he fell still.
Jack could barely take it in, it felt unreal somehow, like he was reliving every nightmare he had had for the past six months. He had got Ianto back, after all those months alone his life had finally meant something again, and now, in a split second it was gone, the world was suddenly empty ... and it had been his fault.
He just sat there mutely, cradling Ianto's body in his arms until he felt Gwen's presence beside him. Her eyes were red with tears as she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder but he ignored it, staring straight ahead instead.
''Jack?'' she asked and he finally looked round, his face stained with tears.
''This was all my fault'' he told her bitterly, angry at himself, ''I should never have come back. If I had just stayed away... none of this would have happened.''
But Gwen shook her head, kneeling beside him. ''No, it wasn't your fault, you weren't to know.''
''Yes Gwen, it was'' he disagreed, his voice certain. ''Anyone who ever gets close to me, all I give them is death.'' Then he turned away. ''Now just leave me alone'' he added darkly, staring ahead once again.
''Jack please...'' She began again but was stopped by Rhys' hand on her shoulder, gently warning her away.
''Come on Gwen...'' he told her, trying to stay strong, for her sake, despite the sudden carnage around him as he looked down sadly at her two friends. ''Let's give him some space, year?''
Reluctantly, Gwen got back to her feet and allowed Rhys to steer her away, crying gently into his coat as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
The minutes ticked by and as they did, Jack knew he should move. There was a dead blowfish in the street with a plasma rifle and a now useless ambulance on the way, but he didn't care, not really. Nothing seemed to matter now. He couldn't bear to get up, to let Ianto go because then that would be it, he would be gone from Jack's life forever, and for Jack, forever was a very long time indeed. So, instead he just sat there, as still as the man in his arms.
He was like this, staring numbly into space, when something impossible happened. Suddenly, without warning Ianto gasped, his limp body going rigid with pain as life rushed violently back into it. Jack could hardly believe what was happening. He just wanted to pull Ianto close, hug him tightly and never let go but he didn't, he restrained himself. He knew how painful and disorientating it was to be dragged back into life, especially when you weren't used to it, so Instead Jack continued to cradle him gently against his chest, rubbing his back reassuringly as Ianto struggled to get his raged, gasping breaths under control.
''Shh, easy, you're ok, just focus on me ok? there you go, you're ok'' Jack promised, offering a constant stream of reassurance until Ianto's panicked breaths settled down into something more normal.
He looked disorientated and confused but he was most defiantly alive. ''Jack?'' he asked, somewhat bewildered as his hand went to the bloody hole in his three-piece suit to feel the smooth, healed skin beneath. Then he began to realise... ''Oh my God,'' he whispered shakily in disbelief, ''What happened?''
Jack shrugged, as lost for an explanation as he was, but grinning none the less. 'Honestly? I don't know'' he admitted, not really caring all that much at the time. ''But let's worry about that later, year? Right now, let's get you inside, this'd be kinda hard to explain to that ambulance crew when they arrive.''
Muttering an agreement, Ianto allowed Jack to help him unsteadily to his feet and steer him gently back towards the flat, calling over his shoulder to a shocked Gwen as he went.
''Gwen, Rhys, do something with that blowfish before someone sees it, ok? The last thing we need is the police showing up, poking into thing's they don't understand.''
Jack's voice pulled Gwen out of her shock and she glanced over at the forgotten body, trying not to be affronted by his comment about the police. ''Right, I'll get right on it and meet you two back at the flat when I'm done'' she agreed, turning to Rhys. ''Come on Rhys, lend me a hand, will you? .''
He sighed. ''Just how I planned to spend my evening, moving dead fish around the streets of Cardiff'' he joked, ''and we didn't even make it to the restaurant.'' He shook his head despairingly at what his life was like, married to a torchwood agent, but then he realised with a happy grin, he wouldn't have it any other way.