A/N: So I'm back sooner than I thought guys! I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope everyone had a blast in 2017! I just also wanted to warn you of some descriptive scenes…. And please, please leave me reviews as I really appreciate those!

Chapter 20: Adam

Jack walked into the Hub and paused as he saw Iris giggling with Ianto by her desk before he said, "Class D artefacts. Iris, I need you to run a full check."

Iris separated a little from Ianto's grasp and said, "Sure."

Ianto pecked her cheek before whispering to her, "Later."

Iris blushed severely before hitting Ianto's arm, but decided to go check out the artefact that Jack mentioned. She needed to get that thing sorted out so that she could go out with Ianto.

As the two people walked to do their own individual work, Jack's eyes trailed after Iris' form. He sighed out as he felt his heart ache a little. Pressing it down, he headed towards his office when he saw Owen watching Tosh longingly, knowing that exact feeling at the moment. But he just said,

"Owen, you can help Tosh."

Owen nodded and said, "Happy to."

He then looked at the young man with dirty blonde hair and leather jacket lounging at his desk and said,

"Adam, I know how much you love audits."

Adam turned around and smiled gently as he said, "It's got to be done."

Jack nodded and said, "If you could."

Adam rolled his eyes and chirped, "Go through the investigation reports, find out when they might have come through the Rift."

Jack arched an eyebrow and asked, "You okay with that?"

Gwen arrived to the Hub and saw a stranger shrug as he said, "I have been for the last three years."

Frowning at the sight, Gwen saw Jack look up at her and say, "You're late."

Gwen rolled her eyes at him and said, "Yes, Paris was lovely, thank you."

She then really saw Adam and frowned as she automatically asked, "Who the hell is this?"

Adam sarcastically said, "Just because that's what I said to you on your first day."

With that, he gripped Gwen's shoulder and looked into her eyes as he asked, "Remember?' jokingly.

Gwen blinked a bit, remembering all those moments with him and just laughed as she said, "Sorry, couldn't resist. Come here, you. Good to see you."

Gwen hugged Adam when Gwen also spotted Tosh who looked at the two warily and said, "Hey, Tosh, you're looking good."

Later, Gwen went to say hi to everyone. She saw Ianto and Iris talking in the archives and frowned as Ianto pecked Iris' lips before full on kissing her. Something felt odd, when she just shook it off. Maybe she wasn't feeling as great as she had thought.

And then she looked back up to see Iris' hands in Ianto's hair as they kissed and blushed before turning away and walking back up to meet others.

Iris moaned a little as she pulled away from the kiss and felt her back hit one of the shelves in the archives as Ianto started giving his attention to her neck.

"Ianto, I have to work…" Iris whined, not able to keep a straight thought.

Ianto groaned a little, his head still nestled by her neck, causing Iris to shiver in excitement. Ianto smiled a little at that small reaction before pulling himself away and straightening Iris out a little before doing the same for himself as he smiled warmly. Iris laughed a little in nervousness as she saw the little look of smugness in Ianto's eyes.

She pecked Ianto's lips once before heading back up. When she came up, she ran into Jack, who looked at her, causing Iris to look at him with concern as she said,

"Jack? Are you alright?"

Jack came to from his thoughts of longing and smiled as if nothing was wrong. "I'm alright."

Iris looked at him, sadness reflected in her eyes as she said, "Jack, I wish things were different, but I love Ianto and you know that…"

Jack looked guilty and he said, "Don't worry, I won't repeat that mistake ever again."

Iris smiled and said, "I'm going to continue working on that artifact you assigned me."

Jack nodded and saw Iris walk away, thinking back to that one special night that he and Iris shared. But as Iris approached the rest of the team, Tosh said,

"Just doing a quick check. We had Rift activity two days ago, but nothing seems to have come through."

Suddenly, a squeaky toy appeared around the side of a monitor and Tosh looked up a little annoyed as Owen squeaked out "Apart from me."

Tosh looked at the toy with surprise as she asked him, "What's that?"

Owen blushed and smiled shyly as he said, "It's a screen cleaner. I thought you might like it. Er, do you? Do you like it?"

Tosh just looked at it and then said,

"Just what I need. A small rodent looking at me while I work. Think I'll call it Owen."

Iris shook her head in disappointment. She really wished Tosh was nicer to the man, but it seemed that Tosh was cold towards mostly everyone but Adam.

Gwen whispered out, "He's like a puppy bringing her sticks. When he's gonna realize he's got no chance?"

Ianto put his head on top of Iris' and hugged her from behind as he said, "Love's blind, apparently. He's idolized her for years now."

Gwen just looked at Ianto and smiled as he nuzzled himself closer to the other woman as Adam just smiled and said,

"Oh, leave him alone. I think it's sweet. He's happy."

And like that, the day uneventfully passed and Iris stayed a little later working on the artifact, frustrated that she couldn't quite grasp why she wasn't able to get through with this. She stared at it with great frustration and felt as if she should know what this was. But she wasn't able to grasp it and sighed as she brushed her hair using her fingers.

Puffing air into her cheeks, she pouted and took her glasses off, feeling beat when Ianto came in and asked,

"Tough time?"

Iris looked up at him and said exhaustedly, "Yeah. I feel like I know what this is, but something is blocking me from really getting the answer."

Ianto kissed her cheek as he said, "You'll find the answer eventually. Don't overdo it. I know that you normally don't do much until you find the answer, but please, don't overwork yourself and forget to take care of yourself."

Iris smiled at that and leaned into him and said, "Isn't that why you're here for me?"

Ianto smiled back as he said, "Always."

Iris then turned around slightly as she pecked him a little. Ianto smiled wider and then gripped her hips and brought her closer as he leaned in and kissed her fully. Iris gripped his shirt and brought him even closer and moaned a little as it rapidly turned passionate. Taking his chance, he slipped his tongue in and the kiss deepened even more. When Iris finally ran out of breath, Iris pulled away and smiled.

Everything was perfect. Iris couldn't have been happier. But the moment was short-lived as they heard a commotion of Jack bringing in a terrified Gwen to the Hub. Frowning, Iris got up and separated herself from Ianto. Making sure that she looked presentable, she headed down to the Autopsy room and approached Owen as she asked nicely,

"What's happening?"

Owen looked at her and said comfortably, "It seems that Gwen has forgotten about her fiancé."

Iris looked at the man and then frowned as she felt a sensation like she was looking through a veil. It was definitely Rhys, but there was something she was missing. Upon Jack's arrival with Rhys to the Hub however, Iris shirked that feeling off of herself once again and helped Owen check on Gwen.

Once they were done, Owen and Iris shared a perplexed look as Owen said,

"Right. Well, no signs of long-term damage, as far as I can see. Or alien intervention. But, I must be missing something. I'm sorry, but it's a mystery to me why you can't remember Rhys."

Iris shivered slightly as if something was trying to break through. Ianto saw and asked, "Are you cold?"

Iris shook her head and said, "No… it's just that… never mind. I thought I felt a sensation of déjà vu."

Ianto looked at her and shrugged as he said, "Happens to me from time to time. I'm sure it's nothing."

Ianto then turned around as he was cleaning up the area and said, "Oh, and I will drop Gwen off back at her house. Then I will pick Jack up and come back to the Hub to do some more organization. Jack seems to have forgotten where to put some of the files… again."

Iris nodded and went to go analyze that mystery box. While looking at it with Owen, Tosh came along and asked,

"Worked out what that thing is yet?"

Owen blushed at her, but calmly said, "No joy yet. But you should have a look at the detail too, Tosh. It's gorgeous. Oh, let me get that."

Tosh looked at Iris then, ignoring Owen and asked "Have you managed to open it yet?"

Iris frowned and said, "No, not yet. Sorry, but there's something that's preventing us from opening it. I feel like there's supposed to be a key that we're missing to this box."

Tosh sighed in frustration and Owen looked flustered as Tosh said, "It's gonna be a long night."

Owen then said, "Yes, which is why I've brought some sandwiches. One for you, one for Iris and one for me. Smoked salmon, that is your favorite, isn't it?"

Tosh looked decently surprised at that and asked, "How'd you know that?" and after a pregnant pause, Tosh stood up as she said, "I'm gonna need a beer."

Owen stuttered as he said, "What, while we're working? Oh, yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah, right. Relax, kick back, it's a good idea. Er, not for me though, thanks."

Iris looked at Owen sympathetically upon his realization that Tosh had already left the room. She patted him on the shoulder as she said,

"Don't worry too much about it. If anything, I think you're a great guy Owen."

Owen smiled gratefully at her as he said, "Yeah, but I wish she would at least not treat me like I'm non-existent."

Iris sighed and started munching on the sandwich. Upon taking a bite, she looked up at him in shock as she swallowed her mouthful and said,

"Owen! Why did you never tell us you were a brilliant cook?"

Owen blushed as he said, "I thought it didn't look cool…"

Iris shook her head as she glared at him and said, "No, there's nothing wrong with being a bloody, brilliant chef. I hate you… all those take-outs that I had to force down… no way. Can you pack me lunch from time to time? Or at least teach me how to make this? I don't think I can ever go back to greasy Chinese food."

Owen laughed and said, "Sure, I'll teach you the recipe. Only for you Iris."

Iris laughed and hugged him before saying, "Let's eat and get back to work. This box is killing me."

Owen nodded as he grabbed his sandwich and smiled at the close friendship he shared with Iris. If anything, Iris always supported him through all the tough times he had. They shared a lot of things with each other and it really helped. Owen was glad when Jack had hired Iris in place of Suzie alongside with Gwen.

But soon enough, Tosh returned with three bottles of beer. Iris grimaced but Tosh looked at the duo and said,

"Go on. Live a little."

Owen nervously said, "Well, as it's you. Thank you."

He took the beer and opened it as Iris took hers and opened the bottle, but seemed hesitant about it as she sniffed the contents and grimaced even more.

Tosh ignored her reaction as she cheerfully said, "Call it a celebration."

Iris and Owen looked up at her in surprise. Owen managed a, "Oh yes?"

While Tosh blushed a little and admitted, "Adam and I have been together for one year today."

Iris looked at Owen, who looked crestfallen at that. Tosh really needed to get her priorities straight, but she didn't want to leave Owen alone, so she remained silent and Owen just muttered,

"Right, right."

Tosh appeared to be daydreaming a little as she said, "A whole year. My stomach still flips when he touches me. I've never known anything like it. The two of us, we just fit. Do you know what I mean?"

With that Tosh looked at Iris, who was only able to nod while Owen just looked even more devastated before hiding it and replied with,

"Er, not sure I do, no."

Tosh looked at him and said, "Don't worry. You'll meet the right girl on day."

Owen didn't say anything for a few seconds and then whispered out, "Yeah, Tosh… Er, do you really think I look like a rodent?"

But Tosh once again ignored his question and Iris frowned as she said,

"Come on, we're going to crack this box even if it kills us."

After three hours, they were still in the conference room and the trio looked frustrated. Tosh angrily looked at the box as she spit out,

"So, according to the molecular breakdown, this potentially alien complex artifact is, in fact, made out of wood."

Owen frowned and said, "Well, perhaps it fell in the crate by mistake. Picked up meson energy from the other stuff."

Tosh seemed to just wave it off as she said, "Yeah, right."

Iris kept reading the results over and over again in frustration and that weird sense of déjà vu kept creeping up on her while Owen apologized,

"Oh, yes. Sorry, it's a stupid idea."

Ianto then came in to join them, noticing how Iris seemed to be bothered about something as he said, "I think Jack brought it in."

Tosh frowned and said, "No, I'm sure Adam found it on an excavation a few months back."

Ianto frowned at that while Iris looked up to see how perplexed he seemed to be at that statement and said, "I'll have a look in the diary. I like to log in the interesting stuff."

Iris stood up while Tosh asked, "You write about artifacts in your diary?"

Ianto smirked at Iris and said, "Among other things."

Iris shook her head as she said, "I'll go with you."

With that, the two headed up towards the Hub. Ianto grabbed his diary and started reading. Iris looked over his shoulder and frowned. Something was off. Ianto looked up in realization that something was terribly wrong and saw how Iris seemed to be thinking the same thing. Suddenly, Adam was by them as he asked the two,

"What's wrong?"

Iris looked up and shivered a little. As if Adam was the source of the problem that they now seemed to be facing.

Ianto however, must not have noticed as he admitted,

"My diary. You're not in it. Everyone else is. Why would I leave you out when you've been here so long? Like I'm remembering a man who doesn't exist."

Adam dropped the diary as his hand flickered. Iris noticed this and looked back at the diary before looking up at him. Ianto grasped Iris' hand and backed themselves away from him as he warily asked,

"What are you?"

Adam said, "Cross me, and I will fill you full of fake memories until your head is on fire, because that's how I exist."

Iris tensed at this as if it all made sense, but then she grimaced as something brought her memories full-force. The pain. The drumming. Then the wrangling panic from someone. Someone she knew. But she wasn't sure who.

Ianto did not notice this and asked, "Gwen? What did you do to her?"

Adam smirked evilly as he said, "Memory is a very delicate thing. Feeding myself in wiped other memories out. It's a side effect of what I have to do in order to survive."

Iris was still struggling as she kept remembering the real memories, but it conflicted with the memories Adam had given her and the pain of the memories battling each other was starting to show as Iris started to blanch in realization of something.

Ianto felt Iris tense further and pushed her behind him as he said, "Jack has to know."

Suddenly, Adam grasped Ianto and Iris' shoulders with each of his hands and commanded, "Remember this."

Ianto saw visions of him attacking various women as Adam kept pushing these fake memories to him. Iris on the other hand, was struggling with all her might as she pleaded,

"Please, stop."

When Ianto screamed and fainted, Adam then gave his full attention to Iris, who shook from fear of the fake memories he had put into Ianto. Adam then looked a little perplexed before stating,

"Something's fighting in you. You remember don't you?"

Iris frowned when she suddenly heard a distant "Iris!". It was a man's voice. She felt panic, fear, anger all at once. When she looked up at Adam, it finally hit her with the last of her real memories as some type of force helped her through this. Iris stopped shaking when she finally realized who it was in her mind. It was the Doctor. Somehow, she could hear him in her mind calling out to her.

With that, she glared at Adam, who still gripped her shoulders before twisting herself and sending Adam to the ground, stating,

"I remember all right you psychotic memory jerk!"

Adam laughed and taunted her, "Oh, but don't you see? I put you with Ianto! The guilt in Jack, your conflict of interest for the two men, and Ianto's pure love for you? I sorted it out for you, built the perfect relationship for you all."

Iris blanched and grew angry at that, but Adam gripped her wrists as he said, "And now remember this!"

Iris saw various memories of her with Ianto, and struggled against it when everything suddenly turned black. But before she gave herself to the darkness, she heard the Doctor scream out,

"Iris hold on!"

…..

Ianto blinked a couple times as he tried to clear the black spots in his line of sight. When everything cleared, he blanched at the memories that haunted him. The urge to do all those horrible deeds again. And when he turned his head to the side, time seemed to stop as he saw Iris writhing in pain and whimpering, unconscious.

But what was worse was that he felt that urge to harm her intensify as he stared at her. Battling with his urges, he stood up and walked away from her, horrified. Memories clashed. Nothing was clear anymore. What had he done? Had he hurt Iris or was it Adam? He continued to walk backwards when Jack walked in.

Ianto looked up at him and whispered, "Jack."

Jack, upon seeing the Welsh man's pale face, instantly grew wary as he asked, "Ianto. Hey. What's wrong?"

Ianto looked back at Iris' unconscious form as he said, "You have to put me in the vaults. Lock me up. I killed three girls. Strangled them."

Disbelievingly, Jack said, "Stop kidding around." But that was when he followed Ianto's line of sight and saw the unconscious form of Iris on the ground. His heart clenched and horror overtook him as he ran towards Iris and held her up as he gently shook her. She was clearly in pain and he looked back up at Ianto in horror as Ianto whispered,

"I'm serious. I murdered them in cold blood. I took their bodies, and… You have to lock me away before I turn on you and kill Iris. None of you are safe."

Jack didn't know what to think. He couldn't believe it. If anything, there was no way Ianto would hurt Iris like this. Something was terribly wrong. The mysterious memory recollection of his brother Gray?

Jack stood up after he gently put Iris back down as he said, "Hey, hey, come here, come here."

Ianto shook his head, not trusting himself to not lunge towards Iris if he got closer, so Jack approached him as he asked,

"What happened to you?"

Ianto shivered as he said in despair, "I'm a monster."

Jack led Ianto to his office and set an alien polygraph machine. Jack muttered,

"Best lie detector on the planet. If something's untrue, the light turns red. Go."

Ianto choked out, "My hands on her throat. And it felt so good. Squeezing the life out of her. It reads as truth."

Jack dubiously looked at the machine and shook his head, not wanting to believe it as he said,

"I don't believe it. Okay, tell me about the second girl."

Jack saw Ianto hauntingly smile a little as he admitted, "She tried to get away, but I was too quick. Pleading, and I, I didn't care Something in me wants to kill."

Jack shook his head. This wasn't normal. Something was off. Out loud, he looked up with a new determination as he said,

"No, this is not you. Something's changed you. You're not a murderer. I'm certain of it."

With that, he left his office before heading over to see Iris come to. Iris groaned out loud before standing up, panicking.

Jack helped her up when Iris looked up at him and whispered out with despair, "Jack. Oh God… what have I done?"

Jack frowned as he asked, "What happened?"

Iris clamored towards her desk and turned the internal CCTV recording on to the moment and watched intensely, they saw what happened. Jack froze as he heard Iris in the recording say,

"I remember all right you psychotic memory jerk!"

"What happened?" Jack asked.

Iris grimaced and said, "This is an episode. I didn't realize that this would affect me this deeply too."

Without saying anything, Jack walked over and brought Ianto over as he gently said, "Come here, come here. Just look, look."

Ianto tensed up and leaned heavily into Jack. He watched the recording and relaxed as his head became a little bit clearer. When it all ended, Iris looked up at the two men and wasn't sure what to think. Was her feelings for Ianto all a lie? It didn't feel like it, but then her feelings for Jack was clearly there too. What was wrong with her?

Silently, she walked over to the Autopsy room and started digging around for Adam's blood sample.

Jack realized what she was looking for and joined in. He noticed that something was bothering Iris a lot, but decided to talk to her about it afterwards. Setting this ordeal straight came first. Ianto looked up at the computer screen then at Iris as he grimaced. Was his relationship with her a lie? Was it really a lie like Adam said? No, he didn't want to lose her. But if he let Adam stay, it would lead to disastrous results. Pressing down his sadness at the realization that he would lose her, he pulled up Adam's personnel file.

Ianto frowned as he said out loud, "Everything's in order here."

Jack looked up and asked, "When was it last updated?"

Ianto said, "Er, 24 hours ago."

Suddenly, they heard the Hub door open and saw Owen coming in with a large bouquet of beautifully arranged flowers. They all froze as he put them on Tosh's workstation. He stared at them and frowned but Tosh came in when she noticed the flowers.

"Oh, Owen."

Owen looked to the ground and said, "About last night. It was selfish of me."

Iris shared a look with Jack, who noticed how she just whispered, "There's no blood sample."

They all heard Owen apologize and Tosh smiled a little at that as she said,

"Thank you."

Then, Gwen came in and Tosh asked,

"Hey, how are you today?"

Gwen shrugged as she responded back with, "Things are coming back, slowly. Rhys thought I shouldn't come into work but-"

Adam interrupted her with, "Hey, we'll look after you. You just have to give yourself time. Come on, group hug. That's better, see?"

With that, Adam looked up at Ianto. Ianto flinched at the sudden attention and Jack and Iris immediately grew wary about everything. They shared a look before Iris got closer to Ianto.

Adam continued on with, "Hey Ianto, come here. You alright, mate?"

Ianto flinched away and he grasped Iris' hand. Noticing this, Adam smirked as he said,

"Listen, I could murder a coffee."

Iris grasped Ianto's hand tighter at that and backed both of them away as Jack cocked his revolver at the back of Adam's head. Adam's smirk immediately fell as Jack said,

"Talk to me, Adam. If that's even your name."

Adam quickly put on a confused face as he asked, "What?"

Gwen, Tosh and Owen jumped in shock at the sudden development and Gwen stomped towards Jack when Iris held her back. Looking frustrated, but noticing the look in Iris' eyes, Gwen asked,

"What are you doing Jack?"

Jack looked at the rest of his team as he said, "He's not who you think he is. He's been feeding himself into our memories by touch."

Tosh looked horrified at Jack as she yelled out. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

Jack shook his head as he said, "He didn't exist until two days ago."

Adam looked pleadingly at Tosh as he demanded, "Can somebody tell me what's going on, please?"

Owen stepped up and said, "Jack, we've known him for years. He is part of the team."

Iris shook her head and said, "No. He just made you think that. He's not human. He's been altering all of our lives."

Adam just laughed nervously as he said, "Come on, Jack, Iris."

Jack pressed his gun on Adam's head a bit more and warned him with, "Ah, ah. You don't get to me like that"

Adam pressed on, "Jack, you know me. You recruited me three years ago."

Jack shook his head and said darkly, "All I know is, when I think of my team, I see you there. But I don't feel anything for you. No pride, no warmth. You, the one who I can confide in, the one who unburied the dead."

Gwen looked disbelievingly at the situation around her but said, "Jack, maybe you've just forgotten him, like I did with Rhys, yeah?"

Iris shook her head and said, "No, that was all Adam's fault."

Gwen looked at Iris in shock as she realized when all that had happened. It had happened after Adam had touched her and she stumbled a little at that realization as she muttered, "Oh God."

Iris let go of Gwen and warily approached Ianto again.

Jack followed it up with, "I should have spotted it then. That wasn't stress, that was him. By making us think we know him, he disturbs our real memories."

Adam shook his head as he yelled out in panic, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jack then hoisted Adam up and prevented him from running as he said, "I'm taking him to the Vaults."

Adam struggled as he said, "Jack, this is ridiculous!"

But Tosh and Owen were the only ones that looked horrified at the situation playing in front of them. Adam realized that the majority of the team were already prepared to get rid of him. Jack threatened him with,

"Move"

Tosh then yelled out "No!" With that, Tosh pulled her gun out and aimed it at Jack. Iris immediately drew her gun out and aimed at Tosh. Ianto and Gwen were surprised but didn't do anything.

Owen stepped up to diffuse the situation as he tried to coax Tosh out of her anger as he said, "Tosh, that's not going to help."

Iris looked over at Adam and said, "If there is any part of you that truly cares for Tosh, go down to the Vaults."

Adam looked over at Iris, measuring her up when he realized that the look she gave him indicated that she would really shoot her if he didn't comply. He stopped struggling and Jack noticed this. But Tosh hadn't as she still muttered,

"Let him go."

Jack said, "I'm not going to harm him."

Tosh cried out, "Why should I believe you?"

Owen tried to make Tosh lower her gun as he said, "Tosh, Tosh, we can talk about this."

Tosh aimed her gun at Jack again as she demanded, "Drop the gun, Jack!"

But she dropped her gun as she felt an impact hit her wrist. Owen quickly grabbed her and prevented her from lunging at the source as Tosh saw how Ianto had snuck up on her and had forced her to drop the gun.

Tosh struggled against the two men as she cried out, "No! Get off me!"

Jack angrily stared at Adam and growled out, "This is what you've done to us. Move!"

With that he forced Adam down towards the Vault while Tosh kept screaming out, "No, Adam!"

Iris clenched her eyes shut as she felt her heart break at the heartbroken screams Tosh made. Gwen still looked confused, but she noticed the way Iris seemed to struggle from things of her own and all she could do was,

"Oh, God, what happened to us?"

They all waited for Jack to come up. Tosh had fallen to her knees as her legs gave out a moment ago from all that struggling. Owen hugged her tight, not letting go. Ianto walked over to Iris, noticing how she looked up at him with eyes filled with sadness.

"If this is all fixed and we have to forget this happened, what will happen to us?"

Tears slipped down Iris' cheeks as she hugged him and nestled closer as she whispered out,

"I'd be back with Jack. Maybe oblivious to everything we had shared."

Ianto hugged her tight and then pulled away as he forced a smile and wiped her tears away. Iris looked up at him and put her hand on his cheek, which he gladly relaxed towards. They looked at each other, desperate to share this one moment before everything ended.

They both leaned into each other, feeling their lips meld. The kiss started out slow, wanting to memorize this one moment and sear it to their brains forever. But it quickly escalated as it became that much more desperate. But eventually, the need for air forced them to separate and both just hugged each other silently.

"Even if we forget, I hope that we won't be distant with each other."

Iris cried silently as she hoped for the same. The moments she shared with Ianto was short, but it changed her so much. They stayed like that when Jack came up and saw how the pair looked determined yet sad. Without much words, he said, "Come to the conference room."

The team followed and Iris and Ianto held hands until they finally sat down next to each other. Once everyone was settled in, Jack said,

"Our memories define us. Adam changed those memories. Changed who we are. Now I have to help you all go back, find a memory that defines you. Rediscover who you are. If I'm wrong, he'll still be here when we've done this. Let me take you back to before we all met."

Jack clicked something on, almost like a hypnotic image, and said, "Feel around for anything that makes you what you are. The hidden and forgotten. Tell me where you are."

Gwen whispered out, "The college canteen. Rhys is sitting opposite me, telling stupid jokes."

Owen then joined as he distantly said, "It's my birthday. Mum spends the whole day screaming. But I love you because you're my son but that doesn't me I have to like you."

Tosh said, "Maths club. Something so reliable about maths. Always the right answer."

Ianto choked out, "Meeting Lisa. Falling in love. Never felt so alive."

Iris whispered, "Me going down the stairs when I was in third grade, so exhausted, so tired. So ready to accept my fate."

With that, everyone continued to recount their memories as Jack said, "Take this."

Jack went to each individual and gave them the small white pill that would help them forget. Jack heard Iris then say,

"Coming here. It changed my life just like it did Ianto's. Meeting you two? He keeps me sane, keeps me grounded. You? You make me feel so alive…"

Jack saw a tear slip down from Iris' eye and he wiped it as he rubbed her shoulders and said,

"I will always love you."

Iris smiled bitterly before looking at the pill Jack had given her, hearing him say,

"You each have short term amnesia pill. It'll make you forget Adam. We have to wipe out the last 48 hours from our memories. Go back to who we were."

Iris and Ianto simultaneously took their pills while everyone else followed. Iris felt herself drift off as she lastly held Ianto's hand, needing him one last time.

…..

Iris blinked as she opened her eyes. She noticed that she was the first to be awake and looked over at Ianto, grabbing his hand a little tighter. The image of Adam, the things she had been fed was all gone. But some things remained. Her love for Ianto, the memories that really happened the past two days between them, that was the only thing that remained. Tears slipped as she realized what this meant. Slipping her hand out, she went down to the Vaults and looked at Jack, who had slipped into a deep sleep from the amnesia pill.

But unable to bear much, she went back up to find the team doing their work, not sure what was going on. Iris joined in and started deleting all the CCTV recordings of the past two days. Nobody should remember. Then she took the artifact and filed it away, giving strict orders for nobody to open it at any cost, and if possible, to destroy it.

Once that was done, she headed towards her desk in the Hub when she heard Gwen say,

"Jack, how have we lost two days?"

Jack looked surprised as he asked, "What do you mean?"

Ianto looked at the man and said, "The last 48 hours. None of us can remember a thing and the CCTV recordings have been wiped."

Tosh nodded asking, "What's been going on? What have we been doing?"

Jack shrugged as he honestly replied with, "I don't know."

They all looked towards Iris, who anxiously said, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

Most of the team went back to work but Ianto and Jack frowned as they noticed how Iris was fidgeting with her fingers, a clear sign of her lying.

Jack sighed as the team spent the rest of his day as if everything was normal. But afterwards, Jack called Iris over to his office.

Iris walked in and asked, "You called for me?"

Jack said, "I'll drop you off."

Iris nodded and headed for the range rover. When they finally arrived at her place, Iris felt as if her heart was going to burst out of her chest as she wasn't sure what to say. The car ride was tense and silent the entire way as Jack didn't say anything and neither did she.

Iris opened her door and invited him. Jack followed her in and closed the door when he finally asked her,

"You remember everything don't you."

Iris froze in the middle of her living room. Her eyes suddenly found the floor interesting and Jack stepped in front of her and lifted her face with his hands, softly holding either side of her head.

He saw confusion and turmoil in her eyes and heard Iris whisper, "Not everything. But some."

"And?" He asked gently.

Iris looked at him, not sure what to feel and said, "Those two days, I was forced to believe I loved Ianto. That instead of you, it was Ianto all along."

Jack flinched and he realized what she was thinking. "You're blaming yourself and feeling guilty about it?"

Iris nodded. But Jack didn't let her go, noticing something else and said, "And?"

"I don't know what I feel Jack… I love you, that I know… but Ianto? It's as if I need you and him… and this… this…"

Jack looked at her eyes as tears spilled down before kissing her. Iris spilled more tears as she desperately kissed the man in front of her. Unable to hold back, she took his trench coat off of him and pushed him towards the wall behind him.

Jack felt the wall behind him and quickly went to her neck, hearing Iris moan a little trying to take her mind off of the ordeal. But as if waking up from a trance, Iris pulled herself away from him, panting, lust clearly in her eyes.

"We shouldn't… I-"

Jack stopped her as he said, "It's not wrong."

Iris' eyes widened as she asked, "How?"

Jack smiled at her and said, "I always knew a bit of you loved him. And if it's any consolation with you, I do too."

Iris' eyes widened even further, grasping the man's arms tightly and then the pause caused Jack to smirk a little as Iris blushed a bright red from embarrassment. Her mouth gaped as she tried to find words to say, but Jack laughed at how adorable she looked before switching their positions.

Iris looked at him again in surprise. But she felt the time stop around her as Jack's intense eyes caught her attention once more. Her eyes then fluttered shut as his lips met hers in a slow kiss.

The kiss sent shivers down her back, unlike the warmth from Ianto's and caused her to moan, allowing Jack to slip his tongue in. When she came up for air, he immediately went back to her neck as he slipped her coat off of her and then Iris put her arms around him unable to separate herself from him. Her breath was becoming ragged as Jack caused her to feel new sensations.

Jack hoisted her up while Iris wrapped her legs around him. They kissed again as Jack opened her bedroom door and put her down as they started unclothing each other. Iris was in her bra and underwear when Jack pulled away slightly and looked her up and down, causing her to feel even more aroused than before, if that was possible.

Jack then came up to her and kissed her deeply again as he muttered, "I love you."

Iris couldn't respond back, as she felt his hands touching her sensitive spots as he drove her crazy. Iris' fingers went through his hair as she was unable to keep herself in check anymore.

Iris felt her back collide with the bed when she looked up at Jack as he looked down at her, panting, uncontrollable lust emanating from his own as it reflected her body.

She whispered, "I love you…"

And saw Jack smile widely as he crashed his lips down to hers as their body melded together that night, sending both individuals over the edge multiple times.

A/N: Ugh… as much as I try, I don't think I can write sex any more descriptively than I did… It's not what I'm used to writing… Sorry if you expected more… But hey, at least maybe I answered some of your questions? But what about poor Ianto? Hmmm…..