TITLE: Beauty of a Broken Angel

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

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

Note: THE FINAL CHAPTER IS HERE! ENJOY!

Chapter 7: Air Awakens

18th January 2000

The hard ground was the first thing Ianto registered when he awoke, different from the soft bed he'd gotten used to over the last two weeks. Remembering the events of the hotel room, he knew he was back in the cell before he'd even opened his eyes.

Blinking, he waited as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, and turning his head to the side, he could just make out a form lying the other side of the cell. The figure was facing the wall, motionless, but Ianto would recognise the familiar greatcoat anywhere.

"Sir!" Jack didn't react, lying limply on the ground and Ianto swore he couldn't even see his chest moving. "Jack?" He called panicked as he tried to move over to the still figure, but something caught on his leg and he cursed as he found himself once again chained to the wall. Squinting through the shadows, Ianto spotted a similar chain round Jack's ankle, and he calmed. Why would they chain up a dead man?

"Jack wake up. Please Sir." With no answer, Ianto studied the chain around his ankle. It was newer and stronger than the last one, but sparking a fire in his palm he held it under the chain and waited. It was took longer than before and he felt a wave of dizziness from the power and residual drugs as the chain weakened and snapped.

As he leant back against the wall to regain his energy, a loud gasp came from Jack across the cell and snapping his head up he saw Jack shakily trying to sit. "Jack! You're awake" He shuffled over to the other, helping him up.

"Ianto?"

"Yes. Are you okay? I'm sorry sir."

"It's not your fault" Jack assured, becoming more aware of his surroundings. "I'm fine. You?"

"I'm okay." Ianto whispered, then reached for the manacle round Jack's ankle "Let me…"

Jack kept still as Ianto melted his own chain, looking concerned when Ianto sank against the wall afterwards, his face pale. "Ianto?"

"Just give me a minute."

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

They'd only been waiting 10 minutes before an overhead light flickered on and the door opened. A guard escorted the doctor from earlier into the cell, before closing the door once again when he left. The woman opened the large medical bag she was carrying as she headed nervously over to Ianto. Withdrawing a needle from the bag, Ianto flinched back and Jack grabbed her hand, angrily.

"What are you doing? Get away from him."

"Sorry, I'm not going to hurt you. Miss Hartman asked for some blood to be taken from both you now you're awake. I took an oath."

"You're not doing a good job of keeping it." Jack snapped, but calmed as Ianto recoiled from his emotions, realising Ianto hadn't put up his shields. "Do you honestly think this isn't hurting anyone?"

"No, but I can't go against her... I need the money. My kids…" Dropping her gaze to the floor she looked as if she was about to cry and she tried to pull her hand out of Jack's grip. Ianto looked up for the first time since he'd seen the needle. "Jack, stop. You're hurting her."

"Sorry." Jack dropped her arm, suddenly noticing how young she looked. "Hey, what's your name?"

"Freya Knight, I'm new here."

"You got kids."

"Twin boys. Stevie and Alex. They've just turned one." A smile grew on her face as she thought about her children but it quickly fell again. "They're father was killed the other month by aliens, I'm all they have."

"And would you let Hartman keep your kids chained up in here for no reason, just because she told you to?"

"No" Freya whispered, looking down guiltily. "I'll see what I can do." Freya said, nervously. "Is there anyone I can call or something?"

Before Jack could respond, the cell door opened again and Hartman entered alongside a UNIT General. "It seems the stories are true. Well this certainly makes things easier."

Freya tried to leave quietly but a guard pushed her backwards into the cell. "And should be careful what you say and where." Yvonne informed her, holding up a voice recorder and playing back end of her conversation with Jack. '"I'll see what I can do. "Is there anyone I can call…?"'

"What do you want Hartman?"

"Well it seems you've made a strong connection with Subject One here."

"His names is Ianto Jones."

"Anyway, we've been wanting some answers from him for a long time which he has been very unforthcoming with giving. In fact, we've hardy got a peep out of him for months yet I find that in scarcely two weeks he's already going on a shopping trip of all things. I want to know what you know."

"It must be surprising what a little bit of humanity can do." Jack returned sarcastically. "I'm not telling you anything."

"You will. Unless you want a repeat of earlier. I've got an unlimited supply of bullets Captain." In response the guards raises their weapons, aimed at Jack.

"Doesn't bother me. Shoot me as many times as you want. I'm not telling you anything."

"Well if that's the case maybe I'll shoot her instead?" Yvonne said, and the guards adjusted their aim accordingly, Freya backing up against the wall in fear. "She is now a traitor as well, and you know what happens to traitors Captain. Or has Torchwood Three taught you nothing over the years."

Ianto look up at the comment and Jack cursed realising Yvonne had just let slip that he was a member of Torchwood as well and Jack caught a flash of betrayal in the startling blue eyes before they looked away. Unfortunately, Yvonne also caught it.

"Ah I see your new friend here wasn't aware you were also part of the same organisation." Jack glared but didn't answer. If he was honest, he was unsure what he could say that wouldn't make anything worse. "I see." Yvonne continued. "Looks like we have to do this the hard way. Shoot the girl."

"No!" Jack moved in front of Freya as he heard the retort of a gun, fully expecting the familiar blast of pain from being shot, but when it didn't come, he turned around confused. The guard who'd pulled the trigger was staring in shock at the ground and following his gaze, Jack was surprised to spot the bullet that had been fired lying still on the ground.

"Don't stop! Keep firing!" Yvonne ordered. The guards complied, but each bullet seemed to hit an invisible wall before dropping slowly to the ground. Reaching out a hand, Jack felt a downwards current of wind on his skin, so strong that he had to fight to keep his hand twisted round to look at Ianto behind him, who had gotten to his feet and was staring fixatedly at the area in front of Jack.

"Ianto?"

The guards kept firing, the ground becoming scattered with bullets, but Jack attention was on Ianto. Jack was beginning to see the effects the extreme use of powers was having on the latter. His whole frame was trembling violently and to Jack's horror, blood began to drip from his nose.

"Ianto, stop. It's too much. Ianto!"

With Ianto no longer having the strength to control the power, the wind dispersed outwards, knocking the guards, UNIT generals and Hartman to the ground. Jack caught Ianto as he collapsed unconscious. Freya fled from the room in terror.

Ianto's breathing and pulse were weak as he gathered Ianto into his arms and stood. The guards were beginning to move as Jack left the cell, meaning they had only been stunned by the wind. Yvonne made a grab for leg as he passed but he glared in fury. "If you want to still have your job and freedom by the end of the day, I wouldn't do that."

Yvonne paused and Jack took advantage of her hesitancy, and rushed from the building. Placing Ianto gently into the backseat of the SUV, he scrambled round the car and into the driver's seat. "Stay with me Ianto." He yelled, hoping some part of him could still hear him as he stamped to the accelerator. The SUV squealed away from the curb and towards the closest hospital.

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

Jack perched on the hard chair as he watched Ianto laying in the hospital bed, looking way too young and innocent to be there. With the short-sleeved hospital gown, the stark black letters of 'Subject One' stood out against the whiteness of the sheets and Jack vowed to get the tattoo removed as much and as soon as possible.

Ianto still hadn't regained consciousness and despite the doctor's reassurances that he was stable and would awake in his own time, Jack kept note of each beep of the heart monitor. Although it had been clear over the last weeks that using his power was draining for Ianto, he hadn't quite expected it to cause him to collapse like he did. He must have known the power was too much but Ianto had ignored his own health to protect him. At least he'd also protected Freya as well. One of Jack's worse fears was that someone got hurt or killed to protect him when there was no need.

Jack's gut suddenly twisted as he thought of the possibility that maybe Ianto hadn't done it for him at all. He'd seen the betrayal in his eyes when Yvonne had mentioned that he worked for Torchwood, and hoped that he hadn't lost the trust he'd built with Ianto.

The door opening behind him pulled him from his fears. Yvonne entered the hospital room beside the Head General from earlier, but thankfully no guards. Jack should have known, he'd been worried about speed not stealth as he rushed Ianto to the hospital and it wouldn't have taken her long to track them down. Obviously Yvonne hadn't taken his threat seriously.

"Get out." He snapped, gritting his teeth.

"You still don't have any power here, Captain."

"I like to see you try anything in public, Hartman." Jack provoked but changed his tack, when he realised Yvonne probably wouldn't care about causing a scene. "Anyway think again. I take it you didn't listen to my warning."

"What are you talking about?" Yvonne asked warily, ignoring the looks from the UNIT General as Jack pulled out the USB from his pocket.

"This contains enough data and evidence proving that you knowingly tortured a biologically proven human for four years and let's not go into him being a minor." Yvonne looked as if she was about to resist so Jack continued. "And don't think this is the only copy. If I don't check in before noon, then all these files will be sent to the Queen, and trust me I've known her for a very long time." He grinned at Hartman's expression. "So, like I warned you, if you still want your job by the end of the day, Ianto is to be freed and Torchwood Three will be back under my command, no ties to London."

Money, reputation and the power her job gave her were the three things most important to Yvonne, and Jack was hitting hard at least two. "You can't. He's dangerous. He has no place on the streets!" The Generals argued as he took in Yvonne defeated looks, but Yvonne ignored him, conceding reluctantly.

"Captain Harkness is taking control of Torchwood and Mr Jones will be allowed free and unprosecuted. Anyone who can't accept that will deal with me."

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

A loud beeping reached Ianto's ears as he awoke and he stared at the whitewashed walls, frozen as he mind flashed back. Hyperventilating in fear, he struggled against the bedsheets causing a sharp in his arm but he ignored it, scrambling out the bed until he felt the wall against his back. Something clattered loudly to the floor and heard a familiar voice calling his name. "Ianto! You're safe."

"Get off me!" He yelled, shaking Jack's hand off his shoulder. "You work for Torchwood. You lied."

"I didn't lie, I promise. It's not like you think." Jack squatted down in front of Ianto but kept his distance as he explained. "There's a rift in space and time that runs through Cardiff, things come through it from other times and planets. Torchwood Three was developed to monitor and collect what comes through. Three isn't like One, we protect people. At least that's my aim."

"What do you mean?" Ianto asked, finally looking up at the Captain.

"There was incident at New Year, my last team and boss died. I was out at the time, so as the only one alive, I am now the new leader and I've severed all ties with Yvonne. It's time for Torchwood to do as it should do, unhindered."

Jack sighed deeply and slumped next to Ianto against the wall, and Ianto could feel the very same emotions of sadness and loneliness that he'd felt the very first time he felt Jack, and felt guilty for not trusting him. "Sorry I didn't tell you, but I wasn't trying to keep it from you. Are you alright?" Jack continued, withdrawing a tissue from his greatcoat to mop up the drops of blood from where Ianto had pulled out his IV.

"Yes Jack. Sorry. You've done nothing but help. What happened… in the cell…why am I here?"

"You're in a hospital. The power was too much for you. You collapsed."

"Did I hurt anyone?"

"No, Ianto. You saved us, saved Freya." Jack made a mental note to check up on the young doctor afterward to ensure Yvonne wasn't trying anything with her.

"I couldn't let them kill you." Ianto replied, looking down at his chest. "What happens now?"

"It's up to you. You're free."

"What…how?"

"Good old-fashioned blackmail. Torchwood One and UNIT are no longer going to be searching for you. They're not a threat anymore. You can build a new life, anything you want."

"What if I wanted to stay with you?"

"You want to join Torchwood?" Jack asked, surprised. He would have thought Ianto would want to get as far from the organisation that had tortured him as possible. "You don't have to. You could get a job completely separate and safe from Torchwood."

"If you say it's different then I believe you Jack. You saved me. I'd forgotten who I was, but I'm slowly starting to remember. I might not know everything about my past or where my powers came from, but if I can do the same you did for me for someone else then…" Ianto trailed off and shrugged. "Doesn't stop me being scared though?"

"That will fade in time. It's only been two weeks you can't completely heal in that time, but if you're really sure I'd be honoured to have you. However, nothing dangerous okay? Not till your better."

"That's okay. I don't think I'm ready for that either."

"Well Ianto Jones." Jack said, grinning as he stood, pulling Ianto to his feet too. "Welcome to Torchwood Three!"

THE END OF PART ONE!

NOTES: Hope you all enjoyed the story and thanks for sticking with me to the end. I haven't fully planned or written the next part yet but it going to be based on pre-series canon so you can expect it to include the appearances of Suzie, Owen and Tosh alongside the events of Boomtown and Canary Wharf. Oh and don't forget developing JANTO!

I will try to get started planning as soon as possible, but I am also moving to University in less than 2 weeks so have a lot of prep to do. Don't fret though, I am as excited to write it as you are to read it so hopefully it won't be too long. I'll also try to write as much as possible before I start posting so you don't have to wait long between chapter posts.

Thanks for the support and I hope to see you at the next part!

Please Review!