TITLE: To Separate The Lies From Truth

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

CHAPTER SUMMARY: Er…spoilers. Sorry

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood or Doctor Who which is unlucky because Jack and Ianto deserve so much more!

WORDS: 2900

Notes: Ok…I lied. One more chapter after this. I can't count… This whole ending section was sooooo hard to write, I had no clue what my plot was….i hadn't thought so far ahead.


Chapter 27: The End of Days Part 1 (2008)

7th January 2008

"Jack!" Ianto dropped back to his knees beside Jack who'd slumped back to the ground with a silent shout of pain, which resonated loudly only for Ianto. "Hey Jack, come on. You're okay."

He shook Jack's shoulders gently, knowing the latter was still alive and conscious but still hating the fact he didn't know for how long. Owen crouched beside them seconds later, almost shoving Ianto out the way as he reach for Jack, his professional mask clearly in place.

"Jack? Hey Loverboy, you with us?" One of Owen hands was subtly snaked around Jack's wrist, as he spoke, turning to Ianto. "His pulse is way too fast What happened? Do you know what's causing this?"

"I…" Ianto buried his worry to try focus but it ineffective. He was widely proficient at inventing believable excuses, but not for something this huge and this fast. Whatever he said wasn't going to hold up for long, not when Jack was slowly dying, with nothing any of them could do and for no reason other than for his own abilities that no-one but Tosh was aware of. He was thankfully interrupted though by Jack regaining more awareness.

"No, I'm fine now." Jack pushed himself up, pulling out of Owen's grip. "It's nothing."

"Jack, if you weren't so stubborn you'd be unconscious right now." Ianto countered, paying no attention Jack's glare though he did soften his voice when he continued. "Let Owen help."

"You can't hide this one." Ianto added silently for Jack's own benefit. "You can barely concentrate."

"There's nothing he can do." Jack 'words' sounded strained in his mind, the former holding eye contact as he tried to use their link, only reinforcing Ianto point.

"I know and I'm sorry, but let him try."

Jack eventually nodded, which Owen took as a sign to approach again, retaking his wrist and timing on his watch. Ianto knew there wasn't much the medic could do in the hallway of a deserted dancehall, especially with no discernible injuries, and sure enough Owen quickly ordered them to move. "I need get him back to the Hub."

With Gwen and Tosh taking Owen's car, the way back was quiet, Owen driving SUV with them both in the back. It didn't seem as if Jack's condition changed for better or worse, the only incident about a few minutes from the Hub as he felt Jack's limbs stiffen once again before he slipped out a low cry of pain, almost undetectable if he hadn't been anticipating it.

Ianto didn't comment on it, but simply held Jack tighter until they arrived in the garage, Ianto climbing out the back a few moments later, one of Jack's arms flung around his shoulders, helping him walk in his semi-conscious state and down to sit on the table in the medical bay.

He had to admit Jack didn't look at all well as Ianto helped out of his greatcoat, slowly and more carefully than usual. He didn't say a word, just rested his head on Ianto's shoulder. He could feel Jack's cold skin against his even through the fabric of his shirt.

Ianto remained silent as Owen started checking Jack not wanting to give an excuse for the medic to kick him out, but he couldn't prevent himself jumping slightly in pain, as Jack's squeezed his hand tightly in instinct at the next bout of pain. He wasn't surprised, however, that was the only outwardly sign of the attack.

"Hey Jack. Captain." It had gone unnoticed by Owen however, but it was most likely from Ianto's own reaction not Jack's. "Focus. Where does it hurt?"

"What's wrong with him?" Tosh asked, worriedly when there was no reply.

"His blood pressure dangerously low, but there's nothing on the scans. Although that's no unexpected with Jack here." Owen remarked, detaching the pressure cuff. Ianto supposed it was true. Most times Jack got treated by Owen was when he was hurt or unconscious for reasons other than natural, meaning they didn't show up on scans. For example, when Jack had had those multiple seizures when Ianto messed up the timeline, not that Owen had known the cause.

"Ianto, what happened in 1941? Anything that could have caused this?"

"I don't know. We were…" Ianto started but the new piece of information from Owen gave him an out. "Wait how did you know we were in 1941?"

"You were in some photos, we found from the records." Owen waved off, as he took a vial of blood from Jack, the latter not even flinching from where he leant into Ianto. "How long were you there?"

"Just a couple hours. We heard the music first, but then we were just there, and it didn't feel like a normal Rift opening. There was no light or alert on my PDA."

"It was wartime and it was beautiful." Jack had been quiet for such a long time, his quietly whispered words made everyone but Ianto jump. He seemed to have gained some more awareness, at least to push Owen's hands away in his usual stubborn manner before sitting up straighter off Ianto's shoulder. "We were starting to figure out a way to leave you a message, when suddenly we were back."

It wasn't the best excuse Ianto thought, but considering Jack's current state it was probably the best the latter could come up and truthfully there wasn't any reason for the rest of the team to question him, so it didn't really matter.

"You were outside the manager's office when you returned right?" Owen theorised. "We think this has something to do with the Bilis. Did you speak with him any other time than when he took the picture?"

"The camera guy?" Ianto asked. "It's been 70 years. He's dead, right?"

"Guess what, he's not." Owen returned. "He's the caretaker now and looking no older than in that photo."

"Trust me, I saw him." Gwen added. "There's no way he's just a relative."

Ianto frowned. The only person he knew that didn't age was Jack and that was a unique wasn't it. A result of something with the Doctor. True, Jack didn't know why he was immortal, but he had always been certain he was just a one-off fluke. There was probably a more plausible reason.

"We think he had something to do with the anonymous tips. To make us walk into a trap." Tosh added.

"What makes you say that?" Jack slid shakily from the medical table, before Ianto could even get over his surprise. A few seconds before he would have been convinced Jack couldn't have moved if he'd wanted to, but the instinctive mindset of leadership clearly overruled, with the new information revealed.

He barely made it to the stop of the steps of the medical bay, however, before he smacked his hand down on the nearest rail in frustration, as fire and needles shoot this legs once again. Ianto caught him as he started to fall, the pain in his own head an early enough warning.

Owen took a step forward as well as Jack trembled from the pain. "Jack, you should really stay…"

"No, I'm fine." He used the same rail to push himself up straight again, the pain reduced again to a manageable background itch, but Ianto could tell the attacks were getting closer together. "This is more important. What do you have on him so far?"

"We were looking to talk to him when you came back." Owen started. "There's no information on how he was both here and in 1941, but we found some blueprints in his office on how to open the Rift, but we're fairly sure they're faked. He clearly wanted us to open the rift to get you back."

"Let me see." Jack sank shakily into a workstation chair as Gwen passed over the scroll of paper and the metal piece. "Ianto, can you get the ones from the secure archives."

Ianto nodded, disappearing into Jack's office. His keen eyes spotted a few things out of place, but overlooked it for now as he punched the code into the safe. He was fairly certain what caused it and was pleased Jack no longer left all of his passwords lying around, as he brought up the section containing the plans, and returned to the group.

He had to admit they looked almost identical on first glance, but at closer look made it easy spot the discrepancies in the equations. Jack however seemed more focused, as much as he could that is on the metal piece that looked almost like a cog of a timepiece, laying the part over multiple diagrams, before he pulled himself to his feet and stumbled across the grating down to the opening in the Rift manipulator, ignoring the protests of him and the others.

"The plans are fake, but not this." Jack slot the piece in place in the centre column with a light click. "This piece went missing decades ago. You can't use the Manipulator without it. If Bilis had it all along, then…"

Jack trailed off, pressing his forehead against the cold metal. Ianto strengthened his shields against the next wave of relentless agony, but immediately felt guilty for it. This was his fault after all.

"Finding our way back without the Rift would have derailed his plans." Ianto interjected instead, drawing the others attention momentarily away from Jack he tried to recover some of his composure. Jack looked smaller in himself, as if the power he'd absorbed was sapping his strength, mind and body.

"Someone who's worked this long on it won't give up." Jack agreed, eyes still crinkled with pain. "He'll be looking for another way, which will most likely be more dangerous than the first."

"Plan B's always are, and that's saying something considering his plan A was to trick us into opening the rift unsafely and create a whole lot of chaos." Owen retorted. "Tosh any movements from him?"

"No more of the sensors have tripped, but I've digged deeper on his records." Tosh explained. "As well as managing the Ritz, he also owns a shop in the city centre." _

"A stitch in time." Owen read, leaning over Tosh's shoulder. "Ironic, huh."

"Owen, Gwen. Check it out."

"Hell no." Owen exclaimed, spinning to face Jack who was barely standing. "Tosh or Ianto can go. There's no way I'm leaving you in this state. You look like you could collapse at any minute."

"Tosh needs to be here on the workstations." Jack rasped in response. "I'm fine. You can battle it out with Ianto if you wish, but Gwen's not going alone."

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

Jack leaned back on the sofa, his skin and shirt drenched from sweat as he tried to stay awake. Ianto had clearly won against Owen – only with Tosh's assertions she'd keep an eye on his condition – but all of them had ordered him not to move from the sofa, his greatcoat over him to protect from the chill of the Hub.

While in other occasions he'd argue he was the boss, and could move around in which was essentially his own home – when he didn't stay with Ianto - truthfully he was actually glad he didn't need to move. Every five minutes or so, his whole body felt like it was tearing apart, and the moments of relief between the attacks were getting shorter and shorter each time.

"You should rest."

Jack moved his head slightly to see Tosh approaching, and he tried to crack his usual grin, though his felt more strained than usual. "I am. I haven't moved an inch from this sofa."

"I meant sleep. Just for a little."

Jack shook his head. "I can't, they could be back any minute. I'm fine." He knew the two little words no longer had any effect, but he had to do what he could not to distract them from what was happening. They didn't need to know he was dying. Not when he'd wake up after.

"At least let me give you a painkiller." Tosh suggested, and Jack started to shake his head, but she continued. "For Ianto. I know he won't say anything, and I admit I don't fully understand how your bond works, but I think he's feeling your attacks more than he'd letting on."

He followed her gaze to where Ianto sat at a workstation, giving directions over the comms to Gwen and Owen. Everything was so out of focus, but if he concentrated he could just make out carefully hidden signs of discomfort etched behind his eyes, and Jack slowly nodded. Between him, the stress and unnecessary guilt of the day, it was surprising Ianto only had a headache. He'd thought the other would have the sense to block out his pain, and cursed himself for not noticing sooner.

"Nothing that'd make me sleep."

Tosh agreed and stood, slipping down into medical bay to retrieve some of Owen's strong non-sedative painkillers, he'd developed a little while ago - mostly for his own hangovers - as well as a glass of water.

"Sorry you had to miss your party." Jack mumbled as he swallowed. He was grateful for the water and his throat felt dry and he wasn't sure he'd have been able to dry swallow if he'd needed. "You can take another day when this is all over."

Tosh didn't answer, but he could feel her eyes on him. He looked up and flash a wide grin. "Toshiko Sato. How can I help?"

Tosh rolled her eyes, worthy of matching Ianto. "Jack, I know you. I mean, not details or anything like you share with Ianto, but enough to know when you're lying about something. You know why you're like this, don't you? You know why you're sick, but you're not sharing. Is it about Ianto?"

"Tosh, it's nothing you need to worry about."

"Jack…" Tosh interjected, sternly and Jack sighed. She wasn't taking no for an answer.

"We used…let's say a source of Ianto's powers to come back." Jack explained as vaguely as possible. "It was only meant for him, but he wasn't leaving me behind."

"And it's hurting you?" His eyes lost eye contact with Tosh's for only a second after the question, but it was enough to make Tosh gasp. "Jack…"

"It's nothing, and he didn't know." He needed to reassure her, to tell her it was nothing, that it wasn't Ianto's fault. "It's better than staying the past anyway. Been there, done that."

"What do you mean?"

"This coat isn't just for show you know."

The garage door slammed shut signified the return of Owen and Gwen from Bilis shop. From their dramatic and annoyed huffs as they shook off their jackets, he could tell they'd gotten nowhere, which was confirmed only seconds later.

"No sign of him, but he'd definitely been there recently." Gwen chimed. "Some of his stuff must go back centuries."

"I reckon he scavenges antique pieces from the past and bloody brings them here to sell them for a profit." Owen continued. "Not a bad business plan."

"We all have to earn a living."

The new voice sent a chill through all of them as Bilis appeared in the middle of the Hub out of nowhere, the sound of four guns clicking immediately being heard as everyone pulled their weapons from their belts.

"How did you get in here?" Jack pulled himself up on the sofa, forcing through the pain to grab his own Webley as the lights went out, signifying a security breach.

"How can you be in two time zones at once?" Gwen chimed in after.

"I can step across eras, like you'd walk into another room. At first, it was the most incredible gift. Now I know the reality. It's a curse." Bilis described his tone as flat and ominous as always, not at all intimated by the guns pointing towards him. "I can see the whole of history, but I don't belong anywhere within it."

"What are you planning?"

"Does it matter?" It almost felt as Bilis was staring straight through him. "Your return to this time had a price. You can feel it, the energy inside you that's slowly tearing you apart. Killing you cell by cell."

"What is he talking about?"

Jack ignored the whispers of his team, trying to focus on keeping his weapon steady while he hands trembled. "That's not important here."

"You can, can't you? And you're not the only one are you." Bilis stood straight and hadn't moved an inch since he'd appeared, but now he twist to face Ianto intently. "We both sense the power destroying your leader. The same power that settles in your very own bones, awaiting your commands."

"Leave Ianto out of it." His stamina was fading, not helped by the fresh burst of fire burning every inch of his body, but something about Bilis unnerved him. The man – if he was even that – knew too much, although it was clear the one thing he didn't was Jack's immortally. However, he was getting too close to the truth. "Again, what are you planning?"

Bilis simply looked at him, expression blank. "I'm sorry."

Then he vanished.

Notes: Okay, now the next chapter is the last. I have no more red highlighted whole scenes to write on the document, just yellow paragraphs dotted in and around a flood of green sections – sorry if that totalled just confused you but my writing style is confusing coz I can't write in order – so I'll try my hardest to finish either tomorrow or Thursday Please review if you spot any mistakes as this section wasn't as planned as my others.