A/N: Jack's perspective is a grim one

Beta-ed: TattooedLibrarian


Jack was focused on his task and letting Ianto tag along was a part of that. Ianto in any form was a helpful hand and he had only two people under his command. This Ianto was flesh, but he still couldn't hear the Hive talking. When Flesh could hear the Hive their eyes would change, their movements would differ from the original and Jack knew Ianto well enough to know the difference. But even when the Mark 2 submitted to the Hive mind and dived in, it still had served them well in their escape from that Hive that hadn't been responding well to negotiations. Jack had no regrets over that, he had in mind that all the Iantos were originally Flesh so when they would return to their roots they would be welcomed to the Hive Mind. It was sort of a home. Maybe even better one than the one Ianto himself had.

That justified him. That made it all bearable because he wasn't responsible for these versions of Ianto, they weren't his to keep or use. And that was a good thing. Using Flesh was the thing that brought this horrible war on them and if their intention in sending through Iantos was to make him feel guilty or vulnerable, make him feel responsible, they had failed. His Ianto died in his arms, which was a moment he'd never forget. That was a defining moment that told him he couldn't save them all, that confirmed what he already knew all too well, that they all will die on him, every single one. And that was a good thing because they could escape in death. There was no escape for Jack.

As years passed by he sometimes wondered why he hadn't escaped while he could during that strange period on Earth when he was mortal again. Maybe because he felt too guilty to flee like that, to leave them in perpetual Hell. After he saw how life without death really looked he appreciated even his own short trips to death, they did restored him enough to carry on without his flesh rotting on him. That was a sight he didn't like to dwell upon.

What the Iantos did produce was determination, determination to end this war once and for all. It was horrible to fight yourself and there was nothing that Flesh detested more than their originals. Maybe that's why they reproduced Ianto for Jack, because they couldn't produce his version they took what was closest to him. Well, he had no desire to fight Ianto in any version.

Maybe all that he wanted for these Iantos was to spare them unnecessary grief. Grief that would come when they would face the reality of their existence. Jack still hadn't found a way to spare them that grief completely.

He was completely surprised when Mark 2 arrived, he was resisting seeing Ianto's face again too much, he was too easy to anger, it was just so unsettling. He could for the first time understand the reactions people had to their copies. He knew that's led Mark 2 to leave in such dramatic fashion. It was horrible to watch him dive in and disappear. But he didn't hesitate to accept that sacrifice and leave. Because that was just it, a sacrifice to get them out of a horrible situation.

The other Iantos followed that lead and Jack changed his behavior trying to find the right amount of detachment and distance. He just couldn't make it right, he couldn't really stay detached, make them leave and have life of their own. Maybe Mark 5 did that, but Jack doubted that, they didn't part in best of conditions.

He knew now that he had been too soft with Mark 4 leading him to frustration and rage that caused him to crush that shuttle. He was too candid to Mark 5, and for Mark 3 he probably pushed him too far into choosing something else. Mark 6 was just a mistake to show him everything about him straight off when he arrived, and what is the Flesh, and destiny of original Ianto, but Jack was exhausted after a long battle that followed Mark 5's departure and didn't wanted to go through it again. Mark 6 granted his wish.

Jack had just enough of this play. He had no patience left for explaining, justifying or defending his emotions, what had happen, how he was to blame for his original death. Fleeting Flesh versions of Ianto could never inflict such damage to his life, they were just echoes in the end.


So, off to action next, hopefully we'll get Jack somewhere better.