I know this is a John/Owen fic but I just can't get over the sadness I've created around Owen and Ianto. Maybe I'll write them properly one day... Don't worry John will be back soon.

Owen shielded his eyes from yet another set of headlights temporary blinding him as he hurried down crowded streets, flashes of different lives flew by him, couples and families all blurring in to one . He wasn't sure exactly what he was doing as Ianto had already made it clear that he didn't want to see any of the Torchwood team. He was probably going to ignore Owen completely just the same as he had done before. But if there was one thing Owen knew he needed to at least try and fix what he had caused.

He stood outside the welshman's apartment daring himself to knock. He had not walked all this way to turn back now but equally he couldn't bear to confront this head on. He raised his fist just as he heard voices coming to the door on the other side. Sloping american vowels were tense and angry in a way that could only indicate trouble. Owen dashed in to a shadowy nook, further down the corridor, to conceal himself; Ianto he could just about handle, Jack was another matter.

"Ianto please I never meant to hurt you, you know I wouldn't-"

"That's the problem Jack, you do everything you can not to hurt me by hiding everything you're doing with... Her,"

A sinking feeling hit Owen.

"Nothing happened I told you I wa-"

"Stop!" Ianto's shout was so loud it echoed down the corridor as the door to his apartment swung open with a bang. "Stop with the bullshit, I'm sick to death of you having the best of both. For so long I put up with it just thinking... It was okay because it was me you still came back to. But I was stupid and naive, you don't care about me or anyone who's not yourself,"

From Owen's position he could just about see Jack's face and what he thought was hurt briefly appear there. "Ianto... That's not true, I do care about others" he said quietly

"Oh? So do you care about what you're doing to Rhys? Gwen? Me? Owen?"

Owen was startled at the mention of his name, it made the whole situation even worse.

"Owen? What's Owen got to do with this?" Jack asked confused.

"Because instead of saving one of your team you're running after your unattainable fantasy!"

"She's not a fantasy! She's just..." Jack retorted

"Just what? I am done with this Jack. You like to think you're a hero but you're the biggest monster of them all"

The haunted words used a thousand years ago fell like punch in the air, Owen could feel it from the end of the corridor so he knew the impact was worse by the apartment.

Owen wanted nothing more than to stop what was happening and end the pain and torment once and for all, but it wasn't his relationship and as much as he hated it Ianto and Jack had to sort it out themselves... He couldn't get in between that.

"Ianto please don't do this," Jack started to say as the door was slammed in his face "Ianto... Ianto I... I...,"

Owen held his breath while he waited for Jack's next move, he was worried he would stay there for a considerable length of time, forcing Owen to be in the cramped nook for longer than he was comfortable with. Eventually, after a lot of indecisive pacing and near knocks, Jack left the corridor enabling Owen to make his own attempt at access.

He knocked once hoping Ianto wouldn't ignore him.

"I'm not interested Jack," Ianto shouted through the door.

"Ianto... It's Owen," He said

As the door opened Owen prepared himself with an apology and half an explanation, hoping that that would do.

"Ianto I-"

"So you've heard," Ianto said cutting him off "He's been fucking her again, for months apparently and I'm supposed to just be okay with it,"

Ianto looked at Owen with a look that could only be described as hate.

"You don't have to be Ianto, you don't have to go back," Owen said quietly reaching out for his friend, Ianto moved away sharply.

"And where would I go? Don't pretend you care Owen, God you're just like Jack... Except no you're worse because at least Jack tries,"

"I am nothing like Jack, I would never do anything to hurt you," Owen replied feeling so angry at the comparison, but mostly because it was built on a truth he wasn't prepared to admit.

"Oh really? So when I spend three hours at your door begging for you to let me in, you're what? Helping me by ignoring me? Tell me Owen when did moping over a one night stand become more important than your work and friends?" Ianto questioned

This was the turning point, Owen could diffuse the situation right now and actually talk openly with Ianto, like he was so used to doing. But the way he was assuming everything was causing Owen to forget how much he cared for him and instead focus on everything he hated about him.

"Amazing," Owen exclaimed sarcastically "You know Ianto I thought at least you would be on my side when it was your boyfriend who caused this mess,"

"Jack ne- we all needed you back!" Ianto retorted

"There you go defending him again! like the lapdog you are, keep dreaming, he will never be with you like you want,"

"Oh like you're any better, how's John? heard from him recently?"

The punch happened so fast Owen barely had time to realize what he was doing. All of sudden Ianto was sitting on the ground in front of him, clutching his mouth. Owen noted that this whole exchange had happened in a corridor where anyone could walk past and he couldn't be dealing with anyone else this evening. He entered the apartment and closed the door behind him "I'm sorry Ianto... You just shouldn't have brought him up,"

"This is so fucked up, you're so fucked up," Ianto muttered

"It's not my fault, Jack shouldn't have brought me back," He squatted down next to Ianto "Let me help,"

"Get out," Ianto was shaking and there was nothing Owen could do. He could feel himself slipping further and further away.

"Ianto please I can't lose you as well,"

"Should have thought about that before you punched me... Now please... Get. Out." He said between gritted teeth

Owen stared at Ianto, willing him to look up at him, but his gaze was firmly planted on the ground

"Fine," He stood up and moved towards the door "But don't come crying to me when you end up alone again,"

"At least I won't be as lonely as you," Ianto shouted.

Owen slammed the door behind him in an attempt to block out the truth of Ianto's words.

Suddenly he was running, running from everything. Death, the team and the ghost of John followed him down through the sleepy streets of Cardiff. He couldn't believe that he had hit Ianto, the one person who still cared about him and who he still wanted to care about him. He had had him right there and willing to help but he pushed him away because he was still so messed up over John. For the thousandth time Owen questioned his 'life' and what had become of it. Why couldn't he just try and be normal and be thankful that he still had some sort of life to live. Why was he waiting for a man that was probably screwing a hundred different species a night, not even giving Owen a spare thought. He most likely thought about Jack more than he did Owen.

He was running out of places to run, but he kept going until ground turned in to water. An audible splash filled his ears seconds before water did as the dim light from street lamps faded to the dark depths of the bay.

Then and only then did Owen scream.

I did it! I uploaded again, and you thought I wouldn't!