A/N: Phew! I ALMOST didn't manage to update today but here I am. We'll see how this chapter turned out, especially considering the late hour…

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for all your reviews! To have you still hanging in there after all the waiting… It's amazing! So THANK YOU. You're seriously precious.

Awkay, before I fall asleep on my laptop… Let's go! I really hope that you'll enjoy the ride.

Seeing Stars

Getting the whole group crammed into two cars was quite a challenge. Both Owen and Jack would've wanted to keep an eye on John, since trust wasn't exactly an option at the moment. But Ianto and the baby needed a medical professional to monitor them and Jack wasn't exactly fully recovered from his latest death. In the end the little family and Owen packed up into the first car, with some fair warnings from the Captain and the doctor to their questionable comrade.

There was no way Jack would've been able to drive safely in his current mental and physical condition. And since the rest of them wouldn't be able to come back to life Owen announced that he was taking the wheel. All things considered it wasn't a surprise that Jack gave no objections, especially when the man was allowed to take over the entire backseat. With Ianto's head in his lap and their baby tucked firmly yet tenderly on one arm. He would've wanted to hold them tightly but knew all too well that they were too fragile for it.

Staring at the two of them Jack lost track of time entirely. Enough so to jump with startle when Owen spoke. "How's the kid doing?"

Jack's throat tightened while he focused once more on his daughter. Her breathing… It wasn't improving. Nor was her color. It felt like she was slipping right through his fingers and there was nothing he could do about it. "She's…" He gritted his teeth. "She'll need help. But she'll be okay." If he didn't keep convincing himself of that he'd lose whatever little there was left of his sanity.

"And Ianto?"

Jack's gaze shifted towards the man in his arms. Still awfully pale and still. But breathing. The Captain chose to focus on that. He caressed his lover's hair with the hand that wasn't occupied by their daughter and was surprised to see it tremble. "Stable."

Owen nodded. "Good." The doctor did accelerate their speed, though. "That stubborn bastard's going to keep hanging on. Even if out of spite."

For a moment Jack felt like scolding the man for such a language in front of a child but decided to let it drop. Right there he had far more important things to focus on, with his family in his arms. His family that was hanging by such a horribly thin thread.

Jack's eyes felt a little moist while he kissed his baby girl's disturbingly cold forehead, then leaned down to Ianto. "You did it, love", he whispered, meaning the words to be just between the two of them. "You gave birth to our little princess. And she… She's perfect, in every way." He closed his eyes and inhaled the Welshman's familiar scent. "So… Hurry up and come back to us. Because… We need you, Ianto." It was terrifyingly long from the last time the Captain had needed someone like this. But he knew, with a crushing amount of certainty, that if Ianto would slip away from him like this…

Their little girl emitted a heart shattering, tiny whimper and Jack could only hope that it was her very own battle cry.

If John had been harboring any ideas of being welcomed by the Torchwood team the gun Gwen held trained at his head would've certainly shattered them all. He sighed. "Is that really necessary, sugar?"

Gwen gave him a dry look. "The last time we met you left me to die", she reminded him. "So let me decide what's necessary." The gun was aimed a little lower. "Would you like to try and call me 'sugar' again?"

John smirked. "The Welsh temper…", he murmured almost affectionately. That was when he received a text. He hadn't noticed that his hands were still covered in Ianto's blood until he saw red all over the item.

The message wasn't in English. 'All set. Expecting a reward.'

For a moment John thought about pointing out that this was him, calling out an old favor. Instead, however, he grinned in a filthy manner. He knew the perfect reward…

"Everything's ready", John announced at Gwen's suspicious glare.

"That'd better be the case." Gwen didn't lower the gun. "They've already suffered enough with your help."

John's eyebrow twitched. "You think I had a lot of choice over that? It was to help him or be killed and let's face it. I've never been the hero type."

That actually succeeded in rendering Gwen speechless.

That was when they reached an alley quite close to the Hub. There was a black mini van waiting for them. After a one more text from John a woman stepped out of the vehicle. A woman with the most beautiful, deep purple skin and a pair of jade green eyes that had no pupils. The only physical human trait about her was the long, jet black hair that she'd tied to a ponytail.

Jack, Owen, Tosh and Gwen all tensed up. Despite everything they'd seen or perhaps because of that they seemed wary. The woman noticed. "I mean no harm." Her English was broken but very much comprehensible. "John told me that a baby needs help."

"And all the stuff in there?" Owen nodded sharply towards the vehicle. "Are we going to end up into jail for that?"

"No." The woman sounded sincere enough. "We… I have friends." Whatever that was supposed to mean. John could immediately tell that the team would find their way to her and make her pay if there'd be… unnecessary difficulties.

Jack stepped forward, an inferno in his eyes. "My baby daughter… She needs help. I'm only trusting you because I have to. Do not betray that trust." His eyes didn't soften even slightly, not with how much he had at stake. "What's your name?"

The woman shook her head. Something akin to startle flashed in her eyes. "No names."

"Hey!" John decided to step up before things would get any more uncomfortable. "Don't you think I've done my share of crap already? She's alright."

"I really hope so", Jack muttered. The Captain's eyes, however, revealed that there really weren't any options to consider. John was already walking away with the woman when the other man went on. "And hey? You were there from them while I couldn't be. Thank you."

Their eyes met and held. They had a pretty long, twisted past together. They'd never been good for each other but maybe now, finally… They'd be able to achieve some sort of peace. It was time to let go and move on. So John nodded, a grin on his face. "Anytime. Besides, it wasn't entirely unpleasant to look after Eye Candy's gorgeous ass." He was walking away, one arm draped around the woman's shoulders, while he went on. "I haven't seen you that… involved with anyone in ages. Be good to him and the little one."

"As long as they let me", Jack swore, audibly meaning it from the bottom of his battered heart.

As soon as they were safely out of earshot the woman relaxed. She sighed heavily before starting to use her own language. Her long, snake like tongue slipped out of her mouth a couple of times while she spoke, as though tasting the air. "Poor sucker."

John sighed as well. "They'll be fine." What other option was there? A smirk appeared to his face when he saw a very expensive looking car waiting for them. In a moment two young women, identical to the one beside him, emerged from the vehicle. "Two, Three… Oh, how I've missed you girls." Sheer lust flashed in his eyes. "Papa John is planning on rewarding you greatly for the wait and this effort."

The girls certainly didn't complain.

To the team's shock the van was actually loaded with valuable equipment. Such that might just save the baby girl's life. And fight they did, all of them.

Martha wasn't able to make it there but they consulted her otherwise. Neither she or Owen was a pediatrician, let alone experienced on newborns. But they had connections and with their help Baby Harkness-Jones was given a chance, no matter how weak one. Jack refused to name her, even just in case. It would've felt like giving up to him. Besides, Ianto wasn't there to give his word.

Yes, Ianto.

According to Owen there was a horrific amount of blood loss and rather impressive tearing. It was highly unlikely that the Welshman would ever be able to get pregnant again. Jack didn't seem heartbroken and Tosh couldn't really blame him. This was where the first pregnancy led to. Would Ianto really be able to handle another one?

This wasn't the time to worry about that, though. Not when the daddy and daughter were still fighting for their lives. For hours Tosh watched with helplessness, sadness and intense worry how Jack stretched himself thin, trying to be there for both of his beloved equally. In the end Tosh decided to step up before the Captain would kill himself with stress and exhaustion.

"Hey." She squeezed the tense, horribly scared team leader's shoulder, trying to offer some support. "Why don't you spend the next twenty minutes with little Princess? I'll be here with Ianto."

Jack frowned. Even if he knew that he was already taking off, just for a little bit. "I can't…"

"Yes, you can." It surprised her how firm she managed to sound. "Be there with your daughter. He'd want you to."

That was all it took. After a second of stun Jack nodded with stunningly open emotions in his eyes. After giving Ianto's forehead a loving kiss the man was on his way.

Tosh sighed, focusing on the Welshman. She ran a gentle hand through his hair. "Wake up, will you?" she murmured. "Because… Because I think he'd follow you somehow if you tried to leave. He wouldn't stop chasing until he reached you. And you can't do that to him or your daughter." She squeezed his hand. "And I miss you, too."

Jack was able to cope with very little sleep. But even he had his limits. Dying twice in less than a day… Then staying up for four days, watching over Ianto and their little girl while they seemed to be taking turns in crashing… As day five dawned, marking the end of the first night with no medical emergencies, Jack basically collapsed.

Jack had been sleeping, or perhaps comatose would've been a better term, for almost five hours when something began to lure him back towards the land of the living. The slightest of movements underneath the hand that'd wrapped determinedly around Ianto's. More of a flutter than anything else.

Considering everything they'd been through it wasn't a surprise that Jack focused instinctively on the monitor reporting Ianto's vitals. He found nothing of what he'd expected. Instead he realized that Ianto… was waking up. Very slowly and with apparent difficulties but still.

"Yan?" Jack squeezed his lover's hand, his heart starting to sing when he finally felt a feeble response. "Open your eyes for me, yeah? You've been sleeping for a pretty long time already." Too long.

Ianto wrinkled his nose, clearly not liking the idea. It looked like the Welshman was about to sink right back under but in the end the pull of Jack's pheromones was stronger. With what seemed to require a massive amount of effort the man's eyes opened halfway, darting blearily towards the Captain's direction.

At first they simply stared at each other, soaking in the miraculous fact that the other was there. Jack was unaware of the softness in his eyes while his thumb rubbed circles on the back of Ianto's hand, fully intending to never let go again. Without saying a word he placed a soft, tender kiss to Ianto's hand. Considering all the dirty things they'd done it was stunning that this was the most intimate moment they'd ever shared.

It was pure beauty and honesty.

Jack swallowed, tightening his hold on the other's cool fingers. "I… I didn't know…" … if you'd ever wake up again. I thought you'd leave me.

Ianto smiled softly. "Not that easily", the Welshman rasped. The man's free hand lingered almost cautiously on his stomach, as though trying to feel. At first there was nothing short of blind panic in the archivist's gaze. Soon, however, it transformed into pure agony that had nothing to do with physical discomfort.

Jack frowned. "Ianto?" And then it clicked. "The baby…"

Apparently that was a topic not to be discussed yet. A swift interruption was a sure sign of that. Ianto's eyes didn't seem entirely dry when they focused on him once more. "Home?"

Jack fought the urge to chuckle. Something was bubbling very pleasantly inside him. Happiness, could it possibly be? "Yeah, love." The endearment tasted incredibly good on his tongue. "We're home now."

Ianto nodded, relaxing marginally. Something was still very wrong, though, and not only because of the recent near death experience. The clearest indication was that although Ianto couldn't stop clutching at his stomach the man refused to ask about their daughter.

Which, Jack decided, was something that needed to be addressed. He sighed, then planted a kiss to his visibly exhausted, still recovering lover's forehead. "It'll be okay", he murmured. And for the first time in ages he actually believed it. "Our baby girl…"

Ianto, apparently, wasn't ready for those soothing words. The Welshman interrupted him quickly. "I… I'm tired." It was nothing short of a plea. The other's breathing didn't sound right. "Later? Please?"

In full honesty Jack was tired himself. And whatever this was… He'd need to be fully coherent to be able to navigate through it. So he relented, albeit reluctantly. "Yeah", he promised. "Later." But soon.

Jack hadn't dared to approach Ianto further while the man was still unconscious, possibly slipping away from him. But the stress and a tsunami of feelings were getting to him, possibly to them both. They both needed this.

Cautiously, almost like he might've been denied a permission, Jack slipped into the bed, as close to Ianto as he dared to with all the tubes and wires still involved. At first Ianto shivered, like having expected something else entirely, then wasted no time. The Welshman basically melted into his embrace and Jack wrapped his arms gratefully around the man he came so very close to losing. There, with Ianto's breathing and heartbeat lulling him, he slipped into an easy, nightmare free slumber. Furiously determined not to let this rare second chance go to waste.

Over the past few days Owen had grown used to Jack breathing down his neck whenever the Captain wasn't keeping an eye on Ianto. It was infuriating and incredibly creepy but he'd grown used to it. And usually Jack knew better than to comment on his work. Usually.

Today it became apparent that Jack's thoughts were a million miles away. Owen frowned, glancing briefly towards his boss while typing down the baby's vitals. "You look like someone shoved a metal bar all the way to your colon", the doctor pointed out in his usual subtle manner. "What's up with that? Tea boy's awake and your brat's hanging in there. Shouldn't you be grinning like a loon or… whatever the bloody hell it is that people in love do?"

Jack hesitated for a few long moments. Which was uncharacteristic enough. "You've talked to him, after he woke up."

Obvious enough. Owen rolled his eyes, starting to get increasingly impatient. "Yes. But doctor patient confidentiality, Jack."

"Did he mention the baby? At all?" Jack frowned, focusing on the incubator. "Because… I tried to tell him about her but he didn't want to hear a word."

It was Owen's turn to frown. He then sighed. "Look, Jack… I'm an insensitive bastard. But even I can tell that Ianto just went through a massive trauma, emotionally and physically. He thought that he wouldn't survive the pregnancy. Let alone the birth. And then…" He swallowed down Gray's name on the last second. "… this fiasco happened. He needs time, that's all."

"Time", Jack repeated, seeming frustrated even if it wasn't a protest.

"Yes", Owen confirmed with patience that didn't come naturally to him. "That and… I can't believe I'm saying this… some tender, loving care."

Jack's eyes instantly sparked to life at that. "I can definitely do that", the man decided with his trademark blinding smile. With a one more look at his daughter the Captain was on the move, his coat billowing determinedly behind him.

Owen's eyes narrowed while he stared at the Captain's distancing back. "I'm warning you, you horny asshole! Try something adult-like and I'll tear off little-Jackie with my bare hands!"

"There are many ways to take care of him, Dr. Harper", Jack quipped, finishing up the emotional scarring Owen's imagination had already given him.

Owen turned to look at the child. So hopelessly tiny and fragile but holding on nonetheless. At the moment she seemed to be stretching. He sighed. "Congrats. Your parents are both insane." He grinned in a way he would've let no other living being see. He had a reputation to maintain, after all, even if he was a walking corpse. "But they both love you. Try to keep that in mind, even when you want to strangle them." The doctor then narrowed his eyes, poking at the incubator with one finger. "But don't you ever mention I told you this. Got that?"

The baby sneezed, sealing the deal.

It was a shame, really, that Owen didn't know he had audience. Or perhaps it was a fortune. Tosh, who'd come to check up on the baby, watched them with a soft smile on her face. She then turned and left without making a sound, leaving the two of them to their peace.

Perhaps Owen should've known, though, that for once there were no naughty thoughts on Jack's mind. As soon as the Captain reached Ianto's still sleeping form he slipped into the bed, slowly and carefully. Then pulled his lover into his arms and held on, smiling a little when the Welshman sighed with contentment and snuggled closer.

Yes, Ianto was struggling. But still alive, still right there beside him. And there was no way he'd let the man slip away now that he'd found the archivist again.

About a day later Ianto was awake and far more coherent. Enough so to start trying to get out of the bed. "I need something to do, Jack!" the Welshman chuckled at Jack's nervous hovering. "I can actually feel my brain melting."

"You're no Superman. Or James Bond", Jack pointed out, frowning when his lover swayed a little. "You didn't see the amount of blood you lost but I did." His voice broke a little as the unwanted memories came flooding in. "I nearly lost you! And our baby…!"

"Yes, I know!" Ianto's tone revealed that even without trying Jack had managed to hit a nerve. Moisture lingered in the other's eyes before it was blinked away harshly. The Welshman refused to look at him. "I… I tried, Jack! I really, honestly did. But I wasn't… I couldn't…" The man's Adam's apple bobbed and the moisture came back to his eyes. "I tried to save her, I swear! If I'd just…"

Somewhere in the middle of Ianto's rambling Jack finally understood. And he kicked himself mentally for not figuring it out sooner. His chest tightened while he took a step closer. "Ianto, our daughter isn't dead." He was careful to keep his tone soft, mainly because he feared that otherwise it might've broken entirely. "She's just as tough as you. She's still fighting with all her might. But she needs you."

Finally he managed to get Ianto to look at him. The man stared, eyes wide and full of desperate hope. Obviously trying to spot any lie. The choked whimper that eventually came tore at Jack's heart. "Alive…?"

Jack nodded, unable to figure out what to say in a situation where no words would've been even nearly enough.

Jack's heart jumped to his throat when without a warning Ianto's knees buckled. Fortunately the Captain was quick and managed to break the fall before any stitches would've been pulled. Despite being far from well the Welshman clung to him incredibly tightly, squeezing him almost desperately. With the sudden embrace slamming Jack's breath away with its force it took him a long moment to realize why Ianto's whole from was shuddering the way it did.

The words that eventually came were barely audible. "It took me so long, to even realize that I wanted her… I thought that maybe… Maybe this is my punishment… That she'd be stolen away because…"

"Shh." Jack closed his eyes and held his lover as firmly as he dared to. It required a significant amount of willpower to keep his own emotions in check. "You fought for her as long as you could, and beyond. She knows that."

After a very long moment Ianto finally calmed down. The sobs melting into deep, shuddering breaths, the hold on Jack loosening a little. For a few more seconds they remained still and quiet, both trying to regain their composure.

Ianto yelped when all of a sudden Jack scooped him up, then into a wheelchair. "Jack! What are you doing?"

Jack smiled and kissed the other's forehead. "You two have both been waiting too long. It's about time you meet."

Ianto was still very tense when he began wheeling the man towards where their daughter was but at least the Welshman didn't resist openly. Jack was eager to take that as a good sign. They were too deep in thought to do a lot of talking during the short trip it took to reach her. As soon as Ianto's eyes found her the man gasped, his gaze filling with something Jack had never seen in it before. The archivist was barely breathing while staring at his baby girl.

Eventually Jack lay a hand on the other's shoulder, frowning with worry. "Ianto? Are you okay?"

Ianto emitted what could've just as well been a sob or a chuckle. Maybe it was a little bit of both. A stray tear escaped the man's eyes while the archivist turned to look towards him. There was a smile on the younger man's face that could've lit the entire city. "She's… She's ours, Jack."

Jack grinned back. His own eyes didn't feel entirely dry. "Yeah, she is." He focused on the baby who was sleeping soundly, completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil she was causing. "Do you have any name suggestions?"

Ianto looked at the child. Then, slowly, his eyes grew warm with decision. "How would you two feel about Serena?" The archivist glanced briefly towards him. "'Seren' means 'star' in Welsh."

Jack's smile threatened to split his face. Before he realized what he was doing he was kissing Ianto with all the hunger the past few days and the drama before had left into his body and soul. When lack of air became an issue he rested his forehead against Ianto's and nodded, panting heavily. "What else could a Torchwood kid be called?"

"My thoughts exactly." Ianto's words were followed by their daughter yawning mightily. "I wonder if that means she agrees?"

TBC

A/N: Heh, I figured that you guys deserve some fluff after all the angst, drama and heartbreak. Let's hope that the story ends happily! At least Ianto's still fighting. And their daughter has a name!

Sooooo… Thoughts? Comments? Please, do let me know! I'd LOVE to hear from you.

ONLY ONE CHAPTER AND AN EPILOGUE LEFT, GUYS! And Gray's punishment…

I've REALLY gotta go to bed. Until next time, guys! I hope that I'll see you all there.

Take care!

Guest: This comes late, but happy birthday! (BEAMS) I REALLY hope that the new chapter will work as a late present. And soon enough we'll see how all this turmoil ends.

Gigantic thank yous for the review! I really hope that you'll enjoy what's to come.