Chapter 12: Jack 5

Ianto crept through the door in the false wall and looked around the Tourist Office wildly. He was still frightened of making contact with aliens and on his way up the stairs had imagined all sorts of creatures waiting for him. What he did see was rather more frightening than all his imaginings; Jack – Jack! – was standing in front of the counter, his Webley pointed at him. This was too like events on the night Lisa had died.

Jack 5 (you guessed it) had heard the door start to open and whirled round, gun in hand, ready to fire. His mouth fell open when he saw Ianto and then formed a slow, seductive grin. "Ianto," he breathed, putting his gun on the counter and moving towards him, "oh, Ianto." He reached out and pushed aside the other man's raised gun and enveloped him in a bear-hug. "Ianto," he said again, this time with delight. He pulled back, still keeping Ianto close, and kissed him soundly.

Ianto found himself responding to the kiss and it was several minutes before his reason told him that this could not be Jack. Jack was down in the Hub. At this very moment, Jack was lying on the floor dead because of his, Ianto's, stupidity. Ianto pulled away from Jack 5, breathing heavily, and again pointed his gun at the man before him. "Who are you?"

"Oh, come on, Ianto. It's me, Jack. God, you look so good, even better than I remember." He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms, his smile genuine and delighted.

"You are not Jack Harkness. He's downstairs."

"That version of me is downstairs, the one from 2008," Jack 5 sighed, but the smile did not leave his face. "I don't know why, but I've been brought here from 2252. And as it means I can see you again, I am more than pleased to be here." The smile turned into a toothy grin. "I've missed you."

Ianto was confused. This did appear to be Jack; he certainly kissed like Jack and his body felt like Jack's. But another version of him, from 2252? That seemed unlikely but then again Jack was an unusual kind of guy. And this version had said he'd missed Ianto. Doing a quick calculation, Ianto thought that was feasible – he didn't expect to live another 244 years. He decided his best course of action was to get this guy into the Hub where the others would be able to help. "I think we'd better go downstairs," he said.

"No problem." Jack 5 picked up his gun and holstered it. His eye fell on Ianto's hands, still half-heartedly pointing his gun at him. "Hey, you're hurt," he said. "Looks like a nasty burn." Ianto allowed Jack 5 to take his injured hand. A familiar thrill ran through him from the contact; this was Jack, or at least a version of him.

"Here, sit down," said Jack 5, pushing Ianto into a nearby chair. He went behind the counter and fetched the first-aid box. He bent over Ianto's hand, "Just needs cleaning and dressing." He rummaged around in the box and took out cleansing lotion which he applied before dressing the wound. He tied the bandage with a neat bow.

"Thanks," said Ianto, making to pull his hand away and rise.

"Hold on, not finished yet," Jack 5 was indignant. "Have to kiss it better," he said, smiling that smile again. He gently placed his lips against the palm of Ianto's hand and kissed it. "There, all better now."

Ianto swallowed hard. He was finding this just a bit too much to handle. "We'd better go," he managed to say eventually.

"If you insist," replied Jack 5. He stopped for a moment. "I've just remembered. Didn't I bandage your hand before, when you cut it on some glass when we were Weevil hunting?" He looked pleased to have recalled it.

"I don't remember that."

"Oh, must not have happened yet." He smiled again. "Shall we go?" He took Ianto's good hand in his and they exited the Office together.