The goodbyes start here ...

Chapter 31: Departure

"How do you want to do this?" asked Jack when they were all together again. He looked at Jack 4 who was in charge of this part of the proceedings.

"I suggest my fellow Jacks take the Retcon, then when they're unconscious I'll send them back to their own time." He had the sonic screwdriver in his hand. "Then you, Jack, and your team can take the Retcon. Once I'm assured you're under I'll take a pill and immediately send myself back."

"Want to make sure we all take the stuff," commented Jack 3, attired once again in his purple coat.

"That's right. Any slip-ups and we could fatally damage the timeline." He looked and sounded serious. "In addition, I want everyone's assurance they have not written themselves any notes or made any other reminders of these events." There was a general shaking of heads as all agreed they had not: Captain Jack Harkness, ex-Time Agent, had a deep respect for the timeline.

"Do you need to take Retcon?" asked Toshiko. "After all, you know all that has happened to you. There's nothing to endanger the timeline."

"Perhaps," he agreed, "but nevertheless I intend to take it. Time is fragile and any additional knowledge could affect my future in unimaginable ways." He looked around the group. "Are you happy to proceed on that basis?" Everyone indicated their acceptance of the plan.

Owen opened the wooden box of Retcon. He took out a handful of pills. "Who's first?" he asked, looking round at the assembled Jacks.

"May as well be me," said Jack 3, holding out his hand for the pill. He looked around at them all. "It's been fun, which has been in short supply in recent months and I'm grateful to you all. I look forward to meeting some of you again," he said, looking at the Torchwood team. He took the proffered glass of water and swallowed the pill. He sat on the sofa and quickly lost consciousness.

"My turn," volunteered Jack 2. He took the pill and water and swallowed both. "Nice knowing you," he said to Toshiko as he too sat on the sofa and gracefully became unconscious.

Jack 4 moved to them and opened their wrist straps. He checked the piece of paper on which he had written the exact date and time they had left their own time and, accessing the vortex manipulator, he used the sonic screwdriver to send first Jack 3 and then Jack 2 back to their respective times. The two Jacks disappeared.

"And now me," said Jack 5, stepping forward and taking a pill from Owen. "I've really enjoyed my visit, seeing you all again. I wouldn't have missed it for the world." The last was said more to Ianto, standing off to one side.

He made to swallow the pill but Ianto stepped forward. "Why don't you sit down first," he said, taking his hand and pulling him towards the sofa. The others moved away slightly, in response to Jack's encouragement. "I've enjoyed meeting you and finding out about the future."

"It's such fun, Ianto, the next few years. Working with you. Being with you. You'll never know how much I miss you now because I never tell you how much you mean to me. I just hope that you somehow recognised how much I care." A few stray tears were rolling down his face as he thought of all the things he regretted not saying to his Ianto. There was no point in saying them now, this Ianto was going to forget it all in a few short minutes, but he still felt the need to try. "I love you," he said finally, taking Ianto's face in his hands and kissing him long and deep. He pulled away, swallowed the Retcon and smiled at Ianto who was sitting next to him on the sofa. As he lost consciousness, he saw tears in Ianto's eyes and felt his arm around his shoulders.

After a few moments, Jack 4 moved forward and in no time at all Jack 5 too disappeared, back to his own time. Jack caught Ianto's eye and smiled reassuringly. He was proud that the young man had found the courage to help Jack 5. He hoped he, Jack, would find a similar courage to admit to his feelings before it was too late, after all, his future wasn't written in stone, he could change it if he tried.