A/N – Well I did get another idea. Sorry to cora-stacy, I just couldn't bring myself to do anything surrounding CoE. Although, with the "pre-reprise?" (kind of a reprise that comes before the actual song in the play lol) of the song, it could have fit. VERY sad part.

Here's a link to the song standard youtube then /watch?v=YQEgz3WmRMY

This one is from the official DVD – der Tod is played by Mate Kamaras. I'll post the English lyrics at the end.

The Shadows Are Growing Longer - 2

Jack gasped in a breath of air. Coming back to life always hurt more than actually dying. He opened his eyes expecting to meet a worried pair of blue eyes. Instead he found himself staring at the ceiling of the med bay. Something was wrong.

"Ianto!" He got up, knocking a tray of surgical instruments onto the floor.

Owen appeared at the stop of the steps. "Jack, you're back."

"Where's Ianto?" Jack asked climbing the steps and pushing past the medic. He scanned the main area of the hub. Tosh sat at her computer, obviously not wanting to meet Jack's gaze. Gwen suddenly found herself busy.

Owen came up behind the captain; tentatively put his hand on the man's shoulder. "He's at the hospital. It was too much to deal with here."

Jack swung around. "What happened?" he growled.

Owen stepped in front of the Captain. "The thing – we're still trying to figure out what it was – took you down fast. When Ianto went forward to get to you, he caught a glancing blow."

The medic winced as he saw the fear in Jack's eyes and before the Captain could ask. "Jack, he's stable. Not out of the woods, but he's stable."

Jack pushed past Owen heading for the cog door.

"Jack, you can't go." Cried Gwen.

The captain turned and snarled at her. "Not today, Gwen. Not now. I am going to the hospital to see Ianto. He's there because of me."

"Umm, Jack." Tosh interrupted; obviously afraid he'd jump down her throat. "You should probably change first."

He turned to bark at her, but then looked down and his blood stained clothes.

Within minutes, a newly changed Jack and a worried Owen were out the door heading to the hospital.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Jack stood outside the door of Ianto's room. Owen and the nurse had assured him, Ianto was resting comfortably even though he wasn't quite out of the woods yet.

Just as he was about to enter, he heard a voice. He paused, thinking at first it was a doctor. But as the low speaking continued, a memory stirred. He knew that voice. He had heard it countless times during his long life.

"Do not call out to him. He won't come for you. He will live long after you have passed from this life. When you call for me, I will always come. I will stay close to you."

It took a moment for the voice and the meaning of the words to connect in Jack's mind, but soon as they did, the anger boiled over. He roughly pushed the door open, letting it slam against the wall.

"Don't you touch him! He's not yours!"

The visitor who had been leaning over Ianto's prone form stood. He appeared to be a young man with white blond hair wearing a dark suit.

"Ah, Jack. We've been waiting for you." An icy smile crossed the man's face.

Jack moved to stand on the opposite side of the bed as the man. Both figures loomed over the sleeping form Ianto.

"Why are you playing this game with him?" The man asked with a sneer. "He is but a blip in time to you and he is well aware of that fact. This brief interlude cannot mean as much to you as it does to him."

Jack tensed. "Get out."

"Ahhh, so you don't deny it."

Jack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He turned his gaze from the man across the bed to Ianto and his eyes softened. "He is not and will never be just a blip in time to me." The words came out almost as a whisper.

Jack placed his hand over Ianto's.

The stranger stepped back from the bed, but Jack did not miss the softly spoken words. "This world is dying, Jack. You are not. You shouldn't hold onto it too tightly."

Jack looked up as if to say something but the man had gone. He felt a hand clutch his own and smiled as he saw Ianto open his eyes.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Ianto Jones. Care to stay a while longer?"

~End~

A/N – I've decided to leave this opened ended and possibly bounce around in Jack's life – each chapter being a standalone event along this theme. Death is ever present and it's cool to personify it. And of course this particular personification is really cool. LOL

Questions… comments, etc. are gladly welcome!

English Lyrics

Do you remember how we trembled
As we floated in the dance?
You need me. Yes, you need me.
Just admit that you love me more
Than the man at your side
Even if you give him more
You are dragging him into the night.

The shadows grow longer
It is evening before your day has started
The shadows grow longer
The world is dying with you. Don't hold onto it.