FALLEN ANGEL PART 3

The time is short: tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

It had been a long night and Gabriel had spent the past six hours scouring the internet for the name Ianto Jones. He had discovered three possibilities, all of them in Wales according the electoral registers. He resigned himself to a trip to Brecon Powys and then on to Cardiff. He was tired and frustrated, this demon, one Taneth was proving to be the most powerful he had encountered. He had spoken to Brother Hilary at St Agnes' Abbey that morning after exorcising the girl and Hilary had reminded him to take a saintly relic with him next time he was to face it. Of course Gabriel already had one, blessed by the Holy Father himself. He had been amazed that the child had survived her ordeal, two of Taneth's previous victims had died as a direct result of having the demon driven from their bodies. Gabriel was the most experienced of his order in such matters. The Pope had given him special dispensation, knowing his gifts and knowing that Gabriel understood the ultimate price that his work entailed. Gabriel's only concerns were the service to God and the protection of innocents. Taneth enjoyed the innocents, it corrupted them, broke them and destroyed them. Gabriel had seen the results of Taneth's work far too often. With each of their confrontations the creature seemed to become craftier, more powerful and much harder to remove. Gabriel realised that this time had to be the last. Taneth had to be destroyed and banished to the Hell from whence it came. There would be a price, there always was, the devil never gave anything up for free. It was one of the reasons why Gabriel had chosen this particular devotion. He had no living family, no friends and no one that he was personally attached to that the devil could hurt in order to weaken his resolve and his faith. God was his armour, Jesus his sword, Mary his virtue, the only sin he claimed to be guilty of was his pride and to this he confessed openly to God everyday because the one thing he could not comprehend was going to Hell himself and he would sacrifice himself to do God's will if it was required of him. Gabriel knew that defeating Taneth would require his greatest resolve and strength of belief. He packed his small bag and decided to rest for an hour before heading to the tube station to get his train to Wales.

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Gwen Cooper strolled in through the roller door with a massive smile on her face. Crisis averted, she and Rhys were at least talking to each other again and she had assured and convinced that he was the only man for her. He finally seemed to get that Torchwood really was bigger than either of them and that she couldn't possibly leave. The week off had been Jack's best idea yet. It was what she and Rhys had needed, time, time to just be for a few days. She ran across the Hub and bounded up to Jack's office to apologise to him for the way she had behaved the previous week, waving at Tosh as she went by.

"Heya Jack."

He put down the device in his hands and offered up a cheerful grin.

"Hey yourself."

She stood there hands shoved into the pockets of her figure hugging jeans, looking positively glowing. Jack gestured for her to sit and she did so lounging back in the chair comfortably.

"I am really sorry about yelling at you and Ianto. I had no right Jack. I am sorry if I upset you guys."

Jack waved a dismissive hand. "It's ok. You and and Rhys all right now?"

She nodded. "Where's Ianto? I wanted to apologise to him too."

The smile dropped from Jack's face. "He's gone away for a few days." He failed to hide his disappointed tone. "Owen told him to take some leave, just to..you know...take a break, because he never does...So he's gone to Prague for a few days. Easy Jet from East Midlands Airport and..." He glanced at his watch. "He won't be back for 3 days."

Gwen was smiling. "You missing him?" She laughed at the lecherous look on his face.

"Oh yeah."

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Rhys pulled his mobile out of his jeans pocket. He'd received a text message from a withheld number. He jammed the rest of the Danish pastry into his mouth as he read and looked at the attached photo, on seeing it he spat his food out all over his desk in anger. Gwen had promised him that there was nothing going on between her and Jack, she was obviously lying.

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Ianto threw the pay-as-you-go mobile into the river.

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Jack stepped through the 'secret' door into the tourist office and strolling past the front desk he unlocked the door and let Rhys in with a cheery grin. The next the thing he was flat on his back having received a sharp punch to his jaw, Rhys standing over him his face red with fury.

"You bastard, Harkness. You're fucking my wife, you piece of shit!"

Before Jack could even react a booted foot went into his gut and then his groin. Stars exploded in his vision and he aware of screaming and shouting and lots of incredibly bad language as Owen and Gwen rushed in to restrain the pissed off Welshman. Jack hauled himself to his feet and glared at Rhys, ready to throw a returning fist in the idiot's face.

"Rhys! That's enough!" Gwen was yelling herself hoarse, "What the hell is going on?"

Jack was nursing his jaw and poised ready to retaliate. "Would you mind telling what the fuck that was for?"

Rhys was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet but he calmed himself sufficiently to pull out his mobile phone and show Gwen the incriminating evidence. She baulked at the image of herself and Jack quite definitely mid snog in front of the water sculpture on the Plass. She shoved it at Jack who gave a similar reaction.

"That never happened." She stated, not actually believing what she had just seen.

Rhys glowered. "Nice try Gwen. THAT is pretty conclusive, don't you think?"

Jack handed the phone to Owen. "She's telling the truth."

Owen looked at them as disbelieving as Rhys but he kept his mouth shut and passed the phone back to Rhys.

"The truth? You two wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit your arses."

Jack sighed.

"Rhys, I am not having an affair with Jack and that did not happen. I promise you, I love you and I would not cheat on you." Gwen implored gently grasping on to Rhys' arm.

"Ok, so how do you explain it then?"

Jack was losing his patience now. "Bring the phone down stairs we can get Tosh to run the picture through some imaging software. It's a fake Rhys and I want to know who sent it and why so shall we?" He gestured to the entrance to the Hub.

Reluctantly Rhys agreed as he followed the Torchwood team in, Gwen gripping on to his hand and wiping at the tears on her face at the same time.

"It's definitely a fake." Toshiko announced only an hour later as they were gathered in the board room. "A poor fake at that, whoever did this obviously wasn't too concerned about that, you can see quite clearly where the two images have been spliced together."

There was a collective sigh of relief and Rhys flushed with embarrassment and look down at his hands clasped on the table in front of him.

"Sorry Jack. Gwen I'm sorry. God I am stupid." He mumbled. Gwen reassuringly grasped his hand.

"It's ok pet."

Jack returned his attention to Tosh. "So, who did this?"

"The message came from a newly purchased mobile phone, one of those pay-as-you-go things. It was bought in Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London yesterday morning and paid for with cash. That was the only message/ call it was used for and it has since stopped transmitting. I contacted the shop and they reviewed their CCTV and sent this picture of the girl who purchased the phone. I've not been able to identify her."

Tosh sat back down.

Gwen was looking intently at Jack. "Why would anyone do such a horrible thing?"

"Have either of you had any problems, dodgy emails, weird phone calls, anything at all?"

Gwen and Rhys exchanged puzzled frowns. "No. I don't think so." Rhys replied.

"What are you thinking Jack?" Owen asked.

"This goes beyond being a bit of a prank, don't you think? I mean, no disrespect Rhys, but it has to be someone who knows how Rhys feels about...well...my relationship with Gwen."

Rhys couldn't get any more embarrassed if he tried, he felt thoroughly humiliated. Gwen was just plain worried.

"I want Tosh to install some CCTV at your place, so we can keep an eye on things and if anything and I mean anything else happens. I want to know about it."

The phone in Jack's office started to ring and he got up to take the call.

Let's get down to basics.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Ianto scrubbed at his hands, picking out the fragments and skin and dried blood from under his fingernails, whistling happily to himself. He had a flight to catch, mustn't forget the duty free order for Owen and maybe some nice perfume for Tosh, she was such a sweet little thing. He smiled wondering how Gwen and Rhys were doing and he would need to do something about Jack, dumping wouldn't be an option, that would arouse his suspicion far too much because this human was too weak to stand up to him. Still, some fun could be had....

Jack eyed Ianto somewhat appreciatively as the young man stepped through the arrivals gate in baggy jeans and T-shirt carrying a back pack which was slung over his shoulder and two carrier bags. There was smile on the young man's and Jack just couldn't resist the urge to pull him into a needy and passionate kiss, right there in front of all the passengers. Ianto just lowered his baggage to the floor and rather unexpectedly reciprocated with a full on wet sloppy snog. When they finally broke apart amid open and occasionally hostile looks they were grinning at each other stupidly.

"You missed me then?"

Jack picked up his back pack. "That obvious huh? How was the trip?"

Ianto grasped his hand as they walked back to the car. "It was great. I love Prague and it was nice to not be working. You were right I needed the break."

Jack smiled at him, wholly aware of the unusual public display of affection, it was nice, but it made him slightly nervous at the same time. Ianto's inherent shyness was something that Jack adored and it felt wrong now that it was missing. They dumped Ianto's things on the back seat and got in the car.

"So anything interesting happen whilst I was away?"

"Nah, not much. Myfanwy's been acting up as she only likes you to feed her and the Rift has been behaving itself. Some weirdo sent Rhys a fake text message and he went off on one because he still thinks I am shagging her...."

Ianto smiled to himself, I'm sorry Gwen, "And are you?"

Jack did a double take. "I can't believe you just asked me that?" He responded sharply.

Ianto reached across and squeezed his thigh. "Joking." He whispered coyly.

Jack was not amused, but he smiled anyway. "Yeah, right."

"Are they OK now?" Ianto decided he best ask, even though he didn't give a toss about them and their sanctimonious relationship.

Jack nodded. "I think so, but not until after Rhys had kicked the shit out of me."

"He did?" Ianto couldn't keep the amusement out of his tone.

Jack stole a look at the younger man. "It isn't funny Yan, he could have done serious damage."

"I'll have to check you over when we get home then won't I, make sure you're intact."

Jack decided it was high time he broke the speed limit to get them back to Cardiff.

The bottom line for Jack was that sex with Ianto was always an experience to be savoured and be taken seriously. The young man was a perfect blend of consideration and passion. Jack had never met anyone with the innate ability to give him everything he ever wanted in bed without having to ask. Ianto just did and he did it so well too. Jack couldn't get enough, he was just...perfect right down to the feather light touches of his breath after he fell asleep tightly wrapped in Jack's arms. It was the only concession that Ianto ever asked for, to be held in his sleep with the assurance that his nightmares would mostly be chased away. Jack loved to hold him anyway, it was never in imposition. So that night Jack was more than a little surprised to find himself waking up alone in Ianto's empty flat. He got and dressed wondering what time it was that Ianto had so quietly crept away. The car keys were gone from the hallway table and Ianto's replacement mobile was still sitting on the dresser. Frowning and more than a little displeased Jack pulled on his great coat and left for the Hub. Things were definitely changing between them. Jack was certain that it was a good thing, for Ianto at least. The younger man was most definitely more confident and self assured. He had taken, rather forcefully, the lead on the previous night's sexual activities, which Jack didn't mind, it just worried him. It was such an un-Ianto thing to do. He had always been a slightly submissive lover, but perhaps he was just finding his confidence with his and Jack's relationship. Perhaps he felt more trust and was therefore able to let go his own inhibitions a little. Jack tried to convince himself that that was a good thing, a stronger, more confident Ianto; but he wasn't so sure that he liked it that much wondering if it signalled the fact that Ianto would and could do just fine without him.