FALLEN ANGEL PART 6

Curse; bless me now with your fierce tears (Dylan Thomas).

Ianto let them into the flat and went straight to the kitchen to make coffee. Jack followed an uneasy two paces behind, hanging his coat in the hallway as he went.

"I was going to order Chinese for tonight that do you?" Ianto was smiling at him.

Jack couldn't understand the sudden switch from pensive to cheerful. He nodded his reply. "Yeah, that's fine. So what do you make of Sister Elizabeth's story?"

Ianto was busying himself with the coffee machine.

"Stranger things have happened Jack, we face the weird almost every day. There are certainly enough historical and theological references to demons. Either way, regardless of what we think, she believes it and the physical evidence is undeniable. Perhaps 'demon' is just another word for alien. I could name at least dozen of our own files that relate to such matters."

Jack watched him from the doorway his arms folded across his chest. "You seemed a little upset earlier."

Ianto looked at him with a sharp frown on his face. "Jack she had a horrible tale to tell, of course I'm upset, what happened to her was terrible."

"Yes, it was. You are usually much more dispassionate than that, detached."

Ianto returned to his task. "Perhaps too much so. Aren't there some cases that just get to you?"

Why can't you see me Jack?

Jack nodded, Ianto certainly didn't sound bothered, if anything he sounded like he couldn't be bothered. "You know they do."

"Well then."

Jack accepted the coffee that Ianto handed him. It was as if Ianto was just going through the motions of speaking because he was being spoken to, the cheeriness of less than a couple of minutes before was gone and Jack realised just how tired Ianto was looking all of a sudden.

Keep looking Jack. I know you can see it. Don't stop looking, don't, please!

Jack sipped on the coffee; it was wonderful as always, no one ever made it the way Ianto did. It seemed to be the only comforting thing about him these days.

An hour later and Jack was deeply asleep on the couch. Ianto kissed his forehead.

"Sweet dreams, Captain." And grabbing his keys he left the apartment.

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Father Rodchenko didn't know what hit him; he was only aware of the excruciating pain of being skinned alive, before he lost consciousness.

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Ianto was singing happily to himself as he drove, well anyone would think he was happy. Truth was he was hysterical, he wanted to cry and scream and slam his foot down on the gas pedal so he could run the car into a wall or a tree, but he had no control, his resolve was weakening. He could feel his body weakening too, the fever was finally taking hold. Yet he was calmly driving through Cardiff in the direction of the Hub covered from head to foot in another man's blood, his hands were sticky with it. It was all over the upholstery, in his hair the iron tang in the very air he was breathing. He wanted to gag on the stench in the warmth of his car but he was inhaling deeply, against his will and crying so loud inside. Could no one see? He knew that Jack could, but he did not understand what it was he was seeing. Ianto was terrified, not sure what this 'thing' had put into the coffee he had given to Jack. Was there even a difference between him and it? Whatever it was, it was him now absorbed into his very soul. Ianto wanted to die there and then and with a sudden horrified realisation he discovered that is what this 'thing' wanted him to do. He knew where it was taking him and he had to fight it. Ianto drove and as he did so he made a grab for his mobile phone and speed dialled Jack's number before the other side that wasn't him at all flung the phone, still dialling on to the back seat of the car. He pulled into the garage that lead straight into the back entrance of the Hub. He stepped in through the security door and headed straight for the locker rooms. He quickly showered, got changed and threw the clothes he'd been wearing into the incinerator by the vaults. On the way back up to the operations area he stopped at Janet's cell and they glared at one another exchanging snarls. Janet back into the corner of her confine and covered her face with her hands.

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Jack lurched upright at the sound of his mobile ringing. He grabbed it out of his pocket and noting the caller was Ianto he answered it straight away, but there was no one there, just the sound of a car engine after a moment of calling Ianto's name he hung up and rang Ianto back, the call was not answered. He swallowed realising that he had just woken from death, Ianto had poisoned his coffee. He closed his eyes to bite back his hurt and Jack dialled Owen and ordered him to meet him at the tourist office as quickly as he could. Owen grumpily complied.

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Gabriel peered in through the darkened window of the rather shabby looking tourist shop. There were no signs of life inside, though that was hardly surprising at 6am really, he'd wait here until Ianto arrived for work, he had to know for sure if he had found the right one. The others had drawn a blank, if this wasn't the man he was looking for then....well the consequences did not bear thinking about. The thought of losing track of Taneth was too frightening for him. Gabriel swung around at the sound of hurried footfall on the wooden boards behind him.

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Toshiko wasn't in the least bit surprised to find Ianto in the kitchenette at the coffee machine. She had just been down to the 'guest' holding cell to check on Sister Elizabeth, who was still sleeping under the effects of Owen's sedative. So abandoning her work she joined Ianto by the coffee machine.

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"Who the hell are you?" Jack demanded of the strange man waiting at the tourist office door. Gabriel swung round only to be confronted by a towering man in a swirling coat and the barrel of an old gun in his face. Gabriel raised his hands in submission immediately.

"I'm Father Gabriel. I am looking for Ianto Jones, he works here does he not?" Gabriel held on to his composure and met the stern look from the man confronting with an equally intimidating daze. The gun didn't waver.

"Father, as in priest?"

Gabriel nodded.

"What do you want Ianto for?" There was a second man, emerging from behind the first, his accent similar to Gabriel's own but no more friendly than the first man.

"He is in danger. I have come to help him."

The two strangers exchanged looks.

"Listen mate I hardly think he's in need of a confessional." That was the second man with a London drawl.

"On the contrary it is exactly what he needs." He could see the grip tightening on the gun in the American's hand.

"Sshh Owen. Explain yourself."

Gabriel sighed. "He is possessed." He waited for the anticipated reaction of disbelief.

The weapon was lowered. "On any other day I'd send you to the funny farm."

"Jack you can't be..."

"Yes, I can Owen. He's already killed me once today. Alright Gabriel, you'd better come with us and you're lying to me I'll put a bullet in your head."

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Ianto smiled at Tosh, beautiful Tosh.

No, for fuck's sake no!

"So you and Jack have a nice evening in?"

He reached out a hand and grasped hers giving it a squeeze and not letting go.

"It was ok I suppose. It would've been better if I'd spent it with you though."

Tosh blushed prettily.

"Now Ianto that kind of talk will get him very jealous." She chided playfully.

His grip tightened and he gently drew her closer a ghost of a smile playing over his lips.

"So?"

Tosh stiffened at the tone. "Ianto?" Before she realised it he was edging her back towards to work bench. His face against her cheek. Tosh squirmed.

"You smell exotic Tosh." His lips brushed her cheek, moved down to her neck.

"Ianto don't please." Tosh tried to pull away, but she did not want to hurt him. Ianto had no such considerations as his other arm slid around her back, holding her fast against him. He could smell her fear, feel her pulse quickening and her breath hitching. Her skin silk like on his tongue. Tosh tried to move her head away forcing a gap between them and Ianto's grip tightened painfully closing it again as he bit into her skin.

"Ianto stop, please. Get off me." Tears sprang into her eyes because she just couldn't fight him and Tosh was a fighter. She was frightened more by the look of absolute lust in Ianto's eyes, there was no trace of her friend in the blue. A her hand found it's way under her blouse and again Tosh tried to jerk herself free to no avail....

"Ianto stop, right now!"

It was Jack and Ianto turned his face and glared, reaching for his gun in one fluid movement he shot Jack straight through the chest. The Owen appeared in the door way, his own weapon already aimed.

"You fucking bastard!" He squeezed the trigger.

Tosh squealed as Ianto fell away from her his face contorted in pain blood spreading through the white of his shirt across his chest. He crumpled back against the fridge, trying to suck in breaths. He was speaking in whispers looking up desperately into Tosh's eyes. Gathering herself she knelt at his side. Owen was there a moment later having checked on Jack, his hands going straight to the wound, to try and stop the flow of blood. Owen was raging inside amidst his emotional conflict because right now he wanted Ianto dead. Then he caught the look in Ianto's eyes and held his gaze.

"Thank you. Owen. Thank you. I'm sorry Tosh...so...sorry."

Ianto sagged. Owen checked for a pulse.

"He's gone." He muttered. Tosh's hands went straight to her mouth in distress.

Gabriel watched from the doorway too stunned to move.