Captain Jack Harkness was stubborn, if nothing else. Jack Harkness was not letting this one go. Jack was pissed. The hurricane of pictures and lights in the mysterious room continued to twirl, pair after pair. He loathed the games, the dreadful thoughts of things happening to Ianto while he was forced to play. That hurt him more than anything.

One pair remained. With dead confidence and blazing eyes, Jack stepped forward. This Ianto was checking his watch. This was the Ianto from the theater where the Night walkers had been released. The two pictures hung side by side, ready to be stepped through. His fingers left a slight indent of red, proof of his hitting prowess and the amount he'd used tonight. He walked through the blackness, but did not fall.

Jack had gone through these musical doorways many times. He had ridden a subway car, walked on top of the Tardis, raced downhill through the snow, and had even been a flower. But this sight stopped him. Jack stood on a balcony, the heavens before him. The pure white of the balcony lay in contrast to the dark blues and swirling twinkle of the cosmos. He could hear the piano behind him.

Jack turned into the room, walking slowly to where Ianto sat, playing deftly and sweetly. Jack went to touch his shoulder and announce his presence, but he could not. His hand passed through Ianto. What would he do now, knowing there were no doors left? Jack whispered Ianto's name, hoping, praying for a miracle.

There were nights when the wind was so cold

That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside the window.

Ianto was singing, looking directly at Jack, who was clutching the piano to remain upright. The nausea of the situation, the lack of food and dehydration all beginning to take their toll.

There were days when the sun was so cruel

All the tears turned to dust and I just knew my eyes

Were drying up forever

I finished crying in the instant that you left

And I can't remember where or when or how

And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

Ianto rose and the piano continued to play. The thunder of slamming doors echoed in his footsteps as the large windows closed away the balcony. The fire, the angry hurt in Ianto's eyes made Jack walk backwards until he pressed himself against the glass. Ianto's hands swept across the air, seeming to wipe the memories from his eyes. His palm pressed against the glass. His lips were inches away from a gasping Jack. The coolness of Ianto's touch that near him caused him to go short of breath.

But when you touch me like this

And you hold me like that

I just have to admit

That it's all coming back to me now

When I touch you like this

And I hold you like that

It's so hard to believe

But it's all coming back to me

His eyes softened from anger to pity, and then towards need. His lips hung so close to Jack. His hand swept across Jack's cheek, leaving tingles and aches all up and down Jack's body. Ianto turned away, pushed himself from the Captain, using the air between them as momentum. Ianto clutched himself at the pain, the reality of the words he sang.

There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light

There were things I'd never do again

But then they'd always seemed right

There were nights of endless pleasure

It was more than any lousy love

Baby, if I kiss you like this

And if you whisper like that

It was lost long ago

But it's all coming back to me

It's so hard to resist

And it's all coming back to me

I can barely recall

But it's all coming back to me now

Ianto slammed his lips back into Jack after moving back closer again, slowly and violently. Jack could feel something coming over him, washing him clean. Ianto turned his head away quickly, his face showing shades of embarrassment over his need for Jack. The sound of violins played in the background, in fervent tempo with the sounds of the piano cascading through the room.

But you were history with the slamming of the door

And I made myself so strong again somehow

And I never wasted any of my time on you since then

Jack watched helplessly as Ianto chastised himself and then began to walk towards an open door at the far end of the room. He ran after Ianto, shadowed him, desperate to not let him get away. Ianto turned again to face Jack.

But if I touch you like this

And if you kiss me like that

It was so long ago, but it's all coming back to me

If you touch me like this

And if I kiss you like that

It was gone with the wind

but it's all coming back to me

He was wrapped in the silver joys of loving Ianto. He struggled as he was lifted in the air by curtains, suspended, watching Ianto being lifted up with him. They struggled with each other, with themselves, tangled in curtains, hovering over the floor, mere inches from the other's body.

There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light

There were things we've never do again

But then they'd always seemed right

There were nights of endless pleasure

It was more than all your lousy love

It was all too much of a thunderous expose, leaving Jack feeling so naked. Ianto brought himself forward and he kissed Jack. Jack felt his love beyond the winter and the doubt. He sighed, no longer weary or hungry.

Jack felt himself falling into darkness again; watching helplessly as Ianto was lifted away. He reached through his tangled mass of curtain, but couldn't reach the man he loved.

If you forgive me all this

If I forgive you all that

We forgive and forget and

it's all coming back to me

He growled as he hit the floor of the dark room again. He didn't curse the room, nor call for light. He just sat there, perched on his knees, and growled in anguish and anger. His entire body felt heavy, his hands moving closer and closer to the floor. Jack felt the metal of his ring and heard the clang as it hit the floor. He looked at the signet, remembering what "Rose" had written when she had sent him the pocket watch and ring.

He took a ragged breath and concentrated, holding the ring close to his heart. He closed his eyes and felt a warmth invade his spirit. He stood and opened his eyes. All the pictures were lit again without him even calling for them. They each held a pocket watch and each watch glowed equally with the others, causing an almost blinding effect to hit the room.

Jack ran without touching them, endless rows of pictures. He continued to run and then his anger took over again. He formed a fist and used his ring to being slicing through the glass. His knuckles began to run along the rows, creating tiny cracks that led to bigger cracks. The ring sliced through the glowing pictures. As Jack saw a final light, thousands upon thousands of cracks turned into broken glass. The glass rained down upon him as fine as snow.

Jack ran for the open doorway. His footsteps echoed as the glass matted itself into his air and all around his eyes. He shook as he crossed the thresh hold and braced himself for the next impact.

First there was darkness.

Then there was clapping.