There was another murder overnight, so it was with a sense of urgency that Capt. Jack Harkness went to visit John with no word from Tony. What he found when he got there was Tony, again with his Bible and John leaning over to scan a passage.
"You've returned, Jack. Don't tell me, there's been another murder?"
"How did you know?"
"The desperation in your aura, of course, and the fact that they reported it on the news."
"You're allowed to watch the news?" Tony gave him a surprised look.
"It's not a convent, Tony. Yes, but that's not how I found out. Darius felt him growing stronger; that's what I meant by news."
"I wish you would stop talking about Darius like he actually exists." Tony game him the "I wish you wouldn't talk about this now" look.
"I believe he does actually exist, Tony."
"You can't be serious."
"Boy, looks don't get much more crest-fallen than that." Pointed glee showed in John's face.
"I am completely serious. While it may not be a demon; it's definitely real."
"Oh great, the sensationalist leading the delusional."
"No one forced you to come, Tony."
"He's not handling this very well. You probably talked him into coming to get more information out of me?"
"That's it! I'm done!" Tony snapped just a little.
"Calm yourself, Tony and think of the greater good. Darius might stay away long enough for me to help this gorgeous man with what he needs. I'm assuming case information is in that lovely, thick manila folder, luscious like your hair." He winked at Jack, overtly enough that Jack could tell it was for Tony's benefit.
"Okay, that's enough of a show for me. I'll see you sometime when you're feeling better. Please reconsider my offer. Jasper and Stefa both miss you and send their love." Tony walked out briskly, trying desperately to hide his own disillusionment.
"He doesn't keep you calm, does he?"
"I like him to feel as though he's accomplishing something. So, what was taken this time?"
"Spinal cord."
"Oh dear. How many is that now?"
"Enough." John breathed in deeply.
"Darius wants us out of here before we cooperate and I can't do anything without him. But I want to help you."
"You always give up too easily."
"I don't think he'll be able to is all, Darius. He's not my benefactor and no one thinks I'm sane. And I'm sure talking to "myself" doesn't help convince the staff."
"Tony thinks there's been a lot of trauma and that it's not real, John."
"I wish it were. But then again, you are real and you've been through so much Jack. I can see it in your eyes, smell it all over you. It's in your body language and your very soul Neither of us belong here. I want to help you, maybe helping myself at the same time."
"Wimp. So how about it Harkness?"
"Can you guarantee you can help us solve this?"
John grinned. "Liar is the one thing I am not, Jack."
"I'll be back for you. Be ready to go."
"Trust me, I'm ready."
Rhoda looked up from her magazine, slightly annoyed. "What? You couldn't find him?"
"No ma'am. This is an official Torchwood matter." He flashed his serious face. "I'm going to have a car ready out in front. I want John Tripp in the car in a very short amount of time and you should know he will not be returning."
She gasped, trying to digest the information. "Shall I inform his benefactor?"
"If he doesn't already suspect."
Mere minutes later, a flustered nurse, but still holding the impressive illusion of a business proprietor, set a frail, almost bald twenty-five year old in the back of the Torchwood SUV. John began to flip through the case photos almost immediately as they sped off, briefly looking out of the window.
"Oh dear, this is rather grim. You have left this to the last second."
"Is this John I'm talking to?"
"Yes. And, he sniffed the air, I haven't met everyone at Torchwood, have I?"
"Is that important?"
"Not particularly. Although I am interested in the servant. He seems to have caught your eye."
"How is it you know so much?"
"It's complicated."
"We have time. Enlighten me."
"Darius knows more about it than me, and he's just happy to be out of that drab place. Could have used a few curtains, that's what I thought of it. We at least agreed on something."
"Yeah, curtains are always helpful. I myself had a nice set of dark blue ones when I was away from Torchwood. So, what can you tell me on the case just off-hand?"
"I think dark blue would be a grand color for you, Jack. Well, let's see what's been taken so we can see what's left. Which was the most recent, on top? Your man has a wonderful filing system."
"Call him Ianto. And yes, he does."
"Hmmm...let's work backwards then. Sonja Richart, Czech ballerina, spinal cord abduction. Last week, the wine magnate's son, liver gone. A month and a half before, three Argentinean field workers slain, one breastbone taken."
"I have a question about that one..."
"Ah yes, I see. Two smokers and one non-smoker. Must have been together when they were attacked. He took the best of the three."
"Are you going to tell me who did it?"
"I'm building up to dramatic suspense. We're close anyways."
"We have enough time. How do you know we're so close? Sense of...?"
"Smell."
"Right."
"Continuing on."
"No wait, we're here. Let's finish this in the board room and then we can get you settled."
"How on earth did you manage that?" The sound of the alarm and the locking door settled in the background.
"Oh, the pterodactyl?" John stood transfixed looking at the ceiling, compartmentalizing the layout of the Hub, so as not to take too much in at once. Oddly enough, he wasn't frightened of the equipment and was still thinking about the Ianto fellow he had met at the "tourist" entrance. Now he understood why Jack smelled the way he did, and why his aura changed a little bit when he saw Ianto.
But for John's money; Toshiko looked like a real winner. She was strong, smart, brilliant, and attractive. The grand emotions clouding what John sensed in her unnerved Darius slightly, John wondered if it was for good or bad. She sat, fixated, asking intelligent questions as John led the team, and Martha via intercom, over the facts of the case that seemed pertinent. He savored these moments, the first time he had been in control and taken even slightly serious, like the days before Darius had been around.
"So, what you are saying is that there are two attacks left. The alien only needs vocal chords and a heart?"
"Yes. As I was trying to put it nicely, the alien in question strives to learn from species, but can only do so by manipulating his genes and becoming one of the species first. It requires the essence of ten materials. In this case, he needs only two more. I affectionately dubbed him "The Gentleman", like from the Buffy episode. Except there's only one and he's not trying to gain humanity, not in the same sense at least."
"What happens with what he "learns" from our species?"
"He'll take the planet, strip it of its most intelligent people and resources, and then leave just as quickly."
"Thank you very much for your input, Mr. Tripp. It's been a delight. Jack, may I speak to you in private?"
"Of course, Martha. Would one of you like to give our guest a tour?" Gwen's eyes widened a little.
"Gwen, trust me, it's safe right now. Do you always radiate such obvious emotion?" Gwen's eyes must have turned farther and faster to John than they ever had to any man. Except for Jack. She was even caught mid-breath.
"Ianto will show you around." Jack scurried off to his office and closed the door to finish Martha's call. Ianto nodded and John walked out with him, looking back and knowing Ianto would probably be back to tidy up the mess of papers he had left all around.
"How did a proper Welshman like you end up in a place like this?"
Ianto sighed wistfully, "It's a long story. But I don't think I'd be happy anywhere else."
"Or with anyone else."
"How could you tell so quickly?"
"Don't worry; you aren't obvious. Just the fact that you are the strong servant. I could tell from him, the captivation, the emotion, the changes in him when he saw you. Very subtle, but I bet you notice it."
"I do indeed. So, here we are at the cells." John was surprised, but didn't jump when he saw Janet.
"So this, this is the weevil?"
"You've heard of them?"
"Not expressly, but Darius knows them. Bloody race, thick as Sunday televangelists and almost as dangerous."
"What's it like?"
"With Darius? Well, right now it's bloody peaceful. But normally, he'll just pry in when he wants and take over. I take it all with a grain of salt. But this place...how do you stay?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know you can't feel it, but this hallway." The chills crept up his spine. "Who's died here Ianto?"
"Several people."
"You'd best put me in this cell."
"Why? Do you think you are dangerous?"
"Can't take that chance. Besides, it's not like there are windows or a lot of options here."
"Let me clear it with Jack first."
"I'd expect nothing less of you."