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Chapter Three: Voices

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A cloud of white smoke blurred Tim's vision, burned at his lungs, choking the breath out of them... he wheezed and coughed and was only barely aware of arms pulling him back out of the smoke... of Ianto's voice calling into the com for assistance.

The cement came up hard and fast; Ianto kept him them both from cracking their skulls against the ground as they collapsed to the alley floor... the Welshman's breath was coming in painful ragged gasps that burned his lungs.

Jack rounded the corner… "What the Hell happened!" the panic in his tone could easily have been mistaken for anger.

Tim looked up at the Captain… with his vision made blurred an hazy by tears he could barely make out Jack's face, but his expression was clear. He was ready to kill someone… me… Tim thought.

Jack fell to his knees next to the two men, his Welby quickly holstered; there was nothing in the alley except two gasping men and the battered metallic sphere, now open, like an orange that had been cut into quarters. His gaze came quickly back to his partner... "Ianto…"

Still choking for air he waved aside the Captain's concern and indicated that the other man was in far worse shape.

With some difficulty, Jack turned his attention to Tim... his eyes were squeezed shut, watering... "Lie still," his voiced sounded calm, but Tim was sure he was ready to kill someone…me, his mind kept saying. "What happened?" the Captain asked again.

"Not sure," Ianto caught his breath enough to answer; speaking hurt even more than breathing. "We both rounded the corner – he was closer. It seemed to… explode… in this puff of smoke. I'm fine," he added to Jack's expression.

He clearly didn't believe the younger man. "Let's get you both back to the Hub and let Bobby have a look at you."

"Jack…" Ianto nodded towards the sphere.

"I've got it. Can you walk?"

"I think so. Just having a little bit of a hard time seeing," he admitted. "Mr. McGee...?"

Bloody Yank, why the Hell did Jack have to go and hire another one. Just because he's American… pretty soon we're going to be Torchwood Fucking USA…

"Tim… can you hear me?" Ianto's voice was more insistent, demanding an answer.

"Yeah… yeah… I think I'm ok…" With some effort, Tim forced his eyes open and started to sit up. His lungs still burned, but he couldn't tell if it was from the coughing fit or from whatever that smoke had been. At least he could breathe again.

"Take it easy," Jack extended his hand, helping the American to his feet as Ianto got shakily to his.

"Lean on me," Ianto said to Tim. "Can you see?"

"It's all pretty fuzzy," he admitted.

"There's eyewash in the first aid kit in the SUV," said Ianto. "I should be able to get us there," he added, mostly for Jack's benefit.

Reluctantly, Tim leant against the younger man… he couldn't believe how stupid he'd been. Jack and Ianto had both said not to touch anything… but it had looked harmless… he wasn't even sure he'd actually touched it… I just popped open… it wasn't his fault… it was all his fault.

With the world a stinging blur of noise and colour, he had no choice but to let the Welshman lead the way and hope the younger man didn't shove him into traffic out of sheer spite… he shook himself, trying to figure out where that macabre thought had come from.

"Hang on," Ianto advised. "We're almost there."

In short order, they reached the SUV and Ianto opened the hatch. He settled Tim in; his own vision had started to clear but it was obvious the other man was still struggling to see anything. "Just sit tight, you'll be fine," he promised, hoping that they hadn't accidently unleashed some intergalactic version of Anthrax… or worse.

Jack was right behind them with the sphere; whatever had been in it was gone now, blown away on the wind.

"We should try to secure the area," Ianto said to his partner as he dug out the first aid kit.

"Already done," the Captain told him; his expression said that he doubted it would do much good. The best they could hope for was that whatever it was, it either wasn't deadly or that it would become less dangerous as it dispersed… "Let's hope it's just some kind of inert matter," Jack added, remembering Gwen's first day… the smoke hadn't acted like any sort of life form, but if it was a spore or a microbe or anything else that would multiply on its own, they could have a situation on their hands. "City Hall has been evacuated and the police and hospitals have been asked to contact us if anyone shows up with unusual symptoms," he said.

Ianto nodded; he helped Tim with the eyewash while Jack put the sphere into containment. "There… better?" Ianto asked his patient.

"I think so…I… I'm sorry…I…"

Sorry? That stuff could wipe out half the city…

"I doubt it was your fault… it looked like it just went off. Can you breathe all right?" asked Ianto.

"Yeah… thanks," Tim cast a doubtful look at the man taking care of him. Ianto was injured himself… and Jack still looked ready to kill somebody because of it.

"Here," the Captain took the eyewash from Ianto and told him to tilt his head back.

"I'm not a child, Jack," the Welshman protested. "I'm perfectly capable of…"

"Humour me," the Captain cut him off.

It's the least I can do after the idiot over there almost killed you…

Tim swallowed. He looked at Jack, but all the Captain did was flash a tight smile and tell him to climb into the back seat.

"Just take it easy," Jack added. "We'll be back to the Hub in no time."

Ianto groaned, "Perhaps you should try observing just a few of the posted speed limits on the way back…"

His answer was a dry chuckle.

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By the time they reached the Hub, Tim's vision had cleared, but his head felt like it was stuffed full of cotton and his lungs still ached.

He found himself feeling surprised when the medic – the same man who had been performing an autopsy earlier – checked him over first… Ianto was Jack's partner… he should get preferential treatment… Tim shook himself. He'd caught the worst of whatever it was he'd been hit with…

"You all right?" Bobby asked. He'd checked his pupils, taken a blood sample, listened to his lungs and heart.

"Yeah… yeah just… just my head feels a little weird." He looked over at Jack, who was hovering near Ianto, still looking pissed. "I'm sorry…"

Jack waved it aside. "It wasn't your fault. All that really matters is that you're both going to be all right."

Oh of course, he'd say that… Ianto's voice… his lips weren't moving, but Tim could hear his voice… Bloody Americans always sticking up for each other… he sighed and rolled his eyes, casting a dark glower in Tim's direction. Next thing I know I'll be finding him in Jack's bed…