Chapter Six

Tosh stood outside the hotel and looked around. She knew that Jack was going to go to the hotel. As much as she loved him, he'd been alive so long that he didn't see things the same way as everyone else. Ianto was not going to be happy with this. If Jack pushed things, a friendship in the future was not even going to happen. She pulled out her phone.

'Lex, I don't think he listened to me. I'm going to find some decent food for everyone and bring it in.' She paused for a moment. 'They aren't leaving yet, are they? Ok, I'll be back as soon as I can. Love you.'

Just as she turned around something caught her eye. There was Jack leaving the hotel. She knew he was going to try something. At least she had warned Lex. It was now time to do a food run for them. While they were going through this difficult time, she was going to do everything she could do just to make it a little easier.

XXXXX

Lex walked back into the hospital and towards the private room that had been closed off for them. He nodded at the security team and walked into the room. The two men at the door had already been warned about Jack. He now had to let Ianto know who was in town. Lex hoped that Clark would keep his temper.

The three people looked up at Lex walked in.

'What is it Lex?' Clark asked, he was the one that could read his best friend better than anyone else.

Lex turned to Ianto. 'Jack is here.' He ignored the growl from Clark. 'Tosh went to talk to him, but she doesn't think it did any good.'

Ianto reached out and took Clark's hand and smiled at his lover. 'I'll talk to him when he arrives. It's obvious we can't be friends. Not when he treats a moment like this, as a chance to win me back.'

'How do you know he's doing that?' Martha asked.

'Well he's here by himself, and he probably has ignored what Tosh has said. He obviously isn't thinking about me, and what I need.' As Ianto finished they heard a commotion outside. 'See what I mean.' He gave Clark a gentle kiss on the lips. 'I'll be back in a minute, it won't take me long to talk to him.'

XXXXX

Ianto opened the door and walked out. There was Jack trying to get past security.

'Ianto.' A gigantic smile appeared on his face.

'Don't, just don't. Come with me.' Ianto turned and stormed off. Jack was on his heels.

Ianto found another room and went in. He waited for Jack to turn around and look at him.

'What the hell is your problem?' Ianto growled.

'I love you.' Jack explained.

'You love me, so you don't care about what I want is that right? As long as the great Jack Harkness is happy sod everyone else.'

'It isn't like that.'

Ianto shook his head. 'It isn't, so you didn't come here hoping that I was mad at Clark. That you weren't hoping to find something to make me doubt what I have here?'

'You'll be happier with me.' Jack's anger started to get the better of him. He knew that they would be perfect.

'Happier with you, did you look at what my life was?' Ianto queried. 'I held a cyber-woman in the basement, which you murdered. Don't worry I know the mistake I made. Then of course the never ending ridiculous sexual dance you did with Gwen. The time you disappear to chase after the doctor, and who you are still not over. Let's go back to me, treating me as a servant, taking me for granted, and of course making me feel as if I'm a dirty little secret. You want me to go back to that?'

'What do you have here then?' Jack placed his hands on his hips and glared.

'I have a man who loves me unconditionally, and whom I love. Who will never, ever leave me. He is someone that I am at the top of his priorities, not the bottom. I have fabulous friends who support me. I have a wonderful job lined up where I can take my kids and watch them grow. Oh, yes I have children with this wonderful person. I have a mother-in-law who treats me as her son. I help people, ordinary people who truly need it. I have an incredible life here.' Ianto tried to explain.

Jack looked down at his boots. 'I can't go on without you.' He mumbled.

'Yes you can, you have before. I'm sorry Jack, but you did this. You are the one that lost me. It started before that night with you and Gwen. For all I know, even if we hadn't had any problems I still might have ended up with Clark. His people knew their mates when they saw him.' Ianto smiled at the memory.

'That's why he came back with you. He knew that you were his mate?' Jack asked.

'Yeah, but he didn't push anything. He was more than willing to be my friend, and he was that. You just keep pushing, and whenever Gwen came running to you I was pushed back down that list. I'm sorry Jack, but what you are doing is too little, way too late.' Ianto felt his heart break at the desolate look on Jack's face. A part of him would always love Captain Jack Harkness. 'I have to go, I've lost a father, and I do still need to rest as I gave birth recently. You can't do this again Jack. It is probably best if we don't talk for a while. Tosh will pass on how I and the kids are doing.'

'Sure Ianto, anything you want.' Jack mumbled.

Ianto hated leaving him here, a shadow of that larger than life man. It would take some time, but Jack would be back to himself again. Ianto knew he would be put into the little box of memories and regrets. When Ianto had realised that he was in love with Jack, he had thought that it would be them until Ianto die, or Jack moved on. He never thought he would find and love someone else. He had never met a Kryptonian either.

'Goodbye Jack and thank you for loving me. For showing me, I could want and need something different.' Ianto gave him a small smile and left. A part of his heart breaking away and staying with that immortal larger than life man.

XXXXX

Lucas walked down to one of the rougher areas in Metropolis. He had deals with some guys there before he was sent off on his 'European Vacation'. All he needed to do was to get things set up again.

'Hey.' Lucas grinned as he walked up to a guy standing against a wall. 'I'm back; I need to speak to the boss.'

'You've got some nerve coming back here?' The man growled at him.

Lucas knew this was going to be difficult, but he charmed them before, and he could again. 'My leaving wasn't my fault. My fucking father had me escorted to Europe.'

'It doesn't matter. You left us holding the bag. You owe us, and you owe us big.'

XXXXX

The Green Arrow watched atop the building as Lucas was pulled into a building. His screams rang out for hours. He waited until a car left. He grabbed an arrow and aimed it, his fingers released the string, and it flew. It hit the car with a thud. He pulled out his cell, and watched as a flashing red dot moved away from him.

XXXXX

Ianto sat down with Clark, Martha and Lex.

'What happened?' Lex asked. He could see Clark trying to hold onto his jealousy. Just then Tosh walked in with food. She knew who Lex was talking about.

'I told him to go. That when he said he thought that we should be together, it was all about him. I thanked him if I had never got involved with Jack, I probably wouldn't have been ready for Clark. I asked Jack not to contact me, and I would get Tosh to let him know how things are going. I have my family here, the people I love. I'm not going anywhere. 'Ianto smiled as Clark pulled him into a hug.

The door opened, and Oliver popped his head in. 'Lex can I speak to you?'

'Of course.' Lex stood and handed the little girl he was holding to Ianto.

Lex followed Oliver outside of the building, and into an alleyway.

'It's over.' Oliver replied simply.

'What happened?' Lex wanted to know, as much as he hated Lucas it was still his brother.

'He went down to the slums. It seemed Lucas wanted to get back into the drug and human trafficking trade.'

Lex shook his head. 'He never needed to do that he had money.'

'For some it is the thrill. He was raised in areas like that. They didn't like that fact that he came back as if nothing had happened. They sorted out that misunderstanding. I didn't help him, I didn't know if you wanted me to?' Oliver was afraid that he'd made a mistake. All of them together had been working on how to be able to use their gifts to the fullest.

'No, you did the right thing. It was his mess, no one else's. Lucas would have gone back after Clark. Ianto and the children would have been in danger. This is for the best.' As much as Lex hated saying it, it was the truth. 'Thank you Oliver.'

'Go and join your family. Tell Clark not to worry. I'll do the patrol for the next few nights at least. He needs to be with his family. Clark and Ianto have spent far too much time apart.' Oliver smiled, watched Lex nod and then vanished around the corner.

XXXXX

Martha looked up as Lex came back in.

'Is everything ok?' She asked.

Lex looked down at the people he loved, and smiled. 'Everything is perfect.' For the first time it actually felt true.

Martha looked around her little makeshift family. Here were sons, daughter and grand-children. She may have lost the man she loved, but Martha knew she wasn't alone. The days ahead were going to be tough for all of them, but they would get through it together. She had no doubt about that.

The End

(I don't plan on doing another one. I hope you enjoyed this little series of stories.)