Jack became aware of two things rather quickly; one was how fast Ianto had pulled away from the passionate kiss they had been entwined in and the second was the sharp pain across his cheek which, truth be told, brought several tears to his eyes. As he tried to regain his composure, all he could see was the slim figure of Gwen standing before him, her hands placed fully on her hips and a look of sheer disgust growing across her face.

'What the hell was that for?' Jack brought a hand up to the bruising flesh, rubbing it slightly to relieve the dull pain. He watched as Ianto gave a loud sigh before turning away and busying himself with a file on the table. Jack thought for a moment whether to approach the young man or not, so decided instead just to nurse his injured face and wait for Ianto to say something.

'Just answer me this, Jack.' Ianto still didn't face him, didn't think he could. The pain across his face would be tangible to anyone as he struggled to control his breathing. Finally, with one last intake of breath, he asked the question he had been eager to ask all day. 'Are you kissing me or are you kissing Gwen?'

Jack felt the bottom fall out of his world as the words of his lover reverberated in his mind. How could Ianto think that? Yes, of course, Jack had not five minutes ago been caressing Gwen's small tongue, teasing each taste bud and manipulating the groans forming in her throat. But it was Ianto's moan, the way he would always mould into Jack's body as the pheromones of the former Time Agent made his senses heighten and his head swim that made Jack acknowledge who he was really kissing. Blindfolded and with all his other senses removed, Jack would always know it was Ianto who was kissing him; there was nothing like it and nothing Jack had ever experienced before.

'Ianto, I...' He couldn't continue as he saw Ianto's shoulders begin shaking and his head bowing low. The lump in his throat was growing, threatening to silence him forever, but he knew he had to overcome it. 'I've told you, I know it's you still in there. I can see you.' He reached out his hand to touch Ianto's shoulders, but drew back as the young man turned suddenly to face him.

'Really, because my physical appearance at the moment would suggest otherwise.' It was still there; Ianto's witty and sarcastic tone was indented in his soul, like a tamed dragon whose fire would appear at any given time. 'I've never really had any need to... I mean, we've all seen it. The way you look sometimes, the way you...' Ianto was finding it incredibly difficult to continue with his sentences. God, how he wish he could just vent all his frustrations, all his anxieties, all his doubts. But he wasn't that person.

Ianto looked like a glass figurine, teetering ever closer to smashing into a thousand pieces and it tore at Jack's heart. If only they hadn't noticed that Rift spike, if only they hadn't brought that artefact back with them. Maybe then Jack wouldn't have to be facing the one argument he never wanted to have. Yes, he loved Gwen. There, he said it. He loved the young woman and would give the world for her to live into old age. He loved her but he knew he could never be in love with her; she belonged to Rhys and he was truly happy for them. She had someone to go home to, to forget the world of aliens and danger if only for a few hours and enjoy a night of telly, chips on the Bay, arguments on what colour the couple wanted the kitchen and he loved the life she had. He knew Gwen loved him, it was almost tangible at times. But it was hero worship, a love for someone for who they appeared to be. She didn't know the real Jack Harkness and she never would. The only person who was even close to the man behind the flash coat and cheeky smile was Ianto Jones and he wouldn't have it any other way. He loved Ianto and maybe one day, he would admit how much.

'Right, let's get back to the others. I'm surprised they've been so quiet. It must be a good hour since my last coffee round.' And it was over; the emotional talk neither of them ever indulged had come and gone and Ianto was back to acting as though nothing had ever happened. Giving Jack a reassuring smile, Ianto took hold of Jack's elbow and guided him to the door. 'Plus you can help. I don't trust you in my Archives alone.' The two men laughed as they left together, each taking some small comfort in the thought that, once this was all over, they could put this experience well behind them.

*****

'Bloody hell.' Rhys was up in a second, cursing slightly as he hit the small coffee table and sent several magazines and files flying across the Hub floor. It was loud enough to even distract Martha from her autopsy and walk up out of the medical lab to see what had caused the commotion. It was fair to say that she wasn't prepared for what she saw.

Gwen was as pale as snow, the blood drained from her face and Ianto's blue eyes like discs were the only colour on her face. The blood was still oozing from the wound in her hand, a small shard of glass sticking out from between the knuckles of her right hand. She was almost unaware of the rush of people swooping to her aid and panicked slightly as she felt Rhys' hand reach up and cup her chin.

'Gwen, what the hell happened?' He was joined by Martha, who instantly reached for Gwen's injured hand, wincing at the deep tear across the fingers. Gwen pulled away her hand quickly, like an injured animal frightened of human intervention. She couldn't look at the two people in front of her as she tried to focus on anything to keep her vision clear.

'I..um...I felt a bit dizzy. Must have reached out and smashed my hand on something.' It was easy to lie; it was just like the ones she heard when she had been called out as a police officer to a suspected domestic abuse case. She had heard them all and they were all fighting in her mind for a chance to be used. She could feel herself being guided by her husband and friend to the sofa and then sitting down, Rhys' arm automatically wrapping around her shoulders.

'It's that thing. It's making her sick.' Rhys pointed towards the device still sitting carefully on the desk. 'We gotta find a way to reverse this now.' Gwen couldn't help but take comfort in her husband's words and found herself placing her head down on his shoulders. She almost cried as Rhys let her be and didn't freak out at soothing Ianto's body. Maybe there was some hope.

'Rhys, I know this is tough but we have to stay calm.' Martha had returned with a bowl of water, a towel and some bandages. She sat in front of Gwen and began soaking the wound, ignoring the sob of pain Gwen gave as Martha carefully removed the shards of glass from her wound. 'Let's get Jack back up here and then we can...'

'What the hell happened here?' Jack was with them in a flash, Ianto close by as the two of them joined their friends to discover what was going on. Gwen became aware of the presence of her teammates and immediately pulled away from Martha.

'It's nothing, I just felt a little dizzy and hit something trying to steady myself.' She fussed a little longer but then gave in to Martha as the young medic tried to bandage the wound. She didn't want to look at Jack and Ianto; it would only bring up the bile that was threatening to force its way back up again.

'It's that bloody thing. It's affecting Gwen and I want you to reverse this thing right now, Harkness.' Rhys was turning red with anger but calmed slightly as Gwen reached out and tried to calm him. He had a point, Jack thought. None of them knew if this device caused any sort of side effects, or whether this was the first sign of Gwen and Ianto finally switching back. But as Ianto appeared fine and hadn't experience any of Gwen's symptoms, Jack wasn't holding out hope for the second thought or worrying about the first.

'Didn't really feel well after lunch. Must have been that sandwich.' Gwen wasn't going to admit what this really was. If she did, maybe Rhys would straighten up and leave her to it. Here, he held her close, all thoughts of awkwardness obliterated in a second and Gwen considered she could use this to her advantage.

'That bloody place, it's a disgrace.' Rhys had now forgotten completely about the device and was now more interested in the thoughts Gwen had stirred. 'See the state of that kitchen? Surprised we weren't stricken down earlier if you ask me. What passes as cleanliness in cafes now anyway?' He felt Gwen laugh on his shoulder and he turned his head to look at her.

'Rhys the Rant,' Gwen muttered as she snuggled down further into his shoulder, a large smile threatening to give her away. 'Maybe we should go home, yeah?' Rhys was up on his feet in an instant, helping Gwen to her feet as she pretended to wobble on her feet. Martha had finished bandaging her hand and now looked up to Jack in concern.

'I don't think it's wise you going home. Maybe you should stay at the Hub, just in case you start feeling worse.' You'd like that, wouldn't you, Gwen thought. Keep me locked in here and watching those to shag in front of me. Captain Jack Bloody Harkness always getting his own way, always thinking about himself. Jack and Ianto both looked at Gwen, uncertain whether to keep her confined in the underground Hub.

' I just want to go home,' Gwen said, giving the best puppy dog eyes she could muster. She had to admit, the events of the day had tired her out and all she wanted was to snuggle down in her own bed with her husband. 'Look, if I feel any worse, Rhys can drive me back in a second. Please, I think I just need my own space.'

All Ianto could do was look at the ground, he too finding it hard to look at Jack. He knew his lover would give into the young woman, he always did. He remembered the time after the large whale in the warehouse and where he had almost become the owner of a deep bullet wound in his chest. Instead of following procedures, Jack allowed Rhys to keep his memories all because Gwen had all but demanded it. Jack would always give into Gwen and Ianto knew it.

'Fine, but I want you in even if you sneeze.' He gave her his traditional Harkness grin, reached over and brushed a small kiss to the top of her head. Gwen almost wept at the contact, but turned quickly away from her friends and allowed her husband to lead her away from the group. She needed to get out of here. She needed to rest. She needed to think.