Chapter 2
After meeting Ianto, Gwen, Owen and Ianto walked back, via Cardiff Bay and the Information Centre, to the Hub. Jack was waiting for them.
"Well?"
Owen shook his head "Nothin'."
Jack looked at Ianto.
"No Weevils inside."
Jack frowned. "I wonder where UNIT heard it from. They were most insistent."
Tosh turned in her chair to face the others. "Jack, Mason is lying on the cell floor."
Jack and Owen rushed to the cells. Mason was lying face down.
Opening the cell, Jack and Owen went inside. Owen checked his pulse. "He's dead, Jack."
"No, he was alive when I put him in here."
Owen eyes his boss.
"He was alive, I tell you."
"Jack, we have a visitor." Gwen said, her voice a little shaky.
Jack and Owen made their way back up stair. There in the middle of the Hub was John Hart.
"Hello, lover."
Jack looked amazed.
"What are you doing here?"
"Is that any way to treat an old flame? Shame on you, Jack." John walked around, looking from one member of the team to another. "I was passing through, and thought I'd drop by and have a cosy chat."
"Passing through? I don't think so."
"Oh, Jack. You know me so well." he winked at Ianto. "Nice. Yours?"
"Why are you here?"
"Unfinished business, you might say. Er, Mason was his name."
"You killed him!"
"Right. Had to think of something to get you lot out of here. Weevil sighting. Good, aye?"
"Why kill Mason? What did he have on you?"
"All those Blowfish and Weevils. They were sent here by me, Jack."
"Why?"
"Why not? Your planet needs livening up."
"Right."
John moved closer to Ianto. "Are you sure he's not yours, Jack? Can I have him?"
Ianto glared at John, then moved back one step.
"He'd be a useful addition to my gang," he laughed.
"Back off. They are my team, and are staying that way."
"I was part of your team… once."
"That was a long time ago, and in a different world."
John sighed. "I miss you, Jack."
"Get over it. I have."
"So I see. Got quite a set up here, haven't you? Two cute ladies a doctor and Eye Candy." John leered at Ianto.
"Back off," Ianto told him.
"Oh, feisty, isn't he?"
Jack ignored the remark. "Who's paying you, John?"
"Jack, you know better than to ask me that. I'd have to kill ya."
Ianto laughed.
"Arr, Eye Candy thinks that's funny."
Jack nodded. "I can't die. Something happened, and now, I can't die."
"Everyone dies, Jack."
"Go ahead. I'll just come back in a few hours."
John looked around at each of their faces, and knew it was true. "Damn! You get all the best gigs."
"So, why are you really here?"
"I told you. Unfinished business. Mason was weak and greedy. He wanted too much money for too little in return. He was expendable. After you found him, I didn't see the need for him anymore."
"How did you know we'd found him?"
John smiled. "The Blowfish you let go. Tracking devise. Very clever."
"Now what?" Jack asked.
"Oh, I was thinking, dinner a movie. But you wouldn't, would you?"
Jack shook his head. "Not with you, no." He looked at Ianto.
"Yes, I thought so. You and Eye Candy. Cute, real cute."
Ianto moved towards John Hart.
Jack shook his head. "Don't, he's not worth it."
Ianto's face was flushed with anger.
"That's right, Eye Candy. You do just as he says. Jack likes giving orders." He turned to Jack. "Slept with him yet… no, didn't think so."
Ianto couldn't take anymore. He launched himself at John, hitting him full in the face and knocking him to the ground. Jack intervened, grabbing him by the upper arms.
"Ianto!"
John rubbed blood from his lip. "Oh, I have to hand it to you Jack, you sure know how to pick them."
With that, John opened his wrist band, punched in a number and was gone in a flash of light.
"Where do you know him from Jack?" asked Ianto.
"We were time agent together. I… also… we were lovers for a while."
Ianto turned away.
"But that was along time ago. In another world. I'm here now, with you."
Ianto turned to face Jack. "Are you? Do we have something, or am I wanting too much too soon?"
Jack took hold of his hands. "I told you I loved you, and I do. I want this to work. I want to settle down. I'm tired, Ianto. I was tired and lonely. You fill the void I've had for so long."
"Do I? You're not just saying that?"
Jack shook his head. "No. I mean it."
"What do you want us to do, Jack?" asked Gwen.
"Go home. There's nothing more to be done here."
"What about Mason?" asked Owen.
"I'll take care of him. I'll call UNIT and say he had a accident in the cells. Not much they can do to me, is there." He tried to smile. "Go on, go home."
The three Torchwood members left together, leaving Jack and Ianto alone. Jack turned to Ianto. "Are we still on for a DVD and a takeaway? Or have you changed your mind?"
Ianto turned sparkling blue eyes on Jack. "Maybe just a takeaway. I don't feel much like watching a movie. Sorry."
"That's okay. Neither do I. We can sit and talk, if you like." Jack watched Ianto. "Ianto? I do love you."
Ianto smiled weakly. "I know."
Jack moved closer to Ianto, pulling him into a fierce hug. "I don't want to loose you. Not now, not ever." He kissed the top of his head, his forehead, his lips. Ianto melted into his arms, accepting Jack's tongue into his mouth. His heart skipped a beat. His skin felt warm. He was deeply in love with this man kissing him. How could he not give himself to him. He wanted to. He had to. But not tonight.