Torchwood Blues

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing…especially not this.

Author's note: One more chapter after this one, and then the epilogue. You guys have been fabulous! Thanks for reading.

In this chapter…Jack gets angry, John has guests, and Ianto gets explosive…

Chapter Nine

Jack found a deserted pier near the warehouse he believed John to be holed up in. He pulled the boat up to it, jumping from the deck and onto the damp wood. He secured the rope to a stanchion, then headed up the weather-beaten ramp and into shore.

He didn't make it far when a voice shouted, "Having fun?"

Jack spun, his hand automatically dropping to the butt of his Webley. Swanson had come up behind him, looking somewhat smug; her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the gun.

"What in hell are you doing here?" Jack snapped, keeping his voice down.

"I'm not here," she retorted. "I'm at home, like you're supposed to be."

"Look Swanson…you're in way over your head here." Jack was puzzled at how she'd found him, let alone followed him, but this wasn't the time to work things out. "Go and wait on the boat until I've finished."

"Not a chance!"

"Could you keep your voice down then?"

"Why?"

"Because noise can travel, and I don't want anyone to know I'm coming until I'm ready for them to know." God, why couldn't this have happened in Cardiff? The local LEO's might not have particularly cared for Torchwood, but at least they'd do what they were asked.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Harkness."

"That's Harkness-Jones, in case you've forgotten." There wasn't much he could do, beyond jumping the woman and tying her up on the boat. And, while he wasn't certain she was actually into bondage, he'd actually been raised a gentleman: he might hit on the ladies, but he'd never hit one unless they were rampantly evil. "All right," he capitulated, vowing once more to break out the Retcon when this was done…if the police officer survived. "Stay close. And do what I say, no matter how nuts it might sound. I do actually have a plan, and you're not a part of it."

"Just what is going on, anyway?" she demanded…but she did keep her voice down.

"No. You don't get the right to know. You're the one bumbling into this, and right now the only thing you should be worrying about is staying alive."

With those parting words, Jack strode toward the bulk of the abandoned warehouse, Swanson on his heels. The place loomed over them like some sort of metal corpse, and Jack was beginning to wonder if they actually had the right place. John was far more used to luxury, and a dilapidated old building like this simply wasn't his style.

They actually got into the grounds before they were stopped, by a couple of very large gunmen…and John Hart, looking rather pleased with himself.

"Hello, Jack."

In that moment, John Hart knew he held all the cards. He had Eye Candy – and hadn't that been a surprise, to find out the man was still alive – and the munchkin tucked safely away. And now, Jack had stumbled quite nicely onto his territory, and with a pretty woman in tow.

This was just way too sweet.

"You're looking good," he said, eyeing his former partner up and down, taking in the familiar coat and outfit. "Haven't changed a bit. Have I?"

Jack smirked. "Only your men." He gestured toward John's minions.

"Oh these? They're my American accessories. Do you like?"

"Your taste hasn't really improved all that much."

"What does that say about you?"

"That mine has?"

John shook his head, refusing to be baited. "Let's get inside, into the shade. I might even have some hypervodka around somewhere."

"Didn't anyone ever teach you not to drink alcohol in this humidity?"

John motioned them all forward. "You haven't introduced me to your pretty friend."

He could see Jack's jaw jump as he ground his teeth. "This is police Lieutenant Kathy Swanson. Lieutenant, this is John Hart – "

"Captain John Hart." He really hated it when they dropped the rank.

" – intergalactic conman and murderer."

John smirked at the introduction. "You're just jealous because I'm so much better at it than you are."

"Hardly," Jack snorted. "I just gave it up because it got boring."

"Did you just say 'intergalactic'?" the pretty cop demanded.

"You mean she doesn't know what's going on?" John was surprised that Jack would bring anyone with him who didn't know the score. "Nothing about me, or Torchwood, or anything?" He made a tsk'ing sound. "That's not like you to involve innocents. I thought you had more scruples than that."

"Not my choice," Jack ground out. He was mad, and John guessed it had to be about the lovely policewoman.

John let his men prod them inside the main building. "I'm guessing you know what's going on though, don't you?"

"I do. You can't be allowed to sell that cyber controller. It could mean the end of the Universe if you do!"

"Oh, please," John scoffed. "Like I care about that. It's all about the money, Jackie boy. Who cares what happens after I get my money?"

"I do," Jack snapped.

"Yeah, well you've become a bleeding heart. I'm not gonna let you stop me, Jack. And I have the leverage to keep you out of it."

He now led the way into the main section of the factory, part of which had been converted to his own personal use. A section was set up as a lounge, with sofa, chair, and a rather nice table. It was quite cozy, and John was rather fond of bringing certain guests there to show them a good time.

Of course, he wouldn't do that with his current guest. Or, should he say guests?

Ianto Jones-Harkness rose from where he'd been seated at the table, one hand resting on the shade of the pram. John watched Jack's eyes narrow as he saw his husband…well, all that husband crap would soon be over. He didn't have much use for the younger man, and John was rather looking forward to getting him out of the way.

"Gotta admit," he said, "I was a bit surprised to find out Eye Candy was still alive. I thought for sure the Rift would've taken care of him, once and for all." He shrugged. "Guess this means I have to try again."

Jack surged forward, but the goons that had been escorting him grabbed him and held him back. "Don't touch him," he snarled. "You hurt him, and you're dead."

John rolled his eyes. "Please. That's a rather empty threat, don't you think? I can go anywhere…anywhen. You'll never find me."

He decided he didn't like the look on Jack's face; for one of the few times in his life John actually was afraid. "You forget…I have eternity. I can track you down throughout all of space and time, and I can take centuries. And I will find you, John…trust me on that. You do not want to hurt either Ianto or my son."

"I wouldn't harm a hair on your son's head, Jack. Just what sort of maniac do you take me for?"

"The kind that's willing to bring down an apocalypse just so you can make money. I seriously doubt that a baby is going to change that."

That made John angry. "And why him, Jack? What makes him so special that you'd give up space and time and me just to live on this dirtball and play happy families?"

"Because he is everything you're not," Jack answered simply.

John saw his ex-partner's eyes slide toward the man with the pram; something passed between the two, and it made John even angrier than before.

"Looks like I'm gonna have to make you two behave," the ex-Time Agent said, going for nonchalant. "Which is too bad; a threesome would have been nice – "

"In your dreams, Hart," Ianto snarked.

"And my dreams are so much fun! But what you should be doing is handing over your kid. I think he'd make the perfect insurance to keep you both out of my hair."

"You can't!" John had almost forgotten about the cop, until she spoke up.

"Oh, but I can," he assured her. He turned to Ianto, who'd stiffened at the demand. "Give him over, Eye Candy. He'll be well looked after. I won't hurt him, I promise…I'll just threaten to take him somewhere you'll never find him again." He knew he could never harm Jack's child, even if he'd had it with someone else and not John himself.

Again with the eye contact between both husbands. "You know what you have to do," Jack said, giving the other a gentle smile.

John had never seen that sort of expression on Jack's face before. It made him a bit angrier that someone else had put it there. "You heard the man," John demanded. "Give me the kid. I can't have you two risking my cushy deal."

Ianto nodded slightly. He reached into the stroller, lifting the bundle of baby out…and then, simply tossed it into the air toward the conman.

John was so surprised he froze.

The explosion tossed him to the floor.