A/N: While planning the next and final chapter, I realised we needed to take a peek into Jack's head for most of it to make any sense. This chapter has a small pile of references to Torchwood and Doctor Who. Again sorry for the slow posting, (that's what I get for starting a series just before exams start). Anyway exams almost over so my last chapter should ready soon. I emphasize the should you never know what might happen.

Jack had liked Ianto the moment he'd seen him. Needy and desperate, practically throwing himself at Jack, and it felt good. It had been a rather significant blow when he'd discovered the neediness was a front, for his girlfriend! At the time, he was angry, it was a cyberman after all, but a girlfriend. Jack didn't like knowing that every advance Ianto had made on him had been a distraction. That even after spending a night in his arms Ianto still wanted to go back to his half dead girlfriend. Ianto had played him, and he didn't even notice until it was too late. Ianto was a challenge, and he loved a good challenge, especially a sexy challenge in a skin hugging suit.

Jack had got Ianto in the end. He'd made the Welshman open up, let his mask drop, and generally let loose. Getting that from any man in the 21st century was a good feeling. They were all such prudes, but Ianto was special. He didn't drop his mask, ever, and Jack had made him. It had been his plan to get Ianto to open up, then try someone new, Owen perhaps. There was never a straighter man, than doctor Owen Harper, he was another challenge to keep Jack entertained. However Ianto was the biggest ego boost he'd received in a long time. It had all started with Ianto's suggestion of being a butler. Then even after Lisa, Ianto still called him sir, still acted like his butler, and it felt so good. On top of that Ianto never raised an eyebrow when he flirted with others, or even picked up some cutie on the side. It didn't matter if he did it in secret or in the young man's face, Ianto couldn't care less.

Then there was Gwen, sexy emotional Gwen, with a boyfriend. He'd stolen girls and guys from their partners before, but only for one night stands that their partner probably never found out about. And the hero worship, she just looked at him glassy eyed, thinking he could do no wrong. Even after the fairies, she was angry for a while but when he walked in and saved her from the cannibals, she was back, kissing the ground he walked on.

Tosh always had that look in her eye, not lust, but that's what Gwen and Ianto were for. She had a respect, perhaps even a silent thankyou. Owen was the same, despite how much he tried to hide it behind his snarky jokes and laid back approach. Owen was pleased Jack had found him, saved him. All in all, he was being worshiped, and life was good.

Then it all began to change. Tosh and Owen started acting differently, almost shameful, the thanks gone. Even Ianto seemed a little higher strung than usual, not that it mattered. The tenser Ianto was the more fun it was to take him apart. Gwen didn't change, if anything she worshiped him more.

The team were at a party, something Gwen had dragged them along to, he couldn't remember why. The woman at the bar was gorgeous, long blond hair and she looked. The mysterious and handsome stranger had caught her eye. So he chatted with her for while, a little flirting mixed in. Then a hand lingering against hers, more obvious flirting, then she started giggling. It was a little childish sound, and it made him feel powerful, he was her hero, her knight in shining armour. They went on for a while, the touches became larger and more sensual, the giggling continued. He felt on top of the world, and then Ianto appeared at his side.

Jack wondered what Ianto was up to, surely Ianto wouldn't embarrass him; he didn't want the cute little giggles to stop. Ianto didn't, merely whispered in his ear. Jack wasn't quiet certain what he'd said, it was low and gravely, and some of it sounded Welsh, but he did hear a few words. You, Jack, alone, hall. That was all he needed, Ianto slipped away and he ended his conversation with the blond, but not without earning a phone number, she would be fun, but later. Ianto was out in the hallway, and things were going to get interesting, he could feel it.

Jack was right, things had gotten interesting, just not in the fun, ego boosting naked way, but more in the personality crippling public rejection kind of way. Ianto had dumped him, in front of the team. Tosh and Owen had taken Ianto's side, even Gwen couldn't make up her mind. He had thought it was just another of Ianto's irrational outbursts that where usually followed with Ianto begging for Jack to accept his apologies. Unfortunately no, Ianto had meant it, he needed to do some damage control, it was clear he had lost those three, but there was still hope for Gwen. It was easy enough to remind her, why she worshiped him. A slow dance, all his attention and a large dose of 51st century pheromones and he had her.

The party had been in the middle of nowhere, so they had to walk to a hotel. Jack had left her in the room, while he thought up his game plan. Gwen already loved every inch of him. He needed to find the challenge. Gwen had slept with Owen, so getting her into bed wouldn't be a problem. Then it dawned on him, it was all about Rhys. After Owen, Gwen had felt dreadful, and had told Rhys, asking for his forgiveness. Despite how she acted, she always went back to Rhys, there was his challenge. Get Gwen to dump Rhys.

The next morning they caught a taxi back to the hub. She followed him, and fawned after him openly. It was only six thirty and few people where around, they stood looking over the bay, and Jack began his game.

"Gwen".

"Mmm" Gwen muttered nuzzling into his shoulder.

"You are beautiful, I don't tell you that enough."

"Thankyou, Jack, you're perfect."

Jack inwardly grinned. Gwen was good for his ego, now he made his move. Feigning a slight insecurity, he pushed her back slightly.

"Gwen," he whispered "What about Rhys?"

She visibly stiffened under his gaze, he saw the battle behind her eyes. Taking a step back "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have. Call Rhys, he's probably wondering where you are." He made to walk back to the tourist office. He mentally counted 1and 2 and…

"Wait" Gwen called after him.

"Yes" he turned to face her looking as innocent as possible.

"I want you" she whispered.

Jacks insides inflated, every inch of his being felt proud and important. Jack smiled a small, slightly patronising smile, "Don't let it drift Gwen".

"I want you! I don't want Rhys. Please, Jack."

There was her pout and whiney voice, Jack felt so good, so in control.

"Gwen, you, need to think this over, Ianto and Tosh usually arrive around seven, go down and get changed, yeah" he smiled and ushered her into the tourist office.

Jack sat in his office and watched Gwen wander around aimlessly; occasionally throwing longing glances up to his office. He had never felt so powerful, Gwen was usually so headstrong, and stubborn, but now she was lost and shamelessly letting it show. It would be clear to anyone that she wanted Jack with every fibre of her being, no longer holding herself back.

As seven thirty approached he saw Ianto, Tosh and Owen approaching the hub. He called Gwen up to his office, ready to set the scene for Ianto. He wanted to see the young man's mask break, for him to give off a purely emotional reaction. Jack couldn't resist seeing that façade drop once more. At first, he made awkward conversation with her, bringing her closer and closer to replacing Rhys. Gwen acted unsure, it was clear she didn't want to leave Rhys but she didn't want to disappoint or loose her captain.

As he heard Ianto's light footfalls, approaching his office, he stood up and cradled Gwen's face. In that moment, her body went slightly limp, her eyes glazed. Jack loved the way she lost all control in his arms. He pushed her up against the desk and proceeded to kiss her. She parted her lips slightly and let him deepen the kiss. Jack heard the knock, pulling Gwen into the exact same position Ianto had been in a few nights prior. The door opened and Jack smiled into the kiss as he heard Ianto yell. Ianto didn't shout, he spoke loudly and clearly on occasion, but never the guttural cry he was producing now.

Gwen seemed completely oblivious to the interruption. Jack had not been expecting Ianto to throw a mug at him, especially one that had coffee in it. It caught him by surprise. The blow to his cheek wrenched his lips from Gwen's. Only then did Gwen notice something was wrong, blushing she ran from his office. It felt good to get such a volatile reaction from the pair, he thought the rest of the day would be interesting between those two. He felt smug, and powerful, and big, he was on top of the world.

Tosh practically ran at him, something new, and primeval in her eyes. He thought he'd gotten through to Tosh. She was basically throwing herself at him two. Owen followed behind, a hint of concern, even a slightly parental look about him. Jack wasn't sure, but the one thing he wasn't expecting was a punch, the mug had made his jaw tender and Owen's punch knocked him back. Jack was confused, why hadn't Tosh stopped him, Tosh always stopped him. Tosh always kept him and Owen apart, he was lost, the people he thought he could trust were turning against him.

He wasn't on top of the world, he was on the ground cradling his jaw. He saw Tosh approach him, she stood above him for a moment. He was about to reach up for her hand, when she kicked him. It was a hard, well placed kick between his ribs, the tip of her shoe slotting perfectly into his side. She was yelling something incoherent. Jack was too stunned to try and figure out what she had said. Tosh, the loving and kind woman, who owed her life to him, had not helped him, had let Owen hurt him, let herself hurt him, not a look of sorrow in her eyes. He realised the primal look was not a want for him, but a pure unrestricted rage.

Owen took Tosh from the room. He took a moment to gather himself, he had screwed up. Owen was angry, Ianto was angry, even Tosh was angry; the only one still on his side was Gwen. He needed to get his team back with him, he needed them to keep him on his pedestal, he needed them to worship him, he needed to be needed.

He kept things fairly sedate for a while, trying to play nice, pulling back on the flirting and public displays in front of the team. He was good for three weeks, three whole weeks. It didn't do anything. Ianto was happy, actually happy without him, and then there was Owen and Tosh. They had gotten together, they lived in their own little world. After Mary and Diane, the two seemed quiet content with the unexpected security of each other. Jack was sick of being good, no one noticed him, or started worshiping him again. He needed a new plan.

Gwen had been avoiding the whole team since she'd left Rhys, and Ianto was way too happy. Jack decided to turn up the heat between those two, could be interesting. Both where fully trained in hand to hand combat, getting them stuck in a room together would be fun to watch. The opportunity came when Gwen called him in the middle of the day. She had been down in the cells for almost an hour and a half, he'd checked the CCTV to find her trying to fix her computer, and then the call came. She'd finally called for help and he promptly sent Ianto down.

At first things were normal, Ianto was professional and Gwen was emotional. Gwen was defending him and Ianto was fighting her and then something happened. Gwen started listening.

No, no, no, no Jack began to chant in his mind as he watched, eyes glued to the screen. Ianto turned Gwen against him, and she was going to leave him. She was going to try and get Rhys back. A part of Jack died when he saw them. They might as well have kissed down there. Jack was going to get thrown away, again. He considered dumping her first, to help save his ego, but it had already receded out of view. That had not gone to plan. Once again Jack was going into damage control.

It had taken a bit longer but Tosh cooled down, she wasn't comfortable around him but she didn't feel the need to run from the room any longer. Then of course they were thrown back in time together, and Jack felt alive again. Dropped in a time when he was comfortable and happy. Then he met the real Harkness, which was amazing. He was such a sexy guy. Then the guy led him to the dance floor. Jack had made the real captain publicly kiss him. He had made the real Jack announce to the room he was gay. Then he buggered off back to his own time, not having to deal with the brawl liable to follow. He did feel sorry for the guy, he was going to die the next day, but still he was hot.

When they where back, Tosh had given him an ear bashing. The crowd had nearly torn her apart; the real Jack didn't stand a chance. Then of course the world decided to end. Gwen had patched it up with Rhys. Tosh and Owen where going well, and if he didn't know better he'd say Ianto had a girlfriend.

Then he died! Gwen had stayed with him. He had been dead for almost a whole week and she'd stayed by his side. Did she forget she'd left him? Forget she'd gone back to Rhys? Then of course there was Ianto, whom he had kissed and Ianto had kissed back. Rather than the receiving punch Jack was expecting once he realised what he was doing. Being dead seemed to make everyone a bit nicer around him, a little less hostile. Owen seemed weak, still guilty, and let Jack hold him, which was unexpected but clearly needed. And Tosh hugged him, dear little Tosh didn't hate him either. He really ought to die saving everyone more often; it made everyone so much kinder to him.

Then the Doctor showed up. He had left obviously. It was not like there was anything left in Cardiff for him. His team may not have hated him, but they didn't exactly love him. During "the year that never was" he changed, he became a new man. He had his ego, his pretences, his whole superficial being stripped away. Only then, at the Master's hand, did he realise how much he'd screwed up, how badly he'd treated his friends. So, he returned to Cardiff finding everyone fairly okay, except for Gwen, who seemed to be falling apart at the seams.

Jack suddenly knew he had to convince Ianto he was wrong, convince everyone that he was wrong. He needed them and he had to tell them that. While still receiving as little damage to himself as possible. He may no longer be such an egomaniac but he still looked out for himself.

He had to get Ianto back, the 21st century way.

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