Chapter ten

Gwen made it to the flat, Rhys' car still there and the door was kicked in. "He could still be in there." she muttered.

Jack sighed, not noticing when Gwen walked out, and he walked back into the Hub, and he saw Ianto. He looked around, saw no sign of Gwen and he looked back at Ianto. "Where's Gwen?" he asked.

"She went out just a few minutes ago." Ianto said. "Whatever you said to her she took it badly…"

Gwen closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again, walking into the flat, not caring what happened to her anymore, she couldn't hear Jack's in her head anymore, only Rhys.

"Okay, thanks." Jack said and he rushed out of the building and to the SUV, jumping straight in and he sped away heading toward Gwen's flat at high speed. He pulled over in a matter of minutes, seeing Rhys' car still there as he jumped out. He cursed under his breath, keeping a hand on his revolver at his belt as he moved over to the kicked-in door.

Rhys was on the floor, still drunk, he had a gun in his hand and he didn't notice Gwen walk in.

Gwen saw him, and berated herself for coming back without a gun, she quickly moved to hide, mentally swearing as the door creaked.

Rhys looked up at the sound, and he tried to get up, stumbling over in the process, still gripping the gun.

Jack looked around outside before walking into the flat.

Gwen stayed silent, staying hidden, trying not to breathe too loudly, her heart thudding in her chest so hard and fast she thought it would break through her ribcage to escape her chest.

Jack silently entered the flat, spotting Rhys with the gun, he gripped his own as he went to one side, hiding from him. He saw Gwen opposite him and he mouthed, "are you okay?"

Rhys spun around, falling over. He couldn't see anyone at the door, but he still held the gun in his hand. He loaded it and pushed himself up, aiming around the room.

Gwen didn't see Jack fully but she saw him out the corner of her eye. She closed her eyes and stood up, walking toward Rhys and she opened her eyes again.

Rhys heard movement and turned to face Gwen, pointing the gun at her. "And here she is." he sneered. "Miss Gwen Cooper." he moved unsteadily towards her, his hand gripping the gun as ge put his finger on the trigger. "Say bye-bye." he smirked.

Jack watched and he ran out of his hiding place and in front of Gwen. "Don't you dare." he growled angrily.

"Oh isn't that sweet. Gwen your boyfriend's here to protect you. Very scary." Rhys laughed.

"I don't care anymore… You've won Rhys…" she sighed. Softly. "You've won. I've had it." she said, stepping out from behind Jack.

Jack looked at Gwen, shaking his head, "I'm not gonna let him shoot you." he said looking back at Rhys.

Rhys smirked. "I'll have to shoot you first then won't I." he said, aiming it at Jack.

"Why? It's me you want dead not him." Gwen said.

"But he isn't going to let me shoot you. So he goes first." he spat at her.

Jack stepped forward, "You shoot her, and I will personally see that you will be killed and make it look like an accident or suicide." he growled.

Rhys took no notice, laughed and shot Jack in the chest.

'Not again' Jack thought as he fell to the floor for his over a thousandth death.

Gwen rolled her eyes as she knelt by him. She knew exactly what was going to happen, so she wasn't panicking.

"It's no use Gwen, he's dead." Rhys laughed. He loaded the gun again and pointed it at Gwen.

Jack gasped back to life and he looked up at Gwen before jumping up, in front of her. "Shoot her and I'll kill you."

Rhys' jaw dropped as he watched Jack come back to life, quickly coming to his senses. He still had the gun aimed at Gwen. "Like I care. If she dies then it will make your life hell."

Jack lunged for Rhys, taking the gun off him, throwing it aside, and pinned Rhys up against the wall by the neck all in one swift movement.

"I knew that was coming. If he was really dead then I'd be killing you, not him." Gwen looked at Rhys. "But you know what… you're not even worth it"

Jack listened. She was right, as always, of course. "No, you're not worth it. So do me a favour and leave Gwen alone. Come near her and I'll kill you, and make your death look like an accident or a suicide." he promised, his eyes dark.

Rhys gulped as he struggled to get away.

"Jack… you can let him go now.." Gwen said quietly.

Jack momentarily tightened his grip, making Rhys splutter before letting him drop to the floor in a heap, and he turned to face Gwen, starting to walk toward her.

She took a step back from him.

He watched her and stopped walking.

"She don't want you Jack." Rhys laughed.

"How would you know? It's you I don't want, you treated me like shit for years, too long I've put up with it. But now It's Jack I really love." she said.

Rhys rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and I love Donald Duck." he sneered.

"Oh, you love a cartoon character? When's the wedding? Does your new girlfriend know?" she rolled her eyes, "And while we're on the subject." she rook the wedding ring from her pocket and threw it at him.

Rhys picked up the ring. "Thanks. I can give this to my prettier girlfriend."

Jack just laughed. "Prettier, eh? I don't think so, nobody will ever be prettier than Gwen. We've seen your girl. She's not that pretty."

"At least Jack actually respects me." she said. "He loves me. If you didn't love me in the first place why did you put a ring on my finger? When Jack burst in to stop the wedding the first time you had the chance to run then."

"I don't know. I must've been mad." Rhys sneered.

"Yeah maybe you were. I think that alien must've messed with my brain, I think I was mad too." she rolled her eyes.

Jack stood next to her, "Come on, let's go." he whispered in her ear.

"Why should we have to leave?" she looked at him. "The place isn't even his, it's in my name."

He looked at her and then to Rhys. "Well he can't exactly leave without me throwing him out."

"Do what you want. I'm past caring." Gwen rolled her eyes.

Jack nodded, walking over to Rhys, dragging him out the flat b his shirt and threw him on the concrete, ignoring the stares from passers by.

She sighed and leaned against the wall.

Jack walked back into the flat and looked at Gwen. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"No…" she whispered. "Why did you say that to me? Of all the people you know what he was like… why did you say him…?"

He looked at the floor. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

She too looked at the floor, and couldn't look at him when he looked at her.