Chapter 7:
The next few days were taken up fully by managing the mass of rift debris coming through 24/7. They took it in shifts, only one member of the team sleeping at a time while the others were out on calls or monitoring from the hub and taking care of the cover-up.
Ianto was, when the opportunity itself, sleeping in one of the spare beds in the hub and Jack found himself hoping that Ianto would stay with the team after he was gone. They could use someone as capable and well rounded as him.
After the first, slightly awkward, few missions, Ianto had been accepted as part of the team and they probably could not have managed without him. He had greeted the coffee machine like an old friend and no matter the time, anyone coming back on a mission could find a cup of the delicious liquid sitting on their desk. Ianto also showed a flair for cover ups and would collaborate happily with Tosh who found a kindred spirit in his understanding and respect for the computers.
The matter of his past and their future was put aside in the rush of activity that heralded the full opening of the rift and anyone who did ask would have the question expertly turned upon themselves. Not that there was much time for socialization, conversation or any variants thereof but Jack found it slipping further into the back of his mind as time went on.
DR
Jack and Ianto stumbled into the hub, exhausted from capturing the rather vicious Hoix that was the most recent visitor from the rift. After depositing it in one of the rapidly filling cells they walked upstairs to find the base empty, Tosh, Owen and Gwen were all still out on missions so it was up too Jack to check the rift predictor program. Quickly deciphering the numbers and graphs displayed on the screen he turned to Ianto who was walking towards him quickly blocking the computer with his body, "Something else is coming through pretty soon. Looks inanimate so probably just a bit of tech. If I go now I should be there when it arrives."
"Great, I'll go load up the SUV then." Ianto said, startling Jack slightly with the prompt reply.
"Uh, no I'll take this one on my own. You should take the chance to rest."
Ianto's eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion."And you shouldn't?" he asked before smoothly stepping around Jack to inspect the data displayed on the screen. Realising he had no way to cover this up, and he didn't really want to, Jack stood resigned behind him.
"Jack it's the stressor point, the rift is opening"
"Yeah. I know" he said softly.
"There's no way that the explosion will trigger at the center by itself is there?" There was a moment of silence while Ianto worked it out and Jack waited expectantly. "Oh Jack. You're planning to walk it straight in there aren't you? Sucked into the rift for eternity. The closest to death an immortal can ever get."
Jack breathed out shakily, not bothering to question Ianto's knowledge of his immortality. It stood to reason that this man who obviously knew him intimately, would know about his inability to stay dead as well. He looked into Ianto's eyes and managed a small smile.
"Hell of a way to go though"
Ianto reached up and settled his arms lightly on Jack's biceps. "Dying the way you lived, saving the world."
They stood like that for a few moments, taking comfort in eachother's solid presence and regular breathing before Jack reluctantly moved away.
"I should go now before I miss it. Tell the others- tell them to make me proud yeah?And -um- just to be safe." He had only walked a few steps before Ianto caught up with him.
"You can be an idiot sometimes Jack Harkness. Like I'd ever let you do this alone."
Jack paused for a moment debating whether or not to argue the issue but continued walking with only a small smile of acknowledement. He had only known Ianto for a few days but he knew that having him there would help. He didn't want to die alone and although the rest of the team would come if called, they would try and help then blame themselves when they failed or died trying.
DR
Side by side Jack and Ianto walked through the shining white corridors of the office building they had tracked the rift energy too, both remaining in a contemplative silence. The ordinary desks they passed seemed strange and distant considering the apocalypse fast approaching just a few doors down the hallway. As they approached what they had pinpointed as the exact spot a strange feeling of peace settled over Jack. He could see the golden wisps that had been associated with the rift reaching out to him from the corner of his eye and he moved closer, into their beckoning warmth-
Just as Ianto slid behind him and reached his strong hands around Jack's neck, his fingers moving fast to press a small, silver disk to his nape. Almost immediately Jack slumped down against Ianto. Seeing the Axfrian device on his way out of the Archives had been a massive stroke of luck- the last time he had seen one was years ago, on the black market in a space station somewhere. It should keep Jack unconscious for a couple minutes or so if he remembered correctly, just enough time for him to get ready.
He gently rested Jack against a table leg in the room just off the corridor before dipping into the large pockets of Jack's greatcoat. Ianto fished out the high-tech handcuffs he had seen him slip into there at the beginning of the day, and the bomb gently, not wanting to risk waking him. Setting the piece of tech carefully on the floor beside him he swiftly locked the Captain onto the table leg and crouched down in front of him, picking up the bomb again to start prepping it.
He had almost finished setting the timer when a slight rustle drew his attention to the slow blinking that heralded Jack's awakening. The faster healing abilities that came with Jack's immortality obviously transferred to the neural block the gadget was meant to provide, a fact Ianto silently berated himself for not taking into account. Ah, well, at least it gave him a chance for a proper goodbye.
DR
AN: I am so sorry for the massive time between updates but this chapter just did not want to be written and I wasn't sure how far to go with it.! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed.