A/N: For the first time ever, the first 2 scenes of this wouldn't let me go to sleep until they were written. Enjoy!

Chapter 3 - Left Behind

Ianto rushed into Jack's office, trying to move as quickly as he could.

"Ianto? What are you doing?"

The Welshman rushed back out, his jacket now on and Jack's coat in his hands, "Gwen, I need you to stay here."

"Oh no you don't, not you too Ianto."

"Something is very wrong." Ianto looked down, "He left his coat. You promise me, you stay here."

"No! I'm not staying here while you're doing god knows what!"

"Gwen! Look," Ianto made sure she watched as he put the comm in his ear, "I'm plugged in. I need you to tell me where to go. You know I wouldn't make you stay but we need you here as a backup."

Gwen groaned and pulled him into a hug, "You come home safe, both of you."

"I promise."

- - - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -

"Jack?" Ianto spoke into the comms as he drove as fast as he could, "Jack, talk to me."

"Stay at the hub Ianto."

"Too late."

"Go back!"

"No."

"Ianto, that's an order, go back to the hub!"

"No." Ianto took a turn, "You don't get to be the boss of me on this one."

"I am the boss."

"Since when has that stopped me!? Jack, what's going on?"

"It's too hard to explain."

"You tell me what the hell is going on right now or I swear to god Jack-"

"Please Yan...stop shouting." Ianto could hear the desperation in his voice.

"I..." Ianto paused, trying to find his words, "What the fuck is going on Jack?"

"I know you're scared."

"I'm not scared."

"You only swear like that when you're scared."

"Alright I'm scared. You left Jack! You just took off."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"Then tell me what's happening."

"I...love you Yan. So much."

Ianto's eyes widened at the words. This was bad. Unbelievably bad. Words cannot describe how bad this was. Jack wouldn't have said those words if it wasn't.

"What the hell is happening Jack!? You tell me now because you know this is killing me!"

"Go back to the hub Yan." Jack's voice was soft.

"Jack?" The other end went quiet, "JACK!?"

- - - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -

"Gwen, I think I found the place." Ianto spoke over the comms as he stopped the car.

"Anything going on?"

"No, but the other SUV is here. I've got to go look for Jack."

"Be careful Ianto."

"Stay nearby incase I need your help."

Ianto sighed, resting his head on the top of the steering wheel. This was hard. He wanted to go back a few hours to sleeping with Jack next to him. Now all he could feel was fear and dread. Reluctantly, he got out of the car, taking the smallest of steps. The building was clearly abandoned and looked creepy, ominous. The Welshman moved carefully through the door, trying to find Jack. He knew Jack would be at least six minutes ahead. Not only had he left before Ianto, he drove much faster than Ianto ever would, though not by much in this case.

The building was huge. Like a bigger but less technical version of the hub. It had definitely been long since abandoned. Dust and even rubble scattered around the room. There were no lights and even at his time the placce was dark.

Ianto moved quietly up the stairs, "Jack, please talk to me." He whispered into the comms.

"Go home."

"Where are you?"

"Ianto..."

"Tell me where you are or I'll walk around this place by myself until I find you."

"Please just go home."

"Upstairs or downstairs?" Ianto asked, ignoring him.

"Upstairs." Jack sighed.

"What level?"

"Three."

"I'll be there very soon."

- - - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -

Ianto got to the third floor and moved as quietly as he could. There were desks scattered everywhere. Office. He mused. Of course.

"Jack?" He whispered, looking around for the captain.

He took tentative steps through the room, trying to keep as quiet as possible, "Jack? Where are you?"

Ianto jumped when he felt a hand on his leg, immediately looking down. Jack glared up at him, clearly not pleased to see him.

"There, you've seen me. You know where I am, now will you please go home?"

"You know I'm not going home." Ianto sat down next to Jack under one of the desks.

"Why did you come? I told you to promise me you wouldn't."

"I didn't agree to that promise. Besides, you left your coat behind."

Jack smiled faintly gripping the coat as Ianto passed it to him, "Thank you...but you shouldn't be here."

"We're in this together."

"I don't want you in this at all."

"You told me you loved me to try to keep me away. Clearly this is big, big enough for you to say something like that. I'm not letting you go into something that big by yourself.'

Jack looked down at the floor, "Please leave before it's too painful to let you."

Ianto tilted Jack's head back up to look in his eyes. He could see the pain in the blue pools, along with the fear, "I'm not going anywhere."

Ianto pulled Jack into a strong hug and felt Jack immediately pull him closer, clutching to him for dear life. He wasn't sure if Jack was crying but the terror in those eyes were moving in that direction.

"I'm scared Ianto."

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews so far. I'm really glad you like it so far. Hopefully you'll know what it is Jack is so afraid of within the next two chapters ;D Please review some more.

Cheers,
Gabz
xx