Chapter 4 – That Sound

"Jack, it's okay." Ianto knew he must have been holding the older man to him so tightly he'd have trouble breathing but he just didn't care.

"I don't want you here. Please go home." Jack breathed in heavily.

"You know how to make me feel special."

"You know I didn't mean it like that." Jack chuckled sadly, "If you get hurt...I could never live with myself."

"Hey," Ianto moved Jack's head to look up at him, wiping away fresh tears, "This isn't like you."

"I can't lose you, that's why all I'm asking is for you to go home."

Ianto pulled Jack into a comforting kiss, wrapping his arms around the captain's shoulders. Jack's hands immediately cupped the younger man's face trying to get closer. Breathing in the faintest sent of last nights coffee (no time for any that morning or even his usual aftershave), Jack let a single tear slide down his cheek as he sighed contentedly.

"You are not going anywhere. You can't die, remember? Everything will be okay."

"Not for you! If you get killed, you won't come back. I can't watch you get hurt."

"Look at me." Ianto moved the older man's face to look at him again, "I'm going to be fine. I would be worse off if I were back at the hub worrying."

"No you wouldn't. Trust me." Jack sighed, "You know what, I'll take you back to the hub, yeah? It'll be fine. I can come back here after."

"No! Look Jack, you can stay here worrying about me but I'm going to find whatever it is that has you so scared and stop it."

"No!" Jack grabbed Ianto's arm, "You know what I'm so scared of?"

"Tell me."

"Your reaction when you find out what it is. You've been hurt enough and I don't know what I'd do."

Ianto shook his head, "Let's go Jack, we'll be fine."

Jack gripped his hand tightly, trying to find comfort in the gesture. Ianto got up, pulling Jack with him and helping him with his coat.

"Have you seen it yet?"

"No."

"So you could be worrying about nothing?"

"I'm not."

"How do you know?"

"I know that energy signature. I've made a point to."

"What are we looking for Jack?"

As if on cue, the sound of heavy footsteps came from the other room and Ianto's breathing quickened with fear.

"Ianto?" Jack's hand rested on the Welshman's shoulder and his voice dripped worry.

Ianto knew those footsteps. He'd heard them far too often than he'd ever cared for. Ianto's eyes glazed over at the memories of that sound

When the alarm went off fear flooded through him. Nothing was supposed to be able to get into Torchwood London. His first thoughts were to find Lisa. She could be anywhere in the massive building. He stood in the hallway, watching people move frantically to find an escape from the building. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, trying to figure out what part of the building the woman would be in.

That was when it went wrong. That was when he heard that sound, that terrible sound of pounding footsteps coming from behind him. That's when the situation truly felt real. He didn't have time to think, moving as quickly as he could to another room. There was no where to hide, no where that would work. The Welshman was pressed against a wall in one of the rooms, only hoping the creature wouldn't choose the room he did.

He tried to slow his breathing as much as he could in the circumstances and stayed completely silent. As the thundering sound of the footsteps came through the hallway, Ianto's heart raced in his chest to the point where he felt sick. Even after the sound had dulled and left, the sickening feeling remained as he slid to the floor, trying to figure out what to do next.

"Ianto, we have to move." Jack urged, pulling the younger man out of the room and rushing into another. Dragging Ianto by the arm, Jack pulled him under a bigger, more enclosed desk.

"Ianto? Yan!? Look at me!" Jack begged.

"They can't be back." Ianto murmured, his mind slowly coming back to the room they were sitting in.

"It's only one."

"Not again Jack."

"We've done it before, we can do it again." Jack pulled Ianto into a hug, "We have to do this together."

A/N: I don't know how I feel about this chapter. Review to let me know yeah? Thanks for all the kind words from last time.

Cheers,
Gabz
xx