Chapter 2

Owen Harper was angry, at Gwen, at the cannibals for this mess, but more importantly, he was angry at himself. He was a doctor for crying out loud and yet he was utterly helpless to help Ianto. The one thing he had been proud of was his career as a doctor and now he felt like a failure.

"You're not the only one worried, upset and thinking that they failed Ianto. He is my prince I was sworn to protect him and I failed. I should have seen how dangerous Gwen had become." Rhys placed a gentle hand on Owen's shoulder; he could see the blame that Owen was placing on himself it was the same blame he was placing on himself.

Owen shrugged off Rhys' touch, he couldn't accept any comfort. "But I am Ianto's doctor; I saw the effects that Gwen was having on Ianto. I should have suggested that until Gwen got control of herself that she be suspended or at least put on a rotation that kept her away from Ianto." There were so many things that Owen could have done that might have prevented this and given Ianto a chance to strengthen his mental shields.

"You don't think that isn't what Jack is thinking right this moment? Don't you think that isn't a question on all of our minds? That there wasn't something we could have done to prevent this?" Rhys demanded he wasn't going to stay quite while Owen placed all the blame on himself.

Owen knew that what Rhys was saying was true but he couldn't shake this guilt that if he had just been a better doctor that none of this would have happened.

"Owen it's no use in casting blame on ourselves what done is done we can only be there for each other and support Jack in this time of crisis. Ianto will pull through and come back stronger than ever." Once again Rhys attempted to put his hand on Owen's shoulder and was thankful when it wasn't rejected.

"Do you really believe that?" Owen asked breaking the silence that had fallen over them.

"I have to," Rhys answered in a soft voice.

Sleep was something that Jack didn't need as immortal and never had he been so thankful for that part of his curse it allowed him to keep a steady watch over the motionless form of his lover, his whole world Ianto Jones.

Reaching over Jack took Ianto's hand in his. "Ianto, I need you to come back to me. I'm not whole without you in my life. I didn't realise how empty and lonely my world was until I had you to brighten it up. Please, Ianto doesn't let those monsters and Gwen take that light away from me, away from the world. You are loved by so many who need you to show that strength you possess by fighting your way back to us. I can't do this without you Ianto, please don't leave me." Jack pleaded with his lover.

When no response came from Ianto, Jack knew just what he had to do. Moving upwards he pressed a gentle kiss to Ianto's forehead. "You are my light Ianto it's time that I returned that favour." Jack knew what he was going to do was dangerous to him and potential to Ianto but he knew until Ianto's mental shields could be rebuilt he would stay trapped in his mind and Jack just couldn't let that happen.

"If you were awake you would be slapping me for what I am about to do. I'm not going to lie to you Ianto it is dangerous and crazy and I would do it a thousand times if it meant to bring you back to me." Jack whispered as he stroked Ianto's cheek letting his fingertips linger there a little longer before finally pulling his hand back. No matter how much Jack wanted to stay by Ianto's side he had things to do before he could truly set out to help his mate.

"Have you ever met someone that you just clicked with someone right away? Like you know that you were meant for them and that your life is so much better just by having them in it?" Gwen asked slurring her words slightly. Mary, as Gwen was quickly finding out was a truly good listener and was very sympathetic to her plight and she allowed herself a few more drinks.

The blond let out a wistful sigh. "No, I have not but isn't that what everyone secretly longs for to find their other half, their soul mate."

Soulmate, yes that was what Jack is, Jack is her soulmate. 'How could I have not seen it before Jack was meant for me just as I am meant for him? We are destined, Jack.' "Well I have his name is Jack Harkness and I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that we were destined for something special."A drunken grin appeared on Gwen's face as she remembered her first meeting with Jack and how he treated her like she was the only woman in the world.

Mary fought the urge to roll her eyes, Gwen's mind was like an open book to her and it was easy to see that she really believed everything she was saying. "So why aren't you with him? So why are you here drowning your sorrows and not at home with your man?"

The smile wiped completely off of Gwen's face as she spat out the reason she wasn't with Jack just yet, "Ianto Jones. That freak has somehow gotten to Jack and brainwashed him into thinking that it's him who Jack loves."

Mary gripped the table as wave after wave of negative and jealous thoughts assaulted her, Gwen's memories of Ianto Jones played before Mary's eyes and she nearly gasped out loud as she realised just who Ianto Jones really was. 'Well, this is perfect just the prize I need to get off of this dirt ball.' "That must have been so rough for you, that Ianto Jones sounds like a real piece of work. Let's face it Torchwood would be lost without you. That's what Ianto Jones is afraid of. He's afraid of how much Jack relies on you; you are what keep Jack human not him. I've seen your memories and Jack was so cold before you came into his life. Ianto knows you are a danger to him, that's why he needed to make sure Jack doubted you." Mary couldn't believe how easy it was to play Gwen, the woman was lapping up every lie that she was hearing, and it was almost pathetic at this point.

"Your right! I'm not about to give up. Jack should be mine; if it wasn't for that bloody Ianto controlling Jack then it would be my bed that Jack shares and not the freaks bed!" Gwen ranted and raved, it didn't even register that Mary knew she was a Torchwood agent.

'This is almost too easy.' Mary had gone after some easy marks but this was by far her easiest job ever. "I can help you," Mary whispered sliding up next to Gwen. "What if I told you that I can read minds just like Ianto? That I can find out where Jack is hiding away with him and then you can go confront them."

Mary's honey laced lies worked like magic on Gwen; she didn't stop to think of the dangers this woman possessed or why she cared about getting into Torchwood. No, Mary was offering Gwen everything she wanted.

"Tell me what I need to do." Gwen breathed out.

Mary's smirk turned wicked as she purred against Gwen's lips, "Just let me in." She could feel it the moment Gwen gave in it was so easy Mary wanted to laugh at how easy it was to manipulate the woman before her. 'Ianto Jones you will be mine in no time and then I will finally be free.'

Jack Harkness didn't do nervous or worried very often but as he gazed down at the still form of his mate Ianto Jones, Jack had felt nothing but that since Ianto's mental shields shattered completely trapping him within his own mind to keep him safe from losing himself completely in the voices. Stroking Ianto's cheek Jack bent down and pressed a gentle and tender kiss to Ianto's forehead. "Come back to me soon Ianto, I'm not whole without you." Jack knew that it would take a while but eventually with time Ianto would return to him, Jack knew he just had to help Ianto start to rebuild his shields.

It would be a long journey and Jack wasn't sure how long it would take them to undo all the damage done to Ianto but Jack wasn't returning back to Torchwood until Ianto was better. "This was something I should have done the moment I learned your shields were this weak, please forgive me Ianto, I should have never you around Gwen, but I promise you Gwen is now out of our lives forever," Jack promised as he shifted and made himself comfortable next to Ianto, he would let his lover rest a little longer before entering Ianto's mind and start fixing the damage done.

Sleeping soundly in Jack's arms, Ianto's mind was quite, shut in on itself as a failsafe to keep his mind from shattering completely when his shields failed, still the bond he shared with Jack hummed letting him know that Jack was still here with him and that filled Ianto with a sense of warmth and love, he knew Jack would be right next to him every step of the way, and he would need his mate's help to recover from this attack.