PART FOUR

Tosh was waiting for him on the couch so Ianto smiled at her and presented her with green tea and ginger biscuits, Tosh's counceling food. He settled down beside her with his own mug of coffee clasped in both hands. Tosh sipped at her tea, which was the perfect strength and temperature, as always.

"So, I get the feeling I've missed something important Ianto and you know I don't like it when you don't share."

Ianto had the good grace to look a little sheepish, he wasn't certain what to tell her, how to tell her.

"After I died, when I woke up that is, I found that my scar on my shoulder, the one from Canary Wharf was gone. My appendix scar is gone too. I thought that a bit weird, but then so is coming back from the dead. It bugged me Tosh, I mean really bugged me so a couple of days ago when I was at home I cut my hand to see if it would heal, like Jack does. Only I cut it too deeply and it bloody well kept on bleeding, so I rang Owen, he rang Jack..... blah blah. Anyway, it turns out I do heal, though not as fast as Jack. Jack and I had a fight. He's been such a twat lately and I...... well you know how I feel about him." His speech petered out and Tosh gently rubbed his leg as she sipped her tea.

"You should have said something, if you were worried, at least.... well at least you could have told me. Owen and Jack must have been furious with you."

Ianto nodded.

"Rightly so, you could have done yourself some serious damage, you're not thinking of trying anything else are you?"

Ianto shook his head. "No, Jack made his feelings about that quite clear. I'm such an idiot Tosh. I know I should have talked to Jack, but he never likes to talk about meaningful stuff, things that make us seem like we do have some kind of relationship. We've never talked and I'm rubbish at opening up anyway."

Tosh couldn't argue the point. "Ianto, you died. You were dead for a long time and here you are now, living and breathing, maybe forever, Jack is precisely the person you should be talking to. He understands, he can't help but understand and he cares about you a lot more than he thinks he does. He follows you with his eyes and there's this little smile on his face whenever he does it. I can't even begin to understand how you must be feeling, I wish I did....."

"I'm glad you don't. I remember being dead Tosh, being in 'that' space and I can't define it in words that even I can understand, I don't stand a hope of being able to explain it to you."

"My point exactly Ianto. Jack's been there and maybe in a way it will help both of you, now it's not just Jack."

Ianto leaned back, his head resting against the Victorian tiled wall that arched above them.

"I don't want to burden him and I don't want him thinking this is a way of keeping some kind of strangle hold on him. Jack's such a free spirit he's......."

"He's alone Ianto, he's lost so much and maybe you are the one thing he isn't meant to lose."

Ianto sighed. "And supposing you're right and we do get forever do you seriously imagine that we could survive forever?"

It was 4am by the time the gang had finished for the day, well the previous day anyway. Owen and Gwen had left the moment Jack had said the magic words and Ianto was pulling on his coat and offering Tosh a lift home when Jack stepped out of his office having turned out the lights.

"Do you mind if I come with?"

Ianto's eyebrows were almost to his hairline. "Er no, of course not."

Tosh had to suppress a snigger at the younger man's discomfort. "I'll just shut this down, won't be minute."

Ianto stood by the cog door, hands stuffed into his pockets and Jack joined him. They waited for Tosh and when she was ready they left the Hub. Ianto locking down the building as they went.....

Four hours sleep wasn't anything like enough in Gwen's view. She had put on a little extra make-up to help her look a little a more awake and realised she'd probably over done the mascara a bit, still Jack didn't seem to mind as he gave her good looking over as she climbed into the front passenger seat of the SUV effectively blocking Ianto. Jack was at the steering wheel and Ianto was quietly grateful for the back seat because it meant he could have a sneaky nap on the way to Bristol. He listened vaguely as Gwen and Jack chatted away quite merrily in the front of the vehicle and was pleasantly surprised that Jack was sticking to the speed limit for a change. Ianto shifted on the seat a little and rested his head against the window and watched in contented silence as the world slid by. He hadn't slept last night. After Tosh had been dropped home Jack had insisted that they go to the supermarket of all places because he wanted to make a special breakfast. By the time they got home, had very nice sex on the couch and in the shower, it was time for breakfast. Ianto hadn't minded, it actually felt normal and vaguely romantic. Jack was obviously worrying about him and Ianto realised that Jack had his own past experiences to tell him just how Ianto was feeling. Though in truth Ianto didn't feel especially bad, just off balance, he wasn't certain really, just not bad. It took him a moment to recognise the fact the SUV had actually stopped outside a somewhat run down block of flats. Jack and Gwen were both looking at him.

"Ianto?"

He smiled at them, caught in the act. "Just having forty winks, is this it?"

Jack got straight to business. "Ok you guys go up and talk to O Rourke I'm going to check out his lock up, keep your coms on, we don't know what this guy is like."

"His wrap sheet is pretty colourful." Gwen added.

"I want you to follow Ianto's lead on this."

Gwen nodded deciding now was not the time to be protesting, after all Ianto had been watching this bloke's internet activity for months, she wondered how many other little Ebay projects he had going.

"Is this guy likely to be armed?"

Ianto nodded. "It's not that I'm especially interested in him, it's one of his buyers, but if we can put him out of business as well. He probably will be armed, these types usually are."

"You've dealt with this sort of thing before?"

"It was Ianto's first and ongoing assignment when he came to us, usually he deals with things himself but O'Rouke's wrap sheet was slightly concerning. Anyway let's do this. Keep your coms on I want to hear everything." Jack got out of the SUV and went to the back opening up the tailgate and retrieving a tool bag with scanners and bolt cutters inside. He waved cheerily as Gwen and Ianto walked along the road to the front entrance of the concrete building.

"It's number 314." Ianto advised as they stepped into darkened lobby. It stank of stale piss and the walls were colourfully decorated with the latest spray tags. Gwen didn't even consider using the elevator and made for the stairs. The smell was considerabley worse and she smiled at the displeasure clearly written on Ianto's face. They trudged up the steps and Gwen decided, now that she'd got him alone to speak her mind.

"Jack's worried about you, I hope you know that."

Ianto chose not to comment so Gwen kept on. "You should tell him things Ianto, we're never quite sure with you sometimes, with the secrets I mean, after last time. I don't mean to be rude pet. We just want you to be alright. Jack's got enough to deal without....."

She stopped when she realised that Ianto had halted a couple of steps back.

"Leave it Gwen. I have spoken to Jack. He knows what is going on." He responded slightly taken aback by what she had said. Gwen offered up a smile and Ianto felt his gut twist at the dishonesty of the gesture.

"That's alright then, come on."

Ianto moved past her his back prickling with annoyance.

The door for flat number 314 looked as unremarkable as all the others they had passed in the grimy corridor. Ianto pulled out his fake police ID and wrapped on the wood with his knuckles. The door was opened and an unshaven scruffy looking young man leaned out and gawped at them. Ianto raised his badge and before he could open his mouth....

"Oh shit!" The door was almost slammed shut but Ianto got his boot in the way and shoved it open. He and Gwen drew their guns and chased after the man as he bolted along the dingy hallway and through a door. Ianto followed, Gwen a pace behind. They came into a lounge with windows wide open and a glass door flung outwards. O'Rourke was trying to get over his balcony. Ianto crossed the distance rapidly racing out through the door and grabbing at a leg. O'Rourke yanked it back and Ianto held on to stop him from getting away.

"Gerroff me ya tosser!"

"Not bloody likely."

Gwen was at his side about to help when O'Rourke jerked his leg, kicking viciously. Ianto refused to let go but caught the blow to his chin, he staggered and tumbled backwards over the railing, pulling the escapee with him and both of them fell three floors to the concrete below.