Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, (without whom I would have stopped at around chapter 7) alerted or just read...

Let's go stand up to them

Two men in a sports car. Saving the world together. The wind of their passage ruffled Ianto's hair, set the sleeves of his shirt billowing.

"You look hot," Jack yelled over the roar of the engine. "I may never let you wear a jacket again."

Ianto grinned across at the driver's seat. "Focus, Jack. World to save."

Their laughter floated out behind them. Both drunk on the adrenaline flooding through their systems. They'd been through the full gamut of emotions in the last few days. Death and resurrection. Loss and recovery. Despair and joy. And at the end of it, two men in a sports car, off to save the world. Completely in tune with each other, slamming their firearms down simultaneously, in a move that could have been rehearsed.

Facing the 456, together. Feeling as though he couldn't lose. Losing everything that mattered.

How many times has he had to hold me like this, watching the life fade out of my eyes? I took it so lightly. Did it hurt him this much, every time? I'm so sorry, my love.

I love you

Don't

Don't say it now. Don't. Don't go. Don't give up. Stay with me. We didn't have long enough. I didn't take you to the stars. I never got to see the phosphorous cascade light up your face. You never heard the Towers sing.

You'll forget me. A thousand years.

He isn't saying I'd forget him. He can't really believe that. He's giving me permission to. But I won't. I can't. Never could. I promise. I'll remember you forever. Don't leave me. It wasn't meant to be like this. I knew I'd lose you one day but it's too soon. Old age, it was meant to be old age. Don't leave me.

A lifetime ago, he'd kissed cold lips and his breath had brought Ianto back to life. But it wouldn't work this time, not with the air in both their lungs poisoned, not with his own life draining away.

Not long now. Jack's limbs were growing heavy, unresponsive. With his last reserves he draped an arm across his lost love. He won't be holding me when I come back, but at least I'll be holding him. What's left of him. With what's left of me. The darkness seeped in, and Jack embraced it yearningly. The darkness held no pain.

-XXXX-

I don't want to come back. Jack thought, feeling the burn begin in his lungs. He'd died with his arm around Ianto and now he was on his back. He'd been moved. He wouldn't even wake up beside him. Just let me stay in the dark he pleaded to who knew what.

But his eyes opened, against his will, his lungs filled. He was alive again. The world was still ending. But his world had already ended. Gwen's ragged breathing assaulted his ears. Jack sat up. His heart broke all over again. Ianto was beside him, Gwen fiddling with the already perfect tie. But it wasn't Ianto, not anymore. That cold, grey face. The lips that had already been cold beneath his. He said he loved me. He said it at last. Makes it worse. And he said I'd forget him. How could he think I'd forget him? I won't. I can't. I have to live forever and I'll mourn him forever. Damn you, Rose Tyler, why didn't you just let me die?

His arms draped over Gwen in a mindless gesture of comfort. Awkward. She felt wrong. Not the body his arms wanted to hold. Their tears flowed and mingled. Ianto's voice echoed in his mind. Not one solitary, single child. I'll do it for you, Jack vowed silently. They won't take a single child away. No matter it costs.

-XXX-

Alice was screaming. Jack felt tears flowing from his eyes, but the pain that should go with them couldn't pass through the wall of grief that already shrouded him. Stabs of regret beat against the grief as uselessly as Alice's fists were beating against the glass.

Stephen's body shook, blurring from the speed. Hey, soldier, I'm sending you into battle. Sorry, soldier. But I promised. Not one child. Not one single, solitary child will they take. If it wasn't this, it'd be them. You'd have lived forever with them, but guess what, soldier? Forever sucks.

If you don't want Ianto to come back, don't read the next chapter...