A/N. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, and who have added this to their favourites, i really appreciate it. :) I hope you enjoy this chapter. As always please review. Kat :)

Chapter 5.

The journey to Jessie's flat only took ten minutes. Jessie pulled up in her allotted space and both she and Owen got out. It was a first floor flat in a nice quiet area, not to far from the bay. It was a modest one bedroom, but Jessie wasn't going to be in the city longer than a few months so it did for her.

'Nice place', commented Owen as he took in the flat.

'It's not bad. I would have loved one with a view of the bay, but the places in that area aren't cheap.'

'You should see the views from my place, great views of the city. It especially looks good at night.'

'Sounds nice.' Jessie paused for a moment thinking about what she needed. 'Would you mind grabbing my backpack for me. It's in the cupboard in the lounge, I'll start getting some stuff together.'

Owen nodded and headed into the lounge, while Jessie went into her room, and started pulling things out of her wardrobe. Neither heard the sound of the front door being opened as the man who had been watching them entered the flat, quietly mumbling to himself about how old locks were so easy to pick. He crept along the hallway and peering into the bedroom he saw his target with her back to the door as she rooted through her wardrobe. He walked into the room, pushing the door closed behind him and crept up behind Jessie.

Jessie heard something behind her and turned figuring it was Owen coming into the room, but what she was about to say died in her throat as she was faced by a man who was definitely not Owen, and he had a gun pointed at her. Trying to buy herself sometime she said, 'Whatever you want just take it. I won't stop you.'

'I don't want anything. I'm just following orders.' The man made a move forward to grab hold of her and Jessie dodged him and tried to make a break for it. He was too quick though and grabbed a hold of her arm, striking her across the side of the face with his gun. Jessie cried out as she fell onto the floor.

Owen had been heading back towards the bedroom when he noticed that the front door was open. He instinctively reached for his gun. It was then he heard a scuffle and a cry. He raced into the room and saw Jessie lying on the floor with a man standing over her with a gun, finger on the trigger.

'Drop the gun' shouted Owen, pointing his at the stranger.'

'I have my orders.'

'I will shoot you if you don't put the gun down.' Owen didn't really want to have to shoot the guy though, when you actually looked at him, he only looked in his early twenties.

The man turned his attention fully to Owen then, turning round and firing at him first. Owen moved quickly and narrowly missed the bullet which imbedded itself in the wall behind where he had been stood. Jessie seized this chance and kicked out at him, knocking the guy standing over her off balance and he dropped his gun. She tried to crawl away, but he caught hold of her and hit her again. Owen meanwhile had gotten back up and seeing the guy had his attention distracted he got up and tackled him to the ground so that he was off Jessie. He attempted to punch Owen, but Owen was faster and blocked it. As the two fought Jessie was able to get out of the way. Eventually the guy got a punch in which caught Owen off guard and he was able to get up and flee. Owen chased after him, but lost sight of him once outside of the flat. 'Shit,' he swore loudly to himself, rubbing the side of his jaw. This was supposed to have been a simple task. He made his way back into the flat and saw Jessie sat leaning against the bed with her hand on her head, blood could be seen oozing through her fingers. He knelt down in front of her.

'Let me look.' He carefully moved her hand so that he could assess the wound. He got up and went into the bathroom to grab a wash cloth. 'Hold this against it and I'll fix it up properly back at the Hub. I don't think it's going to need stitches.'

'Thanks,' Jessie said, that one word loaded with emotion.

'No problem, lets get your stuff together and get out of here, it's obviously not safe anymore.'

Jessie got up carefully and then started throwing things into a bag, wanting to leave this place as quickly as possible.

X

Back at the Hub, Gwen and Tosh were still working hard at their terminals. Ianto took them both a drink before ascending the stairs to the office with Jacks. Ianto placed the drink down on Jacks desk wondering where he had gone as his seat was vacant. His question was soon answered when he felt strong arms wrap around his waist and pull him into a warm body. Ianto instinctively leant back into the embrace.

'Alone at last,' whispered Jack into Ianto's ear.

'So now would be the perfect time to work on those reports you've got piling up on your desk,' said Ianto innocently.

'Cheeky,' replied Jack, and he turned Ianto around, closed the gap between them and pressed their lips together. Jack ran his tongue across Ianto's lips asking for access which was quickly granted. The kiss deepened until the need for air pulled them apart. 'It's a shame this can't be continued later,' said Jack somewhat regretfully.

'One night won't kill you Jack'.

'It might,' pouted Jack. Ianto gave him a chaste kiss before saying, 'when this is all over I promise to make it up to you.'

Jacks eyes lit up, 'I'll hold you to that.' He paused before he asked the next question, something had been bothering him since he found out Jessie would be staying with Ianto. 'Where's she going to sleep?'

'Huh,' came Ianto's reply, not quite getting what Jack meant.

'Jessie, where's she going to sleep. The sofa bed in your spare room broke.'

'And who's fault was that,' said Ianto raising his eyebrow at Jack.

'Hey, it takes two to break a sofa bed.'

Ianto smiled at the memory of the activities that led to the demise of said sofa bed. 'Yeah, I really need to replace it, just haven't had the time. Must get a sturdier one though.'

'You didn't answer my question.'

'Jessie can have my bed, I wouldn't make her sleep on the sofa.'

'What about you?' Jack wasn't sure he why he was so bothered about asking these questions, something about this woman made him insecure and Jack Harkness didn't do insecure, well not usually.

Ianto gave Jack a questioning look before realisation dawned. 'Is this your not so subtle way of asking if I'm going to sleep with her.' Jack didn't answer, feeling slightly foolish for asking. Ianto took hold of Jacks hand and interlaced their fingers together. 'I will be sleeping on the sofa. Jessie and I were never more than friends.'

'The thought had crossed my mind it had been more,' admitted Jack. Ianto was taken aback by this new side of Jack, it was as though the older man was jealous.

'Jessie was already with Sam when we met and no one would have gotten between those two. They were perfect for each other.' Ianto smiled at the memory, before his expression turned a more solemn.

'What is it?' asked Jack softly.

'I just wish that I could think of the good memories that I have of London and not have them turn into bad ones.' Ianto paused wondering whether he was willing to let Jack in on what he was thinking. He never spoke about his past in London to anyone, not even Jack. He decided to go for it though, to show Jack how much he trusted him by letting him in. 'For instance having Jessie to stay reminds me of the last time we spent the night together, it was right after… after that day.'

Although Ianto couldn't say the words Jack knew that he meant after the day of the attack. He squeezed his hand to reassure him and hoped that he would continue.

'I stayed with Jessie that night. I'd found out she was still alive at the hospital after everything was over. Neither of us had anything seriously wrong so we were sent home after a debrief. We went to Jessie's, neither of us wanting to be alone. We just sat in there in shock for most of the night trying to get our heads round everything. I remember that her phone started ringing, the machine picking up all the messages, it wasn't until Sam's mum left one begging for them to get in touch and tell her that they were both alright because she'd seen the news, did Jessie finally breakdown. She started crying, I started crying and the next thing I know it's morning. I saw her a few times after that, but after seeing each other at our worst it was hard, and we both had things we had to do.'

Jack didn't need Ianto to elaborate to know what he meant. He also understood more now about the bond between Ianto and Jessie, and this made him feel better. To go through what they did was horrific, but they had come out the other side. 'Thank you for telling me that,' said Jack as he kissed him gently and then pulled him into a hug.

The cog door alarm sounded as it rolled open and they pulled apart, Ianto straightening his tie and walking out of the office. As soon as he took in the sight of Owen with his arm around Jessie and holding something to her head he sped down the stairs, Jack close behind. Owen sat Jessie down on the sofa before heading to the med bay for a first aid kit.

'What happened?' asked Ianto as he gently pulled the cloth away from Jessie's head.

Jessie winced, 'Someone tried to kill us. I think they were after me, but Owen stopped them so they tried to kill him too.'

'You ok Owen?' asked Jack as the medic reappeared and knelt in front of Jessie to clean the wound.

'Yeah, lucky git got one punch in though.'

'Did you get him?'

'No, he got away. I was more concerned about Jessie.' Owen put some gauze over the wound and taped it up. 'You don't need stitches thankfully. Just leave this on for a day or two until it starts to heal.'

'Thank you.'

Tosh and Gwen had made their way over and were now listening as between them Owen and Jessie recounted what happened.

'Tosh see if you can get anyone fleeing the area on CCTV. Ianto take Jessie home, and make sure you use the underground exit in case anyone else is loitering up top. Tomorrow we are going into the university to try and get to the bottom of this,' Jack said in a firm voice, something bad was obviously going down and whoever was behind it seemed like they would stop at nothing to protect what they were doing.