Jack woke early the next day and spent the morning tying up loose ends, alternating between a nostalgic longing for the past and a burning hope for the future. For the first time in over two years he actually had hope, a hope that burned deep in his stomach causing his vision to blur and his breathing to catch in his throat.

The others drifted in one by one, the blaring of the proximity alarm announcing each arrival moments before a cheery shout of "hello." Jack picked up his pen and paused, his hand wavering over the open folder in front of him. He smiled to himself as he signed his name with a flourish, closing the folder and pushing back his chair in one smooth movement. Rising to his feet, he stopped in the door way, taking one last look around his office before turning off the light and going to meet his team.

"Right everyone," he bellowed, bounding down the metal stairs, his boots resounding around the Hub, "We've got a lot to get through, so let's get on."

He acknowledged Rhys and John with a nod of his head and lead the way to the briefing room. When everyone had settled themselves around the table he began.

"Thank you for coming, Rhys," he said, "and for what it's worth I'm glad you're here. I was against you knowing about Torchwood at first but I'm happy to admit I was wrong. There have been times we couldn't have done what we do without you."

The Welshman nodded, knowing full well what it had taken for Jack to acknowledge his unofficial role on the team.

"As you've all gathered," Jack went on, "I'm leaving today to find Ianto and I want you all to know before I go, that it has been a pleasure to know you all."

"You make it sound like you're not coming back," quipped Owen.

Jack raised an eyebrow but didn't reply and there was a sharp intake of breath from everyone except John.

"You're not coming back?" Owen gasped.

"Honestly, I don't know. It will depend on Ianto. Whatever happens though, I'm not going to let Torchwood take him away from me again. I'm putting him first from now on and I can't do that while I'm working here full time. Who knows, maybe I'll be back as a freelancer one day but as for the rest, I've decided to offer my resignation."

"No Jack," Gwen whimpered, "You can't."

"I'm sorry," he replied, turning stormy blue eyes on her, "I can and I have. I contacted the Queen's equerry last night and as of today, I am no longer head of Torchwood Three. I never intended to stay this long and I certainly never asked to take over. It was foisted on me after Alex killed everyone and I went along with it, even started to like it after a while, but I was never a good leader."

"That's not true," Gwen argued, "You're a great leader."

"Oh yeah," Jack replied, "I'm such a good leader you couldn't wait to rebel against me and then I just upped and left you all without a second thought. The fact is I do most of my thinking with my dick. Plus I'm arrogant, self centred, reckless and irresponsible."

"You saved us, though Jack," Gwen sobbed, "You saved us all." Rhys placed his hand over his wife's and she looked up, smiling at him.

The former Torchwood leader thanked the Gods for Rhys's quiet presence. Loyal, dependable, devoted and steadfast in his unending support for the people he cared for, even if they didn't always deserve such blind faith.

"Look after her," he asked the quiet Welshman, "In fact, keep an eye on all of them for me. Make sure they eat properly and go home once in a while."

"I will," Rhys replied, "you can rely on me, you can rely on all of us."

"Thank you. You're a good man. I'm sorry I haven't always done the best by your wife." He looked around the table, "by any of you. I hope whoever takes over does a better job than me."

"Whoever takes over?" Owen asked, "You mean you don't know, it's not going to be one of us."

Jack shook his head.

"I'm afraid it's not my decision," he said, "If you're interested I suggest you apply."

Owen looked as if he was going to say something else but in the end he simply smiled and shrugged.

"You know you were right about one thing," he chuckled.

"Oh, what's that?"

"That memorial does look pretty silly now."

Jack smiled, hesitantly at first but gradually the smile grew until he was grinning broadly.

Standing up he walked around the table and pulled the young doctor up into a bone crunching hug.

"Oi," Owen snarked, "no tongues, Harkness."

Jack threw back his head and laughed. It was a sound the Torchwood team hadn't heard in a while and despite their sadness at losing their leader, it gladdened their hearts to hear it. He hugged the girls separately and then took Rhys's outstretched arm and pulled him into a hug too.

"You ready?" John asked.

Jack nodded not trusting himself to speak and without further ado, John opened a portal and the two men stepped through it.

Jack knelt on all fours, coughing and spluttering, breathing heavily through his mouth.

"Temporal sickness?" John smirked "really?"

Jack shook his head slowly and collapsed on to his back.

"Fuck," he laughed, "I'd forgotten what a rush that was." He looked around then sat up, surprised.

"We're on a ship?" he said.

"Your powers of observation amaze me, Captain."

"Is she yours?" Jack asked, ignoring the sarcasm.

"Yup," John replied, "Well, sort of. Best not to ask actually."

"Okay, I won't ask but why are we on a ship?"

"There's a transporter shield all around Terrellian 5 so we'll have to make the rest of the journey the old fashioned way. And when we get there," John went on, "we're going to play it carefully. We can't go around asking for Ianto by name or it won't be long before whoever has him gets wind of it and then they'll do one of two things. They'll either spirit him away to protect their investment or they'll hold him to ransom for a ridiculous amount of money, so we'll pose as punters with a penchant for the 21st Century, try the hotels first and then the clubs, although best hope he's not in one of the clubs. Some of those places cater for certain tastes....." he let his voice trail off.

Jack palmed his face and sighed heavily.

"I can't believe Ianto would do anything like that," he said.

John shook his head, "Sometimes I wonder if you know him at all. That boy has a stronger preservation instinct than a Docalite Mountain Llama. He'll do whatever he needs to do to survive."

"I suppose," Jack agreed, "When did you get to know him so well anyway? What did you two really get up to on your last visit?"

"Told you, we compared battle scars......"

"and nothing else..."

John's eyes gleamed mischievously, "Weell," he grinned, "there might have been a little activity involving a measuring tape."

Jack's mouth fell open causing the other man to laugh out loud. "Shut your mouth Jack," he said, "that is so not a good look on you."

John was tired, in body and soul. His feet ached, his head felt like it was full of cotton wool and his heart was sick. They had been looking for Ianto for three days, splitting up after the first day to cover more ground. John gave a weary sigh cursing his former partner for failing to understand that mere mortals needed at least one sleep cycle in 48 hours. He walked into what he had decided would be his last establishment for the day and made his way over to the reception desk, giving the young man on duty a heart stopping smile.

"Hello, sweetcheeks," he purred, "What's a lovely boy like you doing in a place like this."

The man inwardly rolled his eyes but kept his professional aloofness intact. "How can I help you, sir?" he asked politely.

"Hmm....later," John leered, "For now I'm looking for something for my boyfriend, it's his birthday soon and I wanted to give him a night to remember. Do you think you can help?"

"I'm sure we can, what's he in to?"

"Oh, he's a real history buff. Loves old earth and all that. 20th or 21st Century is a particular favourite."

"Ah, you could be in luck. We had a consignment come in recently. We haven't had time to catalogue it yet but I think there might be something in there your boyfriend might appreciate. An old Earth boy from that very period in fact."

John wrinkled his nose, "I dunno, maybe I should wait and come back when you've had time to check him over...I'd need to see a picture at least."

"I could introduce you?" the man suggested, "but you'll have to come back tomorrow morning, he's....a bit tied up at the moment." He smirked.

"Okay." John balled his fists but managed to keep his face straight, "and afterwards, if you're interested...."

"Yeah," the man deadpanned, interrupting the former time agent, "I'm not!"

"Excellent, it's a date, then," John laughed, "See ya tomorrow."

He stepped outside. He fiddled with his wrist strap and spoke into it.

"Jack, at the risk of repeating myself," he said , "I think I've found him, I've found Eye-candy."

"I'm coming with you."

Jack's tone brokered no arguments and no amount of John pointing out that they weren't even sure if it was him was going to change that.

Of course it's him," Jack beamed happily. "How many 21st Century Earth boys can there be on Terrellian 5. It's him, I know it."

John ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay," he said, resignedly, "but follow my lead and try to stay calm."

"You sure you're ready?" The two former time agents stood outside the hotel. John placed his hand on the other man's shoulder and shook it gently, "Jack," he repeated, "Are you sure you can do this?"

Jack nodded distractedly.

"Okay," John sighed, "let's go."

He wrapped his arms around him and steered him across the hotel lobby.

"For fuck's sake," John muttered, "don't look so nervous." Turning to the young man from the day before he raised his voice slightly and rolled his eyes, "I'm such an idiot," he said, "couldn't keep a secret if my life depended on it. Once I told him I'd found a 21st Century Earth boy, he just had to come too."

"Oh, yeah," Jack snickered eagerly, "You gotta love the 21st. Global warming, world hunger, plague and petulance and in the midst of it, all that pent up sexuality. A heady mix, don't ya think?"

The young man looked unimpressed.

"Yes well, If you'd like to follow me," he said, "he's waiting in the bar area."

John squeezed Jack's hand as they followed, "remember," he whispered, "play it cool."

The bar was almost empty at that time of the morning. A young couple, apparently human, sitting in a booth, heads bent together and hands clasped across the table. A waiter wandering among the tables, preparing for the midday service. A young man sitting on a bar stool talking animatedly to the bartender and sipping from a tall glass.

The receptionist whispered something in the man's ear and he turned towards his two potential punters. John was standing slightly behind Jack and he wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him close, as much to keep him upright as to continue the pretence that they were together. Beautiful blue eyes locked on to Jack's and Jack felt his own eyes fill up. "Ianto," he whispered. No one moved. The moment frozen in time as two men gazed at each other, one of them smiling slightly.

"I'm sorry," John spoke breaking the silence, "I'm so sorry."

"Sure, I can be Ianto," the man said, "I can be whatever you want me to be."