For your reading pleasure, a slightly longer update, chapter 8 ^^
Again, thanks to those who alert-ed, fave-d and especially reviewed; VeronicaD13, Liria Nira, xMushroomManicx, NO-PANTIES and dreamingofsunshine :)
Gwen and Rhys were already waiting patiently in front of the wooden doors by the time the TARDIS had landed. The Doctor was finalising the co-ordinates and ensuring that the spaceship was in the correct place and more importantly time – as much as he'd like to disagree he knew he was prone to making mistakes and he was well aware now was not the time to let that happen through being careless.
Jack, however, was still in the side room with Ianto. He'd remained there for the duration of the very short flight, just watching over his young lover and hoping that the antivirus would somehow reset his body back to before the virus entered his system, after all, the Doctor said the virus itself had no side effects. Jack was adamant this alone could bring back Ianto.... he hoped so at least. He was not religious but he felt himself praying his plan would work.
"We will get you back, Ianto. I promise," he whispered as he noticed the TARDIS had stopped. Before leaving the room he planted a lingering kiss on the Welshman's forehead. With that a feeling lit up inside Jack and consumed him, making him feel like he was on the way to succeeding in his task. The feeling was of joy and purity and jack could only interpret it as hope. Too lost in the sensation of the moment, what he failed to feel was the light surrounding him. And what he failed to realise was the feeling was the TARDIS wishing him luck and showing her support for the task ahead.
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Moments later, and with a new lease of hope, the foursome of people were stood in front of the still glowing blue tank. Just standing in the same spot he had four days previously, with Ianto alive and mostly well, made Jack feel very uncomfortable and he broke out in cold sweats. Gwen left her husband's side for the first time in days to come to her boss's aid. She carefully and considerately took one of his hands in her own and stroked the back of it in soothing circles with her thumb.
"It's okay jack, just be strong" she spoke in calming tones, "Remember, you're doing this for Ianto."
As the doctor inspected the tank she continued to soothe Jack, or at least try to. For a while his glazed and vacant expression made her think he wasn't listening to her. His eyes just remained unseeing but staring at the blue tank before him. Eventually she saw him snap out of it and he squeezed her hand back appreciatively. The pair remained in silence for a while longer before Jack felt ready to help the Doctor carry on.
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"So....What are you doing?" Rhys decided to ask the Doctor who he could see was working frantically around the tank but doing what Rhys had no idea. Rhys felt he should leave his wife alone with the captain for a moment as he obviously needed her. He found the idea that he was okay with that quite amusing as not a few months ago he's have laughed at the idea of wanting to leave the pair together. He knew Gwen was somewhat infatuated with the man, as much as she thought he was daft he was not an idiot. And to be honest, he couldn't blame her; even he noticed how the captain was brave, dashing... and just a little bit handsome. Something about the way Jack obviously cared about Ianto reassured him there would be nothing going on between his wife and the heroic American... and besides, Rhys knew Gwen would never ever cheat on him...
"Well I'm trying to figure out the safest way into the tank so that none of us are exposed to any residual virus that may be left over.... it would kill you or Gwen for certain and it even killed jack so I would not like to take my chances thank you very much.... I'm running short of regenerations you see." Rhys did not see but he nodded along anyway. "And I must say I'm quite fond of this regeneration, gotta love the hair" he said with a wink.
"Bloody hell!" Rhys exclaimed "You've been spending too much time with Harkness."
The doctor couldn't help but chuckle as he continued to scan the seals of the tank. Meanwhile he pulled out the bronze device from earlier and handed it to Rhys. "This," he said as he thrust the implement into the Welshman's ready hands, "is a peculiar device that can be used to single out matter from a sample to an impeccable precision. I used it to strain pure samples of the flu virus from Ianto's blood in the same way I plan to use it to strain the antivirus from this blue smoke concoction you see before us. I just need to figure out about the way in..."
"What about that haz-mat suit?" offered Rhys as he noticed the discarded outfit mere meters away from the time lord.
"So simple, so brilliant!" Beamed the Doctor as he went to fetch the suit. He began dutifully unzipping it before a strong hand was placed on his shoulder. Looking up he realised the hand belonged to Jack.
"If you don't mind Doc, I think I'd like to do this."
"But-" interrupted the Doctor seeing how unstable Jack seemed.
"One, I'm immortal. Two.... I promised Yan I'd bring him back and I'm going to keep that promise if it kills me." Which if I fail, I hope it does he added silently to himself.
"Well, very well Jack, best of luck." Smiled the Doctor knowing there was no changing Jack's mind.
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Within the hour Jack was successfully suited up and the suit was correctly connected to a supply of oxygen for him. He was in the centre of the tank and so obscured by smog that his team mates could no longer see him and the only connection they had was via the suits internal communication device.
"Ok, might have been a good idea to ask this before I went in the tank of death, but do you want me to take a sample of the gas or use this little shiny do-da and extract the antivirus, just bringing that back?"
"Well," answered the doctor, "It's probably a better idea not to bring poisonous gas out of the containment tank, don't you think?"
"Very true," replied Jack cautiously turning on the bronze device and positioning a funnelled end to suck up the smog, which if he was correct contained the antivirus.
Almost 30 minutes passed but Jack was assured a blue light would shine when the machine was full of antidote.
"How long's it going to take, doctor?" Asked Gwen, looking up from the reading of life signals the suit jack was wearing was taking.
"Not a clue.... depends entirely on the concentration of antidote to other particles... could be 2 more minutes, could be two more days....why do you ask?"
"According to this," she gestured at the computer screen, "Jack only has enough oxygen left for 2 minutes, the rest must have been used up by the cameraman......dont ask," she added seeing the doctor's quizical expression. "if we don't let him out now, he'll die."
"Well, what's new?" replied the time lord.
"Doctor!" Scolded Gwen who was appalled at the time lord's vulgarity.
"Sorry," he replied sheepishly, "Sorry, you're right."
Hearing the exchange Rhys opened up the communication line to jack.
"Mate," he began, "We're going to have to bring you back, you're running out of air."
"I ...know..." croaked back jack who had already suspected that that was happening; his suit was heating up and he was feeling light headed. "Leave me...in here..." he continued.
"are you mad jack!?" shouted Gwen, "If you die none of us can come in to save you!"
"I know!" was all jack managed to croak back before a thud echoed down the comms..... Jack Harkness was dead and inaccessible.
Dun dun dun... a cliffy... kinda! lol. Hope you enjoyed
i'll update asap :)