Aaaaah, we're almost finished now! =O

I kinda realised how predictable this outcome was, but I tried to write it in a way that would make you cry/smile/beg for cookies.

:D Enjoy... x

Jack was respectfully slipping Ianto's unfinished report into a plastic wallet on his desk, before it could be resigned to storage. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like Ianto's entire life could be found in the Hub, everything he had done, everything life had given him - it was contained in those watery walls.

Gwen sat in Jack's chair, swaying from side to side, crying. He doubted that she would ever stop crying, not now, not after all of this. Looking at her made his heart burn, but he had no choice if his plan was going to work.

Of course, she hadn't said a word for the entire journey back to the Hub. The SUV had rattled along in eerie silence, and Gwen had only emerged out of her gloomy cloud of depression to buy a can of coke at a nearby Spar. While she was gone, Jack hastily took her phone from the glove box, making a hurried call. A lot was resting on this single phone call, his entire plan would dissolve if this call did not go as planned.

Now, back in the Hub, staring at him through aged eyes, he was witnessing her spirit break.

"Gwen," he cleared his throat, wondering how best to approach this. "Gwen, you trust me, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Trust me enough to do anything - anything I asked? Even if it seems mad and crazy and you don't want to do it - you'd do it, because you trust me?"

"Well, yeah I suppose. What is it Jack?"

"It's just a little thing, one last favour I have to ask of you. Because… it's this job, it gets inside you. And it's my fault, really, all my fault for Owen and Tosh and even Ianto, and everything you're going through now - it's down to me. And… it's time I took responsibility for my actions, it's time I did something back for my team."

"Jack I don't understand, what?"

"It's simple. I loved Ianto, I still love him, and I don't think I ever really told him. It hurts, Gwen, to lose someone you love like that, knowing it was your fault. And I can't bear to lose you like that - and I know - I just know - that I will, if I don't do something right now. You're everything Torchwood is about, you're the heart of everything we do, and I couldn't live forever knowing I've hurt everyone I ever loved. If I can just get you out, save you, it'll be enough."

She'd gotten to her feet now, he knew the desperation in his voice was scaring her, but it had to be said. "Please explain."

With a wave of his hand, he moved her out of his way and scrabbled about on the desk, rattling through boxes and loose bits of machinery, until he triumphantly held up a small red box for her to inspect.

"What is it?"

He took the box back, unfastening the top, "Your ticket outta here."

"I don't get it," but her eyes widened when he tipped the contents of the box into her waiting palm: a single white pill, slightly smaller than the average paracetamol tablet.

"Retcon," she sighed dreadfully, as if all the meaning of Jack's plan had come spilling out at once. From the annoyance in her worn voice, he knew this was not going to be easy.

"Retcon and a sedative, the perfect blend."

She turned away from him angrily, thrusting the pill into his hand, "I won't take it. You know I won't, and you can't force me. You might as well tell me what you were planning to do, but it won't work now."

"It has to," Jack sank into the chair, "in fact, it's already in motion. I've made a call to Rhys, I actually phoned him a few days ago as well, and everything is sorted. I've transferred all of your Torchwood pay into his account, and given him instructions to put your flat on the market. I've told him I'll deal with everything, and I will. If he follows my instructions, he'll have already put down the deposit on a lovely semi-detached in Swansea and-"

"Swansea! What are you talking about - Jack, this is stupid-"

"This has to happen. Now, where was I? Yeah, Swansea, it's a lovely property, not too far from the city centre. According to the estate agent, it's got a lovely front and back garden, big enough to get a swing set in, and a little paddling pool in the summer. It's got three bedrooms, so plenty of room for the pitter-patter of tiny feet."

"What?!"

"Because that's what you do, Gwen, that's what people do. It's human nature, and right now you can't do any of that. So, as your boss, I'm taking responsibility. Now, there's a fantastic nursery school up the road and, even more perfectly, it's a short drive to the police station."

"Why would I -?"

"Shush, let me finish. I've also been on the phone to Andy, he's put in the word with your old supervisors that you want to transfer to the Swansea constabulary, and he got me a form. Now, I had to fake your signature and Tosh was always better at that sort of thing than me, but I'd say you've got the job Gwen Cooper."

"Jack, I don't like this, just… stop it, please."

He sighed, buried his head in his hands, "I can't stop it. Everything's already in place. I never knew how easy it would be to just create a new life for you."

"This is mad! I can't take this Jack, I don't want to. You've got no right-"

"Wrong, this is my fault, it's my fault you ever got involved with Torchwood."

"But what about this - my whole life?"

"Easy enough to explain. Rhys will say you've been in a coma, or whatever story he chooses to tell you, and you'll have no memory of the past three years - no Torchwood, no aliens, no trauma. You'll be you again, you'll be that sweet bright girl I met so long ago. In Swansea, none of the memories will ever be triggered, Rhys will make sure of that."

"But I don't want to! I don't want any of that stuff, I want this. Torchwood and Cardiff and you. This is my life now, and I'm better when I'm with you. Braver and stronger and you can't take that away from me."

"Gwen, you have to. There's no other choice, not now. It's too much for you, too much for me to watch it pull you in. Three deaths in such a short space of time - how much longer do you think you can last? Six months, a year? It's not nearly enough. You're going to grow old, and have dozens of grandchildren, and have a perfect life, alive. So, you'll be a good girl, and do as I say. Open wide." He teasingly held up the pill, and her eyes suddenly became a wall of heavy tears.

"What will you do? Without me?"

"Oh, the usual I expect. Wallow in misery for a few years. Take my heartbreak out on Weevils. And of course, on those three bastards who did all of this to you. But at the end of it all, I'll be okay, because I'll know that you're okay, which is all I really want."

"Won't you miss me?"

"Irrevocably. But I'd rather you be safe and well in Swansea than in constant danger here with me."

"Then you're a coward!" She flung her fists out at him, missing wildly, "And I won't do it Jack bloody Harkness, I won't just erase the best three years of my life, like it never mattered."

Feeling that the situation was getting entirely out of control, Jack caught both of her fists in his right hand and used his left to secure her to him. "Of course it mattered. But you matter much more than that to me, and I won't lose you as well." And, he wasn't quite sure where it even came from, but he kissed her quickly on the lips, much too quickly for her to even react. "Take it, for me, one last favour."

He'd broken her, the determination in his eyes had broken her resolution, because she took a small step back and parted her lips. Slowly, as if his hand was made of lead, he dropped the tiny pill into her mouth and watched as she swallowed it tearfully.

"No going back now," he laughed nervously.

"I hate you for this," she whispered grudgingly, but the tears told him otherwise.

"This is it, then, this is the end. Gwen Cooper, it's been good."

"Is that it?" She glowered, "Three years of me saving your life - never mind that you're immortal - and all you can say is, 'it's been good'?"

"What do you want? A thank you? Okay, sorry. You're right, I should say thank you. Thank you for being you, thank you for being Gwen Cooper, the one who wouldn't give up, thank you for being stubborn and determined and all the things I admire about you. Thank you for believing in me. And, I suppose, thank you for giving me the best three years of your life, which also turned out to be the best three years of my life as well."

"Why?"

"Well, because-"

"No, I mean, why are you telling me these things now? Why not months ago? Or before I took the damn pill?"

"Because I knew you'd never take it."

"You…" But her voice trailed off as she swayed uncertainly on her feet, and half-sat, half-collapsed onto Jack's lap in the chair.

"That'll be the sedative," he commented, "good, means it's working."

Her eyes were closing, he doubted that she could even hear him. "Don't worry," he whispered, "I'll stay with you."

"And when I wake up?" She was slurring her words, it would not be long until sleep took over.

"You'll be safe, in Swansea, with Rhys."

"Will I ever see you again?"

"Can't sweetheart, sorry. Which means this really is the end."

"I always loved you best, you know."

He laughed bitterly: why had she not told him that years ago? "Yeah?"

"Even when you were dead." She was curling in his lap now, like a sleeping child, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he was making the call for Rhys to come and carry her away, out of his life forever. Her face was inches from his, pressed into his collarbone, and, he thought, if she wasn't going to remember it he might as well have something to remember her by.

"I loved you best too Gwen Cooper," he said, his lips on hers even as she murmured her half-asleep reply. Before he'd even finished the kiss, he felt her breathing become deep and slow as she slipped into unconsciousness on his lap.

Sighing, Jack drew the mobile phone from his shirt pocket, dialling Rhys, fighting back the tears as he hugged Gwen's small body to him. Grief could come later, when he had taken out his rage on the three people responsible for everything that had happened in the last few weeks.

"Goodnight cariad."

Okay, so, I want the truth. Good or not?

It made me quite sad, and I hope I did it justice.

Cookies/brownies/pancakes for my lovely readers/reviewers as always! =D