A Problem Shared Chapter 4

Godwin looked at Ianto and then at Owen. "Alright, but if you try anything."

"Hey, you're the one with the gun."

Lowering the gun, Godwin opened the cell and went inside.

Jack slowly and quietly moved from his cell and came up behind Godwin. She turned quickly, emptying the gun into Jack's chest. He went down hard.

Owen acted quickly, hitting Godwin in the face. "Been wantin' to do that all morning."

Ianto sat up and moved over to pull Jack's dead body into his arms. "Come on, Jack. Come back."

Jack lay there lifeless, the blood pooling around them, soaking into Ianto's clothing as well as his own.

After ten minutes, Jack was still dead and fast getting cold.

"It's taking too long," said Tosh.

"Give 'im a chance. He's been shot 5 times." Owen told her.

Ianto leaned down and kissed him gently not thinking about his cold lips. He kept his face close to Jack's, his breath washing over Jack. "Come on, Jack. We have things to do."

Taking an agonising breath in, Jack came back to life. His eyes held fear and pain.

"They heard the intruder alarm go off."

"Who the hell's that?" said Owen.

"Martha Jones… I… called her."

"When?"

"Owen!" said Ianto.

"From the ….car."

Ianto leaned forward so only Jack could hear him. "You're okay."

"God! It's getting harder to come back each time.." He sighed staring into soft, blue eyes. "I love you."

Owen helped Jack to his feet then they both helped Ianto.

Martha Jones came around the corner with two red capped soldiers. "Jack, what are you up to now?"

Ianto couldn't help but smile when he saw Martha. "What isn't he up to?"

Martha looked at the state of the two men. "Up to your armpits in blood and guts I see," she smiled.

Jack laughed, pulling Ianto into an embrace. "Better get you to the hospital."

"Er, I think you better change your shirt first, Jack." Pointed out Martha.

Ianto looked at their clothes. They were both soaked in Jack's blood. "Probably a good idea if we both change." Ianto laughed a little, stepping over Godwin.

"Good idea. You wait by the couch, I'll fetch you up a shirt."

They all went up into the Hub. Godwin had come to and Jack was eager to find out who sent her.

She laughed at him. "I'll never tell." Then she bit down. Seconds later, she was dead.

"Cyanide," said Martha.

Ianto looked at Godwin's body and shook his head, and looked at the wall. Why was he shocked that someone wanted to kill him. He had built a hate fan club. He sighed and looked down at the blood on his shirt. He remembered when he used to shoplift when he was younger. Now he was part of Torchwood.

Jack came back ten minutes later, washed and changed. He gave Ianto a clean shirt. "Let's get you to the hospital." He turned to Martha. "I'll leave you in the capable hands of Dr Harper."

Ianto pulled on the clean shirt and looked at Jack. "Are you okay?" He was worried about Jack's mental state after dying.

Jack smiled sadly. "Yeah. It's just getting harder to come back each time, that's all." He took Ianto's hand in his. "Let's not worry about me, I want you seen to." He smiled, then Jack and Ianto left.

They drove to the hospital and Ianto was taken straight into a cubical. Hack waited outside. Jack sat down. Unusual for him. He usually paced. He closed his eyes, pain and dread washing over him.

"Are you alright, sir?" asked a nurse.

Jack opened his eyes. "Yeah, just tired."

Ianto didn't like Jack being outside, not knowing what was going on with the younger man. He lay on the bed, waiting for the doctor. "Look, I'm fine. Can you just patch me up and I'll be on my way."

"The doctor will probably want to keep you in for a few days observation. A bullet wound is serious."

Jack stood up and walked towards the cubical. Grabbing the curtain, he fell to his knees, taking the curtain with him.

Ianto looked on in horror. "Jack!" He moved gingerly off the bed and knelt beside his lover. "Jack, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I feel weird. I can….breath," he began to sag.

Without another word, Ianto helped Jack to his feet and they managed to make it to the SUV.

"Hang on Jack, I've got you." Ianto steered Jack to the passenger seat, helping him in. Then Ianto went round to the drivers side and got in. He called Owen.

"Owen Harper."

"Jack's collapsed, I'm bringing him back."

"What? You can't drive you've only got one good arm."

"I can't wait for you to get here, Owen. He's really bad."

"Okay, okay. I'll be waiting at the lift below the tourist office."

"Owen?" asked Gwen.

"Jack collapsed at the hospital. He can't breath."

Ianto managed to get them back to the Hub. Only hitting the curb once. He skidded to a stop, getting out before the SUV had stopped completely. Running round to Jack's side, he pulled the door open. "We're here."

"I….can't make it….Ianto. I think….this night be….the end….for me…."

Owen charged through the tourist office door. "Couldn't wait. Jack?"

"It's not the end, Jack. Don't even think that. Owen's gonna fix you up like new," he forced a smile, but inside he was terrified.

"You get down to the autopsy room, I'll take care of Jack."

Ianto hesitated.

"Go!" ordered Owen.

Jack looked directly at Owen. "Take care….of him. I….love him."

"You can do that yourself, Harkness. You're not goin' anywhere."