Chapter Forty-Three

Sorry for the delay again… here's the next chapter and I hope you all like it! :-)

Disclaimer: Well… no. I don't own Torchwood. :'-(

"Oh, god," Ianto groaned, averting his eyes instantly. "That is revolting."

Jack stared at the brains in apparent fascination. "What is that?" he asked, curious.

"This is us," the fish-man said proudly.

"What do you mean? How is that," Jack nodded at the tank, the brains floating lazily in the water, "you?"

"We do not answer prisoners' questions."

"You keep on saying 'we' – what d'you mean by that?" Jack asked.

"We do not answer prisoners' questions."

Jack nodded, as if this explained something. He leaned forward until his nose was almost touching the glass side, scrutinising the over-sized brains with apparent curiousity.

"Jack?" Ianto asked. His heart was pulsing rapidly at the base of his throat.

Jack flicked him a glance which clearly read 'Don't say anything - I've got it all under control'.

Ianto responded with a quirked eyebrow, but kept his mouth shut.

"What did you bring us here for?" Jack questioned. "I mean, it's a lovely tank and everything, but I don't—"

"Prisoners will remain silent!" The fish-man rapped the handgun against the side of the tank.

Ianto felt rather than heard the shot going off, saw the glass cracking and the water crashing through—

-T-

Jack Harkness opened his eyes to a bright, sunny Tuesday morning. He yawned, stretched, and rolled out of bed, padding across to the door and sticking his head into the kitchen.

"Tea?" his partner asked, not bothering to look up from his newspaper.

"I'd appreciate a coffee, actually," Jack said, wandering over and grabbing a slice of toast from his partner's plate.

Ianto raised an eyebrow. "Please tell me that you're kidding."

Jack ruffled his hair, just to annoy him. "No, really – I'd like a coffee."

Ianto put down his paper and stared at Jack bemusedly. "I don't do coffee. You know that, Jack."

Jack paused, a memory niggling at the back of his brain. He frowned, trying to remember.

"Jack?" Ianto looked at him, a worried expression in his green eyes. "What's wrong?"

Jack shook his head, and smiled reassuringly at him. "Nothing, don't worry. A tea's fine."

Ianto smiled back and pushed back his chair, going to the kettle and flicking it on. Jack admired the view for a minute, before picking up the paper and scanning the headlines.

"The president's son's been picked up the drunk-driving again," Ianto said, deftly dumping a tea-bag into a mug and pouring hot water over it. Steam surrounded him, and for a moment he looked insubstantial and ghostly. Jack blinked, and he was back to normal again.

Ianto handed him the tea with a bright smile. "Gray said that he'll be dropping by for dinner sometime," he said. "I was thinking of doing a pot-roast."

"Sounds great," Jack said, hands wrapped around the mug. He took a careful sip. "Are you at home today?"

Ianto shrugged and picked up his remaining slice of toast, green eyes glinting like those of a cat. "Well, you would know."

Jack chuckled. "I was only trying to make conversation. Are you visiting your mother?"

Ianto politely finished his mouthful before replying, "I haven't been for a couple of weeks – I really ought to."

"That's no problem," Jack said. "I was just wondering if you want me to pick up something on my way home."

Ianto stood up again, dropping the toast in the bin and placing the plate in the dishwasher. "I'll rustle up something."

Jack relaxed back in his seat. "I'm looking forward to it."

Ianto turned and presented a brilliant smile. Jack felt an unexpected sense of unfamiliarity for a flash of a second, before Ianto headed for the door on the other side of the kitchen. "That'll be the post-girl," he said.

"I didn't hear a knock."

"There was one," Ianto assured him with another smile. "Be right back."

Jack nodded, picking up his paper again and opening it to the second page. Then frowned.

Why was the second page blank?

Ianto returned back to the kitchen, a wad of letters in his hand. "I was talking to Diane from Reprographics yesterday, and she was suggesting we think about adopting—"

"We've got a faulty paper," Jack said, interrupted Ianto's chatter.

Ianto cast the letters onto the table and leant over Jack's shoulder. "What d'you mean?"

Jack thrust the paper at him. "Look – it's blank. Nothing. Nada."

Ianto took it from him and checked inside. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure – I think I might have noticed had there been writing on it," Jack snapped.

Ianto ignored his tone and instead frowned down at the paper. "It isn't blank," he said in confusion. And, when he showed Jack the paper, there was indeed print covering the pages. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Jack said quickly. "Just having a bit of a strange morning, to be honest."

"Do you need the day off?"

"The headmaster can't take a day off school just because of an odd morning." Jack stood up again, checking his watch. "Which reminds me – I'd better be getting ready."

Ianto nodded and folded the paper. "I'll get your lunch from the fridge."

"Who's covering your history class today?" Jack said impulsively.

Ianto's forehead creased in an anxious frown. "Gwen Cooper, remember?"

"Gwen Cooper?" Jack felt the start of a headache building behind his eyes. "I thought she was in the English department?"

"She is." Ianto stood up; worry still glittered in his jade-coloured eyes.

"Then why's she—?"

"She's only covering," Ianto reminded him gently. He carefully wrapped his arms around Jack, kissing his neck affectionately. "I really think that you should stay home today. You seem out of sorts."

Jack sighed and relaxed into his partner's embrace, closing his eyes for a moment. "I can't," he said. "That sends out the wrong message."

Ianto withdrew, scrutinising Jack's face closely. "If you're sure," he said doubtfully. "But I—"

"I'm fine, Ianto, alright?" Jack retorted, his temper fraying. "I can take care of myself." He felt an odd sense of déjà vu as the words left his mouth.

Ianto raised an eyebrow coolly. "Of course. I'll just let you work yourself so far that you get ill, why don't I?"

"I'm not ill," Jack said through gritted teeth. "It's just a headache. Couple of aspirin and I'll be right as rain."

"You're not immortal, y'know," Ianto said. "You don't magically bounce back from everything."

Again that ripple of déjà vu. Jack shook his head, hoping that it would help dissipate his headache. "Look," he sighed, "just let me deal with it in my own way, okay?"

Ianto shrugged and sat down again. His face was stony, his eyes like cold, emerald marbles in his face. "Have it your way."

"Thankyou." Jack felt the coil of frustrated anger inside his chest relax a fraction. "I'll just go and get dressed."

I'm sorry that it's a bit on the short side, and no doubt you're all confused as hell. But don't worry, all shall be explained in the next few chapters!

REVIEWS = HAPPY WRITER = PRODUCTIVE WRITER = MORE, LONGER CHAPTERS, FASTER :-D