Jack was acting cold.
Usually in a situation like this Jack would be practically mothering Gwen, reassuring her that Rhys would be fine while double checking that Ianto, Owen and Tosh were fine. Instead he sat there stiffly making sure no one would even be able to accidentally brush against him. When they split up to surround the warehouse and Ianto and Rhys got caught Gwen began to run after them instead of Jack being the one to stop Gwen it took practical begging from Tosh to stop her.
The people who were hacking at the creature, panicked, attempted to shoot Gwen during the confrontation and would have succeeded if Ianto hadn't pushed her down in time. Owen pumped drugs into the creature while muttering apologies, Ianto stunned the men before they ran off and Gwen rushed Rhys back into his lorry reminding him to take the retcon soon.
They came back somber due to the mercy killing Owen had to do. They sat down in their work stations and silently began the paperwork. Jack stormed in from his office and glared at them all his arms crossed.
"Liars" he said icily. "You're all liars"
The four of them stiffened, Gwen plastered a fake smile. "What do you mean Jack?" she asked gently.
"Don't. You. Dare" Jack hissed. "Don't you dare pretend you have no idea what I'm talking about. You're not engaged to Rhys are you?" Gwen looked down ashamed. "You've been engaged to Ianto all along haven't you?" she didn't answer, she shifted her feet slightly and avoiding looking at Jack. "ANSWER ME!"
Gwen flinched. "Yes" she whispered.
Jack laughed bitterly before he cupped Gwen's face and forced her to look at him. "I love you" he confessed. "I love you so much. I love Ianto as well. Owen and Tosh they're family and I adore them. But you lied to me"
"I'm so sorry Jack" Gwen croaked, tears starting to slip down her cheeks. "It's just you looked so heartbroken when I said I was engaged, I know you needed someone either me or Ianto and I couldn't bring myself to break your heart again. How could I tell you that I'm going to marry the man you love?"
"You silly little girl" Jack said tears building up in his own eyes. "I wouldn't have cared. The pair of you deserve to be happy. But you lied; all of you lied to me. I can't forgive you for that" he let Gwen's face go and turned away, not looking at any of them. "Go home. All of you"
"Jack-"
"I SAID GO HOME!"
Jack roared interrupting Tosh. Tosh staggered back and let out a small squeal; Owen stepped to her side and wrapped an arm round her shoulders, glaring up at Jack.
"Don't you dare scare Tosh like that" he snarled. "She's not at fault"
"She lied just like you and the others" Jack said coldly. "Leave now Harper before I retcon you and dump you in the middle of no where"
"Fine" Owen spat out. "Be like that but just so you know, I was on your side but now I'm starting to think the others were right to not tell you since you're acting like a brat" Owen turned away, herding Tosh to the cog door quickly. "Come on Tosh, I could use a drink"
"Jack, Jack please don't take it out on them" Gwen pleaded, she reached out and took his wrist causing Jack to wretch away, Gwen stumbled back and Ianto caught her swiftly. "Jack please"
"Leave me alone. I never want to see you again today. I never want to speak to you. Just be grateful I'm not retconning you"
Jack then stormed off up the stairs. The pair winced as he slammed his door shut, Gwen then began to cry openly, Ianto pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair and his owns tears dripping onto her scalp.
"I'm so sorry Ianto" Gwen gasped. "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault, I ruined your friendship with Jack and Tosh's....and Owen's....it's all my fault"
"Shh...Shh...No it's not" Ianto whispered. "It's not. Jack just needs time to adjust that's all. In a couple weeks everything will be back to normal"
Gwen sniffled and allowed Ianto to wipe her tears with his hankie before slipping his hand into hers and leading her out to the outside. They paused and faced each other both smiling at the warmth of the sun on their faces.
"Despite all of this, I don't regret anything with you" Gwen whispered.
"I have nothing to regret either" Ianto said gently as he tucked some of Gwen's hair behind her ear before leaning down kissing her.
Both were unaware of Jack Harkness, watching them through the CCTV crying.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Jack did not speak to anyone unless it was an order.
Jack did not look nor touch anyone unless it was necessary. Life or death.
Jack did not accept food or drink from anyone. Went out of the Hub for meals.
Two days went missing out of everyone's memories, including Jack's. He has no idea why, there was no letter left and as far as he knew the whole team ended up in an orgy or something, wouldn't be the first time.
Dead people began to pop up. With no obvious violence but a pattern of toxic shock. Jack declared the team incapable of solving the mystery without help and was now waiting excitedly for who he had called. He needed a friend who he knew wouldn't lie to him, wouldn't betray him and would care about his feelings.
"Miss Martha Jones" Martha looked up at Jack and smiled. He smiled back and winked at her.
They ran across the Hub and embraced tightly
"Oh, it's good to see you, Jack" Martha muttered, Jack laughed.
"I so needed a friend right now" he murmured before turning round. "Toshiko. Owen, Gwen, Ianto" Ianto waved. "Meet Martha"
Martha picked up her kit and her bag
"Uh, just a casual visit or...?" Owen asked wondering if Jack is following through his threat and firing Owen first.
"I'm here to complete your postmortem" Martha said politely before walking past a confused Owen.
"Dr. Jones is from UNIT" Jack said looking at the wall behind the team. He turned to follow Martha, Owen following him; he turned round and stopped Owen. "No, you lot work on something I want to talk to my friend alone"
Jack entered the autopsy room and Martha turned round with a serious expression, her eyes soft with concern. "All right Jack, what's going on?" she asked firmly. "You're acting like the Doctor on a bad angst day"
Jack felt his lips twitch in amusement as he sat down and told her everything.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Martha thought Jack was being an idiot and that he should mend his friendship with the team. During the conference and breaks as they tried to work out what a pharmacy is doing with the public that volunteered as test subjects, Martha attempted to get Jack involved in conversations. She had found Gwen to be friendly, Ianto to be sweet, Tosh interesting and Owen brilliant to talk about medicine. After a while Martha agreed to go undercover and discovered that they were using alien eggs as a medicine to cure everything. She also discovered that aliens like Weevils are being used as test subjects as well.
Martha was almost killed by the leaders of the group. Owen and Jack managed to save her in time while Tosh, Ianto and Gwen shut down the building.
"Okay, let's go!" Jack said leading everyone back to the SUV, Owen and Martha were behind when the leader, Aaron Copley appeared with a gun out pointed at Martha.
"Did you really think I was going to let you just walk away?" Owen stepped forward in front of Martha. "You've ruined everything I've worked for.
"Now, let's not be stupid. Okay?" Owen said softly, Gwen pulled out her gun and pointed at Copley. "We're both rational men, scientists" Owen moved closer slowly. "I know you don't want to shoot"
BANG!
Copley shot Owen in the chest. Owen fell down hard. Ianto is startled, Gwen dropped her gun horrified and Tosh gasped in horror. The empty shell casing clinked on the concrete.
Owen gasped for breath.
Jack raised his gun and points it at Copley.
"You're next!" Copley spat out as he held his gun at Martha.
BANG!
Jack fired the gun; the bullet hit Copley dead center in his forehead. Copley dropped his gun and fell backwards. Tosh ran towards Owen and Martha dropped to the floor.
"Owen! Can you hear me, Owen?!" Martha shouted.
"You've got to help him!" Tosh screamed, Martha got up and got a syringe.
"Owen, stay with me. Owen. Owen, look at me, look at me" Jack begged, tears forming in his eyes. Owen can't die. Not before Gwen and Ianto are married. "Owen, look right at me. Stay with me, Owen, stay with me. Stay with me, buddy. Come on. Come on."
Martha injected Owen in the chest. "Owen, speak to me!" Martha shouted.
Owen's harsh breathing slows down. He blinks a couple of times and stops moving. Everyone waits. But Owen made no movement. Martha checked his pulse. She looked at Jack sadly.
"He's dead" she whispered.
Jack looked up at the others. Gwen, Ianto and Tosh, all three looked torn and shocked. Disbelieved because there was no way an arsehole like Owen could die.
"Owen ..." Jack whispered brokenly.
