The creature moved around the apartment humming. He was in a rather good mood, everything was starting to work out, he had the device, Gwen was gone, things where going his way. Carefully he stated to clean up the shattered glass when the door bell surprised him.
He froze, then slowly stood and walked to the door. Carefully he opened it and gasped at the site of the soaking man on the doorstep.
"Jack?!"
Jack gave him a desperate look. "Can I come in?"
No! The creatures mind screamed, but he knew if he turned Jack down it could make him suspicious.
"Of course." He stepped aside.
Jack sunk down onto Ianto's coach, appearing not to notice the damage. He let out a broken sob. The creature watched him with disgust, great, another complication, what was he going to do with this pathetic oaf? Oh god, was he crying? Tears, another useless human feature.
He sighed, this man was Ianto's lover right? So he should do something, try and help.
"What's wrong Jack?"
Jack looked up at him, "Gwen..." He rasped "Gwen's dead, and it was my fault.."
The creature stared at him, trying to work out what the right reaction would be. Jack mistook his silence for shock. "I mean it's not definite, maybe she didn't drown, maybe she survived." A look of hope came over his face. "I mean I didn't actually see her body, I have to use your phone! Call the others, get people looking for her!"
The creature was startled by his sudden enthusiasm, and reluctantly handed him Ianto's phone.
Jack grabbed it and quickly dialled Owen. Jack began blabbering away into the phone, when the creature was distracted by a thumping noise from down the hall.
Ianto, Dam, he could here everything, and was trying to get Jack's attention. This could be bad, this could be very bad. Glimpsing down the hall, He wondered if he could sneak off, go shut Ianto up. A load yelp from Jack made him jump, his head snapped round to where Jack was jumping around happily, still on the phone.
"Of course Owen, we'll be right there!" He said grinning. He paused, listening, and his grin faded slightly. "Understood." He said, shutting the phone and looking at the creature.
"They found Gwen, she's fine." Jack said.
Shit
"Oh? That's great news!"
"I told Owen we would head straight to the Hub."
"Good idea, just let me grab my keys."
Jack nodded, frowning as he had his first proper look around the place. "Ianto, what happened?" He motioned at the mess surrounding them.
"Oh that? I just had a tiny accident, nothing to worry about."
Jacks frown deepened. "What kind of accident?"
"It doesn't matter, really, we should get going sir."
Jack started slowly making his way down the hall, examining the damage.
"Really," the creature grasped his arm. "The others will expect us back soon.."
"They can wait a few minutes." Jack replied, pulling his arm free, and continuing down the hall. He had almost reached the bathroom and was about to look in when the creature called out. "Please Jack, leave it, for me?"
Jack gave him a funny look and stepped round into the bathroom.
He froze in shock, he wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but Ianto chained and gaged in the bath tub definitely wasn't it. He heard a footstep behind him and raised his gun. "Freeze."
The creature stopped. "I can explain."
Jack looked at the creature, and then back at Ianto. Moving slowly he walked towards the bath tub, keeping his gun on the creature. Leaning over slightly, he yanked the gag out of Ianto's mouth. He glimpsed at the chains, then straitened up and stared at the creature. "Unchain him." He demanded.
The creature moved slowly passed him, and carefully undid Ianto's chains.
"Help him up."
The creature did so, pulling Ianto out of the bath onto his feet. Ianto couldn't stand on his own, so the creature had to support him, he grunted under the young mans weight. Jack motioned for him to walk out of the bathroom. "To the car." He instructed, walking behind the creature, keeping his gun pointed at his head. Slowly the three of them made their way to Ianto's car, pausing so Jack could grab the keys on the way.
The creature drove them to the Hub, jack sat in the passenger seat with his gun in his hand, Ianto had passed out in the back. The creatures mind was wiring, he had to find a way out without loosing the body, he would survive a bullet to the head, but the body would die, and he would have no way of keeping the device. He glanced at the man sitting next to him,
Shit Jack looked pissed. Okay, maybe starving Ianto hadn't been his best idea, but he could work with this, he could say... That he was the real one. He frowned, could he do it? How would he explain the real Ianto? They were almost at the Hub, the creature groaned, he didn't have a better idea, it looked like he would just have to go with it, say he was real, Ianto was the imposter.
He stopped the car, Jack got out first, keeping the gun on him. He slowly slid out, watching Jack.
"Get him out." Jack said, pointing to the back seat. The creature slowly opened the door and lent into the car, making sure all Jack could see was his back, quickly he slipped the device out of his pocket and into Ianto's, before carefully lifting the young man out of the car. Slowly the three of them made their way into the Hub.
Owen jumped up when he heard the door open. He froze, staring for a second before exclaiming loudly "What the hell?!" Tosh and Gwen who had been talking about the root juice Gwen had drunken looked up and gasped.
"Jack, what's going on?" Tosh asked, rushing over. Jack shrugged, "Ask him." He said waving at the creature. Tosh stared at him with fascination.
"Well?" Jack asked, staring at him.
"H...he broke into my apartment!" The creature stuttered out. "He attacked me! And... And I overpowered him, tied him up!"
Jack looked doubtful, "Why didn't you call us? Or mention it when I got there?"
"Because... The thing!"
"The thing?"
"Yes! Yes! He had it in his pocket, he still does, he hit me with it and, it messed with my mind, convinced me I shouldn't tell you."
Jack frowned. "What thing?"
"He has it! It's metal, made of rings, it makes you feel so calm and happy."
"The device!" Gwen shouted out, "That's just like the device!"
Jacks frown deepened. "Take it out."
The creature made a big show of getting the device, making sure everyone saw he pulled it out of Ianto's pocket.
"That's it!" Gwen said, sounding shocked. "But how? I lost it."
"Tosh, take it from him." Jack instructed. Tosh slowly walked over and took the device from him. Suddenly Ianto shuttered, shaking as though cold.
"Jack I should really get a look at...that one." Owen said, pointing at Ianto.
Jack nodded, "Right, you," he motioned at the creature, "take him to the med bay, Owen, see if he is okay. Tosh, see if you can find out anything more about the device, I'm going to escort our 'friend' here to the cells once he's back, and then I'm going to work out what the hell is going on!"