erm....sorry again. no excuses this time except for writers block. I hope you'll forgive me and enjoy this chapter.... x please review still!


Owen ran a cotton swab gently over Rhys' lips and, stepping back, pulled off his gloves and goggles.

"Tosh can you test these?" Owen instructed, handing over the bag containing the three swabs.

"Sure…"

"So, what's our next step?" Gwen asked, eyeing Rhys' still form cautiously. "We can't exactly go outside when things are like this."

"Well, we'll test the swabs and see what's the cause of this 'virus'," Jack explained his arm around Ianto's waist (he had not let go of him since he had returned) "and then we'll try and figure out how to stop it."

"And if we can't?" Tosh asked, looking up from her computer.

"Haven't thought that far yet- don't want to."

Jack shoved his empty mug down on the dining table and rubbed a hand through his hair in annoyance. "I need some fresh air" he muttered, releasing Ianto and striding out the door.

"Jack…" Gwen began; about to follow him but Ianto stopped her.

"Let me? Look after Rhys."

She nodded and smiled at him, turning back to her fiancé and sitting on the arm of his chair nervously.

Ianto followed Jack into the porch outside the house. The Captain had stopped and was looking out at nothing in particular.

"Cummon Cap'n this doesn't suit you…" Ianto whispered wrapping his arms around Jack's waist from behind and kissing his neck.

Jack smiled softly and gripped Ianto's hands in his own. "I don't know how to help them Yan…" he muttered. "And everyone expects me to have the answer. I don't…I've never seen anything like this before. It scares the shit out of me!"

"Jack, I trust you 100%. I don't care if I end up as a crazed madman- as long as you're working on it."

"Yes, well I care!" Jack snapped angrily. "I have never been more scared than the moment I thought I'd lost you back there. I've lost too many people I love. I can't lose you too."

Ianto span Jack round softly and put his arms round his neck. "You will never lose me Jack; ever."

Jack pulled a face. "Captain Cheesecake?"

Ianto grinned. "Absolutely." He kissed Jack's nose gently and ran his hand down Jack's face, tracing his jawbone with his fingertips.

Jack shivered and pulled Ianto into a fierce kiss, feeling Ianto's tongue run across his top teeth. His hands slipped to Ianto's waist, and then underneath his shirt.

Ianto smiled into the kiss and pulled away softly, placing a finger on Jack's lips.

"Not here Jack."

Jack pouted. "Meanie…"

Ianto winked and kissed Jack again softly.

"Jack!"

Jack pulled back from the kiss at the shout, and grabbing Ianto's hand, pulled him back into the house towards the front room.

"What is it?"

Tosh stood up and marched up to Jack, shoving the cotton swabs in his face. "All three of their saliva contains a high percentage of B67!"

Owen swore loudly. "Retcon," he muttered. "But how did that get into their blood streams?"

"That's what I'd like to know!" demanded Tosh angrily. "Did you retcon them Jack?!"

Jack scowled. "Of course I didn't Toshiko. You know the rules about that kind of amnesia pill. How much?"

"In all three cases, there was over 15oz of it in their system."

Now it was Jack's turn to swear. "8oz is enough to wipe the memory of a fully grown adult," he muttered. "Yvonne Hartman taught me that much…imagine what 15oz could do."

"I don't think we have to imagine," said Ianto.

"The question is- how the hell did it get into them?" Jack demanded, one hand still clutching Ianto's.

Ianto glanced at Gwen. She had gone extremely white and was shaking. When she saw his concerned glance, she smiled and shook her head in reassurance. Something clicked inside Ianto's mind. Her sudden disappearance- her odd behaviour.

"Jack," he announced suddenly. "It was me. I infected them."

Jack let go of Ianto's hand.


:( sorry Yan 3