The next few weeks passed without much incident. The rift spat up a few problems but nothing too major. When August turned into September, Imogene started at a local high school. It was decided after much argument and debate that she should at least do her GCSEs before leaving school for good. The story was that she used to attend a boarding school which shut down due to the recession and was living with her older brother.
Imogene was sitting in a first period physics lesson. It was half nine in the morning. It was a gloriously hot September morning and she'd been out until half one the previous night on a Weevil hunt. Her physics teacher, an old pain in the backside called Mr Leonard who everyone at Oakwood suspected was a paedophile, droned on about particles or waves or something. Imogene rested her head on her desk and let her thoughts drift to her abilities. Jack explained that the telepathy was kind of automatic. (AN: Similar to when Tosh had that pendant) that her dormant psychic that every human possessed was enhanced by the rift when she fell through. The telekinesis was mainly kick-started when she felt that rage and it had sort of calmed and after some help from Jack and his Time Agency training; Imogene learnt how to keep a control over her powers and was warned not to use them at school.
Imogene raised her head lazily and considered the possibility of sending Mr Leonard's obviously fake wig (who honestly has jet black hair and white temples with no grey in between?) flying out the window or simply firing the textbook at his head when there was a knock at the door. One of the receptionists entered the room and the pupils were raised from their state of stupor as she looked around the room.
"Sorry Mr Leonard but is there an Imogene Jones here? She needs to take her stuff and come down to reception immediately." The receptionist said. Twenty heads turned and looked at Imogene.
"Whatever it was I didn't do it." Imogene said instantly but packed up her stuff. Anything was better than double physics on a Monday morning.
The receptionist led Imogene out of the science department and towards the reception. Imogene felt a clench of fear twist horribly in her stomach when she seen who was waiting in the office for her. This wasn't good. This was not good. Imogene stepped into the office.
"Jack what's wrong?" Imogene asked hugging Jack.
"I-it's Ianto," Jack whispered. "Her brother has been in an accident, I need to take Imogene to the hospital right away." Jack told the receptionist.
"I don't think that's allowed sir, only family members can take pupils out of school, you understand why I'm sure." She replied.
"It's OK miss; he's my brother's boyfriend." Imogene said.
"Just this once you understand." The receptionist replied and signed Imogene out of the school.
As they walked out of the main building and got into the SUV, Imogene turned to Jack.
"What happened? Why is he in hospital?" Imogene asked her voice trembling with fear.
"It had been a callout. An old friend of mine was looking for trouble and when we tracked him down, he shot Ianto in the chest." Jack explained, his voice struggling to prevent his emotions betraying him.
"I-is he…" Imogene's voice trailed off.
"Not yet, he's in surgery and it's touch-and-go at the moment. But he's a fighter. He'll pull through." Jack said as they reached St Helen's Hospital.
"I can't lose him Jack. I can't." Imogene said rubbing her eyes.
Jack squeezed her hand tight. "Neither can I,"
As they reached the waiting room Tosh enveloped Imogene in a tight hug and they sat waiting on any news. After what seemed like an eternity two doctors emerged from the surgery and into the waiting room. The five of them looked at them in fear and apprehension. The doctors gave a reassuring look.
"He'll be alright. The bullet missed the major organs but there is some nerve damage and a few broken ribs. There should be no lasting damage however but the next twenty four hours are critical. He's got some good people looking out for him." The doctor explained.
"Can we see him?" Jack asked.
"One at a time, he's in the Intensive Care Ward. I'll take you down to see him now." The second doctor said and led them up a flight of stairs to the ICU. Ianto was in a private room and the others let Imogene go in first. Ianto was still unconscious and hooked up to different machines monitoring this, that and the other. Imogene sat in the chair next to his bed and playfully thumped her sleeping brother on the arm.
"That's for scaring the hell out of me. I really thought I'd lost you for good. Now I'm sounding selfish, this is nothing compared to what you've been through already. But you'll be alright; you're probably the strongest person I know. Besides if you kick the bucket, then I'll kill you. Keep fighting bro." Imogene said and kissed Ianto's forehead and left the ward.
Owen slipped in after her. "You gave us all a fright mate. Don't worry; we'll get Hart back for you. You just get better because if you don't Harkness is gonna take it out on all of us otherwise we'll die from lack of caffeine." Owen squeezed Ianto's shoulder and Tosh slipped into the ward.
"You need to wake up Ianto. You've faced off worse in your sleep. You're the best friend I've ever had. You sacrificed yourself for me back in the Beacons and I've never thanked you enough for it. You're the one who keeps us all sane and stops World War Three breaking out simply by being there. I don't really know what your relationship with Jack is, but hopefully this isn't the end of it. Anybody could see how much he cares for you. I just hope he's seen it now as well." Tosh kissed Ianto's cheek and left the ward to sit next to Imogene who was staring into space.
"We should head back to the hub to make sure nothing else has happened. Ring us if there are any changes." Owen said as he and Tosh left. Imogene got to her feet and stood outside the ward. Jack was in there and holding onto Ianto's hand for dear life as he spoke to him.
"…wanted time off you could've asked. Then again, that's not really your way of doing things. I am so sorry. I should've realised it was Hart. I should've been more careful. I want you to wake up. I need you to wake up. I-I love you Ianto Jones." Jack confessed before bowing his head as tears began to fall.
His hand was weakly squeezed back.