AUTHORS NOTE::: I am SOO sorry; but I've gotten sh*t straightened out for this story. But since school has started again, it'll probably be about a month until the next update. Sorry; but at least I promise it won't be another YEAR

Chapter 7
"Into the Unknown"

"They all hate me, don't they?" I ask nervously, staring at the cog door just a few feet away.

Jack sets a reassuring hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing. "No they don't all hate you... Gwen is new, remember?" I roll my eyes, giving Jack a quick un-amused look to which he returns a smile.

"Alright, we can't just stand here all day." Jack says, bringing his hand to the small of my back to lead me towards the door. I take a deep breath and enter the Hub with Jack. The Hub is buzzing as ever; Owens making unnecessary ruckus from the autopsy bay and I can hear Myfanwy's calls echoing from above. I haven't seen Gwen Cooper yet. Or Tosh, for that matter.

"Where's Tosh?" I ask Jack quietly, turning my head to look behind me at Jack.

"She's out in the field today; I sent her to investigate some relic that's turned up at dig site out of town." Jack explains, smiling a little. Hmm, things have changed. Tosh wouldn't normally go off on her own investigation.

"And Gwen Cooper?" I ask, looking around the Hub.

"Right here – the vision of loveliness!" Jack announces and I see him already turned and greeting a newly-arrived Gwen Cooper, holding – ugh – Starbucks in her hands. I like the girl already.

"Morning, Jack." She said, looking up at him with a soft blush appearing on her cheeks. I hold back a grimace; she's already fallen for his charms. Well, I suppose, who could blame her?

"Gwen, Ianto, you two have met. Now, Ianto, let me show you around. Gwen, off to Owens station." Jack orders quickly, using his commanding voice he only uses when discussing important business. He rushes me down to the hallway, in the direction of the archives, practically pushing me along with his hand on my back.

Once we arrive in the low-security archive facility, Jack stops and lets me go. I turn on the ball of my foot to face him immediately, our toes touching. "Jack, what was that?" I ask, jerking my head towards the generally direction of upstairs.

Jack sighs. "I just need you to lie low for a while, ease yourself into the scene. The team went through a lot with Lisa –"

"And I didn't?!" I shout, raising my arms in frustration, ready to grab Jack's collar, but I know better. I can't help but avert my gaze from the hard stare Jack is directing at me.

Jack seems to try to swallow his words back. "I'm sorry, Ianto... I didn't think about what I said." His voice is soft now, and I feel a hint of his fingertips brushing against my waist.

I lick my lips, taking a deep breath before I speak again, looking back to Jack's face. "Jack... Why did you want me back at Torchwood?"

Jack's gaze softens. "Yan, I—"

"Don't call me that." I interject, refusing to be referred to with a pet-name in this situation.

"Ianto, I just needed you. We all do. You are the most irreplaceable person here." Jack explains, taking my hand in his.

I tilt my head, unconvinced. "I appreciate the sentiment, Jack. But the most irreplaceable person here is Tosh or you. And don't get big-headed after I said that; after all, where the hell would we find an immortal man?" I respond firmly.

Jack is silent for a minute.

"So... Owen doesn't even make the cut then?"

"OH, my Lord!" I explode; ripping my hand away from Jack's grasp and take a few paces away from him. "You are unbelievable! You can only take me seriously when I'm on a ledge!"

Jack is silent, so I take it as a grant to keep on going. "Jack, I need to know that I'm not here just so you can 'keep an eye on me'. I'm a grown man; I can do what I fucking want – and if that means dying, or crying, or never seeing any of those fucking faces again, I don't think it's your business anymore."

Jack's gaze falls to the floor. I cross my arms and try to even my breathing while I wait for a response. After a sizable pause, Jack lifted his head again and spoke with a wicked formality. "You can leave."

I hesitate for a second before asking, "What does this mean?" I let my arms fall to my sides, watching Jacks face, his eyes, turning a mixture of cold cruel and sadness.

"It means that you can leave. Go back upstairs and walk out of here." Jack sighs heavily, moving away from the door, allowing me to pass. "For good."

I stride past him and make it out of the cog door before I can turn around and punch Jack in the nose.

I close and lock my flat door behind me. Thank god that blonde wasn't out in the hall today. I do not have the patience for anything like that right now.

I shrug out of my suit jacket and hang it in the closet. I remove my waistcoat and shirt, breathing deeply to calm myself. I should be happy, really. I'm free. Free of Torchwood. For good.

I go to the fridge; skim through before settling for a beer. I nearly have to force myself to sit down on the chesterfield and turn on the telly. I really shouldn't be just sitting here, but I have time, and I may as well waste it here. I open and chug down the first few gulps of the cool drink.

I quickly find myself feeling sluggish and everything goes dark.