Notes: Thank you for your comments and reviews. I'm continually grateful and they're always appreciated.

Heads up on two things. 1. I expanded the 24-hours this episode supposedly took place in to 48 hours for creative purposes. 2. Those creative purposes will become seen within chapter 4, which will be split into seven parts.

Chapter Spoilers: Episodes 2.01 (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) and Doctor Who 3.12, 3.13 (Sound of Drums, Last of the Time Lords – slight/references)

The tension was still pretty thick as the team gathered into the illustrious TORCHWOOD SUV. They knew nothing about the Blowfish; actual species, how it attacks, how to defend against it. All they knew was that for some odd reason it decided to steal a sports car.

"Jack would know," Tosh pointed out. The SUV grew silent. No one had spoken of Jack for the past two weeks and therefore the comment caught them off guard.

"Well Jack's not here, is he?" Owen finally snapped. "Jack's disappeared. Fat lot of good Jack is…"

Silence fell once more. Tosh was taken aback by Owen's remarks, but realized she should not have mentioned Jack to begin with. Ianto felt his heart breaking more than it was that morning. As much as he loved Jack and hoped he would soon return to them, to him, which was all he had to keep him moving forward for the past four months, he knew in his heart that Owen's remarks were correct. Jack was of no use to them right now. Gwen was also hurt by Owen's statement, despite its truth. She thought the same, but hearing it out loud made it sound horrific.

They finally located the Blowfish and caught up with the car enough for Owen to shoot out the tires. Unfortunately the Blowfish managed a quick escape to a nearby house, taking the family hostage. Owen, acting in his field operations position, gave the team their orders and came to a face-off with the Blowfish.

"So this is Team Torchwood..." the Blowfish began his taunts while holding the daughter in his arms, gun to her head. "...The teacher's pets, but the teacher's gone, hasn't he? Leaving the kiddies all alone..."

The team knew the Blowfish was trying to get under their skin. They held their grounds as best they could while the taunting continued.

"...Look at you, trying so hard to be all grown up... The doctor..." turning in Owen's direction where he was helping the father, who was shot by the Blowfish, "...with his hands full of blood..."

Then to Gwen, "...The carer with her oh-so-beating heart..."

Tosh, "...The technician with her cold devices..."

"...Which leaves me with the office boy..." Ianto, "...promoted beyond his measure. All of you, lost without your master. All of you, pretending to be so brave. All of you, so scared..."

Ianto's insecurities that he kept pushed aside since Jack left came flooding back inside him. He knew that Jack wanted him and the rest of the team to keep fighting and defending Cardiff and the world, but the Blowfish was right. We are lost. We don't know what we're doing. I am scared. Why am I even here? … He shook away those thoughts. Focus, Ianto. Focus...

"...So how about it, minion? How good are you? How sharp is your aim?..." The Blowfish egged on Ianto, trying to force him into taking a shot. "...What if you kill her? What if I kill her first? Can you shoot before I do? Can you?... Dare you... Would you?... Won't you?..."

With a loud bang, the Blowfish went quiet and fell to the floor, dead. Did I just shoot him? thought Ianto. I couldn't have. I didn't pull the trigger. Did it misfire? ... After checking over his gun, mostly out of shock, Ianto realized that the shot came from behind him so he turned around. Jack!

Jack returned and, as usual, made a grand entrance. With all eyes on him, he lowered his Webley, "Hey kids, d'ya miss me?" Jack smiled with a quick laugh.

Back at the Hub, the team went along as if Jack wasn't there. It was a silent agreement amongst them, but they also desperately wanted answers.

Gwen broke the cold-shoulder act, pushing Jack against the wall, yelling at him, "You left us, Jack!"

Jack sighed, "I know, I'm sorry."

Gwen didn't want apologies right now. She wanted answers. "We knew nothing, Jack!"

"Where were you?" Tosh asked in her gentle tone, trying to calmly get some answers.

Jack, knowing he couldn't say much about the year that never was, settled for, "I found my doctor."

After a chat with Ianto, Owen now understood that Jack had been waiting for "his" doctor in order to hopefully make him mortal again. Therefore he asked next, "Did he fix you?"

"What's to fix?" Jack responded. "You don't mess with this level of perfection." He tried not to cry knowing that there actually was nothing that could be done. I'm wrong... A fixed point in time. I shouldn't exist.

Ianto, who had been so lost and insecure about where he stood with Jack ever since the Blowfish face-off, couldn't help but ask, "Are you going back to him?" Please say you're staying.

As if he could read Ianto's mind, Jack stared straight into his lover's gorgeous blue eyes and confessed, "I came back for you..." which is how he wanted to leave it until he remembered the rest of the team standing by and added "...all of you."

Suddenly the rift activity alarm sounded and the team was off to the location indicated. A parking garage was the final destination, and also the scene of a murder. Other than remnants of the rift being left on the body, there were no obvious signs of alien activity. So they gathered what they could and were going to head back to the Hub. As Jack reached for his door handle, his wrist strap, the vortex manipulator, began beeping.

"Whoa!" Ianto softly exclaimed. "That never beeps."

Jack, though he knew it could beep, was also confused and agreed. "That's what I was thinking." With the press of a few buttons, a holographic image of a man in a 51st century Captain's uniform appeared. Jack recognized him instantly as his former partner.

"I can't believe I got the answering machine..." the man's image started. "...What could you be doing that's more important than me? Anyway... You probably traced the energy shift, found the body, all me, sorry about the mess, bill me for the cleanup..." The team looked at each other bewildered while the man carried on. "...Now... drinks. Retrolock the transmission coordinates, that's where I am, and hurry up, work to do..." Then in prefect Star Wars fashion, John ended his message, "...Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."

The image disappeared. Jack grew concerned, not knowing what his ex-partner wanted, but knew whatever it was couldn't be good. "Stay here, don't come after me," he demanded, despite knowing the team wanted and deserved answers. He quickly jumped in the SUV and took off. Ianto wasn't about to let Jack disappear again so easily, so while his teammates watched and complained as Jack drove off, he hailed a taxi. Tosh had her PDA and could track Jack through the SUV's GPS.

The team arrived outside BAR REUNION, where the SUV was parked and where Jack evidently disappeared to. They attempted to devise a plan, but once again, they had no clue what was going on or what to do, so they had to wing it.

Meanwhile, Jack and his ex-partner were battling it out inside the bar. After things calmed down between them, they exchanged their cover names before continuing to chat about the past. As much as Jack disliked "Captain John Hart" and wanted him gone, they do have a history together. John sensed it was no longer just him and Jack, so he took a shot at each entrance of the bar, to startle and call forth whoever was nearby. The Torchwood team came out of the shadows, and after checking that Jack was alright, introductions were made.

"Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper... meet..."

"...Captain John Hart," he interrupted. He couldn't let this team know his real name, especially since they didn't even know Jack's real name.

"...We go back." Jack finished after the interruption.

"Excuse me, we more than go back, we were partners," John corrected.

Before he could stop the words from leaving his lips, Ianto asked, "In what way?" He hated that he was jealous, but now another man from Jack's past had come out of the woodwork. He couldn't help it, and his cluster of insecurities grew once more.

"In every way..." John began, and upon sensing more than seeing Ianto's jealousy, he added "...and then some."

After enough taunting and teasing and roundabout questions and answers, they got down to business. John gave Torchwood the sob story of a dying woman's wish to collect and neutralize the radiation cluster bombs she was working on that happened to fall through the rift.

At Tosh's suggestion, they headed back to the Hub to scan for radiation surges that coincided with the rift activity from John's arrival.

Gwen wasn't very trusting of John and she was still furious with Jack. It was already morning and they couldn't find the canisters that held the bombs until the cover of darkness, so she seized an opportunity to question Jack. I deserve some serious answers! "What did he mean by a Time Agent? You never mentioned it."

"That was in the past," Jack replied quickly, attempting to blow off any questions about his past, especially his past with John. The questions about where I was are bad enough.

"Mmm... okay... here we go again..." Gwen just as quickly reacted. "...You know everything about me, Jack, why do you keep shutting me out?"

Jack was getting frustrated. "Here and now, that's what's important. The work we do, the person I am now, that's what I'm proud of."

Gwen wasn't having any of it. "Then why did you desert us?" Why did you desert me? "Where did you go? She kept pushing for answers until Jack gave her a reasonable one.

"I have died so many time..." he began once he caved, "...and dragged back into life, like being hauled over broken glass..." Jack hesitated for a moment. Not being able to talk about his year away with the Doctor and the torture he was subjected to by the Master was eating at him inside. He knew he would inform Ianto when he had the chance; he trusted his young lover. But he knew Gwen wouldn't quit asking. "...I saw the end of the world."

Well that's not what I was expecting. "How?" Gwen asked, not hesitating in her inquiry.

Jack shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. But after it was all over, I knew I belong here. What kept me fighting was the thought of coming home to you."

Gwen's heart fluttered. He wanted to come home to me! Me; not Ianto. Then her heart stopped. Jack had grabbed her hand and she felt him holding the ring.

"What's this?" Jack asked, bringing up her hand into their line of sight.

Shit! How do I explain this one? "That's...uh...that's an engagement ring that is."

"You're getting married?" Jack asked, shocked, especially with all that occurred before he left.

"Yes... Rhys asked..." she replied, pulling her had out of Jack's, "...while you were away." This wouldn't have happened if you never left.

Jack, being polite, inquired as to how Rhys proposed. It was rather bizarre so he asked, "...and you said yes?"

"Well no one else will have me." The words were out of Gwen's mouth before she could even blink. Please tell me that I'm wrong, she thought once she processed her words. Please tell me that you'll have me. She opened her doe eyes as wide as possible, almost willing him to hear her thoughts and answer her prayers, her dreams.

They stood in silence. This was a conversation Jack wanted to avoid at all costs, more so now with everything else going on. While lying in the morgue after sacrificing himself to Abaddon, while being hauled back to life, he did hear Gwen confess her love. He suspected her feelings some time before then, but hoped it was mere hero worship than anything else. He did love her, but only as a friend and colleague. His heart belonged to Ianto, though he never told the young man properly. In order to avoid this conversation, at least for the time being, he settled for, "Good for you," and kissed her on the cheek.

Damn. Why won't he tell me he loves me? He better not still be stuck on Ianto. I'll find a way to set things the way they're supposed to be.

Jack pulled away from Gwen and said, "We should get back to work." Gwen agreed, but was already thinking of ways to get Jack to be with her.

What neither Jack nor Gwen knew was that Ianto overheard the majority of their conversation. They were to meet with him in the archives, but were taking longer than expected. He scanned through the Hub's internal CCTV footage to make sure everything was alright. He didn't mean to spy and listen in, but Jack was about to talk to Gwen about being away with the Doctor. It hurt Ianto that Jack would confide in Gwen first, which is what kept him listening straight through until they started heading his way again. He reminded himself to talk with Jack about it later, whenever that would be.

The day turned to evening when the team could finally do something about the cluster bombs. They gathered in the boardroom and Tosh explained she found surge energies across three locations. John suggested the team split up, two per canister. Gwen saw this as a perfect opportunity to find out more about Jack and make him jealous in the process.

"Tosh and Owen go north. Ianto and Jack go west, me and Vera..." a name John was allowing Gwen to call him, "...will take the docks."

Jack tried protesting but Gwen stood her ground, having received the reaction she had hoped for, completely ignoring its true intent. Jack conceded and gave her three rules to follow while with John. One, don't believe anything he says. Two, always keep him in front of you. Three, don't let him kiss you.

The team, plus John, were then off in search of the canisters. At the docks, after Gwen and John found the first cluster bomb canister, he trapped her and kissed her. Having used paralyzing lip balm, Gwen collapsed to the floor. If she was not found within two hours, her organs would go into shutdown.

Tosh and Owen entered a warehouse at the north readout. They talked about this and that, their lack of love lives, before Owen spotted and began retrieving the canister. At that very moment, John arrived and landed a blow to Tosh's head. After taking away their weapons and phones, John took the canister, shot Owen, and was off to the West.

Jack and Ianto's readout led them to an office building. The ride there was quiet, awkward, uncomfortable. Why won't Ianto talk to me? Surely he knows I still care about him. I did confess that I came back for him. I know! I'll ask him on a date.

Ianto was lost in his own thoughts. Jack came back. He said he came back for me. But he told Gwen the same thing. Where do we stand? What do I do? This is just awkward and painful.

Jack parked the SUV. They got out, entered the building and rode the elevator to the top floor. The silence became so unbearable that Jack broke it once they entered the office area. "Oh yea... loving that office-y feel..." Why am I so nervous? "...I always get excited in these places..." I need to break his silence. "...To me they're exotic; office romances, photocopying your butt...well...maybe not your butt, but as we're here why don't we photocopy..."

Ianto was lost and confused enough that Jack's nervous flirting and rambling while he was trying to focus on the job at hand became too much, so he broke his silence. "The rift was active at these coordinates at approximately 200 feet above ground. That means this floor... or the roof."

Jack was stunned. That definitely wasn't the reaction he hoped for. Ianto's professionalism and stoicism never ceased to amaze him. What's wrong with him? "How are you, Ianto?"

"All the better for having you back, sir?"

Damn. Having Ianto call him sir, without any flirtatious intent, meant something was definitely wrong. Maybe I should ask him now... "Can we maybe drop the sir now? I mean, while I was away I was thinking... maybe we could..." Just ask him, Harkness! "...y'know, when this is all done... dinner?... movie?..."

Is Jack being serious? "Are you asking me out on a date?" Ianto asked. No he couldn't be, Jack doesn't do dates. He doesn't do feelings and commitment, so he wouldn't… couldn't do dates.

"Interested?" Jack asked hopefully though he tried to hide it.

Oh my God! He really is asking me on a date! I haven't seen him in four bloody months! What do I say? What do I do? "Well... uh... as long as it is not in an office. Some fetishes should be kept to yourself."

Jack hoped for a more definitive answer, but settled for that for now. "Looks like we're gonna have to go through every drawer, bin, and flower pot."

Still deciphering what Jack just asked him, and what he should do, all Ianto could give in response was, "Right...okay..." and then to focus on their mission suggested, "...I'll do this floor, don't want you getting over excited, and you take the roof. You're good on roofs."

Jack wasn't about to object and headed for the elevator lobby.

"Jack..." Ianto called out before he left. He wanted answers. "...Why are we helping him?" Do you love him? Will you leave me for him, too? he kept unasked.

"He's a reminder of my past. I want him gone," Jack responded honestly and sincerely, which, for now, was enough for Ianto. As Jack began to leave again, he paused. "By the way... Was that a yes?" I really need a final answer.

"Yes..." Shit. That sounded too eager. "...yes."

Jack finally made his leave to the roof. John then tricked Ianto into one of the elevators and sent him on a new mission to try and save the rest of his team. With Ianto gone, John headed to the roof to confront Jack, to convince him to travel the galaxies with him again. Jack refused, threw the fake cluster bomb canister off the roof, which led John to push Jack off the roof, too.

John returned to the Hub, appearing victorious, but he was far from it. Ianto saved his teammates in time and Jack came back to life. They confronted John and the truth was revealed. John killed a woman who had a rare diamond. She sent the canisters, which were supposedly holding pieces to a map with the location of the diamond, through the rift. This was folly. There never was a diamond. Instead, the contents of the canisters produced a bomb, which latched to John's chest using technology that made it attach to the person who killed the woman based off of DNA signatures.

In a final attempt to save himself, he handcuffed himself to the closest Torchwood team member, Gwen Cooper, hoping to force Jack's hand. But Gwen was prepared to be self-sacrificing by taking herself, John, and the bomb back to the parking garage where the rift was still active, where John first came through. Once the bomb was in the rift, the city would be safe.

Upon their arrival at the parking garage, Gwen began losing hope. Less than 40 seconds were left before the bomb would detonate and Jack and Owen had not arrived to save them. Save her. It was also becoming morning and they needed to end this before witnesses arrived. "Tell Jack..." Gwen began her goodbyes. "Tell Jack I..."

Just then Jack and Owen arrived. They infused John with "Torchwood DNA," a mixture of samples of everyone's blood, which confused the bomb enough to detach, leaving just enough time for it, and it alone, to be thrown into the rift opening.

The explosion caused everything to revert back to the moment John first arrived, leaving the team suffering a temporal replacement. Jack forced John to leave Earth for good. All that mattered now was avoiding themselves for the next 48 hours.