A/N I know what you are thinking right now- Why is the damn chapter so short? How did she manage to fit the present and the past in around one hundred words?! Well... I didn't. That's just one part of the chapter, but since I'm a horrible human being and a tease (and since there are revelations in this chapter and even more in the next one) I give you the first part now and the second one- in a week. God, you are going to hate me... Enjoy!

The Beginning Of The End...

Ianto should have known it wouldn't last. Because he couldn't be happy, right? That was simply not his life.

But to think that after all the pain and the grief, after all it had taken him to admit that maybe he wouldn't be that indifferent if something happened to Jack and he never opened his eyes again. After the days he spent mourning his own Jack, feeling him slowly fade from his memories and, more importantly, letting him go... he had to be revealed as a fraud now? By a tin machine that could barely walk?! He couldn't decide what was worst as he stared at the thing slowly creeping towards them, his palm sweating in Jack's grip.

It had started as an ordinary night, it was Tuesday and although a little altered, they had kept their tradition of spending it together. They had been to a restaurant, where they had discussed stupid little things like movies and books and the last rumours that were circling the Hub, concerning their relationship. Then they had decided to walk through the park, hand in hand, even if that had been entirely Jack's decision. However, Ianto hadn't stopped him and that was saying so much.

And in a few minutes it would be over, all of it, his life, his temporary... bliss... the relationship he had just started to enjoy.

The Cyberman got closer and Jack gripped his hand.

"Stay behind me," the immortal whispered, tugging him slightly, but Ianto was too far gone in his shock. When he realized that the unresponsiveness wouldn't disappear with the help of a few stronger shakes, Jack quickly let go of the other's hand and pushed him behind him.

"You... will... be... deleted." The Cyberman could barely talk, it was that weak and powerless, had probably fallen from the rift, all alone, and yet his voice alone was enough to make Ianto whimper.

As soon as Jack heard it, he reached back and entwined their fingers together. Poor fool, he thought that would help him, Ianto almost snorted. But it was nice- the warmth. Yes, he was glad his Jack was an idiot.

But someone else had too heard the whimper and it had managed to catch its attention. The Cyberman stopped abruptly, eyes as if fixed on Ianto, or what was visible from Jack's body, protectively covering him.

"Ianto Jones," it said, its previous stuttering long since forgotten," Favourite colour- red, most preferred beverage- tea with two sugars. Likes long walks in parks and being kissed behind his..." Suddenly, it stopped talking, the words getting replaced by buzzing that got louder and louder with every second.

"I can't give them that, Yan, a cyberman that will never die. So please just k..."

And that was everything Ianto needed to hear. The words and the voice they were spoken into, the memories it brought and the tears and the loneliness. He shook his head, as if to chase it all away, and when it didn't work he turned around...

And run and run and run.

He didn't remember how he got home or what he did once there, he would have found it difficult to say if he had even removed his shoes, if asked. But the knock on the door made him shake off his stupor. He slowly stood up, feeling his legs tingle, he must have been out for long, and headed for the door.

"Thank God!" Jack exclaimed as soon as they were face to face. "I've been knocking for over half an hour. If it weren't for your neighbour, I would have given up thousands of times already."

Ianto tried to respond, but found out his throat was too sore. He cleared it. "Go away, Jack." Even now the words were barely audible and sounding pathetic. Maybe because he, himself, was feeling that way.

"Not before you tell me what was that, I will not!"

"It's none of your business." It sounded clearer now, his voice, and Ianto would have smiled if he had the energy to. Jack brushed against him as he entered his home, uninvited, and Ianto sighed. It wasn't that easy to get rid of the immortal, he should have suspected it. He slid a hand over his face which led to the realization he had tears steaming down his eyes. Huh.

"Of course it's my business when my co-workers have mental breakdowns after meeting the freaking Tin Man."

"That's all I am, huh, Jack? A co-worker?" the Welshman snarled. He didn't mean it, of course he didn't. He was okay with that fact, he had worked so hard on keeping it the truth. So why did he break down when Jack cuddled him, whispering softly in his ear,

"You know you are not."

Why, after hours of sharing body heat and lazy kisses on the sofa, he didn't object to the gentle way Jack made love to him? And why did he, for the first time, refuse to utter his lover's name in the throes of passion that night?