32

Owen swung the fire extinguisher to his hip and yelled for River to step back.

He then quietly recited the instructions as he completed them, aiming at the black sludge that now covered both men.

The white gas was cold and Owen hoped like hell that it was as good as holy water to a vampire, if such things could be true.

He saw a hand.

Pink, waving through the smoky cloud of extinguishing gas and he surged forward, snarling as he let it have it.

Gwen joined him with another and they flanked it, both yelling as River took deep breath, closed her eyes and dove in.

"Oh my god, aren't you going to stop her?" Tosh asked the Doctor who was watching with interest.

"Haven't been able to before!" he shrugged as she came back out and gasped for air as she pulled Jack's limp arm.

Jack came out like he was being pulled from quicksand, Ianto held firmly in the crook of his other arm and they both lay still on the grating as Owen grabbed the coffee pot and threw the scalding liquid onto the mess they had left behind.

"Fucker! Get my acids from the bay, I'm going to kill this fucker!" Owen was foaming at the mouth as he started ot stomp on the dissolving black goo.

Jack gasped and blinked, then let out a howl as he rolled Ianto onto his back and started stroking his face as he begged him to answer him.

"Ianto?" Jack whispered as he shook the limp and unresponsive Welshman.

Jack looked imploringly at the Doctor who was now holding Tosh as he looked sadly back at Jack.

Jack sobbed and then his face changed into a snarl of rage and he adjusted his grip on Ianto, then bent to kiss him again.

This time there was a bright glow around them and the air seemed to sizzle as Jack poured as much as he could into the kiss and the Doctor yelled with surprise as he felt the vortex swirling around them.

"Everyone stay exactly where you are!" the Doctor yelled as his hair started to fly about his scalp and Rive looked at him with a look of glee as her own curls danced.

A sound like grinding filled the air and River looked at the Doctor again.

"Oh my god, he holds the heart of the Tardis!" she crowed as she watched Jack joining his life-force to his beloved.

It was only moments but time, being a relative thing, seemed to slow as Jack crushed their mouths together and his tears rolled gently down onto Ianto's face.

Ianto broke the kiss and gasped, as he had in the water pool.

This time there was not the look of confusion, more one if acceptance as he reached up to cling to Jack, rubbing his face against his love's chest.

"Oh Gods" Jack sobbed, rocking Ianto as he looked over at Owen. "Owen, we're wet. We need blankets, I don't want him going into shock"

Owen dropped the extinguisher and ran for the autopsy bay as Gwen bent to pick it up.

River left her husband and knelt to face her father, her hair still straight as she shakily reached out to touch him.

He was so warm that she shifted close and found herself in his lap as he held her and crooned.

"My lovely melody" he said softly, "Oh god, it hurt so much."

"You're wet, but … look!" She leaned back and they all watched as the wet seemed to evaporate like a mist and he laughed.

"I always said you were pretty hot" Jack said softly.

"Why did it attack?" Ianto looked up at his grandfather, "Why the hell did it come into the bright light? They've never risked like that before."

"Maybe it's River being here, two of their favorite things in one space" the Doctor shrugged.

"Oh my god is she safe?" Ianto demanded, holding her a bit tighter and she was touched by his show of affection.

"Let them come" she snarled, "They haven't really met me!"

"I don't want them to!" Ianto said as he shakily got to his feet, accepting the blanket Owen was throwing around him.

"Cariad?" Ianto was wilting and Jack scooped him up, crooning as he hurried to the sofa.

"Oi. I wanna look at him!" Owen groused.

"So do I," Jack snarled, "and he's mine!"

"For fucksake, will ya calm down" Owen sighed, "His wrist. Look!"

"Oh!" Ianto looked at his inflamed wrist with surprise, "I don't even feel it"

"Adrenaline" Owen suggested as he gently took it, "Could be sprained, need … ah. Thanks Tots."

Tosh stood there offering the portable scanner and Owen winked as he accepted it, making her giggle softly.

"I don't see any breaks or separation" Owen muttered, "Ergo, it's sprained."

"Feels … sort of gooey." Ianto frowned.

"Looks like a burn but it's not" Owen squeaked as the Doctor pushed him aside and knelt to examine it as well.

"Hmmmm, interesting. Should ice it, maybe if you have some lovely tea, make a poultice" he offered.

"Tea?"

"It's good for you!" the Doctor spluttered, "Tea is an amazing thing! I love the tea of this planet. Oooo, English breakfast. The best!"

"Tea, yes I'd love a cup" Ianto said in a small plaintive voice and Gwen dropped the extinguishers.

"That's the buzzer for the top office!" Gwen declared, "Let's eat!"

"I'll do the tea" Tosh offered.

Gwen strode up top to collect the orders and Jack helped Ianto to the meeting room, holding him so close that he didn't really have to walk.

River and the Doctor walked behind looking at each other as they watched the open show of affection.