A/N: so it seems we have reached the end. There is only epilogue after this and we're done. I haven't got till the end of Meat, but this is where our story ends.

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Spoilers: Meat

Jack paced around softly searching for Ianto, the Hub was huge, Ianto would always find some secluded place and claimed that it needed to be cleaned.

"Make my day" said in Ianto's stern deep voice stopping him in his tracks by the armoury.

He cleared his throat and got beautiful display of startled Ianto that quickly regained himself in professional demeanour, but it was a futile effort after that adorable impression, even Jack knew that line. He was dragged in the movies often enough by enthusiastic lovers.

"No, he's hot headed enough" Jack declined inquiry about arming Rhys, that was all they need.

"Like stags butting antlers" Ianto got adorable again and Jack approached him with a cheerful smile, taking him by his hand challenging about the size question.

Of course Ianto stood down' Jack grinned and paced away. That was enough, now off to solve this thing.

In his office Jack tried to brace himself against Gwen's romance. He wasn't responsible for her fiancée, he got into this of his own free will. But then he looked up and Gwen stared at him while she kissed Rhys, her eyes signalling him that she's not letting go, that she was not backing down.

Ianto drove Jack to accompany Rhys while he waited. Then Jack offered Rhys to stand down. They would find another way in, as Rhys, predictably, declined, Jack glanced back after departing Ianto, he was quite temperamental with SUV today, as he was showing his own disapproval on SUV's steering wheel.

Inside Rhys's office Jack was amused and surprised to find the cheerful secretary that took too much care of Rhys while he took it without any signs of noticing her. Jack gave her some of his trade mark flirt and she smiled brighter, he loved to cheer people up like that. He was in such good mood that he even patted her behind. That was accepted as it was, as a compliment of her warm inviting nature. That kind of a woman could make any day warm.

"I just wish you were a bit uglier" said Rhys in the truck after debating why Torchwood took Gwen in and they laughed sharing a moment effortlessly, Jack liked Rhys, he was a likable guy. Still when he asked if he was gay Jack didn't gave him an easy way out. It would be a lie anyway, and saying that he wasn't interested in Gwen would be futile since Rhys thought every man was out to get her.

Jack smirked as Gwen gave Rhys the same Danish as his secretary. The perspective of their dynamic changed as he squirmed and didn't mentioned that he had already eaten. Rhys and Gwen were more alike than first impression gave out. Small lies in ordinary lives.

They armed themselves in the darkened back of Rhys's truck and Jack turned grim again thinking of the danger ahead. The manatee in the middle, outer rooms and loading on the outer shell. That was more critical areas than he like and men could be in any of those, if not in all.

When they were in Jack took Gwen and Tosh with him to the manatee and Owen and Ianto went to the outer rooms to take out roaming workers. That way he'd think clearer, today his eyes too often drifted in Ianto's direction.

Then they found the manatee Jack was overwhelmed with sorrow. He felt for the creature even before he had seen it, but now he was washed away by its pain, its horrible fate. Jack himself was more than once chained, drugged and imprisoned on Earth, he was even butchered alive but he would eventually escape through death that provided him short pauses of darkness that would pull him through. But to be cut alive, not able to move, in a place you don't understand, without ability to put a stop to it…

"What have they done to you, my poor friend" Jack cried out knowing he could never console a creature like that, the one that couldn't speak to him.

"Everyone… they are armed" Owen's voice came through the coms and Jack had to stop Gwen from running towards Rhys. They needed to continue with their plan, the creature needed them.

"Ianto, did Rhys get away" she sent Ianto towards a danger area before he could stop her.

Jack cursed inwardly trying to make a better plan. They had hiding grounds, their stun guns, Ianto knew how to take care of himself.

"They've got Rhys and Ianto" Owen chimed in and Jack had to physically stop Gwen from delivering herself to them.

"Gwen" Jack tried to get through her, make her to think, not feel. "Gwen. Listen. It will be OK" they needed to keep control, to find a way through this, but things just kept getting worse. They were locked in with the manatee. As they tried to get out those men came in holding Rhys and Ianto captive.

The three of them hid behind crates. Jack listened to them talk waiting for their voices to turn away. If he could get a clear shot, he'd shoot them in their back, at this point he didn't care really for their wellbeing.

But then they threatened to kill Rhys and Gwen did the stupid thing that people always do. She put down her gun in front of armed men. You never, ever do that. Why would they be merciful towards ones that stumbled upon their secret? Without a gun you were there just to be slaughtered. Jack tried to keep himself on his feet and with a gun in his hands in all occasions possible, but love made people stupid and weak.

Jack held his gun sternly waiting for his chance, there was always a chance, and people would look the other way eventually, just to put some distance between them and Jack's crew.

They threatened to kill off Gwen and Jack waited, they wouldn't before they made their victims to look at them and admit that they had lost. Men like these had that kind of weakness and Jack would use it, he'd shoot them while they are looking at their audience.

Things went well as their leader instructed Rhys and Ianto to stand beside Gwen in an execution line, but then a voice broke from above them exposing Jack and Tosh.

"Kicked out your weapons" the leader shouted and Jack cursed their luck. "Stand where I can see you."

Jack went out with a gun in his hand ready to use his chance only to face Ianto with a gun pressed against his chest. He paused for a split second and then tossed his gun far out of reach frustrated. Fear washed over him but he pushed it aside and walked slowly forward talking, keeping the man with a gun against Ianto's heart, engaged, talking, he wouldn't shoot while they are talking.

His speech worked, men argued, as they did Jack stared at Ianto. He was struggling without moving, he'd try something soon. Jack made his point and waited. It looked like it would work but then man changed his mind.

"You lied to me" he said and Jack's heart skipped a beat as his hand shifted forward and shot at Gwen, Rhys jumped before her taking the shot.

"No" Jack shouted helplessly as Ianto went for the gun struggling with their leader. Jack leapt after his gun, shots were fired. Jack aimed at them but hesitated, he couldn't trust his own aim, he couldn't make himself fire. He lowered his gun watching helplessly as Ianto fought with the man holding gun. Then manatee moved and they were out of sight. Jack tried to see if they squashed under it. Ropes were breaking and he moved Tosh from danger. Ianto came into sight on top, hitting their leader hard but was again on the floor. Jack stopped breathing as gun clicked empty.

"Ianto!" Jack shouted at him when Dale ran away. "Go!" he needed to get away from the raging manatee, not to lay on the floor to be squashed. "After them!" he instructed him.

Ianto had troubles getting up, Jack stared at him until he was safely out of sight.

"Owen we need you" he yelled at him to come in. "We're trapped" being crushed to death would be something new, but the pun wasn't funny because Gwen and Tosh wouldn't recover from that.

Owen finally came in only to make it even more violent, but it eventually calmed down, too down.

"What did you do?" Jack finally asked.

"Mercy killing" sighed Owen sadly and Jack went into shocked silence.

He looked at that magnificent stranded creature and let sadness wash over him. Slowly he approached it and placed a palm to its skin trying to transfer regret, apology, sadness, but most of all to let it feel presence instead of pain. Soon it went quiet and they all stood in silence.

"Get out" Ianto's voice startled him after some time.

"Excuse me?" he turned to see him alive and well. "Out?"

"In front of the warehouse. The others are there, I'll take care of this now" he gestured towards dead manatee.

"How?" Jack didn't let go of the manatee's skin that wasn't pulsing anymore.

"Fire" said Ianto simply pausing for a moment. "Fire is efficient at removing evidence, we're far enough from anything, and it won't be dangerous. Firemen will get here in time. But I need to focus the flame here..." he stopped and Jack nodded still not moving.

Ianto reached forward and took Jack's hand slowly removing it from the creature.

"We did all we could" he said turning Jack toward himself and putting Jack's hand on his chest. "You did all you could. I even ordered plankton."

Jack laughed shortly.

"We see too much death" Jack said finally.

"Then we should go and watch the ocean some time" Ianto smiled sadly and Jack nodded.

He passed Ianto but then paused.

"Ianto?" he said not turning around.

"Yes Jack?" Ianto said his name carefully.

"Never do that again. It's dangerous and reckless to struggle with an armed man" he said seriously, like that was the boss in him talking.

"It's my job to fight" said Ianto evenly.

"Yes it is" Jack sighed walking away. "That's our job."

As he walked away he heard fire behind his back. Ianto did his job as he always did, efficiently.

Jack turned around the corner and there he leaned against a wall taking a deep breath. He had to admit to himself finally what the feeling was that had bothered him whole day through.

He was just like Gwen now, he was vulnerable, he had a weakness, and he couldn't deny it anymore. He had a good enough shot more than once and he hesitated. How many times did he shoot over someone's shoulder? How fast was his aim? He never hesitated, not once, even when only a head would be available for the aim. But not this time, this time, when he had clear shot at a torso, and then even more, he didn't shoot, not once. He even let go of his gun, he lost control over the situation completely. And why? Because he couldn't risk Ianto. That was a great liability.

He loved Ianto Jones. That was that feeling that bothered him. Love. He was always so careless with love, so easy, giving it away at whim. But this wasn't easy, this wasn't careless, this ached. It hurt him inside. But he'd have to live with it, and they, both of them would have to do their job, or there wouldn't be anything left for them. The job was all that they had that they were good at.

As the wall behind him became hot, Jack straightened himself up and released his mixed feelings. This would have to do because Jack knew that he'd hold onto Ianto as long as he could.

Ianto emerged beside him and stopped looking at Jack.

"You're still here" he said frowning, his cheeks were wet and Jack discovered that he had cried too.

"I always stay at funerals till end, besides I always loved bonfires, they are much more poetic than holes in the ground" he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Come on" Ianto took him under his arm, cupping his face "we can stand outside."

Jack nodded and they exited as flames ate building behind them.

THE END

Epilogue will be up shortly.