Chapter 54

J: *sits at his desk, attempting to work and failing, his mind wandering*

R: Captain Jack Harkness, at your service! *smirking*

J: *I need time but I need Ianto, what do I do…*

M: *laughing* You need the suspenders

Y: *heads to their desk to do a bit of filing*

R: *sighs* Yeah

J: *more of his emotions trickle to Ianto*

M: *goes to work on some maintenance*

I: *tries to send him comfort*

J: *feels it* Oh god Ianto-

I: *doesn't hear that but is still trying to comfort him*

J: *subconsciously sending his thoughts to Ianto* *What do I do without you?*

I: *tearing up* Oh Jack-

J: *You're everything to me - even though I don't deserve you - how am I supposed to live?*

J: *his shoulders are slumped, tears falling down his face*

I: *crying softly* No Jack, I don't deserve you

J: *you shattered my heart but I need you so much it hurts-* Oh Ianto…

I: *slumped in his chair, crying*

J: *I wish I could kiss you and hold you in my arms but after what I saw, I can't- that would destroy me-*

I: *whispers through tears* I am so sorry Jack, I never wanted to do this to you

J: *can't hear him*

I: *buries his face in his hands*

Y: *senses both of their distress and tries to soothe it*

M: *finds Yan and hugs him*

Y: I can feel both their pain, we have to help them!

M: *nodding* But how?

Y: I don't know-

M: Jack says he needs time and though I understand why, it hurts feeling and seeing him in pain

Y: It does. I'm getting pain from them both

M: *reaching out* I can barely feel Ianto, it's very faint

Y: I feel him so strongly. He's really anguished about what happened and regrets it

M: I believe it

J: I can feel Jack strongly too. His heart- 'oh Jack-'

M: They need each other

Y: They do

I: *he's barely holding it together and radiating pain*

J: *picks up on it, and against his better judgment kisses him softly before retreating*

I: *is shocked and heartbroken because it felt like goodbye*

J: I should not have done that… *goes down to his bunker*

Y: *notices* You and I should probably teach Ricky, Jack is in no shape to do it

M: *nods in agreement* I'll go find him

Y: alright. *is already exhausted from the emotional onslaught*

*It is now February fourth. Ricky has been taught by Malcolm at this point, and Jack and Ianto work part time at the Hub- Jack in the evenings and Ianto in the mornings. When Jack isn't working he's either hiding in his bunker or at Ricky's place where he still has been staying.*

Y: *calls Ianto, even though his shift at the Hub had ended for the day*

I: *picking up* Yan?

Y: There are some readings coming from the Radiation Plant a few blocks away from you, would you mind taking a look? I'll send someone to meet up with you. I'd come if I wasn't in middle of something important.

I: Yeah, I'll get there as fast as I can.

Y: Perfect. *hangs up*

J: *at his desk, doing some paperwork*

I: *grabs any equipment on hand and heads to the plant*

Y: Rik, Malcolm, come to my lab please

R&M: *heads over* Yeah?

Y: Ricky- I need you to drive Jack to meet Ianto at the Radiation Plant before coming back to monitor the screens. Malcolm, I need your help with what I'm doing.

R: Aye aye *salutes and heads to Jack's office* Dad! We have a Radiation Plant on the Fritz!

M: *pulls on lab equipment*

J: Oh crap *grabs his coat*

R: Let's go *grabs his coat and SUV keys*

J: *runs after them*
R: *turns on comms and gets in the driver's seat* Alright, directions, Yan?

Y: *gives the info*

J: Shit. RIik, drive

R: Well there goes our peaceful evening *drives fast*

M: *helping Yan with his stuff*

I: *calls Yan*

Y: *keeping an eye on their work and the screens* Ianto

I: I'm here, and it's not looking good

Y: I see on the monitors. While you wait on backup, get everyone out

I: *glancing at a cold cup of tea on a deserted desk* Looks like they all left maybe an hour ago but I'll run through and check

Y: Okay. Your backup is almost there

I: Alright, thanks *hangs up and goes to check for any stragglers*

Y: *comms* You there yet?

R: *pulling up outside* I have never driven so fast in my life

J: *gets out* Go back to the Hub, I can handle this

R: *hesitating* You sure?

J: *Ianto, I have to do something that'll endanger my life. I love you- and I'm sorry* Yes. I don't want to risk you

I: *confused, running through the empty halls, searching for the control room* *Jack?*

R: Be careful, Dad

J: I won't. Love you, kiddo. Now go back to the Hub. *goes inside, following the map on his device to the control room, right outside the one filling with radiation*

R: *frustrated noise, driving back* I hate how reckless he is now!

I: *finds the control room* Fuck

J: Ianto?

I: Jack?!

J: *pulls him into a tight hug* Oh hell I missed you-

I: *hugs back, reveling in the closeness* I missed you too, so much

J: …You broke my heart-

I: *pulling back* And I am so very sorry, Jack

*alarm stars screeching*

J: *kisses him briefly* I know

J: *scans the monitors*

Y: *comms* I can't do anything from here, one of you will have to go into the central room and divert the blast inside, then get out before it blows

I: *working on redirecting the radiation* I've got it, Yan

J: *was looking at the monitors on the other side of the glass, opposite Ianto* Ianto, get out! *his voice is panicked*

Y: You have to move fast, you don't have a lot of time

I: *to himself* Almost done-

*door slams shut and locks*\

I: *looks up, startled, just finished*

J: Ianto! No-

I: I thought I had more time-

J: *leans against the plexiglass, crying brokenly* No-

Y: Ianto, it's counting down, are you out?

I: *staring wide eyed at the monitors* Not exactly…

Y: What- what do you mean?

*the blast goes off, filling the room with radiation*

I: The door- it closed- *stumbled a little*

J: *sits on the floor, near where Ianto is on the other side of the plexiglass, sobbing*

J: *I'm sorry, Ianto, I'm so sorry*

Y: Ianto? Ianto!

I: *checking the monitors* I'm not gonna make it, Yan…

*radiation gets stronger, slowly killing Ianto*

Y: Oh fuck- No!

I: *slumps against the glass by Jack, smiling weakly at him*

J: *puts his hand against the glass* No. No-

I: *I love you, Jack*

I: *closes his eyes, dead*

J*IANTO-*

I: *doesn't move*

*his connection breaks after he dies*

J: *frozen, tears streaming down his cheeks*

Y: Shit shit shit *yanks out their comms and tosses it across the lab, crying*

M: *holds them tightly, crying too*

Y: It's my fault, I couldn't help him-

R: *pulls over and breaks down*

M: You did all you could from here, it isn't your fault

J: *lets out a mental scream of anguish*

M: *hears him, stumbling a bit*
Y: *falls*

J: *screams in pain, sadness and heartbreak*

M: *catches them before they hit the floor, sitting down with them*

Y: *holding their head* I failed them-

M: *pulls up his shields* Yan, it wasn't your fault

Y: *unable to shield themself* I should have been able to help

J: *scream subsiding, tears still falling*

M: *strengthens his own to cover Yan too* THat could be said for any of us. I know he wouldn't blame you

R: *curled into a ball, sobbing*

Y: *curls up tightly, crying silently*

M: *holds them tightly, crying*

*radiation getting less powerful*

*hours later*

I: *gasps, sitting up*

J: Ianto?!

I: *coughing, still weak*

*radiation stops blasting*

J: *pours some strength into Ianto* *You're alive-*

I: *turns to see him* *Hey*

J: *smiles sadly* *Hello*

J: *Can you please come out of there now?*

I: *stumbles to his feet, checking the monitors* *No…*

J: *What do you mean?*

I: *The room is still full of radiation.*

J: *How long until you can get out?*

I: *stares longingly at the door* *Two more days*

J: *TWO DAYS?!*
I: *nods, already feeling weaker again*

J: *No, please-*

I: *sits beside him, holding up a hand against Jack's on the glass*

J: *I'm staying here until we can get you out. I won't go anywhere.*

I: *shakes his head* *Don't, I don't want you to hurt anymore…*

J: *I'm not leaving you alone. I can't be without you anymore.*

I: *smiles, slumping to the floor* *I love you, Jack Harkness*

J: *I love you, Ianto-*

I: *eyes closing, hand going limp*

J: *Ianto, no-*