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-*
