A/N: This chapter includes darker themes, which might not be everybodies cup of tea. Please be warned that sometimes people get hurt or do stupid things. Keep in mind, this is a story with a happy ending.

Jack Harkness sat in his office, trying in vain to read reports. He was having trouble concentrating as his eyes wandered to his watch every few minutes.

Where was Ianto?

In Jack's opinion, last night at the club had been a resounding success. He'd rarely seen Ianto so relaxed and content. Their lovemaking in Ianto's flat had been slow and gentle as the effects of the Lisium wore off.

When Jack awoke earlier today, Ianto had already left, leaving only a post-it note on the kitchen counter.

/I will get the car; see you at the hub./

That had been a disappointment. Waking up together would have rounded off the night nicely.

Now, it was ten o'clock, and there was still no sign of Ianto.

And neither of Gwen, Jack realised. He jumped up from his seat and poked his head outside his office door.

"Tosh?"

"Yes, Jack?" said his distracted tech genius. She was sitting at her workstation as usual, concentrating on her latest research.

"Have you heard from Gwen?"

"Still following some leads, I guess," she said as she looked up. "Haven't heard from her in a while."

"It's like an obsession," Jack said dismissively. He would have to end her murder mystery investigations the next time she set foot in the hub. Gwen had wasted far too much time on it already.

"Have you heard from Ianto?" Tosh asked him in turn.

Jack shrugged. "Just running some errands. He'll be back soon."

He wondered what the young Welshman was doing. Picking up the car shouldn't take that long.

When Ianto finally walked into the hub, Tosh couldn't help herself but staring at him. Was he whistling a tune?

"Someone's in a good mood?" she laughed.

"Is it that obvious?" Ianto smiled as he walked past her and Owen to hang his coat next to his workstation.

"Jack?" Owen shouted. "Your boyfriend is back!"

The door to the captain's office was yanked open, and a second later, Jack was at Ianto's side, greeting him with a soft kiss.

"I've missed you," Jack murmured in his ear.

Embarrassed by the open display of affection, Ianto stepped back to preserve his dignity.

"I picked up the car and organised some sandwiches," he held up a large paper bag. "In case anyone's interested in a late breakfast."

It was a rhetorical question. Food was always appreciated at Torchwood Three.

Ianto had retreated to the kitchenette and was standing at the cluttered counter, staring at a different, much smaller paper bag in his hands. Unnoticed by the others, he was deep in conversation with Penny.

Since she had wormed her way into his mind the night before, she had never stopped talking, influencing him, shaping his mind. Except for an hour or so, when she enjoyed Jack and Ianto's sexual activities.

'Open the bag, love,' Penny instructed him.

He poured the contents into a bowl. The fresh herbs had a musty odour.

'You still haven't told me what you want me to do with this,' Ianto wrinkled his nose at the smell. After picking up the car, they'd stopped at a small shop that sold organic products. There, they'd picked up a selection of ground leaves, which Penny had made him mix together once they were back in the car.

'Do you trust me, Ianto?' There was a slight edge to her voice.

'Yes, of course,' he said without hesitation.

'Then do this for me. Mix the herbs with your usual coffee blend. The taste will be extraordinary. It's gonna be worth it. I told you everything will be so much better from now on.'

'Okay.'

'And try not to mess up like you have the last few days. We need your best work to make the herbs work,' Penny warned.

'I didn't mess up. That was on purpose, to see what happens. But nobody said anything. Like you said, they don't really care,' Ianto thought bitterly.

'Told you so. They don't deserve you, and I'm not sure why you bother,' she said smugly.

Ianto sighed in agreement.

'I guess I'm just a fool.'

'Nobody cares about you like I do,' she reassured his troubled mind. Ianto closed his eyes and relaxed.

Everything she said made so much sense.

A quarter of an hour later, Ianto handed everyone plates of sandwiches and a mug of fresh coffee. Tosh thanked him quietly before returning to her calculations while Owen retreated to the autopsy room with a grumpy excuse that he had work to do.

Jack paced around the room, his thoughts wandering around the large open space.

"Still no word from Gwen?" he asked Tosh.

She shook her head as she glanced at her watch. "No, nothing. I mean, she said it would take a while, but it's been over 48 hours."

She bit into her sandwich and sipped her coffee.

"Wow, Ianto, this coffee is delicious," Tosh exclaimed, pleasantly surprised, smiling at him.

Jack's eyes lit up as he looked into his still-untouched cup. "I should probably try calling her," he said distractedly, gulping the black liquid.

The explosion of flavour on his taste buds was nothing short of extraordinary. Delicious was the understatement of the century. He licked his lips in delight and thought about a suggestive compliment for Ianto. After another sip, he began to feel dizzy. He blinked and shook his head. Breathing became increasingly difficult while his limbs turned heavy. As he realised something was seriously wrong, his legs gave out, and everything went black.

Ianto returned to the kitchenette with a smile on his face. It was nice to finally have someone comment on his coffee after days of ignorance. He wasn't surprised that it turned out to be Tosh. She was usually the most observant of the team.

As he started to put the dishes in the sink, he heard a dull thud across the room. He turned to see Toshiko lying on the floor next to her station.

"Tosh?" he whispered in confusion. Panicked, he looked for Jack, only to see him on the steps by the water tower, struggling to keep his balance. A moment later, Jack collapsed and slumped to the floor.

"Jack!"

Ianto felt as if he had been violently torn from a blissful dream into the grim reality of his world crumbling in front of him. He rushed over to the elevated area of their workstations and climbed the stairs in two steps.

He knelt to check on Toshiko's pulse. Nothing.

"What happened?" Ianto stammered. He looked around, trying to get a clearer picture of the situation.

'They're all dead,' Penny's voice echoed through his head. "We did this. Together."

"No! That can't be! I mean... Jack can't die. You're wrong!" His heart pounded in his throat as he spoke.

Penny laughed pitifully.

'Even if he doesn't. Do you think he could still love you after what you've done? No, he'll be heartbroken,' she said, her voice filled with malice.

Ianto's eyes welled up as his emotions overwhelmed him. He pressed a hand against his mouth to stifle a sob.

Penny started to laugh. 'They were just holding you back, Ianto. I had to help you break free! Now they are all dead! You can't stay here any longer; you've got to leave!'

His whole body trembled as he struggled to stand. Desperately, he fought against the rising grief that threatened to overwhelm his mind.

"No...," he wailed in despair.

'Run, Ianto Jones! Run, for your life!'

Much to Penny's surprise, Ianto didn't run.

"What for...," his voice sounded hollow as his demeanour changed. He dragged himself over to Jack's lifeless body and sagged down beside him on the platform above the water basin. Ianto stared at him for a long moment. Gently, he ran his fingers through Jack's hair. Memorising his features. Then he took a deep breath and stood up.

With determined steps, he walked towards Jack's office.

'What are you doing, Ianto? Run away with me,' Penny urged. Some people were incredibly difficult to control.

Ianto's hands shook as he opened Jack's desk drawer and took out his Webley.

"Where would I even run to?" Ianto said, his voice hoarse as he pressed the barrel of the gun to his temple. "What's the point... I ruin everything."

Tears streamed down his face as he slowly squeezed the trigger.

Then, something slammed into him, and the gun flew from his hand. A moment later, he lay sprawled across the large desk.

"Fuck, Ianto. What did you do? You bastard! Are you out of your mind?" Owen grunted from behind him, twisting his arm behind his back and leaning into him to ensure he couldn't escape.

"Owen!" Ianto cried out in surprise. Why was he still alive?

'Ianto,' Penny whispered in his mind. 'Fight him, and then leave with me! From now on, it will be just the two of us.'

"No!"

His thoughts felt fuzzy, and it became difficult to form a coherent thought as she strengthened her control over his mind.

"Penny, what are you doing?" Ianto croaked.

As her velvety presence wrapped around his aching heart, his resistance melted away.

"Who's Penny?" Owen asked in confusion, pushing Ianto back down as he tried to get up.

Ianto didn't answer the question but struggled to free himself.

"Let me go!" he howled desperately. Owen struggled to hold him down.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Owen wheezed as he pinned him against the desk with all his strength. Then he grabbed a pair of handcuffs from the still-open desk drawer and cuffed Ianto's hands behind his back. When he was sure he couldn't free himself, he dragged the struggling young man outside and down to the autopsy room.

Owen had no intention of letting Ianto out of sight until he found out what the hell had happened.