From a distance they could hear sirens and helicopters closing in. Within minutes the area was swarming with police and emergency services.

To his relief, Jack saw Toshiko Sato get out of one of the police cars, followed closely by Rhys Williams, who rushed over to Gwen, overjoyed that he had got her back in one piece.

"I can't believe you called the police," Jack called out to Tosh as she came closer.

She looked at him with a half-smile. "Thought you might need some help with the released hostages."

Jack chuckled. "That we do indeed."

"When you entered the monastery, I lost communications with your in-ears, and I knew I had to do something. I'm just glad your plan worked. It would have been an awful lot to explain if the police had arrived with the demons running wild," she said, obviously relieved that everyone was safe.

"We can't tell them about the curse and the statue," Ianto said warily.

"No," Emma agreed. "Demons and witches are not police business. Everyone would be in grave danger if they removed the statue from the premise."

"You think someone might try to awaken them again?" Gwen asked in horror.

The witch just shrugged.

"We should destroy it," Owen said, staring uncomfortably at the stone structure.

"It's impossible to destroy absolute evil," Emma whispered. "I think a new order of protectors needs to be created. I will contact the elders; they will know what to do."

"Thank you, Emma," Jack said. "We couldn't have done this without you."

The witch laughed. "My pleasure. I only wish my grandmother could have seen me. She would have been so proud!"

While the rest of the team looked relieved that the threat was finally over, Ianto still seemed to be bothered by something. He looked at Tosh gravely.

"I'm so sorry," he apologised.

"It wasn't really your fault," she reminded him.

"It really was."

She gave him a warm smile. "But then you took matters into your own hands to save me. And it worked," she reached out and squeezed his hand.

Gwen groaned as she saw Detective Hamilton getting out of one of the police cars and coming closer.

"Detective Hamilton," she murmured. "He's a fun one..."

"Gwen Cooper," he boomed across the yard. "Care to explain to me what happened here?"

"Good evening, Detective. I think you will recognise most of the people wandering around here," Gwen said, trying to put on a friendly face, despite the horrors she had just experienced. "Remember the murders? I think we found some of your suspects."

Ianto looked at the detective uncomfortably and moved closer to Jack.

"And how do we explain to the police what happened to Lady Baughan?" Ianto muttered exasperatedly.

"I don't know, that's your job. Be creative," Jack said with a grin, turning away from the oncoming barrage of police questions.

Ianto just huffed, already mulling over cover stories that didn't sound too far-fetched.

After endless hours of waiting, the police finally agreed to let them go on the condition that Torchwood would be available for further questioning. It was early morning, and the dark night sky was turning grey. It wouldn't be long before the sun rose above the horizon.

"I don't know about the rest of you," Owen said. "But I've had enough of this place. Let's get back to the hub so Ianto can make us a nice cup of coffee. Excellent coffee, like it used to be, not the undrinkable crap you've been serving lately."

Ianto glared angrily at Owen until he realised what the medic had just said.

"You said my coffee is excellent," Ianto asked, taken aback by the unexpected compliment. "You never comment on my coffee."

"Don't stretch it, tea-boy," Owen muttered, wagging his finger at him after noticing his emotional slip.

But Ianto only smiled and accepted the challenge.

"It'll be the best coffee you've ever had."

"And then you have to tell me what I've missed," Gwen chimed in. It was still a mystery to her how everyone had ended up here at the monastery.

"Owen can do that. I'll go down to the furnace and watch Penny burn," Ianto said with a grim look on his face.

"Good idea, I'll join you," Jack said, pulling Ianto closer for another kiss.

"Hah!" Rhys laughed while he nudged Tosh with his elbow. "I knew it!"

They exchanged knowing smiles.

Gwen looked at him in confusion. "What are you on about?"

Rhys just grinned as he put his arm around her shoulder. "Nothing. I'm just happy. Everything's going to be fine."

Back at the hub, Ianto had excused himself, after fulfilling his promise for a round of excellent coffee and had disappeared into the lower levels of the underground base.

Now he stood in front of the furnace, looking inside, remembering how he had been in the same place only a few days before.

He wondered how he could have been so disappointed in Jack for making him burn the marble butterflies back then.

Penny had really messed with his head.

The fluids inside their eggs were highly toxic, capable of destroying all life on Earth. Of course, they couldn't have kept them at the hub.

The fragile creatures had been reduced to ash within seconds. It took a little longer to get rid of Penny. He peered through the glass window and watched her beautiful face deform and cave in as the heat melted the plastic. Her dark hair and blue dress glistened in the heat as the flames danced around the remains of the fabric.

Ianto wasn't sure what he felt as he watched her burn. He'd hoped for satisfaction and relief.

He felt neither.

The part of him that Penny had filled over the past few weeks felt cold. He could feel the all too familiar echoes of loneliness creeping back to replace her warmth and welcoming comfort.

Penny's, no - Viola's motives had been pure evil. Ianto shuddered as he remembered the monastery and the final moments before he turned to stone.

He had expected pain, but it didn't hurt.

As the mist wrapped itself around him, seeping into his bones and mind, his entire body became paralysed. The world slowly faded away until there was nothing but darkness. Everything he knew ceased to exist. Even time was nothing but a fleeting afterthought.

He'd only been in the stone structure for a few minutes, but it had felt like hours. He wondered what eternity would have been like. No wonder the shadow demons were furious with Viola after being freed. Eons of confinement weakened even the strongest will, leaving only room for a fiery descent into madness.

Ianto looked up in startled surprise as an arm wrapped around his shoulders. He had been so absorbed in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed Jack coming in.

"How are you doing?" His boss asked softly.

Ianto's eyes returned to the flames. There was nothing left of the doll and the fire was beginning to die down.

"I'm not sure. I thought I would feel relieved, watching Penny melt in the fire. But there is nothing." They stood in silence for a while before Ianto admitted quietly. "I think I miss her."

Jack squeezed his shoulder and turned the young man around to face him. The forlorn look in his eyes was heartbreaking.

"She was only able to influence you in the way she did because she had something to offer you that you longed for. Attention and compassion." He let out a sigh. "I know, listening and all that jazz isn't really my strong point, but...," Jack hesitated. "Maybe I could try. Promise me you'll talk to me if anything bothers you. Please."

Ianto's eyes flickered away, and he stared at the wall behind Jack.

"Ianto."

Slowly the young man looked back at his lover.

"Promise me," Jack insisted.

Ianto's lips curved into a faint smile. "Maybe I could try."

Jack smirked as Ianto threw his own words back at him and leaned in for a soft kiss. When he tried to pull away, he felt Ianto's hand on the back of his head, holding him firmly in place and deepening the kiss.

When they finally came up for air, Ianto murmured. "I'm really done talking, let's do something that reminds me why I don't need a doll to boost my self-esteem."

He grabbed Jack by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the wall, capturing his lips for another hungry kiss.

- The End -