The lights flashed into life in the underground garage, highlighting the fleet of SUVs ready for action. They were not dissimilar to the sleek black SUV Jack remembered and loved so dearly, in the same way a Ferrari is not dissimilar to a go-kart. Jack automatically headed for the drivers seat but a cough from Ianto and a raised eyebrow sent him to the passengers side with a dramatic sigh. Ianto chuckled fondly before sliding behind the wheel himself. Evie jumped into the back alongside Shauna and with that they were off.

Jack whistled appreciatively, "Jesus you really did upgrade the tech"

His eyes darted around the interior of the vehicle, taking in the plethora of consoles and screens that adorned nearly every available surface. The dashboard showed real-time tracking and navigation to the alien. Evie was tapping away in the backseat scanning for information on the alien itself.

"It's basically humanoid, physiology is all over the place but humanoid in apparent shape. It's also high as a kite on some unknown substance as well as cocaine and a fair bit of vodka"

"Sure its not a blowfish?" Jack muttered, his mind drifting back to the good old days.

"Pretty sure yeah" Evie grinned, "looks like a new one on us actually, ooh exciting" Shauna rolled her eyes fondly at the woman's enthusiasm before glancing at the display in front of her.

"whatever it is, its made it to a warehouse in the docks and is currently ransacking it… oh the police have a watch on the building for potential drug activity, that all makes sense then"

They sped down to the docks, Ianto screeching the car to a halt with a practiced level of flair. Jack grinned seductively at him as he cocked his weapon and got out of the car, fond memories flooding back of adrenaline fueled missions and the chaotic sex afterwards to burn it off. Ianto met his eyes, his expression darkening with lust as Jack realised he was having similar recollections himself. Ianto cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the reader in his hand.

"The creature appears to be on the ground floor of the warehouse, southwest side. There's a fire exit on the south west corner and a couple of loading docks on the west side, we'll stick to usual formation, comms open at all times, approach from both directions and be prepared to deploy the containment field. Stun guns only to begin with, hopefully we can keep it peaceful. But… be prepared for hostile negotiations if necessary"

The group nodded, and Evie leaned in to give her father a quick peck on the cheek for luck as she always did before switching back to professional. With the tiniest moment of hesitation she quickly did the same to Jack, who smiled at her as she blushed before shaking off the nerves,

"Hurry up old man, can't let it get away" Evie called cheekily as she and Shauna hurried off into the warehouse, stun-guns raised in a practiced manoeuvre.

"That's our kid" Jack grinned to Ianto proudly, "She's amazing Yan"

"That she is" he agreed with a smile, squeezing Jack's hand before dashing off after the women. Jack watched on adoringly for a split second before following, eager to be back in the action after all this time.

"So… usual formation?" he questioned as he caught up to him,

"Yep… sorry I forgot that you haven't been… its been a while for you"

"Ah it's like riding a bike" Jack waved him off, "I'll just follow your lead"

Ianto nodded and indicated for Jack to follow him into the warehouse, weapons poised to react as they searched for the creature. The foursome met in the middle of the warehouse, neither group having found of any trace so far.

"Nothing yet aside from a whole bunch of weed and what looks like crystal meth" Shauna rolled her eyes, "I'll be washing the smell of this out of my hair for a week"

A flicker of movement caught Ianto's eye from the corner of the room and he glanced, making eye contact with the alien just as it raised a weapon, some kind of mini laser cannon Ianto guessed from the split second assessment he could make before the weapon was firing towards them.

"Shauna watch out!" Ianto grabbed the woman around the waist and flung her to safety just in time. She turned breathlessly to thank him, gasping as she realised him rescuing her meant taking the hit himself. Evie had got a shot into the alien in the same second, taking advantage of its distraction, and it dropped where it stood, stunned.

"IANTO" Jack shrieked in horror, lunging to catch him as he collapsed to the floor. Ianto grasped at Jack's arms automatically as they landed in a heap, a position they'd been in hundreds of times before with their roles reversed.

"Jack" Ianto breathed, his voice tight with pain, "I'll be fine"

"No no no no please, I just got you back I can't…." he was babbling almost hysterically.

"I'll come back Jack its ok" Ianto grasped the other man's hand "I promise"

"I love you" Jack sobbed, "please don't leave me again"

"I'll be back" Ianto gasped as the light began to leave his eyes and he took one last breath before becoming still. Jack clasped Ianto's body into his chest, tears streaming into the other man's hair as he cried. After 20 years it was still too raw, the agony of losing Ianto the first time had slammed back into him like a train. His brain couldn't comprehend that he would be coming back despite what he'd been told, he couldn't fathom that the impossible could happen all over again and the love of his life could come back to him.

"Dad, he's going to be ok" Evie murmured quietly, tears streaming down her own face at the sight before her. Seeing her father die was never easy even knowing he would come back, but she had trained herself to carry on and protect herself on the rare occasions it happened, preferring to consider him temporarily injured knowing he'd want her to keep herself safe until he could be there again. But seeing him in Jack's arms, the absolute despair on the man's face losing the one he loved, was so overwhelming. She reached towards him, resting her hand on the mans shaking shoulder in what little comfort she could offer. He reached up and grasped her hand so tightly it was almost painful as he continued to sob over Ianto's body.

It felt like an eternity before Ianto was gasping back to life in Jack's arms, and Jack hadn't loosened his grip on the other man for a moment. Jack startled as the younger man arched in his grasp, his eyes wide as he rejoined the land of the living. He looked up and met Jack's relieved gaze, his shocked face melting into a soft smile,

"hey there" he gasped weakly, and Jack gave a teary chuckle,

"hey yourself" he tried to joke, "God that was horrible"

"Well its no picnic for me either as you well know" Ianto muttered with a groan as he moved to stand up, "are we all ok?"

Jack nodded, "the girls subdued and transmitted the alien back to the hub while you were out, turns out the laser cannon he used only had the one shot and without it he was pretty much useless, the stun gun was only effective for a minute or so but he was so stoned he couldn't do much"

Ianto rolled his eyes "classic, ok so..."

He was cut off as Jack pulled him to his chest, crushing him into his body for dear life. Ianto wrapped his arms around the other man's waist automatically, stroking his back absently in a way that always used to be comforting,

"I was so scared Yan" he murmured, "I thought that was it, id lost you all over again"

"I know" Ianto sighed, "it was like that with you. Every single time"

"I'm sorry I ever put you through that... to be on the other side of it, the not knowing, it's..."

"Yeah I know" Ianto looked up at him somberly, "but i'm ok Jack, i'm more than ok"

"I just need a minute to process that Yan" Jack slipping in his old nickname still made Ianto's stomach flip, "gotta convince myself you're alive and well"

"Oh I can help with that" Ianto grinned, pulling the other man towards him and capturing his lips roughly. Jack gasped at the sudden passionate onslaught, giving Ianto all the opportunity he needed to slide his tongue across Jack's teeth in the way he knew drove him wild. Jack moaned softly as Ianto crushed his body against him, letting him feel his heart pounding steadily in his chest. The kiss ended far too soon as they pulled away only to breathlessly rest their foreheads together.

"Okay" Jack laughed breathlessly, "you're more than ok"

Ianto winked cheekily and opened his mouth to reply,

"Oi!" Evie yelled from across the warehouse, making them spring apart like naughty kids being caught out, "can you two put eachother down for 5 minutes and help us?"

Ianto rolled his eyes and with one last grin for Jack sped off to where the young woman stood. Jack looked on fondly as Ianto gave her a quick hug to show her he was alright and reverted to professional. As they finished packing everything up and piled back into the SUV, Jack couldn't keep the grin off his face. Despite everything, the heartache and loss and confusion he had been through in the last 24 hours, hell the last 20 years, he couldnt deny one overwhelming feeling of rightness. He was home.