Previous part of fy Cariad.

***

Ianto lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling; trying to make sense of everything that had happened to him in the last few hours. What he couldn't understand was that he knew Jack Harkness- but he couldn't remember where from. Plus, despite feeling angry and annoyed at him, Ianto was still not able to rid himself of the feeling of affection towards the man.

He rolled over onto his side, and watched Saeth sleep, her long auburn hair flowing over her face. He loved her so much, but still couldn't feel incredibly close to her. He had to force himself to laugh at her incredibly bad jokes (which he knew shouldn't have been a problem if they were soul-mates), and every time they hugged or kissed, Ianto felt like flinching away from her touch.

The young Welshman sighed and pulled himself out of bed. He pulled on his dressing gown and slowly crept down the staircase and into the front room.

The photo he had discovered lay on the mahogany coffee table. Ianto sat on the sofa and proceeded to stare at it, head in hands. The thing was, he could remember the photo, as though he had the picture imprinted in his memory; but he couldn't actually remember anything about that day, or actually being there with those people.

A noise outside their small home made Ianto jump and he peered out the window.

A familiar black vehicle pulled up outside, and Ianto glared when he noticed the white lettering on the top reading, Torchwood.

"Shit," he mumbled glancing at the clock. It was 4:30 in the morning.

Ianto shoved on his slippers and ran out to the patio, watching as a figure stepped out of the driving seat.

"What are you doing here?" Ianto muttered coolly.

The Captain grinned at him and gestured towards the SUV.

"Get in," he commanded.

Ianto hesitated for a moment before silently obeying. Once they were in the car, Jack remained silent and started the engine, pulling out into the road.

Every now and again Ianto felt like saying something, but he wasn't sure what, so he ended up opening and closing his mouth like a codfish. Jack felt the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile as he watched the young Police Officer try desperately to think of a conversation starter.

"We're here," Jack muttered after what seemed like hours, pulling up and saving Ianto from any more embarrassment.

Ianto looked out the window at his surroundings. They had appeared to have parked in the grounds of an old warehouse.

"Jack, what-?" he began but Jack held a finger to his lips to silence him, and gestured towards the building.

"Come on," he winked. "I want to show you something."

Ianto frowned, but silently took the hand that Jack was offering to him and allowed himself to be led to the front entrance of the warehouse.

Once entering, Ianto almost screamed in surprise. The large pterodactyl which he'd seen in the Torchwood base earlier was now flying above their heads- and making a terrible racket.

"I thought I'd show you where we first met," Jack said coyly squeezing Ianto's hand.

"Where we first- what?" Ianto was all too aware that there was a prehistoric creature flying above them. "Jack what the hell do we do about the pterodactyl?"

"We catch it," Jack winked again. "Just like the first time."

Ianto reached into his pocket and grabbed the snack he had put in there earlier (why he had put food in his dressing gown, God only knows?).

"We use it as bait!" he whispered to Jack, shoving it in his face.

Jack's eyes twinkled with glee.

"Dark chocolate?"

"Yea why not?"

"Cos it's a bloody dinosaur!"

"You got a better idea?"

Jack didn't reply so Ianto took this as a sign to go ahead with his idea.

"We split up, you go to the left, I'll go to the right," his words were beginning to sound extremely familiar to him.

Jack nodded, deciding it was better not to argue- he was really beginning to enjoy himself.

Ianto took out the chocolate and held it up cautiously to the dinosaur.

"Easy," he whispered, "Easy now birdie."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Birdie?"

Ianto shot him a look. The pterodactyl took the bait and began chewing, showering bits of chocolate over Jack.

"This is not the reaction I usually get around living things," Jack muttered shielding his eye with his hands.

Ianto chuckled nervously, trying to swallow the feeling of De-ja-vu he was getting.

Jack approached the dinosaur from behind, getting the horrible sense that this was going to play out like it had the last time. Sure enough, as soon as he had grabbed hold of Myfanwy's talons to insert the syringe, the creature took flight.

"Jack!" Ianto yelled rushing forwards to try to grab hold of the Captain, but they were already in the air.

"Ha ha!" Jack yelled gleefully. "This is fun!"

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Just insert the syringe Jack!"

Jack let go of the slightly pissed dinosaur with one hand and grabbed the vile from his pocket.

"Aaagh!" he screamed shoving the medicine in the bird's leg before being thrown towards the ground.

Ianto, sensing the Captain's danger, ran around the floor anxiously, trying to catch him.

"Ianto!" Jack yelled falling on top of him.

They watched from the floor as the pterodactyl circled them once more, before falling towards them.

"Shit," Jack muttered, rolling both him and Ianto away from the falling creature- this was too same to the last time.

Ianto began to laugh. Jack grinned down at him happily.

"It's strange," Ianto chuckled. "It's like the exact same thing has happened to me before, I can remember being here with you like this," he glanced up at Jack and their eyes met. "But it's like I am watching it on television, I'm not actually there."

Jack's face fell a little.

"What's going on Jack?" Ianto asked cautiously, all too aware that he was still lying on top of the Captain.

Jack closed the distance between his and Ianto's lips and kissed him softly.

The kiss felt so familiar to Ianto, so natural that he responded, it almost felt like he was kissing his fiancé- shit, his fiancé.

Ianto pulled away and glanced down apologetically.

"I'm sorry Jack," he muttered. "I have to go."

Silently he stood up and stumbled out of the warehouse, running a finger across his lips as he did so. Jack stood up and watched him leave sadly. The pterodactyl moaned.

"I know girl," Jack comforted.

"I know..."

***

Jack's breath came in short gasps as he stared around the dusty warehouse. His feet splashed on the watery ground- at least he hoped it was water- as he stumbled forwards desperately.

"Yan?" he called into the darkness. "Ianto!"

Shadows made him spin round, his hand firmly gripped on his gun. The hairs stood up at the back of his neck, making him shiver.

He heard the screech of the pterodactyl, although he couldn't quite see her, near the far end of the building, and he headed towards the sound his gun slightly raised. His eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness, and he could now just make out the body of a man, lying about 5 feet away in a pile of blood.

"Hey!" his voice echoed as he began to run towards the lifeless body. "Hey! You okay?"

Jack reached the body and gently pulled him over so that he could identify the body.

"shit," he muttered slapping the man's cheek. "Ianto! Yan!" he brushed away tears angrily- Ianto wasn't dead, no he couldn't be dead.

"Ianto!"

Jack woke up in his makeshift bed, shivering. The window banged open and shut with the wind- so much so that Jack had to get up to close it after a while. He glanced at the clock- it was already 4 in the afternoon, how had he slept for this long?

He stumbled over to his wooden chair where his clothes were draped and quickly pulled them on over his boxers, trying to push all thoughts of the dream into the back of his head. Slowly, he walked into the main section of the hub and proceeded to pour himself a cup of coffee. Wasn't as nearly as good as Ianto's- but it passed.

"Jack?"

The captain span round at the sound of his name and almost dropped his coffee mug.

"Who are you?"

The man who stood there was about 5'9, with dark black hair scooped behind his head in a ponytail. He smiled at Jack and held up a gun.

"What are you doing?" Jack stepped back, arms slightly raised.

"Night, night Harkness" the man whispered, pulling the trigger.

4 hours earlier

The doorbell rang at 15 Valence Road, making Ianto Jones start slightly as he combed his hair.

"Ianto, can you get that?" Saeth called from the bathroom. "I'm not quite ready!"

"You're never ready," Ianto muttered straightening his tie and running down to open the door. "Toshiko Sato?" he stared at the woman on his doorstep in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello Ianto," Tosh smiled. "Don't worry, your fiancé invited me over for dinner. I hope you don't mind, but I brought Owen too. Couldn't have him moping around the hub all day could we?"

"No of course not," Ianto stepped out the way and politely invited the pair inside. "So, you went to Saeth's college?"

Tosh nodded. "I haven't seen her in ages though," she muttered. "We kind of lost touch."

"Coffee?"

"Yes please, I could murder a cup," Owen replied gratefully, collapsing onto a sofa.

"Tosh?"

"Yes please."

Ianto quickly hung up their coats and called up the stairs.

"Saeth! Your guests are here!"

An hour later and the group were sitting around the dining table, empty plates pushed away from each of them.

"Would anyone care for some wine?"

Owen gratefully accepted but Tosh shook her head slowly. "No thanks, I have to drive this idiot back later," she gestured towards Owen.

"So how long have you two been seeing each-other?" Saeth asked curiously, propping her elbows on the table and leaning forward slightly.

Tosh choked on her water. "No, we're not together," she corrected. "He's just a friend."

"Oh," Saeth smiled and leant back in her chair.

"When's your wedding then?" Tosh asked kindly, sipping her water.

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"Tomorrow?"

Saeth grinned. "It's a bit rushed, but we couldn't be happier" (Ianto smiled through the lie.)

Suddenly, a loud beep sounded from Tosh's purse, and she opened it up quickly to reveal a large black beeper.

"Owen, it's work," she muttered to him softly. He nodded.

"I'm really sorry but we're going to have to go," Owen muttered. "There's an emergency at work."

"Oh ok,"

"Thank-you so much for the wonderful dinner," Tosh gabbled standing up and grabbing her coat. "It was wonderful to see you again Saeth, you too Ianto," she nodded at him and he smiled.

"Bye!" Saeth called as she shut the door behind them. "Well, that was a bit rude!" she turned to Ianto.

"What was?"

"Just getting up and leaving like that- we hadn't even had dessert yet!"

"They had to work Saeth,"

"But still…"

"Don't worry about it." Ianto smiled kindly at her and kissed her softly on the cheek. "I'm going to lie down for a bit," he muttered. "I have a headache. Are you staying at your sister's tonight?"

"yes but, What about my dessert?"

"Put it in the fridge, I'll eat it later!"

"But Ianto-!"

"later!"

Ianto sighed and flopped down onto his bed, staring at the tux hanging up ready on the door of the wardrobe. . Right now the only thing he felt like doing was snuggling into warm, protective, familiar arms. But they weren't the arms of his fiancé; and he knew never would be. He shivered- those were not the feelings you wanted to get the night before your wedding.

***

Jack tried again, in vain, to kick down the door and swore under his breath as the cold steel jammed into his foot.

"Give it up, Jack okay?" Gwen muttered from the corner of the freezing cellar that three of the Torchwood team now found themselves in.

"I wonder if Owen's alright," worried Tosh, hugging her knees to her chest, as Gwen nursed the huge weeping cut on her forehead for her.

"Knowing Owen, he probably isn't even back yet- luckily for us."

Jack peered around the room in desperation. "There's got to be something!" he reasoned. "A window, a crack- something!"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Jack, do you see any window? No- no door, no crack, nothing- we're trapped, give it up!" she swore angrily and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her eyes.

"Can we contact Owen- or Ianto?" Tosh asked drowsily.

"They took everything- guns, phones, even my coat!" Jack looked around helplessly. "I never know what to do without my coat."

"Do we have any idea where we are?" Gwen asked, running her hand along the wall. "Does anyone remember the trip here?"

Tosh shook her head. "I woke up just as we were being dragged down here," she muttered. "You two were still unconscious- I thought you were dead Jack!"

"I'm not so easily killed," joked Jack, despite the circumstances. "The thing is- unless we have any idea as to where we are, we're stuck here. My guess is these people aren't inviting us to a tea party either."

"Such a shame," a loud cool voice from the doorway made Jack jump. "All you Americans have no faith in us British,"

The tall man who had shot Jack earlier was standing at the door. His white drawling face, was sneering at Jack and his shiny teeth gleamed in the small light that there was. He bore a resemblance to Jack, he wasn't unhandsome, but he seemed to have a much more threatening appearance to his whole posture.

Jack froze as he finally recognised the man standing there.

"Oh…" he muttered softly. "It's you."

Gwen stared at her boss, whose face had now become deathly pale, and who seemed to be shaking slightly.

"Jack?" she asked, concerned. "Who is he?"

"His name is Farad," Jack whispered softly. "He's my Uncle."

Ianto groaned as the phone on his desk started to buzz. Rolling over in his warm bed, he pulled himself into a sitting position and glanced at the clock. It was still only about 11:30 at night- how early had he gone to bed? He reached across and glanced at the screen of his phone. He frowned at the name displayed, and answered it sleepily.

"Owen?"

"Ianto mate, I know this is weird since I barely know you and all- but I kind of need your help!" Owen's voice sounded tired too, but there was a note of urgency in its tone.

"Sure-what exactly is the problem?"

"Can you meet me down at the hub?" Owen sounded a little annoyed. "I don't feel comfortable having this conversation on the phone."

Ianto sighed, exasperated. "Owen, in case you forgot- I'm getting married in about 11 hours. Now's not really the best time…"

Ianto heard Owen swear under his breath. A moment of silence followed. Then:

"Ianto. Jack's in trouble…"

5 minutes later and Ianto's black Peugeot pulled up in the courtyard of Cardiff Tourist office. Owen was waiting for him by the fountain, hands dug deep in pockets.

He nodded as Ianto approached and sat down on a nearby bench gesturing for Ianto to join him. Ianto obliged nervously.

"What's wrong with Jack?"

Owen shook his head. "When Tosh and I returned to work this evening, there was a problem with the ri…" he paused and glanced at Ianto. "A problem with some machinery at the hub."

"I can remember about the rift Owen,"

Owen looked slightly pleased. "Really? That's great! How much else do you remember?"

Ianto grimaced. "Bits here and there. It's a bit fuzzy- but now's not really the time."

Owen nodded. "Anyway…" he continued slowly. "After a while I was sent out for pizza. When I returned the hub was ransacked and Jack and the others were missing- along with the SUV."

"Oh my god," Ianto swore. "Do you know where they are?"

Owen raised an eyebrow. "That's the odd part," he began. "Whoever it was left the tracker in the SUV. It's almost as if they want us to find them!"

"Are you sure they didn't just drive off somewhere?" Ianto asked. "Does everything have to be suspicious?"

Owen glared at him. "They do when they leave a note," he answered holding up a small piece of yellowing paper.

Ianto took it from him and glanced at it briefly. It didn't say much, but Ianto still felt his heart lurch.

Torchwood four are here. May they suffer.

***

Gwen stared at Jack.

"Your Uncle?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Yes my Uncle,"

"Jack how is that even possible?"

Farad narrowed his eyes and pointed the gun at Jack's head.

"Too much talking" he sneered shooting him.

Tosh gasped in horror. Gwen rolled her eyes.

"I think that still hurts him y'know" she snapped angrily.

Farad chuckled cruelly. "That's the idea," he bent down beside Jack's body and ran a finger through his hair.

"Jack and his mother abandoned us when they left after the invasion of our home," he spat. "My wife, my daughter and I had to fend for ourselves. There was room for us to go with them- but they didn't wait."

"Is that why you came here?" Tosh asked, frowning.

"Not exactly," Farad continued. "We tracked my nephew here to this time. We monitored him- watched him set up Torchwood, travel with the Doctor, recruit you guys- we even came up with our own team name. 'Excalibur' exists to destroy everything Jack Harkness holds dear to him. Starting with Torchwood and ending with this world. Unfortunately, your boss here," at this point Farad paused to kick the still form lying beside him, "got wind of our plan. He tracked our daughter down to a school we had sent her to gather information from. He smuggled us out to some wasteland in the middle of Africa, threatened us with death if we told anyone and used a fake cover up story for our deaths."

"It was the only way to stop you," Jack groaned and slowly pulled himself up to his feet. "You know I warned you about it- several times."

Farad scoffed loudly. "Oh yes? Fuck off Jack I didn't hear from you until you decided to fake our deaths."

Gwen coughed loudly. "I hate up to break up this domestic," she snapped. "But what has Jack's 'mistakes' got to do with Tosh and me?"

"I thought I told you," Farad sneered. "We want to destroy everything Jack loves. Including you."

"Leave them out of this!"

They were interrupted by a blonde woman striding into the room. Her hair was also tied into a ponytail and she was dressed in a black dress and tall black boots.

"Welcome home Jack," she smiled. "Wanna kiss from your cousin?"

Jack grimaced. "Not really Lorraine." He forced a smile. "How are you anyway- you're looking unbelievably sexy,"

Tosh rolled her eyes.

Lorraine scowled. "That won't work anymore Jack," she walked towards them and pulled out a gun. Without hesitating, she raised it slightly and shot Tosh in the shoulder.

"Tosh!" Gwen rushed over and caught her as her friend collapsed.

Jack stood up and started towards her angrily. She smiled, and raised the gun again, this time shooting Gwen in the knee.

She screamed and collapsed next to Tosh, sobbing quietly while still trying to comfort her colleague.

"Why are you doing this?" Jack asked, clutching Gwen's hand tightly.

Lorraine didn't answer, but shot Jack in the stomach.

"Oh believe me Captain this is just the beginning," she laughed as Jack fell to the floor in agony.

Ianto stared at the note in horror.

"What the hell is this meant to mean?" he asked Owen.

"How the fuck should I know?" Owen replied angrily. "But I do know it means we have to find them- and quickly."

Ianto nodded. "But I don't think we can just rush in there with no plan. And we have no backup because no-one else knows about Torchwood."

Owen grinned. "I know a couple of people, but not enough to infiltrate anywhere- and they're not the best backup in the world."

"I thought you guys were meant to be secret," Ianto grinned.

"Yea well one of them is Gwen's fiancé, the other is a Police Officer who used to work with her."

"Ah…show's how careful Gwen is ay?"

Owen nodded. "Anyway, I'll give them a call- see if they can get down here on short notice. Rhys at least will want to save his girlfriend- and I'm pretty sure Andy has the hots for Gwen too."

"She's a pretty lass."

"Yea well I'm sure she is," Owen shrugged his shoulders in the cold. "Ianto, go down into the hub and gather any weapons you think we could need- I'll get Rhys and Andy down here as fast as possible."

Ianto nodded. "I'll meet you back here in ten minutes. I just hope that we're quick enough."

***

Jack woke up gasping for breath. He glanced around his surroundings and groaned. His hands were tightly bound in metal chains, attached to a stone wall about 30 feet in the air. Below him, he could vaguely see a pool of blood, his own blood in which lay the still forms of Toshiko and Gwen. This was definitely not one of his better Sundays. Realising there was no way of escaping at the present time, he let his mind wander to other matters at hand. Owen and Ianto. He hoped they were safe, of course- but to be perfectly honest he doubted it.

"Gwen!" he muttered in the direction of the ground. "Toshiko! Are you alright?"

"Tosh is unconscious," Gwen's voice drifted back up to Jack. "But she's alive. We're okay- I've stopped the bleeding on Tosh's shoulder with my jacket."

"How about your shoulder?"

"It's alright I think- it's not bleeding too much so I don't think the bullet hit any major arteries."

"That's the best news I've heard all day!"

A stream of light interrupted their conversation and their attentions were caught by the metal door that had just swung open. Lorraine strode through the door, her hair now flowing loosely around her waist, a gun clutched to her chest.

Despite the circumstances, Jack chuckled.

"Aah, it's my favourite hostess. I should do something about your costume though- black really isn't your colour!"

Lorraine scowled. "I don't think you're really in a position to criticize Captain Jack!"

Jack shrugged. "It was just a suggestion- you could be hot with the right attire."

Lorraine raised her gun again and Gwen squeaked softly and moved protectively in front of Tosh's still form.

"Jack, tell me where Doctor Owen Harper and Ianto Jones are!"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Don't play games with us Jack, we've been following your team quite closely- we know who they are."

"Even if I did know who or where they are, what makes you think that I'd tell you?"

Lorraine raised her gun slightly to prove her point.

"I can't die though,"

"No," Lorraine smiled and gestured over to the two women. "But they can."

"Don't listen to her Jack!" Gwen shouted desperately, "We'll be okay!"

Lorraine chuckled. "Bravery," she scoffed. "It's boring."

"She's three times the woman you could ever be Lorraine!" Jack spat, trying desperately not to pass out from the pain in his wrists. "I will never tell you where they are, and you won't kill us either- we're no use to you dead."

"We will kill you Jack- we'll crush you," Lorraine continued, ignoring Jack. "You have two hours- or we'll release our pets."

Seven snarling weevils were brought into the room tied with chains and held by tall men also wearing black.

"It's up to you Jack," Lorraine sneered. "But if you don't tell us- we have ways of finding them, but let's do it the easy way eh?"

Gwen swore loudly as Lorraine stalked out the room.

"C'est la vie," Jack joked leaning back against the wall- but Gwen could see the fear in his eyes as he contemplated what could be happening to them in just a couple of hours.

Ianto threw open the door to the hub and ran down into the main basement, pulling open several drawers to hastily pull several weapons out. He mostly took the larger, more impressive looking ones, but he also grabbed a small green one, which also looked like it could do a bit of damage. The added bonus was, that it was also quite beautiful to look at- which Ianto admired deeply.

On the way out of the hub, he glanced warily at the clock and groaned. Not long before he was late for his own god damn wedding.

"What do you mean you lost her?"

"I mean, she was taken by someone- and we're not sure where she is!"

"Bloody torchwood- I told her she shouldn't get involved with you lot, she never listens."

"Look mate, I know you're angry and all but is there any way you could help us look for them?"

"Seeing as Gwen's involved yea. I'll get a couple of mates down the station to help me out too- they owe me a favour."

"Sure ok, just don't tell them the full details!"

"I'm not a dumb asshole y'know Harper- I know how Torchwood works."

The line went dead and Owen sighed in frustration. Explaining the situation to Rhys had been even harder. There was a lot more yelling involved too. Still, they had both agreed to help and were due to meet him by the tourist office in a few minutes. Owen watched, amused as Ianto's struggling form managed to stumble his way back up towards him.

"Coping?"

Ianto scowled at him. "Did you ring them?" he asked, dumping the pile of weapons at Owen's feet.

"Yea- they're on their way,"

Ianto nodded. "Owen this is ridiculous!"

"What is?"

"We don't even know what we're up against- we're just rushing in without considering the consequences it might have on us and Gwen, Tosh and Jack."

"We don't have a choice mate."

"I know. I just wish we did."

***

Lorraine glanced at her watch and grinned at Jack.

"It's been one hour Jack," she muttered raising an eyebrow. "Half your time's up. You ready to tell yet?"

Jack screwed his eyes shut and tried to block out the pain in his head which had occurred after dying for the fourth time.

"Never," he whispered hoarsely.

"Such a shame," sneered Lorraine. "Such a pretty face dear cousin, and my weevils are getting hungrier by the second. It's going to be sad to watch that face be torn to shreds."

"Why are you doing this?" Gwen yelled, hugging Tosh to her who had woken up by now and was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Because it brings him pain," Farad laughed stroking his nephew's cheek.

"Ianto and Owen won't give in y'know," Tosh forced a smile at Jack once they had left them in peace. "They'll find us."

Jack remained silent. He knew Tosh was reassuring herself in her own way, but hope was beginning to look like a distant memory for the three Torchwood members.

"Shit Owen; slow down! You're gonna get us killed before we reach them!" PC Andy gripped the seat in front of him and leant forward slightly. "How do you know where we're going?"

"Tosh's tracking device," Ianto answered, holding it up, admiring it. "It can track anything anywhere- pure genius. Owen!" he yelled as his colleague skipped yet another red light. The police car hurtled down the road and narrowly missed crashing into several other vehicles.

"I really would feel much better about this if I was driving," Andy frowned. "It is my car and all."

"You wanna get to them in time though don't you?" Owen muttered angrily, his eyes never leaving the road.

"Yes but it would be good if we got there in one piece," Rhys retorted. "I can't believe they managed to take your vehicle anyway- would've thought Torchwood had better security than that."

"Not helping," Owen sang looking into the rear view mirror.

"Alright," Ianto instructed reaching below his seat and bringing out a blue canvas bag. "Rhys, you take the military machine gun," he passed the gun to a scared looking Rhys, ignoring his cries of protest. "Andy, am I right in assuming you already have a weapon?"

"Yes. Got one right here," Andy answered tapping his belt.

"Good. Owen, your hand pistol is right here," Ianto chucked the little black weapon onto the dashboard and picked up his own. "Everyone clear on what we're doing? We get there, surround the warehouse and on my call we enter. Getting Jack, Tosh and Gwen out safely is our number one priority."

"Got it!"

"Right,"

"Since when do you give the orders tea-boy?"

Ianto grinned at Owen. He remembered that nickname.

"Andy, where's your police backup?"

"Just behind us," Andy nodded. "They're ready on call as well."

Ianto bit back a gulp and smiled at the three as the car pulled into the yard of the warehouse. Behind them, four other police cars also pulled up, and armed officers jumped out and looked expectantly at Andy.

"Right," Owen instructed. "Andy, take you men and split up into two groups, half of you wait by the front entrance, the other half by the back. Wait for our order. Ianto, Rhys and I will go in by the side-door and we'll call you when we need your help."

Andy nodded and rushed off to organise his officers.

"Ready?" Ianto asked gripping Owen's shoulder.

Owen nodded. "I'm sorry about your wedding Ianto, looks like you might miss it."

Ianto grinned at him. "You think I'm still planning on getting married? After all this?" he grinned at Owen's baffled look quickly before opening the door to the warehouse corridor.

The three men walked cautiously down, their guns raised, pointing them into any available room or side passage.

"Over here!" Ianto and Owen ran over to where Rhys was standing by a metal door, staring with horror into the large room behind it.

Ianto looked through and almost reeled back in shock at what he saw. At the far end, Jack was strung up by his arms onto the wall, blood dripping down onto the fallen figures of Tosh and Gwen.

Owen stopped Ianto before he was about to rush in.

"Look mate," he indicated with his finger. That's when Ianto noticed how many guards there were, maybe a hundred- all with their guns raised and pointed to the three captives.

"We can't just rush in there," Rhys muttered. "They wouldn't stand a chance, and if we just call in Andy's men it would turn into a bloodbath."

Ianto stared around him, desperate to find an alternative. "The air vents," he whispered pointing to the metal grates. "They might be the only way."

***

"Tick tock," Farad sang. "Only half an hour left,"

"Shut up," Jack spat through gritted teeth. "They'll be here!"

"Don't talk to me like that Harkness" Farad warned angrily. "I can release the weevils any time I want to."

"Bet your daughter wouldn't be too happy about that," Gwen laughed nervously.

"My daughter would respect her fathers' wishes."

Jack snorted. "You really think you're in charge here?" He scoffed. "You're just a puppet to Lorraine."

"I swear to God Harkness if you say one more word I'll…"

"You'll what? Release the weevils? You always did hide behind those stronger than you- funny how that always used to be me."

"Shut up both of you," Lorraine answered striding into view. "What does it matter what they say Dad, they'll be dead in a few minutes anyway."

"Ianto, you've got to be kidding me!" Owen glared at the young man, arms folded. "There is no way I am crawling along a metal tunnel barely big enough to fit my right knee, let alone the rest of me!"

Rhys agreed. "How are we supposed to fit in there?" he asked. "I dunno about you gents, but I'm not exactly winning any awards for world's skinniest Welshman now am I?"

"I'm not suggesting all three of us go," Ianto explained patiently. "I'm saying that maybe if one of us crawled along there they could get a better idea of what's going on."

"Off you go then."

"What?"

"Into the air vent, I'll give you a leg up if you want one?"

"I wasn't saying I would…"

"-You suggested it."

Ianto sighed heavily. "Fine," he resigned. "But keep your coms switched on at all times."

"We will do."

Owen walked over to the vent grid and held his hands there patiently waiting for Ianto.

"Up she goes" he gasped as Ianto climbed up, earning himself a glare from his colleague.

Ianto looked ahead into the narrow metal corridor and groaned. It was pitch black.

"You see anything?" Rhys' voice sounded through Ianto's com.

"No, it's really dark. Chuck me up a torch please?"

"Pfft… afraid of the dark are we teaboy?"

Ianto scowled. "I'm sorry Harper, I don't believe I asked for your opinion on this matter. Please just chuck me up a Torch!" he retorted angrily.

Silence; then a clatter sounded as a black torch landed noisily at Ianto's feet.

"Cheers," Ianto muttered switching it on and shining it down the tunnel.

"See anything now?"

"Well Rhys, I can see what appears to be a long dark vent."

Ianto crawled on his belly along the tunnel, becoming dimly aware of the number of cobwebs surrounding me.

"You owe me a new suit Harper," he cursed to himself angrily.

"Ianto, where are you?" Owen's voice sounded a little urgent and Ianto's heart skipped a beat.

"I think I'm almost by another grating, but it's hard to tell, why?"

"Rhys and I have had to take out four men already, they're going to realise we're here soon," Owen muttered. "I didn't realise they'd have such tight security- it's just Jack!"

Ianto laughed quietly. "I think you're forgetting this is Jack we're talking about here- not Barbie. He can get out of anything!"

Ianto paused, not quite sure where that bit of information had come from. It wasn't quite a memory, more of a fondness for the Captain.

"Anyway," he coughed. "I'm just over the grating now." Ianto peered down through the cracks and into the rooms below him.

"What can you see?" Owen whispered through the coms quietly.

"Jack's conscious I think," Ianto muttered. "Tosh is unconscious and Gwen is sitting up- but she's bleeding pretty bad from her knee."

"Shit!"

"Owen, calm down" Ianto comforted. "I think I have a plan."

***

Ianto jumped down beside the other Welshmen and ran a hand through his hair nervously.

"What's your plan Ianto?" Owen asked impatiently.

Ianto glanced around him, four or five bodies clad in black lay around Owen and Rhys' feet. They could be waking up at any minute now.

"Not here," Ianto instructed calmly "outside."

The three men grabbed their guns and softly crept back up the corridor and outside into the fresh air. Andy was waiting with a group of Policeman and he looked up worriedly as they joined them.

"What's up?" He asked. "Couldn't you find them?"

Ianto shook his head. "No we found them. But we need your help to get them out. Where's your other Sergeant?"

Andy nodded and stood up. "PC Parker! Over here!"

A Police officer broke away from the group and strode over to the four men.

"Hey Ianto," He grinned. "What's up?"

It was Yestin.

Whispered voices filled the large room that the remaining Torchwood members were currently tied up and bleeding in. Jack strained his ears to listen to what his captors were talking about quietly in the corner.

"Five men missing?"

"Yes ma'am, we can't find them anywhere."

"Shit…"

Lorraine noticed the Captain's eyes on them and nodded to her companion. "I think we can assume their friends are not coming," she commanded slowly. "Untie the weevils."

Jack was about to yell something very obsolete to the woman when a commotion outside interrupted him. It sounded like hundreds of guns firing at the same time, accompanied by loud cries and shouts.

Lorraine had noticed it to. She frowned. "How many guards are outside?" she asked Farad slowly. He looked just as confused as she did.

"None. All of our men are in here now,"

Lorraine ran a hand through her blonde hair in annoyance. "Then who the hell is making such a racket?" she screamed.

Ianto raised his eyebrows at the sight of his best friend approaching.

"Since when were you a Sergeant?"

Yestin grinned. "I was promoted," he answered gesturing at the gold badge on his chest proudly. "Now, what do you need?"

Ianto stared at him for another moment before turning back to the plan at hand.

"Yestin, Andy- split into two groups again," he instructed calmly. "This time I want you to surround the building and on my order I want you all to scream and yell and fire your guns."

Stunned silence.

"Err, what?"

"At anything in particular?"

Ianto sighed in exasperation. "No. Just at the walls, bushes, anything you can find that's not living," he continued. "Hopefully that will alert the guards inside to your presence in which case they will all file out here to investigate the commotion," he explained. "They will exit the building and find themselves surrounded with guns pointed at them. At this point Rhys, Owen and I will re-enter the building, take out the leader and free Jack, Gwen and Tosh. Any questions?" he grinned.

The others stared at him for a while.

"You're serious aren't you?" Rhys asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Deadly,"

Owen frowned. "This may just work- crazy as it seems."

Ianto nodded. "Andy, Yestin can you explain to your officers what they need to do?"

"I think so…"

"Good. In the meantime, I have to make a call to a very angry fiancé."

***

Next part of fy Cariad.