Title: The Power of Goodbye
By: Craig
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Russell Davies created it, the BBC screens it, I just write nonprofit fanfic set in slightly tweaked AUs.
Summary: After taking some time away after the events of "Children of Earth" and Gwen Cooper's brutal death, Jack and Ianto return to Torchwood to find some changes have taken place...

"I lost my husband and daughter" Cam managed.

"Stop right there, big fella. You get a free hug for that..." Martha said, and held on for dear life. Lois joined in, and after a heartbeat, so did Ianto.

Jack looked at the others, realising that he had to make the next move. He let a tear squeeze out and whispered: "I know that pain. My grandson."

"Jack? I know, mate. And I swear, I'm committed to hunting down those 456 bastards and making them pay for everything they did, all the lives that were lost. Including Stephens. And Gwen, and Rhys."

Torchwood never has quiet moments. Thus it was that instants later, it was shattered by a razor-toothed reptilian creature that flung itself out of the ally. Jack threw himself in front of the hostile, only to find it had extraordinary strength, taking one of his arms off. Jack screamed. Ianto broke away from Cam and ran toward it, switching to heavy fire. Lois backed him up, her face equally determined. She may have been new at all this, but she had adapted well.

Cam hung back, energy gathering around his hands as they glowed blindingly green and he snarled: "Get. Away. From. Him. Now!"


He braced and the power crackled from him, slamming into the intruder, and he kept up the bombardment, gathering up a blizzard of loose metal and glass and flinging it at the alien. The intensity increased as Lois and Ianto kept up their fire. Jack whistled at the fury as Cam tackled the creature and clamped his hands to the forehead. The deadly hail ceased: "Lois, it's an A'akhali, S-1445-COROS IV. Diamond fibre restraints."

As the sedated and wounded creature was bundled into the van, Ianto and Cam helped the wounded Jack to his feet: "Hey, nicely done, buddy."

A proprietary hand crept down to squeeze Cam's arse: "Don't you ever give up?"


"Admit it, you like it..." Jack teased


"Ianto, take Jack home and spank him."


"I've tried. He likes it too much."


"Do you 22C ecopuritans ever get drunk?"


"Only on organic beer..."


"In that case, there's a bar I can recommend...'

THE END