Title: Conversation With A Dead Man
By: Craig
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Russell T.Davies created Torchwood, the BBC owns Doctor Who and I just write nonprofit fanfic set in slightly tweaked versions of their universes.
Summary: In an alternate universe, Jack and Ianto are in a certain alien bar together when a certain familiar figure shows up...

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It was an indeterminate time in a wholly unfamiliar environment for Ianto Jones,
although he reflected that it wasn't all that different in character from the
tough Cardiff estate where he'd grown up. In a corner of the snug, his lover
Jack Harkness was drinking himself half blind.

Ianto didn't blame him. After they'd lost Gwen and Rhys in the 456 assault on
Earth, Jack had seemed without direction and needed him as an anchor, more than
at any time in their relationship before.

Rhys.

Oh damn. That did it. He felt the familiar salt tang of tears as he thought back
to the moment on the estate when Ianto and Rhys had gone to prevent the
authorities rounding up the children there, leading to a panicked exodus. It had
all happened so fast. He wasn't exactly sure what happened, even now. One of the
attacking soldiers had panicked and was raising his gun to shoot at Rhiannon,
and Rhys...

And Rhys saw it happening, handed the kid to Ianto and ran back toward the
soldier, roaring in anger and rage. And right there and then, she had shot him
down in cold blood. Or had it been because he'd decided he didn't want to live
without Gwen? Ianto blamed himself for what happened. If he'd been a moment
faster in his reaction...

And then, around him, the pub seemed to shudder and slow to a halt, as Ianto
became aware of the figure in the corner.

"Doctor?" Depositing the pitcher on the table for Jack, he turned and walked
rapidly toward the Time Lord, until the latter raised a hand. He looked more
exhausted and haggard than Ianto had ever seen him before, and then he saw why.
Around the Time Lord's form was heat and crackling irradiation. He suddenly felt
very afraid:

"Ianto. It's good to see you alive and well. And I'm so sorry about Gwen Cooper.
She was so damned brave and compassionate. Tell Jack that I wish it could have
been different."

"Doctor, what's happened to you? I know enough physics to see radiation
poisoning and apoptosis when I see it..."

"I'm dying, Ianto. Or at least, this self of mine is. Several hours ago, my own
species, the Time Lords, tried to metastasise the rest of the universe so they
could escape its confines. They were my own people and they ended up as
monstrous and predatory as the Daleks I fought, my granddaughter's murderers..."

"No. Oh, no, this isn't right. It isn't fair. It shouldn't have to be the case
that you're going to go through that alone, after all you've done for us, so
many times, over and over again. I've seen what resurrection does to Jack. I can
guess what it must be like for you. For what it's worth, Doctor, I will mourn
you. I wish I could be there. I wish I could hold you as your life ends and a
new one begins."

"Goodbye, Ianto. Be there for him. Be his anchor." And around them, the
timestream began again, as Ianto made his way back to Jack's side as he caught
sight of the Doctor. Jack was about to call out, but Ianto said:

"Jack, he's dying." At those words, the immortal broke down and as he'd done so
times before, Ianto took him in his arms and held him as the Time Lord staggered
away, out of their lives.

THE END