Title: Into The Darkness
By: Jennie-x
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Ianto was four something tried to kill him but ended up killing his parents. 20 years later the thing is back.. but can they stop it in time?

***

He held on tight to his fathers strong grasp as he walked around the living room. "Say goodnight Ianto." His dad smiled as he picked the small boy up to hug his mum who was sat on the sofa – her leg in plaster from falling down the stairs a week before.

"Goodnight Ianto." The young boy chuckled to himself feeling extremely clever in himself, and smiled as his parents laughed too. "Night mummy. I love you." He grinned kissing her on the cheek. "When you wake up tomorrow I'll make you a big breakfast." Ianto continued, hoping that if he spoke a bit more then his bedtime could be raised a little.

"With bacon?" His mum smiled picking her son up and sitting him on the edge of the sofa, stroking his hair.

"With bacon." Ianto cheered.

"And eggs?" His mum laughed.

"And eggs. Scrambled because that's my favourite." Ianto giggled.

"Mine too." His mum smiled, she really did have the cutest son. At four years old Ianto Gavyn Jones was the sweetest kid in the area.

"Bed time." His dad laughed. Pouting, Ianto tried to look adorable but failed miserably as his dad swooped him up once more and then headed up to his bedroom.

The walls were painted a mixture of blues, with glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. It was like a space wonderland. "Daddy tell me a story." Ianto smiled and tucked himself in the bed, hitting the sheet next to him for his dad to sit next to him.

"What story do you want me to tell you tonight?" His dad asked wrapping his little boy in his arms.

"A space story." Ianto grinned. "One day daddy I'm going to go to space."

"Will you bring me back a star?" His dad asked brightly.

"The biggest and brightest star in the planet." He said defiantly. "And mummy too." Ianto looked up at the ceiling and smiled. "The story daddy."

"Once upon a time lived a young boy called Ianto Jones." Ianto grinned and cheered at that and his dad smiled with glee. "He was the smartest and handsomest boy in his class and he left school with brilliant grades and big plans." Ianto smiled, at four he could already count, write his name and other words, and could talk with high standard. "He wanted to go to space. And one day he marched up to NASA and demanded that he should be able to go to job. Who were they to refuse? They handed him the keys to the biggest and shiniest rocket they had."

"What colour was the rocket daddy?" Ianto asked eagerly, his eyes wide with excitement from the story.

"Blue." His dad smiled.

"But rockets are white." Ianto stated with fact.

"It was a special rocket son." His dad smiled.

"So did I go to space?" Ianto asked with a grin.

"Yeah. You discovered planets, and you brought back your parents two bright stars." His dad smiled and Ianto settled so his head was now on his pillow, his eyes threatening to close.

"One day daddy I'm going to meet a real life alien." Ianto smiled.

"Wont you be scared?" His dad asked, he loved the fact that his son had such a wide imagination.

"No silly. Aliens are friendly. I'll share my coco pops with them." Ianto giggled and yawned.

"Sleepy time." Ianto smiled and nodded at his dad. His father walked over to the window and closed it before pulling the curtains shut, he looked over at his son who was slowly starting to fall asleep.

"Night daddy." Ianto said lazily.

"Night son."

It was dark. Darker than a normal night in Wales. There was no air in the room; everything was still. The bed seemed so much bigger than it did before he fell asleep. But then he woke up. No – he was woken up. And now he felt so much smaller. He tried to think back to what had woken him up. But all he could concentrate on was the darkness and the fact that it seemed to be getting darker. Rustling of the trees outside diverted his eyes to the window. His dad had closed it when he had said goodnight. Now the window was wide open. Subconsciously the young boy moved so he was sat up straight. Pulling the covers around him tightly as though they could help shield him from the darkness.

Doing the only thing he could think of; Ianto started to scream. Desperate please for his father were being called and within a minute the door burst open and his father stood there with sleep in his eyes staring at Ianto. "Hey son its okay I'm here." He said soothingly, his tone comforting the young boy. Just as Ianto went to run to his dad to be held tightly, his father was flung across the room.

Screaming, Ianto pulled the covers around him trying to hide away from the desperate screams of his father. Daring a glance at his father Ianto wished he hadn't, there was blood every where. His eyes were scrunched tight and his lips open muffled screams escaping from them. The door opened again and Ianto looked up to see his mother standing there crutches helping her stand. She looked at the crumpled body of her husband on the floor blood covering his shirt and trousers. She screamed and turned her gaze to Ianto who was shaking on the bed, she moved slowly over to him, but she wasn't quick enough. The shadows got her too.

-x-

Ianto woke up screaming. Jack sat up too and stared in shock as his lover tried to control his breathing. His heart was beating over time as he tried to calm down, he felt hands on his shoulders and pushed them away quickly and jumping off the bed.

"Yan, its only me." Jack whispered.

Ianto heard the words but he didn't register them. The voice was familiar but he couldn't remember who it was. Jack moved closer to him. "Deep breaths Ianto." Jack said gently.

"Jack?" Ianto asked wearily.

"Its me." Jack smiled taking Ianto's hands in his. "You're okay now it was just a bad dream." Ianto shook his head and fell into Jack's arms, holding on to him tightly.

"It wasn't just a dream." Ianto cried.

"Want to talk about it?" Jack asked as he guided Ianto back to the bed. Ianto shook his head and continued to cling to Jack's embrace. "Okay, close your eyes okay." Even though Ianto knew that if he closed his eyes the darkness would soon engulf him, but Jack told him to do it and Jack wouldn't hurt him. So he closed his eyes and prayed sleep wouldn't take him again.

***

The day passed slowly and Ianto was wishing that aliens would suddenly invade or that today would be the day that everything changes because he didn't want to think about what today was. He looked up at the clock it wasn't even lunch time and there hadn't been any weevils to hunt. He had been left to dwell on his thoughts. His silence and thoughts were pulled to a halt as his phone started ringing in his pocket which also startled Owen who was working at his desk.

He took the phone from his pocket and stared at the ID he knew he should answer it. But answering meant admitting what today was.

"For fuck sake tea boy answer the phone!" Owen yelled, causing Jack and the girls to look over at a now flustered Ianto who pressed the answer button.

"Hi." He said sadly and looked at his desk as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. After a lot of talking on the other line Ianto started talking again willing that his eyes didn't start to water. "I'm okay really, I'm at work. And I don't know if I can make it tonight." He said and he knew it was the wrong thing to say. "I'm sorry I just don't see the point any more. I have to go." He said when he noticed his computer screen was flashing. He waved Jack over who came rushing. "Look I'll phone you later." Ianto said and ended the call abruptly.

"Everything okay?" Gwen asked softly placing a hand on Ianto's shoulder

"No." Ianto said bitterly, which stunned the rest of the team. "I'll go get the car ready." He said and headed towards the car park as tears slowly started to fall.

It's just another day Ianto thought to himself and cursed himself. It wasn't just another day.

Jack had decided to bring every one including Ianto to the crime scene. "What I don't get is if the murder happened early hours this morning, how come we're only getting called now?" Gwen asked as she sat behind Jack who was in the drivers seat.

"Because PC Cooper the police are too thick to call us earlier." Owen replied with a smirk making Jack chuckle. He loved the banter that came along with his team.

"Toshiko what did the police say?" Jack asked as he angled his neck not surprised to see the young woman pressing buttons frantically on the screens.

"A boy was murdered in his bedroom, four years old. His twin brother was in the next bed he's fine. Says he didn't see anything." Toshiko said.

"Maybe he killed him?" Owen asked. Jack looked over at Ianto – this was the time his sarcasm would come in – but the youngest member of the team was looking out of the window aimlessly as though he wasn't even listening.

"A four year old?" Gwen laughed. "Don't be stupid Owen." She said and followed Jack's eye line to Ianto who was still staring out of the window. Jack could have sworn he could see tear lines down his pale cheeks.

Jack assumed it must be because of the nightmares. His partner had been acting strange for the past week but the nightmares only came to him the past night. He thought maybe it was to do with Torchwood, he was only twenty four and he had seen so much death in his life. When the car stopped Ianto barely registered it just as his phone started ringing. Without even looking at the number he rejected the call and Jack saw him turn it completely off. He wanted to say something, but the younger man was out of the car straight away.

"Jack what's going on with him?" Gwen asked.

"I don't know." Jack sighed.

"Captain Jack Harkness.." Jack flashed his normal grin at the police woman and walked straight into the crime scene, nothing prepared him from what he saw. The young boy was hanging half on his bed and half in the air. Blood was splattered all over the blue carpet and the toys that were scattered carelessly around.

"Cause of death?" Gwen asked her eyes watering just looking at the boy so had moved her focus on the police woman.

"Four puncture wounds to the heart." The police woman said sadly.

"Four?" Ianto asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, not the first time we've seen this before." She sighed. "Third kid this month."

"Third?" Jack asked a little shocked.

"Then there was 15 ten years ago, all children aged four. Twenty years ago there were thirteen children murdered and two adults, goes back fifty years."

"Other than the twenty years were any other adults..?" Ianto couldn't finish his sentence his emotions were slowly leaking through.

"No. But there was a kid in the bedroom." She said as she read a file she was holding.

"What happened to the kid?" Gwen asked.

"He survived." Ianto mumbled before walking out of the room.

"Owen, I need you to come and put the body in a body bag. Toshiko do some scans in the bedroom." Jack said as he pressed his headset – Toshiko and Owen were down stairs finding information about the murders from the police and the family.

Ianto walked out of the house quickly wiping his eyes. He saw the parents of the young boy crying in each others arms, a few feet away a younger boy was sat on a wall opposite the house. Ianto wondered why his parents had left him on his own especially after something like this had happened. Noting there was no one around Ianto walked over to the boy.

"My name's Ianto." He said quietly not wanting to scare the boy.

"Mum says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." The boy said quietly.

"I work with the police." Ianto said and the boy looked at him.

"You haven't got a badge." He said with a little more enthusiasm in his voice. Reaching into his pocket Ianto pulled out his wallet which held his Torchwood ID, satisfied the boy smiled weakly. "My name's Jake." He said and moved his eyes back to the house, just as Jack came out. "My brother he isn't okay is he?"

"Do you know what happened?" Ianto asked and the boy looked at him and nodded sadly. "Can you tell me?"

"There was a shadow." He said just as his parents noticed he was missing and shrieked for him to come over, without looking back the boy ran back to his parents. Seeing Ianto sat on the wall Jack walked over.

"You okay?" Jack asked as he wrapped an arm around Ianto and that was all he needed before breaking down. "They were your parents. Twenty years ago today." Jack was saddened when he felt a slight nod in his shoulder. Ianto didn't say anything he stopped crying and pulled out of the embrace and stared at the floor. "Do you want to take the week off?"

"No. I don't want to be at home and do nothing." Ianto said heatedly. "Its easier to have a distraction. I just didn't think the distraction would remind me constantly of what happened.. of what could have happened." He wiped his eyes just as Gwen, Toshiko and Owen walked out holding the body bag. There was load shrieks from the parents and Ianto noticed that the young boy was forgotten once again.

"You're not alone through this okay." Jack said as he squeezed Ianto's hand. Ianto didn't say anything; he didn't speak the whole journey back to the hub he just remained silent. Jack's words echoing through his mind. He was alone. He had been since he was four years old.

***

Ianto sat silently in the SUV, he knew Jack was watching with a keen eye yet he couldn't bring himself to care any more. One by one he let the tears fall; not caring that he was in the car with every one he worked with; every one he hid emotions from.

"Ianto are you okay?" Gwen was the first to speak and Ianto nodded and picked up his phone as a distraction. He turned it on and wasn't surprised to see that he had several miss calls. "Here pet." She said smiling and handed him a tissue.

"Thanks." Ianto mumbled quietly before wiping his eyes. The car was soon filled with silence again before Ianto's phone started to ring, he didn't look up at any one instead he just answered it. "Hey, I'm sorry about earlier." He said before letting the other person on the phone start talking. "I really am I shouldn't have got angry at you," He looked at his suit trousers as more tears started to fall. "I'm at work, but I'll phone tonight." He said and Jack put his hand out and squeezed Ianto's knee, the younger man looked up and smiled weakly. "Bye." He put the phone in his pocket and sighed.

"Ianto mate, what's wrong?" Owen asked.

"Its the anniversary of my parents death." Ianto mumbled as the car stopped in the garage, Ianto was the first to get out and head to the tourist office.

"Shit." Gwen said.

"Wait that means he was only four!" Owen said and it surprised the team how sympathetic he sounded.

"The thing that killed the boy, he killed his parents." Jack said, "So go easy on him today."

"Jack maybe he should just go home." Gwen said a little harshly.

"No. I need him here." Jack said and walked into the hub, he wasn't surprised to see Ianto at the coffee machine.

Ianto handed Jack his coffee. "Thanks." Jack smiled placing the coffee mug on the side before taking the younger man in his arms. "You know if you want you don't have to be involved in this case." Jack said as he felt the younger man loose himself in his tears.

"I don't want to go home and be on my own Jack, not today." Ianto said holding tighter.

"Hey listen to me you're not going to be on your own today or ever again okay. You look exhausted why don't I take you down stairs and you could have a little sleep." Ianto looked up at Jack reluctantly. "I'll stay with you." He said answering the unspoken question that was wavering between them. Ianto simply nodded and followed Jack down to his sleeping space. Ianto took of his shoes and sat on the bed nervously.

"Get settled okay, I'm going to go upstairs and boss them around for a couple of minutes and then I'll be down okay."

"Okay." Ianto mumbled.

Jack walked back upstairs not surprised to see Gwen, Toshiko and Owen all at their work stations. "Right, I'll be downstairs with Ianto for a bit. Gwen I want you to research the murders they've gone back fifty years okay, use police contacts if you have too. Toshiko I want you to scan the body see if you can find any alien DNA, Owen help her." Jack said before heading back down to where Ianto was waiting for him without giving the others a chance to question him.

Jack wasn't surprised to see that Ianto wasn't asleep; he was curled in a corner of the bed just staring into space. "I'm back." Jack said gently, taking off his own shoes and sitting in the bed pulling Ianto closer to him.

"Hi." Ianto said quietly, Jack couldn't help but be reminded of a small child. Looking at Ianto he could picture the young boy he saw today, so sad and so lost.

"Hey." Jack smiled. "You want to try to sleep?"

"I can't." Ianto said with little defiance.

"Why not?" Jack asked not raising his tone to anything but soft and gentle.

"When I close my eyes I see them. I used to see them a lot when I was a kid, but it eventually went away. Now when I saw that boy, its all coming back." Jack understood everything that Ianto had said, he knew what it was like to picture love ones at times when it hurt most.

"Tell me about your parents." Jack said gently, knowing he had a fifty fifty chance on how this would work out; Ianto could sit and reminisce about his childhood even though he only had four years worth of memories, or he could break down before he could even remember; thankfully Ianto went with the first.

"I don't remember much." Ianto said sadly as he played with the hem of Jack's shirt. "Some times when I'm drifting off to sleep I used to think of them. I'd make up memories just to make it easier to sleep you know like a day trip to the park, or what they would have said on my first day of high school." Ianto fell the tears in his eyes but let them fall. "I remember being happy. My dad use to read me stories to make me fall to sleep."

"What sort of stories?" Jack asked glad that he was able to share this side of his lover even though it was under such sad circumstances.

"Space stories. I was obsessed with space when I was little. I remember my room was painted blues with stars on, I used to tell him that I was going to go to space and bring them back the biggest star." Jack couldn't help but smile at that.

"Then everything went wrong." Ianto mumbled the mood in the room turning dark as he clung to Jack with longing and need, Jack did his best to hold onto Ianto as tight as he could.

"Can you tell me about that night." Jack said gently, not wanting to push Ianto into telling him something that he wasn't ready to talk about.

"I don't remember much." Ianto said quietly. "All I remember was the darkness. It was summer so the sky wasn't as dark but when I woke up it was pitch black and it was like it was getting darker. The air felt funny too. My window was open but my dad he closed the window when he said goodnight, he always closed the window." Ianto said crying now but continuing to talk. "I started screaming, I don't remember why I was so scared. My dad came running in, he asked me what was wrong and then he.. it got him. He was thrown across the room. I hid under my covers, all I could hear was him screaming." Ianto started to shake at the memory and Jack sat him up and cradled his body in his arms as though he really was a child.

"Its okay," Jack said soothingly, but Ianto hadn't heard.

"There was so much blood Jack. My mum she came in and she was standing there on crutches and then she couldn't even register anything because she was... then the darkness slowly went and I was left alone." Jack held onto Ianto with all his strength. It pained him to hear what his young lover had been through at only four years old, and then everything he had been through at Torchwood. Maybe it was all just too much for some one so young.

"What happened after that night?" Jack asked. "Where did you live?" He had only hoped to find some sort of happy memories from the younger man.

"I got sent to hospital." Ianto said a little bitterly. "Five years in a children's mental hospital." Jack wondered why he didn't know that, then put it down to the fact that he hadn't thoroughly read through the young man's file as he never had a need too.

"When I was nine they let me go and I moved in with my Uncle Sean." Ianto said. "He came to visit me every weekend though when I was in the hospital, brought me toys, made sure they were giving me a good education. When I got out, everything slowly started to feel normal. But the nightmares began, well they never went away but they got worse and Sean didn't know what to do with me so he sent me back."

"For how long?" Jack asked not surprised that his own eyes were watering.

"On and off till I was seventeen, then I ran away to London." Ianto sighed. "I'm still meant to go once a month but I haven't been for three years." Ianto said.

"I can't imagine what it was like for you as a child Yan, but I can tell you this from now on everything is going to be better okay." Jack said strongly slightly pleased that Ianto had calmed down.

"I know." Ianto smiled weakly up at his Captain, his boss, his boyfriend?

"Jack!" Gwen's voice filled the small room and Jack looked up at the manhole above his bed and sighed.

"You want to stay down here?" Jack asked and Ianto shook his head. "Okay come on then." He smiled taking the young man's hand and helping him back upstairs once they both put their shoes back on.

"What is it Gwen?" Jack asked.

"Owen he's found something on the body." Gwen said staring at Ianto with sad eyes. "You feeling okay?"

"Yeah." Ianto smiled and they followed Jack out the room.

"What is it?" Jack asked as he stepped into autopsy, Ianto standing on the stairs.

"There's some markings on his back." Owen said pointing to a very small markings on the young boys lower back. "Any ideas what it says?"

"No." Jack said and stared a little longer as Ianto moved down the stairs as this was his area of speciality and he couldn't see from the railings. He felt Jack's hand grip his and smiled weakly.

"Ianto you okay mate?" Owen asked and Ianto nodded as he stared at the back.

"Death is here." Ianto said in a low whisper.

"What?" Jack asked looking a little startled.

"That's what it says." Ianto said indicating to the markings. "Death is here."

***

"Death is here?" Owen asked looking up at Ianto who had moved back up stairs. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Ianto said and sat at his desk and started typing at the computer.

"Death is here as in the real death?" Gwen asked staring at Jack waiting for answers.

"What language is it Yan?" Jack asked moving passed Gwen and standing behind Ianto at his desk.

"Really old English." Jack stared at the computer screen noting that Ianto had pulled up a site on pre medieval English.

"Its not Alien?" Toshiko asked standing next to Jack.

"The markings aren't." Ianto said suddenly feeling crowded as Gwen and Owen were now standing next to him too. Jack seemed to noticed and placed a hand on his shoulder squeezing it tight.

"What did you guys find out?" Jack asked looking at Toshiko and Gwen.

"There wasn't a lot of information on the computer system," Gwen said looking at the hand on Ianto's shoulder.

"Well there wouldn't be would there." Ianto said quietly. Jack looked at him questioningly. "If they went back fifty years they'd be on paper records and not computer." He said and Jack nodded. "I'll go and have a look." Ianto said finding his escape and used it quickly.

"His parents were the only adults who were killed, and that year there was only thirteen deaths which is the lowest there's been." Toshiko said sadly.

"Why does it only go after children?" Gwen asked and Owen looked at her as though it was the worlds stupidest question – they didn't even know what it was and she was already looking for answers.

"Children have an energy that adults don't." Jack said remembering the 'fairies' and everything that happened with Jasmine.

"So its feeding on their energy every ten years?" Owen asked.

"Maybe that's all it needs." Jack mused wondering who Ianto was doing downstairs, he tried hard not to think about the fact that he could have lost Ianto before he even had him.

"Feeding on adults does it make them stronger?" Gwen asked curiously.

"What makes you think that?" Toshiko asked.

"The murder cycle, ten years ago it lasted a full month when it only fed on children, but twenty years ago when it fed on Ianto's parents it didn't even last half the month."

"Maybe it makes it stronger." Ianto's voice snapped them all out of their conversation. Ianto was standing behind them, leaning on a wall a stack of folders in his hands.

"Why stronger?" Gwen argued.

"Because what ever it is only needs what ever it gets from its victims every ten years, and as you said when it killed my parents it disappeared before it normally would have. But if they had weakened him wouldn't it have killed more or come back sooner? It left earlier and then came back ten years later." Ianto sighed. Jack couldn't describe how proud he was of the youngest member of his team at that moment.

"What did you find in the archives?" Jack asked smiling slightly at the look on Gwen's face.

"Reports from the past fifty years." Ianto said walking over and handing Jack the files. "Jack can I go get some air?" Ianto asked shyly.

"Course." Jack smiled.

"Smooth Gwen." Owen muttered.

"I didn't know he was behind me did I." Gwen snapped.

"I want you to read through the files." Jack said sternly throwing them at Gwen. "Owen continue analysing the body, Toshiko I want you to look on the computer systems for any information on the message."

"Where are you going?" Gwen asked hands on her hips.

"To make sure Ianto is okay." Jack said before grabbing his coat along with Ianto's and heading out side.

Jack looked around the bay and smiled slightly when he saw Ianto sat on a bench, phone attached to his ear. He noticed Jack and gestured for him to come over. Silently Jack slipped Ianto's coat around his shoulders and smiled as he leaned against Jack.

"I know I said I would phone tonight but I had a few minutes and wanted to make sure you were okay." Ianto said and smiled at Jack. "You don't have to worry about me. I better go but I'll come and see you soon." Ianto ended the call and wrapped his arms around Jack.

"If you want you could take the rest of today off, go see your uncle.." Jack said playing with the ends of Ianto's hair.

"Jack.." Ianto said cautiously.

"What is it Yan?" Jack asked not sure if he liked the sound of Ianto's voice.

"My parents, Torchwood kept their bodies." Ianto said quietly. "I want to see them." Jack didn't like where this was going.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked knowing that there bodies would be in the same condition they were twenty years ago.

"I just want to see them again," Ianto said as tears fell from his eyes.

"Okay but I'm going to be there with you." Jack said strongly.

"Thanks Jack," Ianto said kissing Jack softly on the lips it was the most intimate feeling Jack had ever felt.

They stood up together and Ianto slipped his hand into Jack's who smiled and squeezed it tightly with reassurance. Ianto thought that Jack would let go when they walked into the hub, he was surprised that he held on tighter.

"You alright mate?" Owen asked.

"Yeah." Ianto said a small smile on his lips, he let go of Jack's hand and headed to the coffee machine. He made drinks for every one and handed them out to every one.

"Thanks." Gwen smiled sheepishly and moved over to talk to Jack.

"Yan can I have a word?" Owen called and Jack looked over Owen with a surprised look. Nodding, Ianto headed over to the medical bay. "I just wanted to tell you something." Owen smiled and sat next to Ianto.

"What is it?" Ianto asked.

"The reason I joined Torchwood was because my fiancée she was murdered. And I know your parents happened twenty years ago and she only died five years ago, but I thought I should tell you that with the help of friends it gets better." Owen smiled what could only be described the most sincere smile Ianto had ever seen him smile.

"I used to think that talking about it would make everything worse, but that was because during my childhood I was forced to talk about my feelings and I never felt better, but I know now that it will get better." Owen smiled and patted the young man on his back. "Owen, do you think maybe you could be a small sedative?"

"Nightmares?" Owen asked and Ianto nodded. "Come get one before you leave tonight okay." Owen smiled and Ianto nodded and headed back up to the main area of the hub. Jack was still standing with Gwen, he looked up at Ianto.

"You ready Yan?" Jack asked and Ianto nodded weakly.

"Where are you going?" Gwen asked.

"To do some more research." Jack said taking Ianto's hand again, once they were out of ear and eye shot Jack pulled Ianto close and held him tightly. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I have to." Ianto said. "If I see them again, maybe I'll be able to remember them more." Ianto said as he placed his hands on Jack's shoulders. "Does it sound stupid?"

"No." Jack said. They walked down to the morgue it didn't surprise Jack that Ianto knew what number his parents were: 26 and 27.

"I've worked here for three years." Ianto mumbled as he placed a hand on the morgue draw. "And I've been in her too many times to count and they've always been there." Ianto looked over at Jack who moved closer to Ianto.

"You don't have to do this now." Ianto knew what Jack was saying but he knew that if he didn't do this now then he would never have the courage to do it.

"I do Jack." Ianto said sadly but with as much confidence he could muster up. He opened the draw and with his eyes closed he pulled it out. Jack watched as Ianto opened his eyes – he had opened his mothers draw. Her beautiful face was ghost white her eyes wide open – blood red. Ianto didn't say anything he just stared at her. Hesitantly Ianto lowered his hand into the draw expecting to feel cold skin he pulled back.

"She's warm." He said he knew that twenty years in deep freeze meant his mothers body should be ice.

"That's impossible." Jack said wondering maybe if it was all the emotions Ianto had been feeling. The young man lowered his hand again, and screamed when he felt warm fingers grip his wrists.

"Death will come for you!"

Jack watched in horror as the body of Ianto's mother spoke. The words were cold and aimed at her son. Jack noticed a small sign on her neck and knew that was the sign for death.

"Mum?" Ianto sobbed trying to break free but the grip was cutting deep in his skin.

"Death will come for you!" Her voice sounded mechanic there was no signs of humanity left in her. She let go and Ianto fell backwards into Jack who wrapped his arms around him tightly.

"I can't be here right now." Ianto said pushing away from Jack and running as fast as he could out of the hub, he didn't care that the team were looking at him nor did he care that people on the streets were staring at him as if he was mental – maybe he was.

Jack walked up to the main area of the hub tears in his eyes. "Owen I need you down in the morgue."

"What why what happened?" Toshiko asked desperately.

"His parents are down there." Jack said sadly.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Gwen asked.

"Everything!" Jack shouted. "Look Owen go down there, its draw number 27. I want you to test for Alien DNA on the body and any signs that she wasn't possessed."

"Why?" Owen asked as he grabbed the gear he needed.

"Because she woke up." Jack said. "She woke up grabbed Ianto's wrist and told him death will come for him."

"Oh my god is he okay?" Toshiko asked.

"He's scared out of his mind." Jack said. "I'm going to look for him. Keep an eye out here." Jack said before walking out of the hub. Ianto was no where to be seen.

***

Ianto didn't know where to go: home to an empty apartment, his Uncle's to talk about memories that weren't his own... He continued to run down streets he didn't recognise, his tears making his face shiver in the cold air. When all the air escaped his lungs he stopped running, taking in deep breaths as his body shook violently. He looked around not recognising where he was, he saw a deserted park and headed towards it wearily. He sat on one of the swings, kicking his legs in the air slowly. He wondered what a passer by would think – a grown man wearing a very expensive suit sitting on a swing.

"Want me to push you?" Jack's gentle voice brought him out of his day dream.

"How did you find me?" Ianto asked quietly, he didn't know where he wanted to go but he knew he wanted to be alone.

"Tracker in your phone," Jack said and sat on the swing next to him.

"Why did she...how?" Ianto asked hazily, staring at the gravel on the floor instead of at Jack's concerned face.

"I don't know, every one's working on it." Ianto looked up at Jack with a small smile.

"Shouldn't you be at the hub?"

"Probably, but you're more important," Jack said and Ianto smiled weakly.

"No I'm not," Ianto mumbled, kicking his legs a little higher mainly for the distraction. Jack stepped away from the swing he was perched on and grabbed the chains of Ianto's making him stop in front of him suddenly.

"Don't you ever think you're not important Ianto Jones," Jack said, his tone leaving no space for arguing. Ianto didn't know what to say – he was used to feeling less worthy than everyone and he knew it was a feeling that wouldn't go away.

"I just, I couldn't even get killed properly," Ianto said in barely a whisper. Jack was lost for words and stared at Ianto with a dazed expression.

"It wasn't your time," Jack said strongly.

"Yes it was," Ianto argued. "It came to kill me not my parents. They came in and it killed them instead!"

"Then why didn't it kill you?" Jack asked.

"It might as well have," Ianto spat.

"Ianto.." Jack whispered. He always sensed that Ianto wasn't happy, but the younger man never spoke about his emotions, he always masked his feelings away with a sharp suit and a wicked tongue. "Don't say that."

"Its true," Ianto said. He felt like crying but he had cried so much today his body had run out of tears. "It killed my parents when I was four, it put me in a mental hospital, it stole my childhood. It's the reason why I wake up and wonder what the fuck is the point of it all."

"There is a point to it all," Jack replied. as tears slipped from his eyes.

"Maybe. But right now I can't find it," Jack hated hearing him sound so defeated. "I want to be on my own, Jack."

"I'll walk you to your apartment," Ianto wanted to say no, but he didn't think that was wise as he couldn't remember which way he had run so instead he nodded and walked silently next to Jack.

Jack walked back into the hub alone. He had gone unnoticed by his team, for which he was glad, as they were all arguing about something and he wanted to find out what it was about, so he could try and solve the problem. "Can't you just leave it alone Gwen?" Owen was shouting, sounding angry.

"What's there to leave all they do is shag, he doesn't love him, he can't love him!" Gwen said back with as much anger in her voice as Owen had.

"He doesn't love you Gwen," Toshiko said, she was the only one who wasn't shouting.

"He doesn't love Ianto either!" Gwen said still shouting.

Jack wondered what the reason for this particular argument was. He stood behind the cog door listening intently. "There's something going on between Jack and Ianto, Gwen, just leave it alone. You've got Rhys," Owen said calmly and Jack felt proud of the medic as Owen was normally the one who was last to calm down.

"There is something between me and Jack, I know it," Gwen said confidently and Jack tried not to laugh. He wondered exactly what that thing was.

"Then why was he holding Ianto's hand today, why has he run out of the hub looking for him?" Owen asked sounding bored which told Jack that this debate had been going on for a while.

"Because he feels sorry for him," Gwen stated. "How can he trust Ianto after everything he's done with Lisa?"

"That's enough!" Jack shouted, he didn't want to bring Lisa up. "Gwen, my office, now!" Jack said and Gwen walked up the stairs in silence.

"Jack, where's Ianto?" Toshiko asked worried.

"I took him back to his flat, he wanted to be alone," Jack replied tiredly, staring at Ianto's desk longingly.

"Is that such a good idea?" Owen asked.

"I doubt it," Jack said honestly. "But I couldn't argue with him. I'm worried about him Owen," Jack said his eyes watering with no control.

"We all are," Toshiko said, squeezing Jack's hand.

"Did you find anything?" Jack asked once his emotions had calmed down.

"His mum's body was stone cold dead when I checked. There were markings all over her body though."

"What sort of markings?" Jack asked.

"Death," Toshiko said in a low whisper. "It just said death all over her body."

"Any ideas of what's doing this?" Jack asked.

"No, it's invisible, can possess dead bodies and only comes out every ten years, there's nothing," Toshiko said in defeat.

"Ianto said that when it killed his parents it was darker than it should have been, and that the air was still. He also said he saw a shadow."

"A shadow?" Owen asked. "Are you sure, I mean he was four,"

"Torchwood made sure he was put in a mental home Owen, what ever he saw that night they made sure that he didn't talk about it to people who believes him, I believe everything he says." Jack said and looked up towards his office where Gwen was watching him.

"Jack, it is Ianto you love isn't it?" Toshiko asked.

"I can't love him Tosh," Jack said in a defeated whisper. "I just can't."

"Doesn't mean you don't," Owen said and shot Jack a knowing look, to which Jack didn't respond.

"You should be with him," Toshiko said. "Leave Gwen and go to Ianto."

"I need to talk to her, sort everything out." Jack sighed and headed up the stairs to his office.

"How's Ianto?" Gwen asked kindly, but Jack could tell that part of it was only a show.

"Gwen, sit down," Jack ordered. wondering how he was going to get around this. Gwen sat down and looked up at Jack with her round eyes staring at him. "I can't die Gwen. I've loved so many, lost so many. The one person I can love for eternity, well near enough eternity, he left me Gwen. I can't risk falling for any one else."

"Isn't love worth the risk?" Gwen asked standing up and moving closer to Jack.

"Yes it is," Jack said nodding slightly. "But not with you."

"What?" Gwen asked her eyes widening once more.

"Somewhere along the lines I've fallen for Ianto," Jack said. He didn't know why he was telling Gwen all this he knew he should be telling this to Ianto.

"Why him, Jack?" Gwen asked, her eyes watering.

"Because he makes everything in my life mean something," Jack said.

"You made my life complete," Gwen whispered.

"No, Rhys did. I'm just a fantasy that you're clinging too and I'm sorry Gwen. I really am." Jack waited for a response from Gwen, and he was surprised when she just stormed out. Jack watched as she grabbed her bag and walked out of the hub, not looking at anyone.

Sighing, Jack walked back down to the hub where Owen and Toshiko smiled at him. "There's nothing more any of us can do today, go home."

"Are you sure?" Owen asked, it was almost seven.

"We don't know anything new, we've been trying to figure it out all day and it's gotten us nowhere. We'll just have to find out more tomorrow."

"Tell Yan we're thinking of him," Owen said and he and Toshiko headed out of the hub together, Jack following in their footsteps.

Jack walked the short walk to Ianto's flat, wondering how the younger man was doing. He had been through too much and he knew that once everything had passed over he needed a break. He used his spare key and opened the door, he was greeted by very loud music. He didn't know why, but he had always expected Ianto to listen to gay icons. Instead he heard loud drum beats of heavy metal music.

He walked into the living room and sighed when he saw Ianto was lying half on the sofa and half on the floor, a bottle of whiskey clutched in his hand. "Oh Ianto.." Jack said sadly. He moved over to the sofa and Ianto looked up at him and smiled a very drunken smile.

Jack bent down and took the whiskey from his hand and shook his head disbelievingly. "Have you had anything to eat?" Jack asked, though he knew the answer was no. Ianto hardly ever ate, he always made sure that every one in the team was well fed and okay, yet he hardly ever looked after himself.

"I feel sick." Ianto mumbled and that was all the warning Jack got before Ianto was throwing up. Jack was concerned that it wasn't even proper sick, it was pure liquid. Jack rested behind Ianto rubbing his back, making soothing sounds.

"Just get it out of your system okay," Jack said, as Ianto started to heave more. Jack got up and turned the music off, he looked at Ianto who was staring up at him reminding him of a deer in front of a car's headlights.

"Don't go. I'm sorry Jack, please don't leave me," Ianto said, in such a lost voice that Jack was sure he was about to cry again.

"I'm not going any where Yan, just going to get you a glass of water and some tissue to clean that up," Jack said and Ianto nodded weakly. Jack walked back in the room a few minutes later and smiled slightly at Ianto who was fast asleep. He cleaned up the sick and stared at him for a few minutes. He had seen him so many times, but today felt like the first time he had ever really noticed him. He was too skinny, his suit that Jack normally admired was gone and he was in jeans and a tee that showed just how young and slim he was.

"Yan, wake up," Jack said and rolled Ianto over a little who groaned. "Come on, time go to bed," Ianto didn't move which made Jack worry a little. "Don't make me phone Owen Yan, come on wake up." Jack said louder making Ianto open an eye.

"Feel bad." Ianto mumbled pathetically. "I want to sleep Jack please."

"You can but let's get you into bed and out of your clothes," Jack said picking Ianto up, it killed him when he realised how light he was.

Jack settled Ianto into bed only managing to take off his jeans before he passed out again. He watched Ianto sleep restlessly, the demons in his dreams breaking into his alcohol filled sleep. Jack waited for Ianto to wake up, knowing that when he did, he would be there for him no matter what.

***

Two and a half hours after Ianto fell asleep he was awake and throwing up once more. Jack held him tight as he cried. "I'm so sorry," Ianto sobbed.

"You've nothing to be sorry for," Jack said as he ran his hand through his hair a little concerned at how much the young man was sweating. "Yan are you okay?"

"I miss them Jack, I don't even know them to miss them but I do." His voice was getting quieter with every word.

"Yan can you hear me?" Jack asked, noticing that Ianto was looking at him but his eyes weren't quite reaching him.

"Jack, I..." Ianto felt his body move and wondered what was going on. Through blurry eyes he saw Jack standing in front of him, crouching down trying to look in his eyes. He felt so weak, his insides felt as though they were being ripped apart. "...Love you." He managed to say before the darkness came.

Jack picked Ianto's body up in his arms, if it was possible he felt even lighter. He carried his body to Ianto's car, he settled him in the back seat and grabbed his phone, dialling the number and waiting for him to pick up. "Owen, Ianto's ill... I don't know... hub now!" Jack said. Closing the phone down, he turned his head to look at Ianto who looked as though he was fitting on the back seat. His whole body was shaking.

"Yan, I'm going to get you some help, I promise," Jack said and started driving. Ten minutes later he was trying to get him out of the car. "Ianto please I need you to wake up," Jack begged desperately, his own tears falling from his eyes, but Ianto couldn't hear him. Owen pulled up next to him and stared at Ianto with shock.

"What the fuck happened?" Owen asked as he got in the car, saddling Ianto's thrashing legs. "He fucking stinks of whiskey."

"He was drinking it when I got in yesterday," Jack said, still crying.

"Did he eat anything?" Owen asked as he felt for Ianto's pulse – it was weak, too weak.

"He never eats anything!" Jack exclaimed, he couldn't help but blame himself for not noticing it before – he was after all supposed to be his lover. "He was okay when I saw him but he woke up.."

"Alcohol poisoning," Owen muttered. "Ianto you fucking dick," Owen sighed and helped Jack take him into the hub. They settled him on the autopsy table and immediately Owen put an IV drip in his arm. "He needs fluids," he explained in response to Jack's questioning gaze.

"Is he going to be okay?" Jack asked, trying not to give into the tears that were now racing down his cheeks.

"He's really weak Jack, lack of food, his body has no energy and there is nothing in his system to absorb the alcohol, so his body is rejecting it."

"When he was sick it was mostly liquid which means it was the alcohol right he can't have any more in his system," Jack said, as he started pacing.

"It depends on how much he drank Jack. He's practically anorexic I always knew he was a picky eater but I never thought it was this bad," Owen mumbled as he pulled off Ianto's tee to attach a heart monitor as his pulse was still too weak.

"I need him to be okay Owen," Jack pleaded, as he stood on the other side of Ianto gripping his hand tightly.

"I know Jack," Owen said quietly as he added something to the IV.

Owen and Jack stood by Ianto for hours, neither realising that time had passed them by as the cog door rolled open. The familiar sound of Toshiko's footsteps were heard and she soon saw the light on down in the autopsy area and walked over.

"Ianto, my god what happened?" She said in a high pitched shriek, her emotions getting the better of her.

"Alcohol poisoning," Jack said, squeezing tight on Ianto's hand.

"How long has he been like that?" Toshiko asked. It looked as though Ianto was asleep and she couldn't help but notice that it was the most peaceful she had ever seen him.

"All night," Owen said. "I'm going to make us some coffee." Toshiko stood where Owen was standing and took Ianto's hand in hers.

"He's cold," Toshiko said. Jack looked up at Toshiko's words, he had been holding his hand so tight that he couldn't tell whose body heat was whose. Jack went to let go off his hand when he felt a very light squeeze of his hand.

"Yan, can you hear me?" Jack asked as he took his free hand and rested his softly on his cheek.

"Jack..." His voice was barely a whisper.

"Hey, you're okay now." Jack smiled. Ianto looked around the room frantically; all he could think about was the darkness. "How do you feel?" Ianto couldn't say anything, he didn't know what to say. His throat was dry, there was that constant feeling of emptiness throughout his body and his head was pounding so loud he was sure his skull was going to burst. "You'll be okay." Jack smiled placing the softest kiss on his lips.

Owen walked down the stairs and smiled at Ianto. "How are you feeling?" He asked and Ianto replied with the same answer: silence. "I'm going to run some more tests," he said quietly. "Can you sit up?" Ianto nodded, though he wasn't too sure. The sudden movement of his body made his head hurt more. He felt as though he needed to be sick but he knew that there wasn't anything left in his system to throw up, and when his body tried all he produced was a bitter tasting bile. "Drink this." Owen said handing Ianto who had let go of Toshiko's hand by now. He drank the water and almost spat it out – he hated water.

"Why did you drink so much Yan?" Jack asked once Toshiko had left as she heard the cog door roll open.

"I didn't want to feel anything any more," Ianto said so quietly Jack barely heard him, but by the look on Owen's face he had heard too.

"Jack!" Gwen called from the top of the autopsy stairs, not even looking at Ianto. "There's been another murder."

"Same as yesterday?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, four year old boy, but police found something at the site," Gwen said.

"You and Toshiko go," Jack demanded, there was no way he was leaving Ianto's side.

"You're not coming?" Gwen asked, a little shocked. A boy had been murdered and Jack was too preoccupied with Ianto to do his job.

"Jack, go," Ianto whispered, not able to summon enough energy to talk.

"I'm staying right here Yan," Jack said. He didn't even bother to look up as Gwen walked off.

"Ianto, I hope you're okay," Toshiko smiled before leaving with Gwen.

"Head ache?" Owen asked, as he added more pain relief to the IV drip.

"Yeah," Ianto answered quietly.

"The pain relief should kick in soon, but until then you're going to eat something," Owen said strongly.

"I'm not hungry." Ianto said in a rather weak voice.

"Tough, your body needs it, Yan," Jack retorted as he ran his thumb over Ianto's knuckles. Ianto didn't say anything just stayed looking at the floor. Owen shuffled away to make something to eat for Ianto, himself and Jack.

"You should have gone with Gwen," Ianto said, a few minutes later.

"Why?" Jack asked as he felt Ianto move a little.

"Because she needs you," Ianto replied simply. "And you need her,"

"She might need me Yan, but I need you. I always have," Jack moved himself so he was sat on the autopsy table next to him. "I love you Jones, Ianto Jones." For the first time in a while Ianto felt his lips pull to an automatic smile.

"Love you," He whispered as he placed his head on Jack's shoulder. "Don't make me eat, Jack," he pleaded.

"Why don't you want to eat?" Jack asked as he wrapped his arms around the younger man, just holding him close.

"When I eat I feel sick," Ianto said simply. Jack didn't know what to say he knew Ianto had to eat. His body needed it, even if he didn't think it did.

"But you have to eat," Jack looked at the expression on Ianto's face and it nearly killed him; he looked so scared, so young and so lost. He didn't say anything back, just stared at the hand that was holding his tightly. He didn't know why he had drunk so much. He hardly ever drank. The bottle of whiskey had been a birthday present two years ago and he had just left it in one of the cupboards. But yesterday he needed to escape and he didn't know what else to turn too. He knew he would always go to Jack – especially now the three little words had been said, but he didn't want to show Jack how weak he really was. He chuckled to himself slightly at how his plan had backfired. He was that weak the alcohol just laughed at him.

Owen walked down into the autopsy bay and smiled as at his boss who had a protective arm wrapped around the younger man, and their hands clasped together with Jack's thumb running over Ianto's knuckles. "I made some sandwiches," Owen said, holding the plate up.

"I'm going to make some coffee," Ianto tried but Jack didn't budge.

"No, you're going to eat this and drink some water," Owen said, his doctor voice on. Ianto didn't want to eat. He didn't know why he hated eating so much. He just knew that when he ate he felt sick and that made him weak.

Jack took one of the sandwiches from the top of the plate and handed it to Ianto, who simply stared at it. "Please," Jack said softly. "I need to know you're okay,"

"I'm fine," Ianto replied a little wobbly.

"Ianto stand up," Owen sighed. He placed the plate of food on Jack's lap and then guided Ianto towards the full length mirror near the stairs.

Ianto stared at his reflection through blurry eyes. His face was pale, his eyes blood shot red. But then he noticed his stomach, or lack off. He was just bones, he stared at his ribs as he traced his fingers absent mindedly over them.

"You need to eat," Jack said softly as he snaked his arms around Ianto's slim waist. "Please." Ianto turned around and stared into Jack's deep blue eyes. It always amazed him how lost he could get just staring into them. He nodded weakly. He didn't want to eat. But Jack needed him to.

He sat on the table cross legged and stared at the sandwich as though it was an enemy, he picked off the crust and looked up to see Jack and Owen staring at him worriedly. "I don't eat crust, never have," Ianto said to their look. "Aren't you going to eat?" He asked, mainly as a distraction.

Jack and Owen nodded and grabbed some sandwiches and started to eat, both watching Ianto anxiously. He bit a little bit of the corner and chewed mechanically. He couldn't taste anything, and when he swallowed he felt it scratch his throat and grabbed his glass of water.

The cog door rolled open and Gwen and Toshiko's voice filled the hub. "I'll go," Owen said, smiling at Ianto who had taken another bite.

"I don't like it," Ianto said looking at Jack.

"Just finish that piece," Jack knew Owen wasn't exactly the best sandwich maker in town, but knew Ianto was just looking for another escape.

"But..." Ianto couldn't continue as Jack had pressed his lips Ianto's, his tongue pushing something into his mouth. When Jack pulled away, he realised he now had a bite of bread in his mouth. "That's disgusting," Ianto said, smiling slightly as he swallowed it anyway.

Gwen and Toshiko walked down the stairs, Owen following behind. "Well done mate." The Englishman grinned when he noticed half the sandwich was now gone.

"What did you ladies find?" Jack asked. Ianto was leaning on his shoulder, his eyes staring at the sandwich as he broke it apart eating the ham first, then the bread. He didn't realise that they were all staring at what he was doing.

"Another one," Owen said, as he handed Ianto the plate.

"No, Jack said only one!" Ianto said pleadingly. Jack received a scowl from the doctor.

"Fine, but you'll eat another one in half an hour." Ianto went to say something but he knew better then to argue with Owen.

"So, what did you find?" Jack repeated the question and Gwen moved her eyes from Ianto back to Jack.

"Some sort of sand," Toshiko answered.

"Sand?" Owen asked raising an eyebrow. "Wasn't the murder in Splott?"

"I think it might be skin," Toshiko said as Ianto stood up.

"And where do you think you're going?" Owen asked before Jack could.

"I'm going to get changed," Ianto replied and walked off. Jack didn't miss the eye roll from Gwen and shot her a stern look.

"Why do you think it's skin?" Jack asked as they made their way up the stairs and into the main area of the hub.

"Because it looks like it has dead cells in, I'll know for sure when I've done some tests," She said with a smile.

"Owen, go home, shower get dressed, then help her," Jack said and Owen smiled in reply.

"Why does he get to go home?" Gwen asked bitterly.

"Because Gwen, he was here since half one this morning watching Ianto," Jack said loudly.

"What did he do now?" Gwen asked folding her arms on her chest stubbornly.

"He nearly died!" Owen shouted. "Get off your high horse Gwen and do some fucking work!" Jack couldn't help but smile at Owen as he was going to say something similar. "I'll wait and make sure Ianto is okay before leaving." Owen said. "You going to send him home?"

"Nope, he is staying right where I can see him," Jack said, just as Ianto walked up the stairs wearing a hooded jumper, jeans and trainers. "No suit?" Jack pouted.

"Don't have a spare one in my locker," Ianto replied sheepishly, feeling under dressed. Jack just smiled.

"How are you feeling now?" Owen asked as he grabbed his jacket.

"Fine," Ianto replied quietly. "What's that?" Ianto asked, changing the subject and pointing to the substance in plastic bags – the alien skin. Jack knew he was using work to hide his feelings once more but Jack wasn't going to let him get away with it this time.

***

Next part of Into The Darkness.