Previous part of Into The Darkness.

***

Owen walked back into the hub and was surprised to see that everyone was working. He guessed that as six children had already been murdered this month, they didn't want to have a seventh one killed on their watch. He looked around; Gwen was on her computer – doing whatever it was that she did, Owen still wasn't sure. Toshiko was analysing the 'sand' sample with a beautiful frown on her face. Jack was up in his office and by the angered expression on his face he was on the phone to UNIT. That left Owen looking for Ianto who he hadn't seen when he first walked in.

"Hey Tosh, where's Ianto?" Owen asked, shrugging off his leather jacket.

"He was here a minute ago," Toshiko said, looking up and scanning the hub. She glanced up at Jack who was looking down at them from his office, his eyes searching too. "I'll check the camera footage."

"Thanks," Owen smiled, watching in fascination as Toshiko's fingers typed at the keypad, though her eyes were trained on the screen.

"He's in the morgue," Toshiko answered. Smiling thanks to Toshiko, Owen headed down to the morgue. Jack was still on the phone and Owen didn't want to bother him.

Owen walked hurriedly down to the morgue. He opened the door cautiously and noticed Ianto sat on the floor between two open drawers. "Hey," Owen said, loud enough to snap Ianto out of his morbid thoughts.

"Hi," Ianto replied back a little sheepishly. "The marks on her body are gone."

"Whatever was in her has left now," Owen moved closer and sat next to Ianto. "How are you feeling?"

"I have a headache that won't go away, my stomach is aching, but most of all I feel embarrassed." Ianto didn't look at Owen, just stared at his shoes. Owen wondered how long he had been down here. It wasn't the warmest place to sit, especially on the floor.

"You've nothing to be embarrassed for," Owen said strongly. He wasn't good at motivational speeches, nor was he good at being sympathetic. The only good thing he was good for was making sarcastic and inappropriate comments

"I've been behaving like a stupid child the past two days. And last night, what the hell was I thinking?" Ianto laughed a little. "I don't even drink!" he stated.

"Why did you then?" Owen asked.

"I wanted to forget. Forget the fact that I was alone. But I wanted to be able to just escape from everything, leave behind the feeling of nothingness I suppose."

"You're not alone," Owen said softly, wrapping an arm around Ianto's shoulder pulling him close. He knew this was highly out of his character but right now he didn't care. Ianto needed someone, he needed a friend.

"I know that now," Ianto said softly. "It was stupid, I'm stupid. I couldn't even get drunk without getting ill."

"You only got ill because you don't eat, and as your doctor, I'm going to do my best to make your body go back to normal. But as your friend, I'm going to be there for you." Owen smiled. "Come on, my arse is already going numb." Ianto nodded and got up, he held out a hand for Owen who took it with a smile and pulled himself up.

Ianto looked at the open morgue draws, as did Owen. "You know I reckon they're really proud of you," Owen said gently as Ianto pushed the draws closed.

"Thanks."

Jack smiled in relief when he saw Owen and Ianto walk back into the main area of the hub. Owen looked up and nodded in his direction. Ianto headed to his desk in the tourist office despite the look Owen had given him.

"What have we got?" Jack asked, as he walked down the stairs.

"Its definitely blood and skin," Toshiko said. "Definitely alien,"

"Owen, run it through the scans, see what you can find," Jack ordered.

"I found something, but I'm not too sure if it's relevant," Gwen said. After Jack shot her a look she continued. "All the children that were murdered, were killed the exact same time they were born.."

"Which explains why only one twin was killed," Owen said, "Different times."

"Any of the times match?" Jack asked curiously.

"Nope," Gwen sighed. A faint ringing was heard throughout the hub. "Its Ianto's mobile," Gwen said pointing to his jacket that was folded neatly over the back of his chair.

Jack moved over to it and picked the mobile out and it stopped ringing. "Right, continue to find out anything that will link any of the victims, Tosh, Owen check the alien blood," Jack said before heading up to the tourist office.

"You know I didn't actually think this place was a tourist office," Jack laughed as a tourist walked out of the office. Ianto looked up and smiled. "Your phone was ringing," Jack said handing him the phone, their fingers lingering on each others' for a while.

"It was Sean," Ianto smiled.

"You know I'd really like to meet him one day," Jack smiled as he sat on the corner of the desk.

"Really?" Surprise was evident in Ianto's voice. Yes, he and Jack had decided to give it a go as a real couple instead of having a relationship based on sex. But Ianto didn't think Jack wanted it to be as serious as meeting the family.

"Course," Jack smiled. "You okay? I know you went down to the morgue,"

"I just wanted to see them," Ianto said quietly, it was as though he was a child getting into trouble.

"Its okay, I'm not saying you can't. I'm just worried," Jack looked at Ianto who seemed to be hiding away in his hooded jumper. Ianto didn't know what to say, so remained silent. "Come on, let's go for a walk."

"We've got work to do, Jack,"

"Its lunch, meaning you're going to eat. And I thought you'd appreciate eating with just us, and not Owen watching you," Jack reasoned. "So what do you say?"

"I'll go get my coat," Ianto smiled. It was a sunny day outside, and Jack knew he didn't actually need his coat. He was putting eating off a little longer.

Ianto walked in the hub closely followed by Jack. "Where you two going then?" Toshiko smiled.

"Out for lunch," Jack smiled, and looked over at Owen who nodded.

"Why don't you stay here and eat with us?" Gwen asked, she was the only one who hadn't worked out Ianto's eating disorder. Ianto thought Jack was going to change his mind determined to think that whatever they had wasn't as strong as what Jack wanted with Gwen.

"Because I'm taking Ianto out for lunch," Jack grinned. "Got your jacket then?" Ianto nodded and slipped it on over his hoody.

They walked along the road in silence. Jack had reached for Ianto's hand and they walked in a comfortable silence. "Where are we going?" Ianto finally asked when he realised they had been walking for ages.

"Don't honestly know," Jack smiled. "Where do you want to go?" Ianto simply shrugged. "How about we go and get a roll from the bakery down there, and sit in the park?"

"Sounds nice," Ianto smiled, except for the roll part he thought to himself. They continued to walk in silence to the bakery. Once there Jack chose two rolls; a ham and cheese for himself and a salad one for Ianto.

They walked to the park and sat under a large oak tree. "It's beautiful here," Ianto smiled. Jack had already unwrapped his roll, and Ianto was holding his in his hand.

"We should come here more often," Jack said, noticing the roll still wrapped up. He had decided he wasn't going to rush Ianto into eating, but he wasn't leaving the park until he had eaten the whole roll.

"Yeah," Ianto smiled, to Jack's relief Ianto started to unwrap his roll with anxious fingers. "Jack?"

"Yeah, Ianto?"

"Promise you'll stop the thing that's killing the children." His voice wasn't higher than a whisper.

"I promise." Jack said strongly. Ianto split the role in two, and started to nibble at the salad. Jack didn't question the ritual, he was just pleased that Ianto was eating.

An hour later they walked back into the hub, Ianto frowned when he saw empty pizza boxes lying around on the desks. "Would it kill you to put them in the rubbish bag?" he asked Owen, who just smiled a very cocky smile.

"Then that would leave you out of a job," Owen smiled. "So, did you have a nice lunch?"

"We did," Jack said answering the secret question that was passed between them.

"Good."

"We found out what the alien is!" Toshiko smiled in triumph. "Well, Owen did most of the work,"

"So what is it?" Jack asked.

"A Chiropteran," Owen frowned. "And the blood has turned into a crystal."

"Are you sure that's what it is?" Jack frowned.

"Do you know what it is?" Gwen asked, looking up from her desk.

"I always thought they were a myth," Ianto said quietly, a bemused look on his face.

"How do you know about them?" Jack asked.

"They were in a story when I was younger. Like be good or the Chiropteran will make you like them." Ianto raised his eyebrow as Jack gave him a funny look.

"Who told you the stories Yan?" Jack was worried, they could all tell.

"I can't remember, I just remember hearing it," Ianto said, trying to remember the full story, but it was all a blur.

"How did it go?" Jack demanded. His temper was rising.

"I don't remember," Ianto said quietly.

"What are they, Jack?" Gwen asked anxiously.

"They're like demons. They feed on the life of children, you know what we were saying before about their essence. With Chiropterans they're specific, they choose their victims based on their blood. When they choose a victim they latch onto them."

"If they pick you there's no place to run..." Every one turned to look at Ianto.

"What's your blood type?" Gwen asked anxiously.

"O negative," Ianto replied.

"All the children, they were all O negative." Gwen said looking at Jack.

"Do you know how to kill it?" Toshiko asked.

"Silver knife to the heart," Jack said, his eyes still glued on Ianto who was staring at the floor nervously.

"Sounds easy," Owen laughed sarcastically. "What's the catch?"

"It needs to be feeding to kill it," Jack replied. "Ianto, can we talk in my office?" Ianto nodded before walking up the stairs to Jack's office. Somehow he didn't feel to confident about the conversation they were about to have.

***

Jack stared at Ianto for a few minutes, taking in every inch of pain in his face. Dark lines under his eyes, chapped lips from biting them anxiously, and those eyes. Once Jack had thought his eyes were beautiful, but now when he looked deep enough he could see the pain, the sadness, he could see into Ianto's soul. It didn't surprise him that it was broken.

"Ten years ago, where were you?" Jack started to speak. His voice was a low whisper.

"In the hospital," Ianto avoided Jack's eye line. He was embarrassed. Somewhere along the lines, Jack once had a normal childhood, even if it was far away. Everyone at the hub had a normal childhood, maybe not a blissfully happy childhood, but one all the same. Ianto felt as though he had missed a stage of his life. Growing up for him was endless nights spent crying and sedated into a heavy sleep, because the drugs were the only thing that kept the demons at bay. But in the end even they failed.

"But they had windows in the hospital?" Jack's voice was desperate. He needed to know everything, he needed to know so he could help.

"Ten years ago, around this time I wasn't in a room with windows," The words weren't easily said. Ianto almost regretted telling Jack that small glance into his life, but he knew that he needed to know. "The nightmares got worse, they always got worse on anniversaries. But I hardly remember most of them. I remember I was allowed to spend the weekend with Sean, see if I adapted into a normal environment," Jack watched intently. He knew Ianto found it hard talking about his past, though now he knew why. He also knew he was going to have to be patient. Even if time wasn't on their side.

"I was restless all day, and when Sean tried to talk I just got so angry. I threw furniture at him, smashed plates, I did all I could think of to release the anger. He got so scared that he took me back straight away. They sedated me, but it didn't work. I was still restless so they did the only thing they could and put me in a cell, no windows, just a bright light and padded walls."

Jack watched as the younger man cried at the memory. "I knew I had messed everything up when I woke up. Sean came to see if I was okay, and I couldn't even look at him. He promised everything would be okay, I didn't believe him. That's the night I heard the stories,"

"Do you remember them?" Jack asked. At some point in the conversation he had wrapped his arms around the fragile Welshman, and he had been crying in his shoulder.

"Sometimes, it comes and goes. Like lines of a song." Ianto wiped his eyes, determined not to cry again. "They make shadows and turn them into darkness." Jack watched as Ianto scratched at his temples, as though if he clawed hard enough he could get to the memories. "If they pick you there's no place to run."

"Hey it's okay," Jack reached out and grabbed Ianto's hands. The skin on his head had turned a raw red. "Just calm down." The words were easier said than done. Ianto's cries had stopped but his breathing was harsh. "Owen!" Jack yelled at the top of his voice once he realised Ianto was shaking, trembling in his arms.

Owen raced up the stairs, and pushed the door open. His eyes adjusted to the sight before him for a second, before he fell next to Jack, who was kneeling on the floor holding Ianto in his arms. "What happened?" Owen asked, placing two fingers to Ianto's neck.

"I don't know, he just..." Jack made a gesture to Ianto and Owen nodded.

"His pulse is strong, too strong." Owen shook his head. "Whatever you were talking about, it's scared the shit out of him Jack. He's having an anxiety attack, and a fucking bad one at that,"

"What do we do?" Jack asked. Ianto's fingers gripped his hands strongly, desperately.

"Ianto, can you hear me? I need you to calm down, okay?" Ianto squeezed Jack's hand again. "You're safe here, we're not going to let anyone hurt you, okay?" Jack was surprised at the concern edged in the medic's voice. He had seen the bond tighten between his lover and friend. Ianto moved his gaze from Jack to Owen. "That's it, deep breaths," Owen continued. "Jack could you get him some water?" Jack reluctantly let go of Ianto's hand, noticing his hand reach for Owen's collar straight away.

"Jack, what's going on?" Toshiko called, she and Gwen were staring up at the office wondering what exactly was happening.

"He's having a panic attack," Jack answered as he grabbed a bottle of water from Ianto's desk. "Have you found anything?"

"Yeah, but go see Ianto. Make sure he's okay." Gwen smiled sweetly, and Jack grinned back. She was finally understanding. Jack walked back into his office, and his heart ached at what he saw; Ianto was curled in Owen's lap, head on his shoulder.

"He's asleep," Owen said once he noticed his boss standing behind him. "He tired himself out."

"Will he be okay?" Jack asked nervously. He sat on the sofa next to Ianto. Carefully, Owen stood up and placed Ianto's head on Jack's lap.

"Honestly, I don't know." The truth was sharp and it hurt. Jack stared from Owen to Ianto needing answers. "Mentally, he's been through a lot. Emotionally, he is a wreck. And we both know about his physical state, Jack,"

"What do you think we should do?" Jack asked, his fingers absent mindedly stoking Ianto's hair.

"We kill the Chiropterans, and then we can be there for him. That's all he needs. Though, that and at least a hundred home made meals, vegetables and fruit included."

"Owen, the Chiropterans, they're after him. I'm scared," Owen was concerned at Jack's voice. His boss never sounded weak. He was their leader, he always had a plan, he was always the hero.

"We'll figure it out," Owen smiled. "Stay with him, I'll go down see what the girls have found out, and then I'll come and tell you everything."

"I'm not going to let them hurt you," Jack whispered. Placing a delicate kiss on Ianto's forehead he watched him sleep restlessly for a while. Waiting desperately for Owen to come back with information.

Half an hour later, Owen walked in. He smiled at the picture before him. Ianto was still sleeping in Jack's lap, with Jack leaning back, his head leaning on the wall, eyes closed. "Jack?"

"What have you got?" Jack asked. Jumping slightly at Owen's voice he looked down quickly to make sure Ianto was still asleep. Thankfully he was.

"You were right about them feeding off the essence of children because they prefer it. They feed of off anything. Adults, kids, plants, animals."

"I usually like fetishes, but I think they're taking theirs to the extreme," Jack mused. Owen was pleased that his boss could still lighten the mood, though he knew his whole heart wasn't in it.

"They originate from Japan," Owen continued. "Though, they were believed to be a myth. Until one day, someone decided to make them."

"Make them?" Ianto's voice filled the room, it was a little distant.

"How are you feeling?" Owen asked, doctor mode kicking in straight away.

"Fine, how were they made?" Ianto asked as he blinked a few times. He was still tired, Jack could tell just by his voice. But Owen and Jack hadn't been talking quietly. He didn't look at either Owen and Jack, too embarrassed about his breakdown earlier. He suddenly wondered whether he was better off in a room at the hospital, padded walls, no windows, a bright light sounded oddly comforting right now.

"In a lab," Owen answered. "Doctors believed they could make a sort of super race, its not clear when exactly, but the stories we read were filled with war. They were desperate. But they failed. The whole team who had been involved with creating them was killed by the US Army,"

"I thought you said they were created in Japan?" Jack asked.

"The US Army used to have a base in Japan," Ianto said quietly. "Though the Japan forces were always in command,"

"Clever too," Jack grinned. Ianto didn't respond though.

"When the army went looking for the Chiropterans, they were gone. The reports stated that they created two. One male, one female..."

"So over the years they've reproduced?" Jack asked with a small smirk. Alien reproduction always made him smirk.

"That's not known for certain," Owen said, "And I know you're thinking about alien reproduction right now, and I'm afraid to make your happy thoughts nice and dry, but they're human."

"Human?" Ianto asked in disbelief.

"They've evolved. They were created over a hundred years ago. The Japanese did as they intended, they created a super race. They just underestimated themselves. Think about it, you're in a war that doesn't seem to be ending, you're on rations. They created a race that only needed to feed once every ten years, who were strong, and who would survive."

"Not alien?" Jack asked, he was wearing a similar expression to Ianto's. Disbelieving. "The cells though, they were definitely alien,"

"Whatever was used to create them, was alien. No human technology could have done it."

"So how did they get to Wales?" Jack asked, "All the murders were in Wales."

"Looking back, they were all over the place. Wales has just been the most recent, and of course Torchwood didn't pick up on them from other countries. And if anyone did, there's no record of anything."

"So, we're dealing with a couple of hungry super raced humans?" Jack asked.

"They got it wrong though. The Chiropterans, they're weak. They've lived through so much that they're loosing fight. No one can live forever and all that," The words stung slightly, but Jack tried not to think about them too much. "They've evolved so much that they've amounted to nothing but a shadow. And even then that's only when they're about to kill."

"Will the silver knife still do it?" Ianto asked eagerly, he was reaching the last chapter of this story and he couldn't wait for it to finally be finished.

"Yeah, though I think as long as we're close enough and they're in physical form anything should be able to kill it. They're that weak."

"So how do we find them?" Jack asked.

"Toshiko has manipulated the rift into being nice for once and helping," Owen smiled. "But you'll have to let her explain all that technical babble as I didn't understand the first time she told me."

Toshiko and Gwen were surprised when they saw Ianto walke down the stairs behind Jack, but they were both pleased he was okay enough to listen to what was going on. "How are you feeling, Ianto?" Toshiko asked, her voice filled with sweetness and concern.

"I'm okay," Ianto smiled. I wish everyone would stop asking me that, he thought to himself.

"What's the plan?" Jack asked. He felt better already, knowing they had a plan.

"The rift can sense alien devices, so I thought if I gave the rift something to sense. Then it would be able to give us an indication of where the Chiropterans are attacking."

"Brilliant," Jack beamed. Not only did they have a plan, but a good plan.

"So far, I've noted that all the murders this month have been within fifty miles of each other. So I've found a lists of possible places that the Chiropterans might attack. Got 23 houses," Gwen sighed.

"Great work," Jack smiled enthusiastically. "Its early, we won't be able to do anything until tonight. Go home, rest, and be back by seven." It was only one o'clock which meant the team had six hours to kill.

"You going to be okay mate?" Owen asked.

"I'm fine!" Ianto didn't mean to sound so bitter. He felt relieved - this was finally going to be over. Yet his stomach was filled with anxiousness and he felt angry, yet he didn't know why. "Sorry, I'm just tired."

"Okay, well rest. Drink lots of water, and eat," Owen said. The last part was directed at Jack as they all knew Ianto wouldn't eat of his own accord.

"Don't worry, he will." Jack smiled. Owen nodded before following the girls out of the hub. "So what do you fancy?" Jack asked. Ianto just shrugged in return. "I think I have pancake mix somewhere,"

"Pancakes?" Ianto laughed.

"You know, fluffy little bread like things," Jack smiled, taking Ianto's hand and leading him into the kitchen.

"I know what they are," Ianto laughed. The anger was slowly washing away whenever Jack smiled at him.

"Here we are!" Jack chirped. "Sell by dates don't really matter right?"

"Jack!" Ianto laughed.

"I'm kidding." Jack grinned as he started making the pancakes. "Though when we've killed the Chiropterans, I'm taking you out for a proper meal, maybe even a movie too."

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Maybe," Jack smiled. "Interested?"

"Maybe," His tone was teasing, and they both found themselves wishing that this episode with the Chiropterans would finish sooner rather than later so they could both move on, and they could both start living.

***

Jack watched as Ianto picked at the pancakes. His face was showing mixed emotions, and as always Jack was finding them hard to read. "What are you thinking about?" Jack asked.

"Tonight. It's going to come after me." Ianto looked down at the food on his plate, it had hardly been touched. "Maybe not tonight, but one night this month it will come for me."

"I won't let them hurt you," Jack said reaching out to take his hand.

"Maybe you should," Ianto said quietly.

"Ianto, no."

"I don't want them to hurt another child!" Ianto shouted, his anger coming back to him. "They want me, that's what my mum said; 'Death will come for me', they will come for me if they have the chance."

"They've had this past month to come for you, Ianto, and they haven't," Jack said. He could see the anger rise in his body.

"But they will!" Ianto shouted, his body shaking. "I don't want anyone else to die, if we can get them to come after me then you can stop it, Jack you promised to stop it."

"And I will!" Jack said loudly. Ianto stared at the food on the table, and pushed it away, smashing the plates on the floor. "Ianto, please calm down." Jack tried to grab Ianto's arm but he pushed him away.

He picked up plates from the side and threw them on the floor. "Make it stop, Jack!" he screamed.

"I will, I promise," Jack said moving closer, Ianto was still angry. Jack grabbed him pulling him close, but he tried to move away. "Calm down, please Ianto just calm down."

"I can't. It won't go away," Ianto cried, his fists punching at Jack's chest. "I'm so angry, but I don't know why."

"Just let it out, it's okay, it's all going to be okay." Jack continued to soothe Ianto by rubbing circles in his lower back, but he kept on punching and crying. After ten minutes, Ianto stopped, but he held on to Jack tighter.

"I'm sorry," Ianto whispered.

"Its okay, you're okay now," Jack said as he continued to hold onto him. He felt a gentle kiss on his neck and smiled. He moved his head a little and felt Ianto continue to kiss him along his jawline until he reached his lips.

The kiss was soft and gentle. Jack returned the kiss eagerly, it had been four days since he had last been kissed by the young man, and he had missed him. "We have four hours to kill," Ianto whispered as he made the kiss harder. Jack smiled into the kiss as his arms moved lower so they were holding onto his hips, as Ianto's played with the ends of Jack's hair.

"Bedroom," Ianto said as he bit down on Jack's ear lobe. Jack didn't need to be told twice, he grabbed Ianto's hand and they headed down to his sleeping space. It didn't take long to rid each other of their clothing; they both needed it.

Pushing Jack onto the bed, Ianto straddled him. Kissing down his neck, along his stomach. He sucked his nipples slowly, loving the groans Jack was making underneath him. He trailed his kisses down, his tongue dipping into his navel, something that he knew Jack loved.

His tongue trailed lower, he bit at Jack's hip bone roughly, his hands running up and down Jack's thighs. "God, Ianto..." Jack took a deep intake of breath as he felt his wonderfully wet tongue trail up and down his shaft.

"Mm, you taste so good," Ianto smiled, lowering his body as he slowly took Jack into his mouth. Teasing was something Jack only loved if he was the teaser. Ianto sucked on the head of Jack's pulsing cock. Resisting the urge to grab Ianto's hair and push him into a faster rhythm, Jack settled on just watching the beautiful bop of Ianto's brown hair. Ianto stopped teasing, and sucked Jack harder, taking him in deeper. "Mm..." The vibrations of Ianto's throat were enough to make Jack's hip buck in pleasure.

"Ianto!" Jack moaned, "So close..." Ianto sucked harder, his hands rolled up and down Jack's thighs. His fingers rested on his balls, lightly squeezing. That was enough to make him release into Ianto's mouth. He swallowed and ignored the feeling in his stomach. He didn't care that it made him feel sick, Jack tasted of everything that Ianto loved but something words couldn't describe.

Ianto watched as Jack rode out his orgasm, he looked around with a smile. "No windows," he mumbled.

"Huh?" Jack asked, as he watched Ianto through weary eyes.

"No windows," Ianto repeated as he sat up and pulled his boxers back up.

"Ianto, what... you've been here every night since the murders!" Jack caught on.

"That's why it hasn't got me," Ianto said, "If we go back to mine tonight, it will come after me and you can stop it!"

"I'm coming with you," Jack said quickly. "You're not alone through this."

"I know," Ianto smiled. "We should tell the others."

"Yeah," Jack sighed. He watched a little disappointedly as Ianto got dressed. "Finish this off another time then." He smiled. Ianto rolled his eyes and threw Jack his boxers.

"Work to do, sir."

"Oh, I love it when you're all demanding." Jack grinned and followed Ianto back upstairs.

"What time were you born at?" Jack asked as he sat with the rest of the team in the conference room. It was almost six. They were all happy to come back into work, as they weren't able to concentrate at home.

"Around three," Ianto replied.

"Mate, that your phone ringing?" Owen asked, Ianto listened and then heard his phone ringing from his desk. He walked over quickly to answer it.

"So, how's he doing?" Toshiko asked. She knew that if she was to ask Ianto he would just say he was fine.

"I think he's getting there," Jack replied honestly. Ianto was sat on the steps, and they could hear his conversation, though they all tried not to listen.

"I'm okay... They shouldn't have phoned...I know but I'm not a child any more!" His voice was getting louder, and Jack just hoped he wouldn't get angry like he had earlier. "I'm not going, they can phone you all they want...Why should I listen to you? You're not my fucking father!" Ianto hung up the call and stared at his phone. "Shit," he muttered.

"Ianto, everything okay?" Jack asked as he moved over to the door.

"Yeah," Ianto sighed and walked back in and sat at the table. Owen discreetly pushed a muffin in front of him. "I'm not hungry," Ianto mumbled.

"You need to eat it," Jack warned.

"I'll make a sandwich," Ianto said and headed to the kitchen. Owen following him.

"What was the phone call about?" Owen asked as he watched Ianto make a sandwich. Bread, butter and cheese.

"The hospital phoned my Uncle, telling him that I should go and visit. Especially around this time of year. I just, I hated that place. I don't want Jack, or Sean to send me back."

"They're not going to send you back," Owen said strongly.

"I really don't want to go back," Ianto continued. "I just wish they hadn't phoned him."

"He's just worried, we all are."

"I know, and I want to be fine, I really, really want to be fine."

"And you will be," Owen said and Ianto just shrugged. He finished making the sandwich and they headed back to the conference room.

Ianto sat back next to Jack and started to take the sandwich apart. "Yan..."

"Huh?" Ianto asked looking up at Toshiko.

"Why do you do that to your food?" she asked. She knew Ianto had eating problems, but she had never seen someone take apart their food before they ate it, especially if they made it. Ianto blushed a little, but then realised if he spoke he wouldn't have to eat.

"The food in the hospital had sedatives and other drugs in them. The sedatives were a dark colour and I just broke everything apart because I didn't want to be forced to sleep. I stopped when I was let out, but then I realised Sean was doing it too. So it just continued. It's weird, and stupid because I made this and I didn't put anything in it. Just a bad habit," Ianto shrugged and then ate a bit of the bread.

"It's not weird," Owen smiled. "You have other rituals that are even weirder."

"Like what?" Ianto asked.

"The need to listen to a song completely before turning it off!" Gwen pointed out.

"That's not a ritual," Ianto laughed as he broke the cheese off and put a little bit in his mouth. "Have you never listened to a really catchy song, turned it off half way through and had the entire song in your head all day?"

"He has a point," Jack laughed. Ianto nodded and stared at the bread and ate a little bit more.

"We should probably go," Ianto said once he ate half of the bread.

"You haven't finished," Owen said shooting him a look.

"I'll grab something at mine," Ianto said and grabbed his phone from the desk and headed downstairs.

"Make sure he eats something," Toshiko said.

"Drive around the area, they might not come out after him tonight. So drive around. If anything happens, I'll phone straight away!" Jack said and they all nodded.

Ianto was sat on the desk in the tourist office, his phone attached to his ear. "Everything okay?"

"He's not answering," Ianto mumbled. "The minute this thing is over, I'm going to have to apologise so much."

"What happened?" Jack asked. As they walked back to Ianto's apartment, he told him everything that happened on the phone, and Jack nodded his way through the conversation.

"Do you think I should go back? Talk to them...?"

"I think if you did it might make you feel better. But if you really don't want to, you could always talk to me or Owen." Ianto nodded and squeezed Jack's hand tightly.

Jack walked straight into the kitchen, ready to make Ianto something to eat. But the only thing in the younger man's fridge was milk. "Ianto!" Jack called, and Ianto walked into the kitchen after turning on the television in the front room.

"What?"

"You've no food!" Ianto rolled his eyes at Jack. "I'm serious, you have nothing in the fridge. You're making yourself sick. Don't you get it Ianto? You're going to die one day, and the way you're going with the alcohol, not eating. This reckless need to kill this thing, it's like you want to die sooner rather than later!" Jack shouted.

Ianto stood there amazed. He felt his eyes water, Jack had never shouted at him like that before. "I don't like to eat because it makes me feel sick. But I do eat Jack. I've started eating more because of you!" He pushed his way past Jack. "And the only reason there's nothing in the fridge is because I'm never here, and anything I buy to go in the fridge goes off. So I buy food that will last!" He grabbed some cereal from one of the cupboards and slammed it on the side.

"I'm sorry," Jack whispered. "I'm just scared."

"So am I," Ianto mumbled. "I don't want to die, Jack."

"Good, because I'm not going to let you."

***

They settled on Ianto's double bed and Ianto leaned against Jack looking for his body heat, or was it reassurance? "You're going to be fine," Jack said gently, placing a gentle kiss on Ianto's forehead.

"I know," Was the quiet reply Jack received.

It was hard falling to sleep. Ianto was too scared to close his eyes. Jack held onto him tighter, he couldn't deny the fact that he was just as scared. He was certain that they would come after Ianto tonight, and he knew Ianto had to be asleep. He just couldn't blame him for wanting to stay awake.

"Jack..."

"Yeah?"

"Tell me a story." It was a simple request, one that made Jack smile.

"What about?" Jack asked, moving a little to hold Ianto closer. Even pressed up against his body, they still felt too far away from each other.

"Space." Ianto felt tears in his eyes. He felt like he was four years old again, but he needed this. He needed to feel safe. When he felt safe he would be able to sleep, then everything would be okay in the morning.

"Okay," Jack smiled. He remembered Ianto telling him that his dad told him stories of space when he was a child, and couldn't help but think that because of that Ianto was the person he was, worked where he worked.

"This is the part where you tell a story Jack," Ianto chuckled lightly. Jack grinned and began telling stories of his past adventures, of skies that changed colours, stars that never went out. Within half an hour Jack noticed that Ianto's breathing had evened out. He didn't look peaceful, he still looked scared, young,

The night passed slowly, every second felt like an hour. Jack stared at the clock, it was almost three. Any minute now it could all be over. He grabbed his gun that was on the bed next to him, he had used special silver bullets, just in case. He listened in the air, and heard the windows creak, the air became still and Jack knew this was it. He grabbed his phone, pressing speed dial and missed call Owen – it was their sign. And Jack knew it wouldn't be long till they were here.

His eyes were closed, though he could sense they were in the room. He opened his eyes slowly, not wanting to startle them and make them rush away. This had to be over tonight. He saw the shadows, leaning over Ianto. A white glow in what looked to be their mouths, Ianto was fidgeting, moving restlessly.

He grabbed the gun, and shot at the shadow. Ianto woke up screaming. The two shadows broke apart, Jack hadn't noticed the second one until it was too late. He felt the pain before he knew what was happening. He heard Ianto's scream and felt his heart break. Two gunshots ran out in the room, he wasn't aware of who had shot them. He couldn't see past the blinding light.

There was another scream, and a loud bang. "Ianto!" Owen's voice filled the air. "Fuck, Gwen check on Jack."

Toshiko looked around the room and shivered. There were two large pools of blood on Ianto's beige carpet. Black blood. She shivered again and headed over to Ianto who was unconscious on the floor.

"Is he okay?" Toshiko asked sadly. She could tell that Jack had been killed. There was a lot of blood surrounding him, with four puncture wounds to his heart.

"He's banged his head pretty bad," Owen answered, holding a white patch on the wound trying to stop the bleeding. "They're dead right?"

"There's nothing left of them."

"Good."

There was a loud intake of breath, and for a split second Owen turned to the two pools of blood. Relief rushed through him when he realised it was Jack who had woken up, and the monsters were truly gone.

"How is he?" Jack asked, rushing over to Ianto.

"We need to get him to the hub," Owen said. "He's loosing a lot of blood."

"What happened, Jack?" Gwen asked. Her eyes were drifting from Ianto's body, to Jack and then to the two pools of blood.

"They were over him and I shot one. Didn't realise there was two. I killed one, then the second killed me. It must have pushed Ianto against the wall, did you shoot it?" he asked.

"No, it must have been Ianto," Toshiko smiled. "We got here just as Ianto hit the floor."

They didn't say anything else, just drove back to the hub in silence. Jack was sat on the back seat with Ianto and Toshiko, Gwen in the front with Owen who was driving. When they reached the hub, Jack helped Owen settle Ianto onto the autopsy table, Toshiko making them coffee and Gwen watching nervously from the stairs.

Owen started to stitch the back of Ianto's head slowly. He hoped that Ianto didn't wake up whilst he was doing it, but the wound was too deep to wait for him to wake up, and it was too risky giving him any sort of drugs when he was asleep.

"He'll wake up right?" Jack asked nervously.

"Give him time, he'll wake up when he's ready." Owen tried his best to assure Jack, but he knew he wasn't doing a very good job. The only person who would be able to make Jack believe Ianto was okay, was Ianto himself and to do that he needed to wake up.

Jack sat with him for an hour before he woke up, he was still out of it, a little groggy but all that mattered to Jack was the fact that he was awake. "You did it, Yan." Jack said gently.

"Did what?" Ianto asked, all he could concentrate on was the throbbing in his skull.

"Killed them, it's all finished now." Ianto just closed his eyes at the news. Inside he was buzzing with excitement. It was finally finished. "I'll get Owen to get you some painkillers." Jack smiled weakly before moving away from Ianto reluctantly.

A few minutes later, Owen walked downstairs to the autopsy bay with a plate of food – sandwiches.

"I know you're probably not hungry, but eating will help the painkillers work faster," He explained. Ianto nodded silently, picked the bread to pieces before eating a small part and then swallowed the painkillers with the water Owen handed him. "Other than a headache how are you feeling?"

"Tired," Ianto said softly. His own voice caused his head to ache.

"You can go to sleep once you finish the food, I'll get Jack to take you home."

"No, I don't want to go home."

"You can sleep downstairs," Jack smiled. Ianto nodded, he hadn't said much to Jack since he woke up, and he couldn't look him in the eyes.

Ianto ate the food slowly, every bite scratched his throat. Every swallow made his stomach turn. He bit down a sob as he finished the sandwiches. He felt like throwing up. Jack noticed the tears and pulled Ianto close to him, he wasn't expecting him to move away.

"Ianto, what's wrong?" Jack asked gently. He was pretty sure he hadn't done anything wrong.

"They killed you." Ianto cried. As Jack watched his lover breakdown into fitful sobs, Owen, Toshiko and Gwen watched silently from the stairs.

"I'm okay though. You killed it," Jack said, trying to calm Ianto down, but it wasn't working.

"You were bleeding, just like them, like the children, my mum, dad, you were dead!" Jack moved closer, Ianto moved away still crying. Jack was desperate to hold him close, to comfort him, show him just how much he was alive.

"But I'm fine now," he said strongly. "You killed them, it's finished now."

"Promise?" He asked weakly. His body was slowing down, and he moved closer to Jack, allowing himself to fall completely into the older man.

"I promise." Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto and held him till his tears died out. He knew Ianto was exhausted, he could feel his body slowly fall into a deep sleep.

"Take him downstairs," Owen said, smiling slightly. He knew now that Ianto was going to be fine. As long as he had Jack there to hold him when the nightmares came.

***

Ianto woke up and for the first time in ages, he was smiling. No nightmares haunted his dreams, all he could feel was Jack's very much alive arms, wrapped around him. "Good morning," Jack said quietly. His voice was tired and lazy, but it made Ianto smile even more. It was rare for Jack to be there when he woke up naturally.

"Hey," Ianto smiled back. He moved his body around slowly, his muscles still felt as though they were asleep.

"What do you want to do today?" Jack smiled, his fingers tracing patterns over Ianto's pale arms.

"I was thinking about going to see Sean," Ianto answered quietly, he hadn't spoken to Sean since their last phone conversation. Even though that was only yesterday, it felt like weeks.

"Can I come?" Jack asked warily.

"If you want."

"Do you want me to?"

"Yeah," Ianto smiled. "I'm going to have a shower and then I'll phone him."

"Okay, I've got some things to do." Ianto nodded and climbed out of the bed. It was weird, climbing out of Jack's small bunk fully clothed, he wasn't even aware that Jack owned pyjama trousers.

Half an hour later, Ianto was dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a white polo shirt. Mainly because he didn't want to wear a suit to see his uncle. He just wanted to be Ianto Jones, twenty four year old normal man. Though he knew he could only be Ianto Jones, twenty four year old man. He had given up the hope of any normality in his life ever since he lost Lisa.

He looked around for Jack wondering where the older man could be, but when he couldn't see him he gave up on trying to find him and grabbed his mobile from his desk. He dialled the number nervously, he didn't know what to expect he just hoped his uncle would answer. Which he did.

"Hey, Uncle Sean, I'm sorry about yesterday," Ianto started. He sat on his swivel chair and kicked his legs slightly. "I didn't mean what I said. About you not being my father, truth is I guess you're the closest thing to a dad I'll ever know." Ianto heard the cog door open and looked up to see Owen, Toshiko and Gwen walking in together.

"Hey," they chorused quietly when they realised he was on the phone. He smiled back and rolled his eyes when Owen discreetly placed a muffin and cup of coffee on his desk.

"I was wondering if maybe you would come over for dinner tonight." Ianto didn't know why he was nervous, maybe it had something to do with his Uncle meeting Jack, but it shouldn't have. He and Jack were just friends? Though over the past couple of days, he knew he felt like they should be more. "Okay, my friend slash boss will be there too, so I'll see you at mine about half six okay." He finished the phone call with a smile.

Ianto walked over to Owen, muffin in hand and started to eat it. "Hey," he said casually as he sat on his desk.

"Everything okay with you and your uncle?" Owen asked, smiling as he watched Ianto eat the muffin.

"Yeah. Jack's meeting him tonight," Ianto smiled. "So they can conspire against which nut house to send me too."

"Look around mate, you're already in the best nut house around," Owen smirked.

"True, and I couldn't think of a better place to be," Ianto smiled. "Owen, I just wanted to say thanks."

"For?"

"Being an idiot. No really, for helping me through this week."

"Don't worry, that's what friends are for right? But every month, I'm going to do check ups on you. Weighing, blood pressure, make sure you're okay."

"Thanks."

"Hey, Ianto. Have you seen Jack? I've got some reports he wanted," Gwen smiled.

"Not since this morning," Ianto answered. "Just put them on his desk or something."

"Will do."

"So, you and Jack this morning?" Owen grinned. Ianto rolled his eyes and looked up as the cog door rolled open.

"Where have you been?" Gwen asked accusingly.

"Had some things to do," Jack smiled.

"Like what?" Toshiko asked.

"Doesn't matter," Jack replied vaguely. "Ianto, you got a minute?" Ianto turned around and smiled at Jack. "This way." Jack grinned.

Ianto followed silently. "Jack, where are we going?" he asked once they reached the SUV.

"I was thinking," Jack started. Ianto watched intently as Jack tried to think of what to say, something that hardly happened as the older man had a point of speaking and then thinking. "Your parents shouldn't be in the morgue."

"But it's Torchwood protocol," Ianto mumbled.

"But thanks to you, the case is closed. So their bodies can be laid to rest. And I think it would be nice for you to have a place to go and spend time with them."

"I'd like that." Ianto looked at Jack who was smiling at him. "So where are we going?"

"Breakfast, I promised pancakes that were cooked properly didn't I? And I know a nice little diner that does the best pancakes," Jack smiled.

Ianto couldn't help but smile as he sat in the diner with Jack. They ate silently and Ianto managed to eat most of his food, because Jack was right – they really were the best pancakes. He wondered what was happening between the two men, but figured Jack was just being nice, being the boss. A few sentimental conversations didn't change what they had, or at least that's what he thought.

"So, did you speak to your Uncle?" Jack asked once they finished their food. Jack had paid, despite Ianto's protest that he should at least pay for half.

"Yeah, he's coming over for half six, is that okay?"

"Sounds good. So we have till then to make dinner?"

"I was thinking take out," Ianto laughed. "I'm not the best cook."

"Lucky you've got me. We'll spend the day thinking of what to make," Jack smiled.

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"But why?" Ianto asked. He hadn't meant for it to sound desperate, but he needed to know.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are you going to all this effort?"

"Because, your uncle means a lot to you. And you mean a lot to me." Ianto's heart jumped in its cage like an excited two year old, making his lips smile. "I mean, I know what we had was just casual, but I want something more. If you're willing to have me?" Ianto didn't answer with words, he pushed himself closer to Jack and pressed his lips to his.

"Depends how good a cook you are," Ianto smiled.

"It's a good thing I'm brilliant then isn't it."

"Not to mention awfully big headed," Ianto smirked. They walked hand in hand back to Ianto's house, both smiling like love sick teenagers.

They decided the best thing to make was pasta. Ianto was more than surprised when Jack told him to sit down and relax as he moved around the kitchen with such ease that made Ianto think that there was more to Jack than his superhero complex. Maybe, just maybe Jack could be domesticated. At half six there was a knock at the door and Ianto went to answer it.

"Hey," Ianto grinned as he welcomed his uncle in his house. Before his uncle could say anything arms were wrapped around him so tight he was sure he was going to stop breathing.

"You okay, Ianto?" His uncle asked kindly.

"Sorry, I just missed you." Ianto blushed slightly.

"I missed you too, you're okay right?"

"I'm okay, honest." Ianto smiled. "Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."

Jack had just finished setting the table when Ianto and Sean walked in. The first thing Jack noticed was how much Ianto looked like his uncle. Dark hair, pale skin. Jack smiled slightly at the thought, his Uncle looked a lot like Ianto's dad too.

"Hey, pleasure to meet you." Jack smiled after he introduced himself.

"Likewise." Sean shook Jack's hand with a smile. "I didn't know you cooked, Ianto."

"I don't, Jack made it."

"It looks great," Sean smiled.

"Thanks, it's been a while since I cooked a proper meal." Jack grinned sheepishly.

Ianto couldn't help but be surprised at Jack throughout the evening, his messy eating manners were replaced and he acted completely civilised at the dinner table. No boyish stories of aliens or past lovers. He spoke to Sean with fake confidence like a teenager meeting a loved ones family for the first time. Sean stayed for a good three hours, just catching up. Asking about work and everything that was going on in his nephew's life. At ten when he left he pulled Ianto to the side, telling him what a good man Jack was and that he was happy that he had settled down. Ianto couldn't help but smile. His life finally seemed normal.

"So good night?" Jack grinned.

"Yes, thank you." Ianto moved closer to Jack and wrapped his arms around him, just holding him close. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Jack's wrist strap started to beep.

"Rift activity," Jack groaned. Ianto couldn't help but laugh. He knew working for Torchwood he had given up the rights of having a normal life, but standing next to Jack holding him close he knew that being normal was seriously overrated. And running down the streets looking for Weevils that had breached out of the sewers, or fooling around with Owen at the hub, he decided that normal wasn't for him.

He wasn't stupid, he knew the life expectancy of a Torchwood employee wasn't very long, well except for Jack, but he wouldn't change it for the world. Because even when the darkness got too much, he knew Jack would be there.

The End

***