The Resurrection Casket

Since the Doctor had told Jack that there was a possibility that Ianto could regain his memories,
Jack had been full of joy. Something he hadn´t felt since before the 456.
The Doctor had explained that in many cases you could jog a person´s memory by reminding them of things in their life.
But in Ianto´s case, it was much more difficult as he has never actually lived that life.
So they wouldn`t be able to do so. Instead they would have to use force.

The Doctor had been reluctant of telling Jack about the details around the procedure
and now Jack wished he hadn`t asked. With force, the Doctor meant that they would be hooking Ianto up to the TARDIS,
and slowly giving him small electrical charges, which in turn the Doctor hoped would make his brain connect to his past life
and make Ianto remember. Jack thought the whole idea was insane, the chances of it to work so slim
Jack wondered if the Doctor had truly lost it.
If one of those charges went wrong it could mean the death of Ianto. Jack couldn`t take that chance.

"Absolutely not Doctor. I`m not killing him again!"

The Doctor paced the floor of the TARDIS, avoiding Jack`s flaring glare. He hadn`t said a word for an hour now,
just been taking all the verbal abuse Jack could throw at him. Ianto however, had been watching wide-eyed at the two,
glancing from Time lord to ex-Time agent.

"Do I have a say in this matter?" Ianto almost whispered, afraid that Jack would re-direct his anger against him instead.

Jack froze, his head whipping around to face Ianto`s blue eyes with his own.
"No you don`t. Technical speaking, you`re still my son. And you`re underage."

"Only you can make everything sound so dirty. " The Doctor mumbled where he stood beside his precious control panel.

" Keep out of this Doctor." Jack`s tone was harsh, more so then he had intended,
but the Doctor had pulled a lot more strings on him today then he could handle. Sooner or later one of those strings would break.
" Jack, you`re not my father. And I don`t see you as one any longer. Just..just let me do this. Don`t you want him back?"
Jack scuffed, his mind racing and finally settling on adecision. He walked toward the door, his coat swaying angrily behind him.

"Jack!"

" Do what you want. But I`m not staying to see you die once more."
The TARDIS door slammed shut as he left, leaving Ianto with tears in his eyes.
"Always the drama queen. He`ll be back. " A comforting hand was placed on Ianto´s shoulder,
the Doctor leaning down over him to wipe away a stray tear from Ianto´s cheek with a small white handkerchief.

"I`m not so sure about that, Doctor."


Captain Jack Harkness leaned against the closed TARDIS doors. His head over flooded with questions and doubt.
But he couldn`t for all the life in him, turn around and face the possible death of a loved one again. He just couldn`t.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes.
Outside was 2010, Cardiff. A new year and a new beginning. If it hadn`t been for Ianto, Jack hadn`t even thought about staying here.
There was nothing tying him to this place anymore. Steven was gone, Alice had cut all ties and the hub was.. was it? Jack`s eyes opened wide.
There was no hole where the hub had exploded, it was mended as if nothing had happened a year before.
Not a trace was left of what had occurred.

Jack`s blood pumped, his heart racing. Then he ran, ran as fast as he could towards the dock,
where the entrance to the tourist office had once been.

"It can`t be." Jack breathed as he came to a stop outside the Tourist office, believe it or not. But the door was much neater and painted.
Never the less it was still the same. On a sign above it Jack read: "Cardiff Tourist Office".

He smiled as he turned the handle and strode in to be met by the sight of a nice office, fresh painted walls and a neat desk in the far corner. Behind it a young man stood, and Jack had to blink. For a second he had seen Ianto, in a suit and smiling at him. Just as the good old days.
It hurt more then he would ever acknowledge.

" May I help you, sir? " A thick welsh dialect flooded the room as the man looked up from some leaflets on his desk.
Re-arranging them no doubt. Jack licked his dry lips at the thought.

"Y-yes. " The word "Sir" had thrown Jack off track and he looked lost. The man most have seen Jack tremble,
because he put down the leaflet he was currently holding. " You alright sir? Can I help you? "

Jack coughed, trying to ignore the fact that the man had beautiful blue eyes, instead his gaze began to wander down the mans slim body.
A dark red shirt was nicely fitted with a few buttons un-done to reveal some of his chest.
A metal chain was hung around his neck, going passed his collarbone just an inch.

"Sir?" The man removed a pair of glasses from a perfect nose.

"Oh yes. You may help me." Jack finally said. A tad bit of his old charm spilling out and turning into arrogance.
Jack walked right up to the desk and slid out a leaflet from the mans shirt pocket and held it out infront of him, feigning interest in Cardiff museums.

" I need to find an old friend of mine. "

The man raised an questioning eyebrow. This was not a part of his job.

" I`m sorry sir. I can`t help you. But if you go down to the police..."

"No. I think you can help me." Jack persisted. "I`m looking for Gwen Cooper."

The man flinched at the name. Jack got him. This man obviously knew who Gwen was. And he wasn`t going anywhere without telling Jack how.
" I`m sorry, I don`t know her."

"Ah, but I think you do..Mr..?" Before Jack got an answer from the now frightened welshman,
a door to his right opened up to reveal : Gwen herself.

" It`s alright Ioan. He`s an old friend."

"Gwen! As beautiful as ever I can see!" Jack held out his arms, ready for a teary welcoming but instead all he got was a hard slap against his jaw.

"Bastard! You just left me with all the mess, Jack! How could you!? It wasn`t just you, you know!? I lost him too! "
Her small hands was curled into fists and she was banging them against Jack`s chest. " I lost him too!"
She wailed, her strength slowly beginning to fade with every punch she threw at him. "You were my best friends! You left me!"

"Gwen..? " Ioan began, but Jack sent him a look that said he could handle the situation. He really could.
Ianto had given him the strength back to do so.
Jack pulled her into a tight embrace and just held her there against him. She in turn coughed, tears prickling down her cheeks,
her eyes red and puffy as she looked up at him.
"I`m sorry. It just was too painful to stay. "

" I could have helped you. Together we could`ve.."

"No."

"But.."

Jack smiled as he lay a finger on her lips. " No buts. I`m back now and I won`t go anywhere for a long long time. Not when.."
Jack trailed off and shut his mouth. It was too soon to tell her about Ianto. It was better that she didn`t know for the time being.
" Nothing. " Plus, the Doctor would have his head if he dared try.

Gwen still looked as if she would throw another fit but she stifled her crying and tried to put on a bright face.
" Yes, you`re right. You`re back. I`m sorry. "

"So may I take it that you`ve re-built the hub? Jack couldn`t help but glance at Ioan. Nice work. Good eye. "
A wink and Ioan was blushing like mad.

"Oh stop it Jack! He`s off limits! "

" I don`t mind." Ioan piped up behind his desk.

Gwen groaned as she watched the two switch interested winks to each other.
" Ianto hasn`t been gone a year and you..." She looked away and wiped clear of a tear.

"I`m sorry Gwen it was.."

"No, just sod off Jack. Forget what I said, I don`t need you. I have managed the new Torchwood without you this long and I can manage it now.
Keep out of my way. " She pushed him aside and closed the hidden door in the wall behind her as she left the two men to stare at the wall
in the office.

Ioan turned after a while to Jack. " So you`re the famous Captain Jack Harkness, I presume? "


"Well yes,and who are you? "

Ioan stepped out from the back of his desk and held out a hand. " Ioan Trancy, Admin and re-searcher for Torchwood Three. "
Jack took the offered hand and lowered a soft kiss on the back of it. Ioan`s eyes went wide.
" Nice to meet you, Ioan Trancy. I hope we meet again." Jack turned to leave but Ioan grabbed his arm.

" I don`t usually do this but, are you free for dinner some time? " Ioan`s face was flushed, on the border of starting to sweat.

" Maybe. I`ll catch you later. " Jack grinned while shrugging Ioan off. Whilst at the door Jack hesitated, turned his head and smiled.
" Tomorrow. Lunch. Haven`t been here for a while so why not get updated? "

Not far away from Captain Jack Harkness position, a shrill scream echoed inside a blue police box, though no one outside registered it.
People walked past ignoring the sound, living their own boring lives, going to work, shopping, going home, cheating on their wives,husbands
and loved ones. They had no reason to switch off their daily routine just to investigate something that normally wasn`t there.

The scream shuddered and died.