So, I was thinking the other day that certain events seem to govern what happens at Torchwood, or at least have significant consequences. Therefore, I give you the What If...? OneShots and Drabbles. Anything that I post here could end up as a big Alternate Universe Fic, given enough support, but for now let's just call it the mini AU Archives. I'll probably do stuff on here when any of my other fics have a little roadblock like I have had with Walkies for the past few days, but I'll get over it soon hopefully. Read and tell me what you think. x

SPOILERS: Anyone who is part of Hermits United and hasn't watched either Dead Man Walking or CoE Day 4 won't get this, but I think that is relatively few people really. Oh and by the way, this is sort of a 'FixIt and Break Something Else' fic, just to make things interesting. Also, I couldn't decide on a title so it's got two. x

DISCLAIMER: Jack owns Torchwood and I wish I owned Jack. As it is, he's the property of Ianto Jones. :) x

Death Swap/Wrong

Ianto Jones' eyes were open and all that he could see was red. Death wasn't red. Nor was it textured. No. According to Owen, Death was jet black with just a hint of something in the darkness. Death was definitely not this.

He felt all tingly, like his every synapse was buzzing all at once; whispering little neurone messages that his body was purified. Ianto became acutely aware of someone sobbing beside him. Ah, Gwen. She thought he was dead. Ianto was pretty sure that he wasn't.

He flexed his fingers and stretched out. The red fell away to reveal his incredibly shocked colleague.

'Ianto?' she breathed, 'You're alive?'

He couldn't work out at first why this was so amazing; his brain felt fuzzy and confused, like TV static. But then, as he sat up, it all rushed back at once. Disjointed images flooded into his head.

456. Kids. Floor 13. I love you. Jack. Don't forget me. Nothing.

He turned to view the body next to him, and then crawled closer for confirmation. Ianto stared down at Jack's stunningly gorgeous face; very still, very peaceful, and extremely pale. Far too pale. In fact, the last time Jack had been this white, it had taken Gwen's necrophilia to bring him back. Ianto bent over and pressed his lips forcefully upon Jack's, allowing his tongue to creep into the mouth for good measure.

He waited for the response, the usual life signs and innuendo-filled quip; he received none. He tried repeatedly; again and again and again to no avail. Panic ensued.

Something was seriously wrong. Jack was dead. Ianto wasn't. This really wasn't good. Things weren't the way they should be.

Slowly, he stood up, his movements sluggish and awkward. What the hell had happened? Jack couldn't be dead; at least, not permanently. But he was.

Something inside Ianto broke, and the shards of internal glass forced him to cry out in pain. Jack had gone away again, this time for good. Ianto felt damaged beyond repair. He bolted for the door, every cell protesting against the action as he did so, though his mind felt comfortably numb. Ears vaguely registered Gwen's shrieking for the body to come back, although they were not Ianto's ears, so he didn't care. He kept on running, scarcely looking back and never ever wanting to stop.

It was never meant to end this way.

Read, Review, and Big AU? MC. x