The Intruders

Jack was busy in his office while the rest of the team chatted over a cup of Ianto's coffee. He could hear them from his office and it was beginning to annoy him. Getting up, he walked to his door. "Haven't you got any work to do? Ianto, tourist office. Gwen, liaison with Andy. Tosh, translate that document. Owen, I need that inventory done. Move, all of you!"

"What's rubbed him up the wrong way this morning, Ianto." asked Owen.

Ianto went straight to the tourist office and opened up. He was sure Jack was in a good mood when they got up this morning. He frowned and then opened the door. He looked outside. Typical Cardiff weather...rain and mist. Going back inside, he logged on to the computer and opened up his e-mail box, then Create. He started to type...

Grumpy aren't we? Though there was only one side to get out of your bed :) See you for lunch...unless you call me up sooner [please] love you IJ x

Jack heard the e-mail arrive and clicked on it. He read it, his face flushing red. Standing up, he walked to the office door, down the stairs and out the cog door. He got into the lift and then walked up to the tourist offices secret door. Not caring if anyone was in with Ianto, he pushed the door open.

"Don't take our relationship as a sign to send stupid e-mails. I am your boss during the day. Remember that." Then he walked off.

"Jack? Jack!" Ianto went after him, catching him by the lift. "What's got into you? I'm sorry, okay. I shouldn't have sent the e-mail. But a few days ago, you didn't complain." He shook his head. "I have never taken you for granted because of our relationship, and you know I never would. I resent your accusation." Ianto went back to the tourist office, really pissed at Jack.

Jack leaned back against the wall of the lift. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way. He was happy when he woke beside Ianto this morning. They'd made love. Showered together. Had coffee before anyone else arrived. Now he was seething, but he didn't know why and it bothered him.

Going back up to his office, Jack opened his Create in his e-mail box and started to type...

I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. Come up at lunchtime and I promise, I'll make it up to you. Love you. CJH xx

Ianto heard the 'You Got Mail' jingle, but ignored it because he had a client in with him. As soon as he as alone, he opened it. A faint smile crossed his face, but he would still make his Captain grovel.

Owen went up to the office with a piece of paper. "Here's the inventory you requested." He put it on Jack's desk and went to leave.

"I've…been having these headaches."

Owen turned. "What headaches? How bad are they?"

"Pretty bad. At the back," Jack put his hand at the back of his neck. "I haven't told Ianto."

"You better come down to the autopsy room and let me check you over. Better scan for anything out of the ordinary." Owen eyes Jack. "You are never ill, Jack."

Jack nodded and followed Owen. "I know. Don't tell the others."

"They'll see you with me."

"Tell 'em it's a routine medical."

"Right. Captain Jack Harkness has a medical." Owen laughed.

"I don't want Ianto to know. Not til I know what it is. He's already pissed at me."

"You were a little touchy earlier." Owen eyed him. "The headache cause that?"

Jack nodded.

"When did it start?"

"A week ago. It's just got worse over the last few hours."

"Since you got up this morning?"

"Yeah."

When they reached the autopsy room, Owen indicated to the table. "Lay down. I'll scan your head."

Jack got up on the table and laid down.

Owen ran the scanner over his head. "Wow!"

"What?"

"You have something just above your spinal cord."

"What is it?"

"Don't know. Looks worm-like."

"Can you take it out?"

"What, now?"

"You have to. I can feel it growing. It has to come out, Owen."

Owen nodded. "Turn on your side. I'll give you a local."

Owen prepared the injection just as Ianto came through the cog door.

"Ianto!" said Owen, on seeing him.

Ianto looked from Owen to Jack. "What's going on? Jack?"

Ianto hurried down to be beside Jack.

"I have something growing in my head. Owen is going to remove it."

Ianto looked at Owen.

"It's by his spinal cord."

"You can take it out, right?"

Owen shrugged. "That might be the easy bit." He indicated to a beaker with a lid. "Get that ready when I take it out of Jack. I need to know what it is."

Ianto opened the beaker and stood the other side of the table.

Owen cut into Jack's neck and took out the worm-like thing, dropping it into the beaker.

Ianto quickly put the lid on, as if writhed to get out.

"Jesus! What is that?" said Owen.

"Bring it over here, Ianto," said Tosh. "I'll see if I can find it in the catalogue."

Tosh brought up a catalogue of all the alien life they had seen thus far. It wasn't there.

Owen stitched Jack up and he sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the table.

"Let me take a look," he said to Tosh.

Tosh handed the beaker back to Ianto, who took it to Jack.

"Bromlian boring worm. Burrows into a host, takes it over. Moves on."

"How did it get inside you, Jack?" asked Ianto.

Jack shook his head. "I'm not sure. They can live inside their hosts for months, undetected." He thought for a moment. "Maybe when I was on the Valiant. God knows what they did to me on there." He closed his eyes. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Jack leaned over the edge of the table and threw up into a bowl that Owen gave him. He dry heaved for what seemed an age before laying back against to pillow.

"Feeling better?" asked Owen, taking the bowl away.

Jack just nodded.

"Does it leave anything behind?" Ianto asked, coming back to stand next to Jack.

"I'm not sure. If it's not in our data base, we won't know. I've only heard about it. Never actually came across one…until now." Jack clicked his tongue against his teeth. "We'll just have to wait and see."

Ianto looked concerned.

Jack took his hand in both of his. "It'll be fine. It can't kill me," he smiled. "The worse I'll get is another headache."

"What if it's moved?" He looked at Owen. "Did you get it all?"

Owen nodded.

"You are a pessimist, Ianto Jones. Look on the bright side."

"Is there one, Jack?"

Jack frowned, taking in the pale features of his lover. "There has to be. I'm invincible."

"But we're not." Ianto said, his eyes lowered.

"He's right, Jack. If it get's to one of us..."

Jack got off the table and leaned against the wall by the steps. "I don't want that." He turned to Owen. "Isolate me as well. Until we know what we're dealing with."

"Jack..." protested Ianto.

Jack cut him off. "It's the only way to keep you all safe." He eyed the young Welshman. "Either that, or I instruct the computer to do a complete lockdown without all of you here."

"No!"

"Then please, do as I ask. It might only be for a day or two."

Ianto sighed.

Owen moved in front of Jack and they both walked towards the stairs and the isolation chamber.

Jack stopped. "Not you," he said to Ianto. "You stay here, where I know you're safe." He smiled at Ianto. "Owen has done this before, you haven't."

"But, Jack…."

"No!"

Owen stood back while Jack walked off towards the isolation room.

Ianto could only stand and watch them go.