Ok, here is the final chapter to the story. Hope you have enjoyed reading it. To those who have sent me reviews, thank you. It's nice to know that people enjoy my writing. If you haven't reviewed my story please do so I know what you are thinking. Once again, thank you for reading Missing. XXXOOO
Chapter Fourteen
Jack gave the Doctor the co-ordinates and the date of the meeting place and then sat down to contemplate what was going to happen when he and Gray met again. He'd forgiven him the last time but he didn't know if he'd be able to do it this time. When he'd last forgiven him it was before he knew that Gray was responsible for the deaths of Owen and Toshiko. Now he knew better. John came and sat down next to Jack.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I cared about him as much as I do you. I didn't know all this was going to happen and, well, I was angry with you."
"You were angry with me! Jesus John, what sort of excuse is that?"
"No excuse, just stating a fact."
Jack glared at John and they didn't speak again. They were both lost in their own thoughts.
"We're here." The Doctor declared.
"I don't know if I can do this." Jack whispered.
"Jack of course you can. You can face your brother." The Doctor encouraged.
"That, I can do. It's being here again. I never thought I'd see it again. And we're here on the worst day of my life. The day I lost Gray. How can I live through that again?"
"You can, we'll help you." John said from behind him.
"It's time." Said the Doctor walking over to the other two men. He stood in front of Jack, waiting for him to make a decision. He just hoped he would make it soon. They would need to make sure that they weren't captured by the creatures. It was another thirty minutes before Jack stood up and headed to the door. When he reached it, he lent his head on it. The three men could hear the terrified screams from outside. His family and friends were fleeing from the creatures. He could stop it all; he could bring back Tosh and Owen. All he had to do was find the young Gray. He so desperately wanted to do it. Almost as if he could read his mind, the Doctor placed his hand on Jack's shoulder to stop him.
"Jack, you know you can't, that will change more than just your timeline. The ripples of this one action will be felt by millions throughout time. You can't do it."
"I don't care. I can spare Gray all that pain."
"Jack, listen to the Doctor, he's right and you know it."
"I told you, I DON'T CARE!"
"Jack." The Doctor whispered, "Yes you do. You care too much."
Jack looked over at John and realized that they were right. As much as he wanted to do it, he knew that he couldn't.
It was a further thirty minutes before the screams stopped. Slowly Jack opened the door and took a step onto his home world. It had been so long. He took a deep breathe of the salt air. John and the Doctor waited for Jack to be ready, silently standing beside him as he stood with his eyes closed. When he opened them, gone was the melancholy and in its place was a determination to end what had been happening.
"It's this way." he said gruffly as he headed off through the trees towards the sand dunes where, as a kid, he'd last seen Gray. When he stood on the spot, he was almost crippled with guilt but the memories of Owen and Tosh pushed the guilt to the side and then he remembered what Gray had done to Ianto and his guilt was completely buried. Too much had happened to go back now. He had to stop thinking of Gray as that little boy who needed to be saved and remember that he was a cold blooded killer.
"So you couldn't even face me alone."
Jack's head snapped up and there stood Gray.
"They just drove me here. They'll stay back."
"Like trained animals you mean."
"No Gray, like true friends."
"Something else I don't have thanks to you."
"Gray, that's enough. We were both kids. I didn't know what happened to you and I certainly didn't wish it on you. I've asked for forgiveness already but I'm done now. You killed two of my friends."
At Gray's look of surprise, he nodded and continued.
"Yes, Ianto is still alive. Trust me; if you'd killed him nothing would have stopped me from killing you."
"What's stopping you now big brother?"
"He is, I made a promise to him and I plan to keep it. You're coming back with me. It ends here Gray."
"You're right, it does end here but I'm not coming back with you. You'll just have to kill me."
"I'm not going to kill you."
"Then I'll kill you."
Gray pulled out a gun and pointed it at Jack's head. The look in his eyes told Jack that he would do it. He had to stop him because he knew that he'd kill both John and the Doctor. They were both unarmed as the Doctor had refused weapons to be brought on board the TARDIS. Just as he was thinking about their lack of weapons he heard a shot and in those few seconds before death he knew that he'd cost his friends their lives.
Everything was black and then he was traveling through what he called the corridor of broken glass. Every time he came back to life it was like he was walking across broken glass except in his case the glass was everywhere. The pain was almost unbearable.
"Yep, you're right. He's just gonna to lie there."
Jack quickly sat up and looked around. Both John and the Doctor were leaning against a nearby boulder with their arms and ankles crossed. Jack shook his head and searched for Gray. He found him, lying on the ground not ten metres from where he himself was. He had a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.
"What the hell happened?"
"After he shot you he took aim at the Doctor so I had to stop him."
"Where did you hide your gun?"
"Trust me; you do not want to know."
"Anyway," the Doctor said, "Jack, what do you want to do with Gray's body?"
"I want to bury him next to my father although we can't do it now. My mum is still here, we'll have to wait until she goes."
"When is that?"
"In about twenty years. We can go and come back then."
When John stepped forward to help Jack carry Gray, he waved him off. He lent down and picked up his brother and carried him back to the TARDIS. There, he cradled his brother until the Doctor told him that they were now twenty-five years ahead of where they'd been. Jack carried Gray to the family plot and placed him on the ground as he dug the grave, refusing any help as he did. When the grave was finished he lowered his brother's body into it gently and with tears streaming down his face he finally buried his brother, wishing him peace. Saying good-bye for the last time he turned and made his way back to the TARDIS followed by John and the Doctor.
Once again, the trip home was quiet. Both John and the Doctor let Jack deal with his brother's death. When they arrived at the Hub Jack went straight to Ianto's room, leaving the explanations to John and the Doctor.
When he reached the room he stopped and took his fill of Ianto. He loved him so much that at times it scared him. He knew that eventually he would lose him as he had the others but he craved this time with him. Ianto filled a big hole in his heart. He made him laugh and smile. Just then Ianto looked over at the doorway.
"You're back. Are you OK?"
"Yeah but I'm better now that I've seen you."
"Where's Gray? Is he in the cells?"
"He's dead Ianto. John had to kill him."
"Why?"
"Because he shot me, John had to kill him or he would have killed them both. I buried him next to our dad."
"Oh Jack, come here my love."
Jack walked over and sat on the chair that was next to the bed. He rested his head on Ianto's lap. Ianto stroked his hair and told him that everything would be ok. Jack stood up and kissed him before getting into bed next to him. Within minutes he was fast asleep with Ianto's arms wrapped around him. Ianto kissed the top of his head and smiled fondly before closing his own eyes. They could now both sleep peacefully, in each others arms.