Title: Secrets and Hope.
Characters/pairings: Ianto, Jack, Gwen, Rhys. Jack/Ianto and Gwen/Rhys
Rating: PG
Summary:Just because the 456 are gone doesn't mean that government are being honest with people.

A/N: Because I like my dark angsty fic with a happy ending, and when I saw this plot hole I knew what I could write.

"What do you mean there's no body?" Gwen says angrily to the woman at the desk, while Rhys stands as silent support behind her.

"I mean that we can't release the body of Mr Jones, because we don't have it." The woman looks back at her computer screen.

"Well bloody well tell me who does!"

"There's no need to be rude," the woman says, typing at her keyboard a little more aggressively than necessary.

"He was my friend. I want to be able to say good bye."

"He was a health risk. The body had to be disposed of immediately." She turns the computer monitor to face Gwen, "But I'm sure that I could get the ashes released to you in a couple of weeks, if you or his family wish a private service."

"Come on, love." Rhys puts an arm round her shoulders, walking her outside.

"I sorry, Jack," Gwen says tearfully as she gets into the car beside Rhys. "They said they'd send us the ashes. I talk to Rhiannon, arrange it."

Sitting hunched on the back seat, Jack nods, looking too shell shocked to speak, tears in his eyes, as they drive away from the government office block.

* * *

The light seems too bright as Ianto opens his eyes, the strong smell of hospital antiseptic filling the room.

Coughing and aching all over, Ianto struggles to sit up.

"You're awake then," a doctor says, noting down the readings on the monitors at Ianto's bedside, "We thought it might be some when today."

"How long?" Ianto's throat feels scratchy and sore, but given that he'd not ever expected to be waking up it's a minor discomfort that he's only too happy to put up with.

"Nearly two weeks." The doctor flicks over another page on his chart, "If you'd been out much longer we'd have had to reconsider your viablity for the project."

"Does Jack know I'm here?" Ianto looks about, trying to see if there's any indication that Jack might have visited him while he's been sick.

"Ah yes, Jack Harkness, the man who killed his own grandson."

"He wouldn't..." Ianto's voice cracks and wavers as he shakes his head. "Not if there was any other way."

"Are you so sure about that?" The doctor asks coldly, as he takes a syringe and sample vials from a case open on stand by the bed.

"I know him." Ianto flinches slightly as the needle goes into his arm, and the doctor takes his samples.

"You know nothing."

"When can I leave? I ask him myself."

"I'm sorry that's not going to be possible." The doctor doesn't even bother to look at him as he draws the blood, taking four separate samples.

"Why? Am I contagious?" Ianto asks, before staring at he doctor for a moment, and then saying, "If I was though you'd be in a hazmat suit."

"I was told you were the bright one," he says dispassionately, sealing the vials of blood away in a secure case. "No, you're not contagious, your blood has antibodies against the virus. It's vital that we study it, if we can develop an anti-virus against the four-five-six then they can't ever hold the planet to ransom like this again."

"You mean I'm a lab rat," Ianto snaps angrily, wishing that he felt strong enough to get up and hit the doctor in his smug, superior face. "You can't just keep me here, Jack will look for me, and Gwen. They won't give up."

"We've arranged for your ashes to be given to them, so that they can move on. We'll provide any paper work your family needs as well, although I understand that you weren't that close to them anyway." The doctor smiles, "Nobody is going to miss you Mr Jones, now I'll send one of the nurses in, help you get cleaned up, you're going to be with us for a long time."

Laying back down on the bed, Ianto starts to plan his escape, because no matter how long it takes he's getting out, and he getting back to Jack and Torchwood.