Jack drove through the outskirts of Cardiff, Ianto sitting next to him, gazing quietly out the window. Jack was considering a conversation he'd had with the Doctor shortly before he left the previous evening.

"I don't understand why the Master brought him home after all that," Jack said. "I can't imagine it was mercy."

"No," said the Doctor. "He just ended up being a bit too clever, that's all." Jack look puzzled, and the Doctor continued. "Ianto told us the Master called his plan his piece de resistance. He obviously had decided bringing him back here to be the finishing touch to his masterpiece. He had Ianto thoroughly convinced you were going to kill him, and trust me, I've been inside his head, Ianto had no doubt of that. So the Master was thinking you'd never know what happened, and all the time Ianto would be within reach. That was the finishing touch to his revenge. It might have worked, too, except for one thing. It never occurred to the Master that Ianto loves you so much he'd be willing to let you kill him if he thought it would make you happy."

Jack nodded. "Its … humbling." He was silent for a moment. "You've never said, but … could you tell … how long it was for him?"

"Not exactly," said the Doctor. "Maybe … eighteen months? I wouldn't say anything unless he asks, and I don't think he really wants to know." Jack nodded silently. "He'll be alright, Jack. He's very strong really."

Jack glanced at Ianto now, and said, "How are you?"

Ianto turned to look at him. "A bit tired."

"I can take you straight home if you like, and go into work later."

Ianto shook his head. "Time to stop hiding."

"We won't stay long."

"Hi Jack," said Gwen, as they entered, and then gaped. "Ianto!" She embraced him. "We've missed you! Wow, you need feeding."

Ianto smiled at her, as Jack sat him on the sofa. Tosh approached at that moment, and hugged him as well. "So good to see you," she said. "Welcome back!" Jack headed for Owen's lab, suggesting to the girls that if they had anything to report they ought to be ready when he came back. This made them scatter to their desks, for which Ianto was grateful.

Jack returned with Owen a few minutes later, and beckoned to Tosh and Gwen, talking to them as Owen went over to Ianto. "You're looking better than the last time I saw you."

Ianto smiled sheepishly. "That night seems a bit unreal now," he admitted.

"Roll up your sleeve, I need to take some more blood." He inserted a needle, and filled a few vials. "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy," said Ianto. "I get tired really easily."

"Not surprised," said Owen. "Your last test results were a mess." He stood up. "Oi, Jack!" He pointed at Ianto. "Take him home, he's exhausted."

Back in the car, Ianto suddenly asked, "Who's been paying my rent?"

"Torchwood funds," said Jack.

"You mean you have," said Ianto. "Why not just put my stuff in storage?"

"You were coming back."

Ianto looked puzzled. "After you and the Doctor caught up with him, it … well, I wasn't coming back, not as far as you knew. That was six weeks before I did turn up, plenty of time to pack up my things."

They pulled into the carpark of Ianto's building. Jack turned off the engine, and turned to look at Ianto. "You were coming back," he repeated.

Ianto was touched. "You never gave up."

Jack shook his head. "I don't know if you'd call it intuition, a sixth sense, or just plain old denial. So many times, while I was sick, while we were looking for you, I didn't think I'd ever see you again. And yet when there was no hope, suddenly I just knew. You were coming back."

Ianto smiled at him. "Definitely denial."

Jack smirked. "I was right though, wasn't I?"

They leaned towards each other, and shared a lingering kiss. "Welcome home," said Jack.