AN: I loved writing "What If...", thinking about what would happen to Ianto if he was sent back to meet Jack. A lot of people reviewed it, and sent me messages, saying that they loved the end even though it was brutal. But what next? What next for Ianto Jones? Well... how's about this for starters?

Please review. There will be more...

"Wait!" Jack called as he ran out after Ianto. "You can't just leave."

Ianto turned to face him. "Why?" He asked incredulously. "There's a Starbucks on the Plass. You won't even notice I've gone."

"We need you." Jack replied. "I need you."

Ianto shook his head. "We both know that isn't true." He began. "The time with Jack... the real Jack... as short as it was... taught me something. He was willing to sacrifice a night of his life... his identity... the respect of his men even... for me. He wanted me... and he wasn't afraid to admit it. To anyone. Even back then. He didn't want me hidden. He didn't want what we had hidden... what we could have had. He wanted me... Me. And I haven't felt that for along time. And I deserve that. I deserve to be wanted like that. And you just can't do it. You hide this... this thing between us like it's nothing. Like it doesn't matter. Like I don't matter."

"Of course you matter." Jack argued. "I just..."

"What Jack? You just what? You never let me in. Never let me close... unless you need someone to warm your bed. And I've been stupid enough to let you use me. But not anymore." He snapped before his face softened. "I would have stayed Jack. I would have stayed with you forever. But... I have to try and find him."

"Him? Ianto the man you met died three years ago." Jack said confused.

Ianto nodded. "Yeah he did. But when you brought us back you didn't seal the tear. You didn't close the link between now and 1941. He could still be there. I could find him again."

"There are no guarantees you'd make it back to the same time." Jack pointed out. "It could be hours later... days even. It might not even be the same year."

"True." Ianto conceded. "But I know he's out there. Back then, he's out there. He's alive."

"So that's it? You're going to give up here and now, your whole life, for a man you knew for a few hours?" Jack asked.

"Give me a reason not to. Give me a reason to stay." Ianto replied.

"Your sister? Your friends back in the Hub who are worried about you?" Jack offered.

"My sister whom I never see will make a nice profit once you tell her I've died. And my friends? Owen tolerates me, Gwen pities me, and Tosh... Tosh will understand." Ianto explained.

"Well there were go then." Jack conceded angrily.

Ianto sighed. "The stupid part of me that will always love you really thought you'd give me a reason to stay." He admitted sadly. "I really thought you would give me a real reason to stay."

"Ianto..." Jack began, his voice immediately softening, surprised by Ianto's admission.

"Don't." Ianto snapped, his voice choked. "Don't waste your breath. Give me a good death yeah?" His eyes began to fill with tears. "And thank you Jack. For... saving me. And for letting me go." With that Ianto turned and walked away, leaving Jack alone once more.

Ianto snuck back into the Hub, scurrying down into the archives hoping to go unseen. He headed deep into the records, making his way to a section Jack had told him about one evening when the topic of time travel had come up.

"We have samples of currency from throughout the years... going way back. We're not talking millions... but there's enough down there to start up with if we ever had to travel back." Jack explained.

Ianto pulled open the cabinet, pulling out every note and coin he could find that would work in the 1940's. He took out his wallet, tipping the contents onto the desk. Modern money, credit cards and his driving licence were all left behind to be replaced with the appropriate cash. Ianto tugged a photo out too, one of him with the rest of the team taken last Christmas. Several drinks had been consumed, the rift uncommonly quiet as they'd held a mini party in the base. They all looked so happy, so alive. Ianto sighed as he studied the photo, before tucking it back into his wallet, out of immediate sight. Tapping into a computer he pulled up templates for identity documents, filling in the gaps and printing them out. He removed his mobile from his pocket and left it on the desk with the other items, ensuring everything he was carrying wouldn't look instantly out of place. He'd have to sort out more clothes when he got there, and he'd have to figure out a place to stay. The money he was carrying should be enough for a while though, whilst he figured out what he was going to do. What hopefully he and Jack were going to do. Stuffing everything into his pockets he walked slowly out, taking in his surroundings for one final time before leaving the Hub once more and making his way on foot to the dance hall.

It was getting late when he arrived on the Plass, the cold air whistling around him as he went. He was still carrying his fob watch and saw it was approaching 10 o'clock. He had no idea if time in 1941 would have moved on at the same rate or if it would be like he had never left. If several hours had passed there was every danger that Jack wouldn't be there, but he knew enough about his movements in the next day or so to know where to find him.

When Jack had selected his name to take he'd done his research, he hadn't just plucked a name from a stack. He had to choose someone with an age he could pull off, and with a rank. Vague facial similarities were a bonus too. When he'd found a candidate he'd immersed himself in the details - pulling up service records, personal records, as much as he could find. Though it became clear that perhaps Jack hadn't done as much research as he could, certainly not enough to prove that past Jack had in fact died.

As Ianto walked back into the dance hall the was relieved to still hear the faint strains of music drifting down the stairs. Nerves swept through him as he climbed the staircase, wondering if Jack would still be there, if he'd remember Ianto, if he'd still want him. As he reached the top of the stairs 1941 appeared before him, looking just as he'd left it. The same singer was stood on stage and as Ianto glanced around he began to recognise faces, the men Jack had been with hours before.

He made his way to the bar glad to be armed with money this time as he got himself a drink. As he lifted the glass to his lips he saw him; Captain Jack Harkness, alive and well, albeit looking lost and alone. He paused, waiting to see if Jack spotted him, smiling when the other man saw him and hurried over.

"You're back." Jack's face broke into a beaming grin, relief flooding it.

"I'm sorry I ever left." Ianto admitted.

"Are you staying?" Jack asked nervously.

Ianto nodded and Jack smiled again.

"Are you okay?" Ianto asked. "When I left..."

"Nothing I can't handle." Jack replied. "I'm just glad you came back."

"So..." Ianto started with a smirk. "What now?"

Jack stepped closer dipping his head down and kissing Ianto gently. Ianto smiled before taking Jack's hand and heading back onto the dance floor, taking him in his arms as they had earlier. As they danced Ianto noticed people watching again, many in shock but others in what could only be described as disgust. The sight of two men dancing together so closely and so publically. Ianto held tighter to Jack, seeking comfort and protection, but also reassurance.

"Let's get out of here." Jack whispered, taking his hand proudly and leading him out the dance hall.

They stepped out onto the streets, the air raid long since over, the streets safe for now.

"My place... well where I'm based... it's just round the corner..." Jack spoke nervously, the fear of what he was suggesting, what he was offering evident in his eyes.

Ianto nodded. "Let's go." He said.

"It's not much... but its better than the barracks. Perks of being a captain I guess." Jack explained as he let Ianto into his room. He'd been provided with a small room at a guest house not far from the dance hall. It housed a small bed, a wardrobe, a chair and table, a cupboard and a compact stove. "There's a bathroom down the hall." He added as Ianto looked around.

Ianto nodded as he slipped off his suit jacket and hung it over the back of the chair.

"Drink?" Jack asked.

Ianto nodded again. "Might help." He smiled nervously.

Jack crossed to the cupboard, pulling out two short glasses and a bottle of whiskey. Setting them down on the table he poured two measures and handed a glass to Ianto. The two men drank, their eyes never leaving each others.

"Will you get in trouble... having me here?" Ianto asked.

"The landlady is pretty relaxed about visitors at night." Jack said.

Ianto nodded once more, momentarily wondering if Jack had ever brought any other men back to his room.

"I know nothing about you." Jack whispered suddenly.

"What do you want to know?" Ianto asked.

"Nothing... everything... anything." Jack admitted.

Ianto put his glass back on the table, stepping forward to kiss Jack again. "You should know... that there is nowhere else I want to be... than here with you." He confessed nervously.

Jack set his glass down beside Ianto's, placing his hands on either side of Ianto's face and looking into the Welshman's eyes. They kissed again, Ianto pulling Jack as close to him as he could. They parted breathlessly, their foreheads resting against one another's.

"I've never..." Jack said suddenly.

Ianto nodded. "It's okay... I'll look after you." He said kissing him again.

"I have a training exercise later. Another pointless practice session." Jack sighed. He and Ianto were led in bed, Jack sat up slightly smoking, Ianto led alongside with an arm around the other man. The sheet was arranged so it covered them both from the waist down, their top halves naked. "I'm so tired of all this practicing. We need to get out there. Get this war finished with. It's been two years already. When is it going to end?"

Ianto couldn't tell him it was going to be another four years of bloodshed and wasted lives. Not yet. He didn't know how Jack would react, and he had to make sure he went out on his exercise. He had to crash, he had to go missing, he couldn't change that. Future Jack had to take his name, had to falsify the records. He couldn't risk a change in history, anything that might jeopardise the future he'd left behind. But Ianto knew where Jack would crash, he knew where he'd be found. He would make sure it was him who found Jack. Him who explained. He just wasn't sure where to start right now.

"Are you working today?" Jack asked as he extinguished his cigarette.

"No..." Ianto said. "Few days leave."

"Any plans?" Jack asked carefully.

"Waiting for you." Ianto said simply.

Jack shuffled down the bed so he was face to face with Ianto.

"I shouldn't be long. We're just taking the planes out over the coast. A few hours at most. You can stay here... if you want." Jack suggested gently.

Ianto smiled. "Okay." He agreed.

Jack placed his hand on the back of Ianto's head and pulled him into a kiss. "I nearly chased you out when you left before. Where did you go?" He asked.

"We got called in to work suddenly. Debrief after the air raid." Ianto lied. "I'm sorry for running out on you... leaving you."

"You came back." Jack pointed out happily.

"As fast as I could." Ianto said.

Jack kissed him again. "I'd better get ready." He slipped out of bed, padding naked across to the wardrobe and pulling out his uniform, slowly beginning to dress. Ianto sat up a little and watched, ignoring the nagging sensation that Jack was going out to war. He would be fine, he would survive, he would find him. But what if something went wrong? What it he didn't make it? What it Ianto couldn't find him? What it he was stuck alone in 1941? What if history changed?

"Are you okay?" Jack's voice broke into his thoughts.

Ianto smiled and nodded. "Fine."