Doors in Jack's path opened in quick succession as he raced down the corridor of the ship. He had only one goal in his mind at that point: save Ianto. He searched fruitlessly for a room without surveillance – didn't they have broom closets on Sto? He was halfway back to Alonso's room by the time he realised that Alonso would probably know. But where had he gone?

"Alonso?" Jack called cautiously. Perhaps they'd been discovered. Although there was no logical reason for Alonso to be forbidden from having people over on leave, it was better to err on the side of safety. He carefully padded down the hallway, staying as quiet as possible, but he couldn't help but let out a muffled grunt when someone yanked him unceremoniously into a side passage.

Jack twisted around and away from the arm that had grabbed him, ready to defend himself. He relaxed when he met Alonso's amused gaze.

"What were you expecting, the 456 themselves?"

"Not funny." Jack's eyes darted around the room, searching for any sort of security.

"What are you looking for?"

"Security. I don't see any cameras but I need to do a scan to make sure we're not being monitored."

"Why? We do have teleport, you know. I don't see the point in hiding."

"A Time Agency wrist-strap is not exactly your run-of-the-mill teleport device. The vortex manipulator aids any jumps I make. That's time travel, and you guys should not have that for two hundred more years."

"Good point," conceded Alonso. "Do you need any help?"

"Nah, I just need to hide the strap before I do the scan in case I trip a sensor." Jack pulled off his coat and draped it over his wrist. There was only one weak light in the storage closet, but Jack didn't want anything coming in the way of his rescue. Not when he was so close.

A few minutes of silent scanning later, Jack pronounced the room safe to make the jump.

"If there's anything you think you might need, now's the time to grab it. We should be back from the 456's planet soon enough, though, and I can always adjust our landing time to make sure you don't get in trouble."

"I don't think I need anything. I'm ready when you are."

Jack tapped commands into the wrist-strap until both his and Alonso's vital signs came up.

"The wrist-strap's got a lock on both of us now. I've also added a few features just to make sure you stay safe." Jack looked down and saw Alonso's pulse reading, the numbers flickering on the tiny screen, reminding him that he had someone else's life literally in his hands. He wasn't about to lose anymore to the 456 than he already had.

"Jack?" Alonso saw Jack sinking again, and called out softly to bring him out of it. "What features did you add?"

Jack looked up; his face startled, like he'd forgotten Alonso was in the room with him. "Sorry. See these two readings? This one is yours." He pointed to the ever-changing reading on the left. "And this one is mine." The one on the right looked frozen, the numbers always reading the same. "If the wrist-strap senses your vitals dropping dangerously, it'll 'port you away, back here."

Alonso thought about this for a second and started to respond, but Jack raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Yes, I know. My vitals do not change. Something in my biology interferes with the wrist-strap sensor. According to it, I'm always in perfect health because my cells are in a perpetual state of repair. So no, it won't 'port me away because I'll never be in danger of permanently dying. Whatever happens, I will live. But you might not and I won't risk it."

"I wasn't about to argue or anything, Jack. I get it. I just wanted to say thank you."

Jack smiled wearily, almost wistfully, and pulled Alonso into a crushing hug. Holding Alonso, he whispered into his neck. "Sometimes, you remind me painfully of him, with your mannerisms and that damned eyebrow thing. But Ianto never got it the way you do, and I am immensely grateful for that. So, thank you, Alonso Frame, for getting it."

Jack wrapped his arms even tighter around Alonso, who tilted his head back and gave Jack a deep kiss, knowing that this would probably be their last. Once Jack had the cure, he'd rush back to Earth and save Ianto, leaving Alonso behind, but Alonso wasn't bitter about it. He was just glad he'd managed to help this incredible man, and he knew that no matter how short the time they'd spent together was, he'd never forget it. And neither would Jack.

They broke apart after a few minutes, remembering their mission. Jack typed in the command that would send them to the planet of the 456.

But just before he pressed the button, he felt an odd sensation building in the pit of his stomach. It was dread. Jack had no idea why he would be worried about this trip. He had all the pieces to Ianto's salvation within reach. A quick trip to the 456's homeworld to get the antidote and then back to Earth was all he needed to bring Ianto back to life. He could do it. He could atone in some way for the terrible things his actions had caused. But what if something were to go wrong? What if he couldn't get the anti-venom? What if Ianto didn't wake up, even if he had the cure? Jack froze; a terrible thought had occurred to him: if he couldn't save Ianto now, he'd be responsible for his death two times over.

Alonso, sensing that Jack was doubting himself yet again, reached over and laid his hand on top of Jack's and guided his hand to press the button. As the teleport light swirled around them, Jack realised that the dread and doubt in the pit of his stomach had disappeared and a new feeling had arrived in their stead. It was hope.

Author's Note:

So so sorry for the long hiatus. School and that pesky thing called writer's block interfered with this chapter going up. I'll try for more regular updates now. Thanks so much to gernumblies for editing even after I vanished for a few months. And thanks to specialfrancine and IchigoPudding for reviewing the last chapter!

Disclaimer:

Jack and Alonso and other various characters aren't mine (unfortunately); they all belong to the BBC.