Jack was preoccupied with something. It didn't always show, but over the following two and a half weeks he seemed a little more distracted than usual. Ianto noticed it more than the others. All of them found it hard to spot if there was anything wrong, there was too much of Jack's personality that could be used to smother it. Ianto, however, sat and watched silently and he took in more of the signs than anyone else.

The others assumed it was just the Doctor's visit putting Jack off kilter, finding out what had happened to him; and knowing that it would happen to him forever. His life would never end, despite the fact he had been getting that hint for over a century, to have it confirmed, as a fact, had to be monumentally occupying.

Still, he did his job, leading them, dealing with whatever came their way and handling Ianto. He did what the others told him, but Jack dictated everything about his life. Ianto didn't mind, it was nice and simple for him. He was told when to get up, when to eat, when to wash, what jobs to do. The only instruction that bothered him was Jack's orders for him to go out.

Jack always accompanied him, keeping close by his side, and the trips were never very long but Jack insisted on them. The others, Ianto mused as he cleaned the coffee machine – another job Jack had recently added to his list – were none to keen on the development. Simply because they knew it disturbed Ianto. Even Owen had started to make some level of objection about it, since it was stressing his patient. That was the only reason for the medic's intervention the other day. He didn't seem to care that much about Ianto any other way, unless he was being treated for something Owen tended to ignore him.

Ianto didn't mind, but it made him painfully aware of what he had done. That was never going to go away. Ianto sometimes wished that Jack would just kill him, or retcon him, then it would all be gone, and he wouldn't have been plagued by so many thoughts and fears. Even the slow, steady work he did could not kill that sub-conscious stream in his mind.

"I appreciate it Colonel," Jack's voice floated through the door of the conference room. "I can deal with it."

Jack had been making phone calls all morning, the first call he had taken in his office, the next one he had dealt with in the conference room, after first asking for a coffee. Once it had been produced Ianto had timidly mentioned that the machine needed cleaning. Then he had flinched as Jack had looked at him. It wasn't often he suggested things, but he knew the remit of what he was and wasn't allowed to do. The archives were still forbidden territory, and he couldn't use a computer, or the phone.

That he could accept. Jack often reiterated the fact that he wasn't punishing Ianto. But nor was he taking any chances, or so it appeared anyway. The only thought in Ianto's mind was the fact that he could feel something strange happening. Now and again, there were just moments when he knew something was happening. The first warning was a deep dragging feeling in his body, a sense of dread slowly creeping up on him.

It was a sign he often tried to dismiss. Especially around Lisa, but now it was just too prominent. So, he had waited while Jack had looked at him for a long moment, taking in the suggestion. Ianto had only thought of it, because it would keep him close to Jack. He would be close by, in line of sight, and Ianto wanted that. As the heaviness descended on his body, he wanted Jack close. He didn't know what demon was coming, but he trusted Jack to fight it.

He wasn't sure if Jack understood that, but at the request he had nodded and shrugged.

"Okay."

So that was where Ianto was, close by, cleaning the coffee machine.

"Gwen?!" Jack suddenly bellowed from the balcony. Ianto looked up and then looked away as Jack glanced at him. He seemed like a man with something now seriously on his mind. Ianto concentrated on the coffee machine, a sudden feeling of energy surging over him. It didn't feel too good, but nothing ever felt good to him. Not for a long while.

"What?" Gwen asked back, her voice a little more modulated as she looked up at him.

"I need the paperwork for the release of someone in police custody."

"Who?" she asked, "and where?" she added.

Owen and Toshiko had paused as well, looking up at Jack, who seemed calm, but there was a clear sign of burning energy in him. Ianto looked at the set of Jack's shoulders. He was most definitely agitated about something. He looked down and started to wring the cloth in his hands, and he waited.

"The Doctor, oh and Martha, in a police station in Loughborough. The Doctor is using the name John Smith. Can you get it sorted? I'm going to go and pick them up."

"He used his one call to call you?" Owen asked. "And what did he do?"

"No, he didn't, but it came to the attention of UNIT, they let me know, because I need to deal with this. Plus he had apparently mentioned me a few times. The police are actually planning to bring in a psychiatrist to check him over." Jack paused and sighed. "I probably need to get there before that happens."

"What's going on Jack?" Gwen asked.

"I just need to go and get him," Jack said. He straightened up and turned away before pausing and swivelling back to address the assembled group.

"Oh, and I'll take Ianto with me."

The world went silent, apart from the clatter that occurred on the gantry. Ianto dropped the coffee filter and it clattered along the gantry. He scrabbled to get hold of it as it rolled. His hands only just control of it before it rolled off the edge. Ianto took hold of it and pulled it to his chest, looking at Jack in shock.

"Why?" Owen asked.

"Because I said so. I'll go and pick up the Doctor, and Ianto is coming with me. Stop that."

Ianto was clattering about putting the filter back into the machine. He paused and looked at Jack with wide eyes.

"Go and get your bag now, don't worry about that. Gwen can do it."

"Gwen doesn't do it right."

"Well then, just do it and then get your bag!" Jack's voice started out calm and then raised to a yell. Ianto struggled to concentrate on what he was doing. Jack looked at him and then walked away, downstairs and into the chorus of disapproval.

But that didn't matter, within thirty minutes he and Ianto were in the SUV and heading out of Cardiff.