A/N: If any of the references are unfamiliar go back to season 1 of Doctor Who, "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances", Jack's first eappearance. Also, there is one part in here the mom in me just had to add. You'll know it when you see it.

Just This Once…

Moments after Captain Jack Harkness left Earth behind, he appeared on the transport and collapsed into John Hart's arms. Unable to contain himself or stop the tears, all he can say is "He's gone. I've lost everything and it's all my fault."

"Shh," says John, holding tightly onto Jack. "We'll find a way to fix this." He can't bear to see Jack this way. Jack is the strongest person he knows. Not even hundreds of years buried alive was able to break him, but this…

"We can't. It will mess with the timeline." Jack can't bear to even open his eyes. He's held this in for too long. He can't stand the pain any longer.

"We'll find a way that won't mess with the timeline. I'll find a way. I'll fix this. The Universe owes you this much." Despite the fights, the misunderstandings, the violence, the deaths, John does love Jack, in his own way. He wants to do this for him, it's not just the Universe that owes Jack. "Maybe just this once…"

"Everybody lives," Jack whispers softly to himself. All of a sudden he stands up with more energy and hope than he's felt in months. "That's it! You're a genius!"

"I am? Of course I am. Wait, what?" John's confusion is clear, but Jack is ignoring him. He's too busy entering new coordinates into the ships navigation system. "Where are we going?" John finally asks him. "To find a Chula ship we can steal," was Jacks answer.

"Sounds good to me. Why?" Not that John particularly cared. Adventure, stealing, just seeing Jack act more like his old self than the broken shadow of a man who landed on his ship was enough for John.

"Nanogenes," Jack said with a grin. "We just need to make sure they're familiar with humans before we take the ship to Earth. Really don't want anything like the gas mask people happening again."

"Do I want to know what that means?"

"No."

"Just checking. Let's find ourselves a Chula ship."

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It had only been a few days since Gwen had said goodbye to Jack. She certainly hadn't expected him to turn up on her doorstep looking so happy, especially with Captain John Hart in tow. "What's going on? I thought you needed to get away, to travel."

"I did. I have. Now I'm back." Jack can hardly contain himself. "I need the bodies of everyone killed by the virus."

"That's not possible. The government has them and won't release them because they can't be sure the virus is truly gone. Or so they say. Besides, you run off then come back here as if nothing happened and start making demands? You can't do that Jack."

"But I can fix this. I can bring them back. At least, there's a chance I can. Just tell them to bring the bodies to the airfield, and that I have a medical ship that can make sure any virus left in the bodies is neutralized. They don't need to know the rest."

"You really think you can bring them back?" Gwen shoots a look at John Hart, wondering just how far off the deep end Jack has gone and how much John has had a part in it.

"Yes, I do. We may have waited too long, though. The only other case I know of, the person was brought back soon after death. Well, partially brought back, but I've got that problem fixed. That shouldn't happen this time."

"If you know how to bring someone back from death, then how come you didn't do this for Owen or Tosh?"

"Because it involves an alien ship from another century, and I didn't have access to a Vortex Manipulator with a working time travel function. I do now." Jack smiles at John who just looks pleased with himself. It was almost like old times hunting down and stealing that ship, and it looked like all was finally forgiven. "Just get the bodies to the air field." With that, they both activate the teleport with their wrist straps and vanish in front of Gwen's eyes.

"Guess I better call my contact then," Gwen says to herself.

Later that day, soldiers are unloading gurneys with bodies in body bags in front of an alien ship, as Jack supervises. "We need to get them out of the bags then onto the ship. Then just step back and wait."

"Jack. Just what is this ship, and how is this supposed to work?" Gwen finally asks. "What are we doing here other than disrespecting the dead?"

"It's a Chula medical ship. It's filled with nanogenes."

Gwen looks inside. "The ship is empty, Jack."

"They're subatomic robots. You can't see them. Though, there is kind of a glow when they're working. Their only function is to fix up the soldiers and get them back out. They can fix anything, as long as they have enough genetic information to get it right."

"And do they?"

"Well, they've seen John and me."

"Great, they're going to use an immortal and a psychopath from the 51st century as a template. Sounds perfect."

"Hey, I'm the picture of perfection." Jack grins. "Besides, the bodies should be intact. They just need to know what a human is like when alive. I'm a prime example of someone full of life."

I hope this works. Gwen thinks to herself. I can only imagine how devastated Jack will be if it doesn't. Then Gwen notices that Jack has gone still, the smile wiped from his face, as a child is removed from one of the body bags. Oh no, Steven.

"What's he doing here?" Jack stammers. "The funeral…"

"The casket was empty. They wouldn't release the body. I guess they didn't want any evidence to get out."

"You knew?" Jack says in shock. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What good would it have done?" Gwen countered. "You couldn't have done anything about it, and it just would have upset you. I was worried about you."

Jack doesn't respond. He just takes Steven in his arms and carries him into the ship. Gwen follows, waiting to see what would happen. Suddenly, she sees a glowing cloud envelop them. When it fades, she watches in stunned silence as the child stirs.

"Uncle Jack?" Steven says as he opens his eyes. "I think a had a bad dream. Where am I?"

"It doesn't matter," Jack says through tears of joy. "Everything's fine now. Everything's going to be okay." He hugs the boy close to him for a moment, then looks around as other bodies are being brought in and revived. "It's working," he whispers. Then he looks at Gwen with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Go on, then," she says. "Go find him. I'll stay with Steven." Jack thanks her and rushes off to find the one person he has done all this for.

Steven is looking around him in awe. "Is it magic?" he asks.

"No, pet. I think your Uncle Jack finally got his miracle."

"Why did he need a miracle?"

"The Universe owes him one." she replied, and that's all she would say as she hugged the boy and wiped tears from her eyes.

Jack carried Ianto's still form into the ship, then sat down and held his breath. Would it work? Or would everyone come back but him? The wait seemed forever, but was only moments. Another glowing cloud, and a pair of blue eyes opened and stared into his. "Jack? I thought I died. What is this? What happened?"

"You're on a Chula medical ship. The nanogenes it's stocked with brought you and everyone else back." Then Jack couldn't contain himself any longer, and kissed Ianto as if his life depended on it. When he finally pulled back, he looked Ianto in the eyes and said "I love you, and I will NEVER forget you. In millions of years, when I've forgotten my own name, I'll still remember you. Don't ever think otherwise."

For a moment, Ianto is stunned. Then he smiles. He's waited a long time for this, and it only took his death to get Jack to admit it. "So, does this mean we're a couple now?"

Jack grins. "I guess so."

"Good. You know you're an idiot, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Just checking." Then Ianto kisses Jack as if he will never stop. When he finally pulls away so he can breathe, he notices John hanging around watching them.

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Just how did you get this miracle ship?

"From someone who didn't need it."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"No, it doesn't." If anything, Jack's grin is even wider.

"Okay."

"Come on. Let's get out of here. We have some people to surprise."

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Alice opens her door to see the smiling face of a man she had never wanted to see again. But before she can slam the door in his face, a movement behind him catches her eye. "Steven?" She grabs her little boy up in her arms and holds him as if she will never let him go. She turns to Jack. "But how?" Jack just smiles and turns away as Steven whispers in his mother's ear. "Can't you stay?" she asks, still in shock and afraid she will wake up from this beautiful dream.

"I can't," Jack says as he heads back to the car where Ianto waits for him. "I have other people I need to give some good news to."

"Don't be a stranger," she says to Jack as she finally convinces herself this is all real.

Jack turns to face her. He smiles. "I won't. I promise." Then he gets in the car and drives away. Next stop Ianto's sister's place. Maybe she'll forgive him too.