A/N: As you can see... I'm not dead.

Holy shit. First of all, I owe huge thanks to everyone who still reads this story and keeps commenting, you're the reason I keep writing this even though my updating pace is horrendous. Almost three years, guys. Three years!

We're almost near the end of Season 1 now, though. Interesting things will happen soon, I can promise you that much.

Anyway, here is another chapter of Here We Go Again.

Psst. You can support my work on Ko-Hi at (kohi dot com/) Z8Z2CKDM

Chapter 22: Heartache

Ianto had to admit that he'd been thrown off by Jack's reaction to his Christmas gift. It had only been an old fashioned shaving kit, yet it felt like it had represented something much more important to Jack. His reaction was oddly charming, and his praise genuine enough. Yet that night there was a sadness in Jack which Ianto couldn't place.

Or maybe he was wrong, and it was all in his head. Maybe it was his own conscience talking, since he still hadn't divulged the identity of his 'future important someone' to Jack, who was probably waiting with baited breath for the moment Ianto would leave him. Ironically enough, Jack himself was that important someone.

The following morning, Ianto couldn't quite shake off the feeling of guilt as he made a beeline for their resident doctor. Jack and Gwen were introducing their time travelling visitors to their new identities. After had Ianto warned Jack about John's violent reaction to his new name, Jack had agreed it was for the best to keep their new names and identities as close to the originals as possible. Ianto, on the other hand, was more concerned about Owen and his short romance with the beautiful pilot, Diana.

He spotted Owen at the medical bay, who was reading a recent report of some weevil attacks. "Owen, I need to speak to you," he said, learning softly against the metal rail, standing on the platform overlooking Owen's workplace.

Owen glanced up from the papers, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to take our visitors shopping?" he grumbled.

"That's later," Ianto said, giving Owen a slight grin. "Jack and Gwen are giving them their new identities."

Owen snorted and lowered the clipboard he was holding. "Right. What did you want to talk about?"

Ianto straightened his tie and took a few steps down the stairs. "Look, Owen. It's about that pilot, Diana..." he started, feeling uncomfortable for butting into Owen's business but sure that this was the right thing to do. "Last time... You and her ended up having a thing."

"Are you serious?" Owen said, his eyes widening slightly. He whistled, grinning. "She's quite a catch. Well done, me."

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Yes, well done. But I wanted to warn you."

"What about?" Owen said, already glancing back at the report.

Ianto scratched his chin and looked slightly to Owen's left to avoid his eyes. This discussion wasn't going to end well. "She's not going to stay."

That finally caught Owen's full attention. "What?" He said incredulously. "Where the hell will she go? She doesn't have money or family, she can't even legally fly any more."

"She doesn't care," Ianto said, already feeling sadder than before because of the conversation. "She's a free spirit, you can't chain her down. I don't think there's anything you or me can say to her that will keep her from leaving."

"But..." Owen said, looking a bit lost. "Why are you telling me this?"

Ianto sighed. "You didn't deal with it very well, last time. I just wanted you to know so you can make informed choices."

Owen crossed his arms. "Well, I don't bloody well care, actually."

Ianto gave him a doubtful look. "Alright. Just know that I warned you."

"Sure," Owen snorted. "Now, go along, future boy. There's a teacup somewhere up there with my name on it."

Ianto sighed dramatically and saluted. "Yes, sir," he said and turned to leave.

"Oi!" Owen shouted at Ianto's retreating back, making Ianto turn around slightly. "Don't start that shit with me, I can't hear that word without thinking of you and Jack sucking face!" he continued with a disgruntled look on his face.

Ianto cracked a smirk. "Whatever you say, Doc."

It was starting to become obvious that no matter what he said to Owen, it wasn't going to change the fact that he would fall for Diane. Ianto watched them as they left to check on her plane, and sighed. At least he'd tried. Owen was an adult. He could make his own decisions.

The next morning found Gwen talking to Jack about Emma, who was currently staying at her and Rhys's apartment. Apparently, she'd had a falling out with John.

"We can't except John and Diane to look after her," Gwen explained, frowning. "I mean they're complete strangers. Diane didn't even come home last night."

"I think she was in a B&B," Owen quipped casually as he passed the two of them.

Gwen raised up her hands in frustration, while Ianto cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I'm going to take her job hunting later if that's alright," Owen continued, ignoring Ianto and sitting down, glancing at a file and doing his best to look busy.

Jack gave him a quizzical look, until Toshiko caught his attention.

"Jack!" she said, waving at him and gesturing towards her work station. "John's son. I think I've found him."

Jack followed her.

Ianto stayed back, taking the time to hand Owen his coffee. "So," he said quietly, eyeing Jack and Tosh's backs as the pair looked at a file on her computer. "You didn't take my warning seriously, I take it."

Owen accepted the mug with a roll of his eyes. "I really don't care. Diane and me, we just clicked. We're keeping it casual and she's cool about it. She's pretty wild for a lady from the 50's."

Ianto started at him, then shook his head. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

After all the shit hit the fan, Ianto found himself standing in front of the door to Owen's flat, holding a pizza and a six pack of beer. He rang the doorbell and waited. There was no response.

Ianto rang again, until Owen finally cracked open the door. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt and grey tracksuit pants. "What is so damn—" he trailed off, upon seeing who was behind the door. He glanced at the pizza and the beer, and then glared balefully at Ianto. "What the hell is this?"

"Figured I'd finally make true on that promise of a pint, since the rift interrupted us last time," Ianto said, lifting the six pack meaningfully. "Also, I figured you were one for break up pizza rather than break up ice cream."

Owen rolled his eyes. "Fine. Come in," he grumbled and grabbed the pizza from Ianto's hands before retreating into the apartment.

Ianto brushed his shoes on the doormat and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Want me to put these into the freezer?"

"Whatever," Owen said, slumping down on the sofa. "Just give me one."

Ianto looked for the drawer which had the bottle opener, and popped open two bottles, before putting the rest of them in the freezer. He walked over and placed the other beer on the sofa table in front of Owen before sitting down himself. "I expect you don't have coasters," he said.

Owen gave him a pointed look. "What do you think?"

Ianto smiled at him. "Your table, your rules," he said, shrugging.

There was a silence.

"Want to watch James Bond?"

"Yeah, all right."

They watched the movie in compassionate silence.

"Why did she have to leave?" Owen asked after a couple of beers. "I don't get it."

Ianto sighed. "I don't know," he said. "I really don't."

"Does she ever come back?" Owen continued, taking a sip of his third beer. "Like, in the future? You would know, wouldn't you."

"Not to my knowledge, no," Ianto said. "I'm sorry."

Owen shrugged. "Not your fault," he said and laughed ruefully. "You even tried to warn me, but I didn't listen." He was silent for a moment, before continuing. "What is it like, the future?"

Ianto thought about it. He really shouldn't be talking about this. "I can't tell you any details," he said. "But there are certain things I intend to change."

"Huh," Owen said. "What about you and Jack?"

Ianto blinked. "What about us?"

"Are you two, like, serious?" Owen asked.

"We're dabbling, at the moment," Ianto said with a shrug.

"But in the future," Owen prompted, taking a gulp of his beer, and levelling Ianto with a surprising sober and insightful look. "You were still together, weren't you?"

Ianto looked down. "Yeah."

"Must be weird," Owen mused. "I bet you know him better than he knows you."

"Yeah," Ianto agreed, taking a sip of his beer. "Weird."

After they ran out of beer, Owen finally shooed Ianto out of his flat under the pretense that he'd developed a headache and wanted to sleep. Ianto ended up walking back to the Hub to sleep it off, being in no fit state to drive home. He'd fed Moses earlier that day, so the cat would be fine until the morning.

"Jack?" Ianto called out, stepping through the cog-wheel door.

"In here," came the answer.

Ianto found Jack in his office, nursing a drink, having made quite a dent in one of his bottles of scotch. It wasn't one of the good ones, which meant that Jack wasn't drinking for the taste, but because he was really hoping he could get drunk just about then.

"Hey," Ianto said, leaning against the doorway. "Are you okay?"

"No, not really," Jack said, staring at the bottom of the glass like it could provide him answers. "You were right as always. John is dead."

"I wish I hadn't been," Ianto said, walking to stand in front of Jack's desk. Taking a closer look a closer look at Jack, Ianto noticed that he was a little paler than normal. He glanced down at the chair in front of the desk, where Jack's coat was laying on. He picked it up and sniffed it.

Exhaust fumes.

"Jack..." he trailed off. "Did you die?"

"Why?" Jack chuckled darkly. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," Ianto said with clenched teeth, his grip on the coat tightening. "You're such an idiot sometimes, you know that?"

Jack looked up at him, his eyes widening slightly. "You're drunk."

Ianto dropped the coat, his face burning. "Maybe a bit," he admitted. "I was at Owen's. He's a total wreck now that Diana's gone. We had a couple of beers and pizza."

"Finally shared that pint, huh?" Jack asked, grinning. His smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Yeah," Ianto said, sitting down. "But seriously. I know you can't die. But can you just...stop throwing your life away like that. You might be immortal, Jack, but you're not invincible."

"Worried for me, are you?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sweet. But don't be."

Ianto closed his eyes in frustration. "Jack..."

"All right," Jack said, stepping from behind the desk, making Ianto open his eyes. Jack leaned against the table, and took Ianto's hands in his. "I'll promise to be more careful in the future," he said and winked. "Just for you, okay?"

Ianto stared at him for a while, trying to see if he was sincere. "Okay," he agreed. And then yawned. "Sorry. I can't handle beer like I used to."

Jack chuckled. "It's nearly midnight," he said. "I was thinking of heading to bed soon, anyway. You staying over?"

Ianto nodded, taking his hands back from Jack's and loosening his tie. "Moses can handle himself until tomorrow."

"Mmm," Jack said. "Two nights in a row. You do spoil me."

"Don't you start, sir," Ianto said. Rolling his eyes, he stepped past Jack and started going down the ladder. "I'll fall asleep on you, I swear."

Jack laughed. "In the morning?" he said, following him down.

Ianto sat on the bed. "In the morning," he murmured, taking of his vest and tie, and folding them on the chair next to the bed. He kicked of his shoes and fell back onto the bed. "We still have the time."

"Time before what?" Jack asked, sliding off his suspenders and unbuttoning his shirt.

"Things are going to get pretty hectic soon," Ianto said. He was struggling to keep his eyes open, now that he was warm and comfortable. "Not a lot of time after that..."

Jack joined him on the bed and pulled a blanket over them. "You're being all mysterious, Ianto Jones," Jack said, leaning his chin against his hand. "I wonder why?"

Ianto chuckled, and found himself instinctively moving closer to the heat that was Jack's body. "Gotta keep you interested, somehow."

"Oh, you've already got me," Jack said and leaned forwards to leave soft kisses on Ianto's neck.

"Mmmm," Ianto murmured. "It's gonna be difficult. But then it's going to turn okay." He turned his face to seek out Jack's lips in a kiss. It started out as a peck, but quickly grew more passionate. Jack's carted his fingers through Ianto's hair, as their lips battled for dominance.

Surprisingly, it was Jack who drew back first. "Sleep," he reminded.

Ianto pouted. "You're the one who started this, sir," he countered.

Jack looked conflicted for a moment, but then turned resolute. "You're drunk," he said and gently lowered Ianto's head so that it rested on his shoulder. "Ask me again in the morning."

"I will," Ianto said and sighed, already starting to drift off. "...Good night."

"Good night, sweet Ianto."