Summary: No, you're eyes are not playing tricks on you. Ladycizzle is back with another full lenght, multi-chapter Torchwood fic. This story was two years in the making, with me working on it on and off and sometimes wanting to delete it from my computer and my memory. But, my muse wouldn't let me. She promised that she would stick with me until the end and here I am. Yay me. For the record this is AU, Janto Slash, and features the original team. No Gwen, well not now anyways. Well I'm going to let you read. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own this show because if I did Torchwood would have never killed off Ianto or come to America. Just saying.

Running From The Past To Embrace The Future

Chapter One

Ianto Jones stared out into the distance, oblivious to everything the man in front of him was saying. It's not as if it mattered. Since that day, almost a week ago, Ianto Jone's life seemed to no longer exist. Rain fell lightly on the tarp above him and as much as he hated rain he appreciated it. Not for himself but for Lisa who adored rain and thunderstorms more than a normal person should. Maybe it was her way of telling him she was fine and that everything would be okay.

Finally the priest said Amen and everyone echoed, all except Ianto. He didn't register that the funeral was actually over until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Ianto."

He turned to the woman sitting beside him. Marissa Hallett, Lisa's older sister by six years, kept her hand on Ianto's shoulder as her own eyes filled with tears. "Why did this happen to Lisa? She was a good person and she deserved better than this," asked Ianto, sullenly.

Shaking her head so that her long black hair flowed graciously, she frowned. "I don't know."

"I don't know either," whispered Ianto as he watched the casket slowly being lowered in the ground. "I wish I did but-"

She squeezed his shoulder harder. "It's not your fault Ianto. If you could have helped her you would have."

"If I could I would have traded places with her. She deserved to live more than I do."

"Don't say things like that," Marissa hissed as she grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. "Don't you dare say things like that."

"It's true. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."

"And that's the reason you need to keep going. She wouldn't want you to give up on life just because hers ended. Lisa loved you too much for that."

"I don't know if I can."

"You can and you will. If not for you then do it for her, in honor of her memory and love she had for you."

"But what if I can't."

"You at least have to try." Marissa didn't say anything, instead she joined Ianto and the two of them gazed into the distance.

Three weeks later Ianto walked through his now empty flat, furiously wiping away the tears that had fallen from his eyes. All his things were in a truck parked across the street waiting to be to their new destination. The only items that remained where the things that belonged to Lisa, and her family had promised to pick up later.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a black velvet box and placed it on the mantle. It was an engagement ring that he had brought nearly three months ago when he realized he was ready for the next step in his and Lisa's relationship. Ianto wanted to propose more than anything but he wanted the moment to be perfect. Sadly he would never get the chance. Lisa was gone, killed in battle during a fight with horrible monsters known as Cybermen.

The day had started off normal enough. He and Lisa arrived on time at Torchwood One, gave each a brief kiss, and went their separate ways. Ianto down to the archivist facility and Lisa to the researcher's floor. He immediately cataloging the alien artifact and uploading his findings into the computer all while wondering where he could take Lisa for lunch. Ianto had no idea that in a few short moments his life would change forever.

Suddenly the alarms sounded and the doors around him went into emergency lock-down. Ianto immediately sprung into action, nearly escaping through the door before he was completely locked in. That's when he heard it, people screaming loudly as mechanical voices filled the air.

'Exterminate. Exterminate.'

Ianto made his way through the building. There was fallen debris, smoke, and fire all around him. Rubble from the walls and ceilings. Lights flickering and crackling due to an electric shortage. Painfully cries filled his ears as his colleagues were slaughter around him. Pools of blood on the floor and smeared on the walls. Ianto wanted to help everyone but he couldn't. He was on a mission to find someone he needed more than anything. Lisa.

With stealth-like precision, he carefully made his way down the now empty corridor keeping a watchful eye out. Climbing over the fallen rubble and bodies, he remembered he had his cell phone in his pocket. Quickly, he pulled it out and tried to call Lisa. Hoping that she was somewhere safe with her phone still on her. Unfortunately his call didn't go through and it appeared that the phone lines were down.

Still, he kept trudging through. Small flames danced around him as smoke filled the air, burning his eyes. He had half a mind to give up, to stay where he was and wait, either to be rescued or killed. That was until finally he heard a sound that made his heart stop.

"Ianto."

"Lisa," he called back. Down at the end of the hall was Lisa, lying in a doorway. Her lower body pinned under debris. He raced to her side and immediately began moving the fallen rubble.

"Ianto you came," she tried to smile but a cough prevented her from doing so. Her head covered with scratches and blood, she reached out her hand to touch his. "Are you alright."

He tried to hold back the chuckle that eventually escaped his voice. That was Lisa, caring about others before herself. "I'm fine. I came here for you. I came here to save you."

"Ianto you can't save me. You need to get out."

"Lisa-"

Lisa began shaking her head as she began speaking. "The ghosts, they weren't ghosts at all. They were aliens. Aliens that Yvonne let in through the void. One called Cybermen, they're taking people and converting them to be just like them. They kill you if you refuse."

"How did you escape?"

Her entire body was shaking but she kept talking. Grabbing Ianto's hand tighter she continued telling Ianto what happened. "We ran to try and get away but I got caught by a Cyberman. Before it had a chance to fire Michael, a field agent, pushed me out of the way and took the blast. I used his gun to kill it and then came in here to hide. There was an explosion and next thing I knew I was trapped under this…rubble."

Ianto gasped. He had removed some of the debris but not all of it. Some of was too heavy for him to lift but maybe, if he tried harder. "I can get you out."

"Those things…they might come back," Lisa replied brokenly.

"I don't care."

"I do!" she yelled back, coughing again. This time blood trickled down the side of her mouth. A sign of internal bleeding, they both knew. Ianto used his hand to wipe it away. "It's too late for me, I can feel it."

"Lisa."

Lisa's entire body ached as it was racked with chills. The blood that came from mouth confirmed her fears. There would be no getting out of the building alive for her. Even with that in her head she couldn't lie down and watch Ianto risk his life for hers. Hers was over but Ianto, he still had a chance. Looking up at him with pleading eyes, she squeezed his hand as hard as she could. "Please Ianto, get out of here before it's too late."

But he didn't dare move. Instead he moved as much debris from Lisa's body as he could and pulled her into his lap. There he sat cradling her in his arms as her breaths become shallow and uneven.

Her time was coming to an end, this Ianto knew, but he couldn't leave her by herself. She deserved better than to do die alone. "I'm sorry Lisa," Ianto chocked back a sob. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you in time."

"Don't be," she smiled weakly, coughing again. More blood filled her mouth. "Glad you're okay…and glad you're…here…with me."

"Me too. I love you."

"You too," and with that Lisa closed her eyes for the final time.

The tears fell heavily from his eyes as he held her close to his body. She was no longer shaking and her breathing was minuscule. It wouldn't be long now before Ianto was holding nothing but a lifeless body.

He sat there holding her, rocking her as he waited to be either captured or rescued and in the end Ianto didn't care which. His heart was shattered into so many pieces that only joining Lisa in death would have restored him.

Time passed slowly and soon Ianto was found, rescued by the soldiers from UNIT. Ianto didn't want to leave Lisa's body and he put up a fight to keep from being separated from her. In the end he had to be sedated before being shipped off to the hospital. He woke up to white walls and beeping machines. It was there he learned the entire truth of what happened. The void letting in the Daleks and Cybermen. People all over the world killed by the aliens. Torchwood One burning to the ground killing over eight hundred employees that were inside, including Lisa. He and twenty-two others employees were the only survivors.

A soft knock on the door broke him from his memories and he took a moment to regain himself before answering it. He wasn't surprised to find Marissa standing on the other side. "Hello."

She ignored his greeting and sidestepped into the flat. Looking around, she noticed it's emptiness except for a few boxes in the corner. Most likely her sister's things. "So you're really doing it then. When mum rung and told me she needed me to pick up Lisa's things I couldn't believe it. Last time I doubt her," she scoffed as she turned around to stare at Ianto.

"What?" he asked nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Leaving."

"Yes I am."

"But I thought you loved living here in London."

"I did," Ianto pointed out with his finger. "With Lisa but she's gone now and I can't see myself living here any longer."

Marissa refused to be deterred from the real reason why she was there. "So you're just going to run away," she couldn't help but lash out at him.

"If that's what you want to call it then yes, yes I am."

"You can't do that."

He listened to her rant off the reason why he couldn't leave until he couldn't take it anymore and found himself yelling. "I can and I will!" he replied. "You're angry and I understand that but I can't live here in this flat, in this city because I see Lisa everywhere I go. How am I supposed to move on if I can't stand being anywhere."

Marissa shook her head. "I don't know," she whispered. "It's just…I don't want you to leave."

"I know but I have to, for my own sanity."

Maybe it was the look in his eyes or the soft pleading in his voice but she could feel his pain. Ianto needed a fresh start and who was she to refuse to let him move on. "Will you at least call me sometimes," she asked softly, to afraid to look up at him. "I know you were my sister's boyfriend but I like to think that we were friends at least."

"We are and I promise to give you a call every now and again."

"I'll miss you."

"The feeling is mutual," Ianto smiled back. He opened his arms and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm glad you were there for her in the end."

"Me too." They stayed locked in their embrace for a few more moments before they finally pulled apart. Ianto reached into his pocket and pulled out the key. "Could you give these to the landlord when you're finished."

"Yeah."

Ianto gave Marissa a small smile as he placed the keys in her hands. Walking over to the door, he looked over his shoulder at the flat one last time before walking out. For the first time in a long time he was extremely lost.

Do you like where I'm going with this. I know it's been done before but if you stick with me I hope you realize that this AU is different from the others. Hopefully you like it and if not, your loss. Well until next time,

Life is what you make it so make it worth while,

LadyCizzle