A/N: Alright... as I don't want to make a mistake twice, I'll rather share a short preview here instead of starting the sequel already. I remember how desperately stuck I got with the sequel to "Time To Be Bled" so... no promises... yet.

Weird, didn't want to appear on the site either. So I'm just going to try again...

Thank you again for reading and commenting as well as the favourites. Enjoy the short bit of Chapter 1. ;-)

Preview

Doomsday: Transition

Summary: Ianto is gone to piece his life back together. Jack immerses himself into leading Torchwood Three. Life has other ideas.

xXx

New York City

Just out of here!

All Jack Harkness wanted was to get away from the meeting. As expected, UNIT… as well as any of the other representatives… made Jack doubt the mental health of their commanding officers. The only one who seemed to agree with his own opinion was Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

Waste of time!

Jack really regretted that he had agreed to attend the conference. Of all places they could choose, it had to be in New York City. Admittedly, UNIT's headquarters was in New York, so it made kind of sense, but the events they were talking about had had their origin in Great Britain, so they could have met in London just as well.

As it was, Jack had to fly across the Atlantic, and he definitely did not like that.

Give me a rundown Chula ship any time instead of one of those ruddy flying tin cans.

As so often, he mourned his burnt out vortex manipulator. With its help, he could have transported to the conference and back in a matter of seconds. Sure, the nausea from transport was a bitch, but Jack would still have chosen his manipulator over a plane if it still worked. Instead, he was stuck in a hotel now, sitting through boring lectures and even more boring lunch and dinner.

Only on Saturday evening came some life into the conference when all speeches were given and the first questions were asked about how to prevent or handle future alien attacks. All of a sudden, everyone spoke at once. They all wanted to express their opinion, no matter whose turn it was. At least half of them rose to speak, shouting atop of each other.

Jack could only shake his head, especially as some of their ideas were so ridiculous. Unfortunately, he knew that the respective officer was deadly serious.

Rather than getting better the next day, the discussions became even more bizarre. Unreasonable was a way too friendly word for the apparently mentally challenged delegates who came up with dumb questions and even dumber solutions.

Who was the idiot who suggested to rather destroying the Earth than allow it to fall into hostile alien hands? I can't believe anyone could be so stupid, but even worse there were people who agreed with him!

That was the straw that broke the camel's back and Jack finally fled the conference. He knew that Toshiko would be disappointed by him, but he could not change it. If he had stayed a minute longer, he might have killed someone.

Mace first.

While he dreamed up several ways of killing the pompous UNIT colonel, Jack quickly strode out of the headquarters in search of a higher building. He needed to get another perspective and a high vantage point usually did the trick for him. The question was where he should go.

Empire State Building. It'll be full of people, but easy to access.

The urban canyons were brimming with people. They streamed along the sidewalks of 42nd Street, a pulsing motion directed by traffic lights. Jack let himself drift with them like he let his mind wander. So far it did not help with clearing his head. He needed to distance himself from the world.

Quick.

Caught up in thought, Jack started across Fifth Avenue with a group of pedestrians. As he did not even spare any attention to the New York City Public Library, he never noticed any obstacle in his way either, until he ran right into it. Whatever it was gave way. Losing his balance, Jack tumbled aside and tripped, landing on the concrete. Indignantly, he rubbed his smarting elbow as he struggled back to his feet. Feeling the abraded fabric of his coat almost hurt more than his flesh and pride. His shock from the fall mingled with bewilderment, though, when he heard someone call,

"Jack!"

His ears might have been mistaken, but the astonished sound still was enough to make him pivot around. Then scent and sight confirmed his deduction and Jack's heart skipped a beat with joy.

"Ianto!"

tbc…