Jack was stood at the work stations in the heart of the hub when Ianto entered the Hub for the first time in just under a week, Jack smiled but he knew that he would have to discipline him for the absence. Well that was what he was ordered to do by C19. Jack would never suspend anyone from duty for being absent he wanted to know the reason for it.
"Ianto office NOW!" Jack ordered in a authoritative manner, with this Ianto made his way up to the office.
"Explain now, I have been able to keep C19 from your door. I need to know why you have not been here." Jack ordered
"I will explain in my own time Jack." Ianto said and Jack knew Ianto had been suffering with chronic headache's for sometime. But also knew that he had not stayed in bed so where had he gone. Jack made a snap decision to take Ianto out that night perhaps he could find something out, it was imortant as he could tell that something was wrong as Ianto had not missed a day of work apart from when Jack suspended him over the Cyberwoman incident.

"Jack weevil reports in Roath, sounds as if they are hunting in packs." Gwen shouted as she threw him a gun.
Jack thought this had been happening a lot recently, but Ianto had not been around to deal with it.
"Ianto stay with Gwen I will deal with this." Jack said as he ran out of the hub and jumped into the SUV which was waiting in the carpark. All Ianto and Gwen heard was the Suv as it sped away.
"Gwen, I have been going to the hospital over the past week. I have some bad news for you both." Ianto said
"Whats wrong?" Gwen replied in puzzled manner
"I have cancer and it is inopperable, but i will be going for chemo as it may give me some extra time. They needed to run test's and I needed the time off." Ianto said sounding depressed "I cant tell Jack yet as he has enough to deal with."
"Ianto I advise you to tell him, then he can report back to the powers that be." Gwen said she was concerned but shocked. Jack returned to the Hub and nothing was said the atmosphere was rough as Jack had been placed in the executioners hands again. The rest of the day was quiet so Jack sent Gwen home early. He had decided to utilise the time to try and get Ianto to tell him what was happening and where he had been. It was 9pm and he had got nothing out of Ianto.
"Come on Ianto we are going for a drink." it was a freezing cold night when Ianto and Jack was stood outside their favourite pub. Jack had taken Ianto for a drink as he wanted to know what was happening why was Ianto had been absent. This concerned him as he was supposed to be the one there for Ianto, They walk into the pub and took their usual table in the corner of the room.
"Ianto what do you want to drink!" Jack inquired as he was paying.

"Water!" Ianto replied this raised a Jack's curiousity and concern as it was not like Ianto to drink water. Jack walked over to get two drinks of water and then back to the table.
"Ianto what's wrong, you have been too quiet recently. You know that makes me nervous!" Jack said with a nervous smile on his face.
"Jack where you come from is there a cure for Cancer?" Ianto asked sounding depressed looking at Jack's beautiful eye's. Jack saw pain in Ianto's eye's for the first time why? How? Had he been so stupid to miss the sign's. Jack hoped in the heart of hearts that Ianto would be ok.
"The treatment was worse than the cure, No we never discovered a cure why?" Jack said sounding more concerned then he could ever be.
"I was not going to tell you this until I have my procedure tomorrow, but I have cancer Jack! I am dying. It is that bad that they do not know if they can cure me." Ianto said he was scared and desperately needed someone to help him. I have to go in tomorrow for a procedure which will enable them to put the drugs directly into a vein in my chest which would mean it goes into my heart." Ianto said sipping his water, Jack grabbed Ianto's hand and squeezed it.
"how did you find out!" Jack asked
"I found a lump under my arm and went to the doctors who rushed me into the hospital. They did some test's and confirmed cancer." Ianto said
"If you want i could go with you!" Jack offered he was hurt as to why Ianto would keep this away from him. But thought of the consequencies when C19 and UNIT found out, he would be in for the long jump as he had not followed procedure.
"Drive me there, but you cant be there for the procedure or for 24 hours afterwards! They need to start treatment as soon as possible and tomorrow is the earliest." Ianto said forcing his words to come out, oh please dont allow my brain to go aswell. Ianto picked his glass up and was noticibly shaking.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jack asked trying to reassure him that everything would be ok.
"You have Cardiff, Gwen and Torchwood to think of I have tried to keep quiet but this is why i have been so distant. I have been taking oral chemotherapy for the past two weeks. Luckily with no side effect's." Ianto said wondering what Jack would do now he knew that Ianto had kept something else from him.
"Come on tiger lets get home, you need some sleep!" Jack ordered Ianto watching him to make sure he was ok. Jack called a taxi and got Ianto to his room and they went to bed.

6 am Ianto's alarm rang and Ianto woke up, sorted out his tablets and took them with a 1/4 of a cup of water. He showered and then dressed. It was a lucky occasion where Jack actually fell asleep. Ianto knew he was not allowed to eat before the procedure, so woke Jack up.
"Jack i have to go, I have to be there in an hour." Ianto said and Jack sat up
"you ok?" Jack asked
"Aswell as can be expected! I am due at the hospital, now Jack promise me. You will drop me off and go to work!" Ianto asked in a demanding tone of voice.
"Ianto! I" Jack was interupted by Ianto
"Jack do it. Cardiff needs you, I will see you tomorrow." Ianto said trying to assert some power over Jack but knowing Jack would do what he wanted.
Jack jumped out of bed and got dressed, grabbed a coffee and saw that Ianto was shaking so he led him to the car and they both got in. Jack was driving as Ianto was not in any fit state to drive. When they had reached the hospital he kissed Ianto and smiled one of his everything is going to be ok smiles. Ianto got out of the car and Jack watched him walk into the hospital. With this Jack started the engine and started to drive to the HUB, where he knew Gwen would be working. Jumping out of the car he walked through the tourist desk to the hub.
"Jack where's Ianto?" Gwen asked, Jack hit the wall as hard as he could not feeling the pain. Since Ianto had told him he was numb, numb with shock. What was the point of his job if he could not protect the people he loved.
"He's in hospital Gwen, I found out he has terminal cancer." Jack told her he knew there was no easy ways of saying it. But he also knew that if C19 found out he would be forced to pension Ianto.

"When did you find this out?" Gwen asked in a shocked tone of voice
"last night! I have just dropped him at the hospital. He's has opted for treatment even though he may not survive. The doctors have said that he will die but it may bring him more time." Jack said Gwen noticed that Jack had a blank look in his eye's as if he was no longer there, he looked like a shell of Jack. Gwen tried to comfort him but did not have any luck as Jack pushed her away all the time. Jack knew the protocol of having a terminally ill operative but hoped he could hold the wolves at bay. He did not know how long he would be able to do this for, so he started filling in the form for this situation and forgot to date it. His mind wondered to Ianto as he could see Gwen bringing him some coffee. Meanwhile at the hospital Ianto had been sedated as he had to be awake for the procedure and was being taken to a sideroom to have it done. He could see the doctors and the equipment and the fear set in he started to panic but as he was heavily sedated he could not do much.
"Hello Ianto!" A tall, red headed doctor said in a rough London accent
"Hello" Ianto managed to say
"Just nod your head if you can. Are you ready, Mr Jones." The doctor said
Ianto nodded his head and could feel pain as the doctor made the incision through his chest, what made it worse was Ianto was awake he wished that they could knock him out for this procedure, but he thought that if he could get some extra time with Jack then it was worth it. The procedure lasted for a couple of hours and then Ianto was allowed to rest, before they started to use the treatment. Whilst Jack was trashing his office as he could not protect Ianto from any of this happening to him he felt helpless and tried to focus on his work.

"Jack calm down! he will be ok." Gwen said
"I am so sorry Gwen, it's just I feel so helpless. As if i have let you all down." Jack said doubting himself as he could not handle the fact he could not help.
"Jack Ianto would not want us beating ourselves up over it. What happens as far as Torchwood is concerned." Gwen inquired
" I will eventually have to follow protocol, which means pensioning him off and i will not retcon him." Jack said thinking Ianto is a trustworthy man and it was only fair to keep him close to the organisation. He was not ready to let Ianto go, the time had passed quickly which was strange considering it was a quiet day at the hub. at the same time Ianto had woken up and saw the doctor.
"Good to see you are awake Ianto." Doctor said
"I would like to start the treatment now. But first let me explain, you are unable to have radiotherapy. We will be using this for the next couple of months and you will be required to stick to the tablets. I will increase them now infact!" the Doctor said
"So what am i on!" Ianto asked

"You will have to return here for a day 3 times a week for this part of your treatment and the tablets will go up to 6 tablets four times a day. It will be rough on you but if you want any chance of survival then we are going to have to do it." They injected the chemotherapy drugs into the tubes and after 10 minutes Ianto had started to be sick, he also started suffering with temperature change's as he was going from hot to cold.
"Whats happening!" Ianto said he was scared he had never felt this before, "I want Jack!" Ianto called out.
"It is ok, you are just showing signs of side effects from the treatment, you will be ok!" The nurse replied in a quiet and calm manner. Ianto wished he was back at work, he was missing the thrill of chasing after a weevil but knew he would only slow the team down. His mind went to memories of Owen and Tosh and how Owen was so determined to defeat death, he silently laughs to himself as Owen was already dead but it was still more courage than he could ever show.

Meanwhile things had heated up at the Hub as activity had been happening all around cardiff and Jack was by himself as Gwen was manning the hub.
"Jack, I have to go to Roath. There has been another weevil sighting!" Gwen said
"Ok, becareful. Keep the comm's on at all times." Jack said
Jack's phone rung and he ignored it knowing who ever it is will leave message. It was more important for him to forget everything and catch as many Weevils as he could. It took two hours for the activity to register as normal so he had to start the clean up operation. Jack took his phone out of his coat pocket and listerned to the message, as he heard Ianto's voice he was in tears. Ianto sounded rougher than Jack had expected, but knew that he would be ok. Jack jumped into the car and drove straight to the hospital being met by the doctor in charge of Ianto's case.
"Give us the low down doc?" Jack asked jumping out of his car
"We have handed him the first treatment of Chemo by the central line sir. He has suffered distressing side effects but he will be ok! He has been asking for you, so you may go into him if you wish." The doctor said showing Jack to Ianto's room.

As Jack walked in he saw a shadow of Ianto, he looked so pale, sat there holding a bowl to his chin. Ianto managed to raise a smile, as he saw Jack walk to him and jacks phone rung again this time he notice's that it is Gwen.
"Gwen, take the rest of the day off! I am with Ianto but will be back on duty soon." Jack instructed her. There was silence while she spoke
"I will be back later, he's ok. I will." Jack said ending the call and turning his phone off.
"Ianto, Gwen send's her best wishes and love. I am not ready to give up on you." Jack said kissing Ianto on the head.
"I know Jack, but why is it happening to me." Ianto asked his throat was extremely sore, and he was still suffering from the temperature change's as his body was reacting to the chemo. He noticed the nurses walking around with the medicine cabinet, and smiled
"Here we go again, the good thing is it doesn't hurt. I hate the side effects though!" Ianto said as a beautiful nurse walked in the room
"Name"
"Ianto Jones!" Ianto replied
"I just need to check the identification band" She said as she lifted his hand so she could get to the number.
"4567 Jones!" She said and the other lady nodded, she walked over to get the drug's and walked back with a 1/4 of a cup of water and the tablets.
"Take these," She ordered Ianto took the tablets even though every inch of his body hurt. Everytime he moved he felt a surge of pain.
"You ok Ianto!" It was hurting Jack to see his friend this way, but knew it would not get any better for him.
"Pain's good, at least i know i am still alive." Ianto said looking Jack straight in the eye's and smiling.

"When can I return to work?" Ianto asked
"I will have to work something out, it depends on the regime of treatment!" Jack said if anyone was to ask him if he was ok he would say yes. But deep down he was upset and angry that he was stupid enough to think he could protect Ianto from anything. He hated seeing Ianto like this, but all he could do was reassure him. Jack knew he had lied to Ianto but if he told him the truth it would crush him.
"Have you followed procedure Jack as Cardiff need's you?" Ianto asked as Jack had obviously forgot that he knew everything.
"What do you think Ianto. NO!" Jack replied as he knew that if he did it would cause trouble.