002 | video

[coffeeking]

[When Ianto appears on screen, it should be apparent to anyone who's familiar with the recent rash of attack victims that he's the latest. He's slumped against the wall, looking much the worse for wear, with an expression on his face that speaks of imminent panic.]

Has anyone seen Jack Harkness? I was attacked, and he-- [He has to pause, his voice failing him momentarily. He's too weak to be expending this much energy worrying.] He was right down the hall. He would have come looking for me, but he isn't here and he isn't responding.

Jack, if you're seeing this, please, please respond.

[He slides further down the wall, exhausted, and winces as the fabric of his jumpsuit brushes against the wound on his chest.]

Comments

[last_centurion]

No. He hasn't been brought in.

Look, I'm coming now, alright.

[It better be alright because Rory is running from the MedBay to Ianto's room]

[coffeeking]

...Alright.

[With renewed determination, Ianto manages to drag himself to the door. By the time he reaches the threshold and opens it from the inside, he's completely spent. Unconcerned with appearances, he allows himself to collapse in the doorway, keeping it open. God, why does he feel like this? What the hell happened to him?]

[last_centurion]

[One thing about Auton's is they don't get winded during a sprint to save a friend. Rory's right at Ianto's side before long whispering assurances as he slowly goes to open Ianto's top]

I need to check...Damn.

[Just like the others]

Ianto, what do you remember?

[He's pulling out a hypospray full of painkiller while trying to keep Ianto talking]

[coffeeking]

[Ianto does his best to be cooperative, but he's more concerned for Jack than he is for himself. As much as he knows he needs treatment, he wishes everyone would stop paying attention to him and go find Jack.]

Jack and I were coming to help investigate the attacks... I left my communicator. Jack waited by the lifts and I came back to fetch it. I was at the door and something-- I think something hit me in the back. [He struggles to recall more, brow furrowed, but gives up with a helpless shake of his head] I woke up in the room, on the floor. Jack would have come looking for me when I didn't head right back to the lifts. Something happened to him, Rory. He's not answering his communicator...

[last_centurion]

It's alright, Ianto. Lets get you to the MedBay then I promise I'll go look for him.

[After all, if anyone was to survive these strange attacks it would be Rory]

Do you remember who or what attacked you?

[coffeeking]

No. No, I didn't see it. God, what the hell did it do to me?

[He struggles to sit up, his muscles shaking with the strain.]

[last_centurion]

I don't know, but you're not the only one.

[Rory puts a hand out to stop him from sitting up]

Be still and let me get this into you.

[His other hand is already pressing the hypospray to Ianto's neck]

Just a painkiller and then I can move you to MedBay.

[coffeeking]

[The painkiller begins to work immediately, and as he exhales, he visibly loses some tension. It's a surprise to him. He'd been so hopped up on adrenaline, he'd barely realized he was in pain.]

Thank you.

[last_centurion]

[Rory shifted himself so he could pick Ianto up]

Hold on, mate.

[It was odd how he didn't even need to prepare himself to carry Ianto. An arm under the man's knees and behind his back was all he needed to do. He supposed being plastic was good for something]

[coffeeking]

[Ianto sputtered indignantly at being manhandled, but was forced to concede that if he didn't have the strength to struggle properly, then he certainly didn't have the strength to walk to the medbay.]

Rory? Just so we're on the same page, we're never speaking of this again.

[last_centurion]

[Manhandled? Pfft, Rory was very gentle with his burden and no one gave them a second glance as he carried Ianto bridal style through the corridors and into the MedBay.

Once inside he found Ianto a relatively private corner to recover]

Let me get a few scans going then I'll head out and look for Jack.

[coffeeking]

[Gentle or not, he is a full grown man being carried bridal style by another full grown man. He doesn't even let Jack do that sort of thing. But once they're in the medbay and Ianto settles into bed without protest.]

What kind of scans?

[last_centurion]

Whatever has been attacking people is taking something...

[He trailed off as he began to run scans and prepare injections]

Vitamin deficiency, mild blood loss...this doesn't really make sense. It's taking a bit of you like some sort of vampire.

[He's met vampires before. Well, vampire fish, but he figured the term was still appropriate here.]

These injections will just give you that extra boost in whatever that thing took.

[coffeeking]

[Ianto is better versed with this sort of thing than the general population, so he doesn't take the news badly until he starts putting the puzzle pieces together.]

Taking something. Draining you without draining blood? Oh god--

[Something clicks in his head and like a flashback, Ianto is distinctly reminded of Abaddon. He goes pale and grabs Rory's arm.]

Rory, find Jack. Please, you have to find him quickly.

[last_centurion]

[Rory gives Ianto an injection of vitamins]

Jack?

Ianto, let me finish up...well, you're finished now. You said he's special, is there anything I should take in case he's hurt?

[coffeeking]

[Ianto's thoughts are jumping all over the place, but Jack could be in horrible danger. He still doesn't know if Jack's gift, curse, whatever one wants to call it, is still intact here. The presence of a tattoo that shouldn't stick to Jack's skin still worries him badly. And if Jack is still immortal despite the tattoo, that still doesn't mean that draining him far enough might not make death stick.]

[It isn't his secret to tell, but if they can't trust Rory with it, who can they trust?]

He is special. He doesn't stay dead, Rory. I know that's hard to believe, but I've seen him come back...so many times. But if that thing drains him completely, he might not-- God, just find him, please. He'll be alright if you just find him.

[last_centurion]

[That explained why Ianto had wanted Rory to talk to Jack. He grabbed Ianto's arm and squeezed]

I'll find him for you. If nothing else the Doctor will probably know what to do.

[coffeeking]

[Ianto nods a little shakily, trying to remain hopeful.]

Okay. [he takes a breath] Okay. Thank you.

[last_centurion]

Of course, Ianto.

[He was so very sincere in his promise to help find Jack. Grabbing his medkit he headed out the door looking for the missing man]