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Jacqueline impulsively returned to San Francisco. Not really knowing where to go she asked Transportation. They booked her into The St. Francis Hotel. Everyone in her party, now numbered at thirty-five, went with her. Most of the language group was (finally!) finding her great fun. When the number reached almost fifty, transportation took to booking restaurants for the evening. Jacqueline walked the square out front. Seeing how much she enjoyed it, Anna suggested they walk the Golden Gate Bridge. “Not yet.” They walked the outer sidewalk of the square and ended up shopping. She spent her evenings with Helena and improved her reading and writing. Jacqueline forgot about Ahlor. She became in charge of herself and when she decided to spend time in the countryside, she went. Her party ended up slowly touring the coast of Northern California, Oregon and ended in Washington near the Canadian border.
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Rumors of Ianto sightings, flitted like birds making nests. Ianto was spotted in various countries. Starting with Belgium Denny studied a photo. It was a fuzzy partial of a man in a crowd. Benjamin decided it was most likely Ianto. Once they arrived they found nothing.
They stayed and searched until they heard from Interpol Ianto appeared to be attending a wedding in the Edinburg area of Scotland. The bride’s family stared at the uninvited agents. The blond haired best friend of the groom in a black suit was let go with Denny blithering like a stupid American. He kept his apology short and beetled on out of there.
Interpol assisted them, or they assisted Interpol? Then, Ianto was seen at the races in Perth and riding in the countryside. Two of the stables identified a photo of Jacqueline. Saying her habit or her kit, as they said, were of high fashion and she and her party were experienced riders. Denny thought the Brits were screaming ninnies, because they insisted Benjamin and Denny be on site, until he looked at a map. Balmoral was too close. Benjamin checked. The Queen was in residence. Benjamin and Denny dutifully stayed in the area.They checked out great swaths of Scotland without complaint until they recieved photos of Ianto riding a horse, positively him(!) in the French countryside. They promptly left Scotland and within two days of searching they knew they either missed him or the photos had been taken some time in the past.Next the agents flew to Vancouver based on a rumor that he was staying in a house, which turned out to be true, however they had already left. The homeowner seemed amused and suggested they might find Jacqueline in Toronto. The trip to Toronto was a dud and they didn’t know where to go from there and were about to head back to New York, when a video was forwarded to them. A tic tock in Mexico City had Ianto standing next to Jacqueline in the background of someone proposing. The agents arrived and knew they missed them, when they recieved photo’s from Interpol of Jacqueline back in France! What are they doing? Scoping out locations for future hits? Benjamin was furious they’d not left an agent behind. Interpol, Johnny-on-the -spot missed them, too. By the time the American’s arrived Ianto and company were long gone. Returning on yet another transatlantic flight Agent Denny looked for commonality’s in the locations. “Maybe this is common practice. We’ve simply been unaware?” Finding nothing tied them together, he tried to sleep. Benjamin shook his head looking at photo’s. Denny sympathized with his boss. Every picture looked like it was taken by someone on a pogo stick, (What are these people doing? Trying to take bad pictures?) or was Ianto trying to be in other people’s pictures? and planes no longer allowed smoking. Hours before they landed they learned Ianto and Nathan had been taken into custody in Los Angeles. Los Angeles? What was he doing there? Apparently lighting a fire in the LA Arboretum. Text messages pinged continually until the steward smiled sweetly, “People are sleeping.” “Yes, ma’am.” Benjamin changed his phone’s settings. “Commander left Heathrow, landed in Maine, La Guardia, then Las Vegas and LA. We have booking photos.” Denny looked at the straight on and profile photos of Ianto and Nathan. With their zero expressions. He tried to sleep. Why Maine? True, Bangor International was used by planes short on fuel. It was a huge airport, rated by NASA to land a shuttle! Denny swore to himself. So, Bangor must have a great camera setup. He swore again. Maybe they came to visit the cabin? If, so? Who got off? He’d have to visit Bangor to find out. Again, he swore. That meant he was flying Mexico City to London to Canada, then LA, back to Washington with the prisoners, then up to Maine and back to New York. His body was going to be out of wack. As Denny dozed off Benjamin handed him a text to read; Frank’s car stopped before exiting the La Guardia airport, returned to the plane’s hanger, minutes later the plane took off. Frank’s go bag was found in the trunk, with the car wiped clean of fingerprints. “Why? Who decided to wait? Um, for them, Ianto, to leave the airport to arrest them?” “Are we positive who was on the plane?” Benjamin replied. “All these flights. Something is not adding up.” He made a call. “Nat meet us in LA.” Benjamin smoked as he drove to the LA police station. Denny appreciated that he had the window open two inches. He didn’t want to get hooked again. The text, “The Las Vegas flight landed without passengers.” Did not help their disposition. How could they tell? Irate at missing Ianto, all over the planet!, at other people making the arrest, and not sleeping enough during the flights, both men wore a bitch face more than usual as they entered the Los Angeles jail. The Officer in Charge explained, as he led the way. “Everything went easy. Your businessmen went quietly, meekly, until we left them in a cell. A fight started. We told them, to stop. They ignored us. We tazed them. An hour later, another fight. We hit them with the water. Then, we dragged half of them into other cells. When they came to,” he lifted his hand, like what are you going to do with these guys, “Another fight, so, these four got tazed again. Denny’s bloodshot eyes bored into Ianto’s. Benjamin’s cigarette smoke wafted in the air. Ianto laying on the floor, with Nathan and two other prisoner’s looked up at Denny and blinked. “Sir. No smoking in here.” Benjamin ignored the Officer or maybe he didn’t hear him? Maybe he never saw the giant No Smoking sign on the wall either. The station’s Chief angrily joined them, took in the agent’s bloodshot eyes. He knew they were human, they just looked, well, like they gave up breathing for lent. “These two yours?” Benjamin’s eyes rotated to the Chief. He handed his cigarette to Denny. Denny took a long drag, still watching Ianto. “You want them, you take them.” Chief glanced at his officer who skedaddled to fill in the paperwork. “How you going to move them?” “Tranq.” Nathan sat up. He looked out of it. Still he talked. “Benjamin, Denny, don’t. I do what ever you want. Don’t shoot me.” Denny said, “Well. You have your shoes on.” The Police Chief had no clue what that meant. “What was the fight about?” “Having fun.” Denny waited. He handed the last of the cigarette back to Benjamin. Benjamin took it. “Okay.” Denny said. On a Washington D.C. flight, Ianto and Nathan rode strapped to chairs in the last two rows. Denny sat next to Ianto, Benjamin, Nathan. Nat sat across the aisle. Every fifteen minutes Denny checked Ianto’s eyes, making sure he was still out of it, yet enjoyed touching him. Nathan was as good as his word. He allowed himself to be transported wearing handcuffs and slept most of the flight. “Ianto never spoke nor looked at any of his questioners.” Nat told them, looking as bitch faced as Benjamin and Denny. “Nathan’s driver’s license looked legit, with the name,” she paused, “Nathan Goodman. He asked for Jonathan Lawson, his lawyer.” Nat silently fumed. “FYI Lawson means lawyer.” “He chose that name?” Denny asked looking askance at Nat. “He chose that name on purpose. You can’t tell me he didn’t.” Nat bit off the last word. “He saw your name and said this is good for a laugh.” Benjamin surmised. “What an ass.” Nat mollified a bit, relaxed. “Yeah.” They landed. After everyone departed, the plane taxied to the side where a car and a prison bus waited. The three delivered their prisoners, went home, and slept.
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Denny woke, showered, dressed, ate a bowl of cereal and caught a flight to Bangor where he watched past footage of the private plane landing and refueling. One of the flight crew carried boxes aboard and they took off. What? Denny checked. The guy stayed on the plane. A different crewmen drove the truck away. He interviewed the employee. Shown pictures he identified Thomas. Denny flew to Washington, in time to join Benjamin and Nat at the prison. They watched Jonathan Lawson, in a white suit, shirt and tie, a white briefcase and shoes, sign in with his white pen. “Ya, ya, that was yesterday. Today it’s royal blue. He waits, patiently, until noon, signs in again at one and leaves at four. How many colors do you think he has?” “Let’s see them.” Nat changed the settings on two different monitors. Neither Ianto or Nathan seemed aware of their surroundings. Benjamin gave up. “Let him in. Nathan first.” Jonathan sat opposite Nathan in a conference room. Neither spoke. Standing to leave, Jonathan gave Nathan a hug. A full on bear hug, despite Nathan being chained to the table. Denny watched, pacing. His walking had no meaning behind it. Denny paced frequently, keeping his leg and ribs moving. He informed them Thomas boarded in Bangor. Benjamin was doing much better with ten hours of sleep. “They look like they are having a good time! They’re not talking,” Benjamin protested, “I thought this would work.” “We all did.” Denny answered. Benjamin shook his head and joined Denny in pacing a few steps. He answered his phone. “Okay. Lawson wants to talk to Ianto. He can. Tomorrow.” Nat studied Nathan and Jonathan’s body language. “They’ve known each other for a long time.”
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Jonathan entered the prison, signed in, was led to a conference room, where he removed from his briefcase a red sweater, matching today’s color scheme. He wrapped it around Ianto and stayed hugging him from behind. He pressed his hands over Ianto’s ears. Ianto stood awkwardly, his wrists chained to the table. Mr. Lawson curled one leg around Ianto and sat on the table, the chain between his thighs. Ianto leaned against him, snuggled against his neck. “What’s this?” Denny asked watching the monitor in the next room. “Are they allowed to do that?” Asked Nat. Jonathan kept his hands on Ianto’s head. They kissed several times. Long kisses and snuggled cheek to cheek. He pulled the sweater up and over Ianto’s head and around to his face. “Is he warming him up?” Benjamin stabbed his finger into the desk. “I think so.” Denny answered. Benjamin smirked, “When we watch it later, raise the volume. See if they are whispering under that sweater.” Nat was astounded. “What are we doing? This is illegal. It’s one thing to have me watch body language. It’s another to break client lawyer privilege.” Denny paced. Benjamin leaned back in his chair. Without taking his eyes off Nat he lit up. When Denny came near him he passed over the cigarette. Denny took a long drag and offered it to Nat. Nat noticed he kept the flame end in the cup of his hand. It was a little thing. Keep the enemy from seeing the light in the dark. She had looked, Denny’s file was redacted. Maybe he served. “No. No, thank you.” Denny handed the cigarette back to Benjamin. “Those things will kill you.” “This?” Benjamin snubbed it out in his trash can, carefully. “This is going to kill me? I don’t think so, Nat. Those people. We don’t know who, just yet, but some of them, they are aliens.” Nat’s shoulders dropped. She did a slow blink. She exhaled in a huff and threw up both hands saying, “Doesn’t change anything.” Shaking her head, she dropped her hands to the armrests with a thump and stood to leave. “Whatever this is, I’m out of it.” Denny blocked the door, “Nat. Listen. Please. They are, some of them they are.” “Aliens. I got it. I’m not being a part of this.” She looked back at Benjamin. “Nat. They are not human. They look human. They talk. They walk.” Denny took over, almost pleading, ticking off a list on his fingers. “Nat they’ve admitted they don’t die.” “You believed them?” Denny huffed and continued. “They don’t procreate. They can use telepathy.” She shook her head and faced Benjamin with one hand on her hip. Benjamin unaware he had lit up again, exhaled towards the ceiling. “Some of them. Can. In the past people have died simply by being near them. Particularly Jerry. They keeled over. Dead.” Benjamin sadly explained. Nat studied him. “You really believe it.” Denny nervously laughed, “The truth is there.” He waved at the monitor. “Nat, please. Watch this video. Jerry never touched him. The autopsy showed nothing. He was simply dead. For no apparent reason.” “That’s why we let so few agents near these guys.” Nat returned to her chair. “Wait!” Nat bit off the word, stopping Benjamin from starting a video. “Give me a minute.” She asked, “How many?” Denny sat and waited. Benjamin smoked, then began explaining. “Everyone in the Midnight Gang. We have to assume. The three with the most personal kills are Jerry, Jack and Ianto. Jerry has thankfully sequestered himself in Florida as was Jack until he left. He spent five years or so in a house in San Francisco and then he was incarcerated. Didn’t kill anyone the whole time. Why not? We don’t know.“Then the warden released him and he’s been bouncing all over the US. However, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but the killings haven’t followed him. Then he flew to Europe.” He shrugged, “That leaves us with Ianto. He fled to Europe and then returned with his horsemen. We got Nathan. Sean and Kurt evaded the pickup. So, let’s say six.” “How many have they killed?” “Ianto alone. We count four hundred and thirty two dead. The man’s admitted to eighteen. We have the phone call on file. Jerry, we count five, but we know there is more and Jack, we have no idea. He’s in an area and then we find bodies. He looks like he might be responsible. We have no proof.” “You really believe they are from another planet?” She asked Benjamin. Benjamin shrugged. She looked at Denny. “Ianto Marchogion claimed to be over eight thousand years old.” Nat blinked and coughed. She began a search. “Yeah. Marchogion is welsh. Meaning an excellent horsemen.” “Goodman have any meanings to it?” Denny asked. Nat sighed, “Master of the household.” “That fits. He’s always doing things like he’s in charge, making decisions, yet he seems to be doing things in a way so that everything fits in with what Ianto wants. It’ll be interesting to see them together.” Benjamin queued up the Jerry video. Nat watched Jerry give no notice of the agent crumpling to the ground. Three times she watched it while Benjamin smoked and Denny paced. He offered his pack to Denny. “He almost looks like he’s thinking about something else.” Nat mused. Denny decided he was not a smoker and shook his head, no. He kicked the habit once, he wasn’t going to go through that again. “Okay, play it with sound.” Nat conceded. They upped the volume of the conference room and heard, Ianto’s, “Denny’s listening.” Nat’s eyebrows jumped up. The second time they ran the video Denny hit pause and asked, “Is he smiling?” “He’s doing something. Smiling. Smirking. Laughing. Something.” Denny pressed, play. Jonathan stopped kissing Ianto, “So is Benjamin and Nat. Who’s Nat? Oh, right.” Nat frowned. Ianto whispered, “I asked Jack to not. How long do you think?” “Too long. They’ll notice when Benjamin and Denny die.” “Bring him to me.” Jonathan looked at Ianto, kissed him again, moved off the table and leaving the sweater behind, left the prison. “What?” Denny and Benjamin watched Ianto taken to his cell, the sweater still draped over his shoulders. They looked at each other deciding who was going to visit Ianto. “Okay. Say I believe you. Those sentences have nothing to do with each other. I asked Jack to not, what? How long until what?” Nat asked, feeling peculiar. “Agreed.” Said Denny. Benjamin looked down at his hands. “I don’t believe they are going to kill us. I believe they are saying we will live out our lives and die of old age and Ianto believes he’ll still be incarcerated and he is wondering, will anyone notice he’s not aged?” “Who is there, that Jonathan can bring to Ianto?” “Could be anyone.”
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Denny and Nat headed to the prison. When they returned with an envelope Benjamin asked, “What?”, with his eyebrows. “You’re not going to believe this.” Denny inserted a stick. “I have the raw data and an edited version.” “Cut to the chase.” Benjamin was a tad irritated. “Okay. Now, understand we watched most of this with the head guard beside us. He saw nothing.” Denny talking with his hands again, sounded amazed, “Benjamin, Nat waved her hand in front of his face.” He looked at Nat. She added, “He kept staring at the screen. Like he was watching it. He wasn’t seeing anything!” Benjamin knew it. Something was going on. He gritted his teeth and waved. Denny started the video. “None of the guards saw the sweater. Not one.” “Anything else?” Lips compressed in some sort of failure, Denny shook his head, no. “Thank you.” Denny and Nat left Benjamin. Denny needed a minute. He hid in the bathroom. Reading emails he learned Ms. Goodman was assigned to meet Ianto next. He returned to his office and played with a pencil. He suddenly stopped and worked straight through until Benjamin knocked and opened the door. “Tomorrow.” Benjamin was saying goodbye. “Um, I’ve been looking up.” Denny held his index finger up, briefly. Benjamin sat in the guest seat six feet away. “Twice Ianto went to San Quentin prison to visit Jack. Jacky went a handful of times in one week. Mason went, too. Once. The records state they visited Jack, no last name. We know this, we checked at the time.” He looked up from his screen. Benjamin waited. “Jack went through several cell mates. We checked them out, also. The last one, when everyone started visiting him, was Michael Thompson. What I never noticed was Michael Thompson was released the same day as Jack. Doesn’t seem too important. Also, we never interviewed Mr. Thompson.” He returned to typing. “This is Jack’s entry photo. He has no exit photo. He looks the same to me.” “To me, too.” “Here is Michael Thompson’s entry and exit photo.” They looked at the young male on the left. On the right his hair was long and pulled back in a low ponytail. “Look at the eyebrows.” “They’ve been plucked.” “And the smile? Okay. Maybe it’s more of an expression of anticipation. And this is what I’ve spent most of my day on.” A camera on the prison’s wall recorded two cars entering and parking. The men from the cars looked like lawyers. Denny stopped it and pulled up an enlargement. “Who do we know wears matchy matchy outfits?” They said at the same time, “Jonathan Lawson.” Benjamin smiled for the first time that day. “Yeah.” Denny pressed fast forward. “Then the coach arrives and waits until, there he is, Jack.” “Hard to say that’s him.” “Look at the bus sign.” They looked at JACK above the windshield. Ianto ran over to Jack and wrapped him in his long coat. “See how that looks?” “Ianto’s carrying.” “He is. And the sign?” JACQUELINE took the place of JACK. “I’m fast forwarding here, It takes about twenty five minutes before out walks, Ianto and Jack. He shaved, but kept his hair on the long side.” “It’s definitely him. And they brought him shoes and a suit.” “Yes and Michael Thompson comes out, followed by Jonathan Lawson who drives away and there is Anna giving everyone, what looks like champagne. I love this next part.” Michael Thompson dropped the glass and kissed Jack. “Definitely, Jack and this must be the mysterious Jacqueline.” Said Benjamin, happily. Jack and Jacqueline boarded the bus followed by Ianto and Anna. The driver cleaned up the broken glass. The bus exited the prison parking lot. “Did you recognize Anna? The one we call, the waitress. And the driver is Thomas.” “You spent time during your recovery with them.” “I did. They said, “Ianto is a failure at love.” So, here is an enlargement of Ianto on the left, then Jack, as he’s being kissed by Jacqueline, then we have Anna. Look at those faces. I printed off copies.” Denny handed one each to Benjamin. “It’s all right there.” “I think Ianto is looking at Jacqueline. Not Jack.” “Jack and Jacqueline met in prison. Cellmates, no less. Long story short, I believe they end up sleeping in Ianto’s spare bedroom.” Benjamin took a deep breath. “Ianto sleeps with Banker? Jack sleeps with Michael, now Jacqueline, who had surgery. That’s why the “other” people, he did finger quotes, “Can’t find her.” “Yes. Her records state she’s Michael, a boy.” “Who’s sleeping with the unnamed Maid?” “Don’t know. However, several enter and stay the night.” “Make a list.” Denny nodded. “Anything else?” “Somewhere along the way, Jacqueline definitely had surgery. Here is a photo taken outside a nightclub.” Jacqueline had been twirled around, just after exiting a limo outside a nightclub. “A newspaper published this and they cropped out this man. Look at the watch. I think that is Banker twirling her. And the limo. That man shutting the door. I think that is Ianto. And this man at the edge of the frame. That’s Nathan. Look at her neck. She had surgery. “So, why spend all this time on this? Because the people labeled the “Others” had no problem beating me up, looking for her. Also, they don’t seem to know she was born male. The newspaper gave her name as Michelle Thomas.” “Close.” “Yeah. I am hoping to use this information when we interview Ianto. Get him to crack and finally prosecute him and his gang for having killed over four hundred people.” “Four hundred and thirty two.” “Across the United States over the past six decades.” “Or more.” “Or more in other countries.” “Good job.” “Thank you, Sir.”
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Ianto ignored Nat Goodman, the same way he ignored everyone else. Denny watching from the observation room quietly asked Benjamin, “Ianto told us to not tell anyone. About him. Are we placing Nat in danger?” “I hope not. She has a different way of seeing.” Denny nodded in acceptance, yet he worried. He felt it may come to a point she’d have to be protected from Ianto. Nat came back with an interesting insight. “Is Ianto drugged?” Denny shook his head, no. “No.” Benjamin answered and immediately ran the possible scenarios involving Mr. Marchogion and his access to drugs. “No.” “Yeah. He’s disassociated. He’s almost not aware of where he is, or what’s going on around him. He does small hand movements, twitches, as if he’s responding to what he’s thinking. Also, he moves his mouth, tiny movements as if he’s speaking to someone or daydreaming a conversation.”The two men exchanged a look. Benjamin asked, “How exactly might it look when he speaks telepathically?” “Yeah. Did we learn how he coerced the guards into letting him keep the sweater?” “They were not coerced.” Nat wasn’t getting the whole telepathic aspect. Denny jumped in. “You were with me. We watched the guard stare at the screen. Not seeing what was in front of him. We believe that was the telepathy.” Nat paused for quite a while watching Ianto chained to the table. “Yeah. Is it possible Ianto is here, at this time, for a reason?” “You mean is he’s here, hunting someone?” “Yeah. Or he’s waiting for someone to arrive?” Both men looked perturbed.
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Ianto wearing the red sweater under his shirt, chained to the table continued to look vacantly at his hands. He smelled the cologne and soap of the two men who entered the room. “Hello, Ianto.” Ianto waited. “It’s me, Benjamin.” Who? More soldiers who want to talk? He’s the guy who’s been watching me for a few years. Oh, he’s the offspring. “Please look at me. You know me.” Benjamin waited, then nodded to Denny and left. Denny had taken care prepping and wore the same clothing and cologne as on the day they went for coffee at Ianto’s. He set down a stack of photographs. “This photograph is you, me and Benjamin. There is your bus, excuse me, your coach. We didn’t eat together at Spenger’s, but you paid our bill. Did you pay our bill? Or was that Nathan?” Denny was keeping his voice low and even. Ianto vaguely remembered Spenger’s. Tina had died. She never wanted to live with us, or any of the Others either, yet she did the right thing when she found Jacky. Who killed her? He had a strong desire to avenge her death. The guy was still talking. Another watcher. He’s older now. Ianto had a strong desire to wrestle with him. “Here’s you and me on the roadside. You had Benjamin stand over by that tree. The police took that photo. They also arrested the carjackers. Here’s a better one.”A camera on a tripod from some distant rooftop, took a picture of the men standing in Ianto’s living room window watching a sunrise. He kept his eyes on Ianto, only looking down to point. “This is Benjamin and me. And you, Nathan, Sean. All we needed was Kurt and we’d have a nice picture of the horsemen.” Ianto blinked. “Kip, from your garage. Behind him is Accountant. He’s hard to see. And that dim form I believe is Banker. The man you married. All this time I thought you intended to marry Jacqueline.” All this knowledge about us. He must be higher up in rank. Ianto vaguely remembered the day the photo was taken. “Don’t worry. Your wedding ring is locked up.” He has my ring! Ianto wanted to get him in a choke hold and demand to have it back. “On the inside it’s inscribed I, for Ianto?” He maneuvered a photo of Ianto in a club and another of Banker leaving the club. “B for Banker.” Ianto’s gaze moved from his ringless finger to Banker’s photo. Damien where are you? “He’s handsome in slacks and sweater. Quite different from his usual suits.” Denny observed and waited until Ianto returned to looking at his hands. I’ve not seen Damien in those clothes. Damien. I married him. I married Mason. He tried asking Jack. ‘Where is Damien?’ And got no answer. ‘Jack? Jerry? Warren?’ Warren answered, ‘Hi, Ianto.’ ‘Where is Damien?’ ‘Damien is safe in New York with me, and Jim.’ ‘Jack, where are you?’ ‘He was in California.’ “J for Jacqueline.” Continued Denny oblivious to the internal conversation going on in Ianto. ‘Where is Jacqueline?’ ‘Transportation has her in San Francisco. Where? What are you doing?’ ‘The man is showing me a picture of Jacqueline. From a newspaper.’ With a sudden stab of insight Denny added, “And M for Mason.” Ianto looked at himself driving a red convertible, Mason next to him and two girls in the back seat. Ianto’s thoughts placed him in that moment. He did not recognize the females and knew they were gone the next moment. They had parked. Mason wanted to kiss him. ‘Am I in Jack’s dream world?’ ‘No.’ ‘Where am I?’ ‘With Nathan and Denny in Washington.’ Agent Denny reached over and placed his hand on Ianto’s, it was icy cold. ‘Where is Nathan?’ ‘Nathan is in the same jail. Sean is in San Francisco. Watching Jacqueline. She’s with Marena.’ Denny took off his jacket and placed it around Ianto’s shoulders. He started pacing. He stopped beside Ianto as when they’d flown in the helicopter. ‘This man keeps touching me.’ ‘Agent Denny.’ Said Warren. “Agent Denny.” Said Ianto aloud. “Yes, Ianto?” Denny replied. ‘Why do you love him?’ “Why?” “Why, what?” Denny asked softly. “Why are you here?” Ianto asked Denny as if he’d just arrived. “To thank you. Thank you, Ianto, for rescuing me.” When did that happen? Denny gave Ianto time to look at the photos. Ianto looked at Banker’s picture. The one with the slacks hugging his ass. ‘Denny is the one you rescued from the Others. Before you were shot. Benjamin and Nat Goodman are listening to you talking to Denny.’ “Thank you, for the nurse you hired.” Denny continued to pace, hoping Ianto remembered. “You brought me home from the hospital.” I was in the hospital. “Busta helped me in my recovery after those Other people beat me.” He hoped the pacing forced Ianto to keep his attention on him. “I was,” he laughed, “surprised when you insisted I sleep with you.” I what? “With Nathan. Kurt and Sean slept on the floor. I didn’t know you liked to have a bedmate.” Ianto looked at Agent Denny carefully. “I was cold and you moved me to the middle of the bed. Thank you, Ianto.” Denny paused, as if thinking. “I was surprised when Sean dived into the ocean. To retrieve your shotgun. The one Nathan threw into the water.” Denny sat. Ianto’s eyes flicked up to him briefly. “Thank you, Ianto, for picking me up at the hospital and taking me home. I was surprised when you returned. Kurt told me, to not say I was being tortured unless I was.” Ianto’s eyes finally met Denny’s. “Ianto, you have no idea who I am, do you?” Ianto’s mouth opened and closed. “You are Agent Denny.”Denny’s eyes narrowed. “Ianto. What am I going to do with you? You kissed me. I was alone, in the dark, in the forest, chased by those Other people, with a broken leg, and you found me. You gave me food and water. You told me a helicopter was coming for me.” Denny stood to leave. He took back his coat. “Before I left I saw you fighting off people.” He sat and waited for their eyes to meet.“Agent Denny.”“What happened to you that you forgot me?”Ianto sat up straighter and took a deep breath, “They tell me I was shot.”“Who shot you?”“I don’t know. I know they shot me in the head.” He paused remembering what he’d been told. “Miss me?”“Little bit.”“Did you visit me?”“While you recovered in some hospital somewhere in Europe?”“Oh.”“During a pandemic? With all the airports shut down?””Anything else?”“England has a new King. So, there’s that.”“Elizabeth died?”“Yes. Did you ever meet her?”“No. We stay away from leaders. Governments. You get remembered. Why am I here?”“You murdered people. And you admitted you did. Do you remember?” Ianto shook his head, no, slowly. “So, now we’re here.”
“This is a rather beautiful prison. As prisons go. Warren? Do I have to stay here?” ‘For the nonce. Ahlor joined up with a handful of Others and is attempting a coup.’ Ianto laughed. “What did he say?” “That, I love you and I have to stay.” Agent Goodman froze. Agent Benjamin was relieved. He asked for Ianto to be returned to his cell. Agent Denny took a moment shuffling his pictures before he stood and looked at the mirrored window. “Let’s have Ianto keep these pictures. Maybe they’ll jog his memory.” “Excellent.” Said Benjamin using the intercom. “Hi, Agent Benjamin and Nat Goodman.” “Hello.” They replied. Denny leaned forward, “Ianto, she’s also an agent.” “Oh. Sorry. Hello, Agent Nat Goodman.” “Hello, Mister Ianto Marchogion.” Ianto smiled at the mirror.
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Jack left. The next morning Banker joined Jacqueline at breakfast with ten to fifteen other people. He kissed her hand saying, “I wish you’d travel with me to New York.” “Why are you leaving?” Jacqueline looked at Secretary and his wife. Obviously they traveled with him. She wondered who else was going and decided, no, she was doing what she wanted to do. “Warren. He has business I need to attend to, in a timely manner.” He paused. They looked at each other. He didn’t love her the same way as Ianto. “It is beautiful up north. Check out Olympia and Vancouver.” “Have you been?” “No.” He reluctantly let go and left, followed by Secretary, of course, his wife, (who no longer wore wigs), Kurt, and three linguists. Jacqueline enjoyed her coffee. What was she going to do? Marena smiled. “Walk the bridge?” She asked. “You really want to walk that bridge.” “Yes. With you.” Since she didn’t have anything she really wanted to do, she gave in, “Okay.” Thomas drove with Sean shotgun. Along the way he pointed out the waiting area, for them to find him after they finished walking the length. He let them off on the far side of the bridge. Marena was delighted. “This way we have the view of the city as we walk.” “Marena?” “Yes?” “Is this why you suggested I buy this winter coat?” “Of course. You’ll get lots use out of it this winter. Unless you decide to head south for the winter. Like a bird.” She grinned impishly. Jacqueline was relieved they were no where near either edge. Traffic was safely over there, down below the sidewalk and fences kept her from feeling like she might be blown off by the wind and into the water. “San Francisco is so beautiful.”“It looks like they built it like that just so we could have this beautiful view.”“Look how far down the water is.”“Look at the waves.”“Look how long the bridge is.”“Look how far up the towers go.”“Look at that boat! I know it’s huge, but from here it looks so small.”“Yet! You can see everything.”Sean smiled, they sounded like typical tourists. He was giving the girls their ‘space’ as he followed them. He too enjoyed walking the span. Seeing long forgotten views. He liked the latest suspension bridge with lights strung on it’s wires swooping across the bay to Treasure Island. Angel Island and the big one, he forgot the name, with it’s wreck of a mean looking building. He missed Kurt. Kurt would have remembered the name. He wondered at the Berkeley pier reduced to a little stub. He kept his coat open, both hands in his pockets, holding his smaller pistol at the ready. Just in case of a drive by shooting. Not that he expected anything to happen, but he missed first Ianto and Nathan when the were arrested. Then Jack and now Kurt went with Banker back to New York. Most of the linguists headed for the library at Stanford, taking the train. Their idea of a vacation. They are studying fools. He thought back to when they helped stock the library at the Vatican. Then because of “politics” they adruptly wanted to leave. Ianto had them take a ship. Sean smiled. He stopped smiling. If Jacqueline decided to fly anywhere, he was going to be in a spot finding her a plane and a pilot. He’d discuss it with Thomas and Sally when she returned from ferrying Banker’s people.“Sean, take our picture. Please?” The name Alcatraz popped into his thoughts as he complied. In the end, he needn’t have worried. Marena kept Jacqueline occupied all over the city, particularly at the restaurants.
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The most hoped for and unexpected event happened. Ianto’s bedmate curious about the pictures led to Ianto explaining and remembering. Days later, Ianto flipped through the stack repeatedly. He placed them in a different order. “It’s time.” Nat said, “He remembers. What happened to his clothes? It looks like he’s wearing an orange suit.” Benjamin scowled. Denny laughed and explained. “Jonathan has an assistant, one of Ianto’s tailors. Every visit Ianto gets clean clothes and food.” “Is that allowed?” Benjamin scowled, “Don’t think so.” Denny added, “It’s always from a restaurant. In their packaging. The guards check it.” Benjamin closed his eyes and shook his head, “Yep. The things that man gets away with. Denny, your turn to interview the creamsicle.” Ianto’s eyes fixated on Denny. “Hi, Agent Denny. How did you fare during the apocalypse?” Denny studied Ianto. This was a very different Ianto from his last visit. The man was wearing cologne! From where? In an instant he guessed the tailor or Jonathan doused the fabric. “People dying in the streets?” “We refer to it as a pandemic. The government’s of the world worked together and shut down borders, made vaccine’s and everyone stayed home for a couple of years. The death toll was under ten million instead of an estimated seven to eight hundred million. The hospitals worked triple time, so no, nobody dropped in the streets.” Ianto nodded, “It’s over?” “Yes. And no. The virus mutates, becoming different.” Ianto raised his eyebrows a fraction. “Basically, it means I’ll be getting two flu vaccines every November and I’ve chosen to keep wearing a mask. You don’t seem worried.” “Thank you, for telling me.” “Do you ever get sick?” “No.” “I looked at the obvious gunfire in your kitchen, the effects of an explosion. Knowing you had been there.” “Well, Denny, now that you have me where you want me, what are you going to do with me?” Denny looked at him steadily and decided Ianto was being adversarial. He changed his line of questioning. He decided he’d sound nonchalant. “May we discuss a few of your past misdeeds?” “You sound so, I don’t know, professional. I thought we’re friends.” Benjamin watching the monitor grew a grin. Sounding far more easygoing Ianto repeated himself in Welsh. “Wel, Denny, nawr bod gen ti fi lle rwyt ti eisiau fi, beth wyt ti'n mynd i'w wneud â mi?” Ianto had leaned forward onto his forearms as he spoke. He quickly pulled his hips to the side and onto the table and shifted his legs to the other side of the table. A little awkwardly he sat in the chair next to Denny. He shifted the chain. Benjamin’s smile was gone. Nat asked, “Okay! Has anyone done that before?” Benjamin held up a finger, listening. “Cusanu fi.” “In English, please.” Ianto moved a fraction closer. “Kiss me, Denny.” “You know I have a first name.” “Mae'n siŵr eich bod chi'n gwneud hynny.” “English. Please.” Ianto rolled his eyes, thinking. He moved slightly closer almost hugging Denny except with his one arm in the way. The chain rattled. “You sure do,” and corrected himself with a twitch of his head, “Sure, you do.” Benjamin irate ordered, “Break this up. Now!” “My name is Robert.” Ianto finished for him. “James Denny.” “I thought you didn’t know.” “I thought you wanted to be called Denny. I like Denny.” Two guards entered and unlocked Ianto. “Robert.” Ianto said as he was led away. “Robby. Bobby. Rod!” Benjamin irate again said somewhat exasperatedly, “Okay, he remembers. He is enjoying himself too much, get him out of this private wing and in with Gen Pop I want to see him and Nathan together. I want it on film. What they say,” he looked at Nat, “And how they say it.”
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“Jack.” Ianto said, as Jack pulled out most of his hair ties, “Again we meet in prison.” Jack bowed his head. Jonathan ignored them and unpacked lunch.“Ready?” Jack asked. He straddled Ianto. Ianto was cold. After a good long hug Ianto stood and let Jack down.Jack got comfy on the table in between Ianto’s arms. He wrapped his legs around Ianto. Ianto pulled out the last hair tie and ran his fingers in Jack’s hair. Jonathan steadily worked in the quiet room while Ianto kissed Jack on the lips, cheeks, eyes, gripping his hair, pulling Jack’s head backward down towards the table and kissed his neck and shoulder. Jonathan continued to ignore them. Ianto ate with Jack sitting on him, straddling him, again. When he was done eating Jack gave him a shave. He moved down to his chest, then helped Ianto change his clothes. They kissed. Running his fingers up and down the buttons he teased. “Orange you glad I’m here?” Nobody said anything for a while, then Jack said, “Keep you looking proper.” In the guard station Denny paced behind Benjamin, Nat and the Warden, who insisted on being with them, as they watched the screens. Denny’s hands settled on his hips, “That’s Jack.”Benjamin angrily wanted to confront the Warden. How was the lawyer visiting again, before the room change? Nat considered the shave, as something akin to having sex. When Ianto was ready, Jonathan packed up and left with Jack. Ianto waited wearing a new shirt. Which had been tailored to look more like a suit coat. The Warden stood and huffed, “You said, “If a man named Jack ever shows up to call you immediately.” This is the Jack you’re looking for? This is the one we don’t approach under any circumstances?”“Do not approach him.” Benjamin reminded him. Denny butted in.“We don’t have anything on Jack. He can come and go as he pleases.” He knew Benjamin did not want a verbal battle with the Warden. Nat took up the conversation.“Be thankful he left the building and nothing happened. Um, yeah. Warden please supervise Ianto returning to his cell.” Warden eyed her.Benjamin stood next to Denny. Nat joined them. In a united front they waited for Warden to comply. Denny again explained.“We need actual eyes on him. From someone who’s not easily manipulated.” Agent Benjamin added, “We have a real fear. Unbelievable that it sounds. We believe the guards might walk Ianto right out the building, without ever remembering having done it.” Warden did as they asked wishing the Bees would leave.The agents watched as Warden and several guards escorted Ianto to his cell.“Replay it with sound. Before Warden returns.” Benjamin requested. Ianto’s door was shut and locked. Benjamin groaned, “He put him in the old cell.”Denny started the replay.Nat kept a close eye on Jonathan and Jack as they returned to the coach outside. Unknown to the agents Jack ate and slept, then he joined Ianto and listened in and watched Ianto’s conversations.Benjamin looked at Nat, “Well?” “They look different. See? They look tired.” She ran one video back. They watched Jack exiting the building, Jonathan and Tom helped him in the coach. They returned to the camera in Ianto’s cell. He looked like he was sleeping. His roommate wandered around. Ianto lifted the cover and the two men slept together. “Bunnies and babies. Stay. I’ll talk to the warden.” Benjamin left them.“What did they do, Nat?” Denny copied the video on a stick and watched it again.“From what you’ve said about thinking outside the box. Yeah. They look like they had a conversation the whole time Jack is sitting on him. That sitting on the table, that looks like an after, conversation. Almost an after sex conversation. See how Ianto plays with his hair?” “Lovey, dovey.”“Yeah.” They watched it again. Denny shook his head, with his lips compressed. “What? Denny?”“I’m angry.” Denny looked at the ceiling. “Remember those old pictures of Ianto? I decided he was looking at the camera with fondness?” Nat nodded. “I think this thing between Ianto and Jack has been going on for a long time. Right in front of us, and we never noticed.” He sat up straight and looked at Nat. “I guess I feel stupid for not noticing. What do you think?”“Yeah. They have an easy familiarity with each other. Watch it again. Watch their hands. Jack touches Ianto almost everywhere. Yet, at the very beginning he lets Ianto wrap his arms around him and they’re not talking. That’s a cuddle. That’s a hi, honey, miss me? And Ianto replies, yes I did, by wrapping his arms around Jack.”