emeraldsnakes

Summary: There comes a time in every Sentinel’s life when their immortality is revealed. When 21st Century Earth is the epicenter of the change that will decide the survival of the human race, what kind of consequences affect those who are preparing for the change as this immortality is revealed amongst one of their own? Is Torchwood really ready?

Title: Perfectly Wrong
Words: 933

"So," Tosh said, drawing the word out. "What is it?"

It was a strange box with an intricate writing design completely covering it. It had appeared from nowhere, or at least they couldn't figure out where because they'd all come in that morning to find it sitting on Tosh's desk. The Rift monitors hadn't detected its arrival either, Jack and Ianto would have heard it while they were fooling around in the room below Jack's office.

"It's nothing the Ancients have encountered," Ianto replied. "I can check the archives to see if I can find any similarities."

"It's just a box," Owen said walking towards them. "Open it."

He got annoyed looks from everyone and just shrugged in response, "What?"

Ianto shook his head, "I'll be in the archives."

He left quickly, smiling to himself as he heard Jack remind Owen exactly why they didn't just open things without first making sure it wasn't dangerous. Trust Owen to need that lecture again, he always tended to be using devices without knowing exactly what they did.

He spent nearly an hour going through the section of the archives where they kept everything that didn't have a race identified to it. He found nothing. There were no artifacts with similar markings. It was completely new and hopefully not dangerous.

As he was entering the main area of the Hub he immediately knew something was off. He couldn't really place it, but the atmosphere of the area had shifted.

"Ah, Ianto," he heard Owen say to his left. "Could you get me some coffee please?"

Ianto's eyes widened as he turned to stare at the doctor in shock. Never had he heard the man be polite, it wasn't Owen so why had he started now? Then he noticed that Owen looked different.

"When did you get glasses?" he asked, freaked out by them. He hadn't realized Owen even needed them.

Owen frowned, "I've always had them."

Ianto shrugged and went to make the coffee, knowing that if Owen wanted coffee the others would too. It was always that way. If one griped the others would soon follow and he only reserved denying them their caffeine intake for threats.

"Can I get one?"

Ianto spun around, startled by the strange voice and saw a red haired man standing in the doorway.

"Who are you?" he asked warily, ready to draw one of his hidden knives.

Had no one else noticed their intruder and if they had, why hadn't he been told? Or was he the only one that could see him? It wouldn't be a first but a seemingly human being asking for coffee didn't make sense if this was a ghost.

The man smiled and walked towards him. "Are you okay Ianto?"

Ianto raised a hand, "Stay where you are."

Blood was rushing through his veins as he tried to figure out what was going on. This just made no sense to him, how did the alien know his name. He was cornered, the only way he could get out was to go through the alien and he wasn't about to do that even if he was more superior.

The alien stopped and raised his hands, "Are you sure you're okay mate? I just want to help."

"You can help by getting the fuck out of Torchwood and back to wherever you call home," Ianto replied.

"I'm a member of Torchwood Ianto," the man said walking forward again.

Ianto frowned, "No you're not. You've never been."

He flinched as the man touched his arm, "I'm Adam, remember."

Laughter in the Hub. The team running around as they played basketball. Catching Adam and Tosh in one of the archive rooms. Adam teasing him about his relationship with Jack. Adam here, Adam there. Adam, Adam, Adam.

Ianto moaned and squeezed his eyes shut, bringing his hand to his forehead. He had a killer head ach for no reason. The glaring light wasn't helping either.

"You okay?" Adam asked concerned.

Ianto nodded, "I'll just finish the coffee, then take some asprin and a break. I'm fine Adam."

Adam nodded and left. Once he was sure he was gone Ianto leaned on the counter and closed his eyes again. Something had affected him and it wasn't something common or human. There was still something wrong with the Hub, he could feel it although for some reason it felt more normal.

He delivered the coffees as Gwen arrived and he found it strange that she seemed quite convinced when she 'joked' about not knowing Adam. Something was definitely off but he dismissed it as he went up to Jack's office and burrowed into the couch.

He heard Jack com in several minutes later, "Ianto?"

"No," Ianto moaned, pressing his face deeper into the cushions but not enough to make him unable to breathe.

Jack chuckled, walking closer to him. "Wanna...er, talk about it?"

"No."

He didn't hear anything from Jack and was about to turn his head in curiosity when he felt Jack's weight drop on him.

"Jack!" he moaned loudly, "Get off."

Jack chuckled and thrust his hips. "Really?"

Ianto glared up at him, "You know what I meant now go away. I have a head ach."

"Do you need anything?" Jack asked concerned.

"No, just give me a bit and it'll go away."

Jack kissed the back of his neck, shifted so that most of his weight was no longer on Ianto and rested his head on Ianto's shoulder. Ianto breathed in the 51st century pheromones and closed his eyes in content. This was perfect.

Chapter Eighteen