Almost Perfect

CAPTAIN JACK, CAPTAIN JACK, GET OFF YOUR BACK, GO INTO TOWN, DON’T LET US DOWN. OH NO, NO.

Jack was waiting impassively for the invisible lift when Ianto caught up with him.

‘I have to go. Don’t follow me, Ianto. This is all my fault.’ Jack was grim.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I made a mistake,’ said Jack. ‘I caused all this. I’ll either be back in an hour, or not at all.’ He shrugged. ‘But hey – you know me. I’m tough.’

‘Don’t be bloody rubbish.’

Jack stepped onto the platform, which started its upward glide. Rain was pouring down around him.

Straining to see him, Ianto tried to jump up on tiptoe and felt foolish.

‘You can’t just go!’ he protested, amazed at how high his voice went. ‘You can’t just run off like this!’

He could just see Jack, staring back down, giving him a look. It was a look that didn’t belong with the smile that forced its way across his face.

‘Jack!’ screamed Ianto as Jack started to vanish through the ceiling.

He just caught Jack’s voice, floating back down to him.

‘Check the energy cloud, Ianto. It’s building up – and there’s about a day before it goes off the scale.’ And then he was gone.