Title: The Sun Shines Anyway
Author: Neyne
Rating: PG
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or any of these characters. I just play with them.
Summary: Summer afternoons never really change. People do.
Note: For the horizonssing challenge.

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon;
to me those have always been the two most
beautiful words in the English language."

-Henry James

The sun was shining. Kids chased each other across the Plass, fighting with water pistols and more than once managing to hit an unlucky, and soon very wet passer-by. A young couple stood nearby, holding hands and talking quietly. Another family passed them, arguing about where to go next while – unsuccessfully – trying to keep an eye on their children. It seemed like the hot summer weather lured everyone out of their homes.

Amongst them stood a tall, handsome man. Despite the heat he was wearing his usual greatcoat, leaning against the railing and overlooking the bay. He held a small, black device in his hands.

Jack used to like coming here, a long time ago. Not much seemed to have changed – the people were still their usual, annoying selves; only that they weren't the same people anymore. They were different, new; and sometimes, Jack hated them for it. Sighing, he pressed the tiny button on top of the device. The world blurred around him.

~*~

Ianto laughed, snatching Jack's hand as they walked along the bay.

“You're kidding!”

“No! He's probably still down there looking for his mobile.”

“He could always ask Tosh to trace it,” Ianto pointed out.

Jack shook his head. “You know Owen, he'd rather spend a night in a Weevil cell than ask Tosh for help.”

“Too bad for him.” They were silent for a moment before bursting out laughing.

Jack only stopped when he spotted something at the far end of the road. “Ice Cream!,” he yelled. Before Ianto even realized what was going on, he was already being dragged towards a small ice cream parlour.

They stopped short though, only a few meters away. The parlour was packed with tourists, a large queue in front of it. Apparently they were not the only ones enjoying the summer afternoon.

“Awesome,” Jack muttered, looking disappointed.

“We can always go somewhere else,” Ianto suggested.

“Or we can do this.” Again, Ianto had no time to react as Jack pulled out his Torchwood ID and entered the parlour. It took less than a minute for him to reappear, holding two plastic bowls with chocolate ice cream.

“There you go,” he said triumphantly.

“You do know you're abusing your authority.”

Jack grinned. “But it's so worth it.”

~*~

Jack blinked, looking down at the device. A green light appeared a few more times, before going out as well, taking the remains of the memory with it. A single tear rolled down his cheek, but no-one was there to notice, he was, once again, alone.

Furiously rubbing his eyes, he glanced down at his watch. He was late.

The woman at the reception looked up when someone entered, smiling as she recognized Jack.

“You know where to find him.”

Jack nodded. He didn't even pay attention to where he was going – he'd been here so many times, that the way was more than familiar. Down the corridor next to the reception, two turns left, and there it was. The simple, white door with a small sign next to it: Ianto Jones.

He knocked twice before entering, getting no response. The man in the bed was asleep, his face seeming even more old and pale than usual as bright sunlight filled the room. He woke up when Jack sat down beside him and took his hand.

“Good afternoon,” Jack smiled.

“Uhm..hello.” Ianto rubbed his eyes, slightly frowning at him. “I'm sorry, may I ask who you are?”

Jack bit his lip. It surely wasn't the first time this happened, but it hurt nonetheless. “It's Jack, remember?”

“Jack...” His expression remained neutral for a moment, then suddenly lightened up. “Jack! God, I'm so sorry, I should have recognized you.”

Jack shook his head. “It's okay. Really.”

“But it isn't,” Ianto sighed, letting himself fall back against the pillows. He couldn't look at Jack, so he looked out of the window instead.

“It's summer,” he muttered sadly. “I wish I could go outside.”

“Me too.”

“And you should. It's not worth it, spending a summer afternoon in here.”

“Ianto...”

“I mean it. I don't want you staying here all the time, you have your own life.”

“And you are part of it.”

“I was part of it,” Ianto corrected him, turning around to look at his former boss. “But that's over now. You have to let go, please.”

“What if I can't.”

“You don't have much of a choice, Jack. I'm sorry. Please, just...go.”

Jack looked like he had been slapped. Slowly, he stood up. With a few, rapid strides he was across the room, not looking back at Ianto, or the small, black device he had placed on his bedside table. The door slammed shut behind him.

The sun was still shining when he exited the building, blinding him as he let his tears fall. He didn't understand how the sun could be shining like nothing had happened, like nothing ever happened. And yet it did. Jack used to love summer afternoons. He wasn't sure whether he still could.