Hi all!
This is the first part of a new three/four part story.
Just to warn - it's heavy in Jack/Gwen and Tosh/Owen ships, so if you don't like, don't read!
xoxoxo
The Torchwood hub was empty. Or, so Jack thought. He was just about to go down to his living quarters when Gwen walked through his office door.
"Gwen. How can I help you at," Jack checked his watch, "1am?"
Gwen smiled. It was obvious that she had been crying. "I just...I needed someone to talk to, Jack. I'm sorry, I couldn't think of where else to go."
Jack motioned to Gwen to sit down and sat back down himself. "What's up?"
"It's Rhys. He left me, Jack. I walked into the flat this evening and he had his bags all packed and was ready to go. He just said 'this isn't working any more, Gwen. I've found someone else. I'm sorry.' And he left, just like that."
"I'm sorry, Gwen. Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need some time off?"
Gwen half smiled. "Just be here for me, Jack." She stood up, and Jack stood up with her. "Hold me, Jack.
Jack held her close to him. Tears started to fall down her cheeks, as she made Jack hold her closer still.
"Shh, everything's going to be ok. Shh."
"It's not, Jack. What am I supposed to do? Rhys was my life; he was the only thing I had in my life which didn't relate to Torchwood. Now, this place is the only thing I have in my life." Jack said nothing, he just held her close. "God, I feel like I'm turning into Tosh!" Gwen laughed slightly.
Jack smiled. "Listen to me. Don't talk that way. You're young; you have plenty of time to find someone just as good as Rhys."
Gwen smiled. "Yeah, like I get the chance to go out hunting guys with this place."
"Gwen, take a look at yourself. You're gorgeous. Trust me; any guy would be lucky to have you."
"Jack, you'll make me start crying again!"
Jack hugged her. "Hey, go home, get some sleep, and come back in tomorrow morning, bright and ready for work. And then, tomorrow night, I'll take you out. We'll paint the town red and find you someone to help you get over Rhys."
Gwen smiled and walked to the door, turning back before she leaves. "Thanks, Jack. Oh and Jack, and, get some new catchphrases." They both laughed as she left the hub.
The next night, Gwen got herself glammed up and went back to the Torchwood hub to meet Jack. She knocked on the office door and entered. Jack turned and looked at her. She was dressed in an ankle-length red dress which had a slit up one side and showed off her legs.
"Wow! You scrub up well!"
Gwen smiled, looking at Jack in his tux. "No so bad yourself." She held out her arm. "Shall we?"
Jack took her arm and led her out into the Cardiff nightlife.
A couple of hours later, Jack and Gwen were in one of Cardiff's top nightclubs.
"I can't believe you got us in here, Jack! This is the best club in Cardiff!"
Jack smiled. "Call it a privilege for helping to save the world."
Jack ordered in some drinks and took Gwen to the dancefloor. Half an hour later, Jack left Gwen on her own on the dancefloor when he went to visit the little boys' room. She was dancing to herself when a guy came up to her and started dancing with her. At first, she didn't mind, but then he started to get touchy-feely.
"Oi, get off me!"
The guy didn't listen, and kept on dancing with her. Gwen struggled, trying to get him away from her, but he kept a firm grip on her waist, as he tried to get one of his hands up her dress. Meanwhile, Jack came from out of the restrooms and started looking for Gwen. He spotted her trying to get away from the guy and charged over. Jack tapped the guy on the shoulder.
"Hey, I think the lady wants you to go."
"What you on about, mate? We're having fun here."
The guy turned back around and attempted to kiss Gwen. Jack grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from her.
"What’s your problem, mate?"
"You picked on the wrong woman tonight, mate. Now, I was in a pretty good mood, but you just ruined the atmosphere in here. Now, you're gonna clear outta here and leave me and this lady to our drinks."
Jack turned to go back to the bar, but the guy punched him in the head. Jack turned back round.
"You picked on the wrong guy tonight."
Jack punched him back, knocking him clean out as other punters looked on. Jack held his hand out to Gwen.
"Let’s get outta here."
After the events in the club, Jack decided to call it a night and take Gwen home. They stopped in the corridor outside Gwen's flat.
"Thanks for tonight, Jack. I had a good time. Despite everything."
"Ah, it was nothing. Anyway, I haven't had a good night out for ages. Probably did us both the world of good."
Gwen turned and looked at the door leading into her flat. She sighed.
"I still can't really believe that the flat is going to be empty when I go inside."
Jack put a hand on her shoulder. "Want me to come in for a while?"
Gwen nodded, and opened the door to the empty flat. Once inside, she locked the door and motioned to Jack to take a seat.
"Would you like a coffee? It's not as good as Ianto's, but it's not bad."
"Yeah, go on then. Might as well stay for a while, now I'm here."
Gwen came back a few minutes later with two cups of coffee in her hands. She handed one to Jack, who accepted it.
"So, how've you been without Rhys?"
Gwen sighed. "It's been hard. And lonely. But I keep telling myself 'there's plenty more fish in the sea'."
"Yeah. There are."
Gwen smiled. "I want to thank you, Jack. For helping me out with that guy. I dunno what would have happened if you hadn't come back and found me."
Jack smiled. "It's what I'm here for. And besides, if anything happened to you on my watch, I could never forgive myself. I care about you too much."
Gwen looked at him. "You've been great over the last couple of days, Jack. I dunno what I would have done without you."
"I care about you Gwen. I always have done. Sometimes, I've thought..." Jack paused.
"What, Jack?"
He sighed. "Sometimes I've thought of what it would be like, if I were in Rhys's place. If, every night, you came home to me, not to him. If I was the one who was obliged to take care of you, every minute of every day. If I was the one who loved you, and was loved by you in return."
Gwen stared. Jack stood up and made for the door.
"I'm sorry, Gwen. I shouldn't have said that. You're still hurting after losing Rhys. It was unfair of me to say that to you."
Gwen followed him to the door, and smiled to herself as he found it was locked.
"Jack, look at me."
Jack turned from the door and looked at Gwen.
"If you meant all of that, tell me."
"I did, Gwen. I meant all of it."
"How long have you felt like this, Jack?" Jack didn't respond. "How long, Jack!"
Jack sighed. "Ever since you kissed me on your first day at Torchwood."
"And you never told me?"
"How could I, Gwen? You were happy with Rhys, I couldn't destroy that!"
"So all the time you were telling me to go home and be normal with Rhys, you were sitting in the hub, alone, hurting, wanting for there to be someone there with you?"
Jack nodded. "That sounds about right. And yesterday, when I held you in my arms and comforted you, I felt just the slightest bit of hope. I thought that, maybe, I could have you for my own."
"I am NOT a possession, Jack!"
"Of course, I know that! That came out wrong, I'm sorry. I just want you to know how I feel. I think it's about time that I started to be honest with my feelings."
Gwen smiled. "Well, I'm glad you were honest, Jack."
Jack was confused. "Gwen?"
Gwen took Jack's hand and led him back into the living room. She sat on the sofa with him, still holing onto his hand, and placed her free hand on the back of his head.
"Jack, you must have realised. I've felt the exact same way about you. I wished that you would sweep me off my feet and take me away from my boring, normal life. I did love Rhys, don't get me wrong, but...he was a part of my old life. I knew there was no future for us, not when I'd been shown a new way to live."
"But, when we thought Rhys had died, due to the rift. You were hysterical."
"Of course I was, Jack. Like I said, I did love him. I just wasn't in love with him. How could I have been, when I was in love with someone else?"
Jack put his hand around Gwen's head, mimicking her movement, and pulled her face towards his.
"I love you."
Jack pulled Gwen's lips onto his and kissed her softly. She kissed him back, holding him close to her, getting lost in the moment. When they broke apart, they were both smiling.
"I love you too."
All memory of Rhys was forgotten. Right now, the only thing either was could think of was the other, and all they could do was look into each other's eyes and kiss each other tenderly.
