1
Gwen sat with a face of total disgust, staring at Owen and Tosh as he held her chair, helped her with her food and then filled her glass, his glee obvious as he animatedly told her about his plans for the old windmill out back. The previous day had been productive and they seemed to have settled to tasks.
Ianto watched as one by one everyone else noticed and the table fell silent as Owen looked up with surprise at the sudden stillness around them and Tosh looked directly as Gwen who sneered, "Finished your lovefest? Can us normal folk eat now?"
"Gwen, there is no need…" Rhys started to scold but Jack was already rising from his chair to defend Tosh.
"If you have a problem with my team members tell me now Ms Cooper or keep your problems to your fucking self" Jack snarled as he leaned over the table, Ianto's look of alarm feeding his anger, "This is not your show, do you not get that yet? You are not the head honcho, not the queen bee. Right now, right here let's sort this shit out eh?"
The room had become silent.
"About time"
Ianto rolled his eyes and frowned at the creature who looked unrepentant.
"Crypto, perhaps you could take Mica upstairs to wash up then she might show you her mean reading skills" Ianto said calmly and the little girl showed her uncle's blood as she snorted.
"Then I'll miss everything" she pointed out.
"Mimi!" Ianto warned, "We are gonna have a Grup argument with nastiness and you know I don't like you upset because you will think we are hurting one another with our words."
"But you will be" she huffed, then looked at Crypto, "Come on. You can tell me what they say anyhow."
"Oi!" Ianto spluttered sounding like Owen as the child and her shadow departed "Cheeky little….shit. Did you hear that?"
"No doubt she's yours" Jack smiled affectionately as he watched the door close, then his face changed as he swung back to regard Gwen, "Well? Say it."
Gwen looked horrified. Then she glanced at Suzie and took a breath "She has just lost her mother and I think a female influence is best. Her father was obviously a tosser and do you really think two men who are still fumbling about with one another can really give her what she needs?"
Rhys went to speak but Ianto raised his hand, wanting to respond himself "I was there when she was born. I held her before her mother even did, I birthed her. I named her, I loved her first. I love her always. I have been in her life always. Every weekend footy match her brother was in, every dance recital she was in, each school gala or horrible play, I was there cheering in the front. She knows me, knows I love her and she knows I will die to defend her. I will also kill to defend her without a second thought."
Jack leaned back as he let those words linger, then he added, "I think you need to remember that he is the one who went for her, risked everything for her just now. Do you honestly think he will just hand her over to someone who clearly lacks the values of his family?"
Gwen blinked and Tosh spoke softly, "I will also defend. I have feelings for Owen and wish to explore them, so does he. You have Rhys, a mighty fine man who seems to not only accept you for your yourself, he also is ready to defend you, his fist on the table evidence of that. Think about it Gwen, this is not a normal situation, not a normal world and if push comes to shove I will cut you lose rather than chance losing Owen. You can keep looking to Suzie for back-up all you like, she will not step behind you. She is Torchwood and as long as you keep drawing a line, we will all stand together on this side."
"She's right. She might not hit but I do and believe me, you threaten anyone in my team and I will put you on your arse." Suzie agreed.
"Let's all take a breath" Ianto asked "We are all emotionally charged, it's not even a week since it all went to shit and we are all on edge and shocky. Let's….let's take a break for a moment from this. We are all hurting, all lost people and tearing one another apart will not help that now. This is all we have, these people in this building are all there is left. Left to trust. Anyone else? Might want to harm, kill, take. Right now we take a knee, we breathe and we assess ourselves. Stop looking at each other and look at yourself. Is this who you are? Who you want to be? Moving forward you need to be the person you want others to see, to know and trust. Love. Moving forward there can be no more lies or hiding. Not even a week. How will we survive a month? A year? Can we if this is our only means of communication?"
"He's right" Andy finally spoke, "we can't be a unit if we are not on the same wave length."
Ianto glanced at Jack as he wondered if Gwen even had one.