Jack and Gwen.
Ianto wasn't in that day.
And Tosh and Owen were gone. Forever.
The office felt so empty now: So lifeless. As long as Gwen had been there, there had always been laughing and happiness. They had always had a joke, about whatever took their fancy. Now there was nothing. They couldn't joke anymore; the loss still hung in the air, but none of them was able to face it. But Gwen realised that for once in a long time, she was looking forward to going to work. It would be only her and Jack, maybe she would be able to get him smiling again.
Gwen was standing in front of the mirror, arranging her hair. Not knowing whether it looked best up or down. She was wearing her favourite jumper, the one Jack had once complimented her on, and just some normal skinny black jeans. She was ready to leave and was already walking towards the door before she remembered Rhys. He would have been so mad if she had forgotten him on her way to work. He could only take a certain amount of excuses now.
Thinking about what had happened, she realised that it wasn't even recent anymore. It had happened a few months ago, but she still remembered it as if it were yesterday. The loss of Tosh and Owen had left a hole in her heart. And it still hung over everything in her life. It had changed everything. She had lost two of her best friends but even though she hated herself for it, everyday she couldn't help thinking how glad she was that it wasn't Jack. How lucky it is that he wouldn't ever die. Because she knew in her heart that it would be him she couldn't live without. Not Rhys her husband, but Jack, her boss. The man she loved more than anyone in the world.
"See you later, love", She kissed Rhys on the lips. Just a tiny peck, wondering slightly whether he noticed that it had none of the passion it once had.
"I love you" He called out behind her, "And don't forget I'm not in tonight. Told Banana Boat that I would go for a drink with him before he goes off on holiday". She heard him say faintly in the background.
"I won't. I love you too", Gwen replied. She thought about it, realising that she did love him in some way, but not in the way she used to. He didn't make her heart beat faster when she saw him, didn't give her butterflies in her stomach. Someone else did that to her now, and she knew how wrong it was.
All the way to work she was thinking about him: About Jack. How she had had to comfort him the other day. He was taking everything the worst. He thought that everything that had happened was his fault, because it was his brother. Even when he felt like that, she knew that it wouldn't matter. Just being with him made her feel a million times better. As if nothing in the world mattered anymore.
As soon as she reached the hub she looked around for him. But she couldn't see him anywhere. Gwen pulled off her jacket and left it hanging on her chair and went up to his office. He wasn't in their either. She guessed that he must still be in bed and she decided to leave him a while to rest.
Gwen went to sit at her desk, trying to do some work she had promised she would hand in to Jack the second that she had finished; that was weeks ago. Somehow things had got on top of her and she realised that she too wasn't handling anything very well. After a while, she gave up trying to type up her report and began to wonder if Jack was actually in the hub at all.
She walked into his room, and saw him lying on his back, top half completely bare, with a sheet covering his lower body. She looked at him; he was so peaceful and she wished that he would look like that more now. She hadn't seen him without his frown in so long. She walked closer to him and as she did so she kicked a book which was lying scattered across the floor.
"Shit", Gwen swore and went to pick it up.
"Some people call watching others sleep stalking you know", and she turned to see Jack opening one eye and gazing at her.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I was just wondering where you were". She tried to explain, almost getting caught up on her words. Sometimes it was so hard to be around Jack without being permanently speechless.
"Don't apologize. Seeing you first thing in the morning is all I could wish for", and then Gwen noticed a smile forming on Jack's lips. Something she had not seen on him in a long time.
"Wow. I don't remember the last time you smiled Captain Jack Harkness. It looks good on you though, you should do it more often", she said, feeling her cheeks redden after the compliment he had paid her
A second later, he was standing up, wearing nothing but his boxers. Gwen glanced at his chest, noting how perfect. Thinking how much she wanted to wrap her arms round him.
And then she did.
She didn't know what had come over her but she had her arms wrapped around him, and he had his around her.
"What's that for?" He whispered into her soft brown hair.
"I don't know. I think I just missed your smile. It's nice to see that again."
"I don't think that I deserve to smile at all. I caused everything". And it was gone. The Jack she had got used to in the last month had returned and suddenly her world became a bit darker.
"You do. It's not your fault, Jack. Tosh and Owen wouldn't want us standing around blaming ourselves. They would want us to try and get on as best we could. You know that."
"I guess I do. It's just hard, you know."
Gwen sighed. She knew exactly what he meant. "Of course, but you can't keep blaming yourself. Now I'm going back out there till you've gotten dressed.
"Oops. Sorry about that. I wasn't really expecting visitors in my room whilst I was asleep. But I guess it gave you something to look at", he winked at her as she left the room giggling.
She went to her desk, still thinking about him and began to load up her computer again. She still had that report to do. Nothing very interesting, but they had to be done. Then she felt a breath on her shoulder. A hand in her hair, and she stopped breathing. Her heart raced knowing exactly who was behind her: The man who could always take her breath away. Who else could it be? And she turned.
His face was very close to hers. Closer than it had been for a long time. She could smell his scent, his strong scent which she loved. She glanced at his lips. And then looked into his eyes, his beautiful deep blue eyes. But then, somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered her husband, and turned away.
They couldn't do that. She couldn't do that to him.
"So, I'm just doing that weevil report you asked for a while ago. Should be finished soon," she said, blushing, without looking at him.
He stood up straight, not looking her in the eye, "oh, well can't you do that another day. I had planned to take you out. You deserve a day away from here, even if it's with me."
"Jack Harkness, are you asking a married woman out by any chance?"
"Um, well, yes, I suppose I am. Any problem with that?"
What could she say? Of course she didn't have a problem with that "Hm, well I'm not sure I totally approve, but who am I to judge?" and with that he spun her chair around, and they were in the same position as before. Facing each other, noses almost touching.
And this time she couldn't move away. She didn't want to move away.
They leaned in toward each other.
His lips were on hers, tentative at first, curious. He was wondering if she was going to pull away, but deep down he knew she wouldn't. It was Gwen. He had noticed the way she looked at him. Wishing that they were together. Just as he had done and even though he shouldn't be doing this now, he wouldn't be able to stop. He loved her. She had always been there for him, and now he loved her.
Her lips parted a little, and Jack slid his tongue into her mouth. He ran one hand up her cheek and let it tangle into her hair. This was exactly where he wanted to be. He had waited for this for so long. Nothing would ruin it now.
They stayed kissing until neither of them had any breath left and they pulled away, both gasping for air. They gazed at each other, knowing that everything was perfect now.
"Oh god. What have I done?" thought Gwen to herself, "I love him, even though I knew that already. I never though anything would have happened. But now it has. And I love him even more".
"Wow. I've kissed a lot of people before, but that never meant much. This meant everything. She is my everything now. She is like my air. I need her. I love Gwen Cooper, and now she knows."