AN: Because the world totally needs another post-Meat story. Oh yes, it totally does. As always, thanks go out to my enabler extraordinaire, Gmariam. Don't forget to read and comment on A Different Life!

CHOICES

"I wouldn't know any different."

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but paused. There are moments in life where everything hinges on a single choice… where a road forks and a decision must be made on which path to take. From long experience, Jack recognized that this was that moment, and he knew that he needed to consider his response carefully.

As they returned from the warehouse, Owen had confronted him about Rhys' inclusion, and about his favoritism toward Gwen. He had pointed out all the times where she'd been allowed more leeway than the others would have been. Jack had argued, had been defensive, but Owen had pursued the point relentlessly, and Jack had been forced to concede. Owen was right- Rhys should never have been taken on the mission, nor allowed in the Hub. And his presence had turned Gwen into a liability in the field. Owen had accused him of endangering the team by thinking with his cock, and Jack, to his shame, hadn't been able to argue.

It had been Tosh who pointed out how Gwen was affecting his personal life. She'd seen his reaction to Gwen's engagement on CCTV, had watched their near-kiss at the warehouse, and had been livid at the display of Gwen snogging Rhys while Jack looked on, brooding. God, Jack hoped Ianto hadn't seen that. It would gut him. He knew Ianto was aware of his feelings toward Gwen, but neither of them mentioned it. Jack wouldn't know what to say, anyway.

He glanced to the side, and there was Ianto, standing quietly aside as he always was, still holding the water bottle Jack had thrown at him without even looking to see if he'd catch it. Ianto always caught it. He was always there to support Jack, while Gwen seemed to exist to challenge him. Even now, Ianto said nothing, just waited with a look that Jack knew meant he thought Gwen would get her way again. There was pain in his eyes; Gwen had as much as dismissed anyone's relationship but her own, and Jack now realized that he hadn't corrected her. Ianto expected him to capitulate, and thinking back on what Owen and Tosh had said, Jack couldn't blame him; he'd never been able to control himself where Gwen was concerned.

It all came back to this moment. He didn't want to lose Gwen. Professionally, it would be hard for the team to get by without her. For all her rocky start, she'd grown into a confident, capable field agent, and she often saw things the rest of the team couldn't. She worked well as a 'face' of Torchwood; people shared confidences with her without realizing. Replacing her would be difficult. And heartbreaking. Because Tosh was right: He'd been far too affected by her emotionally. There'd been attraction between them from the start. Gwen was beautiful and full of life, and he was drawn to her, but here she was choosing Rhys. Or, at the very least, choosing to manipulate him into allowing her to string them both along. With that thought, Jack came to another realization: that he'd been doing the same thing to Ianto with his refusal to define their relationship or discuss exclusivity. He'd been keeping his options open. Ianto had accepted it, not even reminding Jack that they'd never found time for that date. Ianto had done for him what he'd been doing for Gwen- making allowances.

And here was Jack, weighing his options. If he sent Gwen away, the team would be one man down, and whatever had been between them would be over before it began. He and Ianto might be able to sort things between them without distraction. He wouldn't have to fight over every case, and the others would no longer feel they were second-best, but they'd be without the perspective of an unbroken spirit. And Jack himself would always wonder what could have been.

If Gwen stayed, he'd still get to feel the thrill of their attraction, but he'd never again be able to control her; she'd know his threats were empty. The team would remain at full strength, but he'd have to argue every order; she'd do whatever she pleased, which could get one of them killed. The team would be divided. He'd still have this emotional tangle, and no matter what he did, Ianto would be hurt.

Ianto was still watching him, watching Gwen, with an expression of resignation. He thought he'd already lost, Jack realized. And Gwen thought she'd already won. This was the choice had had to make, not between Gwen and Ianto, exactly, but between what they represented. Chaos vs. order, challenge vs. support, excitement vs. affection and acceptance. Jack was caught in balance between options.

Gwen was still staring at him, posture defiant, eyes flashing.

"I wouldn't know any different."

AN(other damn author's note): I think part of the reason there are so many post-Meat stories, other than the Janto angst and the deep desire to just whack Gwen, is that the outcome was dependent on a decision. There was no choice with Jasmine or Tommy or Beth or the victims of the Night Travellers… but Jack could have chosen a different path with Gwen, which compels us to write all the possibilities, some better, some worse. This is my second take (Plumage was post-Meat); I suspect there will be more.