This is a continuation from my Aftermath story – it just seemed like a good idea to continue the progression of Jack and Ianto's relationship. Of course, it may not see like that in retrospect, but here it is, anyhow!

This story wraps around the events of Countrycide, both before and after the episode.

Standard disclaimer - don't own'em and don't pretend do - I'm just playing in the TW sandbox!
Pairing - Jack/Ianto – plus TW team

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"That has to be the single most crap idea I've ever heard," Owen declared. He was leaning back in his chair in the boardroom with his feet up on the desk. Jack walked between his chair and the table and pushed his legs off the top.

"I don't think so," Jack said somewhat defensively. "I happen to like the idea."

"Of course you would, it's your idea," Owen retorted. He attempted to put his feet back up on the table but stopped after getting a warning look from Jack. "All right, let's do this logically. Why the hell do you think it's a good idea to bring Ianto out into the field?"

"He needs the experience," Jack said. He continued to tick points off on his hand as he talked. "The only way to learn properly is to just get out there and do it. Plus, he needs to get out of the Hub. Get some new memories that don't necessary relate to what happened in the basement." Owen rolled his eyes to the ceiling. In his opinion he would have retconned Ianto back to infancy for what he had done. Or he would have shot Ianto. Put the bugger out of his own misery. He definitely wouldn't have let Ianto come back. But he didn't have a choice in the matter. Jack would do what he wanted because that's what he always did. "It will be a good team building experience." Owen snorted derisively at that one.

"Oh, like the last team experience we had was certainly a good thing," Owen said a snarkily. Jack stopped and just stared at him. Owen sighed. "Sorry."

"We're trying to move past that, Owen." Jack admonished. "Ultimately, what happened was my fault. I should have seen it, and I didn't. Therefore it's my responsibility to correct it so that we don't have those kinds of things going on in the future."

"What, he has another girlfriend he's going to hide away here?" Owen asked. Jack just looked at him. "How many mistakes will you allow of that type?"

"Owen, there's not one of us here who hasn't had problems. I can't just throw him out," Jack said. He was trying to be reasonable, but knew that he was going to have to convince Owen. "It's not like we all haven't screwed up from time to time. It happens. We acknowledge it and move on."

"I didn't try to hide my killer girlfriend in the basement," Owen argued. Jack turned and stalked up to him. Leaning in close he stared into Owen's eyes.

"Are you saying that if you had a means to save Katie that would have involved doing the same thing you wouldn't have done it?" Jack asked in a soft voice. He hated hurting Owen this way, but he needed to cut through that holier-than-thou attitude. He saw the flash of pain in Owen's eyes before he looked down to mask it. "I'm sorry, but you know in your heart that you would have done anything."

Owen gave a jerky nod in acknowledgement. He would have done anything to save her, and it killed him that he couldn't. He sighed. "All right."

"Just give him a chance," Jack said. He patted Owen's shoulder. "That's all I'm asking."

"Fine. Let's take him out. Who knows, maybe he'll have fun wrestling Weevils," Owen said. He pushed back away from Jack and stood up. "Happy?"

"Yes, thank you," Jack said. He watched as Owen stalked out of the room. He thought of the others. Gwen was still new and would accept whatever he said. Tosh might doubt, but wouldn't say anything. Jack moved over to the window and looked down into the Hub proper. He could see Owen disappearing into the autopsy room. Probably went down to sulk, Jack mused.

His glance moved over to the console in the middle of the room where he looked at Tosh. She was busy working away at whatever it was she did. One of the best things he had ever done was to recruit her. In the few short years she had been here she had revolutionized the way they worked. He turned slightly and watched as Gwen sat at her console. She had brought up some photos and was looking at them intently, a frown on her face. Always trying to puzzle things out, he thought with a smile on his face.

He moved about, looking for Ianto. He didn't seem to be in the main room, so Jack moved over to the computer console and pulled up the CCTV. No sign of him upstairs, and no immediate view of him in the archives. Jack switched to yet another view and finally found Ianto in the vaults feeding Janet. He watched as Ianto carefully prepped the food before pushing it through the door for her to eat. He shut off the monitor and left the boardroom. Heading to his office, he thought about what a good group expedition would be. Nothing immediately came to mind, so he figured he would wing it.

Almost a week went by before the opportunity he was looking for arrived in the form of a police report on people missing from the same area up in the Brecon Beacons. Jack was scanning the reports and thought that it might prove to be a good mystery for the group to solve. If nothing else, it would provide them some time out in the country together and be a good bonding experience. He smiled in anticipation and rang Ianto, who was up in the Tourist Centre manning the front desk.

"Yes sir?" Ianto asked after picking up the phone.

"Ianto, I have a job for you," Jack said. He was really looking forward to this.

"Happy to help," Ianto replied. He sat up straighter and Jack smiled as he watched from one of the CCTV cameras located in the corner of the office. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"We're going on a field trip," Jack said. "I need you to help me load up the SUV. Can you located the Torchwood camping gear and get it up to the garage?"

"Yes, sir, I can," Ianto said. Jack watched as he turned to his monitor and pulled up the storage records for supplies. "Anything else?"

"Yes, please come by my office on your way down to collect the stuff. Thanks," Jack said before ringing off. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his hands together. It was time to put his plan in action.

After locating what he needed to find in the basement records, Ianto made a note for where to find it before sticking the note in his pocket. Locking up the office, he made his way downstairs. Today was a good day – he was feeling a bit more focused than he had been lately. More engaged with what was going on with the group. Perhaps it had been that he had begun to accept things a bit more, but the days were getting better for him as time moved on. The nights however, were another story. Ianto found he didn't sleep much unless he worked himself into some form of exhaustion where he could collapse at night without having to think. It was when he had too much time on his hands that he would close his eyes and think back to the night that Lisa died. Even with the time that had passed the images were etched into his mind. He resolutely put them out of his mind as the lift doors opened and he entered the main Hub.

A glance about the room showed that Tosh and Gwen were busy at work doing whatever it was they did. With Tosh it was usually something incredibly complex. Sometimes when he watched her he felt that he could almost grasp what she was doing, but there was that leap of brilliance that put her ten steps in front of the rest of them. Gwen was still learning the ropes, but had caught on fast once she had gotten over her shock of what sort of access they had to databases and files.

There was no sign of Owen, for which he was grateful. The man was positively antagonistic to him most of the time. Not that it wasn't deserved, but there was only so much one man could take. Ianto detoured to make Jack a cup of coffee before heading to his office. He felt some misgiving, since Jack's tone had been almost playful, which automatically put Ianto on guard. He walked past Tosh, who smiled absently at him. Nodding, he made his way up the stairs and tapped lightly on the door to Jack's office. He saw Jack wave at him, so he entered.

"Ah, have you added mind reader to your job description, Ianto?" Jack asked with a broad grin as Ianto placed the cup on the desk. Jack touched his arm in thanks as he picked up the mug and took a sip. "Ah, perfect! Sit, Ianto."

Ianto sat in the chair opposite Jack's desk. He perched on the edge and fidgeted. He wasn't sure, but he felt uncertain for some reason.

"Find the gear?" Jack asked. Ianto nodded.

"Yes, sir. It's on Level 3. I'm about to go down and bring it up to the garage now." Ianto nodded.

"Good, fantastic," Jack said, rubbing his hands together. "After you do that, I want you to go home and get a change of clothes."

"Pardon?" Ianto gave him a confused look. He then looked down at himself. There was nothing wrong with his suit, so he didn't understand Jack's request.

"Yes, something casual," Jack said. "You know, jeans, hiking boots, that sort of thing."

"Why would I need that, sir?" Ianto asked with a puzzled expression on his face. Jack grinned.

"Because I want you to come out with us. We're getting some odd reports up in the Beacons, and I want us to go check them out. I figure it can also be a good team building exercise." Jack said.

Ianto blinked as he processed what Jack said. It wasn't what he had expected, and it was a bit unprecedented. "You want me to go with you?"

"That would be the point of the team exercise as well as the casual clothing, Ianto," Jack said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. "I think we all need a field trip."

"What about the others?" Ianto asked.

"They'll come, too." Jack said. "It may be a tight squeeze to get us all into the SUV, but that's part of the exercise, after all." He grinned in anticipation, not noticing Ianto's skeptical look. "So, go change and then pack up the SUV. Don't forget to pick up some stuff in case we have to camp overnight." Ianto looked at him blankly. "You know, canned beans, things we can heat up if we have to. Don't worry, it will be fun! Let me know when you're ready and I'll tell the rest of the team then."

Ianto nodded, though he was unsure what Jack thought this was going to accomplish. He left the office and headed to the basement. Best to pack up now and make sure he had everything in case he had to run to the local store to pick up supplies.

Down in the basement he found the tents, camp beds and supplies for camping out. He repacked them so that they were more compact and would fit better into the boot at the back of the SUV. Once he had done so, he brought all of the items up the back stairs to the garage, taking several trips to get it all. He carefully packed it all into the back, making sure everything fit. It was snug, but he was able to do it.

Once he had finished, he went home to change. That actually took him longer than it had to pack up the SUV. He didn't know how long he had stood in front of his closet, dithering over what to wear. Finally he settled on something neutral as well as a change of clothes that he packed in a small bag before heading back to work.

Once back at the Hub, Ianto let Jack know that everything was ready.

"Great!" Jack said enthusiastically. He called for a meeting and had everyone gather around under the basketball net. "Okay everyone, shut down your workstations and pack up. We're going for a ride."

"Where are we going, Jack?" Gwen wanted to know.

"On a field trip," was the only thing that Jack would say. "Everyone's going."

"Everyone?" Tosh saw that Ianto wasn't wearing his normal suit, but was dressed in casual clothes. Apparently he was going along with them, and obviously had more knowledge than the rest of them if he had changed clothes.

"Yup!" Jack clapped his hands together. "No time to waste, let's get to the SUV. I want to make good time today." Owen shook his head, but said nothing.

There was a tussle for who would sit where, but eventually they were on their way out of the city and up into the mountains. None of them knew what was ahead of them, nor the horrifying experiences that they would have once they did get to the Brecon Beacons…

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