"Everything I was afraid of when I was growing up, I've become. I've taken on my nightmares, like the devil and the end of the world, and I've become those things."

Marilyn Manson

Hughes Flats; Cardiff, Wales

Tuesday, August 17, 2020

Ianto Jones entered his empty flat carrying a bottle of wine. Jack's situation was unknown. Kylia went home. He had nothing but his own demons for company. He found a glass in the cupboard and uncorked the bottle. Drinking alone was inadvisable, but he needed it to cope.

With the glass and wine, he walked over the table with the laptop. Jack could have his office back, he thought, claiming the chair Jack had been using to work. He poured himself a glass and drank it quickly. Then he opened the laptop and poured a second glass while it loaded. The silence was too much.

Russell jumped up on the table next to the computer and stared at him.

"Is Jack okay?" He felt stupid talking to the cat, but the creature was connected to Lewella. Proven by the fact that Russell could move between flats and floors unhampered by locked doors.

The cat laid down against his arm. Ianto petted him absently, watching the computer screen.

"Come back to me, Jack." Tears slid down his cheeks.

Thursday, August 19, 2020

Gwen Cooper welcomed Rhys back into their flat. Three months had passed since she'd seen him in person. Two years passed for Rhys at Atmore. So much had happened. She knew it wouldn't be easy. Rhys had found comfort with another woman while trapped. Her feelings for Jack increased with the stress of Rhys' disappearance and the knowledge that Rhys had been unfaithful added to the strain. But she had him back and that was what mattered.

Anwen and Trefor met Rhys near the kitchen and hugged him. As Trefor was only three years old, she wasn't certain what he understood. He'd called Ianto dad at least once in the last few months. A group hug was hopefully the first step in reuniting her family.

"We're having takeaway for supper." Anwen held onto her father. "Chinese."

Rhys kissed the top of her head. "Sounds good."

Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales

Friday, August 20, 2020

Dmitri Petrescu wasn't sure what to make of the situation. Since Jack's disappearance, he was all but running the hub by himself. Ianto showed up with haunted eyes, a variety of symptoms associated with post-traumatic-stress and an obsession with menial tasks. With the Talbots in cryo-stasis, and Tremayne released to go home, Dmitri mainly handled administration. Any incoming calls for Jack were sent to the general to resolve. Jack's son apparently had experience impersonating his father. One of the many questions Dmitri didn't ask.

After the Nova Scotia team resolved the Atmore situation, they declared several vacation days. The kids had more then earned their time off. Luc and Kailen had to design drones, use civilian satellites and devised a way to free twenty-four adults and a baby from an alien habitat on Tasmania.

John was puzzling. Dmitri had no idea what John did that was unforgivable or why he was being forgiven anyway. John came to the building to ask questions and provide his mobile number. He wouldn't say much, but he'd worked with Jack before Torchwood. The more Dmitri thought about it, the more he realized John had more in common with the Jack he knew than the man in this time.

"Idrissa sent an update." Ianto held out a tablet to Gwen. "Those from Atmore who went to Nigeria are settling into the former Fellowship. There is a lot of anxiety. Dawn assumed leadership and will work with Idrissa but can't get along with Miriam."

Sitting at Ianto's desk with Gwen and Ianto reminded Dmitri of how strange the situation was. Nova Scotia reported there was nothing left alive on the Southeast Asia island where Jack went. Neither Gwen or Ianto had given up hope. Even Rhys wasn't convinced Jack wasn't dead. No one would explain why. The resulting energy required a no-fly zone around the island. Gwen gave orders to be notified immediately when they could access the island to recover Jack. It was if they believed he couldn't die.

Gwen accepted the tablet. "Miriam's needed for security?"

"Yep," Ianto said, "Idrissa is trying to keep the peace."

Gwen skimmed the information on the tablet. "Have you talked to Eryn?"

"Yeah. Nova Scotia is taking several days off. Aman and Kailen are planning their wedding. Luc is having problems. Eryn wouldn't say what."

One definite difference between Torchwood Three and other offices he worked for was the family atmosphere. Not only the closeness of team or the kids but their consideration for everyone. Except Bree. Whatever John's offense was, it didn't involve quitting the team. Both Gwen and Ianto made polite comments. Each said it was understandable she left. Neither believed that. Anwen was the only one to outright say that Bree abandoned them.

"Rhys spoke to Namir. Atmore is secured. The supply drone arrived from Four without a problem."

"He wants to stay?" Dmitri couldn't understand that. From what he'd been told, Atmore was a malfunctioning office in an unexplained energy dome filled with alien plants and animals.

Gwen nodded. "Namir's Jewish and witnessed WWII firsthand. He wants peace and quiet."

"Even without seeing the camps, it was an ugly time." Dmitri remembered things vividly he wished he could forget. He worked for Torchwood through much of the war. "Does he know about Israel?"

"He came from Israel." Rhys walked up to the desk. "Namir wants nothing to do with the world."

Ianto looked up briefly, acknowledging Rhys. "Gwen, will you check the progress with the London police and the sleep center?" He waited until she nodded. "Dmitri, will you check with Dr. Floyd and make sure there is nothing we need to known about?"

"Yeah."

Ianto made eye contact with Rhys. "Calling London shouldn't take long. You and Gwen can head out. If we need back-up, the general has offered."

"Thanks. It's going to take time to get used to Cardiff again." Rhys shook his head. "It's hard to believe. I lived here most of my life."