Title: Remembering? Part two
Pairing/characters: Jack/Ianto eventually. A surprise guest.
Spoilers: None so far.
Warnings: This isn't really a warning, but I doubt you'll understand if it you don't read The Letter.
Disclaimer: Not mine but I do like to meddle.
A/N: First off this is the start of a sequel to The Letter (which I suggest you read and comment ;) if you're going to understand. PLEASE tell me what you think. I don't want to beg, but I will :)
Thank you badly_knitted for betaing it so quickly and saying nice things :D
4 months earlier back at the hub.
"Hey Jack," Gwen shouted as she walked through the hub's cog door. "Hey Ianto."
"He's not here yet Gwen!" Jack shouted back, from up in his office.
Bet he doesn't get an earful if he's late. Suppose that's one of the perks that comes from sleeping with the boss. Gwen mumbled to herself, grinning and sitting at her desk. "Okay, I'm going to start on some of these reports from last night's Weevil hunt, seeing as I wasn't allowed to properly join in!" She gave Jack a pointed look and rubbed her stomach.
Jack laughed, coming out of his office and down the stairs. "That isn't like you Gwen. Don't you normally wait for Ianto to do them for you, or for him to force you to do them?"
Gwen scowled as Jack came to stop behind her, looking over her shoulder. "Jack! You know I've done my own paper work ever since Owen and Tosh -" she trailed off, feeling ashamed for bringing up her fallen friends. She looked down, blushing.
"Hey now. It's okay, I was only joking about Ianto. I know you do your own paperwork. I'm going to ring him and see where he is, okay?" Gwen nodded feeling embarrassed. Right, now where did I leave that paperwork?
"This line has been disconnected." Jack frowned. Has Ianto's phone broken? Surely he would have told me. "Huh." He dialled his home phone only to receive the same message "this line has been disconnected." Jack was getting worried. This wasn't like Ianto he was so efficient, so organised. Jack tried reaching him on his Bluetooth, but got nothing but static. A shout broke through his thoughts.
"JACK! Get down here quick!" Is Gwen crying? Oh god what's happened. Jack all but leapt down the stairs and ran to Gwen's side. In her hand she was holding a piece of paper. What is that? It looks like a letter.
"Gwen, what's up? What's that? Why are you crying?" Gwen silently handed Jack the piece of paper she was holding and he started to read.
Dear Gwen,
First of all let me say that I've done all of your paperwork from last night, consider it a sort of gift. I didn't have time to get anything special for you.
I know this might seem confusing, but I'll just come out and say it. I've left Torchwood. For good. I wanted to leave you a letter saying that you're my best friend and I'll miss you terribly, but it was just something that I had to do.
I'm rubbish at goodbyes, which is why I've left you (both) a letter. What I didn't say in person I'll say here.
When you first joined Torchwood, I don't think we connected although it should have been easy, we're both Welsh! I think it's because I was a bit too preoccupied with Lisa and you had just discovered this wonderful albeit scary organisation.
But then, Jack found his doctor and you and me, we really connected. Remember all those late nights we had around mine drinking Cider and eating crisps? And that time me, you and Rhys went to the pub to watch the Rugby? It was so nice to just socialise and not have to worry about the rift going off any second, because Tosh and Owen were "supervising it". I really don't want to lose my memories of me and you. All the laughter and perils we faced together, but I just need to leave.
I know that of us 3 you're the most empathetic, so I'm going to need you to look after Jack for me. I know this is going to probably feel like a betrayal, but I just need to take the slow lane now. I've had enough of the aliens and the fighting and the constant war.
I'm so sorry; tell Rhys I am as well. I want you to forgive me and I don't want you to try and find me.
I love you Gwen, please don't forget that.
Your best friend,
Ianto.
P.S. If Jack hasn't found his letter, it's on top of the paperwork in his office.
Jack blinked slowly, shock framing his features, and dropped the letter. Gwen was still crying, holding her stomach so he took it as an opportunity to find his letter. He bolted to his office and surely enough, on top of the pile of paperwork was a brown envelope with his name written on it. He grabbed it and sat down on his chair. He toyed with the edges of the envelope before placing it on the table. He wanted to open it, he really did, but after reading Gwen's letter he couldn't bring himself to. Right now, all Jack was willing to believe was that this was Ianto's idea of a funny prank. Opening his letter would make it official and he just wasn't able to deal with that. He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a suede ring box. His mind flashed to memories that could've been.
Him proposing to Ianto.
Ianto saying yes.
Gwen as a bridesmaid.
Little Rosie playing in the back yard.
But none of that was going to happen now. Jack shoved the ring back into the desk. Unless he made it happen. He was going to find Ianto Jones and have the future he knew they both wanted.
Present day
A couple of miles away on the other side of Cardiff, Oliver Smith was in the middle of dialling his boss's number for the strange man who called himself the doctor, when he though it was best to ask, "Doctor who?"
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