"Evening!" Gwen chirped as she walked into the flat, kissing Rhys on the cheek. He could tell without reading her mind that she was happier than usual.

"You look happy." Rhys smiled up at her and curled an arm around her waist. "Any particular reason?"

"Oh, successful day at work is all." Gwen said dismissively, but Rhys literally couldn't help listening to her thoughts. They burst through, loud and clear, and in them she was giggling like an infatuated schoolgirl. The way she used to giggle around him, when he'd go off on a rant at the queue.

Well, an alien almost killed all of us, and Jack and I were the first two to escape, and he kissed me out of "happiness that I was alive"...Gwen's voice was scornful at that. She didn't believe it, Rhys didn't either, and he could feel his blood boiling. But obviously I can't tell you that, because we both know how you reacted when I told you about a similar thing...so mad I had to slip you Retcon.

WHAT? Rhys clenched his fists. She'd kissed Jack before? She'd kissed him?! She'd retconned him when he'd found out? That was the worst part. That she didn't love him enough to think that he would work through it with her.

It wasn't even like it was a surprise, that was the sad part.

"Aw, bad day at work? It'll be alright, love."

"No. I need to go lie down." Rhys didn't want to snap and do something drastic, but it was getting hard not to in her presence. He didn't know the whole truth, maybe it was better than it sounded?

"I'll come with you. It's been a long day." Gwen replied. I bet it has, you bitch. I suppose a good portion of your energy every day is dedicated to fantasizing about your boss.

Okay, so maybe they couldn't work through it.

Rhys walked into the bedroom and laid down. Gwen came over and curled next to him, kissing his neck. Shit, why did she have to be so sexy and gorgeous while still betraying him?

Gwen's thoughts were running in a nearly-constant train. What is wrong with him anyway? Will he not want to have sex tonight like he always doesn't when he's emotional? I mean, it's like I told Emma, it's not even like he's the best at it. Owen was better. And I'm certain Jack would be...I mean, he's got lots of practice, being immortal. And wearing 51st century pheromones and everything. They are...pretty hard to resist. Wait...what is that on his neck? Shit. That looks like the pendant Tosh wore that day when she read my thoughts and learned about my relationship with Owen.

"Are you reading my thoughts?" Gwen asked, staring at him.

"It wouldn't be a problem if you didn't have such slutty ones, now would it?" Rhys sat up, glaring at her.

Gwen visibly blanched. "Please...it doesn't mean anything. I love you."

"It doesn't sound like that, Gwen. At all." Rhys's hands were balled up into fists.

Gwen stood up. "I'm not...I'm not cheating on you."

"Really? Only cheating emotionally, is it?" Gwen started backing away from him. Panicked thoughts were racing through her head, and Rhys was happy. He walked closer. "If you don't care about me, Gwen Cooper, tell me why I should care about you?"

Gwen grabbed the gun from the side of the bed, the one she'd kept there ever since she'd seen the sleeper broken into in the middle of the night. "Don't come any closer."

Rhys ignored her. "Why should I listen to you? You're just a scared little girl with a gun, who fantasizes about sleeping with your boss and your co-workers and thinks I'm not even good at sex."

"A little girl with a gun? You tell that to the alien I killed today," Gwen didn't put down the gun. Jack doesn't think I'm a little girl. He explicitly told me otherwise. Sure, it involved a comment about me having all the right curves in the right places, but he respects me. He's seen me deal with monsters. Rhys still sometimes thinks he's the only one who can protect me. And honestly, at this point, the only thing he's good for is an escape from Torchwood. Which I don't even want except those days that Owen hits on me and I have to see Tosh's little doll eyes trying not to cry. Or running into Jack and Ianto playing naked hide and seek. I still can't believe he invited me to join them and have a threesome. Actually, I can.

"You are my WIFE. Why can't you just act like it?" Rhys grabbed Gwen by her shoulders, pushing her back to the wall. Gwen screamed as her gun went off, shooting Rhys in the leg. He stumbled back, blood pouring out of the wound.

Gwen fell to the floor, covering her mouth in shock. I can't believe it. I didn't mean to. She didn't even think for a few seconds, but then instantly started thinking again. I need to go to Torchwood, and take the pendant with me. Jack will know what to do. He always knows what to do about everything.

Rhys cursed as Gwen removed the pendant from his neck. He couldn't do anything, not with his wounded leg. Of course, the first thought that ran through her head upon seeing him shot on the floor was that Jack would know what to do.