The following year …

Conversations

2014

"Here are my keys and swipe cards. All the passwords will need changing, here's a list of the current ones. I don't think there's anything else."

"You can still change your mind."

"I'm leaving, Jack. I can't work for Torchwood when I have a wife and son. It's not fair to them."

"I'll miss you." Jack was close to tears.

"And I'll miss you." Ianto swallowed hard, fighting back tears himself.

Silence.

"Right. Goodbye, Jack. Look after yourself." Ianto held out his hand.

"Goodbye." Jack pulled Ianto into a hug. "I'm going to miss you so much."

***

Bute Park, Cardiff, two months later

"Ianto." Jack was standing at the end of the park bench.

"Jack! You frightened the life out of me!"

"Sorry." Jack sat next to Ianto and looked into the push-chair. "How's Davey?"

"Growing. He's six months now and starting to sit up."

"He looks like you. Same smile." Jack stroked a finger against the baby's cheek.

"Jenny's well, too. Though I notice you didn't ask."

"Good."

Silence.

"What is it about her, Jack? You've never liked her. Since the moment I met her you've ignored or belittled her. What has she ever done to you?"

Jack waited a long time before replying. "She took you away."

"You didn't want me, remember?" He paused. "How is Annabelle, anyway?"

"Gone."

They sat in silence for a while then Jack spoke. "There's lots of Weevil activity at the moment. Gangs of them are coming up onto the streets. It's more difficult to subdue them."

"Nasty. Any idea what's caused it?" Despite having left Torchwood, Ianto found he was interested in this change of behaviour.

"Not yet. We're working on it but in the meantime I'd advise you to keep off the streets at night."

"We don't go out much now. Reliable babysitters are hard to find."

Jack nodded but said nothing. He picked up a rattle and waved in front of the baby who smiled and reached a hand to grab the highly-coloured toy.

"Was there anything else? I need to get Davey home soon."

"Would it be okay, just once in a while, if we could meet? Just to talk, nothing more. I don't want to disrupt your life or anything. It's just – I miss our chats – late at night – over coffee." Jack sighed. "There's really so few people left who I can talk to."

Ianto considered this request for a long time. "All right. But call my mobile, no need to upset Jenny."

"Sure, thanks. You have a good life, Ianto, don't mess it up." He stood and strode away.

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