Chapter Four


Standing by his coffee station at the, Hub Ianto prepared a fresh flask of coffee. To say the past twenty-four hours was the strangest in his entire life would be an understatement. Even by Torchwood standards it stood out. He had woken up to find Jack gone, and for a short while he though the night before had been a dream but then had he found Jack's note.

Jack had told him to take the day off. Aside from the events of yesterday Jack made it clear that he didn't want Ianto to be a target for Gwen's anger or any backlash. Out of sight out of mind. In truth Ianto was relieved. Gwen could be spiteful even with Jack there; who knew what her reaction was going to be. The remainder of the note was surprising in its sentimentally even taking into consideration Jack's declarations the night before. Jack loved him.

After folding the letter and placing by his bedside table Ianto decided a quick tidy up and a simple breakfast of cereal seemed in order, followed by a much needed return to bed. However this simple plan had been interrupted when Owen called him and insisted he come in so he could give him the once-over.

No argument could deter him, including Jack's orders. Arriving in less than a good mood and anxious not to witness the next phase of the unfolding drama he had reported in with every intention of going home immediately after. However, after a cursory check which Owen could have left to later he was deemed to be well enough to make coffee.

"When you've made that bring it up to the boardroom," Owen ordered. "Don't give me that look. I promise you will thank me later."

Ianto, in a rare demonstration of rebellion decided he had to speak up. "You've no idea the trying night I've had. I need sleep, Owen. I was heading back to bed when you called. Even I know you can operate the coffee maker all by yourself,"

"Have I ever told you your coffee is the best?"

Ianto stopped and looked at Owen who was smiling at him with his hands in supplication.

"Flattery I can do without, if I can't recall the last time I took a day off," Ianto huffed.

"I know, Ianto. I am sorry but it's important you be here. I wouldn't have called you in if it wasn't vital. After the meeting you can go home and I promise you won't be disturbed," Owen said as he crossed the Hub and made his way to the metal staircase leading up to the boardroom.

Grinding his teeth Ianto rinsed out the coffee flask and set up a fresh batch. While the flask filled he laid out mugs on the tray along with milk and sugar.


Gwen was running late. Jack hadn't come home, or even left a message. She was so worried all her plans were falling apart. Damn Ianto, he was always in the way. Jack was obsessed. Well, she had had enough. When push came to shove she knew Jack would choose her. She needed to get him on his own then all this would be sorted. She was his first choice, not him. No matter how much she told herself this, the anxiety had grown making sleep impossible.

Then Tosh had called and asked her to make sure she was there early. Apparently it was something Jack had asked them to do for the wedding but then called them this morning and asked them to share it due all the tensions of yesterday. It was a celebration of the special love between her and Jack.

The relief that had flooded through her when she got the message was indescribable. It meant her control had not slipped as much as she had imagined. She smiled to herself. Once this was over she could get Jack on his own, and sort out all the nonsense from yesterday once and for all. It was about time Ianto moved on. She was sure Jack would agree Ianto was a liability. His being there was a reminder of the past. Time to move on. They needed to find him a new life followed by a dose of Retcon. He loved coffee so a barista somewhere would be perfect then he could make coffee to his heart's content. A thought came to her; better make it Australia or there was the risk they would run into him. She smiled at the thought of Ianto having to cope with all that sunshine on his pale skin.

After Tosh and Owen's surprise she and Jack could go for a late breakfast and go over the wedding plans. Every detail was set; all they had to do was turn up. Then they would be away, everything would fall into place like it should. She felt a twinge of anxiety return. To cement this future she had to get Jack on his own, and then everything would come right. The massive round Hub door rolled aside and she headed towards the boardroom.


"You have to come. Everything is set up," Tosh insisted as she stood beside Jack's desk.

"Look, I have things I need to do today that can't wait," Jack told her bluntly as he went through the draws in his desk.

"You must come," she insisted.

"Look, whatever it is, deal with it and write me a report. You and Owen have my full confidence. "

"Do you trust me?" Tosh asked him point-blank.

Jack continued his search, opening another draw and rattling through the contents.

"Do you trust me?" Tosh repeated placing her hands on top of his.

"What sort of question is that when you know I do?" Jack said.

"Then trust me. It's vital the whole team be here because it involves each and every one of us."

"Ianto has the day off and I don't want him disturbed."

"Owen has already asked him to come in. He's here making coffee."

Jack glared at her, furious. "I gave him the day off and so did Owen if I recall."

"Owen needed to check him over, he was worried about him," Tosh answered quickly.

"He should have asked me. Ianto is fine." Tosh looked surprised. "I stayed at Ianto's last night," Jack added in explanation. "What is going on?" Jack suddenly became suspicious.

"Jack, I'm asking you to trust me," Tosh reiterated.

Jack sat back and held up his hands. "Today is going to be trying to say the least. I need to catch up with Gwen so this better be important."

"Jack?" Tosh felt a flutter of hope. Was it possible he and Ianto had started to break the spell on their own?

"I need to speak to Gwen. Once I've done then I will fill you in. I need you to insure me you will get Ianto home after the meeting."

"I will," she said as Jack now stood and headed towards the boardroom.


Tosh followed behind Jack. Entering the boardroom she saw Gwen was already sitting.

Ianto arrived carrying a tray of mugs and began to hand them out.

"Ianto, go get me one of those wonderful pastries. You know, from that café on the Plass," Gwen ordered.

"No running about for Ianto today. He's here just for this meeting then he can go home," Owen told her.

Tosh then smiled. "The past few weeks have been hectic. We've all gotten out of sorts with each other. So Owen and I put together a little something to remind everyone here of just why we are all here."

"I thought you said this was about Jack and me." Gwen looked at Tosh.

"Trust me Gwen, it is," Owen told her as he glanced across at Tosh who was dimming the lights. Taking her phone she punched in a series of numbers then gave the thumbs up to Owen.

Images began to play across the screen. It was CCTV footage from Jack's office. Jack was sitting behind his desk. Ianto, wearing a suit, stood by his side, placing papers in front of Jack.

"And this one," Ianto indicated.

"How many more?" Ianto checked through the files in his hand as Jack scrawled his signature across the page.

"Two."

"Good," Jack sighed.

"I put the reservation back until nine o'clock. Tosh has set up her Rift alert and promised three free hours of uninterrupted 'us' time," Ianto told him.

"Good. Coitus interruptus is only fun if you like that sort of thing. I had a boyfriend once …" Jack looked up at Ianto whose reply was interrupted by a soft knock.

"You wanted to see me?"


Gwen first instinct was to flee and she threw her chair back and raced to the door. She went to throw open the door only to find it locked.

"We're locked down Gwen and no-one is going to leave until this is finished," Tosh told her.

"How dare you!" Gwen's eyes flared

"How dare I?" Tosh said as her hand met Gwen's face.

"Tosh!" Jack said in shock.

"Don't listen to them Jack. It's me you love me. Look at me, Jack." Gwen started to speak in a singsong voice they all knew so well.

"No you don't, Jack," Tosh said. "You have never loved Gwen. Four short weeks ago, you and Gwen had a confrontation."

"This is all a fantasy," Owen said. "And no one is going to leave this room until reality is restored." Owen pressed play

"What is going on?" Jack said as he watched Gwen fight to open the door but found his eyes drawn back towards the screen.


Jack completed the last signature and looked up.

"You wanted to see me?" Gwen said as she stood in the door frame.

"Yes I do," Jack said as he now stood and indicating she come in.

"Remember we need twenty minutes to get to the restaurant so we need to leave at eight forty," Ianto reminded him, gathering the files from Jack's desk then made his exit.

"Your report. I need it on my desk tomorrow," Jack told Gwen as his office door closed.

"I'm sorry Jack, I forgot. It's been frantic, what with the wedding and everything. But I've broken the back of it, just needs a bit of tidying up..."

Jack held up his hand. "It's been reassigned."

"God I'm sorry, but we have been busy and I've got so much to do. Getting married is hard work. I just needed a bit more time."

"You were given extra time. I managed to get the deadline pushed back three times but not wanting Torchwood Three to look completely incompetent I had to hand it over."

"I'm sorry Jack, I'll do better. I promise. It's that I've been so hectic."

Jack interrupted "The problem is Gwen, this is not the first time you have been set an important task you've not completed. Everyone else here does field work, research projects and manages to file their incident and weekly reports along with anything else as required."

"I'll get Ianto to help me," Gwen stated.

"Not this time, Gwen. Ianto has enough to do."

"Making coffee and waffling about in a suit, putting away a few files? I would have thought he had lots of time on his hands," Gwen said under her breath.

"You have over three months of paperwork. I want it on my desk by Friday."

"If that's it then…" Gwen went to stand.

"Sit down," Jack ordered.

"Look I have to go, Rhys is expecting…"

"Today I took a call from Kathy Swanson," Jack interrupted.

Gwen crossed her arms.

"She tells me that you called her and started asking questions about the Ugargi incident. Getting a no from her you then called several other people in her department. She wanted to know why you were calling her when Ianto is our police liaison."

"Ianto doesn't have the police contacts I have or the right skills."

Jack glared at her. "She tells me you then went out and approached some of the witnesses and as a consequence due to your heavy handed approach several have retracted their statements."

"All this pussy-footing around Jack, you have to get in there and get the job done."

"The job was getting done. You blundered in when a more sensitive approach was working far better. Our relationship with the police is difficult at best. While Ianto's been our liaison that relationship has improved out of all recognition. We at least talk to each other and hand over cases with far more ease."

Gwen felt her face lock as Jack glared at her.

"I assigned this to Tosh and Ianto. They were making excellent progress. The final step was taking statements from the witnesses. Hundreds of hours of work and now we may never find out what happened."

"Well, I did what I thought was best. I thought I could help."

"What I needed you to do was getting your reports up to date and finishing the tasks I assigned you."

"I am field officer. Being out in the field is my job."

"Your job, Gwen, is being a Torchwood operative. You are not a field officer any more than Tosh is our technical support officer or Owen our medical officer."

Jack pulled forward another file. "Ianto has reported you have failed to turn up and complete your weapons proficiency test. He has made time for you five times in the last month but each time were so late there was no point. This is inexcusable. I will book you time with him tomorrow. Do you have a problem with this?" Jack asked as he saw Gwen's face twist in disgust.

"It's bad enough that we have to put up with you favouring him here and in the field let alone him testing me," Gwen said her eyes flaring.

Jack rose up. "I have never showed favouritism in the field."

"Since you and he have got your little thing going you are always giving him assignments far beyond his abilities. And you always let him take the lead in the field."

"And do you know why I give him the lead? Because he can follow my orders, and when he finds himself without orders he improvises. He has a good tactical sense; he knows when to act and more importantly when to hold back."

"I am the one who has the experience...me." Gwen pointed to her chest, now rising out of her seat to face Jack.

"You want to truth Gwen? You are a liability in the field. You act without thinking, react rather than act. I've lost patience, that's why I asked Ianto to take over to make sure reach the standard I require." "

Jack paused as he made a realisation. "That's why you called Kathy, isn't it? Because you don't trust my judgement."

"No I don't, Jack. I can't trust that you are acting for the best interests of Torchwood and all of us here while you favour your toy boy over the rest of us."

"Gwen, as of now you are on probation. All field operative privileges are revoked until you have brought your skills up to date, caught up with your paperwork and shown me you can work as part of the team."

"How dare you! I'm second in command," Gwen bellowed. "I will not have you undermine my position here any longer.

"Gwen, Ianto is my second…"

"You hired me after Susie. I took charge after you left. The only reason Ianto is here is because he looks good in a suit. He betrayed us, for God's sake Jack. He should be sweeping the floors, cleaning out shit. He's support not field trained."

"Ianto…"

"I am sick of hearing about bloody Ianto."

"Well get used to it. As of now you are no longer required to be in the field. You are on probation as a support officer."

"You need me in the field."

"As head of Torchwood my decision is final."

"This is blatant favouritism, him over me. I am the heart of Torchwood...me!" she burst out.

"Do you want to know the truth? I'm sick of arguing a case for you to remain."

"How dare you favour him over me."

"Out!" Jack demanded pointing at the door.

"You don't get to dismiss me," Gwen pushed her face into his.

"Out!"

"This is not over." Gwen pointed a finger at Jack. "Ianto is not going to get the better of me." She turned on her heel and slammed the door.


The lights turned up and Gwen was standing next to Jack.

"Jack, you and I, we love each other. We are meant to be, me and you." Her hands reached out towards him. "You know I'm telling you the truth, I've made you happier than you've ever been before in your life. You love me and I love you."

Gwen threw a glance at Owen and Tosh. "This whole set up is pathetic. They want to ruin what we have. We are getting married in three days, we are going on our honeymoon, and we are going to start a family. We have to be together."

Jack looked into her eyes as Gwen's words seem to ring in his ears like a wailing cacophony of harsh sounds. He shook his head to clear his mind when he looked up to see Owen pointing.

"Gwen is wearing a Dream Weaver. This whole scenario is a fantasy being driven by the brooch she is wearing," Owen shouted from the other end of the room.

"This is my grandmother's brooch. My love for you, Jack is real. This is some terrible lie Tosh and Owen have made up. They can't bear us being happy." She gasped as a sharp pain from her right shoulder caught her attention. The room swirled and she found herself facing Tosh.

Gwen caught Tosh's hand as she reached for the brooch.

Feeling nauseous as images superimposed on each other crashed into him, Owen knew the dream was fast coming undone. In a fraction of a second a noise like the shattering of glass seemed to sound all around him and reality was restored.

"Think about it, Jack...the past few days. Think about how you feel about Ianto…" Owen shouted at Jack as he opened the containment box.

"It's not true! Jack, it's me you love. You and me, look at me Jack," Gwen started to speak in a singsong voice they all knew so well.

Jack looked towards Ianto and his memories returned. His teeth clenched, he tore the brooch from her jacket with such force it broke the clasp. Jack then slid the brooch along the surface of the table. Owen scooped it up with the box and slammed the lid down.

Gwen howled in fury and fell to the floor in a crumbled heap.

Owen caught his breath. Looking down the room he saw Ianto being held in Jack's arms. The room began to fill with Ianto's heartrending sobs. Jack threw a look at Gwen filled with pure malice and fury that chilled Owen's soul. Shivering he joined Tosh who was standing guard over Gwen.


"Cells," Owen ordered as he and Tosh manhandled Gwen down the steps towards the main Hub.

"No please Owen, not the cells. I 'm sorry I didn't know this would happen."

"Gwen, you have a choice: conscious or unconscious," Owen told her.

"You wouldn't, you can't," she started to argue when Tosh slapped her full in the face.

The force of the slap reverberated around the Hub and Myfanwy gave a squawk.

Gwen's mouth dropped in shock and she placed her hand instinctively against her sore face.

"How could you Gwen? How could you force us?"

"I thought you wanted Owen," Gwen said in explanation.

"I wanted him to love me, for me," Tosh shouted at her. "I didn't want him by default."

"Move," Owen demanded and pushed her down another step.

"You don't understand the power was too much. I never expected it to take such control."

"Tosh, stun her."

"No please," Gwen said. "I need to speak to Jack, explain..."

"Trust me Gwen; he doesn't want to speak to you." Tosh moved, dragging her down another step.

"I didn't mean any harm."

Owen pushed his face into hers, "Well harm is what you did. Right now I'm tired and so fucking angry I could punch the fucking moon, so fucking move."

"I'm so sorry," Gwen started to sob as they finally reached the bottom step and headed towards the cells.