Note: I do not own Torchwood or their characters.
This is where the entire story is AU now I will not follow Season Two Three or Four. Radio plays or books. OC characters and those from later seasons.
Chapter Four
Ianto woke at seven o clock feeling a lot better than before. He had at some point rolled over onto Jack's side of the bed. It felt a little strange but at least he got a good night's sleep. He rolled over to his side scooping up his phone from the bedside table. He read the text from Alice send her one back letting her know she would see him today. He would spend time with his sister today just family not work time even if just for an hour.
He lay on his back her fingers running over the simple chain necklace that Jack had bought him for Christmas. Jack was wearing the bracelet watch and necklace he had bought him for Christmas so at least he had some reminders of home if he was wearing them. He wished he could spend all day thinking about Jack but he knew he couldn't. He had to check in at work and make sure he got some done before leaving for lunch. Work was slowing down but he didn't want to miss a day just yet. Getting the affairs in order was his main priority and after Rhiannon asked Alice if she wanted a job he would need to create their work profiles and set up everything that went along with it. He didn't know what Jack would say about it but right now this was the best thing for his daughter and Ianto would deal with the fall out.
Resolutely he got up to take a quick shower and get dressed for work. Heading downstairs he ran into Adam Mel and Rodney in the kitchen Albert was still asleep he guessed. According to the rotas everyone had a day off but everyone came in everyday anyway to get everything sorted quicker. Sometimes they would leave early or come in later but they all put more hours in than they should he was grateful to them for working so hard. It meant they were getting the hub in great shape and they could help more aliens and people. They were a better job and with the influx of new people and different academic backgrounds meant that more and more research was being done as well as getting the hub to work better.
He poured a cup of coffee for himself as Mel passed him two slices of toast to eat. He had made it just in time for breakfast then.
Sitting at the table with the rest of them he quietly ate letting the others conversation wash over him it felt nice just listening instead of having to talk and explain his decisions. They were all aware of just how much Ianto had taken on and he didn't them adding to it. They understood that there were times where Ianto didn't need conversation just acceptance and understanding.
Ianto finished his breakfast faster than the others grabbing a thermos full of coffee he bid everyone goodbye and headed off to the hub.
Ianto sat in Jack's office his office now looking out of the windows. He was looking over the rotas which were working but now there were so many of them that you never knew who you were working with or the person you were meant to be working with wasn't in. Half of the people were working at night and half in the day there wasn't any time they were all together.
Looking at the rotas again he ripped them up and put them in the bin. He kept the cleaning rota everyone cleaned at least once a fortnight.
He read through the rules and regs for Torchwood there was no fixed hours for team members because it depended on how many team members there were. Maybe he could get Gwen to back off about days off and holidays although even in her time off she wanders in here for a few hours. Rhys had called him and asked if he called her in but Ianto had to inform him that she had time off. He could hear the defeat in Rhys' voice he was seeing Mel three times a week to talk about his relationship with Gwen. He was holding on hoping that Gwen would see sense and realise that Jack wasn't interested but it didn't seem to be happening any time soon. He was giving her a few months to see if it would happen and then he would leave her. He didn't want to be second best anymore he wanted someone who loved him completely and totally.
Instead of rotas he decided that he would just let everyone know the minimum and maximum hours they had to work and let them work in the rest. They all worked for Torchwood long enough to know how to work their time. He just hoped they would find times to work together instead of using the time to separate themselves. Making sure they had the time they had to work meant they could determine when they needed to be there but knowing the people he hired and the people he worked with before all this happened they would still all find their way to the hub when they had spare time.
One by one everybody read the memo about working hours and the reasons why Ianto got rid of the rotas. The email had gone to their accounts which meant laptops and PDA's. The only two that were left off were Rhiannon and Alice they would have their own hours that would be decided by them since they have to work around their children.
Even Gwen couldn't argue with the system she didn't like the fact that Rhys knew too since it meant that he knew when she could decide when she went in and she knew that she couldn't keep saying she was getting called in because Rhys visited the hub and saw how well things were working how quick they were getting things done because people could focus on what they were doing and not stopping and starting to do other things for other people.
He sat back eyeing the paperwork then looking at the time sighing he had enough time to get it done before he had to leave for lunch. Maybe he would get to spend more than just an hour there to eat he could spend a couple of hours there. See how everyone is getting along he knew that Rhiannon would try her best and Alice seemed like she was willing to try and get to know Rhiannon. He had been doing a lot of hoping recently both in work and in his personal life he just wanted everything to work out for the best. He needed it to so he could prove to himself he was good enough. It didn't matter what everyone else thought as long as he felt he was good enough he needed to make Jack proud of him and make him see that he made the right choice when making him his second in command.
Sometimes it was easy to deem which paperwork was more important than others. Ones that could be put off for a day or two if it got busy but when there was just five of them a lot of paperwork got put on the back burner. The paperwork he was doing was mainly memos and reminders training session's weekly calls and meeting and so on. Things he already knew or he could put off until tomorrow but he knew from experience that you took the time you were given because there could be a crisis just around the corner.
Signing his name for the last time he picked up the folders and headed down to the archives. He didn't spend as much time as he wanted in them as of late he was always in the office. These were his archives and he wasn't able to come down and work in them for a couple of hours a day like he used to. He wanted that again it was uncomplicated down here he knew what he needed to do and how to do it and although he knew what he was doing sometimes he just wanted to be back in the archives because now he definitely knew what Jack went through on a daily basis the kinds of decisions he had to make.
If he could he would put Tosh Owen and Gwen in his shoes on the really bad days see what they thought but then he didn't want to hurt them like that but one day Gwen would have to see just how hard it was to make the choice and see what she said about it. No doubt she would fight and argue that there was a better way but when it came down to it they wouldn't be he would not like to be in her shoes when she finally figured it out. It was a horrible experience something he wanted less people to experience the better.
Sitting at his old desk he realised Marc and Rick hadn't changed a thing. Their desks in the main hub were covered in photos and trinkets making their desks their own but down here it was just the same as when he left it. He didn't know whether it was because everybody used this space or that they didn't want to change this too much because when Jack came back Ianto would want his space back. He would settle for Jack coming home soon.
Ianto headed out of the hub not long later hopefully Rhiannon would be happy that he could spend a few hours with the family instead of an hour. He called out goodbyes to those that were there noticing nearly everyone was there. Of course Gwen was the one who stopped him.
"Where you off?" it wasn't accusatory but you could tell that she wondered why he got to leave even though he had worked out the new system but it wouldn't go into effect until tomorrow.
"Rhiannon's back later." He didn't give her time to wonder anymore as he climbed into the lift. Owen and Tosh enjoyed the look of anger on Gwen's face one say she would realise Ianto was the boss and he could do what he liked. Everyone had seen it at quickly turned back to their work hoping it would deter her from asking.
Even though it was Sunday no one had anywhere to go. Rhys and Albert had decided to get together and cook Sunday dinner, even at the hub it was possible just as long as no one else wanted to use the kitchen for a while. They had made enough for everyone but were glad Ianto was spending time with his family if anyone deserved some time out of the hub he did. He had already done much more than anyone else and he needed some time to gather his thoughts and feelings.
Ianto pulled up to his sister's house and noticed an unfamiliar car outside he hoped it was Alice's. It would be great if he could spend time with his family and his new family. No matter they thought they were family now and he hoped that it would give them some sense of protection.
He took his time getting to the front door, he didn't need to rush but it seemed someone was watching because the door opened before he even got to it. Alice was on the other side.
"Steven saw you pull up Rhi asked me to open the door." She explained as he walked through.
"I didn't ask sweetheart." He removed his coat and pulled her towards him pressing a kiss to her temple she let him lead her to the kitchen where he was sure to find his sister determined to help.
"Ianto you're early." His sister exclaimed as she moved towards him. He wrapped his free arm around her as she got closer holding her and Alice close. He kissed his sisters head glad he was there.
"Well I made sure I got all my work done so I could come here for a couple of hours instead of one. Like is said yesterday everything is starting to slow down so I managed to get things done. And I managed to redo the hours for everyone again hopefully this will work a lot better this time make sure everyone gets to work together." He told her.
"Well no work talk until after dinner." He guessed that she was going to talk to Alice then and maybe it would be a good idea for him to stay for it so he could answer any questions so she had all the information she needed to decide.
"Yes Ma'am." He was in a rather cheeky mood this morning.
"Stop it you." She slapped his chest gently. "I take it you got some sleep then you look a lot better." She commented as she made her way to the fridge to pull out the milkshake supplies that Alice bought with her. Gail was at the cooker and Alice made her way to her to see if there was anything else she could do to help.
"There isn't much no my dear since you were kind enough to bring dessert there is as much as we need to do." Gail patted her arm understanding that she was probably nervous and just trying to fit in somehow.
"If you need something to do can you see if Ifan and Johnny and the kids want a milkshake." Alice nodded at the simple task glad if it help occupy her mind for a few minutes. Ianto watched her go into the living room and heard the mumbling asking who wants what.
"She is nervous on edge and wants to fit in here." He commented. He hadn't had time to focus on what his empathy was telling him but now he was undistracted he could see what was going on.
"Your empathy?" she asked she was okay with it she knew he never asked for it but sometimes she didn't want him knowing what she was feeling. She did know it wasn't a strong gift but strong enough to realise when something is wrong.
"Yes and stop worrying that I'll randomly decide to listen to what your feeling." He told her not looking away from the living room.
"Fine just asking. But I could tell that. You only met her yesterday and I only talk to her yesterday and today she is here. We are all nervous." She stated.
"I know it's just I'm worried that she'll leave today and feel like she didn't fit in and not come back." He admitted to her.
"She will. We will make sure of that." Gail told him from where she was at the stove. She had heard their conversation but it really involved all of them.
"I know Gail and I'm grateful." He really was he wanted Alice to feel welcome.
"Family Ianto family." Was Gail's words as Alice walked into the room. Rhiannon had already pulled out the ingredients and laid them out in order of which they needed to be used.
"I have an order five chocolate shakes from the living room. Gail and Ianto?" she asked.
"Chocolate shake sounds good to me." Ianto sat down at the already set table.
"Me too been a while since I had a chocolate milkshake." Gail was still at the stove keeping an eye on the dinner.
"Nine chocolate milkshakes coming up." Alice moved next to Rhiannon helping her get everything sorted.
"What made you think of bringing the milkshake things?" Ianto wondered.
"Steven likes them I thought maybe it would be nice to have them with dinner." Ianto could still feel the nervousness.
"Well I can't remember the last time I had a milkshake usually drink something with caffeine in order keep going." He told her. His sister sent a glare his way. "Don't worry sis I cut down. I try not to drink as much anymore. With so many more people at the hub I don't have to do the work of about five people now I just do the work of one which is a lot anyway but still." He grinned. Rhiannon breathed a small sigh of relief. She knew that after Lisa he worked himself into the ground and spend weeks getting better and she was worried now Jack was gone he would go down the same path and now she knew that he was looking after himself it made her feel better.
Ianto watched as Rhiannon and Alice worked seamlessly together to create the milkshakes. Alice loaded five on a tray and headed to the living room to drop them off.
"She has been spoiling them in there, none of them have had to come in for a drink since she got here." Gail whispered as she took her glass from Rhiannon.
"Trying to get on their good side no doubt." Rhiannon said taking a sip impressed at her own handiwork.
"Let her deal in her own way." Ianto knew what it was like to try and fit in somewhere completely different to what you were used to. He didn't start fitting in until not long before Lisa but then again he didn't want to because Lisa was meant to be okay and they were meant to be far away from Cardiff living happily ever after. But he wasn't and now he was waiting again waiting for his love again if he ever returned.
"How long will dinner be Gail?" Rhiannon asked she wanted to make sure Ianto could stay and leave less time for an emergency to pop up.
"Not long half hour or so." Cooking for more meant longer cooking times but she had started early so it would be done soon. Maybe being around a table of good food would help everyone talk and get to know each other better.
"I can't wait. Some of us have been eating together but its take out or something that is quick and simple a nice roast sounds really good right now."
Gail smiled at Ianto she had to admit she didn't know him that well. She knew him a little when Rhiannon and Johnny were married but he up and moved and had only recently come back. But she and Ifan knowing what he went through were making sure he felt as much a part of their family and Rhiannon was.
"I expect you to come around for dinner more often young man. You keep saying that you're getting things in order you should have more time off to spend with us."
"I will, I want to spend time with my family. Anyway I'm already looking at booking a day off so I can take the kids out. That includes Steven Alice." He told her as she returned putting the drinks tray next to the kettle.
"I'm sure he would love to." Ianto was glad that she was getting to know his family and trying to understand Jack better because it would be the perfect present when Jack came home.
Ianto settled in just listening to the conversations around them. He was just happy to be spending some time with his family. No aliens no paperwork no cases just peace and quiet. Well as quiet as it could be in a busy house. But to him it was peaceful he could relax for a couple of hours unless they called him in which if he knew Tosh and Owen they only would for a really big emergency.
Dinner was a success Ianto thought as he helped Ifan and Johnny clear up. Ifan had banished the kids Gail Rhiannon and Alice to the living room. They had cooked the men would clean up. It felt a little traditional but Ianto was not going to complain not after the lunch that has been served it was superb. He knew he had a long way to go before he could ever match Gail's cooking if he ever could. He felt peaceful here with his family he could see why Jack pushed him to make sure he spent time with his family. It reminded him what he was fighting for and Jack was right the smallest moments matter. The moments that remind you just what it was to be human to be alive.
Ianto was back at the hub working through the small amount of work that had accumulated over the afternoon mainly reports that were being finished and daily reports on research projects. He would stay at the hub so he could be there to start off the new system if he admitted it then it was more because he felt closer to Jack because this was Jack's home the place where Jack felt most comfortable. Although he hoped that it was changing so at some point Jack would rather be at home with him. Sighing he pushed the thought out of his mind he could not afford to go back to thinking like that not when he didn't know what was going on with Jack. Walking out to the railing he watched as Tosh and Rosanne were sitting on the sofa going through files. Owen was in his lab doing whatever he did in there. He decided to take a trip to the archives he wanted to see how they were getting along. It had only been two weeks since he was in them but he missed his work. It was hard doing the leaders job and he wished everyone understood that.
As he walked through the door of the storage room he set up for the first archive he walked straight in on Marc and Rick in a major make out session. Ianto coughed and turned his head trying to control the jealousy he felt that they were together and able to show each other how much the loved each other.
"Sorry Ianto." Rick could see that Ianto was not in the mood to deal with happy couples and he could understand that it would hurt to know that Marc was out there and he couldn't be with him.
"It's okay I just wanted to see how everything is going down here. I miss it." Marc smiled Ianto always loved the archives it was his place and no one else knew them as well as he did.
"Well since we know how you like your archives ordered we've been following your orders to the letter." Marc pulled him into a hug they had been friends since Ianto started at Torchwood. They didn't even feel jealous or angry at him for climbing through the ranks so fast he was a natural at this type of work.
"I know you are but I miss it. I started these and looked forward to spending my time making them what I wanted them to be. And now I don't get to send any time in them."
"You could step down if you wanted to you know. No one would think any less of you." Rick put the idea out there for him. Someone had to say it to him.
"No I can't. I don't care what they think of me. Jack chose me because I know what the job takes what every job in this places takes. I know what needs to be done to protect as much as possible even when the choice seems inhuman. I know what it does to a person I saw what it did to Jack every time a decision like that had to be made and I will not put anyone else through that. But I hope that bringing you lot in and expanding on the areas of expertise we have here we can prevent more."
"I'm sure if anyone can do it you can Ianto." Ianto smiled at Rick he would consider all of these people friends Marc and Rick he was close to since they worked together at one and they always seemed to understand him.
"Thanks." Marc smiled and picked up a stack of files he had finished uploading on to the system before he and Rick took a break. He placed them in Ianto's hands. "Since you're down here you can help us for an hour or two. I'm sure whatever paperwork is up in your office can wait that long." Rick looked down at the floor trying to hide his grin. Marc just smiled sweetly at Ianto who was torn between laughter and insulted. He chose laughter gripping the files heading down the aisles to start filing. Rick walked up to his husband pulling him in for a sweet kiss.
"I keep forgetting just how perfect you are." He whispered pulling him close. Marc wrapped his arms around Rick's waist feeling secure in his husband's arms.
"I married someone perfect to." He whispered back.
Ianto watched from the other side of the storage room smiling softly at the love and affection he was seeing. He turned back to the filing cabinet giving them some privacy. It didn't matter how many times he thought of Jack or told himself to not think of him there was always something that reminded him of the man who was absent.
He worked with them steadily for three hours longer than he should have but he got into his old routine. His mind was focused on the task at hand and not on his problems and for three hours he forgot about everything and just was.
He spent the night in Jacks room a book lay next to him open at the page where he fell asleep. He decided to read a book instead of the files he normally read before bed. He had an entire list of books and DVDs he wanted to get to and decided he would start trying to spend some time to himself now he had people to take over the work load when it got too much. He decided he wanted to start living again Torchwood could not become his entire life not when he still had people on the outside who needed him around.
Rhiannon had spoken to Alice and she had decided on the spot to take the job as Rhiannon suspected she would she wanted to know her father not just what she was told. She called Ianto but got his voicemail so she left him a message hopefully he would call her in the morning. She hoped that he was looking after himself.
A/N: this chapter wasn't my best work sorry about that but I will try to do better.