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 made a list when he got back into the office of things he needed to do now Jack was back.
Inform relevant parties. (Her Majesty Government and so on)
Tour.
Explain all new hires and reasons.
New protocols.
Fire arms first aid and autopsy tests computer training.
Medical.
Rota Changes
When Ianto wrote it like that it looked small but he know they would take a while. He first put phones calls through to everyone that needed to know. That was still in progress when Jack walked into the hub.
"Where's Ianto." He asked as they came through the cogwheel. The Doctor automatically bouncing over to Tosh's station to his TARDIS.
"Office he has to sort everything out now." She murmured as she studied the screen. He nodded and began walking up the stairs. "Doc do what Tosh and Owen tell you alright." He called on his way up. He wanted to say he could look after himself but the looks he received from Tosh and Owen showed him that he was still on extremely thin ice. So he stayed silent watching as Tosh Rosanne and Rodney go through everything that the TARDIS was sending them.
Jack stood in the doorway watching Ianto try and explain to the head of UNIT why Jack wasn't taking over. In the end he decided to take over himself at least for the call not because Ianto needed saving but because it would be easier in the long run.
"Hello, yes I am back and no I am not taking back over. Because I said so. Ianto is the best for the job so please just accept it." and he put the phone down.
"Thanks he was getting annoying. How was it with Martha?" he asked as Jack sat down opposite.
"Sad quiet but she is on earth now so it's worse for the Doctor." Ianto just nodded he didn't know what else to say. "So what do you have to catch me up on?" he asked changing the subject.
"Right well obviously you will need a medical just in case anything has changed with you. Then a fire arms first aid and autopsy and computer training to bring you up to date with anything we have found or identified and now using." Jack nodded following along.
"I'm guessing that I will be trained by those in the area like firearms will be Kate and…"
"Jen. Yes it's easier that way because they can fit in into their training schedule that everyone has. Since its monthly they can get that done as well as get some work done. And then its things like evidence retrieval searching the languages database and so on."
Jack watch Ianto take a deep breath uncertainty filled his face. "Ianto?" he released the breath he was holding knowing that everyone was right and Jack would see this was okay.
"Along with the new members I gave those who had immediate family permission to tell them." He said quietly.
"Okay I wouldn't have done but I can see why you did what are you afraid of?" Jack asked.
"I didn't want you to be angry at me. They come in and help out. We now have an accountant lawyer social worker childcare forensics expert gardener botanist chef teachers librarian and book shop owners. Except Rhys' mum she is a housewife but she comes in and helps with the cleaning sometimes."
"Okay I'll admit that is a lot to take in but they all help has it made it easier. I'm not angry I know you have your reasons?"
"Yeah it has Gwen's dad takes care of the accounts that one more thing off me. The plants we have are taken care of by Rick's parents. His dad Stephen is a landscaper and his mum Cecile owns a plant nursery. Our refugees have the opportunity to learn math and English from Ifan and Barry; and then read our literature and learn more from George and Sheila's book shop. Albert is our lawyer. The gardens are taken care of on our facilities by Stephen and Cecile also; more forensics from Kate's mum Meryl; childcare from Rhys' sister Joanna and social work from Gwen's mum Mary for the refugees in their own community. Brenda Rhys' mother is a housewife so she helps out sometimes in the facilities cooking cleaning childcare. And Gail is trained chef so she teaches the refugees better cooking skills and so on. Marc's mother Lillian is a librarian so she helps George and Sheila with a library system and sometimes filing." Ianto didn't know what else to say he would have to go round and talk to every individual.
"Wow I wouldn't have thought of that."
"I don't know why I did we did fine before but I think making sure everyone had someone to talk to was better than them not. They have all had firearms training to protect themselves but it also helps so much with taking things away from us which means we can focus elsewhere. To get a view of what everyone does you would have to talk to them about it but it does help."
"Okay." Ianto blinked at his acceptance. Jack noticed his surprise but understood because in the past he would have been readily against it. "I would have put anything off because I really didn't want to bring more people in but you have done it and completely turned it around I know it's better now so even if I wish I didn't leave I know that the result when I came home is worth it." he said quietly. Ianto didn't respond but got up and pulled him into a kiss he arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
"I wish you didn't leave and although the outcome here is great I know your time away may not have been. Whatever you went through I hope you know I am here for you and I will do everything I can to take the pain away." Ianto buried his face in Jacks neck still holding the older man close.
Jack wasn't used to someone caring for him after knowing who he was not because he wasn't a good man but because they looked at him differently. Knowing the choices he had to make they saw a monster when they found out he couldn't die they used him to do the jobs no one else can and when he can't fall in love with them because it would hurt too much he was heartless. Ianto had seen him at his best worst and wanted to be with him anyway. Ianto could feel the emotion building up and wasn't surprised when Jack tilted his head up for a kiss. Jack had every intention of it being fast desperate and needy but when his lips touched Ianto's it seemed that all the energy left him and he tried to convey everything into that one tender sweet kiss.
"Thank you for being you. Ianto Jones." Jack whispered as they parted.
"And you for being you." Ianto whispered back.
"Not many people thank me for that." Jack told him as they broke apart.
"That has to change." Ianto was entirely too good for Jack decided but wasn't going to say it because he knew that Ianto would disagree. He had only just got home he did not want to end up on the sofa.
"When we can we go home Ianto?" Jack asked quietly he just wanted to curl up in bed with him and sleep.
"I'll give you a tour check on the Doctor and then we can go the rest can wait for tomorrow. Although alone time might not happen straight away." Ianto replied just as quietly.
"Why not?" Jack wondered.
"The family moved in with me while you were gone. Gail, Ifan, Rhiannon, Johnny, David, Mica, Alice and Stephen." Ianto told him watching as Jack's face lit up.
"Really."
"Yes."
"That's great I get to spend time with my family and then just you." He whispered resting his head against Ianto's shoulder.
"What are we waiting for then? The tour might take some time but the quicker we get started the quicker we can go home." Ianto let go and took his hand determined to get the tour done as quick as he could they had already spent too much time in the hub.
Jack smiled as Ianto pretty much dragged him through the hub so they could go home as soon as they could.
They started in the archives and it was like Marc and Rick said. The second storage room was fixed up and ready to use when the first one got too full and the smaller rooms that were already organised were left alone and would be sorted when everything else was up to date. With Ianto helping out and people lending a hand when they weren't busy it was getting done faster than anyone expected also with the training it meant that everyone had to do some work in the archives. The bitch would be if it needed reorganising which after the TARDIS finished the transfer of information it would be but that was something for after right now they were just working on getting it all filed.
He saw the research rooms even though there were one or two rooms of the hub they used this made sure there was a few more in case it there was a lull there was somewhere quiet for everyone to work. It also meant more wall space privacy and a large area to spread out. He didn't need to see the new conference room. He saw the new hot house which looked a lot better than before and Ianto said it was because Rick's parents were the ones who looked after it. Jack really should have thought of what Ianto did but he knew that when it came to Torchwood he was so afraid of getting something wrong or getting someone hurt that if he kept it small it wouldn't have as many consequences but in just a short time this larger group had gotten so much done and were organised in a way where the consequences were not as dire. So many different skillsets was an advantage.
He looked over the live patient's wards that was in progress and got shown the blue prints for the renovated on call room, toilets, showers, guest rooms, cells and interrogation room. Ianto pointed out what areas had been changed in the hub and why although he had some of it but when he was in the hub he had only eyes for one thing. He noticed they had really made used of the space and their desks were the ones that Tosh wanted but they still connected so each area was properly functioning. There were tables to work on and spaces in between the desks like Kate and Jens where they could work together. They had really made good use of the space they had. And the kitchen was even better it had been made bigger and it still had the items he bought but there was two more fridges and freezers another cooker two microwaves a blender a mixer and a lot of other things Jack couldn't believe.
Ianto noticed he was in the kitchen just staring at the equipment. "It is easier when we are all here to cook if there is more equipment and it's quicker as well it means no one has to wait a while to be able to eat. And sometime Gail and Brenda come in and we all have dinner together that's if everyone is free not very often but sometimes. Even the kids have been in here for that but they go straight home afterwards." Jack looked at him but Ianto saw no trace of anger that the kids were here because he knew that if anything happened Ianto would have gotten them to safety.
"What are some of the new protocols about safety and evacuation then if the kids are here from time to time?" Jack asked as they walked into the office.
"Well after Suzie we made sure that there are several more power sources and generators that you know of. Tosh created another server that is only to be used in emergencies and at least two people's eye scans. There are two of us here at all times that way if someone tries to take us offline we have the generators and the server to override the commands. Rodney and I went over all of the blueprints and walked the paths to make sure they were right and we founds some things that were never put on them to gauge manual exits if needed those are now key carded as well and eye scans. Rodney has made sure we go through evac procedures at least once a month with different circumstances each time so we know. Everyone has gone through them even the kids so they know where to go if something happens. All of the adults even those who didn't want to have weapon training. The kids go to self-defence and the adults have started basic hand to hand combat with Rodney so that they have some basic skills. Some of them already have; Stephen and George were in the military so they have that. Geriant Ifan and Barry have some experience in boxing." Ianto told him. He knew that Jack wasn't seeing if he had missed anything or wasn't doing anything right but when it came to the kids everyone was extra vigilant.
"Okay, is there anything else before we leave?" Jack had seen the basics now and tomorrow he could catch up the rest.
"I think the rest can wait till tomorrow. You have had the tour you know about everyone and all the people that need to know you are back now do. Catching up and getting retrained can all wait until tomorrow." Ianto wanted to get out of there as well.
"Well why don't we check on the Doc get Alice and Rhiannon and go home." Jack smiled a true smile which Ianto couldn't help but return. "Wait a second what happened with Alice?" Jack remembered when he mentioned his daughter. "What went on?" Ianto groaned not usual only when he was really hoping for something else.
"I hoped you had forgotten so it could wait until tomorrow." He moved back towards his chair and pulled up the file.
"Why?"
"So I could convince you no bloodshed it's a bugger to clean up." Ianto typed in the passcodes and the video filled the screen. He moved it to face Jack and pressed play. Jack leaned forward and watched as his daughter held her own against Gwen. He really had a hard time trying to remember why he hired her. His guilt intensified when Rhys broke it off with her and he would apologise for that when he could he may have flirted but he hoped when he stopped it would mean she would see that he wasn't interested in her. He wasn't shocked when Alice pulled out a gun and was a little satisfied when Gwen got scared. Everything she dished out was coming back to hit her in the face. Ianto knew that Jack was angry even if he was too engrossed in watching what was happening to get furious.
When it finished he bought up the report that was written so Jack could read that too when he read the punishment aspect he lost a little of his anger. She had lost Rhys time at Torchwood and the threat of retcon jail and dismissal over her head she would have had to back down.
"How has Gwen been acting since this?" he asked still reading the others reports.
"Best behaviour sort of still challenges me but not to the point of needed reminding that she is on her last leg. Everybody loves when her parents come in for the day because then she really is on her best behaviour." Ianto couldn't help but smile.
"But?"
"But I know she is waiting for you to admit you love her and tell her everything she wants to know." Ianto told him very aware that there was always a little bit of doubt in his heart.
"She will be waiting an eternity then." Jack murmured still reading. He didn't noticed how Ianto settled at that. "I know that you handled it but I think I am going demonstrate just what will happen when you mess with my daughter." Ianto could hear the danger in the calmness of his voice. And did not at the time envy the attention Gwen was about to get. "Let's go." Jack held out his hand for Ianto to take. Ianto waved him on and apologetic smile now on his face. "I have to shut down my computer go check on the Doc I think everyone will have worked out who is keeping an eye on him and don't try to kill Gwen before I get down there can't miss that." Ianto gave him a grin.
"Alright I suppose." Jack sighed dramatically. "Well the Doctor won't leave the TARDIS." Jack left Ianto shutting everything down and locking everything up. He made his way to Tosh where the Doc was watching asking questions occasionally but getting shot down. Gwen kept shooting glances at him and he wondered just how much she will like him after he has had her say.
"Tosh how is going?" he rested his chin on her head arms over the shoulders. She didn't shrug him off but didn't look up either but he wasn't offended.
"It's going okay actually. TARDIS is doing most of the work we are just scanning sorting and sending it just depends on how much info she sends in one go but she has already stated she will be shutting down for some of the night to allow us to catch up and rest.
"Good. I'm glad. The TARDIS is brilliant machine she will not steer you wrong." Jack told her.
"I know Jack." he grinned kissed her head and let her get on with her work. He moved over to the Doctor.
"I know you will want to stay here so who over stays here tonight will be in charge." Jack told him.
"Okay I have the TARDIS to keep me entertained." The Doctor said. Jack knew his team were icy to him.
"Doc they only know what I have said and I won't lie that some of it wasn't nice because I didn't know and still now I am upset and angry but let them get to know you and let them decide don't try to push the issue because they won't hesitate in putting you in your place." Jack whispered to him.
The Doctor could still see how he hurt Jack and didn't try to explain it away like he did before because he knew Jack wouldn't have it again and neither would anyone there. He nodded his head in agreement.
"Good just watch your mouth yeah they are not afraid of you." Jack grinned. "Fortunately for me they were already fierce when they got here."
"Is that good or bad?" The Doctor whispered.
"Good it meant they would protect each other." Jack replied as Ianto came down the stars from the office.
"Doctor." He said alerting everyone to his presence. "I wonder if you object to thinking about something for me?" the Doctor wondered what it could be but his curiosity got the better of him and he nodded.
"As you heard we have a lot of refugees here and since you are here and have the means to take them home I'm wondering if you would do the honour. They are all stuck here not by design and I think they deserve to be able to go home don't you?" Ianto's face was not blank but focused and the Doctor had a hard time reading him. But he could see that Ianto gave him the option but at the same time if he refused for some reason or other he would not appear good in anyone books. Jack was laughing on the inside he knew Ianto was good but sometime even the Doctor needed someone to remind them they were not perfect.
"I can arrange that, if at some point before we leave I can talk to them see where they are from if they can go back and where they want to go."
"I'm sure Alice and Rhiannon can take you; you will of course listen to their instructions it has taken them time to get the refugees to trust them as much as they do" the Doctor nodded and one look at Alice and Rhiannon was enough for him to understand they were not to be crossed. Especially Alice.
"Good it will be good to tell them that we have a way to get them home. And before you leave make sure Jack has a way to get in contact with you and you fix his manipulator." Ianto added as though it was going to be done no matter what. "That way he has a way to get them home without having to drag you away from whatever adventure you're on."
The Doctor looked from Jack to Ianto. Ianto still stood tall and strong against him and Jack was looking at Ianto not sure what to say about it. Everyone else just seemed to be hiding their smiles at Ianto's demands. Surely they knew the danger of time travels. "Jack is more responsible than you think and he deserves his freedom don't you think after all he has done for you?"
"Well-chosen words Ianto." The TARDIS giggled she was not blameless but understood better now. She felt the pain she had caused Jack and wanted to make amends.
"I… I… There is no…"
"Since you cannot come up with a well-reasoned argument perhaps you can do it now and get it over with." He removed Jack's wrist strap and held it towards him. The Doctor was unsure why but he did as he was told. He fought the urge to lecture Jack but Jack just put it on his wrist and said calmly.
Ianto turned to Tosh. "If you can give the Doctor every file of negative rift spikes, all the ones that indicate something was taken, I would very much appreciate if you could look into those see if you can prevent them or bring whatever was taken home. I'm sure that will give you something useful to do while you are here." Ianto had turned to Doctor as he addressed and could tell the Doctor was about to argue. "I'm sure the TARDIS wouldn't mind saving a few people would she, aren't you meant to like saving the world or are a few people not as important." That angered the Doctor even more but not at Ianto but because this kid was playing him and doing it well. "I never took you as another Hartman." That was cold. Even Jack was shocked and by the looks of everyone that knew Hartman they knew it too.
"I'm sure I can do something." The Doctor ground out. Ianto stared at him judging him evaluating him. He must have a passed some kind of test because Ianto nodded and turned to Jack.
"Can we go home now?" there were so many places he wanted to visit things he wanted to stop but he knew he couldn't but he knew someone who could. "There are three things I would change and I know I can't because all of this would change. And so many things since I have I been here. And if you look into my past Doctor you would see what. Perhaps you know a way of changing it for me so all of this wouldn't change." He told him quietly and the sad acceptance in Jack's voice pushed him to agreeing. The least he could do for Jack on top of all the things Ianto was asking him to do.
"Okay." Jack nodded a grateful smile gracing his features before turning to Rhiannon and Alice. "Get your things we are going home." Rhiannon slipped off to chat to Johnny and Jack realised they were the only ones he didn't speak to.
"Tomorrow you can talk to them." Ianto whispered. Edward waved his hand at Ianto who followed him to the kitchen.
"Yes Edward?"
"We have collected together the blueprints and building documents that you didn't show Jack earlier the rooms that have already been done and all the entrances exits fix ups and so on; so Jack can over them tomorrow. I'll leave them on your desk or with Tosh. I know he wants to go home and I'm sure Johnny will decide if he is leaving or not but me and Adam and Harry are going to stick around for another two hours."
"Alright that's great I would have brought him to you he just wants to go home." Ianto tried to explain.
"And I don't blame him. Whenever Harry and I are apart for a day we just want to go home and forget the world he has been go some time he deserves a night in with his family." Edward understood that so did the others.
"Thanks. He'll probably want to talk to you tomorrow anyway get you to go through everything."
"Whenever he is ready." Edward went back to his work and Ianto headed back to Jack.
"Johnny is going to come home with us they are just collecting their things." Jack explained when Ianto returned.
"Edward was just telling me where he is putting of the building documents so you can have a look tomorrow. And you can talk to him whenever you are ready."
"Okay that will be good." Jack went silent. He was just wrung out. And he knew there was a lot more explaining to do.
"Ready." Alice came back quickly followed by Rhiannon and Johnny.
"I'll drive Rhiannon and Johnny and you take dad?" Alice asked Ianto.
"Sure."
"See you tomorrow." Jack called to everyone. He wanted to go home. Jack turned around just as Gwen opened her mouth to say something but what could she say. Everyone would turn on here and Ianto had him blinded by family so she couldn't get close. Could she wait until tomorrow or maybe call round later. Either way someone would try and stop her. No she would take the night to figure out a way to get him alone so they could talk. Every called their goodbyes knowing that tomorrow would be a better day to get to know Jack or to Tosh Owen and Rosanne get to know him again and catch up. He could tell she was thinking and waited until she caught his eye. "If you ever go for my daughter again nothing and I mean nothing will stop me tearing you apart." His voice was ice and his expression fierce there was no doubting he would carry out what he said. "I will make sure you suffer for so long you will be begging for your death." his voice diminished into a whisper and by the look of complete terror on Gwen's face the message hit home. She had never been this afraid of Jack and by the looks of everyone else they had never experienced it either.
Buckling himself in Ianto's car Jack was glad they were actually out of the hub. He wanted to be back but he wanted some time to get his head sorted get used to the fact that his family was here. The new people in the hub. Knowing that there was so much for him to catch up on. He was being selfish but he wanted just one night free of any obligations. He didn't want to have to get up early to get to the hub and be the Captain. He didn't want to have to brush off his family because something came up at the hub and he just wanted one night in Ianto's arms so he knew he was home.
Ianto could feel the torrent of emotions rolling off Jack but didn't comment. He wanted to say a thousand things more than that probably but kept his mouth shut. He wanted Jack to trust him not worry that he was going to force him to talk. So even though when he saw the kiss he wanted to get to the bottom of it he knew that he had to be patient and just make sure that Jack knew he was there for him and would be there for him as long as he could.
What happened with Gwen needed to happen: just now she saw a father who would do anything for his daughter, not a hero who would do anything for her. He had a feeling somehow she would blame it on him but Jack was getting tired of it now and he would hate to Gwen in the coming days.
Alice Rhiannon and Johnny got there before them Ianto opting to take a slow route so Jack could get used to the idea of living with his family when he spent most of Alice's and Stephen's life away from them. Ianto kept waiting for Jack to say something but he didn't and Ianto didn't mind the silence because Jack was back with them. That made everything better and now Ianto made sure he had the ability to leave at any time but he was still here.
They pulled up the house and Ianto made no move to get out of the car because Jack was sat there just staring at the large structure. Ianto put his hand on Jack's knee drawing his attention Jack slid his eyes to Ianto's.
"We can stay here as long as you like but I'm sure by now Stephen knows your back he won't stop until he sees you." Ianto said softly trying to not scare him.
"I know it's just its strange I wanted to come home and see them but I just…just don't get how it's different." He admitted.
"That would be my doing." Ianto looked out of the windscreen avoiding Jack's gaze.
"Why?" it was whispered into the air.
"I visited her after you left to tell her but also to see if I could change her mind. I explained some things too her and know she understands. I got her in touch with Rhiannon that evening and then Rhiannon offered her to job I offered her. I wanted you to come back to your family to give you something to stay for." He whispered back only looking at him when Jack gently turned his head to face him.
"You did what I couldn't. Thank you for bringing them back to me." Jack kissed him gently tenderly.
They stayed in the car exchanging soft kisses for a little while until shouting pulled them apart.
"Granddad, Granddad, Granddad." Stephen ran up to the car and Jack then jumped out running to his grandson. The smile that was on his face made Ianto know that his decision was the right one a good one.
A/N: Shorter chapter I know but not too short wanted to leave it here otherwise it would be a lot longer so onto the next chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Have fun
Rhoda x
