Sorry about the delay, I had two assessments I needed to get done for uni so I've been working on them this week.
Thanks as always for everyone who reviewed, favourited and alerted!
'Don't you think locking him in a cell was a bit much?' Tosh near whispered, ever since her experience with UNIT she had been wary of putting anyone in a cell without just cause.
'Well what were we supposed to do with him?' Suzie spat, 'It's not like we can have him wandering about the hub, especially now we know we can't make him forget what he sees...' she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The progress she was making with the glove was being hindered by this stupid welsh boy and every fibre of Suzie itched to get it back on her hand, 'I say we leave him to rot in the cell, remove his existence from Cardiff and get on with our lives,' she restrained herself from gazing over her shoulder and the object that obsessed her mind.
'I can't believe you'd be happy to just leave him down there!' Tosh snapped uncharacteristically, 'It's not his fault he's immune to retcon,' she rounded on Jack, 'I hope you aren't thinking that's a serious option,' Tosh baulked at his hesitation, 'Jack...you can't-'
'We're not leaving him to rot down there, Toshiko,' appeasing the Japanese woman. He wasn't going to let that happen to the beautiful Welshman in the bowels of the hub...but what was he supposed to do with him?
'We could send him to One...' Owen interjected lazily.
'He's not going to One,' Jack said with a finality he didn't realise he possessed; he'd rather Ianto was locked in the hub for the rest of his life than let Hartman get her claws into him. Just the thought of what Ianto would be subjected to in her "experiments" on people immune to retcon was enough to make his skin crawl with guilt.
'So what the hell are we going to do with him,' Suzie snapped, 'I'd love to chat about this all day but I have more important things to be doing, some people actually do work around here,' she looked pointedly at Owen.
'It's not my fault that I have to deal with sensitive chemicals that require me to wait around for days on end.'
'You could be doing some paper work or, I don't know, organising the archives to make our lives easier?'
Owen snorted, 'It's not my job to make your life easier.'
'And it's not your job to sit on your arse and play on that stupid gameboy either!'
'Okay kids, settle down or daddy's gonna have to give you both a time out,' Jack held out a hand to silence any further argument, 'Can we please just put our heads together without it resulting in anarchy, or potential murder?'
Suzie scowled and turned away from Owen who rolled his eyes and turned back to Jack, 'Why don't we just let him go then? It's not like he's going to tell anyone anything.'
'That's not actually an option anymore,' Tosh blushed, 'I already sent a report off to the head office about retconning a civilian...they'll follow up on it to double check.'
Jack groaned, 'Why is this the one thing that we're up to date on paperwork with?'
'Well that's buggered everything up then hasn't it? They'll come and take him to One anyway once they realise that he remembers everything,' Owen sighed.
'Unless...' Tosh mumbled, 'Unless we offer him a job.'
Suzie snorted, 'Oh yeah we're definitely looking for a bartender...how the hell would we justify hiring him after retconning him?'
'We could say he...he managed to trigger the memories somehow- we can work on the back story later!' Tosh turned to Jack, 'What do you think? Would that work?'
Jack rubbed a hand across his face; it would settle the problem of what to do with him...and probably keep him off the streets with the salary he'd get. The only thing that worried Jack was that he would most definitely be a distraction around the hub, a welcome distraction- an incredibly gorgeous distraction that would look ridiculously appealing bent over his desk, flushed faced and-
Jack cut that thought off in its tracks before it had a chance to catch up with his anatomy. Maybe hiring Ianto would be beneficial...but what would be his position...apart from underneath Ja-
Jack caught himself grinning like a fool, 'That would solve the problem,' he stood up from behind the conference table, 'Toshiko, work on a cover story for how Ianto would possibly have broken the effects of retcon. Owen if this is going to happen I'll need you to set up a medical record for Ianto on file and Suzie...since you're not especially enthused by any of this I'd like you to keep your mouth shut and get back to whatever you were doing.'
'And what are you going to do?' Suzie asked as they got up to leave.
'I'm going to work out what Ianto Jones can actually do and how that's going to turn into a real job...'
Somehow Jack didn't think a former rent-boy come bartender would have much in the way of...well...any experience in the real working world. Not that his skills would go unappreciated by Jack later down the line. Shaking his head as he entered the cells he smiled as his gaze alighted on Ianto, 'Well Jones, Ianto Jones, what am I going to do with you?'
Although Jack was smiling Ianto still felt as though he was treading on thin ice between life and death, 'Have you decided that yet?'
Jack nodded, 'I think we have,' tapping a few buttons the door to Ianto's cell swung open, 'But first I think we need to have a detailed chat,' he pulled Ianto out of the cell, 'Let's go up to my office, shall we?'
'This isn't just some sort of secret code for "You're about to get your brains splattered" is it?'
Jack laughed, 'No, no. It means that we need to talk.'
Ianto raised his eyebrow as Jack closed the door to his office behind them, 'You're not breaking up with me are you?'
'Wouldn't even dream of it,' Jack gestured for Ianto to sit down, 'We've decided what to do with you but it's gonna be...a little bit complicated.'
'Meaning?'
Jack leant back in his chair, 'Tell me about yourself.'
'What do you want to know?' Ianto was being more and more confused by the second, 'I don't see how this is relevant to anything...'
Jack shrugged, 'I just want to find out what skills you have before deciding anything permanently. What do you like to do? What hobbies do you have? What are you good at, bad at? What interests you and what can't you stand?'
'This sounds like an inter- wait...is this an interview?' Ianto stared incredulously at Jack, 'You're thinking about hiring me?'
'Well I can put down "Incredibly perceptive" on the skills list...' he gestured for Ianto to continue.
'Uh...I've never had a real interview before...unless you could the weird one I had with Tom when I started working at the pub,' he laughed nervously, 'I don't really know what to say...except that I guess that I'm a fast learner? I...dunno! I'm not really comfortable talking about myself...'
Jack hummed contemplatively; he did need someone to sort out the archives. He needed a paper pusher, someone to do all the jobs he hated...and to look good while doing them.
'How do you feel about the alphabet, Ianto?'
'Weirdest question I've ever been asked...and I was a prostitute...'
Jack laughed, 'How would you feel about being the resident archivist?'
'...You want me to be you're...secretary?' Ianto snorted, 'A paper pusher, really? I know stuff I really shouldn't and I'm pretty sure I have a near photographic memory and you want to hire me to file papers?'
'Eidetic memory, huh? That's going to come in very useful.'
'You're serious then, about wanting to hire me?'
Jack smiled, 'Are you worried you'll disappoint me?'
Ianto rolled his eyes but inwardly he felt as though his fears had been voiced. He'd never been anything of importance to anybody and working in a top secret facility would be an enormous responsibility...and more than anything, almost inexplicably, he didn't want to disappoint Jack.
'Are you offering me this job because there's no other way to deal with me?'
'Yes,' Jack sighed, that was too blunt, 'There are other options but I don't want to even consider them.'
'That bad, huh?'
'You have no idea,' Jack stood up and sat on his desk directly in front of Ianto, 'I know this isn't an ideal situation, but if I'm honest... I'd prefer to hire you than for you to have to still be...on the streets.'
'I have a real job now, you know.'
'And what were you doing shortly before a weevil attacked you?'
Ianto sighed, 'I don't do it often...'
'That's still too much,' he leant forward and put a hand on Ianto's shoulder, 'I'm sure you're up to it. You're intelligent, bright and you'd look damn hot holding a stack of papers.'
'I'm pretty sure intelligent and bright are the same thing.'
Jack rolled his eyes, 'Stop avoiding the topic. Yes or no?'
'I don't really have a choice do I.'
'I'd like to pretend you did; makes it seem more PC.'
Ianto chuckled, 'You're talking about political correctness after you drugged me and attempted to wipe my memory while harassing me through my interview?'
'I'm bitter sweet that way.'
Ianto smiled up at Jack, maybe working with someone so deliciously eccentric would be fun. The fact that he was good looking was just an added bonus, 'So...when do I start?'
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Rhiannon was staring out the window, nervousness twisting her gut. Ianto's shift ended at 11 and it was nearing dawn. She knew they were a little behind in money this month but he wouldn't...would he? Not tonight. Of all nights.
The key turned in the lock and she ran over to the door, flinging herself in his arms as soon as he walked through the door.
'Woah, Rhi, what the hell?'
'You idiot!' she smacked him on the arm, 'Where the hell have you been?'
'I- I just went out after work,' Ianto saw Rhiannon's eyes fill with tears, 'Rhi, what's wrong?'
'I had something I needed to tell you, and you didn't come back. I've been waiting for hours for you to come back and you didn't.'
Ianto took her in his arms and directed them to the sofa, 'Calm down, cariad. What's the matter?'
'I- I- I,' she took a deep breath to steady herself, 'You know I've been seeing Johnny for a while now...'
'Three years give or take...'
Rhiannon nodded, shaking loose a few more tears, 'Well he- I- we-...I think I'm in trouble.'
'I don't understand...what are you-' the revelation hit Ianto like a brick force.
Rhiannon was trying to tell him that she was pregnant.
Ianto stood up sharply, 'Rhiannon Jones. Are you pregnant?'
She nodded, her face crumpling as more tears sprung to her eyes, 'What do I do, Ianto?'
'How do I know?' he closed his eyes, calming the flare of panic he felt lick up his chest, 'What do you want to do, Rhi?'
'I don't know.'
'Well, you have two options. You can keep it or...not,' Ianto sat back down, 'Look, Rhi. Whatever you decide to do I'll help. I'll always help you, haven't I my whole life? I'm not about to stop now.'
'Thank you, Ianto. I don't know what I'd've done if I didn't have you.'
'Probably dissolve into anarchy...' he chuckled, 'I guess now's a good time to tell you that I got a new job.'
She looked up at him sharply, 'You were looking for a new job?'
'I kinda...fell into it. I met a guy who said I was what he was looking for...' Ianto looked off dreamily for a second, 'and it pays well, very well.'
'How well?'
Ianto smiled, 'Well enough to move to Cardiff bay.'
'No. Way,' Rhiannon squealed, 'Oh, Ianto that's incredible!'
'And I guess it couldn't have come at a better time...'
'Are you joking about my serious life changing predicament?'
Ianto pretended to look awkwardly around, 'N..o...'
She smacked him on the arm, 'Ianto! It's not funny! It's serious.'
'I know, I know. I'm sorry...' Ianto wrapped an arm around her again, 'Have you told Johnny?'
'Not yet.'
'Ouch.'
Rhiannon snuggled further into Ianto's arms, 'Help me? I mean- I could barely tell you and your my brother...how am I supposed to tell Johnny. Oh God. I could be ruining his life with one conversation.'
'Or you could be giving it a purpose. It's not like Johnny was going to go far in the world anyway- don't look at me like that! You know He's not the sharpest tool in the box. And he's not ambitious like you are.'
'Better make that were...'
Ianto pulled away from her, 'That sounded like a decision to me.'
'What if I'm like her though...and what if Johnny turns out like-'
'Rhiannon. You are not our mother. Your kind, thoughtful, dependable and you can handle stress. And I can pretty much tell you that if Johnny was even a lick like our father then I would have kicked his arse out of your life years ago.
'I promise you I will help you no matter what happens. Even if he...well let's just tell him first.'
She nodded sadly and gave him a weak smile, 'Thank you...I guess we should go to bed,' she giggled, 'We have to be up in a couple of hours.'
'Hey, we're experts at getting by on no sleep, don't sweat it.'
'It's going to be okay?'
Ianto nodded and watch her walk into her bedroom. How the hell was it going to be okay? Ianto had been struggling to reign in his panic the whole way through the conversation- he'd learnt long ago that if he forced his mind to be calm then Rhiannon wouldn't pick up his emotions so easily. Now she'd left the room his mind raced over everything. He went from wanting to punch Johnny in the face to crying on the man's shoulder out of sympathy. They were only 19 for god's sake. He supposed it could be worse, this could have happened when they were 16 and then they would have really been up shit creek. At least Rhiannon had some qualifications and Johnny had some money coming in from his job...whatever it was he did...and Ianto himself was about to get a hefty pay rise- seriously what the hell did Torchwood do to warrant earning that much money?
Ianto felt his mind wandering to the prospect of his new job; Jack still hadn't figured out exactly what his position would be- although Ianto had a few ideas of his own that he was sure Jack would be up for... Rolling his eyes, he shuffled off the sofa; already having sexual thoughts about the new boss and he hadn't even started yet, oh yeah. He was going to love this new job.
