Jack walked down the stairs nervously. He didn't want the team to know. It had nothing to do with the fact that he saw this as a secret between two lovers, more to the point that he was scared how he would react. He knew Toshiko would understand, she and Ianto had a strong friendship that he was practically jealous of. Owen and Ianto had gotten closer over the past few months, but there was still the brother like bickering that passed between them constantly. And then there was Gwen. Despite their conversation earlier, Jack knew that she would go out of her way to make Ianto feel more alone then ever. It was time's like these he wondered why he had wanted her to join the team.
"Where's Ianto?" Owen asked. Gwen hadn't said anything to him or Toshiko about anything, which Jack was grateful.
"Downstairs, sleeping," Jack answered. "I need to talk to you, conference room please kids." They all stopped what they were doing and moved to the conference room.
"What's going on?" Toshiko asked softly.
"Right. First of all, I want to say that if any of you treat him any differently I will make you forget so much of your life you'll think you should be in nappies!" They all stared at him a little startled, after taking a deep breath, Jack started talking again. "Remember Kerry?"
"The alien that passed herself of as Ianto's sister?" Owen shrugged.
"She was an empath. She found it easy to attach herself to Ianto because he too is an empath."
"He's an alien?" Gwen started. Her eyes wide with fear.
"No, he's human!" Jack said loudly. "He had no idea about any of it."
"Yeah right, are we forgetting Lisa?" Gwen shouted. "How can you let him stay here?"
"Gwen, do you know what an empath is?" Toshiko asked angrily. "He isn't dangerous."
"Like hell he isn't," Gwen muttered.
"Is that why he fainted the other week?" Owen asked, his voice calm for such a conversation.
"Yeah, it's getting too strong for him." Jack said, worry evident in his voice. "I have a friend here to help him, his name is Luke Bolton. He works with Torchwood."
"That's why Ianto went to Scotland?" Toshiko asked.
"Yeah, but something happened and he came home." Gwen shot Jack a look and he moved his eyes.
"What happened?"
"He felt it when I died, he's empath abilities are attached to me because of our relationship," Jack could have sworn he heard Gwen snort.
"He must have been so scared," Toshiko said sadly.
"Can he get rid of it?" Owen asked.
"No, he wants to. He doesn't know how to handle it. But Luke is doing his best to help."
"Jack!" They all turned around to see Luke and Ianto standing on the balcony.
"Everything okay?" Jack asked as he moved over to them.
"Yeah, I'm taking him out. Lesson number two."
"Can't it wait till tomorrow?" Jack asked.
"I'm fine, Jack," Ianto smiled. "Besides. I think it will be best if I leave for a bit." He gestured his head over to the Owen, Toshiko and Gwen. Owen and Toshiko looked at him and smiled, why Gwen stared at him as he was a freak.
"Mate, you okay?" Owen asked, he and Toshiko moved over to him. Gwen staying where she was.
"Yeah," Ianto smiled sheepishly.
"We don't think you're a freak," Toshiko smiled as she wrapped her arms around him.
"You've always been a freak," Owen laughed. "So, can you feel what I feel?" He grinned.
"Oh god. Stop it!" Ianto laughed.
"What's he doing?" Jack asked, Luke just laughed next to them.
"He's being disgusting, horny bastard." Ianto muttered.
"Right, I think we should go." Luke said once he noticed Gwen walking up to them.
"Ianto," She said quietly. "I'm sorry about last night,"
"What happened last night?" Owen asked.
"Nothing," Ianto said. "We going?"
"Yeah," Luke said.
"Don't be long," Jack warned.
"Why?" Ianto laughed.
"Because, and keep your phone on." He said, Toshiko, Gwen and Owen moved away from them back to their own work stations and Luke headed to the exit.
"I'm fine," Ianto promised, before he knew what he was doing he had his arms around Jack's waist and was kissing him as though his life depended it on it. "I should go," He mumbled before walking away. Gwen watched with a frown her eyes felt like they were going to burst in her sockets. Ianto wasn't who she thought he was.
"So, you hungry?" Luke asked as they walked around the streets. Ianto's silence seemed to unnerve him. Even though he had only known the young man a couple of days he was used to him having a presence around him. But instead he seemed empty.
"Not really, but you are so lets eat." Ianto said quietly, turning into a small coffee shop.
"You going to tell me what's wrong?" He asked, sounding like a concerned friend.
"You know what's wrong!" Ianto laughed.
"I'm not in your head, Ianto. But if you don't tell me I'll dig around and get it."
"Just stop it." Ianto hissed. "Just please, Luke. Drop it."
"Okay." Luke smiled. "So, I'll order and then we'll start."
Jack sat at his desk, his eyes trained on the paperwork in front of him, his mind focussing on the breath taking kiss that just happened not ten minutes ago. He couldn't remember the last time he had been kissed like that. So desperately but so loving. He wanted to know what was going through Ianto's head to make him kiss him like that, but at the same time he was too scared to find out.
"Jack, you okay?" Jack was more than surprised to see Owen standing there. The medic looked slightly awkward standing there.
"Yeah, just worried." Owen walked further into the office and sat down opposite Jack.
"You're not the only one," Owen smiled weakly.
"He's scared, and feels alone and there's nothing I can do."
"Jack, we saw that kiss. If he thought he was alone he wouldn't have kissed you like that. He knows you're there."
"It's not enough though is it?"
"Maybe, but right now it's what he needs." Owen stood up a little, he had his own concerns for Ianto's health. He knew the dangers of what empathy did to the human mind and body.
"Thanks." Jack smiled.
"We're all looking out for him, Gwen she'll come around,"
"When aliens are really from Mars, maybe." Jack laughed.
"Maybe, but he has us and that's what he needs. Just make sure you give him plenty more of those kisses, just try and do it when we're not around." With that Owen walked out laughing, Jack smiled feeling slightly better, but his concerns for Ianto were still on his mind for the rest of the day.
