Chapter 6

The Girl in the Welsh Speaking Bar

"That was a load of crap, if ever I heard one," Gwen commented as she slipped her phone back into her pocket.

"From Owen?" Tosh asked as she looked over at Gwen.

She nodded, "It was hard to understand, but he muttered something about having to go into the hospital to see a friend…but he sounded like he had a hangover."

"Yeah well…" Tosh looked down at her hands, sadly for a moment, "You know Owen…he probably went out, met some random girl and they hooked up."

"Aidan went home last night, but she's on her way back," Jack said as he walked over.

Gwen didn't even want to voice what she thought could have possibly happened with Owen, it was sort of what Tosh had said, but not so much about the girl being some random girl.

Just then, as if on cue a bright light flashed and Aidan appeared in the room, "Afternoon everyone!" she said, smiling.

She was putting on an act, but no one really noticed…yet.

Jack smiled at her, "You managed to get in here in one piece then," he said.

Aidan nodded and walked over, "Yeah, all here," she smiled again, something screamed 'she's pretending' to Gwen, but still she remained silent.

Gwen got the whole lure Owen had, and for some reason she had once given into that little thing…you know, cheating with a guy at work, she shook her head to send away images of Owen doing…things to her body. He was alright, there was one person that she wouldn't mind-she shook her head again to send it away and looked at the team, they were all staring at her.

"Gwen…are you alright?" Jack asked.

"Yeah…I'm fine, listen I'm just gonna pop to the loo. I'll be right back, Aidan can you come along? I need to ask you something?" Gwen replied, standing up and wiping the crumbs from her meager lunch on her jeans.

She nodded slowly and followed Gwen down the hall.

Once the bathroom door was closed Gwen turned to Aidan, "Where were you last night?"

"I was at my parent's house, back in time," Aidan answered slowly.

Gwen leaned forward and sniffed her hair, "For the love of God Aidan! Do you think I'm that stupid? You smell like Owen's sofa," Gwen cried, stressing the smell bit.

Something about the smell had also been intoxicating, but it had alcohol laced in the smell. Aidan must have had too much to drink the night before; that was the only reason why Gwen could fathom such a beautiful smart girl followed Owen to bed.

"Wait…how do you…did Owen…please don't tell my dad!" Aidan suddenly begged.

"Shh…Shh, I won't say a word, but honestly…why Owen? I mean…really?" Gwen asked.

"I dunno, I think he's a bit pretty. We went to a pub last night or a club or something, and had…I now know…way…way too much to drink. Went to his place and…had…some amazing…just…"

"Alright Aidan, that's enough! Don't need the flashbacks…I don't," Gwen interrupted before Aidan could say any details.

"Wait…what do you mean flashbacks? Don't you mean mental images?" Aidan asked slowly.

"Um…right…probably not a good choice of words…flashbacks…I meant mental image," Gwen sighed, "Right…everyone else knows, if you must know…when I first started working here, I had an affair with Owen," she said.

"How long ago was this?" Aidan inquired.

"Sometime last year, it started to fast and couldn't have ended quicker; anyways the point is…I know what a relationship with him can do to you. Besides…didn't you say you had someone? Matthew was it?"

Aidan looked down, "Well he's gone now, gone off to some other place, I don't know where."

Gwen studied her face, "Alright then…just promise me you won't let yourself get hurt. I care about your father and his wellbeing, and right now your wellbeing is his wellbeing. If Jack isn't happy…then nobody is," she explained.

"Alright Gwen…I'll be careful…just promise me you won't say anything to dad," she said quickly.

"On my honor," Gwen promised.

"Thank you," Aidan then turned around and walked up the hall to the offices.

Her heart skipped half a beat when she saw Owen over by his desk, turning on his computer and groaning about pounding lights. But she lost her grin, not wanting to seem too obvious. Owen noticed her and nodded slightly; he then went down to the autopsy bay and pretended to be busy.

The day wore on and every once in awhile Aidan and Owen exchanged glances, neither really understood what was happening between them, but they were dying to get out of the Hub and hang out.

The team left to explore a Weevil sighting and a few other things but eventually it wound up being a slow day, and at around five to six Jack noticed Aidan's unbelievably bored look.

"You can go out if you want, were gonna be just a little while longer," Jack said.

She looked up at her dad, "Alright…I am a bit hungry, see you later dad," she stood up and kissed him on the cheek and walked over to the center of the room and teleported out of the base.

Jack then went up to his office and closed the door, but a moment later it was open again by Gwen.

He looked up at her and smiled, "How can I help you Miss Cooper?"

"Well…don't you think maybe you should just go with Aidan, spend some time with her? Get to know your daughter better?" she asked.

Jack nodded, "I figured I could at some point, I just need to finish up this case file," he answered.

"Do you mind if I pop home early? I have some calls to make about the wedding," Gwenn asked.

Jack nodded, "Of course, go on and tell Rhys I said hello."

Gwen grinned, "Alright, see you in the morning."

She turned and left the office, leaving Jack with a sort of sense of loneliness. He could always tell the team they could leave and have Ianto stay behind, but he wasn't up for it tonight, and Gwen was right…he should be getting to know his daughter.

XX

"Listen I want an Apple Martini…"

"Gwisga t Areithia Saesneg," the bartender behind the counter said.

"Pardon me?" the girl sitting at the counter asked.

"Gwisga t Areithia Saesneg," the man repeated.

"What? Look I don't speak your weird language; I just want an Apple Martini!"

"Gwisga t Areithia Saesneg," he repeated once more.

Gina screwed up her face in frustration, "Alright then…can I get just water? You know….H2O?" she asked next.

"Areithia Cymraeg benyw!" the man practically shouted at her.

The girl then began to gently hit her head on the counter.

"What's the matter?" a Welsh accent suddenly asked.

Gina looked up and saw a woman with long brown hair and blue eyes, "I can't understand a word this guy is saying," she said, exasperated.

"I can understand why…you're a Yank right? Not to mention Welsh is a lost language…what were you trying to say to him? I might be able to translate," the girl said.

"I was trying to order an Apple Martini," Gina said.

Aidan looked to the bartender, "Carai afal Martini, a ca 'm a Cosmo blesio," she said.

The man looked like he might kiss Aidan and began repeating, "Ddiolch 'ch!" as he began to get bottles of alcohol and make the drinks.

"'ch chroesawa chychwïor" Aidan called to the man, then she looked to Gina.

"So what is a Yank doing in a bar where the bartender only speaks Welsh?" Aidan asked.

"I came over for a visit, I knew someone who would always talk about this city so I wanted to see what it was about. I don't do great in crowds, I don't like people…I saw this place was half dead and I came in," Gina said as their drinks were set down in front of them.

The women took a sip of their drinks, "So what's your name…and how the hell can you speak that language? I swear to God, it sounds like gibberish to me."

"I'm Aidan Harkness…you?"

"Gina Ashford."

"As for the language, it was something I had to know because a lot of people in the market used it a lot still," Aidan explained.

Gina nodded slowly as she absorbed the information.

"Anyways…so I'm thinking after you finish that drink you should probably leave, I'm actually going to go and meet someone at another bar and once I'm gone you won't have anyone to translate for you," Aidan then went on to say.

"Yeah you're probably right," Gina looked into her purse and pulled out a wallet that had two old film stars on it.

"Who is that?" Aidan asked, pointing to the people.

Gina looked as if she had just been slapped, "Are you joking me?" she asked.

Aidan raised an eyebrow, "Um…no?"

"Clark Gable and Jean Harlow!" Gina cried, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Yeah I don't know who that is," Aidan answered as she took a sip of her Cosmo.

"Clark Gable? Gone With the Wind?"

"Um…right I think I've heard of the book, but never seen the film."

"Who hasn't seen Gone with the Wind? Everyone on the fucking planet has seen Gone with the Wind!"

"Well…I haven't," Aidan answered sheepishly.

".God."

That was all Gina could say, it was all she could manage.

"Anyways…so is Jean Harlow in the Gone with the Wind too?"

"No, she died before that film was even made! But she was the best actress EVER! She was in a lot of films with Clark Gable, though. This picture was from China Seas. She and Clark just made the cutest couple in the pictures, the films they did together were always the best ones," Gina answered.

Aidan nodded and pulled out a note from her pocket and put it on the counter, she watched as Gina pulled out her plastic credit card and slapped it on the counter. Still brand new, as she had gotten it a few days after she had arrived in the country.

"I hate the money system, I don't get why it can't be the same everywhere," Gina commented as the bartender took Aidan's money and Gina's card.

A moment later the card was back on the table and Gina put it back in her wallet and the women left the bar, making it empty once more.

XX

A/N- Gina in reality is my best friend….Haha…I felt like putting her in there. Hope you enjoyed this chapter…more to come soon! (Hopefully Thursday or Friday since I have thanksgiving stuff and JB's cd to look forward to!!!

Make sure you spread the love and review!!!