Chapter 7: Cardiff Self Storage; Cardiff, Wales
Ianto Jones already recognized the fear and anxiety as a by-product of what happened. Knowing something was irrational didn't mean accepting it. Everything scared him. The anxiety manifested as jealousy. The self-doubt was worse. He questioned his judgment and memories.
Jack's feelings for Gwen were somewhat mutual and nothing new. She chose Rhys over Jack and they'd been married more than a decade. Even knowing that, their connection bothered him. Trefor's middle name added to the uncertainty. The conflicting ideas were driving him crazy.
The van stopped in the parking garage adjacent to Torchwood before he realized where they were headed. He reached for the door handle and Jack squeezed his leg. "We're not staying."
"I need to be home for supper." Gwen climbing out of the van.
"Understood."
Ianto waited until the door closed, trying to focus on anything but Jack watching Gwen walk away. "Where are we going?"
"Cardiff Self Storage. Gwen can research Moss-Probert. The mystery storage unit needs to be resolved."
"I need to make calls." Making furniture arrangements took time. If he was honest with himself, it was safer.
"We have time."
Ianto stared out the window as the silence settled in. Through the chaos, a thought occurred to him. He'd been gone ten years. Before he died, and he still had trouble wrapping his mind around the idea, he knew they viewed what they had differently. Jack was known for casual relationships. He never could handle casual. Between losing Lisa, and the stress of the job, it wasn't surprising that he needed someone. Dating outside Torchwood wasn't a realistic option. Which left Jack.
"Am I asking too much?" Ianto suspected he already knew the answer.
"No."
"I'm sorry." It wasn't a situation anyone should face.
"We'll figure it out."
Ianto wasn't sure about that. He couldn't expect to pick up where they left off. Or rather where he wanted them to be. He wouldn't take advantage of Jack's survivor's guilt. "What's the building like?"
"Four floors. Four two bedroom flats on each. Mine is on the fourth floor. Gwen and her family are on the third."
More than enough room. He needed to figure out how to explain changing his mind about living with him before the furniture was ordered or delivered. Explanations were something he was good at. Although the people he gave them to didn't know him. Jack would argue but would be relieved.
"Anwen would take pictures and send them, if asked."
"That would help."
Jack looked at him briefly. "What's wrong?"
"I'm tired."
Jack didn't believe him. He parked in the storage facility's main lot. They needed to see what they had before making decisions. He was glad Jack was with him. The anxiety at the hospital scene returned as they left the car.
Ianto made a point of focusing on his tablet and trailing behind. The more he thought about it, the less he believed he could lie about why he needed his own place. It wasn't a conversation he wanted to have.
Jack held the door and they entered one of the buildings, and walked down a long hallway. He stopped to scan the storage room. "Chronons."
"Time change?"
"Yeah." Jack used a skeleton key device to open the lock, and slid the door up. The room was filled with boxes and furniture. Each box had an itemized list on the outside.
"Does Rhys still own a transport business?"
"Again."
Ianto checked boxes while Jack stepped away to use his mobile. The labels on the outside fit the contents.
Jack returned after a phone call. "I need to leave."
"Did Rhys agree to help?"
"Yeah. He will be here in half-an-hour or more. With the kids." Jack hesitated. "Rhys is angry again. Its a long story, but he's worried Gwen will leave him for me."
Ianto could sympathize.
Jack hugged Ianto from behind, and kissed the top of his head. "We will figure this out."
"Gwen told him I'm moving in with you?" If Rhys thought Jack was in a solid relationship, he'd likely worry less.
"Probably."
Ianto was getting a better idea of why the Torchwood woman did what she did. She was not only manipulating events, she was manipulating them. He was expected to settle Jack down and resolve the situation with Rhys. Keeping each of them happy meant different things. The question was how she knew them that well.
"What's wrong?" Jack wasn't going to let it go again.
Ianto turned to face Jack. "It's unreal." Ianto lightly brushed Jack's face with the side of his hand. "I knew it wasn't serious for you. Sooner or later you'd be bored." Ianto hesitated. "The survivor's guilt will fade. And we'll be back where we were. Except you moved on."
"No."
"I will tell Rhys whatever you need me to."
Jack kissed him.
Ianto watched him walk away. He could understand Rhys' jealousy. Jack had casual relationships with men and what few serious relationships he had were with women. He'd been married at some point, and came close another time. He had a daughter with a former Torchwood co-worker. And that's what Ianto knew about. Jack talked about former boyfriends but never girlfriends. He viewed it differently. A part-time shag as Owen had once called it. But Jack loved Gwen.
With time to spare, he decided to get organized. He checked boxes to compare content to inventory. One had an envelope filled with colored labels. Which reminded him again of the automated message he'd received earlier. Whatever the situation was, she knew him. It made him uneasy. No matter how predictable, it gave him something to do.
When Rhys Williams arrived with his two children, the boxes were color-coded based on the contents and would make transporting and unpacking easier. "Ianto." Rhys sounded uneasy and was trying to hide it from his children.
"Rhys," Ianto acknowledged. "Did you find the loading bay?"
"Yeah. My two guys are there now."
"Good." Ianto nodded.
"Gwen said you're rooming with Jack."
"Yeah."
The loading bay door opened. Ianto jumped.
"Just a moment." Rhys looked at his daughter. "Stay here with your brother."
Anwen held Trefor's hand."We'll run with scissors while you're gone."
Rhys groaned, heading down the hall. It must have been an old joke.
"Anwen Williams. Nice to meet you." She smiled, looking so much like her mother. "This is Trefor."
She unexpectedly reminded him of Gwen's pregnancy. Jack approached Gwen during a self-administered ultrasound and discovered a bomb implanted inside him. Jack had been ground zero when the hub was destroyed. The anxiety flared.
"Ianto Jones."
"I know. Uncle Jack's friend." She emphasized the last word. "Dad's been saying he needed a roommate."
He had no idea what to say to that.
Anwen laughed. "I'm ten, not two." She smiled. "It.s good you're back. Maybe now dad will stop being a fool about Uncle Jack."
Ianto rode with the Williams' to the flats. Rhys and Anwen sang to the radio. He stared out the passenger seat window.
Rhys had coordinated with his drivers to transport the boxes. He expected the truck to be able to handle it in one trip. The color coding would determine which order they were packed and moved into Jack's apartment.
"Gwen says you're good with details. The building is well-maintained. But it could use some cosmetic changes and landscaping."
Ianto nodded as Rhys drove into the parking lot on the side. The anxiety was building again.
"It used to have roses in the back."
"Make a list," Ianto said quietly.
"I can do that." Rhys parked near the door. He handed Ianto the spare set of keys to Jack's flat.
"I can show him."
"Stay in the building," Rhys said. "Don't bother Mr. Jones."
Anwen waited by the car as Rhys carried Trefor in. "Do you need a glass of water?"
"No."
"The flats are nice. Big rooms. Jack has this big, ugly military surplus desk and that's it for furniture."
Ianto told himself he was not going to have a meltdown in the parking lot in front of a child and climbed out of the car.
"Is it time distortion?" Anwen asked as the building door closed.
Ianto looked at her.
"There was a time disturbance before you came back." She smiled. "I thought it might be like jet lag."
"I'm tired."
It was a lot more than tired, Anwen Williams thought, leading him upstairs. She needed to keep Ianto away from the roof.