I do not own Torchwood or their characters.

Chapter Seven

Ianto woke slowly wondering what was weighing heavily on his chest. Blinking his eyes he took a minute to gain his bearings. His mind cleared and he looked down at Jack just to make sure that he was here and he was real. Tightening his arms around the sleeping man he inhaled his scent blush covering his face in full force as he remembered the activities that kept them awake until the early morning.

He carefully moved from under Jack as he nipped to the toilet. He hoped he would be back in bed before Jack woke up, he didn't want him waking up alone and thinking Ianto was gone.

Jack woke as soon as Ianto left the bed, he was asleep but not in a deep sleep he felt it when the space beside him became empty. He turned on his side facing the bathroom door waiting for Ianto to return. Before he went away something as small as this wouldn't have bothered him, but now he was unsure if this was real or would he wake up chained once more. Nightmares were not uncommon to him, they were better with Ianto next to him. The nightmare right now was that Ianto wouldn't come back to bed and Jack would be alone again.

As Ianto returned to the bedroom he saw Jack staring at him or at least he guessed the door, the relief was evident in his face and his feelings. Ianto quickly got back into bed wrapping his arms tightly round Jacks shoulders. Jack snuggled back into Ianto's chest glad he had come back.

Ianto didn't need to ask want was bothering Jack, he just tightened his arms around him moulding himself to Jacks body. He wanted to show him comfort and love.

"Do we have to get up yet?" Jack mumbled into Ianto's chest. Ianto looked at the clock on Jack's nightstand. Just past half ten too early considering they didn't go bed until the early hours of the morning.

"No we can go in this afternoon; we can get a few more hours sleep." Ianto kissed Jacks temple.

"mmm okay." Ianto was glad that Jack didn't argue and just fell back to sleep. If Jack had wanted to go to work he would have gone too but really he didn't want to share Jack not right now. Not when he had just gotten him back. Ianto carefully moved Jack a little so he could get comfortable he rested his head on top of Jacks and fell asleep.

Jack woke first this time, somehow in their sleep they had turned so that Ianto's chest was pressed against his back. An arm was wrapped tightly around his waist as if to prevent him leaving. If he was honest he liked the possessiveness like this. It made him feel wanted and not just desired. The clock on his nightstand now said two 'o' clock so he and Ianto had to get up and go to hub.

Mentally he knew that he needed to see the other people he left, he needed to spend time with Alice and Stephen now he could and he needed to spend time with Ianto's family who accepted him without hesitation. But emotionally he was overloaded. Torchwood had changed his family was here and Ianto had managed everything he had left him with. He needed to deal with that. He needed to have some time to deal with what he did, what happened to him and what he did to others, and Ianto was really the only one who could help him with that. His empathy meant he didn't need words and he also knew when to push and when not to.

Ianto shifted pulling Jack to him tighter, if that was all possible. Jack reasoned it must be his stronger abilities. Even in sleep he knew just what Jack needed, just someone to hold him.

"What time is it?" Ianto mumbled against Jacks neck. He didn't let up his hold.

"It's about two."

"How long have you been up?" Ianto kissed Jacks neck causing Jack to snuggle into Ianto's arm.

"Only a few minutes, I'm debating whether or not to get up or just stay here." He admitted.

"Usually I would say whatever you want but I think everybody needs closure just as much as you do. If you talk to them you can leave the guilt of leaving them behind you and move on." Jack responded by pressing his face to Ianto arms arm trying to hide.

Ianto didn't want to force him but at the same time, he knew he needed to. Jack couldn't see that to be able to move forward he needed to face the consequences of his leaving. Everyone already had forgiven him; they knew he needed to find his answers. It was more the lack of trust he seemed to have in them. He trusted them to do their job but the more personal aspects he kept to himself. He had to; he couldn't afford to let secrets slip. Well except to Ianto. But now with Alice, Stephen and the rest of his… well family maybe he could be more open about himself.

He carefully curled around Jack offering him protection from the world he thought he needed from. He wasn't complaining about spending time with Jack, he just knew that everyone else wanted to see him too. Especially Alice; she wanted to make up for lost time and for Stephen to know his grandfather not the uncle façade he had to put on.

Jack turned in Ianto's arms he was not leaving this bed yet. Ianto couldn't help but smile this was something he never expected. A casual relationship yes a relationship a deep relationship no. He fell for Jack but he knew Jack couldn't fall for him but now… anyway work they needed to go in. Jack needed to face his fears.

"Jack come on honey; everyone wants to see you. Especially Alice and Stephen." he knew it was sort of bribery but it didn't matter he needed to get Jack out of bed.

"Iaaannnnnttttooooo" Jack huffed pressing as close as he could Ianto grabbed the leg that slipped between his.

"Jack." Ianto let go of the leg to grab the hand that was squeezing his arse. "I am going to work you are welcome to stay here." Ianto grabbed Jacks head and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Jack let Ianto go, he knowing he was right. He did need to show his face at the hub. But he didn't know if it could be long. Long enough to say hello, long enough to apologise, long enough to ease his conscience a little. He would spend time with Alice and Stephen at home, where he could get to know them like he should have done in the first place.

He gave himself a minute to compose before following Ianto into the bathroom. And the image he was greeted with made him want to grab Ianto and go back to bed. His body hidden and highlighted at the same time by the water and steam.

"Are you getting in or not?" Ianto voice battled over the loud stream of water and Jack was not going to turn that invite down. Slipping into the shower in front of Ianto he allowed himself to be pinned against the wall and have the breath kissed out of him.

Ianto was glad that Jack had followed him into the shower it meant that Jack was willing to try and that was all that Ianto wanted for him. Jack would be here forever he needed to have as many people as he could around him, for as long as they could. Pinning Jack against the shower wall was not planned but he wasn't going to stop now for anything.

Jack and Ianto walked through the hub cog wheel about half three, Ifan had gone out to collect the kids from school as they left and told them that they would be going straight home. Everyone looked towards the door giving Jack the instinct to run instead of stay. Tosh was the first one to look away back to her computer. He could tell it wasn't that she wasn't interested or angry with him but because she was focused. He actually appreciated that she treated him as normal and not just stared at him. Rosanne and Rodney followed her lead and slowly as they headed to the office the rest of them did. The Doctor followed their path but didn't bounce up to them. Alice knew that her father needed to do this his own way, she would see him at home. She could see what weight he had put on himself and didn't want to add to it. Rhiannon squeezed her arm and they went back to work.

Ianto sat down at the desk and took in the small pile of paperwork that was there. It shouldn't take him too long, depending on if anyone came up to add to it but even then some of it could wait until he was back properly. Because for however long Jack needed he intended to be there as much as he could.

"I can't believe what you achieved in four months." Jack whispered as he looked out over the hub.

"I figured instead of waiting I now had the chance and the need to do it. It reminded us that you were always not going to be able to save us; that we needed to do what we could to save ourselves."

"I will be here for a long time." Jack knew now there was nothing that could be done but it didn't mean he wanted this life.

"As long as you learn to let people in it doesn't mean you can't have a mostly happy one."

"I suppose but the sad moments are the ones that stay with you more, or so I have so far experienced."

"You have us now, happy memories." Ianto said moving from the desk to softly squeeze Jacks shoulder.

"Happy. I think I can do that." he could try at least.

Ianto didn't answer, he couldn't ask anymore of Jack. Knowing he would try was enough for now. Ianto sat back down at the desk and looked at the paperwork that had gathered. He opened the first file and began to read. Jack turned and watched him for a couple of minutes just enjoying the sight. He didn't know who he would talk to first. He didn't want them thinking it was in order of importance or who he missed most. He would work his way round. Start at the med bay and end with Alice and Rhiannon in their safe room.

He still took him a little while to move, it wasn't the rejection that scared him the most it was that they would skate over it and not allow him to ask forgiveness for leaving.

"You will be fine" Ianto's quiet voice travelled to him. "Go" Jack followed the instruction and headed towards the med bay. He could tell the others were throwing looks at him as he passed but only focused on his main goal at the moment getting to Owen, he still had no idea what he was going say.

He watched as Owen sat writing his notes by hand, he did type most things up but his notes his research was written by hand. Tony and James were sat side by side at the autopsy table which was a desk at this point. Even when the live patients ward was done the med bay would be the primary work area.

"Say something or leave Jack we do have work to do." Owen called up to him. James and Tony looked at each other and decided to leave them to it.

Jack felt momentarily off balance, he knew he had some explaining to do but he hoped that Owen would allow him to do that. "Seriously Jack I do want to get this done before all the info starts coming in to me."

"I know." Jack mumbled, he hopped onto the autopsy table. He swung his legs like a child waiting for the adults to stop talking. Owen saw it. Jack was still growing up in some ways.

"What's wrong?" Owen moved his chair opposite Jack he still to look up to him but that didn't matter. It helped him see Jack's face which was pointed towards the floor. "Jack?"

"You know it wasn't about you lot right." He murmured.

"I know Jack; I know you needed to know what happened." Owen knew what he had to do he understood it.

"If I hadn't gone when I did I would have lost my chance. He tried to run again and I died holding onto that box. And again helping him and again and again and again. Only to find out that what I am is 'wrong'. The amount of times I wished I was back here at home. Only to wonder if I had a home when I would get here." He was startled by the swift slap to the shoulder. "What!?" he yelped.

"You always have a home here with us you idiot. And don't make me get sappy again. You are back happy and healthy from what we know, the rest is history. Next time just write a bloody note or leave a voicemail."

"I hope there won't be a next time. I know now and now I have to accept that and make the most of the time I have with all of you…"

"With Ianto and your family." Owen finished.

"You lot are family." Jack muttered they should know this by now.

"I know Jack. I have spent a lot of time with Mel going over my abandonment issues, my family issues, losing Katie. Trust me a lot of time. And now I will admit I was hurt you left you have been my anchor through everything else you were here. And yeah sometimes I wanted to punch you but I bet the feeling was mutual. But I get it I do. And now you're back that's the end of it. We carry on just like we have all the other times that one of us has fucked up. And while we like to think we haven't but we know we have fucked up royally in the past."

"You have grown up Owen, you having sex withdrawal?" Jack asked jokingly trying to stop the flood of feeling from Owen's acceptance.

"Haven't had sex since Tosh and I will be honest it's been good for me. I can focus on my life; get myself in order before I decide I'm ready for a relationship."

"Good for you. I knew that you lot could carry on without especially with Ianto leading."

"Yeah he has really turned it around. Not gonna lie some parts were difficult to get accustomed to. I think there were times where Gwen and I couldn't get it. And I made sure Ianto knew it was just me. I had worked for so long under one set of rules that it was difficult to get used to a new set."

"People see his age and they don't understand how intelligent he is. We all have a specialities but he seems to pick everything up so quickly." Jack was always amazed at Ianto. "I just wanted to talk to you and see how everything was going. I'm going to go round all of you and see the progress that has been made, and to see how the new people are fitting in."

"I'm fine, the family is back together and we are moving forward. I can't wait until the ward is finished; James and Tony get along and help me immensely. We go through the files in the archives and create databases from the data to help us. Having three medics' means we don't have to worry so much or work so many hours. Its good Jack, you chose right." Jack nodded accepting Owen's praise.

"Come on I'll give you a more detailed report." Jack took a chair and sat next to Owen at his desk starting to feel a little better that Ianto gave him the courage to come back here. He spent over an hour with Owen; afterwards he went back to Ianto to decompress from the information.

"I take it went okay." Ianto observed as Jack slumped down on the sofa.

"Yeah it was just a lot of information to take in." Jack released a sigh not wanting to move on to the next person just yet.

"Take your time you don't need to everything today and if they are all that long it will take days anyway because I intend to take you back home in a couple of hours for dinner." Ianto informed him; signing another report.

"Right, I want to talk to Alice but at the same time I need to get back to what I know and that's the four of you. I feel guilty she is my daughter but after so long I am afraid of pushing her away again."

"She knows. She's scared too; she doesn't want to lose her daddy again." Ianto told him gently.

"Well I think I will have a few minutes then head to speak to Tosh or see if she has time to chat to me if not then Gwen. That will be all for today. I only want to talk to a couple of people a day so I am able to take it all in."

"That's up to you. I don't know if Tosh will want to talk right now seeing as she will be up to her eyes in information for however long the TARDIS decides to stay and after."

"Gwen it is then." He heaved himself up ready to face Gwen. He had threatened her about going at Alice so he knew that they both had to make concessions. He wanted to get this done so he could go home. He was looking forward to that.

Gwen looked up as footsteps got closer to her workstation. She was trying to get her paperwork done while she waited for the information to come through. With no reason to go home she stayed in the hub most of the time, while everyone else had lives she was there. It did make her think; is this they did when she left for the night to have her life. Were they just here working because they had nothing else to do or no one else to spend time with? Jack came closer to her work station and she could see that he was just as apprehensive s she was. With his threat yesterday she was scared to be in the same room as him; but at the same time she was very focused on finding out what happened, why he left her.

Jack wasn't stupid he could see what was happening in her eyes. First there was fear then curiosity, the kind of curiosity that once upon a time he didn't mind. It was nice to have someone who actually wanted to know him and then it just got too much. She was never satisfied with the amount he wanted to reveal. She always had to know more. Ianto on the other took what he gave and expected nothing more, and that was what he needed.

He carefully sat opposite her leaving the desk in between them to try and keep it professional. He could see that goodness that he saw in her when she first began and hoped she could get back there; but right now she wanted something he couldn't give.

They stared at each other for a minute or two; Jack was trying to decide how to broach any subject with her and Gwen was just trying to think of the right thing to say. She didn't want him having a go at her again.

"Why don't you catch me up on your role and changes that have happened." He said softly. He just hoped she didn't try and bad mouth anyone.

"Well, it's been a lot easier, more people and all. It's sometimes easier to have a more flexible life. We have lots of different people who know different things under one roof. We have got a lot more done than we did before." She was telling him what he wanted to hear. He didn't want her to lie about her feelings but he knew that she knew she was on very thin ice. "Sometimes it doesn't feel as challenging as it was; but less people are getting hurt so that's a good thing."

"You miss the challenge though?" Jack asked; he missed it too sometimes.

"I do sometimes; the thrill of the chase, figuring everything out, the high from closing the case."

"This job is about protecting humanity; and yes when it was the five of us it was challenging because we had to work fast and with little to go on. But if we have to sacrifice 'the challenge' to save lives then we must." Surely a good person would know that.

"Yeah I know, and it feels good to actually get ahead sometimes but you have to admit the running is rather fun."

"It is I will admit that. So how about your role?" as they got into detail it felt like when she first started; friends with no other motives or grievances against him. She talked him through what she did now how it changed from before and how everyone else contributed to it.

"It looks good. We seem to have a better working relationship than before. And I know that is my fault but I am quite glad that the relationship has improved." Jack was looking around the hub again. He still couldn't believe that Ianto had really put everything in order.

"Yeah…" Gwen wanted to say something; but didn't really know what.

"Yesterday I threatened you…" he started after a few minutes silence. "I have spent Alice's entire life trying to keep her and my grandson safe." He paused for a moment. "I may not have been welcome in her life but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do anything to protect it." he took another moment trying to compose himself, he didn't hate them for what they did with the rift, they had to learn but she needed to understand the lengths he would go to for his daughter. "You didn't like how I told you the truth and killed me to get your loved one back, which now doesn't really seem like it mattered, you jumped from bed to bed and expected me to pay the price for your guilt." He said quietly trying not to make a scene and to her credit she listened and didn't interrupt. "You killed me; do you not think I wouldn't do the same for my daughter? Or more for her and Stephen?" he could see understanding but at the same time defiance. She didn't like secrets especially being kept from her.

"You could have said, I wouldn't have said anything." She whispered. She didn't dispute the rest. Could she?

"I am allowed my privacy Gwen aren't I? Just like you are allowed your personal life."

"I thought we were friends." And Jack knew she meant that, he considered them all friends and Gwen didn't get closer than others on occasion because she could be a good friend but then there were times where there was a line and she crossed it from time to time.

"Gwen I consider you all friends, but just because I share a few things it doesn't mean everything is up for grabs." He responded softly. She looked upset; he guessed that she was thinking they could start again.

"I know I must take some responsibility for how events went down with us. I flirt, it's part of me. I will admit some attraction but it was more that you had what I wanted and could never have. You had the normal life, great boyfriend, and friend's things that I wanted." He looked towards his office, he couldn't see Ianto but knowing he was there was enough. She followed his vision then looked down at her hands. So he never really wanted her, now she really had to deal with that. "I want us to be friends but it cannot be anything more." He hoped that being honest now would help even if it did hurt, he thought that this was starting to go away before he left but something happened and he didn't know what.

He had taken his side of the responsibility but he wondered if she would take hers. She had known for a while; since before he left that he and Ianto were together and she seemed to be getting it. He really needed to get up to date with everything because while some things went forwards some things seemed to go backwards.

She focused on him, her eyes falling into their usual puppy way tears gathering; maybe if he saw how upset she was he would reconsider. Jack saw it and knew what she was trying to do he had been on the receiving end of those eyes too many times. He held her gaze; no remorse present. After a few minutes she surrendered and dropped her gaze back to the table. At some point he had to give in didn't he?

"I'm glad we had this conversation; but I hope you understand I am looking forward to explore the relationship that was forming with Ianto before I left." Jack took a look around the hub again. Gwen tried not to let her heart sink anymore, to hear that was difficult because it really didn't leave her any room to argue their relationship. "He managed something I never could." Jack said softly as Ianto walked out of his office.

"What was that?" she asked in a whisper, what could Ianto have done that she couldn't.

"He made a home for me." Jack answered eyes still glued to Ianto. He was leaning against the railing watching over the team a slight smile on his face. He knew that Jack was watching him but he pretended not to notice, it wasn't because he didn't want to get distracted from what he was planning.

"And no one else could do that?" she asked him, why did everyone think Ianto was the only one around there that could do a good job at everything.

"He's the only one that accepted my decisions my reasons and the right to my privacy. He never tried to force me to be something I'm not."

"What about Lisa or before you left; he betrayed you then."

'And so did you more times than Ianto ever did.' He thought to himself.

"As I remembered you were all under the influence and actually you started it when Rhys died. After I tried to fix the mistakes Owen made, I know he was trying to save us but look what happened. And by the looks of it you and Rhys aren't together anymore, and while I do not wish him dead I still had to die to bring him back for you." His voiced never raised but she could tell he was getting angry. "He still feels the guilt of betraying me do you?" he couldn't take more of this.

"I didn't come over here to argue I just wanted to catch up but please understand that now I need to take some time out and catch up with my relationship with Ianto. I'll talk to you later." He got up and headed towards Ianto without giving her any time to answer. She didn't try and call him back.

Ianto could feel the change in emotions as Jack walked up to him, he wound his arm around Jack's waist as Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto and holding on tight. He watched the end of Jack's conversation with Gwen and he could see both parties were getting worked up. But he didn't intervene this wasn't his battle.

"I know you would like to go home; but I think we should stay just a little longer. Make sure everything is going smoothly." Ianto whispered against Jacks temple.

"Do we have to stay?"

"I suppose not. I just want to have a word with the Doctor and then we will make sure we are home for dinner."

"The Doctor why?"

"I just want to make a couple of things clear to him in regards to you." Ianto was honest to him; he was going to give the Doctor an earful.

"What things?" Jack whispered wondering what else Ianto wanted to say. He thought just standing up to the Doctor about the refugees and Jack having a way to get them home was enough.

Ianto didn't answer straight away. He knew that Jack loved the Doctor in his own way and despite the Doctors attitude towards would always go with him if he could help. He carefully readjusted his grips so Jack was moulded to his side.

"I will be telling that he had better change his attitude; you are not a convenient distraction or a toy that can be turned on and off when he needs you to die for him."

"He doesn't ask-"

"He did in that radiation room." Ianto interrupted. "The cause was good but he offered you up like it was nothing and it was." Ianto's voice was low and Jack could tell Ianto was fighting back the fear and pain of knowing what he went through.

"You have given enough of yourself for his approval before and after this life was given to you. You are not wrong Jack; ask anybody even Owen; because he has already said that you don't need the Doctor to fix you, that's what we are doing. Even though you don't need fixing you never have."

Ianto wasn't surprised when Jack kissed him. It seemed to be Jack's default answer when he defended him. Feeling worthy of defence was not something that he was used to at least proper defence, not just his actions but he a as person.

"I don't deserve any of you." Jack murmured into Ianto's neck.

"Yes you do. You have saved us now we are saving you." Ianto really needed to get Jack to believe in himself more. "And now it's time to defend your honour. A certain Doctor has a lot of explaining to do." Jack kissed him again still amazed that someone would fight for him like this. He was so used to fighting his own battles and battles for everyone else.

The Doctor had spent the evening reviewing Jack's life up to his entry to the Time Agency. Jack's life was so long going through it all would take some time, time he now had thanks to the TARDIS. Well at least it gave him something to do while he was waiting to leave. So far it seemed until Gray was taken Jack had a happy life and then everything changed. Gray and his father gone; he was left to look after his mother and then he left in search of Gray. Younger than he expected but he felt responsible. The time agency had screwed up his morals, almost screwed them up at least his still had a few left as far as he saw.

He was watching Tosh work what he could only call magic. It definitely was the same person he had met in London but here she was really in her element. With the help of her team she was speeding through the information. The TARDIS was helping her sort through the information as best she could as she went along but her primary function was to get the information to Toshiko.

He had tried to offer his help but had firmly been rebuffed. So he stood and observed. He could understand them not wanting him to help he was very particular about people messing around in his TARDIS, but he was going to get very bored very quickly if he had nothing to do. His eyes took another sweep of the place everyone seemed to be busy. He looked up to see if he could see the dinosaur again but she must have been in her nest. His eyes caught Jack who seemed to be in an intense discussion with Ianto and after a minute or two he lunged forward which didn't seem to surprise Ianto. He could see that Ianto was protective of Jack; he had seen that from the first moment. He had a weird feeling that Ianto was only getting started with him. Jack had told Martha and himself about the Cybermen he had to admire that man's courage and at such a young age. To lose someone after all of that and still work within the organisation that killed her. Jack knew how to choose his friends.

"Doctor, Could I have a moment?" Ianto called from outside his office. The Doctor frowned wondering what Ianto could want him for; he made his way towards him feeling like a man walking to the gallows with everyone watching him. Jack wasn't joining them he was heading to Owen in the medical bay.

Ianto gestured for him to enter the room shutting the door behind him. The Doctor had taken the chair opposite Ianto's without being asked and waited for whatever Ianto to say. And Ianto just sat calmly seeing how long it would take the Doctor to crack. A staring match ensued which must have had the rest of the hub wondering what was taking them so long.

"You lot are fixing me huh?" Jack said to Owen as he sat on the steps to the autopsy bay. James and Tony were back at the autopsy table they went to move but Jack held up a hand. "Don't worry I'm just going to annoy Owen until Ianto has finished ripping the Doc a new one."

"Good the idiot deserves it. Calls himself the Doctor." Owen scoffed.

"He does help; he really does and he is good." Jack defended him; he did deserve some defence. "He saves so many buts it us the people that get too close that suffer sometimes. But he does good things."

"That doesn't mean shit here; at least to Ianto. He understands that but his anger at the Doctor is for you. We do good things here but that doesn't excuse us from doing the same shit."

"True. Do you think the Doc will come out in one piece?"

"Eh depends on how he deals with what Ianto says to him." Jack didn't reply he looked in the direction of the office waiting for the fireworks.

Ianto won the staring match it did take a while.

"Do you know what I want to talk about?" Ianto asked softly. The Doctor was no fool though. Inner steel and leadership took different forms and he could tell that with Ianto otherwise he could not have handled Torchwood at should a young age. He wouldn't have handled Canary Wharf the way he did.

"I'm guessing it has to do with Jack?" The Doctor dramatically ventured. Mistake one, Ianto's face hardened at the causal behaviour and the Doctor knew it.

"Correct." Despite the expression on his face he was still speaking softly. "As you can tell he is very important to me, and his family. All of us here love Jack and want the best for him. Which is why despite our feelings about it, we knew he needed to get his answers from you." Ianto stopped for a moment, calm façade still perfectly in place but if anyone else was empathic they would know it was taking every inch of self-control he had not to break the Doctors nose.

"Before he left he was in awe of you. You showed him another way than the one he had been brought up in and he dedicated his life and for so long sacrificed his freedom in this place, in order to protect you from them, find you and show you how much you changed him." Ianto leaned forward a little. He needed the Doctor to hear what he was saying.

"After everything he went through, FOR YOU, you dismissed him insulted him and offered him up without a thought about how it could affect him. And if you interrupt to defend the Master I swear I will rip your hearts out with my bare hands." His voice was low and dangerous. Gulping the Doctor saw the power Ianto held and why Jack wanted that in his life. "You left him in that hell with Martha's family while you went through with your plan. You were meant to protect them not condemn them." Ianto was starting to lose his calm façade and his anger radiated round the small room.

"He loves you and will always come running when you need him, despite what you say about him. Despite what you have done to him because in his eyes you made him a better man. When I know it wasn't you, you may have lit the spark but he made himself better." The Doctor sat uncharacteristically silent. Ianto wanted to talk and he would let him and he had to admit having this thrown back at him hurt. He saved the world but Ianto was only focused on Jack.

"This is a warning." If it was possible Ianto's voice got lower colder and harder and it hit the Doctor how dangerous this man was. "If you do anything that hurts him, anything! I will rip you apart with my bare hands and no one will ever find you." It ended with a whisper.

Ianto was up and moving opening the door standing next to it waiting for the Doctor to recover from his shock at being threatened to leave. He hadn't given the Doctor time to argue of defend himself he needed time to calm down.

Jack watched the Doctor leave Ianto's office in a state of shock he jumped up and ran over to his friend.

"Doctor?" Jack watched him blink and come back to himself.

"Is he always that …"

"Defensive, powerful, protective." Jack listed. "Calm, angry, dangerous."

"Old." The Doctor settled on. Jack raised an eyebrow waiting for him to explain. "He seems to have lived longer than his years. But what you listed stand too."

"He has seen more than most here, it ages you. He was an archivist at One and that is his main role here when he isn't director. He lives in history."

"He threatened to rip me apart with his bare hands if I hurt you." The Doctor tried to act like it didn't affect him when Jack could see that it did.

"Ianto is protective of those he cares about, those lucky enough to earn that care." Jack whispered.

"That's not care that's love Jack. Just because I stay away from it doesn't mean I can't see that. He loves you." He watched Jack gulp and look away. He was like him he couldn't risk it. It hurt too much. "It'll hurt when he's gone but don't let it pass you by or you'll grow old and bitter and wonder what you could have had." He finished softly.

Jack let that lead him back to office to Ianto. As he reached the door he could see Ianto slumped in the chair breathing deeply, he stopped and watched for a moment. What this man had done for him has been done with more love and care than nearly everyone else he had ever met.

"Come in Jack don't hover." Ianto murmured softly.

"Is it a stupid question to ask if you're okay?" Jack murmured just as softly.

"No, I brought this on myself, I promised I wouldn't get angry and I did. How pissed is he?"

"Not as much as I thought. He described you as old because you seem so much older than your years. But he agreed with me when I said protective calm dangerous powerful calm angry defensive."

"You flatter me too much Jack."

"No I don't, not nearly enough." Jack acknowledged and Ianto didn't answer because no matter what he said Jack would believe himself the worst person but Ianto knew he wasn't.

"When would you like to go home?" Jack checked the time and it was about seven. They hadn't been there that long.

"What time is the kids bedtime?"

"Weekdays its half nine for school, but weekends are half ten. And its Friday…"

"So another hour here then we can go home?" Jack asked.

"Yeah I think that will be okay but tomorrow we need to start coming in at nine from now on. We can't rely on everyone here to pick up the slack for long."

"I can manage that." Jack didn't venture outside the office again; he didn't want to be from Ianto for too long. Ianto didn't seem to mind, he was reading through memos and other paperwork he had out off for a bit. But true to his word an hour later they were heading home.

About two weeks passed and Jack had spent his time chatting with everyone, making sure they were all okay and had settled well. Ianto watched him work and wondered why he didn't want to take the directorship back. But Jack was adamant. Everyone was getting along with him being back. Sometimes with the original group it was like he had never left. They had also gotten quite used to the Doctor being there. But the TARDIS had finished her work Torchwood now had as much on the universe as they could, and it was going to take a long time to get it sorted. They were all quite looking forward to it.

The main area of the hub was full; everyone had turned up to see the Doctor off. Jack was standing to the side with the Doctor while everyone was chatting. Ianto had arranged it as a going away party, after their talk Ianto had been nothing but hospitable to the Doctor and the Doctor didn't put a foot wrong. He knew not to.

The TARDIS had thrown her doors open welcoming then in. They all eventually got curious, the team members, volunteers, family and the kids all fitted easily in the TARDIS. The Doctor didn't like it but he and Jack followed them in, for the Doctor to keep an eye on everything.

They had been inside for a while having a good wander and the children asking a question a second and to the Doctors amazement very intelligent ones for their age but he supposed they were all taught by all of these intelligent people. When a yellow/gold light filled the TRDIS and the Doctor shouted in disbelief.

A/N: I know I haven't gone into what happened but I think it would be better if I didn't there are so many stories on this and mine wouldn't be much different so I would rather leave it up to your imagination.