Thanks to everyone who has been following this story, providing encouraging feedback and who have added this one to their favourites!
It is very encouraging to know I am on the right path. Any feedback is always welcomed and needed! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Ianto made his way back to Jack's office with the file on Riley.
He paused at the top of the stairs to watch the other three as they set about the tasks that had been delegated earlier that morning.
Tosh focused her intense study on the monitors before her, Owen seemed knee deep in conversation with Gwen as they built their profile of David.
He had to admit it was a good feeling to have these people on his side, backing him up. He knew they did it on Jack's orders, he knew they did it for the greater good of Torchwood but a part of him wanted to believe they would do it for him.
It had been so long since he had belonged anywhere, since he had felt like a part of something that was good. When he thought about it the last person who had made him feel like that it was Riley, in a time before when he actually had believed what they were doing in London was for the greater good.
"We will figure this out Yan"
Jack had come out of his office and was now standing close to Ianto.
"I know" He said quietly.
"Ianto?" Jack said warningly as he spun him around so that he now had the young man's eyes staring back into his own. They weren't as clear as they normally would have been; there was a cloud over them that Jack never liked to see.
Ianto sighed and smiled just a little. Indicating to the folder he nodded his head towards Jack's office.
"Come on, like you said, I owe you a story"
Jack followed Ianto into his office and closed the door behind him.
Taking up position behind his desk he watched as Ianto opened the file and arranged the documents on the desk in front of Jack.
It was a personnel file from Torchwood London. The photo of a young vivacious woman shone out from amongst the normal HR material.
From the photo you could tell she was not a classic beauty but had some spark behind those eyes and on the quirky features on her face, Jack always liked people like that.
She had an interesting face, her short hair seemed to have a direction of its own, green eyes that glinted with a hint of mischief. The name had not meant anything to Jack but the eyes, he remembered the eyes.
"I recognize her. Tech head from Torchwood One?"
Ianto nodded.
"When I heard she had left I offered her a job, she turned me down flat."
"Wow that must have been a knock to the ego sir?"
"Funny Yan, shame though, I had a feeling she could have been brilliant."
"She was Jack, just brilliant."
And Ianto lowered himself into the chair opposite Jack who was watching his face carefully.
"I remember my first day in Torchwood 1, I was recruited straight from UNI as a junior researcher. I remember being so nervous that first day, it was my first proper job and I really didn't want to mess it up, the paycheck was good and I really had enough of sleeping rough. I was assigned to her as her personal assistant. So she was the first person that I met properly. She kinda took me under her wing, showed me the ropes, taught me some stuff too and like I said, she was brilliant, give Tosh a run for her money."
"I met up with her not long after her husband had died, I assume he was the reason she left London?"
Ianto's face had clouded.
"Another love lost to Torchwood, that was bad Jack, and it was the first time I think that it showed me what sort of people I was working for. She and Connor had been tracking the time shifts; they could see things were not right. They were working on building a case on Yvonne and David to get them removed before things got worse,WeI had been helping them collate the information, me and Lisa and somehow they got wind of the plan. I mean it was never proven but the mission they sent him on, it was weird Jack. There was no way he should have died on that mission. And she…..she was ripped apart by that grief. She tried to bring them down with the information she had against them but they shut her down, discredited her and made sure she never stepped foot back in the building let alone London. I met up with her a few times after she left, fed her some information, but then the shit hit the fan, I lost touch with her."
"Ianto, how did you recognize her from just her hand?"
The youngman sighed as a sad smile played on his lips.
"The ring, it was their 5th year anniversary that day, the day he died and he had given it to her that morning, something like that, hard to forget."
A burning behind Ianto's eyes threatened to overtake him, he decided that was all the information Jack needed, all the information he was willing to share.
Sensing the melancholy in his lover Jack knew that the story was over. He decided to steer the conversation back to more practical matters giving the man something else to focus on.
"So, if she has planted these it would be what? A warning?"
Taking a deep breath in Ianto considered his reply.
"I guess, to her he was responsible for Connor's death, he was the one who ordered the mission. I mean if David survived Canary Wharf it would be logical she has been tracking him. It's what I would do, and IF he has been tracking me I think this is an attempt at a warning by her."
Ianto now gazed at the floor as he felt Jack's considered gaze directed at him.
"Can you get in touch with her?"
Ianto shook his head.
"No, she always contacted me. I have a couple of e-mail addresses I can try but usually when and if she wants to contact, she will."
Ianto was still looking at the carpet and hadn't noticed Jack leave his chair until a short, squat glass with amber liquid was being offered to him. He took it gratefully taking a small sip as Jack placed a soft kiss on his forehead. Ianto held the glass up, regarding the liquid for a moment before draining the glass.
Jack stood by his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently as a small voice called gently from the door.
"Jack?"
The voice broke the moment as Jack span around to see Tosh.
"If you are ready I have finished the trace, not that it is much good to us, and Gwen and Owen are ready to present."
Jack nodded.
"Thanks Tosh, give us 10 and meet in the conference room."
Tosh nodded and left.
Ianto stood and as he did Jack grabbed his arm and motioned for him to remain seated.
"There is something else, something you should know before we go in."
Ianto shot him a cautious look,
"I'm not going to like this am I Jack?"
Jack sighed and reached for his hand.
"Gwen came to see me while you were in the archives. She remembered meeting Thomas at a callout she got as a PC and I don't want you to hear it for the first time in that meeting, I know you don't like getting caught off guard."
"Jack, just tell me"
Ianto was working hard to keep his emotions out of his voice; Jack squeezed his hand slightly and continued.
"It was a noise disturbance or something. Anyway she remembers going through his workshop and him showing off his new toy, something he called a cyber hand, equipped with a remote control."
Jack watched as colour drained from Ianto's face and his hands tense beneath his own. Jack stood and not breaking the hand contact he pulled Ianto onto his feet and gathered him in a tight embrace.
For a moment he felt Ianto stiffen until he relaxed into Jack, burying his head against his shoulder.
"We will get to the bottom of this Yan and you will not have to get through it this time on your own. That is a promise I will make to you."
Ianto pulled out of Jack's embrace slightly, looking into Jack's face he believed him and he nodded in his gratitude.
"Come on, you make the coffee and I'll meet you in the conference room"
Placing a small kiss on his lips he released Ianto and turned back to his desk to gather up the file as Ianto walked out of his office and descended the stairs.
Once he was sure Ianto was out of sight Jack let out a sigh and ran his hand over his face as he sank back into his chair and hoped like hell that however this turned out, he was going to be able to keep that promise.
tbc
