ACCEPTANCE

Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales

Wednesday, August 3, 2021

Trying to balance work and a complicated relationship had it's moments. Ianto Jones stepped into his and Jack's flat as Jack left the bathroom partly dressed. Answering Jack's mobile had been a mistake. Expecting a problem, Ianto grabbed it without checking the screen. Cory provided a reasonable excuse. He knew about the relationship and agreement. The problem was that Cory was a secret Jack hadn't managed to keep.

"Cory called."

"You answered?" Jack walked over to his clothes for spare clothes.

"Yeah. He has information about a case, and wants to meet in person." Ianto knew it was possibly the truth.

Jack nodded. "Did he say when?"

"No. I told him to text the details." It was an awkward enough conversation.

Jack gave it a moment before turning and holding out his hand. Ianto walked over and accepted it. Ignoring it wasn't healthy. But neither was the conflict before they discussed their differences. They wanted very different things. After too many arguments, they compromised. He had to accept that Jack had no interest in long-term monogamy. Ianto wondered sometimes if he'd asked too much. Jack had to compartmentalize his life, forcing him to treat a part of his personality like a dirty secret. Ianto set his forehead against Jack's shoulder. He kissed the top of Ianto's head.

"I found your mobile in your office." Ianto shouldn't have answered, he reminded himself. "Tosh called me about a water sample. I was looking for you."

Jack released Ianto. "From where?" He started dressing.

"Dublin. A docked ship tested positive for the parasites from the Atlantic crash last December. It's last port was Cardiff." Ianto needed to check the files. From what he remembered, it had to be intentional contamination. It wouldn't have gone unnoticed for months, and the source had been contained.

"Who's handling it?"

"London. Doctor Kindra Corse will investigate." Ianto wasn't sure how to explain the complication.

Jack grabbed his shirt. "What's the problem?"

"Gwen needs to coordinate. Corse had a very bad experience with a male co-worker or boss before joining Torchwood. Owen off-handedly called her darling and she reported him for sexual harassment." If she could mistake Owen's attitude for sexual interest, she would definitely react badly to Jack.

"It can't interfere with the Moss-Probert investigation."

Ianto nodded. "I can deal with Dr. Corse, if needed."

"Are we good?"

"Yep." Ianto left before he had to think of something else to say.

Jack Harkness waited until the door closed to reach for his mobile. Cory had contacts throughout London. When he provided information, it usually came from overhearing conversations. Both his clients and lovers were socially and politically powerful.

The call rang twice. "Jack?" Cory asked tentatively.

"Yeah. What did you need?"

"To confirm plans. For tonight." Cory paused. "I made the reservation."

Jack had no idea what that meant. It suggested Cory wasn't alone. "Send me the details."

He lowered his voice. "Will anyone be checking your messages? It's a hotel."

Confused, Jack asked, "Why?" The few times they met for sex, he made arrangements. He doubted it involved the promised dinner in London. That probably would have landed them in bed without demands.

"It's private."

"Be careful." The conversation made Jack suspicious. If nothing else, Cory was consistent. Providing information, particularly if there was something in it for him, wasn't unusual. Scheduling meetings in hotel rooms and refusing to explain why didn't make sense.

"You too." The call ended.

Jack did not look forward to explaining it. Best case scenario he could quietly meet with Cory. Jack wished, not for the first time, he could simply tell Ianto. But the conversation would devolve. One more thing they avoided to keep the peace. He had no idea how they made it more then ten years.

While tracking Moss-Probert, Gwen Cooper found an extensive network of questionable and illegal businesses. Half or more was unrelated distractions. Fraud, identity theft, and petty crimes. It looked like someone was throwing every small time criminal under the bus in an effort to distract her.

Gwen moved into the science lab and had dozens of searches running at the same time. Armed with advice from Tosh, she was trying to set-up the person targeting her investigation. She needed someone with vice and white collar experience. There had to be a logic behind it. But she needed a frame of reference to find it.

The door opened and Anwen entered. After the attack on the building, she stated home from daycare. More than the safety concerns, there were issues with her brain scans. Whatever she did to that alien affected her. The Rift energy had thankfully faded.

"I thought you were in the garden."

Anwen groaned. "Audrey needs to be feed."

Gwen smiled. The carnivorous plant had an attitude problem. "Did you tell Ianto?"

"I was going to." Anwen moved over to her mother. "But something upset him. I think he had an argument with Uncle Jack."

That was nothing new. Gwen wondered at times why they stayed together. Then she'd remember her and Rhys kept having stupid arguments. "Do you have something to read?"

"No. Uncle Ianto gave me a computer with a content filter. It flagged the horse sites for discussing where foals come from." Anwen held out the tablet.

Gwen laughed and accepted it. "Have you looked for digital library books?"

Unamused, Anwen said, "The age appropriate books say horses have four legs and eat hay." Pause. "See Trigger Run."

"You could always do your homework."

"I'm still traumatized."

"Uh, huh." Gwen nodded. "Find Ianto and have him feed the plants." She held up the tablet. "Then we can discuss books that weren't written for preschoolers."

Anwen Williams walked back toward the garden. She didn't know how to easily find Ianto. She eyed the black band on her wrist. John said it was connected to the hub. Maybe it could help. There had to be safeties to keep her from damaging something. No one would give a kid the technology to disrupt a Torchwood office. At least she didn't think so.

Anwen walked over to the nearest access panel and flipped open her wrist-strap. Nothing happened. As far as she knew, the computer didn't accept voice commands. She had see her mother touch the screen to access information. With that in mind, she reached forward and touched the panel.

The computer announced, "Anwen Williams. Access granted."

She stared at it, trying to remember if she heard the computer talk before. "Show hub map." An image appeared on the screen. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't a three dimensional Atlas. "There aren't that many Torchwood offices," she muttered.

The screen changed showing an unfamiliar icon and Torchwood Global. "Sign out, director?" The computer asked.

"Yes." Anwen withdrew her hand. When the screen went black again, she spoke into her wrist-strap. "Jack Harkness."

"Anwen?" Jack asked after a short pause. "What's wrong?"

"I think I figured out what my wrist-strap does," she stammered.

"Where are you?"

Anwen described it the best she could.