10

Ianto couldn't settle so he and Josh packed a bag and headed for the hub, his promise to sleep in the house wilting as Jack did night shift again and the invisible lift descending had Jack both surprised and pleased, a boring night looking up.

"You OK?" Jack asked and Ianto hummed as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Just hate the thought of you here alone" Ianto said softly, "We need to be together, our wee family, yeah?"

Jack sat with Josh until he was asleep in his little bed and he turned on the monitoring system before heading back into the hub in time to see Ianto on the laptop again, once again slapping it closed with a look of open horror.

Now Jack was concerned as he wondered what Ianto was up to and he kissed Ianto on the forehead before going up to the office and calling Owen.

"I'm off duty fuckface" came a drunken reply.

"Is Ianto OK?" Jack said softly, "Does he seem OK? It's just, he's acting a bit furtive the last few days. We promised no more secrets after Lisa ya know and this is the first time I've felt…well…I think he is hiding something."

"Probably his grief ya twat" Owen slurred, "He's putting on a brave face and trying to be positive, just coz he doesn't cry doesn't mean he doesn't grieve. Anyway, didn't you say the fucking anniversary was getting close? The first celebration since the baby was snatched? Gotta feel raw about that. Conflicted. Like."

"Thanks Owen" Jack sighed, "Say hi to Tosh."

"Hey Toshi, Captain arse says…" the phone cut out as Owen finally turned it off and Jack laughed softly at the cheeky man, drunk as a lord that one.

Ianto was swinging in his chair like he was happy. Genuinely happy.

Jack told himself to let it go.

.

.

.

.

"What? I thought we were done" he snarled down the phone and he heard her snort.

"I'm sending you a picture of someone who needs a good thrashing, nothing too violent can't have him dying, Just very fucking sorry."

He sighed as he agreed, the amount offered more than enough for a few more whores then he waited for the picture.

Really?

Him?

Fuck but she was a bossy bitch this one.

.

.

.

.

The next morning Ianto looked up as the klaxons sounded and he gasped with horror as Owen limped in.

"Oh my god, what the hell happened!" Ianto sputtered, his voice high enough to alert Jack and he came down the stairs, slowing as he saw the injuries.

"Nah, got worse after the footy" Owen sniggered, "should see the other bloke though. Fucker didn't know I had a steel cap in my boot. I bet his limp is definitely more pronounced than mine today."

"what happened" Jack demanded, thoroughly incensed that a member of his team had been attacked.

"We were leaving the Cock and Bull" Tosh explained as she hung up their jackets, "The man came out of the shadows an went for him, he didn't' realise I was with him and I was able to boot him in the nuts."

"Yeah, my hero….ine" Owen finished with a salute.

"My god" Ianto sighed, "Poor Owen. A nice night then an arsehat."

"Exactly what I said mate" Owen grinned, and then groaned as his split lip complained.

Gwen clucked as she helped him down in the med-bay and Ianto leaned over the railing to watch then moved away as his pocket vibrated.

Ianto stood in the shadow of the stairs as he listened and then silently closed the phone, turning to look around the hub with confusion, then the mask slammed down.

"Cariad?" he called out softly, "I'm going to get the dry cleaning and drop that file into the Heddlu for Gwen, she has so much to do these days with the wedding and everything."

"Oh thank you Pet" she smiled and he smiled back with equal delight as he swept from the hub.

Ianto didn't really need the three hours he had set up for himself, knowing within two and a half he would get his tasks done and be back with what he needed.

Then shit will definitely get done.

Now he had the proof.