Shades of Grey

A Torchwood Fic

By: Tenshi-Chan

Part 11 - Cleansing Breaths

Suzie looked up when she heard someone approaching. The faint aroma of food tickled her nose, and she hoped nothing she was about to eat would be tainted with retcon. She regarded Jack solemnly when he came into view.

The man opened the door and handed her the tray containing a plate of food and a mug of coffee. "Owen has gone to your flat to make sure you don't have any alien tech and Tosh is changing codes. When you leave here, you are on paid suspension for a fortnight." He gave her a regretful look. "After those two weeks, you will have a clean slate. That means you are no longer second in command. You're going to be treated like I just brought you in. You'll have to undergo retraining."

Suzie nodded. "I feel like I deserve something more ... severe."

Jack gave her a sad smile. "If you were trying to hurt people, it would have been. You're lucky you have a very convincing advocate in Ianto. The suspension was his idea."

"Ianto? Of everyone, I thought he'd be the one who wanted me to leave the most." She felt deeply touched. "Is he all right?"

Jack's smile turned a few notches into one of his warmer ones. "He insisted on working today against all advice. All he's going to do is paperwork and make coffee. Nothing too stressful or strenuous, but he needs to feel useful."

Suzie nodded and quickly ate her breakfast. When she was done, she followed Jack. A part of her had hoped she would be taken out some back way, but knew that facing her team mates was part of her discipline. She took a deep breath in hopes of settling her nerves as they entered the main hub, and kept her mouth shut as Jack spoke up.

"All right! Tosh, I want those codes all changed by the time I get back! Gwen, we've had reports of strange creatures by the bay. Might be nothing, but check it out. Rhys, thanks again for breakfast! Maybe we'll make it a regular thing so you can get some of Ianto's coffee more often. Ianto?"

Suzie risked a glance at the person who had become like a brother to her. She was touched when he met her gaze and gave her a small, encouraging smile. It was as if he was telling her he forgave her for what she had done.

Ianto turned his focus to Jack. "Sir?"

Jack held up a finger. "Take it easy. Owen is going to feed the Weevils and Myfanwy when he gets back. I can not stress this enough! I don't want you down in the archives for any reason today." He nodded to a dark-skinned woman who suddenly appeared. "Lisa ... I'm counting on you to keep an eye on our favorite Welshman."

"You can count on it."

Suzie swallowed as Lisa approached and almost felt the temperature drop. She had expected what happened next from Gwen ... maybe even from Tosh, but she never expected to be slapped by a total stranger.

"That was for nearly getting Ianto killed!"

Suzie nodded in acceptance. "I never wanted anyone to get hurt."

Lisa quirked an eyebrow at her. "And that's the only reason why I merely slapped you."

Jack let out a low whistle. "If you ever want to come back to Torchwood, let me know."

Ianto made an indignant sound. "Oi! How come I had to help you catch a bloody pterodactyl to get in, and you offer her a position on a silver platter?"

Jack smiled up at Ianto. "Because hiring you showed me that having a team too small for the job can be just as bad as having a team that's too big!"

Lisa took a breath. "I'll have to think about it. I have a life in London. A job, friends, a fiance ..." She shrugged. "A lot to give up."

Jack nodded in understanding. "Door's open to you." He took Suzie's elbow and led her the rest of the way out of the Hub.

Ianto gave Lisa a steady look. "It would be good to work together again. Unless you'll feel uncomfortable working with me."

Lisa arched an eyebrow at him. "Uncomfortable? Hardly. I just don't want your gorgeous boss chatting up my husband to be!"

Ianto snorted. "Jack is not that bad." He saw the looks the three women and Rhys were giving him and held up his hands. "All right! He's not that bad anymore!"

Gwen smiled over at him. "Tell that to the bloke on the pier the other day!"

Ianto shook his head. "He was just being friendly."

Gwen walked over and patted him on the elbow. "Of course he was, love! Just keep telling yourself that."

He wasn't the least bit jealous. Jack was just flirty by nature, and Ianto wouldn't change his immortal lover for the world.

Tosh chuckled from her desk. "Oh stop teasing him, Gwen! He'll stick you with decaf if you keep at it."

"I would never do that, Gwen." He smirked at the Welsh woman. "I'd just give everyone else the good stuff."

Gwen blinked at him. "As opposed to what you've been serving already?"

Lisa smiled warmly. "Just you two wait for a holiday or some special occasion! You're in for a real treat."

Ianto glanced at the clock and back to Lisa. He noticed she wasn't smiling any more. "What?"

Lisa looked over at the clock. "That's the fifth time you've looked at that clock in the past half-hour. I wish I knew what was making you so anxious. You were never a clock-watcher in London." She shook her head. "Perhaps you should lie down for a while. You're still shaking a little, and I don't like how pale you are."

Ianto frowned. "There's too much to do."

Lisa folded her arms and looked around. "Shall we take a vote? Before you say another word, Ianto, let me remind you that you are outnumbered. Both Gwen and Tosh look about ready to wrap you up in a blanket themselves."

Gwen came back and took his arm. "Just for a while, love. The rest might do you some good, and having to clean up after ourselves will do us some good."

"Should I be jealous of all the attention you're paying to someone other than myself?" Rhys' teasing tone softened the gruff words. He was looking around. "If you're going to kip on the couch maybe we should get a pillow and a blanket."

Ianto sighed. "It might be better if I just went down to the room under Jack's office." There was a sudden silence that made Ianto look around. Everyone was staring at him. "What?"

Tosh blinked at Ianto. "I didn't know Jack had a room under his office. I thought that manhole cover led to some escape tunnel." She stood up and came over. "If you'll be more comfortable down there, we had best get you settled."

With wide, shocked eyes, Gwen sputtered. "You mean he actually lives here?"

Rhys grinned. "Talk about the ultimate man cave!"

Lisa took Ianto's arm. "I'll wake you at lunch."

Ianto nodded. "All right. It has to be pizza from Jubilee." He allowed himself to be led to Jack's office when Lisa nodded in acknowledgement if not understanding. When he lifted the cover that hid the bunker under Jack's office, he looked at Gwen, who had followed with Rhys. Tosh had gone back to her work station. "Look after things while I'm napping. I'm counting on you to make sure Jack's instructions to the four of you are carried out." He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to Gwen. "If Jack calls, let him know I'm resting."

Gwen straightened proudly and nodded in determination.

Ianto smiled at Rhys and nodded. "You'll be gone by the time I wake up, so I'd like to thank you for breakfast. Despite my lack of appetite, it was very good."

The larger man gently slapped Ianto on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. "No worries, mate! Just take care of yourself."

The alarms blared, signalling Owen's return from Suzie's apartment. "Oi! What's everyone doing in Jack's office!"

Gwen called out to him. "Jack has a room under his office! Ianto's going to take a nap there!" It almost sounded like she was telling Owen that Jack had hidden chocolate covered biscuits in his desk and Ianto was going to get them for everyone. She turned back to Ianto. "Will you be able to rest properly? Do we need to keep quiet?"

Ianto started climbing down. "It's actually insulated against sound very well."

Owen entered the office. "I don't care how big this place is, it's too bloody crowded right now." He gave Ianto a nod. "You holding up okay, tea boy?"

Ianto smirked at Owen. "Peachy. I'd watch the nicknames if I were you. I am acting second in command, after all."

Owen smirked. "Yeah yeah! Whatever! I'm shaking in my shoes! You're acting second, but I'm the doctor and I outrank everyone in that respect, even Captain cheekbones Harkness!" He jerked his head in a quick nod. "I want to check your blood pressure when you wake up."

Ianto nodded and reached up to pull the cover closed. He heard Gwen telling Owen about having to feed the inmates before they moved away. Ianto closed his eyes and breathed in deeply through his nose. Jack had stayed down there for so long that the space smelled like those delicious pheromones. He divested himself of everything except his underwear and curled up on the bunk. He was asleep within moments.

Jack returned to the Hub after bringing Suzie home. He looked around as he walked through the cog wheel door and frowned as he removed his coat. "Where's Ianto?"

Gwen came over and handed him a cell phone. "Poor dear was feeling a bit tired, so we all bullied him into taking a nap." She put her hands on her hips and gave him a mock glare. "You didn't tell us you had a room under your office."

Jack took the phone. "I didn't think any of you needed to know. It was really none of anyone's business." He looked around. "What difference does it make, anyway?"

Lisa scoffed from where she was sitting, which was at Suzie's work station. "Did you think that Ianto might have calmed down better if he were in a place more familiar to him than the medical bay?"

Jack opened his mouth to say something before closing it. "Actually ... no." He shook his head, feeling suddenly very stupid. "I should have. It's a small space, but Ianto's always told me how safe he felt down there."

Tosh's soft voice spoke this time. "We know about it now. If Ianto can rest down there, then that's a good thing."

Jack was going to thank Tosh, but Ianto's phone rang. Jack looked at it in puzzlement before answering. "Hello?"

There was silence a moment before a young woman's voice sounded from the other end. "Ianto?"

"Nope! Jack Harkness speaking. Ianto's not feeling well at the moment. Who is this?" He felt strange taking a message for Ianto.

The young woman giggled. "I remember you! You're Ianto's gorgeous boyfriend!" Her smile could be heard in her voice. "I don't know if you remember me. I'm Carys Fletcher. You met me in a coffee shop! Ianto and I have kept in touch since that night."

Jack blinked as the memory of a pretty young woman, little more than a girl, sprang to his mind's eye. His face broke into a huge smile. "Carys! Yes, I remember you! How have you been?"

"Fine! I was just calling Ianto to ask if he remembered that we were meeting up for coffee. He's a nice bloke, and I don't meet many men who are just interested in being friends."

Jack shrugged his coat back on. "As I said, he's not feeling too well today. I, however, am free and I believe I owe you an ice cream!"

Carys giggled again. "Sounds good. If Ianto's not feeling well, then rest is the best thing for him."

Jack headed to the secret lift. "I'll meet you in Roald Dahl Plass in a few minutes."

"Great! See you soon! Thanks, by the way."

Jack wondered at the gratitude as he disconnected the call. "All right, Ladies and Owen! I'll be out for another hour or so. I trust you all not to blow our secret base to smithereens while I'm gone?"

Owen snapped his fingers. "Darn! And here was me hoping to play with Nitro Glycerin."

To Be continued...

Author's Notes: As always, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Keara. She gave me the idea that Ianto kept in touch with Carys.