A/N: okay I decided I had to get this chapter posted before I headed into work today. I put a bit of a twist in here so I hope you guys enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing torchwood... sigh
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"Uncle Ianto! Uncle Ianto!" came Kit's urgent voice, waking Ianto.
"What is it Kit?" he asked groggily.
"Tara's gone! And so's Mr. Harkness!" he said panicking.
"Tara asked if she could go with Jack this morning since we'll be meeting them." Ianto explained.
Kit let out a heavy sigh. "Phew! I was worried!" he said. "So Tara wanted to have the overprotective sibling talk huh?"
"It appears that way." Ianto confirmed, gently ruffling Kit's hair. "Now then, since we're both up, why don't you go get dressed and we'll go grab ourselves some breakfast on out way to the hub?"
"Okay." said Kit, then he hopped down and left the bedroom.
Ianto sat up and rubbed his hands over his face. Was he really falling head over heals for Captain Jack Harkness? Why was he even bothering asking himself.
"You already fell Ianto." he told himself softly. He couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if he had never kissed Jack Harkness that night after the pterodactyl hunt.
Would their friendship be as wonderful as it was? Would he be as content as he had been since he had joined Torchwood three?
Ianto sighed and got out of his bed. He couldn't help but notice that the scent of Jack's pheromones still lingered on the blanket he had been laying on. His thoughts continuously drifting to Jack.
Jack had been wonderful with Kit and Tara. Kit had quickly come to trust the man which was impressive considering.
Ianto had stood aside and let Jack get to know his little sister and nephew and he was glad that he did. In the end Jack had been smiling and Kit and Tara were happy.
Then Jack went and asked him out on a date.
"I wonder how this'll turn out." he sighed as he began to get dressed.
After the two of them had gotten ready they headed to the bay and Ianto took Kit into the tourist office.
"Your cover story's a tourist office?" Kit asked as Ianto pushed the button behind the desk.
"We're more underground." Ianto said leading Kit into the stone hallway.
Kit just followed obediently holding Ianto's hand.
"We're not as fancy as Torchwood London was either." Ianto said. "So it's a bit interesting in here."
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind." said Kit as they got on the lift.
When they arrived in the hub Ianto couldn't help but notice Tosh and Tara happily working together. "I knew you two would get along well." he said, walking up the steps with Kit hiding behind.
"We're having fun working on new security protocols ." said Tosh smiling.
Ianto couldn't help but smile.
"And this little guy behind you must be Kit." she said, seeing the boy.
Ianto gently nudged Kit forward.
"It's okay Kit, Miss. Tosh is really nice." said Tara.
"H…hi Miss Tosh." said Kit shyly.
"Hi there handsome." she said kindly. "Tara was telling me all sorts of things about you."
Kit smiled shyly, a pink tinge on his cheeks.
"Aren't you adorable." Tosh said with a smile making him blush and Tara giggle.
"So where's Jack?" Ianto asked.
"Sitting in his office. He told us about Suzie. Can you believe it?"
"I can. In my family we know better then to mess with life and death." Ianto said honestly.
"Tara told me the story of your Uncle Conner." Tosh admitted.
"I told Jack about him after the four of you argued." Ianto said. "Anyway, we'll leave you girls to work on whatever it was you were doing. Come along Kit."
Kit followed Ianto across the main room before running into Jack's office and jumping into the man's lap.
Ianto smiled, Jack was wonderful with Kit and the two got along quite well.
"Hey there buddy. We were wondering when you were going to get here." said Jack as Ianto walked into the office.
"I got really scared when I got up, cause not only were you gone, so was Tara! I was worried!" Kit said.
"I'm sorry Kit. Tara just wanted to tag along I guess." Jack shrugged.
"So how bad was it?" Ianto asked with a grin.
"Not too bad. She pretty much just asked really random questions about really random things."
"That's how she gets to ya." Kit warned with a whisper and a smile.
"Ah. I'll keep that in mind." said Jack, gently poking Kit's nose with a grin. "Anyway, our good doctor is waiting for you. And he promised no needles."
"Okay." said Kit quietly.
"Where is Owen?"
"Down in the autopsy bay." said Jack, setting Kit on the ground and standing up. "So let's go say hello shall we?"
Kit took Jack's hand and Ianto followed them out the door and to the autopsy bay where Owen was working on his computer.
"I'm guessing you'd like a cup of coffee Owen?" Ianto asked breaking into Owen's thoughts.
"Of course I would. I was wondering when you were gonna get here tea-boy. I thought I was gonna have to try and make it to lunch."
Ianto just rolled his eyes. "You'd never last. You'd be out the door and at the coffee shop before you'd try and survive till lunch without coffee."
"So true tea-boy. So true." Owen admitted.
"Hey! That's what they call daddy's Junior officer!" Kit giggled. "Lieutenant Velasquez! They call him Tea-boy too."
"Do they now?" Jack asked.
"It's because he reminds them of Ianto." Kit pointed out.
"For good reason." Ianto said, really not caring to reveal why at the moment. "Anyway, you're going to take care of Kit, Owen?"
"Of course I am." said Owen. "Just because I get snarky with you lot, that doesn't mean I'm gonna do the same for our little friend." Owen pulled out another chair and patted the seat. "Come and take a seat Kit, I've got some questions I gotta ask you."
Kit looked up and Ianto and Jack.
"Go on Kit, you'll be alright." said Ianto.
Kit let go of Jack's hand and went to go sit with Owen.
As the two began talking, Ianto headed into the kitchen, Jack following behind.
"You were right when you said Tara and Tosh would get along." Jack said as Ianto began making coffee.
"Two computer geniuses who just want the world to see that they're special. It's like they were made to be best friends." Ianto admitted, becoming immersed in his daily routine.
"Are you alright Ianto? You seem kind of distant." said Jack. "Are you still alright with tonight?"
Ianto finally paused in the middle of what he was doing and he smiled at Jack. He could feel Jack's insecurity, as if worried that he'd done the wrong thing. "I'm fine Jack. Just, lost in thought. I do that a lot."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Everything." Ianto shrugged as he continued making coffee. "I've had a lot on my mind these last few days."
"Alright, if you say so." Jack shrugged as Ianto made hot chocolate for the children. "You know you can always talk to me, right Ianto?"
"Yes I know." he said. "But this is something I have to deal with on my own Jack. That's all."
He really wanted to tell Jack about Lisa in the archives. Desperately wanted to ask Jack for help, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. So he kept to his motions.
Jack followed him out of the kitchen, obviously not convinced that Ianto was okay as he handed Tosh her coffee and Tara a hot chocolate for which he had received a kiss on the cheek. Then he made sure Owen had his caffeine fix while Kit had something to warm him up. After that Ianto went and sat down in Jack's office as Jack took a seat.
"Would you like me to get started on Gwen Cooper's personnel file today sir?" he asked.
"Sir again Ianto?" Jack sighed. "You usually only get that way when you've got too much on your mind and you try to be professional about it. Are you sure your okay with tonight?"
"I'm fine about it Jack." he said honestly, and it was true, he was. He was actually rather excited. He just had other things on his mind. He and Kit had been talking about times with Lisa on their way to the hub, and it put him in a bit of a gloomy mood. "Like I said, it's just something I have to deal with on my own."
Suddenly they heard a high pitched squeal come from the autopsy bay and they both jumped up and ran out of the office to find Tara and Tosh smiling and it was then that they heard Kit's laughter.
They looked into the autopsy bay and saw Kit on the examination table, Owen standing next to him.
"Well your tummy appears just fine judging by how ticklish you are!" Owen said with a smile, tickling the boy's sides and getting more high pitched shrieks of laughter as Kit kicked and squirmed to get away.
Ianto smiled with relief.
"You scared us Kit! We thought Owen was scaring you!" Ianto sighed shaking his head.
"He was ticklin' me Uncle Ianto!" Kit giggled.
"I've never seen a kid this ticklish. One poke to the belly and he's laughin' himself silly." said Owen with a smile.
Ianto just smiled before turning away from the autopsy bay. "I'm going to work in the archives for a bit." he said.
Jack headed into his office, obviously understanding that Ianto wanted to be alone for a little bit.
Ianto was thankful for the reprieve. Then he headed down to the archives and into Lisa's room where he sat down and began to read to her, like he had every day for the last several months.
After reading several chapters he put down the book and just began talking about random things. Like what was going on in the world, and about Owen checking on Kit.
"Jack Harkness asked me out on a date Lisa, can you believe it?" he finally whispered. "And I said yes. I can just imagine how my sister Rhiannon's going to react to this. But maybe it's time I went back to being open with myself like I used to be."
Ianto paused and leaned back in the chair. "Maybe if I admitted things to myself, I wouldn't feel like I was ready to shatter again. It's been such a long six months since Canary Wharf. Jack's been there for me every step of the way. I've wanted to tell him about you. I've wondered if maybe he could help us, but then I clam up and end up not asking. I just don't know what to do anymore Lisa."
After nearly ten minutes of silence, Ianto stood up, and left, heading to his desk in his archives where he just sat in his chair, in silence.
"Ianto? Hey Ianto!"
"I'm over here Jack." Ianto called.
Jack walked over and stood beside him. "Are you alright? Kit said he felt something was wrong with you."
Ianto felt the urge to laugh at the irony. It was like the tables had suddenly been reversed on the two of them. Just last night Ianto had been asking Jack if he was okay, now it was the other way around.
"Ianto?" Jack asked again.
But Ianto hardly heard him, he seemed to be closing in on himself to the point that he couldn't focus on reality. Everything was going dark, and the last thing he saw was the fear on Jack's face before he slipped out of his chair and into the darkness.
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When Ianto finally awoke, he opened his eyes just to be blinded by lights above him.
"Hey there tea boy. You okay?" came Owen's concerned voice.
It was then that Ianto realized that he was now on the examination table in the autopsy bay. "What happened?" he mumbled, trying to shut his eyes against the harsh light. He could feel a migraine nagging at the back of his head and it was getting excruciatingly painful.
Owen must've noticed because suddenly the light had been turned off. "You gave us quite a scare. Here I was getting' your nephew to laugh and next thing we know, Jack's callin' for help trying to get you up out of the archives."
Ianto let out a heavy sigh as he sat up, making his head spin.
"Why don't you lie back down mate?" Owen asked.
"I'm fine Owen, it's just a really bad headache." he grumbled.
"Well, hold on then." Owen said moving to the medicine locker. He took out an orange bottle of pills. "Extra strength pain reliever that get's rid of the worst headaches."
Ianto obediently took the medication, and was surprised as his headache began to slowly ebb away.
"There now, better?" Owen asked.
"Much, thank you Owen." He looked around and noticed the they were the only ones in the hub. "Where'd everyone go?"
"Tosh and I convinced Jack to take her and the little one's to pick up lunch so the three of them don't get too worried. Figures you woke up about three minutes after they left." Owen shrugged. "Anyway, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with you, it just seems you went into total shut down for a bit."
Ianto just nodded. He knew what was happening. It had happened a few times before in his life. Like when he had first arrived with his family. For a while he had been like Kit, hardly every speaking, and keeping his emotions, his pain bottled up to the point that he began blacking out.
The only thing he could do was talk to someone about what was going on, but he knew that there was only one person he could talk to that would help alleviate the pain and guilt, and that was Jack.
"I'll be alright Owen." he said, standing up. His legs were slightly wobbly as he grasped the side of the autopsy table for a moment. When he was content that his legs wouldn't give and collapse beneath him he said, "I'll be back in a few minutes Owen. I need to go make a phone call."
"Just don't wander too far away tea boy, you hear me? Don't need you fallin' down some stairs or something." Owen warned, obviously trying to get Ianto to banter with him a bit.
But Ianto didn't feel like it. "I won't." he promised. Then he grabbed his coat and walked out the cog door.
When Ianto got out to the pier, he took a seat on the bench that he had sat on, waiting for Jack all those months ago when he was still trying to get into Torchwood three. He then pulled out his mobile and dialed a number he knew by heart.
"Ianto, I was just about to try and call you." a smooth British accent said.
"Hi Alistair." he said quietly.
"Are you alright Ianto?" Alistair asked kindly. "I heard something was wrong with you today."
"Who said?" he asked, looking out at the water.
"Gareth said he felt something was wrong with you, then Kit called and said you had passed out in the archives."
"It's…. a long story." he admitted.
"I'm sure it is, care to explain why you took Kit with you today?" he asked.
Ianto could hear a slight tinge of annoyance in his older brother's voice.
Alistair had despised Torchwood for more years then Ianto could know, he knew he probably wouldn't be too thrilled with Ianto's agreement to let Owen check the boy out.
"Jack wanted to make sure Torchwood London didn't do anything to Kit that normal medical technology couldn't detect." he admitted.
"Well according to your medic Kit has a clean bill of health, and from what I hear, a very ticklish tummy." Alistair's voice appeared to have lightened up a bit.
"Owen may be snarky with most of us, but he would never be that way towards children. He made sure he kept Kit smiling and comfortable."
"I heard Tara's found a friend too."
"Tosh, she's our computer genius."
"Well that's good for Tara, and great that Kit was feeling comfortable around them. Anyway, I'm sure you wanted to talk about something?"
"Yeah, are you busy?" Ianto asked.
"Not really. Why?"
"Can you do me a favor? I'm curious about what happened to someone that I think died at Canary Wharf."
Alistair was silent for a moment. "I'd be glad to help you Ianto." he said sincerely.
Ianto sat in silence as he stared out at the water again. He needed to know if who he was keeping alive was really Lisa, or not. If not, it wasn't worth the effort and the chance that he might upset Jack to the point that he was retconed and out on the street, especially not when he found himself growing so attached to the man.
Alistair was the perfect person to go to, in order to see if Ianto was wasting his time. The man was very special, and another reason why you didn't mess with mortality in the family. He was a giant because he wasn't human, Lucifer's special creation with God's intervention. The king of the lower demons of Hell and the Master of Dark souls, a demon with a human heart and a human soul. He took dark souls or else worked with the archangels when the death tolls reached a hundred. Alistair used a book of souls with a soul of it's own named Angelica that could access any record in the Archangel Michael's archives.
Including Lisa's if she really was dead.
"What's the person's name?" Alistair asked, breaking into Ianto's thoughts.
"Lisa Hallett."
"I don't even have to ask Angelica about that one. I took her Ianto." said Alistair softly. "That's why I was in London. She was very worried about you. Told me to take care of you after I sent her off."
Ianto suddenly felt like the dam that kept his emotions in check was ready to burst.
"That's why I made you come home the next day. Lisa asked me to keep an eye on you for a while." Alistair continued.
Ianto sucked in a deep breath trying to figure out what he was going to do now. "Thanks Alistair." he all but whispered. "I was just curious."
"Alright Ianto. I better get back to work then. Cheer up a bit okay? We all hate to see you upset."
"I'll do my best. Bye Alistair."
After one last good bye Ianto hung up his phone and starred off into space. He now knew that he wasn't taking care of Lisa. Just what was left of her body, and with that he steeled his resolve. He was going to tell Jack, no choice about it. He was going to make himself. So he stood up and went back to the hub and down to the archives till the others returned with lunch.
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A/N: Ianto has decided to tell Jack about the cyberman in the basement? I wonder how this will turn out. Thanks for all the reviews guys! Your keeping me writing!