Chapter Thirteen

Gwen ran up to Ianto, jumping into his arms as soon as she had put the food on the nearest flat surface. Ianto chuckled as she squealed in delight. He wrapped his arms loosely around her waist, smiling at the feel of her warm hug.

"I missed you so much. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you guys."

Gwen pulled out of the hug, still grinning as she slapped his arm, "Don't be stupid! It wasn't your fault. You died and I'm pretty sure you didn't want that."

"I didn't, and I'm glad I'm back." Ianto smiled back, "Do you want a coffee?"

Gwen's grin somehow grew even bigger, "Oh my god Ianto that would be amazing."

Ianto laughed, "Caffeine withdrawals?"

"Your caffeine withdrawals." She giggled.

"Jack, do you want one?"

Ikarii paused, "…But…Jack doesn't like coffee."

Ianto stared at Ikarii, then at Jack and then laughed, "You've got to be kidding me. Jack? Not liking coffee?"

"…I kind of…stopped drinking coffee after you…after you were gone." Jack looked to the ground, feeling ashamed of that fact.

"But you love coffee." Ianto sounded shocked and just a little bit horrified.

"It wasn't the same." Jack shrugged.

"Okay, I'm going to make you industrial strength, just the way you like it and you're going to drink it, even if I have to pour it down your throat myself."

"It's probably better for me not to drink it anyway."

Ianto ran a hand up and down Jack's arm, "You shouldn't be worrying about your health Jack. Besides, I'm going to be making coffee for many years to come.

Jack nodded, smiling despite the dread in his mind, "Sorry. Me and my meltdowns."

"I would be offended if you didn't freak out a little." Ianto smiled reassuringly, pressing a chaste kiss to Jack's lips, "Ikarii, you want one?"

"Sure." She smiled.

Ianto walked over to the kitchens and it was as though nothing had happened, as though he hadn't died. Jack smiled at how easily he slipped back into place. A family again.

"So, everything back to normal then?" Ikarii smiled.

"Ah." Jack looked at the floor for a moment, trying to find the right words before finally looking back up at her, "The Doctor…he broke my vortex manipulator. You're a little bit stuck."

"That's okay. Working with yours, I pretty much know how to make my own. I just need the parts."

"That would be Ianto's field of expertise." Jack chuckled, "Pretty much lost without him, we are."

"Then I guess I better go talk to him." She grinned and bounced off in the direction Ianto had gone in just moments before.

- - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -

Ikarii ran her hand along the kitchen counter nervously, "So."

"So." Ianto smiled.

"Jack said-"

Ianto cut her off, "Please tell me this sentence doesn't end badly. Every time a sentence starts with 'Jack said' or 'Jack asked' it ends in my embarrassment."

Ikarii laughed, "No, no. Nothing like that. It's just that Jack said that you would be the one to ask about tools and gadgets."

Ianto paused in thought, "Well….yeah…I know where to get some. Why? Don't those guys know how to go to a hardware shop?"

"I just need some stuff. If I make you a list, maybe you could help me with it?" She smiled.

"Yeah, of course." Ianto turned back to the coffee machine, working his magic.

"Cool." She grinned, jumping up to sit on the kitchen bench, swinging her legs gently, "So, what's it like?"

"What?"

"You know, rising from the dead." She waved her hands around as if it were some kind of ghost story, laughing.

Ianto chuckled, "I don't know. It was…it was like I was sleeping. It was like I woke up from a dreamless sleep but it was like I'd been holding my breath."

"Wow." Ikarii murmured.

"I don't really want to think about it to be honest." Ianto turned back to her, "You're blue."

"Yes."

"Are you normally blue?" Ianto asked; glad to have changed the subject.

"Yes."

"Okay. Just…making sure I haven't gone colour blind." Ianto chuckled, "Sorry. Not used to talking to aliens who aren't holding a gun to my head."

Ikarii laughed, running a hand through her hair, "I guess that's understandable. To be honest, I expected more of a reaction."

"Well, thank you for looking after Jack for me." Ianto looked into her eyes, trying to convey how much it meant to him, "I wish I hadn't had to leave him like that."

"It's okay, really."

"Coffee's ready." He went to leave into the main hub with the coffees on a tray when Ikarii touched his arm to stop him.

"Look after him. Sometimes…the look in his eyes…it just worries me that someone could see so much bad, so much cruelty. Keep him grounded? Please."

Ianto simply nodded.

A/N: Well…I started writing chapter 12 and I realised I'd already written and posted it. It serves me right for leaving you high and dry for so long. I'm sitting in Research Project. I've finished 2 of 4 assignments I hadn't started in SOSE, so I thought I'd finish off this story ASAP. Let me know which to finish after this one. Please review.

Cheers,
Gabz
xx