14
Ianto begged a couple of days rest, he might not have been beheaded but he did die, and it did hurt.
Jack understood, knowing the way the Highlanders worked and he left for home with a song on the radio to sing along to at full blast.
They had agreed, Ianto had agreed and Jack was not going to let him regret it.
He entered the hub where Tosh was clicking a pen as Owen glared at her from his workstation.
"Tosh, meeting room in five" Jack said as he skipped past and she looked up in surprise as Gwen rose and followed him to his office.
"So that's it is it?" she demanded and Jack turned with surprise to face Gwen's ire.
"Ianto!" she spat, "You go away, get lathered and that's it? Or did you just get your rocks off!"
Jack blinked and then tried not to laugh at her look of open fury.
"Meeting" he repeated, pointing at the meeting room, "I have news and we will discuss things."
Gwen stormed across the landing and he took a moment to calm himself, then followed.
He entered the room and looked around, then cleared his throat as he brought up an image of a Highlander, one who had fallen to the sword years ago.
"He was immortal. Born in the Highlands of Scotland three hundred years ago, he was not alone. There are others like him - some good, some evil. For centuries, they have battled the forces of darkness, with Holy Ground their only refuge. They cannot die, unless you take their heads, and with it, their power. They are called Highlanders." Jack watched for reactions, and then clicked an image of himself in a foxhole with a man who was laughing, despite the blood and mud covering them both.
"World war I," click to another image, "World War II and this was Vietnam"
The third image was Jack in a swamp with the man handing him a cake of chocolate.
In all the photos the two men were eerily the same, not aged a day.
"Connor McLeod of the Clan McLeod" Jack smiled, "Cousin to …"
"Duncan McLeod!" Tosh said as she got the connection, "The one who came for Ianto's body."
"Yes" Jack said as he settled to wait for them to process.
"So … Ianto knew this man?" Gwen said as she stood, "Did he know this .. what … alien?"
"Yes. They are not cousins as he claimed though" Jack nodded.
"No, I should think not" Gwen spat, leaning over the table.
"They are brothers."
Jack watched Owen as he stopped fiddling with a pen and then turned to watch Tosh's face drop.
"Jack … what are you saying?" Gwen asked as she sank back into her chair.
"I am saying that on Monday Ianto McLeod is going to enter this hub and resume his place in this team and you are all going to be polite and friendly." Jack said slowly.
Owen was the first to speak, "Fuck me!"
"He didn't want you to know like this, he didn't want you to know at all. He was ready to run. I have convinced him to come back, that you will all still treat him the same." Jack leaned forward, "He has been crucified for his gift. I know how that feels. Being immortal can make you quite a target."
"We have never looked at you with fear or …" Gwen started to complain as she stood again.
"A long time ago a lover reacted to the knowledge by selling me out and subjecting me to multiple deaths by torture as I became a curiosity to those who had no morals" Jack rose as well, "I died a thousand deaths but his betrayal was the hardest to take. He broke my heart."
Gwen slumped into her chair.
Owen looked her up and down and Jack knew he was thinking of a good snark or Jack-in-a-box quip and didn't want the flare up.
"Ianto is still Ianto, the man who makes coffee, cleans up and tells you all about his many lives and deaths without fear. Don't make him regret that. Don't make me." Jack started to walk from the room and turned to address them once more, "And let's not forget that he did die for you."
He left them to chew on that and went back to his office as he had his own matters to attend to … and chew over.
Ianto was immortal.
He seems to like Jack... At least ... Was there a chance for something more?
He and Connor had tried a fling but had agreed that they were not compatible. Ianto was different; he had shown definite interest in Jack, both on a companionship level as well as sexually.
Was there a chance he might convince him to stay?
Forever?
Obviously the hub was a place of sanctuary for Ianto, undetectable from above and Jack knew this was one of the reasons he must have stayed after Lisa. So hurt, so broken and now Jack knew, nursing a death or two at the hands of his beloved fembot.
Jack also knew the bunker was no good, too small for two men and no room for the extra baggage a Highlander carries.
Gods.
Jack rose the headed down to the lower levels in search of appropriate sleeping quarters.
Also a sparring area, as Jack's glee at having a sparring partner that could match him started to sink in as well.
If Ianto agrees, this might just work.