Here's the first of today's double parter. I'll be posting the next one either tonight (after I get back from seeing Wall-E, which might be too late for me to get on the computer) or first thing tomorrow morning. I'm aiming for today though.

I hope you all enjoy this! It's Owen and Jack's time to shine! Please comment, they're love :)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the boys but Tom (which I kinda wish I didn't), they belong to RTD adn the BBC.

Chapter 13A

Jack knew something had had happened in the time since the team had left night before at roughly eighty thirty in the morning.

He was surprised when he was drawn from his office by the sound of the proximity alarm. For a minute, he even let himself believe that Ianto must've made a decision. However, when he saw the new arrival, his mouth hung open as the surprise he'd been hoping for turned out to be a surprise he'd not expected at all. Instead of seeing Ianto, who hadn't arrived before the others since Jack's return, he saw Owen standing with a grim expression on his face.

Not only was he in uncharacteristically early, he usually turned up an hour later than everyone else, his face was as serious as ever Jack had seen it before, aside from the look on his face in the graveyard as he stood over Katy's grave. Jack immediately snapped his jaw shut and gestured for the medic to head through to his office. With a curt nod, Owen stepped past him and stood in the middle of the room.

"What's going on?" Closing the door, Jack walked slowly around behind his desk and sat down, hands clasped.

"I did a report." Owen delved inside his bag and produced a cardboard file containing a couple of sheets of paper and handed it to Jack. "All the details are in there."

Jack frowned slightly as he took the folder and flipped it open, scanning through the sheets of writing. Owen noticed the Captain's expression darken as he read until his face was filled which barely contained anger. Finally, breathing in a very controlled manner, Jack looked up and fixed Owen with a searching look.

"Abuse?" Jack's voice was low and deadly. Owen knew precisely what he must be thinking. Jack never got like this unless he was one hundred percent livid over something. All the doctor could do was nod in return, his own expression still grim. "You think he could do it again?"

"Yes." Jack nodded slowly at his reply, but Owen carried on. "The way he took over the situation was classic behaviour of someone who not only has the mentality to repeat it, but possibly the experience. The ease with which he made up the excuse didn't exactly convince me either.

"Look, I know it's been a long time since I worked in a hospital, but I saw more cases of Domestic Abuse than I would care to remember. All the warning signs were there. I didn't say anything last night, but we can't let this lie. You should know that Ianto's been seriously considering asking for a transfer to UNIT Liaisons in London."

"I know." Jack said quickly, knowing what that would mean for his living arrangements. His mind was already working in over time to come up with the best possible way to address this. The first thing he did was fold the file closed and lock it in the safe next to his desk. "You don't say a word of this conversation to anyone, not even Ianto. You've done your job now, Owen, I'll take care of this. I need you to stay professional and act as normal as you can. Treat Ianto's wounds and keep an eye on him when you can."

Owen nodded again and silently left the room, heading out of the Hub via the invisible lift and walked across the plass to spend the next hour or so in a coffee shop. The first step in acting normal was to turn up late. I don't envy Tom his position, but I want to be there when Jack kicks his arse, he thought grudgingly as he headed into the local Starbucks.

As soon as Jack knew Owen was gone, he slammed his fist down hard on his desk before flinging a pile of reports across the floor with a backhand from the same hand. All he could think of right then was tearing Tom multiple new orifices in many uncomfortable and painful places.

After allowing himself several moments of blinding rage, he forced himself to calm down, taking deep breaths and doing a mental inventory of the secure archives. He was half way through the list when he felt himself to be calm enough to stop and consider how to deal with the situation.

He needed to talk to Ianto alone, but he suspected that Tom would make that hard. He'd need to come up with a cover for it, something to stop the other man from becoming suspicious or protective of Ianto. As soon as he thought of it, he knew what he needed to do for the cover. With a grin, he spun round in his chair to face his computer and opened up his email. He set the message to send to all four of his team and started to type:

Dear Torchwood Three Employees,

Since my return, certain aspects of my leadership have been thrown into sharp relief. My first step in making the team more efficient and organised will be to hold one on one meetings with everyone to document progress and suggestions.

Times are below. I expect everyone to be on time and prepared unless, of course, the world decided to end in your time slot. Each meeting will last for as long as I deem necessary. If you have a problem with your time, discuss it with me in your allocated meeting.

Gwen Cooper - 10:30
Ianto Jones - 11:30
Toshiko Sato - 13:30
Owen Harper - 14:30

Capt. Jack Harkness

With a grimace, Jack hit the 'send' button and sat back. His mind flickered back to Owen's reaction, his intuition making him follow procedure that technically didn't stand in his way anymore. The report and phrases such as 'uncharacteristically submissive to treatment' and 'possibility for future incidents' rising unbidden in his mind.

Glancing at the computer screen to find the time, he realised he only had a matter of minutes left before the team, minus Owen, would turn up for work. That meant only a few more minutes to compose himself completely. The need to punch Tom in his smug mouth was only just being restrained. That would need to be worked on if he was going to put a stop to this situation without Ianto getting hurt again.

When the proximity alarm went off again several minutes into his calming exercise, he leaned back in his chair to watch through the window. Not even Owen's report could prepare him for the sight of Ianto.