A STOMACH FULL OF RATS PART 21

Gwen settled herself in the chair in front of Jack's desk, one of Ianto's special brews clutched between her hands. Jack was sipping on his own mug of industrial strength, gathering his thoughts for a moment before speaking. Gwen watched him closely as she savoured the coffee. Jack really was quite beautiful.....

"We need to talk about what happened with Suzie." Jack stated lowering his mug. "What you did was incredibly stupid."

Gwen arched her eyebrows. "Stupid?"

"Yes, Gwen. We had no idea exactly what was happening with the connection between you and Suzie, as it is you almost died and Suzie was a serial killer, for crying out loud." Jack was very good, he kept his voice level, his body language relaxed. "What the hell were you thinking?"

His newest team member looked contrite. "I'm sorry Jack. It won't happen again."

Ok, that was painless. "You're right, it won't. You put yourself at risk, you endangered us and Suzie's father is dead...... I'm not angry with you Gwen. I just want you to understand the consequences of your actions. Consider it an official reprimand." Not that that would mean much in terms of punishment. Gwen leant forwards placing her empty mug on the edge of Jack's desk.

"I'm sorry, but Suzie, she got to me. I replaced her Jack. I couldn't just ignore her. I thought I was helping."

Not so painless then. "You still broke with strict protocols that are there for a reason. You have a big heart Gwen, I get that. It's why I brought you on the team, but sometimes you just have swallow down your compassion, because if you don't people could die."

Gwen sighed uncomfortably and glanced out of the window.

"You're talking about Ianto, aren't you?"

Jack frowned thinking for a moment and following Gwen's gaze. "He's still suffering from the guilt. You really don't want the same mistakes on your conscience."

The Welshwoman couldn't disagree with that. "Was there a time when you would have made an error like that?" She fixed her gaze on him now and Jack found himself unable to meet it.

"Yes and I have eternity to think about it..... Just don't break anymore rules. I need your humanity Gwen as a guide to keep the rest of us from falling into darkness, but you have to hang on to your police training, your ability to trust in the chain of command. The rules are there....."

"For a reason, I know Jack. Are you going to punish me?"

"Do I need to?"

Gwen nodded in the direction of the window. "Perhaps they need you to. You punished Ianto......."

"I think he did that to himself....... You can be on cell duty for a couple of weeks, clean out the various animal nests or something, though I suspect Ianto won't let you do it anyway..... No, I didn't punish Tosh, I will not punish you. Suzie outwitted us all, me most of all. I just needed you to understand. You made a choice, the wrong one and you are lucky to be alive."

"I know that Jack and I really am sorry."

He nodded finally looking her directly in the eyes. "Good.... right ... ok, can you send Ianto in please?"

Gwen took that as a dismissal and made a hasty exit from the office, relieved to have gotten off so lightly. She bounded down the steps and called out.

"Ianto, Jack wants you."

Her head swung round when she heard Owen mutter. "I'll bet he does."

Ianto did not appear.

"He's up in the tourist office." Tosh informed her, not bothering to look up from her terminal. Gwen decided to go up and get him, rather than use the coms.

She walked in on a conversation in fluent Japanese between Ianto and two elderly tourists. Fortunately for her they were actually standing outside on the quay, Ianto pointing out something across the bay, it would've taken some explaining..... the secret door in the tourism office. Ok, that's why the others used the com, they really did get tourists. She hung back behind the counter noting a little photograph of a pretty black girl hidden discreetly on the far side of Ianto's monitor. Lisa before her conversion. Gwen picked it up and was examining the picture when Ianto came back in, closing and locking the door behind him. He froze the moment he registered what she held in her hands and then he stepped forwards snatching the picture from her grasp and replacing it where she had found it. Gwen automatically stepped back sensing the tension rolling off her younger colleague. She was at a loss for words for a moment.

"Er... uhm... Jack wants to see you in his office.."

Ianto said nothing as he hit the red button under the counter to open the door to the Hub. He was in such a sour mood and she had no right to touch that photograph. He stalked past Gwen and took the stairs two at a time, in no mood to exchange conversation with anyone. His stomach refused to settle, even with the meds he had taken and Ianto wondered if he needed to see Owen's friend again. He shoved the thought aside as he headed up to Jack's domain and tapped on the door. He was gestured in through the window and Ianto stepped in and closed the door behind him with a gentle click.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" His voice was light and cheerful gave nothing of how he was feeling away. Jack looked up from his paperwork and the smile dropped from his face.

"You look like shit." He commented.

"Why thank you, sir. Did you ask me here to insult me or was there something you actually wanted me to do?"

Jack pointed at the chair that Gwen had so recently vacated. Ianto was vaguely aware of her lingering perfume and the fact that the seat was still warm, which made him wince. He sat bolt upright his hands resting flat on his thighs to stop them from shaking. Jack watched him closely and Ianto decided he was either being mentally undressed or dissected and he couldn't determine which.

"Sir?"

Jack grinned, that annoyingly arrogant megawatt one.

"You ran out on me last night, care to tell me what that was all about?" He steepled his fingers against his chin, blue eyes burning like gas flames.

Ianto shrugged, he really didn't want to talk about that now.

"Is this the time or place for this conversation?"

Jack nodded slowly. "You're the first person who has ever done that to me."

Ianto pretended like he didn't care. "Did you need me to do something, sir."

Jack dropped his hands to his desk with a scowl. "Damn you, the expense accounts and.... sorry about this..... there are two outstanding parking fines on your car..... because I borrowed it whilst you were on suspension. I kinda forgot." He pushed across the offending documents and a large roll of £20 notes. "Sorry."

Ianto kept his face straight and reached over and took the money and the notices.

"Is that all?"

Jack had the decency to look apologetic even if he didn't feel it. He huffed out a breath and then widened his grin.

"No, that's it."

Ianto rose to his feet and walked to the door, saying nothing as he left the room leaving Jack to sigh heavily in his wake. Damn.

Ianto strode across the Hub and headed to the coffee machine. Two could play at this game.

Jack was smarting over his mug of decaf when the call about Eugene Jones came through.

AN: 2 Questions..... Would Jack let Gwen get away with what she did?... Does this sequence even work? Is Gwen in character?...... whoops sorry that's 3.....

Deemama feel free to rant...... I know a number of you are not fussed on Gwen... I'm sitting on the fence. because I like her, but she is very hard to write.