I told you guys the exams would make my plot bunnies go mad. Between work and studying I'm actually behind on keeping up with them. Plus, I'm typing up parts for the sequel already.

Enjoy!

Chapter 25

(18th September 2008)

10.30am

Owen came in late to work again, but Jack was on a Weevil hunt with Gwen, so he got away with it. He threw a withering look up at the old board room, where Michaela was working, and then sat down at his desk.

"Where were you? Sleeping off your hangover?" asked Tosh icily.

"Fuck off Tosh. I was busy."

"You know she's probably noting that you don't come in on time.

"Are you gonna be like this all day? Because if so, I'm gonna spend my day with the Weevils."

Tosh looked hurt and quickly turned to her computer. Owen rolled his eyes at himself, and started working.

About half an hour later, Jack and Gwen returned with a Weevil unconscious between them.

"Owen, can you take a look at this one? Seemed to be acting oddly, even for a Weevil."

"Sure." Owen didn't dare question why Jack was talking to him as if everything was perfectly normal. Jack had swung into so many different moods that Owen was just glad this one hadn't bitten his head off. Gwen, meanwhile, looked to be in a foul mood. Owen was glad of an escape

He was just finishing up the examination when Gwen's voice came over the comm. "Owen, we've been called out by the police. Suspicious murder."

"On my way."

The team packed up and climbed into the SUV. Jack was just about to start the engine when the door opened again and Michaela climbed in behind the driver's seat.

"Oh no!" snapped Jack, "No, get out Michaela."

"I have to observe you in action on a case. May as well do it now." said Michaela, a notebook in her hand. Jack glared at her, Michaela stared back with a determined expression. The others shifted with nerves. Finally Jack growled and turned away. He seemed to decide ignoring the red-head was the best course of action. Gwen looked furious squished between Michaela and Tosh. The car ride was awkward and silent. They all scrambled out as soon as they arrived. Andy Davidson was waiting for them with a grumpy expression. Gwen strode over to him, with a fake smile.

"Hey Andy, is the body untouched?"

"Yeah, we were gonna-"

"Thanks Andy, you're a love." Gwen slipped under the police tape with the rest of the team. Andy pulled an aggravated face.

"No problem."

Michaela followed the team, listening as they talked about the body. Owen concluded it was a Weevil attack, probably from the one Jack and Gwen had brought in earlier. Michaela hovered nearby, making notes as fast as she could. When the team started to bag the body, she moved out of their way, standing near the police tape, eyes fixed on Jack. Andy glanced at her, and out of bored curiosity, asked,

"You a new recruit?" Owen, busy arranging the body to fit into the bag, listened attentively.

"Hm?" Michaela looked at him and gave the P.C. a tight smile, "Oh nah. I'm here to review them. They're under question with the organisation."

Andy stared at her, blank faced, for several moments. Then he lifted both hands a little, pointing towards her.

"If you are kidding please tell me now. Otherwise I've just heard the best news of my week and I will not be able to keep it to myself when I get back to the station."

Michaela raised an eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"Nothing, save catching a serial killer or drug lord cheers the police up more in Cardiff than to hear that the Almighty Torchwood is getting their comeuppance."

'Shit!'

"Really? So, you wouldn't say Torchwood works well with the police?"

Andy snorted, "Torchwood always show up without a warning makes us move away without so much as a 'how'd you do', treat us like we're idiots and beneath them and never give us a satisfying answer to any of our cases."

Owen could see Michaela's face was grim. "I see. And this hasn't improved sine Gwen Cooper was hired? She used to work for the police."

"I know, I was her partner. And if you ask me, your organisation's ruining a good woman. Ever since she joined she's gotten hard and doesn't seem to care anymore, not like she used to."

Michaela scribbled into her book furiously. Owen had to admit she looked angry now. "What about Captain Harkness?"

"He's a twat, up his own arse and thinks he's God's gift to humanity."

Any other time, Owen probably would have laughed at that description. Now he just swore mentally at the P.C. as Michaela snapped her book shut.

"Well, thank you very much P.C…?"

"Andy Davidson."

"Yes, thank you Andy. Do you think your boss would share your sentiments?"

"No doubt and with less polite words."

Michaela growled, and Owen heard her mutter something that sounded like another language. Then she asked Andy for Dectective Swanson's number. He gave it and then offered his hand to shake. Owen noticed how it took her quite a bit of time to respond. Then she rushed off, climbing back into the SUV.

"What was she saying to you Andy?" demanded Gwen. Andy put on a casual air.

"Oh, just asking a few questions about you lot."

"And you said nothing but good things, yeah?"

"Well, depends on who you ask really. Bye Gwen."

"But, Andy-!"

Andy walked away, enjoying a feeling of immense satisfaction, no doubt.

Gwen huffed and stomped back to the SUV. Jack and Owen stuffed the body bag into the boot and climbed into the car as Gwen snarled,

"You really want us to look bad, don't you?"

Michaela twitched, then opened her notebook, starting to scribble in it. "If you look bad, it's not my fault. Beside, Ms. Cooper, I think any comments you have for me should wait until our meeting tomorrow, don't you?"

"God, you're a spiteful cow!"

Michaela caught Jack's eyes in the mirror. Jack, while annoyed himself, knew Gwen was pushing her luck.

"Gwen, enough."

"But Jack! She's trying to lord it over is with that fucking notebook. She doesn't understand what we go through, she doesn't know us."

"Apparently no one but you can." muttered Michaela, pulling out her mp3 player. "But like I said Ms. Cooper, this can wait until our meeting. Then you can say everything you want. I'm sure you won't be short on opinions. Now, I'm going to enjoy some Toto. Feel free to rant to the others in the car though. I'm sure they're used to it."

As Michaela put her earphones in and pressed play. Jack noted three things. One, Michaela was gripping her book so tight, her knuckles were white, two Gwen was red and fuming and three, the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he'd just failed a test of some sort.

By the time they got back, Owen wanted to kill someone, preferably someone he neither liked nor knew and was ginger. But he decided to put his energy into the Weevils and what was wrong with Frankenfurter –the one brought in that day. Michaela left at half four, Gwen left ten minutes later in a fury, and Owen went to Tosh, saying,

"What's the likelihood of a cat fight between her and Gwen tomorrow?"

"Considering today, and Gwen's habit of yelling when things don't go her way? Very high."

"Feeling bitchy Tosh?"

Tosh's fingers slammed onto her keyboard, then she turned around to glare at him.

"You listen to me Owen! You may be wallowing in self pity because you were stupid enough to earn your brother's loathing, Gwen might walking around in a bubble of self-righteous anger and Jack might be sulking because his in bed weren't enough to keep Michaela from doing this, ad his arrogance that he always knows best drove Ianto away, but I am just terrified that she'll send me to prison. I cannot, and will not, go back there! So shove your issues up your ass, grow up and shut up!!"

Tosh was red-faced as she lunged to her feet. She might have come at Owen if Jack hadn't appeared from nowhere and caught her, gathering her to his chest and holding her close as she burst into tears. She buried her face in shirt and sobbed. Owen stood there feeling shell shock.

"Go home Owen." ordered Jack, rubbing Tosh's back and rocking her a little. Owen could only obey, all but running out of the Hub, feeling like the lowest of the low.

~*~

9.30am

Someone was ringing his door bell. Ianto was tempted to ignore it but he knew if he didn't move now, he'd just continue staring at the ceiling like he had been since Michaela had woken him to say goodbye. Sighing, he climbed out of bed, pulling on a fresh t-shirt as he went.

There was no one there when he opened the door, but then Ianto noticed a package on the doorstep. He nudged it with his foot. It wasn't too heavy, but it wasn't light either. Wrapped in red tissue paper, it felt like it was made of wood. The size and shape was extremely familiar.

Ianto's hands were shaking as he reached down and lifted the parcel, bringing it inside, kicking the door shut behind him. Something rattled in the parcel. Ianto took it into the sitting room and set it on the coffee table. He inhaled deeply then shredded the tissue paper.

He hadn't seen the box properly since he was 14. It was still in perfect condition, just like the night he'd buried it, along with his mother. Ianto ran his fingers over his name, before opening the lid and looking inside. There were three things in it. With a soft gasp, Ianto lifted out the metal and plastic red rocket with the well chewed rubber tip still hanging on for dear life. Ianto couldn't believe Owen had kept this. Ianto could easily recall eating egg and soldiers with Owen and cheering the Thunderbirds on.

Holding Thunderbird 3 in his hand tight, Ianto took out Thunderbird 2, smoothing his thumb over it with a smile. Owen had loved this ship. Ianto had just tried to eat it.

Still smiling, Ianto took out what he'd thought was a note, but turned out to be a photo. It was of the whole team, grinning and eating ice-cream. Ianto noticed how close he and Jack were standing, a near intimate stance. Swallowing hard, Ianto turned the photo over, seeing Owen's messy 'doctor' writing on the back. It was brief.

'There should always be five.'

Five Thunderbirds, five Torchwood employees. Ianto got it, but was not ready for the flood of emotion surging through his body. Then he read the P.S.

'You owe me a TB2 box no. 3!'

Ianto let a laugh that sounded like a sob. He covered his face with his hands and cried into them. God how he missed the team. He missed Myfanwy and Janet. He missed being the only one able to keep with Tosh, seeing Gwen try to remind them about real life –although normally he'd inwardly roll his eyes. He missed getting along with Owen. And he… he missed Jack. He was still furious, but… he did miss them.

Getting to his feet, Ianto decided he needed air, so he washed and dressed quickly and went for a walk through his city. He put his mp3 player on loud with an audiobook and let Stephen Fry take him to Hogwarts as he strolled. He kept walking until it started to get dark, and he was on the fourth book by the time he got home.

Michaela pounced on him when he came in, swearing at him in Irish, then switching to English.

"Nach tusa an t-amadan damanta! Why the fuck didn't you answer your phone?"

Ianto winced, "Sorry, it's on silent."

"God! Uascan! I was so scared you'd killed yourself or something! I was about ready to call Jack in a tizzy."

Ianto decided never to admit to enjoying her fussing and worrying.

"Sorry, won't happen again."

"Damn right it won't!" She threw her arms around him, clinging to him. "Don't scare me like that. I haven't been this worried since you OD'd on New Years Eve."

"Sorry. Just needed to think."

"That's fine, but a text next time, please!"

"Sure, ok.

"Did you eat?"

"No."

"Then sit where I can see you and I'll make something."

Wow, she was mad. Ianto felt a bit bad for scaring her if she didn't want him out of her sight. He sat at the kitchen table, watching her cook up a Thai curry. He got bored though, and began to pace around the kitchen, releasing the rabbits and checked the sitting room.

"Where's my box?" he demanded, making Michaela jump.

"I put it on the mantelpiece."

She'd put it next to the photo of him and Lisa. The photo of the team was resting against its side, with the Thunderbirds flanking either side of it. Ianto frown at the mantelpiece, wondering why he suddenly had a sense that something was missing. Then he realised.

Turning around, he went back into the kitchen

"There's no photo of you." he said, staring at her back.

"Nope." agreed Michaela, adding coconut milk. Ianto frowned.

"Does that bug you?"

"It's your home Ianto. I'm not gonna tell you how to decorate."

Ianto noticed how she hesitated before answering him, and his frown deepened. But all he said was,

"Didn't I trash that room yesterday?"

"You did."

"… It's clean."

"I'd hope so. I cleaned it." She finally turned to him, with a tight smile. Ianto thought she looked exhausted.

"You didn't have to."

"Ah, it's grand!" This statement was punctuated by a yawn. Something in Ianto's brain seemed to flicker back on.

"Sit down. I'll finish dinner."

"Don't be daft, I can do it."

"No, don't you be daft. You're exhausted. And I've been a shit host. Now sit down."

Michaela obeyed reluctantly. Ianto made the rice and served the meal. They ate in a comfy silence. When Ianto was done, Michaela put her fork down, looking anxious.

"Ianto… um…"

"Yeah?"

"I need… well… you know the review?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I need you to come into the Hub tomorrow for our interview-"

"No way!"

"C'mon Ianto, please. I need to interview the whole team in the Hub,"

"Can't you make an exception?"

"Ianto, I break enough regulations for you guys as it is. Please don't ask me to lie on this too."

"It's just the location of the interview."

"But if I lie about one thing, then I could lie again. And if UNIT finds out I lied, then I'll end up locked up."

"No one's gonna get locked up. You'll make sure of that."

Michaela did not look convinced. Ianto took her hand, squeezing it.

"'kaela, you managed to keep everyone off Owen's back after he used that alien spray, even though you wanted him to be punished for it."

"He raped people with it! As far as I'm concerned the only difference between him using that and what Blaine used on me is that his shit was alien. Bastard, self-serving-"

"Yes, and you still kept him from UNIT. So I trust to do the same again."

"But Ianto, do you know how much shite I'll have to cover up for you to do it this time?"

"I know it's a lot, but you'll sort it."

Michaela swallowed, "I still need you to come to the Hub."

"Oh for fucks sake!"

"Just for an hour or two. You come straight to me and then leave straight after if that's what you want. But please. If you want me to do what you want, then do this for me. Come to the Hub."

Ianto sulked, than glanced at her, meeting her eyes. They were big and pleading. He sighed, and nodded.

"Ok, but I want some chocolate cake now."

Half the cake was missing, but Ianto said nothing.

Later, they curled up on the couch and Michaela fell asleep on his chest in the middle of a Laurel and Hardy movie. Ianto watched the rest of the movie, then glanced at his watch. It was only half nine. Ianto felt awake mentally, even if he was physically tired from all his walking. Carefully slipping free from under Michaela, he found his diary and started writing. Page after page was filled, as everything that had happened lately came pouring out. He was just writing about Owen's delivery that morning and how he wasn't sure what to do about it when Michaela woke with a moan and pried her eyes open. Ianto quickly put the diary away and watched her rub at her face, smearing her eye make up. As she sat up, Ianto said,

"Can we try to have sex tonight?"

"Ugh, sure… 'cause I feel so super sexy right now." Michaela wiped drool from her chin, grimacing. Ianto was glad he'd moved.

"Still, can we? I don't to be stuck with this problem any longer than I have to."

"You're making the idea more and more appealing by the moment. How can I refuse?" she stared at him through bleary eyes. "Ianto, I'm really tired…"

"Please?" Ianto widened his eyes, silently begging. Michaela sighed, running fingers through her hair.

"When can do something. But after yesterday, do you honestly think you could handle sex? Lets do what we agreed to. Take it slow."

Ianto decided that was better than nothing. He nodded.

"Right. So… get in bed –with some form of clothing on!- and I'll join you when I've changed." she sniffed her breath, wrinkling her nose, "And brushed my teeth."

Ianto went to his bedroom and stripped to his pants, then climbed into his bed, relaxing back. He wondered how Jack would react to his and Michaela's frank discussion. He'd probably complain that they'd sucked all the fun out. But that was them, particularly when spontaneity proved a bad idea, like it had last night and many times before. Ianto gave a snort, remembering the first time –after she'd thrown out, and he'd OD'd and she'd saved him and they'd crawled their adolescently clueless way to humiliating, awkward, depressing and then eventually good sex- he'd tried to be spontaneous with Michaela. He'd shoved her against the wall too hard, and she'd panicked and head butted him, leaving them both with ferocious headaches.

"Ok." Michaela came in dressed in small red shorts and a white string top, with hands on her hips. "How're we going to do this?"

As Ianto admired her figure and her attempts to hide her nerves, he quickly concluded that their relationship was the greatest thing in the world.

Did anyone else notice no flashbacks? There will be more, but not as many or as large I think. It seemed to be the general consensus that they be a little reduced. But for those who enjoy them, there will be codas as well as plenty in this fic.

Night's Darkness