Tosh approached Ianto's apartment building nervously. When Jack first called her she'd been anxious to see how her friend was, but now as she stood outside in the rain, she couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding.

She winced as he opened the door to her. It wasn't so much how white he looked, or the red rims surrounding his eyes which shocked her, it was the vivid dark bruise on one side of his face, contrasting sharply with his pale skin.

She took a sharp intake of breath, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Oh, Ianto." She gasped.

Her stomach twisted when she considered the implications of why Jack had left this little detail out in his account of the previous night. She held open her arms and he leaned into the embrace. She cooed soothingly when he started to sob.

"That's it," she encouraged him, "let it out and then you can tell me all about it."

She caught a flash of movement behind Ianto's shoulder and started a little as she focused on a lean, fair haired man with faintly weasel like features and deep brown eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't realise you had company."

Ianto pulled out of her embrace and waved his arm vaguely in the man's direction. "It's Owen," he sniffed, "he brought me home last night."

The doctor extended his hand, "You must be Tosh," he grinned, "I've heard a lot about you."

"Oh, all if it good, I hope," she chuckled.

Ianto watched as Tosh dipped her head and looked at Owen through up turned lashes. He rolled his eyes and sighed theatrically.

"Riiight... I'll go put the kettle on shall I?"

For what seemed like the hundredth time that morning Gwen asked Rhys if he was okay.

"I'm fine, Gwen. Will you please stop fussing?"

She looked at him fondly, "I know you are but I'm worried about Ianto."

"Gwen, he pushed you!"

"He was upset."

"He was a twat."

"Rhys, this is Ianto we're talking about. He's not capable of being a twat and you know it."

"If you're so bothered about him," he stormed, "why don't you go and see him?"

"Fine, I will," she huffed.

"Good, you do that."

"Okay then."

"Goodbye, Gwen."

She glared at him for a second or two, before grabbing her coat and stalking out, slamming the door behind her.

Gwen stood outside Ianto's door chewing her lip, her index finger poised over the doorbell. She wondered whether rushing over here was such a good idea after all. Now she'd had time to think about it she realised she had no idea what she was going to say to him and she could make things much worse. She tutted to herself, letting her arm fall away. She was about to turn around and leave when she was startled by the door opening and a figure appeared in the doorway.

"Owen, you made me jump."

He stood aside to let her pass but she made no attempt to move.

"Well, are you coming in or not because I haven't got all day?" He chivvied.

"Em, yeah. Sorry. Of course."

She bobbed her hand in thanks as she passed him and was half way up the first flight of stairs before he called her back.

"Oh, and Gwen," he warned, "don't go upsetting him, yeah."

She gave him a tight smile and another nod before bounding up the rest of the stairs.

"What shall we do today?" Tosh asked, after Ianto had let Owen out.

He shrugged

"I know," She went on, answering her own question, "Let's go to the video store now. We'll pick the weepiest films we can find and buy popcorn and chocolate. You can cry your eyes out and stuff your face until you're sick."

Ianto thought it sounded a rather girly thing to do but it was probably just what he needed. He was about to tell her so when there was a knock on the door.

"I'll go," she said.

Ianto groaned when he heard Gwen's voice. He knew from past experience she was like a dog with a bone when she got an idea into a head. There was no way Tosh would be able to persuade her to go away. The Japanese women popped her head around the door a few moments later and looked at him apologetically.

"It's Gwen," she said, "She says she won't stay long."

She moved aside to let the other women in.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you want anything."

"Oh my god," Gwen shrieked, "your face."

"Something wrong with it," Ianto deadpanned, "I hadn't noticed."

She shocked him by rushing over and flinging her arms around him.

"Oh you poor, poor boy," she clucked, holding him tight.

He stiffened.

"Okay, this is different."

"Oh I'm so sorry." She let him go. In her shock at seeing him bruised and battered she'd forgotten that he had never been very receptive to spontaneous displays of emotion.

He played with his fingers in his lap, "It's me that should be sorry," he muttered. "About last night......."

"Hush." She placed a finger to his lips. "Forget it."

"I just wanted to say. You and Jack, I didn't really think........well you know, not really."

"Jack and I were friends, nothing more." She paused. "However, in the spirit of getting everything out in the open....."

"You fancied him," he finished for her. He hitched a short laugh, "yeah, I know, who wouldn't?"

"I mean, it's not like I'd ever want to be with him. He's not my type, really he's not," she insisted when he looked at her disbelievingly. "He's just a fantasy. You should know that better than anyone. Nice to look at, probably great in bed and charming doesn't come into it, but the real Jack. Well...." she let her eyes wander over his face, "he's hot headed, arrogant, self centred."

"He's not that bad."

She shook her head at him sadly. That he could still defend him despite what he'd done sickened her a little but didn't surprise her. Whatever it was Jack had if it could be bottled he'd make a fortune.

"Besides," she went on giving him a pointed look, "I'm not the only one harbouring fantasies about someone else's partner, am I?"

He looked visibly shaken at her words. Rising from the sofa, he walked over to stand by the window, resting his bottom on the ledge.

"W...What do you mean?" he faltered.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"I know how you feel about Rhys." She said.

He shifted his weight, angling his body to stare out of the window. When he was sure he was able to speak again he turned back. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"It's not like......I don't," he tried again.

He sighed, clearly giving up.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I didn't, not for certain. Not until last night. Always suspected mind you, but you more or less confirmed it last night."

He gasped.

"Oh don't worry. He's a man Ianto, he's completely oblivious. He'll never know and I'm not about to tell him."

"It's not like I don't know it's a fantasy. I wouldn't want him for real."

"Like me with Jack."

He gave her a half smile and let his shoulders drop.

"Yeah. I get that now. I'm sorry."

She stood up and walked over to him.

"Friends?" she said holding out her hand.

"Friends." He agreed, taking her hand and pulling her into a hug.

"You're a very lucky women, you know. He's an easy guy to love. I just hope he can forgive me."

"He will Ianto, don't worry and I know I'm lucky. I might flirt sometimes and there are times I'd rather have risky and exciting instead of safe and predictable but I'd never hurt him, not for the world."

There was a soft tap on the lounge door and Tosh popped her head around again.

"I should go," Gwen said.

"Stay. Tosh and I we're about to go the video shop and hire something desperately sad and depressing."

"Sounds like a fun day." She laughed, "how could I resist."

Monday morning saw Tosh driving around the campus car park fruitlessly searching for a space. It never ceased to amaze her how many students drove cars these days. When she'd been at University it had been hard enough finding the spare cash to pay for groceries, let alone run a car. It seems the current breed of the educated classes were less prepared to do without basic essentials like food and were certainly not cut out for braving the horrors of public transport.

By the time she found a space she realised she was going to be late. Nevertheless, she bypassed the stairs that would take her to her second floor office and took the lift to the top floor instead. When the lift door pinged open, she straightened her fitted jacket, took a calming breath and strode purposefully down the corridor.

She reached the door she was looking for and opened it without bothering to knock. She saw Jack sitting on the edge of Andy's desk, flipping through a manila folder while his research assistant talked him through the main points of the report. Andy looked up and immediately broke off when he saw her. Jack put the file down and grinned. If Tosh had been in any mood to notice however, she would have seen that the grin didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Tosh. Hey. What can we do for you?"

Without saying a word, the Japanese women walked over to him, slapped his face hard and walked out again.

"Okay," Andy said, "That was unexpected. What did you do?"

"I was.....what is it you Brits call it, a twat."

"I'm sorry, I really am."

As soon as Jack had been able to extricate himself from Andy's remorseless jabbering about the latest finds in Cardiff Bay, he'd sought Tosh out.

"Have you seen his face, Jack?"

"No I haven't. Is it really bad?" He hung his head in shame.

"Yes, it is." She replied, "Why did you do it?"

"I know it's no excuse but I was furious. He said something and it just made me see red."

"I wasn't only talking about his face."

"Oh"

"Is that all you can say?"

"No. I can't explain but it's not like it seems, honestly."

She glared at him for a few seconds and then looked away, relenting.

"Oh Jack," she said, "you've really messed it up haven't you?"

"Yeah." He nodded sadly.

"Is there any way you can make this better?"

"I don't know, maybe. If I could talk to him, explain things. Do you think he'd listen to me?"

"He might, but you'll never know unless you go over there and try."

He full on grinned at her.

"Tosh you're a genius," he cried. He looked at his watch and frowned. "Oh, I can't go now though, he'll be at practice."

"He won't." She smiled, "Doctor Harper signed him off for a few days."

He bounded out the door shouting "cover for me," over his shoulder as he left.

She shook her head at him indulgently. He was in such a rush that one or two of the papers on her desk fluttered to the floor.

She picked up her phone to ring Ianto and warn him that Jack was coming over but it went straight to voicemail. She hit the end call button and sent him a text instead.

Like Tosh and Gwen before him, Jack gasped when he saw Ianto's face. He tentatively reached out his hand but the other man recoiled from his touch.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

"How did you get past the intercom system?" Ianto asked.

"The old lady from downstairs was going out as I came in. She recognised me."

Ianto thought he'd have to have a word with her about security and what was the point of having an intercom system if people just let other people in willy nilly.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly.

"Can I come in?"

"No, you can't. I'm busy."

"Look, I'm sorry. Please. I never meant to hurt you."

"Forget it Jack," the other man replied, "Like I said, I'm busy."

"I won't stay long. I just want to explain a few things."

"There's nothing to explain. Look can we do this later." His gaze flicked nervously to the side. "I'm tired and I had a late night. Come back later and we can talk as much as you like."

"We could talk now," Jack pleaded, "I just want to say I'm....."

He stopped in mid sentence, his face frozen in shock as a blond Adonis, aged about 19 with long flowing locks and golden tanned skin stepped out from behind the door. He was naked except for a pair of black boxer shorts and he wrapped his arms around Ianto, pulling him close and resting his chin on his shoulder.

"Look, mate. You're just not getting it are you. Like he says we're busy, now fuck off!"

Jack couldn't be sure, but as the door slammed shut in his face, he could swear he heard the sound of giggling behind the closed door.