29

Andy stood with open confusion as Gwen pointed to the chair again, "I said get in."

"Gwen, are you serious?" Andy asked with sorrow, "We went through the academy together, grew up on the same fucking estate, you gonna do this to me?"

"I have to be sure" she said grandly, "I need to clear all of you."

"And you?" Andy challenged, "Have you had your turn yet?"

Several of those in the room turned to stare at him, then her as they agreed, stepping forward to surround her, "Come on Gwen. If this is a foolproof device that picks up rats, it will clear you and then I will feel safe knowing I will be cleared too!"

"I don't need to, I know I am not one!" she said grandly and Andy folded his arms.

"Same"

"Andy, this is not a fucking democracy here!" she spluttered, "I am giving you an order!"

"And I am taking it higher up!" he said, slipping out the door he had been edging towards and as he stormed down the corridor he fumbled with his phone, the text already saved in case of emergency and the reply was one word.

RUN

Andy ran, heading for the roof as agreed and his heart was pounding as he tried not to show any fear even stopping to point back and complain about Gwen, gaining support and reassurance that he was right, she should have been the first one in the chair.

Andy slammed out onto the roof and stopped, panting with relief as he felt the cool air.

"Andy"

Andy swing to find Owen standing there, smiling softly was a hand reaching out, he took it with relief and let his brother hold him. One of the nicest things about all this mess was reconnecting with him. Their lives had been a mess, fostered out to different families and then Owen was kept and he was not, going through the fostering system for most of his childhood before finding the only thing that resembled family. Heddlu.

Now Owen was there, he had recognised him at the first rally he had attended and their grief at the loss of one another had faded the moment they touched, recognised and rejoiced.

Andy as also relieved that his time spent with that bitch was over, wanting the longed hottest shower imaginable and sleep.

The bubble lifted off as the two men continued to hug, their joy evident as they talked and Owen reassured him that he had been right to run, he had done his duty for the cause, the service he had provided had been invaluable.

Within an hour Mainframe started her whispering campaign through the station. Ghost helping with open glee, tripping around people like some weird interpretative dance as she whispered as well. Memos from unknown sources, post-it notes with strange two word messages on desks. Ghost's writing a wee bit messy but they got the idea, right?

WHERES ANDY

Within two hours Gwen was being asked to produce him, to show he was still OK as his complaints to others had floated up and they wanted reassurance that she hadn't done anything to him. Not a good officer like him.

Within three hours Gwen was frantically tearing the place apart, Andy nowhere to be found and those watching were all forming the same opinion as those whispers became more damning.

Gwen had 'disappeared' Andy Davidson.

Onboard the vessel they watched as Gwen tried desperately to make a case of kidnap, espionage and then she openly said he must be a rat that abandoned ship.

Andy snorted with mirth in stereo to his brother as Owen clapped him on the shoulder and reassured him again that he was done with that bullshit.

Ianto swung on his chair as Tosh stood ordering mainframe to release a text message showing a body that resembled Andy in a woodland area, some leaves peppered over it. That had been a fun day, the picnic had been a few months back and Andy had enjoyed that day of photos, now knowing why he had been asked to pretend to be a sleep for that one and he turned to chastise his little brother but found he couldn't as he looked at Owen and felt only affection for his imp of a fool.

Hugging Owen to him Andy sighed and let go of the last few years, the undercover work he had done in the name of the Riftlings had borne fruit and although his staying longer could have helped more he knew Ianto had another job for him now as he glanced at the screens of children.

The crèche was almost complete, as was the snatch and grab mission plans on the wall beside the bank of screens and Andy revelled in the offer Ianto had presented for him to help raise the next generation of Riftlings. Knowing he would be doing so beside his brother was the finest gift he might have been offered and Andy was ready to fight for them once more.

Ianto's gentle hand on his arm as he thanked him for his service had filled him with such peace, the ache of Gwen bloody Cooper removed from his heart as if someone had set fire to it and blown the ash away into the night.

That Suzie was a fine mare too, helping him with clothing and a place to rest, he had noted her height and found her hair really sexy. Her look of surprise and shy pleasure when he had asked if she had a mate had been quite uplifting too.

The best part?

The ruling from the authority that Gwen must be the next to undergo the chair.

"Gotta have popcorn for that!" Owen and Andy had said at the same time, then turning to each other and yelling 'Jinx' as they roared with laughter.

Gods, they were so much alike.

How could Ianto not love Andy as well?

.

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.

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"She run her own gauntlet now!" The mother told them as the flames suddenly died away and there was darkness all around them, "She must feel the cold, the darkness in the heart that comes from her machine, she must scream to the heavens for help."

"Mama?"

The flames flared again, bright and cheerful as the child clutching her ankle relented and looked up his huge eyes still showing fear, "But she not us."

"No darling" she leaned over and smiled down, "But when had that ever stopped us from a good trick, eh?"

The Grups laughed in the shadows, not only knowing this part of the story but holding it up as one of the best bits.

The fall of Gwen Bloody Cooper into her own flames.