37. Forty-Eight Deaths In
Ianto woke and sighed as he felt that familiar bite in his shoulder, turning to look at the blinds and that creeping sliver of light as Bon Jovi crooned.
He rose and prepared for the day, so tired and so bloody angry with the whole thing.
He reached the hub and got the coffees in, heading up to Jack's office and dropping the orb into his hand.
Jack's face contorted and changed as the memories assaulted him, finally rising and taking great shuddering breaths.
"Ianto" he whispered.
"Whatever." Ianto shrugged back, "I'm tired Jack. So fucking tired and she keeps killing me every time, you just blink and keep going."
"Ianto, I think. I think I'm in shock" Jack said as he leaned back in the chair and stared at him.
Ianto nodded, that made sense. He was too.
"All that, you've lived all that?" Jack gaped.
"Not a touch on you" Ianto shrugged back, "I've only done … 48? Jesus."
Ianto sat and rubbed his face as Jack moved out from behind the desk, sitting next to him and pulling him into his arms.
"Oh Ianto." Jack rocked him gently as he looked over his shoulder into the hub below.
Gwen was holding court as the other two rolled their eyes at each other, striding around with her arms waving.
Jack kissed Ianto and told him to go down into the bunker and rest.
Ianto nodded mutely and Jack saw how bereft he was, how shattered.
Jack tripped down the stairs and stood beside Tosh's chair as Gwen spewed.
"And that's another thing, who knows what else is hidden away, that we're not even told about" She snarled as she paced, "He could have anything hidden in that flat of his, we should have been allowed access to his file!"
"Why?" Jack asked softly and she spun with surprise.
"Why do you think you are entitled to see Ianto's personnel file?" Jack tilted his head and Owen stopped typing as he recognized the danger in his voice, "As junior staff, why the fuck would you be entitled to see the personnel file of a senior management staff member?"
"Senior …" she spluttered.
"Ianto is head archivist with almost eight years of service under his belt, that even beats Owen and Toshi here" Jack sat on the edge of Tosh's workstation and smiled softly, "He is only bettered by Owen who is my second. You are the newbie. The newbie who seems capable of making mistakes these team members never attempted."
Gwen stood stock still, then stepped forward with her mouth open to argue.
"Actually, Ianto is tired. Owen, his shoulder is still giving his trouble. I know you checked him but I would appreciate a second look now the swelling has subsided, it is rather painful and he's having trouble sleeping with it" Jack said softly and Owen rose, reaching for his scanner on the edge of his desk.
"Where is he?"
"Yes Jack!" Gwen demanded with her hands on her hips, "Where is he. Do you know?"
"Yes Gwen." Jack raised an eyebrow at her tone, "He's in my bed."
Jack enjoyed the blood bleeding from her face as her eyes bugged and her mouth opened and shut soundlessly.
"I've been checking a few things and staff reviews are on the list." Jack rose, brushing his trousers as he winked at his little Japanese angel, "Seems a few changes are called for."
Tosh reached for a pad and pen, leaning back as she prepared for what was sure to be fireworks judging from the gleeful look from Jack.
"Right. Ianto makes the best coffee, a given, right?" Jack asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Ianto is oober efficient in the archives and with our immediate needs" Jack said and again got nods.
"Owen is overloaded with autopsies and such lately, but still maintaining his fieldwork." Jack smiled at Owen, "And Tosh, your projects are not interfering with every day work but I feel are essential to the future of Torchwood."
"Gwen." Jack blinked, "Er, Owen, Ianto's shoulder?"
Owen begrudgingly started to walk towards the stairs, looking back as Jack addressed the woman who was fluffing like a bantam hen.
"Gwen, you don't seem to do that much at all. I think you need to step it up here, we all need to support each other. As Ianto is a bit delicate since his near death experience, I think you need to take over the vehicle maintenance and feeding of the inmates." Jack reached out and tapped the pad, "Add clean the bird's nest. Smells, think she brought another sheep home."
Gwen was hyperventilating, "Jack! I don't …"
"IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT YOU CAN LEAVE!" Jack roared, making everyone jump.
"Jack" Ianto said softly from the top of the stairs and Jack rose to greet him.
"She's ... well …" Jack was angry and Ianto touched his shoulder to soothe him.
"Come on. Butterfly effect and all that. Maybe she'll improve. I know you like her, she is just so … hard" Ianto sighed, "I know. You don't want to give her up but you don't want repeats of past … problems."
Jack smiled as he let his forehead fall against Ianto's.
"Gwen!" Ianto said as he turned to face her, "I believe we started on the wrong foot. Maybe if you understood my place around here, you would understand me. Why don't we spend the next few days together and I'll show you the secrets of this place?"
Gwen's mouth snapped shut as she considered.
"Might be nice to have a friend" Ianto said softly as he passed her, heading for the kitchen and she smiled, then followed.
"Ianto? Do you mean that?" she asked nervously.
"I know you feel a bit left out when the techno babble starts" Ianto said calmly, "You just need to find your niche. I think research would be one, you are a wonderful integrator and I also think you are best with police liaison."
Gwen smiled and sat as she watched Ianto, "Really? I know you all have wee projects and I don't really know where ot start."
"Well, I suggest you start by looking outside of work." Ianto turned and sat opposite, "You are a bit fixated on me at the moment. I don't think it's because you don't like me, I think it's because you feel that's what you should be doing. You think I am trying to trick Jack or something and that he is being led by his balls. Gwen, you have potential. You could save the world one day."
Gwen gasped as she looked at him with awe.
"Self-defense, ask Jack. He loves wrestling. Your gun handling is excellent but I think you could seriously kick arse with your upper body strength." Ianto leaned forward, "You could be a brilliant second in the field, a great compliment to Jack in battle. Owen is shite at that."
"You think so?" Gwen gaped, "I mean, you and Jack."
"Personally, I will kill you if you touch him, I will tattoo my name across his bum if I have to!" Ianto said with fake severity and she giggled, as he had hoped she would, "Gwen, I think he sees you as a sister. That's why he is having trouble with your relationship. You need to recognize him as a brother. Love him, hard not to, but know that a sexual relationship can never happen and be happy that he loves you back. I love you too."
She blushed as she reached for his hands, "I just… I want to succeed."
"I want the human race to succeed. So do you. Together, this team? We have saved the world, and will do so again. Stop judging yourself, stop comparing the dynamics of the team and just accept that we are all flawed and crazy." Ianto pointed out, "You have a wonderful fella waiting for you at home, a lovely man who will be your husband one day, the father of your children. Jack will never be that man."
"Oh god, I … I have fixated." She sighed.
"I forgive you. I trust that you will never hurt me and know that I never want to hurt you or cause you pain. You are my sister now, we are Torchwood. Together, you and me, all of those monkeys out there playing with their respective butts, family."
"Show me then!" she demanded. "Show me what to do."
Ianto hoped this time would be different.
Jack watched from the doorway and hoped too.