52
Ianto woke to the silence of the country, groaning as he rose and threw wood onto the dying fire before opening the back door for Lucy to escape.
He peeked out, feeling foolish for his fears and then leaving the door open defiantly, knowing as soon as she came back inside he would slam it shut and lock it.
He wondered how they were and looked over at the Torchwood Laptop, also still there from the last visit and after a moment's consideration he opened it, logging in under Suzie's code and watching the hub's CCTV. Owen was gesturing at Tosh and Jack could be seen sitting on the sofa. He looked so forlorn that Ianto ached to comfort him, but then he frowned as he saw Gwen come into frame, a Starbucks bag and tray of coffees as she sat next to Jack with a wide grin.
With a huff of anger he slammed the laptop shut and rose to stare morosely out the window.
.
.
.
.
Tosh sighed and looked away from Owen's rant to see a small light blinking on her alerts, then as she clicked onto it the connection died.
Suzie?
Tosh felt a chill before remembering that Ianto knows everyone's codes and she checked to see how long he was on and what he had been looking at. She groaned softly as the Gwen part happened and she looked over at the sofa with anger.
"I told you not to come in" Jack was snarling as he rose to escape Gwen.
"When Owen told me that Ianto wasn't here I knew you needed me here" she simpered, "I brought coffee and donuts."
Owen snatched the bag off her and peered inside, choosing one and dropping the bag on the table before storming off. Tosh waited and followed him to the kitchen where he was standing glaring at the coffee machine.
"Ianto was just online" she said softly and Owen swung to look at her.
"Did you tell Jack?" he demanded and she shook her head as she explained what he had been watching. "Ah fuck."
Owen stepped forward and patted her arm, "Leave it to me darling."
Then to both their shock, he leaned in and kissed her gently, then shot away with a soft grin.
Tosh placed her fingertips on her lips and smiled.
Wishing she could tell Ianto.
"Right! Tosh said Ianto was just checking on us and saw her majesty here and her gifts!" Owen said without any preamble, "It was only for a moment so she couldn't trace it but he definitely saw that you seemed comfortable without him."
Jack turned to Gwen and glared, "You. Once again you've upset him. Just go, you are still on suspension."
Gwen hesitated as she was going and turned back, "Who's Heath? I heard Owen say something about Heath and Ianto? Is that his lover?"
Jack roared at her and she squeaked as she stumbled for the door with shock.
.
.
.
.
Ianto felt a bit woozy so he sank on to the sofa and checked the baby, still asleep with his giant cyber arm teddy. With a yawn Ianto settled back and closed his eyes, listening to the birds outside, then wondering how much feed there was for them. He added bird seed to his mental shopping list, worried about them now.
Heath was making little squeaks, alerting him to his awareness and probably wet bum so Ianto retrieved his arm and connected it, feeling the pain of the clipping as well as a sudden surge.
He could have slapped himself.
Of course he was feeling sick, the cyber arm is what kept the nanites happy and him alive. He had let Heath have it too long, only short bursts idiot.
Ianto scooped up the bub and went to change his nappy, finding him saturated so he rose and decided a little bath might be the go. Soon the little boy was staring at Ianto with shock as he sat in the sink of warm water and Ianto laughed as the little eyelids slid shut with delight while he enjoyed the sensation of being back in liquid. Supporting him with the cyber arm in the water, he could literally see the little boy growing stronger and he grinned happily as he crooned softly, swishing him and watching delight cross the tiny face.
He had to focus. For him, he had to be strong.
Ianto dried the wee boy by the fire and laid him on the mat, Lucy happy to share the warmth with him and he stared at the flames as he tried to clear his head.
He missed Jack and it ached worse than his arm.
So quiet, but it had been lately anyway with it being weeks since their last mental connection.
Ianto stared at the flickering colours and despaired. It may have been better if he had leapt into that furnace, if Jack had stepped aside and let him go, rather than this torture of knowing his love, only to have to tear himself away.
He looked at the snoozing tot and chastised himself.
He would not have been there for Heath; the little boy might not have survived his shocking entrance to the world and died a cruel death in that crash.
There were no answers in the flames and Ianto leaned back against the sofa as he sighed softly.
How can there be answers when the questions are so raw.
.
.
.
.
"I didn't think this through" Jack said suddenly, startling the team, "Did I."
"Jack" Owen sighed, "Ianto always questioned your love. You know that. You had that daily mantra thing right? The reinforcing of your bond thing you did with your minds?"
Jack grimaced as he admitted that things had been so hectic that they had been sort of falling in and out of bed, especially since Heath came along.
"So our emotionally retarded T-Boy, who constantly needs reassurance that he exists, has been pushed aside and then you tell him, right after a horrible experience that almost took his life ….again … that you love him. He gets something so precious that he thought he would NEVER have, then you take the only thing he thinks really does love him" Owen summed it up, "After all, the dog is still reserving judgement."
Jack flopped back and sighed sadly.
Owen was right.
Talking about throwing out the baby with the bath water.
.
.
.
.
.
Sandylee007 your comments DO brighten my day xxxxxx
