56

"Cariad?"

Jack looked up from the report he was reading and smiled as Ianto stepped through the door with Heath in the tiny front pack, obviously asleep as tiny limbs swung back and forth.

"Hello sweetling" Jack crooned, "Is that big monster not too heavy?"

Ianto smiled softly as he perched on the edge of the desk one hand on Heath's back and the other holding a cup of coffee.

"Oh gods!" Jack moaned happily, accepting a kiss with the coffee.

He was just wondering if Ianto would offload Heath to Tosh for a while for a wee …er …cuddle … when the klaxons sounded and Ianto swung with surprise to see Gwen entering the hub. The growl of annoyance was low but Jack heard it, seeing both hands now clutching at the baby.

"It's OK" Jack reassured him, "There is nothing she can say or do, Heath is ours now. I promised didn't I?"

Ianto nodded, biting his bottom lip as he stepped aside and let Jack walk out to greet her.

"Gwen?" he called out, causing her to stop mid-stride. "Did you forget something? You are still on suspension last time I checked and ….ah … I am the one who put you on it."

Ianto was in the doorway, unseen by her and he stood watching Jack's face, feeling his apprehension through the bond. "Jack."

Jack turned to look at him.

"Have I ever asked you for anything, other than to let me die?" Ianto asked softly and Jack shook his head as he looked at those lovely deft fingers clutching the wee lump, "well, things have changed. I think … no. I know now what I want."

"What Ianto?" Jack stepped towards him and Gwen called out from below, "Oi! What about me?"

"Jack" Ianto whispered softly, his eyes searching his face, "I don't want to die. I want to live."

Jack took a deep breath as he took another step, the bond thrumming,

"Jack. I wanted to die because I thought I could not live without Lisa. Now … now I want to live. But as I thought I would die without Lisa, I think … I know that I cannot live with Gwen." Jack didn't react, his gaze boring into Ianto's as Ianto spoke, "I love you Cariad. I want you. This. Us. She … how can I trust her around Heath? Around me?"

Jack was so close that they could touch and he reached out hesitantly, resting a hand over Ianto's on the tiny babe's back. "Tell me Ianto, tell me what I need to do for you."

"Choose."

Jack blinked.

"I chose for Heath. It tore me apart but I looked at this tiny life and I chose his survival over my happiness. You chose now." Ianto demanded, "Do you choose his life, or hers?"

"It's not like that" Jack sighed.

"Yes it is. It's that simple." Ianto smiled softly and Jack felt the lift in his heart, "I love you. You know I do and I now know you love me. Prove it. Prove how much you love me by choosing. I know it will break your heart, what she means to …."

"No!" Jack barked and Ianto whipped his head back as if struck, "Gods, no, don't. I don't mean …"

Jack rushed to grab him, to keep him focused, "Ianto. Compared to you, she means nothing. Nothing."

Ianto relaxed into Jack's arms and a tiny tot kicked sleepily, woken by Jack's volume.

"Sorry little man" Jack crooned, looking down into big blue pools "I didn't mean to startle you, or … Taddy."

It was like the sun coming out and Jack was not sure if it was Ianto or Heath filing the bond with such heat but it was glorious.

"Owen" Jack called out without turning around, "Implement section 36 Sub-section C."

"About fucking time" Owen called out then blanched, "Oops. Sorry, I'll put a pound in the Swear Jar."

"Swear Jar?" Ianto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Call it an experiment" Jack grinned leaning in for a kiss and Ianto hummed softly.

"Right" Owen clapped his hands at Gwen, "You are gonna love this. Even Ianto hasn't experienced this before!"

Gwen's face beamed as she followed him to the medical bay, pleased to have one over Ianto as she watched Owen shuffling about.

"So" she said with pride, "Ianto doesn't qualify?"

"Nope" Owen turned back with a look of glee, "You are one of the elite!"

She seemed to puff so much it's a wonder that the seams on her clothing didn't pop and Owen calmly approached her, placing a hand on her arm and then before she could react he pulled up the short sleeve and plunged the needle onto her arm.

She yelped and leapt back, "What the fuck was that for?"

"Sedative" Owen replied, "For the completion of stage one."

"Oh" she said in a small voice as her legs folded and she collapsed to the floor. She was fading out, her world a simple pinprick of light when she heard Owen speak for the last time.

"Stage two is the freezer. Enjoy frozen animation." Owen crowed, "Torchwood for life, yeah?"

Tosh watched from the viewing area, clutching the railing and Owen looked up at her, sharing a nod of satisfaction.

Her look of pride as she beamed down at him worth the effort of having to lug Gwen's body to the chryo-chambers.