Hughes Flats; Cardiff, Wales
Friday, February 4, 2022
Ianto Jones stood in the shower with a mental list of tasks forming in his head. Michael needed new shoes. He had hoped they'd last a few more weeks, but Trefor got chocolate pudding all over one of them.

The shower door opened and Jack stepped in. "He's cuddling a teddy bear and dreaming of pterodactyls." Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto's waist.

Amused, he said, "His favorite things." Although most kids had to settle for museums and books.

Jack kissed the side of Ianto's neck. He ran his hands over Jack's arms and leaned back.

"I have to go back to the states. Rex left me a message. The UN wants to ban all flights originating at O'Hare and the US is arguing against it."

Ianto knew he had no reason to worry. It did nothing for the sudden anxiety. "How soon?"

"A couple hours." Jack kissed Ianto's shoulder. "We can pretend we're not married."

The anxiety faded with the heat and familiarity. Until a phone rang from the bedroom. The interruption meant another crisis. The old fears surfaced as Jack stepped away. Their fingers tips touched briefly before he opened the door and stepped out.

Global crisis, Ianto reminded himself, lingering a few minutes in the warm water. Calmed somewhat, he left the shower and grabbed a towel. The chill didn't help. He had a bad feeling.

"Another plane."

Ianto handed Jack a towel.

"Left Auckland for Los Angeles. Requested an emergency landing in Honolulu and went down on an uninhabited island in international waters. Nova Scotia was contacted for the rescue effort." He dried his face. "Initial reports indicate the cargo section was breached."

"Survivors?"

Jack continued drying himself off. "Possibly. Azrael went. The plants can't affect him."

Ianto wasn't sure what to ask first. "Was the plane headed for Chicago?"

"Yeah. The panic will start as soon as what happened makes the news. We need to check airports."

The anxiety flared as he realized he had to manage the hub by himself. "You, John and Gwen are leaving."

Jack nodded. "I'm going to Auckland instead of Chicago." Pause. "Jeannette, O'Malley and Aman are being called in."

Ianto didn't like it. "That makes the network vulnerable."

"Keara on the station is monitoring military activity."

People's lives were in danger, Ianto reminded himself. Jack had to go. "Please be careful…"

Jack reached out, grabbed Ianto and pulled him in for a kiss that left them both breathless. "I love you."

"I love you."

Ianto held an image of the shower before the phone call in his mind as he dressed for the day. He focused on Michael after that. It did little to ease the growing anxiety. The baby noticed and fussed. He would summon Lewella, he thought. It's what he should have done during the hub attack. That certainty did little to settle his nerves.

Ken arrived with Anwen and Trefor as Ianto filled the dishwasher.

"John set-up security," Anwen said, trying to reassure. "All of Luc's upgrades are active including surface to air. We're good."

Ianto wished her felt as confident as she sounded. "It will be cramped, but we are taking one car."

"Why not portal?" Anwen asked. "We don't need the car."

That was definitely safer. Ianto looked at Ken. "Can you handle that?"

He nodded.

Ianto's mobile rang as he spoke, "I need to get Michael's bag."

"I got it." Anwen walked toward the nursery.

"Jones," he said after picking it up off the table.

"Morning." Rex sounded stressed. "I have a favor to ask."

Ianto knew he wouldn't like it. "What?"

"I have to leave Owen in charge and go to O'Hare, the international airport in Chicago. He can't handle diplomacy."

It took a moment to realize what that meant. "You want to leave me in charge?"

"Yes." Rex gave it a moment. "It's basically secretarial. Take calls, provided prepared information and be polite." Pause. "Owen is stressed to the point where he will tell representatives what to do with themselves."

Ianto smiled weakly. "He would without the stress."

"When you get to the hub, you need to accept the transferred calls. Preferably from the conference room as some want video."

People lives were in danger, Ianto reminded himself again. "Who's handling emergency response?"

"If it needs one of us, call. Otherwise Idrissa is coordinating with The Refuge. Miriam and the Ferryman are on standby."

Ianto hoped it didn't come to that. They were about as subtle as Azrael and tended to leave piles of bodies.

Torchwood Three; Cardiff, Wales
Ianto's hands shook as he set up the coffeemaker in the conference room. Office manager was one thing. Acting Assistant Director was another. Even if he was simply answering calls. After the asinine rumors about his sexuality, he preferred to stay in the shadows.

The door opened and Anwen entered. She carried a laptop, two tablets and a notebook. A smaller version of her mother. They argued because they were so much alike. One day she would be the head of Torchoowd. He suspected she intended to remind him. She wouldn't have brought the computers if she hadn't regained access to the hub.

"I thought you could use some help."

Ianto needed it. But nothing she could offer. The various government officials had no idea what she could do or what position she would someday hold. It wasn't something that would be believed if they told anyone.

She set the pile of computers and notebooks on the table. Instead of the argument he expected, she opened her wrist-strap. A hologram like image appeared. The woman looked a lot like Gwen. "Meet future me. The short version is she's the essence of the Torchwood director from the original time line."

Ianto nearly dropped a mug. He released it and held his hands in front of him trying to keep them from shaking.

"Relax. I am here to advise and assure you what happened before is not happening again," the essence said.
The voice sounded familiar.

"We weren't prepared for the possibility. Now we are. Unlike my younger self, I know how my ability works."

"The message I heard when I first woke up in Jack's office."

She smiled. "Yes. The impossible task of running the hub without a staff and keeping Jack out of trouble." Pause. "The second part being the hardest."

"How do you intend to help?" Ianto asked carefully.

"Global records and research. I can't help in the field. But I have extensive experience dealing with the politics and bureaucrats."

As Ianto moved to his usual seat at the table, he couldn't help but remember what John and the general said about the Anwen in the future. She had an agenda. The question was what.