23

"Well … that's a kicker" Owen said softly as they looked at the screen.

"You … I mean … I only have one kidney. Not like you are scanning the wrong one" Ianto snorted as Owen looked at the screen with surprise. "It's meant to shrink and go dormant … not fucking disappear. Has it gone inward?"

"Hmmm, good idea. Let's change the destiny." Owen fiddled and tried again "Nope. Nothing. A healthy looking kidney here. Go figure. Altered Genes."

Ianto looked up, straight at Jack who was watching as well, leaning far over the pit as the screen was at the right angle for him. Owen swung the wand and then made a small noise of amusement "One?"

They gaped as another kidney was suddenly on the screen, the one Ianto knew he had lost in a motorbike accident … well .. that's what he told people. Better than admitting his own father stabbed him when he ws a small child right?

"Small … not fully formed but looks operational" Owen started to laugh, "No wonder she is playing this close to her chest. She must be freaking out about how to explain a kidney that wasn't there."

"Those Altered Genes" Ianto sighed.

"So. Well. Good" Owen chuffed, moving things around to hide the fact he was secretly so pleased for Ianto, someone he liked.

"I have another question" Owen finally said "I mean … people can call me Owen because I found my soul mate and she released me. She's gone. Tosh is … well …"

"You can have more than one" Ianto assured him "Your soul is free."

"And you? They used your name thinking they could control you but you clearly found your soul mate too, since they couldn't?"

"Lisa. I thought she might become, how Yvonne got it … how Fish got it. Of course …. Like I said, more than one. Lisa was not my first love either. Not my only. They made the mistake of thinking my soul was seeking again, if they had pinched me sooner … maybe they would have got me but … silly. I am not that easy to catch. My whispered name still waits for the ear of it's heart's home" Ianto blushed and looked down at his feet as Jack beamed at them. "Besides … I never gave her my True name … I never gave that to anyone. Yet."

"Me? You mean me, right? Me? I am yours?"

"Stop it!" Ianto scolded without any anger in it, the soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth enough for Jack to skip up the steps like a little boy, giggling as he ran to yell at Tosh.

"Ianto likes me Tosh … like…LIKKKKEEEESSSSSSS me!"

"Twypsn" Ianto uttered happily, letting Owen help him off the bed. "high."

"I didn't like leaning over the dead, they smell" Owen supplied with a shrug.

"Speaking of smells … better go see to that child" Ianto said happily "She needs a bath."

"Ianto?"

"Yes Owen."

"I mean … I can call you Ianto, right?" Owen asked "Now you are Jack's."

"Yes. There is no power in it …not my True one anyway" Ianto nodded, "what is it you really want to ask?"

"Christmas soon. That huge space you have …ah… need help decorating it?"

Ianto blinked, then smiled "The little one. Of course. Yes. Christmas. I would love that. We can all have a day right? Gods! A tree!"

"Yes" Owen said with excitement, then looked up "Ah, what about him? The brother?"

"Ah" Ianto grimaced "Jack is hoping they will be lenient, use the old contacts and pull some strings to get any charges dropped in favor of counselling."

"So. You have gone from a single man to a one child family with a second family member coming into the nmix, are you OK with this? Where will he sleep?"

"Well … the library will have to go" Ianto sighed "My books."

"Can't you just push that glass wall out or something? Add some rooms?" Owen asked as he fiddled and Ianto swung to look at him with surprise.

"I … never asked. I guess so, I mean … it was put in so I could remove it. Huh. Clever!"

"Not just a pretty fucking face, me!" Owen chortled as he glanced up again "And … you would be OK with one of your kidnappers in the house while you are asleep?"

Ianto considered this then nodded "We have to give him a chance. Besides … his father is watching him like a hawk. And a certain bird."

"Creepy" Owen muttered, moving back to his work.

"She likes her ya know" Ianto whispered as he came close, leaning into Owen's space "Katie. She approves of Tosh, hate Gwen and is so relieved you pulled your head out of your arse. Funny. She calls you Hamster. Really?"

Owen gaped, then smiled softly "Yeah. She called me Hamster, I called her Bunny Rabbit. Shit. She's really OK about Tosh?"

"Yes. Stop dithering and get stuck in!" Ianto scolded gently and Owen laughed as he watched Ianto follow Jack.

Once in the office Jack closed the door, stepping between it and Ianto, looking him deep in the eye. "Why did you tell him that?"

"Because he doesn't need to know. He thought Katie was the one … that she knew him and he knew her. He mourned deeply, she was his first true love. He doesn't need to know it's not true" Ianto smiled softly "when the time comes, he will find out."

"That your name is no more Ianto than mine is Jack?" Jack sorted "and his is not Owen either?"

"And Toshiko is not Toshiko. Yes."

What? Wait. She…. Jesus wept. She's Altered too?" Jack gaped, "She shields well."

"Mmmmm" Ianto smiled, "Doesn't she just, little minx."

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So, for those not keeping up.

Alts are like mutants. Different gifts and different levels of power. They have a public name, one they answer to that had no power over them, like Jones.

They also have a personal name, one they only let those close to them know as it is said to show a connection to know it. Like Ianto.

The third level, the one never spoken of outside of Altered Life … that the Norms do not know exists … is the Soul Name. A whispered one. This name is only given to your Soul Mate and this sets you free. The one you give this name to, they are the one you choose for the rest of your life. They then give you theirs and the bond completes. The fear is not getting their name back. That fear, deep down that they do not share the connection and you are doomed to have a soulless life as you gave away something that you can never replace.

Ianto is not JUST Ianto. Jack is NOT just Jack. Only when they know one another's True Soul Names, whispered at their time of birth … only then will they be bonded for life. Only a True Altered knows this and Owen was never taught, many are not as it is an old belief that has fallen by the way. Many did not learn the ways or were never told their True Name so could not share. This is why Alts are rare … the bond is so rare.