35
They were glad to see the SUV pulling into the car parking area by the hospital, Beckett grinning as he waved and called out "apparently Rex wanted to come but he lost the paper/rock/scissors game! He's on clean-up duty!"
"God, so much like Owen" Ianto said softly as he shook his head, liking this guy evne more.
They headed into the hospital and Ianto swapped keys to leave, not lost on Jack who started to laugh softly as he saw that he had managed to procure the only pristine vehicle left in their once upon a time fleet. Gwen had sullied the other one left, all others were toast.
"You know… Lilibet is not going to like my report this month" Jack said happily "Nor will Wills."
Ianto didn't take the bait, ignoring Jack as he spoke of the Royal Family on such a vulgar way. It ticked jack to see the corner of Ianto's' mouth tug ever so slightly. Amused. Jack settled back and let Ianto drive, something the others would have been amazed to see.
No one drove the Captain.
They didn't' know Ianto. Jack would always let him drive if he could. All the better to sit and examine the lines of his face, the contour of his forehead, that sweet nose… those lips.
"Jack, are you staring?"
"No. Memorizing"
Ianto sighed "No need now. I am here. Always will be."
"Will you?" Jack asked softly as he shifted in his seat "Will you always be with me? If you must… you will leave me right? For our little one… if you must. Please… run like the wind with him."
Ianto tried not to sigh as he knew damned well Jack was giving him an out if he so wanted it. Was telling him he knew what a burden this life could be. Silly sod will never learn will he? Ianto was stuck to him like glue. Had never really left him. Not really. Had watched him from afar all this time. Despite Rhiannon's complaints on the matter.
"Danny is my first and always forever concern" Ianto finally agreed, knowing this would comfort Jack which it did. Jack finally relaxing into his seat to watch the world go by.
"I always hated this part" Jack said after a while and Ianto hummed with question in his tone. "Gwen. Childbirth. When they are brand new. The mother needing so much, feeling so inadequate. I would offer endless food and drink, crave a cuddle but be too scared to ask… fuss on her until she scolded me… a wreak."
"The Catkind were sweet, gentle and Danny's first few months were spent in New New York with the Novices taking turns to steal him away. Apparently there was some sort of entity there… ah… something Boe? Loved babies. Daddy apparently made him sing." Ianto smiled.
"Really? He was…well… will be an important being in the development of mankind. I was really slack at school but apparently he is ageless. Timeless … friends with the Doctor." Jack said eagerly "Some say he was even a companion before he lost his body. Not sure though … anything to do with that mad man in a box is fuzzy."
"Imagine. The wonders he must have seen. Danny always settled for him though" Ianto slowed as they came to some lights and he didn't care to flip them to green, taking the time to turn to smile at Jack "He seems pretty smitten on you too."
"Are we going again? To see him?" Jack asked eagerly.
"I don't see why not. UNIT are sort of half-pie doing the clean-up job for the Decay so … yeah. Maybe we go up Friday, spend the weekend, come back Monday morning ready for the weekend debrief. See what Beckett managed to blow up or burn down. I swear, he reminds me of Owen more each day I am around him."
"And Rex?" Jack asked carefully.
"Don't like him." Ianto said flatly "Sorry. He is an arsehole. OF all the people in the world to give your gift to... even by accident … why him? God. If it is a punishment so he can never stop being unhappy, fair enough. I swear he is so negative sometimes I want to slam his head into a wall. Also … he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. If ya know what I mean."
"Yeah. Sometimes I sort of like him. I like needling him, O.. I admit that" jack laughed. "He is a good agent though, clinical. Gets work done. He and Gwen are a good team, he distracts her"
"I guess you can't please everyone. There will never be a complete continuity. Not like we had" Ianto said, then they stopped talking as they remembered all too well the team that worked like a Swiss army knife. Something for everyone and someone for every task. Yeah. There would never be another Fabulous Five.
Neither man spoke as they entered the parking area to find the clean-up underway with Rex doing what he did best. Yell at people.
Ianto still didn't know all the other in the team, so large now with what looked to be about fifteen bodies.
Christ.
Bad wording there.
But when you have been in Torchwood long enough… they are all bodies eventually I guess.