Torchwood: Divergence
Book One: Dychwelyd
Chapter 43
When Gwen came in at 6:00 am, she was both surprised and worried that her friends weren't already bustling about the Hub the way they usually had been every morning but one since Ianto had recovered his memories. The young Welshman had been pretty upset after everything that had happened at Harwood's the day before; perhaps the pair's grand evening of "relaxation" hadn't gone as planned. She moved to quickly hang up her coat and leave her purse and other things at her station, then trotted up into the office... to find the bookcase door standing open, the bed neatly made, and all the lights off. Now very concerned, the raven-haired woman hurried to her computer and did a biometric scan of the base.
It appeared that both men were in the Boardroom, the dots on the screen that signified their presence so close together they seemed to merge. Wondering what they were up to, but not wanting a repeat of the time she'd walked in on them in the Hothouse, Cooper cautiously accessed the main CCTV feed for the correct location, muting the sound just in case.
The two were standing in the room at the big table's far end, Jack behind Ianto with his arms around his partner and his chin on the younger immortal's right shoulder. There was light flickering over them from the big screen on the wall they faced, and Gwen zoomed out to see what they were looking at as they both laughed.
A video was playing, and she immediately recognised it as confiscated footage from her and Rhys' wedding. The part that was currently playing was the reception, she could see herself dancing with her husband and smiled, then felt her throat tighten as the camera panned across Owen and Tosh swaying together to a song she couldn't hear. In the Boardroom, Ianto said something that made Harkness hug him a little tighter and gently kiss the side of his face. Then the video jumped forward slightly, again showing their lost friends, Harper resignedly dancing with Gwen's mother while Sato cheerfully partnered with Mr. Cooper before they both went to stand together at the bar. The view moved, finding the bride in Jack's arms... only to have Ianto politely cut in and steal the older man away. The picture jerked slightly, conveying the camera carrier's surprise at the development and the culprits laughed once more where they stood in the Boardroom. Unheard words were exchanged, then Harkness turned the young Welshman he was holding and presented him with a tender kiss.
Gwen switched the monitor feed back to the cells in the Vaults, suddenly feeling like a peeping tom. She sighed, the unavoidable stab of sadness at seeing Owen and Tosh's images quickly fading under the wave of happy relief she felt watching Jack and Ianto together. There was still a tiny piece of the former PC's heart that wished the American would look at her the way he did the suit clad Archivist who'd gone to Hell and back for him, wanted him to make her his. But she'd been learning to ignore that nettling voice for some time now, making herself think of her husband and about their beautiful daughter. So, she was able to smile and mean it when her friends came wandering into the Hub from the Boardroom a short time later.
"You're in early, Gwen," Harkness commented with a raised brow. "Everything okay at home?"
"Rhys and Eb are fine," Cooper replied, joining the pair as they headed for the kitchenette. "He's a bit stiff this morning so he's begged off for the day. Promised to come take me to lunch he did, barring urgent Rift matters. And it's a little after 7:00 in the morning, so I'm right on time."
"Wow, time really does fly when you're having fun," the Captain chuckled, seeming more relaxed than she could remember him being since before the 456. "We haven't even had breakfast yet."
"Coffee's on," Ianto put in helpfully. "I'll run up to the little open market they've been having over by the Pierhead and grab something to go with it. How's the weather today?"
"Damp and chilly," Gwen supplied with a dramatic shiver. "Fog's in off the Bay still. Take a coat, looks like it could rain any minute up there."
Jones nodded, heading down to the office where he disappeared for several minutes, only to re-emerge in the long slate grey Burberry coat he'd pulled from storage two months before. He exited through the cog-wheel door, a slight spring in his step that had been missing since just after the Mariana Trench incident more than two years ago... when things had started getting really bad between him and Jack as the older man had tried to force a wedge between them and deny his own emotions.
"So, how was your night?" Cooper enquired with a wide-eyed, innocent smile after a couple of minutes when they'd made it down to the area near the couch.
Jack laughed, blue eyes dancing excitedly.
"I don't 'dabble' and tell, young lady," he insisted, wagging an admonishing finger at the former constable. "But I will say that once you convince the colt that it's okay to be a stallion, he runs one hell of a race."
Gwen stared at him open mouthed for a moment, hardly able to believe what the man was insinuating. Then she laughed delightedly and clapped her hands, overjoyed that her friends had not only made the most of their evening alone, but apparently achieved significant progress in their intimate relationship as well.
"Brilliant!" she cheered enthusiastically. "No wonder you're both in such good moods."
"He's still more comfortable with surrender than conquest," Harkness chuckled warmly. "But man, he's got incredible potential."
"I don't think I've seen you this giddy since you got that Vortex Dweller to block Hokrala Corp from ever darkening our door again," the green-eyed brunette beside him smiled. "I've missed that joyful abandon."
"I've missed naked hide-and-seek," her friend admitted with raised eyebrows and a grin, then went somewhat serious. "Gods... I have had countless lovers in my time, of both genders and several species. But no one has ever gotten to me the way quiet little 'wouldn't say boo to a goose' Ianto Jones has. It's like I'm an addict and he's the drug. I'm at a point where if I don't see him, hear his voice, know he's close by every day, I start to go into withdrawal. I can feel this connection to him, Gwen, that I've never felt with anyone else, and not just since he came back. It was there before, even though I tried to deny and ignore it. When he died in London and that thread snapped, it was like someone had opened a hole in my heart and left me to bleed out... it hurt worse than anything I've ever experienced. I wanted him back so much; I was willing to do anything. You wouldn't believe some of the things I tried before I left the Earth, just so I could see him again, find a way to make him live again, or die and stay dead because it hurt too much to live without him. I felt that pain yesterday too, but at least it ended quickly.
"I won't lie, the sex is great... but it's just a bonus. Having him back living and breathing, knowing I'll never lose him again as long as I do two simple things, that's the real payoff. I can span the ages a whole and happy man now, because I have Ianto at my side. And all I have to do is love and trust him. That has got to be the ultimate deal of a million life times... a gift I never dreamed I've be worthy of receiving."
Cooper blinked in surprise, never having heard the American so confident or passionate about anything that personal before. It actually took a minute or two for the shock to wear off enough for her to speak.
"Have you told Ianto what you just told me?" she asked quietly. "If not, I really think you should. He's still so unsure of himself and worried you'll tire of him or find someone else to love. Having you tell him to his face exactly how much you need him in your life would do wonders for his peace of mind."
"Tonight," Jack nodded, again surprising the petite brunette. "Barring interference from the Rift, we have a date with the past via the Big Band revival at that new swanky hotel up toward Thornhill."
The giant cog-wheel door rotated open just then, a slightly damp Ianto hurrying inside with a rain speckled paper sack.
"Fresh, hot kippers with buttered herb rolls that have a boiled egg baked inside each one," he announced with a smile, depositing the meal on the low table by the couch. "Sorry to take so long. Let me hang up my coat, and if you'll grab plates and the like, I'll take care of providing the coffee."
"You two enjoy your breakfast," Gwen smiled. "I'll take first watch on the monitor readings."
"I got enough for you too," Jones reassured, pausing on his way into the office. "With some extra in case any of the other team members come in hungry. That bag is brimming, believe me. And the system will pop up an alert if the Rift gets twitchy."
"This is the only bad thing about having you back," Cooper protested, gesturing to her stomach and backside. "You always find the best food to bring in here. At this rate Rhys is going to think I'm pregnant again."
"I'm sure he won't mind helping you work it off," Ianto pointed out with deadpan innocence. "You know what they say gives you the best calorie burn and cardiovascular workout."
The raven-haired woman made a small sound of surprise, her expression one of disbelief.
"You are bad this morning," she managed after a moment of goldfish-like gaping, finding it impossible not to join in when Jack began to laugh. "What kind of degenerate influence has our leader had on you?"
The young Archivist simply shrugged, then smiled and stepped into the office to put away his coat. It wasn't long after that, that the three of them were settled on the couch enjoying breakfast and each other's company.
"The ladies at the little open market said their permits are good through the end of November since there aren't any other events using the area," Ianto informed his companions as he finished the last of his kippers. "And the City Council is seriously considering issuing permits for next year as well barring conflicting requests for the venue. The place has apparently been quite the success with locals and drew a lot of tourist trade in the bargain for this time of the season when there aren't any Festivals planned. Plus, it's small enough not to block the entire Basin like other events, and is proving very popular as an alternative breakfast and lunch spot with the employees of the buildings in the immediate area."
"Nice to see the little guys making good for a change," his partner commented, polishing off an egg filled roll and the remains of his coffee. "That was an incredible breakfast."
Ianto was on his feet, collecting their now empty plates and cups, and taking them up to the kitchenette to be washed. He returned after a few minutes however, bearing a small tray with the mugs on it, curls of steam proving that they'd been refilled.
"You do realise, Jack, that you made a terrible mistake when Ianto came back," Gwen warned, unaware of the alarmed expression the nearby twenty-six-year-old acquired as her words echoed his nightmare from the evening before. "I think you have a rival for his affections."
"Really..." Harkness drawled; his smile just shy of feral.
"I'm afraid so," the former PC sighed. "You let him make coffee at my house. Now all Rhys talks about in the morning is how wonderful the brew was for that meal and bemoans the fact that no matter what I do, my coffee just doesn't compare. I think he's seriously considering resorting to candy and flowers, in the hope that Ianto will agree to make him coffee again. It could even come to kidnapping."
"Please tell me you're joking," Ianto breathed, not sure if he should be flattered or freaked out.
Cooper shook her head solemnly, then smiled and nodded.
"Mostly," she laughed. "But he honestly has raved about your coffee on more than one occasion, and makes no bones about telling me that regardless of using the same grind, mine isn't anywhere near as good. So I'm going to have to beg you to put me through a crash course in coffee making to keep him happy."
"I'll see what I can do," the young Welshman promised, glancing over at the open cog-wheel door as Turlough and Lois stepped from the lift at the top of the short flight of stairs on the other side. "But just in case, you can tell Rhys that I'm very fond of Lindt-LINDOR white chocolate truffles with the dark chocolate shell, and long-stemmed red roses never fail to impress."
"Hey now!" Jack protested, though his eyes glittered with mirth. "No encouraging the competition. Mr. Williams has already landed himself one Torchwood agent and you, Barista Boy, are most definitely not on the dessert menu."
"Lovely!" Lois piped up as she moved to get a cup of coffee. "Is the Captain going to do battle for the hand of his fair Changeling? Can I make it a full-on war if I mention that he looks absolutely scrumptious in that black pinstripe and violet shirt?"
"Only part of Torchwood for around three months and she's already challenging authority," Harkness chided. "What is this world coming to?"
"I think I'm going to pop over to Mr. Simmons' while the Rift's quiet," Ianto stated evenly, obviously planning to flee the current conversation. "Coming, Jack?"
"If only to guard you from poachers," the older man called loudly, making a show of shadowing the twenty-six-year-old to the office, doing his best Secret Service 'talk to the hand' impression.
Turlough smiled and got his workstation running, while both Gwen and Lois laughed at the Captain's antics. They'd only just managed to quiet their amusement when Jack and Ianto reappeared, the younger man in his Burberry and Harkness in his "back up" RAF coat.
"We'll take the invisible lift and walk over," the Captain informed the team. "It's only a few blocks and I need the exercise. That way the SUV is here if you need it. We both have our mobiles on, so if the Rift gets ugly give us a call. Back in an hour or two, kids."
The pair moved to the perception filter hidden lift, the American using his wrist strap to activate it. As the platform started to rise, Ianto caught Gwen's attention, looking for all the world like a deer dazed by headlamps... until he smiled the half excited, half smug little smile she'd only ever seen when Jack's actions had managed to wind him up into a particularly playful, often very naughty state.
"Oh, God..." Cooper breathed, waving to the young Guardian as the lift started to carry him and his partner up into the misty air by the water tower. "We are so in for it today with those two."
Yep...it was going to be a very interesting day.
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AN: Bar a minor nightmare-spawned glitch, the boys had a fantastic night… and the team is having a very good morning. Which of course means the Rift will have to throw a spanner in the works…
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM
