Ianto wasn't sure how this conversation was meant to play out. He had to tell Jack about the arcateenian pendant since he would probably be the only person who Gwen might stand a chance of listening to. Ianto dreaded it, he had hoped that Tosh or Owen would approach Jack about Gwen's odd behaviour but according to them it was better if he brought up the necklace since he worked in the archives and had the opportunity to 'stumble' across a file detailing the arcateenian pendant and then recognised the necklace which Gwen was wearing. Apparently neither Tosh nor Owen knew how hard it is to fake a file about a necklace which wasn't in the system. Ianto would know it if it was.
So, before he could even tell Jack about the necklace he had to travel to the hub before Jack was employed at Torchwood to create the file then hide it in a secure place so that the current Archivist or future Jack could find it before Ianto returns to his timeline. Finding the file again wasn't hard, the archives hadn't changed that much since Ianto took over managing them well they were much cleaner than before. The file was still where Ianto had hidden it and it had aged with the times to make it look a lot more convincing. Ianto was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the person approaching him from behind.
"Ianto" Jack said suddenly causing the fae to jump and scream before turning around to face the immortal one.
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you" Jack said visibly amused, Ianto always seemed to have a six sense. He knew when people were behind him or even approaching him when it shouldn't even be possible – Jack had tried many times to catch the young archivist off guard and not once succeed, well until today that was.
"Is there something you needed Sir?" Ianto asked as he approached his desk placing the file about the pendant on it and logged onto his computer, he want to look like he was doing something when Jack came down to the archives, which now Ianto thought about it was odd considering Jack never came down to the archives unless he wanted to harass Ianto into making coffee. Ianto looked at Jack with a suspicious look on his face. "What have you done? You haven't broken the Coffee Machine have you?".
"No, I haven't touched it Ianto I promise, everyone knows if we dare touch that machine you would put us on dreaded decaf for a year" Jack promised, he had learnt the hard way. Ianto had only been hired for about a month and for some reason wasn't in the hub when Jack decided he wanted some of the Welshman's heavenly coffee so, decided that instead of waiting for Ianto to return he would make his own coffee instead. He broke the machine and when Ianto found out had put Jack on the worse type of decaf imaginable as a lesson, Ianto also threatened that if anyone, and he meant anyone touched the machine then they would be on decaf for a year if not indefinitely. No one dare touch the machine since.
"Then what are you doing down here Sir, if I remember correctly I brought you some coffee only half an hour ago so you can't be craving any more yet" Ianto asked, he was still suspicious to why Jack would be down here.
"Tosh said you wanted to see me?" Jack said equally confused, Toshiko had came into his office saying that Ianto wanted to see him about something but didn't reveal what.
"She did… oh it must be to do with that file I found" Ianto said playing along with whatever Tosh started.
"What file?" Jack asked flopping down into the chair opposite Ianto's desk. Ianto nodded picking up the file he was previously holding and passed it over to Jack.
"It was hidden away so I didn't find it any sooner, I think it has been there ever since it was filed in early 1880, it's about an arcateenian pendant which they found buried not that far from the crash site where we unearthed that stapler thing. I was thinking that maybe they were connected but that wasn't what worried me. In the file they include a drawing of the necklace and I happen to see Gwen wearing an identical necklace today. I thought perhaps it was a coincidence but Jack the necklace is meant to be telepathic and I felt someone trying to read my mind earlier. Torchwood One gave us training to shield our thoughts so I was fine, I had to give Tosh and Owen a bio damper to protect their thoughts but if Gwen is willing enough to try and read people's minds, it makes you wonder how far she's willing to go…" Ianto explained before trailing off, he didn't want to seem like he was trying to cause trouble because of Gwen's recent pestering.
"I don't want to seem like I'm trying to make drama because Gwen and I haven't really seen eye to eye recently".
"I understand you concerns; I really do. No one should have their minds invade without consent. So, if Gwen does have this necklace, then I will look into it. But, maybe you should be honest with her. If you tell her why the fae chose you then maybe she'll leave you alone. She just wants to understand everything, you can't blame her for that" Jack said, he understood Ianto's worry, he really did but he knew Gwen wasn't trying to hurt Ianto with her questions, she just wanted to understand why the fae took the children since Jasmine had been taken before they were able to find her and for Gwen to get her answers.
"Do you even know how the fae choose their chosen ones?" Ianto said, all emotion had gone from his voice and his face was blank which put Jack on edge. He didn't like this version of his Welshman. Jack shook his head, after the fae had killed his men he had always held a grudge against them. And because of that he never wanted to find out anything more about them just in case he started sympathising with those monsters.
"The Fae Chosen One are children who were abused or neglected as a child. That's right Jack, Jasmine might have been loved by her mother, but she was both emotionally and sometimes physically harmed by her mother's boyfriend. My father was an alcoholic he would harm my mother and myself. One day he and my mother got into a fight, so he killed her. I tried to protect my little sister by pushing her into the garden and he didn't like that so he came over and if the fae hadn't intervened and killed him then there was no doubt in my mind he would have killed me too then my sister. So, forgive me if I don't want Saint Cooper to know about one of the darkest moments in my life" Ianto snapped, why couldn't Jack open his eyes and see Gwen for what she really was. No one on the team apart of Jack liked being around her.
"You don't like Gwen?" Jack asked almost confused, Gwen seemed to be the heart that was needed in Torchwood so why was Ianto so anti her.
"Oh, wake up and smell the coffee Jack. Only you like her. Owen was sexually attracted to her, but she got on his nerves very quickly. Tosh has tried to be civil, but she can't stand how much she get away with. I've already said my piece…" Ianto started before Jack interrupted.
"I don't let Gwen get away with anything".
"That's where you're wrong. She released the sex gas on her first day and didn't get penalised for that mistake however had it been anyone else we would have been told off. When we were dealing with the ghost machine, had Owen or Tosh made that injury on Ed Morgan they would have been suspended yet, Gwen got coddled instead. When the fae was here and took Jasmine, she kept going on and on about getting Jasmine back even though we both know if she had tried to do anything the world would have been plunged into the next Ice Age. Hell, she defied you and you just brushed it off like it was nothing. She treats the rest of the team like dirt and you don't even bat an eyelash at it. How are we meant to follow someone who can't even control one of their team members" Ianto replied, he didn't want to be harsh, but Jack needed a wake-up call. If he wanted the respect on the other team members then he had to deal with Gwen.
"Do I really let Gwen get away with so much" Jack said and Ianto sighed before standing up and walking to the other side of his desk where Jack was sat and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You're the boss Jack not Gwen but you let her walk all over you like she's in charge. She's not even the second in command because you named Owen that after Susie died. If you keep letting her get away with everything then you might as well make it official and give Gwen control of Torchwood" Ianto said and Jack looked like Ianto had gone and chucked a bucket of freezing cold water over his head.
"I'll leave you here to think. No one will come looking for you down here" Ianto said as he risked placing a kiss to Jack's forehead before grabbing his coat and bag and walking out the archives. Jack just sat there slumped in the chair replaying his actions even since he hired Gwen Cooper.
"Who would have thought that sending Jack down to the archives to learn about a telepathic pendant would end up with you having a go at him for inadequate misconduct on his and Gwen's behalf" Tosh laughed as she returned with Owen, Ianto and her own drinks. After Ianto had come up from the archives, Gwen had already stormed out so, Owen and Tosh decided to make their own exit and get drinks with their favourite fae. Jack obviously needed time to think through what Ianto had said and hopefully change his actions for the better.
"Well I wasn't expecting to get onto the subject but since he saw how bitter I was about oh so Saint Cooper, I just had to bring it up. You should have seen him it was like I pissed in his coffee" Ianto replied.
"Remind us to never mess with you when your pissed off Tea-boy" Owen said before taking a large sip of his drink.
"What do you think Jack will do now?" Tosh asked looking over at her boyfriend then her best friend.
"If Harkness has a brain somewhere in that big head of his then he should realise the mistakes he's made and try and fix them. If not we'll hold Ianto's coffee for ransom. He loves that coffee well probably more than he loves Ianto himself" Owen said.
"Jack doesn't love me" Ianto argued.
"Now that's where you're wrong Teaboy. Harkness practically has heart eyes whenever you enter a room" Owen replied and Ianto looked over at Tosh for support.
"I'm sorry Ianto but Owen's right. There's no competition to who holds Jack's attention between you or Gwen whenever you're in the room. And I know for a fact that you like him just as much as he likes you" Tosh said, she hated watching the two men practically pine over one another when they thought the other wasn't looking. If it wasn't for Gwen Cooper, Tosh hoped that Jack would have made his move and gotten together with Ianto by now.
"Even if he did have feelings for me, it would never work between us" Ianto said almost heartbroken.
"Why? You're both immortal so, you would never have to worry about losing the other. You're also probably the only person who could deal with Jack's shit. I'd think you're perfect for each other" Tosh said.
"Jack despises my species even if I hid it now soon he's going to notice that I'm not aging, and the truth will come out and he'll hate me. I'd rather suffer now then risk losing him in the future" Ianto said, and it hurt Tosh to listen to someone who had given up before they even got started.
"If Jack fell in love with you for who you are then it shouldn't matter if you can control the elements and shift into a mouldy green creature with wings… Ianto? Ianto" Tosh started before trailing off as Ianto seemed to stare at nothing.
"What do you want?" Ianto said looking at well nothing. Tosh looked over at Owen who mouthed 'fae' to her. It would make sense since Ianto could see it whilst neither Owen nor Tosh could. Tosh just shrugged.
"Why would her majesty want to meet her?... well you're no help. Fine I'll talk to her but I'm not forcing her to meet her majesty" Ianto said to the invisible figure before turning to Owen and Tosh. "I'm sorry – that was the royal adviser. The Queen has asked me to do something. I better go, the Queen doesn't like being kept waiting".
"Don't worry about it mate, we'll see you tomorrow" Owen said as Tosh stood up to give Ianto a hug.
"Yeah see you tomorrow" The fae said before walking out the bar.
Estelle wasn't expecting visitors, so it surprised her when she heard a knock at her front door at nearly half 9 at night. She had been planning on turning in for the night only staying up to watch the end of an interesting documentary. She pushed the blanket off her legs and walked over to her front door peering out the window to see who it was, she knew better then to open her front door late at night to a complete stranger. But it wasn't a stranger standing at her door, in fact she recognised him from the night she was attacked. It was the man or maybe fae who saved her - Ianto Jones.
"Mr Jones, what can I do for you?" Estelle asked, she was surprised to see him again. She kept her promise and never said a word to Jack about the person who saved her even though she knew he was suspicious to how she had survived when she was wet head to toe.
"Please call me Ianto. Can I come in; I need to ask you something?" Ianto said and Estelle nodded, moving to the side to allowing him to enter her home.
"Would you like some tea?" Estelle asked as they walked into the lounge where Moses was resting on the sofa.
"No thank you Estelle, this will only be quick. My Queen wants to meet with you, she heard what happened to you at the hands of an inexperienced Fae and wants to in person express her sincere apologies. She hoped that this didn't tarnish your belief in my kind. There is another proposal she wishes to offer you but that can only be made in person. If you desire, I can take you to her. If you do come with me you will be under the protection of the fae and if Jason ever came after you we would be there to protect you" Ianto explained, he didn't know what the Queen's proposal was, but he could make a guess.
Estelle stayed quiet from a minute; she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. If this has happened before the attack then there was no doubt in her mind she would have snapped up the offer in a heartbeat but now she more warily of the creature in human form in front of her. Part of her wanted to go whilst another was trying to talk some sense into her, these creatures attacked you before what if that was their plan all along sparing her that night to trap her in their world.
"I'll come with you but on one condition. If I want to leave, you can't keep me prisoner" Estelle demanded, she had to go. Her curiosity was too strong to give up such an opportunity and she still wanted to hold onto her belief that not all fae were bad, that there was some good ones like the man sat in front of her.
"That is agreeable, we would never want to make you feel like we are trapping or tricking you. Now we have not a second to waste" Ianto said standing from the sofa and helping Estelle to her feet.
"Now this is going to feel a little weird but bear with and don't let go of my arm" Ianto warned before they disappeared from Estelle's lounge and reappeared outside the Queen's court. The two fae guards took one look at Estelle and Ianto then opened the large oak doors.
"This is where I leave you. Don't worry Estelle you are in safe hands; the queen will not harm you I promise" Ianto said trying to reassure the worried woman. Estelle didn't say anything instead she just nodded before walking into the courtroom with the doors slamming shut behind her.
After Ianto had dropped Estelle off with the Fae Queen and returned to the human world, he felt his phone vibrate, he pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the new text message.
Jack: I need you to come to the hub now