CHAPTER THREE
Jack presented Ianto with a plate of freshly buttered toast with strawberry jam as he stepped into the kitchen. Ianto took it with a grimace.
"I hate having to eat so early in the day, its been ten years and I am still not used to it." He grumbled placing the plate on the bench top and taking one slice. Ianto nibbled at it with reluctance.
"We have this every morning, you'd think I didn't know by now." Jack commented. He passed Ianto a large glass of water and a saucer loaded with over a half dozen tablets. Gwen wasn't in the least bit surprised. Ever since the 456 incident Ianto had been forced to consume copious amounts of medication to keep the viral infection under control. He was only one of four to have survived Thames House. It wasn't that Ianto was ungrateful, Owen and Martha had saved his life but he would only stay alive if he kept taking the complicated cocktail of drugs Owen prescribed every month. It was why he was no longer on any field operations.
Ianto swallowed down the toast and started on the second slice. Jack was watching him like a hawk as he did every morning.
"Rhys does me Jam on toast in the mornings too. I love it."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "It could be my favourite dish and I'd still struggle with it. Never was a morning person." He replied around a mouthful. Finally he took the tablets and drank down the whole glass of water.
"Guess we better get to work then."
Jack pulled him into an embrace and kissed him soundly. Ianto blushed.
"I got fed of waiting for it." Jack grinned.
"Waiting for what?"
"My good morning kiss."
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To Jack's utter astonishment the Hub was loud with voices and laughter when they arrived. Owen and Tosh were clearly sharing stories with Martha, Tom and Mickey and Jack found the sound so welcoming he was grinning his head off when he went to join them.
"Hey kids, I hope you're behaving."
He suddenly had an armful of Martha who kissed his cheek. "Good morning Jack."
"Watcha Cheesecake." Mickey bellowed with a cheeky smirk on his face.
Tom just smiled, not quite sure what he was letting himself in for, having resigned his job in London to be here.
"Okay coffee and cakes in the boardroom, may as well get the day rolling."
Ianto headed off for the coffee machine and Martha was there at his side a moment later.
"I'll help." She and Ianto hugged their greeting as they always did.
"Grab some mugs and plates and I shall get the brew on. Does Tom still prefer tea?"
"He does indeed. I know I've tried."
Ianto offered up a grin. "Don't worry we'll work on it. I am so glad you two decided to join us, I can't tell you how much it means to me and to Jack as well."
"I should have done it years ago." Martha replied.
Ianto shook his head. "You had other things that were a priority, and you're here now. That's what matters. Is the flat I organized alright?"
"Ianto it's amazing. It must've cost a fortune."
"Actually we own the building. The developers went bust because the flats weren't selling. I shall be selling my house soon to move in there. Owens already on the top most floor."
"I'm surprised Jack didn't demand that given his love of heights."
"He's across the corridor with access to the roof. They squabbled like a couple of toddlers over apartments. It was rather entertaining actually."
"There must a hundred flats in that building though. What's happened to the rest?"
Ianto finished grinding a mixture of coffee beans and proceeded to make two carrafs of his finest blend.
"Ground floor shops, obviously. The next five floors are allocated to Cardiff university students. The five floors above that are allocated to Torchwood floor seven is our base away from home in case the Hub is compromised and also so no one has to be here every night."
"Was all this your idea?"
Ianto shook his head. "No, Jack came up with it. What happened with the 456 changed everything for us. I think Jack fully expected the Doctor to show up and save the day, but he didn't. Our own people in government tried to have us killed. The economy fell apart because… well you know how it was. But it hit Jack really hard, because he felt he was to blame, and also because of what happened to me."
Martha rested a hand on Ianto's shoulder. "How have you been?"
Ianto looked down at his feet for a moment. "I'm okay, the tablets keep me going, its almost a normal life, but even now Jack is fiercely protective of me and wont let me out on dangerous field ops. Sometimes I just wish he wouldn't treat me with kid gloves…. Could you make Tom's tea?"
Martha knew it was a change subject. "Of course Mr Jones. You know he couldn't bare to lose you?"
Ianto filled the carafs and inhaled the aroma deeply. "I know. I couldn't stand to lose him either. Or any of you. We nearly lost Owen at the Pharm, and then Tosh when Jack's brother showed up. Somehow we've held our own and stayed alive, I sometimes wonder who is watching over us."
"You watch over each other and that's why. And now you have me and Tom and mad Mickey Smith too."
They looked at one another and broke into huge smiles.
The boardroom felt slightly over crowded to Ianto. There was easily enough room around the oval table, but it just felt strange having 8 people sitting there. It was louder too as they drank coffee and consumed bakery treats that Toshiko had brought in to welcome their new teammates.
Ianto began to gather the crockery and he and Tosh cleared the table and put everything to the side board behind where Owen was sitting next to Mickey.
"Right then, lets get started. Tosh how's our rift today?"
She placed her ipad on the table in front of her and began tapping away. The display on the wall came to life.
"We're pretty calm for the next couple of days, but there has been some irregular readings I need to take a closer look at today. I shall let you know if it looks concerning. We're also in for some lousy weather over the next week and a king tide so its possible the boardwalk will get flooded again."
"Oh rapture." Ianto commented. "I'll set up the flood barriers today then. So folks come in through the underground carpark at the millennium centre entrance or use the lift please."
"Bloody Welsh weather." Owen added.
"Actually I think its more to do with the fact its winter." Gwen responded sticking her tongue out at him.
Tosh smiled and carried on with her report. "At some point today Mainframe will inaccessible for a couple of hours as she needs some housekeeping, I shall give you all a heads up beforehand. Ianto, I 'll need some help with that, is that okay?"
"Of course, just let me know when you are ready."
Jack smiled at his team. "Anything else Tosh?"
"No. Nice quiet day."
"And now you just jinxed it, honestly Tosh you should know by now not to do that."
"Owen? Shut up." Martha playfully wacked his head.
"Its like kindergarden. Did I come to the right place this morning?" Tom asked.
"I wonder that myself everyday." Was Ianto's reply.
"Anyway," Owen raised his voice. "I am going to spend the day getting Tom orientated with some of our non terrestrial gear and I am sure Martha will joining us as well. I also need to do the drugs order and get Ianto's next batch stuff made up to take out to Flat Holm."
"Great. Mickey, you and Gwen are on weapons maintenance duty today. Mickey get yourself familiar with what's in the armoury. Take some stuff down to the firing range. You need to get to grips with it all ASAP."
Mickey's eyes lit up. "Right boss, this is gonna be fun."
"Just try not to blow up the Hub." Jack warned, half seriously. Mickey's grin just got wider.
"Okay so you all know what's going on. Gwen and Ianto are no longer out in the field, full stop. Tosh does the occasional op if we are exceptionally busy. Tom you will be trained up, but until then you will also not be in the field. Ianto and I will be heading out to Flat Holm just as soon as Owen has done the medical supplies. Its likely we'll be gone for most of the day, so Tosh leave main frame until this evening. Owen get onto those supplies. Okay that's it for now."
Mickey and Gwen were out of their seats and quickly left to head down to the firing range. The three doctors, already talking amongst themselves headed down to the autopsy bay and Tosh scurried out with her ipad and sat herself back at her desk to work.
Ianto sat there for a moment feeling like a spare part. Jack noticed his preoccupied expression as he rose from his seat.
"Ianto, everything alright?"
The Welshman forced a smile. "Yeah, of course."
Jack didn't believe a word of it.