CHAPTR FOUR

It wasn't long before Jack and Ianto had left the Hub for Flat Holm Island, leaving Toshiko to contact them if needed in an emergency. Tosh happily got on with the task of annalysing the odd Rift data. She enjoyed the puzzle the Rift so often presented her with, both in terms of how it behaved and what it dumped on them at various times. She also felt reassured for the first time in weeks. The drastic changes in the UK over the last two years had left her feeling insecure, even though she knew there was no need to feel that way.

Tosh did get to wondering if Torchwood would be forced to shut down on many occasion but she knew deep down that Jack would not let that happen, especially now that UNIT were no longer in the UK to protect the country. Not all Aliens were bad of course, she had actually met some really nice ones over the years and she felt proud of the fact that the few refugees that were stuck on Earth were well looked after by Torchwood, even the blowfish, who could be a right pain in the arse when they felt like it. One of Tosh's side projects was also about collating weather data and monitoring pollution levels. Jack allowed her to share this information with a select group of universities around the world in order to better understand what was happening to the climate. These kind of things made Tosh feel useful, like she was doing something for the world that was good. She looked up on hearing a loud burst of laughter from the autopsy bay and couldn't help but smile. Having the new people around was certainly going to liven things up.

Gwen and Mickey had settled themselves at the work bench in the armoury with an array of handguns and the cleaning tools. Mickey couldn't help but be impressed.

"Okay Gwen catch me up on all the gossip."

Gwen just blinked at him for a moment and then burst out laughing.

"Oooooh, I'm not sure I should. What do you want to know?"

Mickey expertly took apart one of the weapons. "Well Captain Cheesecake and the coffee man for a start. I always thought Jack was a bit of a love em and leave em type."

Gwen shrugged. "I think he probably was, I used to think he was too because he's such a flirt all the time, I mean absolutely outrageous flirt, anything that moved. But Ianto changed all that. It wasn't easy for them to start either, in fact I am amazed they got through it all. Ianto nearly died, about ten years ago. He was seriously ill for months after and Jack wouldn't leave his side. It was awful actually and Owen and Martha worked tirelessly to help him. Owen is still working on a cure, even now."

"I don't get it, he's not better?"

"No, he just takes lots of drugs to stay alive. Ianto hates it, but I think he's relieved too, mainly for Jack's sake rather than his own. Ianto keeps Jack level, stops him from doing really stupid things. They're good for each other."

"So why has Jack got us doing this then, I mean shouldn't we be out there catching those weevil things or something?"

Gwen was smirking at him as they worked. "You're eager."

"Yeah well, I'm an action kinda guy."

"Be grateful its quiet today, trust me it doesn't happen often. Anyway this is a good way to talk and get to know each other a bit."

"You realize these guns are already clean right?"

"Ianto normally does this, but I suspect its going to be our job from now on… So what about you? Girl? Boy? Married?"

It was Mickey's turn to grin. "Nah, not right now anyway. I did have this girl back in London years ago, but it didn't work out and she's moved away now with her new bloke. And I don't do guys, nothing against it, just not my thing. I looked after my nan for a while until she died, she was cool my nan, used to grab me by the ears when I was naughty."

Gwen laughed. "Mine did that to me too."

"So, you're married then?"

Gwen nodded. "I am and we have a little girl. They're the best and Rhys ids my rock. He's a really good man you know. I am so fortunate."

"That's great. I mean it's really special with this kind of work. Jack was right to take you out of the field, don't want your girl growing up without a mom, been there I know what its like."

"It must've been hard for you."

"Harder for my nan." He replied with a cheeky grin. They both chuckled, continuing with the cleaning, Mickey closely inspecting his work.

"So Jack asked me to join up because UNIT's gone. I think it's more than though."

"Yes. We've all noticed how weird this country has become since the referendum for BREXIT, but its not just that. After that same incident when Ianto was hurt, with the children…."

Mickey nodded.

"We just can't trust the authorities. It feels a bit like a siege, but since the current government put pressure on the crown to axe our funding its become even more important for us to have people around us whom we can trust, but also who can defend themselves. Jack's been really worried about our safety and the rift isn't going to go away in a hurry and so without us no one is in charge of protecting Cardiff, let alone the rest of the UK."

"That BREXIT shit was so dumb, its like the Harold Saxon nonsense all over again, but this time the craziness is here to stay. What are the local plods like with you lot?"

"Plods? I'll have you know I was a copper before joining this motely lot. But actually after a few bumpy starts the locals have been quick to recognize that we are needed here and often they help us out. I do most of the liasing and Ianto helps me out, he's such a bloody good diplomat. I think Jack is planning to try and recruit from them too."

"Is he serious?"

Gwen leaned back in her chair and pulled her long hair back away from her face. "Yes he is. For too long there has just been the five of us and the work load can be huge sometimes and quite frankly we could all do with more time off, but now we're essentially on our own here that work load is only going to increase."

"Fair point. I might talk to Captain Jackie Pants about a mate of mine. Jake, he's a good bloke, knows his stuff and can handle himself really well in a tight spot."

"He'd appreciate that."

Mickey was smiling. "You know these really don't need cleaning, shall we go and shoot some bullets?"

"I was hoping you'd say that."

The Bristol Channel was especially churny that morning. Grey skies almost touched the water as icy drizzle drove in from the north east. For once Ianto was glad of the anti nausea medication he had to take every day. He stood on the deck of old Gareth's boat leaning against the rail and staring at the ocean as it broiled around the small vessel. The waves fascinated him with the constant movement and whites tops that surged against the craft, making it pitch and dip. It seemed so slow and tiny against the power of the stormy water and strangely beautiful. Jack had hidden himself in the cabin to talk to the grissly boat pilot, who was actually one of their Alien refugees. A very old blowfish who called himself Gareth and wore a big furry hat with flaps and a massive shapeless mac to cover his fishiness. He'd been a good friend to Torchwood three ever since he had arrived on Earth fifty years previously. An old fish even then. He helped keep the younger ones out of mischief as best he could. Gareth also had developed a chocolate addiction and Ianto had become his regular supplier of the finest, which was why he needed such a huge mac. The old fish had been around long enough to hide himself in plain sight, but he spent most of his time swimming in the Bristol Channel, which he apparently loved. Ianto was just glad the old thing was relatively happy with his life being led on a planet light years away from his own home.

A sudden weight on his shoulders indicated the presence of Jack at his side, pulling him close against his body.

"You'll get cold out here."

Ianto smiled to himself. "I'm alright, just wanted to watch the waves and have a little think." He leaned into Jack's one sided embrace.

"Penny for them?"

Ianto had to raise his voice against the blustery weather.

"Flat Holm. How can we keep it safe and secure Jack? I mean with everything changing, are we going to have to move the facility?"

Jack kissed the top of Ianto's head, his hair was wet.

"I think we may have to. It's something we need to discuss with Helen and the team. We have a couple of sites we can use on the mainland, but it will mean less freedom for the patients. I don't want to take away what little they have."

"Are you going to bring Martha and Tom in on the secret?"

"Eventually, yes. We'll need everyone's input if we do have to relocate. It's a unfortunately a question of financial resources."

"I'll look into it Jack. We are owed some favours and I know for a fact that there is a small estate and house up for sale near LLantwit Major, that would be ideal."

Jack smiled. " How long have you been looking?"

Ianto shrugged. "A few months."

Jack tugged on his coat sleeve. "Come on Jones, in the warm and lets have a coffee." Jack grasped Ianto's gloved hand.

""Good plan."