26
Jack wanted to make sure Ianto understood the level of commitment here, taking him shopping.
To a baby store no less.
He even refrained from shoving a binky in his own mouth when they got to them.
Something he was sure Ianto was grateful for.
He was examining the bassinettes, on his knees as he tried to work out how the hell he was going to get a kit-set one together when he heard a familiar voice.
"Bloody hell, she's only going to wear it for three months if I'm lucky!"
Jack walked around the shelves to find Rhys Williams holding up a little outfit with abject horror.
"Rhys?"
"Bloody hell!" Rhys gaped, "Jack? Christ, what are you doing here?"
"Hunting for Winderbeast" Jack shrugged, "You?"
"Winderbeast?" Rhys blinked, then snorted, "You bastard, I thought that was some alien thing for a second."
"No, I really am shopping, like a normal person" Jack laughed along with him.
"Well, since Gwen and I split up it's been a bit weird, never thought I would be a single father, ya know?" Rhys sighed, "But we are both better off. Anwen is a wee star!"
"God, she must have grown," Jack said as he looked at the outfit, "How old now?"
"Three next month!" Rhys said proudly, "Such a little princess!"
"How's the job going?" Jack asked as he recalled the comment about cost.
"Ah, a bit tighter since she left. Well, booted us out really" Rhys huffed, "I tried living with me parents but their constant sniffs of disappointment was a bit much. Then Andy had an accident and I found meself looking after him too. Seemed to work. Anwen loves him to bits too."
"Andy?" Jack asked then Ianto walked around the shelf
"Cariad. Can we get…"
He looked at Rhys with surprise and Rhys stared back with equal shock.
"Fucking Torchwood" he finally said and Ianto smiled wanly.
"Hello Rhys" Ianto answered and Rhys surged forward, engulfing the fellow Welshman in a hug.
Ianto hugged him back enjoying the comforting warmth, then pulled back to smile at him.
"What were you saying about Andy?" Jack asked again.
"Gwen took him out on some retrieval thing and he got injured, apparently she had been experimenting with some of the stuff they're collecting, her and Rex. Andy doesn't really talk about it" Rhys sighed as he continued to look at Ianto with undisguised glee, "He's … not good. Like I said, he lives with me no while his compo payments barely pay for him, Christ. We're all he has. Gwen dropped him like a hot potato, Torchwood left him to fucking burn!"
"Jesus" Ianto breathed.
"Yeah, coz it wasn't during work hours the Heddlu said it was classified as moonlighting and refused insurance" Rhys snarled, "Gwen never officially signed him on as police liaison as she had promised. Poor bastard was well shafted."
"Well … that is Gwen" Jack shrugged, then turning to Ianto.
"I'm sorry babe, you wanted something, what was it?"
"Mobiles" Ianto pointed, "Look. Little fighter planes!"
Jack looked up and his face lit up as he saw what Ianto wanted, approving.
"I'll sort that, you two stand and chat" Jack moved away to find a staff member so they could get one of the sets.
Ianto was the first to know there was a predicament, the smell ticking his senses and he instinctively crouched as he swung to scent the air.
"What are you doing?" Rhys asked.
"Gwen. Is she supposed to be here?" Ianto asked with worry, trying to signal an oblivious Jack.
"Is she heck! I got a restraining order out against …"
Whatever else Rhys was about to say was lost in the loud noise that filled the store, dropping people as they screamed and clutched at their ears.
Jack hit the ground and grunted through the pain as he looked over at Ianto, unaffected and still scenting as he zeroed in on what was attacking.
Jack struggled to his knees, groaning and trying to breathe past the pain as he tried to reach his love.
Rhys powered up off the floor and threw himself over Ianto, pushing them both into some plush toys and burying them as Jack fell back to his hands and knees with pain.
He was grounded, felt like he was going to throw up as he looked up from the floor at the high heels striding towards him.
He knew.
He knew with sickening clarity as his eyes travelled up those boots, thighs, hips …
Gwen Cooper had found him.