18

Owen was going over the test results as Ianto looked at the pen collection on his desk.

Babbit had found a skeleton one that glows in the dark and Owen had placed it in the centre, pleased with the gift. Ianto was touched that a week later it was still pride of place.

"All looks good buddy" Owen smiled, "right across the board."

"Good" Ianto grinned back, "Jack has been on my back like a bloody limpet, he even accused me of eating a piece of cake before Babbit wandered past with it in his hand!"

"You want me to have a word? You know the occasional treat won't hurt, not if you are having an active day with the kids" Owen offered, "I know you have started your morning runs again so check your levels with that, yeah?"

"He'll calm down, it's just so new. I do wish he would stop bringing home more literature to read out to me while I'm trying to enjoy my bath though," Ianto groaned and Owen snorted.

"How's the pins and needles, any worse?"

"No, actually they are less in my toes, still in my hands though" Ianto sighed as he frowned at his hands.

"You do know …"

"Yeah. It could be permanent. I know" Ianto smiled thinly as he decided to change the subject, "I want to go back to school. Finish a paper or something."

"Yeah?" Owen asked and he started riffling about in a stack of paper, then handed one to Ianto.

"What's this?"

"A Psychology course" Owen said, waving it, "You should do it. Two years medical school already, just do this and I think you could get a job as a school councilor or Youth Aid worker in a heartbeat. They would snap you up!"

"Youth worker" Ianto said softly as he looked at the paper.

"Yeah. You know all about child abuse, you relate to them, you connect with them" Owen shrugged, "I know that if I had known you while at school … well. I would have trusted you."

Ianto fingered the paper as he considered Owen's points and knew he was right.

"There might not be any spots left" Ianto finally said and Owen shook his head.

"I know the guy in charge, he owes me. I know he will want you in his class, let me talk to him" Owen stood and walked Ianto to the door, seeing Ianto's face already changing as he started to get used to the idea.

Ianto wandered out into the sunshine, the chill in the air from the melting snow crisp as he breathed it in.

This was important.

He would need to talk to Jack about it, get his OK.

This was more than a night class, this was going to be a major thing for the next year but Ianto knew it would be worth it.

He could help.

Like he has always wished someone had helped him, he could help.

He got home to the usual disorganized chaos and watched Stephen run past with a naked Ton screaming in his arms, Walter being dragged after him by Grub as he clung to his collar screaming at him to stop and Babbit bringing up the rear with …

A golf club?

"Hi Taddy" Babs said in passing, reaching up to touch the salad colander he was wearing as a helmet much like an Englishman would touch his cap. The pink feather a nice finishing touch.

"Hello darling" Ianto smiled, wincing as the golf club made contact with the 'helmet' and Babbit swore softly at the cat that had attacked the handle of the club from under a sofa.

Yep.

He could do this.