Chapter 7: Gwen's Bad Day
Gwen ran across the Bay as fast her legs could go,
"I'm late... no... I can't be late... maybe I shouldn't have gone to that shop, but I knew Ianto might need some more coffee beans."
"I need a drink!" Gwen mumbled and groaned while she was running.
Jack & Ianto heard the lift coming down and quickly tried to sort themselves out.
What would Gwen do if she knew that Jack & Ianto... or more specifically Ianto, had come in later than usual. And not including the fact that Jack and Ianto had been playing naked... or does that sentence need completing. Ianto put a cd in the stereo so it seemed like they'd actually been listening to music, it was one of Ianto's favourite.
"My Chemical Romance." Ianto whispered to himself, smiling secretly.
Ianto wasn't all that he seemed.
My Chemical Romance: Famous Last Words
Now I know
That I can't make you stay
But where's your heart
But where's your heart
But where's your
And I know
There's nothing I can do
To change that part
To change
"Ianto, is this your cd?" Jack asked curiously.
"Yeh, it is, I mean if you don't like it then..."
Jack looked at him and smiled, "It's ok Ianto, you're a very dark horse though aren't you?"
Ianto gave Jack a cheeky smile, "Jack, if I wasn't a dark horse, you'd get bored of me."
Jack raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's that supposed to mean, Ianto?"
Ianto was about to spill, when the lift stopped and Gwen stepped out.
"Would you like a drink, Gwen?" asked Ianto, keeping the conversation open for later discussion.
So many
Bright lights they cast a shadow
But can I speak
Is it hard understanding
I'm incomplete
A life that's so demanding
I get so weak
A love that's so demanding
I can't speak
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
"Honey if you stay I'll be forgiven." Jack had followed Ianto to the kitchen, wrapped his arms around Ianto's waist and begun singing along with the song.
I shouldn't have given him the words, Ianto thought.
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
Can you see?
My eyes are shining bright
'Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror
"Firstly," Ianto & Jack both jumped, Gwen always interrupted a sweet moment,
"How do get a 'jet black hotel mirror'?" Gwen quoted, from the words in the book in the cd case. "Secondly, how can you be on the other side of it, what is it sat in the middle of the room?"
Gwen looked puzzled.
"Gwen, if you want me to turn it off, then as usual, I'll do what you want."
Ianto just wanted some peace, even if that did mean switching his cd off. Jack saw
Ianto's face & decided he wasn't going to let Gwen get away with that.
"Gwen, never mind the cd, what I'd like to know is why you're late?"
Jack looked at her & put his hands on his hips.
"Well, I don't know... I mean, I nipped to the shop to buy some coffee beans because I didn't how many were left." Gwen mumbled, then looked at the floor.
"It's ok Jack, I'll turn the cd off."
And with that Ianto walked out of the kitchen and headed towards the stereo. Gwen realised she had disappointed Ianto and felt really guilty.
"Ianto sweetheart, I didn't say that I didn't like the song, it was just that bit confused me." She gave him a smile.
And with that she made a conscious decision not to criticise the song again.
And I'm so weak
Is it hard understanding
I'm incomplete
A love that's so demanding
I get weak
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
These bright lights have always blinded me
These bright lights have always blinded me
I said
I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead
Ianto & Jack both thought about that last verse, it's like just that bit was written for them.
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
"Gwen, here's your coffee."
Ianto went over to Gwen's desk and placed the drink down carefully. Gwen looked up and said a very meaningful thank you. Ianto knew she was trying to make up for the whole cd incident but he just sweetly smiled then walked away. Jack caught Ianto's eye, Ianto smiled but it was a forced smile and Jack knew it.
"Ianto, could you come to my office please, I need to talk to you."
Ianto nodded and Gwen knew what was going on. She had really upset Ianto and she couldn't have done it at a worse time. Now Gwen felt really mean. Ianto walked up the stairs and lightly tapped on the office door,
"Come in Ianto." Jack said this as gently as he could.
"Jack, what's up?" Ianto asked as though he was in trouble.
Jack got up gently from his desk chair and walked around the desk to where Ianto was stood. Ianto was still nervous. Jack put a hand on Ianto's cheek and softly stroked it, tears started to run down Ianto's cheek. Jack brushed them away; this made Ianto look up at Jack. Jack pulled Ianto into a loving hug making Ianto feel safe.
"Ssshhh, it's ok babes, don't cry." Jack spoke softly into Ianto's ear.
After a minute or so, Ianto stopped crying and looked up into Jack's loving eyes. It was strange how Jack's eyes could one minute show anger or pain and the next something completely different. Ianto leaned in closer to Jack and kissed him gently, it was a sort of thank you but more meaningful. Jack grabbed Ianto's hand and gently pulled him towards the couch, they sat down and Ianto spoke first,
"Jack, about Gwen, I didn't mean to sound horrible, it's just..."
Jack hushed him and said, "Ianto, babes this is about Gwen but it's what she said to you, I mean there are a lot of things to complain about lately, but a song. That's just daft."
Ianto smiled.
Ianto grabbed Jack's hand in his, looked into his eyes and said, "Thank you."
Jack looked a bit taken a back and asked, "What for?"
Ianto leaned in closer to Jack and replied, "Everything."
And then kissed him gently.
When they broke apart, Jack said, "I'd really want to know more about the 'Dark Horse' Ianto."
He gave Ianto a cheeky smile and a raised eyebrow. A cheeky smile and a raised eyebrow, Jack must be really curious, Ianto thought.
Ianto gave Jack a cheeky wink and simply replied, "Later Jack."
And with that Ianto got up of the couch and left the office, leaving Jack disappointed but very excited about tonight. "I'll have to get Gwen to leave early tonight." Jack whispered to himself.
Ianto came down the stairs and walked past Gwen with a big smile on his face. He knew Gwen would be puzzled and that made him smile even more. Jack came down from his office was greeted by Gwen walking over to him, asking, "Jack, what's going on?"
Jack looked at Gwen and replied, "Gwen, I want you to go home early tonight."
Gwen looked puzzled.
"Why?!" Sorry, I mean what's up Jack?" Gwen asked, trying to take back the rudeness.
"Gwen, you never get to spend time with Rhys, so take this opportunity. Ok?"
"Jack it's not about earlier is it?"
Jack didn't want to bring it up again so instead he replied, "No Gwen, I mean Ianto walked past you before didn't he? Did he still seem down about before?"
Gwen looked to her left to where Ianto was standing, saw he was still smiling and looked back at Jack she replied, "Guess not."
Jack smiled at the fact that his talk with Ianto made him feel better.
"Well, there you go then Gwen."
Gwen thought for a moment.
"Ok Jack."
She walked back to her desk silently.
Jack walked over to where Ianto was standing; from what Gwen could tell they were talking about their plans for after work hours. The reason being that when Jack had walked over to Ianto, he started with his hand on Ianto's shoulder but then, as the conversation progressed his hand started to stroke up and down Ianto's back, making Ianto smile. Then his hand was sneakily working its way across Ianto's back, Jack then gently pulled Ianto closer and whispered something in his ear. There had been something between Ianto & Jack from Day 1 but whatever this mysterious comment was, it made Ianto blush the moment the words touched his ear. Jack turned around to head back to his office so Gwen quickly looked back at her computer screen. As Jack walked past Gwen he stopped, almost as though he had forgotten to say something.
He turned around and back to Gwen's desk, making her look up, "Gwen," Jack began, "Me and Ianto are gonna go Weevil hunting, can you manage here on your own?"
Gwen looked at Jack and smiled, "Course Jack."
Jack looked at her in surprise, "Thank you, Gwen."
Gwen gave him a stare, "You needn't look so surprised Jack, I can keep control you know."
Gwen looked back at the screen and in a more serious tone she continued, "I've had practise."
Jack knew she was referring to the time he had left them to travel with the Doctor.
"Gwen, if you only knew him, then you'd understand why I left.."
Gwen looked at him hard, "All I.. we knew was that you left us and, we didn't even know that until you didn't come back for... mmm how long was it Jack?"
Gwen couldn't bear to look at Jack anymore and so turned back to her screen.
"Gwen, you come off all sweet and innocent but you aren't half bitter sometimes. Infact sometimes I think a lemon's sweeter than you!"
The voice was familiar but Gwen never expected words like that to spill from them lips. Jack turned to see Ianto stood there, giving Gwen a hard stare.
"Ianto, why don't stop kissing up to the boss, literally and have your own opinion."
Gwen looked at Ianto and mirrored his hard stare.
Ianto spoke harder than he ever expected he would, "I do have my own opinion Gwen, and at least I wasn't with somebody when I was shagging a fellow employee!"
At this, Gwen slammed her hand on the desk, causing the cup still on it to shudder slightly, and stood up, dramatically shoving the chair further away from the desk.
"DAMN IT IANTO!" IS THIS WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO HIM JACK? MADE HIM INTO A MINI YOU?!"
"GWEN, WHY DON'T YOU STOP GOING ON AT JACK ALL THE TIME? YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY PERFECT ARE YOU?!"
Jack looked between the bickering pair and decided enough was enough.
"THAT'S IT! BOTH OF YOU, STOP THIS! WE NEED TO BE A TEAM. IF WE LET OUR PERSONAL DIFFERENCES GET IN THE WAY OF OUR JOB THEN..."
Jack looked at the ground and then continued, "If we let our personal differences get in the way of our job, then the people suffer, the people on this planet that we fight to protect."
"Remember the 21st Century is when everything changes and..."
"You gotta be ready." Ianto and Gwen both mumbled.
"Exactly, because do you think someone, or something is gonna wait to destroy the planet while we sort out our differences?"
He looked at Ianto then Gwen,
"Well?"
"No." The pair mumbled.
"Now Gwen, me and Ianto are gonna go Weevil hunting, got a problem with that?"
Gwen knew that this was a rhetorical question.
"Ok." She said.
"Good." Jack said bluntly. "Come on, Ianto."
Jack walked away from Gwen, and with one last look at her, Ianto slowly followed. Gwen hated arguing with Ianto, I mean arguing with Jack she could get over without apologizing, but Ianto was different.
"Ianto."
Ianto stopped and Gwen got up from her chair.
"Look, Ianto I'm sorry, it's just a tough job and it's not exactly easy working here is it?"
Ianto looked at her as she walked closer and replied, "No, it's not Gwen, but we only get one life and we should live it to the full. If that means dying so that others don't then I think it's worth it, don't you?"
Gwen didn't have to think about this so immediately replied, "Yes it is, but Tosh and Owen died, they were ordinary people."
Ianto looked Gwen in the eyes and said, "Yeh, but that's what Jack does though, he turns ordinary people and turns them into extraordinary people, just like the Doctor."
Gwen looked at him in amazement, "What do you know about this Doctor, Ianto?"
Ianto heard Jack shout him from the cog door.
"What Jack's told me. He's really in awe of the Doctor, Gwen."
And with that Ianto walked slightly faster to get to the door. Gwen stood there, wishing she did know more about the Doctor.