Chapter Eight

Ianto walked down the stairs and saw Molly still at her computer. He wished she had gone home when he had asked her. The day had been trying.

Gwen had been hurt as Marchek threw her across the room, but she had fired before and her aim was true. As the thing was dieing Jack had pulled the tentacles of the oblique. Once all the tentacles were pulled off the thing shut down.

The oblique was still being scanned but from info Jack was getting he believed that in order to push Marchek through the rift it would take everything into its orbit dislodging reality, but it was just a guess he had said.

"You are still here," stated Ianto as he approached Molly.

"Just finished the autopsy and I was logging in my findings."

"How's Gwen?"

"Jack's worried about her but she will be fine, just one broken rib. I sent her home to Rhys and the baby."

"Good."

"Where have you been?"

"Logging in the oblique."

"That couldn't have taken to long," said Molly logging of and turning around, "You are hiding."

"No."

"Ianto Jones you have never been a good liar," said Molly as she made her way to the kitchen, "And you have never been able to lie to me."

Ianto watched as she began to wash dishes. Walking over to her he picked up a towel, "You know for someone who is so smart I would have thought you would just stick these in the dishwasher."

"They don't get totally clean in there. Don't change the subject. Ianto you are hiding from me and from Jack."

Ianto just starred blankly forward.

"You know I get it. Why you are made at me. I was selfish, I know but I can't live with out you," Molly turned away sensing Ianto was looking at her, "But I don't understand this hiding from Jack. You love Jack."

Ianto put down the dish towel. He felt like he had just been hit in the gut. Molly liked him and not just like a sister likes her brother but more than that. He looked at the back of her head, how had he missed it. He stood there turned her around, "Jack lied to me. He loves Gwen and Molly…" Ianto took her face in her hands and kissed her.

Molly couldn't believe what was happening. For years she had dreamed of this moment, but while it was all right it was all wrong. She knew with all her heart that Ianto loved Jack. She saw it in everything Ianto did, but he was afraid of the distance. He didn't understand the coldness. She did. She got it. Pulling away she moved behind the counter, "Ianto…"

"Molly…"

"No don't interrupt I have to say this. Jack, Jack lost his grandson to the 456 Ianto. He left because he felt guilty about your death and Steven's. Can't you see why he is so distant Ianto? Everyone in his life dies and he goes on. Everything he loves withers away. Ianto I know that you know he feels deeply for you. He ran away for a year and a half after you died. He left earth Gwen and everything that he had known for the last thousand years. Go to him. Talk to him. He is just as confused as you are."

Ianto moved closer stopping when Molly put her hand up, "Molly?"

"Ianto I am serious. It won't be perfect right away, but something tells me the two of you can pick up where you left off."

Ianto looked at Molly and then turned to look up the stairs. Jack was in the office doing what ever it was that he did. Ianto felt a pull towards the stairs. Jack had been the one to show him life after Lisa's death. Jack had given him meaning after the battle at Canary Warf. Jack had always been there and yes he did love him with every fiber of his being. And if he was honest with himself he did know that Jack felt something for him. But Molly, what they had was…turning back to her she was gone. She could do that disappear in an instant so quietly you almost forgot that she was there to begin with. Molly was special too. They had a connection and he would now have to admit that it was a deeper one that he had an originally thought.

However Jack…well Jack was there. Putting the dish rag down Ianto climbed the stairs up to the loft. Shutting the lights off he made his way through the door into the hallway and knocked on the open office door, "May I come in?"

Jack looked up at Ianto. His tie was a little askew and his beautiful hair was mused, "You know that you never need to ask."

Ianto sat down and looked at the man across from him, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"We have been through this. I couldn't tell you about death, I didn't think that it was fair."

"Not about that. About Steven."

Jack sighed and leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. His grandson had died saving the world. He had a made a choice and sacrificed his grandson to save all and now he knew that he could never see his daughter again. "You just returned from the dead. I was saving that for much later."

"No, Jack I know you. You would never discuss it with me. Gwen you would tell but not me. You can talk to me."

"No. No I would never discuss it with Gwen. I wouldn't discuss it with anything."

"What happened?"

"The 456 was closing in and we had a plan but we needed a kid. I told Steven it would be okay. I lied."

"I am sorry," responded Ianto standing up to move around the desk and sit on it in front of Jack.

"Ianto this is why I am closed off. I'm not good. Things happen to those around me. Your death is another classic example."

"Jack…"

"Ianto I'll try but I am not going to promise you anything. I want this I do and I know that things have to change, but this is me. Years of life have made me the way I am."

Ianto raised an eyebrow, "You think you're perfect don't you?"

"Well it's hard to deny when you look at this," replied Jack smirking and spreading out his arms.

"Yep," said Ianto as he leaned in and kissed Jack.

The kiss got deeper and Jack pulled Ianto into his lap. It wasn't perfect. They had things they clearly need to discuss but it could wait. Jack wasn't letting go this time.

Next: Crimson and Clover

The team still adjusting is called on when PC Andy has a strange encounter. Gwen agrees to investigate the apparent murder spree that seems to be alien related.