Chapter Six:

Torchwood didn't slow down while Jack was dead. Two weeks passed in a blur of rift activity. Martha and the Doctor stuck around to help out here and there. But it was obvious that the team's heart wasn't in it. The Doctor watched as an outsider with interest. He'd never really seen how other people truly took to Jack, but if his team was any indication, Jack had surrounded himself with quite a team.

First there was Owen, who seemed to naturally take over the position as leader of the group, though Gwen gave him a run for his money at times. Owen was abrasive at the best of times. But he was strong and sure of himself, perhaps a little too sure. The Doctor had seen something in those eyes. Something that he was fairly sure no one else knew about. Every time Owen touched Jack, or checked on him, the Doctor saw love there. Not the kind of love he saw between Jack and Ianto, but a different type of love. One that revolved around respect and awe; it wasn't hard to gather that Jack and Owen certainly had an interesting relationship. If he had to guess it was bordering on that of brothers. Jack was obviously proud of Owen, and though the two probably didn't speak of it, there was no doubt a deep respect and love between the two of them.

Then there was Gwen, easily considered the heart of the team. At first glance the Doctor realized she was likely the great-great granddaughter of the original Gwyneth who saved Cardiff from the Gaelth. Compassionate and kind, she reminded the Doctor a lot of Rose, naturally seeking out the best in people. There was more there, it wasn't hard to guess that if given the chance Gwen could easily fall in love with a man like Jack. But she was devoted to her husband. She did however love and adore Jack, a doting figure in her life. The Doctor had been surprised slightly by how deeply she wanted to care for and protect Jack. Gwen had a fierce loyalty deep down inside her, which the Doctor could clearly see.

Of course next was Tosh. The Doctor had met her originally when the aliens attacked London. He knew at that moment she was special and different. Jack had swept her up, and he didn't miss a thing. The Doctor could see she ached for more, a bigger and better life. But like Gwen, Tosh had a fierceness about her that demanded respect even in the tiniest ways. It was the way she reacted when she was around Owen, unafraid to yell if she had to. She was firm in her convictions but unsure in the rest of her life. She too loved Jack, but differently. Like Owen, she probably loved Jack like a big brother. Obviously her heart truly was set on Owen—not the best decision since he was technically dead—but she was helplessly in love with the medical man.

Finally there was Ianto. Upon this contemplation the Doctor's eyes landed on the lone figure. That's what he was, the Doctor realized as he watched the man move on autopilot that Ianto was the other half of something very important to this team. He was the calm and shy aspect, but strong and firm in the face of danger. The Doctor had seen a lot in his many years. He'd seen love before, but this love was truly different. He wondered at times if his and Rose's love could have lasted the way these two would. Jack and Ianto's love was so remarkably unconditional. They longed for one another. A part of him know both Ianto and Jack could live without one another, but he also realized that neither truly wanted to. Jack would give up his forever to be with Ianto for a few years, and Ianto would give up a few years and spend forever with Jack.

Together they formed the perfect unit, Owen was the sarcasm and outer shell, Tosh was the brains, Gwen was the ever beating heart, Ianto was the silent strength and Jack was everything else.

Sweet and beautiful Jack. The Doctor's mind moved to the thought of his Captain and he smiled sadly at that. Jack had changed a lot since the day he'd met the man some four years ago in 1941. To say that Jack had matured would be an understatement. Jack had grown up and then some. The Doctor knew the look that often lingered in the immortal's eyes. A look of loss and constant agony, knowing he'd have to watch those he loved die. But Jack had a strange ability to rid himself of the bitterness and only embrace the love. He could be brutal but he had so much love inside of him. Jack didn't need someone to stop him from bitterness and anger; unlike the Doctor he had the ability to see beauty in things. The Doctor needed someone to remind him how far a step too far was. Jack's team didn't need to stress it; they'd follow him to the ends of the earth.

Martha took a seat on the couch beside the Doctor, snapping him from his reverie. "They're hurting."

The Doctor nodded. "They might as well be screaming. Give them time Martha, they just got him back and now he's gone again. Don't you see it?"

"What?" She asked in confusion.

"He's the missing gap. They all have to exist for this team to function. I've never seen a group of people need each other so completely."

"Doctor, will Ianto really be with Jack forever?"

"Not forever, but for a very long time yes, until he dies."

"Do you miss her?"

The Doctor's gaze grew serious as he thought about the woman in question. A mere girl when the Doctor had found her. She'd grown as well; he appeared to have that effect on people. "Every moment, with every fiber of my being."

"I used to be jealous of her."

The Doctor gave a brief snort. "You aren't anymore?"

"Maybe a little, but if what you had with Rose is anything like what Jack and Ianto have," Martha shrugged before she continued, "What I felt then and what I feel now seeing those together is sadness. No one deserves to be ripped from their lover in such a terrible way."

"She was so beautiful Martha. Oi you two would have gotten on wonderfully."

"Can I ask you one question? Why her? What was so special about her?" There was no anger or frustration in her voice just sheer curiosity.

The Doctor chuckled. "Absolutely nothing. I think that's why I loved her. She was so average, so completely regular. That's what made her extraordinary. She wasn't exceptionally brilliant or stunningly well read. She was bright, oh yes, and she knew enough. But she was so human Martha." His eyes took a far off look as he smiled. "She had compassion, for every living creature—alien or human. Didn't even matter if the creature was trying to kill her, she found a way to care. She taught a broken man how to care again. She showed me how to see again, properly. I saw planets I had known for hundreds of years in a new way."

Martha smiled, she reached over and gripped his hand. "If it ever happens, I'd love to meet her one day Doctor."

He pursed his lips slightly as he threw his arm around her and drew her close, holding her in a hug. "If you'd come later, or perhaps even earlier I might have been able to share that love." He whispered as he pressed a kiss to her head. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

She smiled as she slipped her own arms around his waist. "You made me stronger and I'll always love you."

o0o

He sat silently in the Captain's office, flipping through the little photo album they'd been hiding for nearly two years now. So many memories filled the pages before him. But it was one picture that Ianto couldn't tear his eyes away from. Valentine's day just this year, their first real sit down dinner and date. As always Jack had managed to surprise him.

Jack stepped into the office grinning from ear to ear. "Off with all of you!" he yelled playfully.

Tosh glanced at her time at the corner of her computer screen. "It's barely three."

"Thank you Miss Sato I'm well aware of the time. It's Valentine's day, go enjoy yourselves. Promise I won't tell the boss."

Owen didn't hesitate a second later as he stood up and grabbed his jacket, it didn't matter that he couldn't eat or drink, he was going to enjoy this night. He'd find a way. He offered his goodbyes before slipping out of the Hub, seconds later Tosh and Gwen were hot on his trials.

"Did you want me to clean up sir?" Ianto questioned as he made his way towards the Captain.

Jack smirked as he looked at his lover. "No, I've got big plans for tonight. Do you trust me Ianto Jones?"

"Completely sir."

Jack nodded. "Excellent, go home get a shower and find something comfortable to wear, and by comfortable I mean warm and casual, and by casual I mean jeans Ianto!"

"Any hints as to why sir?"

"Nope, be ready to go by five—and drop the sir Ianto. Tonight we're off duty, Torchwood is closing and we're going to have fun."

"Yes sir."

Jack pointed his finger at Ianto playfully growling slightly at the last word. Ianto chuckled softly and nodded. "Yes Jack."

As promised Jack showed up on the dot by five, and instead of his usual outfit, he too wore a pair of jeans and one of his usual blue shirts, a leather jacket over top of his shirt. He'd obviously showered because his hair was jelled slightly.

Ianto was stunned at the sight before him, he'd never seen the Captain in anything but his usual outfit—or nothing at all. Ianto wore his favorite pair of jeans, they were a little loose around his waist, but hugged all the right places. He'd chosen his favorite black button down shirt and wore a similar jacket to Jack's.

"You look wonderful." Jack whispered as he leaned forward to offer his lover a kiss. He then pulled out chocolates from behind his back. "It's customary in most cultures to give the date chocolates or flowers. You don't really strike me as a flower kind of guy so I opted for the sweets."

Ianto smirked as he accepted the gift. "Thank you sir—Jack."

"Nice, come on then, we've got places to be!"

"Where?" Ianto asked curiously as they made their way to the car.

Jack turned on his heel. "Would you like to know?" Jack said with a smirk. "I'm driving."

They were on M5 when Ianto realized they were going to London. He didn't bother asking why, knowing Jack wouldn't tell him. But it would be a three hour ride so he chose to get comfortable. Sitting in the passenger's seat they idly chatted about past Valentine's Day, holidays. Ianto spoke of his older sister who lived in London on the west side. Jack took it all in, periodically asking questions or adding to the conversation.

"You're the middle kid?"

Ianto smile. "Yes I am, though I swear I act like the eldest. It's Carys, Arwyn, Sean, me and Olivia."

"You're an uncle then?"

"Two nephews and a niece. Sean has a daughter. Carys has two boys. Oi rotten those two."

"No doubt spoiled by their uncle."

Ianto offered Jack a cheeky grin. "Just a little."

"I'd love to meet them sometime."

"Really?"

"Of course, I'd love to meet all of your family!"

Ianto chuckled. "Well I don't think you'd want to meet my grandfather, he's been dead for twenty years now. Christmas then, I'll tell them you'll be joining me. My mum will love you."

"Would they be surprised by—"

"No, for starters I had a boyfriend at the uni. Second, back when I first started at Torchwood and I told her about you she smiled and said 'Ianto, you should date that man' she used to say. Happiest day of her life, no doubt, when I told her about us."

"Best not break your heart then, don't want an angry mum after me."

"Jack, what was your mother like?"

Jack's face grew serious for a moment. He concentrated on the road, thinking of what to say. "Beautiful. Blonde hair bright green eyes. I wasn't as close to her as my da' though. He an' me were inseparable."

"Do you miss your family?"

"Yes. I'm not like you, my family was small."

They arrived wherever it was they were intending on going. Jack led Ianto towards the theatre, a huge grin on his face as they stood in front of it. "Jack—this is—you brought me to—"

Jack nodded. "I remembered you saying you wanted to see Wicked a while back. Did some research an' here we are. I also booked us a nice sit down dinner for after the show and a hotel. No funny business though, this is a date, we're going to do this properly."

"What if I don't mind?" Ianto questioned looking over at his lover.

Jack shrugged. "I want to give you everything Ianto."

Ianto smirked as they walked into the theatre. "I'd settle for just you Jack."

The waiter, at the restaurant afterwards had taken a picture of the two of them together, capturing the moment from that night. There were actually two pictures, the first was them sitting at the table for dinner. Side by side, arms around each other grinning at the camera, he and Jack seemed to just glow even in the picture. The second picture on the next page was dancing. There had been a live band that night at the restaurant. They were staring into one another's eyes, completely lost in the moment. Ianto flipped the page, smiling at the next photo in which Jack was drenched in mud and water, meanwhile Ianto stood a few feet away grinning like a fool, his hands were the only thing that were dirty. Ianto knew without looking at the other page that the next picture Jack had grabbed him and pulled him into a wet and muddy kiss.

"All I'm saying is I don't want to die of hypothermia!" complained Jack as he shivered once more and made his way back towards the hub. Ianto, still standing a few away so not to get his clothes dirty snickered.

Jack whirled around on the younger man, glaring at him. "And what, pray-tell, is so funny Mr. Jones."

"Well to be fair—sir—you didn't actually have to jump into the bay to catch the creature, as it dodged you just as you were coming at it. One would think for an Intergalactic play boy like yourself that you'd be able to stop your momentum a little better."

Jack stuck both hands on his water logged hips as he moved towards Ianto. "Is that so, well I'll have you know--Mrs. Intergalactic Play boy—that I can stop my momentum anytime I want!" He reached the last few inches, grabbed Ianto and yanked him into a kiss. They separated moments later, Ianto covered in mud and damp as well. "Now is not one of those times."

"Sir we must be more careful, the dry cleaners are going to start suspecting things. And I'm only going to be Mrs. if you do the dishes every other night."

Ianto had later found and froze the pictures from the CCTV, deciding to keep them as a memory. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Ianto to know that Jack loved him. Ianto's thoughts were interrupted by Tosh's walking into Jack's office. "We're going for food, you want anything?"

"No, I'm fine thank you Tosh."

Her eyes softened. "You need to eat something Ianto. He's going to need you when he wakes up."

"If he wakes up." Whispered Ianto.

"When." Was all Tosh said before she left the room again.

Ianto sighed as he looked back down at the pictures. He had to believe Jack was coming back. He had every time before, even when he'd run off with an old lover. He always came back. "I need you." He whispered as he gently touched the photograph.