Title: In the pain there is healing

Fandom's: Torchwood/Doctor Who

Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Rhys/Donna, Andy/Kathy, John/Tosh, Doctor/Isabella, James/Jenny, Tom/Martha and Mickey/Jake

Summary: How long cans one person takes being the second choice before they break? And have Ianto and Rhys reached that point?

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Gwen bashing

Spoilers: Torchwood S2 'Meat' and 'Something Borrowed'

Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood, I am willing to take ownership of Ianto and Jack since RTD can not take care of them. I do own James and Isabella and all other original characters.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favourite and alerted this story.

Chapter 21

Upon reaching Ianto's flat Bell was just about to ring the doorbell when the door flew open and an extremely happy Jack stood before them.

"Great I was just coming to look for you." Jack greeted Bell happily as he grabbed her by the hand and began dragging her with him.

"Where are we going?" Bell asked stumbling as she tried to keep up with her past dad's fast pace.

"Ring shopping." Jack answered back.

James waved bye to his sister grateful it wasn't him before entering Ianto's flat.

Ianto raised an eyebrow when only James came in. "Where is your sister?" He asked straighten his shirt.

"Dad dragged her off to go ring shopping." James explained with a shrug.

Ianto felt sorry for his future daughter hyper Jack is never easy to control.

"I was just going to make some coffee would you like some?" Ianto figured from the way James was drooling like Jack the answer was a big yes. The phrase like father like son ran through Ianto's mind.

Ianto eyes narrowed as he remembered Bell strong reaction to coffee and asked his future son a very important question, "Are you as hyper as Bell is on coffee?"

James shuddered in horror. "Nobody is as hyper as Bell is on coffee," James paused as he thought for a moment, "except maybe the Doctor, he is just as bad as Bell is. Never ever give the Doctor any or allow Bell to have more than three cups a day or well you saw the result." James warned his future tad.

Ianto couldn't help but smile at the Captain's tone of voice James used, his son was truly a mini-Jack. "As long as I am making coffee for Torchwood Bell shall receive no more than three cups and I shall keep the caffeine away from the Doctor." Ianto vowed, patting James on the shoulder as he continued heading for the kitchen. "Care to help me make some supper? I know Jack will be starving by the time he gets back." Ianto called over his shoulder.

As Ianto left he didn't hear James low murmur of, "You truly have no idea how long that is going to be." As he followed Ianto into the kitchen.

Jack couldn't help but notice how quiet Bell was. Slowing down to a normal pace Jack wrapped his arm around Bell's shoulders. "Alright tell dear old dad what is wrong."

Bell let out a soft sigh as she rested her head on Jack's shoulder. "Have you ever felt like you were competing with a memory?" Bell asked softly.

Jack had a pretty good idea what this was about so he decided to answer her truthfully. "Yes."

Bell titled her head so she could look at Jack questions shining in her eyes.

Taking a breath Jack began to tell his future daughter something he hasn't told anyone especially Ianto. "For the longest time when you tad and I first started our relationship, I felt like I was competing against Lisa memory. Your tad loved her so deeply that there were times I thought he saw her instead of me. But I know your tad has a big heart and he loves like no one I have ever met before, Lisa was a big part of Ianto's life and I know that she will forever hold a special place in his heart, just like those I have loved before him, but I know that what Ianto and I share is the kind of love that very few people ever get a chance at. He is my sun, my moon and my whole world."

Bell blinked back the tears that threaten to fall at her dad's heartfelt admittance.

Jack wiped away the single tear that trickled down her cheek. "Don't you ever think that you are second best to Rose, because if that was true I would have kicked the Doctor's arse along time ago before I would ever let him break you heart." Jack vowed, no time lord was allowed to break his little girl heart while there is breath in his body.

"Don't you have a ring to buy?" Bell reminded Jack, feeling much better after their talk.

Jack let out a low curse as he caught sight of the time, grabbing Bell's hand he once again dragged his poor daughter after him.

The Doctor felt something tighten in his chest at Mickey's warning. "Donna? Are you sure?" The time lord cast a glance at the redhead woman who without a doubt was his very best friend, he won't let any harm come to her.

"We don't know, all we know is something big is coming and Donna is at the center of everything. We needed to keep her safe." Mickey informed him.

A steely gaze entered the Doctor eyes; nobody will ever hurt one of his Companions.

Mickey fought back a shiver as he saw the Oncoming storm pecking through.

Donna had been watching the Doctor and Mickey talk when a thought hit her, "Oi, Space boy where are we going to stay? Our home is locked in their base."

The Doctor opened and closed his mouth as he hadn't thought of that. He blanched and wilted under the glare that Donna was giving him.

He was saved by Rhys; he was really beginning to like that man. "I have a spare room and a couch you're welcome to stay with me." Rhys offered.

Everyone turned to Mickey and Jake. "It will be tight but you're welcome to stay with me." Tosh offered.

Mickey fought back a smirk at the death glare he and Jake were getting from the man hovering behind Tosh. "Nah we're set but thank you for the offer." He thanked her.

John clapped his hands together. "Wonderful now that we are all set I think we should call it an early night." John wanted to get out of there before Tosh got it in her heart to offer to put up more people, really how was he suppose to seduce her if they had company?

"Brilliant idea." The Doctor quickly agreed he needed time to think about what was going on and just what his TARDIS had planned.

Bell watched as her dad anxiously browsed through all the men's rings. She decided to intervene when the salesperson began pushing the flashy and expensive rings on Jack.

Walking over to her dad, Bell grasped his arm and yanked him over towards the rings she had been looking at. "Tad loves timeless and classic." Bell reminded him.

Jack nodded absently too focused on the rings before him. "That one." Jack breathed out as he spotted the ring that seemed to be made for Ianto.

Bell grinned knowing that was the ring that still resided on her tad's hand. "Perfect." She agreed.

John followed Tosh into her place, his eyes taking in everything. He finished his look around and met Tosh's gaze, she had a look in her eyes as if she was trying to figure out a puzzle.

"Something on your mind Cherry Blossom?" John asked leaning against the wall.

Tosh hoped she wasn't blushing at the nickname John used. "I don't get it why are you so focused on me? Jack, Ianto and even Gwen I can understand, but why do you want me?" She questioned him honestly.

Once look in her eyes and John knew that she has always been the overlooked one. Straighten up he decide to tell her the truth, hey if the cutie Bell said he was destiny to marry Tosh then he figures he better start telling her the truth now.

"You are so different than Donna and Gwen. Donna is the one who deserves a normal bloke, one that will treat her like the queen she is. For Donna the perfect man is Rhys he will treat her as the queen she is and she will love him deeply and truly with all her heart. Gwen wants everything; she wants the loyal husband at home and her dashing knight in her bed. She claims she has humanity and thinks with her heart yet she constantly hurts and uses those closets to her. She wants everything and offers nothing in return."

"But you, Toshiko Sato are the type of girl that most men try to avoid. Not only are you scary brilliant, but you are kind heart, sweet and beautiful you are the type of woman that makes everyman who meets you feel like he will never be good enough or worthy of your love. You are the kind of woman that a man longs for and when we do get you we are terrified that we will somehow screw it up and lose the best thing that could ever happen in my miserable life." John spoke truthfully.

It had been so long since any on has thought of her like that or wanted her like it was clear that John wanted her, not since Tommy has a man looked at her with need and love. While there was no love in John's eyes there was passion, need and want all directed at her.

So Tosh will claim a lack of sanity on her actions next.

Launching forward Tosh claimed John's lips in a needful kiss. John was never one to deny a beautiful woman kissing him and vowed to show Tosh just how she should be loved.

Tosh whimpered as John kiss lit her body a flame with desire, no one had every made her feel like John was doing right now, it was as if he was turning her body into a pool or molten lava.

"Bed! Now!" Tosh growled against John's mouth.

Growling John lifted Tosh up, urging her to wrap her legs around his waist; he couldn't contain his groan of pleasures as she did so.

Never losing contact between their mouths they somehow manage to navigate their way to Tosh's bedroom while losing their clothing along the way.

Jack and Bell returned to Ianto's flat and were they we're greeted to a delicious smell as they opened the door.

"We're in the kitchen." Ianto's voice drifted from the kitchen.

Bell watched as Jack quickly removed his boots and hung up his greatcoat before bouncing into the kitchen, she followed after her dad and smiled at the sight of Jack snogging the breath out of Ianto.

James slid up to his sister side. "So how did ring shopping go?" He asked, he could tell his sister was a lot happier than before.

"It went really well." Bell admitted and James knew she was talking about more than ring shopping.

James turned his attention away from his sister and rolled his eyes as he spotted his parents still making out. "Oh for crying out loud, supper is going to get cold." James growled out.

Hearing James voice reminded Ianto that they were not alone and pulled away smiling at Jack's pouting face.

"Sorry dad looks like you have to behave tonight." James teased his dad and all three of them laughed at the slack jaw look Jack was wearing.

"Oh you think that is funny?" Jack growled in a low tone at Ianto, a mischievous look in his eyes one that had Ianto gulping he knew that look all to well.

"Jack, don't you dare." Ianto warned but Jack paid no attention as his fingers slid over to Ianto's side and with a smile Jack began tickling his Welshman.

"Don't worry tad help is on the way." James bravely called out with a battle cry the twins launched themselves at Jack.

Laughter filled Ianto and Jack's flat that night.

Tosh's bare back pressed against his chest filled John with a sense of belonging he hadn't felt in a long time.

He let his hand slid down Tosh's arm before pressing a kiss against her shoulder. "I don't know how to do love like Jack and eye-candy but I think with you could teach me how." John whispered in the dark room.

Deep within the bows of the hub that TARDIS sad song echoed throughout the empty hub. Oh how she wished she could prevent what is to happen. From the moment Gwen snuck back into the hub, the TARDIS wanted to reach out a stop the woman from the damage she was about to do. But she was bonded by the laws of time and can not interfere with a set time line.

But that doesn't mean she can't tweak a few things. Letting out a soft hum she put her plan into motion with a simple phone call.

TBC….