Characters and a partial canon text do not belong to me just borrowing them for a bit.

There was a dead silence in the room Jack swallowed hard waiting for the barrage of questions he was sure they were going to throw at him. Instead he was met with an awkward silence, for a moment time stood still then the moment was gone. Owen started barking out orders, asking Ianto to help him with the injured and having Tosh contact authorities as Gwen collected up the weapons. Everyone was quick to respond the group being very organized the room becoming a buzz with activity. In no time at all everything was packed up and cleaned up and the team headed for the door. As each of them passed Jack all he received was a simple nod of acknowledgement except for Tosh who said welcome back. They all piled into the SUV's. As Tosh climbed into the back seat she slid over making room for Jack; again she is the only one to say anything to him asking if he is coming. He eagerly jumps in.

The ride back was cold and quiet not even Tosh dared to break the icy stillness. Once they arrived at the hub they all piled out Owen and Ianto retrieved the Blowfish body from the back of one of the SUVs and carried it into the hub. Jack is the last to enter the hub he looked around as if remembering an old friend he patted one of the walls and then sat on the couch and watched as the others finished up the mission by logging in the reports and handling the remains of the blowfish. When they have all finished Owen looked at his watch told everyone what a great job they have done to go home and get some rest. He asked Ianto to cover the hub tonight. Ianto agreed and walked towards the kitchen as Tosh patted Jack on the way out then turned towards the hub door meeting Gwen who was waiting there. Owen followed them both out listening to Gwen chattering away about the Blowfish. Gwen turned slightly taking a last look at Jack sitting alone then turned back and continued to walk away.

Jack sat alone on the couch everything is so very quiet he watches as Ianto goes to his computer terminal retrieves a pad taps on it as he walks past Jack not saying a word to him. Jack not being able to take any more finally speaks up.

"How long will I be getting the silent treatment?" Ianto stops but doesn't say a thing he just continues to look at the pad. "I think I deserve an answer" Jack stands and walks over to where Ianto is.

Ianto looks up at him eyes pooling his tears about to spill over the edges." You deserve nothing Sir. You left us; you left me, not a word of where you were going or how long you would be gone. You get nothing!"

Jack thumbs away the tears now streaming down Ianto's cheeks. "You need to understand I found my doctor Ianto. He was only here a minute I didn't have time to write you a note and I wasn't sure how long I was going to be gone. I would never hurt you on purpose you must believe me. I am so sorry can you forgive me? "

Ianto becomes angry," Sir you left me; you ran away, no note, no call, nothing! What doesn't this doctor even have a phone? I had no idea where you were or even if you would come back. I am sorry Sir but I can't just forgive and forget. I can barely stand being next to you right now. I need get out of here." He starts to move away but Jack grabs him by the arm holding him there.

"Come on Ianto. It really was important that I see the Doctor. I wanted him to cure me make me normal again."

Ianto tears begin to subside, "Did he fix you?"

"No but why would you want to mess with perfection." Jack smiles. ". I did find out a few things that I needed to know."

Ianto pulls away from Jack lays the pad down on a table turns and heads towards the door. "Good night Sir. The hub is all yours."

As he watches Ianto walk away his heart aches as he realizes the deep feelings he has for him and judging by Ianto's reaction he is sure Ianto has special feelings for him as well. He thinks it might be nice to explore this relationship further by asking him on a date then see where it goes from there. He looks up at his office and decides he might as well get caught up on what has been happening around here. Heading for the stairs he sighs knowing his return isn't going to be easy on anyone especially him.

The next morning everyone arrives about the same time chattering on about the morning's news and how they feel about Jack returning. Jack is standing high above looking down on his team apprehensive he waits there. Hoping they will accept his return.

Owen enter he looks up at Jack and realizes things will go back to the way they were Jack will be back in charge and he will become the brooding attack dog awaiting Jacks orders. Everyone will go back to hating Owen and loving Jack, well everyone except Tosh. He can't understand why she wants to be with him. She's a lovely Girl and all just not his type. He sighs as he watches each member of his team go up to where Jack is standing. He figures he might as well follow.

"So I am guessing the silent treatment is over now? "Jack cocks his head sideways and raises his eyebrows.

"Jack what did you expect from us, you took off and left us with nothing but questions, and then you just show up months later as if you were never gone." Gwen looks at him sharply.

"Sir, you really should have contacted us. There must have been some way to get us a message." Ianto looks nervous as if he was standing in the Principles office for cheating.

Jack looks around Ianto to see Owen coming up the stairs." Hello Owen glad you could join us. I thought since you seem to be in charge of the team now that you would have been the first one here."

Owen going into sarcastic mode spits his words out at Jack. "Well someone had to do it since you ran away and left us here on our own."

"Well I am back now, and I am sincerely sorry for causing so much trouble. I had no intention of hurting anyone." He looks directly at Ianto as he says that.

Gwen walks over and hugs Jack. "It's alright; just do not ever do that again."

Tosh walks over and hugs his other side. "Yes never do that again."

Jack stares at Ianto waiting hoping. Ianto hesitates then finally walks over and hugs the three of them. Owen stands there alone. He looks at the team then at Jack shaking his head side to side he mutters something then turns and walks back down the stairs. In his mind he has lost and once again everything changes.

Just then as if on cue the rift alarm sounds. The happy reunion now over the team gathers their gear and sprints for the door. Reaching the garage Jack Ianto Gwen and Tosh jump in one vehicle and Owen the other. Owen looks at the empty seats and says aloud," I see how it's going to be." He starts the SUV listening to Tosh's directions in his ear piece.

Once they arrive at their destination and begin to investigate. Jack gets a message on his wrist band jumps into one of the SUV's and yells at them not to follow.

Owen sounding disgusted, "He's off again. I wonder why he would tell us not to follow."

Gwen:" Because it's typical Jack, isn't it. He disappears, he comes back, and then he runs away again. He shuts us out – we don't even know his real name! He's supposed to be our boss and we know nothing about him!"

Ianto: "It's more fun when he's around though."

Tosh: "Definitely. "

Gwen:" Yeah, it is."

**Special note here - I said in the beginning that some things would be Torchwood canon and others will be Alternate Universe. This is the totally Canon part I mentioned. Please insert here the meeting and the defeating of Captain John Hart. Once John has gone back through the rift the team returns to the hub. And now back to our story.

Ianto and Jack help Gwen into the SUV after she became dizzy. Owen checks her over on the ride back to the hub. "The dizziness was likely caused by some residual effects of the drug John used once it has worn completely off you will be fine."

Tosh speaking softly," Are you alright Owen?

Owen parrots his normal reply" I am fine don't worry about me."

Once inside the hub Gwen is set down on the couch she was feeling better but they all dote on her except Owen grumbles something about going down to the lab but no one paid any attention as he turned and limped away.

Once in the lab he grabs a couple syringes and a suture kit. Takes off his pants and sits on the lab table strapping his leg down as he Peels off the make shift patch and using some surgical scrub cleanses the area. Grabbing a pair of forceps he starts digging for the bullet wincing and mumbling about being forgotten. The pain was intense as he finds the bullet and dislodges it. Dropping it into the metal tray he then uses the suture kit and starts stitching it up. After he finishes it he lies back on the table feeling a bit sick he tries to catch his breath. He didn't want to take any pain killers until after he finished the sutures.

Speaking aloud to himself, "I think I am getting pretty good at removing bullets from myself, must be all the practice I have had. "

He slowly sits up and redresses the wound Injects himself with an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory. He unstraps the leg and carefully slides off the table and pulls his pants on limps over to a cabinet and takes out a bottle of pain killers. Looks in another cabinet and removes a walking stick. Closes everything cleans up and limps up the stairs and back into the central hub.

It's quiet now; Gwen and Tosh are gone and Ianto is cleaning up coffee cups as Owen enters.

"Owen I thought you had gone home." Ianto looks up at him after picking up the last coffee cup.

"No tea boy I am still here that bullet wasn't going to remove itself."

Ianto sighs he hadn't been called tea boy in a long time. Owen must have returned to being Owen. "I am sorry Owen I would have happily assisted you had I known you were still here."

"Oh please tea boy save it. Only reason you are even here right now is you are hoping for a chance to get into Jacks pants".

Jack who was exiting his office and walking down the stairs heard this and reacted angrily. "Owen! Enough; go home and get some rest. In fact why don't you take a couple days off. You look as if you could use it."

Owen grumbles, "Yes Captain, whatever you say Captain. Take a couple days; a couple months, a couple years, who'd care." Owen turned and using his cane limped out of the hub.

"What was that all about?" Jack asks.

"I don't know Sir, I was honest when I said I didn't realize he was still here. " Ianto looks confused.

Jack spoke agitated, "Ianto could you please stop calling me Sir?"

"Yes Sir…. I mean yes Captain?"

"Just Jack, plain jack, well maybe not plain, how about sexy Jack?" He used his flirtatious grin.

"I like that," Ianto smiled at him. "Now about this date you asked me for where will you be taking me?"

"So you remember me asking you even in all the chaos that ensued?" Jack cocks his head.

"Yes I remember" Ianto pulls on his collar nervously.

"You are serious about this huh? I wasn't sure if you just said it to shut me up." Jack grins broadly.

Ianto pauses before speaking, "Well maybe I did but on further thought I decided why not."

Jack puts his hand on Ianto's shoulder, "That's a relief because I booked us a private room at De Courceys."

"De Courceys, I am impressed. " Ianto raises both brows.

"Good I hope I am able to impress you in many other ways as well." Jack smiles slyly like the one a kid uses when he puts his hand into the forbidden cookie jar.

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