Thanks to everyone who reviewed and favorited and alerted. It really does mean a lot.
My sister gets like...maybe 4% of this. What can I say? She helped.
I like to place this story before Owen "dies" but after Rhys finds out about Torchwood. So, Owen is fully alive and Rhys is fully aware.
Oh, and thanks to my dear sister who happened to be playing it on the piano when I was writing this, Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven is the theme to this story. Now, of course, she gets 5%.
Enjoy!
- Chapter Two - His Answer -
He sat there for most of the night, not being able to get up, let alone sleep. He just couldn't wrap his head around it.
Gwen.
Gwen was pregnant.
Gwen was not pregnant with Rhys's baby, like he was once led to believe.
Gwen was pregnant with his baby.
His.
His own child—
Ianto stood over him, and Jack found himself wondering how long he had been standing there.
"Sir?"
Jack stared up at him for moment, and then finally stood and stared at him some more.
Ianto had to admit—Jack looked terrible this morning. He had just his undershirt on, suspenders hanging loose on his legs, off his shoulders, no shoes, and don't even get started on his hair.
"Yes, Ianto?" Jack asked hoarsely, not realizing how very dry his throat was. He cleared his throat.
"I was just wondering if..." he started, but seemed to think otherwise. He started again, "Are you okay?"
Jack had been staring downward. He looked up to see a worried face, and he sighed.
"I'm fine."
Ianto seemed to not buy it, but apparently didn't see it as any of his business, thank goodness. Jack turned on his heel once Ianto was gone, and went into his office. He sat in his chair and buried his head in his hands, his elbows on the large desk.
What was he going to do? What did Gwen expect him to do? Was he supposed to act normal and pretend like nothing was wrong, like the baby was Rhys's? Tough luck on that one.
He waited for Gwen to enter the Hub and he rushed down to greet her. He quickly asked for her presence in his office immediately.
He shut the door behind him and stood in front of it, mostly because he knew she would want to leave.
"Gwen, what do you expect me to do?" he asked simply.
She seemed to hesitate, and them seemed to calm down, and then she said, "What do you mean?"
"Gwen, you're seven weeks pregnant," he started, clearly not done, but she interrupted him.
"Jack," she took a step closer, "What do you expect me to do?"
He took in a large uneven breath, and shook his head while he exhaled.
"I expect you to do whats right," he said helplessly.
Right, to him, was tell Rhys the truth and admit the baby was Jack's. He knew it would crush Rhys. He knew he wouldn't forgive Gwen for cheating on him, let alone cheating on him with Jack, knowing how much he hated him. And that, the whole situation, made him cringe. And it still hurt like living crap.
She nodded, tears forming in her eyes.
"And whats the right thing?" she asked, as if knowing the answer, but needing to hear him say it.
He took another deep breath, then ran a hand down his face.
"That baby," he said, pointing at her stomach, "is mine. I know that, and you know that. You were fighting with Rhys when-"
"I know what happened," she said.
"Then why—"
"I love Rhys, Jack. I can't hurt him like that," she said, voice cracking.
"What about me?" he pleaded.
Gwen was crying now, and Jack wasn't far behind her. He tried to stay strong.
"Gwen," he stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged it off, and turned away. He could see her shoulders moving up and down as she cried into her hands.
She was facing away from the door when Owen walked in.
"Hey guys, I..." Owen started, but stopped himself when he saw Gwen sobbing, "Gwen? What did that mean old man do to you?" He said it as a joke, to try and make her feel better.
She sniffed. "Nothing."
Owen looked at Jack, as if for an explanation. Jack, of course, couldn't give him one. Gwen walked out of the room, straightening her shirt and wiping the tears away.
Owen watched her leave, and once she was gone he turned back Jack.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Nothing," he said.
"Nothing, nothing, nothing, that's all I'm getting today..." he mumbled as he walked out.
Jack sat in his chair. He mumbled about the fact that Owen had left the door open. He didn't bother to get up and shut it, though.
He leaned his elbows on his desk and once again buried his face in his hands.
Yes, he let a few tears fall.
Yes, he let quite a few sobs out.
Owen happened to walk by at this time, and was genuinely worried for his boss. He was also worried about Gwen, who had left earlier. What was going on between them? They had been odd for the longest time now.
Owen shook his head and decided not to get involved.
Jack didn't sleep that night, neither. Once morning came, Tosh was the first to appear in his office.
"Jack?"
The black bags under his eyes showed clearly he hadn't slept. His swollen eyes indicated that he had been crying.
"Yes?" It was almost a whisper.
She had never seen him like this. He was broken, and trying to desperately to get back together.
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them he was back to his old self; he was energetic, happy. And everything was normal.
Until Gwen walked in.
"Hey Gwen," Owen said. He was glad to see her happy again.
"Hey," she replied.
Jack walked out of his office ad stared down at Gwen silently. He couldn't help but let his eyes travel slowly down to her stomach where his unborn child slumbered.
Tosh went down and greeted her. Jack just stared. But when Tosh hugged Gwen and blocked his view of her stomach, he turned and went into his office and shut the door behind him. He sat behind his desk and leaned back in his chair.
After a moment Gwen walked in and he immediately stood up.
"Gwen...I—"
But he stopped when she laid her gun and badge on his desk in front of him.
"I'm quitting Torchwood."
He stared at the objects on his desk.
"And don't say people just don't quit Torchwood, because I know you would never lay a finger on me," she said, through almost gritted teeth.
"You're right about that."
She nodded, having not expected him to answer.
"What're you gonna do, then?" he asked, surprisingly calm.
"Well, for starters, spend more time with Rhys."
"No, I meant what're you gonna do about our baby?" He slowly and made his way to the other side of the desk. He sat on it, and to his surprise, Gwen sat by him.
He turned his head and looked her in the eyes.
"I don't want to be its 'Uncle Jack.' I couldn't live with that. I want to be its Dad, Gwen."
"Jack..."
"Please, don't erase me from this."
He didn't want to put her through this, but he had to try and change her mind about leaving him. She reached up and wiped a tear form his face. He hadn't even known he was crying.
"What about Rhys?" she asked, still caressing his face, cupping his cheek.
He shook his head slightly, and placed his hand on top of hers, which was still on his face.
"I can't hurt him like that," she said, answering her own question.
Jack nodded, knowing that was going to be her answer.
After moment of staring into her eyes, he knew what he had to do.
He gently took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. He softly kissed her hand, and then put it in her lap. He got up and walked out of the room, almost as if in slow motion.
He didn't dare look back.
Because he had his answer.