The whole team stopped and looked around as they heard the strange sound. Three guns were whipped out and defensive stances taken. Jack rushed out of his office.
'Stand down' he shouted.
Gwen, Toshiko and Owen reluctantly relaxed their stance as they noticed the demeanour of their leader. Jack's whole being radiated excitement and hope. He raced to the main hub floor to greet the Doctor.
The Doctor popped his head around the Tardis door grinning and nodding politely at the three people he did not yet know.
'Jack...come on...I think I've got him' he shouted.
Before any of the team could raise a protest Jack was inside the Tardis and the machine was already disappearing.
'Bloody marvellous' observed Owen 'now we have two team members missing'
'He said he had found Ianto...maybe he has...they'll be back' said Toshiko.
'They'd better be' snarled Gwen 'we managed for a while without Jack but I'm not interested in trying to manage without Ianto's coffee for much longer'
The others gave a weak smile and set about watching Toshiko as she tried to locate and follow the Tardis on her monitors.
TWTWTW
The Doctor was as usual speeding around the console of the Tardis like a madman, flicking switches and turning dials. Jack was beginning to think he did it just for show. The travel devices used by the time agency had not been nearly as complicated. But then neither had they been accurate or entirely safe.
Jack's attention was suddenly caught by the figure of Ianto materialising in the middle of the Tardis. His image was fading in and out as the Doctor tried to get a fix on him and Jack held his breath.
'Come on Doc...get him' he breathed.
'I'm trying Jack...make yourself useful and hold this lever' insisted the Doctor.
Jack did as he was asked despite his reservations that the Doctor was only giving him something to do to stop him asking annoying questions, now was not the time to aggravate the only person who might be able to save his lover.
Ianto's image became clearer and eventually stabilised.
'Doc!...can I let go of this lever?' asked Jack desperately.
'Oh yes' said the Doctor 'it would seem we have our errant traveller back with us' he continued and watched with mild concern as Ianto collapsed in Jack's arms.
'What's wrong with him?' gasped Jack.
'Oh...just a little time vertigo...he'll be ok' assured the Doctor.
'Really?' asked Jack.
'Yes...oh I think so...yes...I'll feel sure that's all it is' mumbled the Doctor.
Jack glared at him whilst cradling Ianto but immediately forgot to be angry when Ianto opened his eyes.
'Jack?' he asked.
'Yeah...it's me...you're ok...you're back.
'Oh good' said Ianto.
Jack laughed.
'Well that has to be the understatement of the year' he announced.
The Doctor wandered over to the two men.
'Nice to meet you properly Mr Jones' he said.
'You saved me....thank you' said Ianto gratefully.
'No problem...it was easier than listening to Jack whine for centuries....which he would have done' smiled the Doctor.
Jack glared at him but shrugged in acknowledgement that the Doctor was probably right.
'Where are we?...where is everyone else?..why aren't we in the hub anymore?' asked Ianto suddenly panicking at the unfamiliar surroundings.
'We're inside the Tardis' announced the Doctor 'she materialised around you to pull you out of the time whirl thingy'
'Oh' said Ianto relieved that they were not thousands of miles away or on a parallel world.
Jack looked at his lover slightly puzzled.
'Ianto...I know you've seen pictures of the Tardis...but you've never been in it...'
Ianto looked up at him in question.
'Well aren't you going to exclaim about it being bigger on the inside?' asked Jack.
Ianto just stared at him.
'Well of course it's bigger on the inside Jack...the Doctor would hardly travel over time and space in a six foot box with who knows how many companions' he said in exasperation.
'I'm also bright enough to know it's not actually made of wood' he finished rolling his eyes at the other man.
'Ooohh I like you Ianto Jones' laughed the Doctor 'perceptive, intelligent, unflappable and looks good in a suit...yes I like you a lot'
'Hmmm..that could be considered harassment sir' smiled Ianto lazily.
'Oi!' shouted Jack 'that is my perceptive and good looking Welshman you are flirting with Doctor...just because you saved him...don't go getting any ideas' he continued jealously.
'Staking a claim Jack?' asked the Doctor raising an eyebrow at the irate captain 'you might find it easier to convince Ianto, than all the people who are ever going to find him attractive'
Ianto smiled as he remembered talking to Jack over his own dead body. He recalled what that Jack had told him to say.
'The Doctor's right Jack...stop being a prat and just say it' smiled Ianto.
Jack looked at the both of them in exasperation. He recognised the truth of what they were saying. It would be easier to convince Ianto of the importance of their relationship, give him a reason to invest in it and have him remain faithful, rather than try to fend off every new person who found him attractive. He gave in to his feelings.
'I love you Ianto Jones...please don't leave again' he whispered.
Ianto grinned at him.
'I love you too Jack...I'll have to leave you eventually but I promise never of my own volition'
The two men kissed. Ianto broke away from Jack and looked at the other two curiously.
'Where is that singing coming from?' he asked.
The Doctor smiled but Jack just looked puzzled.
'What singing?' he asked.
'A Welsh lullaby...can't you hear it Jack?'
'No...Doctor?' asked Jack still puzzled.
'It's the Tardis' announced the Doctor 'she's singing to Ianto'
'In Welsh?' said Ianto surprised.
'No' answered Jack 'the Tardis translates languages for you'
'Actually' announced the Doctor 'she is singing in Welsh...it would appear the Tardis likes your Mr Jones as much as I do...she's trying to make him feel at home'
'She's never done anything like that for me' snarled Jack 'in fact she tried to lose me...shake me off'
'Weelll...' said the Doctor 'as much as you bother her...it would seem Ianto calms her...'
'Oh wonderful...now I'm vying for his affection with a bloody machine' sniped Jack.
'Oi! The Tardis is not a machine' Ianto and the Doctor said in unison and Jack threw up his hands in disgust.
'Bloody hell' he sniped.
The other two laughed and eventually Jack managed to raise a grin.
'If it makes you feel any better the Tardis likes you better because of him' announced the Doctor looking at Jack and gesturing towards Ianto.
Ianto grinned at the mixed look of pleasure and annoyance on Jack's face. Jack gave up worrying about it.
'Are we back at the hub yet?...the rest of the team are going to want to see Ianto' said Jack.
Ianto felt a spike of fear go through him in remembrance of some of the things he had seen whilst away.
'Jack?' he whispered softly 'are they all ok?...are they still there?...Owen and Tosh and Gwen?' he asked.
'Of course they are still there...you've only been gone a couple of days Ianto...we've missed you...been working on nothing but getting you back...even Owen was upset' said Jack gently as he saw the fear in Ianto's eyes.
Jack grimaced as he realised that Ianto had probably seen times when Gwen, Toshiko and Owen were no longer with them. Or worse still, witnessed them dying. He could only concentrate on convincing him that at this moment in time everything was exactly as he had left it.
Ianto looked across at the Doctor warily. He wanted to share what he had seen, share the fear and the sense of loss and grief but he knew he couldn't. The Doctor looked at him with sorrow and understanding but put his finger to his lips in the universal 'shh' gesture and Ianto nodded his understanding.
He felt in his pocket and found the ring the future Jack had given him, realising he needed to get it hidden quickly but he wanted to talk to the Doctor first.
'The things I saw...will they definitely come true...some of them..well ..could I prevent them from happening?' he asked desperately.
'No...I'm sorry...you can't stop the future...maybe not everything will happen exactly as you saw it...time is always in flux...but mostly it will follow the pattern you witnessed...don't try to alter it Ianto.. it will almost certainly end in disaster' the Doctor told him sadly.
Ianto hung his head, thinking about how difficult it would be to lose his friends and swallowing hard.
'But I know you saw some good things Ianto' continued the Doctor 'the future holds much joy for you as well as some sadness...try to enjoy now...let time take care of the future and hold your friends close...never regret'
Ianto nodded his head and tried to concentrate on the good in store for him. He looked into Jack's eyes and thought of all the time they would have together.
'Jack' he whispered.
Jack just looked at him with eyebrows raised in question.
'When I was at university I wore women's underwear for almost a year' said Ianto.
Jack spluttered...felt a surge of arousal...grinned...and then asked puzzled.
'Why?...and why tell me now with all this going on?'
Ianto laughed at Jack's reaction.
'Because before I left you wanted me to tell you something about me that you didn't know...and I was pretty sure you didn't know this' explained Ianto.
Jack laughed again remembering the conversation they had before Ianto was taken by the time whirl.
'But Ianto...what on earth made you wear women's underwear?' he asked.
'Well...' started Ianto 'it began when a girlfriend asked me to...but I found I liked it...still wore them even after we split...even went shopping for new stuff at one stage' smiled Ianto mildly embarrassed by the confession.
'Ianto Jones you kinky bastard' smiled Jack 'do you still have some?'
'Yes' admitted Ianto blushing.
'You have to wear it...under your suits' insisted Jack.
He leaned his head to one side and considered.
'But perhaps only one day a week...I'll never get any work done otherwise' he grinned.
Ianto smiled at him. They had needed something this silly to break the tension of returning to the hub.
'Come on' Jack said 'let's go see the rest of the team' and he held out his hand.
He suddenly stopped and looked at Ianto.
'Ianto...the girls are going to want to hug you' he warned.
Jack knew Ianto was not keen on physical contact with others, even those he considered his friends. He did not hug and kiss indiscriminately like many of his contemporaries. But Ianto smiled at him.
'I think I can cope for once' he said.
'Even with Owen?' questioned Jack.
'I very much doubt Owen will want to hug me Jack' Ianto almost laughed at the thought.
Jack considered.
'Perhaps not...but he will want to do lots of tests on you...to give him an excuse to fuss' he smiled, 'let him Ianto...he's been as worried as the girls...but you know he won't show it unless he can cover it up as medical necessities' he continued.
Ianto swallowed as he remembered some of the things he had learnt about Owen whilst he had been away and he nodded his compliance with Jack's request. With hands linked they stepped out of the Tardis followed by the Doctor.
'Ianto!' squealed Gwen the moment he appeared.
She launched herself at him hugging and kissing until, despite his assurances to Jack, Ianto became uncomfortable at her proximity. Toshiko pulled him away from the other woman and after a single hug she whispered to him.
'I missed you'
Ianto kissed her on the cheek pleased to have been rescued from Gwen's more determined physicality.
Then Ianto faced Owen. The two men looked at each other not moving and saying nothing. Owen nodded at him and Ianto gave a half smile in return.
'Welcome home Ianto' said Owen quietly.
Ianto stunned his whole team by walking over to Owen and pulling him into a brief but fierce hug.
'Thank you Owen' he said.
Ianto was not sure if he was thanking him for what he said now or what he had witnessed him saying whilst he was away.
Jack looked around at his team. Gwen was crying quietly still watching Ianto. Toshiko was talking to the Doctor and asking his advice about something she was showing him on her monitor and Owen was already trying to cajole Ianto into going to the med lab for tests.
He sat on a chair and felt the relief wash through him.
TWTWTW
Sometime later the team were getting ready to leave the hub for a celebratory drink. Owen was talking to the Doctor for the first time. The Doctor was looking over some of the files Owen had created on alien autopsies and much to Owen's chagrin was correcting some of them.
'Why him?' asked Owen.
The Doctor looked up at him perplexed.
'What?' he asked.
'Why him?...these time whirls must happen all over the place...you can't save everyone so why him?' he insisted.
The Doctor considered. Owen was right, time whirls were a constant occurrence. Sometimes people spontaneously reverted to their own time and barely realised they had been gone, putting the time lapse down to being tired and losing concentration. Sometimes people disappeared without trace and were never seen again.
The Doctor had unspoken reasons for finding Ianto. The Tardis had alerted him and fretted until the search had begun. They were reasons he could not safely share with anybody even Ianto himself.
'The universe thought him important' he eventually admitted.
'Ianto?...I mean he's great...but he's ordinary..isn't he?' said Owen puzzled.
The Doctor smiled at him.
'Yes he's ordinary and sometimes the universe needs ordinary people...I once knew a maid servant who saved the world...sometimes the most important people are very ordinary...they might be archivists' he mused 'or doctors' he added looking at Owen significantly.
Owen drew in a sharp breath. Was the Doctor trying to tell him something about his own future? Was he going to be important?
Owen had no time to ponder this further as Ianto called down to them that the team were ready to leave.
TWTWTW
At the pub Gwen, Toshiko and Owen were already relaxing under the influence of several drinks, even the Doctor had been persuaded the world would not end if he took an alcoholic beverage. Jack and Ianto were both sober, too high on the joy of being back together to need any other stimulation.
Ianto went to the bar to place another order and the Doctor accompanied him. Ianto took the opportunity to talk to him privately.
'This is awkward for me' announced Ianto.
'Buying drinks?' asked the Doctor puzzled.
'No!' laughed Ianto.
He turned to look fully at the man beside him.
'I've been jealous of you for so long...and now I have to be grateful to you for saving me' he said.
'You don't have to be grateful Ianto...the universe needs you...and Jack needs you...you were worth saving' said the Doctor.
Ianto looked at him puzzled but decided to let it go.
'Jack was in love with you for a long time' he said.
'No' insisted the Doctor.
Ianto raised his eyebrows at him.
'That wasn't love Ianto...hero worship maybe...but he didn't know me well enough to love me'
The Doctor took a deep breath.
'When he found me again I had to admit that I left him behind on purpose...I'm a Timelord and he is a fixed point in time...I can't cope with that and I left him...once he knew that, the hero worship died a little' the Doctor shrugged.
Ianto gaped at him. This man had left Jack behind on purpose? He had condemned him to live forever and then just left him? Ianto was outraged.
The Doctor smiled sadly at him.
'That right there Ianto...that reaction...that is why Jack loves you...you would not have left him...he knows that...he wanted me desperately for a while...he wants you forever'
The Doctor and Ianto searched each other's faces for a while, neither sure what to say now. Jack joined them at the bar.
'Drinks are taking a long time' he said looking at them warily, wondering at their apparently intense conversation.
The Doctor and Ianto exchanged glances. Jack looked between them both.
'Doctor' he said 'thank you for all your help...but I need to take my favourite Welshman home now...need to welcome him home properly' he grinned lasciviously.
'Of course' smiled the Doctor 'I will stay and spend some more time with your team...I won't leave without saying goodbye' he promised.
Jack nodded, accepting the unspoken apology for leaving him the last time.
'Come on' said Jack 'I have an underwear drawer to ransack for hidden secrets'
He took Ianto's hand and the two quietly left the pub for their own celebration at home, Ianto's heart lifting as they left the Doctor behind.
Jack had chosen to go home with him.