AN: Again I own nothing but the plot and OC!Aiden, constructive criticism is more than welcome. Tosh's turning and her and Jack's life in the past will be the next chapter, then really only one chapter to go after that.
A month had passed before Ianto came back to work, in that time Jack had been an almost constant presence in his flat when he wasn't working. He was helping him come to terms with both Lisa's death and his new death as a vampire. They had many discussions, some included Owen, having come with their sire, about what they were and how each of them were turned and why. Jack had given him an edited version of his turning, Ianto didn't know what he was missing out but he knew he was missing out something. He'd been turned apparently, because he didn't deserve to die for being in love, although the derision in Jack's tone suggested that that was not the reason.
There was something about Jack though, Ianto didn't understand it, there was something pulling him towards Jack. Something within him wanted to be with Jack, but he was determined not to say anything, he'd never thought of being with a man before, and now suddenly he wants his boss, his boss who's a man.
When his months suspension was over and he went back to work everything seemed to pick up the pace. First was the Mara or fairies, they had caused almost as much trouble with the team as his hiding of the cyberwoman (he couldn't call her Lisa, she had died at Canary Wharf). None of the team except for him would talk to Jack, Gwen and Tosh both horrified at Jack having given Jasmine away, and Owen not wanting to do anything that upset Tosh was staying clear of Jack as well.
However, no matter how much he may blame Jack for letting Jasmine go he understood his reasoning, and he couldn't leave him to brood about it in silence, that stupid pulling towards Jack just wouldn't let up. For some reason he felt the need to protect Jack, just gather him up and hold him close to keep the world out. Instead he sat and allowed Jack to talk himself hoarse, providing the comfort of having someone to listen. As he had been getting ready to leave he clapped Jack on the shoulder and said his goodbyes, before he could move though, Jack grabbed his hand and pulled him down to his level giving him a quick kiss, whispering "Thank you" against his lips as he did so.
Ianto just nodded then continue on his way out of the hub and to his flat, deciding that now he had even more to think about and that a relaxing bath was in order. The kiss wasn't mentioned again until they were out in the Brecon Beacons, Gwen playing a tactless game of who was your last 'snog', cornered them all and began interrogating them. When Tosh had replied that hers was Owen everyone had turned to stare at him, although only Jack and Ianto knew what they were looking for, the almost happiness and relief in his eyes as he answers "Well. Lucky me, eh?" to her not having kissed anyone since him at the previous Christmas. It was then that Ianto realised something about the medic, even when he shattered Tosh's heart a few minutes later by informing everyone that Gwen was his last kiss, he wasn't trying to hurt her, but protect her. Toshiko was Owen's, she belonged to him whether she knew it or nor, she was his mate.
After Jack's crack about non-human lifeforms even though that is technically what he is Ianto is pissed, Owen's expected remarks come from him like well rehearsed lines. Looking around the group he speaks, "It's my turn, is it? It was Lisa.", the smile falls from Jack's face at the words the group turns somber, and Ianto is sure that he sees a hint of pain in Jack's eyes, and begins to regret his words. The rest of the trip into the country went just as well as the game had, he and Tosh were captured by cannibals, Gwen got shot then she and Owen were captured as well, leaving it to Jack to rescue them all. Ianto was just glad that Gwen's injury wasn't enough to warrant being turned, for some reason the idea of Jack turning Gwen he turned his stomach. Maybe he just didn't want an eternal Gwen running around, or maybe it was because he didn't want her having a bond with Jack, even a bond between childe and sire.
Tosh's disastrous relationship with Mary had just put Owen in a bad mood, even though he couldn't really say anything as he was screwing Gwen, he was one of the most hypocritical people Ianto knew, especially when the life of his fuck buddy seemed to mean more to him than his mates. Jack had gotten rid of Mary, sending her to the sun may have been a bit harsh, but she had killed a number of people and had hurt Toshiko emotionally. Ianto knew that Jack had spoken to Toshiko afterwards, he just hoped that she was alright.
The debacle with Suzie wasn't the best of experiences, why Gwen couldn't have done as she had been told and stopped using the glove then the whole affair would not have happened. Well, Suzie wouldn't have been able to do anymore damage, while her pet monkey Max still had his orders. It wasn't so much the whole occurrence that bothered him, but rather the aftermath, Jack had began to turn in on himself and internalise all his guilt. Suzie had been his first proper hire, it had been hard enough when she killed herself, but having to kill her was beginning to take its toll on the elder vampire.
Ianto had decided that a distraction was in order, and having come to terms with his fledgling feelings for Jack decided on what type of distraction. "If you're interested... I've still got that stopwatch." Ianto offered. Jack catching on to what he offered had gone to get rid of the rest of the team, to find that he needn't have bothered as Owen had heard the conversation, enhanced hearing wasn't always a good thing, and was already ushering the women out of the hub.
Ianto was feeling much better now that he had accepted his feelings towards Jack, he now understood what the pulling had been about, signifying Jack as his mate, to love and protect. There relationship was coming on well, weeks had gone by and they were becoming more comfortable with each other, spending time together between the death of the teams', although mostly Gwen's, stalker, timetravellers from the past and weevil fight clubs.
Now though all Ianto felt was miserable and helpless, he was pretty sure that Owen felt the exact same way as they couldn't reach Jack or Tosh, they had been investigating reports of ghosts in an old dancehall and the next thing they knew they had been unable to contact them. Gwen had then found, while running a search on the Ritz Dancehall, a picture of Jack, Tosh and two other men taken in 1941. They both knew it was impossible for them to open the rift to bring them back, Jack would find a way to kill them, but they were desperate for an idea.
While Jack could survive and live throughout the decades again until he reached the right time to come back, Tosh would still age and would most likely die before she re-entered her own timeline in the twenty-first century. They were surprised then when Jack and Tosh walked through the cog door, both looking exactly as they had when they had left nearly two hours ago, with the exception of Toshiko's outfit. Ianto and Owen looked at each other sharing a brief look as they realised that their coven had gone up to four and that Jack must have turned Toshiko when they landed in the past.