It was raining out and yet Rhys was feeling sunny inside as he sang along the new radio ad he had helped write. His day seemed to be going brilliantly when his secretary rang him, there was a car accident and he had to be there now. Harwood's policy and all. However when he got there the police wouldn't allow him through, he was shocked to find that his driver and good friend was dead and gave the policeman the details of his next kin.
"Right, um, I'm going to need to arrange to move the lorry" Rhys said uncomfortably as he scratched his head.
"Not yet. There's something suspicious in the back" the policeman said firmly.
"It's just meat. Leighton was taking it to the abattoir" Rhys said offended and shocked at the implication that his friend was involved something dodgy.
"Yeah, well, whatever. Torchwood wants a look at it first" the policeman said and he turned just in time to see a black SUV pull up directly behind the accident site. Rhys watched curiously as the Torchwood Team began to climb out, a handsome man in a long blue coat that Rhys had seen only once and then a small black haired woman with pale skin.
Gwen.
Rhys inwardly groaned as he watched this Torchwood start investigating. It would be the gods to turn against him and put his ex-girlfriend in charge of an investigation concerning his firm. Not that Gwen had a grudge against him; in fact they were on really good terms now. She met his latest sort of girlfriend last week and got on smashingly well.
But he had no idea why Gwen would investigate something like this.
To make things worse later on that day he got a call from the police, a woman who sounded remarkably like Tosh (he had chatted to the sweet shy woman a few times before and after Gwen broke up) questioned him about the lorry. He gave all the information he could find but it seemed to not be enough. Not sure his friendship with Gwen was stable enough to ask her the truth, Rhys grabbed his keys and went to plaza, sat in his car and waited for any member of the team, preferably Gwen to follow.
To his good luck he ended up following Gwen and Jack to this large warehouse, he tried to phone her but to his annoyance she ignored him. How was he going to tell her he was there with her? Enraged and determined to find out the truth Rhys got out of his car and went to the warehouse, met with the people in charged and made a load of lies up.
He got the job and was shown the most tragic, beautiful and alien thing he had ever seen.
Once he left his got his phone out and tapped out a text message.
We need to talk, now! Meet me at the nearest cafe from the plaza ASAP
He sent it to Gwen.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Gwen tapped her fingers nervously against the table. She was waiting in the cafe Rhys asked her too and she was unsure what to say. She saw him at that warehouse and she needed to know what was in there and what the hell he was doing in there as well. But she couldn't tell Rhys anything about Torchwood or the aliens...fuck everything was far too screwed up in her life.
Rhys sat down opposite her, he smiled nervously. "Would you like to order something first?" he asked.
"No thank you, you?" Gwen said quickly wanting this over soon.
"No"
There was a moment of silence. Rhys sighed heavily and Gwen stiffened.
"Rhys-"
"Gwen I have no idea what it was that I saw" Rhys interrupted firmly. "It looked like a giant whale that apparently grows everything back and more. They're using it to get money and lots of it. I managed to land myself a job there, I have no idea what it is you're doing or how but I can"
Gwen smiled. "How can you be such an idiot but so brave as well?" she asked, she passed him a small plastic bag that held a white pill inside. "When today is over I want you to take this because you can't know about Torchwood and what we do"
"I keep hearing Torchwood, I thought it was just an urban legend or something" Rhys said taking the bag and putting it in his pocket. "Just nonsense, no such thing as aliens is there?"
"Oh trust me, there is and I can prove it to you" Gwen said getting up. "Follow me Rhys Williams and prepare to be amazed"
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Gwen took him through the invisible lift. Rhys found everything that he could see amazing and was shocked to see a pterodactyl fly over his head screeching away. Jack walked up and introduced himself and the others; Jack was slightly surprised that Rhys knew the others fairly well already but made no comment. As they made their plans to save the gigantic sea life alien creature, Rhys and Gwen argued briefly and Jack couldn't help but inwardly smirk at the fact neither of them made any romantic notion towards the other. No fiancée or other endearing terms said, no hold handing or hugging or kissing.
If Gwen never said they were in engaged Jack would have thought they had broken up months ago. Ianto and Rhys had chatted a long time with Gwen while Jack watched from his office window. Once Owen and Tosh were ready Jack left with Rhys to Rhys' office waiting for the call from the thugs that were harming the innocent alien.
Once the call was made they got into the lorry and began driving. Rhys ate a Danish pastry as he drove.
"Why her? Boy, of all the women you could've chosen-"
"She chose us" Jack interrupted coldly, annoyed that Rhys was talking with his mouth full. "Kind of stumbled upon us" he said more warmly, attempting to be nice.
"So did I. Don't be asking me to join" Rhys pointed out.
"We needed someone with police skills" Jack said calmly.
"Could've chosen anyone" Rhys snapped. "Did you ever think about us? You know - me, her parents, people who love her, who want her safe?"
"No, sorry" Jack said not sounding sorry at all. "We needed her. On her first day of work, she told me off for being too clinical"
"She doesn't hold back, mate" Rhys said grinning.
"Mnh-mnh, stubborn as hell" Jack agreed a smile forming on his face.
"Tell me about it. Yeah, she's an amazing girl" Rhys sighed. "Ianto is a lucky man, Jack"
Jack's insides froze. He blinked and turned to face Rhys fully. "Hold on did you just say Ianto?" he asked.
"Yeah, Ianto, you know the guy in the suit who makes the coffee?"
"I know who Ianto Jones is" Jack snapped. "But what has he got to do with Gwen?"
"What don't you know?" Rhys asked confused.
"Know what?"
"That the pair of them has been engaged since November" Rhys said casually. "Been together since September. It's all very fast I think but Ianto is a good man who understands Gwen's life better than I ever will now. We broke up not so long after you left, still mates though which is why I contacted her and followed her, trying to protect a friend"
Jack faced straight ahead with an empty look in his eyes as he processed what he just learnt. Gwen and Rhys had split up. Gwen is engaged to Ianto. Gwen lied and said she was engaged to Rhys. But Gwen claims she lives in the same building as Ianto and she had once answered Ianto's phone. Bits and pieces of CCTV have gone missing since he came back. Tosh and Owen have been acting rather edgy. Ianto kept rejecting him which was unexpected.
"You ok mate?" Rhys asked concerned.
Jack shook his head. "They lied to me" he whispered, numb with shock. "They all lied to me"
