A/N: Okay so I wasn't happy with chapters 20 and 21. I had to redo them. I skipped too far forward, didn't introduce the characters well enough and so I had to redo them. This chapter is kinda huge. Bigger than I had intended to make it but I'm happy with it. You get to actually see what kind of person Joshua is and in the next coming chapters you'll get a better point on Jazz and Micah.

Reviews make me happy.

Hugs and suck.

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"Jack, you need to get some sleep." Ianto begged as he watched Jack sit and stare at their son for the third day in a row.

"I don't need much sleep." Jack answered, not looking away from the perfection of his son.

"That doesn't mean you don't need any sleep. Come on cariad, sleep in the bunker and I'll keep watch."

Jack and Ianto weren't pessimistic...they were realists, they didn't want to get their hopes up, just in case Saben took a turn for the worst, but that same thinking made it so they spent every waking moment singing or reading or just humming to the baby, knowing their voices had a calming affect on the boy. They both wanted there to be a cure all for something like this, but they knew the best way to tell Saben's condition was on a daily basis. They couldn't rush anything. Saben wouldn't magically gestate for three more months and become healthy just by having slept in an incubator. These things took time. Jack and Ianto knew this, but that didn't make the wait any easier to handle.

"I don't want to leave him...in case he needs me." Jack said.

"Alright cariad. I'll sit with you."

When it came to the dealings of the hub, they were completely useless. Their mind always occupied with Saben even for the brief five or ten minutes they would leave his side. Ianto had even stopped making coffee, assuring the others that instant wouldn't kill them for the time being. Ianto condoning instant made Owen shout that the end of the world was upon them, which caused Tosh to laugh hysterically, but Ianto didn't hear them, his mind was a million miles away thinking of everything that could happen to Saben and god how he hated his brain sometimes.

Then came the day that Tosh and Owen had brought in the new recruits. It just so happened to coincide with the ten minutes that Ianto would leave the TARDIS, and Ianto stopped in his tracks. He knew three of them, that was for damn sure. Those were not faces he was likely to forget any time soon and a part of him jumped for joy at seeing them inside the hub, knowing that to have gotten that far they needed to have been hired on, and without thinking he'd run over to them and thrown his arms around each and every single one of his friends.

"IANTO?" One asked, practically causing the whole team to go deaf.

"Jazz, I need my ears yet woman." Ianto said happy to be holding her again.

Jasmine Conner had gone to university with Ianto and they'd had quite a few classes together. Their friendship hadn't started until after she'd been mugged, but from that day on, they'd been inseparable. There were times she got to be insufferable, drolling on and on about her boyfriend but honestly, Ianto was happy he'd met her. They'd both been in a pretty rough situation, Ianto's dad having just passed not too long prior and Jazz having recently been mugged. How does that saying go? Misery loves company? And they were both quite miserable when they'd met eachother.

"It seems you've yet to shrink. How tall are you now?" Ianto asked, smirking at the indignant look on her face.

"6 foot 7 inches." Jazz said, blushing a bit.

"With or without heals?"

Jazz frowned and squinted her brown eyes at her friend. With a huff she went about putting her red hair in a pony tail, not really knowing what else to say. She loved high heals. It wasn't a crime.

Ianto turned and looked at the other four gathered. He knew two of them and he desperately wanted to catch up with them but he wasn't rude. With a smile he introduced himself to the people he didn't recognize. They were identical twins and for some reason this gave Ianto a sense of unease. His experience with twins was always a bit odd.

"I'm Kayla, and this is Julie. We're retrieval specialists. She's the brain I'm the brawn." Kayla introduced and Ianto nodded politely. They were beautiful, green eyes, black hair and both surprisingly short for how old they were. They stood barely five feet tall and Ianto was wondering if it was genetic or if they were just unlucky enough to have stunted their own growth. He'd ask them at a later date, when he was sure they would be okay with the questions.

"Retrieval specialists? That's a thing?"

"Micah, behave." Jazz said, looking disapprovingly at her friend.

Micah Farefellow was a charming scientist. His specialty was infectious diseases. He and Ianto met in the bar the night after Ifan passed. Ianto may not have particularly liked his father but the man was still his tad and it hurt that the man was now gone, so he'd gone out to have a few drinks and was suddenly approached by a very handsome young man with stunning blue eyes and black hair that fell down his face. If Ianto hadn't been grieving he'd have pointed out how emo the man looked, but instead he decided to finish his...what was it...third? Fourth drink? He'd lost count.

They had talked of love and loss and family until Ianto had finally drunk himself into a coma and Micah had smiled fondly before grabbing Ianto's phone and calling the first person on his list, Lisa, and waited for her to come and claim him before putting his number into Ianto's phone and bidding the two of them goodbye.

He hadn't been sure if Ianto would actually call, but his hunch had been correct. Ianto had needed a friend and he had been glad to be that friend. It took a bit but Ianto and he and formed a strong bond, one which had lasted years.

"Ianto, nice to see you again. It's been, what, seven years...wouldn't you say Joshua?" Micah said and the last of the new recruits nodded his head, brown hair bobbing up and down.

Joshua Miller was an exceptional doctor. He'd been the one to treat Ifan. That's how Ianto and he had met and though Ifan eventually died, it wasn't because of an unattended physician. Joshua was always happy to be there for his patients, even though he wasn't particularly social. There was a time when he'd been outgoing and social but he became withdrawn long ago, when his mother had passed.

Ianto and Joshua met properly at the hospital cafeteria, where Ianto was sitting and glaring at his food. Joshua had immediately recognized him and had taken a seat next to him with his own food and an affectionate smile.

"That food wrong you?" Joshua had asked and Ianto had burst out laughing. The stress having finally gotten to him.

They became good friends throughout the duration of Ifan's hospital stay and even when Ifan finally passed, Ianto couldn't say goodbye. He'd asked Joshua out for a drink and the two had become even closer. Joshua loved his job but the stress was bad. He'd watched so many bastards get better and so many innocent children die. He'd needed a friend as badly as Ianto had needed one.

"Ianto, love, you look like hell." Joshua said, looking his friend up and down and shaking his head.

"You've not eaten nor slept, have you?" He asked and Ianto shook his head, tears falling down his face. At this point Kayla and Julie had made their way towards the conference room with Tosh and Owen. They must have known the friends would need time to catch up.

"Yan, honey what's wrong?" Jazz asked, wrapping her arms around the shaking man and holding him close.

"Micah, call in some pizza..."

"NO!" Ianto screamed and Joshua shrugged, not phased a bit by the reaction.

"Chinese then. We'll all eat. Get enough for the whole hub...how many are we?"

"Nine." Ianto answered. "Ten, if you count the Doctor but he hardly eats."

"Then call in for ten. Vary everything." Joshua demanded and Micah just nodded. It seemed they'd kept in touch even if Ianto had basically vanished from their lives, not wanting them to face the horrors he brought along with him.

"Sit." Joshua demanded, having guided them to the couch. "You need to talk and Jazz can make coffee, can't you Jazz?" God how Ianto had missed Joshua. The man was demanding but only when he was worried, and looking at how he was giving orders he must be worried sick.

"So? What's up?"

Ianto wiped at his face angrily. Why couldn't he just be happy for the birth of his son. Why did he have to be so upset every time he looked at the tiny human...he felt miserable.

Micah found them sitting in silence on the couch and took a seat, sandwiching Ianto between the two of them and smiled.

"Food will be here in about half hour or so. So what's been going on with you?" Micah asked, knowing Ianto would talk when he was ready.

"I'm engaged." Ianto said, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Oh yeah?" Jazz asked, coming back with four coffees and taking a seat on a chair facing the three. "How long?"

"Three days. It's pretty recent."

"What's her name?" Micah prompted.

"Jack." Ianto said, and watched their reactions.

"For Jacqueline?" Jazz asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"No, just Jack."

"Where is he? I'd like to meet him." Joshua said. If Ianto loved this man he would want to get to know him.

"He's with our son." Ianto explained and they all gawked at him.

"You have a son?" Micah asked incredulously.

"No, we have a son."

"Surrogate?" Josh asked, thinking of the obvious.

"No."

"Explain." Jazz said, eyes narrow and focused.

"Jack's from the 51st century, he can get pregnant."

"From the beginning." Micah said and Ianto sighed before starting his explanation. Starting from when he got the job to the day he became immortal to the day he found out Jack was pregnant, to explanation after explanation and his friends just let him talk.

"He was six months gone when he went into labor. Saben's badly premature...oh...I have pictures...don't tell him I took these, he'll kill me." Ianto said, pulling out his phone and scrolling through photo after photo until he came upon the one he was looking for.

It was a picture of Jack, lying topless on the bed, dead asleep, stomach protruding, his hands folded on the bump and if pictures had sound you'd hear him snoring.

"This was taken five days ago." Ianto explained, handing his phone to his friends so they could take a look at Jack.

"My god. He's quite handsome." Jazz said, taking a close look at Jack and sighing happily.

"Like a model, or an escort yeah?" Micah said, smirking at Jazz who blushed profusely.

"Want to meet him?" Ianto asked and they all nodded.

"What about food?" Joshua asked, realizing how hungry he was.

"TOSH!" Ianto called and not long after Tosh appeared, smile on her face.

"Chinese will be here soon, can you get it from the tourist office and let us know?" Ianto asked and Tosh nodded.

"Of course. Do what you need to."

With that Ianto stood and guided his friends through the hub, towards the TARDIS.

"My son's in there too. Don't look at me like that, he's young and fragile and this is the best place for him, you'll see."

"The place is smaller than a broom closet." Micah announced, annoyed at Ianto for what he'd done. Ianto laughed and opened the doors to allow his friends to gawk.

"It's...HOLY HELL!" Leave it to Jazz to be graceful.

"Yes, it's bigger on the inside. Come on, you can gawk later." Ianto said, leading them towards the medical bay.

It was a relatively quite walk and once they'd arrived, Ianto opened the door and his heart broke at what he saw. Every time he saw Jack cry he would die a little. That man didn't deserve this.

"Cariad?" Ianto called and Jack wiped his face and turned to face them.

"Yan...who are they?" Jack asked.

"They're my old friends, new recruits of Torchwood. They wanted to meet you." Ianto explained and Jack nodded.

"Jack this is Micah, Joshua and Jasmine. Guys, this is Jack. My fiance." Ianto introduced and watched his friends for any awkwardness.

"Nice to meet you Jack...may I have a look?" Joshua asked, all business as he looked at Jack's sickly visage.

"Have a look at?" Jack sounded suspicious.

"At you. I heard you gave birth three days ago and since everyone is focused on the baby, I figured I'd focus on you."

"I'm fine." Jack said, turning to face Saben, who was still struggling to breathe.

"No, you're not." The Doctor said, startling the three new comers. They hadn't even seen him.

"Jazz, Micah, go save some food for us, you can look at the baby later, don't think I don't know, I need to check Jack over and I'll do it by force if I have to." Joshua said and watched Micah and Jazz leave before turning to the Doctor.

"I'm Joshua." He introduced and the Doctor nodded.

"I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"OOOOH! I've always wanted someone to say that. Just the Doctor."

"Alright, just the Doctor. Can I examine him?" Joshua asked and Jack frowned.

"I'm right here." Jack said, trying to get some say in this.

"You have no say in this. You're killing yourself and I won't stand for that. Ianto, talk some sense into him."

The Doctor nodded his consent before going to check on Saben. He'd failed Jack, he knew this, but at least he could help this child.

Ianto walked over to Jack and held him close. Jack hadn't eaten or slept and he had needed to change pants seven or eight times a day, Ianto wasn't sure why he just assumed Jack had some form of bowel issue and didn't want to press the matter.. Ianto was worried sick but it wasn't like Jack would listen when Saben was still in the incubator.

"Cariad, please don't do this. Let him check you over...please." Ianto begged and Jack caved.

"Good, now get on the exam bed." Joshua said, putting on a pair of latex gloves.

"This is useless. It's not like I can actually stay dead if I did die..." Jack said, begrudgingly doing as he was told.

"Oh and that means the life you have now is less important because you can come back to life?" Joshua asked, angry at the situation. He'd been told everything about this man but he hadn't been told how careless he was about his life.

"Your life means something to me, cariad, and to Saben." Ianto said, kissing Jack's head softly and watching Jack close his eyes. He hated exams.

"Alright, basic health first then we get to your birth canal." Joshua said and Jack cringed. Oh how he hates all this.

His basic health turned out to be poor. His blood count was dangerously low and he was harboring an infection of monumental proportions. He was malnourished and sleep deprived, not good.

"Take off your pants, put this sheet over your legs and call me when you're ready." Joshua said, leaving the room and waiting.

"He's professional." Jack said with a smirk.

"He always is." Ianto said, smiling reassuringly at Jack.

Jack took off his pants and boxers and Ianto winced as he saw the amount of blood tainting the fabric. How had he not noticed? God he felt so bad. Jack had been suffering through so much and Ianto hadn't noticed...he hadn't bothered to notice.

"I'm so sorry Jack...I should have noticed you were bleeding..." Ianto felt horrible.

"The Doctor didn't even notice. I made sure you all didn't. I couldn't risk attention being taken away from Saben. He needs the Doctor's attention more than I do. You can come in now." Jack called and not two seconds later Joshua entered the room and nodded his approval.

"Okay, legs up, knees spread." Joshua said, changing his gloves and waiting on Jack.

"What? No dinner?" Jack asked, trying to ease his own tension.

"I'll buy you a drink when you're feeling better yeah? Now do as I ask."

Jack did as he was told, resigning himself to his fate. He hated feeling exposed. His body wasn't completely his right now, well it was but it sure as hell didn't feel like it was. He had things in places that didn't belong, and though he loved his son and he was glad for having him, he wasn't particularly happy with his body right now.

Joshua understood Jack's hesitance and he waited patiently until Jack did as he was told. Granted Joshua wasn't one for believing in such things, but Ianto had never lied, that man would tell you the truth at face value. If you asked a direct question, he would answer it honestly.

Ianto grabbed Jack's hand for support as Joshua lifted the sheet and looked about. The opening Ianto had mentioned was there, red and irritated, blood pouring out. He must have torn when the baby was born and the unattended wounds had become infected. Joshua hated to do this but he had to take a better look, to find and repair the tears.

"I thought you had super healing." Joshua asked, trying to take Jack's mind off of the proceeding.

"He did, but his energy was expended through his pregnancy trying to defend the baby, so for a while, I'd say a month or two, he's healing like an average person. When the energy is at full strength again, he'll be fine." The Doctor explained, turning towards Joshua and smiling at the lost look on his face.

"I need supplies. I'm going to need suturing supplies, local anesthetic, a scalpel, tweezers and..." Joshua walked towards the Doctor and whispered something which made the Doctor look thoughtful.

"Aha, I know where it is. Yes I have one of those...odd little device." The Doctor announced running to the back of the medical cabinet, rummaging around.

"Get me tape and two or three saline washes." Joshua said, lowering the sheet and looking at Jack. "Jack...no matter how small your son was, you were smaller. You have three or four very badly infected tears and they need to be tended to immediately. I'm not going to lie to you, it's going to uncomfortable as fuck, but you'll feel better when it's finished."

"What do you have to do?" Ianto asked, wanting to know what to expect.

"FOUND IT!" The Doctor yelled triumphantly, causing the others to stare at him. When Jack noticed what the Doctor was holding his face lost all color.

"No!" Jack whispered, his voice low and scared.

"I've got you cariad." Ianto said, grabbing Jack's head and hugging him close, keeping his gaze away from what followed. Ianto had seen the speculum too and knew how horrible this must be for Jack who just a week ago hadn't had anything in need of a speculum.

"Here you go, all things sterilized and assembled." The Doctor said, placing the tray of supplies next to Joshua, who had pulled over a stool close to Jack's legs and had taken a seat.

"Thanks." Joshua said, watching the Doctor take a seat next to Saben's incubator and pick up a book.

"Alright Jack..." Joshua began and watched Jack close his legs tightly. "You do realize that's counter productive...right?"

"That's the point. You're not coming near me with that fucking thing." Jack said, keep his face firmly in Ianto's stomach so his speech was a bit muffled.

"Cariad look at me." Ianto said and Jack tilted his head up to look at him. "Open your legs." Ianto demanded and Jack shook with fear but did as he was told. "I'm right here for you." Ianto assured, continuing to hold Jack's head, petting and kissing his head to ease the tension from his body.

"Okay I'm starting now." Joshua said and Jack tensed as he felt the cold of the metal. "Take a deep breath."

Jack gasped as he clung to Ianto. At first it was uncomfortable but soon it became painful as the partially healed tears started stretching, and Jack groaned in misery. Jack's leg twitched with the need to kick Joshua in the face as he felt a needle stab him repeatedly, but then he felt nothing as the general anesthetic took effect.

The rest of the procedure was carried out in silent humiliation for Jack and professionalism for Joshua. There was no taunting or teasing or over explanation or more talking than needed and Ianto was a pillar of support for his fiance, doing everything to calm the man's nerves. This couldn't be comfortable in the least for him.

"There, all done. You can get dressed. I'll check you in a week to see how you're healing." Joshua said, gathering everything to dispose of or sterilize for future use.

"Thank you Joshua." Ianto said, watching Jack finally disentangle himself from the sheet and make his way towards his 'overnight' bag which was changed out daily with new clothing for him and Saben, more nappies and the like.

Grabbing a pair of boxers and sweats, Jack got dressed and looked towards Joshua, who was disposing of his gloves and smiling at Ianto. He was remarkably professional and they needed that in a colleague. He would have to thank whoever suggested him for the team.

"You and Ianto are to eat. There's no arguing with me. I'll keep watch with 'just the Doctor'. I'll let you know if anything happens." Joshua assured and with a resigned sigh Ianto and Jack left the TARDIS to shower and eat. They hated being away from Saben but Joshua was right, they'd be no good to their son if they were sick. They had to take care of themselves in order to be able to take care of their son.