Oooh, i got this chapter up so quickly! it's a teensy bit longer this time, i feel like i'm doing the same with this one as with fy cariad. a lot of people have been asking what the name of this fic means. It's welsh, for "Always and Forever". Thankyou so much for your continuosly lovely reviews of which i hope you will continue to submit and this chapter is dedicated to my returning reviewers who i love so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"What do you want me to do, Jack?" Ianto asked quietly as the news report ended.
The other end of the line was silent, and Ianto could just imagine Jack pacing his office in frustration, contemplating his options.
"I don't know," he eventually replied wearily. "Yan, this is one of those times when I don't have an answer."
Ianto bit his lip and collapsed back onto the sofa.
"What's going to happen Jack?"
The Captain was silent for a moment.
"Do you want a kind answer, or the truth?"
"Truth please."
"Well, there's two possibilities; either this will be able to be covered up as a prank and Saeth will be put into hospital- which I'm afraid is very unlikely…"
"Or?" Ianto asked, dreading the answer.
"Or…" Jack took a deep breath. "People will put two and two together- the cybermen, the daleks, spaceship over London, and now Torchwood- and come up with four. Torchwood isn't exactly secret anymore, and everybody has their own stories about it, this might just tip the scales. We'll have newspapers, journalists, camera crews and tourists all over our backs, Torchwood will be discovered, UNIT will crash, and we will be shut down…"
Ianto squeezed his eyes shut in anguish and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Oh fuck…" he whispered.
"My sentiments exactly…"
"Do you want me to come down Jack?" asked Ianto nervously, picking up his tie from the end table.
Jack sighed. "No," he instructed firmly. "I'm not even gonna tell the team yet. No need to worry them until we find out more."
"Right, good idea,"
"I want you all in first thing tomorrow though- if you're well enough that is," Jack went on. "Oh and, Yan-?"
"Yes Jack?"
"Get some rest," chuckled Jack. "The last thing we need is for me to be worrying about you tomorrow- we need you up on your feet."
"Thanks Jack. Be careful…"
"You too. Goodnight!"
The dialling tone sounded. Ianto put his head in his hands and started to sob.
The last few months which had been building up inside him came spilling out at once; the warehouse, getting shot, Jack, Saeth, the wedding, and now this; everything suddenly became too much for him and he broke down.
Jack sat at his desk and tried extremely hard not to start crying. Torchwood, his beloved Torchwood, was going to be shut down, and there was nothing he could do about it. All the aliens would either be destroyed, or sent to UNIT, if there was even a UNIT left at the end of all this. The hub would be knocked down, there would be nothing left to suggest there had even been a Torchwood. He would never see any of them team again…most likely all of their memories would be wiped.
Gwen, Owen, Toshiko…Yan, he would never see them again; he probably wouldn't even know of their existence. And Ianto wouldn't know of his…
That was probably worse than a thousand abolished Torchwoods…
Ianto shoved his empty beer glass on the pub table and tried extremely hard to laugh at Rhys' joke about Irishmen.
Andy frowned and lent forwards so that his arms were resting on his legs.
"What's up Ianto? You haven't been yourself all evening."
Ianto shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just a bit tired…"
Owen chuckled and took another gulp of his beer. "What did Jack say when you told him you were finally leaving the house? I'm surprised he let you come out tonight…"
"He didn't. He doesn't know anything about it."
Yestin bit his lip. "Ooh risky," he muttered. "You know Jack, if he finds you've left the house he'll have the whole of bloody UNIT chasing after you."
"That's the hope," Ianto laughed, although it felt forced and unwanted.
"Seriously though Ianto," Rhys looked genuinely concerned. "We're your best mates. You can tell us if there's something up between you and Jack ey?"
He winked and nudged Ianto in the side with his elbow.
Ianto shook his head. "It's not Jack…it's work."
Owen spat out his beer. "Work? You ain't been at fucking work!" he shook his head. "That can't be it!"
Ianto mentally swore. He had completely forgotten that Owen was there.
"Saeth was on the television today,"
Everyone stared at him.
"shit…" Yestin muttered.
"What was she doing on the telly?"
Ianto grimaced. He'd have to tell them- they'd get it out of him eventually anyway.
"She remembered…"
Silence ensued.
Eventually Andy spoke, his voice shaking slightly.
"So, what's going to happen now?"
Ianto said nothing and continued to stare at his shoes. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Owen had come over and was bending down in front of him.
"Ianto…" he said gently. "What about Torchwood?"
Ianto choked back a sob. He gripped his friends arm.
"It's over Owen," he whispered hoarsely. "Torchwood's done."
eek! what will happen now? please review xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
