Thanks to JonesIantoJones for helping me with the timeline and for correcting my mistakes.
Disclaimer: Jack Ianto Owen Tosh and Gwen belong to RTD and the BBC
Returning to London part 11
"Jack I can't believe you asked that old bloke if he'd seen any purple aliens flying around in a red spaceship." Gwen was laughing as she took her coat off by her work station.
"And did you see the look on his wife's face when you said they were three feet tall." Tosh chuckled. As she sat down at her computer she saw Ianto coming up the stairs from the med bay and asked "Did you and Owen get done whatever it was that couldn't wait?"
"Yes thanks Tosh. All sorted." Then looking at his watch added "Anyone for an early lunch before the next piece of space junk or alien decides to descend on us."
There was a collective murmer of yes. Ianto wanted to get some fresh air as he was still feeling a little tired and thought it might wake him up a bit. So after taking everyone,s order for sandwiches he grabbed his coat and left via the tourist office. While he was gone Owen had a quick word with Jack and without going into specifics told him what he and Ianto had agreed to.
"Thanks Owen. I think the main thing is to sort out his sleeping or lack of it without resorting to pills all the time and if he's willing to let you help him then I think that's for the best. He obviously trusts you after London. Are you going to tell me what happened down there?" He inquired.
Owen ran a hand through his hair "Look Jack it really isn't my place to tell you. If he wants you to know he'll tell you himself, but don't push him, he's vulnerable at the moment. Ok? When he's in a better frame of mind I will probably advise him to talk to you and the girls but only when I think he's ready."
Jack let out a frustrated sigh, "I know you're right. I just don't like to see him or you suffer." With the perplexed look on Owens face Jack added, "Yes I noticed you've been suffering since London too. I was hoping you would be able to sort it out on your own. I hope you can help each other. If not you know I'm here for both of you."
"Thanks Jack." Owen looked at the time on his computer, "Where's Ianto, I'm starving."
Jack laughed as he walked away.
******TORCHWOOD******
Twenty minutes later found all the team, including Ianto, sat around the table in the boardroom. The talk was mostly about work but the occasional personal question was asked and answered. Owen kept an eye on how much Ianto was eating and was pleased to find that it was a decent amount; not as much as he would've liked but it was a start. Ianto looked up to find Owen watching him and gave him a small smile as he picked up his coffee. As they were finishing lunch the computer alerted them to a rift breach. Tosh got up quickly, followed by Jack, Gwen and Owen. Ianto remained and started clearing up, as he knew he wouldn't be going out.
"Tosh what've we got?" Jack asked once up by her computer.
Tosh studied the screen "Looks like a breach in Splott. Don't know what or how big."
Jack was already on the move for his gun and coat "Ok Ianto you stay and co-ordinate - the rest of you with me." He yelled loud enough for Ianto to hear him.
Ianto made his way up to Toshs' computer as the others left and called "Have fun." But there was no one there to hear him.
******TORCHWOOD******
"So," Gwen began, "what's wrong with Ianto?"
Jack looked at her quizzically. "Nothing. Why?"
"Well that's twice today that you've told him to stay behind." Gwen noted. "So why is that if there's nothing wrong."
"Look Gwen," Jack sighed, "we all have to take turns co-ordinating I just decided that Ianto could do it for this one."
"Ok that accounts for this mission. But why did you want us out the Hub earlier and don't give me that crap about Owen and Ianto having stuff to do that couldn't wait." Gwen continued.
"It's got nothing to do with you who I say goes out or stays at the Hub, unless of course you want to take over leadership again?" Jack shot back.
"No of course I don't. It just seems there are a lot of meetings going on between you and Owen and then between Owen and Ianto and I feel if it's something that's going to affect the team then we should all know about it. You know what having secrets does." Gwen bit out angrily.
"There is nothing wrong so it's not going to affect you." Stated Jack. "Now drop it Gwen."
"But...." Gwen didn't get to finish as Jack pulled up to the place indicated by Tosh who had been following the signal on her computer. "Pull over somewhere here. The energy signal is coming strongest from that house over there."
They found what they were looking for and were gone before anyone realised what was going on and returned to the Hub where Ianto had coffee waiting for them.
******TORCHWOOD******
Once all the paperwork had been completed Owen announced he was off to the pub if anyone cared to join him. In the end they all went. They had a couple of drinks before Ianto announced he was going home.
Owen stood up. "I'll drive you if you want? I know you walked in this morning."
"That'd be great as it's now chucking it down outside." Observed Ianto putting on his coat.
"See you tomorrow." They said as they walked out.
"I suppose you want the coffee you didn't get last night." Chuckled Ianto
"Yeah it's the only reason I offered you a lift, oh and the fact we are going to talk." Owen told him. Ianto groaned "Do we really have to do that tonight?"
"The sooner we start the sooner you will be able to sleep without so many nightmares. I'm not saying they will go completely but hopefully we can reduce them. C'mon in you get." Owen cheerfully said.
The drive to Iantos only took twenty minutes. Once inside Ianto hung his coat up and took his shoes off, Owen following suit. He went through to the lounge as Ianto went to the kitchen to make the coffee. As he brought it through Owen was looking at the pictures and photos Ianto had dotted around the room.
He picked one up. "She was very pretty."
Ianto took the photo and gave him his mug. "Yes she was."
They sat down, Ianto on the sofa tucking his feet under him and Owen in an armchair.
"What was she like?" Owen quietly asked.
Ianto thought for a minute "Beautiful, kind, loving, caring, funny, she was so funny. She said it was her mission to make me laugh at least once a day, and do you know what, I think she did." He continued wistfully, "We met when I started at One. She was stood by the coffee machine and do you know what she said." Ianto looked at Owen who shook his head. "She said 'The coffee's crap' so I said 'Why are you drinking it then'? We both laughed and that was it. I took one look in her eyes and was lost. Invited her to try my coffee and she was mine. She was my first true love. We did loads together we even went to Brittany camping on the beach. I remember it was freezing, we had to wear our coats and share a sleeping bag." He laughed softly at the memory.
"How long were you together?" Owen softly spoke.
Ianto swallowed back the tears that were threatening to fall "Up until the battle about ten months."
They sat in silence both drinking their coffee. "Do you know the worst part?" Again Owen shook his head in silent answer. "The worst part was knowing that I failed her. I failed to keep her from the Cybermen and then I failed to put her back together. I tried, I really did try and find her before they did, but it was bedlam. All I could see were people running, running scared. The Cybermen were converting whole bodies as they were loosing too many. God the screaming, I can still hear it, never ending screaming, and the smell of burning flesh. The Daleks were everywhere blasting people to death. I had to keep climbing over dead bodies to get through. Then just as suddenly as it all started it all stopped. The Daleks and Cybermen were pulled into the air and were gone. Just like that they were all gone. When I found Lisa she was strapped to conversion unit but it hadn't finished. She was only half converted. I pulled her from the building and....well you know the rest. "
Neither man knew when it had happened but Owen was now sat on the sofa with Ianto leaning into his shoulder, tears falling down his face and Owen had his arm around him rubbing comforting circles on his back. They sat there not saying anything for a while. When Owen looked down he saw that Ianto had fallen asleep. He made sure they were in a comfortable position and just held Ianto as he slept. He didn't think it would be long before a nightmare kicked in considering what he had been remembering.
As Owen watched Ianto sleep he realised how young he really was. "No-one should've had to go through what you did, and that you survived mostly intact is a miracle. I will do everything I can to make sure the nightmares stop. I promise I will be here for you." He whispered as he placed a soft kiss to the top of Ianto's head.