Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Torchwood, It all belongs to the BBC and profit is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended

A/N:Many Thanks to "J3d1M0nk3ySp0ck, for beta-ing this chapter making it better, you're fantastic. Also thanks to everyone who took the time to review and put this story on alert.

T

Chapter-11

After composing himself Ianto returned to his home in the lower level, removing his clothes he eased back into bed where Jack embraced him, his lips pressing a kiss to Ianto's temple he whispered "Don't think I didn't know you were gone".

Ianto turned, kissing his husband gently on the lips and murmured "I would be hurt if you hadn't".

The next morning the team members arrived in the hub to find Jack and Ianto happily working as if the day before never happened. This was something Gwen hadn't expected, so ignoring Owen and Tosh's advice to let it go, Gwen was determined to get an answer to where Ianto was and why did he leave the hub so abruptly even after Jack had asked him not to.

Gwen knew the perfect opportunity was during Jack's morning briefing in the conference room. As Ianto took his seat beside Jack he could feel Gwen's eyes on him. Ianto smirked, remembering Rhiannon warning him after meeting Gwen "Ianto you watch that one, she's like a mother-in-law with and old refrigerator; in everyone's business and can't keep a damn thing".

Anticipating Gwen's move, Ianto spoke before she had the chance, apologizing to his teammates for any inconvenience he might have caused them, going on to explain that he had become overwhelmed by his current situation and had needed fresh air.

"But Ianto you left here obviously upset after reading a letter you received in the post" Gwen said, refusing to let it go.

"Gwen my personal life is no concern of yours, only Jack and the people I chose to tell." Ianto snapped. "That post was personal, you seem to have forgotten that I live here; you're not the only one that has a personal life outside this job." Pushing his chair back Ianto stood, walking out of the conference room and leaving Gwen dumfounded, as everyone else followed.

The next couple of days were filled with Jack being angry as well as frustrated with constant rift alerts and Weevil sightings disrupting their investigation into the Froblisher case, which was going nowhere. The only bright moment was his daily phone call with his son, who was still with Mary, although he and Ianto made regular visits when work permitted, they really wanted their son back home with them.

Although Torchwood had taken over the case, Det. Swanson contacted Capt. Harkness, wanting to maintain the trust Ianto's liaison between the two organizations had created, to inform him that with all the evidence and forensic reports pointing to the fatal wound of Laura Froblisher being self inflicted, Cardiff PD had ruled her death as suicide and had official closed the case from their end. There was no substantial evidence to indicate foul play or any involvement by Mr. Jones, other than waking up in the apartment with the deceased. Keeping with regulations Det. Swanson cleared her throat"Captain Harkness, if you have no further questions, my department has officially closed this case."

Jack had no other choice but to agree with her, but he couldn't shake the feeling there was more to this. He had hoped they would get a lead from the blood sample but even that hadn't panned out. Jack was beginning to wonder if there a higher force at work here. Whoever was targeting him and Torchwood was still out there and that didn't sit well with him.

Across town in his upscale neighborhood, Liam knew he had to plan his next attack very carefully; he wouldn't get another chance at this. So he would have to wait patiently before he made his next move, putting all his pawns in place and catching Ianto completely off guard. Failure wasn't an option.

As time passed, Ianto was more relaxed and confident that that part of his past was gone forever. As his life fell back into its normal routine, or what was considered normal for Torchwood; Rift alerts, alien sightings, Owen needing his caffeine fix along with sarcastic remarks, Tosh sitting quietly at her computer as she and Ianto exchanged look when Gwen refused to accept everything isn't about her, her challenging Jack on most of his decisions.

Monday morning as the team arrived for work everyone noticed a change in Owen, Ianto was no longer being call tea-boy; the sarcastic remark was there but in a more cheerful, teasing way. By lunch time no one could take it anymore.

"Ok, Owen what the hell is going on?" Gwen demanded to know.

"Yeah Owen, what gives?" Tosh, Ianto and Jack asked, also wanting to know.

Owen reluctantly told them about his weekend, meeting a young lady that was completely different from the ones he often encountered while out on the pull. He hadn't felt this way since Katie and that's all he's going to say, not wanting to jinx it.

Ianto was worried about Tosh, knowing she was secretly in love with Owen, but to his surprise Tosh was happy for the man, not only had Owen met someone Tosh had also, a professor that had been at the symposium on new technology she'd attended over the weekend. She had told him she worked for the Cardiff Tourist Board and he worked at one of the larger universities in Cardiff.

By Friday afternoon normalcy for the Torchwood team ceased to exist. Owen who had gone to lunch with his new love, returned to the hub carrying two long white boxes wrapped with a red bows containing what he believed were flowers for Gwen and Tosh.

As Owen passed each box to the one who's name was on the card, Gwen screamed in excitement knowing hers must be from Rhys. Deep down Tosh hoped hers were from her new friend, Owen informed them they had been left at the tourist office door, amd Owen, still buzzing from his lunch date never considered how odd it was that both young ladies had received flowers at the same time.

Jack hearing all the excitement came out of his office, catching sight of the boxes he asked what the special occasion was.

While Jack and Owen looked on as the girls removed the bows, Ianto whispered to Jack, "Where's mine?" Nibbling on the other man's ear.

Owen overhead him and rolled his eyes snarking, "Do you two ever get tired of being so stupidly touchy feely?" But before Jack could respond two high pitched, ear piercing screams rang through the hub.

Looking up Jack, Ianto and Owen saw that Tosh and Gwen had jumped up from their chairs, sending the furniture flying backwards to crash to the floor, while they franticly brush off their clothes and hair before embracing each other. Both women were shaking uncontrollably as bugs, worms, and other unnamed insects crawled over their desks falling on the hub floor. There seemed to be no end to them as they worked their way around the three long stem red roses out of each opened box.

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~TBC