The Welshman disappeared around the corner from the lift, leaving his lover stranded. and Jack took a deep breath, surveying his surroundings. Tosh and Owen were standing in front of Tosh's computer, both grinning madly, and Gwen was at her desk, scribbling furiously at a scrap of paper. A thought hit him from behind.
"Apologize to her. Make amends. I know that she's an inconsiderate pain in the arse, but I don't want her to be hateful all the time. Play nice." Jack sighed, of course Ianto was right, but Gwen had been out of line, and Jack had put his foot down. He didn't want to grovel back to her.
"You're not groveling Jack." The immortal huffed, before walking over to the Welshwoman's desk.
"Look Gwen." She held up a hand to silence him. He crossed his arms over his chest, angered by her response. She finished up her cruse drawing, Before tossing her pen down and turning her chair to face him.
"Yes sir?" Jack's back stiffened. Only Ianto called the Captain sir. Only he was allowed to, from anyone else the title was offensive, and the malice with which Gwen spat the word pushed it over onto almost obscene. Jack wanted to scream at the woman, but waves of calm and support surrounded him, keeping him civil.
"First of all, it's Jack, do not call me sir." He looked her sternly in the eye.
"Second, I wanted to apologize." Another deep breath, another wave of support.
"I may have been a bit harsh earlier, and it has been brought to my attention that those tactics are not what we need here. We are a team Gwen, and petty in fighting is something that will destroy us. We need to work together, and we can't do that if one of us is distracted by emotions." Gwen's voice was steady.
"So you're saying that it's not ok for me to be pissed, but its ok for you to be constantly worried about Ianto." Anger flooded Jack. He went to yell at Gwen that it was different, that He had a reason to worry, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"No, it isn't ok for Jack to be distracted by emotions while out in the field, especially on my account." Ianto set a mug of coffee on Gwen's desk. "The thing is Gwen, you remember how you felt when Rhys was helping us, that time with the space wale? How scared and worried you were?" Gwen nodded, suspiciously eyeing the Welshman.
"Jack goes through that every time I go into the field." Gwen swallowed, it was so difficult for her to let Rhys do it once, how was Jack going through that nearly every day.
"The difference is that Jack can set aside his feelings. He doesn't let them interfere with work, just as I don't let mine." Ianto looked the Welshwoman in the eye, smiling softly, before walking away, over to Owen and Tosh.
Gwen blinked rapidly, the weight of the Tea-boys words driving into her just how unfair she had been. Her petty anger and jealousy really didn't have any place here, nor did it have any warrant. She gripped her mug, taking a tentative sip. Her favorite coffee, just the way that she liked it, in her favorite mug. After all that she she had done and said to Ianto, about Ianto, he never treated her ill. Even now, after she had nearly destroyed his relationship, and been angry at his happiness, he showed her kindness. Gwen set the mug down shakily, before spinning her chair away from Jack and leaping up striding over to the Welshman. Jack watched in horror, unsure of what the former officer would do. Ianto spun to meet her, stray sliding quickly onto Tosh's desk. Gwen threw her arms around Ianto's middle, causing him to stumble back a step. She sobbed into his chest, a dark grey patch forming on the Archivist's shirt.
Ianto wrapped his arms around the sobbing woman's shoulders, feeling the guilt and self—loathing replace the hatred and jealousy that had been surrounding her. He shot Jack a look that clearly told him to get the others away for a while. The immortal nodded. Pointing at Owen and Tosh and then directing that pint to the cog door. The nodded following the Captain out of the HUB. Ianto rubbed soothing circles on Gwen's back.
"Shh, Gwen, it's alright." Gwen shuddered in her sobs.
"No it isn't, Ianto. It is not ok. All I've been is mean and spiteful towards you, after everything you've done for me. For nothing." She choked back a bitter laugh.
"I nearly destroy your relationship, and you still treat me the same as always. Why?" Ianto smiled burying his cheek in the Welshwoman's hair.
"My mam always told me that if someone wrongs you, kill them with kindness, and they will see the error of their ways." Gwen smiled.
"It works that, Ianto, Mae'n ddrwg 'da fi, I'm sorry." The archivist squeezed the Welshwoman's shoulders lightly, pulling back.
"It's ok." The Welshwoman leaned forward, a chaste kiss pressing itself upon Ianto's lips.
"Diolch." Ianto kissed her forehead affectionately, dispelling in ill will with the gesture.
"Creoso." Ianto stepped back, releasing his hold on Gwen.
"Now, shall we get back to how things were?" Gwen nodded.
"Can I ask you one question though?" Ianto shrugged.
"Sure." Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Did you really shag Jack last night?" Ianto's ears burned crimson, and he ducked his head. Gwen grinned.
"You did! Oh my god, Ianto, you ci!" Ianto's blush deepened and he glanced up at her.
"Tell you about that did he?"
"He said quite a bit." Ianto sent the all clear to Jack, who came strolling into the room with two ice cream cones.
"I brought you kids a treat." He said smiling, handing the ice cream to the two Welsh persons on his team. Ianto rolled his eyes.
"You do realize how creepy it is when you call us kids, right?" Jack winced, catching the undercurrent of disapproval from Ianto.
"Well, I've always looked at Torchwood as a family." He held up a hand so Ianto couldn't interrupt him.
"I'm like the father figure, Owen is the grumpy older brother, Tosh is the perfect daughter, Gwen is the rebellious teen." Ianto quirked an eyebrow?
"Should I even ask what you consider me as?" Gwen snickered, and Jack managed a blush.
"You're like the other parent. You feed everyone and clean up after everyone, you make sure we are taken care of. You comfort us, you keep us organized. You're always there when we need you." Ianto felt the love and warmth from Jack and smiled softly, before his dry sarcasm filled the air.
"So you think I'm the mom." Jack blushed, the light pink coloring his tan cheeks.
"I said other parent. I'm not implying that you're the more effeminate of this relationship." Jack held up his hands in mock defense.
"So which one of you is the wife anyway?" Gwen asked, taking a bite out of her ice cream cone. Jack paled, and Ianto raised a quizzical eyebrow, daring him to say it. Jack swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Well, uh." His pink cheeks deepened, and Ianto had mercy on the poor immortal.
"I'm going to say neither of us. Jack takes forever in the bathroom, but I'm better dressed and organized, usually." He said, as Gwen eyed Ianto's nonstandard outfit quizzically.
"Yea, what up with that outfit anyway? I was under the impression that all you owned were suits." Ianto went to answer, but Jack decided to answer this one himself.
"Oh, Yan has a whole secret wardrobe, full of his rock band clothes." Ianto froze, embarrassment tinting him crimson and causing Jack to grin. Gwen sputtered a laugh.
"Ianto, in a rock band. Jack are you daft?" Ianto's blush deepened, and he dropped his head.
"It's true Gwen." Gwen looked at Ianto in shock.
Welsh phrases explained: Diolch = thank you Creoso=Welcome Mae'n ddrwg 'da fi= I'm sorry ci=dog