Jack stood in the HUB between Gwen and Tosh, no one saying a word. A few moments passed before Gwen finally turned to the immortal.
"Ianto was beaten as a child wasn't he?" That sent the captain around. Unknowing how to respond, he simply stood there, until Tosh spun in her seat to face him.
"I was thinking the same thing. He shows all of the signs of someone who has been through deep personal trauma early in life. Not so much that it affects his daily life, but it's noticeable. Like his drive for constant perfection, indicating a near compulsive need for order.
"Or his desire to be the best at everything."
"Or the fact that he doesn't trust easily, and that, when he does, he's loyal to a fault." The captain simply stood there, trying not to let slip his lovers secret. These girls could theorize all that they wanted.
"That also explain his scars." That brought Jack around.
"Excuse me?" Tosh looked at him inquisitively.
"His scars? I know that you know the ones that I'm talking about, the crisscross pattern on his back." The immortal knew these scars well, he had lain awake many a night tracing them with his fingertips, or gazing at them as he took his lover again and again.
"Those are from Canary Warf." Jack said decidedly, his voice slightly hoarse as the memories related to the scars stirred inside him.
"There is no way those are from Canary Warf Jack. They're too faded. Why? Is that what he told you?" The technician looked softly at the immortal. Jack thought back. Ianto had never actually stated where the scars were from, he had never mentioned come to think of it.
"No. No he never said anything about them, I just assumed that he got them there." Tosh nodded, and Gwen rocked back on her heels.
"I've seen them too, once or twice. Mind you the first time I saw Ianto shirtless I had other things to think about." The Welshwoman looked pointedly at Jack, who grinned at her.
"That offer for naked hide and seek still stands, but you'd have to bring Rhys. I don't think Ianto would be too happy if you were running around the HUB naked and he ended up catching you." Gwen rolled her eyes.
"As handsome as Ianto is, I'm married now." The immortal nodded, but his grin remained.
"So if you weren't married you wouldn't mind playing naked hide and seek with Ianto?" gwen opened her mouth, but couldn't answer, she had never really thought of Ianto as anything more than an extension of the HUB or Jack's shag. Her thoughts came to an end, however, when Tosh spoke up.
"I wouldn't mind." Both the Captain and Gwen balked at that.
"Tosh?" Gwen whispered, and the Technician blushed.
"What? He's saved my life on numerous occasions, he's handsome, and frankly, he's got the best arse in Cardiff." The captain laughed at that.
"You've got me there, he does have an amazing ass. Though I'm sorry to say, he's taken." Tosh giggled.
"Yes, we all know Jack. If I didn't know enough, I helped get you two back together!" The immortal smiled wider.
"And I will forever be in your debt for that." Jack wanted to say more, but a searing wave of white hot rage poured through him, doubling him over and ripping away his breath.
"Jack!" The girls called together, Tosh leaping from her chair and placing her hands on the Immortal's shoulders, while Gwen pulled Tosh's chair around, setting the man in it.
"Jack, what's wrong, what's happening." Gwen was panicking, thoughts of pregnancy still at the forefront of her mind. As suddenly as it had appeared it was gone, and Jack slumped in his chair, feeling nothing but regret and agitation coming from his Welshman. Tosh knew immediately what had happened, contributing everything to the telepathic bond the two men shared.
"It's nothing Gwen. While you were gone Jack suffered from, err, a telepathic attack. This must be an aftershock." The immortal nodded, grateful for the technicians cover.
Ianto Jones struggled into his suit while he walked down the hallway. He knew there were more graceful ways of getting dresses, but he was upset, and wanted nothing more than to get out of the HUB and into the open air. As he stepped into the main area of the HUB, and was frightened to see a very pale looking Jack slumped in a chair.
"Jack!" The Welshman shouted, dashing over to his lover's side. "Jack, what happened?" The immortal looked over at the Archivist, taking Ianto's hand in his own.
"Just a headache. Tosh thinks it's an aftershock from our, err, recent telepathic event." The captains eyes shifted pointedly to Gwen. Ianto felt his stomach fall. He had done this to Jack? How?
"Are you ok then?" "Are we going to be ok?" The immortal smiled softly.
"Yep. We have work to do." The Welshman flinched, worried to hear his own dismissal thrown at him. Something was definitely not ok.
"Alright then Sir. Would you like me to make some coffee before we head out?" The captain debated this for moment, before waving it off.
"Naw, you may as well head out. We'll be right behind you in the SUV." Ianto swallowed the lump in his throat. Jack never declined coffee.
"All right then." The Welshman nodded, fixing his tie and straitening his sleeves, before walking over to the HUB door. He cast one final worried glance at his lover, before stepping through, out to the Tourist office above.