Notes: Well, I'm glad that a lot of you share my opinion of a Jack/Ianto/Gwen threesome being a bad idea. However, I've already written out the general idea for such a scene in a future story. It was one of those handful of ways I could find the idea not being distasteful. Whenever that story gets posted, I hope you will enjoy it. Also, check the extra notes at the end.
Chapter Spoilers: None, but is the aftermath of my cover of episode 2.04 (Meat). Doctor Who – 2.12 and 2.13 (Army of Ghosts, Doomsday – slight/references).
Jack and Owen were in shock. On top of everything going on between him and Ianto right now, Jack didn't know how to handle what Owen's results were showing him.
Owen broke the silence. "Jack, this is actually possible?" Jack just nodded. "Shit! You always joked about contraceptives in the rain and had me give you birth control on the rare rainless weeks, but shit! I didn't think you were telling the truth."
Jack couldn't believe it either. He was only pregnant once in his current timeline, in the 51st century. But never have Owen's tests results been a mistake or incorrect; not even the slightest bit. And according to the paper in his hands, one Jones, Ianto Jones, had knocked him up.
Despite the surprise, all Jack could think about was getting to Ianto and fixing their current issues. He needed to know if there was still hope for him and Ianto before telling the younger man about his pregnancy and then figuring out what to do about the child currently growing inside him. And knowing how male pregnancies in his time progressed, he needed to do that, fast.
"Look. I need to get to Ianto and talk to him, now!" Jack became determined. "I will tell you everything you need to know about the pregnancy, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone about this; not Ianto, not Tosh. No one; do we have an agreement?"
Owen nodded. "Yes, but Jack, if Ianto's the father, you have to tell him."
"There's no if about it, Owen," Jack snapped slightly. "I haven't been with anyone else since Ianto and I started, which was during his suspension after the Cyberman incident. Like I said, I'll tell you everything, but get me to Ianto now so I can hopefully fix what I can. I will tell Ianto when the time is right."
Owen did not protest and helped Jack to his feet. Each man gathered their belongings and headed to meet Ianto and Tosh at her place.
Upon their arrival, Ianto was half asleep sitting upright on Tosh's couch, with Tosh in the same half-sleep state with her head lying in Ianto's lap. Both men were touched and awed by the obvious closeness and comfort of their friends and colleagues.
Ianto snapped out of his tiredness first, inhaling Jack's pheromones, knowing he was nearby. His rustling woke Tosh, and she immediately broke the silence. "Well it's about time you two got here," she stated sitting up and then rising from the couch. Ianto remained sitting.
"Well then, you two have some things to talk about," Tosh spoke again. "Owen and I will be right in the kitchen if you need us."
"Wait," Jack began to protest. "I know I need to answer to all of you. I'll explain tonight and then," turning his attention to Ianto, "we can go somewhere and continue talking, in private?" he asked, hopeful.
Ianto hesitated, but found Jack's willingness to explain not just to him, but to his friends and colleagues as well, moving. He certainly has changed from before he left. So Ianto nodded his consent.
Jack gathered on the couch next to Ianto, and Tosh sat on the other side, in case her best friend needed any comfort and consoling. Owen, wanting to be readily available if Jack should need it, gathered in the nearest armchair to the Captain.
Once everyone was settled, Jack began his apology. "I want to start off by apologizing for my actions these past few days. I've been an emotional wreck and I've taken it out on all of you. For that, I am sorry.
"But for this case… Tosh, Owen, a lot happened to me while I was away. I can't go into details, I was only allowed to tell one person everything, and Ianto already knows. But the gist of what happened was that I was gone longer than four months," he paused, waiting to gauge their reaction. Shocked, that's about right. "Again, I can't be detailed. But during that time I was tortured, and then seeing the whale being tortured similarly brought back memories of my own torture and all of my emotions and memories got bundled together."
Jack paused again, trying to gain composure, but the tears streamed freely down his face. Ianto grabbed and held Jack's hand as a sign of support and encouragement. Jack looked into his, hopefully still, lover's eyes and received a caring smile in return. That was enough for Jack to continue.
"When the memories came flooding back, I remembered who and what I thought about while I was gone. I'll be honest, I thought about Ianto the most, but I did think about the rest of you, the team. But I also thought of other friends I've cared about and lost over the years.
"One of them in particular is a friend, who before I left with the Doctor, I thought was dead. She was on the list of dead or missing at Canary Wharf. I learned instead that she's not dead or missing, not really anyway. Her father from an alternate universe saved her before being sucked into the Void. She's in that universe alive and well, but I can never see her again.
"I'm telling you about her because Gwen reminds me of her sometimes. Not in the physical sense, but her attitude; always wanting to help anyone and everyone. I know and can see things have changed about her and between you all, but the memory of my friend is still linked with her. So when she threatened to leave, my mind latched onto the memories of my friend in the alternate universe. I thought about losing that friend, again, and how I would do anything to prevent that."
The room fell silent. Owen and Tosh tried processing all that Jack explained, but there were still plenty of unanswered questions. Ianto, knowing about the year that never was, was only shocked about Jack's explanation of his feelings for Gwen. He had his own questions forming, but didn't want to speak up first.
"I'm sorry about your friend, the one in the alternate universe," Tosh spoke up first.
"Thanks," Jack quietly replied.
"But that doesn't explain your actions at the warehouse with Gwen," Owen piped up, speaking both his and Ianto's concern. Jack quirked an eyebrow in question, so Owen added, "You pinned Gwen against the side of the building and made eyes with her…"
"Ah," Jack voiced. "She wanted to storm in and get Rhys out after he followed us there and got caught by Dale. I just held her at first, but she kept struggling, so I pinned her back against the wall. I knew the dangers, and I didn't want her risking her life. Any eyes being made were hers and hers alone, I promise."
"We know what we saw, Jack," Ianto immediately countered, wanting a better explanation.
Jack turned all of his attention to the young Welshman. "Ianto, I'm so sorry, for everything. I know before I left, I treated you horribly. I still have every intention of making it, us, better and happy. I don't know how it looked to you, but I can guarantee and promise you that I do not feel anything for Gwen. I never have, never will. She has been and always will be just an employee and friend. I want you, Ianto. I want you, and only you." He gazed into the younger man's eyes, projecting his honesty and heartfelt feelings, wishing and hoping for Ianto to understand and see how he is truly cared about.
Ianto hesitated with a response, which is what they all waited for. I should have noticed that the whale being tortured was going to produce flashbacks for Jack. He's only been back about six weeks. Ianto inwardly sighed. So Gwen reminds Jack of an old friend. One he can never see again, but was clearly close to. I can see how, with the flashbacks and memories, his emotions would get tangled and he mistakenly said something to Gwen that he didn't mean… I still don't know where this leaves us, but I can at least forgive him for his actions these past few days.
"I understand… and forgive you for your actions involving this case," Ianto finally voiced. Jack smiled a thank you, though Ianto noted it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Tosh and Owen shared a look. They both still had questions, but if Ianto was willing to forgive Jack, then so were they. "We do, too," Tosh spoke up.
"I honestly don't know if I deserve it, but that's why I am grateful to consider you all close friends," Jack responded honestly.
Ianto shared a look with Tosh and Owen when the silence settled; having a conversation amongst them with just looks. "Well then," Ianto broke the silence, "I believe Jack and I have other matters to discuss." He removed himself from the couch and gathered his belongings.
While Ianto was occupied with gathering his things, Jack turned his attention to Tosh and Owen. "I want to thank you both for looking after him and caring for him while I was gone and while I've been a prat. I truly do care for him and want to work everything out. I probably wouldn't even have this chance if it weren't for you two."
"We understand," Tosh assured Jack, who was then pulled up into a hug almost immediately.
Jack then turned to Owen and offered his hand as thanks. Owen pulled Jack into a small embrace so he could whisper, "Don't forget to tell him." With a nod from Jack, they parted.
Ianto was finished gathering his belongings, and he and Jack headed out the door and into the SUV.
"Shit." Owen cursed quietly.
"What?" Tosh questioned.
"I came in the SUV with Jack. The same SUV they just took," Owen answered.
Nervously, Tosh offered, "I have a spare room. You can use it if you want, or I can give you a lift."
Owen smiled. She's so much more than I thought. "I'll stay if you don't mind." I definitely want to get to know Tosh a bit more.
Tosh smiled back. "Not at all, I'll finish setting it up." With that she made her escape, shy and nervous about what the rest of the night could entail.
Extra notes: So, yes. Jack is pregnant. Many of you guessed correctly. I apologize to those who did not want something like this to happen because it's "overused" and "unoriginal". However, my ideas for the pregnancy and birth and life thereafter are far from overused and unoriginal. I'm not saying they haven't been done before, because I certainly have not read every Janto fanfic ever written to be sure, but I can say that from what I have read, my ideas have not been common. I sincerely hope you stay with the story to find out what I have in store for Jack, Ianto, and the rest of the team. Just trust me, please?