Notes: I apologize for the wait. Writing this chapter was way harder than I expected. The next chapter will be the 'Aftermath of Adam'.
Chapter Spoilers: 2.05 (Adam - episode cover/re-haul)
When Ianto stepped outside his flat, he made the spur of the moment decision to hastily walk to the Hub, rather than jumping in his car and driving recklessly, because he knew he would. Plus, this way gave him time to school his thoughts and emotions, so that catching Jack and Gwen in the act wouldn't, hopefully, hurt him so much.
I know he's under the influence of Adam and the pheromone spray, so I can't be too upset with Jack, Ianto thought. He just wanted a simple night at home with Jack, but instead, he was about to literally walk into one of his worst nightmares.
I know Jack loves me, but seeing him with Gwen is going to kill me; kill my heart and soul. But Adam's right, our love is worth fighting for.
Ianto's thoughts continued to swirl around. When he was about halfway to the Hub, he began thinking about logistics, and how he and Adam never really squared away a plan, other than a cover story.
Just then, Ianto felt his mobile buzzing. He checked the number and noted it was his house line. With having left Adam at his flat, he answered, "Adam?"
"Yes, are you at the Hub yet?" Adam got straight to business. Back at Ianto's flat, he patiently waited for when he would be able to visit the Hub and help Ianto set his team straight again, and when he would be put back in his box. That's when it dawned on him, that he and Ianto never worked anything passed the cover story.
"No, I'm not. I decided to speed walk, but recently slowed down now that I'm talking to you," Ianto answered.
"Yea, well, I realized we never worked out how to give everyone the same cover story and such," Adam spoke his recent thoughts.
"So did I, so I'm glad you called. I'm halfway to the Hub now, so we have about 15 minutes to work this out before I get there," Ianto admitted.
"And I think I came up with another solution, if you want to hear it," Adam replied.
Ianto gave a sound of confirmation, so Adam began hashing out the potential plan. "Like I told you before, between your baby and the weak memory alterations I placed on Jack, he'll be able to break out of whatever hold Gwen will have on him rather quickly. It's her that you'll have to be concerned about. So I thought in order to get her to cooperate and for you to have time to explain to Jack, that you stun gun her and throw her in a cell momentarily.
"Before you would go and explain to Jack, call or send an 'all systems go' message to me, and I'll bring Tosh and Owen in. Then you can explain to all three of them what happened and who I am. Seeing as you trust them, I'm hoping they won't react the way Yvonne did when she found out and will trust you to handle it.
"Then you continue as we planned earlier. Retcon all of them and implant the false-but-true story. When I searched through the mainframe earlier, I read about a hypnotic device that helps open and clear the mind. Use it when you give the cover story, and then I can help you implant the triggers to help them all recall at a specific point and time, just what truly happened tonight."
Ianto had slowed his pace as he listened to Adam's plan. He was working out how to get into the Hub and set everything up completely undetected. He had just gathered into a bench on the Plass farthest away from the water tower by the end of Adam's explanation.
"Alright, don't go anywhere, let me think for a bit," Ianto stated distractedly.
The first thing is how do I get in there without setting off any alarms? Ianto looked up to judge his distance. If I get too close to the lift or tourist office, the proximity alarms will sound. That won't do any good. And if I try the garage, they'd hear the locks and alarms for those. Then it hit him. Stupid me, I can go through the Millennium Center basement and use the secret attachment to the archives. The same way I got Lisa in, and I know there still aren't any alarms there since Jack and I use the exit for a few out-of-Hub shags during really stressful times. And Gwen doesn't know about them.
Ianto mentally checked off that obstacle, and with it, everything began falling into place.
Once I'm in the archives, I get the hypnotic device Adam just mentioned. I can check the CCTV at my station to see where Jack and Gwen are, and find a way around them from the archives to the conference room. I can also pick out the best spot to walk-in on them from, making sure I get close enough to Gwen to stun gun her, and since I have a stun gun in my desk in the archives, I don't have to make a stop at the armory.
"That'll work perfectly, Adam. Get over to Tosh's now so you can bring her and Owen in when I call you," Ianto ordered, and quickly ended the call, just wanting to get back to his task and end the night. He took a deep breath as he stood to calm himself and prepare for what he needed to do, and then headed off to the back entrance to the Millennium Center, thankful that there was no event going on that evening.
Jack headed to his office to retreat to his bunker to get ready for his anniversary evening with… Jack stopped dead in his tracks. Who am I celebrating an anniversary with? He shut his eyes hard, trying desperately to focus, but he couldn't remember. A lot of thoughts and memories and feelings were running through him at once, and he didn't know which were real.
Most of Jack's thoughts and memories were of Ianto, but it didn't make any sense. Then, almost as if the memory was reluctantly forced upon him, he remembered, Gwen. I'm having an affair with Gwen and it has reached six months. Even though he remembered, he still felt off, as if the memory wasn't real.
Jack shook off the feeling and climbed down the ladder to his bunker. He took a quick shower, shaved, and put a fresh set of his usual clothes. He hesitated momentarily thinking about a date he had recently been on and what he wore. But when he tried to think about who the date was with, it was hazy. I am only having an affair with Gwen, I wouldn't be going on dates with her. She has Rhys and I have…
Ianto immediately popped into his mind, and he felt elated and overjoyed at the prospect, but if that were true, he wouldn't be having an affair. He felt love and adoration for the young Welshman, but knew there had to be something wrong between them or else he wouldn't have been having an affair. Unless I'm having my cake and eating it, too? I don't love Gwen, but I suppose she is attractive. Maybe that's it? I love Ianto, but sometimes I just need a woman and I turn to her? She is Welsh, after all, it wouldn't be too hard to play pretend, would it?
Jack shrugged off the thoughts, finished getting ready, and headed back up to his office. He looked out into the main area of the Hub and noticed the obvious mood lighting. He heard faint music in the background, of which he did not recognize, and that instantly ignited a sense of déjà vu.
Jack tampered the feeling away when he spotted Gwen walking up the stairs, two glasses of wine in her hands.
"Hello there, handsome," Gwen purred. After Adam left and Jack was preparing for their evening, so was Gwen. She, too, took a quick shower and did some last minute gussying up.
Jack's jaw dropped at Gwen's attire. She had changed into sleek form fitting dress, which left nothing to the imagination; tits and arse both prominently featured. Though Jack's jaw did not drop out of attraction.
I should think she looks hot, I suppose. But really, she just looks revolting. Definitely not something I thought I would ever see her in. So why the hell am I having an affair with her?
But Jack's thoughts changed after being handed his glass of wine and taking his first sip. At the same time Jack took the glass, she sprayed herself with the alien pheromones. Now he'll be under my spell, she thought wickedly.
And Jack was. They quickly forwent foreplay as Jack crashed his lips to Gwen's in desperate hunger. Gwen was elated.
Unknown to her, though, Jack actually felt nauseous at her touch. His stomach kept feeling as though it was being kicked, from the inside, and the immense pain shot throughout his body leaving him wanting to fall down and hurl.
Gwen took Jack's weak knees as a sign of pure pleasure and quickly deepened the kiss. Preferably she wanted to go down to Jack's bunker, making their technically first night together as proper and romantic as possible. However, she couldn't deny herself the chance to have some memorable CCTV footage like she knew Jack had of him and Ianto.
Gwen stopped Jack momentarily and guided him towards the couch in the main area. To ensure that she had complete control for when she used the pregnancy device, she sat Jack down and straddled him. I've always wondered what it would be like to ride him. And it's the perfect way to ensure this goes as planned.
Gwen shook herself from her thoughts and got back to her plan, kissing Jack with all the passion and lust she felt for the Captain, attempting to leave no doubt in his mind that he should be with her.
Meanwhile, Ianto arrived in the archives undetected and was searching for the hypnotic device. He heard the soft sounds of music playing in the main area of the Hub. He immediately placed it as the same music she used the night before, prior to the confrontation between her and Jack.
Ianto got back on task and found the hypnotic device. He went to his desk, thankful that most of the area did not have CCTV, though he avoided what little coverage there was. He couldn't avoid the coverage of his desk, though, so he acted quickly.
Thankfully, his computer was just asleep rather than shut down and pulling up the CCTV and finding them wasn't a problem. Upon finding them on the couch, stripping each other and Gwen hungrily tasting his boyfriend, partner, lover – he wanted to be sick but also wanted to rage and kill the vile woman. The thought momentarily shocked him, knowing that he's never wanted to legitimately kill someone before. But it was quickly shaken off as Ianto grabbed his stun gun from the top left drawer and headed to the main hub for the confrontation.
Even while avoiding CCTV coverage, it didn't take long for Ianto to arrive at the entrance to the archives from the main area. He considered where he should go and what he should do next. He saw the pregnancy device sitting out and it was clearly already used, but watching the couple, it was clear nothing took affect yet.
Ianto smirked slightly when looking at Jack's expression. Sure, he was into it, but only just. He eyes looked more like he was pretending Gwen was someone else, and if that were true, Ianto knew just who Jack was thinking of. That made Ianto's love flair in excitement, knowing that even under the influence of Adam and the pheromones, that their love was stronger. Yes, our love is definitely worth fighting for.
So while he wanted to prevent Gwen becoming pregnant, he knew he could use this to teach her a lesson. Plus, Ianto vaguely remembered Adam mentioning how the pregnancy will be used to break the retcon that the team will be given, so that they know what truly happened and how much of a threat Gwen is.
With that decided, he headed for the kitchen. It was the closest he could get while keeping out of site from both of them. He tried to tune out the moans and other sounds coming from Gwen. I'll never understand why Rhys and Owen both say she's great in bed. She sounds horrible. Or maybe it's just because she's desperate, but still. I'll have to ask Owen about it once he remembers this night again.
So in the kitchen, he waited. He mentally hummed to himself to keep the unwanted noise out. But thirty minutes later – now I know Jack's not enjoying it; if he were, both of them would have finished in at least half the time and onto another round – and both Jack and Gwen were reaching their climaxes.
"Oh, yea.. Yea.. God Jack, fuck.." Gwen continued her mantra. She threw her head back and screamed, "Jack!" as she came.
Jack, with one breast in his hand and the other in his mouth, felt the pleasure he was giving Gwen, and feeling her release, though not quite as hot as Ianto's, sent him over the edge. With a few more thrusts to match Gwen's motion, he came with only a grunt.
That was Ianto's cue. He inwardly smiled at the fact that Jack did not call out Gwen's name. Every time they made love, and even prior when it was meaningless shags, Jack always called out Ianto's name.
Ianto quickly positioned himself behind Gwen as she sloppily kissed Jack, momentarily thankful that Jack had closed his eyes – which Ianto knew he didn't always do, but again, only ever kept them open when he was truly turned on and wanted to see the result of his actions.
Taking a deep, but silent breath, he aimed the stun gun just as the nape of Gwen's neck, and fired.
She seized in Jack's arms, which alerted Jack, whose eyes flew open. As Gwen slumped against his body, unconscious, he looked to find the threat. He was alarmed to see Ianto there, seething calmly. That confused him, but was startled more that both he and Gwen were marginally naked and the smell of sex wafted through the Hub.
Jack, immediately wanting to beg Ianto for forgiveness, not understanding how he ended up with Gwen in the first place, pushed the vile woman off of him, her body ceremoniously falling to the floor.
"Ianto, oh my god, I don't know what happened. I'm sorry, please forgive me," Jack began pleading with the younger man.
Ianto, though thoroughly angry, was pleased that Adam spoke the truth and that the shock would break whatever hold Gwen had over the immortal. Which is why he was able to calmly order Jack, "I know what happened, and I'll explain. Put on your clothes while I redress this one and put her in a cell. You go sit in the boardroom and I'll explain everything when I get there."
"Okay, but please believe me, I don't know what happened. Please forgive me," Jack agreed but still begged. He needed to hear Ianto forgive him.
Ianto, having recently used his empathic and telepathic skills with Adam, gently opened his empathic barriers to feel if Jack's words were what he truly felt. Ianto gave a small, forgiving smile. Yes, he means what he says, and he felt the need to be forgiven.
"Jack, since I know what happened, I can assure you there is nothing to forgive. But to put you at ease, I forgive you," Ianto stated, gazing straight into Jack's eyes. He saw the desire to be held and comforted radiating in Jack's eyes, so he quickly added, "I would kiss you and show you, but not until later after you've washed yourself of her," refusing to speak Gwen's name at the moment.
Jack nodded and began getting dressed while Ianto slipped the dress back over Gwen and hauled her limp body down to the cell next to Janet. At least I don't have to worry about her having any weapons being dressed like this. He laid down Gwen's body in the center of the cell. He didn't want to be gentle with the woman, but now that she was to be pregnant, figured it was best she wasn't injured, but also didn't want to give her the comfort of waking up on the bench. Ianto hastily exited the cell, securing her within, and dialed Adam.
"She's secure, get Tosh and Owen and bring them to the boardroom as fast as you can," Ianto ordered once Adam answered, and immediately hung up afterwards.
Ianto headed for the boardroom, expecting to see Jack there as he ordered. When Jack was not in the boardroom or the main area of the hub, Ianto headed for Jack's bunker, knowing the man would be furiously washing her from his body. His suspicions were confirmed when he climbed down the ladder and heard the spray of the shower.
Ianto entered the bathroom and opened the shower curtain. He expected Jack to be scrubbing away, but instead, he saw Jack just standing there, uncontrollably sobbing, and completely unaware of Ianto's presence. Ianto knew what he had to do.
He stepped out of the bathroom and called Tosh. "Tosh, put Adam on please," he half asked, half ordered.
"Ianto? What's going on?" Adam asked concerned.
"Stall for a bit. Jack's having a breakdown. Get here in twenty. I'll make sure he's okay by then," Ianto explained.
"Will do, but be careful, yea," Adam readily agreed, knowing that something like this, especially with the baby, could happen.
"Yea," Ianto ended the call. He went back into the bathroom, quickly stripped, and gathered into the shower behind Jack.
Jack was startled out of his sobbing when he felt a presence behind him, but then relaxed as Ianto's arms wrapped around his waist, hands lying gently on his stomach.
"Jack, I told you it's alright. But let me show you, let me cleanse you of her and show you I still love you," Ianto whispered lovingly into Jack's ear.
Jack sniffed, but nodded, glad to hear that Ianto still loved him, but needing to see and feel it.
Ianto pulled away from Jack to gather the soap and began washing his lover. He opened his barriers some more to feel what Jack was feeling. That's when he felt it. He felt their baby. Ianto wanted to jump for joy knowing that what Adam told him was truth. Instead, he continued his loving ministrations and focused on relieving Jack from his worry.
Fifteen minutes later and Jack was feeling extremely comforted and loved. After two rounds of washing, Ianto had started kissing his body in reassurance that he was still loved. After the shower, while Ianto got redressed, Jack brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth. Jack knew that Ianto wouldn't kiss him until that part of his was clean, too.
Once Jack emerged from the bathroom, he was immediately engulfed in a fierce hug from Ianto. Jack wanted to breakdown again, but once Ianto pulled back and grabbed his face, and kissed him hard and passionately, all thoughts of a breakdown subsided. Jack deepened the kiss, desperate to show how much he truly loved the Welshman. Ianto, having felt the waves of love radiating off his Captain, equally shared his love and adoration.
Jack wanted to take things further, be completely rid of Gwen once and for all, but Ianto stopped him short. "Jack, I need to explain to you what happened first. But Tosh and Owen are also affected and need to be here. They'll be here in less than five minutes. Let's go clean up, and then set up the boardroom," Ianto gently ordered, knowing he needed to take charge of the situation tonight.
Jack nodded, not wanting to upset Ianto. He was so surprised that Ianto barely seemed hurt or angry. He knew better and could see that Ianto was, and therefore was still confused as to how Ianto could be so quickly forgiving. That's also why he wanted the explanation. He needed answers.
Five minutes later and the team plus Adam, excluding Gwen who was still locked in her cell, were in the boardroom. Jack was looking at Adam skeptically, wondering who the man was, but after assurance from Ianto that he was not a threat and all would be explained, he refrained from lashing out and throwing the man in a cell, too.
"Alright," Ianto began, "First things first. This is Adam. Jack here no longer recalls who he is, but I know Tosh and Owen, that you do. However, and I please ask that you refrain from overreacting or anything until I finish my explanation." He paused, waiting to receive nods of agreement before continuing.
"Adam here is an alien. He is more or less harmless unless contracted against his will. He feeds off memories, but has the ability to alter or implant false memories. He's here tonight because he was contracted by Gwen. What she did not know, however, is that Adam has a life-debt contract to serve me because I saved his life. I won't go into details about that now, though.
"Now, if part of Gwen's orders for him had nothing to do with me and affected me in no way, our contract would not have mattered. As it so happens, Gwen's orders were centered on getting rid of me and getting Jack for herself," Ianto explained before Adam took over.
"Gwen wanted me to make you all believe that she and Jack were having an affair for the past six months," Adam stated. "She also wanted you to believe that Ianto had died in a horrible accident about five months ago."
Silence reigned as the wheels in the three team member's heads turned. Jack, already broken his memory alterations just took all the information in, trying to hold back the urge to get rid of Adam once and for all. Tosh and Owen looked strained, until they each broke the alterations with the new information.
With everyone clear of their holds, Ianto continued. "Gwen's plans tonight were to use the same alien pheromones Owen used and seduce Jack, then use the enhanced Silurian pregnancy device that makes you immediately conceive and have a full nine-month pregnancy in only three months time."
Jack's eyes went wide now knowing that he unwillingly got Gwen pregnant, but was immediately assured and comforted that it was not his fault when Ianto placed a hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed. When he received Jack's attention, Ianto offered another kind and forgiving smile.
"But the hold wasn't strong," Ianto continued, needing to confess to knowing about Jack's own pregnancy. "I know Owen already knows, maybe Tosh, too, but Jack here is pregnant with our child. And," Ianto hesitated, just remembering that no one here knew of his empathic and telepathic abilities. But then again, they won't remember for at least three months anyway. And Gwen won't know so it's okay, he assured himself.
"And with Jack's advanced DNA and my empathic and telepathic abilities, our baby's abilities are even stronger. Our baby prevented Jack's memories from being altered too much and what was altered still came out hazy. Any questions so far?" Ianto asked, wanting to get the inevitable questions of his abilities out of the way.
"You're empathic and telepathic and never told us?" Owen went into doctor mode. "I need to know information like that!"
"I never told you all because I haven't used my telepathic abilities since before joining Torchwood One. And the only time I used my empathic abilities were during extremely difficult cases," Ianto confessed.
"Are there any symptoms or side effects I need to watch out for when and if you use them?" Owen asked.
Ianto shook his head, "I will explain all that later, but if there are no other questions, then I would like to get back to explaining tonight."
Jack and Tosh were worried about Ianto medically, which is why they allowed Owen to go into doctor mode and ask questions. But with Ianto wanting to continue his explanations, they allowed him to continue.
When no one spoke, Ianto moved onward. "Now, in order to completely break Adam's influence over you, because even though you know your true memories, the influence is still there… I'm going to have to retcon all of you and implant a false memory of this evening."
Jack and Owen immediately wanted to protest, but Ianto cut them off, "Hear me out," he all but ordered. "Adam's influence is still present, no matter how small. To be rid of it completely, you need to forget. He's agreed to willingly go back into his containment unit until a time comes where he can be released and have true freedom. But also, Gwen needs to be taken care of.
"The plan is to wipe her memories as well. Adam and I have worked out a full cover story. The Silurians will be coming after her baby which is the only reason we need to keep her close. But if I wipe her memories and not yours, she'll grow suspicious. We can't have that. With the cover story will come a way for all of you to break retcon and remember everything that happened this night. It will break the same day the Silurians come for their child.
"This is the only way to assure the safety of the team and two babies. So please, don't argue with me. This needs to happen," Ianto begged by the end, needing them all to see reason and agree.
When they all nodded, he began getting everything sorted. "Adam, finish setting up the hypnotic devices and then go retrieve Gwen. I'll go get the retcon and make the coffees. You three, stay put."
Everyone did as they were told and ten minutes later, Ianto was ready to begin. Adam was at Ianto's desk in the archives, watching via CCTV with a comm link ready in case Ianto needed any help.
Ianto turned off the lights and turned on the hypnotic device. He took a deep breath and began. "Think. Clear your minds. Find your inner self. Find what makes you special and unique."
Fifteen minutes later, and everyone's minds were cleared. Adam's hold was gone. Ianto turned around and poured the coffee in each cup, placing one 24-hour dissolvable retcon pill in each. "Drink up," he suggestively ordered.
With everyone now asleep, he gave them all the cover story.
"Tonight, a partially gaseous alien entered the Hub. Jack and Gwen were the only two here. The alien controlled Gwen's mind and suggested the use of pheromones to seduce Jack, but not before Jack called Tosh and Owen back in when he discovered there was a spike in the Hub's gaseous makeup. They walked in on Jack and Gwen having sex. The shock broke Jack from the pheromone's hold. But the attack tonight preludes an attack in three months time by Silurians. And due to the attack, Jack and Owen agreed to enforce an in-Hub medical probation, leaving Gwen not allowed to do anything too strenuous or go out on missions, with the possibility of medical leave should the pregnancy become too much at any time, " Ianto ended.
"Good job, Ianto," he heard Adam say through the comm link. He looked up at the camera and nodded.
Ianto finished cleaning up the boardroom before heading to the archives to secure Adam back in his containment unit.
"It was good seeing you again," Adam stated as Ianto joined him.
"And you," Ianto offered in kind.
"I know the cover story seemed vague and unhelpful, but trust me, it will break. Your baby and the brief mention of Silurians will do the trick for Jack. Once Jack remembers, the rest will, too," Adam attempted reassuring his friend, seeing his doubts hidden in his eyes.
"I hope so," Ianto said. "Well, back you go. I do promise to let you free sometime after they remember and after Gwen is gone."
"Thank you, Ianto."
"Goodbye, Adam."