Notes: I apologize for the wait. I had an overload of Christmas orders from my Etsy shop (CrochetPowerPlay) all at one time, and either didn't have the time to write, or didn't have the inspiration/energy to do so.
This chapter wraps up my re-haul of Adam. The next currently undetermined number of chapters will cover the three months between my cover of Adam and my cover of Something Borrowed. My covers for Reset, Dead Man Walking, and A Day in the Death, will all occur during this time.
Chapter Spoilers: 2.05 (Adam - episode cover/re-haul)
With Adam back in his containment box, Ianto went to work on the final and minute details that would make the changes stick, and the cover story seem most plausible.
First was Gwen; Ianto needed to get her home and finish implanting the memories that were specific to her. He also needed to re-retcon Rhys so he "remembers" his fiancé being six months pregnant.
He headed to Tosh's station in the main area of the Hub and brought up the tracking program. Using the number listed for Rhys' mobile, he searched to find the man's location. Good, he's home, Ianto thought with relief.
Ianto headed back to the boardroom to retrieve Gwen. All of his teammates were fast asleep at the table due to the sedative in the retcon. Knowing he needed to be careful with the woman, even though he hardly wanted to, he gathered Gwen in his arms and gingerly carried her down to the garage. Ianto placed her in the passenger seat of her car, opting to just call a cab to pick him up and return him to the Plass, and drove.
On the way, he dialed Rhys and informed him, vaguely, of the events that evening and that he would be stopping by with the man's fiancé. He also slipped out a short-term, one-hour retcon pill from the stash he kept on himself. He would need to give it to Rhys so that the news of Gwen being "six months" pregnant come morning wouldn't be a shock.
Getting Gwen situated took longer than expected. After getting the woman in bed, Rhys started ranting about how special ops was running the woman down. When she came home, she was moody and distant. And if she did talk, it was always about Jack and how great he was. It was obvious to Ianto that Rhys was having some second thoughts about the wedding. But once Rhys vented away his anger, he slumped on the couch, exhausted.
Ianto took the opportunity and offered to make Rhys a cup of hot cocoa or coffee. Rhys chose the former, in which Ianto slipped in the retcon. As the man was drifting off to sleep, he headed into the bedroom to finish off the details. Then he reentered the living room to get Rhys situated and implant the memory of Gwen being pregnant.
As the cab dropped him off at the Plas, Ianto thought over how he would handle Tosh and Owen. It wouldn't do to take them to their respective homes and then have to call for a cab (again) to bring him back to the Plass (again). That would be too suspicious and result in him having to retcon the cab company's dispatcher.
But since Tosh and Owen were receiving the same memory details, he didn't see the harm in having them stay in one of the spare rooms in the lower sections of the Hub. It also helped that Gwen didn't know about them, which would explain why she ended up back home, and not the rest of them.
After he got the two settled, Ianto once again fed them lines of what had occurred during the night. "After the incident with the partly-gaseous incursion, Tosh and Owen called Ianto to inform him of the evening," he started off. Ianto always found it odd that one had to tell the story in third person for the memories to stick, but wasn't going to argue when it usually seemed to work.
"Ianto agreed to help get Gwen home and with her being six months pregnant, and worrying over having cheated on Rhys, Gwen was placed on an in-Hub medical probation, only able to work in-Hub jobs until birth, with the possibility of medical leave should the pregnancy encounter difficulties," Ianto continued.
"Owen took Jack aside and told him that he was also being taken off field duty unless otherwise necessary," Ianto finished off his story. He tucked them comfortably into their respective beds, turned off the lights as he left, and headed back to the conference room.
Three down, one to go, Ianto thought. Jack was going to be the hardest to do, emotionally.
Ianto struggled to get the immortal from the boardroom to the main area of the Hub. Ianto wanted to take him down to his bunker, but knew he couldn't lift him. While he is strong, he isn't strong enough to carry all of Jack's dead weight by himself.
Ianto settled Jack onto the couch and wrapped his greatcoat around him like a blanket. Then he proceeded with Jack's bit of the story.
"After the partly-gaseous incursion was taken care of, Jack immediately pulled Ianto aside and begged for forgiveness. Ianto was angry at first, but after hearing the full story from Jack, Tosh, and Owen, Ianto forgave Jack and all was okay. With the news of Gwen being put on an in-Hub medical probation, Ianto took her home to calm her down and inform Rhys of the new changes so neither would worry. During this time, Owen pulled Jack aside and learned he was also being taken off field duty unless otherwise necessary. Owen also reminded Jack that he needed to tell Ianto about the baby as soon as possible so he could get to work on monitoring the development and delivery. Jack wanted to go home to Ianto, but after much insisting, Jack stayed the night at the Hub, with the promise from Ianto to come in the following morning."
Ianto desperately wanted to say so much more, but knew he couldn't. Though he knew he still had some work to do, curiosity got the better of him and he opened his mind. He wanted to feel his child again.
As soon as his mind was opened, Ianto felt his child. He was overcome with joy, despite everything that just occurred. Taking a risk, he spoke with his mind, Hello.
Ianto was hit with a wave of happiness. Hello dada.
Ianto smiled and returned the happiness. You really are my child, he thought, and ended up broadcasting the thought.
Yes. And I am smart, like you. We are empathic and telepathic. I do not know what they mean, but I know I can feel you and papa. Is the odd man gone?
Ianto assumed the 'odd man' was Adam. Yes, the odd man is gone.
And is the lady gone, too?
Ianto picked up the hint of anger and dislike from his child and mentally laughed. 'It would seem my child dislikes Gwen like I do.' Yes, the lady is gone, too.
Good.
The simple statement, filled with pure happiness made Ianto smile outwardly. I have to go now, but I promise to practice more, and talk to you every night, okay?
Okay, dada, the child agreed happily.
Ianto closed off his mind and went about deleting or altering the CCTV footage for the evening. He shut down the Hub and headed back home.
While the day and evening had been stressful, Ianto couldn't be happier. The love of his life, loves him equally in return. Together, they did the seemingly impossible and made a child. And Ianto had a connection with the child, and in three months time, will be able to openly stay connected with the child until birth.
Ianto's only concern as he returned home for the rest of the night, was how the next three months with two pregnant and hormonal teammates was going to pan out.
Extra Notes: A common question was "why does Gwen need to be pregnant?" I mentioned my reason a couple chapters back. I am keeping Gwen pregnant during her wedding. Her pregnancy is also instrumental in certain events.