This is a sequel to Sitting on the dock of the bay. It's for Wanda1969 - not exactly what you asked for, but I hope you like it anyway. High silliness factor.

"Mummy, I've got the mail!"

Rhiannon smiled as Mica ran through the door, envelopes held proudly aloft.

"And they aren't all nasty window-faced ones," Mica continued. "There's letters, mum, real letters!"

Which was unusual enough to make Rhiannon take notice.

"Bring them here, love," she requested. "Let's see who's taken the time to put pen to paper, shall we?"

She recognized Ianto's neat script immediately. That would be right. Her little brother could scarcely manage to pick up the phone, but he'd find time to sit down and write a letter. Rhiannon's heart beat just a tiny bit faster as it occurred to her that this might be how Ianto had chosen to tell her about his relationship with Jack. A handwritten letter was personal enough not be an insult, yet totally non-confrontational. Just his style.

Rhiannon's hand shook slightly as she slit the envelope with a fingernail. A single piece of stiffened paper fell onto the table. Not the lengthy outpouring she was hoping for, then.

Still, the change of address card wasn't too much of a disappointment. It was good to know Ianto had finally moved out of that poky flat he'd taken after losing Lisa to the terrorists. Moved out, and moved on.

The second envelope was written in a hand Rhiannon didn't recognize. A formal, swirling script that must have had the postman swearing as he deciphered the address.

A grin split Rhiannon's face as a second change of address card joined the first. Same address, she noted with satisfaction. The only difference was the name at the bottom. Jack.

Yes, Ianto had certainly moved on. Maybe one day soon the breach between them would heal enough to tell her who he'd moved on with. Not his fault, Rhiannon reminded herself firmly, before she had a chance to start feeling resentful. She'd parroted Tad's opinions long enough that Ianto had no reason to believe she didn't share this one. One day, Ianto would trust her again. Until then, she and Jack would continue their benevolent conspiracy.

Unless Jack opened his mouth and put his foot in it first, of course. Rhiannon considered it a minor miracle that Jack had managed to get her address from Ianto without letting slip that the two had already met.

Rhiannon closed her eyes and leaned back with a smile on her face as she remembered sharing a package of fish and chips with a handsome man in a greatcoat. A handsome man trying to hide how desperately he wanted her approval. She had absolutely no doubt of Jack's purpose in sending this card. Trying to convince her of his honorable intent towards her baby brother. Sweet. Not what she'd expected for Ianto, not even what she'd hoped for. But not too shabby, either. Ianto could have done much worse.

Rhiannon turned the cards over in her hand as she considered her next move. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to give Jack a little bit of reassurance?

An idea formed, and Rhiannon nodded absently to herself, her grin spreading. It wouldn't be too hard to manage. She still volunteered at the animal shelter when they were snowed under, keeping her hand in until the kids were old enough for her to return to a regular shift.

-XXX-

"Were you expecting biohazards, Jack?" Ianto asked, dropping a heavily-stickered packaged onto Jack's desk.

"No, I wasn't, actually," Jack answered. He reached for the package and examined it curiously. Printed address sticker on the front and no return address, neither of which was quite as ominous as it might appear. There were plenty of people out there who risked their livelihoods to keep Jack in the loop.

Jack's heart did that idiotic clenchy thing as Ianto's brow creased in concern. Jack couldn't help it, though. He'd spent so many years being Torchwood's canary that it was still a novelty to have someone give a damn when he put himself in danger.

"People don't really send explosives through the mail, Ianto," Jack said teasingly. "And I'll bet you've already ran a Geiger counter over it, haven't you? So no radiation, either."

Ianto nodded. "Standard procedure," he said defensively. "I haven't x-rayed it yet, though."

Jack snatched the package as Ianto reached for it. "You can't do that," he chided. "It'll damage anything biologically sensitive."

Ianto's frown deepened and Jack resisted the temptation to kiss it away. They didn't have to steal moments at work anymore. They had a home now, together. A place where no could walk in on them without an invitation. With a Jacuzzi.

They eventually compromised on Jack opening the mysterious package in a cell, behind a forcefield, with Ianto monitoring via CCTV. Jack privately thought Ianto was making a huge fuss over nothing, which didn't stop him relishing the concern.

The package contained a scalpel, scissors, needle, and a filament too thick to be sewing thread. And a note, which explained everything and made Jack grateful he wasn't facing the camera.

"Nothing to worry about," Jack yelled. He waited until the camera light winked out before releasing the bubbling laughter.

Dear Jack

Received your card. Got one from Ianto, too.

I'm assuming the address isn't a coincidence, so I guess you're doing well by him.

I've sent you my kit so you know your valuables are safe. For the moment, anyway.

Love, Rhi

PS. Don't think this is an excuse to get slack, Harkness. I can always get fresh supplies. And I know where you live.