Nessa Dove's flat; Cardiff, Wales
General Trefor Williams questioned his sanity as he sat in Ianto's car. He had no one else to ask. He didn't know Nessa well enough to trust her. Unable to think of a better option, he removed the napkin from his pocket and dialed her number.
"Hello."
"Nessa, uh…"
"Thought you were afraid of me, gorgeous."
"I need your help."
"What's wrong."
"I don't know."
"Where are you?"
He hesitated. How could he tell her he downstairs?
"Do you want my help?"
He needed it. "I'm in the car park."
"I will meet you at the door." She hung up.
Emotions rolled through him as he climbed out of the car. Anger and pain and betrayal. He had no idea where it was coming from. It physically hurt by the time he reached door. Nessa held it open for him.
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
Nessa took his hand. "The emotional turmoil is a lot worse than earlier."
"I'm not like this."
"Come upstairs." She twined their fingers together.
"I don't know if that's a good idea."
"A beautiful woman invites you upstairs, and you argue?"
"Not usually."
Nessa laughed. "That's more like it, gorgeous."
She had a corner apartment on the third floor. "Since I've lured you into my lair." She closed the door behind them. "Do I at least get your name?"
"Trefor."
"Sit in the big armchair." She motioned toward the main room. "I will be right back."
The turmoil was building, causing a major headache. Resigned, he crossed the room and sat in the overstuffed chair. The uncertainty added to the pain.
Nessa returned with a bowl of crystals and set it on the end table next to the chair. Without a word, she climbed onto his lap, placing a knee on either side of his hips. She sat back, resting her weight closer to his knees. Then she slid his sunglasses off and set them on the table.
"I seriously doubt I am the first woman you've had on your lap."
"No."
"The easiest way to do this is skin contact." She looked in his eyes. "Humor aside, are you usually uneasy around women?"
"No."
She reached back and lifted her shirt. "Hands on my back above my waist."
He suddenly realized why he was reluctant. It made no more sense than anything else. He pressed his hands to her skin. The arousal made it worse. "Guilt."
"Yeah." She ran her hands through his hair. "Its not yours."
He'd been emotionally unstable since returnng to Cardiff. The outburst at his father had been so far from normal, he'd avoided thinking about it. He would have to say something to Jack at some point.
"I don't recognize the type of energy, but you're connected to someone. He's older, a lot older, and more emotional."
"My father." He had no idea how that was possible. It explained a few things.
"Close your eyes. Focus on me." Nessa massaged his scalp with her fingers.
Easier said than done. The guilt felt like an increasing weight.
"Is your father in a committed relationship?"
"Yeah."
"The guilt is his, not yours. Let it go."
He didn't know how.
"Pending you're not interested in his girlfriend." When he started chuckling, she amended, "Boyfriend. Picture him."
The image of Ianto was vividly clear. The physical reaction was immediate. Nessa leaned in and kissed him. As the image faded, the guilt lifted. The shift was unnerving. The swirl of overwhelming emotions ended like a switch was thrown.
"Good to know I'm more exciting then your stepfather."
That made him think of Rhys not Ianto. "Yeah." He released her. "How do I thank you for kissing sense into me?"
She laughed, climbing off his lap. "That wasn't my intention. I've seen some crazy things." She headed for the kitchen. "How did you get emotionally linked to your father?"
He wondered that himself. "I'm not sure."
"Do you want something to drink?"
"I can't." He needed to get back to the office.
"Orange juice." She walked back carrying two bottles, and handed him one.
"Thanks."
"If I wasn't convinced you were having a personal crisis, I'd invite you to bed."
"Uh…"
Nessa laughed. "Trefor, from you're energy, I'd say you're the most open-minded man I've ever met. You can't be shocked I find you attractive."
No. It was the blatant honesty that hit him. Men were generally upfront. Women played games. "Can I blame my father?"
"For being gorgeous. I finally figured out why you look familiar."
The general groaned.
She set the orange juice on the table and climbed back on his lap. "I'm guessing this is the actual problem."
"Being manhandled by a beautiful women?"
"My family is the poster child for dysfunctional. My parents tried to have my brother declared incompetent for his money. When they realize that won't work, they'll target my sister next. Money means more to them than anything." She twined their fingers again. "Do you know what I did to be free? My father made noise about my promiscutity being unhealthy. Do you know what psychiatrists look at when a teenage girl is preoccupied with sex? Incest. I told my father if he tried it, I would ruin him." She shook her head. "How sick is that?"
"I can't go into the specifics. Family secrets are…" Trefor sighed. "My mother is torn between two men. She loves my father who is incapable of settling down. Or I thought he was. And she loves her husband who has stood by her through an amazing amount of shit. This psycho alien bitch went on a rampage at my mother's wedding. Her husband is this completely down-to-earth man. Who has followed her through a continual whirlwind of insanity my father drags her into." It was the first time he'd really been able to talk about it. Talking to his sister had been different. "My father is this ridiculous hero. He's survived the unimaginable, and done the unthinkable. Impossible shoes to fill without looking exactly like him."
"And the boyfriend?"
"A very long story. My father says he loves him and has been trying to help him through some personal difficulties. He lives in my mother's shadow." Trefor shook his head.
"Gorgeous, bi, and plagued by an epically screwed up family. A male version of me."
Trefor laughed. "Are you always this forward?"
"No. You incite mischief."
He ran his free hand up her back. "I need to call in."
"Maybe I should demand dinner first."
"That would be saner."