A sated Jack pulled Ianto into his arms and kissed his forehead.
'Not bad for someone born seventy five years ago.'
'Seventy six.' Ianto mumbled, curling into Jack. 'Although biologically I think I'm still twenty six.'
'I gave up trying to work that sort of thing out a long time ago. It's only important when I need to update paperwork.'
'Something else to look forward to.' Ianto muttered dryly.
'What I don't understand.' Jack began running his fingers though Ianto's hair. 'Is how you're here.'
'You think I know?' Ianto snorted. 'I put some of it together, I mean what else was I going to do, learn to crochet? You are familiar with Chula nanogeens aren't you.'
Jack nodded although it wasn't a question.
'As you mentioned before, they need a clear DNA reference.'

'Or they improvise.' Sometimes it still woke him in the night when he remembered in dreams the chilling cry of a child looking for it's mother. 'I'm familiar with the phenomenon.'
'Between your kiss with your life force, and your, ah.' Ianto paused. 'Genetic material from the last time we were, together...' His voice trailed off in the face of Jack's realization.
'We didn't have any condoms, and when we, and you're saying.' He laughed. 'Those clever little buggers. You're saying you think the Chula nanogenes used my, genetic material, as a reference sample along with my life force and your DNA to repair the damage from the gas. Bringing you back.'
'Yep.'

Reaching for Ianto's arm he turned it looking for the site where Meric had withdrawn blood not more than an hour ago. 'Which is why your arm's already healed. So does that mean you're now...'
Ianto shrugged. 'I'm not sure and I haven't exactly tested that particular hypothesis.'
'Nor should you.' Jack scrambled back until he was sitting up.
Ianto followed Jack's example, sitting back against the wall behind them. 'I heal faster and don't need as much sleep as I used to. But beyond that.' He shrugged.

'I guess we'll find out if you start to age or not.'
'I suppose so.' He sighed softly. 'Speaking of age, what about my sister?'
'Last spring, but you're a great-uncle now. David has three kids and four grandchildren.'
'Micha?'
'Two sons but no grandchildren yet.'
He gave Jack a sad smile. 'You kept an eye on them didn't you.'
'Of course, I mean, they were a part of you. Both of them went to Uni and live good lives.'
Ianto blinked the tears away, his voice breaking. 'But I've missed everything.'

Pulling him into his arms Jack rubbed circles into his skin. 'I know it wasn't what either of us wanted Ianto, but you are back now.'
'I can't exactly turn up for Christmas lunch though, can I.'
'You could if you said you were your long lost grandson.'
'Like you have?'
'You do what you have to.'
Saved from replying both men looked around at the sound of banging coming from Jack's office and a muffled voice filtered down to them.

'Oi. I know you are in there Jack, with some dead bloke.'

'Who's that?'
'My second in command, Sean. He's from New Zealand.'
'Oh, good.' Ianto climbed out of Jack's arms and the bed. 'Someone who might actually understand the no forward passing rule in rugby.'
Jack frowned as he began pulling clothes on. 'You'll have to explain that to me later.'
'Wouldn't be the first time. But where will I find some clothes?'
'Wardrobe's that door there.' He pointed. 'I'll do what I can to stem the invading hordes.'
Ianto leaned in for a kiss before nodding. 'Shut the hatch when you do please, no one else needs to see my arse today.'
'Oh no, I'm keeping that on a strictly need to know footing.'
He rolled his eyes at Jack's leer while watching him climb the ladder.

Jack reached the door of his office just as it swung open to reveal Sean pocketing a collection of small tools. 'You'll have to explain the breaking and entering fetish later.'
'Of course. But that would be after you tell me why, as your second in command, I wasn't informed of a potential situation that arose in my absence.'
'I've been handing things that arise in your absence for some time now.' Jack winked. 'You should have said if you wanted to lend me a, ah helping hand.'
Sean crossed his arms across his well defined chest and looked down at Jack.
'You may be the commanding officer. Sir.' He emphasized. 'But your dead lover returning from the grave is a matter of Hub security and something I should have been told about, straight away.'

They were interrupted by a laugh as a head of dark messy hair climbed up out of the bunker below the office floor. 'I'm sorry Sir, but are you getting told off?'
'In my own office? Never.'
'It really did sound like a spanking to me, Sir.' Ianto responded.
'I'll show you a spanking -.'
'I hate to interrupt your foreplay.' Sean cut in. 'But have you had Mr Jones here fully cleared?'
'Following a very thorough physical exam including a comprehensive study of his reflexes, as conducted by myself, yes.'

Ianto stood beside Jack who gave him a quick once over as he stood there in borrowed jeans and a knitted Christmas tree sweater.
Jack shrugged. 'He did use to dress better but I assure you, this is absolutely, my Ianto Jones.'
'And you can say that with one hundred percent certainty?'
Ianto looked at the taller man, something in his tone tugged at his awareness as Jack blundered forward, as usual.
'Of course I'm certain.'

'Even though Meric hasn't, in fact, completed a comprehensive, medical or physical evaluation? And you're sure this is not only, your, Mr Jones, but that he poses no biological hazard to any of us.'
'Oh relax, the Hub sensors didn't pick anything up and he's hardly going to kill me.'
'It's not your death that concerns me.'
'Sometimes.' Jack observed. 'You're no fun.'
'You didn't hire me for my sense of humour. Med bay, both of you, now.'
Jack turned to Ianto. 'Come on, we'll send Ana out for pizza and coffee or something. He is right, I didn't hire him for his sense of comedic timing.' Reaching for Ianto he entwined their hands together as they moved out of his office.

–/-/-/-/–/-/-/-/–/-/-/-

Reaching the medical area Ianto caught the end of a conversation between a young blonde woman, complete with Cardiff accent, and a chastised looking Meric.

'He has a point Meric. No one's actually cleared the guy.'
'Not you too Cora, I mean how was I supposed to know they weren't actually just talking, like Jack said they would.'
She snorted. 'Jack? Just talking? To the lover who died in his arms fifty years ago who just so happens to be back from the dead? The one he still calls out for every time he comes back after he dies? And you thought they'd actually be discussing something like who won the last Rugby World Cup?' Head shaking she laughed sharply. 'You really are oblivious sometimes.'
'Well I'm sorry. I was distracted by the sample I had, okay. And you're hardly one to talk about getting so absorbed in your work.'

Sean cleared his throat. 'You done?'
Meric looked down at his hands as he nodded. 'Yeap.'
'Good, now finish giving Mr Jones a physical.'
Jack frowned. 'I am still in command here.'
'Oh right, because you are making all the sensible decisions.' Sean rolled his shoulders. 'For all I know the, what percentage was it again, Meric?'
He mumbled a reply.
'Sorry old bean, I missed that. Speak up please.'
Cora shook her head. 'One point four.'
'Thank you Cora.' Sean turned back to Jack. 'For all any of us know, the one point four percent of Mr Jones that isn't actually Mr Jones, was releasing some sort of mind control pheromones.' He smiled.

It reminded Ianto of a shark.

'The correct Torchwood protocol, as I understand it, would have been to escort Mr Jones to a cell, not strip him naked and leap on him.'
Jack pouted. 'He leaped on me actually.'
'Don't care.'

Ianto looked between the members of Jack's team and mentally replayed the conversation that was going on around him. 'I'm not completely me am I.'
Meric reached for his paperwork. 'According to your file your DNA is only 99 percent you.'
'99 percent?' Ianto asked.
'Well, rounded up, yes. And there's something else in your blood, the normal gear didn't pick up but I used a Thulidian scanner we found while out in the, oh.' He took in the look on Sean's face. 'That's not important. I used it on the sample and found, something.'
'Probably the Chula nanogenes and I'm guessing the different DNA is Jack's.'
Meric frowned. 'Well, yeah.'
'I did wonder. When the aliens that snatched my body resurrected me the nanogenes must have used some of Jack's DNA and in the process altered mine slightly.'

Ana waded into the conversation. 'Hang on, you were snatched?'
Ianto turned to her and nodded. 'Yep.'
'By aliens?'
'Ah ha.'
'Body snatching aliens?'
'Yes.'
'That's wicked that is.'
Ianto turned to Jack who shrugged.
'I know Ianto, just like Gwen.'
He rolled his eyes. 'I still say you got the retcon dose wrong, that's why it never held.'
Ana frowned. 'That's my gran you're talking about.'
Ianto nodded, turning his best Butler like smile on her. 'I am aware of exactly the sort of woman your gran was.'

The tone of his voice left no doubt that Gwen Cooper apparently had sins of her own to account for. And his smile was not much friendlier than Sean's.

Breaking the growing chill in the air Jack clapped his hands. 'Ana, it's occurred to me we've probably missed a meal. I want you to get some take out, and coffee for everyone.' He nodded, watching as she shook her head before turning on her heal. Looking back at the rest of his team he shrugged. 'Now, if I recall correctly we were talking about my stripping Ianto and leaping on him?'
'Not quite.' Sean responded. 'But he is getting a full physical before he steps out of the med bay a second time.' He faced the medic with all the presence of his rank as a former Sargent condensed into a single look.

Meric pulled himself together. 'So, um, Ianto. Mr Jones.' He corrected as Sean nodded at him. 'If you could remove your shirt.'
'And me with no popcorn.' Jack pulled a chair up and began making himself comfortable. 'Even if I can assure all of you that I've personally been over every inch of the man already.'
Ianto gave Jack a look. 'The audience, while entertaining, is perhaps a little unnecessary, Sir.'
'So formal.' Jack suppressed a shiver. 'Just trying to be helpful.'
'Thank you Sir.' Ianto pulled the sweater over his head, disappearing in a mist of red and green wool before emerging in one of Jack's white tees. 'However perhaps you could start on the paperwork that will need to be filled out, about my return from the dead. Rather than being helpful, here.'

'I don't remember you being this bossy.' Jack muttered, rising from the chair. 'And if I don't want to miss the show?'
'A little less show would be appreciated.'
He nodded. 'Fine, but I get a personal one later.'
'Of course.'
Jack grinned before turning to those of his team still present. 'Right you lot, sling it. If I don't get to watch you don't either.'
Cora gave Jack and Ianto a grin of her own before heading to her desk but Sean stood his ground.
'A senior officer, not you Jack, needs to remain least our guest need assistance.'
'Restraining.' Ianto muttered, nodding to Jack in unspoken assurance before turning to Meric. 'Very well, lets get this over with.' The tee shirt joining the sweater.

–/-/-/-/–/-/-/-/–/-/-/-

Reviewing his findings Meric handed his notes to Sean. 'No pathogens, pollen or spores. He's completely clean and exactly who he says he is.'
'I've also got perfect hearing and am still in the room.'
Sean shrugged as he handed the file back to the doctor. 'Protocols exist for a reason and you should know that since you were the last one to update most of them, Mr Jones.'
'Why doesn't that surprise me. And you can call me Ianto.'
'I'll take that under advisement.'
'You do that, Mr Green. And am I free to go?'
'Of course.'
'Then I shall assess the coffee situation in the absence of Ms Williams with our lunch.'

Sean watched him leave before turning to his team mate. 'Any idea what we can expect from our new team member?'
'A happier Jack and decent coffee?' Meric shrugged. 'We haven't got anything on him except the records I pulled from the server. Cora might find something but the man's a bloody urban legend and other than stories Ana was told by her gran, Jack's the only one alive who knew the guy.'

'Jack returning from the dead we've all had to get used to. But this guy what, got beamed in by aliens or just stepped out of the rift or something, fifty years after he died?'
'Yeah.' He grinned. 'That is pretty cool.'
'If you say so.'
'He can't be all bad, he's got Ana in a right mood.'
Sean finally smiled. 'I saw that.'
'Oh you didn't see the half of it.'
'Really?'
'Ah ha.'