AN: So sorry for the extra delay. I got zapped by real life again. A new client doing the most advanced course I offer, which I had not taught before. I had to drop everything and work flat out to get everything sorted.

Since I never manage to stick to a decent schedule, I think I should just say I aim to update once a month and anything quicker than that is a bonus.

Chapter 29

Tosh sat at the lunch table in the Hub, having a cup of coffee. She was having a short break from working on a program to improve the rift predictor. She was alone with her thoughts, as Ianto and Owen were out on a weevil hunt and Jack was in his therapy session with Charlotte. Joanne was in the Hub, but deeply involved in the autopsy of an unfortunate alien who had fallen through the rift and died, probably due to the toxic effect of Earth's atmosphere on it. The others were off duty.

As she sat, Tosh mused on the events of the past month; since Jack had started his therapy.

A couple of weeks ago, she had discovered that she was not pregnant. She had to admit to a twinge of disappointment. She had liked the idea of having Jack's baby. It had surprised her, but, when she thought that it could happen, she had found that she was ready for a family. But, after the disappointment, came relief that she would not be causing Jack any extra stress. It would have been incredibly complicated. And the last thing Jack needed were more complications in his life.

Taking a sip of her coffee, she smiled to herself. Things between Jack and her were wonderful. She loved Jack wholeheartedly, and, while she knew that Jack's feelings for her were not as strong, he needed her. She believed that he did love her, though he never said the words. He was always tender and loving towards her, even when he was emotionally overwrought. She liked to believe that they were a couple.

It was a strange situation; dating someone who could not leave the Hub. They couldn't do any of the things that normal couples would do. They couldn't go down the pub, to a restaurant, for a walk in the park, or visit the theatre. It was incredibly frustrating for Jack, who was going stir crazy from the confinement. In an attempt to make his life more normal, Tosh had arranged for a high class restaurant to deliver a three course meal to the Hub. With the cooperation of the others, they had managed to have a private, romantic, meal for two, right where she was now sitting. She had brought a selection of DVDs, books and games for Jack, including a DS. He had turned out to be quite a Star Trek fan, and a whizz at Professor Layton. They had also played chess many times. To Tosh's surprise they were quite well matched. It was rare for her to find a worthy opponent. She had played Owen once. Something that he would never agree to again, after being humiliatingly defeated.

She suddenly gave a small ironic laugh. What was she thinking? Being unable to leave the Hub was the least strange thing about dating Jack. He was a torture victim, with severe PTSD, and a massive addiction to heroin. Torchwood had given her a seriously skewed vision of the world.

The rest of the Torchwood team had been very supportive, once their shock at she and Jack getting together had subsided. They covered extra shifts, so that she could be with Jack after his therapy sessions. Even Ianto, who had every reason to be upset at their relationship, did everything he could to help. Tosh was extremely grateful to him for his understanding, and his determination to help Jack. She could not help some anxiety though, over Ianto. He was clearly still in love with Jack, though he had accepted that this was not reciprocated. But would Jack's feelings remain that way? Jack would eventually forgive Ianto, Tosh had no doubt. That was the sort of man he was. And what would happen then? Would Jack return to Ianto, leaving her bereft?

Tosh shook herself. Time to stop these maudlin thoughts. She should be looking on the bright side.

Jack's therapy was going well, though slowly. He had told her snippets of what he discussed with Charlotte. The therapist was giving him as much time as he needed to talk through his experiences. So far they had covered his first five weeks on the Valiant; the time before the Torchwood team had been used against him.

Owen had reduced Jack's dose for the first time, by 5mg, after he had been in therapy for two weeks. Then, since he remained stable for the next two weeks, they had reduced it again. Admittedly it was only a tiny reduction, which meant that, if they kept that rate of decrease, it would take 10 years for him to stop taking any. And that was if he had no relapses into traumatic memories. But it was a start.

The best news had been from Owen's visit to the Queen. The level of support that she was offering Torchwood, was a real boost. Owen had already started searching for suitable candidates for extra staff. It would help them enormously. And knowing that the SAS were on the trail of Stamford and Oduya, and they would be brought to justice, was balm to Jack's soul.

Also very beneficial to Jack, had been a visit from Harriet Jones. Owen had finally got around to telling her that they had found Jack, and that he was at the Hub. Since she was instrumental in helping them to get Jack pardoned, he should probably have told her as soon as they had found him in Manchester. But Jack had been such a mess, that Owen had thought it better not to expose him to even more people, at that time. And he did not think that Harriet would have kept away. Harriet and Jack were clearly very good friends, and Jack had been delighted to see her. He obviously trusted her implicitly, and showed no reluctance to be touched or hugged by her. He was far enough into his therapy, that Charlotte had calmed him into being more accepting of the fact that people had seen the DVDs from the Valiant. To Tosh's relief, there had been no hint of anything other than friendship between them. Harriet had promised to visit again, which had made Jack happy. Tosh found that she was looking forward to it.

Her coffee was finished, so Tosh took her cup to the kitchen and left it in the sink. She then went back to the computer, to work. She knew that Jack wouldn't be much longer in his session, though, so she did not try to do anything too involving.

b_b_b_b_b_b

Half an hour later, Jack and Charlotte emerged from the lower levels. Charlotte looked shell shocked. She waved weakly at Tosh, and headed out of the Hub. She was familiar enough with the Hub now, that she could see herself out. Myfanwy swooped down at her, as she crossed the walkway, but she didn't flinch.

Tosh left her work station and moved over to Jack, taking his hand. "All right?" she asked. But this time Jack looked wrecked after his session. It had obviously affected him, and Charlotte, deeply. He and Tosh went down to his room, where they cuddled on the bed.

"We covered the first time that I let the Master rape me, today," Jack told her, with a shudder. "It was when he told me he had you and the others on the Valiant. He killed me so many times while he did it, that I lost count, and he made me thank him at the end." He didn't mention the five days he spent on the spike that he had also discussed with Charlotte.

Tosh's heart nearly broke for Jack. Thankfully she had not seen that DVD, though she knew of the events, as that incident had been part of Jack's defence. She hugged him close, and soothed him gently.

"In the next few sessions we'll get to the day when the Master offered me the bargain," he continued. That day was going to be one of the most difficult for him to talk about. It was the day that he sold his body and soul. And Charlotte was bound to ask him if he thought it was worth it.

b_b_b_b_b

When Ianto and Owen got back to the Hub, they stowed the unconscious weevils they had captured in the cells. Owen went back up to his office, to find a message, written in Joanne's practically illegible scrawl. 'Call the Palace,' it said.

You didn't ignore a message like that, so Owen phoned their direct line to the Palace immediately.

After the call he rushed out into the main Hub. "Hey, Ianto, Joanne! Great news. They found Stamford. The SAS are keeping a watch on him, but they haven't moved in, in case it tips off Oduya. They're going to wait until they have them both found, before they take them in. And, after that, they can move against the rest of the UNIT personnel from the prison.

Ianto was delighted. "That's great! I'll go give Jack and Tosh the good news."

"Knock loudly and wait five minutes, won't you," advised Joanne, with a laugh. "You wouldn't want to embarrass them, would you?"

"Jack is incapable of being embarrassed," Ianto pointed out. "But for Tosh's sake, I will do that." He walked down to the lower levels with a smile.