8

Gwen had swung the gun towards him and stood with a look of confusion as she listened.

"Put the gun down Gwen" Ford said softly, "The bullet would only piss me off."

"Jack?" She looked at her leader who was smiling at Ianto.

"It's OK. I know all about it" he assured them, "Ianto is an Alien living under the umbrella of the crown."

"Wait, what?" Gwen lowered the gun, still frowning as she looked from Jack to Ianto.

"Gwen. I am a Being called a Holmesinian. I come from another planet and have lived on this planet since I was a puppy. Well, actually, I am the only one of my siblings not born on this planet. Her Majesty has grown up with my brother at her side, a loyal protector. I have another brother who is quite eccentric and likes to play games all the time. It is our nature to create as well as solve riddles around us. I only do what I must to survive. I never wanted to lie to you, I see all of you as my family now. My pack."

"You are … I mean, what do you mean?" Gwen placed the gun down, showing no fear and Ford relaxed.

"Oh Gwen. I am so relieved you all know" Ford slumped, "It has been a nightmare keeping myself hidden, afraid of being discovered and rejected."

"Oh shit!" Owen sighed, "You bastard. All this time, you've been … what, playing with us?"

"No. No, I … I kept myself hidden from you, just as Jack accused!" Ford said and Jack winced as he remembered the accusation.

"It's OK" Ford turned to Jack and reached for him, "It's OK. We forgave each other already, there is no anger here."

Jack stepped forward and hugged Ford, kissing his forehead.

"I'm sorry" Ianto whimpered, his bottom lip wobbling, "I have been so afraid of discovery, I thought … I thought you would put me in a cell next to Janet."

"Oh pet" Gwen sighed, stepping forward, "We're all family here. I think I understand that now."

"I am sorry but it was to keep you safe as well," Ianto explained, "You see how they are. Unit is dangerous, I thought I could hide from them but … they are the monsters."

"Ianto is right, they are monsters" Tosh agreed as she walked over to reach for his hand, "But you never could be. I know you would never harm us Ianto."

Ianto relaxed and smiled softly, "I would die for you. I swear it."

"Torchwood London kept me as a … an oddity" Ianto screwed his face up, "I was experimented on and kept in a cage. Lisa, she was my handler. My feeder, I suppose. Clean clothes, dressed my wounds when they had …" Ianto looked away and Jack saw a flash of Ford's discomfort, telling him that this was not a lie.

"Ianto?" Jack stepped closer, offering comfort and Ford let their bodies touch.

"There is something else" Jack said softly, "Something worrying you."

"The other one, the one I couldn't kill" Ianto sighed, "Unit obtained it from T1 before it fell. They have the Halderguard that was sent to kill my family."

"You didn't kill all of them that night" Jack asked, "The night they attacked your family."

"No. The last three followed us into the bog, intent on little Sherlock. Mycroft kept him hidden as I attacked and I took one down. They … Mycroft and Sherlock attacked one as a team, gods they looked so cute. The last one was the leader and he almost killed me."

"So when the extraction team for Torchwood London arrived and scooped you up, they scooped him up too." Owen guessed, sitting in his chair as he watched Jack's hand reach out and snag Ianto's.

"Mycroft escaped with Sherlock, returning to our mother and our father's body." Ianto nodded. "The only way to ensure their safety was for Mycroft to do a deal. The family would not seek my release, they would accept the loss and T1 would overlook their existence. Of course in later years, her majesty placed my family under the umbrella of the royal crest. Mycroft did not have me included in that."

"But Sherlock … your brother?" Owen frowned. "As in Sherlock Holmes?"

"My father died in the attack. Sherlock is my baby brother. Mycroft is the Queen's advisor." Ianto explained patiently. "My mother and both brothers are unable to be harmed by Unit but they don't know about me. When they got the Halderguard they were told it was an Alien species sent to seek and destroy the Holmes family."

"So as a Holmes, you must be protected!" Grew said as she took the high ground, "They have to honor that!"

Ianto watched her bristle on his behalf and relaxed, knowing she was the one to win over.

If she was accepting, then the others would be as well.