Torchwood: Divergence
Book Two: Adferiad

Chapter 44

"You're really not right, are you?" Ianto murmured to the lone Weevil clawing at the Perspex to get to him where he stood outside the cells, keying his earcomm to send.

The other three housed together two enclosures up the aisle, were all in a huddle against the far wall, moaning and keening in terror. Jerry, however, was frantically trying to get at him, rage and bloodlust glowing in her small, deep-set eyes.

"Ianto?" Gwen called as she entered the corridor between the banks of cells. "I was… Bloody hell, is she trying to attack you?"

"Yeah," the Archivist nodded, forgetting he'd been about to ask Jack for his opinion as he ran one hand over his hair to rub the back of his neck in a gesture that spoke of worry and frustration. "She attacked Joan the other day and she's just been getting worse since. Martha thought maybe it was hormonal, but if she's that eager to get to me… it has to be something else. I'm afraid we may have to end up putting her down if we can't find a way to cure her aggression. But what worries me more, is if it's something like rabies maybe Joan will start up the same way because Jerry bit her."

"Crap…" Cooper frowned. "Never thought of that."

"She's not eating or drinking anymore," Ianto sighed unhappily. "All she does is claw at the wall between the cells or try to get to anyone passing in the corridor."

"Maybe killing her would be the kindest thing to do," the former PC beside him murmured, then reached out to tug on his jacket sleeve. "You got a minute?"

"Sure…" her young countryman breathed, still not looking at her. "Um… let's head back toward the Hub where we can't hear her racket."

They left the Vaults, but before they got to the blast door leading to the hallway past the Boardroom, Gwen came to a halt.

"I want to say I'm sorry for being a pain in the arse last night," she stated solemnly, trying to get her friend to meet her gaze. "I keep telling you we're family, but the first time you try to show me you want to be, I go preachy and tell you to piss off. Giving Eb that little pony from your granddad… she adores it, and Rhys is so careful with it because it's really special. I just… I kept thinking about the fact that I don't have anything from by grandparents and all the little things Dad gave me when I was small that I've let disappear over the years. Things I can never get back, never pass on to Ebrill… and now my dad's dying. He knows, Mam knows, and they're just putting on a brave face for me because of the baby. I've lost all the special mementoes from him and my Grands, and all I could see last night was that you were giving yours away. But you weren't… you were passing it down to your goddaughter, letting her cherish it for you now."

She paused, able to see the shadow of the lost child look in the young Changeling's expression as he continued to stare at the floor between his feet.

"I'm having a lot of issues about family right now," Cooper continued shakily. "But Jack made me realise that you are my family, Ianto. I was wrong to question you giving Cyfnos to my daughter, and so out of line bringing up your niece. I'm sorry if I upset you last night, I did not mean to hurt your feelings or make you think I don't consider you my little brother. I do… and I need to know you can forgive me. Because when I lose my dad…"

She was close to tears, fighting hard not to let her emotions get away from her. But they did anyhow, when the twenty-six-year-old nearby stepped over to put an arm around her shoulders. Gwen turned to hide her face against his chest, felt him carefully embrace her and rest his chin on the top of her head.

"I know it's hard to watch one of your parents slip away," Ianto breathed. "I have done, with both of mine. It hurts like nothing else ever will, the more so because you are completely helpless to stop it or even ease their way. But you've got Rhys to see you through it, and Jack and I will always be here for you. We'll help you meet it on your feet, so you can be strong for your mother. You'll be saying goodbye to your father, but she'll be losing the man who's been her heart and soul for more than forty years. She'll need you more than any of us ever could, and we'll have your back… that's what family does, yeah?"

The one-time constable nodded, feeling a cold knot dissolve in her guts that she hadn't realised was there. She was able to stop crying after a few minutes, incredibly grateful for the young Welshman's quiet strength and feather light embrace. Finally, she shifted back, found him immediately offering her a clean white handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and nose, started to look up into his eyes when she noticed him straighten his orchid-coloured tie and heard him make a small tutting sound.

"I wonder if Mr. Grant can get snot out of silk," Ianto murmured mournfully.

Cooper's gaze snapped to the young Guardian's face, an apology on her lips. But he looked at her from under his brows and gave her a warm little smile.

"Guess I'll find out," he shrugged, heading for the door. "Come on… I'll make you a cappuccino and we can talk to Jack about our potentially rabid Weevil."

The former PC hurried to catch up with him, and he crooked his elbow for her to slip her arm through. They came into the Hub together, their leader waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs to the kitchenette. He wore a neutral expression, but his eyes reflected both sympathy and pride. In that instant, Gwen realised both men were wearing active earcomms… someone had eavesdropped anyway.

"You shit," the woman frowned, pointing an accusing finger, then elbowing the young man beside her. "And you. Why didn't you tell me you were on comms with him?"

"I… didn't think about it," Ianto shrugged, looking from the Welshwoman to his partner and back. "Is it a problem?"

"No," Cooper sighed, unable to stay angry. "I'll just do a strip search next time I want to talk to you in private."

Ianto looked alarmed and unconsciously took a step back away from his friend, blushing ever so slightly.

"I'll be sure to take it off," he promised with an uncertain smile.

The green-eyed brunette snickered, then reached out to grab his hand and aim for the kitchenette.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," she laughed, ushering him up the stairs. "I know better than to encroach on Jack's territory, and it's not like I haven't seen you stark naked more than once. Let's have some caffeine and you tell him about Jerry."

"If he was listening in, he already knows," the still blushing Welshman surmised, moving to the coffee machine to make his co-worker the promised cappuccino. "So… can Weevils contract rabies?"

"They are mammalian," Harkness admitted, looking thoughtful. "But if they could, you'd think we would've run into the problem before now. Plus, rabies has pretty much been irradicated from the UK for more than a century, so it's really unlikely a Weevil in Cardiff would show up with it anyhow. Still, there are other Earth virus that can have a similar impact on animals and humans, so it's not a bad idea to have Martha do some tests, and we may want to isolate Joan as well just to be safe since Jerry took a bite out of her. So… coffee, breakfast, then we take the tranquilliser gun downstairs and start getting this sorted."

Ianto nodded, handing Gwen her chocolate sprinkled cappuccino before rinsing out the cup his partner had been using earlier, then filling it with strong black coffee with a pinch of sugar.

"There's the dessert plate we neglected last night if you're interested," he offered as he made himself a latte with a drizzle of lavender syrup instead of sugar. "Or I can make a run to the café for bacon butties."

"Let's take a look at the available sweets," Jack suggested, pulling the plate from the fridge when the younger man stepped away. "Gingersnaps, some sort of fruit tarts, pumpkin bars, and mince pies. Any of it sound appealing?"

"Not for breakfast," Cooper stated truthfully, Ianto shaking his head to indicate the same thing. "Why don't I make the sandwich run, and you two can get the darts and gun ready for the sewer crew downstairs."

"Works for me," the American smiled, putting the dessert plate back in the fridge. "Lift or kiosk?"

"Kiosk," Gwen decided, moving down the risers to get her coat and purse. "It snowed again last night, so the lift's cap stone is covered over. Best not to use it till the lads with the shovels and grit have done the Plass. Be back shortly."

Their friend exited through the big rotating door, the Hub's normal residents splitting off with one heading to the medical bay and the other to the Armoury. They'd prep for the upcoming exercise with the Weevils, have their breakfast and get on with the day.

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AN: So, sorted… for now. Now they get to start the day with bacon butties (yum!) and Weevils. Just another Boxing Day at Torchwood.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM