Torchwood: Divergence
Book Three: Rheoleiddiad

Chapter 3

When Gwen emerged from her hot shower, she found clean clothes laid out for her across the foot of the bed. And to make matters worse, the entire room had been straightened, new sheets and covers put on the bed, and the windows cracked open to let in a little fresh though chilly air. So, she closed them, dressed in the obviously chosen for comfort outfit of well-worn blue jeans and a jumper that was waiting for her, pulled on her slouchy winter boots and gave her hair a quick run with the blow dryer. Then she prepared to head downstairs, able to hear her visitors as soon as she opened the bedroom door.

"That is so unfair," Martha was complaining. "My husband never makes me toast and jam, even on our Anniversary. And he makes himself scarce when I don't feel well. I got robbed. Why couldn't I end up with someone like Ianto?"

"They're hard to come by," Jack laughed. "And he is very taken."

"Does he make you toast and jam?" the team doctor demanded, obviously trying not to laugh as well.

"Yeah, actually," Harkness replied equitably. "Most mornings, unless we decide to go out or something comes in for the team."

"He likes his toast very crisp, light butter, good smear of marmalade or plum jam," Ianto put in, his words accompanied by the sound of vigorous stirring. "And once it gets cold he won't touch it, just like his coffee."

Cooper paused before entering the kitchen. She could hear the strain in the younger man's voice, even though he was trying to cover it with a cheerful smile. It was a good bet that Jack could tell as well, but he was attempting to help by not making a fuss. Well too bloody bad… she was going to fuss until both she and Ianto could smile and actually mean it. Her stomach gurgled, and she sighed. Okay, so maybe she'd have toast and coffee first. Feeling somewhat sheepish, the one-time constable rounded the corner into the kitchen and blinked in surprise.

"Oh my God, Jack, you turned him loose on the whole bloody house?" Gwen gaped, knowing the place never looked so spotless when it was up to her and Rhys to clean. "You did not have to do maid service, Ianto."

"Habit," the young Welshman stated with a quick smile that turned to a wince as it pulled against his split lip, even as he put a plate of toast with strawberry jam and a cup of hand frothed cappuccino on the table for her. "Ask Jack. When I'm nervous or upset, I start compulsively cleaning."

"He does," the American nodded, sipping a cup of barely sugared black coffee. "It's kind of scary. The other night I found him field-stripping and cleaning every weapon in the Armoury, because he'd already swept, mopped, vacuumed, dusted, and wiped down everything else in the place except the occupied cells… and he'd done Myfanwy's enclosure the evening before."

"That's why the Autopsy Lab has been so speckless and shiny," Martha remarked. "And here I thought I was just getting neater with my work."

Ianto rolled his eyes but refrained from comment, motioning Gwen over to the table before retreating to the area where the coffee maker sat on the counter and fielding his own cup. His friend made her way over to sit down, going for the steaming cup of special cappuccino first. The rest of the group in the kitchen let her be, Jack and Martha veering off into a conversation about the recent increase of Blowfish and Singing Slugs coming through the Rift, while the youngest member of the team kept his attention on whatever was visible in the back garden through the small window over the basin. So, Cooper ate her toast and jam, enjoyed her handmade hot beverage and simply listened for a few minutes. When she was done, she picked up her dishes and headed for the sink. The Changeling standing there quickly put his mug aside and took the items from her to place in the sudsy water in the big single trough of the basin. Before he could push up his sleeves to wash them however, Gwen stepped close to put her arms around him and hug him tight. Surprised, the twenty-six-year-old carefully returned the embrace, casting his partner a confused look. Finally, the raven-haired woman drew back, reached up to put a hand on either side of her friend's face and squarely met his gaze.

"I've had a really bad start to this year," Gwen stated shakily. "And things have been total chaos since I reopened Torchwood. That's life with the Institute, and none of the problems I've had are your fault, Ianto. The miscarriage was just too much for me to take right now after everything with Dad, and I went off round the bend. But you dragged me back… I don't ever want to see or feel those bits of your past again, but it definitely did the trick. And I don't want you feeling that guilt either, not over me. You've only ever tried to help, yeah?"

Ianto nodded slightly, but his eyes still held a little of the haunted look that always broke his friends' hearts. He managed a bruised smile nonetheless and patted her hands reassuringly where they touched his face. The former PC knew it would still take some persuasion to convince the young Guardian that he wasn't to blame for her troubles, but at least he as trying to stay positive and she wasn't locked in a paralysing depression anymore. Willing to leave it at that for the moment, the green-eyed woman turned to face the kitchen's other two occupants.

"Sorry I've been such a pain in the arse," she stated soberly. "I'm rubbish."

"Everybody's entitled to a meltdown once in a while," Jack shrugged, returning her hug when she came to put her arms around him.

"It's just good to see you feeling yourself again," Martha smiled when it was her turn for an embrace.

Ianto had silently collected the cups during this, had them and the toast plate washed and on the drying board in mere moments, the water now gurgling quietly down the drain. So, when Gwen turned back to him, we wasn't quite sure what to do.

"Did Rhys take his car?" she asked with raise brows. "Mine's been acting up lately."

"Um, no… Turlough drove him and Lois in his car so both of yours are still here," Ianto explained uncertainly, tamping down on the sudden thrill of fear that iced through his veins, even as he wondered what had been causing the panicky moments he'd been experiencing since the mission with Turlough earlier.

"Good," Cooper smiled. "You can ride with me then. Jack and Martha can take the SUV, the two of us can stop for something group worthy at Tesco or the like, and we can all meet at Mam's for lunch."

"Speaking of which," Harkness put in with a grimace. "Don't hit the roof when you see the redo of her kitchen. That missing Blowfish ended up at her place the first night we sent you home. Rhys had left her his mobile, told her to speed-dial one of us if there was anything she needed. She got Ianto and he routed me straight down. Your mother was a real trooper; stayed calm, kept the baby quiet up in her bedroom, and just waited for me to get there. Andy helped UNIT get everything cleared away, and the insurance is taking care of the damages, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Please tell me the slimy bastard's dead," Gwen growled.

"Oh, yes," Ianto reassured. "He tried throwing cutlery at Jack and ended up with two rounds through the frontal lobe. Your mother was very level headed and calm through it all, stayed on the line with me until Andy arrived. She's quite the brave lady. I did let Rhys know what had happened the next day, but you really weren't up to hearing about it at the time."

"Too deep in the 'Pit of Despair'," Cooper half-joked, proving she was truly feeling better. "At least she had a way to get a hold of the right people to take care of business. I owe Rhys a big kiss for that. And a huge thanks to you two for looking out for her."

"Hey, how often do you get the chance to break every speed limit in Wales by thirty or more?" the Captain smiled as they moved into the living room. "And save two damsels in distress at once, yeah?"

"Which reminds me," Ianto murmured, holding Gwen's coat for her and helping her find the keys to her husband's car. "The SUV needs new tyres again. I'll get that sorted tomorrow, Rift allowing."

"Might want to have the brakes checked too," Martha added helpfully as they all put on their overcoats. "They seemed a bit iffy to me on the way over here earlier, and it wasn't just Jack's mad driving."

"Yes, ma'am," the young Welshman nodded automatically, still tending to defer to the doctor's rank with UNIT.

His partner smirked as they exited the house and locked the front door. Soon they were on their way, the big Torchwood vehicle continuing on when Cooper turned off to head for the supermarket. Things had been rough for the whole Team the past few weeks. It was nice to finally have things settling to an even keel once more.

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AN: Problem solved and everything is getting back to normal… or is it?

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