Torchwood: Divergence
Book Three: Rheoleiddiad
Chapter 5
This truly had been a hard day, and it wasn't even noon yet. With luck, all would be much improved when Ianto rose from his unwanted but much needed nap.
Down in the kitchen lunch was being prepped, the new table set and enough chairs found. Mary went to find her daughter, where the former constable was settled in the sitting room with Ebrill in her lap.
"Has she been a good girl for you?" Gwen asked seriously. "I'm sorry it was so long."
"Oh, she was an angel," the older woman reassured. "Went to the Library with me the days I worked; the other ladies loved having her. Pop in a video with birds and she was happy for hours. The only time she ever got fussy as when that fellow with the fish head broke in and your Captain had to shoot him. Even that didn't last long. Young Mr. Jones talked to her over the mobile and she settled right down. He told her everything was fine and said she should go to sleep… she actually agreed with him, well she said 'seeps', but nodded right off just after. You have wonderful friends, Gwen. They've been so helpful this week, and dear Rhys calling me every day to check on the baby, let me know how you were doing. It was an awful thing to happen, but I must say I've rather enjoyed my part of it."
"I didn't realise the team from work had been helping out so much," Cooper commented with raised brows. "They're normally so busy."
"Oh, the Captain and Mr. Jones called several times to be sure I didn't need anything," her mother smiled, reaching over to tickle Ebrill's cheek. "Martha and her husband stopped by once to see if I wanted any errands run. Young Lois brought more of the baby's things over that Rhys had packed the second day, and Turlough came a couple of times in the evening with groceries so I wouldn't have to shop. Even your old Heddlu partner, Andy, and his lady friend turned up to make sure there hadn't been anymore funny business since that first night. And Rhys told me that the whole group had been doing shopping for him as well."
"We try to take care of our own," Jack stated evenly from the doorway to the kitchen. "Lunch is ready, ladies, come get it while it's hot."
"I need to make up a plate for your boyfriend," Mrs. Cooper nodded as she rose from the settee. "He can warm it later, once he's had a good nap."
"Who's watching the Rift?" Gwen asked her boss as she gained her feet with her daughter in her arms.
"Alerts will route to my VM and Ianto's PDA," Harkness shrugged. "If it's urgent we'll take off. If it's not… I think your mom's really enjoying having a full house."
"I know she must be lonely since Dad died," the one-time PC murmured. "But she won't hear of moving closer to Rhys and me. She wants to stay here in their home."
"Someday that may change," her Captain stated as he escorted her to the kitchen. "Right now, she can still feel her husband's presence here and she needs that. In time though, her heart may decide what she needs more is to be close to the rest of her family and moving will be an easier choice. Just be patient, and visit as often as you can."
"I forget you've already dealt with this kind of thing yourself," Cooper sighed, smiling when Rhys came to take Eb. "And apparently Ianto's handled more family problems than I'd ever guessed."
"More than you know, on both counts," the American smiled sadly, making sure everyone was settling in for the meal.
Dishes were passed, water was poured and lunch got underway. The team happily let Mary tell stories about her recently deceased husband, tried not to laugh too hard at Gwen's embarrassment when the aging blond also regaled them with tales of the former constable's childhood exploits. They were in fact just coming to the end of the meal and preparing to clean up, when a terrified cry sounded from upstairs.
"Got it," Jack stated, bolting for the risers into the upper level.
Those still in the kitchen could hear their youngest team member screaming in Welsh, his desperation obvious by how strained and broken his voice was.
"Jack! Peidiwch â gwneud i mi fynd!" Ianto begged, Gwen having to concentrate hard to mentally translate what he was saying. "Peidiwch â fy anfon yn ôl! Doeddwn i ddim yn golygu unrhyw niwed, rwy'n rhegi! Please!"
There was a scrabbling thump on the floor upstairs, then the bedroom door clunked shut, muffling everything else that happened in the small first floor space. But for at least a full minute the young Changeling continued to cry out in fear.
"What the hell?" Cooper frowned as she sketchily worked out most of what the twenty-six-year-old had been saying. "Let's get the clean-up done, yeah? If one or both isn't down here in five minutes, I'm going up."
"Those two having troubles again?" Rhys asked quietly as he passed the baby to his mother-in-law to free up both hands, the question actually aimed at Martha.
"Not that I know of," the young doctor shrugged. "Why? What was Ianto saying?"
"He was begging Jack not to send him somewhere," Gwen explained softly. "I'll have to concentrate hard on the rest. His Welsh is tonnes better than mine, especially when he's tired or really upset… it just sort of slips out. Which actually makes this worry me even more."
Concerned but helpless at the moment, the team simply turned to the work at hand and waited to hear from the pair upstairs.
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Welsh Bits:
Peidiwch â gwneud i mi fynd! = Please don't make me go!
Peidiwch â fy anfon yn ôl! Doeddwn i ddim yn golygu unrhyw niwed, rwy'n rhegi! = Don't send me back! I didn't mean any harm, I swear!
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AN: Thing are heading to a dark place for poor Ianto, and his nightmare is only the beginning…
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM