16

"Look, I am just saying… this is not the purview of Torchwood and seriously those kids hinder his ability to work in the field"

Ianto froze outside Jack's office, the tray of coffee mugs also frozen so quickly it's a wonder they were not turned into frapes. He canted his head and looked in through the open door as Gwen continued her rant, unaware that the focus of her ire was right there.

"Seriously Jack, all the things Ianto has done, all the crap and here we are, and what… we will now protect him from this escaped murderer? This is not a Torchwood matter, we should be focusing on the Riftlings and the…"

"Riftlings? When did we start calling them that?" Jack interrupted for the first time and Ianto realized he had been sitting there listening without telling her to shut up. Not once. Ianto felt a little pain at that… he didn't even stick up for him? And the kids?

"Yes, unlike Owen and his creepy need to cut things up or Toshiko's geeky need to click bloody buttons… I am invested in those poor unfortunates that have arrived here in a strange place with nothing and no one…."

"Ah. Like the kids. Who need us so much… something we CAN do to fix thins is be present."

OK, back in the good books. Yes. OK. He was not agreeing with her, he as letting her hang herself. OK. Ianto forgave him.

"What?" she spluttered, "No… I mean those who need us. Not those little bastards…."

Ianto stepped into the office and saw several things at once. Jack had his feet on the desk. Jack was grinning like she was being so damned funny and the most telling of all was the fact one of his boots happened to be on the intercom button.

Oh my. Going scorched earth here lover?

"Gwen. Those children are his responsibility now and as he is a long standing and most definitely high ranking member of this team we all have a duty of care for those poor lost little ones. He was not hired as a field agent ya know, he is my archivist who happens to be a bloody good shot. He will simply step back into the role of… well… caring for us all like he always did. You know, I hope you and Rhys are not planning to breed in the near future as you have a lot of growing up to do yet, and for someone who thinks she is the heart of this place… you are pretty bloody cold."

"What?" she squeaked "I just… I but… oh… hi pet."

Finally she did a double take and saw the man in the doorway with the tray of mugs, his eyes firmly on Jack as Jack smiled back at him, the warmth in it making Ianto totally not care about the harpy spluttering off to his left.

"Sir. Boots?" Ianto said softly, entering the room all the way and placing the tray own, grabbing those feet and sliding between them and the desk to cradle said boost "Naughty."

"I know. But you know… I was a shit of a kid too." Jak said with wide eyes.

"I have no doubt of that… sir" Ianto hummed his hand moving up one of the legs to squeeze behind his knee.

Jack jumped, letting out a squeak.

"Ianto… pet…"

"I am not a pet Gwen. I am rather a wild animal that is choosing to ignore you. If you don't leave now, I might have to rip your face off and wear it like a mask, Hannibal Lecter style."

Jack laughed, a deep throated bellow as Gwen huffed and stormed out only to find Owen and Toshko at the bottom of the stairs looking at her with open anger.

She stepped down more and then heard over the speakers the conversation still going on as Ianto again scolded for Jack's boots being on the desk and realized a beat too late that she had been on the coms.

"Ah… hi guys" she said meekly.

"Excuse me … I have buttons to click" Toshko snarled, turning away as Owen grinned wide and made slashing motions at her.

The laughter over the speakers had stopped and they all heard Ianto whisper softly "You, sir… are a cad. And those are my socks!"

"Sorry Tiger, I forgot mine and… well… what is a man to do when these are so festive"

Then came soft laugher as the coms clicked off finally.

Gwen knew she was outvoted.

.

.

Ianto was still thinking about the weirdness of Gwen's need to control things as he made a fresh batch of coffee for the afternoon meeting when he became aware of her behind him, the waft of her flowery perfume cloying in the small space of the kitchen. Clearly she had taken the last three hours to sulk.

With a suppressed sigh, he turned to face her and she looked shocked like she really thought she was sneaking up on him… for some reason. He smiled "Gwen, there you are. Just in time to give me a hand. Can you grab that tray over there? And what do you think … hobnobs or ginger kisses."

"Oh… I suppose both as Toshiko doesn't like ginger" she said as she became engrossed in the biscuit tins "Oh… is this…"

"Fruit slice yeah. I baked last night while thinking. Couldn't sleep so much to think about, worry about. I never thought of myself as a Tad, ya know? This is all so scary and overwhelming. I don't know what I would do without you guys to help me. Such a warm family vibe ya know?" Ianto then lowered his head and knew he was now looking more conspirative as he whispered "And I may have lost my sister, but at least I still have you."

Then he wafted off with the tray of drinks, confident she would follow with the food and a determined look of adoration for the poor man.

And yeah… I've said this before.

Ianto is always right.

And fucking crafty as a fox. LOL

He can handle nobs of all shapes and sizes.