Fic: Shelter
Happy Imbolg!
Fic: Shelter
Author: CrabbyLioness
Summary: After EOD Ianto drives Gwen home, gets philosophical, and meets Rhys. Comes after Post-mortem part 1 but can be read as a stand-alone.
Rating: PG for adult concepts and mild swearing
Jack/Ianto mentioned, Gwen/Owen mentioned, Gwen/Rhys, Gwen/Ianto friendship, Ianto/Rhys friendship
Word Count: 1600-ish?
Gwen watched Ianto as they walked to his car, reflecting on how seldom she did that. Ianto was always there when someone needed him, always ready with whatever they needed. He took care of things so well there was never any need to look for him or at him. Such an easy oversight to make.
She sank back in the seat of his car. "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I didn't know about you and Jack. I should have picked up on that."
Ianto took a deep breath. "Why?"
"I'm a trained police officer. I'm supposed to notice things, especially when they're going on right under my nose."
He quirked his lips. "Well, it's not like we put out a press release. We're both private people, Jack and me, for all Jack covers it up with a lot of gab."
"So. How long have you guys been together?"
"Since around the time Suzie came back."
"Okay, that's been a few months then. Why didn't you say anything?"
"It was too new and fragile at first. We didn't want you trying to talk us out of it and Owen being Owen."
Gwen laughed nervously. "I've hardly got the moral high ground"
"That wouldn't have stopped you."
"Okay. So, why Jack?" She got a raised eyebrow. "I mean, aside from all the obvious reasons. I thought you hated him there for a while."
"I did. It was the way he acted after Lisa died. Everyone wanted me thrown off the team. Don't deny it Gwen." Ianto said as Gwen opened her mouth to interrupt. "No one trusted me anymore. No one knew why Jack kept me around.
"Jack didn't trust me either. He was cold and hostile whenever he came near me. But he made himself be civil to me. He forced himself to give me another chance when he didn't want to. He didn't do it to impress anyone, or because it was company policy, or because he felt like it. He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do." Ianto smiled fondly. "It's his most impressive feature out of a long list."
She smiled. "Yeah. So that's why you were attracted to him?"
He stared out the window and said nothing.
"I don't mean to pry. I'm just trying to understand."
Ianto rolled his eyes and sighed.
"What?"
"Did you watch the original Star Trek?"
"You mean with Kirk and Spock?" she asked, confused.
He nodded.
"Oh yeah, all the time. That was good. Why"
"Do you remember what they said about the universe? 'Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.' And they were right. That's exactly what's out there. That's what we have to deal with every day. Infinity."
She thought for a moment. "Okay. So?" She gestured for him to continue.
"You keep saying you're trying to understand. You're trying to figure out the one set of rules the whole universe plays by. But the whole universe doesn't play by one set of rules, Gwen. It keeps throwing up things that are new and different every day, and it always will. It's Gwen's Rules vs. Infinity, and guess who's going to win?"
"So what do you do?"
"All you can do is take one tiny piece of it, clean up all the mess, and say what rules are going to apply in that little bit of it. You can build a shelter from the howling chaos, but you can't tell the howling chaos what to do. Out there," he pointed at the stars, "and all around us other people are building other shelters where other rules apply, and you have to respect them for their work even if you don't like their rules.
"And every day Infinity is going to bring something new and different to the door of your shelter, and you've got to deal with it. You can fight it, send it on its way, or let it in. You can band together with other shelters that have rules like your own. But the one thing you can't do is refuse to deal with it because its too strange. Underneath that strangeness it might be a friend. The only thing you can say for sure is that what comes to your door tomorrow is going to be even stranger."
Gwen stared at Ianto, eyes wide. Ianto shook himself and gave his self-deprecating smile. "Sorry about that. I usually don't blather on like this."
"No, that's okay. I like listening to you talk. You've told me about the Infinite. Now tell me about Ianto Jones."
He shrugged and turned away.
"Is that what you and Jack did? Built a shelter for each other where you made your own rules?"
"Something like that."
"What do you think happened to him?"
Ianto shook his head. "I have no idea. It could have been so many things. It could be something job-related, something from his past, something we've never heard of before. We don't know enough to say right now."
"Did he tell you about his past?"
"A little. Probably not much more than he told you. I asked him, but he shook his head and said he couldn't just come out and say it. I got the impression he was waiting for me to do something first, but I couldn't figure out what.
"I figure there was some reason for his silence though. Something big. He wouldn't have done that to us without a good reason." He stared at her. In the darkness of the car she couldn't tell if his eyes showed certainty or were looking for confirmation.
"How do you feel?"
Ianto took a deep breath and let it out as a shaky laugh. "I don't know. I've lost him to death or good-as-death four times in one week. I wonder if that's some sort of record? I feel numb. I don't know what to think or feel or do."
"Oh, sweetheart." She reached out to hug Ianto. He embraced her and held her in his arms while he took several ragged breaths. Gwen thought she felt tears in her hair, but she was afraid to move. Finally his breathing steadied. He sat up, pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, and wiped his face.
"Thank you. Let's get you home." He started the car and drove out of the parking lot, hands as steady as always.
Ianto walked Gwen to her door. She started to protest, but as soon as she stepped out of his car she was hit by a wave of exhaustion almost knocking her to her knees. He knocked on the door while she fumbled for her keys. Rhys answered the door. He looked surprised to see a stranger standing beside her. Surprise, concern, frustration, and anger played over his face.
"Gwen? What the hell is going on? You tell me to wait for you, you'll be right back and then you disappear off the face of the Earth!"
"Mr. Williams, is it? Could you help me with Agent Cooper? She's been on her feet for the past four days." Ianto subtly shoved Gwen's back so she swayed on her feet.
"What?" Concerned, Rhys leaned forward to catch Gwen. She was only too glad to slide into his arms. He walked her over to the couch. "What happened?"
She shook her head and sank back on the cushions. "It's that damn job again, isn't it? And you can't tell me a thing." He hissed in frustration.
Ianto followed them into the room and closed the door behind him. "Actually --"
Gwen jerked as if she had been shot. "Ianto, don't! It's treason!"
Ianto raised both eyebrows at her. "Gwen, who is Protocols and Procedures?"
"You are, but --"
"I'll take full responsibility." He turned to Rhys, all somber and formal. "Mr. Williams, can we rely on your discretion in this matter? Nothing I say to you must go any further."
Rhys stared at the grave young man, then stood straight. "Yes. Of course."
"Thank you, sir. The Captain is missing. He was severely injured a few days ago, and now he's disappeared."
"The Captain?" Rhys asked.
"Jack, our boss." Gwen supplied. "You met him at the restaurant."
Rhys nodded. "And you think something's happened to him?"
"We're certain he did not leave under his own power." Ianto said. "I'm afraid it's placed us all under a bit of stress lately."
Rhys visibly calmed down. "Of course. A missing man. That's something to worry about. We've had that happen a few times at work. Thank you for telling me"
"Yes, Gwen said you were a route manager."
"Yes. And who are you? If it's all right for you to tell me, that is."
Ianto smiled his 'butler' smile and extended his hand. "Ianto Jones. I look after the office." They shook hands as a look of mutual recognition passed between two Men Who Take Care of Things.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going. I just wanted to make sure Gwen got home safely."
"Thank you." Rhys opened the door.
"Good night."
Gwen stood up and hugged Ianto. "We'll find him, sweetheart."
Ianto looked Gwen in the eyes. "Get some sleep." He stared over her shoulder at Rhys, who nodded. Ianto left.
Rhys closed the door and hugged Gwen. "Sorry. I didn't know. I'm sorry." His anger was gone, replaced by compassion. She realized this was why Ianto had followed her to the door. Once again he was taking care of things. She snuggled against Rhys and tried to take shelter in his arms against a world that made less sense every day.
Part 2