The End is Where We Begin. - Part 7
Part one is here
Ianto was stepping into the lift at their new offices when his phone rang. Fumbling with the buttons and the phone, he sighed as the doors hissed closed and answered at last. “I’m literally sixty seconds away, can you wait?”
“We’ve got a call coming in from the Smith’s.” Martha’s voice came through the speaker, bringing a reluctant smile to his face. “Thought you might like to know.” Raising an eyebrow, Ianto nodded and glanced at the lift numbers, willing them to rise higher. That was the problem with taking the top floors of an office block - you had to go through all the other floors to get there. At least they had managed to negotiate sole control of the freight elevator, essential for the equipment they were bringing in.
It was even more lucky they still had a couple of warehouses suitable for the aliens though. That might have raised a few eyebrows with the insurance company four floors below them. Although a bit of a weevil rampage through their own offices might have made them more understanding towards some of the more unusual insurance claims Cardiff citizens had had to make over the years...
“I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, he took a moment to straighten his tie in the reflection of the lift mirror. The simple black and purple stripe was sombre without being too dark, but he was looking forward to losing the coat. The building was warm in comparison to the Hub and he felt like he would never adjust to working at a perfectly warm, dry and bright environment again. He was too used to operating in the dark and damp.
Shaking off the silly thought, Ianto slid the dark coat off his shoulders, folding it neatly over his arm. His black suit was immaculate as always, the deep purple shirt peeking out above his waistcoat and around his tie. His armour. As he caught sight of the light scar on his cheek he brushed a fingertip over it slowly.
David liked to tease him that he was the new Harry Potter, saving the world from evil. Johnny just said it made him look older and less like a soppy poof of a teenager; at least he had until Ianto had snapped and restrained him up against the wall using just one arm. The jokes about his scar being 'carpet burn' had stopped then too.
Rhi just tried not to look at it at all, as though it reminded her too much of that day.
As the lift doors slid open, Ianto shook off all thoughts of his family and made his way down the corridor. Noticeboards were hung on the walls containing the usual mix of health and safety signs, rooms to rent and cars for sale fliers, all part of their cover as a normal business. As he approached the doorway, the security tag reader on the side was the first giveaway that something more may be underway here.
It looked like any number of the cheap plastic readers for security swipe tags used at many businesses, but instead of passing a card over it Ianto pressed his fingertips against it, letting the ridges and whorls be read by the machine. With a soft click, the double doors in front of him unlocked and he pushed through.
A small chamber was just beyond the doors and he stood still as a soft whirr of equipment went into action around him. Placing his hand on the scanner panel on his left, Ianto waited until he was declared clear before the next door unlocked, letting him through at last. Whilst it was most unlikely that anyone would be carrying a bomb in their belly again, they had all agreed that a slightly higher level of security was perhaps wise.
Especially after Johnson had listed the dozen other ideas her team had had for ways to kill them all, even whilst within the safety of their Hub...
As he walked into the open space beyond the doors, Ianto could see the giant computer display screen against one wall showing the grinning faces of the Smiths. Hanging his coat up on the hat stand just inside the door, Ianto walked quickly through the room, nodding to the various technicians from UNIT and their new sponsor working on desks throughout the space, whilst heading straight for his favourite women.
“Good morning Gwen.” Leaning over the seat in which an extremely pregnant Gwen was settled, he kissed her cheek politely, her hands rising to rest over his on her shoulder. “Good morning Doctor Jones.” Turning to Martha, he nodded and was rewarded with a bright grin. Finally turning his attention to the screen, he nodded in greeting to the faces displayed there. “Good morning Smiths.”
Three faces grinned back, the youngest waving eagerly before his mother poked him gently. “There, you’ve said good morning, now get going Luke, you’ll be late for class!”
“See you later, Ianto!” Ianto shared a fond grin with Sarah Jane Smith as she pushed her son out the room, shaking her head slightly in that way of mothers of teens everywhere.
“Sorry about that. He does like being here to say good morning!” She explained, not for the first time.
“Unlike some of us who would rather stay in bed,” the dark skinned man beside her grumbled. “For a secret organisation couldn’t you do something other than nine to five?”
“Morning ‘Samuel’,” Ianto replied with a teasing tone, “sorry to get you up so early. You do look lovely in the morning though...”
“Enough of that,” complained ‘Samuel’ as he folded his arms across his chest. “And it’s Mickey, as you well know.”
Mickey Smith, time traveller, former employee of Torchwood One - in two different universes simultaneously - and ex-boyfriend to one Rose Tyler, moved closer to Sarah Jane Smith on the screen and wrapped an arm around her, making her shake her head slightly.
“And when you said us Smiths should stick together,” she said, “I didn’t realise that would mean you bringing me laundry and eating all my food! It’s like having another teenager in the house when you visit.”
“You love it really,” Mickey replied, grinning at her and getting a grin in return.
Ianto watched her complain, but caught the slightly motherly look in her eyes as Mickey kissed her head affectionately. As much as she might deny it, she loved having Mickey around. There was something about the former companions, they all shared something special, a unique bond; their love of the Doctor. Martha had it too.
So had Jack.
“How’s London this morning?” Ianto asked at last, trying to shake off the thought of his former boss and... There were no words for what he was. He was just Jack. “Anything to report?”
“Pretty quiet at the moment,” Sarah Jane replied, slipping out of Mickey’s embrace and stepping closer. “There are the usual political scandals as the elections are coming up. On the plus side, screening has confirmed that all the candidates are indeed human this time. However, most people are wondering if that’s actually a bonus.”
“I can imagine.” Gwen said quietly, wincing as she shifted on the chair. “Mickey, any progress with our new vehicle yet? Those Land Rovers of Johnson’s don’t exactly fit our image. Not to mention my current physique!”
Mickey Smith nodded, and a slightly dreamy look came over his face. “Oh yeah, she’s a beauty, sleek lines, gorgeous upholstery, and an engine that purrs like-“
“Enough of the Clarkson impression Samuel,” Ianto interrupted, teasing the other man with his false name yet again. “A date would be good though.”
“Some parts aren’t due in until next week, and you still need to send me over the specs for those additional upgrades you wanted, plus time to install...” Mickey thought for a moment. “Say one more month to be sure, allowing time for a test drive or three.”
“No hogging her just so you can have a play when she’s ready, okay?” Ianto replied with a slight smile.
“No problem boss.”
“Oh there was one thing,” Sarah Jane interrupted, as though it had just occurred to her. “Mr Smith tracked a small craft skimming the atmosphere over the UK for a few minutes last night, but it left again straight afterwards. Looks like just another tourist.”
“Right.” Gwen nodded, stretching over the desk for her computer mouse. “If you can send us through the details I can cross reference with UNIT and make sure that's all it was.”
Martha swatted Gwen’s hand away from the mouse playfully, and mock scowled at the mother to be. “I will cross reference with UNIT. Gwen will be going home soon. Which is where she should be right now.”
“I’m pregnant, not sick, will you stop fussing over me like a bloody-“
Ianto glanced at his watch and cleared his throat, cutting short yet another argument between Gwen and Martha before it could take hold. Stepping forwards, he nodded briefly to Sarah Jane on the screen and placed a warning hand on Gwen’s shoulder.
“Sarah Jane, if there’s nothing urgent I’ll leave you in Martha’s capable hands. I’m expecting a call from...” Ianto pointed upwards with his finger and glanced over his shoulder at the technicians working away behind them. Sarah Jane nodded in understanding and folded her arms.
“Of course. I promise not to keep the girls gossiping too long, although I can’t say the same for Mickey.”
“Oi! I’m not that bad,” Mickey protested unconvincingly.
“Ianto, I’ll come with you-“ Gwen started to push herself up from the desk and Ianto pressed down on her shoulder, keeping her in place.
“Considering you left last Friday I think having you on the call might panic them unnecessarily. Go home Gwen.”
“Oh don’t be daft, just one more call won’t hurt.”
“Don’t you trust me?” Ianto’s voice was soft, controlled, but the way he looked at Gwen, and everyone watching them, kept her in her chair far more effectively than her swollen belly.
“Of course,” she whispered back harshly. "But-"
“Then that’s sorted. Go home Gwen.” She stared open mouthed as Ianto walked away and he could hear Martha speaking up, trying to break the tension.
“Speaking of gossip, Mickey Smith," she teased, "what’s this I hear about you in a Soho club with a stunningly beautiful young woman last weekend?”
“I knew Tish wouldn’t keep her big mouth shut...”
Part 8
Ianto was stepping into the lift at their new offices when his phone rang. Fumbling with the buttons and the phone, he sighed as the doors hissed closed and answered at last. “I’m literally sixty seconds away, can you wait?”
“We’ve got a call coming in from the Smith’s.” Martha’s voice came through the speaker, bringing a reluctant smile to his face. “Thought you might like to know.” Raising an eyebrow, Ianto nodded and glanced at the lift numbers, willing them to rise higher. That was the problem with taking the top floors of an office block - you had to go through all the other floors to get there. At least they had managed to negotiate sole control of the freight elevator, essential for the equipment they were bringing in.
It was even more lucky they still had a couple of warehouses suitable for the aliens though. That might have raised a few eyebrows with the insurance company four floors below them. Although a bit of a weevil rampage through their own offices might have made them more understanding towards some of the more unusual insurance claims Cardiff citizens had had to make over the years...
“I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, he took a moment to straighten his tie in the reflection of the lift mirror. The simple black and purple stripe was sombre without being too dark, but he was looking forward to losing the coat. The building was warm in comparison to the Hub and he felt like he would never adjust to working at a perfectly warm, dry and bright environment again. He was too used to operating in the dark and damp.
Shaking off the silly thought, Ianto slid the dark coat off his shoulders, folding it neatly over his arm. His black suit was immaculate as always, the deep purple shirt peeking out above his waistcoat and around his tie. His armour. As he caught sight of the light scar on his cheek he brushed a fingertip over it slowly.
David liked to tease him that he was the new Harry Potter, saving the world from evil. Johnny just said it made him look older and less like a soppy poof of a teenager; at least he had until Ianto had snapped and restrained him up against the wall using just one arm. The jokes about his scar being 'carpet burn' had stopped then too.
Rhi just tried not to look at it at all, as though it reminded her too much of that day.
As the lift doors slid open, Ianto shook off all thoughts of his family and made his way down the corridor. Noticeboards were hung on the walls containing the usual mix of health and safety signs, rooms to rent and cars for sale fliers, all part of their cover as a normal business. As he approached the doorway, the security tag reader on the side was the first giveaway that something more may be underway here.
It looked like any number of the cheap plastic readers for security swipe tags used at many businesses, but instead of passing a card over it Ianto pressed his fingertips against it, letting the ridges and whorls be read by the machine. With a soft click, the double doors in front of him unlocked and he pushed through.
A small chamber was just beyond the doors and he stood still as a soft whirr of equipment went into action around him. Placing his hand on the scanner panel on his left, Ianto waited until he was declared clear before the next door unlocked, letting him through at last. Whilst it was most unlikely that anyone would be carrying a bomb in their belly again, they had all agreed that a slightly higher level of security was perhaps wise.
Especially after Johnson had listed the dozen other ideas her team had had for ways to kill them all, even whilst within the safety of their Hub...
As he walked into the open space beyond the doors, Ianto could see the giant computer display screen against one wall showing the grinning faces of the Smiths. Hanging his coat up on the hat stand just inside the door, Ianto walked quickly through the room, nodding to the various technicians from UNIT and their new sponsor working on desks throughout the space, whilst heading straight for his favourite women.
“Good morning Gwen.” Leaning over the seat in which an extremely pregnant Gwen was settled, he kissed her cheek politely, her hands rising to rest over his on her shoulder. “Good morning Doctor Jones.” Turning to Martha, he nodded and was rewarded with a bright grin. Finally turning his attention to the screen, he nodded in greeting to the faces displayed there. “Good morning Smiths.”
Three faces grinned back, the youngest waving eagerly before his mother poked him gently. “There, you’ve said good morning, now get going Luke, you’ll be late for class!”
“See you later, Ianto!” Ianto shared a fond grin with Sarah Jane Smith as she pushed her son out the room, shaking her head slightly in that way of mothers of teens everywhere.
“Sorry about that. He does like being here to say good morning!” She explained, not for the first time.
“Unlike some of us who would rather stay in bed,” the dark skinned man beside her grumbled. “For a secret organisation couldn’t you do something other than nine to five?”
“Morning ‘Samuel’,” Ianto replied with a teasing tone, “sorry to get you up so early. You do look lovely in the morning though...”
“Enough of that,” complained ‘Samuel’ as he folded his arms across his chest. “And it’s Mickey, as you well know.”
Mickey Smith, time traveller, former employee of Torchwood One - in two different universes simultaneously - and ex-boyfriend to one Rose Tyler, moved closer to Sarah Jane Smith on the screen and wrapped an arm around her, making her shake her head slightly.
“And when you said us Smiths should stick together,” she said, “I didn’t realise that would mean you bringing me laundry and eating all my food! It’s like having another teenager in the house when you visit.”
“You love it really,” Mickey replied, grinning at her and getting a grin in return.
Ianto watched her complain, but caught the slightly motherly look in her eyes as Mickey kissed her head affectionately. As much as she might deny it, she loved having Mickey around. There was something about the former companions, they all shared something special, a unique bond; their love of the Doctor. Martha had it too.
So had Jack.
“How’s London this morning?” Ianto asked at last, trying to shake off the thought of his former boss and... There were no words for what he was. He was just Jack. “Anything to report?”
“Pretty quiet at the moment,” Sarah Jane replied, slipping out of Mickey’s embrace and stepping closer. “There are the usual political scandals as the elections are coming up. On the plus side, screening has confirmed that all the candidates are indeed human this time. However, most people are wondering if that’s actually a bonus.”
“I can imagine.” Gwen said quietly, wincing as she shifted on the chair. “Mickey, any progress with our new vehicle yet? Those Land Rovers of Johnson’s don’t exactly fit our image. Not to mention my current physique!”
Mickey Smith nodded, and a slightly dreamy look came over his face. “Oh yeah, she’s a beauty, sleek lines, gorgeous upholstery, and an engine that purrs like-“
“Enough of the Clarkson impression Samuel,” Ianto interrupted, teasing the other man with his false name yet again. “A date would be good though.”
“Some parts aren’t due in until next week, and you still need to send me over the specs for those additional upgrades you wanted, plus time to install...” Mickey thought for a moment. “Say one more month to be sure, allowing time for a test drive or three.”
“No hogging her just so you can have a play when she’s ready, okay?” Ianto replied with a slight smile.
“No problem boss.”
“Oh there was one thing,” Sarah Jane interrupted, as though it had just occurred to her. “Mr Smith tracked a small craft skimming the atmosphere over the UK for a few minutes last night, but it left again straight afterwards. Looks like just another tourist.”
“Right.” Gwen nodded, stretching over the desk for her computer mouse. “If you can send us through the details I can cross reference with UNIT and make sure that's all it was.”
Martha swatted Gwen’s hand away from the mouse playfully, and mock scowled at the mother to be. “I will cross reference with UNIT. Gwen will be going home soon. Which is where she should be right now.”
“I’m pregnant, not sick, will you stop fussing over me like a bloody-“
Ianto glanced at his watch and cleared his throat, cutting short yet another argument between Gwen and Martha before it could take hold. Stepping forwards, he nodded briefly to Sarah Jane on the screen and placed a warning hand on Gwen’s shoulder.
“Sarah Jane, if there’s nothing urgent I’ll leave you in Martha’s capable hands. I’m expecting a call from...” Ianto pointed upwards with his finger and glanced over his shoulder at the technicians working away behind them. Sarah Jane nodded in understanding and folded her arms.
“Of course. I promise not to keep the girls gossiping too long, although I can’t say the same for Mickey.”
“Oi! I’m not that bad,” Mickey protested unconvincingly.
“Ianto, I’ll come with you-“ Gwen started to push herself up from the desk and Ianto pressed down on her shoulder, keeping her in place.
“Considering you left last Friday I think having you on the call might panic them unnecessarily. Go home Gwen.”
“Oh don’t be daft, just one more call won’t hurt.”
“Don’t you trust me?” Ianto’s voice was soft, controlled, but the way he looked at Gwen, and everyone watching them, kept her in her chair far more effectively than her swollen belly.
“Of course,” she whispered back harshly. "But-"
“Then that’s sorted. Go home Gwen.” She stared open mouthed as Ianto walked away and he could hear Martha speaking up, trying to break the tension.
“Speaking of gossip, Mickey Smith," she teased, "what’s this I hear about you in a Soho club with a stunningly beautiful young woman last weekend?”
“I knew Tish wouldn’t keep her big mouth shut...”
Part 8