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Title: Taking Care Of Business – Part 3
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Jack, Alice, Steven, Ianto, Gwen, Agent Johnson.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3556
Spoilers: Children of Earth Fix-it.
Summary: Jack and Ianto join forces and decide what to do next.
Written For: Weekend Challenge ‘Oh The Places You'll Go 2,’ at 
[community profile] 1_million_words.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.


 
Part 2
 


The drive was uneventful; a sense of unreality had set in, and Jack drove as if in a dream, half afraid he might wake up to discover the last couple of hours had been nothing but wishful thinking on his part. He kept half an eye on the road behind, making sure that no one was trying to follow, and answered the occasional question from Alice, fewer than he would have expected but it seemed she was trying to give him some space, while at the same time getting her own thoughts and emotions into some semblance of order. They would need to have a long talk about a lot of things when the dust had settled a bit, but that would have to wait a while longer.
 

Thankfully, Steven mostly just stared out of the car window, untroubled, blessedly unaware that for a while his life had been on the line. All that mattered to him was that he was with his mummy and Uncle Jack, they were going somewhere together, and Uncle Jack had said they could maybe get ice cream later, if they could find a shop that was open.

 
Jack didn’t take the most direct route to the address he’d been given, taking turns at random until he was certain no one was tailing him, but it still took only a little over half an hour to reach his destination, not much more than a stone’s throw from Thames House. The bookshop was on a relatively quiet backstreet, and as he pulled up just down the street from it, Jack’s mouth went dry and his grip on the steering wheel tightened, knuckles whitening, as doubts filled his head.
 

It had looked like Ianto on the screen, had sounded like him, but what if that had been some kind of trick? Perhaps it had been nothing more than a clever illusion, wishful thinking, even an hallucination… He’d watched his lover die in his arms, had awoken beside Ianto’s cold, still body with the sinking awareness of everything he’d lost, and a gnawing sense of guilt for things done and things left unsaid… How could Ianto be alive now, when all of Jack’s efforts to keep him alive as the 456 virus had spread through his body had failed? Jack sat still for a long moment after turning the engine off, then steeling himself with a deep, steadying breath, he twisted around in his seat.


 
“Wait here, I won’t be long,” he told his daughter before getting out and walking towards the bookshop. He was barely halfway there before the door opened and a figure stepped out. The poorly fitting sports jacket looked so wrong, Ianto had never been a herringbone tweed kind of man, but everything else was so completely right that it stopped Jack in his tracks; all he could do was stare as the man he loved and had thought he’d lost came towards him.
 

“Jack?” Ianto stopped in front of him, stormy blue-grey eyes searching his face, one hand reaching automatically to cup his cheek, the touch warm and familiar.

 

Jack put his own hand over Ianto’s, turning his head to briefly nuzzle against his lover’s palm, breathing in the warm scent of his skin, the scent that was undeniably Ianto. “It’s really you, you’re really alive!”

 

“So it would seem,” Ianto agreed with a small smile. “Although I’m not entirely sure how.” That was all he got to say, because then Jack was enthusiastically kissing him, and all Ianto could do was kiss back; it was such a relief to have Jack’s arms around him after everything that had happened. Had it really only been a few hours since they’d confronted the 456? It was enough to make his head spin, or maybe that was due to a slight shortage of oxygen. When they finally broke apart, both of them a touch breathless, Ianto was smiling. “I gather you’re pleased to see me.”


 
“You have no idea.” There were tears sparkling in Jack’s eyes.
 

“Oh, I think I do.” Ianto straightened the lapels of Jack’s replacement coat. “There, that’s better. Can’t have you looking untidy, can we?”


 
Jack couldn’t help but laugh; Ianto was always looking after him, in so many small ways. What would he ever do without him? “I love you, Ianto Jones. I should’ve told you that a long time ago.”
 

“You didn’t need to, Jack; I always knew, you told me in so many ways, although I can’t say I mind hearing you say it.” Ianto took a deep breath, gathering himself. “Right, well, we can’t stand around chatting here all day. I’m sure you have things you need to take care of, and I should return this jacket to where I got it, see if I can find out what they did with the contents of my pockets… Either they took my wallet and phone for identification purposes, or there’s a thief at work in their temporary morgue, which is an uncomfortable thought.”


 
Somehow, just like that, Ianto was getting everything organised; Jack marvelled at the way he could be so efficient, finding order in the midst of so much confusion, but then that had always been one of Ianto’s greatest strengths. He had a way of thinking two steps ahead of everyone else, dealing with problems before anyone else realised there were problems that needed to be dealt with.

 
“You’re right, as usual,” Jack said, pulling himself together; there would be time for a proper reunion later, at least he hoped there would. “I should put a call through to Gwen, have her head back to London, pick up Rhys and the evidence. We’ll need it, and I want us all together when we present everything to the boss. Lizzie should be told the truth about what’s been going on; I have a feeling she’s only been getting a heavily edited version of recent events.”
 

“Back to London?” Ianto asked, frowning, as he and Jack made their way towards the borrowed car. “Isn’t she still here?”


 
“No, I sent her back to Cardiff, to protect your niece and nephew. It was the least I could do after…” Jack trailed off, unable to say the words ‘after you died.’
 

Ianto’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh God, Mica and David! I completely forgot about them! Are they okay?”


 
“We’ll find out.” Jack pulled out the burner phone and leaned against the car, smiling and waving through the window at Steven, who waved back, grinning. The call went through.

 
“Hello?”

 
“Gwen.”
 

“Jack! Are you alright?”


 
“I’m fine.” Jack put the phone on speaker. “What about Ianto’s family? Did you get there in time?”

 
“Yes. They’re fine too, shaken up but unhurt. I had to tell Rhiannon about Ianto though.”

 
Ianto leaned in. “Well then, you’d better get back to my sister and tell her there was a mix-up of some kind. Can’t have her thinking I’m dead when I’m not.”

 
There was silence for several seconds, then, in a tone of uncompromising suspicion… “Who is this?”
 

Ianto rolled his eyes. Trust Gwen not to believe her own ears!

 

“You know who it is, Gwen,” Jack said. “And no, I’m not mistaken, it’s not a trick, Ianto is alive. There isn’t time to go into details right now, there’s still too much to do, but he’s the one who stopped the 456. When I kissed him in the morgue, I must have jumpstarted him or something, like you did for me, when you kissed me after Abaddon.”

 

“Hold on a mo,” Ianto interrupted. “Gwen kissed you? And you didn’t tell me?”

 

“It was just a peck. Jealous?”

 

“Should I be?” Ianto raised an eyebrow.

 

Jack stole a brief kiss. “Never.”

 

“You’re serious? He’s really alive?” Gwen’s voice came through the phone.

 

“He really is,” Jack assured her. “Now get back to London ASAP, pick up Rhys on the way, meet us…” He trailed off, thinking. “No, I’ll call you and tell you where later, there’s a few things I need to sort out first. Just give Rhiannon the good news, apologise for the mix-up, tell her you were misinformed, and Ianto will call her as soon as he gets a chance, then get back
here.”

 
“Got it.”

 
Gwen’s voice still sounded a bit shaky, but Jack knew she’d be okay. He hung up, then stood staring at the phone in his hand.

 
“Jack? What is it?”
 

“I haven’t had to do this since the second war,” Jack said still staring at the phone. “I just hope it still works.” He dialled a number with several digits too many, and held the phone to his ear, listening to a series of clicks, then a quiet chirp. “Phoenix for Britannia,” he said, followed by a string of numbers, then… “Priority Red Alpha.” He ended the call and waited.

 

Ianto kept quiet; this was no time for small talk.

 

Hardly more than two minutes later, the burner rang, and Jack accepted the call before it could ring a second time, a relieved smile on his face when he heard the voice on the other end.

 

“Elizabeth. It’s good to hear your voice.” He listened for a moment, nodding slowly, then… “The situation is secure, Lizzie, at least the aliens have been dealt with, so that threat is over… Yes, one of my people handled it, very effectively, but there are things you need to know. The Home Office, on the orders of the Prime Minister, tried to have Torchwood eliminated, my team killed. They destroyed the Hub with a bomb. We got away, obviously, but it was close; I’ll fill you in on the details in person. I want to bring Ianto, Gwen, and a few other people to the Palace, for their safety, and I’m going to need an executive order from you, in writing, authorisation to do whatever’s necessary to clean house… Yes, I know it’s a lot to ask, but you know I wouldn’t be asking without good reason.” Jack flashed Ianto a look and held out his hand.

 

Ianto took it, squeezed reassuringly, and Jack drew him in close.

 

“Lizzie, this is going to send ripples around the world. Green and his people were preparing to hand millions of children over to the aliens, rounding them up like cattle, snatching them from their parents’ arms, and he was encouraging other governments to do the same. UNIT were involved too. I hate to say this, but right now you can’t trust any of them.” Jack paused again, listening to the voice on the other end of the phone. “Yes, Ma’am, I have incontrovertible proof, I’ll be bringing it with me. I have a couple of things I need to deal with first, so we’ll be there in… Let’s say about two hours, give or take. Gwen Cooper and her husband will arrive a bit later, they’re enroute from Cardiff. Stay safe, Lizzie. I doubt anyone would do anything to you or your family, but this is not the time to take chances. Trust your personal guard, but don’t let anyone approach you for an audience of any sort until I get there, and you’ve reviewed the evidence. After that, I’ll do whatever you want me to.”

 

Ianto faintly heard a cultured voice saying, “Agreed. God speed, Captain,” and then Jack ended the call. Shoving the phone back into his pocket, he gave Ianto a strained smile.

 

“Things are about to get interesting.”


 
“Business as usual then. Whatever comes, we’ll deal with it. We always do.” Ianto smiled reassuringly.
 

“We always do,” Jack agreed. “Okay, back to the temporary morgue so you can drop that jacket off, it really doesn’t suit you, and…”


 
Ianto cut him off. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” He nodded towards the car, and Jack winced. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten about Alice and Steven, just that he felt like a juggler trying to keep too many balls in the air at once, and as hard as he was trying, he couldn’t quite keep track of them all.
 

“Right, quick introductions.” Jack opened the passenger side door and leaned in. “Not the way I wanted to do this, but… Alice, Steven, meet Ianto Jones, my infinitely better half. Ianto, my daughter Alice, and my grandson Steven, and I will explain THAT later.” He addressed that last sentence to Steven, who was looking at the man he’d always known as Uncle Jack in wide-eyed confusion. Ushering Ianto into the car, Jack dashed around to the driver’s side, sliding into the seat and slamming the door just in time to hear what Ianto was saying to Alice.

 

Hello, lovely to meet you. Sorry this is all a bit rushed. Wish I could say Jack’s told me a lot about you, but he really hasn’t. Bit of an oversight on his part, but that’s Jack for you.”

 

“Ouch!” Jack complained, fastening his seatbelt under his lover’s watchful eye. “You don’t pull your punches, do you?”

 

“Not as a rule, no. Someone has to keep you in line, and gentle hints go right over your head. You’re too easily distracted. Attention span of a goldfish.”


 
“Hey!”

 
“Oh, I like you!” Alice said from the backseat, beginning to relax. “You’re just what dad needs.” She addressed her father. “If you’re serious about marrying him, you have my blessing.”
 

Ianto twisted in his seat to look over his shoulder. “Wants to marry me, does he? Well, I expect a proper proposal. Down on one knee and everything. That will have to wait for a while though, until the rest of this mess is dealt with. As usual in this job, what we want has to take second place to saving the world. Good thing we’re used to putting our lives on hold for the greater good. Not that anyone ever thanks us for our sacrifices.”

 

“They will this time. Even Torchwood can’t cover up something of this magnitude,” Jack said as he steered the car around to the building being used as a morgue.


 
Getting out, Ianto strode past the guards at the door as if he belonged there, and perhaps they recognised him from earlier, because they made no attempt to stop him. A tense ten minutes later, he emerged again with two Ziploc bags which he passed through the driver’s side window to Jack. They contained the items taken from their pockets earlier, including the two automatics he and Jack had been carrying when they’d entered Thames House to confront the 456.
 

Shrugging out of the jacket he was wearing, Ianto handed it to one of the guards. “I quit,” he informed the confused guard, slipping into the passenger seat again before either guard could react. Jack peeled away from the kerb, turning the car to head back to the warehouse where Johnson was waiting.

 

“Where are we going now?” Alice asked, feeling a bit like someone who’d accidentally blundered into the middle of a movie set.


 
“Back to Agent Johnson.”
 

“Are you sure that’s wise? I don’t trust her.”

 

“That’s the person in charge of the team that tried to take us out?” Ianto asked, fastening his seatbelt as Jack took a corner considerably faster than was probably advisable. “I saw her behind you when we were talking over the webcam earlier.”

 

“Yes, but she’s switched sides now.”

 

“You’re sure of that?”


 
“As sure as I can be.”
 

In the back, Alice clutched at Steven, making sure he didn’t slide off the seat. The seatbelts were designed for adults, not small boys. “What do you mean, tried to take you out?”

 

“Her orders were to kill us,” Jack said, his tone grim. “She blew up our base and I was taken prisoner.”

 

“Gwen and I had to go on the run, and stage a daring rescue,” Ianto explained, emptying one of the Ziploc bags into his lap and stowing the contents in his trouser pockets, except for the gun, which he removed the clip from, and placed in the glove compartment. The almost empty clip and the single round from the chamber went in his pocket, and he dealt with the second weapon the same way. “We had no weapons, no equipment, just our wits. Which we thankfully appear to have more than our fair share of. Goes with being Torchwood.” He glanced at Jack. “What are we going to do about this Agent Johnson?”


 
“Give her one of the burners, have her and her team stand by to help with clean-up after we’ve checked in with Lizzie.”
 

“I can’t believe you call the Queen of England Lizzie!” Alice said from the backseat.

 

“For some unfathomable reason, she adores Jack,” Ianto said.


 
“Hey!” Jack exclaimed, all indignation and wounded pride. “Of course she adores me, I’m adorable.”
 

“You just keep telling yourself that.” Ianto patted Jack’s leg. “Most people barely tolerate you.”

 

Alice almost choked on her laughter.


 
“What’s funny, mummy?”

 
“Your grandfather is.” It wasn’t much of an explanation, but it was enough to satisfy Steven for the moment.

 
Ianto sat back in his seat and tugged at his shirt cuffs, adjusted his waistcoat, then straightened his tie. “I wonder what happened to the car we were driving. I left my suit jacket in it. I feel underdressed.”
 

“To confront a black ops unit?” Jack glanced away from the road for a moment to look at his lover.

 

“Appearances matter. And I happen to quite like this suit.”

 

“You like all your suits.”

 

“And it’s always the nicest ones that get ruined.”

 

“Well, we’ll just have to hope we can track the car down. The police probably impounded it; you did steal it, after all.”

 

“I only borrowed it; I planned on returning it later. We just needed transport to get to Thames House. We could hardly hop on the bus, and we couldn’t risk a taxi.”


 
“A convertible though…”

 
Ianto shrugged. “Easier to get into. Besides, I knew you’d like it.”
 

“You spoil me.”

 

“I know. It’s a bad habit; one I really should rectify.”

 

By now, having taken a more direct route back, they were pulling up in front of the warehouse; Agent Johnson came out as soon as the car stopped.


 
“Dekker is patched up and in restraints,” she reported as Jack and Ianto got out, leaving Alice and Steven in the car, since they’d be on the move again shortly.

 
“Good. Nothing I can do about him until I talk to Lizzie, which will be next on the agenda. You’re going to need this.” Jack handed the woman one of the burner phones. “When we have authorisation to begin cleanup operations, I’ll call you. Right now, there are very few people I can trust; UNIT and anyone connected with the Home Office are out, along with the PM’s entire cabinet. We’re not going to have much in the way of personnel to work with, but we’ll have to make do. When this is over, I intend to have Dekker, Green, and a lot of UNIT’s top brass locked away in nice, cosy cells in the UNIT prison facility. In the meantime, keep that phone on you at all times, and go to ground if you need to. I have a couple of calls to make to people who may be able to offer assistance, then I’ll head for the Palace.”
 

“Good luck, Captain, and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

 

“I know. You were only following orders.”

 

“I was, but for the first time in my career, I regret doing so.”

 

“It was an extraordinary situation.” It wasn’t much in the way of forgiveness, but it was the best Jack was capable      of offering the woman who’d had a bomb implanted in his stomach, then encased him in quick drying concrete while his body was still regrowing.

 

“Not one I ever imagined I’d be facing.”
 

“Then let’s leave it at that.”

 

Jack moved away to make several phone calls, then returned to the car. Ianto was already back in the passenger seat, twisted half around, talking to Alice and Steven, but he turned to face front as Jack got back behind the wheel.


 
“Everything set?”

 
“As much as it can be.” Jack started the engine.
 

“Seatbelt, Jack,” Ianto reminded him, and Jack scrabbled to buckle himself in.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“You would be if you crashed, which I trust you’ll avoid doing. This isn’t your car, and I don’t think you want to end up footing the bill for repairs.”


 
“I wish we still had the SUV.”
 

“Yes, sorry about that. Car thieves who can get past triple deadlocks…” Ianto trailed off, shaking his head. “Who’d have thought?”


 
“Never mind that, we can track the thieves down later and get our property back. Right now, we have more important matters to attend to.”

 
“Right, overthrowing the government and the like.”
 

“You can’t say this job isn’t exciting.”

 

“Some days, I could wish for a bit less excitement.”

 

Jack laughed. “There you go, complaining again. Some people are never satisfied.”

 

“I’m sure Her Majesty would agree with me.”

 

“Well, let’s just lay it all out for Lizzie and see where we go from there.”

 

Once the full truth of what had happened spread, the world was never going to be quite the same again. Perhaps it was time for Torchwood to come out of the shadows.


 
 
The End



 
 

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