Gwil's Guide to Growing Up Torchwood: Year 3, Chapter 10

[amuly]

Title: Gwil's Guide to Growing Up Torchwood: Year 3, Chapter 10
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Gwil, +Team
Word Count: 2,550
Rating: PG
Summary: When a seven-year-old boy falls through the Rift, Ianto and Jack decide to adopt him. This is the story of his life at Torchwood.
Chapter Summary: Just as it appears there's a break in the case of the mysterious Rift blips, Gwen goes into labor, and some hell hounds stampede through the Rift. Of course.
Warnings: none
A/N: SORRY. Late! 1.] Leaving for England in, oh: LESS THAN 24 HOURS, so yes, life is busy. 2.] Went out drinking last night. These things happen. Trying to get the next chapter up tonight as well, but I'm falling asleep a bit, here. So we'll see.

 

Previous Chapter: Year 3, Chapter 9
Gwil Masterlist

 

 

Ianto leaned over Tosh's shoulder to look at her displays, tracking her rapid talking and mouse gesticulations as best he could. His eyes flickered over the display screen as she talked, trying to discern the same pattern she was describing.

“So your initial suspicion was correct, Ianto: it is correlated to school days. Well... approximately ninety-four percent of the time.”

Ianto frowned. “But what about the Mondays and Fridays that it didn't blip, or the Saturdays when it did?”

Two new windows popped up on Tosh's displays: one appeared to be a school schedule, the other a selection of the Rift blips. They overlaid perfectly. “The Mondays and Fridays I have sorted: the days when we don't see any of the blips are days that the school has off.”

The chill in Ianto's gut intensified. The Rift blips actually having something to do with school children wasn't the news he wanted to hear confirmed from Tosh. “But what about the Saturdays that it does blip?” Ianto's eyes darted across the screen, expecting a new graph to pop up.

Instead, Tosh just shrugged and slid back in her chair. “That's the six percent I can't find an explanation for. Though...” she paused for a second, thinking. “Working on the assumption that it is something to do with one of the local school schedules, and judging by the times it's blipping it has to do with the primary schools...”

Ianto waited patiently as Tosh clacked away at her keyboard for a moment, mouse double-clicking furiously as her glasses flashed with each new screen that popped up. “Ah! Down to four percent unexplained!” She pointed at a new screen she had pulled up. “Several of the Saturdays correspond to events at this primary school: Christmas plays, end of the year plays, recitals, and... a bake sale!”

Taking a breath to steel himself, Ianto forced himself to ask the question he already knew the answer to. “Which primary school matches the best to the blips?”

Tosh, apparently not having caught on just yet, clicked through her screens with a smile on her face. “It's-” she stopped, eyes wide. “Oh. Oh. That's... it's Gwil's.”

Without another word Ianto stepped away from Tosh, heading straight for Jack's office. He could hear the sounds of Jack and Gwen laughing together – probably talking about the baby, knowing them. Gwen was liable to drop any moment. But their pleasant tea-time chat would just have to be put on hold. Ianto didn't know if the blips were something to do with Gwil's school, or one of his classmates, or – God forbid – Gwil himself, but they needed to launch a real investigation yesterday on this, before something horrifying fell through the Rift and landed right on top of Gwil. A second time.

“Jack.” Ianto's voice was curt, designed to get Jack's attention in an instant. Sure enough, Jack turned away from Gwen, smile slowly fading from his face.

“What's up, handsome?” he teased. Leaning against his desk, Gwen giggled. “Something I can do for you?”

“Tosh and I have been discussing the Rift blips. She's made a discovery that I think requires your immediate attention.”

Jack's face fell. They had already discussed the possibility of the blips having something to do with school children, though Jack had affected nonchalance, brushing aside Ianto's concerns with a single flippant hand gesture. Now, it seemed, they couldn't brush it aside.

Pushing himself upright, Jack pressed an absentminded kiss to Gwen's cheek as he moved past her. “Sorry, Gwen,” he apologized. “Looks like we'll have to continue this discussion another time.”

“Uh, Jack?”

Ianto turned to Gwen, not managing to hide his irritation all that well. Yes, she was pregnant. Good for her. But right now there was possibly something very wrong with his little boy, and call Ianto a selfish cow, but he found that to be a bit more pressing at the moment. “Gwen, can this wait?” He frowned. Gwen was looking rather peaky, and clutching at her stomach. And the floor beneath her was wet. Huh. Ianto frowned. When had she dropped her tea?

To his infinite embarrassment, Ianto didn't realize what had happened until Jack had rushed past him, helping Gwen to the Torchwood car park and shouting for Martha. His eyes widened, then widened some more as he glanced at the puddle on Jack's carpet. Okay, that was a teensy bit nauseating.

Just as Ianto was struggling between the urge to find some carpet-cleaner or follow Jack and Gwen out to the car park, the Rift alert went off. He groaned. Tosh's voice rang out form her station: “Stampede! Stampede of... er... robot wolves?”

Owen's voice was next. “Bloody hell, that's right terrifying, is what that is. What are those supposed to be: hell hounds?”

Springing into action, Ianto ran to his station and grabbed his gun, comm, and keys. “Jack's helping Gwen,” he informed Tosh and Owen as he trotted over. “Martha's with them. Looks like we've got this.” Glancing around the Hub, Ianto frowned. “Where's Mickey?”

Tosh waved Ianto's concerns away as she checked the magazine in her own pistol and slid it back in place, tucking it into her purse. “Taking readings out in the bay. Because of that reverse-nuclear decay we thought was out there?”

Ianto groaned. Right. Of course. Leave it to the Rift to slam them the day Gwen decides to give birth. Straightening his waistcoat, Ianto cocked his head. “Well then. Guess we're off to save the world.” Owen and Tosh followed him down to the car park, the three racing off in the SUV together with a quick wave to Gwen as Jack helped her into the passenger seat of her car.

**

Six hours later, Ianto was standing in a hospital waiting room, clothes smelling faintly of sulfur and pitted with tiny little burns. Tosh and Owen were with him, faring similarly. Owen's “hell hound” observation had turned out to be frighteningly accurate. But the three of them had managed to successfully dispose of the mechanical beasts, and their remains were waiting in big containment bins next to Tosh's workstation in the Hub, ready for her to take apart and examine.

The doors swung open, revealing Andy holding little Gwil's hand, who looked ready to explode with excitement. “Tad!” He rushed to Ianto, holding his arms up to be scooped up. Ianto obliged him, pulling Gwil to his chest and settling him on his hip. “Is it true? Is the baby here?”

“Just about,” Ianto confirmed. “We're just waiting for the doctor to come out and tell us it's okay to see her.”

Gwil glanced around the hospital, bright eyes taking everything in. “Is this where ladies have babies now?”

Just then Jack swept over, holding an armful of chips and coffees for everyone. “Among other things!” he quipped. There was some careful manhandling as Jack traded Ianto snacks and refreshments for Gwil, and Ianto began passing them out. In the meantime, Jack ruffled Gwil's hair. “How's it going, champ?”

“Good!” Gwil bounced in Jack's arms. “I want to see the baby!”

“As soon as the doctors say it's okay, we'll take you right back.”

Ianto moved in, shooting Jack a warning look. “But Auntie Gwen will be tired, I'm sure. So you have to be very quiet and polite. Okay?”

Gwil's face turned quite serious as he nodded for his tad. “Yes, Tad. I know. I just want to make sure her and the baby are alright. There's...” he paused, face downcast. Jack and Ianto shared a knowing look. “Just, sometimes the mum's not okay. Or the baby. I just want to make sure Auntie Gwen and the baby are okay.”

Ianto nodded, smoothing Gwil's hair down from where Jack had ruffled it. “I know. But now babies and mummies are a lot better taken care of. See how nice and clean everything is here?” Gwil glanced around, nodding as he turned back to Ianto, who smiled reassuringly at him. “So Auntie Gwen and her baby girl should be just fine.”

Not a minute after he spoke, the doors to the maternity ward burst open and Martha came bounding in, face flushed with excitement. “Baby Braith has just made her dramatic entrance into the world!”

Leaning over to Jack, Ianto whispered: “With Gwen's daughter, could we really have hoped for something not dramatic?”

“Shush,” Jack whispered back, grin firmly ensconced on his face. “I'm enjoying the first Torchwood baby I've seen in decades.” Ianto fell silent, smiling softly at the comment. He supposed it had been a long, long time since any female Torchwood operatives had managed to live long enough or had the support system to give birth. It really was a miracle that they had managed this, even with the Rift spewing out hell hounds not a minute after Gwen went into labor.

When they crowded into the room – the entire Torchwood team – Jack lifted Gwil high up into the air so he could peer over all the adults' heads at Gwen and the baby. He gasped. “It's so clean! And healthy!”

Gwen groaned, clutching the baby to her breast. "And has such a large head!" Martha and Tosh nodded in sympathy. Ianto could only imagine. He had a kidney stone once – he tried mentally multiplying the pain ten fold, and found he just couldn't fathom it.

Owen laughed as he made his way over to Rhys, clasping the shellshocked looking Welshman on his shoulder. “Well: did she curse the day she ever met you? Break your hand holding onto it?”

Gwen laughed. “No, but I did curse you, Owen!”

Owen held up his hands defensively. “What? Why! I wasn't involved in all of this!” Owen gestured to Rhys, Gwen, and the hospital room.

Rhys nodded over at Gwen. “'s true. She kept asking for that singularity scalpel and cursing you for not giving her the good drugs.”

Martha cut in. “I would just like to point out that I gave Gwen the maximum amount of human drugs available.” She smiled weakly at Gwen. “I didn't feel it'd be advisable to try out untested alien birthing technology on you.”

Gwen's smile was forced. “Well then maybe we should test it before I go through this again.”

Jack bounced Gwil on his hip. “Well, come on!” he gesture with his free arm. “Pass her around. The munchkin's rearing to have a look at his baby cousin.”

Gwen smiled as she passed baby Braith to Rhys, who in turn carefully turned the little bundle over to Toshiko. In Jack's arms, Gwil was shivering with excitement as he patiently waited his turn with the baby, craning his neck and peering over as first Toshiko, then Martha held the little girl. When Gwil seemed liable to burst if he wasn't the very next person to see the baby, Ianto took the little girl from Martha and carried it over for Gwil to peer down at.

Gwil gasped, blue eyes blown wide and mouth hanging open in awe as he peered down at his little cousin. Ianto watched the interaction with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth: sleepy, perfect little baby girl in his arms, amazed little boy in Jack's. “Can I touch it? Please?”

Ianto nodded, shifting Braith in his arms as he moved closer to Jack, their shoulders pressed against each other's. “Gentle,” Ianto cautioned, even though he knew Gwil would be. Gwil's four-fingered hand reached down to Braith's drowsy little face. Breath held, Gwil stroked his pinky and ring fingers over Braith's forehead and down her cheek. When Braith did nothing more than pucker her mouth slightly and start sucking at air in her sleep, Gwil was emboldened. He stroked the peach fuzz on top of Braith's head, brushing it off her forehead and arranging it nice and tidy.

Bleary baby eyes opened, squinting up at Gwil. “Hi,” Gwil whispered. “I'm Gwil. I'm going to help take care of you. You've got a nice mam and tad, so you won't really need my help. But if you need it, then I'm here.” Braith's only response was to blink once, then shut her eyes again as she drifted back off to sleep.

Ianto cleared his throat, blinking a little rapidly. “Alright, Gwil,” he tutted, ignoring the way his voice sounded a touch hoarse. “Braith needs her rest. And I'm sure Auntie Gwen would appreciate some as well.” Ianto waited for Gwil to stroke Braith's head one last time before he carefully carried the baby back to the nurse, who set it in the incubator next to Gwen's bed. He kissed Gwen on the forehead before he left, whispering “Congratulations,” to her. Gwen's smile was tired, but brilliant.

The Torchwood team made their way out of the maternity ward, Gwil clambering out of Jack's arms and off to the snack machine with a couple pounds clutched tightly in his fist. To Ianto's surprise, he found Jack wrapping strong arms around him and holding him until Ianto relaxed into the embrace. When he did, Jack rewarded him by pressing a kiss just below his ear.

“Let's have another.”

Ianto laughed, stepping easily out of Jack's arms and gracing him with a patented eye roll. “Honestly, Jack. One Rift-refugee child is plenty.”

Jack's grin didn't falter as he inched closer to Ianto, finally setting his hands on Ianto's waist when they were close enough. “Yeah, maybe you're right.” His grin widened as he squeezed lightly at Ianto's (minor) love handles. “Wouldn't want you to lose your girlish figure, anyway.”

Ianto pouted as he stared down his front. He knew he could see a little less of his shoes than last year, and it wasn't because his feet were shrinking. “Somehow managing that with just the one. And I don't have the excuse of having given birth to him.”

Squeezing at Ianto's love handles again, Jack bestowed Ianto with a lecherous wink. “I like you with a few extra pounds. Something to hold onto.” The look in his eyes left no doubt as to when Jack was referring to said holding-on taking place. “And it means you're healthy. And happy.” Jack stopped, smile dimming just a notch. “You are. Happy. Right?”

“Jack,” Ianto chided. Gwil ran up to them, holding a bag of crisps up to Ianto.

“Tad, could you open this? Please? I tried but it's stuck.”

Without thinking Ianto took the pack from Gwil and opened it, straightening Gwil's hair on instinct as he handed the bag back to him. Gwil thanked him and hurried away to talk to Andy, who had just emerged from the toilets. When Ianto finally did turn back to Jack, he caught the other man watching him, soft smile creasing his features.

“I'm happy, Jack.” Ianto confirmed. “Honestly. Dunno how you could think otherwise.”



Continue on to Chapter 11.

 

Comments

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

I'm in York, so I can meet up with you here. Lots of places to lunch

[amuly.livejournal.com]

Sweet! When I get in we'll be getting a more thorough packet, so I'll try and snag some internet at some point and let you know what our plans were for York/ask your opinion on it. I know we're supposedly "alone" for lunch most days, so suggestions would be welcome.

AHHHH I'M SO EXCITED! :DDDDDD

(Also, HOPEFULLY getting the last chappie of this Year of Gwil up in a couple hours before I leave!)

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

Squee! You'll have such an awesome time!