Chapter 4

Owen knew who Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, he was the one man at UNIT that Jack had the uttermost respect for and he knew that no one was crazy enough to try and challenge the Brigadier it was a death wish. Amusement bubbled up within Owen, 'Oh this is going to be good.'

Gwen could only stare at the man, who did he think he was? "I am Jack's second in command! I should be the one in charge. We don't need you here."

Alistair raised an unimpressed eyebrow as he took in the woman before him. "So you are Gwen Cooper, Jack wasn't lying that you thought that as the rookie of the team you were the second in command. Tell me why do you think a woman who hasn't been here a year, has no weapon experience think that she could replace of Jack's very first agents? You are no replacement for Suzie Costello."

A snort escaped Gwen's lips. "I am better than Suzie. She betrayed Jack and she was murdering innocent people."

"I have the pleasure of meeting her before she became corrupted by the glove; she was a very different woman. If you had bothered to ask your teammates you would have known that." Alistair informed her. "But until I hear from Jack of what he plans to do to you, I am in charge and I plan on whipping you into shape as a proper agent of Torchwood. Dr. Harper, I believe that there is a Torchwood manual around here is there not?" Alistair asked as he turned his attention to Owen and he knew the moment the other man saw what he was planning on doing as pure glee appeared in the doctor's eyes.

"If I remember Ianto brought it out for her to study but she never even opened it. She did have Jack so entranced with her that he did skip a lot of her training." Owen informed the other man. It had bothered him and he knows it bothered Tosh that Gwen was put out in the field with them with little to no training, she had proven she wasn't ready when she messed up her first mission but didn't receive a reprimand and was put back in the field after only having a groping session with Jack as her gun training. 'Makes me wonder who the one with the mind control really is around here,' Owen had known Jack for a while and he had never seen him treat a newcomer the way he did Gwen and it baffled him.

"Miss Cooper you will study the manual as well as undergo gun training, proper gun training. I have read the reports of your first missions and I can safely say that if you had been in UNIT you would have been kicked out so fast you wouldn't have a clue as to what had happened." Taking a step forward Alistair loomed over Gwen and a smile twisted on his lips as she took a step back. "I don't know how much time I am going to have here but I am going to do my best to whip you into shape."

"Who do you think you are? I am Gwen Cooper, agent of Torchwood I do not need to be trained by someone who looks like they belong in a retirement home what could you possibly teach me?" Gwen demanded to know as she came very close to stomping her foot in rage.

Tosh and Caden who had rejoined Owen could only stare at Gwen in disbelief over her demands before the three of them dared to glance at Alistair and together as one the three of them took a step back at the look on the Brigadier's face, it was a look that promised Gwen was about to learn just who he was and why you respected him.

'I need to send the footage of all of this to Jack, Ianto, and Kathy as well.' Tosh vowed this would be something none of them wanted to miss. She was going to enjoy watching Gwen be whipped into at least a field agent who might follow orders from those with more experience than her.

"I am Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, a man who has seen more than you ever have or ever will. I am a man who shows respect to those who deserve it and those who had earned it. I am the man who knows the Doctor and considers him a very good friend. I know more about Jack Harkness then you ever will. You might have gotten out of trouble by flashing those big eyes of yours and pouting but you will find that I am far above that kind of manipulation. You, Miss Cooper, are going to learn that you are not always right, you will not always get your way, you will learn to follow the chain of command and listen to those who had worked longer in Torchwood than you, and they actually know what they are talking about. If you disagree I have Jack's permission to Retcon you." Alistair stared Gwen down, she wasn't the first person he had met who was stubborn and thought she knew more than those she worked with, who had far more experience than she did and she certainly wouldn't be the last.

"You have two hours to study the manual; I want you at least halfway through it before you meet me down in the firing range where you will show me your skill in preparing, firing and cleaning your gun. You will not be allowed out into the field until I am sure that you will be a suitable back up for your team." Alistair informed her.

Rhys having seen that particular shade of red before on Gwen and because he knew her, she wasn't about to let this go without a fight.

Clearly, Alistair knew that look as well and gave her a look that could have melted steel. "Miss Cooper the longer you fight me the longer your training will take and that will not make me go easier on you. Now I suggest you sit down and open that manual until I see some improvement you will not be allowed out in the field."

The shade of red Gwen was turning was very interesting and privately Owen hoped that she kept on challenging Alistair to the point where he either threw her in a cell or Retconned her. 'Things just got a lot more interesting.'

Ianto and Jack both knew that rebuilding Ianto's mental shields would take time. But they had gotten off to a good start.

Wrapped up in Jack's arms Ianto was at peace he knew he was safe in his mate's arms. A soft sound of content escaped his lips as Jack's fingers ran through his hair.

The slight chuckle Jack let out made his chest rumble and Ianto loved the feel of it.

"You sounded like a cat just then. I wonder if we could get you a kitty costume." And once the words left his mouth Jack couldn't stop himself from picturing Ianto dressed in said costume.

"Jack." Ianto drawled out slowly.

"Oops." Jack tried to look guilty as he looked down at Ianto who was no dressed in a male version of Catwoman's purple outfit. "I meant for you to be in the black one." Jack admitted, "But this one works just as well." He finished waggling his eyebrows.

A soft sigh and a shake of his head Ianto could only return Jack's smile even if he was mad or upset it would be hard to stay that way when Jack was looking at him like he was the only thing that existed in the world.

"You are," Jack whispered as he tilted Ianto's head up and pressed a soft kiss against his lips. "You are my whole world. Ianto Jones, you are my everything."

In that moment Ianto fell in love with Jack all over again. "Okay for that I'll wear a costume like this as long as you never tell anyone about it."

"Like how I will! That is a sight for my eyes only and despite what people think I do not share and I certainly will never share you, Ianto Jones." Jack growled as he tightened his grip on Ianto. "That is why you need to come back to me. I need you, Ianto Jones, I didn't realize how broken I was until you came into my life, you complete me and I can't go back to my life before you were in it." Jack's voice cracked at the end as he forced back the tears.

Ianto could feel Jack's pain and fear through their bond as he reached out and cupped Jack's face in his hands. "Jack, I will come back to you once my shields are fixed nothing will keep me from your side. You are stuck with me Jack until the end of time. This has been tough on both of us but it can only make us stronger."

Jack knew that Ianto was comforting him but he could also feel it along their bond Ianto was healing slowly but surely his mental shields were healing. "So very have mind sex?" Jack asked waggling his eyebrows up and down.

There was no stopping the laugh that burst out of Ianto's chest. "Not yet." Ianto purred out.

"Wanna give it a try?" Jack asked licking his lips as he dragged his eyes over Ianto's body itching to feel skin on skin even if it was only a projection along their bond.

Ianto's heart gave a little jump to feel Jack's joy as well as his lust along their bond. He loved it when Jack smiled. "Why not? We have plenty of time Cariad."

Jack could only blink as Ianto straddle his lap as his hands flew to Ianto's hips. "Would you be up to wearing a cowboy hat and just the hat?"

"If you are a good boy Jack maybe later," Ianto promised.

"Oh, Ianto how about I show you how good of a boy I can be?" Jack growled out.

The Hub was surprisingly silent except for Gwen's mutterings as she was reading the Torchwood manual under the watchful eye of Alistair. That gave time for Tosh to work on the updates for the systems with Caden filling in on Ianto's duties and looking after Myfanwy, Janet and the rest of their guests.

Leaving Owen time to work on the latest body to land in his med bay. Something about it tugged at the back of his mind telling him that he had seen this wound before. The question was where and would he find the answer before the killer struck again.

"This is unexpected," Mary muttered under her breath she had been keeping an eye on Torchwood Three since the moment Ianto Jones joined. Gwen had been her way in to get what she needs while Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones were gone to have everything in place before they got back but now with Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, her plans were in danger. "I will need to be a lot more careful but I can still do this. The reward is too great for me to fail."