teachfic | Mourning is Not Forgetting (4/6)

Chapter 4 – Prompt Child Abuse Emotional

The days following Alice’s death sped by in a blur. Ianto took care of the details of notifying people, organising the funeral, and arranging the burial. Jack relied on his partner to sort the details, while he focused on Steven. The little boy was lost and bewildered. Even though he understood the concept of death, he couldn’t yet accept that his mother was gone. He kept looking for her and refused to let the one familiar person in his world – Jack – out of his sight. He would become clingy and overwrought if Jack left the room, or Steven woke up from his brief attempts at sleep to find him gone.

The Rift had not given them much respite. With Jack focused on Steven and Gwen benched, Ianto had been leading field operations, aided by Martha and Mickey while Andy continued to provide a link to local law enforcement.

As he had during the events with the 456, Rhys proved invaluable in keeping everyone fed, for which Rhi was especially grateful. She had her hands full with her own family and helping Jack with Steven. He’d accept her as a substitute for the Captain for brief periods, which allowed Jack time for some rest or to assuage his professional guilt by checking in at the Hub.

Gwen had taken on the task of locating Joe Carter, Alice’s former husband and Steven’s father. While Jack had never liked the man, he was Steven’s family and the little boy needed his surviving parent now more than ever. At the very least, Joe had some choices to make about Steven’s future. They’d given him a week, and then held the funeral without him. Gwen vowed to find him, and neither Jack nor Ianto doubted her.

Thankfully, Jack and Steven were not faced with the prospect of a trial for Alice’s killer. After a couple of phone calls to Andy and Kathy Swanson, Gwen and Ianto had arranged to see the man charged with running her down. When they emerged from the interrogation room an hour later, the bastard arranged to plead guilty to all charges. Ianto had asked Gwen to come with him to ensure that the man stayed alive to enter his plea. Part of him wanted to end his sorry existence for Jack, Steven, and Alice, but the rest wanted the bastard to spend the rest of his life bearing the guilt. The small dose of an alien drug and the suggestions Gwen implanted ensured that he would.

Two days after Alice’s burial, Ianto was working in Jack’s office on some paperwork so his partner would not have to bother when a string of Welsh curses erupted from the Hub floor. He only caught ‘son of a bitch,’ ‘cocksucker,’ and ‘little fuck,’ but that was enough to know Gwen was upset with someone male and he hoped to hell and back it wasn’t him or Jack. He’d have to defend Rhys, given the calibre of the food that the man was providing, but Andy, Mickey, and the remainder of the male population of the planet were on their own.

“Ianto,” Gwen snarled, pouncing into the office a little awkwardly now that her pregnancy was showing. “What’s Torchwood’s standing policy on justifiable homicide? Am I allowed to kill someone just on general principle of his being a waste of skin?” she demanded, dropping into a chair. “I promise not to get caught.”

Looking up from his papers, Ianto eyed his friend and colleague closely. “It depends,” he decided. “I’d need to know who so Torchwood can either facilitate it, authorise it, or deny knowledge of it. However, if it’s Rhys I should warn you since he’s keeping us all fed at the moment I will defend him with my life.” When Gwen didn’t even smile, Ianto knew there was a problem. “Who is it and what has he done?” Ianto asked, face growing dark as he considered the possibilities.

“Joe Fucking Carter,” Gwen blurted out, rage colouring her own face. “I found him at a villa in Switzerland. He’s ‘saddened to hear of Alice’s passing, but as his new wife is expecting he can’t return to the UK at this time. However, he’ll have his solicitors inquire about her estate’.”

Ianto felt his own anger growing. “And Steven?” he asked slowly, clenching and unclenching his fists. “His son?”

Gwen swore voraciously again, her hand going protectively to her stomach. She was clearly furious. “He’s `certain Alice provided for the care and support of her son, or that her father will’.” She paused, looking at Ianto meaningfully. “He all but said Steven is Jack’s concern – not his.”

“Damn it,” Ianto shouted, slamming his hand on Jack’s desk before standing up and starting to pace. He whirled on Gwen. He knew Jack had his suspicions that Joe had been emotionally distant from Steven – perhaps more. The way the little boy flinched when any adult male raised his voice or how he was always sorry for little things was a telling clue, but there had been no proof. If there had, Ianto had no doubt that Joe Carter would be long-dead. Ianto would have helped if Jack had asked. He knew from his own childhood how damaging an emotionally abusive parent could be.

For the moment, they had a bigger problem. “Give me Carter’s exact location,” Ianto snarled. “I’m going there myself and dragging that man back here by force if necessary. His son might be better off without him, but he has a responsibility to at least see that he’s cared for properly.” He wondered if he could borrow Mickey; two heavily armed, pissed off Torchwood agents were better than one. Normally he’d take Gwen, but he didn’t want to force a pregnant woman to watch him eviscerate a man – which is what he would do if Joe Carter didn’t step up for his son. “Steven needs him,” he sputtered furiously. “Pitiful excuse for a man that he is.”

His friend looked at him and shook her head. “I don’t think he does,” she said gently as she stood. Going to him, she rested a hand on his arm. “Normally, I’d be right with you saying Joe is Steven’s father and he needs to be here for his son, but I got to know Alice a little during all that with the 456. She wasn’t the type of mother who’d want her son raised by a father who was doing it out of duty or because he’d been threatened into it by you or Jack. She didn’t trust Joe with Steven; it’s why she demanded full physical custody. She’d want him with someone who truly loves him – like his grandfather.”

Ianto gaped at Gwen. She couldn’t be suggesting what she seemed to be – that Captain Jack Harkness, leader of Torchwood Three, should raise a child. “Gwen, that’s not practical,” he said, trying to remain calm. “Jack can’t raise Steven alone. The dangers of Torchwood, the hours – it’s just not possible.”

“Of course it is,” Gwen replied, gesturing to her belly. “He’s not alone. He has you, me, Rhys, Andy, your family, and Martha and Mickey.” She leant in. “I know if anything ever happens to me, he’ll look after my child. He’d do it for any one of us, Ianto. Can we do any less for him?”

Ianto just shook his head, knowing Gwen didn’t understand. She and the others got to keep their lives separate from Torchwood because Jack didn’t. Even with as much care as he’d taken with Alice and Steven, they had still been pulled into Torchwood. It was a fear Ianto had for Rhi and her family, but his sister and Johnny knew and understood the risks. Steven was just a child; he couldn’t make that choice.

Moreover, Ianto knew it would be asking too much of Jack to risk his heart and soul like that again. He’d lost too much in too short of a time. He’d known from the moment he became serious with the Captain that he’d be giving up the option of being a parent, but it didn’t bother him. In many ways, he knew he’d become too ruthless and dedicated to Torchwood and Jack to be a good father. Keeping the Earth safe – for Steven, for Mica and David, and for Gwen’s child – and being there for Jack was more important.

Sighing, Ianto ran a hand over his face. He’d have to talk to Jack. He didn’t think it was a good idea for them to attempt to raise Steven, but if that’s what his lover wanted, then he’d support him.

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