Just Imagine...

The Curious Case of Jonah Bevan

Jack was in one of those moods, Gwen could tell. But she wasn't giving up. Jack knew something about Jonah and all the other disappearances around Cardiff, he had to, and Gwen was going to do whatever it took to get that information, whether he told her the truth or she found it by herself.
She watched with a scowl as Jack left the boardroom in a huff, and didn't acknowledge Ianto's apologetic smile as he followed him.
"Best to leave it, Gwen," Owen said, "especially when Jack's like this. You know how he is."
"We did try, Gwen." Tosh added sympathetically as she and Owen both left as well, passing Jack and Ianto as they talked quietly to each other outside the door, both with their hands on their hips.
Were they arguing?
Gwen sighed, shoulders slouching. It looked like she was going to be on her own for this one. Or at least she thought so, until a warm brown hand came to rest on her back.
"Hey," Sam murmured softly, just quiet enough that Jack and Ianto couldn't hear, "need any help with your special project?"
Gwen looked up at her in surprise.
"You'd disobey Jack's orders?" She asked.
"Sweetie, I disobey that boy's orders for a living," Sam chuckled, "do you want my help or not?"
"Yes." Gwen answered quickly.
"Then you got it."
"Thank you, Sam. It means a lot to me."
"No problem. Besides, I can kinda relate to this one. Being a parent."
Gwen had forgotten all about that. Of course Sam would want to help out a fellow parent, and seeing the look on her friend's face now she realized it was probably hurting her to imagine herself in Jonah's mother's position.
But then again, she had been once before.
Sam and Jack made eye contact just before he stormed away from Ianto, and to Gwen it almost seemed like Sam was desperately trying to communicate that to her son. But if Jack had gotten anything from Sam's emerald gaze, he chose to ignore it, although Gwen caught a small flash of guilt come across his face as he turned away, walking back up to the main hub.
Gwen and Sam both turned to Ianto.
"Please, just leave it," Ianto murmured sternly, "I know what you two are thinking."
"Then you also know that you can't stop us," Sam said simply, "and I know you don't entirely agree with Jack on this one."
"You're right, I don't," Ianto admitted, "but I don't think it's my place to argue with him."
"Of course it is!" Sam exclaimed, "Ianto, he tells you more than he tells any of us - including me! If anybody can get information out of him it's definitely you."
"Well as flattered as I am, I'm not going to manipulate Jack. I care about him too much to do that."
He and Sam stared each other down for a moment.
"But...?" Sam prompted.
"But," Ianto sighed, "I think I know of some files that can help. If you'll give me time to find them."
"Thank you, Ianto." Sam murmured, smiling.
"I know you don't like going behind Jack's back like this," Gwen added, "but this is important."
"I know it is," Ianto said simply. Then he turned as if to follow Jack before hesitating mid-step for a moment.
"I might also know of another place you could get more information... but you have to promise not to tell Jack I told you."
"As if we would." Sam scoffed.
"Sam, I'm serious," Ianto said sternly, "none of us are supposed to know about this place, and I only found it because I spotted Jack in the area while I was on a solo mission. For all intents and purposes, this place does not and never did exist, got it?"
Sam and Gwen cast each other a nervous glance, then both nodded slowly.
"Okay," Ianto sighed, some of the tension leaving his shoulders, "you'll need a boat to get there. It's on an island called Flat Holm."
"Wait, hold up," Sam cut in, "if this place is on an island how did you just happen to catch Jack there?"
"I didn't. I spotted him on the docks, actually near to where Jonah disappeared."
"You don't say..." Sam murmured, rubbing the dimple on her chin - usually a telltale sign that she was deep in thought or concentration.
"I know what you're thinking," Ianto said, "no, this wasn't Jack's doing... not entirely."
"Whaddya mean 'not entirely'?" Sam asked.
"You'll understand when you get there, I promise. Good luck."
"You're not coming?" Gwen demanded, standing up from her seat.
"I can't. They know who I am there and they know not to let me in unless Jack's with me," Ianto murmured, "besides, I need to stay here to find those files for you and to keep Jack from getting suspicious."
"Wai- hold on- 'THEY'???" Sam echoed, "Ianto, who the hell is 'THEY'???"
But Ianto was already walking away, casting one last glance with a reassuring smile (that looked just slightly forced) over his shoulder, as if to say "you'll probably be fine... I hope".
Gwen sighed softly.
"Well, Flat Holm it is," she murmured, "you with me?"
"All the way," Sam replied with a brave nod, "let's get to the bottom of this shit."