A/N: Wow, you all must hate me! xD I've been so slack. So sorry for the wait. But never fear, I have a new writing plan, to put aside hours each week to get stuff done... I sure hope it will work, so I can stop letting you all down! Anyways. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Furious Dee, who lures me into spending far too much time on Twitter chatting with her, because she's that awesome :P So, time for Part IV: Gwen! I must admit, this was especially interesting and challenging for me, as I haven't written much with Gwen's character yet, and she's a bit of a toughie to figure out, with regards to Jack and Ianto. I do love her though, so you won't find any bashing here. However, I did have to step away a bit from the Jack/Gwen issues, as this really wasn't the fic for such things! :) What you have here is born from the lovely interactions we get between Gwen and Ianto, particularly from 2x02 "Sleeper" and 2x11 "Adrift". Sure hope you enjoy! :)

I Won't Send Roses

And should I love you
You would be
The last to know

I. Sleeper

Gwen wasn't stupid.

All her police training, everything she'd been through – everything she'd seen, with Torchwood – well, it had to count for something. Whenever she'd had one of those letters of recommendation written for her, or whatever, Gwen could guarantee that one of the words they'd use would be 'compassionate'. Through some twist of fate, she was uncannily brilliant at placing herself in someone else's shoes – at connecting with people, observing them... evaluating.

Especially when it came to her colleagues – specifically, Jack and Ianto.

In all honestly, it was probably surprising that she hadn't noticed before. It was all so damned obvious, now – but... before, when Gwen was wading her way through her first months at Torchwood... well. It was all so bedazzling, so engulfing – every revelation drowning her. Realising that Jack's attempts at flirting with Ianto ran deeper than light-hearted fun – it was just an observation that hid itself underneath layers of sex-aliens, child-stealing fairies and dead-but-returned-to-life ex-colleagues.

But now...

Those months when Jack had been away had cleared her head. Lack of those bloody pheromones of his, probably. Ianto had emerged from his shadow... and Gwen could see him. So, when Jack returned... she could see them both – together.

"Gwen. Gwen?"

The gunshots were still ringing in her ears – oh god, so close – and Gwen idly ran her fingers through Beth's dead ones. Sticky. Blood, some part of her brain prompted. Beth's blood, not her own. She had Beth's blood on her hands – not just literally, either.

Sometimes Gwen really hated this job.

"Gwen. Look at me, look up, now."

Jack's voice. His hand had left her shoulder quickly, as if he knew that it wouldn't have the desired effect. Because nothing could fix this. Nothing could fix the fact that Beth – innocent, caring, brave Beth – had sacrificed herself, lost the will to live. Gwen couldn't fix this.

Gwen didn't look up.

But – there was another hand on her shoulder now – slightly smaller, slightly cooler than Jack's, but somehow... more comforting.

"Gwen?"

A familiar Welsh accent curled around her name, and Gwen found herself raising her gaze from Beth's blood to look into Ianto's eyes. Ianto was crouching next to her, one hand still resting on her shoulder. The other was reaching down to her own, which was caught between Beth's fingers – stuck, trapped there – but Ianto pulled her fingers away, and grasped them.

"Come on."

Gwen let herself be pulled to her feet by Ianto, his hand moving to hover over the small of her back. Jack was a statue next to them. She wanted to avoid his eyes, but found that she didn't even need to try.

Jack's gaze was locked onto Ianto, and as they looked at each other an imperceptible nod tilted Jack's chin. An unspoken agreement passing between them. Trusting that Ianto could handle this. Jack stood to one side to let them pass – Gwen's skin didn't even tingle as her arm brushed his chest, numb as she was – and Ianto led her to the conference room.

It wasn't until Gwen had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and a warm cup of sweet tea cradled between her hands – free from blood, Ianto had seen to that – that she was able to attempt a smile for Ianto.

"Thank you, Ianto, for all this."

Ianto was settled in a chair next to her, leaning an elbow on the table and propping his head up with it. He inclined his head, gifting her one of his small, sympathetic smiles.

"That's okay."

Gwen took a sip of tea – god, how could Ianto be so fantastic at tea and coffee brewing? – swallowing, trying to force the lump in her throat away.

"It's just... tough, sometimes. It's so..." Gwen let out a breath and shook her head. "So bloody unfair. You know? I mean... why her? Why did it have to happen to her?"

Her eyes were drawn to Ianto's Adam's apple jerking as he swallowed, and his near silent intake of breath compelled her to hide a wince.

"I – I'm sorry, Ianto – I didn't mean –" she hurried to get out, as Ianto blinked, drawing the shutters over his eyes in order to wipe them of the briefest flash of grief.

"Doesn't matter. I... I know, Gwen." He sighed heavily and looked up at her with clear eyes once more. "I know. We just have to... carry on, I 'spose."

Gwen fiddled with the handle of her mug, her cheeks prickling. She knew Ianto hadn't forgotten Lisa – would never forget her, in all honesty. But, at the same time... she knew that he was following his own advice.

Carrying on.

Another sip of tea. The silence was disturbed by the clunk of her mug as she set it back down. Then, slowly, Gwen slid her palm along the table to rest in front of Ianto, imagining the blood staining her fingers, and twisted her wrist so that her palm faced upwards. Inviting. Ianto's lips quirked into a smile and he fitted his fingers between hers, lightly squeezing some warmth back into her.

Squeezing life back into her.

Somehow, Ianto seemed to know the exact moment that Gwen was ready to face the world again. He let go of her hand, rinsed the tea down the drain, and folded the blanket away.

"Jack probably wants to see you, to make sure you're alright."

Gwen nodded, and caught Ianto's forearm before he turned to leave the conference room.

"Ianto..."

She gave him the first genuine smile that evening, the gap between her teeth injecting feeling into the gesture – saying what words could not. But there was something that she did have to say.

"You're doing well, you know – carrying on." Earnest, wanting to help him as much as he had helped her. "You... and Jack."

Gwen didn't miss the thrill that ran through Ianto's body at the mention of Jack's name. He looked as though he wanted to interrupt her, but Gwen wouldn't allow that.

"Honestly – he's... he's good for you, Ianto."

Another smile spread over her face, inch by inch, reflecting the fact that the truth of this statement was simultaneously sinking into Gwen – as if she had only just realised it as she spoke it.

Because it was true – Ianto was out of his shell now, free from the shadow of Lisa's death and the shadow of Jack's negligence. And he was happy.

"Erm, yes, well..." Ianto cleared his throat, failing to stop a blush from covering his cheekbones. "Shall we?"

Gwen smiled to herself and let Ianto take her to Jack – her arm linked in his, just as Ianto had accompanied her out of the morgue earlier. The weight of Beth still dragged on her shoulders, but now... she didn't have to bear it alone.

After her brief conversation with Jack, she left the Hub with a clear head. Jack had unknowingly mirrored Ianto's sentiments... keep doing what we left with a regained perspective – and a growing suspicion about those two.

Maybe she and Rhys would set a wedding date tonight. Maybe not. Maybe they'd just go to bed – just carry on.

II. Adrift

All those faces... all those names. All plastered on every inch of the concrete walls of Gwen's 'project room'. All scattered through time and space.

And now... all tucked away in a filing cabinet.

To be left alone.

Gwen couldn't bear to look at Jack, as she swept past him to make her way upstairs. Didn't want to see her own despair shining back at her – damn Jack.

Damn the Rift.

Her frantic pace slowed as she reached the main Hub. It looked like Tosh and Owen had already left for the evening, which made things easier. Had Jack told them what she'd done? Did they even know about Flat Holm?

A rustle of noise captured her attention, and Ianto emerged from behind Tosh's desk, a half empty rubbish bag in hand. He knew about Flat Holm.

"Gwen."

Ianto didn't sound surprised that she was still here. He lowered the rubbish bag to sit neatly on the floor, and took measured steps towards her. He had that small, sympathetic smile turned on again, that smile that Gwen couldn't help but respond to.

"Don't let me hold you up. Although, the place looks a right sight better than it normally does – perhaps Owen's taken to cleaning up after himself, now that he has more spare time on his hands."

Ianto gave a chuckle at her pained joke.

"One can always dream." He shook his head in amusement. "Are you... alright, Gwen?"

Gwen found herself unconsciously wringing her wedding rings around, and swallowed while trying to paste a smile on her face.

"I... you know. Getting there." She sighed silently. "I, uh, I'm sorry if I got you into trouble – with Jack, I mean – because of you giving me the coordinates to Flat Holm."

"Doesn't matter." Ianto took a step closer, so that Gwen could see his face more clearly. "I... think he knew that you wouldn't let it go." He smiled so as to soften his words, but Gwen's lips curled bitterly.

"I almost wish I had."

"You did the right thing, Gwen." His voice was barely louder than a whisper, but carried no less force due to this. Gwen had to take a steadying breath, and blink a few times, before replying.

"Thank you, Ianto."

Ianto shrugged it off, albeit accepting her words, and finally reached out to pat her briefly on the shoulder.

"And, er... I'm also sorry about interrupting you, earlier..."

Ianto coughed a tad awkwardly, causing Gwen to now repress tears of mirth instead.

"Er, it's fine, we should have, er..."

"I'll be sure to knock next time," Gwen said, with the beginnings of a wicked grin lighting up her face – Ianto's incoherent mumbles making it even more difficult to contain.

However, Ianto was saved from having to come up with an answer as footsteps sounded from behind them. Gwen turned to see Jack standing at the other end of the Hub – and this time, she did look at him.

Jack's whole body was slumping, and without his coat to hide this weight upon him, he emitted the feeling of a small, lost boy. Shadows danced over his face, but they were more than just the lack of lighting in the Hub – they were dark circles etched beneath his eyes, his brow pushing itself into wrinkles.

A shudder ran through Gwen. She felt Ianto run his hand softly up her arm before he removed it, and she met his gaze. Ianto's eyes seemed to hold snatches of the same shadows that darkened Jack's expression, but they also were full of something else – concern, determination, and...

Oh yes. Gwen knew that emotion.

"See you tomorrow," she said quietly. Ianto nodded, and moved past her, towards Jack. Gwen stood still for a moment, and watched. Watched as Ianto reached Jack – standing closer to him than he'd been to her – and raised Jack's chin carefully with his fingers. Watched as they looked at each other for a long pause, before Jack's expression flickered in the tiniest way – crumpled, before Ianto pulled Jack into a tight embrace right in the middle of the Hub.

It was... breathtaking.

Gwen shivered, not entirely due to the cold, and turned on her heel to leave them to each other.

Because that thing that she'd seen in Ianto's eyes – in Jack's desperate clinging – Gwen knew what it was. She just knew it.

Knew that for all Jack's strong leadership, his heroic demeanour – oh yes, Gwen knew all about that – for all his talk of naked hide and seek, it was Ianto that he truly needed. She knew that without Ianto... Jack wouldn't be able to carry on. Plain and simple.

Gwen knew that Jack loved Ianto – and she knew that this was the way it was supposed to be. Besides, she had her own Welshman to be getting home to.

-End.

Hope that was a pleasing portrayal of all of their relationships with each other. I would really love to write more about Gwen and Jack/Ianto... another day, perhaps ;) Well, with the main four characters all done and dusted, we are left with some interesting 'minor' characters who I can't wait to sink my teeth into... not literally of course... -cough- ;)