Lessons for the team [for slayers_desire]

[fractured_agent]

Every now and again, Jack stumbles over something else about being a leader that he doesn't know, and today is one of those days. While he'd known that Torchwood One trained their operatives in psychic shielding, he wasn't qualified to teach it himself, and psychic aliens are rare enough that it didn't occur to him that it might be necessary, especially with the high turnover rate of Torchwood Three personnel.

But today has reminded him that it's a very real danger, and necessary to shield against those sorts of intrusions.

He's in a bit better mood than last time as he calls the one person he feels is best qualified to teach this skill.

Comments

[fractured_agent]

"I can't do anything about that, much as I'd like to. She has to make the decision to go back to Rhys." Jack is disappointed in Gwen for making this choice, but he's her boss, not her father. He can't dictate what his team does in their off-hours. "Unless it starts disrupting team cohesion, she's an adult and she can make her own mistakes."

[slayers_desire]

"It just might be a sensitive matter right now, since Tosh was able to read it off Gwen while using the talismen. That might be the only disruption..."

[fractured_agent]

"If that's the case, then Ianto is either the only one who doesn't know, or - more likely - he's been keeping quiet about it." Jack pinches the bridge of his nose for a moment, closing his eyes. What a mess.

[slayers_desire]

"In time it will resolve itself."

[fractured_agent]

"Things like this usually do, but the end result isn't always a good one."

[slayers_desire]

"We have a few couples on our team. It can be tough to balance your personal feelings from the job..."

[fractured_agent]

"Gwen's still new, so if she's going to learn how to do that, she's still working on it. But she's the only one of us who even has a love life at the moment." Though Jack is sure that he isn't fooling her into thinking he doesn't have his eye on somebody, given the way he looks at Ianto.

[slayers_desire]

He isn't fooling her. But April knows that Jack will talk about Ianto when the time is right for him.

"I couldn't imagine not having the love life I do..."

[fractured_agent]

"How long have you and Clark been together again? I've lost track." He has a good excuse, given his time travel history.

[slayers_desire]

"Since we started dating? Wow... 10 years..."

[fractured_agent]

Jack grins at her. "I think you might've beaten my record already."

[slayers_desire]

"Most people mark big anniversaries like this with something special, don't they?"

[fractured_agent]

"I think they usually count from the date you got married, but no one says that's the only way to do it."

[slayers_desire]

"I will have to look into that more..."

[fractured_agent]

"I haven't celebrated an anniversary in a long time. Except the not-so-great ones."

[slayers_desire]

"Well maybe someday you and I will have to do a friendship anniversary." She reaches over to touch his hand.

((bed time))

[fractured_agent]

He turns his hand over so he can give hers a light squeeze of gratitude. "I think we're going to have to go off how long it's been for you," he says with a smile.

[slayers_desire]

"Sounds like a deal to me."

[fractured_agent]

The enormous gear-like door of the Hub rolls aside to admit Ianto, carrying a stack of pizza boxes. The others all leave their desks and return to the table once again, like a family would when a meal is ready. That's something Jack is quite pleased about, even though there's tension in the team right now, they still behave as though they're bickering siblings instead of cold, distant, professional coworkers.

[slayers_desire]

April only takes one slice, something with a lot of meat on it. She smiles softly as she watches the team interact around their pizza. It reminds her of the JLA.

[fractured_agent]

She's in luck, as the meat feast pizza is the most popular order for Torchwood. Ianto also brings another round of tea for everyone.

Jack half-listens to the conversations going on between the team, interjecting his own jokes here and there. But he also reaches out to April. I can hear you thinking from over here.

[slayers_desire]

Just thinking of how much this reminds me of the JLA and their pizza parties.

[fractured_agent]

Pizza's another universal symbol of peace, Jack jokes with her.

[slayers_desire]

Especially when it is cut the right way.

[fractured_agent]

"So where are you from, anyway?" Gwen asks April, trying to be friendly. "And how did you and Jack meet?"