Fandom: Torchwood

Characters: Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Jez Holton, Agent Johnson

Author: m_findlow

Rating: PG

Length: 3,806 words

Content notes: none

Author notes: Written for Challenge 241 - Green

Summary: Jack takes the team for their first official visit to Cwm Noddfa.


'How big did you say this place was, again?' Jez asked, watching the winding valley roads speed past the back window.

'A hundred acres,' Ianto replied.

'Council taxes must be a nightmare,' Johnson muttered.

'It's undeveloped, not even classed as agricultural land,' Jack replied, making a careful turn in the winding road. 'You could say Ianto got it on the cheap.'

'Literally, since we didn't pay a thing for it,' he added.

Jez let out a small groan. 'Why can't I have some crazy relative leave me a small fortune?'

Ianto smirked at the comment. 'To be honest, I'd rather not have the crazy relatives.'

'And yet you do,' Jack said, grinning and taking one hand off the wheel, reaching across to set a hand on his knee. 'Be thankful on this one occasion that your crazy relatives decided to give you something good.'

'Believe me, I am. You're crazy enough to cover everyone.'

Jack consulted his companions in the rear view mirror. 'Have I told you guys how close Ianto came to saying no? This little gem almost went begging and I was about to kick myself for not convincing Ianto to keep it. Then he just turns up and drops the keys on my desk and says, "here, have a hundred acres of beautiful Welsh countryside." Just like that.'

'Waste not, want not, isn't that right, Jones?' Johnson said.

'That's the plan,' he said.

'Well, I think it's a brilliant idea,' Gwen said, having been more involved in the project so far than her colleagues. 'Something like this is just what we needed and we didn't even know it.'



The car crested the top of the valley, the view spilling out all around them as they descended down into it. Jack turned the SUV onto an unsealed road and stopped at a rusted gate, getting out to unlock the heavy chain wrapped around it, before continuing the drive down the rough path.

'Now, don't get too excited,' Jack warned them. 'There's still a lot of work to be done to get the place ship shape. Today is more of a come and see its potential kinda trip. Not to mention it's a beautiful day and nothing on the rift radar for a good twenty four hours.'

Jez and Johnson exchanged looks, wondering exactly what it was they were supposed to expect. From what they'd been told, it was just a bunch of land that Ianto had inherited from some relative he didn't even know, and that the plan was to use it to house some of their alien visitors from the rift. It wasn't a secret that they'd been developing the place, it was just that things took time and there was no need to be involved until things were at a point where they could contribute.

The road wound ever onwards and down into the valley, until a homestead finally came into view near the bottom and Jack pulled the car over, letting them all get out and stretch their legs from the hour and a bit journey.

They took in their first view of the place, noting the old weatherboard house that perched itself on the side of the valley, which dropped away a little further until it reached a bubbling stream right at the bottom. Everywhere else there was nothing but rolling hills and steep mountains that enclosed the tiny valley.

'What do you think?' Jack asked, beaming with delight.

'It's very green,' Johnson replied. 'But then again, it is the country.'

Jez frowned as he turned a full circle. 'Where are all the buildings?'

'What buildings?' Jack asked.

'Well, you said this was to house aliens that couldn't stay in Cardiff. Are you planning on having them all living in that ramshackle old place?' he asked, pointing to the homestead with its peeling paint and rusted guttering.

'We'll be able to build some smaller accommodations if they're needed,' Jack replied. 'And we've got plenty of space. This is just the tip of the iceberg.'

Johnson folded her arms, following the same train of thought. 'So, if you haven't built anything, then what was going on with all those trucks back and forth?' she asked, referring to the endless back and forth of Rhys and Gwen from the hub in one of Rhys' Harwoods lorries.

'That was to set up the shielding,' Gwen explained.

'Shielding?'

'To protect the place from outsiders,' she replied. 'And also to keep the residents in, or at least to stop them from travelling too far. The place is pretty isolated but you get the odd country rambler here and there and they might get more than they bargained for if they accidentally stray from their planned trail.'

Jack interjected. 'What Gwen's trying to say is that it's not a zoo, nor is it a prison, but it's also not a free-for-all. Whoever stays here is here under their own free will, but stays within the boundaries we've set.'

Jez looked concerned. 'Doesn't it goes against the idea of the place being friendly to stick up giant fences?'

'It's not really a fence,' Ianto replied. 'Not one you can see, anyway, which is what makes it perfect.'

Johnson took Ianto's meaning. 'So, we're talking some kind of electrical fence?'

'Better,' Jack said. 'Imagine trying to hold two magnets with identical magnetic poles and forcing them together.' He demonstrated with his hands as if they were holding imaginary magnets.

'You can't.'

'Exactly. They resist one another and veer away, don't they? That's what this field does. It generates an invisible energy that diverts you away from it if you get too close, only it's so subtle you don't ever notice you've been turned around.'

'Yeah, but,' Jez began, thinking it through, 'if it's invisible doesn't that still mean that you can see whatever is on the other side?'

Jack smiling knowingly. 'It's got a radiating field of three hundred feet. On the rare chance two beings should be near the shield at the same time in the same place, are you going to be able to tell at three hundred feet away if what you saw was alien or just some native wildlife?'

'Fair point'

'So, it's a bubble keeping everything in, or out?' Johnson surmised.

Jack shook his head. 'No. It still allows things to pass through it. Air, obviously, and small things like birds and insects. Pretty much anything smaller than a badger is gonna have free reign to come and go as it pleases, so we're not interfering with the indigenous fauna.'

Johnson did the math in her head. 'A hundred acres, but that must make the shield enormous.'

'It is, 'Gwen said. 'That's why it's taken so many trips up here to drop off all the transmitters and power units.'

'At least you didn't have to install them,' Ianto added. 'I've done more trekking in the last few weeks than the rest of my entire life put together.'

'So that's what you've been up to when you've been rushing off after work before your day off,' Johnson said, a cheeky smile playing across her face. 'When Jack was at the hub we were wracking our brains trying to think what else you could possibly be rushing off for.'

Ianto grinned at the idea they'd been speculating on his extra curricular activities. 'Yes, cheating on Jack with some big sexy transmitters, sneaking off to the Welsh valleys and trekking up hill and down dale to spend some quality time with them. Setting them out on a hill is easy, but the terrain often belies even the best topographical map. It's been quite a physical workout.'

'But just look how trim and terrific you are now,' Jack teased. He meant it as a joke but there was no mistaking that his lover had toned up on account of the additional exercise and was even sporting a little bit of colour on his usually pale skin. He'd tried to make it up here as often as he could to help Ianto with the task, but more often than not, he managed only to stay the night and help by making dinner or tidying up the homestead, at which point, Ianto was too tired to do more than sleep. When he did get a proper day off that coincided with Ianto's, they split up to halve the workload and double the speed at which they could get the shield up and running.

'The idea is that whoever comes up here will have the entire valley to live in, with no restrictions other than the outer boundary which they won't even notice,' Ianto explained. 'Some creatures might need proper shelter from the elements, but we'll build only as needed. This place should remain in its natural state as much as possible.'

'Come inside and take a look at the house,' Jack said, leading them over and inside.



The interior was in much better shape than the exterior, which perhaps had been intentional to keep the place looking like it fitted in with the environment. There was new furniture and a fresh coat of paint, the kitchen was stocked with dry and canned goods, and everything smelled clean and fresh. Hardwood floors had been sanded and polished, and rugs spread across it to add warmth and colour.

'There's three bedrooms, two with bunks and one master bedroom, so plenty of room for people to sleep,' Jack said. 'That's the kitchen, and the living room. Through here is a room dedicated for office needs, computers and phone lines. Outside we're getting a generator set up for additional power requirements. And in here, we were thinking of turning this spare room into a medical suite,' Jack said, looking for Jez's input. 'There's likely to be injuries and illness at times and it'd be nice if we didn't have to transfer back to Cardiff to treat them.'

'Yeah, sounds good to me,' Jez agreed. 'I can put together a list of what we need.'

Johnson pulled a face as she took in the bedrooms and bathrooms. 'So, some of the aliens are going to live in here?'

'No,' Jack replied. 'This is for us. Torchwood, I mean. So people can stay here when they need to.'

'Or just come here to get away from it all,' Ianto added.

Johnson quirked an eyebrow at him. 'Bed and breakfast in the countryside?'

'Something like that.' He couldn't deny that despite the hard work, it had been nice to come up here for the fresh air and the lush green vista. The place had a relaxing tranquility about it, and he hoped that whoever stayed here would feel the same way. It felt special, for its secluded nature and its compete removal from the hectic bustle of city life. If he were an alien stranded on a world like theirs, he'd be relieved to have a place like this to call home.

'I've got dibs with Rhys,' Gwen said, butting in. 'He's always complaining we don't get away enough.'

Jack watched as the gears ticked over in Johnson's head, sensing the next question forthcoming. 'What will they eat? I mean, it's one thing when they've got us feeding them every day. You've not got a roster planned for us to all stay here permanently, do you?'

'The intention is for the place to be largely self-sufficient. With the right equipment, most creatures can fend for themselves. The place is capable of feeding a number of them just from the indigenous habitat, grasses and insects. There's also blackberries and gorse, and the waterways are clear enough for fish. For more higher evolved species, they'll be able to farm small crops, and there'll be fortnightly supplies delivered, thanks to one dedicated Harwood's employee,' he added, making Gwen blush.

'Ultimately, we're hoping some of the more advanced species will be able to lend a hand in caring for the lower species,' Ianto replied. 'It's all about balance and harmony.' He hadn't mentioned it to Jack yet, but he'd been thinking about moving some of the less dependent residents from Flat Holm out here as well. It had to be better than staying in that gloomy bunker, even if they tried to get outside when they could, tending a small veggie patch and watching the waves crash on the beach. They might not be ready to face the world completely, but this could be as much a place of rehabilitation for them as for anyone. They too could be here to keep things on an even keel.

'It's still a few months from being properly operational,' Jack continued on, 'but as you can see, it's got a lot of potential. So,' he said, clapping his hands together enthusiastically, 'that's the homestead tour. Time to come and take a good look around. We've brought backpacks and a picnic lunch. I hope you like hiking.'



Jack returned to the SUV and pulled out the packs, handing them to Jez and Johnson in turn, before reaching in to get the next bundle out for Gwen and Ianto.

'That's okay,' Ianto said, as Jack offered him his own pack. 'I think I'll stay here.'

'You're not coming with us? But I was going to head for the top of the valley and then picnic by the lake. It's a perfect day for it.'

'I've seen plenty,' Ianto assured him. 'And I've got a few things here that really need doing. You go on ahead.'

'I'll stay too,' Gwen said.

'You don't have to,' Ianto replied.

'It's fine. I'm sure you can use a hand.'

'Several, actually, but it didn't seem fair to bring everyone up here just for slave labour.'

Gwen grinned. 'I'm all yours. Jack, looks like you get to be boy scout leader.'

He smiled at them. 'You don't know what you'll be missing, although being Ianto's slave can be fun too,' he said, giving her a cheeky wink. 'Come on, you two. Time to get some fresh air into those clogged up city lungs. This is the Torchwood eco tour of Cwm Noddfa. '

'Coom what?' Jez asked.

'Ianto named the place. It's Welsh. It means Sanctuary Valley. That's what we hope it will be.'



Jack trekked them up and down the rugged landscape taking it in long strides that forced them to keep up a brutal pace. Once they'd ascended the steep hillside, the homestead disappeared from view as Jack lead them down into the next dale, before heading eastwards, gradually climbing up and up along the valley until he reached the very top, hearing his teammates straggling behind him, puffing from the exertion. He was a little out of breath himself, but the arduous climb was worth it.

'This is the highest point on the property,' he declared letting them take in the views all around. Down below was a huge slate grey lake, and off to the north were more rolling hills covered in pine and beech.

'How much of this is ours?' Jez asked.

'If you can see it, it's ours,' Jack beamed. 'Not bad, huh? That's a view you don't get at the office.'

'Certainly better than being stuck inside the hub,' Johnson agreed, taking a swig of water from her canteen. 'I haven't done a trek like this since my academy training days,' she added, wiping a sheen of sweat from her brow and feeling the slight burn in her calves.

'It gets easier from here,' Jack promised. 'I wanted you to see this first before you were tired out. We can follow the line of the valley back.'

'Didn't you say something about a picnic?' Jez asked, feeling his stomach growl.

Jack laughed. 'The lake is down there. You get lunch when we get there.'

It didn't take long for them to descend from the top of the mountain, the other side proving far less steep and rocky than the ascent had been. Down by the water, Jack broke out their lunch supplies, having made sure to leave some behind for Gwen and Ianto back at the homestead. Even without, there was more than enough to go around, towering sandwiches and thick sourdough rolls, pastries, packets of crisps, fresh fruit, cheese and a thermos of Ianto's coffee to cap it all off. After their hike, they were all ravenous and tore into the food before they could stop to savor it.



Jez napped against a thick spruce after lunch whilst Jack and Johnson stood at the edge of the lake, trying to see if they could nab any fish using some string and bits of leftover ham sandwich. Once or twice they were convinced they'd nearly caught something, but the excitement of having done so cause them to tug a little hard on their makeshift lines, letting the lucky fish on the other end to make its escape with their lunch leftovers.

'You should have some canoes so you can paddle out across the lake,' Johnson suggested. 'Then you might be able to do some proper fishing.'

'That's a great idea.' It was certainly big enough and they'd eventually have to figure out how deep it was as well, in case they needed to house any aquatic creatures. 'Never took you for a fishing fan.'

'Blame my old man and his endless camping trips when we were kids.'

With lunch digested and their legs rested, they began the walk back, Jack leading them along the valley floor as it snaked between the hills. They picked blackberries, eating most of them along the way and storing the extra in the new empty containers from their lunch. The walk back was much longer, but less strenuous and they marveled at just how big the place was, having only traveled a small part of it. A thousand aliens could live here without ever meeting one another.



It was growing dark as they finally ascended back up the final hill, and saw the homestead come into view. The lights were already on inside and there was smoke rising from the chimney. The woody burning scent evoked images of a fire roaring in the living room, and thoughts of a hot shower before tucking into tea. As expected, the kitchen was full of delicious aromas when they entered.

'Did you have fun?' Gwen asked.

'The place is amazing,' Jez replied, setting down his pack.

'Didn't I tell you they'd love it?' Jack asked his lover. 'How did you guys get on?'

'We got loads done. That shed out the back is now cleaned out, so we can use it for proper storage, get Rhys to bring in the fuel for the generator, paint for the outside of the house, and more food provisions, flour, rice, sugar, stuff we can keep long term. You won't have been able to see it , but we stripped all the old guttering off, so that's ready to be replaced, too. Better to do it now before the rainy season. And we removed all the old roof insulation so some new batts can be installed.'

'Make us feel guilty for taking the day off, why don't you?'

'I'd have only come up here next weekend and done it myself anyway,' Ianto replied. 'Having a spare pair of hands made it no trouble at all.'

'Still,' Jack insisted, 'I think that deserves some kind of reward.'



They lounged about after dinner, grasping hot mugs of more of Ianto's coffee before finally deciding to retire for the night. Tomorrow they'd have to return to Cardiff and go back to their normal lives, keeping the city's streets safe.

'Bed time, Ianto,' Jack said, watching as Ianto dried and put away the last of the dishes.

'Almost done,' he replied. 'Why don't you grab the sleeping bags and we'll meet in the middle.'

Jack frowned. 'What do we need sleeping bags for?' When they'd first started coming up here, the house had been run down with nothing but mouldy and rotting furniture. They'd slept on the floor until the place was tidy enough for new furniture, but now they had a perfectly good king size bed. There was certainly no need for sleeping bags.

'I thought we could sleep out under the stars and watch the sun rise. It's not too cold out tonight.'

'You wanna trek all the way up to the top of the valley just to see the sun rise?'

'You said I deserved a reward, and I've got enough energy left to make the trek. Unless of course you're too tired out. Besides, who knows when we might next get another chance.'

Ianto's comment had the desired effect, spurring Jack's ego regardless of how tired he might be. Armed with nothing but their torches and sleeping bags, they made the journey in the dark, cresting the hill and settling just on the other side. Jack zipped the two sleeping bags together and got inside, letting Ianto crawl in next to him before zipping it up, leaving them snuggled together. Sleep claimed them quickly.



Jack woke sometime just before four am. Overhead the stars were still twinkling, but the sky was already shifting from black to Prussian blue. He gently shook his lover awake, hearing a low mutter of protestation.

'You wanted to watch the sunrise,' Jack replied, nuzzling Ianto's neck and trying to coax him to wakefulness. 'Unless you're the one who's too tired.'

Ianto cracked open his eyes and they lay there, watching the sky slowly lighten. He might have dozed off once or twice, but Jack was there to make sure he didn't miss anything good. The sun finally glowed bright yellow and orange in the distance, peeking over the top of the hills and spilling its light down into the valley. It glowed iridescent green in the first rays of morning light. It didn't just look like a valley anymore. It looked properly like a heavenly place of sanctuary as if God himself was showing his approval.

'Some view,' Ianto said quietly. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that this place had just simply meant to be. It was meant to come to him, not just some crazy act of someone he'd never known. He almost felt jealous of the creatures who'd get to wake up to this every day, whilst he'd have to return to Cardiff. Still, it was only an hour from the city. Self-sustaining didn't mean he couldn't find new reasons to come up here.

'Now that was worth getting up early for,' Jack hummed in his ear.

Ianto turned over in the sleeping bag so that he was facing Jack and not the scenery. 'It's still early and we're all alone up here.'

Jack grinned, taking Ianto's meaning. There were other views still to be enjoyed, and not all of them were green.