Title: A Certain Blend
Author: avon_09
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Team members: Torchwood Three
Disclaimers: not mine, ever
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Up to They Keep Killing Suzie
Beta: damalan
Summary: It's a coffee fic.

***

The coffee was foul.

Ianto was upset with Jack. He didn't say anything. In fact, he didn't say anything at all, to anyone. He spent his days away from everyone, either in the tourist office or in the archives.

Owen and Gwen were confused. They could be found in corners, debating how Jack could have offended Ianto so thoroughly that they were all being punished. Tosh had a fair idea, but she wasn't talking.

The atmosphere in the Hub was measured by the quality of coffee served to the team members on a daily basis.

The coffee was foul and had been for nearly a week.

When Gwen joined the team, Ianto went out of his way to find out her preferences, to tempt her with different flavours, to make her feel part of the team. After Ianto's basement secret was revealed and he lost Lisa, and Jack's trust, the coffee was exquisite; dark, strong, with more than a hint of bitterness. The irony of the flavour wasn't lost on Jack, who made a note never to take Ianto for granted again.

Ianto knew how to comfort Tosh in the aftermath of her relationship with Mary. He gave her a special blend to help her sleep, wrapping her in warmth and love every night. His quiet tenderness meant more to Tosh than all the hugs and awkward comments from the rest of the team.

Ianto's first field mission had ended in disaster, his flesh being pulverised – tenderised – in preparation for dinner, except he wasn't the guest. The team had been force-fed coffee for a week. Every time they turned round there was another cup waiting for them. They said nothing, just quietly disposed of the previous three cups and smiled their thanks at the young man.

There was mutiny in the Hub. They were being punished for something Jack had done, that they were sure of. Except Jack was as confused as everyone else. Tosh knew, and she wasn't saying.

The coffee didn't improve. It was cheap, instant muck. Owen had taken to getting take-out for the whole team on the way into work. Worse still, trying to make it himself. The take away coffee was gratefully received. Ianto just sat, alone, whilst Jack sat in his office wondering what he had done to deserve the slop in front of him.

Then the Hub was turned upside down by the machinations of Suzie. This case was hard on the whole team, especially on Jack. Jack didn't shy away from death; in fact he welcomed it for reasons lost on the majority of the team. However bringing Suzie back, a beloved team member, then killing her again left Jack exhausted, too tired to read signals, too tired to puzzle out why he was being punished, to drink bad coffee.

Ianto stood to attention the other side of Suzie's body. He looked at Jack carefully, concerned by the tiredness and pain etched on his face. Making a decision, he offered Jack something, a way out of the peculiar situation they had been in for a week, the shy, beautiful smile that flashed across Jack's face as he realised made the olive branch worthwhile.

The next morning Ianto proffered Owen a cup of something that smelt suspiciously like an excellent cup of coffee. Owen took a tentative sip; it was divine! He moaned as the flavour slipped down the back of his throat. Tosh smiled as she accepted the mug from Ianto.

She said nothing; she didn't have to. Ianto's smile said it all.

***