Title: Comfort
Author: Captains Cariad
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: They're definitely not mine, but the boys like to play and so do I.
Summary: A little addition to the scene in the Hub between Ianto & Jack at the start of "Small Worlds".

***

Below his office, Jack was trying to get some rest. For the last couple of hours he'd been dozing fitfully as images of his past refused to leave him alone. Behind his fluttering eyelashes, he was transported back to 1909 & his time as a soldier in Lahore. The train whistle blew as they went into a tunnel, then an eerie silence fell & the rustling began. When they emerged from the tunnel, Jack was the only one left alive - all his men were dead, suffocated their mouths full of rose petals.

Gasping for breath Jack's eyes flew open in fear as he remembered the terror of that moment on the train so many years ago. In a cold sweat he dressed in his grey wool uniform trousers & a white t-shirt, leaving the braces dangling. Hurriedly escaping the darkness of his quarters, he climbed up the ladder that led to his office, but had to lean against his desk to steady himself as the head rush hit him from moving too suddenly. Pausing to take a deep breath, he noticed a single red petal lying on top of his paperwork. Shuddering he picked it up gingerly between his fingers. They were back.

The Hub was bathed in an ethereal blue light, the monitors glowing as they ran their overnight analysis. All was quiet save for the background hum of equipment & the occasional swish of the pterodactyl's wings as she swooped from perch to perch high above. This was Ianto's favourite time to get work done, when there was nobody else to disturb him with demands for coffee & filing.

Turning quickly on hearing Ianto approach Jack put his hands nonchalantly in his pockets, hiding the petal as he did so.

"You shouldn't be here"

At the sound of the Captain's velvet American accent Ianto looked up, startled from the file he'd been scanning. He hadn't realised that Jack was still in the Hub.

"Neither should you" he countered, not letting the older man see he was ruffled by continuing to the computer where he was running a weather study for the Cardiff Bay area.

Jack made his way over to the workstation to get a better view.

"What you got?" he asked placing his hand on the Welshman's shoulder.

Despite his best efforts, Ianto couldn't keep the surprise from his face at Jack's touch. Jack confused him — obviously, there was sexual attraction between them, but Ianto was still a little wary of where he stood since all the trouble he'd caused by hiding Lisa in the basement. The Captain had assured him that he was forgiven, but regaining the trust of his boss was another matter.

Ianto's own feelings for Jack ranged somewhere between hating him one minute & wanting to kiss him with all the passion he could muster the next. He found the strength of his feelings for the other man quite alarming — they were so intense, they seemed to radiate heat, making him want to abandon all self-control & he was actually afraid of himself when it came to Jack.

Sensing Ianto's discomfort Jack turned the touch into a friendly pat on the back, which elicited a sigh of gratitude from the other man.

"Funny sort of weather patterns" Ianto replied, looking back at his boss, efficient work-mask back in place.

Jack's expression was grim.

"I was afraid you'd say that" he said with a resigned tone.

"Sir?"

Gesturing for the younger man to follow Jack moved back to his own office & reached for the cut-glass decanter on the desk.

"It's a long story and I need a drink...care to join me?"

As he accepted the proffered glass Ianto's fingers brushed against the Captain's; he hoped that Jack hadn't noticed that the brief contact had caused a hitch to his breathing as he was momentarily overwhelmed by the desire to kiss the handsome man before him. However, the wanton lust in Jack's gaze when their eyes met told him that he had.

"Yan...?" he asked in a husky whisper.

Unable to resist any longer Ianto discarded his drink, took the remaining two steps that separated them & captured Jack's mouth in a hungry kiss. Responding with equal passion Jack ran his fingers through Ianto's hair pulling him closer needing to find some comfort from his tortured dreams & thoughts that all hell was about to let loose.

"Oh, God...are you sure Yan?"

Afraid that he might lose his nerve at any moment Ianto decided to go with his gut instinct, to hell with self-control, he wanted Jack...needed Jack; he didn't want to be alone anymore. Without breaking eye contact, he removed his tie, backed the Captain up to the desk, pushed aside the papers & artefacts.

"Don't talk Jack...just kiss me"

***