Previous part of Undercover.

***

Ianto looked around the fields, it was lunch time which meant that most of the students were in the dorm areas, or canteen. There were a few who were eating outside. "Everything okay, Yan?" Jack asked gently.

"Yeah," Ianto said quietly, he was far away from students not to be seen or heard talking to himself, but he was also close enough to the garden that if there was someone, or something there then they would be able to hear him.

"Be careful with Brett," Jack said. Ianto figured that there was no one else around, Jack rarely spoke in that soft tone in front of a crowd. Ianto just nodded, he knew Jack couldn't see him. "The others are gone to interview a scientist about his research in the garden." Ianto made a noise letting Jack know he heard him.

"You know, when this thing is over. I'm going to take you out, dinner." Jack said. Ianto stopped and laughed to himself.

"Are you... asking me out on a date?" Ianto asked a little stunned.

"Maybe. How about, we go out as friends, then see where we end up." Ianto smiled. "See how it goes with Brett, Yan. Just be careful okay."

"Kay," Ianto said simply. He stood at the gate to the garden centre and looked in.

"Can I help you?" A loud voice startled him, and he turned around. "This place is off limits to students."

"Sorry, I'm new was just having a look." Ianto shrugged.

"New? Half way through..."

"A term yeah, apparently it's not normal." Ianto smiled.

"No, well be on your way. Remember, this place is off limits."

"How come it's off limits?" Ianto asked. The man looked at him, and Jack wondered if Ianto had over stepped the mark a bit, even if he did just resemble a curious student.

"There is some science projects going on, they've produced this spray to change colours of plants, but it's strong and can cause harm to anyone who isn't wearing protection suits." The man said.

"Why would you want to change colours of plants? I mean, it's a bit random."

"It's science, it's supposed to be random." The man said and turned away.

"Nice work." Jack grinned.

"Ianto!" Brett called, Ianto turned around and smiled as he saw Brett walking up to him. "Thought it was you." He smiled. "Thought you had an appointment with the headmaster."

"He was busy, some meeting, asked me to come back later. You okay?" Ianto asked.

"Yeah, just came to get some air." He said.

"Want me to leave you on your own for a bit?" Brett shook his head and linked his fingers with Ianto's and they headed to sit on one of the hills.

"James told me he told you about, Kevin." He said, resting his head on Ianto's shoulder. Doing the only thing he could think about Ianto wrapped an arm around his waist. "I know it's horrible, but you didn't remind me of him. And I needed that. James thinks I'm being mean, saying I'm using you as a rebound..."

"You're not. And if you were, I'd understand it." Brett looked up at me and I wiped the tears from his face with the back of my thumb. "Four weeks ago, my girlfriend she... died. Car crash." Ianto felt Brett's arms around him and held a little tighter. "I get it, everything reminds you of them and you cling to people who are different."

"I just feel like me doing what ever it is I'm doing with you is spoiling what me and Kevin had."

"We don't have to have anything more than friendship, we can be there for each other yeah?"

"Thanks, Ianto." Brett smiled. "I'm glad I met you."

"Same," Ianto sighed. "Come on, lets go inside yeah,"

"Jack, we've found out all we can." Gwen sighed as she walked in the hub, Toshiko and Owen behind her.

"Anything more than them changing colours of the plants?" Jack asked, a cocky grin on his face. They all looked at him for answers. "Ianto asked one of the teachers."

"What just walked up and asked?" Gwen huffed

"Pretty much," Jack smiled. "Was there anything else?"

"Well no." Owen moaned. "That was a fucking waste of time."

"Did anything seem out of the ordinary?" Jack asked, he was feeling a little better now that Ianto and Brett were going to be just friends. Seeing him away from the hub, well not so away from the hub but a little escape from being Ianto Jones, Torchwood archivist, Ianto was a completely different guy, making Jack realise just what he could have thrown away.

"They seemed a little sketchy." Owen said, swinging in his chair.

"Sketchy?" Jack asked.

"Like they were hiding something," Gwen said quickly. "I think they're being told what to do and say."

"So it could be a cover story." Jack said. "We'll need proof."

"I think I might have it." Owen grinned, pulling a small vile from his leather jacket. "If this matches the toxin in the plant we have enough evidence to shut down the science project."

"But what about the aliens?"

"Maybe there is no aliens," Gwen said. "I mean, maybe the alien story is a cover up for the fact that their little science project is going a bit out of hand."

"Nope there's an alien, me and Ianto saw it. And besides the toxin is alien."

"You saw the alien?" Gwen asked. "And you thought it would be good to leave that out because..."

"Things happened." Jack shrugged. "And it was just a black cloaked figure..."

"'The Phantom'?" Toshiko asked.

"I'm not too sure I believe in this 'Phantom'" Jack sighed. "It's a bit of a twisted fairytale."

"I think it's romantic," Gwen smiled.

"Well you would." Owen laughed. "Someone buys you a kebab you'll want to marry them."

"Erm, guys." Ianto's voice snapped them out of their conversation.

"What is it Yan?" Jack asked, not liking the tone of his voice at all.

They all looked over at the screens, to see Ianto's dorm room completely trashed.

The only thing that looked in place was a blue rose sat on top of a smashed web-cam.

***

"Ianto I want you out now!" Jack shouted down the microphone. Ianto hesitated before leaving the dorm room, the common room was a mess too.

"Craig, where's Brett?" Ianto asked.

"Didn't he go into your room with you?" Craig asked. Ianto shook his head. "Do you know what happened here?" Craig asked, gesturing to the mess.

"No. I don't." Ianto lied, he headed back down the corridor, Brett's door was open, and Ianto pushed it open wider, his room too was trashed. But there was no Brett. On his bed was five blue rose petals. "Shit."

"Ianto get out." Jack shouted.

"They've got Brett." Ianto said quietly.

"Meet us at the gate. We'll find him." Jack said.

"But wont that blow the cover?" Gwen said.

"When Ianto is the next target, I don't care if his cover is blown." Jack snapped. "Now get the gear ready."

Ianto ran down the corridors, every student in the house was at a panic. "Did you see anything?" they were all asking, he listened to half conversations as he ran past them. He headed to the headmasters office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Richard called, when Ianto walked in, Richard looked nervous. "What's happened?"

"The Phantom. He's taken a student, Jack needs you to get all the students out."

"The Phantom? He's just a rumour. A ghost story." Richard said.

"The science project, in the garden. Tell me about it."

"I don't know anything about it. The company went through the boards of directors, and over stepped me. I didn't know anything about it until it just appeared."

"And that's when the murders started?" Ianto asked frantically. All he could think about was Brett.

"Yes." Richard sat down and pressed his head on the table. "I'll get the students out, but how do you know the Phantom might not go out too."

"He wants me to find him," Ianto said.

"I'll get the students out, you go and find Brett..." Ianto looked up at the headmaster, he hadn't said anything about Brett.

"Okay." Ianto said and ran out of the office, he looked around and found what he needed, not caring about the pain, Ianto punched the glass on the fire alarm, and pulled the alarm. All of a sudden, students were running around screaming.

"It's the Phantom!" A lot of them were screaming. Ianto headed towards the gate, where he could already see the SUV. He ran towards them.

"It's Richard, Jack." Ianto said.

"What?" Gwen asked. "The headmaster?"

"He knows who was taken. He told me to go and find Brett, I didn't even mention his name." Ianto said in a rush.

"Where do you think they are?" Jack asked.

"Garden centre." Ianto said, and headed off in that direction, everyone else following.

"Ianto!" They all turned around when they saw James standing there. "Fire alarm means get out of the building."

"Get out of here!" Ianto shouted.

"Where's Brett? Craig told me what happened..."

"I'm going to get him. Just go and make sure everyone is out of the building." James nodded and ran back towards the gates.

They ran towards the garden centre. "Cover your mouth and your nose." Jack said.

"Ianto, did you touch the rose?" Owen asked.

"What does that matter?" Gwen asked.

"Think about it. Someone gives you a flower, the first thing you do..."

"Smell it." Toshiko said.

"The toxin was inhaled." Jack finished.

"How do we get in there without smelling the flowers?" Gwen asked, looking around trying to find another way in.

"The bell tower." Ianto said. "If the scientists were doing this in secret, then they wouldn't be able to walk around with protective clothing on." Jack grinned and they followed him to the bell tower.

Ianto was right, there was a door to the bell tower. "It's never easy is it." Owen muttered. Standing in front of the door were ten students, their eyes glazed over.

"Don't kill them, they're humans. They're being possessed by what ever alien is here. We need to get into the building." Jack ordered.

"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Gwen said, the students moving forward.

"No idea, makes it more exciting don't you think?" Jack grinned.

***

The first student made a run at Jack, but the always ready hero had his fists clenched and raised. With a loud thud the student fell to the floor, but didn't stay down. Each member of Torchwood all had two students on them. Gwen and Toshiko were suffering the worst, neither having much upper body strength. Ianto watched as Toshiko was pushed to the floor, and without thinking rushed over to her, pulling her up, receiving a punch in the back of the neck.

"Yan..." Toshiko called. Ianto turned around and punched and kicked, pushed and pulled, until the student who had latched its self onto Toshiko had fallen to the floor and made no move of getting back up. They punched harder, and took a while until all the students were down.

Gwen was complaining loudly, she had been pushed and landed on her arm and it was clearly broken. Jack was fine, a few punches to his chest, and his coat was covered slightly in dust from the floor. Owen had a few grazes on his knuckles from the punches, and a bright red mark on his face where one of the female students attacked him with her finger nails. Toshiko and Ianto had bruises all over their upper arms, and a few on their face. Ianto's pain was all focused on his head and neck.

"Any harder and that would have snapped your fucking neck." Owen commented. Ianto just shrugged, and then winced slightly. They walked silently into the bell tower. They knew the students were just the beginning, whatever was next was going to be even harder.

"Yan!" Immediately, Ianto turned around, ignoring the pain in his neck. Brett was sprawled on the stairs, his head bleeding from a large cut above his eyebrow, and his hands and legs chained to the bannisters. "I'm sorry." Ianto hesitantly walked forward, as did Owen. Owen checked the cut, as Ianto undid the chains. "You need to run. It's a trap. Everything has been a trap. I'm sorry." Ianto went to talk, but there was a sharp pain in his stomach. "They said if I killed you, they'd give him back to me. You understand."

There was a loud laugh from the room, Owen grabbed hold of Ianto and pressed his hands on his stomach. A cloaked figure jumped from the top of the stairs and landed directly in front of Jack.

"Nice of you to join me, Captain." Jack gritted his teeth, he knew that voice.

"Richard." He hissed. He had tried so hard not to believe Ianto. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why all humans do things like this. Money." He grinned. "Though, I am sorry. It seems to have gotten a bit out of hand."

"Out of hand, you've killed people!" Gwen shouted.

"Yes well, a few bodies for the sake of a few million pounds, doesn't really matter does it?" He grinned.

"What was the plan?" Jack laughed. "Because you and me both know that you've fucked it up completely."

"Yes. I have." He said sadly. "They said they weren't going to harm anyone." He said frantically. Jack tried hard not to look over at Ianto who was being held by Owen. Brett was huddled on the floor, holding his knees and moving backwards and forwards. "When the boys died, I panicked. Wanted it to stop, then I phoned you."

"So what changed?" Gwen asked.

"The money," Richard said. "One million changed to two million if I could get you out of the way."

"You really think they're going to give you the money?" Jack laughed. "They're using you. You have to believe that."

"Oh. Believe me I do." Richard sighed deeply and stared over at Ianto. "He was a good agent. No one found out who he really was. But they did. When they found out I asked you for help, they changed the rules. They know all about you, Captain. You and your Torchwood. They want me to get you out of the way. Feelings aside, Captain. I am sorry." Richard moved to quick, a gun was perched under the cloak and before they could do anything the gun was fired and Jack fell backwards.

"What are you doing?" Gwen, Owen and Toshiko all looked up as Brett walked towards the headmaster. "Bring him back! I did what you wanted, Bring him back!" He screamed.

"I'm sorry." Richard said. "He's gone."

"No!" Brett screamed. "You're a liar!" He punched the headmaster hard in the jaw, taking him by surprise. Jack got up, hand on his gut trying to stop the bleeding.

"Brett, stop." Jack said calmly. "I'm sorry. But Kevin, he's dead. He can't come back."

"But..."

"Go help, Ianto." Jack said, and Brett rushed over to Ianto.

"I'm so sorry, Ianto. Please, don't die."

"I wont," Ianto said slowly. "Owen, help Jack."

"You. Keep the pressure on the wound. Like this." Brett nodded and did as Owen said.

Jack kicked the headmaster into unconsciousness, tying his hands with the chains that were on Brett. "We'll take him back to the hub. We need to know about the aliens."

"Ianto needs a hospital." Owen said. "He'll need a blood transfer. I'll call an ambulance."

"What about him?" Gwen said looking over at Brett with disgust.

"Go with Ianto. He'll want you to be with him." Jack said. Owen and Brett helped carry Ianto out, he was too weak to walk. Toshiko helped Jack with the headmaster and Gwen walked behind them.

"Jack..." Ianto's voice was weak, but Jack turned around quickly. "Sorry I messed up." Gwen rolled her eyes and walked into the SUV. Jack pushed the body into the boot, with Toshiko's assistance and headed over to Ianto.

"You didn't mess up, you did great." Jack said.

"Still taking me out for dinner?" Ianto smiled weakly.

"Course. Once you're patched up. Owen's taking you to the hospital, Brett will be there too okay. Concentrate on getting better, and I'll see you later." Jack placed a soft kiss on Ianto's lips and watched as Owen and Ianto directed him into the ambulance which was already on site, as procedure because the fire alarms had been rung.

"What happens now?" Gwen asked, she was sat in the front next to Jack.

"We find out what the plan was. A lot of it still don't make sense. But lets hope it will soon."

***

Ianto woke up, his body numb all he could feel was the slight itching on his stomach where a bandage covered his stab wound. "Hey, you're awake." Ianto looked up at Brett, he remembered that it was him who pushed the knife into him with no mercy. He didn't want to believe it was him. He turned away and saw Owen smiling at him.

"How are you feeling?" Owen asked. Ianto just shrugged, he didn't know how he was feeling. "You lost a lot of blood." Owen shot Brett a look, but Ianto couldn't bring himself to look at his face.

"I'm sorry." He said. "He told me that he would bring Kevin back." Ianto couldn't blame him. Not when a couple of weeks ago he had done the same thing.

"Owen, why don't you go back to the hub. I know you don't like hospitals."

"You'll be alright?" Owen asked, Ianto could tell that he was a little nervous leaving him there with Brett.

"I'll be fine." Ianto said. Owen nodded, shot Brett a warning look and walked out of the room.

"Do you want me to leave too?" Brett asked.

"No." Ianto smiled, he held out his hand for Brett to take, and he smiled as their fingers danced together. "I don't blame you, for what you did."

"You don't?" Brett asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"You know I said about my girlfriend, she didn't die in a car crash. Remember, last year with the metal 'terrorists' on the street?"

"Yeah," Brett whispered, his mind flashing back.

"She was turned into one of them, well, half turned. I couldn't save her, so I brought her here to where I work, I hid her for six months trying to save her. Didn't work, and because I was holding on so badly, she escaped and tried to kill the whole team, and me."

"You're serious?" Brett asked. "I'm sorry. What happened?"

"She died. So I don't blame you for what you did. But you need to move on. I know it's hard, but you have to."

"I loved him." Brett sniffed.

"I know. I loved her, but no matter what I'll always love her. Loving someone else, or being with someone else doesn't change that."

"It doesn't?" Ianto smiled, he wondered whether Jack and Toshiko saw him acting a lot like Brett.

"It doesn't." Ianto said with all the confidence he had.

"You're really an undercover agent?" Brett asked, a wide grin on his face.

"Yeah. Not a good one though."

"What are you talking about? I saw you. You were great. I didn't know a thing, no one did. Well except for the headmaster but that wasn't really your fault."

"Did you know anything that was happened?" Ianto asked.

"Kevin, when he got the rose. The night before we were sat with James and that, talking about 'The Phantom' we didn't believe it. So Craig dared him to go to the bell tower. He went, I went with him. But there was no one there, we saw the headmaster on the way back, he shouted telling us it's off limits. The next morning the rose was on his bed, and he was dead."

"What about his room mates?"

"They were dead too, but the rose was on his bed." Ianto didn't know what else to say. "What happens now?"

"I don't know." Ianto sighed.

"Do you think we could be friends? Despite me almost killing you..."

"Yeah, I'd like that." Ianto smiled. He wondered whether his new friend would be able to remember him this time tomorrow, knowing Torchwood, and Jack, probably not.

"Hey," Owen said, as he saw Jack, Toshiko and Gwen sat at the sofas.

"Where's Ianto?" Jack asked.

"Recovery." Owen replied. "He's fine."

"And Brett?" Toshiko asked.

"His bedside. Having a heart to heart, enough to actually make me want to vomit." Owen smirked. "How's the arm?"

"Hurts."

"You should have gone to the hospital." Owen said.

"I was hoping you could take a look at it, it's not that bad..."

"I know I'm a doctor, but seriously, I don't get paid enough for patching your wounds Cooper." Owen gestured for her to go over to the medical bay. "Toshiko, you okay?"

"Just bruised."

"Want me to have a look?" He asked.

"I'll be fine, go see Gwen." Owen shrugged, and then walked down to the medical bay.

"Right, Tosh. Ready to be the good cop?"

"Always."

Richard was just waking up when Toshiko and Jack walked down to the cells. He made a few noises and then sat up, he blinked and then his eyes focused on the two figures in front of him. "Where am I?"

"Torchwood." Jack said roughly. "Look, tell me everything you know. Don't make me force it out of you."

"Why should I?" Richard shouted.

"My team was hurt because of you, don't make me hurt you even more!" Jack snarled, he hit the cell door, smiling as Richard flinched backwards. "Do you want me to force it out of you?"

"No. I'll tell you..."

"Good choice." Toshiko said.

"Who are the aliens?" Jack demanded.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know." Richard said, his words following each other quickly. "He looked human, he had red eyes, but he looked human."

"What did he want?" Toshiko asked.

"To get students to work in the garden, to work with the plants. He wouldn't tell me anything. He offered me money, and I took it. I'm human, you would have done the same..."

"No!" Jack shouted. "I would have told them where to put it."

"But I did... when the murders... I told them to leave, they didn't they offered me more money. I phoned you Jack, I was trying to do the right thing..."

"You almost got another student killed, not too mention my team!" Jack yelled. "Is there a Phantom?"

"No."

"No?" Toshiko asked, her head starting to hurt.

"It was a rumour it started years ago, before I even worked there. But the alien, he heard about it and decided it would be a good cover. The boys who were killed, I saw one of them, Kevin and his partner, Brett, in the bell tower that night. I told them to go back, the next morning Kevin and his room mates were dead. The alien saw them, wanted to send out a message not to go near the bell tower or the garden."

"But what's the plan?" Jack asked, getting slightly frustrated.

"The students." Toshiko declared. "The roses had the toxin in, killing students who inhaled it right. Leaving their bodies perfect, in good condition for aliens to take hold of it."

"The alien who saw him, red eyes. The body he was in was already damaged." Jack smiled at Toshiko. "You're brilliant."

"But the aliens are still there," Toshiko pointed out.

"I don't think they are." Jack said. "They found out we were coming, that's why they wanted him to stop us. Make us weak and kill us so we couldn't get to them and stop them. But they must know that we have the headmaster and get all the information about them. If they're smart which I suspect they are, they're long gone."

"But who were they?"

"I guess we'll have to wait until Owen's scan is finished, and hope that can tell us. If not, we might never know."

"But if they're gone do you think they'll be back?" Toshiko asked a little worried.

"At first you can't succeed, try again." Jack grinned.

***

Owen let his head rest against his desk, his head was aching slightly. It had been a long couple of days. Secretly, he was glad that Ianto was the one who had gone on the undercover mission, because despite his dislike towards the youngest team member, he did a bloody good job. Everything that had happened, wasn't his fault, and Owen knew that he would be blaming himself for this. Gwen was staring at him with those annoying eyes, he almost regretted kissing her. Almost.

"Everything okay, Owen?" She asked. He had insisted that she went home, but she had insisted on staying, they both knew that she was staying for Jack. Owen just grunted a response and headed towards Jack and Toshiko who were walking towards them.

"How did it go, Jack?" Gwen asked, her eyes digging into his body.

"He doesn't know anything," Jack sighed, "Owen, I need you to run every scan on that toxin, then I need Toshiko to trace it through the rift, see if they're still here."

"She can do it while the scans still running, I'm guessing Torchwood has never come across them before, the scan must be digging deep into the files." Owen assumed.

"Right, Toshiko you do that. Owen see if you get the scans to hurry up."

"What do you want me to do?" Gwen asked.

"Clean up operation at the school," Jack said.

"On my own?" Gwen asked.

"Ianto's done bigger jobs on his own, Gwen." Toshiko said.

"Fine." Gwen sighed. "What about Brett?"

"What about him?" Jack asked.

"He should forget too."

"No." Jack said sternly. "Ianto deserves someone outside of Torchwood, Gwen."

"Why?" Gwen asked. "It's not as if his role here is that important, if he deserves a life outside of Torchwood maybe you should just make him out of Torchwood." She mumbled. But Jack had heard.

"Gwen, believe me when I say this, Ianto's job here is far more important then yours. Now go."

"Are you okay to take Ianto home?" A nurse asked Brett. They had been talking for about three hours, about anything and everything. Ianto wasn't in any pain and just wanted to leave the hospital.

"Sure," Brett smiled. "That's okay right?"

"Please. I want to get out of here. " Ianto laughed. Within half an hour the two were walking down the road.

"Do you want me to leave you on your own?" Brett asked.

"I'd like the company," Ianto smiled. Brett grinned. They sat on the sofa, talking aimlessly. Throughout their conversation, Ianto and Brett had been moving closer to each other.

"I meant it when I said back at the school, that I was glad I met you," Brett whispered, he leant in close pressing his lips to Ianto's. Ianto kissed back, just as softly as Brett. Even though he had kissed other men before, kissing Brett was different, it almost felt... wrong.

Kissing Lisa had been full of love, passion, lust. The men he had slept with in his teenage years were mainly all full of lust. But this kiss, as beautiful as it felt was nothing more than companionship, and comfort.

Brett broke the kiss and smiled. "Friends, right?"

"Friends." Ianto replied with a smile.

"Is the school safe now?" Brett asked, his head resting against Ianto's shoulder as they turned their attention to the television which was showing an old eighties sitcom that both men enjoyed guiltily.

"Should be," Ianto shrugged, truth is he wasn't too sure what was going to happen now. Even though he hadn't even mentioned Torchwood to Brett he might have to make him forget anyway.

The scans finished, making a large beeping sound. Toshiko, who had just ran a sample of the toxin through the rift monitor, headed down towards the autopsy bay along with Jack. "Well?" Jack started.

"No clue to what it is, whatever it is we've never seen it before." Owen sighed miserably.

"Okay. Toshiko?"

"I put it through the rift monitor and there has been no trace of it so far, but once it does we'll know where and what it is."

"Good work." Jack smiled. "I'll hand Richard over to the police, not much we can do with him now. Give him some retcon, let them deal with him."

"Do you want me to do it? You should go and see Ianto." Toshiko suggested.

"I'll do it, you two should go home." Jack smiled.

"When you see Ianto, make sure he has plenty of rest, and give him some of these." Owen threw Jack some of his industrial strength painkillers.

"I'm going to go, you should probably get some sleep. I'll leave you my number, phone me and we'll get a drink. Just as friends," Brett smiled, he had seen Ianto drift of slightly and knew the painkillers were starting to take effect.

"Kay," Ianto smiled. Brett placed a soft kiss on Ianto's cheek, scribbled down his number and walked out of the apartment. Ianto pulled his feet up on the sofa and stretched out, wincing slightly as he felt the wound stretch. He let his head full back and closed his eyes, he let his body full into a light sleep. Only to be woken up forty minutes later by a ringing at his door.

He answered the buzzer and smiled as he let Jack in, a few moments later Jack was in his living room. "Cup of coffee?" Ianto asked, his mind stll a little hazy from sleep.

"I'll make it, go sit down." Too tired to argue, Ianto headed back into the living room and sat on the sofa, a minute or two later Jack handed him a cup of coffee.

"Sorry, not as good as what you're used to." Jack smiled, sitting next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"A little tired," Ianto replied honestly.

"I called the hospital, they said Brett brought you home." Jack said, that jealous feeling rising in his stomach once more.

"Yeah, he brought me home, sat with me, and told me to rest and left about an hour ago." Ianto yawned.

"Do you want me to go? Leave you to rest..."

"No. You, I want to stay." Ianto smiled. Jack grinned and gestured for Ianto to lean against him, which he did with a smile.

"I was worried about you, I thought he killed you." Jack said quietly.

"I'm fine." Ianto smiled.

"Good, because I've booked a table at a nice romantic table down town."

"Romantic huh? I thought we were going to see how it went as friends first," Ianto teased. He couldn't fight the feeling in his stomach being around Jack. Being friends with Brett was easy, because with him all he needed was a friend, but with Jack... he needed something more.

"I have a lifetime and some, to make friends Ianto. But with you, I don't want to be just a friend. Who knows what we'll end up being, but if it can be more than a friend... I'd rather have you as that." Ianto looked up and pressed a chaste kiss to Jack's lips.

"Mm... I like the sound of that," Ianto said sleepily.

"You should get some sleep," Jack purred.

"Stay?"

"Course." Jack said strongly. "You need to get some rest. I'm thinking about having you go undercover as an alter boy..."

***