Title: Year of the Cat
By: queenfluffernutter
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: NC-17
Series: 1) Christmas with the Jones Family
Author's notes: Well, here it is. The next story in the series. I hope it doesn't disappoint. This takes place *much* later and it will be obvious fairly early on. And, oh yeah, you don't have to read the first one, but it would help a lot - there is a bit of carryover going on...Enjoy!
Summary: Sequel to "Christmas with the Jones Family" - you may want to read that first. Deeper into Jack and Ianto's relationship. And Jack is having dreams - but why? And what do they mean?

***

"That was Gwen," Ianto said, coming around the corner to check on Jack's progress. "Are you almost ready? She and Rhys are sitting at the pub waiting on us."

"Yeah, yeah," Jack waved him on. "I don't know about this, though." His eyes were sparkling, something Ianto had come to realize was Jack holding in a feeling he should just let out.

"Come on, they would have wanted us to celebrate their lives," Ianto stood behind Jack, folding his arms around the man. "You know that as well as I do."

Jack nodded, grateful for the warm arms encircling him. "I know." He sighed heavily. "But it still doesn't seem right."

Ianto met Jack's eyes in the mirror. "No, what happened wasn't right, nor was it fair. But to forget them isn't fair either." There was a moment of silence as the two looked at their reflections. "We look good." Ianto pointed out.

Jack chuckled. "I have ruined you, Ianto Jones." He turned to face him.

"You did no such thing." Ianto corrected, leaning to give Jack a gentle kiss. The watch Jack was wearing caught his eye. "You aren't wearing that are you?"

Jack looked at the offending timepiece. "I thought I would – what's wrong with it?"

Ianto wrinkled his nose. "It doesn't go – not with the cufflinks, not with anything."

"Then what do you propose?" Jack let his arms go heavy.

Ianto let go of him and went to root around in his drawer, finding a watch case in it. "Here's something – though I can't for the life of me remember why I put it in here." He opened the box. "Anyway, this would go good."

Jack raised an eyebrow at the offered watch. "Are you sure? It's not really my style."

Ianto glared at him. "Put it on. I don't want to be late."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Fine, but you owe me."

"Whatever, let's go." Ianto had the keys in his hands, jingling them.

Ianto parked and the two of them walked the short distance to the pub where the Cooper-Williams' were waiting. Ianto did one last check to make sure he had everything and reached for Jack's hand. Jack willingly took it.

"There they are," Jack pointed out as soon as they were inside. "Looks like they got started without us."

"You know Gwen," Ianto sighed. "A Welshwoman through and through."

"Yeah, look, Ianto, about that..." Jack started, but the other man knew what he was going to say.

"I know, Jack." He looked almost defeated. "It's hard enough to cope with – I promise no more than two drinks." Jack squeezed his hand. "Besides, someone will have to take your sorry ass home. All three of you. And I get picture rights."

"What makes you think I am going to drink too much?" Jack asked in a whisper as they walked closer to Gwen and her husband.

"Because Torchwood is going to buy round after round – until it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Ianto, there is not enough alcohol in the whole of Great Britain, let alone Wales to make the pain go away."

"But you can try." Ianto was serious, but plastered on a smile as they approached the table.

Gwen stood to hug the men; Rhys gave a formal nod. Jack and Ianto slid into the booth opposite the couple and there was silence again.

"What will you have?" Rhys asked, starting to stand.

"I'll get it," Ianto volunteered, putting his hand on Rhys' shoulder. "Torchwood is footing the bill anyway." He looked at what they were already drinking and indicated the glasses with his head. "More of the same?"

"Thanks, mate," Rhys said, picking up the drink and draining the last third.

Ianto nodded in his quiet way. "And you Jack? The same as them?" Jack didn't answer, he only stared at the table. Ianto didn't wait for him to snap out of it before he was on his way to the bar. Four pints later, he was on his way back to the table.

He sat down to Jack telling his favorite Owen story – the one where he had taken the medic on what amounted to nothing more than a glorified snipe hunt. It was during his first week and he was trying to test the man's combat reflexes.

"So I say to him – thanks, Yan – I say to him: Owen, I think I heard something around that corner." Jack smiled at the appearance of Ianto. "And what do you think he did?" Gwen and Ianto already knew the ending to the story, but kept quiet for Rhys' benefit. "That fool – he looks at me and says: Today is a good day to die...and he marches around the corner, all strut and no brains..." He took a long drink from the lager in from of him.

"That's an apt description of Owen," Gwen agreed, taking a drink of her own, not forgetting to raise the glass in a short toast to the departed.

"To Owen," Ianto muttered, unsure of what else could be said.

"To Owen," the group agreed.

Rhys knit his eyebrows together. "What about Tosh, she was quiet, wasn't she?"

The three remaining Torchwood members burst into laughter. "It's the quiet ones you have to watch," Jack answered. "She had a mean streak in her."

"She did?" Rhys was confused. He couldn't see the beautiful demure woman he had met on a few occasions as anything different than quietly understated.

Gwen nodded, smiling widely. "Oh yes, Rhys. There wasn't a week that went by that she wasn't pulling some trick on one of us."

"That right?"

"All true," Ianto took his first drink, noticing Jack watching him out of the corner of his eye. "One time, she called me over to look at something and, while I was reading, she stapled my tie to one of the files on her desk. My navy one with the dots..."

"And there was that one time she glued that scalpel to the autopsy tray. Owen spent a good hour reaching for it on mistake," Gwen put in.

"She time sealed my office once," Jack reminisced. "I think she did half of the things just because she could..."

"She would never do them out of hate," Ianto whispered. "She loved us too much."

"To Tosh," Rhys toasted, trying to lighten the mood a little, but everyone knew it was going to be a long night.

"To Tosh!" The cheer went up and Ianto noticed they would be needing another round.

Jack looked around uncertainly. He had no idea where he was and there was nothing familiar about any of the beings that were around him. Nothing from the manuals he had briefly skimmed as a Time Agent – at least nothing there had been pictures of. He was most assuredly in a bazaar of some kind; much like you would find in those old Indiana Jones holograms they would watch for giggles back in the early days of the agency. Blue tarps covered the sides of the endless lines of stalls to keep the dust out, and as a wind picked up from somewhere unknown, Jack was suddenly reminded of home. He paused, thinking that he caught a familiar smell wafting in his direction.

Jack brushed away the memory and looked around again, desperate for some clue as to where he had woken up. Still nothing came to him, so he sighed, held his head high and walked like he knew where he was. After peering at a few of the wares offered for sale, out of the corner of his eye he saw a female figure running toward him, her face covered. There were three men in pursuit of her, closing in fast.

Feeling his sense of chivalry getting the best of him, he casually leaned a little too hard on one of the food vendor's stalls and caused it to bow and collapse as the female ran by, cutting the men off from their chase. Without even giving it another thought, he followed her as best he could. He had to know who this woman was and what she had done to be chased.

Out of nowhere, he was pulled toward her, and the smell he found so familiar. She yanked him with her as she snaked through the market place; all the while Jack tried to get a good look at her face, but she was moving too quickly. That is, until she freed the veil from her face and smiled a feline smile. Jack faltered for a moment, but caught himself quickly. There was something in her eyes that was welcoming, something he could appreciate.

"Come on, this way," she purred, pulling him into a doorway he hadn't noticed until now.

"We? You're the one running," Jack tried to remind her, but she pressed a furred digit to his lips.

"I feel my life just like a river running through..." she murmured to him, adding to the mystery of who she was and what was going on. "Come on."

She led him down what looked to be an abandoned corridor to a sparsely decorated room. Jack blinked. It was such a contrast to the teal silk with delicate silver threads running through it that clung to her in all the right ways. There were boxes that had been ripped open strewn around carelessly, forgotten.

"You live here?" Jack was in the process of being pushed into a chair as he asked.

"Frequently," she answered, removing the scarf she had had wrapped about her head.

Jack could now see that she was indeed feline in form, thought she walked on her hind legs – hind legs that were shapely and more humanoid than not. And, he noted, she had no tail. Jack quickly took stock of the situation. He could either say his goodbyes and leave this woman, or – and this seemed the most sensible,he could stay on and find out what was going on in more detail. He took the route he was more familiar with and settled in.

"Well, are you going to say something or try and figure me out?" It was terribly cliched, but, to Jack, it sounded as if she were purring her words.

Jack awoke with a start, checking to see if he were still in the concrete-walled room, only to find that he wasn't. He was in the room that he now shared with Ianto, and had for a few months now. But Ianto wasn't there.

"Ianto?" Jack called out, throwing the covers back. "Ianto? You still here?"

"In the kitchen." Ianto called back and Jack could almost hear him rolling his eyes. "I thought you would want your morning coffee."

"Yeah," Jack said, wiping a hand over his face, trying to focus on what was real while trying to hold onto the dream he had. "It's just that I had the weirdest dream." He slid into a chair and waited for the mug to be set in front of him.

"Was it the one about the lovely couple who hauled out that zero-gee version of the Kama Sutra and persuaded you to join them?" Ianto placed a steaming cup of coffee on the table followed by a plate of toast.

Jack dove into the toast. "Don't forget 'pop-up'."

"What?" Ianto reached for his own slice.

"It was a zero-gee pop-up edition of the Kama Sutra. And, no. It was about – I don't really know – but it felt so real." Jack took a slug from his drink.

"Maybe you drank too much last night," Ianto suggested, sitting across from him.

"No," Jack insisted, "It was more than that. It was a little too real."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't think I remember enough of it."

"Then, let's get ready and get to the Hub." Ianto stood and wiped his hands on his pajama bottoms. "You can tell me if you think of it."

"Okay," Jack laid his head on the table. "But, can you stop the room from spinning first – it would be a whole lot easier to get back to the bedroom that way."

Ianto put his hand on Jack's back. "A bit hung-over this morning, sir?"

Jack looked up and him with puppy-dog eyes. "How much did I drink?"

"You'll know when you sign the expense account report." Ianto laughed a little to himself. "Now, come on and let me help you. We have to go and feed and water the kids."

Jack stood. "You're too good for me, you know that, right?"

"Yes," Ianto let Jack hold onto his shoulders as they made their way down the hall at an odd shuffling rate. "I have come to terms with it – you should too."

"I love you, Ianto." Jack said as he sat on the bed. "I mean it. Why do you put up with me?"

"Because, Jack." Ianto answered, taking the clothes they were going to wear out of the wardrobe, "I love you." They exchanged goofy morning smiles. "And besides, no one else would have you..."

***

The cog door rolled back to reveal Jack and Ianto, as ready for work as either of them was going to be. Gwen was already at her desk, and looked up to see Ianto leading their boss in.

"Too much last night, Jack?" she laughed, pushing her hair out of her face.

Jack growled in the back of his throat as he passed her. "How is it that you are even on your feet? I thought you were matching me drink for drink."

Gwen smiled widely, shrugging. "'M Welsh."

"Great. Surrounded by them now." Jack grumbled. "Shoot me, Ianto?"

"No can do, Jack." Ianto turned to go into the archives – they were a mess again. He half suspected that Jack was going down there when he got bored and poking around, but he kept forgetting to ask him.

Jack's voice came out as a whine. "Please, Gwen?"

She shook her head.

"I'll buy you anything you want."

She raised an eyebrow in thought. Ianto cleared his throat with what sounded like 'decaf'. "I can't." She shook her head.

Jack threw back his head and trudged the rest of the way to his office. "No-body loves me!" He moaned, dragging up the stairs. What he really wanted to do was take a nap. He wondered to himself if he could just sneak down into his old room without Ianto noticing.

The cat-woman led him down what looked to be an abandoned corridor to a sparsely decorated room. Jack blinked. It was such a contrast to the teal silk with delicate silver threads running through it that clung to her in all the right ways. There were boxes that had been ripped open strewn around carelessly, forgotten.

"You live here?" Jack was in the process of being pushed into a chair as he asked.

"Frequently," she answered, removing the scarf she had had wrapped about her head.

Jack could now see that she was indeed feline in form, thought she walked on her hind legs – hind legs that were shapely and more humanoid than not. And, he noted, she had no tail. Jack quickly took stock of the situation. He could either say his goodbyes and leave this woman, or – and this seemed the most sensible,he could stay on and find out what was going on in more detail. He took the route he was more familiar with and settled in.

"Well, are you going to say something or try and figure me out?" It was terribly cliched, but, to Jack, it sounded as if she were purring her words.

"What were you running from?" He picked up an apple from a basket near him and bit.

She sat in front of him, her legs crossed. "You mean what were we running from..." She plucked the fruit from him and took a bite. Jack watched the juice run from her fangs with interest.

"Okay." He leaned as close to her as he could, "What were we running from?" Jack reached for the apple, but she put it in her mouth for another bite. He smiled the grin that he had had for all his 24 years before leaning forward and catching the other side in his mouth. He could feel her grin, even around the apple.

Taking another bite and leaning back, wiping the juice on her sleeve, the side of her mouth curved a little. "Not what, but, rather who."

Jack's eyebrow quirked as he contemplated the apple. "Okay, who?"

She was quick, he would give her that. In the space of a few seconds, she had closed the space between them. Jack could feel her whiskers brush on his cheek, a feeling he didn't at all mind. In fact, he was thinking he rather liked it. "The men who are trying to steal my soul."

"I'm not sure I understand." Jack was still so close; he had no intention of moving – and he hoped she didn't either.

Another of her whiskers brushed his face as she turned her head ever-so-slightly. "I'm not sure I want you to."

"Then why take me with you?"

She pushed the apple from his hand as he was going for another bite and put her head in his lap, looking up at him with beautiful green eyes. "Because you are pretty. I always wanted a pet..."

Jack felt his breath hitch as she nuzzled his thigh. Maybe this is what he needed after everything that had happened in the past year – watching Marcus die had taken a part of him with it. Jack made up his mind right then and there that he was not going to be on that transport leaving out of town in the morning. "A pet?"

She looked up at him again, her intentions clear. "A pet."

"I don't do collars," Jack quipped, placing a hand low on her shoulder and rubbing lazy circles.

She laughed and his heart melted. There was nowhere else he would rather be in the whole of the universe. "What's your name?"

Jack opened his mouth to tell her...

"You better not be sleeping up there!" Ianto's voice brought him abruptly from the dream. Soon, the man was throwing a large stack of folders on Jack's desk. "You need to check these."

Jack lifted his head blearily, wiping at the thin line of spittle from his lip. "Aww, come on, Yan..."

"No whining, sir," Ianto clapped his hands, making Jack hold his head. "Time to get to work."

"You hate me," Jack groaned, staring at what he considered to be a mountain of paperwork. "Why do you hate me, Ianto Jones?"

"I don't hate you, Jack." Ianto sighed, shaking his head. "I'll go get you a cup of coffee."

"But, Ianto?" Jack let his head loll backwards.

"Yes, Jack?" Ianto sighed heavily, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Make it a quiet cup." Jack leaned to put his head on his folded arms. "That one at home was so noisy..."

"Jack, that was the sound of me making the coffee." Ianto spoke slowly and clearly. "Unless you want instant, then I have to make noise."

"Can't you make noise quietly?" Jack tried to block out the sounds of the marching band that he was sure was only in his head.

Ianto looked disbelieving that Jack would even suggest something like that. "I can quietly make decaf. The beans are already ground..."

"I ask you again: why do you hate me, Ianto Jones?" Jack made the most pitiful face he could.

Ianto sighed his most put-upon sigh as, without another word, he turned to get the coffee that Jack needed. He was afraid that if he didn't take care of Jack, he would end up shooting him; not to put him out of his misery, but to save the rest of them from it.

"What's going on up there?" Gwen called over to Ianto as she saw him pass by.

"Nothing." Ianto called back, "Oh, he wants us to make as much noise as possible; says it helps with his headache for some reason."

"That's odd."

"That's Jack." He smiled before continuing. "You want some coffee?"

"You're a doll!" Gwen declared. "I don't think I'm ever going to get the hang of this system. Every time I think I understand, it updates itself." She frowned at the screen before her.

"And you, Martha?" Ianto called over the railing into the operating theater as he passed.

The medic looked up with a grin. "If I wasn't already promised to someone, I would ask you to marry me!"

"You just don't want to have to change your monograms," Ianto laughed back. "Like usual?"

"Cut back on the shots. I don't want to be jittery cutting this thing up." Martha wrinkled her nose at the alien currently occupying the stainless table in front of her.

"No problem!" Ianto laughed as he went off to complete the orders. He briefly contemplated making Jack's drink a decaf out of sheer meanness, but decided against it when he realized that it would mean more whining. Instead, he made a mental note to cut Jack off earlier when they went out drinking so as to avoid a repeat of the day so far.

Ianto was almost finished with the drinks when there was a loud sound of metal hitting the floor and rolling around a bit, followed by what was unmistakably the sound of Martha Jones screaming – very high pitched. He closed his own eyes to the sound, holding a wince at the the inevitable sound of Jack's office door being thrown open.

"What the hell was that?" Jack spoke as loud as he dared – which, given the headache he claimed to have – was pretty loud.

"Sorry," Martha responded from where she had been working. "Something...exploded – for lack of a better word. Scared me a little."

Jack groaned and sat heavily on the steps, head in hands. "Gwen Cooper, if ever you have loved me – shoot me."

"I can't," Gwen never even looked up from what she was doing.

Jack whined and stomped his feet like a petulant child. "Guh-when! If you wanted me to shoot you, I would..."

"No you wouldn't." Her fingers flew over the keyboard.

Jack winced with every keystroke. "But I would."

She stopped typing and turned her chair to face Jack. "Jack. Why would I ever ask you to shoot me?"

"Technicality." The throbbing did not stop, no matter if his eyes were opened or closed, he noticed, so he left them open.

"Stop pestering Gwen, Jack," Ianto admonished, handing her a steaming mug. "I told you – no one is going to shoot you. Quit asking."

"Martha?" Jack ignored him.

She appeared at the top of the stairs, pulling of the now-soiled apron. "Yes, Jack, my darling?"

"Do you love me?" He turned his reddened eyes to her.

"Not enough to shoot you." She smiled as she accepted her own beverage from Ianto's tray.

"That is not love," Jack muttered, reaching for his own mug. Ianto held it just out of reach.

"Not so fast, sir."

"I'll have you know that I have no qualms about shooting you," Jack replied, hardening his face. "Hand over the coffee."

"Not until you give me your gun." Ianto held the tray out for Jack to place it on.

Closing his eyes, Jack took a deep breath and reached in his holster. "Why do you hate me, Ianto Jones?"

"If, by 'hate', you mean 'worship the ground you walk on', then, yes, Jack, Ianto hates you," Gwen informed him. "Just give him the gun."

"Still would shoot any of you if you asked me," he mumbled, placing the Webley on the tray.

There was a snort of a laugh from Gwen's direction. Ianto looked quickly at her and she pursed her lips in apology. "So, Jack, that's a nice watch, I meant to tell you last night," she recovered.

Jack looked down at his wrist. He had forgotten he was still wearing the watch Ianto had pressed him to wear. "Thanks. It's Ianto's. Does look good though." He shrugged, then remembered why he had banned that action from himself earlier in the day. "Do I get coffee now, Ianto?"

"Yes, Jack, you get coffee now." Ianto handed him the mug and turned to set the tray down and hide the gun from Jack.

"Oh, Yan?" Jack called, inhaling the aroma of the brew. Ianto paused and looked over his shoulder. "I was wrong, you don't hate me at all – you love me."

"Yes, Jack, I love you."

"Can I have my gun back?"

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up and drink your coffee – your next might be decaf."

***

They had gotten through another day at Torchwood without incident other than Jack's hangover, and Ianto was glad to be back at home. He hung his own coat before taking Jack's from him. He could smell the cold as it still clung to the wool – oddly comforting, still after all this time.

"The marching band has finally relented," Jack announced, flopping on the couch.

"Glad to hear it." Ianto sat beside him, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands before looking over at Jack. "Does that mean that you are done whining?"

"Ianto Jones! I don't whine..."

"Uh, okay." Ianto dodged the pillow that Jack threw. "Hey!"

"What?" Jack's wonderful grin reflected back.

Ianto ignored him the best that he could. "I am beat."

"You hungry?" Jack turned his head lazily to face the other man. "I could fix us something."

Ianto rolled his own head on the back of the couch. "How about you make us takeaway?"

"How about I make us toast?"

"How is that easier than takeaway?"

"I don't know." Jack laughed, though nothing was funny. "My brain says toast."

"And mine says I am calling that little place we usually order from." Ianto opened his cell. "The usual?"

Jack found himself nodding. He watched as Ianto ordered, not hearing the words, only seeing his lips form the words that were being said. He had not, until this point,noticed the perfect curve of Ianto's lips around his teeth as he spoke. Ianto had hung up the phone and was looking at him for some time before Jack stopped staring.

"What?" Ianto asked, feeling self-conscience. "Do I have something on my face?" He made a quick wipe with his hand.

Jack shook his head slowly. "No. Nothing like that. Just watching you. Wondering why you put up with so much from me."

Ianto sighed. He was wondering when they were going to have another of these talks. "Jack, we have been over this time and time again. You know why I do it."

"Is it because you feel like you have to, Yan?" Jack's voice was warm – Ianto could feel it wrapping around him. "You didn't settle for me, did you?"

"Settle? Settle for Jack Harkness? Right." Ianto snorted. "Jack, if anyone is settling, it's you."

Jack was suddenly awake. "Why do you do that?"

Ianto turned from him and closed his eyes, leaning into the back of the couch. "Do what?"

"Put yourself down like that." Jack took Ianto's hand in his. "Don't. Don't ever think for one moment that I am settling for you."

Ianto let out another snort. Jack looked at him, wishing he could think of the magic words that would make Ianto believe in himself, but knowing there were none, he said the first thing he could think of.

"So, what did you dream about when you were younger?"

"Excuse me?" Ianto turned to Jack, not sure he had heard him correctly.

"What did you dream about when you were younger? You know – did you want to be an astronaut, an archaeologist, an accountant? Tell me. I want to know."

Ianto relaxed, closing his eyes and letting himself think back. "I wanted to be just like my tad." His face spread into a smile of memory. "I can remember when he would come home and Del and I would be waiting for him, our faces pressed to the window, waiting to see the familiar car rolling down the road. Then he would be at the door and we would rush to him, trying to climb him before he even took off his coat."

"Sounds nice," Jack wished he could have been there to see the young Jones family.

Ianto opened his eyes and rolled his head to face Jack. "But that wasn't the whole truth now, was it?"

"Come on, Yan. You know why he did it."

"It was still a lie, Jack. He was living a lie."

"And so are you."

Ianto chuckled to himself, but it didn't sound like he was amused. "What do you know, I turned out like him after all..."

"That's not a bad thing," Jack assured him.

"Isn't it?" Ianto's eyes went hard. "Jack, my tad lied to me for most of my life. Am I supposed to do that to..." He stopped short of what he was going to say. "Oh yeah, no kids."

Another pause. "Is that something you want, Ianto?"

"Kids?" His voice was quiet – one of reflection.

"Yeah."

"Yes. No. Once. Look, this isn't important now." Ianto closed his eyes. "I'm tired."

"What about the food?" Jack rubbed his hand over Ianto's.

"Look, let's not talk about this, okay?" He resisted the urge to pull his hand back. "When the food gets here, we'll eat and go to bed."

"What's wrong?" There was something off in Ianto's tone.

"Nothing, Jack. I had a very trying day of staying out of your way. All I want is to eat and then sleep. Maybe take a shower."

"You were fine until I started asking you questions."

"Just don't." Ianto said, knowing Jack wasn't going to drop it.

"Ianto. Talk to me. What is going on in that head of yours?" Jack scooted closer and put his head on Ianto's shoulder.

"I...it's..." Ianto didn't know what to say. How could he tell Jack that today would have been his and Lisa's anniversary? "I don't know."

"You don't know what is going on in your own head?" Jack looked up at Ianto. "I doubt that a man who keeps extensive records over minute details in the daily operation of Torchwood wouldn't know what he was thinking."

"Nothing is minute at Torchwood, Jack. Something that seems rather tiny and insignificant to you, might be something much much bigger."

Jack was about to ask what that meant when there was a knock on the door. Ianto went to answer and, after paying the delivery boy and giving him a fair tip, he walked the box into the kitchen. Jack followed the food and sat, waiting for Ianto to get his first.

"I'm going to the bedroom." Ianto informed him, no hint of innuendo in his voice.

Jack made to pick his up, but Ianto cut him off with words.

"I need to be alone."

Jack knew he shouldn't take it personally, but he did. "Okay. If you need me, I'll be on the couch."

Ianto walked out of the room without another word. Jack scooped up his dinner and went to mindlessly surf channels. After a few go-arounds of the channels, he settled on "Pillow Talk". He was always a sucker for a good Rock Hudson-Doris Day movie.

Halfway through the movie, he had finished his food and sat back, thinking about how he would really love a good post-dinner coffee. Propping his feet on the table in front of him, Jack broke open his fortune cookie.

"How can you have a beautiful ending without making beautiful mistakes?" He read aloud, then sighed. He had to make whatever had happened between him and Ianto better. But, as he was getting up, he heard the familiar sound of Ianto's slippers on the floor. They walked past him and into the kitchen without saying a word.

Jack sat silently, listening to the sounds of Ianto tidying up. He could hear him putting his leftovers in the fridge, dropping his favorite chop-sticks into the sink and then filling a glass of water. Jack heard him drink the entire glass and the next sound was no doubt Ianto putting the glass in the drainer.

Ianto's slippers then shuffled on the floor, getting closer. Jack feigned sleep. He could feel Ianto leaning over him before he felt the lips brush his forehead.

"You can quit faking now," Ianto's weight was added to the couch. "I have your coffee."

Jack's eyes popped open to find Ianto holding his favorite mug out to him. "How did you know?"

"Jack, you are a creature of habit." Ianto smiled. "Once you have eaten, you want your coffee."

Holding the drink under his nose, he inhaled the familiar scent that he now associated with love. "I thought you were mad at me."

"I was; still am." Ianto plomped down beside Jack, his own mug in hand. "But I can't let that get in the way. Mam said never to go to bed angry." He winked at a shocked Jack. "What were you watching?"

"Pillow Talk," Jack smiled as he took that first sip. "But it's almost over."

"Does that mean I missed 'Roly Poly'?" Ianto looked a bit let down.

"I'm afraid so," Jack tried to look sad for Ianto. "Didn't realize it was your favorite part or I would have called you in."

"That's okay." Ianto admitted. "I needed the time to think."

There was a silence that passed between them. Jack did his best not to talk about what they had been talking about before dinner. Ianto was the first to speak.

"Do you want to help me, Jack? Really want to help? Just drop it. Let it go. Leave me to figure myself out. I can't take care of your issues and mine at the same time - something's got to give here." He hoped it didn't sound as harsh as the words themselves did.

"I'm not asking for you to give anything here, Ianto. I'm asking you to let me help you as much as you help me." He turned to face Ianto.

"But thats my point. You can't help me with this! I can't explain this to you; I can't explain it to myself. And I'm tired - so tired - of trying to spare your feelings and make your life easier. This is not helping me." His hand went to the back of his neck.

"Not helping you?" Jack's eyes went wide. "Look, all I want you to do is open up to me. You ask me what it was like for me growing up, but when I ask you, you shut off. How do you expect me know you?"

Ianto resisted the urge to shake Jack. "What was it like growing up? My entire childhood was a lie, Jack - and for what? To protect me from that life? How has that turned out exactly? I'm right in the middle of it all; the least they could have done was prepare me. But no - they were too busy keeping their precious secrets. Thats what we Jones do after all..."

"That's not fair. You know they love you - or they wouldn't have tried to keep you safe. After all, what would you do if you had kids? 'Taddy works for Torchwood, catching aliens – but it's all very secret, don't tell'?"

"It doesn't matter what I would do, Jack. After all - that will never happen, will it?" Ianto looked at his hands now – anything to not look at Jack.

Jack's voice was quiet, but forceful. "Do you want it to happen, Yan?"

"Why? What good does asking that do? It's not like either of us is likely to make that happen, is it?" Jack's only response was to clear his throat. "And while you're on the subject of impossible things I can never have, why not ask me if I want Lisa back?"

Jack swiveled his head to glare at the man beside him. "What is wrong with you, Ianto? You have been pissy all day. And it can't just be my hangover..."

Ianto looked away again. "No, of course not, nothing could possibly be your fault."

"That's not what I said."

"And how would you know how I've been all day?" He looked back at Jack, half-spitting his words out. "I spent half of it trying to make you more comfortable and the other half trying to keep people out of your way. And now you presume to know whats wrong with my mood?"

"Ianto. Calm down. What is going on here?"

Ianto clenched his teeth, trying not to yell. "Don't. Tell. Me. To. Calm. Down." Jack visibly backed down. "I tried to be calm for you Jack, you're the one who just won't let me alone."

"What the hell? Ianto, all I did was ask you about things any normal couple would discuss and you're lashing out at me!"

"Oh! So now you want to pretend we're a normal couple? What do you know of normal? Because I don't have that much experience in that area, apparently."

Jack resisted the urge to shake the Welshman. "Stop it, Ianto. You're starting to scare me a bit..."

"If you're getting that scared then maybe you just need to leave."

"I'm not going anywhere - get used to it." Jack's tone was one of a petulant child.

"Well I don't know what to do with you then. What answer can I give you that will make you happy? What do you want from me?"

"The truth would be a good start. Jesus, Ianto, I 'm trying..." Jack's voice showed he was more than a little flustered.

"The truth? The TRUTH? You can't handle the truth!" Ianto jump up and jabbed a finger at Jack.

Jack mumbled, forgetting himself. "Thanks, Tom Cruise."

"Nice. Glad to see you're taking this so seriously." Ianto started for the bedroom.

Jack leaned over the back of the couch to watch his retreat. "Yan, come back! What about not going to bed mad?"

Ianto paused and turned. "Maybe I'll just add that to the list of things Mam lied to me about."

"Ianto!" Jack barked, his voice echoing off the walls.

"What now?" Ianto sighed.

Jack's voice was small again. "I love you?"

"I love you too Jack, but right now I don't like you very much." This was followed by the sound of a door shutting and a lock falling into the tumbler. Jack sighed and leaned back against the arm of the couch, hoping that feeling so exhausted would help him sleep.

Within minutes, sleep took him.

The woman pushed the apple from his hand as he was going for another bite and put her head in his lap, looking up at him with beautiful green eyes. "Because you are pretty. I always wanted a pet..."

Jack felt his breath hitch as she nuzzled his thigh. Maybe this is what he needed after everything that had happened in the past year – watching Marcus die had taken a part of him with it. Jack made up his mind right then and there that he was not going to be on that transport leaving out of town in the morning. "A pet?"

She looked up at him again, her intentions clear. "A pet."

"I don't do collars," Jack quipped, placing a hand low on her shoulder and rubbing lazy circles.

She laughed and his heart melted. There was nowhere else he would rather be in the whole of the universe. "What's your name?"

Jack opened his mouth to tell her, but was silenced by a furry finger. He bit at the finger playfully.

"Don't tell me." She commanded. "That would ruin it."

Jack's eyebrow arched. "You won't know what to gasp out later," he laughed.

"Oh yes," she countered. "I will call you Kaget."

"Will you, now?" Jack actually shivered as she drew her finger across his cheek, this time the claw was extended. "And what do I call you?"

She looked like she was thinking for a moment, then replied, "Hessa. You'll call me 'Hessa'."

"Hessa," Jack found himself repeating softly. "I like that."

"Well, Kaget, how long have we got?" Her eyes locked on his, daring him to answer. "How long before you dash off into the night?"

"Depends," Jack never faltered.

"On?" Hessa was intrigued.

Jack reached out to stroke her face. He ran a finger down her nose, noting the soft fur that was there and the way she tilted her head into his caress. "What do you do for fun?"

She smiled, baring her teeth once again. "Whatever I like."

"That's wonderful." Jack whispered his approval. "Does that include me?"

"Of course." She was running her hand up and down his leg.

"Then I might stay for a while." He considered something for a moment. "How good are you at getting people to believe you?"

Hessa was curious now. "Why, Kaget? You have a plan?" She sat up to look at him better.

"I might," Jack was wearing his wolfish grin, the one people couldn't say no to – even if they tried.

"I like that look you have in your eye. And here I thought you were merely another dumb human..."

"Hey!" Jack tried to be mad at her, but found it hard to do so as her hand was slowly drifting north.

"You're different..." She got on her knees and pressed her lips to his. "I like you."

"Only like?" Jack smiled as she sat back on her heels. "Well, do you like me enough to help me?"

"With what?" Her ears visibly perked. "What's going on in that pretty skull of yours?"

"Plenty." Jack leaned to whisper in her ear, tickling the little hairs along the edge. "But first..."

Jack sat upright as quickly as he could, the sweat pouring down his face. Looking at his watch, he saw that it was too early to wake up Ianto. Instead, he walked down the hall and knocked on the bedroom door.

"Ianto, I'm going into the Hub, forgot to feed Myfanwy..." he called out, not waiting for a response. He grabbed his coat and was out the door before he saw Ianto poke his head out, eyes red-rimmed from crying.

***

"Ianto! Wait up!" Gwen's voice called across the Plass.

Ianto turned, rolling his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't like Gwen, but he had been hoping to catch Jack before she got in, he needed to talk to him. He hadn't meant to fight last night, but it was so hard to get Jack to understand sometimes. Ianto had made up his mind to make it up to Jack this morning with fresh donuts and his favorite coffee blend. Now it looked like he was going to have to share with Gwen.

"Jack in already?" She asked as she approached Ianto.

Ianto nodded. "Came in late last night or early this morning, depending on how you look at it. You know Jack – always the workaholic."

Gwen laughed a bit. "Yeah, that's our Jack."

Ianto was about to say something else when they heard someone yelling. "Gwen! Gwen Cooper! Don't act like you don't hear me!"

Ianto turned his head to see Andy running toward them, holding his hat on. "Looks like your fan club has caught up with you," he grinned at her.

"What's he doing now?" Gwen sighed. Turning on her best 'what-do-you-need' smile, she turned to find Andy had almost caught up with them. "Oh, hi, Andy, what's new?"

"Gwen," Andy panted out. "I have something I want to talk to you about. Can you get away for a bit?"

Gwen looked to Ianto to bail her out, but only got a nod. "Go on, Jack and I can call you if we need you."

Gwen gave him her best 'I'll-get-you-back-for-this' look and turned. "Sure Andy, I could murder a good coffee...haven't had one in a while."

Ianto frowned as he let himself into the tourist office, not bothering to switch the sign from 'closed' to 'open'. At least this way he could find out why Jack had left so early in the morning.

Jack was waiting for Ianto behind the desk of the tourist office. Ianto jumped when he turned and saw him there. Not waiting for Ianto to come to him, Jack came around the desk and swept the Welshman into a hug. Ianto clung to him like the world was ending, but holding any tears that threatened to reappear.

"I swear, if you touched anything on my desk..." Ianto laughed into Jack's shoulder.

"I only watched the porn on your computer." Jack assured him.

"What?" Ianto pulled back to look Jack in the eyes. "There's no porn on my computer."

Jack shrugged. "There is now."

"What is it, Andy?" Gwen asked, annoyed, as she stirred her coffee around. "I was on my way into work. I really should be there now."

Andy slid into the booth opposite her, "Well, Gwen, I figured you might want to get the scoop on this one. No one has even called Captain Harkness to let him know yet. I convinced them that talking to you first would be a better idea."

"Me?" She turned on the charm. "Why would you do that?"

"Because you have a heart." He smiled his shy-boy smile at her and looked quickly into his paper take-out cup. "Harkness doesn't."

Gwen smiled at him now. "Okay, Andy, what is it?"

"Well," he unfolded a piece of paper he had taken from his pocket. "Do you and your lot know anything about this woman?" He slid the paper across the table to his former partner.

Gwen hardly looked at the picture before shaking her head. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Louann Heshel. She and her husband Norris moved here from the states just before their son, Henry, was born." The PC watched her eyes for any clue that she may have information that she wasn't telling him.

"That's interesting." Gwen handed the paper back to Andy with a shrug. "But I can't see what that would have to do with Torchwood."

"That's just it," Andy twisted his face in thought. "There's something not quite right about all of this."

"What do you mean?"

"Gwen, there's something not right about all of this. Henry's father disappeared only a month ago and they found him dead - still haven't found who did it, but they know it wasn't self-inflicted." He rubbed his cheek.

"So? It happens." She looked down at the picture again, the woman was holding a small blonde boy and the two of them were looking at whoever took the pictures, giant smiles on their faces. "Maybe she was depressed about her husband passing."

"Bollocks, Gwen." He resisted the urge to slam his fist on the table. "Something is wrong here. Look at them. Why would she want to leave her son?"

"Maybe she was tired of it." Gwen drank.

"Tired of him?" Andy looked hurt that she would even suggest it. "Gwen, do you and Rhys ever plan on having a family?"

Gwen shook her head. "Rhys says it's not a good idea until things settle down with me at work and that never seems like it will happen..."

Andy's face fell. "There went that idea." Gwen frowned at him. "Nevermind. Run to Torchwood, I know that's where you would rather be anyway. Don't worry about the little people, we'll be fine without you."

"Andy, it's not like that." She went to touch his shoulder, but he pulled away.

"Right." He stood and didn't look back as he walked out.

"Gwen!" The voice of Jack Harkness was in her ear. "Gwen. We need you – there has been a ripple. Get here – now."

"Right, Jack," Gwen answered, picking herself up out of the booth and heading for the Hub, picking up the picture as she left.

"What's going on?" Gwen strode into the conference room, yanking off her coat.

"How was your coffee?" Ianto asked, a little coldly.

"Fine." Gwen answered flatly. "Now what's going on?"

"Well," Jack didn't miss the look that passed between the two of them. "There is a woman who is missing."

"Louann Heshel." Gwen muttered to the table.

"What?" Jack inclined his head at the woman to his left. "Did you say something?"

Gwen brushed the hair from her eyes. "Louann Heshel – that's the woman you're talking about."

"You know about her?" Jack turned his upper body towards her.

"Yeah," Gwen drank in the attention. "She and her husband Norris moved here from the states just before their son, Henry, was born." She reached into the pocket of the coat that sat beside her on the table. "Here's a recent picture."

"Good job, Mrs. Williams," Ianto said across the table, not trying to hide the bit of bitterness from leaking into his voice.

Jack frowned as he looked from Ianto to Gwen. "What else do we know?"

"Henry's father disappeared only a month ago and they found him dead - still haven't found who did it, but they know it wasn't self-inflicted." Gwen regurgitated the report Andy had given her.

"And now she's gone." Jack clarified. "What about the boy? Gwen?"

Gwen opened her mouth to talk, but the words were stolen by Ianto. "He was found by one Andy Davidson, wandering a park near his house. He questioned the neighbors, and found that the mother was a confirmed drug user, but, despite that, she loved her son. The neighbors had never seen him out without supervision until he was found yesterday."

Jack faced Ianto now. "No motive for leaving?"

Ianto shook his head. "None. Not for Louann. Mister Heshel is a different story..." Ianto drank deeply from the mug beside him.

"Go on?" Jack was biting the end of the pen he was holding.

"Well, maybe this will remind you." Ianto pushed a bright blue folder across the desk to Jack. The tab read 'Norris Heshel' in Ianto's familiar script. "He's still here."

"Heshel...Heshel...was he the one we found in that field?" Jack struggled to remember, tearing up the plastic as he thought out loud.

"Yes, Jack," Ianto reached forward and took the pen from him mid-bite and replaced it with a pastry. Jack smiled at him. "That would be the one. The one with the strange burn marks that you said reminded you of victims of the aliens that raided your home planet."

"Oh, him." Jack went silent, lost in his own head for a moment. "Right. Can we assume then that the Heshel family now falls under the jurisdiction of Torchwood?" Jack waited for a nod from the both of them. "Where is the kid?"

"Not sure – I would assume that Protective Services has him – do you need me to check?" Ianto scribbled notes on a legal pad near him.

Jack looked at Gwen, putting on his 'pleading eyes'. She steeled herself for what was to come next. "You and Rhys want a family one day, right?"

Gwen, trying her best not to say anything, nodded mutely.

"Well, here's your chance to try it out – see if it fits." Jack raised his eyebrows in question at her. "So, what do you say?"

Gwen bit the inside of her cheek to make it seem as though she really were considering it. "I don't know Jack. It's a bit much to spring on Rhys, don't you think?" She raised her own eyebrows at Jack.

"But I'll call him. Jack, if he says 'no', then the answer is 'no' – do you understand that?"

Jack nodded and looked over to Ianto, who had a positively terrified look on his face. Jack had clearly not thought this through. He hadn't thought about who would be taking the child if Gwen couldn't or didn't want to. Ianto would be willing to lay money on that very fact.

"I'll just be a minute," Gwen promised, walking out of the conference room, just out of earshot of the other two.

"Jack, you do realize who has to take the kid if she can't - right?" Ianto eyes all but bugged out at the prospect.

Jack looked at him blankly. "I never thought she would say no...she's a girl!"

"That's the worst reasoning I have heard in at least a week." Ianto extended his arms and let his head fall to the table.

"But, Rhys," Gwen's voice carried over the Hub, "Jack is giving us the chance to...yes, I know...yes, you...we, right, it was both of us – we said...but what if...okay, I'll tell him. I love you." She slid her phone shut and started back to the conference room.

"What now?" Ianto looked panicked as he lifted only his eyes to Jack. "She's going to come in here and tell you no."

Jack shrugged, still not convinced that this was all that bad. "Martha? Maybe she could help out."

"Seriously?" Ianto quirked an eyebrow. "Seriously? Jack..."

"Or we could." He was holding Ianto's hands in his own now. "It's what you wanted...once..."

"Oh no." Ianto pulled his hands away as if they were on fire. "No, this...it's..." Ianto was constantly amazed at how easily Jack could cause him to forget the English language.

Jack leaned back and raised his eyebrows in response, waiting for Ianto to finish giving his reasons so that he could counter with his own.

"Once. I wanted it once. But that was before..." He stopped, unable to let himself say more on that subject and settling on the one word that summed up why this was all wrong. "Torchwood. That's why." Ianto looked quite smug that he had found the perfect reason.

"Torchwood? We can't because...Torchwood?" Jack's face was not the one Ianto had expected, it was bordering instead on amusement. "'Because Torchwood' what?"

Ianto didn't change his expression, having found one that he thought was justified. "Just 'Torchwood'."

"Thanks, dad." Jack grinned and Ianto knew he had gotten the best of him and that, tonight, there would be one more body in their flat. One more body that Ianto was not ready for, but because...Torchwood – bloody Torchwood.

Ianto sighed. "I'll make the calls." He stood and went for his desk, knowing he should not have let Jack talk him into it, but knowing also, deep down there was no way he could have stopped him.

"Ianto?" Jack touched his arm as he passed. Ianto looked down, the smug look now replaced with one of defeat. "I love you."

Ianto tried to hide the smile on his face as he left the room. "I love you too, you presumptuous bastard."

"What was that?" Gwen asked, looking as Ianto went by.

Jack shrugged, "What did Rhys say?"

"He doesn't think it's a good idea." Gwen leaned on the table in front of Jack.

"Did you tell him it was part of the job?" Jack looked up at her.

"I tried." She sat on the edge. "But he says – he says that he doesn't think this should fall under 'things I have to suck up for Torchwood'."

Jack nodded silently, lips pursed. "And how do you feel about that?"

She let Jack take her hand and rub the back of it idly. "We've been through a lot since I joined up – things in my life haven't gone like I planned them to."

"Yeah, well, join the club, Sweetheart." Jack smiled to show he might have been joking. "But I have to respect that; I promised."

"So, what now? Going to ask Martha?"

"Nope." Jack shook his head.

"Then, what, Jack?" Gwen gave a confused look before being able to read what was on his mind. "Oh, no, Jack, you can't do that to Ianto."

"I'll be there to help." Jack assured her, yanking his hand back and sitting up straight. "It's been a while, but I bet it's like driving a car."

Gwen chuckled. "I've seen you drive a car, best hope it isn't."

"Not funny," Jack all but pouted. Gwen gave in to the urge and ruffled his hair. Ianto came back into the room to find Jack that way, glaring at a very amused Gwen.

"I called, and spoke to a Ms..." Ianto looked down at the list in his hand. "...Richards. She says that right now he's with a temporary family."

"Right, I'll go get him," Jack stood, but was stopped by a hand to his chest. "What?"

"If it's all the same, sir." Ianto smiled. "I'll go get him." He didn't wait for an answer. "I don't have to be there for another hour. I'm going down to the archives, see if I can get some filing done."

Jack frowned, "Oh-kay." He placed a hand on Ianto's shoulder. "Are you okay with all this?"

Ianto nodded slowly, "I have to be."

"You don't." Jack assured him, "We can find someone else. If not Martha, maybe her sister..."

"I can't believe I'm saying this – Jack, we'll be fine; it's just a small boy. And this small boy needs our help to get his Mam back."

"That's my Ianto," Jack kissed him on the forehead before leaving the room to go to his office. Ianto watched him go.

"Why did you do that?" Gwen asked, her eyes wide. "You didn't have to."

Ianto turned to face her. "I don't know." He smiled to himself. "Let's just say I've had my common sense gland removed..." And then he was gone, on his way down the corridor to the archives.

Once he was away from the main part of the Hub, Ianto felt the need to run. His hard soles hitting the concrete made a satisfying noise; his heart began to beat faster as his steps got louder and louder. Ianto felt as if his lungs were going to leap from his chest. He leaned against a doorway and loosened his tie, unable to control his hands from shaking. Ianto couldn't remember a time when he had ever felt like this. And then it hit him like a wave. He became angry and stormed into the room closest to him. There were opened file boxes of folders that he had neglected over the past year, having had to help take up the slack around the Hub due to the lack of two very important team members.

"DAMN YOU, OWEN! WHY WASN'T THAT ME?" He raged, flinging box after box to the floor, not caring about the mess he was leaving in his wake. "I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, NOT YOU!"

Surveying the mess and panting loudly, he ran his hands through his hair. "Dammit Tosh, you could have helped me. You would have taken the boy without even asking twice. Why did you have to die? Why were we just that little bit too late?" Ianto fell against the wall and slid down, feeling more like he wanted to vomit than anything else now, not bothering to stop the flow of tears that were coursing their way down his cheeks. He drew his knees to his chest, his foot slipping on one of the folders, trying to keep the room from spinning around him. Ianto leaned to move it and noticed the bright green marker scrawled on it.

"Teaboy is a right arse" was scrawled across it in Owen's own best imitation of chicken scratch. Ianto picked it up and leafed through it, noticing it was the former medic's report from the day that Jack and Tosh had slipped dimensions. After weeding through pages of Owen ranting about what a colossal wanker Ianto was, He noticed the card that was taped to one of the pages of the report. Opening it, he recognized it as the one that Tosh had left as a way for them to get Jack and her safely back – the one she had cut herself for and used the blood to write in. The one that left the tiny scar on her hand that Ianto had sometimes looked over to see her rubbing absently when she was thinking hard about something.

Swallowing, Ianto suddenly felt better. He got to his feet, talking the folder with him. He took a deep breath and fixed his tie. He looked around at the mess he had made and groaned. But it was his own fault and he knew he would be the one to deal with it anyway. Turning back as he flicked off the lights, he smiled. He was going to be just fine. Both Owen and Tosh had made sure of that.

***

Jack was in his office looking at some files as if he would rather burn them than read them when Ianto got back upstairs. He poked his head in the door for a moment before heading out. "Jack, just on my way out. Can you think of anything that we need back at the flat?"

Jack looked up, relieved that Ianto was taking his attention away from such a boring task. "Well, uh, no." He shook his head. "Not unless the kid will need something."

"Okay then, I'm off. Should I take the SUV or my car?" Ianto held up each of the keys he was talking about.

Jack shrugged, placing his elbows on the desk in front of him. "It doesn't matter. But your car is probably more kid-friendly." Jack chuckled. The thought of a toddler punching buttons in the back of the SUV would be sure to bring a little bit of terror to the Welshman, so he fought not to say anything about it.

"Right." Ianto looked a bit dazed as he considered that his car was about to hold a child's car seat. "I have the directions and I know who I am supposed to meet. Wish me luck."

"Ianto, you'll be fine." Jack assured him with a warm smile. "We all will."

"Thanks, Jack." Ianto tossed Jack the keys he wasn't using and started down the steps. "Oh," he turned. "I'll meet you at home?"

Ianto watched as Jack's face lit up, just like it always did when he heard the word. "Home," he repeated even as Ianto was rushing out the cog door.

She was standing there, the perfect vision of a Protective Services worker from the movies in her tweed skirt and freshly-pressed if slightly out-of-date blouse, when Ianto pulled up to the address he had been given earlier in the day.

"Ianto Jones?" The woman called, walking the short distance to his car. "I'm Fran Richards. We spoke on the phone?" She offered her hand, which Ianto took quickly. "Henry is just inside."

Ianto didn't know what to say, so he nodded mutely and let her continue.

"I have to admit, I was a little concerned to hear that Henry was in need of protection. We were under the impression that his mother had gone off to 'score some drugs' – as they say." She stated. "So, when I got your call, I made sure that the foster parents would have him ready in the fastest time possible. After all, the safety of the children is our first priority."

"Always," Ianto agreed, hoping that the fear he felt was not evident on his face.

"If you'll wait right here, Mr. Jones, Henry and I will be right out." She pasted on a smile and knocked on the door. Ianto stood at attention, unaware he was even doing it. When he did notice, she was inside the house.

Ianto began to pace the walkway in front of the house, running his hand through his hair as he did so, his thoughts scattered. He knew that with some cases of foster children that there were prior problems that could surface, but he hoped that wasn't Henry's case. The only thing he had found in the files was the fact that his mother was a drug user. Even then, it wasn't confirmed and she hadn't been before they had found the child's father in that clearing. Ianto wasn't one to jump to conclusions, so he tried to push all those thoughts from his mind and concentrate on the most relevant ones – things like where the kid was going to sleep, and what he would eat and wear and the carseat and...Ianto remembered very quickly that he had forgotten to buy a carseat.

Being Ianto, he flipped open his cell and dialed Martha. She answered within minutes, worry in her voice. "What's wrong, Ianto? Problems?"

"No, no, nothing like that." Ianto calmed her. "It's just that I...uh...I forgot to get a carseat." He hoped she couldn't tell how red his ears were turning over the phone.

Martha laughed, "Is that all?" Her tone was relieved and Ianto could hear her moving somewhere a little more secluded, away from the autopsy bay, where the echoes carried easier. "Tell me where you are. I can stop and get one on the way there. Problem fixed."

"Martha Jones, if I didn't already have my eye on someone, I'd ask you to marry me." Ianto stopped short of blowing her kisses before giving her the address and slipping the phone back into his pocket. He looked at the door and then his watch. Ms. Richards had yet to return and he was beginning to get worried. Just as he had made up his mind to go in and secure the area, she appeared, leading a very small boy with blonde hair out of the door.

Ianto felt his heart leap into his throat. This was the boy from the picture, there was no doubt of that, but his hair was much longer and the smile was not there. He looked very tired for a child his age and Ianto's heart went out to him immediately. He knew what the boy felt like and he longed to run to him, scoop him up and run away with him, protect him from every bad thing that Ianto was privy to knowing was out there. Suddenly, he understood why his parents had lied to him all those years.

"Here he is, Mr. Jones." The boy looked up at Ianto and smiled. "If you have any questions, you can call my private number. Here's my card."

"Thanks." Ianto looked around, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. "Is that all his stuff?" He motioned to the backpack Ms. Richards held in the hand opposite the one holding the boy's hand.

"That's it. There are a few diapers and three changes of clothes. That should get him through the rest of today." She smiled at the concern that Ianto displayed.

Taking the bag from her, he bent to look the child in the eyes. "Henry, I need you to come with me. Can you be a big boy?"

The boy only looked up at Ianto with watery, confused eyes. Ianto put his hands on his hips and thought. There were a lot of things he knew how to deal with – this was not one of them. Thank goodness he heard a familiar voice calling to him.

"Ianto!" Martha's voice drifted across the street, distracting him for the moment.

"That would be my co-worker, please excuse me, Ms. Richards?" Ianto sighed – half in silent thanks, the other half in annoyance.

"By all means, Mr. Jones," Ms. Richards responded. "I see she brought you a carseat..."

Ianto smiled. "I was in a hurry."

"Yes, of course. Why don't I help you put that in your car and then you can ask me any further questions." She tried to take the boy's hand again, but he attached himself to Ianto's leg and refused to be moved by anything other than Ianto picking him up.

"Thank you," Ianto sighed, grateful to both of the women as the child clung to him. "My car is right over here."

Having managed to get the carseat into the car with minimal problems, Ianto was on his way, Martha following behind. The two had talked about the arrangements for Henry that night and Ianto realized he was more unprepared than he thought. Thankfully, Martha had offered to go and get him a few basics as Ianto dreaded trying to take a child into any store – Jack was usually enough for him at the best of times.

"Ianto!" Jack startled him out of his own thoughts.

"Yes, Jack?" Ianto asked into the earpiece, looking in the rearview to see what Henry was doing.

"Everything fine?" He asked, sounding as if he weren't asking what he really wanted to.

"Yeah, Martha got there with the carseat and saved the day." Ianto said back, still stealing glimpses into the back seat, noticing that the boy was starting to rub his eyes.

"Good ol' Martha Jones," Jack laughed in the comm. "You coming back soon?"

Ianto blinked. "Jack, I have a two-year-old with me."

"And?"

"Jack, the Hub is not a playground." Ianto lectured.

Jack 'hmmmm-ed'. "Didn't know that. Going to have to put out a memo now."

"Don't be a smart arse." A soft snore came from the backseat.

"So I have to wait until I get home to see that...uh, see you?" Ianto could tell that Jack was pouting.

"Yes, Jack. But the upside is that I'll have dinner ready when you get there." He was doing his best to make it better.

Jack brightened. "Will you be vacuuming while wearing pearls and high heels?"

"Not the time for one of your silly fantasies."

"Who said it was silly?"

"Jack." Ianto rolled his eyes.

"Yes?"

"I'll see you when you get home. Oh, and Martha will be back to you in a little while. She went to go and get a few things we're going to need."

"Does this mean no pearls?"

"Jack."

"Yes?" His voice was hopeful.

"I'll see you later."

"Tease."

"Bye, Jack." He took the device off of his ear before he got dragged into another long conversation about what Jack wanted to do and have done to him. Last time they had been having a discussion like that, UNIT had cut in and caught Ianto gasping on one end as Jack moaned on the other. That had been a tough one to explain.

Jack opened the door to the smell of spaghetti. It had been a long time since Ianto had been able to cook, and Jack stood in the hall for a moment savoring the aroma.

"Oh, good, you're here," Ianto came out of the kitchen. "Can you maybe entertain Henry?"

Jack frowned, "How?"

"Watch a movie with him? I don't know." Ianto's eyes were pleading. "He won't let me out of his sight. Please? I need five minutes to finish up the bread."

"Sure then," Jack shrugged off his jacket. "Where is he?"

"Coloring on the table." Ianto pointed into the kitchen.

"Don't you mean coloring at the table?" Jack frowned quizzically.

Ianto sighed. "No. On. I said on, I meant on."

"Right. I'll get him." Jack walked into the kitchen and picked the boy up from where he was sitting.

The child took one look up at Jack and began to howl. Jack looked desperately at Ianto, who rolled his eyes and took the screaming boy from Jack. "Henry. Please." The boy stopped crying and looked at the Welshman, his lip still out in a pout. "This is Jack. He wants to watch a movie with you." Without another word, he handed the boy over to Jack once more and turned back to the pot on the stove.

Jack and Henry regarded one another with suspicion before Jack him took in the other room. "Right. Uh, let's see what was in the player last, shall we?" Jack picked up the myriad of remotes and fell on the couch, tucking the boy between himself and the arm of the couch.

Within minutes, the two were bonding over what was on the television. Ianto finished up in the kitchen and came to retrieve Jack.

"Moulin Rouge?" Ianto was wiping his hands on a towel as he came out. His breath stuck in his throat for the moment at the sight of Jack with a toddler curled up on his chest.

"Yeah – it was in the player." Jack shifted a bit. Ianto raised an eyebrow in question. "What? He likes Nicole Kidman."

"And this had nothing to do with the fact that you like Ewan McGregor?"

Jack smiled, putting on a Scottish accent. "May the Force be with you..."

"Wrong Movie."

"Not to me," Jack laughed deep, trying not to shake. Ianto only shook his head with a small grin. "Whoa, he just got heavy," Jack said, wide-eyed as he looked at Ianto.

Ianto looked at the pair sitting on the couch. "That would be because he fell asleep."

"Oh. Now what?"

"Now, we put him to bed." Ianto smiled to himself. "I think, actually, we should have done that before he fell asleep."

"Yeah, well." Jack shifted, trying to get a better grip on the boy. "He had other plans, didn't he?"

"Seems so." Ianto took in the scene for a moment. Jack was on the couch, having only taken off his boots and his heavy coat. Still, he looked relaxed somehow. Maybe it was the addition of a drooling toddler. Whatever it was, Ianto felt himself smiling. Jack was moving around as slowly as he could, trying not to wake the boy. Ianto didn't miss the fact that he paused for a moment to smell the child's head, breathe in the smell of the small human he held. He also didn't miss the crooked smile that he had never seen come out of Jack before, one that was filled with both memory and loss – one he had seen his own Mam make when she was holding that baby at church last Christmas. His own heart tugged – wanting suddenly to know what that was like, yet fearful that he may one day know. "You want me to take him?"

"I think I can do this." Jack said, biting his lip as he struggled to his feet. "Been a while, but I managed." He was surprised at himself, and beamed widely.

Ianto was almost brought to tears. Here was Captain Jack Harkness, leader of a highly specialized agency trained to deal with the toughest of alien life-forms, and he was amazed that he could stand without waking a toddler. "I'll go fix his bed for him then."

Jack nodded. "Good idea. As nice as this is, my arm is starting to fall asleep."

Ianto walked into the bedroom, where he had set up the playpen for the boy's nap earlier. He pulled the blanket out of it and draped it over the side before reaching in to make sure the sheet was secure. Satisfied that nothing was a hazard, he walked back out to the living room.

Jack was now humming and rocking the small form in his arms, a tune Ianto was trying to place, but couldn't quite. He wasn't sure if it was because Jack was humming it so low or if he the man was not quite right about the notes. Either way, he made a mental note to ask Jack later.

"I'll take him," Ianto offered, but Jack held fast to the child.

"No need in waking him up," Jack insisted, starting the walk back to the bedroom, Ianto close behind. "Do you want me just to put him in there – without a pillow?"

"Jack, he could suffocate," Ianto frowned.

"He's two – he won't suffocate. Put a damn pillow in there." Jack insisted in a rough whisper. "Quit being so...Ianto."

The Welshman's frown deepened as he pulled a pillow off the bed and dropped it into the child's bed. "You can put him down now."

Jack smiled as he placed the sleeping form in the playpen and covered him before straightening up and stretching the kink carrying the boy had caused in his back. "Is that jealously, Ianto Jones?" he teased, putting his hands on the younger man's shoulders to steer him out of the room and into the hall.

"No," Ianto half-lied. "Just tired I guess." He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed at his eyes.

"What's this, the great Ianto Jones, who can handle a Weevil by himself is tired after half a day with a two-year-old human boy?" Jack didn't bother to hide the laugh.

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Don't do that."

"What?" Jack tried his innocent look, but the other man was having none of it.

"Jack, have you ever spent time with a two-year-old boy?" Ianto started back towards the living room – he only wanted to sit at this point.

"Yeah," Jack said, plopping beside where Ianto was already sitting on the sofa. "I used to have one. Two actually – at the same time...though not boys, girls...don't know what would be more of a problem, but maybe it would be a boy and a girl – one would think of what the other doesn't in a whole new way..." He gestured for Ianto to put his legs in Jack's lap. "That was sometimes too much." He idly began to rub the socked feet that were perched in front of him.

Ianto chuckled, trying to clear his throat to pass it off as a cough, but Jack knew it wasn't.

"What?" He frowned over at Ianto.

"Nothing – just never thought I would ever hear the words 'too much' come out of your mouth..."

Jack's face melted into 'the look' and he squeezed Ianto's foot a bit too hard, causing a yelp from the younger man. "Sorry," Jack said, not really sorry at all. He eased back into the gentle rubbing he had started with.

"That feels great, thank you," Ianto let his head fall back against the arm of the couch, aware that Jack was watching him with pure amusement, never letting up on the strong pressure he was using to rub his feet.

"So, honey, hard day?" Jack joked, letting his smile be heard.

"Jack, I don't think I can watch him every day. It's just too much. I think we may have bitten off more than we can chew here." Ianto admitted, eyes still closed.

"He's not a puppy, Ianto. We can't just take him back. They still haven't found his mother; even then, who knows?" Jack had stopped rubbing his feet and was looking at him.

"I know that," Ianto pulled his feet out of Jack's lap and sat up, serious. "But he's only been here 12 hours and I wonder..."

"Wonder what?" Jack was concerned by his partner's expression.

"I wonder if we made a good choice. Torchwood isn't exactly the right place to raise children, is it? I mean, I could be out in the field tomorrow and something go very wrong. And then you would be left all by yourself..." Ianto worried, leaning forward to put a hand on Jack's shoulder.

Jack pulled him closer and drew his arms around him. "Don't worry about that; don't worry about anything. We can get a day nanny. Right now, let's just go with it."

"How do you always know what to say?" Ianto snuggled into Jack.

"It's my charm." Jack grinned. "Which I will not keep unless I am fed. Did I smell spaghetti?"

Ianto looked up at him. "Yes. Good thing I already fed Henry. Come on – let's get you fed."

"And then, dessert?" Jack smirked and wiggled his hips.

"If you're good."

"Oh, Ianto Jones, you know I am..."

***

"More wine?" Ianto held up the bottle and shook it to indicate there was a little left.

Jack swallowed hastily and nodded, holding out his glass, "Yes, please."

Ianto poured, smiling and shaking his head. He couldn't believe how much Jack had eaten. "So, I take it that you are enjoying the dinner I made?"

"Yes, very much. Why don't we do this more often?" Jack was taking a bite of the garlic bread, and he sprayed a few crumbs when he spoke.

"Because we are usually still at work right now, that's why," Ianto reminded him, finishing his own glass of wine and leaning to scratch at the crayon marks on the tabletop.

"This one kind of looks like a face," Jack observed one of the scribbles nearest him. "If I just added a..." Ianto was glaring at him as he held the crayon ready. "...or not."

"Did you mean what you said in the living room?" Ianto wondered out loud.

Jack tipped the rest of his wine into his mouth and swallowed. "What do you mean? That we could get a day nanny? Of course, I never expected you to do two jobs..."

"No, the thing about having two two-year-olds. When was that?" Ianto took the crayon from Jack.

"Years ago." Jack's mind went into memory. "Like I said, two at the same time."

"I couldn't even imagine that." Ianto visibly shuddered.

"Oh no, they were great kids. Super-smart." Jack grinned to himself. "Much like their mother." He looked at Ianto now, his eyes a little clouded over. "She was a marine biologist in the Boeshane Peninsula. We met by accident; I almost drowned – she was there. After that, I think she stayed around because she was afraid I was going to try swimming again."

Ianto laughed at the thought of Jack being bad at something. "So, you and she were..."

"Together? Yeah, it was easier with the girls and all..." He chuckled. "Wow. That had to be one of the last years I remember being there, actually. Had to have been when I was first in the Agency..."

"You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to, Jack," Ianto reached for Jack's hand.

"No, it's...it's fine." Jack nodded, squeezing Ianto's hand. "She discovered what dolphins were saying, did I ever tell you about her?" Ianto shook his head slowly, not wanting to speak, for fear that Jack would stop telling him. "She was..." Jack sighed, "...amazing. It was easy to tell she loved her job – almost as much as she loved us." Jack stopped, the tears were now threatening to break from his eyes.

"You loved her as much," Ianto stated fact.

Jack nodded, using his free hand to wipe at his eyes. "Yes. And yet, I left her. I left Candace and my daughters to go on a job."

"Why?" Ianto was cautious in asking.

Jack turned to face him and took Ianto's hand in both of his. "Because, sometimes, in order to protect the things you love the most, you have to leave them behind for a while."

"So you went back?"

"Yes, I promised her."

There was silence as they sat and just looked at one another. Jack wanted to go on, to tell Ianto that with him it was different, but he knew that he had already done the same thing to the man sitting beside him by running of with the Doctor. Ianto looked at him, trying to figure Jack out.

"Why would you remember so much about her?" Ianto wondered to himself if Jack would recall him as fondly.

Jack winked. "You always remember your first, Yan."

Ianto was taken by surprise for a moment. Of course, there had to be a first – everyone has one. But to think of Jack as having had a first was almost too much for him. "Yeah, I remember mine."

Smiling, Jack ran his hand up Ianto's arm. "It was Becca, wasn't it?"

Ianto leaned into the touch with a throaty chuckle. "How did you guess?"

Jack leaned closer to him now, kissing him lightly on the neck. "And did she know about how this spot, right here – makes you shiver in the most wonderful way?"

"No," Ianto whispered. "Never found that."

"And what about this spot between you shoulder blades that makes you jump like..." Jack ran his hand over the place in question. "...this?"

"Nope."

"Or this place – right here..." Jack dipped his hand to brush lightly at Ianto waist, feeling the shiver under his fingertips.

"Uh-uh." Ianto's head fell back and then quickly snapped up.

"What?" Jack asked, not stopping what he had been doing. "Something wrong?"

"Shhh." Ianto brought his hand to Jack's mouth. "I think I heard...yes. Dammit."

"What? What is it?" Jack turned his head to try to hear what Ianto had. He heard nothing, so he frowned as he shook his head.

"Jack," Ianto reluctantly pushed Jack away. "It's Henry."

Jack groaned. "I forgot they do that. Used to think they had built in radar..."

Ianto kissed Jack for a moment before he got up and ambled down the hall to where Henry was crying. He cracked the door for a moment before going inside. The boy was whimpering now, twisting in his sheets. Ianto went to the playyard and looked in; Henry had bunched the pillow to one side and was fighting it. The Welshman sighed and bent to pick up the boy, holding him close to his chest. Henry relaxed a bit, but was still making small noises in the back of his throat that worried Ianto. He set him on the bed before toeing off his slippers and pulling the covers back.

Henry whimpered again and began to reach out for anything to hold onto. Ianto eased onto the bed beside him and drew the child to him as he pulled the covers up. Henry melted into him with a sigh. Ianto alternated between patting his back and running his fingers through the blonde hair. Within minutes, the boy's breathing evened out and he was back dreaming, the heat coming off of him making Ianto drowsy enough to slip into sleep himself.

Meanwhile, Jack was tidying the kitchen and putting the leftovers into plastic to take into work the next day. He eyed the dishes in the sink and decided to do them; afterall, Ianto had cooked a wonderful dinner for them. He chuckled as he noticed a plastic character plate in with their usual ceramic his hands in the sudsy water, Jack thought about what he must look like, being all domestic. But, for Ianto, he would do this and more – all Ianto had to do was say the word. Jack reflected even as he dried the dishes – this was something that, if not for their job, might have been a possibility for the couple. Couple. The word rattled around in his head, and he wondered exactly when that had happened. He guessed it was long before they had moved in with one another, but the line was fuzzy now. And that seemed so very long ago now, anyway; almost as if it had always been, even though Jack knew that was not possible. Once he was done, he dimmed all of the lights and went back to the bedroom to check on Ianto.

The sight that met his eyes was enough to bring tears to them. Ianto was curled around the small form on the bed, the two of them facing one another. From where Jack stood, one could easily mistake the two for father and son. Going to the bedside, he leaned to kiss each in turn before settling onto the chair that was in the room. Ianto moved ever so slightly, causing Henry to search out his warmth once again and Jack's heart to leap to his throat. Jack made a vow to himself right then and there to find a way to make it so - even with the inclusion of Torchwood - as he drifted off to sleep, smiling.

"How good are you at getting people to believe you?" Jack stage whispered in the still air.

Hessa was curious now. "Why, Kaget? You have a plan?" She sat up to look at him better.

"I might," Jack was wearing his wolfish grin, the one people couldn't say no to – even if they tried.

"I like that look you have in your eye. And here I thought you were merely another dumb human..."

"Hey!" Jack tried to be mad at her, but found it hard to do so as her hand was slowly drifting north.

"You're different..." She got on her knees and pressed her lips to his. "I like you."

"Only like?" Jack smiled as she sat back on her heels. "Well, do you like me enough to help me?"

"With what?" Her ears visibly perked. "What's going on in that pretty skull of yours?"

"Plenty." Jack leaned to whisper in her ear, tickling the little hairs along the edge. "But first, I need to know something from you."

"What is it?" A shiver went up her spine and her claws extended involuntarily; she used them to lightly rake Jack's back.

Leaning into the sensation, he sighed. "Do you trust me?"

"Why?" She was in his ear now, and Jack could hear an undercurrent humming in her voice, feel her sharp teeth nipping at the lobe.

He offered his neck to her as he drew his hands to her shoulders. "Because if you don't trust me then I won't do this."

"Ahhh..." She breathed, making Jack shudder. "Honorable above all. Where are you from, stranger?"

"I suppose I should be the one asking that," Jack gasped out as her rough tongue lapped at the tender skin.

"Does it really matter?" She placed a small nip where she had been licking. "We don't even know each other's real names..."

Jack moaned out his response. "True." He sat back and let her lap at the sweat that was on his body, listening to the noise in her throat deepen and spread to her chest. He supposed, with her appearance and all, that it was an advanced form of purring. No matter what it was, all he was thinking about was how it would feel once her chest was pressed to his.

The soft noises she was making were replaced by the sound of a wail and Jack winced. How was it that Hessa could maintain the two? He put his arms around her and pulled her to full knee-height...

"Shhhhh..." Ianto's voice was suddenly there. "Shhhh..."

Jack opened his eyes to find the man on the bed, eyes still closed in sleep, gently rocking and patting the boy laying beside him. It took a moment to register what was going on and where he was, but once his eyes focused, he sighed in relief. He was in his own bedroom, watching his partner as Ianto tried to coax Henry back to sleep. He stretched his neck and extended his arms, noting the soreness that being hunched over in a chair sleeping had brought to him. He looked again at the bed and saw that the occupants were now back asleep, and had unconsciously left him room. Smiling, he stood and, stretching again, went to get his pajama bottoms. Once he had changed, he took off his watch and placed it on the dresser before slowly climbing into the other side of the bed, reaching across Henry to touch Ianto. Ianto sighed when he felt the familiar hand on his shoulder, scooting a bit closer to the hand's owner.

The alarm went off and Ianto opened his eyes, not sure why there was something warm pressed against his chest. Looking down, he saw the blonde head with sleep-sweat curls and remembered. Ianto sighed and slipped out from under the blanket as gently as he could, not wanting to wake the boy. Once he was standing, he looked down to see Jack's pajamas in a heap on the floor. Ianto shook his head and picked them up before wandering into the kitchen to start breakfast for himself and Henry, a bit angry at Jack for not having at least told him he was going.

But that wasn't the case at all, as Ianto discovered. He walked in on Jack, fully dressed in his usual attire, standing near the toaster and looking at his watch. "Hey, didn't mean to wake you up."

Ianto rubbed his eyes to adjust to the light. "No, it wasn't you. Used to waking up around now." He smiled as Jack crossed the room to hug him. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Rift activity. Nothing I can't handle by myself. Just need to take a few readings..." He kissed Ianto lightly before going back to his toast. "No reason to worry anybody."

"So, you'll be home late." Ianto went to the coffee maker to brew himself some.

"No," Jack said, but Ianto could hear in his voice that he wasn't really all that sure. "Should be fine. I'll call if I'm going to be late."

Ianto turned and pressed a travel mug into Jack's hand, kissing him on the forehead. "That would be nice. Have a good day."

Jack smiled, turned before he was out of the door. "You too. I'm sure that today will be very – uh, exciting for you."

Ianto narrowed his eyes as he put his own mug on the table, lifting the paper that was there and opening it. "Good bye, Jack." Jack laughed to himself as Ianto popped the paper open and hid behind it.

***

Jack had barely gotten out of the SUV when he saw the reason he was there. Clad still in the red jacket Jack had last seen him in - a few more buttons missing than before and looking a little worse for the wear - was John Hart.

"What are you doing here?" Jack demanded, slamming the door a bit too hard as he got out.

John shrugged that self-confident bastard shrug that drove everyone wild. "Who says I can't be here?"

"Me." Jack's answer was flat, his mind already formulating a way to make this man disappear forever.

"Who died and made you the king of the universe? Certainly wasn't you." John held a had over his mouth in feigned shock. "Oh, did I strike a chord?"

Jack had him backed against the wall now. "Speak your peace and get the hell out."

"I am 'out'." John held his arms out and looked around.

The look that Jack gave him was one that he was known for on four different planets, and, subsequently, the reason he was banned from all four.

John was not affected and continued. "No, really, I have orders."

"Orders?" Jack shook his head in disbelief that anyone would hire John Hart to do anything other than swindle them.

"Yeah, you know, like – how do you say it in such primitive times?" The shorter man mimed vaguely while speaking slowly, "A job."

Jack was unimpressed. "What kind of a job?" He checked and double-checked that the SUV was locked, the alarm set.

Captain Hart arched an eyebrow at his actions. They both knew that if he wanted the vehicle, nothing would stop him from attaining his goal. "The kind where I come and serve out the orders on one of your 'visitor's' quarantine."

"What did you say?" Jack froze, how and why would he get a job as a bodily repo-man? John must have really done something this time.

The Time Agent rolled his eyes dramatically with a heavy sigh. "You are getting really soft being around here so long. Or has your hearing started to go – oh, that would be bad – 'cause you know what they say the next thing to go is..." He pointed downward and grimaced.

"Who conducted this 'trial'?" Jack was focused on John, trying his best not to shove him into the wall fully and draw his Webly to hold on him.

John shrugged. "Council. And they hired me – see?" He flipped out a wallet to show Jack the orders.

Jack fell back on the SUV, arms crossed. "That's Psychic Paper. Might want to show me the real order."

John turned it around to look at it himself. "So it is. Hmmm..." He flipped it closed and made a show of going through the rest of his pockets before pulling out a flat disk and handing it to Jack.

Turning it over and over, he glared at John, who urged him to activate the object with a hand.

"Captain John Hart, as you are now called, are called on by the Provisional Syndicate of Suns to carry out a direct order. It has come to the attention of The Syndicate that a fugitive of the Evotakers has been found in captivity on the planet Sol 3. It is not know the status of his condition in relation to his overall health. Upon giving him a fair trial as is guaranteed under our Constitution, he has been found guilty and has been sentenced to Qiw-How Nonus for the remainder of his life cycle, to be under the care of the very capable inhabitants of that planet. Your mission is to find that individual and deliver him to us in whatever condition he is presently in. Failure to do so will result in your own imprisonment." The blue being shimmered out as the disk ended and Jack stood, looking at John.

"I don't understand." He handed the disk back to the other man. "What does this have to do with me?"

"You have said fugitive in your storage unit."

"Impossible." Jack thought back to something that was on the edge of his mind. "I don't have any Evotakers in the vaults. I would remember that." He shuddered.

"Ahh," John walked to sling his arm around Jack. "That would be where you are wrong, my friend."

Jack shrugged him off and adjusted his coat, "We aren't friends."

John forced a smile. "It would be so easy, Jack. I extend the olive branch over and over, and all you do is bat it from my hand. Why? We used to be so good together."

"Stick to the reason you're here." Jack reminded him coldly.

"I told you. You have something that I need – and for once it isn't that hot body..." He licked his lips in thought.

"Save it." Jack snapped. "I told you that I didn't have anything even resembling an Evotaker in storage – no corpses, no live specimens. So you can hunt somewhere else." He turned to go out to the Plass, hoping to shake the other man.

John followed him, much like a little brother would – close on his heels. "But Jack," he drew out, "I tracked the signal here."

Jack spun to face him and got a chestful of Captain John. "You have a signal?"

John made a 'duh' face and bobbled his head around. "Well, how did you think I was supposed to find it? You, my dear, have been out of the game for far too long."

Jack sighed heavily, crooking his mouth in thought. He no more wanted John Hart in the Hub than he wanted him in his own flat. But he had a direct order. And Torchwood had promised to honor those long long ago. If he could prove to Jack that there indeed was a signal to the vaults, he would have to bring him in to retrieve said individual. "Fine. But, touch nothing." He poked at John's chest. "I mean it – one false move and I'll shoot you myself. Understand?"

"Oh, baby, you know what to say to make a man hot." John grumbled even as he nodded agreement and pocketed the disk in favor of a small hand-held device.

Jack's hand instinctively went for his gun. "What are you doing?"

"Relax," John rolled his eyes again. "It's a Monitoring DNA-Meter, calm down." He watched Jack's hand relax only slightly. "I know, horrible name, maybe we should get that little boy-toy of yours to think of a new one?" John noticed Jack's hand grip the gun handle tighter, but he still didn't unholster it.

The machine began to alternately flash between the blue and green lights on the top while making a 'boop boop boop' noise that reminded Jack of the time he and Ianto went to the beach and they had rented that silly metal detector. Though, they had found that Keratometer; not that it had operated correctly since it had been brought into the Hub.

"So, what is this telling us?" Jack leaned over the device, but couldn't decipher its readings.

John looked up at him with as close to doe-eyes as John Hart could manage. "It says we need to go into your 'top secret' base and find the bloody reason it's beeping and blinking."

Jack looked at him with obvious concern. "I mean it. I will shoot you without even blinking."

"Always such a kinky bastard," John smirked, walking toward the Tourist Entrance. "Well, you coming?"

Jack sighed and followed him, taking out the key and letting the two of them into the office. "Let's get this over with." He led John through the maze that was the back passage way to the Hub proper. When they reached the main floor, Jack noticed that the device was 'boop'ing a little faster. "Is that a good sign?"

"The best. It means you were wrong." Another of those smiles that infuriated and thrilled Jack at the same time was on his face.

"Yeah, well, let's get this over with so that you can be on your way." Jack slung his coat over the rolling chair that Ianto usually sat in. "Follow me to the vaults."

"So forceful."

"Warning one."

John quirked an eyebrow. "After three, do I get sent to your office?"

"Warning two."

John seemed to be considering what his next move would be as Jack ignored him and started to walk towards the vaults. "Hey! Wait up!" He had to hurry to keep up with Jack's brisk walk. "I know you want to get me out of here as soon as possible, but you should know as well as I do that in order to get accurate readings on any equipment, you have to give it time to work." Jack turned to glare at him. "I mean, you know that – right?"

Jack stopped - leaning against the wall, his arms crossed - to regard the man before him. The last time they had parted, John had seemed genuinely sorry, but Jack couldn't even be sure that this John was one that knew about the loss of his team members. "John, tell me what you know."

"Oh, like that is going to work." John smiled down at the device, noting that the beeping rhythm had not changed. "You have to be trickier about it. Used to be a time when you knew how to do this, Jack, maybe you should..."

Jack had had enough. "Listen, Jonalm..." He paused for a reaction, which was nothing short of what he expected.

John's eyes flared dangerous for a moment before he got control of himself. "I haven't heard that name in years." Jack smiled, knowing he had gotten the upper hand. "You shouldn't look so smug though, Jagan..."

Jack lost the upper hand as quickly as he had gained it. His face betrayed him as he held in the growl that he wanted to use on the man before him. John could tell that he had gotten to Jack more than Jack had gotten to him. "Don't you ever..."

"Oh, is Daddy Jack still on the 'do as I say, not as I do' kick?"

Jack's face flushed for a moment with the thought that John knew about Henry; there was no way. He and Ianto hadn't even had the boy for a full day yet – even Hart wasn't that good.

"Now, if you would so kindly show me the areas where you keep all your 'visitors', then I can do my job." John looked down at the device, which had been making noise the whole time, he supposed, though he hadn't realized it until now.

Jack pushed away from the wall, still more than a little angry. "Let's get this over with." He led him first to the holding cells, which yielded nothing more than a slower rhythm, something that John took as an invitation to dance. Jack was less than amused. "You can stop that now."

"Thought you fancied a good dance, Captain." He sambaed closer to the taller man. "We have plenty of time." He was dangerously close to Jack now. "I mean, really, I am practically capable of inventing time..."

"Touch me and you go straight to warning four." Jack informed him, no trace of smile on his face. "And there are only three to be had."

John shrugged and moved back slightly. "Tough room today. Have it your way, though. Lead on." Jack stepped in front of him. "Know how you like to lead..."

Jack ignored him and went back up the stairs to the morgue, trying not to shiver thinking about everyone that was encased within the walls. People he had loved mixed in with people he himself had killed – all of them sharing the fact that they were property of Torchwood. They both listened as the machine began to beep faster. John moved up and down the rows, holding the hand-held machine higher and lower until both lights flashed on and the 'boop' became a steady tone.

"Found it." John switched the device off and leaned against the row of drawers, his hand on the handle of the one that had been chosen.

Jack shot forward and batted John's hand away. "Don't touch that drawer; don't ever touch that drawer!"

John held Jack's hand in his, idly rubbing his thumb over the back of that hand. Jack didn't seem to notice as he didn't react other than to grip the hand tighter. "Strong feelings about it then?"

Jack searched John's face for some bit of recognition. "What is the last you remember about me – about this place?"

John looked at the floor, almost looking like he was really sorry. "When I was here last...I tried to stop him, I did! I was too late. I never wanted to..." He lifted his head, a sad smile on his face. "Jack..."

Aware that he was now rubbing the back of John's hand soothingly, Jack put on his own thin smile. "I forgive you." He reached up with his other hand and ran it through John's short hair before kissing him on the cheek.

John seized the opportunity and tried to twist his head for more, but Jack lightly shoved him away. "Worth a try," John shrugged.

Jack only stared at him. "What did the...ah...'person' in this drawer do?" Jack felt the number on the outside, tracing the curves of the '3' over and over.

John shook his head. "Not sure." He watched Jack's hand. "The prisoner was tried in his absence. All I was told was that I was to collect said prisoner."

"You don't know what the crime was?" Jack was protecting the drawer with his body now.

"Jack, we both know who is in this drawer. Are you going to make this easy or hard?" He chuckled an aside. "Never thought I would have to say that..." John cleared his throat and continued. "The Provisional Syndicate of Suns sent me – I have to."

"I suppose." Jack stepped back and drew the drawer open, trying not to look at the face inside the cryo-freezer. "I'll help you get him ready."

John wanted nothing more than to draw his former partner into a hug, but the standoffish pose that Jack was striking held him back. He looked down and into the box as he opened the door. "Jack, if there was any way..."

"Don't," Jack warned him, pushing a gurney that was nearby over to put the body on. "We need to unfreeze him and prepare him for the trip." His tone was professional, and he allowed John to help him left the soon-to-be prisoner onto the awaiting gurney.

They pushed him to the medical bay without a word, only stolen glances that spoke volumes. Jack wanted to trust John, and John was more than willing to give him reason to trust, that was why he had asked for this job in the first place. He knew that if he could get into Torchwood, to see Jack, that he could find a way to make the man that he once fell in love with trust him. And here he was, everything going according to plan.

"Help me here." Jack pointed to the body. "I need to get him hooked up to some liquids, rehydrate him. But before I do that, I am going to have to put restraints on him." He scrubbed at his face with both hands. "I didn't ever think I was going to be doing this..."

John stopped him with a hand to the chest. "Jack, slow down. You can talk me through it. Just like the old days."

Jack's eyes met his for one more moment before turning to hand him the restraints. "Just make sure he can't get to his..." Jack stopped and gripped the wrist nearest him. "How the hell did he get this?" He held the arm up for John to see.

John bit hip lip and looked down at the floor. "He...uh...well, you see..."

"Out with it!" The soft tone he had been using was replaced by a sharp bark that echoed in the tiny bay.

"Hewasatimeagent."

Jack's eyes bugged out of his head and he slammed his fists down, not caring that they were on the body in front of him. "HE WHAT?"

John held his hands out in surrender. "He was a Time Agent. That's how he got in this mess in the first place."

"And no one thought to tell me?"

"We tried. Four of us - don't you remember?" John was worried. He could remember clearly the day they had contacted Jack. "It was shortly after Marcus died and you were offworld..." He looked at Jack's face, but found nothing there to indicate that he did. "Really? You don't...oh."

Jack turned away, unable to look at John anymore. "Are you going to help me with this?" He took the Vortex Manipulator and handed it to John. "You'll need this."

"You did have memories erased! I thought it was just a story!" He caught the wrist strap and put it in his pocket.

Jack gave him an acidic look and growled. "Just put the damn restraints on; I'll start the drips. Then you can get out of here. And, so you know, I don't expect to see you around here ever again. I mean it. You have taken enough from me. Give me some peace." With that, he helped John make sure the patient was secure and began the revival process. Then he left the room, finding that John was following him again. "What?"

"Listen, if I had known..." John started, leaning on the nearest desk, crossing his ankles.

Jack suddenly lunged forward, poking at John with one finger. "If you had known, what would you have done?" Jack fell back, his hands in his hair. "Jesus! I should have known!"

John moved to stand at Jack's shoulders, gently rubbing them. "There was nothing you could have done. I tried." Jack groaned into the sensation; John rubbed harder. "Look where it got me." He laughed, finding the situation grimly funny. "I ended up bullying the one person I had really ever loved."

Jack turned to look at John and found something he hadn't seen in a long time. Suddenly, the air was too cloudy for him to even think. He found himself unable to turn away, even though he knew that he should. He knew that what he was about to do could very well end the most wonderful thing he had going in his life, but he couldn't care. Nothing mattered. Nothing but John Hart and Jack Harkness and the way they were now kissing – with fire and need and...

"JACK!" The voice was shrill.

John grabbed Jack back when he tried to turn from him - or at least he tried. Jack spun to face Gwen, whose mouth was hanging in shock, her eyes wide. He shook his head in confusion before turning back to growl at John, whose only reply was to shrug and look away. "Just wait for me in my office!" He yelled at John, pointing him in that direction. "You can take the prisoner when he's ready!" He turned back to address Gwen. "And you – sorry you had to see that." He composed himself for a moment. "Could you be a doll and get us coffees? Ianto won't be in today." He flashed a quick smile at her.

She nodded slowly. "Yeah, I can do. Be back in about," she looked at her watch. "Fifteen."

"Make in thirty," Jack informed her as he started up to his office.

***

The alarm sounded as the cog rolled back to reveal Gwen carrying to take-away coffee cups with the familiar emblem on them. "I have my eyes closed!" She yelled across the Hub, hearing her voice echo.

"No need, he's gone." Jack was right beside her, taking the cup with his name on it and drinking deeply. "This is sooo good, thank you, Gwen."

She crossed to sit at her desk, two cups still in the carrier. "So, you gonna tell me why he was here?" She opened her eyes wide in question.

"Well, Gwen," Jack sat on the corner of her desk and picked up a framed photo of Owen and Tosh that sat there, brushing a thumb over Tosh's face. "I don't think..."

"What the hell happened down here?" Martha's voice carried up the steps. "Everything is tossed around, there are empty saline bags littering the floor, used needles...JACK!"

Gwen's eyebrows shot up past her bangs and Jack shrugged at her, setting the frame down before leaning on the railing to talk to the visiting doctor. "Small mishap. Had to transport a cryo-patient to a different location by order of the Provisional Syndicate of Suns – heard of them?"

Martha glared up at him, hands on her hips. "No. And if you don't get down here and clean this mess up, right now, mister..." She didn't finish the threat, but she didn't have to; Jack was already taking the steps two at a time. "I am going to leave you down here with this mess. You have half an hour. In that time, I will be drinking my coffee. Get to it."

A smile broke out on Jack's face. "Oh, Martha, more and more you make me think I am with the wrong Jones – you're as good at bossy as him..."

"Don't think for one minute anyone but him would put up with you," Martha laughed back. "Please get it done, Jack. I have a load of work to do."

"I will. Go. Have coffee and girly chat." He began to pick up the mess as Martha went to join Gwen.

"Was it that bad of a mess?" Gwen asked when Martha reached for her cup.

Martha shook her head. "You have no idea. I wonder what he really got up to down there." She drank. "I mean, if Ianto weren't out, I would think..." She caught Gwen's eyes going wide. "What?"

"Nothing." Gwen said too quickly, turning back to her cup, which was suddenly very interesting.

"Gwen." Martha was staring at her.

"What?" She picked at the cup now.

"What do you know?"

"Nothing." Martha gave her a look that could only mean 'spill it now', and she sighed. "Okay," she whispered, "When I came in, Jack wasn't alone."

"I knew it! That sneaky Ianto..." Gwen stopped her with a hand over hers.

"It wasn't Ianto," she grimaced, watching Martha's face fall. "It was John Hart."

Martha grimaced and caught her coffee as it started to slip. "What? You can't be serious."

"I am though." Gwen looked towards the bay. "Do you think he'll tell Ianto?"

Martha frowned. "Do I think he'll tell Ianto what? Nothing went on." Gwen raised her eyebrows, prompting Martha to lean forward, not noticing that she was spilling her beverage a bit until she could feel the heat on her leg - but that didn't bother her. "Listen. Nothing went on. Jack's not like you lot think. He's in love with Ianto. I know that better than anyone. I saw him when you didn't. When he was gone, that's the only person he could think about; the only person he would talk about. Every action that man has, every thought in his head – he thinks about how it will affect Ianto first and foremost. Trust me on that."

Jack came up the stairs to find the two of them talking about the changes that the Rift monitor was reporting. "So, yeah, we're one down in the vaults now. Bay 0-0-3 is now open for business if you need it, Dr. Jones." Martha nodded to him. "And your work area is clean – and though you could eat off the floor, I wouldn't."

"You're the best," Martha stood to hug him. "Don't let anybody tell you any different."

"No, that would be Ianto," Jack corrected her. "Who I need to call and check on."

"Reminds me, how was last night?" Martha sat in the chair Jack rolled to her. "Henry sleep all right?" Jack just looked at her. "He will, Ianto will have him in a routine in no time."

Jack laughed, "I'm hoping. Not used to having kids around anymore."

Gwen went to speak, but Martha caught her eye and shook her head almost imperceptibly. "Go, call Ianto. Find out if he's okay. Gwen and I can review these readings."

"Martha Jones, again I say – you are indeed an angel." He kissed her on the top of the head. "You too, Gwen," he added with a kiss to her as well before bounding up to his office to make a call.

It still smelled like John Hart, and Jack made a note to clean up in there before Ianto made it back. He didn't want him to think that anything had gone on, after all. He picked up his cell to dial, but the phone on his desk rang. He listened to it ring twice before he remembered that Ianto wasn't in the Tourist Centre to answer it. Sighing, he reached over and cradled the receiver in his hand.

"Jack Harkness," he answered, expecting it to be nothing more than a weekly status interview from UNIT, but finding that it was another department – one that was searching for a file that was supposed to be in that morning that they needed very badly . Jack apologized and told the caller he would get right on it, making a note on a post-it pad that sat next to the phone before hanging up in a huff. That call had ruined the good mood he was going to use on Ianto.

As he was stewing, trying to find the report that that phone call had been about, the phone rang again. "Harkness!" He barked, finding the prime minister on the other end. She was in another huff over something or other, but Jack found he couldn't listen; he could never listen. That was why fielding calls was Ianto's job. He listened to her drone on about the ramifications of members of parliamentary being possible aliens – or something like that - for a good hour before someone told her there was a call for her on another line and she excused herself. When Gwen gave a quick wave up to him, he thought briefly that he should give her a raise.

Settling back into his seat to find that report the phone rang a third time. "What?" There was silence on the other end before someone said his name. "Jack?" It was Ianto; Jack felt instantly sorry. "Oh, thank Gods! Yan, I had a call this morning about a report that didn't get to UNIT on time – I didn't even know that the damned thing existed, let alone that it was due back this morning! You could have at least told me they were here..." Jack stopped talking when he heard the wailing in the background – over the sound of Ianto's tell-tale anger pant.

"Listen to me, Jack Fucking Harkness." The reply came between breaths – very heavy ones. "I told you LAST WEEK about those. Left you a list even. Taped to the top of the desk. And before you say anything – there is another copy tacked to the board in the kitchenette and a third copy actually sitting on the fax machine." Ianto stopped for a breath and Jack heard faint scuffling on the phone. "Would you like me to come in and hold your hand while you sign the paperwork? Because I would love to do that, but my hands are a little busy right now." Jack's eyes grew wide. "One minute, Jack." Ianto held his hand over the phone, but it was still clear what he was saying. "No, Henry! Dirt is not for eating! And put that worm down!" More struggling sounds and crying – not all Henry that time. "Look, Jack, going to the park isn't working out so well. I've got to go before...Henry! No worms!" The line went dead before Jack could answer. He shrugged and left his office to go to the conference room, where Martha and Gwen were already setting up.

"Ianto okay?" Martha asked, looking up from the picture of Louann Heshel that Gwen had provided the day before.

Jack looked confused as he answered. "Yeah, I think...anyway...do we have anything new on the Heshels?"

"Nothing." Martha shook her head. "I wish I could have found something, but the trail dies at Norris. Nothing carved in the body, no abnormalities." She tossed the pen that she was holding onto the table in front of her. "Dammit! Jack, there should be more information!"

"It's okay," Jack moved to rub Martha's back. "We aren't always going to have all the answers."

"We used to." Gwen spoke to the table, her voice holding back tears. "Jack, we need help."

Jack sighed as he took his chair. "We do, but it's just not possible right now." He ran his hands over his face. "So, that being said, what do we know?"

"Only what Gwen and Ianto knew from yesterday. This is a dead end, Jack!" Martha threw the files on the table and stood. "What went on here this morning?"

Jack leaned on the table and steepled his fingers. "Prisoner transport."

"What prisoner?" Martha leaned on the table, leaning toward him.

"One in our vaults." Jack answered quickly.

"More specifically?" Martha leaned closer.

"Classified." Jack looked her in the eye, not letting the tactic she was using intimidate him like it should have.

"That's not true; you don't want to tell." Martha was all but in his face now. "Who came to get the 'prisoner'?"

"John," Gwen answered, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms on her chest.

"Who?" Martha was sure she didn't hear that right, and turned to the Welshwoman.

"John Hart."

"No." Martha shook her head with a smile. "Jack would never let him in here."

"But he did. I saw him."

"Jack!" Martha spun back to face Jack, who was now leaning back in his chair – his pose much like Gwen's. "You didn't!"

Jack forced a laugh from the back of his throat. "It's true. He had orders. I had to let him. But he's gone now." He shook his head. "Not coming back."

"Are you sure?" Gwen asked, shrill. "Jack, he said that the last-"

Jack cut her off with a look. "He's different, Gwen. You don't know him like I did – like I do. He says he's going, he's gone."

"Jack, it's just-" She was stopped by Jack holding up a single hand.

"Not important. It's over." He turned back to Martha. "What is important is that we find out where Ms. Heshel went."

"Right." She agreed, picking the folders back up and sitting down again. "I guess I can try and cross reference with anything UNIT might have on similar cases."

"And I can check back records here at the Hub," Gwen offered, feeling thoroughly defeated.

"Great, when I get home tonight, I can ask Ian-" Jack's wrist strap beeped. He looked down and grimaced. "Have to get this," he walked out of the conference room and into his office.

"Jack!" John's voice echoed in the room. "I'm back, do you want to meet me somewhere so I can give you my wriststrap?"

"Why would I do that?" Jack narrowed his eyes, knowing the other man could hear it in his voice.

"So that you would know that I am leaving for good. It's good for one more jump. You can send me wherever you want and keep it as a memento." His voice was mostly sincere, but Jack didn't quite trust him.

"Do you mean that? You'll leave me and everyone I love alone?" He looked over at a framed picture on his desk, and beside it, a New York snowglobe and a Rubik's cube.

"Awww, don't you love me anymore, sweetheart?" John pouted.

"No." Jack looked at the clock with a heavy sigh. "Where do you want to meet me?"

"How about a dark alley where we can get a quickie in?"

"No." Jack pursed his lips. "There is a park not too far from here. No one will notice us."

"Are you saying no to the alley and yes to the sex then?"

"John." Jack somehow managed to make it rhyme with 'bastard'.

"Yes?"

"The park. Fifteen minutes." He terminated communication before John could say anymore and grabbed his coat. "I'll be back in a little bit," Jack told the women as he stood on the perception filter and started to ascend.

"But where are you going?" Gwen called up.

They weren't sure, but it sounded like Jack had answered, "None of your damn business."

John was there, all right. That obnoxious coat so out of place. No one was around though, that was good. Jack walked up to him and stood, holding out his hand.

"Just like that? No 'Hello, love'?" John smirked and relaxed his stance a bit.

"Give me the damn thing so I can get rid of you." Jack's hand didn't move.

"Well, aren't we all 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am'?" He unbuckled his wrist strap and slapped it forcefully into Jack's hand, careful to lash his wrist a little.

Jack winced and closed his hand around it. "Where to?" He fiddled with the controls.

"Surprise me." John grinned. "You always did like that."

Jack looked up at him as held his head down still. "Funny, I still think mine's bigger."

"Oi! You never complained!" John reached for it, but Jack instinctively slapped his hand away. John grinned a coyote smile. "And how are you measuring? That dial is a good inch wider..."

Jack held up his wrist, a familiar toothy smirk on his face. "Yeah, that may well be, but mine goes all the way around." John's smile disappeared. "Been nice knowing you. Well, not really but..." Jack activated the strap before the other man could say more. "Good riddance," Jack said, but as he pocketed the manipulator, a small tear fell down his cheek. He walked to the SUV and started the drive back to the Hub, sure that things were going to be a lot easier now.

John Hart smiled as he landed. He was used to the jolt by now, so he didn't need recovery time before he looked around. That bastard had sent him to a bazaar on Goik Delta, of all places. A bazaar that was virtually overrun by Catkind. He shivered. Even he had standards.

Wasting no more time, John reached in his pocket and produced the spare vortex manipulator. It was lucky for him that the Provisional Syndicate of Suns hadn't asked for Gray's wrist strap. Sure, it was smaller than his, but it was worth getting one over on Jack Harkness. He fiddled with the controls for a while before he was able to get them to work, but once he did, he was on his way.

***

"Ianto?" Jack called as he walked through the door, not sure what to expect. What he found made him laugh. Ianto was on the couch, his arm draped lazily across the child's shoulder. Both were fast asleep as the menu for 'Finding Nemo' played. Jack carefully took off his coat and hung it before taking off his shoes.

Ianto had already eaten and fed Henry, the mess that was still in the kitchen proved that. Jack got himself an apple from the refrigerator and went to sit beside them, turning the movie on to watch it himself.

Ianto woke to the sound of Jack sniffling. "What is it?" He asked groggily, not awake enough to understand who was making the noise yet. "Why are you crying?" Ianto looked down at Henry, but saw that the boy was still asleep.

"I can't help it," Jack whispered. "This is sad." He put his head on Ianto's shoulder. "All he wanted was to have a home and then – everything...everything fell apart." Jack sucked in a breath of realization. "Oh God, Yan -" Jack pulled away to look at Ianto's face. "That's you."

Ianto shook his head. "Jack, you haven't even seen the rest of the movie."

"I don't know if I want to – I thought this was supposed to be a kid's movie anyway. You let Henry watch this?"

Ianto laughed. "He loves the turtles."

"There are turtles? Where can turtles possibly fit in in this? I mean, look, there's the baby fish – and his fin is all – well, wonky. He could get hurt if he goes out like that! I don't see any turtles in this part..." Jack was rambling the reasons that the story Ianto was telling him was flawed.

"Jack," Ianto put a finger to Jack's lips. "It's fine. And because I know that it will upset you if you don't know he's okay, I am going to tell you the quick version." He waited for Jack to stop trying to talk around his finger before continuing. "The 'baby fish' as you called him is named Nemo – it's him they have to find..."

"See? I told you! He could get hurt out there! I mean...right, shutting up and listening now."

"Yes, he gets lost, but they don't give up trying to find him. And he has lots of adventures and meets lots of friends along the way – like Dory – she's my favorite. Sometimes it seems like he'll be lost forever, but he's not. They find him." Ianto assured Jack simply. "Just watch."

"They don't stop looking?" Jack asked, looking into Ianto's eyes.

"Nope." Ianto shook his head slowly, not breaking eye contact. "And they never will. No matter how many times you watch it."

Jack laughed a little. "How many times have you seen it?"

"Three today." Ianto looked down at Henry. "But if you are asking me about overall – I can't tell you. I lost count at a hundred."

Jack was a bit surprised by that. "Is this your favorite Disney movie?"

"No, it was Tosh's. We watched it every night when you were gone. To remind us." He was quiet for a moment. "My favorite Disney movie is '101 Dalmatians'."

"Seriously?" Jack chuckled.

"What one would you have thought? Cinderella?" Ianto playfully poked at Jack.

"Well, you know, he was a pretty charming prince..." Jack poked back, causing Ianto to jump and Henry to squirm.

"Jack!" Ianto whispered loudly. "Let me put him down and then I'll heat your dinner."

Jack pouted. "I'll have a Ianto."

"No, Jack, not really in the mood. Had a rough day." Ianto shifted Henry to his lap.

"I know what would make it better." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Jack," Ianto pushed up using the arm of the couch and disappeared down the hall as Jack watched him. "And quit watching me walk away."

Jack snorted and went into the kitchen to get something to drink. He looked at the dish on the stove and saw it was still half-full of the lasagna that Ianto had made for dinner. He had only tasted it on one other occasion, but he remembered it was worth waiting for again. He was dishing some up to put in the microwave when Ianto reappeared, putting his arms around Jack from behind.

"How was it?" He asked the back of Jack's neck.

"I should be asking you." Jack twisted to look at him. "After that call this morning – what happened?"

Ianto sighed and buried his face. "He was eating worms."

"Eating..."

"Worms. Yes."

Jack made a face, even though Ianto couldn't see him. "I'm so sorry."

"Turns out they do that." Ianto informed him. "Some mother at the park helped me out. Asked all sorts of questions."

"Questions?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "Ianto Jones! That woman was hitting on you..."

"No." Ianto looked scared for a moment. "All she did was help me out. She even gave me her number in case I had any more questions."

Jack laughed and nodded. "She was."

"No – I mean, she asked me if I was alone – where his mother was. When I told her his mother was gone..." He thought for the first time about what had happened and look stricken.

Jack laughed a bit harder as he turned in Ianto's arms. "And who wouldn't? You're dead sexy!"

"Oh, stop." Ianto tried to look away, but Jack caught his face in his hands.

"You are, Ianto." Jack hated that he had to be reminded. "Don't make me do the baby-talking."

"Okay, okay. Anything but the baby-talking and calling me 'bunny-wunny'..." Ianto smiled and leaned forward to brush his lips on Jack's. "Now, let's get you fed."

"Tease." Jack mock-pouted as Ianto pushed him into a seat and handed him a bottle of water.

"Only if I don't intend to follow through later." Ianto put Jack's plate in front of him.

Jack inhaled deeply."What about Henry?"

Ianto looked as if he hadn't thought of that yet."I suppose we could wheel the playpen into the office." He looked at the ceiling for inspiration. "Which reminds me – would you be angry if we changed that to a bedroom? I'm not really comfortable with a baby in our room all the time."

"Sure, no problem." Jack took his first bite and let the flavors hit him. "Order a bed and whatever else and we can do that this weekend."

Ianto sat with his own bottle of water. "Before or after we get back from my parent's house?"

Jack stopped chewing. "Uh, this is the first I've heard about going there at all."

"Oh, yeah, Mam called." Ianto smiled weakly. "They're having the twins' birthday this weekend. She said to tell you if we aren't there that she will 'be forced to employ former tactics'? Don't know what that means, but she said that you would." He drank his water.

Jack's eyes grew wide and he swallowed. "We should leave mid-day Friday and come back on Sunday."

"Wow, no fight about this?" Ianto was slightly concerned.

Jack shook his head. "Mam said."

"Jack, you can tell her no."

"You tell her no then. Not me."

"You're afraid of Mam," Ianto teased.

"Not that – just...I know mothers." He shuddered briefly at a memory. "We need to get the girls something. Order that too." He shoveled another bite into his mouth.

"Yes, sir." Ianto knew he had already done that earlier, when he had ordered the furniture for Henry's room.

Jack finished his lasagna before talking again. "Ianto?"

"Yes?" The Welshman was brought out of his thoughts on how to arrange the former office.

"If you don't want to go, we don't have to." Jack stood to put his plate in the sink with the others.

Ianto looked up at him as he passed him. "Why wouldn't I want to?"

"Henry." Jack wiped his hands on the dishtowel that sat on the counter.

"Oh."

"How are you going to explain him?"

"Uh - Fostering, Jack. Couples do it all the time."

"Right. Forgot. Sometimes the truth is the easiest."

"Are you okay?"

Jack was standing behind him, idly rubbing his shoulders, not applying enough pressure to be doing anything more than showing Ianto he was there. "I don't know what it is, maybe it's not knowing what is going on with Louann Heshel. It doesn't seem right that we can't get any leads on her disappearance – or what happened to Henry's dad. Things aren't fitting together right. And you aren't there."

Ianto sighed and placed his hands on top of Jack's, stilling them. "I can't be there. I need to be here right now. Henry is just getting settled in. To change something on him again so soon in so few days might be damaging for him."

"Wow. You've been doing your research." He bent to kiss Ianto on the head. "Not that I would expect anything less from you."

"You put too much faith in me sometimes, I fear." Ianto sighed, pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes and rubbing before collapsing on the table.

Jack rubbed small circles on Ianto's back. "Sorry about today. We'll get a day nanny as soon as possible."

"Yesterday?" Ianto looked up at Jack with his best imitation of beagle-eyes. "Is that too soon for you?"

"As soon as I can, Yan, I promise." Jack smiled back down at him.

Ianto's head went back down with an audible 'thunk'. "Don't you have a time traveling friend somewhere?"

"That's a gross misuse of the technology."

"No it isn't."

"Ianto."

"You're right. And I know that this has to be done slowly. But, honestly, it reminds me of something Mam used to say when she got mad at us."

"What was that?"

"That raising us was like being pecked to death by a duck."

Jack laughed and helped Ianto to his feet. "Come on. You need sleep."

"A truer statement has never been said." He let Jack lead him down the hall. "Except maybe the thing about the pecking duck..."

"You're punchy." Jack kissed him on the nose as he pulled him towards the bed.

Ianto braced himself as his knees hit the mattress. "Jack, stop."

Jack pushed forward. "I can move the playpen."

Ianto put his hands on Jack's chest and pushed. "Won't do any good."

Jack stood, confused. "And why not?"

"Because Henry is on the bed."

"Let me guess." Jack ran a hand over his face. "If you move him he wakes up?"

Ianto nodded slowly. "Sorry – he wouldn't go down in the playpen."

Jack smiled. "No, I was going to go and do the dishes anyway. You go ahead and get some sleep. I won't be long."

Ianto drew Jack close and kissed him. "I love you."

"You better." Jack kissed him on the nose again before leaving the room.

The dishes done, Jack sank into the couch, glancing at his watch. He figured he would finish the movie – he had to know how the turtles fit in. But he never found out. Only a few more minutes into it, he dozed off.

"Where are you from, stranger?" Her voice was a coarse whisper.

"I suppose I should be the one asking that," Jack gasped out as her rough tongue lapped at the tender skin.

"Does it really matter?" She placed a small nip where she had been licking. "We don't even know each other's real names..."

Jack moaned out his response. "True." He sat back and let her lap at the sweat that was on his body, listening to the noise in her throat deepen and spread to her chest. He supposed, with her appearance and all, that it was an advanced form of purring. No matter what it was, all he was thinking about was how it would feel once her chest was pressed to his.

The soft noises she was making were driving him absolutely mad. He put his arms around her and pulled her to full knee-height. "Hessa." He whispered the name she had told him to call her into her velvet ear.

"Yes?" She asked back, her ear twitching as it came into contact with his lips. "What do you need from me, Kaget? All you have to do is ask."

"You."

"You need me?" She put a lightly furred hand around the back of his neck and pulled him closer, brushing her whiskers on his face one more time, making him shiver. Jack could do nothing but nod mutely. "How much do you need me?"

"A lot," Jack managed to get out after a moment. They were so close, it should have been easy to just lean forward and catch her lips, but something stopped him. "So much."

Hessa grinned, closing the gap so that Jack could feel her breath hot on his lips. "Enough to help me?"

"Yes." Jack should have known better; his training had specifically warned him about this type of situation. "Anything you need."

She licked his lips before leaning back again, leaving Jack panting. "I like that." She stood and crossed the room to get the bag she had been carrying. She brought it back to where Jack sat and straddled his lap as she sat to rummage in the bag.

Jack watched as she bit her lip and threw things to the floor that were not the item she was looking for. Once or twice, she looked down at him and smiled, wiggling a bit on his lap as she did so. He thought it was unfair how much she was breaking the rules and how she was making him do the same. He caught her wrist in his hand and pushed her sleeve up, looking for anything that would indicate that she was in the same line of work and attempting to play him for the fool he was acting – but he found nothing, only a downy fur-covered wrist that he nipped at playfully.

Hessa sucked in her own breath then, letting her eyes meet his. "Okay, Kaget, I need that back, otherwise I won't be able to find this 'trinket' that I need to show you."

Jack reluctantly let go, but drew his arms around her waist and wondered about what was under the dress she wore. He couldn't feel anything that felt like a tail, but the way she was sitting, it was possible that it was just small. He was lost in that the thought that she may be more feline than human when she held a small piece of plastic under his nose.

"Hello?Hessa to extremely hot human who is grinding his hips into me while fully clothed," she spoke.

"Huh?" Jack took the item she was offering and flipped it over and over in his hand before holding it in the sunlight. "What does this have on it?" He knew an info-chip when he saw it.

"This," she pointed to his palm, "was why they were chasing us."

"Yeah, I get that. But what is it?"

"An info-chip."

"Hessa." Jack was suddenly as serious as he could be with an attractive member of any species sitting on his lap. "I need to know what this is to help you."

She sighed heavily and readjusted herself on his lap, making sure to do it for a little longer than necessary. "Well, Kaget, to tell you that, I have to tell you the rest of the story. Are you sure you want to know that?"

Jack tried to concentrate, he really did, but she was quite the looker. "Yeah."

She shook her head in pity for the man. "It's all the info on my race. My brother and I were traveling here from our home planet when-"

"Which one would that be?" Jack inclined his head.

The question confused her."Brother?"

"No, home planet."

She panicked, but hoped he didn't see her."You first."

"Fine." Jack put his hand on her hips to ease her back a bit. It was hard to lie to a woman who had you at an advantage, but he managed. "Earth."

"Orig 5. Happy?" She tried to readjust, but Jack held her firmly, rubbing his thumbs in circles.

"Very." He slipped easily into interrogation mode. "And where is your brother? Lurking in the shadows waiting to slit my throat?"

She looked away from him at the floor. "He died when our ship crashed. I lost everything that day!" Before Jack could apologize, she was out the door. He had no choice but to follow her. Running, he saw a scrap of the fabric of her dress as she turned the corner.

Jack startled awake to find Ianto standing above him. "Are you okay, Jack?" He scooted Jack to join him on the couch. "You were whimpering."

"Yeah, I..." Jack looked around the room. "I was having a dream, that's all."

"You've been having a lot of dreams lately." Ianto reached to put his hand on the back of Jack's neck and thought he felt the other man shudder. "Are you okay?"

Jack reached back to cover Ianto's hand. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Honest?"

"Yes, Yan, don't worry about me. They aren't nightmares," Jack insisted, pulling Ianto as close to him as he could. "Why were you out here anyway? Why aren't you asleep?"

"Thirsty," Ianto told his chest. "Got up to get water and heard you. You ready for bed?"

"Another night with a baby between us?" Jack felt Ianto nod. "It's almost real life in here." He pulled Ianto up to kiss him, holding the man's face. "I love you."

"Come on," Ianto stood and pulled Jack to his feet. "I get lonely with no one to steal my covers. But take off that damn watch, Last time you wore it to bed, you got it caught in my hair."

Jack set the watch on the bureau as he watched Ianto shuffle Henry back into the middle of the bed. Something about the way he moved with the boy so naturally made Jack a bit teary-eyed.

"Something wrong?" Ianto asked him when he caught Jack watching him.

"Nothing at all," Jack said as he slid into bed and patted the child between them before drifting off to a dreamless sleep.

***

Next part of Year of the Cat.

• Main Torchwood slash page
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• Amazon.com - Torchwood: Children of Earth
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• Amazon.ca link - Torchwood - The Complete First Season (7DVD)