Fic: The Sea After a Storm (4/?)
Title: The Sea After a Storm, Chapter 4
Rating: R
Warnings: Whining in the author's note, none for the story :)
Spoilers: Season Two thru Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2x01)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©’s to Chris Chibnall for dialogue borrowed from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: In which John Hart arrives at the Hub…
Notes: As I am feeling extraordinarily beat down these days (by work, the muses, real life, et al.), I'm posting early in the hopes that lovely comments from all you lovely readers will cheer me up. I promise all comments will be huggled and squoze and cherished by a very blue button. Sequel to Vizzini’s Rule and To The Pain. Thanks to my amazing beta and wonderful friend
thrace_adams for all the help and support; any mistakes are mine!
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Four
Ianto was glad they had gotten to the Hub before the taxi. He sorted some coffee and biscuits for everyone, just in case refreshment would be needed. He was about to load up the tray, but then pondered exactly where they would be talking to Hart. Should I head up to the Tourist Office? Surely if he’s as dangerous as Jack believes, he wouldn’t just let him -
That train of thought became moot when the motor for the invisible lift engaged. Gwen jerked her head at all of them and they took their places as discussed. Owen and Tosh were both armed and keeping Hart in sight at all times, Gwen had the scanner ready to make sure Hart didn’t have anything lethal hidden on him and Ianto had his tea tray.
As they expected, Jack asked Hart to disarm as soon as the lift came to a halt. Jack quirked a smile at Ianto as he placed the first two guns on the proffered tray. Ianto gave a minute shrug of his shoulders in response.
After Hart was fully disarmed, Jack turned to Ianto. "Would you take John up to the conference room and…" The request trailed off as Jack looked up to the glass room above them which was patently no longer a conference room as it was now filled with plants and flowers rather than chairs and tables. He glanced back at Ianto in confusion.
"It's a hothouse now, sir. We've taken to using the War Room on Archive Level One," Ianto explained.
"The what room?"
Ianto flushed slightly. "The boardroom with the pocket doors? It's at the end of hallway four."
"Oh, yeah. War Room?" Jack chuckled and smiled at Ianto and for a brief second it was almost like old times. "Okay, if you'll take John down there, I'll join you after I take care of a few things."
Ianto nodded and motioned to Hart to follow him.
"So you're Jack's new toy," Hart observed, practically skipping down the stairs.
"What?" Ianto said as he turned, startled. He cursed the flush that crept up his cheeks when he met John Hart's eyes.
"Can't fool me, I know him too well. Pretty little thing like you? Doesn't mind him ordering you about? Jack's wet dream."
Ianto drew himself up to his full height, using the few inches he had on Hart to his best advantage. "I'd advise you to stop talking right now."
"Oooo!" Hart grinned. He stepped closer, brushing his chest against Ianto's. "Not so little. And so forceful, too. I could just eat you up," he purred with a snap of his teeth.
Ianto curled his lip in disdain and pulled away to continue down the hallway.
"What? Not interested?" Hart teased as he followed. "Come on, live a little. Jack and I used to share plenty of - oh, wait. I think I understand. This is the 20th Century, isn't it?" he asked, his contemptuous tone speaking volumes.
"21st," Ianto snapped as he slid open the pocket doors and pointed at the table. "Sit."
Hart grinned again. "Woof."
Ianto rolled his eyes and stepped back out into the corridor, praying someone was coming to join them.
"You'll never be able to hold on to him, eye candy," Hart called. "A man like Jack? A boy like you? Classic city mouse, country mouse. How you've managed to keep him trapped in this primitive backwater for more than a week, is beyond me."
Ianto glanced back into the boardroom to see Hart sprawled across one of the chairs, hands behind his head as he leaned back, his filthy boot resting on the gleaming surface of the table. Ianto ground his teeth.
"He'll leave, you know."
Ianto flinched and looked at the floor where he was still hovering the doorway.
Hart tipped the chair forward again and stared at Ianto.
"Oh, gone once or twice already, has he?" Hart nodded to himself. "So you already know, when he's gone, he's just gone. No goodbyes, no notes on pillows, just - " he spread his hands, palms up like a magician at the end of a disappearing trick, " - no more Jack. I'm right, aren't I?" Hart smiled again but this time there was no amusement in his expression and his eyes were dark with fury. "You're not enough to keep him here and you know it."
"You don't know anything about it," Ianto postured.
Hart chuckled, relaxing once again and lounging in the chair. "Tell you what, sweet cheeks. Next time he goes, you give me a ring and I'll come running. Show you the stars, yeah?"
"I'd rather - "
Whatever dire act Ianto would have preferred to spending any time with John Hart had to wait. Tosh and Owen came around the corner at that moment, followed after another minute or so by Jack and then Gwen. Ianto stood back and watched as Jack and Gwen continued their subtle tug-of-war for control of the team. When they split up to search for the canisters, he wondered at Gwen's pairing of him with Jack, especially after she darted a conspiratorial glance his way as they were leaving the room. He decided to just let it go as he followed Tosh and Owen back up to the Hub. Owen offered to drive his own car and handed over the SUV keys to Ianto. They waited a few minutes for the rest of the team, all three curious about Jack and Gwen's private conversation, but Tosh pointed out that they should get moving. Ianto wished them luck and tossed the keys nervously between his hands, waiting.
Eventually the other three came up the stairs, Hart looking smug, Gwen looking pleased with herself and Jack… well, Jack was wearing one of those smiles that didn't reach his eyes. Ianto sighed.
"This way, Vera," Gwen teased as she grabbed her jacket and led Hart onto the invisible lift.
Hart hopped up beside her and stood a little closer than necessary.
Jack frowned. "Remember what I said," he admonished and flipped open his wriststrap to engage the lift.
Gwen rolled her eyes and nodded. Hart, for his part, chuckled and licked his lips.
Jack stood and watched them until the lift stopped moving. He jerked when Ianto cleared his throat.
"You, ah… you need a moment, sir?" Ianto asked politely, masking the turmoil inside him.
"Hm? No, no, sorry. Just… he better not hurt her," he muttered.
Ianto added his eyeroll to Gwen's. "She'll be fine. You know, she led the team while you were away. Did a pretty decent job of it, too," Ianto pointed out as they started walking to the garage.
"Yeah, so I've heard," Jack said shortly.
"What we're we supposed to do?" Ianto burst out. "You were gone and we had no idea if you'd ever come back and - and - " Ianto broke off suddenly. He straightened his suit jacket and handed the keys to Jack. "I apologize, sir. That was out of line."
Jack gave him a long look. He opened his mouth and then shut it again more than once before sighing and handing the keys back to Ianto. "You drive," he said quietly.
Ianto took the keys in surprise and watched as Jack walked around to the passenger side door. He was still standing there when Jack settled himself in the car. When he slammed the door, Ianto jumped and followed suit. He started the SUV and backed out of the garage carefully. Driving Jack around always made him nervous. Owen had taken over driving duties while Jack was away, so Ianto rarely drove the big vehicle at all. Twice in one night was unheard of. He just hoped he didn't get so distracted by Jack that he wrecked the SUV.
Rolling his eyes at himself, Ianto drove into the night.
TBC in Chapter Five