tw_classic_bb In Demand (part three)
A few hours later, Ianto stumbled into the living room. Tony sat on the couch and tapped away at his keyboard. Ianto grumbled something about coffee as Tony realized he was there and quickly shut the laptop. “Feeling any better?”
Ianto didn’t answer. He didn’t think he could do both, make coffee and talk. He managed to get it brewing before he leaned against the doorway and said, “I hate you.”
Tony looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Oh, really?”
“We drank the same amount last night and while I look like death warmed over you look like you’ve been sober for days. That is unfair!”
“Ianto,” Tony said as he stood up and crossed the room. “My dear, stinking friend. You are a light-weight. You’ve always been a light-weight and you always will be. It’s what we - your friends - find so endearing about you. You can drink like a fish but the next day you’re a prickly, disgusting husk of a man.”
Ianto gave him the finger and said, “Love you too.”
“I thought you hated me?” Tony asked, playfully.
Ianto shrugged. “I’m moody.”
As the coffee finished he quickly poured himself a mug and drank it down. He had accustomed his mouth through the years to tolerate the hottest possible coffee. He hated waiting until it cooled enough to drink so he just made himself get used to the higher temperature. He poured another mug and as he passed Tony he said, “There’s more in the pot. I’m going to go soak in the tub for forever.”
Tony nodded with a smile. “Don’t get all pruney.”
“What does it matter? I’ve no one to look nice for,” he groaned, slipping around the corner into his room.
He placed the mug on the counter in the bathroom before filling the tub and stripping down. He even poured some bubbles into the water because that was the mood he was in. He grabbed his mug before sliding into the hot water and suds. Sinking as low as he could go, he closed his eyes and relaxed as he sipped his coffee. It was a perfect moment. At least, it would have been if he didn’t have a niggling feeling at the back of his mind that everything was off. He couldn’t figure it out but something was really not right. He eventually just chalked it up to his problems with Jack and tried to just relax. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working.
~*~
The next morning, Ianto arrived at work at his normal time and immediately set about making coffee for everyone. He didn’t bring a mug up to Jack like he usually did before everyone else arrived, stealing a moment with the man and just enjoying their time together. No, this morning he left Jack’s mug by the machine with the others before heading down to the Vaults to feed Janet.
That was where Jack found him.
“Hey,” was all he said and Ianto turned to see Jack leaning against the doorway. He hadn’t heard him arrive but that wasn’t unusual. Jack could be very quiet when he wanted to.
Ianto only turned and offered him a raised eyebrow before returning his attention on the new resident Hoix that was a few cells down from Janet.
Jack, noticing Ianto’s obvious silence, continued to talk. “Yeah, we were really busy here yesterday. Nothing major, just a bunch of little things. Mostly tech and junk falling through the Rift. And that guy.” He motioned toward the Hoix.
Ianto continued on, silently.
Jack sighed. “Listen, Ianto. I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have barged in like that.”
Ianto turned to face him, rolling his shirtsleeves back down. “No, Jack. You shouldn’t have. While I appreciate the sentiment, you were the one who made it perfectly clear that we’re done. If we’re done then you have no right checking up on me.”
Jack hung his head. “I know.”
Ianto swallowed, hard. He couldn’t stop himself. The words just tumbled out of his mouth. “Why are you doing this to us? Really? Honestly? It’s killing us both, Jack.”
Jack looked at him with soft, sad eyes that suddenly flashed hard as he remembered something. “What about your ‘friend’? You both looked more than just friendly.”
Ianto shook his head, slowly. “You sad, jealous man. Nothing happened. We got drunk and passed out. I guess you missed the fact that we were both fully clothed and looked like hell.”
“You don’t have to be naked to have sex,” Jack ground out.
Ianto lost it. “And what if we had, Jack?” he shouted. Janet hissed and the Hoix growled. “You made it perfectly clear that we were over. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t push and pull me. If you want me, I’m yours but this is your last chance. I’m not going to continue to play your games.”
“I’m not playing games, Ianto. I’m not good for you,” he said, his voice sounded resigned to his choice.
“That’s not how it looks from my point of view. Now, leave me alone. I’ve got work to do and a guest I need to take care of at home. You’ve made your decision and I’m going to have to live with that. But don’t think for one moment I’m happy with this.” He tried to move past Jack but the older man grabbed his arm.
“If he hurts you I’ll kill him,” Jack warned.
“And who’s going to kill you?” Ianto retorted and pulled himself free before disappearing into the maze that was the sub-levels of Torchwood.
Jack rubbed at his eyes and Janet hissed again. He slammed his hand against her cell and shouted, “I know!” and then more quietly, “I know.”
~*~
Ianto was passing around the afternoon coffee to Owen, Gwen and Tosh.
“Thank you, Ianto. I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Tosh said, taking her mug and sipping it.
“Self-induced sickness is always fun. I’m glad I’m better,” he replied, tucking his empty tray under his arm. “Who made coffee yesterday?”
Tosh blushed. Ianto knew she didn’t mean she just missed his coffee but he had to tease. “I did. Well, I made tea after Owen offered to make instant.”
“Smart woman,” he said with a smile. He made to leave when she reached out to touch his arm. Ianto paused and looked to see her staring at the monitor. “Something wrong, Tosh?”
“Umm,” she said and placed her coffee on her desk. She hit a few keys and asked, “Did you access Mainframe yesterday?”
Ianto shook his head. “I barely left my room, yesterday. Why?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Maybe Jack was using your account to access some files in the Archive.”
“He’s done that before. I’ll ask him later,” Ianto said. Jack liked using Ianto’s access because Ianto had streamlined his account so it was easy to find what he wanted. Jack’s was still set to default and he refused to let Ianto customize it for him so it was sometimes difficult to find what he needed.
He wasn’t about to go and ask now, though. Not after their last encounter. No, he would wait until things cooled down between the pair…whenever that would be. Instead, he left the tray in the kitchenette and headed back up to his office in the Tourist Centre. As soon as he got there he resumed trying to solve the puzzle he’d been working on.
Llinos had left him a message. It was much like the one he had left Jack when he was lost in the past. It was a cello-taped note on the back of one of the pages in her personnel file. Ianto had discovered it completely by accident. He had wanted to see her face, again. She had been his friend in the past. She had figured out he wasn’t who he had claimed to be - Ianto Jones from Torchwood Four testing out an experimental transport device - and Ianto fessed-up to being from the future waiting for his Jack to find him. Llinos had protected Ianto from then leader Tilda Brennan and he knew that if he had been permanently placed in the past he would have loved her. He did in his own way love her already. Why else would he be playing along with her treasure hunt? She liked to gamble so it was obvious she had gambled on Ianto finding her little game.
So, the note led him to another file which led him to a box of forgotten artifacts which led him to a small room in the Vaults which then led him to another file which was where he was now, trying to find the next clue to the game.
He had wanted to tell Jack, at first. However, the more he searched the more he realized that this wasn’t for Jack. Llinos had given him a gift and, though he felt selfish, he wanted to keep it for himself.
The door to the Tourist Centre opened and a familiar head popped in. “Hey, Jonesy!”
“Tony? How did you know where to find me?” he asked, an uncomfortable but friendly smile plastered to his face.
Tony smiled and said, “You told me last night, yeah. Besides, I used to work with you. I already knew where the ‘super secret entrance of doom’ where Torchwood Cardiff stood.” He winked and shut the door behind him.
“Ah, so I’m not only a shit drunk I also give away government secrets,” Ianto said. He put the files away and stood up to go stand by the counter that Tony was now leaning against.
Tony seemed to think this over before coming to a conclusion. “Yup. That about sums you up. So, I’m done with my appointments for today. Do you want to show me around?”
Ianto blinked. “I’m not authorized to let you into the Hub, Tony. After yesterday morning, do you think Jack is just going to let me bring you on a tour?”
“I don’t mean the Hub. I’m talking about Cardiff,” Tony said with a laugh.
Ianto felt relieved. He didn’t know why he’d gotten so stressed and misinterpreted Tony’s request. “I’d love to but I’ve got loads of work and I skived off yesterday.” He made it sound like he was a kid.
“Loosen up, Jonesy. You’re young and this job seems to have cinched your arse so tight you wouldn’t know a good time if it danced naked across this counter.” He slapped said counter for emphasis.
“Are you insinuating that I’m wound too tightly? That I’m no longer any fun?” Ianto asked with a smile.
Tony nodded his head. “You, Ianto Jones, are a stick in the mud and you always have been. I’m sure Lisa had to draw up charts and possibly do an interpretive dance before you cottoned on to her advances.”
Ianto smirked, watching as Tony walked around the counter toward him. “Tell me how you really feel,” Ianto prodded, playfully.
“You are so closed off that you can’t see that I’ve been trying to seduce you for two days,” he said, coming within Ianto’s personal space.
The smile on his face slid away as Ianto swallowed and brought his hands up to Tony’s chest. It was intended to be a defensive action but the feel of that solid, warm chest beneath his hands caused his mind to hitch as Tony leaned in and claimed his lips. Ianto hesitated. Tony was kissing him and he was doing it at work and Jack could be watching. All those thoughts disappeared as Tony’s hands came up and framed his face. Ianto kissed back and was lost to the moment. It was a slow kiss meant to explain, not claim and it had been so long since he’d been kissed by anyone. Ianto’s hands remained steady, though they were quickly crushed between their chests as Tony moved closer, pressing Ianto into the wall behind him.
They parted for air and Tony leaned his forehead against Ianto’s. “I wanted to do that the minute I saw you at the restaurant.”
Ianto said nothing. The moment was fading and guilt was quickly curling round and around in his stomach. “Tony, we really should talk.”
Tony smiled and nodded. “I know. Harkness is going to be a complication but I’m a patient man, Ianto Jones.” He leaned in and left a soft, lingering kiss on Ianto’s neck. Ianto’s breath hitched. It was one of his most sensitive spots. He felt Tony smile against his skin. He pulled back and whispered, “I’ll make dinner tonight. We’ll talk then.”
Ianto nodded numbly as Tony pulled away. He immediately missed the warmth of the man as he offered Ianto a smile before leaving the office. Ianto slid down the wall and held his head in his hands. Why couldn’t his life just be simple?
~*~
In his office, Jack watched the whole scene up in the Tourist Centre play out on the CCTV. He knew Ianto was just as surprised as Jack had been by the kiss so he didn’t think Ianto had lied to him. He was heartbroken because it did kill him to see someone else touch Ianto. But this was the way it had to be, no matter the pain. He angrily shut down the screen and missed the moment when Ianto broke down.
~*~
There were three Rift alerts. Two were junk and one was a reverse spike. Ianto was needed to help Jack clean up the mess. There was nothing much left of whoever it had once been to take over to Flat Holm. Ianto was glad for the distraction, though. Even being so close to Jack and having to interact with him wasn’t so bad because his mind was miles away. He took his time as he worked. He didn’t want to go back to the flat. He actually wanted to go down to Jack’s bunk and curl up against him and forget the world. This wasn’t to be, though, so when they returned to the Hub, Ianto went straight off to make coffee. He decided to bring the files down to the main Hub area and see if he could work on figuring out Llinos’ hunt. By the time he had returned from locking up the Tourist Centre, Jack had sent the others home.
“Go home, Ianto,” Jack said from his perch on the catwalk.
Ianto sighed. “I’d really like to stay and work, Jack.”
“Ianto, go home.” Jack’s voice was stern and his arms crossed his chest.
“Jack, we need to talk,” Ianto said. He decided he would fess up to his treasure hunt.
Jack rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Don’t you think we’ve talked enough?”
“No Jack, this isn’t about us. Well, it sort of is but not really,” Ianto said in a rush.
Jack looked down at him. His expression was almost unreadable but his eyes seemed to show he was hurt. Ianto swallowed and realized that Jack had seen the kiss and he thought Ianto wanted to talk about that. Well, he didn’t. He wanted to pretend it hadn’t happened.
“What is it?” Jack asked, resigned to Ianto’s stubbornness.
“It’s about my research. I want to explain what I’ve been doing and why,” Ianto said, holding up the files, inviting Jack to see. Slowly, Jack came down from the catwalk as Ianto began to speak. “See, after I came back from 1939 I began to miss Llinos and Greg, so I took up the habit of reading their personnel files. I didn’t want you to know because I know how much they meant to you and I didn’t want you to think I was trying to take your past from you, I’d already done enough damage.” He looked down at his files as Jack drew closer.
“You really didn’t, Ianto,” Jack said in almost a whisper.
Ianto only shook his head. “Anyway, while going through Llinos’ file I found a piece of paper taped to the back of her profile just like I had taped mine for you to find.” Jack was staring at him intently. Ianto shifted under his gaze. “It was a clue. She outlined a treasure hunt of sorts and led me on a merry romp through the Archives and parts of the Hub.”
Ianto opened one of the files and handed Jack the scrap of paper. It was yellowed and the handwriting was most definitely Llinos’. “She always did like games,” Jack said, sadly. He looked up at Ianto. “You could have told me.”
Ianto ducked his head and blushed. “I know, Jack. I wanted to after I figured out this clue. I wanted to surprise you with what she had done. I’d no idea she would continue it and make it so elaborate. Then you stopped talking to me and began pushing me away. I couldn’t tell you, then. This became mine and Llinos’ game and I didn’t want to share her. Not even with you,” he said.
Jack reached out and brushed a tear off Ianto’s cheek he hadn’t even realized he’d shed. “She will always be one of my great regrets.”
Ianto looked at Jack and asked, “You aren’t mad?”
Jack shook his head. “No. I’m not mad. I’m hurt that you didn’t come to me but really, what right do I have to be hurt? She liked you, Ianto. I remember that. I remember watching her kiss you and thinking that she was finally happy and I was glad.”
Ianto remembered the kiss. It was meant to be a distraction to keep Jack off his tail, literally. Past Jack had to be involved with Greg Bishop and not Ianto Jones. The timeline dictated it and Jack being the pig he was would no doubt try to horn in on Ianto and string Greg along. Llinos knew she couldn’t allow it and she knew Ianto missed his Jack so much that their Jack would have gotten in with no problem. Llinos was rather astute. “If I’d have been trapped there, I would have kept her safe.”
“I know, Ianto,” said Jack. “You would have kept each other safe.”
They stood there in silence, unsure of what to do or say. Normally, Jack would have folded Ianto into his arms and Ianto would have melted into him but things were different and there was still the unspoken kiss with Tony that hovered between the pair. Ianto glanced up at Jack and asked, “What about me, Jack? Will I be one of your great regrets?”
Jack took a deep breath and turned away from Ianto. Ianto wished he’d been sitting because when Jack spoke he felt his legs go weak. “You, Jones, Ianto Jones, are my greatest regret.” He walked back up to his office and as he closed the door he said, “Stay all night if you need to. I don’t mind.”
Ianto grabbed the nearest chair and collapsed into it. He didn’t know how to feel or how to think. Things just kept getting more and more complicated. He wanted Jack but he couldn’t have him. He wasn’t sure what he wanted from Tony but Tony surely wanted him. He just knew he needed time. Perhaps just some time to himself away from the pair of them would be perfect. He could stay here and work on his hunt and he knew Jack wouldn’t come down again until morning. He quickly sent Tony a text telling him there was Rift activity in the Beacons and he would probably not be home till morning and to not wait for him. When Tony replied with an okay he quickly booted up his computer and sat down to figure out the next piece in Llinos’ puzzle.
~*~
He worked for an hour or so before he actually managed to log into Mainframe. Llinos’ clue had been down near the chamber Lisa had been living in and Ianto had to fight his emotions once more as he searched to find the next piece. It was another piece of tech and a note. How these pieces of paper didn’t crumble into dust after all these years was quite a miracle. He brought the piece up to his desk and opened the drawer and placed it with the first piece. The note told him to search for another file. Ianto was dusty and sweaty. The last clue was up in an air shaft and he had to remove the dirty, rusty vent before climbing halfway into it to reach it. He almost lost his mobile and a torch in the process as he was using his phone’s SatNav to help navigate the sub-levels and follow Llinos’ directions. It was almost like geocaching within the Hub.
He quickly made himself a cup of coffee before sitting down and pulling up his log-in. He typed in his username and password but the system beeped at him and refused to let him in. Odd. He tried again. It did the same thing. He jumped over to Tosh’s system to see if he could find out the problem. He quickly pulled up the program that allows you to monitor Mainframe and he quickly saw that the system was telling him he was already in it. That was impossible.
He glanced up to Jack’s office. The lights were dim but that didn’t mean Jack hadn’t gone down to his bunk. He started to move toward his office when he heard Jack in the kitchenette rummaging through the fridge for food.
Ianto felt his stomach fall into his feet. Someone was using his account to hack into Torchwood and he had a feeling he knew who it would be. He opened his mouth to tell Jack but when the man turned and saw him standing there, Ianto snapped his mouth shut and returned to his desk. Jack watched, a cold éclair hanging from his mouth, as Ianto stiffly cleaned his work area and shut down his pc. “I’m going home, Jack.”
Jack pulled the pastry from his mouth. “Okay. See you in the morning, Ianto.” He turned back to his office and disappeared. Ianto could see the slump to Jack’s shoulders and knew he was disappointed that Ianto was returning to Tony. If you only knew, Jack, he thought, you’d kill us both.
Ianto grabbed his jacket and made sure he had his stun gun. He wasn’t sure if he would need it but just in case. He left the Hub and was entering his flat before he knew it.
Tony was in the guest room. Ianto could hear him tapping away at his laptop and Ianto’s heart died a little. Jack had pushed him away and his good friend had seduced him to use him. How’s that for a boost to the ego?
He kicked open the guest room door and held the stun gun at Tony’s head. “Put your hands where I can see them!” he shouted.
Tony looked shocked but slowly moved his hands upward. “Is this some kink you’re into? I’m not sure if I like the role-play thing but I’m willing to give it a try,” Tony tried to joke.
Ianto snarled and yanked the pc from the man. Tony hadn’t had time to shut down what he was doing. Ianto stared at his own access into Mainframe. “What the hell?”
Tony sighed. “What does it look like, Jonesy?”
“It looks like you were only here to hack into our systems. Thanks for being a friend, buddy,” Ianto spat, throwing the pc against the wall. He then stomped on it a couple times for good measure.
“Don’t you want that for evidence?” Tony asked, sounding slightly hopeful.
“You said you worked for Torchwood. You should know that we have other ways of accessing information. Tosh already knew but I thought it was just Jack. She’ll just go in and see what you’ve been collecting.” Ianto still had the stun gun trained on Tony as he pulled out his phone.
Tony shook his head. “Really, though, you shouldn’t have done that. Now I’m off the system without foreknowledge and you think Jack is overprotective of you, wait till you meet my bosses.”
“I’ve no intention of meeting anyone,” Ianto said. He was trying to call Jack. The line kept ringing and ringing and wouldn’t even go to voice mail.
“Yeah, that’s not going to work,” Tony said. “I’ve already set up a dampening field in this apartment. I hadn’t known you’d left your phone in your car the first night.” Ianto hit a button and threw the seemingly useless phone at the chair in the corner where it bounced once before settling in the crease of the seat cushion. Tony continued, “I also didn’t have a clue that His Harkness would barge in all heroic like. How do you stand him?”
“How can you stand yourself, Tony? We were friends and you used me. Was that kiss even for real?”
“Do you want it to be? You pine over Harkness and all he does is drag you around like a ragdoll. If you’d let me I could bring you over with me to CI and we could have a real relationship, Ianto. We could be happy and I would never push you away and play head-games with you.” Tony’s voice sounded sincere but Ianto was unsure. “You are so much better than Torchwood.”
“I am Torchwood!” he growled just as the front door exploded inward. Ianto turned his back on Tony and glanced carefully around the corner. He wished he had brought a gun.
Tony came up behind him and Ianto flinched. “Just go quietly, Ianto. They won’t hurt you if you don’t fight.” Ianto glanced at him and Tony gently touched his face. Ianto closed his eyes as something inside him broke. There was a crinkle next to Tony’s eye.
“Find me, Jack!” he shouted and threw himself into the onslaught of men dressed in black that stormed into his flat.
TBC