Ar Hyd Y Nos (All through the night)
These stories, like "Stay with me" have their origin in a 'first kiss' meme over at miss_zedem's journal. The eponymous ficlets are hers, while the others are probably best described as a joint effort. With extra thanks to crystalshard a quick beta job.
Dedicated to travels_in_time on her birthday
Title: Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night)
Authors: miss_zedem and jadesfire2808
Rating: PG-13 [for all of them]
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Hugh, Jack/Hugh/Marion
Words: ~3,580 (4 ficlets)
Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night)
Questions
It had seemed like such a small thing at the time. The car had been stuck, they'd been stuck and they'd made the best of it. Except that Hugh spent the next six weeks replaying the words of that conversation from a cold car in a damp Welsh field, when, for once, Jack's guard had been down and Hugh had been given a glimpse of the man behind it. He'd liked what he'd seen.
Of course, there were moments before and since when Jack had confused, annoyed and just down right grated on him, but there were more moments (more and more after that night) when he felt he was seeing the real Jack, not just the man Jack thought Torchwood wanted to see. There was also the Jack who came to dinner, laughed with Hugh's family and made suggestive remarks to his wife. Not just to his wife.
"Penny for them?"
"Hmm?" Looking up, Hugh saw Marion watching him from the kitchen doorway. She'd put Hywel to bed a while before and had disappeared back into the kitchen for something. He was having trouble remembering what, now.
She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I asked you three times if you want coffee, so I can only assume that you're thinking about something deep and meaningful."
Hugh felt himself blushing, and he shifted on the sofa, trying to remember what he'd been doing before getting distracted by the thought of Jack flirting. Which was, he had to be honest, extremely distracting.
A touch on his arm made him look up again.
"Hugh?" Marion was crouched beside the sofa, concern on her face as she looked up at him. "Is everything alright?"
"It's fine. It's..." He broke off, not really sure what he was supposed to say. Somehow, 'it's Jack' didn't sound quite appropriate. "It's just something from work," he said, waving a hand vaguely. Normally that did the trick. Marion had worked for Torchwood too, so she understood that sometimes he couldn't talk about it and sometimes he didn't want to. What he hadn't counted on was that she always knew when he was lying.
Coming to sit next to him on the sofa, she gave him an amused look. "Something? Or someone? You don't smile when you think about work. Or not usually. But when Jack's been involved, there's normally something to smile about."
Damn. He hadn't thought he could get any redder, but Hugh felt fresh heat filling his cheeks and he had to turn away from Marion's knowing smile.
"Jack's...Jack's the problem. Sort of. Well, not a problem exactly more like..."
"A problem."
Shaking his head, Hugh plucked at the arm of the sofa. "It's not that simple."
"Has he been flirting with you?"
Hugh drew in a breath so quickly that he choked. As he tried to recover himself, Marion went on, "It's alright, Hugh. He does that with everyone."
"Not like this." And there it was. Flirting would have been simple, easy to recognise and dismiss. But this, the way that Jack looked at him sometimes or some of the things he'd say. Hugh wasn't exactly an expert on this kind of thing, but he wasn't an idiot either. And lack of experience didn't equal lack of knowledge. Or interest. Marion was still looking at him expectantly and he shrugged. "It's just different, somehow."
"Oh, darling." She tugged him towards her, kissing his cheek gently. "He just doesn't know how to ask you. And you're probably not helping. You need to be more direct with him about it."
Blinking in astonishment, Hugh felt his mouth drop open. "Are you saying I should...should..."
"I'm saying that, for once in his life probably, Jack Harkness is waiting for the other person to make the first move. And that if you don't get on with it, we're going to lose him."
Taking a deep breath, Hugh closed his mouth and tried to compose himself again. This was all moving a bit fast for him. Then he frowned. "Did you just say we?"
Marion laughed. "I'm not jealous of him, love. I can't be. I don't want to be. And I think you should give me a reason not to be."
There was no mistaking the look she was giving him now, as she took his hand and stood up, pulling him with her.
"I can't just walk up to him and say-" Hugh shook his head, even as she began to lead him towards the door. "What would I say?"
"I don't think you'll have to say anything. Just make it obvious. He'll get the hint." They'd made it into the hall, the half-light casting strange shadows across Marion's face. Reaching out, Hugh brushed his fingers lightly across her cheek, smiling as she turned towards the caress.
"You really think I should?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "What about you?"
"I'll be here when you get home. When you both come home." Then she was kissing him and suddenly, really, it was hard to remember what he'd been worrying about.
The following morning. Originally posted in comments at miss_zedem's journal
Answers
Hugh had waited all through breakfast to say something. He'd frowned as he'd drunk his coffee, looked thoughtful through his porridge and still hadn't actually said anything except 'good morning' by the time Marion took the cups and bowls through to wash up. Normally he was up and gone before Hywel left for school, but he came out to the kitchen after the front door shut, absently picking up a tea towel and starting to dry the dishes.
Keeping half an eye on him, just in case he looked like he was going to miss the table as he put the crockery down, Marion let him help in silence, knowing he'd talk when he was good and ready. After last night's conversation, she supposed he had a lot to think about.
She was trying to get the porridge off the bottom of the saucepan when he spoke.
"Mr Goody's sent Jack on a retrieval assignment. He'll be going this evening."
"Really? That's good. He needs more to do, poor thing."
"Yes." Hugh coughed and Marion ducked her head to hide her smile. He'd get there eventually.
"Are you going to go?" she asked, tone carefully neutral.
"I thought I might. It's this evening."
"So you said." Finally finishing the pan, Marion put it on the draining board, tugging the tea towel out of Hugh's grip and drying her hands on it as she looked at him. "It'd be good for you to go, keep an eye on him."
"I don't think Jack needs a babysitter."
"And I don't think that's what you had in mind." Despite herself, Marion laughed at Hugh's half-guilty, half-embarrassed expression. "Darling, we talked about this."
"At length," Hugh said glumly. "I remember."
"And I seem to remember that you're the one who's not sure."
"It's just-" He broke off, shaking his head. "It's not exactly, well, normal."
"Oh, Hugh." Taking a step towards him, Marion cupped his cheek and smiled up at him. "It's Jack." That earned her a faint half-smile, and she leant up to kiss him before going back to the sink. "Besides," she added conversationally, "the sooner you get yourself sorted out the sooner you can bring him back here and-"
The end of the sentence was lost as Hugh caught her by the waist, swinging her off her feet. Soap suds flew in all directions as he spun her round the kitchen, both of them giggling like school children. When he finally put her down, she turned in his arms so that she could look up at him.
"You, Marion Jones," he said, his voice shaking with laughter, "are a wanton hussy. I hope you know that."
"And you, Hugh Jones, are a very lucky man." She reached up to brush the hair from his forehead. "I hope you know that."
"I do."
It was Marion who finally, reluctantly, broke the kiss, stepping away and patting helplessly at her hair.
"You need to go to work," she said, abandoning the attempts to repair the damage.
"I know." He paused, as though uncertain again, then gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Don't wait up."
"I won't." Smiling, she gave him a final kiss on the cheek before slipping past him and out of the kitchen. She was humming to herself as she climbed the stairs, pulling pins out of her hair. She wasn't going to wait up tonight, but, if she had her way, there were going to be a lot more sleepless nights from now on.
Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night)
'What are you doing here?' Jack looked up in surprise as Hugh sat down opposite him.
'I've been sent to keep an eye on you,' said Hugh quietly.
'Oh really?' Jack huffed indignantly. 'Don't tell me. Jock doesn't think I can be trusted.'
'Something like that.' There was the merest hint of a smirk playing at the corners of Hugh's mouth, and Jack couldn't help smiling back. He and Hugh had become close since that night in Wales, and he liked to think he could read the other man easily and accurately.
It was a routine mission, though, and Jack was slightly offended that Jock didn't trust him. Since he'd come back from Scotland, he felt like he'd been watched almost constantly; and while he appreciated they had a job to do, he'd rather hoped he'd proved himself by now.
His attention drifted as a young drag artist sashayed past, unable to help staring at her swaying gait and statuesque figure. When he dragged his eyes back to Hugh, he was annoyed to find the other man openly smirking.
'What?' he demanded defensively.
Hugh quirked an eyebrow. 'Nothing,' he said lightly. 'Just admiring your professional attitude and unflappable demeanour. Sir.'
Jack shook his head. 'There's no call for sarcasm, Jones.'
'Perish the thought, sir.'
'Hmm.' Jack glanced at his watch, then took a sip of his drink. 'The drag act should be on soon,' he said, changing the subject. 'How about you and I slip 'backstage' and have a rummage in her dressing room?' He knew Hugh couldn't be comfortable in this environment, and that he was being cruel. But if he was going to be spied on, the least he could do was have a bit of a play with the spy...
Hugh looked at him steadily. 'I've already found out which room 'she's' using, sir. It should be the work of a matter of minutes to find the artefact.'
As it happened, it took rather longer; most of the show in fact. But they found the jewel eventually, and made their way out of the pub.
'And you didn't even have to kiss me,' murmured Jack, sliding into the passenger's seat of the car and rolling his eyes dramatically. 'Such a disappointment.' He grinned and turned to face Hugh, expecting a smart comeback, or a derisive snort at the very least.
Instead, Hugh was looking at him thoughtfully. 'No, I didn't.' Hugh lowered his eyes, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.
'Something wrong, Jones?'
Hugh shook his head, reaching down to start the engine. 'Not at all, sir.'
They drove in silence, Jack sneaking the occasional sideways glance at the other man. As they pulled up outside the boarding house where Jack was staying, he twisted in his seat to look at Hugh properly.
'I have whiskey in my room,' he said conversationally.
The corner of Hugh's mouth twitched. 'Is that so?'
'Unless you have somewhere else you need to be.'
Hugh glanced at his pocket watch, then back at Jack. 'Not for a little while yet, no.'
As they made their way up the narrow stairs to the third floor lodgings, Jack had to admit he had no idea what was going on. Half an hour and a good portion of whiskey later, he still wasn't certain, but he cared less.
He looked up from his position on the floor over to where Hugh was almost lying on the bed, his shoes kicked off, tie loosened and shirt sleeves rolled up. It was the most relaxed Jack could ever recall seeing him.
'More whiskey?' asked Jack, leaning forward and proffering the bottle.
Hugh nodded and held out his glass, a little unsteadily Jack noticed.
'Maybe you shouldn't drive home tonight,' he said, frowning slightly. 'There's a telephone downstairs, you could ring Marion so she doesn't worry.' He gestured towards the threadbare armchair in the corner. 'I have some spare blankets - you can use the bed, I'll just...' He waved his hand again, almost spilling his drink in the process.
'That sounds like a good idea.' Hugh nodded, sitting up slowly and putting his feet on the floor. 'Only... I already told Marion I may be out all night.' He looked at Jack, his eyes crinkling in amusement.
'Oh.' Jack struggled to his feet, returning Hugh's gaze. 'Oh,' he repeated, eyes widening as he realised the implication of the other man's words. Feeling suddenly and unaccountably like an awkward teenager, he moved across the floor and knelt in front of Hugh, gazing at him curiously. Still not sure he'd read the situation right, Jack leaned forward and kissed Hugh softly, pulling away almost immediately, half expecting to be punched.
Hugh blinked, pressing his lips together and looking like he was trying not to laugh. 'Oh, I think you can do better than that,' he murmured, curling his hand round the back of Jack's neck and drawing him closer.
Jack went willingly, his hands sliding round Hugh's shoulders as the kiss deepened. This hadn't been what he'd been expecting when Hugh had turned up this evening, but Jack wasn't a man to turn down opportunities when they presented themselves to him, and this was certainly an opportunity.
Sighing softly, Jack pressed Hugh gently backwards onto the bed, and kissed him until he couldn't remember why it was a bad idea.
Two days later
Guess who's coming to dinner?
"I was thinking," Marion said over dessert, "we should really have Jack round for dinner. Are you alright, love?" She smiled at Hugh as he dabbed ice-cream from round his mouth. The pause after 'Jack' had been carefully calculated.
There was a slightly hunted, guilty look on Hugh's face. "Oh. Of course. Um." He picked up another spoonful of ice-cream, looked at it for a moment, then put it down again. "What do I say?"
"Just invite him to dinner. He's an intelligent man, I'm sure he'll figure it out. Unless you'd rather give him details."
"No! I mean, I don't, well, that is, er…" Hugh trailed off.
"There you are then. Tomorrow night should be fine. Hywel's going to be at Robin's for the rest of the week."
"Oh. Good."
Marion let him think as they ate, watching his expression change from surprised to nervous to hopeful. When he finally looked up at her, Marion laughed.
"Yes, dear, I know. And do you know what else?" She offered him her last morsel of ice-cream, holding the spoon steady as he leant forwards. "I can't wait to see his face."
********************
Jack couldn't make the following night, but he did accept for Thursday, and Hugh passed on a vague hope from him for Marion's lamb casserole.
By five o'clock Thursday afternoon, Marion decided that she either had sit down or wear the floor away completely. She'd cleaned, hoovered and dusted, changed the sheets twice as well as making up Hywel's room as a guest bedroom, just in case. When she seriously contemplated polishing the cutlery, she knew it was time to stop. Sinking into the sofa with a cup of tea, she forced herself to calm down. Her nerves were going to be shot to pieces at this rate and she'd be no good for, well, anything.
When Hugh and Jack got in at just past six, she was back in the kitchen, putting on the potatoes to go with the casserole. Jack came out to give her a hello kiss as ever, and she must have given something away in her manner because he held her for a moment, frowning down at her.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." She stepped away from him, smoothing down her apron. "I'll bring you both a drink."
The casserole could have been charred to ashes for all Marion tasted of it, but Jack made appreciative noises and pulled practically indecent faces as he ate.
"I swear," he said through a mouthful of lamb, "I could eat this every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it."
Marion blushed, aware of the amused look Hugh was giving her as the heat filled her face. He kept up that annoying half-smile of his right to the end of the meal, barely able to hide his smugness as she became more and more flustered.
Never one to miss anything, Jack was giving each of them increasingly curious looks, while keeping up his end of the conversation with Hugh. Eventually, having lost track of the conversation completely, Marion retreated to the kitchen, taking the dirty bowls and promising coffee. As the water heated, she leaned on the sink, trying to get her breathing under control and scolding herself for behaving like a schoolgirl with a crush. If only he wouldn't look at her like that.
"Are you alright?"
Marion jumped as Hugh came up behind her, apparently not realising that this was not the moment for his patented silent walk.
"I'm fine," she told him, carefully not meeting his eye as she started to fill the coffee pot with fresh grounds.
"Of course," Hugh said dryly. "That's why you're spilling most of our best coffee all over the work surface."
"Am I? Damn." Shaking her head, Marion put the spoon down and turned to him.
"Have you changed your mind?" he asked, drawing her into his arms. "I don't want to force you into anything."
"No!" Realising her voice had been a little too loud, Marion leant her head against his shoulder. "It's just, now that's he's here and we're here and it's all so real and we've had to sit there all through dinner and-"
"Shhhh." Hugging her close, Hugh gently ran his hands over her back, and she could hear the laughter in his voice. "He does seem to have that effect on people."
Voice a little muffled, Marion asked, "Are you including yourself in that?"
He did laugh then, standing back from her and grinning. "It has been known." Leaning fowards, he kissed her lightly, then headed back towards the living room. "You'll be through in a minute?"
"I'll just finish making the coffee."
It took her closer to five minutes, and she used the time to pull herself together, the familiar routine steadying her, in the desperate hope that she'd be composed enough to actually look at Jack. Talking to him was probably still a little ambitious.
She picked up the tray, the china rattling a little as she carried it through, only to find that she needn't have worried. Smiling to herself, all nerves suddenly forgotten, she set the tray down on the table with a firm clunk.
Jack jumped to his feet with impressive speed for someone who'd been oblivious to her presence two seconds before. Completely oblivious. From his position at the end of the sofa, Hugh gave her a knowing smirk, pulling at his shirt which had come untucked and smoothing his hair which was looking distinctly ruffled. She forced herself to ignore him, concentrating instead on Jack, who was in similar disarray with the top and bottom buttons of his shirt undone and his face flushed, not entirely from embarrassment. Running a hand through his hair, and not improving matters, he gave her a look somewhere between surprise and suspicion.
"Marion, I-"
"Well, Jack," she said, cutting him short as she turned to the tray and began pouring coffee. She took her time adding milk and finally offered him one of the cups. There was no mistaking his expression now, a mixture of amusement and desire that made her heart leap. Keeping her voice carefully steady, she raised an eyebrow. "I had thought we'd have coffee first."
Jack laughed, a loud, infectious noise, and Marion heard Hugh's low chuckle from the direction of the sofa. Then they were all laughing, giggling helplessly and gasping for breath. Recovering first, Jack shook his head, carefully taking the mug from Marion's hands and putting it back on the tray before lacing his fingers through hers. He didn't speak, just smiled at her, tugging on her hand to pull her against him.
She was vaguely aware of the sound of movement that probably meant Hugh had got up from the sofa, but most of what she was aware of was Jack's hands on her arms, her shoulders, cupping her face and his lips on hers, warm and gentle. After a moment, she felt Hugh's hands on her shoulders, and his body against her back as he reached past her to grasp Jack's arms.
They let the coffee go cold.
Dedicated to travels_in_time on her birthday
Title: Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night)
Authors: miss_zedem and jadesfire2808
Rating: PG-13 [for all of them]
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Hugh, Jack/Hugh/Marion
Words: ~3,580 (4 ficlets)
Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night)
Questions
It had seemed like such a small thing at the time. The car had been stuck, they'd been stuck and they'd made the best of it. Except that Hugh spent the next six weeks replaying the words of that conversation from a cold car in a damp Welsh field, when, for once, Jack's guard had been down and Hugh had been given a glimpse of the man behind it. He'd liked what he'd seen.
Of course, there were moments before and since when Jack had confused, annoyed and just down right grated on him, but there were more moments (more and more after that night) when he felt he was seeing the real Jack, not just the man Jack thought Torchwood wanted to see. There was also the Jack who came to dinner, laughed with Hugh's family and made suggestive remarks to his wife. Not just to his wife.
"Penny for them?"
"Hmm?" Looking up, Hugh saw Marion watching him from the kitchen doorway. She'd put Hywel to bed a while before and had disappeared back into the kitchen for something. He was having trouble remembering what, now.
She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I asked you three times if you want coffee, so I can only assume that you're thinking about something deep and meaningful."
Hugh felt himself blushing, and he shifted on the sofa, trying to remember what he'd been doing before getting distracted by the thought of Jack flirting. Which was, he had to be honest, extremely distracting.
A touch on his arm made him look up again.
"Hugh?" Marion was crouched beside the sofa, concern on her face as she looked up at him. "Is everything alright?"
"It's fine. It's..." He broke off, not really sure what he was supposed to say. Somehow, 'it's Jack' didn't sound quite appropriate. "It's just something from work," he said, waving a hand vaguely. Normally that did the trick. Marion had worked for Torchwood too, so she understood that sometimes he couldn't talk about it and sometimes he didn't want to. What he hadn't counted on was that she always knew when he was lying.
Coming to sit next to him on the sofa, she gave him an amused look. "Something? Or someone? You don't smile when you think about work. Or not usually. But when Jack's been involved, there's normally something to smile about."
Damn. He hadn't thought he could get any redder, but Hugh felt fresh heat filling his cheeks and he had to turn away from Marion's knowing smile.
"Jack's...Jack's the problem. Sort of. Well, not a problem exactly more like..."
"A problem."
Shaking his head, Hugh plucked at the arm of the sofa. "It's not that simple."
"Has he been flirting with you?"
Hugh drew in a breath so quickly that he choked. As he tried to recover himself, Marion went on, "It's alright, Hugh. He does that with everyone."
"Not like this." And there it was. Flirting would have been simple, easy to recognise and dismiss. But this, the way that Jack looked at him sometimes or some of the things he'd say. Hugh wasn't exactly an expert on this kind of thing, but he wasn't an idiot either. And lack of experience didn't equal lack of knowledge. Or interest. Marion was still looking at him expectantly and he shrugged. "It's just different, somehow."
"Oh, darling." She tugged him towards her, kissing his cheek gently. "He just doesn't know how to ask you. And you're probably not helping. You need to be more direct with him about it."
Blinking in astonishment, Hugh felt his mouth drop open. "Are you saying I should...should..."
"I'm saying that, for once in his life probably, Jack Harkness is waiting for the other person to make the first move. And that if you don't get on with it, we're going to lose him."
Taking a deep breath, Hugh closed his mouth and tried to compose himself again. This was all moving a bit fast for him. Then he frowned. "Did you just say we?"
Marion laughed. "I'm not jealous of him, love. I can't be. I don't want to be. And I think you should give me a reason not to be."
There was no mistaking the look she was giving him now, as she took his hand and stood up, pulling him with her.
"I can't just walk up to him and say-" Hugh shook his head, even as she began to lead him towards the door. "What would I say?"
"I don't think you'll have to say anything. Just make it obvious. He'll get the hint." They'd made it into the hall, the half-light casting strange shadows across Marion's face. Reaching out, Hugh brushed his fingers lightly across her cheek, smiling as she turned towards the caress.
"You really think I should?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "What about you?"
"I'll be here when you get home. When you both come home." Then she was kissing him and suddenly, really, it was hard to remember what he'd been worrying about.
The following morning. Originally posted in comments at miss_zedem's journal
Answers
Hugh had waited all through breakfast to say something. He'd frowned as he'd drunk his coffee, looked thoughtful through his porridge and still hadn't actually said anything except 'good morning' by the time Marion took the cups and bowls through to wash up. Normally he was up and gone before Hywel left for school, but he came out to the kitchen after the front door shut, absently picking up a tea towel and starting to dry the dishes.
Keeping half an eye on him, just in case he looked like he was going to miss the table as he put the crockery down, Marion let him help in silence, knowing he'd talk when he was good and ready. After last night's conversation, she supposed he had a lot to think about.
She was trying to get the porridge off the bottom of the saucepan when he spoke.
"Mr Goody's sent Jack on a retrieval assignment. He'll be going this evening."
"Really? That's good. He needs more to do, poor thing."
"Yes." Hugh coughed and Marion ducked her head to hide her smile. He'd get there eventually.
"Are you going to go?" she asked, tone carefully neutral.
"I thought I might. It's this evening."
"So you said." Finally finishing the pan, Marion put it on the draining board, tugging the tea towel out of Hugh's grip and drying her hands on it as she looked at him. "It'd be good for you to go, keep an eye on him."
"I don't think Jack needs a babysitter."
"And I don't think that's what you had in mind." Despite herself, Marion laughed at Hugh's half-guilty, half-embarrassed expression. "Darling, we talked about this."
"At length," Hugh said glumly. "I remember."
"And I seem to remember that you're the one who's not sure."
"It's just-" He broke off, shaking his head. "It's not exactly, well, normal."
"Oh, Hugh." Taking a step towards him, Marion cupped his cheek and smiled up at him. "It's Jack." That earned her a faint half-smile, and she leant up to kiss him before going back to the sink. "Besides," she added conversationally, "the sooner you get yourself sorted out the sooner you can bring him back here and-"
The end of the sentence was lost as Hugh caught her by the waist, swinging her off her feet. Soap suds flew in all directions as he spun her round the kitchen, both of them giggling like school children. When he finally put her down, she turned in his arms so that she could look up at him.
"You, Marion Jones," he said, his voice shaking with laughter, "are a wanton hussy. I hope you know that."
"And you, Hugh Jones, are a very lucky man." She reached up to brush the hair from his forehead. "I hope you know that."
"I do."
It was Marion who finally, reluctantly, broke the kiss, stepping away and patting helplessly at her hair.
"You need to go to work," she said, abandoning the attempts to repair the damage.
"I know." He paused, as though uncertain again, then gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Don't wait up."
"I won't." Smiling, she gave him a final kiss on the cheek before slipping past him and out of the kitchen. She was humming to herself as she climbed the stairs, pulling pins out of her hair. She wasn't going to wait up tonight, but, if she had her way, there were going to be a lot more sleepless nights from now on.
Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night)
'What are you doing here?' Jack looked up in surprise as Hugh sat down opposite him.
'I've been sent to keep an eye on you,' said Hugh quietly.
'Oh really?' Jack huffed indignantly. 'Don't tell me. Jock doesn't think I can be trusted.'
'Something like that.' There was the merest hint of a smirk playing at the corners of Hugh's mouth, and Jack couldn't help smiling back. He and Hugh had become close since that night in Wales, and he liked to think he could read the other man easily and accurately.
It was a routine mission, though, and Jack was slightly offended that Jock didn't trust him. Since he'd come back from Scotland, he felt like he'd been watched almost constantly; and while he appreciated they had a job to do, he'd rather hoped he'd proved himself by now.
His attention drifted as a young drag artist sashayed past, unable to help staring at her swaying gait and statuesque figure. When he dragged his eyes back to Hugh, he was annoyed to find the other man openly smirking.
'What?' he demanded defensively.
Hugh quirked an eyebrow. 'Nothing,' he said lightly. 'Just admiring your professional attitude and unflappable demeanour. Sir.'
Jack shook his head. 'There's no call for sarcasm, Jones.'
'Perish the thought, sir.'
'Hmm.' Jack glanced at his watch, then took a sip of his drink. 'The drag act should be on soon,' he said, changing the subject. 'How about you and I slip 'backstage' and have a rummage in her dressing room?' He knew Hugh couldn't be comfortable in this environment, and that he was being cruel. But if he was going to be spied on, the least he could do was have a bit of a play with the spy...
Hugh looked at him steadily. 'I've already found out which room 'she's' using, sir. It should be the work of a matter of minutes to find the artefact.'
As it happened, it took rather longer; most of the show in fact. But they found the jewel eventually, and made their way out of the pub.
'And you didn't even have to kiss me,' murmured Jack, sliding into the passenger's seat of the car and rolling his eyes dramatically. 'Such a disappointment.' He grinned and turned to face Hugh, expecting a smart comeback, or a derisive snort at the very least.
Instead, Hugh was looking at him thoughtfully. 'No, I didn't.' Hugh lowered his eyes, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.
'Something wrong, Jones?'
Hugh shook his head, reaching down to start the engine. 'Not at all, sir.'
They drove in silence, Jack sneaking the occasional sideways glance at the other man. As they pulled up outside the boarding house where Jack was staying, he twisted in his seat to look at Hugh properly.
'I have whiskey in my room,' he said conversationally.
The corner of Hugh's mouth twitched. 'Is that so?'
'Unless you have somewhere else you need to be.'
Hugh glanced at his pocket watch, then back at Jack. 'Not for a little while yet, no.'
As they made their way up the narrow stairs to the third floor lodgings, Jack had to admit he had no idea what was going on. Half an hour and a good portion of whiskey later, he still wasn't certain, but he cared less.
He looked up from his position on the floor over to where Hugh was almost lying on the bed, his shoes kicked off, tie loosened and shirt sleeves rolled up. It was the most relaxed Jack could ever recall seeing him.
'More whiskey?' asked Jack, leaning forward and proffering the bottle.
Hugh nodded and held out his glass, a little unsteadily Jack noticed.
'Maybe you shouldn't drive home tonight,' he said, frowning slightly. 'There's a telephone downstairs, you could ring Marion so she doesn't worry.' He gestured towards the threadbare armchair in the corner. 'I have some spare blankets - you can use the bed, I'll just...' He waved his hand again, almost spilling his drink in the process.
'That sounds like a good idea.' Hugh nodded, sitting up slowly and putting his feet on the floor. 'Only... I already told Marion I may be out all night.' He looked at Jack, his eyes crinkling in amusement.
'Oh.' Jack struggled to his feet, returning Hugh's gaze. 'Oh,' he repeated, eyes widening as he realised the implication of the other man's words. Feeling suddenly and unaccountably like an awkward teenager, he moved across the floor and knelt in front of Hugh, gazing at him curiously. Still not sure he'd read the situation right, Jack leaned forward and kissed Hugh softly, pulling away almost immediately, half expecting to be punched.
Hugh blinked, pressing his lips together and looking like he was trying not to laugh. 'Oh, I think you can do better than that,' he murmured, curling his hand round the back of Jack's neck and drawing him closer.
Jack went willingly, his hands sliding round Hugh's shoulders as the kiss deepened. This hadn't been what he'd been expecting when Hugh had turned up this evening, but Jack wasn't a man to turn down opportunities when they presented themselves to him, and this was certainly an opportunity.
Sighing softly, Jack pressed Hugh gently backwards onto the bed, and kissed him until he couldn't remember why it was a bad idea.
Two days later
Guess who's coming to dinner?
"I was thinking," Marion said over dessert, "we should really have Jack round for dinner. Are you alright, love?" She smiled at Hugh as he dabbed ice-cream from round his mouth. The pause after 'Jack' had been carefully calculated.
There was a slightly hunted, guilty look on Hugh's face. "Oh. Of course. Um." He picked up another spoonful of ice-cream, looked at it for a moment, then put it down again. "What do I say?"
"Just invite him to dinner. He's an intelligent man, I'm sure he'll figure it out. Unless you'd rather give him details."
"No! I mean, I don't, well, that is, er…" Hugh trailed off.
"There you are then. Tomorrow night should be fine. Hywel's going to be at Robin's for the rest of the week."
"Oh. Good."
Marion let him think as they ate, watching his expression change from surprised to nervous to hopeful. When he finally looked up at her, Marion laughed.
"Yes, dear, I know. And do you know what else?" She offered him her last morsel of ice-cream, holding the spoon steady as he leant forwards. "I can't wait to see his face."
********************
Jack couldn't make the following night, but he did accept for Thursday, and Hugh passed on a vague hope from him for Marion's lamb casserole.
By five o'clock Thursday afternoon, Marion decided that she either had sit down or wear the floor away completely. She'd cleaned, hoovered and dusted, changed the sheets twice as well as making up Hywel's room as a guest bedroom, just in case. When she seriously contemplated polishing the cutlery, she knew it was time to stop. Sinking into the sofa with a cup of tea, she forced herself to calm down. Her nerves were going to be shot to pieces at this rate and she'd be no good for, well, anything.
When Hugh and Jack got in at just past six, she was back in the kitchen, putting on the potatoes to go with the casserole. Jack came out to give her a hello kiss as ever, and she must have given something away in her manner because he held her for a moment, frowning down at her.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." She stepped away from him, smoothing down her apron. "I'll bring you both a drink."
The casserole could have been charred to ashes for all Marion tasted of it, but Jack made appreciative noises and pulled practically indecent faces as he ate.
"I swear," he said through a mouthful of lamb, "I could eat this every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it."
Marion blushed, aware of the amused look Hugh was giving her as the heat filled her face. He kept up that annoying half-smile of his right to the end of the meal, barely able to hide his smugness as she became more and more flustered.
Never one to miss anything, Jack was giving each of them increasingly curious looks, while keeping up his end of the conversation with Hugh. Eventually, having lost track of the conversation completely, Marion retreated to the kitchen, taking the dirty bowls and promising coffee. As the water heated, she leaned on the sink, trying to get her breathing under control and scolding herself for behaving like a schoolgirl with a crush. If only he wouldn't look at her like that.
"Are you alright?"
Marion jumped as Hugh came up behind her, apparently not realising that this was not the moment for his patented silent walk.
"I'm fine," she told him, carefully not meeting his eye as she started to fill the coffee pot with fresh grounds.
"Of course," Hugh said dryly. "That's why you're spilling most of our best coffee all over the work surface."
"Am I? Damn." Shaking her head, Marion put the spoon down and turned to him.
"Have you changed your mind?" he asked, drawing her into his arms. "I don't want to force you into anything."
"No!" Realising her voice had been a little too loud, Marion leant her head against his shoulder. "It's just, now that's he's here and we're here and it's all so real and we've had to sit there all through dinner and-"
"Shhhh." Hugging her close, Hugh gently ran his hands over her back, and she could hear the laughter in his voice. "He does seem to have that effect on people."
Voice a little muffled, Marion asked, "Are you including yourself in that?"
He did laugh then, standing back from her and grinning. "It has been known." Leaning fowards, he kissed her lightly, then headed back towards the living room. "You'll be through in a minute?"
"I'll just finish making the coffee."
It took her closer to five minutes, and she used the time to pull herself together, the familiar routine steadying her, in the desperate hope that she'd be composed enough to actually look at Jack. Talking to him was probably still a little ambitious.
She picked up the tray, the china rattling a little as she carried it through, only to find that she needn't have worried. Smiling to herself, all nerves suddenly forgotten, she set the tray down on the table with a firm clunk.
Jack jumped to his feet with impressive speed for someone who'd been oblivious to her presence two seconds before. Completely oblivious. From his position at the end of the sofa, Hugh gave her a knowing smirk, pulling at his shirt which had come untucked and smoothing his hair which was looking distinctly ruffled. She forced herself to ignore him, concentrating instead on Jack, who was in similar disarray with the top and bottom buttons of his shirt undone and his face flushed, not entirely from embarrassment. Running a hand through his hair, and not improving matters, he gave her a look somewhere between surprise and suspicion.
"Marion, I-"
"Well, Jack," she said, cutting him short as she turned to the tray and began pouring coffee. She took her time adding milk and finally offered him one of the cups. There was no mistaking his expression now, a mixture of amusement and desire that made her heart leap. Keeping her voice carefully steady, she raised an eyebrow. "I had thought we'd have coffee first."
Jack laughed, a loud, infectious noise, and Marion heard Hugh's low chuckle from the direction of the sofa. Then they were all laughing, giggling helplessly and gasping for breath. Recovering first, Jack shook his head, carefully taking the mug from Marion's hands and putting it back on the tray before lacing his fingers through hers. He didn't speak, just smiled at her, tugging on her hand to pull her against him.
She was vaguely aware of the sound of movement that probably meant Hugh had got up from the sofa, but most of what she was aware of was Jack's hands on her arms, her shoulders, cupping her face and his lips on hers, warm and gentle. After a moment, she felt Hugh's hands on her shoulders, and his body against her back as he reached past her to grasp Jack's arms.
They let the coffee go cold.