Something Blue

Jack entered the hub, leaving Ianto in the tourist centre. It was close to midnight. With his hands filled with white confetti, he blew the small squares of paper into the air. As they trickled down around him, he smiled though it was painful. Gwen's wedding left him with an emotional nostalgia trip. It brought him back to his own marriage. It brought him the memories of his past lovers and friends. It brought to the front his own feelings for Gwen. Ones that he never would have actively pursued. She was safe as he was secretly too honourable of a man to act upon those because she had Rhys and knew that for all intents and purposes she loved him, making it easier to hold at arms length as opposed to others. Her infatuation with him was superficial at best because she was charmed by Captain Jack Harkness, the man in the RAF Great Coat. She could never love the nameless, flawed and empty man that he truly was. That was what the dance was about though, letting go of those last shred of romantic feelings for the Welshwoman.

He treaded to his office sitting at his desk, sorting through his personal draw pulling out the small, worn keepsake tin. Sifting through a stack of aged photographs he found the one he was looking for, folded up was a picture of him and beautiful bride. Elisabeth was beautiful and he was completely smitten. It was heartbreaking to remember her brown doe eyes glossing over betraying her brave façade as he told her he was leaving. That was crux of his ever-ending life, being alone. He fell in love but could not even pretend it would last. He would never die as they inevitably grew older and would. Bessie could never know so he left before it became too difficult for the right thing, walking away. It was one of the hardest things he ever had to do. He wiped a single tear with hand while replacing the pictures in the tin, hiding it away in the draw filled with mementoes from his unnaturally long past.

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he moved-on to the formalities for the disastrous wedding's mop-up operation.


The remainder of the team, Toshiko and Owen, finally made it back to the Hub. The excitement of the day had the young techie too restless to even go home to wind down and felt it more economical to expend her energy by working on another translation programme. As she powered up her station, she felt the small rumble in her gut reminding her she had not ate in a while and that she should do so soon. She looked to where Jack was sat in his office peering over folders. She wondered if he would like something as well.

Owen being, undead or whatever it would be labeled, thought as he could not sleep, he might as well start on the female nostrovite autopsy and make and clean up then attempt to tidy up his station to the teaboy's standards. The Londoner groaned as he walked down the steps to the med bay. "Well, at least I don't 'ave to sleep," he thought to himself at seeing the hours work ahead of him.


Tosh knocked lightly on the door frame to Jack's office, "Jack, we're in."

Jack, looking up from his desk, grinned. Tosh could tell it didn't quite meet his eyes. "That mean you're staying?"

"Yeah, I thought I'd get some work done while I'm wired. Owen's here too, cleaning up. I'm picking up some food from the deli. You want anything?"

"I'm good."

"Right, be right back," she smiled as she swept back out into the main hub. Jack heard her speak again followed shortly by the cog door rolling open and closing.

Jack chuckled and shook his head at the thought of Owen cleaning up after himself. Ianto would be in hysterics at the sight. Speaking of Ianto, why wasn't the Welshman hovering over his shoulder critiquing his lack of detailed descriptions in the paperwork and making sarcastic comments at his expense? His office was too quiet and lacked the strong aroma of Ianto's magic coffee. Plus, he thought he could really use Ianto's dry wit and help with this heaping workload or better yet, move on to more satisfying work.

He was disrupted from his reverie as the phone rang. Grumbling at the interruption, he answered with a stiff yeah.

"Jack. It's me, Gwen." Jack grinned.

"Gwen. Aren't you suppose to be on a honeymoon?"

"We just landed. Thought I'd just check in, figured you might be up."

"Can't stay away can you?" he replied as he caught a glimpse of Ianto passing by. He couldn't help himself as the grin spread across his face.

"Guess not," he heard her chuckle out from the other end. "How's everything back in Cardiff?"

"Eh, just the same old. Just finished the clean up you left us with," he chortled.

"You!...What were you doing when I rang?" she asked as he sounded irritated when he answered.

"I was thinking about starting on number two on my to-do list for while you're away."

"Ah, well you better get on it, " She choked out a giggle at the realisation of the set-up she just gave Jack. Cutting him off before he can make a bad joke at Ianto's expense she quickly added, "No, not like that. I better let you go. Rhys, the Rant. Let the others know I rang up. Take care."

"You too, Gwen."

Now that conversation was over with, Jack returned to his papers that his mind was no longer on. What he really wanted was for that alluring Welshman to deliver a mug of industrial strength coffee topped with a peck...okay, maybe a full on snog, to help him get through the the mounds of reports waiting. The quicker he finished these, the quicker he could force the others out. He really enjoyed those moments alone with Ianto, even if was just filled with mindless prattle or the occasional philosophical conversations.

After the quick debate within his head, he gave up pretending he actually cared if the reports were finished. It was time he found said Welshman and right out beg for a cup of joe, then a thank you expressed with that kiss. Yes, it was a much better idea.

Jack excitedly pushed up from his desk and exited his office into the main section. It was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the general hum of the various machinery and the occasional reverberating clanking coming from the the Med Bay.

"Ianto," he bellowed throughout out the Hub hoping to bring out the young man. "Ianto!"

He frowned. Usually, as if anticipating his call, Ianto would come from no where. Maybe he was in the archives. After a quick run through the bowels of the Hub without result, he found his way to the med bay to see what Owen was up to. Anything to get out of paper work.

"Owen," he called from the observation deck, arms resting on the top bar and the left foot on the bottom.

The doctor glared at him from where he was haunched over the female nostrovite's body. "What is it? I'm busy." he grumbled.

"You seen Ianto," he asked before he could stop himself. He had come down here to chat with the doctor but since it came out, he figured he might as well see to Owen's knowledge of Ianto's whereabouts. This was Torchwood, stranger things had happened.

Owen set his scalpel to the side straightening up. "He left."

"left?" Ianto hadn't even stopped by for the last mug of the day.

"Yeah, he left."

"..But he hasn't finished up here. He wouldn't have left without at least finishing up the washing."

"Well, he's gone home now, hasn't het?"

"Has he?" Jack was beginning to become frustrated with the Owen and if the eyeroll from the doctor was any indication, the feeling was mutual. Dropping his foot from the rail, he crossed his arms. When Owen didn't answer, Jack let out an exasperated sigh. "Why?"

Owen narrowed his eyes at the Captain. His face flashed from the annoyed one to confusion then to an amused disbelief. "You really don't know do you?"

"Apparently not. Know something?"

"Right. I don't normally like to get involved in these things but dying as given me a bit of perspective. 'Sides, the last couple of months, I've grown somewhat fond of that cheeky Welsh bastard. Tell no one that. Can't have anyone knowing I care."

Jack quirked an eyebrow to show his clear disinterest in the younger man's monologue wanting him to get to the point already and tell him why Ianto had gone home; however, Owen being own, continued on.

"I don't want to hear of this again. What I am about to say never happend, got it?" he demanded as he walked up the few steps to the observation deck to stare down Jack.

At Owen's serious tone, Jack's face fell. That was the voice the man used when he was in doctor mode. It definitely made the captain uneasy. A deep nagging feeling in his gut made it worse.

"Ianto went home 'cause he was miserable. He'll never admit it but he is over you. He sees the way you and Gwen make moony eyes at each other. It hurts him. He's got it for ya. I can't see why but tea boy there is in love with you and it hurts him that you keep knocking him as second choice. He sees they way you are with Gwen. You are a push over when it comes to her. You are obviously attracted to her. Even just now on the phone, you lit up. He wasn't quick enough to hide it. I saw his face first. Said he was exhausted and was going home." Owen took an unnecessary breath.

"Now I don't know what this is between you two but I know it's more than what you are willing to admit. I've noticed the way you watch him when he's mucking about the Hub. I'm not as oblivious as you might think. I've noticed ever since you got back from seeing that Doctor of yours, you've not been with anyone else. You aren't as flirtatious. You make a point to involve Ianto more, making excuses to touch him. Then that dance tonight, you looked content, grounded. That's not the M.O. of someone with a fuck buddy. I'd even go as far as to say you fell for 'im and from the look on your face I'd say that you never intended to. I get it though, you're scared. You have to finally let someone in if you admit to it. You'd have to be petrified 'cause fuck knows I was."

Jack was somewhere at the brink of verbally denying some of things the younger man had said and lashing out at him for forcing him to face those he no longer could. He wasn't quite sure if he wanted to belittle the doctor, reminding him of his place in Torchwood or if he should allow the swell of pride for the man as he was standing up for a colleague and being more perceptive than even he had given him credit for. In the end he said nothing. He couldn't quite trust his voice to work because it was true. He knew he had gotten too close to the Welshman even before reuniting with the Doctor. He had completely fallen and it took Owen to make him realise it.

"Way I see you've got a couple of choices. You can A, continue on with the way things. B, Stop shagging and let him move on. Get a proper life and give him a chance to be happy or C, stop being a twat and be honest with, not only him, but with yourself about how you really feel, let him in. I only hope you don't pick A 'cause Ianto's been through shit. He's a good man. He deserves better, Harkness."

Owen eyed Jack expectantly. The captain had somewhere dropped his intimidating stance, replacing it with an open and vulnerable expression. It was painful for the doctor to see his leader's bravado disappear. The man before him was at a loss, looking to him for direction. It was evident from his resign, Owen struck a nerve. After the third time Jack opened his mouth omitting a strangled sound and closing it promptly, he went on.

"Do you really think the denial and holding him at arm's length is any help? Well, it isn't. You will still love him and you'll still be devastated when he dies. Life for him will be too short, Jack. You can give him a bit of you while he's here or not."

Blue-grey eyes looked suspiciously glossy. The tempestuous storm of emotions were transparent. Owen actually felt a little sympathy for the older man.

"Wh...what should I do," Jack coughed out. He was surprised he was able to make an intelligible sound considering his throat was clenching.

Owen deemed the question as admission and figured he would be generous. Running a hand through his hair, he replied, "Go to him, Jack. Don't waste this opprortunity."

Jack turned away, stepping back into the center of the main room. He made his decision. Ianto loved him for him. He was the one person that saw his flaws and still loved him despite them. His life was way too long to have regrets. He had an endless supply of time and he was willing to give Ianto all he could. So he would for the Welshman who didn't know he had more of whoever Jack was then anyone else had yet to obtain. As he walked toward his office, Owen called out, albeit reluctantly, stopping the captain mid-step. "You don't deserve this."

"I know," he returned sadly over his shoulder. Owen felt the hollowness of his reply. This larger than life man was reduced to a shell. The doctor would never admit it but if he could produce tears, he'd have been forced by his inner sap to shed a few.

"Don't hurt him." the doctor warned.

"I never want to."

"Go Jack. Go be the dashing hero. Sweep him off his feet," Owen encouraged.

Jack nodded then bolted to his office. He grabbed his Greatcoat. Shrugging it on his shoulders, he grabbed the keys to the SUV before rushing back out to stand on on the paving stone. As he pressed a few controls on the vortex manipulator to activate the lift, he looked to Owen, meeting his brown eyes. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Owen grumbled, reverting to his usual character. "No really, don't ever mention it."

Jack shot him his patent Harkness megawatt grin as the younger man watched his ascent. He never removed his eyes as the alarms sounded as the cog door rolled open to allow entery for Tosh. The young woman sat her take-out bag on the floor by her station before joining Owen.

"Where's Jack going?" She asked eyeing the disappearing stone.

"Off to play Dashing Hero," Owen mused, not averting his gaze from the lift.

"What?" Tosh was in tech mode preparing for whatever rift activity.

"441 Heol-y-Gwent." he said simply turning to her as the lift was fully ascended.

"Oh" she gave a knowing smile. "About time."

"Yeah, well, love makes you stupid," he scoffed attempting to not give away his part in it. He waved a hand toward the invisible lift then making his way back to the med bay to finish where he left off.

Tosh watched as he descended the the steps with the same knowing look. When he was fully gone from sight, she turned to her her take-out bag and pulled out one of the boxes to start breakfast. Ianto and Jack were perfect for each other.