The Tenant Chapter One

Ianto filled in the postcard carefully, then read through it for a second time.

Young, professional male seeks Tenant to share mortgage for a period of no less than six months. Must be employed. References required. Phone 07984838901 office hours

Shrugging, Ianto got to his feet and headed out to the Newsagents. He wanted to advertise as soon as he could.

The mortgage was crippling him at the moment. His wage from Torchwood were good, but he only received half his salary whilst on suspension and after Lisa's funeral, he'd incurred debts. Debts that he had to pay off, leaving his bank account less than healthy. He'd also put a large deposit down on the flat he hoped he and Lisa would one day live in and bought items in it for cash. His taste was impeccable and costly.

He put the ad in for two weeks at 50p a week. Paying the man behind the counter, Ianto picked up the Telegraph Newspaper and headed out to his car, ready for the drive to the Bay and work.

He had a late start today. Albeit 8am. But Jack had insisted.

Driving past the Silver Water Tower and on down Roald Dahl Plass, Ianto saw the familiar black Torchwood SUV parked not far from the tourist office. Parking beside it, Ianto got out, locked his car and headed for the office door. Putting his key in and unlocking it, he walked inside. As per usual, the office was spik and span. His doing. Ianto liked a clean, tidy environment.

Right.

Like they kept the Hub tidy.

Not!

Pushing the red button on the wall, the secret door down to the lift opened letting Ianto walk through. He took the lift down four levels, getting out and walking through the corridor and down the steps to the cog door. As it rolled back, he walked though, noticing Jack and Owen by the couch, talking.

"Come on, Jack! It's a Weevil. Look at it. It even smells like a Weevil."

"Mmm," Jack wasn't convinced.

"Morning," said Ianto.

"Morning," replied Jack.

Owen just nodded. "Look I'll cut it open and we'll check, okay?"

Jack screwed up his nose. "No way!"

Ianto smiled. "I'll make some coffee then, shall I?"

Jack turned his head at the word 'coffee'. "My saviour."

"Come on, Harkness. We had a bet."

Jack held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, you win. You can leave at 2pm today."

"And?"

Jack frowned. "You can use the car tonight. But tonight only, okay?"

Owen grinned. "Okay."

Ianto was in the kitchen making coffee when his mobile rang. He answered straight away.

"Hello?"

"Hi, I'm calling about the ad to share the mortgage."

That was quick thought Ianto.

"Er, yes."

"Could I come along tonight and take a look?"

Ianto looked around at Jack then spoke. "About 7pm, if that's okay."

"Fine."

"The address is 93a St Mary Street, Apartment 14."

"Great. See you at 7pm. Bye."

"Bye."

Ianto disconnected and put the phone in his inside jacket pocket. Turning back to the coffee machine, he smiled to himself.

"What are you smiling about, Tea Boy?" asked Owen, putting his cup on the tray Ianto had just put on the work surface.

Ianto shook his head. "Nothing in particular."

"Mmm, got any biscuits?"

Ianto got the Hob Knobs out of the cupboard, put half a dozen on a plate and offered them to Owen, who took the plate. "Oi!"

"What? I'm hungry!"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Don't you have any food at home?"

"I got up late, okay. Rushed to get 'ere."

All three turned around as the cog door went back. Gwen walked through.

"Mornin'"

"Coffee?" asked Ianto.

"Mmm, please. Tosh is on her way."

"Tea for her then." Ianto got the small tea pot ready.

Owen shook his head. "Got it all covered, haven't you, Tea Boy?"

"I do my best," Ianto replied, smiling. He wasn't going to let anything get him down today. He had a potential Tenant. The bills would be sorted and the mortgage. He sighed.

"So Ianto, what's on your agenda for today then?"

Ianto turned to Jack. "I have a few reports to type out and some filing down in the archives. I thought I'd get those done first."

"Good idea. I need to get all my paperwork up to date."

Ianto nodded. "I know I started a little later today, sir, but would it be alright if I left around 6.30pm tonight? You could always phone if you need me back later."

"Sure," Jack raised an eyebrow. "Date?"

Ianto shook his head. "No."

"Arh." Jack walked to the bottom of the stairs leading to his office. "Yep. Can I have a few of those biscuits?"

Ianto smiled. "Certainly, sir."

Jack continued up to his office. Ianto watched him until he walked through the door and out of sight, then he carried on making the coffee and tea.

When he had finished taking the others their drinks, Ianto put some biscuits on a plate and put it, along with a cup of coffee, on a silver tray and carried them up to Jack's office.

The door was open, but Ianto cleared his throat to get Jack's attention, before going in.

"Ianto, come on in."

Ianto smiled, walked to the desk and put the coffee and plate before Jack.

"Thank you."

Ianto turned to leave.

"How are you, Ianto? We don't seem to find the time to really sit down and talk."

Turning, Ianto smiled. "I'm fine, than you, sir."

Jack eyed him and turned his head slightly. "Mmm. Sit, please."

Putting the tray down at the side of the desk, Ianto sat in the chair opposite Jack.

Jack sat forward, placing his arms on the desk in front of him. "You seem to be settling back into work. I'm really please with what you've done in the archives and the tourist office. I hardly recognise them." He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"I try my best, sir. As you know, I like things in an orderly fashion." He looked around Jack's office, frowning.

Jack saw him and laughed. "Yeah, it needs some work."

"Maybe later this week," Ianto offered.

"We'll see."

"Is that all, sir? Can I go now?"

"Yep. Don't forget lunch. You have to eat."

Ianto stood and then nodded his understanding.

"Good."

Taking his leave, Ianto went down to the archives to file and collate documents and artefacts, before doing a stint in the tourist office. He enjoyed both jobs. It gave him time to think. To clear his mind. To reshape his life without Lisa.

Once or twice he'd been back to the room where he had installed the conversion table and Lisa. It was bare and spotless now. No signs of the blood that once covered most of the floor. Jack's doing thought Ianto. No one else would have done it

Ianto remembered going down there after his months suspension. It was clean then. He wasn't sure what Jack had done with the conversion table. Had it destroyed, he thought.

Turning off the computer and turning off the overhead lights, Ianto left the archives and headed back up to the main Hub and then the tourist centre.

As Ianto walked through to the cog door, he looked up at Jack's office. He couldn't see him, but he knew he was still there. Gwen and Tosh were busy at their workstations and Owen was busy doing the autopsy on the 'Weevil'.

Taking the lift, Ianto made his way up to the tourist office. He had new leaflets and timetables to arrange and a few reports to type out while he waited for tourists.

Ianto switched on the computer, logged in and started to type the first report. He smiled at the scribble on the page. Owen he thought. Typical doctor scrawl.

Ianto was just about to lock up, when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"It's Jack. Lunch in the boardroom, now."

"Just locking up, sir."

"Good." Jack hung up.

After locking up and shutting down the computer, Ianto made his way down to the boardroom.

It was he who usually ordered lunch, so Ianto was wondering what delights would await him.

As he entered the boardroom, Ianto was amazed to see a selection of edibles on the table.

Jack smiled, as Ianto entered through the door.

"Arh, Ianto. Dig in," he spread his arms and smiled.

Getting himself a plate, Ianto stood before the food and gradually filled his plate. Sitting across from Owen, he began to eat.

"Jack's idea," said Owen. "You don't eat enough to keep a sparrow alive."

"I eat….when I'm hungry."

"Not hungry very often then, eh?"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Let him eat, Owen."

"I was just sayin'."

Jack shook his head fondly. "I know."

Ianto carried on eating his lunch, while Gwen poured him a glass of water. He smiled his thanks.

"So, how's it going downstairs?" asked Jack.

Ianto swallowed a mouthful of food. "Finished, for today at least." He took a drink. "I've put the new leaflets and timetable in the tourist office and I can go back up there until it's time to go home, I think." He smiled.

"Okay, you do that." He turned to Owen. "How did that autopsy turn out, by the way."

Owen smiled. "Weevil through and through. I told you so." He looked triumphant.

"Yeah, yeah."

Owen looked at Ianto. "Can you take the body down to the vault when you get a chance, mate?"

Ianto nodded.

"Ta."The Tenant

Ianto filled in the postcard carefully, then read through it for a second time.

Young, professional male seeks Tenant to share mortgage for a period of no less than six months. Must be employed. References required. Apply to 07984838901 office hours

Shrugging, Ianto got to his feet and headed out to the Newsagents. He wanted to advertise as soon as he could.

The mortgage was crippling him at the moment. His wage from Torchwood was good, but he only received half his salary whilst on suspension and after Lisa's funeral, he'd incurred debts. Debts that he had to pay off, leaving his bank account less than healthy. He'd also put a large deposit down on the flat and bought items in it for cash. His taste was impeccable and costly.

He put the ad in for two weeks at 50p a week. Paying the man behind the counter, Ianto picked up the Telegraph Newspaper and headed out to his car, ready for the drive to the Bay and work. He had a late start today. Albeit 8am. But Jack had insisted.

Driving past the Silver Water Tower and on down Roald Dahl Plass, Ianto saw the familiar black Torchwood SUV parked not far from the tourist office. Parking beside it, Ianto got out, locked his car and headed for the office door. Putting his key in and unlocking it, he walked inside. As per usual, the office was spik and span. His doing. Ianto liked a clean, tidy environment.

Right.

Like they kept the Hub tidy.

Not!

Pushing the red button on the wall, the secret door down to the lift opened letting Ianto walk through. He took the lift down four levels, getting out and walking through the corridor and down the steps to the cog door. As it rolled back, he walked though, noticing Jack and Owen by the couch, talking.

"Come on, Jack! It's a Weevil. Look at it. It even smells like a Weevil."

"Mmm," Jack wasn't convinced.

"Morning," said Ianto.

"Morning," replied Jack.

Owen just nodded. "Look I'll cut it open and we'll check, okay?"

Jack screwed up his nose. "No way!"

Ianto smiled. "I'll make some coffee then, shall I?"

Jack turned his head at the word 'coffee'. "My saviour."

"Come on, Harkness. We had a bet."

Jack held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, you win. You can leave at 2pm today."

"And?"

Jack frowned. "You can use the car tonight. But tonight only, okay?"

Owen grinned. "Okay."

Ianto was in the kitchen making coffee when his mobile rang. He answered straight away.

"Hello?"

"Hi, I'm calling about the ad to share the mortgage."

That was quick thought Ianto.

"Er, yes."

"Could I come along tonight and take a look?"

Ianto looked around at Jack then spoke. "About 7pm, if that's okay."

"Fine."

"The address is 93a St Mary Street, Apartment 14."

"Great. See you at 7pm. Bye."

"Bye."

Ianto disconnected and put the phone in his inside jacket pocket. Turning back to the coffee machine, he smiled to himself.

"What are you smiling about, Tea Boy?" asked Owen, putting his cup on the tray Ianto had just put on the work surface.

Ianto shook his head. "Nothing in particular."

"Mmm, got any biscuits?"

Ianto got the Hob Knobs out of the cupboard, put half a dozen on a plate and offered them to Owen, who took the plate. "Oi!"

"What? I'm hungry!"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Don't you have any food at home?"

"I got up late, okay. Rushed to get 'ere."

All three turned around as the cog door went back. Gwen walked through.

"Mornin'"

"Coffee?" asked Ianto.

"Mmm, please. Tosh is on her way."

"Tea for her then." Ianto got the small tea pot ready.

Owen shook his head. "Got it all covered, haven't you, Tea Boy?"

"I do my best," Ianto replied, smiling. He wasn't going to let anything get him down today. He had a potential Tenant. The bills would be sorted and the mortgage. He sighed.

"So Ianto, what's on your agenda for today then?"

Ianto turned to Jack. "I have a few reports to type out and some filing down in the archives. I thought I'd get those done first."

"Good idea. I need to get all my paperwork up to date."

Ianto nodded. "I know I started a little later today, sir, but would it be alright if I left around 6.30pm tonight? You could always phone if you need me back later."

"Sure," Jack raised an eyebrow. "Date?"

Ianto shook his head. "No."

"Arh." Jack walked to the bottom of the stairs leading to his office. "Yep. Can I have a few of those biscuits?"

Ianto smiled. "Certainly, sir."

Jack continued up to his office. Ianto watched him until he walked through the door and out of sight, then he carried on making the coffee and tea.

When he had finished taking the others their drinks, Ianto put some biscuits on a plate and put it, along with a cup of coffee, on a silver tray and carried them up to Jack's office.

The door was open, but Ianto cleared his throat to get Jack's attention, before going in.

"Ianto, come on in."

Ianto smiled, walked to the desk and put the coffee and plate before Jack.

"Thank you."

Ianto turned to leave.

"How are you, Ianto? We don't seem to find the time to really sit down and talk."

Turning, Ianto smiled. "I'm fine, than you, sir."

Jack eyed him and turned his head slightly. "Mmm. Sit, please."

Putting the tray down at the side of the desk, Ianto sat in the chair opposite Jack.

Jack sat forward, placing his arms on the desk in front of him. "You seem to be settling back into work. I'm really please with what you've done in the archives and the tourist office. I hardly recognise them." He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"I try my best, sir. As you know, I like things in an orderly fashion." He looked around Jack's office, frowning.

Jack saw him and laughed. "Yeah, it needs some work."

"Maybe later this week," Ianto offered.

"We'll see."

"Is that all, sir? Can I go now?"

"Yep. Don't forget lunch. You have to eat."

Ianto stood and then nodded his understanding.

"Good."

Taking his leave, Ianto went down to the archives to file and collate documents and artefacts, before doing a stint in the tourist office. He enjoyed both jobs. It gave him time to think. To clear his mind. To reshape his life without Lisa.

Once or twice he'd been back to the room where he had installed the conversion table and Lisa. It was bare and spotless now. No signs of the blood that once covered most of the floor. Jack's doing thought Ianto. No one else would have done it

Ianto remembered going down there after his months suspension. It was clean then. He wasn't sure what Jack had done with the conversion table. Had it destroyed, he thought.

Turning off the computer and turning off the overhead lights, Ianto left the archives and headed back up to the main Hub and then the tourist centre.

As Ianto walked through to the cog door, he looked up at Jack's office. He couldn't see him, but he knew he was still there. Gwen and Tosh were busy at their workstations and Owen was busy doing the autopsy on the 'Weevil'.

Taking the lift, Ianto made his way up to the tourist office. He had new leaflets and timetables to arrange and a few reports to type out while he waited for tourists.

Ianto switched on the computer, logged in and started to type the first report. He smiled at the scribble on the page. Owen he thought. Typical doctor scrawl.

Ianto was just about to lock up, when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"It's Jack. Lunch in the boardroom, now."

"Just locking up, sir."

"Good." Jack hung up.

After locking up and shutting down the computer, Ianto made his way down to the boardroom.

It was he who usually ordered lunch, so Ianto was wondering what delights would await him.

As he entered the boardroom, Ianto was amazed to see a selection of edibles on the table.

Jack smiled, as Ianto entered through the door.

"Arh, Ianto. Dig in," he spread his arms and smiled.

Getting himself a plate, Ianto stood before the food and gradually filled his plate. Sitting across from Owen, he began to eat.

"Jack's idea," said Owen. "You don't eat enough to keep a sparrow alive."

"I eat….when I'm hungry."

"Not hungry very often then, eh?"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Let him eat, Owen."

"I was just sayin'."

Jack shook his head fondly. "I know."

Ianto carried on eating his lunch, while Gwen poured him a glass of water. He smiled his thanks.

"So, how's it going downstairs?" asked Jack.

Ianto swallowed a mouthful of food. "Finished, for today at least." He took a drink. "I've put the new leaflets and timetable in the tourist office and I can go back up there until it's time to go home, I think." He smiled.

"Okay, you do that." He turned to Owen. "How did that autopsy turn out, by the way."

Owen smiled. "Weevil through and through. I told you so." He looked triumphant.

"Yeah, yeah."

Owen looked at Ianto. "Can you take the body down to the vault when you get a chance, mate?"

Ianto nodded.

"Ta."