Set during Jack's absence between series one and two. In which Ianto saves Owen's life. Third and last of the 'STUPID' series, because a couple of you lovely reviewers asked.

HARPER'S MONKEY

Ianto Jones hated snow, always had, always would. Snow in Cardiff was never nice, deep, white, Christmas card romantic snow. It was mushy, slippery and dirty and always ruined his shoes and suit trousers because sods law things always went wrong when it snowed and today was going to be no exception to this unwritten rule. His brand new Mini Cooper wouldn't start then in a fit of tired temper loss he managed to break the key off in the ignition. So he had to walk twenty minutes through the sludge to the nearest bus stop. The bus was 15 minutes late and took almost an hour to get him into work. The battery on his Ipod ran out, half way through 'chasing cars' by Snow Patrol (his and Jack's song). And when he finally got to the Hub Jack was still absent, off on his jaunt with the Doctor.

Ianto's heart sank to the usual spot in his gut as he went to the coffee machine pausing briefly to hang up his coat and scarf along the way. He could hear 'Prodigy' coming up from the autopsy bay and concluded Owen must have either done an all nighter or come in early for a change. It had been a strange few weeks since Jack left. After the first three weeks of everyone except Ianto loudly bitching about Jack's apparent desertion they had all just settled into the extra workload. Ianto took most of it on, primarily because he was the only one who knew what most of Jack's job actually entailed. Some of it got delegated to Gwen when it became clear she was going to take charge. Even Owen pulled his weight. The primary difference for Ianto is that he stayed at the Hub six nights a week in Jack's bunker and only took Monday night off so he could go home and organise his laundry for the following week.

Shit his laundry was now still in his car, he'd have to get the AA out.

The rest of the team took the Monday night slot in turns. It was going by in a bit of a blur for Ianto. He ate if he remembered, he drank way too much coffee and virtually never slept, because every time he tried he either got woken up by the alarms or his nightmares and Jack wasn't there to chase all the bad stuff away. Each day he got up and realised a little bit more of him had died during the course of the night. He knew his colleagues were worrying about him. Tosh, Owen and Gwen each in their own way showing their concern and affection. They had all tried to understand, tried to talk to him and make him feel better. Ianto just smiled his usual quiet little smile and told them he was fine when inside he knew he wasn't. Jack's absence wasn't entirely to blame either. His nightmares had taken a dramatic turn for the worst, becoming more graphic and painfully real literally. The additional pressure of secret expeditions out to Flat Holm Island hadn't helped because he hated lying to the others about those trips. Since they opened the rift ……..well more shit and victims were coming through almost on a daily basis. They were all busy. The only highlight being Gwen's engagement announcement, which was celebrated with a crazy drunken party in the boardroom. The only time they had kicked back and relaxed since Jack's departure.

The worse thing for Ianto was the phone calls. Deflecting enquiries from UNIT and various departments of the MOD and the minister for defence. In truth Ianto was a master at this and all three of his team mates suggested he became a politician. He had made every excuse on the planet to explain Jack's inability to answer the calls that were becoming more frequent by the day.

Ianto sighed pulling his favourite coffee beans from the fridge he set to work to make the first batch of brew for the day. This small routine was his only anchor. It was the only thing in his pathetic life that he could rely on, the best bloody coffee in Wales. Thank God he'd got something right.

The alarm on the roll door went off announcing the arrival of Gwen and Tosh. They took turns in giving each other a lift, just so they could have a gossip on their way into work, catch up and hang on to something that could at least be considered a little bit normal. They never discussed Jack anymore and this morning Ianto had been their subject of conversation. They often talked about the youngest member of the team mostly because they could never get a word out of him unless it was work related. And in some strange unconscious way they thought that maybe by talking about him it would help him, knowing he was being thought of. Tosh called it positive re-enforcement. Gwen called it wishful thinking. It made them smile.

Ianto stepped down from the kitchenette with a tray of their favourite hot beverages and Owen on smelling the coffee wandered up from the autopsy bay to join the gang at Tosh's workstation for their regular 'first thing' catch up. Ianto perched himself on the edge of Tosh's desk whilst the others sat in the chairs, savouring their coffees.

"So what's been happening over night?"

Owen stretched his legs out. "Not a peep out of the rift and I've finished the autopsy on that 'monkey thing'. Looks like it died from being hit by a car and it wasn't carrying any contaminants. I reckon some one hit it and it ran off to die, like a cat or a dog would. Case closed. Reports on your desk Gwen."

"Does the species match with anything on the database?"

Ianto shook his head. "It's a new one, so I've dubbed it 'Harper's Monkey' for the sake of cataloguing and once all the bio samples are ready I'll have it archived along with the files and the body will have to go into storage in the lower vaults if we decide to keep it that is."

Owen was looking distinctly annoyed. "Why Harper's Monkey? Why not Tea Boy's Primate? Or Gwen's Gorilla?"

All eyes turned to Ianto, who flushed scarlet. "Well it's traditional isn't it? You discover a new species and it gets your name. You'll go down in history as the great 'Harper's Monkey' discoverer." He was quite serious and the girls started to snicker and then Owen started to laugh. Ianto just look embarrassed.

"Tosh?" Finally Gwen managed to calm down enough to continue.

"Clean up complete, just had to mildly Retcon a guy from the RSPCA. Straight forward really."

Gwen smiled at them. "You know you guys are brilliant don't you?"

Owen and Tosh were grinning.

"So what's the plan for the day Miss Cooper?"

"You're going home for a rest Owen. Tosh and I will carry on going through the stuff we picked up in Bute Park last week and Ianto, you are also going home to get some rest."

Ianto opened his mouth to protest.

"That's an order Jones. It either of you are needed we will call you." Gwen's tone left no room for argument especially with the big doey eyes and warm gapped toothed smile she threw at the boys. Ianto reluctantly agreed, Owen was already pulling on his leather jacket.

"Right then ladies, I will see you later. And Gwen make sure you do call if you need me. I don't want you girls weevil hunting with out me. Spoil all my fun. That includes you Ianto."

Ianto rolled his eyes and got up to fetch his coat. "You're sure you don't want me to stay?"

Tosh and Gwen exchanged exaggerated long suffering looks.

"Ianto, go home and rest, while the opportunity presents itself." Gwen instructed. He looked crestfallen and Gwen got up and hugged his skinny frame. "And have something to eat as well."

"I'll do that." He said, though he wouldn't promise.

Four hours later, the AA man came and fixed Ianto's car. Three hours after that he was rudely awoken by the ringing of his mobile phone. It was Tosh.

"Hi Ianto. Gwen and Owen are heading out to Castle Road to check out a rift spike, can you meet them there, looks like it could be trouble."

Ianto was pulling on his jeans already.

"Will do Tosh, be there in ten." He decided to forgo the suit and went with jeans, trainers, three layers of thermals and a beanie. Somehow running around in the freezing snow in a hand made suit didn't appeal. He shoved his gun into the shoulder holster under his polar fleece and charged out of his front door slamming it behind him. It was a nightmare of a drive because thick layers of frozen snow had settled every where through out the back streets. He parked up behind the SUV and touched the com in his ear.

"Owen, Gwen where are you?" He got out of his car and stood under a street lamp glancing up and down the darkened road. His breath a silvery ghosting under the light. God it was cold.

"There's a building site, at the top of the street, we've got it cornered, make sure you've a maglight with you. It's pitch bloody black in here." Good old Owen straight to the point.

"On my way." Ianto ran, surprised by how much easier it was when not wearing a suit, maybe he should dress like this more often. Jack would have fit though, he loved……But Jack wasn't around anymore was he. Ianto skidded to a halt and turned into the entrance of the site. It was dark. Gun and maglight in hand and at the ready, he edged his way in. The beam of light barely penetrated the gloom.

AN: Will update soon!!