Owen wheeled his chair over to join Tosh at her work station along with her new puppy, Jimmy.
'Right you lot, I do believe there is a pub missing us.'
Jimmy stared up at Tosh. 'You fancy a drink Toshiko?'
About to say no she decided that actually, she did.
'Why not. It was just going to be me, a glass of something and a book tonight anyway. Should we ask the others?'
Three sets of eyes looked up to see Jack having a whispered conversation on the gantry with his second in command, archivist and all round coffee god, Ianto Jones. They each shook their head.
'No, and no point asking Saint Cooper, she's been banging on about her anniversary for days now.' Owen shook his head. 'If I hear one more thing about how brilliant her relationship is I'll dance with Janet.'
'Should we invite her anyway.' Tosh suggested, ever the peacemaker like the typical middle child she'd been back when it was Suzie, her and Owen on Jack's team. 'After all, she's going to say no.'
Owen grinned. 'You are right evil sometimes Doctor Sato.'
Surreptitiously watching the three of them Jack smiled. With his fifty first century hearing he heard every word and the pretty colour flushing Tosh's cheeks at Owen's compliment suited her.
Ianto tilted his head in silent question as Jack stood there with a beautific smile giving him a radiant countenance. Something no good could come of, in Ianto's experience.
Leaning over the railing Jack called down to his team. 'Right kids, bugger off and try not to get too drunk. Never know what tomorrow will bring.' He waved his hands to shoo them away.
Tosh smiled up at him. 'We're grabbing a drink if you wanted to come.'
Jack shook his head. 'Drinking leads to Karaoke Toshiko.' Grinning as her colour deepened and Owen blanched. 'No, you kids have fun, you'll just have to make do without me.'
'Ianto?' She asked next.
'I have plans sorry, but maybe we should pencil something in for another night, no karaoke yeah.'
'I'd like that.' She looked over to Gwen. 'What about you?'
Gwen waved a hand at the other woman. 'I've got Rhys, it's our anniversary you know. He always likes to make such a fuss. Dead annoying really.'
Jack watched Gwen leave followed by the three trooping off to the pub. Leaning into his warmth Ianto sighed softly.
'I wonder if that triangle will end well.'
'Jimmy still crushing on Tosh?'
'Yeap.' Ianto popped the p. 'But I think Doctor Harper may have developed a bit of a clue.'
'Something to watch you think.'
'I do.' He turned into Jack. 'Come on, I promised to take you up on my broom didn't I.'
'Remind me again that wasn't a euphemism for sex.'
Ianto laughed.
'But seriously, how does that even work?'
'Between the two of us we are still well within the weight limit for my broom, you will have to hold on tight mind. They aren't generally used for passengers.'
'Yeah that would be the bit I'm not sure about.'
'I could see if I can get my hands on a flying motorbike if that would make you feel safer.'
'Strangely no. I will try the broom thing. But are you sure I can't fly it myself?'
Ianto grinned, wondering if this was in fact the heart of Jack's reticence towards the idea of being flown on a wizards broom. 'Brooms are be-spelled to make them fly so it could work, depending on the magic itself. My wand definitely wont work for you but the broom.' He shrugged. 'I've never let a muggle try before so I have no idea.'
'This whole mumble, sorry, muggle thing, it's a bit wearing some days.'
'The Magical Statue of Secrecy is absolute. I have a duty to ensure the protection magic and the Wizarding world in general. Especially given my obligation to the Ministry. I do think however that it does all contribute to some of the xenophobic ideas within the wizarding community.'
'That is one part of human nature that never seems to change.'
'Come on, we'll pop back to mine and grab the broom. I asked Barnabus to pack a picnic and I have a spot in the Brecon Beacons National Park in mind.'
'It's not too lose to Brynbland I hope.'
'Not at all. And you'll want your coat.'
A pop and the smell of cordite lingered in the now empty Hub. Or the almost empty Hub as a voice called out.
'Jack? You still here?' Shrugging Gwen was sure she had heard voices while popping back to grab her jacket. 'I must have missed him.' She muttered to herself before heading back though the cog door.
Jack and Ianto apperated into the Welshman's library and moved though the quaint wizard home, heading for the kitchen. Jack immediately gravitating to the black and white cat purring loudly in greeting as he stroked the soft fur.
'He seems really content here.'
Ianto shrugged. 'That's more down to the house and Barnabus than me, and you visiting him I suspect.'
'You like him, admit it. But.' Jack scrutinised the immaculately dressed younger man in his ever present three piece suit. 'I don't think I have ever seen any cat hair on you.'
Ianto laughed. 'You think I'm the only wizard with an OCD streak? There are easily a dozen spells to repel cat hair, if not more.'
'Does that extend to other things?' He watched as Ianto gave him half a smile.
'I'm a wizard Jack. What do you think.'
'Would explain why my coat stays so well maintained.'
'Maybe I have a really good dry cleaner.'
A more casually dressed Ianto stepped into a secluded clearing well off the regular hiking paths deep in the National Park. For added security Ianto moved quickly around the clearing casting anti muggle spells leaving Jack to open the satchel they had brought with them.
Jack considered something that for him and all his time spent travelling with a time lord was perfectly natural as what looked like an ordinary satchel actually contained a picnic basket, blanket and Ianto's broom. He watched as the wizard tucked his wand away, still determined to find it's hiding place.
'You hungry or would you like to try flying first.'
Peeking into the basket Ianto's house elf had packed Jack grinned. 'Broom first. Do I want to know what you were just doing?'
'Setting a standard perimeter to keep muggles away and stop us being seen.'
'Would it work if I left the clearing?'
'Yeap. I'd be invisible and you would suddenly remember you were supposed to be somewhere else.'
'We don't want that.' He got a gleam in his eyes. 'And we are invisible?'
Ianto laughed. 'To muggles, not the magical community, and bugs can still bite us.'
'That is a shame.' Popping a grape into his mouth, eyes dancing.
Ianto laughed. 'Come on then.' He held a hand over the broom.
Jack's eyes grew wide as the broom shot straight into the younger man's outstretched hand with a resounding thack.
'If you sit behind me that should work.'
'And you've never had a passenger before?'
'I have a seven year old nephew and a four year old niece, what do you think.'
He laughed. 'Oh your sister must hate that.'
Ianto shrugged. 'Kids love it, but they usually sit in front of me.'
He was glad he'd picked a secluded location to take Jack flying as he suspected no amount of magic was capable of disguising Jack's whoop of excitement as they rose into the air.
In Cardiff Gwen threw her phone on the coffee table, Rhys and his apology cut off. It wasn't her fault she usually worked odd hours. Not only was she actually home at a normal time, but it was their anniversary. One he was apparently spending drinking with his mates rather than lavishing her with candle light and romance. It wasn't fair. Well two could play at that game. Purse in hand she swept out into Cardiff and headed for the nearest bar.
She was well into her third glass of wine when a petite blonde slid into the booth opposite her, glass of wine in each hand and a relieved look on her face.
'Before you say anything, I needed rescuing from that twat who was not taking no for an answer. It never ends well and if I punch him in the throat I'm the one barred. Be the third place this month which is a new personal best for me. You don't mind do you?' She smiled. 'Next drinks on me.'
Gwen swigged back her glass and nodded. 'Sure, it's more than my idiot boyfriend could manage.'
'Anniversary is it?'
'Not that you'd notice. I'm Gwen -.'
'Cooper, yeah, I sort of know.'
Reaching for a gun she wasn't carrying Gwen froze.
'It's okay, I'm a bit of a fan actually. I mean, there's stuff on the internet, if you know where to look. You have got quite the following in the online communities.'
Gwen hesitated as she reached for the fresh glass of wine she was being offered. 'Meaning?'
'Just that you're very popular we are all sort of, collectors, most of the others are IT geeks who live with their mothers. But we all share an adoration for all things Torchwood.' She leaned in and whispered. 'One of them actually bragged about having an alien eye.' She laughed as she leaned back. 'Everyone wants to find something they can bring to Torchwood, mostly to meet you.'
'Me?'
'Oh yeah. I'm currently living every fanboy dream there is.' She blushed, her smile coy. 'And one or two of the girls. I'm Mary.' She watched the woman brighten under the flattery and praise. She'd been hoping to have Toshiko to work on but as luck would have it she ended up with the ego known as Gwen. Necessitating a stream of pandering she could only hope to maintain.
'What I don't understand.' Mary continued. 'Is how the Cardiff Police let you slip away to Torchwood. Although it is to our gain, I feel safer knowing someone so capable is working on my behalf against. ' She lowered her voice. 'Aliens.'
'It wasn't easy but once you know how amazing it is, the police couldn't hold me, you know.'
'It must be totally brilliant doing what you do.' She reached out, her hand a light touch on Gwen's arm. 'I envy you.'
'It's not always glamorous. Today we were on a dusty building site with an old skeleton.'
'That doesn't creep you out?'
Gwen scoffed. 'After some of the things I've seen it was nothing.'
'I just find it so amazing and you, so brave knowing what's out there and not running away from it. Facing it all and looking so amazing doing it.'
'I'm just doing my job.'
In another bar Tosh laughed. 'You two are terrible.'
'Oh come on Tosh.' Owen leaned over and grabbed a packet of crisps from Jimmy. 'Are you really telling me you don't stalk Jack and the tea boy with the CCTV?'
She blushed. 'Doesn't mean I want an invite.'
He turned to Jimmy. 'What about you young Jim?'
'Oh hell no, and I told Ianto that.'
'He never asked.'
Jimmy scoffed. 'Course not, not about that. Just about the gay thing, if I was okay with it.'
'They aren't gay.' Tosh reached for the pork scratchings. 'Jack will shag anyone gorgeous enough.'
Owen grinned. 'Even I can admit tea boy is fit.' He dodged the pork scratching Tosh tossed at him. 'Don't waste them.'
'I'm just glad Ianto's happy.' She smiled softly. 'He told me he had someone in London but she died, at Canary Wharf.'
Owen straightened up. 'Didn't know that.' Thinking back to the day they'd flown to London to help clean up after the fall of Torchwood One. 'Sometimes I forget he's one of what, two dozen survivors.'
'Yes. And I shouldn't have said anything.'
'Secrets safe with us.' Jimmy added. 'Given everything else what's one more.' He shrugged and finished his pint. 'And since I got the last round in, by my reckoning it must be yours, doctor boy.'
'Yeah all right, same again ladies?'
'I shouldn't.' Tosh demurred. 'But I will.'
'That's the spirit love.' He grabbed the empty pint glasses and headed for the bar while Tosh finished her glass of wine.
She smiled at Jimmy. 'This was a nice idea.'
'Not that I've had any job this long before, but I always thought this was just what people did after work, like on the telly.'
'I guess that would be the thing for normal people to do.'
'Yeah, but as weird as this all is, I wouldn't trade it for the world.' He said with a smile.
Owen found them giggling when he returned to the table and set their drinks down. 'Steady on you lot or they'll cut us off.'
'We'd have to go back to yours or mine if that happened.' Tosh smiled. 'You still have those hangover pills right?'
Owen gave her a smug smile. 'Of course oh light of my life, it is a school night after all.'
'Then we should do this properly.' She raised her glass and waited for the others to join her toast. 'To getting shit faced.'
'Cheers.'
'I'll drink to that.'
