SOMETIMES IS JUST NOT ENOUGH

It had been well past midnight when he finally got home. The fourth time that week, no less. It had just been so busy. It had started with the heavy rain and the flooding in the sewers, the weevils came out in their droves to escape. Then UNIT had showed up. Two of their researchers from HQ had required assistance that only he could give, not that he minded, the officers had been good company. The Rift chucked a wobbly within moments of the UNIT personel leaving the Hub, that very morning, the resulting explosion had left Toshiko with 6 broken ribs and numerous lacerations. He hadn't fared much better and his favourite suit had been ruined. All in all a shit week and Ianto Jones was shattered. Every muscle in his body ached, he hadn't eaten a healthy meal for nearly two weeks and his blood had been swapped for Kenya's finest brew. So he sloped into his flat sore and wired, not to mention the fact that it was Christmas morning and he was supposed to be having breakfast with his Mam and sister in a few hours time. Ianto locked his front door behind him and struggled out of his ruined clothes, leaving a trail across his bedroom floor. With his right shoulder beautifully embroidered with Owen's stitches his arm on that side was almost useless so getting undressed was a rather painful and ungainly process. He didn't much care, he was in such a foul mood anyway that nothing else could have made it any worse except one possible thing.

Jack!

Truth was he and Jack had been at each other's throats at every private opportunity. What had started out as a minor disagreement had escalated into full scale war over a period of a couple of weeks and Ianto was just thoroughly fed up with it, with him and right now with Torchwood as well. He was tired of being tired. Annoyed at having missed both his niece's birthdays, his mother's birthday and his sister's graduation. Twice he'd had to cancel getting his hair cut, seeing a dentist and he couldn't remember the last time he'd actually been to the supermarket to do some grocery shopping. Not that he'd be likely to have time to actually cook anything. The icing on the cake had been Jack's order for him to remain in Cardiff over the Christmas break so the rest of the team could go away for a couple of days and visit relatives. Ianto had baulked. He was the only member of the team not to have taken any annual leave for almost 18 months. He'd had 6 days off over that period and normally worked a minimum of 12 hours a day, usually it was nearer 18. Ianto had been looking forward to Christmas and the chance to see the family he had left, even though he hadn't even had time to buy cards and presents for any of them. That order from Jack had left him speechless initially and when Ianto had recovered from his shock and challenged him Jack had told him not to take advantage of their somewhat dubious 'relationship' in order to get what he wanted.

Ianto was trying desperately not to cry at the thought of those words, the audacity of the accusation alone.... Since then 10 days ago Ianto had simply cut himself off from Jack on every private level. He was beyond furious and that had only escalated when Tosh had brought in Mistletoe and Jack and Gwen had had a good snog for all to see whilst stood underneath it. So much for wedding vowels. Ianto hadn't commented refusing to let Jack believe he was jealous (which he was). It was pretty obvious to him that they were through and Jack was already looking around for more interesting parties.

Ianto sighed gently washing away the dried blood from his stitches, the wounds stung like hell and more tears pricked at his eyes.

Finally fed up with his lot Ianto had responded to an email from a friend at MI5. Little insignificant Ianto Jones had been head hunted by the 'spooks'. They wanted an archivist/senior researcher, the job offer was excellent, twice the salary he was currently on, a free car, pension, medical insurance and rent subsidies for a house in central London. More importantly, no field missions, regular hours and no Jack. Ianto was sorely tempted, he didn't think at this point he had anything to lose.

He stepped out of the shower and clumsily wrapped himself in a towel before heading to his bedroom. It took him a moment to realise that someone was hammering on the front door. Cursing spectacularly he went to see who it was, though he could likely guess, Jack didn't like to sleep alone. He obviously hadn't found anyone to keep him occupied that night. Ianto was more than a little gob smacked to find Owen on his doorstep. He opened the door fully.

"Owen?"

The medic came in, taking a good look round as he did so. The flat was impeccable; wouldn't expect anything less of the Tea Boy. Ianto closed the door and showed his dead colleague to the lounge and Owen plonked himself down on the sofa.

Ianto followed him in and sat by the dining table.

"Well?"

Owen pulled out a bottle of tablets from his jacket pocket. "You left your pain killers in the autopsy bay, thought you'd be needing 'em in a couple of hours."

Ianto took them. "Thanks."

They sat in awkward silence Owen peering at the sparsely furnished room. "So, what the fuck's going on with you and Jack?"

Ianto's eyebrows climbed into his hairline. He met Owen's concerned look with an indignant frown but refrained from answering.

Owen huffed out a sigh. "Ianto?"

The younger man looked away. "Nothing is going on with me and Jack."

"So you are refusing to talk to each other over nothing? Ianto to be honest I don't give a toss, but the bottom line it is affecting the rest of us at work and it needs sorting. You are a reasonable man, whatever it is can't you sort it?"

Ianto's eyes darkened with anger he narrowed them at Owen in a fearfully annoyed look and Owen actually found it intimidating.

"Talk to Jack, there's no good me reasoning with him, he'll think I'm bribing him with sexual favours." He spat out bitterly.

Owen was a bit stunned. "What?"

"He had the cheek to accuse me of taking advantage of our...whatever it is...was...so I could get a couple of days off over Christmas."

"Ianto he was probably joking. You know what Jack is like. Innuendo is his middle name."

Ianto's glare only got angrier at that. "He meant every bloody word of it.. Whats more, considering I work an average of 10 hours a week more than anyone else, quite frankly I am owed some time out! Two fucking days Owen. It's all I want two days so I can see my family. Why is that so much to ask?"

Owen shook his head. "Mate, did you tell him this?"

Ianto sighed this time. "He was too busy snogging Gwen last time we got a chance to speak."

"Ianto, it's Christmas, he's been snogging everyone, he even got Kathy Swanson the other day and a good slapping for it too. He even tried it with me."

"What did you do?"

"Put a very strong laxative in his coffee."

They laughed at that. Owen leaned forwards his elbows resting on his thighs. "So come one mate, what's going on? It's more than that isn't it?"

Ianto realised it was, a whole lot more. "It's the fact that he thought I would use him like that..."

"You did once."

"Owen that was different and you know it. I didn't know Jack then, I had Lisa's life in my hands. Jesus I wasn't even sleeping with him back then, contrary to popular belief." He ran his hand through his damp hair. "I just thought we had something and we obviously don't. I have no life Owen. I'm losing touch with everyone on the outside as well as myself and Jack's petty accusation made me realise how worthless he thinks I am. You were right, part time fuck buddy. I'm not even certain I mean that much to him."

Owen couldn't believe what he was hearing. Only weeks ago Ianto was defending the validity of his relationship with their boss. He was tempted to say 'I told you so' but knew that would not be very helpful right now, especially when he knew damn well just how badly Jack was feeling about the current situation.

"I think you are over reacting. Jack can be an arse, say things he doesn't mean. You know what he is like. I'm pretty sure you mean a hell of a lot to him."

Ianto snorted. "I doubt that very much. Anyway shouldn't you be on your way to London?" He just wanted to change the subject and get Owen out of his flat.

Owen shook his head. "Mother cancelled. So you take your two days and I'll cover for you. You shouldn't be working with that shoulder anyway." He got to his feet.

"Owen are...."

"Ianto, take the days. I'll tell Jack you're not fit for work, he won't question it." Owen assured him as he walked back in the direction of the front door. He paused in the hallway and faced the younger man. "But do me a favour, when you come back, talk to him, please."

Reluctantly Ianto nodded.

After four hours sleep Ianto rolled out of bed feeling sore and stiff from his injuries. He stood under a hot shot shower hissing at the pain in his shoulder and wondering what in hell's name he was still doing at Torchwood.

Jack stood outside Ianto's front door still waiting for an answer. He'd been there for nearly ten minutes and finally he elected to use his key and let himself in. There was no one at home. Owen had been right then, maybe Ianto was visiting his family rather than avoiding him, Jack didn't feel especially comforted by this. He had been worried about Ianto for some time. There been a widening gap between them over recent weeks and though Jack knew he was the likely cause and he hadn't taken it too seriously until Owen had barged into his office the previous evening and had a go at him. It wasn't that Jack didn't care because he did, deeply so. It was more the realisation that Ianto meant far more to him than he had previously even dared to consider and what did he do? He pushed him away in much the same way he had run from Estelle all those years before. Jack was striding back to the Plass hoping that Ianto would be willing to forgive an old man his foolishness.

The day after Boxing Day was typically drab for the time of year and Ianto was pleased to get into the relative warmth of the Hub, even though it was the last place he had wanted to be. He'd spent a wonderful Christmas with his Mam and his sister's young family and those days were like an epithany for him. He realised exactly what it was missing in his life and decided where he wanted to be. Christmas night he had emailed Ollie at MI5 and accepted the job offer. Ten minutes later and he was printing out his contract, signing it and faxing it back. Job done, a new beginning and a new life and a chance to rediscover Ianto Jones. He felt as though a lead weight had been removed from his gut. Now all he had to do was tell Jack.

He stepped in through the roll door and was surprised to see Gwen and Tosh already at their stations so early. They all exchanged cheerful hellos and Owen came up from the autopsy bay and waved.

"Want to check those stitches today."

Ianto nodded curtly and trotted straight up to Jack's office entering without bothering to knock on the door. His team mates knew that this was not a good sign and geared themselves up for another argument as Ianto closed the door at his back.

Jack hung up from the phone call he was about to make and smiled up at Ianto a little reservedly. Ianto simply outstretched his hand and passed him an envelope.

"That's a letter of resignation, effective immediately. I'm owed 11 weeks annual leave." He pulled out some items from his coat pocket. "Here's my gun, spare clip, torchwood ID and security pass."

He put everything on Jack's desk. "I'll empty my desk and be out in half an hour."

Jack's jaw dropped. "What?"

"You heard Jack. My reasons are explained clearly enough in that letter."

"Ianto I...Why? I mean where will you go?" Jack really didn't know what to say.

Ianto clenched his fists to maintain his resolve. "I've been offered a post with MI5 and have decided to take it. Why? Well, why not? There's nothing to keep me here anymore and I want more time out there in the real world."

Jack remained speechless, the letter still in his hand. "Ianto...please reconsider."

"No sir, I will not. I'm sorry. Actually truth be told I don't think I am that sorry. Now if you'll excuse me..."

Jack practically launched himself out of his seat and grabbed Ianto's arm. Ianto pulled himself sharply away, glaring at him.

"Don't touch me, ever!" The steel in his eyes and his voice forcing Jack to release his grip.

"Ianto I don't understand..."

"Then you are more careless than I thought... It's over Jack. Whatever the Hell it was and I want out, I've had enough." Ianto turned away and walked out of the office slamming the door shut behind him.