Party Favours

Why was it that when you were in a hurry, everything seemed to be against you. So it was for Ianto Jones. He was busy buying balloons and party goods, but everywhere he went, they seem to be crowded. Everyone seemed to be buying the same as him.

He looked at his watch. 10am.

"Come on, come on." Ianto tapped his foot impatiently.

Jack is gonna be miffed. No coffee this morning. Well, not since we got out of bed this morning Ianto allowed himself a smile, remembering the night of passion.

He was brought back to the present by the check out girl. She called to him, then eyed him as he put his overfilled basket in front of her. Scanning each item, she gave Ianto a plastic bag to put everything in. One by one, the items filled three carrier bags.

"Thirty five pounds and seventy four pence."

Ianto happily handed over the money. He waited for a receipt and then left. Walking further up the road, Ianto went into a coffee shop, ordering coffee and a danish pastry. A little reward to himself, for getting all the party favours. After all, what was another fifteen minutes or so?

After leaving the café, Ianto headed back to his car. He was hoping that Gwen and Owen were keeping Jack busy so that he could slip into the Information Centre and hide the bags from him. Jack was like a kid, always searching for the goodies until he found them. Not this time. Ianto would make sure of that.

This time was going to be very different. They weren't letting on about the party they were going to throw for Jack's umpteenth birthday.

Ianto was in his element. He was going to bake a cake himself. When he didn't know, but do it he would. Jack's birthday was in two days.

"Come on, Jack. I thought you said you knew how to play this game," Owen said, pushing the coin further than Jack.

"Of course I do. Shove halfpenny. I've played it lots of times."

"Yeah, right."

"My mind just isn't on it. Where's Ianto," he asked' looking around. "I need a cup of his coffee."

"You know Ianto. Off buying a new suit. A tie. Who knows with 'im."

Jack frowned.

"Why, you need coffee?"

"Oh, no. Not yours I don't." Jack laughed.

"Bloody charmin'."

Jack laughed again. "Okay, enough. Work to do." Jack went up to his office.

Where is Ianto Jones? Owen asked himself.

Just as he said that, Ianto appeared at the sliding door, giving Owen a thumbs up.

"Ianto? Coffee." Jack yelled from his office.

"Eyes everywhere." Joked Owen.

Ianto smiled.

"Coming right up, Jack."

Ianto quickly moved to the kitchen area where the coffee machine was. He went to work making one of his famous coffee delights. Jack's preference was industrial strength. Taking the coffee to Jack, he placed it on his desk.

"And where have you been?"

"Micha's birthday next month. Wanted to see what was around for a girl her age," he lied.

Jack frowned. "Right."

"Will there be anything else, Jack?"

"No."

"Right. I'll get back to filing then." Ianto gave Jack a beaming smile, a peck on the cheek and was gone.

Jack shook his head, and smiled. "Damned Welshman."

Ianto busied himself in the archives, way below the main Hub area. Collating files. Photocopying old files for backups, and generally tidying up. He knew the place back to front. Every file, every sheet of paper, had it's place and Ianto knew exactly where it was.

After a couple of hours, Ianto touched the coms devise in his right ear. "Anyone for lunch?" he ask Jack.

"Think you can spare the time?" said Jack, sarcastically.

"Well, now you come to mention it….." Ianto laughed.

"My office, now."

"On my way."

Ianto closed the filing cabinets and tidied the desk before leaving. He turned to look, making sure he hadn't missed anything. Satisfied, he went up to Jack's office.

"You called?" he smiled, sitting in the chair opposite Jack.

Jack held a piece of paper in his hand. He waved it at Ianto. "This just landed on my desk."

"Carrier pigeon," quipped Ianto.

"Fell out of a file I had under yours."

"Why would you have my file up here?" Ianto frowned. "You already know everything there is about me, don't you?"

"I like to go through the team files every now and then." Jack answered.

Ianto nodded. "Okay."

"According to this, your father isn't dead. Why would you say he was?"

Ianto stood. "Lunch. What about lunch?"

"Sit, Ianto!"

"Jack…."

"Now!"

Ianto obeyed, dropping his head so he looked at his hands resting in his lap.

"Why, Ianto? Does Rhiannon know, or is he died to her, too?"

"She….thinks he's dead."

Jack shook his head. "Why?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Can we just leave it at that?"

"No, I'm afraid we can't." Jack stood, rounded the desk and perched on the edge in front of Ianto. "Talk to me, Ianto."

"What do you want me to say, Jack? He was a monster, okay. He treated me like a dog." Ianto looked away. "He pushed me until I nearly cracked."

Jack put a hand under Ianto's chin, turning his head so their eyes were meeting. "I'm sorry, Cariad."

"He treated Rhiannon like a Princess. Why couldn't he love me?"

A single tear slipped from Ianto's eye. Jack brushed it away with a kiss.

"I tried, Jack. I really did. After I came out of prison, I buckled down. Studied like mad at uni. But it still wasn't enough. Not for Tad. Was never enough."

"What about you mom?"

Ianto smiled. "Mam did her best. Loved me, cared for me." Ianto stood, moving over to the window. "When Tad was reported as missing, I was glad. I didn't want him to come back." Ianto turned to face Jack. "There was a coach crash, Tad went walk-about. They didn't find him for three days." Ianto smiled. "They were three of the best days I'd ever had at home. Then he turns up at this farmhouse." He shrugged.

"He was that bad?"

"I remember once, I was on a swing having fun with Rhiannon. Tad decides he's going to push me, even though I didn't want him to. He pushed me so hard, I fell, breaking my leg."

"I'm sure he didn't mean to."

Ianto sighed, moving to stand in front of Jack. "He always pushed me too hard. I could never do anything right."

Jack took him into his arms, hugging him close. He felt Ianto melt into his embrace and sigh deeply.

"I just wanted his to love me like he loved my sister."

"I'm sure he did, in his own way."

Ianto pulled back slightly so he could see Jack's face. "Can we forget about this now?"

"Do you know where he is?"

Ianto shook his head.

"I do."