Captain Jack Harkness surveyed his team from a bird's eye view. They often forgot that he could see how hard (or not) they were working just by looking out the window of his office. Owen, for example. The way Owen's fingers were flying over the keyboard, you would think that he was fully absorbed in the autopsy he was documenting. But Jack could see Owen's computer screen quite clearly from his vantage point, and the videos playing on Owen's computer screen had nothing to do with autopsies, although they would give him a bit of a brush up on his knowledge of anatomy. Normally, Jack would wait a few minutes, then tell Owen to get back to work. Either that, or watch his computer screen on the infinitely larger computer in Jack's own office. Which route he chose depended on how long Ianto had been hiding away in the archives. Jack had his needs, after all.
Today, though, he just let Owen have his fun. The rift had been fairly quiet in the past week, and besides catching a couple weevils, the team hadn't had much cause to leave the hub. Not leaving the hub meant nobody getting hurt, so they didn't have much work for their medic. Jack knew it was getting bad when Gwen cut her arm, and Owen was practically salivating at the chance to fix someone. No, Jack would leave Owen alone.
Gwen was at home, supposedly because her arm hurt too much for her to be of any use on missions. She hadn't told Jack that Rhys had gotten some time off work so that they could 'spend time together', but Torchwood wasn't the best place to keep secrets, especially from Jack. Still, he let her go. She needed some time to catch up with her neglected boyfriend. Rhys was dealing with her prolonged absence better than Jack ever could, but the pair needed some face time.
Tosh was working, of course. A misshapen, metal object had come through the rift a few days ago, and she wouldn't rest until she found out what it was. Jack personally thought that it was just a banged up blender, much like the one that had been (will be?) in his childhood home. But he wasn't about to spoil her fun. He knew that she would only get restless when her task was finished, and one more restless Torchwood employee was the last thing they needed.
And what about the last member of staff? Jack let his gaze sweep over the whole Hub, but Ianto was nowhere in sight. He must be in the Archives, doing whatever it was that he did down there. Jack wished that Ianto wasn't quite so good at keeping busy. He could've used a fresh cup of coffee. And the view wasn't half as nice without Ianto's well-tailored suits to catch his eye. Jack turned around, and almost had a heart attack. Ianto was standing a polite distance behind him, holding a cup of coffee.
"Damn it, Ianto, don't do that! I don't need an adrenaline rush at this time of the morning. How do you do that? I didn't hear you come in!" Ianto smiled, and held out the coffee.
"I made you some coffee, sir." He said. Jack gave Ianto a searching look, but he couldn't decipher his expression. He reached out, and took the coffee. He didn't break eye contact with Ianto as he brought the cup to his lips. It was perfectly made, as always. If Ianto's only job was making coffee, it would still be worth it to keep him on payroll. Jack walked around Ianto to get to his desk, making sure to brush up against him as he passed. Ianto raised his eyebrows, but Jack just smirked. He flopped down in the seat he privately called his 'Commander Chair', and took another drink of his coffee.
"This coffee is amazing. Now I see why I keep you around. That, and of course those flattering suits you wear." Ianto rolled his eyes, and sat down in one of Jack's visitor chairs.
"Of course, that's the only reason I'm employed. Not because I'm the only one who can find anything in the Archives."
"What are you doing out of the Archives, anyways? I thought I wouldn't see your face until late afternoon, at least. Not that I'm complaining, of course."Jack leered at the other man, but Ianto grimaced.
"I've re-alphabetized the Archives five times in the past week. There is literally nothing more I can do right now. I was on my way to the tourist center to Google funny pictures of cats, when I thought you might want a coffee. We're all going stir-crazy, Jack. The rift is never this quiet. It's driving me mad." Indeed, Ianto looked a bit fidgety. Which, for him, was the equivalent of pacing in circles and shouting curses.
"I know it's bad, but this is just how it goes. Look, since you're here, I can think of some much pleasanter ways to kill time than sitting up in the tourist centre. You game?" Ianto looked at him disapprovingly.
"Jack, it's ten in the morning. And Owen and Tosh are right. Over. There." He gestured out at the Hub. Jack looked through his window, but he couldn't see the other Torchwood workstations from his seat.
"Come on, Ianto. They can't see us from here. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"It's off hiding with your sense of decency, Jack." Jack didn't respond, but he reached over the table and grabbed Ianto's tie. Ianto looked amused, but he didn't resist when Jack pulled him across the table for a kiss. When their lips were about to touch, they both heard loud footsteps pounding up the stairs. Ianto abruptly pulled away just as Owen came bursting through the door. He took in Ianto's red face, and Jack's hand still on Ianto's tie, and put his hand over his eyes.
"Christ almighty, can't you go a whole work day without shagging the teaboy?"
Jack grinned as Ianto turned a yet darker shade of red. "What do you want? If it's not important, I suggest you bugger off." Owen grabbed the door and hauled it open.
"Believe me, there's nothing I'd rather do. But Tosh says she has something she wants us all to see." He slipped back through the door and slammed it with a bang behind him. Jack and Ianto turned to look at one another.
"Care to pick up where we left off?" Jack asked. Ianto shot him a look.
"When there's a possible crisis? I think your libido can wait, sir." They stood there, staring at each other. At least a minute had passed before Ianto said, "Jack?"
"Yes?"
"Could you let go of my tie?"