Jack sat frowning at the sheaf of emails, printed maps, and notes he'd collected. Things were getting a little too plain to ignore any longer. He was going to have to step in.

"I'm fairly sure the last time I saw that look was when that blowfish insulted your braces."

"They know how to annoy me," Jack grumbled. "Have for decades."

"Why do I get the feeling it's a bit more than cheeky humanoid piscines at the moment?"

"It is," Jack sighed, taking the coffee Ianto handed him.

"Well?"

"Come sit?"

"You're scaring me."

Jack shook his head. "Not especially scary, just thorny. And complicated."

After an extra moment, Ianto pulled a chair over beside Jack's desk to hear the brief.

"I've been picking up some chatter and checked a few things with some contacts. I don't especially like what's been going on, but it hasn't been a problem for anyone, so I've turned a blind eye."

"But… it's becoming a problem now?"

"Yep. Or more like it's attracting problems. This usually ends up happening and I'd have shut it down sooner, but… it's been busy around here."

"No kidding."

"I think I'm gonna have to go in. Again. But I don't think the strong-arm approach is wise, and I need to be sure of what's really going on."

"So, you need cover. How deep? Faked passport, birth certificate, work visa… qualifications and clearances…? Family lineage to 10 generations?"

Jack couldn't help smirking and was glad Ianto Jones was on his side. The man could get a Dalek into 10 Downing Street without anyone asking questions if he wanted. "Doubt any of that will matter for this one. It's a sex club, actually."

Ianto's eyebrow twitched, but nothing more. "Never mind the cover, then."

"I won't pretend I've never been there. It's been a long while, though. And I can't go in 'as' Torchwood."

"Complicated, eh?"

"Mainly because I don't want to set off any bells. If they get I'm there to put a stop to certain things, they're gonna push back."

"So maybe it shouldn't be you going in at all?"

Jack shook his head. "No, definitely has to be me. I know what to look for and how it's gonna have to be handled."

"Right. You'll be careful, then?"

Jack looked up at Ianto, unsure just what he meant by 'careful.' Ianto never prodded or demanded anything of Jack, and the only requests he made were questions of safety.

"Maybe you could see to that personally," Jack suggested. "I think this would work a lot better if I'm not there solo…."

"You're asking me to join you at a sex club." It wasn't a question.

"Strictly business. I mean, unless there are some little ideas you like and want to, uh, carry over. But… yeah."

"I never imagined my life could get quite so… interesting," Ianto said, clearing up their finished mugs.

"Yan?"

Ianto turned in the doorway, brow raised.

"Was that a yes?"

He simply nodded once and continued on.