AN: This could end up going anywhere...bear... bare...with me. :-).

JUPITER...

Tosh found Ianto looking out over the bay by the Norwegian Church. It had been one of those days when things had gone badly wrong. Not aliens invading the world kind of things, no, just little things like the printer packing up, the coffee machine deciding it wasn't to going to work and the two hours spent trying to catch a wounded Myfanwy so that Owen could sedate her and treat her injury. Somewhere along the line Ianto had finally lost his patience with the day and rather than yelling at his colleagues he had quietly slipped from the Hub at lunch time to escape his own heightening stress levels. In reality it was about none of those things and it was about all of them. Aliens would have been a welcome relief from his darkening mood.

"Want to talk?"

Ianto glanced at her for a moment and was taken aback by how beautiful she looked when windswept and breathless. He offered up a smile, grateful for her concern and the fact that she was battling miserable weather to find him here. He shrugged.

"Just a crappy day, you know the little things that keep going wrong."

Tosh knew full well, her computers had been playing up for days after the new upgrades and she was still debugging the system.

"It wouldn't have bothered you before..."

"Jack running off? No, I guess not. Sorry Tosh things just got to me today."

"It's alright, you're allowed, I mean we've all had our moments recently except you, so I think you are entitled to a mini breakdown." She brushed her straggling hair behind her ear and the wind immediately whipped it free again.

"We all miss him."

Ianto dug into his coat pocket and pulled out a packet of Marlboro Lights he offered it to Tosh. "Want one?"

Her eyes widened. "You smoke?"

He stuck a cigarette between his lips and lit it with a silver coloured lighter. "Only since Brecon, didn't want to start drinking and I needed something. Jack convinced me to stop... for a while anyway." He took a deep drag and blew the smoke away from Tosh. "It helps me stay calm on days like this."

"I do sudoko, the numbers, they calm me. Maths is so pure, and unemotional, you can just lose yourself in it."

Ianto hitched a smile. "I read poetry. That was my main thing at university, the Romantic poets but I've been reading TS Elliot lately, he seems to suit my current mood."

"Which is?"

"The Wasteland, it's dark, bitter and extraordinarily beautiful at the same time. I love use of the English language, but right now I just needed a fag."

Tosh looked out over the grey churning water of the bay. "He'll come back, you know."

"It really doesn't matter whether he does or not, we still have to do our jobs and it seems to me we are better than we were before. Gwen is doing a good job of getting us together, I'd never have believed her capable, but she has risen to the occasion with aplomb."

"Are you being sarcastic?"

Ianto merely inhaled more smoke and grinned. "I think we should have Chinese for lunch."

"There's a surprise, all these take outs can't be good for us."

"Owen nearly murdered me where I stood when I suggested salads and fresh fruit, and he's the one responsible for our health and welfare."

Tosh chuckled. "We are bad, coffee, biscuits, take outs, pizza, we'll all die from a Torchwood diet, not death by heroism saving the world."

"Ianto Jones born 19th August 1983, died of myocardiac infarction due to fatty arteries aged 26... on examination the body was discovered to be made of pizza dough, diced chicken with sweet n sour sauce for blood."

"With ahead full of egg fried rice and a very nice pair of prawn balls..."

They laughed and once their mirth had died down they were both feeling much happier. Ianto stubbed his fag butt out on the wet concrete underfoot and held out his hand to Tosh, who took it.

"Sod Owen, there's a new Deli opened in the Red Dragon centre, I reckon we should try it out."

Tosh nodded in agreement and snuggled into his side to shelter from the weather. "Good idea."

TWTWTWT

Gwen looked up when her two soggy but cheerful colleagues returned with lunch bags in their hands. It was a nice change to see Ianto without the frown he usually wore. She grinned and followed them up to the boardroom yelling for Owen as she went.

They settled themselves around the new boardroom table and Tosh and Ianto dished out trays of salad, sushi and fruits. Owen was eyeing the display with a good degree of suspicion, but he was soon tucking in with the rest of them.

"God, this is amazing, why haven't we eaten like this before?" Gwen said around a slice of fresh mango, the juice dribbling over her chin. She didn't care, she was enjoying the food too much.

Ianto carefully dabbed at his own sticky fingers with a wet wipe. "It's a new place. I think we'll go there again, the girl behind the counter was very helpful."

Tosh was grinning. "Only because she fancied you."

Ianto blushed, she was probably right. "Good, that means we're likely to get good service then."

Owen gaped at him. "Were you flirting Tea Boy?"

Gwen sniggered and looked at Ianto, waiting for his rebuff. "I don't need to flirt, it's my natural charm, unlike some of us who have to work at it."

"Ianto Jones 1 Owen Harper Nil."

Tosh smiled at that.

"So come on Ianto, was she cute?"

He popped a piece if apple into his mouth and took his time chewing it and swallowing.

"I suppose, black hair, 20ish, Polish I think. She's at the university studying history."

"Wow, this sounds serious."

"Bollocks, it's only serious if she asked you out!"

Ianto turned to Owen with a look of triumph on his face that Owen had never seen before.

"Actually she did, but I politely declined."

Gwen and Owen were both gaping at him now.

"You what? Some hot Eastern European chic asks you out and you say no, you'll never get another chance." Owen responded shoving some sushi into his mouth.

The smirk dropped from Ianto's face.

"Owen, I have barely left this building in three months, I haven't seen my own flat for almost two weeks, what makes you think I'd have time to go on a date?"

Owen finished chomping..."Good point." He turned to Gwen. "How do you manage to have a life Cooper?"

Gwen shrugged. "I'm not sure that I do, it's getting hard convincing Rhys, but it's true I certainly don't do the kind of hours that Ianto puts in."

They all knew that Ianto had taken the lion's share of Jack's responsibilities, except the leadership. Technically he was the longest serving member of Torchwood and should have taken command.

"It's my choice. I don't have anyone on the outside, it's best that you don't lose what you have Gwen. We do need more staff though, we're all putting in too many hours."

They were all in silent agreement. Owen decided to change the subject.

"So, whose up for the pub tonight?"

"Rift permitting, count me in." Ianto replied straight away.

Tosh nodded. "I think that would be nice."

Gwen smiled. "An excellent plan Owen."

Six hours later and twenty pink ferrets from Tolourous Three scuppered the arrangement.

For once Ianto went home. Owen, Gwen and Tosh had insisted by shoving him through the cog door at 11:30 that night. He was under orders to take the following two days off because he hadn't taken a break since the day Jack had run out on them. It wasn't that Ianto was especially upset by Jack's absence, more the manner in which he had left. He had known it would happen, Jack had warned him. Ianto understood, the immortal man needed answers, maybe even a cure for his predicament. Ianto genuinely hoped that he found what he was looking for, even if he did feel a little hurt and just a bit insecure knowing that it wasn't Jack watching his back out in the field. Something had changed whilst Jack was away. The four remaining team members had suddenly needed each other more than ever. They all loved Jack in their own ways and were all hurt by his departure, it was the common thing that bound them together, along with the love of their jobs and a deep sense of duty. Finally they had become friends, if a little uneasily at times.

He paused by the front gate to his apartment block, fumbling about his pocket in a search for his house keys. Ianto looked up at the faint sound of a mewling cat. He glanced about unable to see it and frowned at the distressed sound. There was thumping too and Ianto turned his head in the direction of the row of wheelie bins behind the fence. He pulled his maglight out from his coat pocket and turned it on, aiming the narrow beam towards the bins. Cautiously he approached them, half wondering if he needed to draw his gun, he dismissed that idea and cursed his own paranoia. He slowly lifted the lid of the first bin and took a quick look, wrinkling his nose in distaste, but there was only rubbish. The lid was set down and Ianto heard the strident yeowling get more intense so he checked the next one. It was the recycling bin and as he lifted the lid he saw the milk cartons move and a pathetic ginger face peering up at him with large green eyes.

"Oh dear, how did you get in there?" Ianto felt his heart break as he reached in to lift the cat out. It was soaking wet and shivering and holding it by the scruff he bundled it under the folds of his woollen coat. Claws sank into his side for purchase but the cat merely snuggled further into warm fabric and continued to mewl as he wrapped his arm to support its weight.

"Come on fella lets get you in the warm."

Ianto was thanking God he'd left his central heating on as his flat was cosy and welcoming. He flicked on the lights and locked his front door behind him. Then he went straight to the bathroom and pulled his towelling robe off the door and made his way carefully back to the lounge. He dislodged the cat from under his arm and bedded it down on the couch, firmly wrapped in his dressing gown. The cat seemed very content with that and Ianto decided to shower and change, leaving the cat on his couch.

Ten minutes later he was back in jeans and jumper and the bundle of cat and dressing gown was gently shifted onto his lap so he could check the cat over for any obvious injury. The cat was purring and starting to dry off nicely revealing marmalade stripes and a large bright ginger splodge on one side. He looked rather too thin for Ianto's liking and he wondered why on Earth someone could be so cruel as to put him in a bin. He picked the cat up and held it to his chest as he rose to his feet.

"Come on lets see what we have to eat." He knew his fridge would be empty but vaguely recalled having a tin of tuna in one of the cupboards.

The cat ate the whole tin and Ianto found him an old cardboard box to sleep in. The box was placed on his bedroom floor with the dressing gown inside and the cat sniffed at it before climbing in and settling to wash its feet. It was 3am before Ianto finally fell asleep in his bed.

He was woken up buy the unfamiliar sound of rumbling in his left ear, when he opened his eyes he looked straight into large green ones and he was immediately head butted by a purring feline, who was also padding at the quilt under his chin. Ianto couldn't help but smile.

"Good morning cat."

The face rubbing and the volume of the purring increased as Ianto gently rubbed around soft ginger ears. Ianto carefully sat up and the cat climbed up his chest.

"You are a fussy thing." He said thinking he should get up and find a vet.

He finally rang Owen.

Owen picked up the phone on his desk and was somewhat surprised to hear Ianto's voice on the other end of the line. Something had to be seriously wrong for Tea Boy to call.

"Ianto, what's up?" He was chewing on his sandwhich as he spoke and managed to spit half his mouthful out by mistake... "Oh shit."

"Owen sorry, are you really busy?"

The medic leant back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk.

"Not especially. It's pretty quiet, thank God." He picked at his teeth.

"Can you come over with a small containment case. I have small problem."

Owen immediately sat up. "Is it Alien?"

"No, it's feline and very ginger. I found him in the rubbish bin last night. I was wondering if you'd check him over for me."

"What?"

"It won't take long."

"You have to be joking? A bleeding cat, take it to the vets!"

There was a moments silence. "I can't I don't have a box to put it in, please Owen, I promise chocolate, Javan coffee, a bottle of single malt."

Owen actually rolled his eyes. "All right Tea Boy, but I want good scotch, you know stuff that really does come from Scotland."

"I promise... Thanks Owen."

"Alright I'll be there in ten."

The marmalade cat thoroughly enjoyed his visit to the Hub. The girls took turns with fussing him and feeding him titbits and Owen, as hard hearted as he could sometimes be had his heart stolen by big eyes and long white whiskers. The cat was dubbed Jupiter when Tosh decided his markings reminded her of the planet and Ianto took him home via a long trip around the supermarket to get cat food, a new cat basket, groceries and Owen's whiskey. Jupiter had won him over and Ianto hadn't heart to part with him.

Two months later Jack came back.

Ianto was truly glad to see the back of Captain Hart... Ok he had serious jealousy issues, he couldn't help it. He was tired, more than a little grumpy and just wanted to get back to his flat, he hadn't been home in almost a week, apart from briefly to top up Jupiter's crunchies and water bowl. He sorted out four hotel rooms and passed around the keys. Jack was smiling at him fully expecting to be sharing his room with Ianto. The five of them stood in the lobby awkwardly and it was Owen who broke the apparent stale mate.

"Come on Tosh, I need a hand with this leg." He was wincing in pain, still leaning on his Japanese colleagues shoulder.

"Yes of course." Tosh looked up at Jack with a hopeful half smile. "You'll still be here in the morning?"

Jack bent forward and kissed her cheek. "Count on it. Good night dear Tosh." He said with a heartfelt smile.

Tosh seemed satisfied with that and she and Owen went off to the lifts.

Ianto stuffed his hands into his pocket and toed at the carpet. "Right then, I'll just go and put the sports car back and then I'll be off home." He directed this to Gwen, not really sure who was in charge now.

Gwen smiled at him and gently brushed his arm. "Alright, give Ju my love and get a good nights sleep."

Ianto turned to walk away but Jack grasped his hand and held him back. "You can't go home Ianto, the paradox is too risky."

Ianto met his look. "I haven't been home this week, so I think your paradox is just fine." He responded a little sharply.

Jack's hand dropped away and uncertainty clouded his face as he wondered who Ju was.

"Right, ok. See you tomorrow then?"

Ianto nodded stiffly and he turned to Gwen again. "I'll be in the Hub, normal time. Good night."

He strode away, not looking back and not seeing the forlorn look on Jack's face. Gwen watched Jack's face as Ianto departed.

"Come on Jack, I think you could use a stiff drink." She smiled tugging on his sleeve as he looked back at her.

"If you don't mind, I think I'd better get a shower, my back is still aching from John throwing off the building."

He walked to the lifts and Gwen huffed out a sigh and followed him...