A/N: Welcome! I hope everyone who finds this story enjoys it. As I said in the description this is a slightly AU take on how Ianto wormed his way back into everyone's hearts and trust after Lisa's death, especially Jack's ;) For context sake it takes place some time after Cyberwoman and before They Keep Killing Suzie. Please read and review. I'll be posting at least one more chapter tonight to get the action rolling.
Disclaimer: I do not own torchwood or any of the characters.
London
Chris turned off his lamp as his laptop finished shutting down. It had been a long day of proposal writing and part hunting. He put his blazer back on over the dark red t-shirt he was wearing and tossed the laptop in the bag slung over his shoulder. He was just about to head out the door when the office phone rang. He groaned, put his things down and lunged over the desk.
" This is Best." Answering the phone with his last name.
" Chris? Hi it's Toshiko Sato." He smiled recognizing one of his favorite customers voices.
" Toshiko! How are you love? If you are calling me that means either you've invented something marvelous or your team broke something. How can I help?"
" Well it's a little bit of both actually. I have a burnt out high capacity hard drive that needs replacing and I'm working on setting up a new work station in here strictly for running long form predictive programming." Tosh always loved talking to Chris because she didn't have to dumb things down for him. She was convinced the only reason he was happy to hear from her was because he saw dollar signs over his head. However, the young computer consultant had developed quite the crush on his mysterious female client. He had tried to find out more about her but for a software genius she was impossible to locate on the internet. He sat back down at his desk and pulled out a pad of paper.
"So one of the usual ten terabyte drives and the best cooling fan money can buy. What else?"
" I'll send you the specs and you can work on the quote. Feel free to recommend any additional bits you think would help. Can you have numbers to me by Friday?"
" Hell I'll probably have them by tomorrow. Looking at your plans is a pleasure."
"Thanks Chris, I owe you one." Tosh smiled and blushed a little, she was glad it wasn't a video call.
" Well what about dinner? I know I live three hours away but I'd be willing to make the trip." She laughed
"Let me see the bill and then we'll talk. I may be stuck working overtime until doomsday. Good night Chris."
"Night Toshiko." He hung up the phone and let out a whoop. She hadn't said no. Not saying no was the first step to her saying yes. He grabbed his bags and resolved to work on nothing but the Torchwood quote tomorrow. He locked up his small office and headed down to where his mini was parked under the building.
By the time the night watchman stumbled on him three hours later, Chris was dead. He had bled out from a single stab wound on the side of his neck. His laptop, keys and car were all gone.