Sleepless Nights, Crowded Days
TWTWTW
Ianto hurried from his car towards the tourist office. He'd overslept. He hadn't done that since the day after Brecon. Jack would be pissed. Not getting his coffee first thing in the morning made him cranky.
Jack looked at his watch, wondering where the Welshman had got to. It wasn't like Ianto to be late. He was usually in and around the Hub by 6.30am at the latest.
As Jack looked up, Ianto was running through the cog door toward the kitchen.
He waved to Jack and mouthed 'Sorry'.
Going back into his office, Jack seated himself and waited for the young man to enter his office. He was going to quiz him.
Ianto started making the coffee, noticing that only Tosh, Jack and himself were in the Hub this morning. He'd ask Jack, after his bollocking.
Taking a coffee over to Tosh first, Ianto then made his way up to Jack's office. As he entered the office, he noticed that Jack was doing paperwork and didn't look up. Ianto placed the cup on the table and stood there.
"Good morning, sir," he said, when Jack didn't acknowledge his presents.
Jack still didn't look up. "You were late." Then he looked up. "You are never late." He stood. "What's goin' on, Ianto?"
"I-I overslept, sir."
Jack looked at the bruised face. The split lip. "Been in a fight, have we?"
"Stairs, sir. Fell down them, you see."
"I see."
"I was in a little discomfort, so I took a couple of sleeping tablets that Owen prescribed after….Brecon, sir." He moved uneasily.
"And you expect me to believe that, do you?"
Ianto's eyes narrowed then he raised an eyebrow. "You don't?"
"Heck, no!"
Ianto just stood there, hands deep in his trouser pockets, shifting from one foot to the other.
"You wanna tell me what really happened?"
Ianto looked hurt that Jack didn't believe his story. Mind you, it wasn't bad at a moments notice.
"I….was in a fight."
"I knew it!"
"It wasn't my fault," Ianto jumped to his own defence. "They were after my mobile phone."
"They?" Jack perched on the edge of his desk. "Did they get it?"
Ianto patted his jacket pocket. "No." He smiled.
"Get outta here," Jack said, moving back behind his desk.
"Sir, where are Owen and Gwen. I didn't see them as I came in."
"Rift alert went off at 7.30am. I phoned them, they picked up the SUV and went to investigate. They should be back soon."
"Right," Ianto moved toward the door. "Weevil? Blowfish?"
"Cronoide."
"Cronoide?"
"Thin. Green. Four stubby arms. Smells awful," Jack curled his lip, then laughed. "That's why I didn't go. Tosh gave them the co-ordinates."
Ianto walked out of the office and down to Tosh.
"How are they doing?"
"They're on their way back."
"Did they get it?"
Tosh smiled. "Yes."
"Tosh," Owen's voice. "Get Tea Boy to open a cell for us. That's if he's even bloody turned in to work yet!"
Ianto turned on his coms. "Will do, Owen."
"Arh, you're there!"
"Sorry, took a couple of those tablets you gave me."
"You okay?" Owen sounded concerned.
"I'm fine."
"Good. Now get that bloody cell ready. This thing stinks!"
Ianto grinned. "Will do."
"And I want chocolate biscuits - lots of them."
"Owen, just drive. I've opened all the windows and I still can't breathe!"
"See ya, Tea Boy."
Ianto made sure that the cell was open and that there was fresh coffee and biscuits for when they got back.
Ianto went down to the archives and started filing and collating the various items that had fallen through the Rift in the passed few weeks. He photocopied the documents, filing them with the original and, in some cases, the translated copies, too.
Owen and Gwen pushed, pulled and cajoled the Cronoide down into the cell, then they made their way back up to the Hub. Gwen poured two cups of coffee and took a packet of biscuits over to Owen, who was sitting on the old couch.
"Arh, magic!" he said, sipping the amber nectar. "Jack, where is Tea Boy?"
"Ianto is in the archives." He emphasized 'Ianto'.
"Mmm, why was 'e late?"
"Couldn't sleep. Took tablets."
"That's what he told me."
"Then why ask?" Jack appeared at the office door. "He may need to see you later."
Owen looked up at Jack. "Why?"
"He was in a fight. They wanted his mobile phone."
"Did they get it?"
Jack just smiled.
"Good for Tea Boy."
Ianto looked at his watch: 11.45am. He ran an unsteady hand through his hair. The sleeping tablets had left him feeling drowsy and lethargic. He wished he hadn't taken them last night.
"Take a break," Jack's voice from behind him.
"I didn't hear you, sir!" Ianto forced a smile. "I was late in. Too soon to be taking a break."
"Take a break," repeated Jack. "This lot's not goin' anywhere."
Jack pulled out the chair from under the desk.
"Here."
Ianto moved and sat down. "Maybe just for ten minutes." He looked around. "I didn't realise there was so much down here."
"It keeps falling through."
Ianto smiled. "Keeps me in work. This and the tourist office."
Jack turned serious. "How are you, Ianto?"
"Me? I'm fine, sir."
"Really?"
Ianto just nodded.
"You've settled in well, I know, but I worry. You're quiet. Don't eat enough."
Ianto shook his head. "I'm fine, really."
"I want Owen to take a look at you after lunch."
Ianto opened his mouth to protest.
"And that's an order."
The Welshman stood up. "I better get back to work, sir. They won't file themselves." He forced a smile.
"We're going out to Bellini's for lunch. Be up by 12.30pm."
"Yes, sir."
With that. Jack left, allowing Ianto to brood over having to let Owen prod and poke him. Have a laugh at his expense.
Looking again at his watch, Ianto got on with filing two artefacts that came through the Rift last week. It was the first time he's actually seen them up close.
One was a bottle, with what Jack thought, looked like some kind of wine inside it. The other was a bracelet.
Ianto looked at the piece of alien jewellery. It was beautiful, he couldn't take his eyes off of it. Touching it made him feel better. The drowsiness left him. He felt refreshed again.
Ianto put the bracelet in his inside jacket pocket, giving it a loving pat, then he looked at his watch again and headed back up to the Hub.
He was hungry, thirsty and ready for whatever the day could throw at him.