A/N: Hello all! Yes... they weren't done with my brain apparently. This fell out steadily over the past two days. It's part one of the first arc of the in between years. Did that even make sense? Hopefully. Within the series of stand alone-ish stories taking place in those six years, ten months set up in... Six Years, Ten Months... there should be about 9 Arcs total. You'll have to have read SYTM to understand what's happening here.

In case you were wondering, yes it does make me want to die inside that fanficdotnet doesn't suport the f---ing "at" symbol. If anyone can tell me how to get it, I beg of them on hands and knees to tell me. Until then capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov and icjones-at-torch.uk.gov will have to do.

Timeline Notes (PLEASE READ):

SYTM takes place almost directly after "Adam" but for the sake of the story we'll pretend that SYTM was just another episode stuck in there before "Reset" so there are spoilers for that up until "Something Borrowed" I warn you. So as a recap (possible spoiler), there's some Owen/Tosh implications and some Gwen after the honeymoon madness. And some extra angst thrown in to make it interesting! And now onto Part ONE!


Jack stood with Gwen on the upper levels of the Hub. Her wedding ring sparkled in the dim light. He stole a glance at her when she seemed to look away for a moment. He sighed and turned ahead, looking down on the activity below.
From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Tonight

Hey stranger. Where have you been the past few days? Not that it matters, I know where you'll be tonight.

Plans?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

Yes.

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

Excellent. What do you feel like doing?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

I meant I already have them, sir.

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

Alright then. Tomorrow?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

No good.

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

What are you up to?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

Currently trying to do my part in updating the data base with Tosh. I'm being interrupted as well.

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Tonight

Touchy, touchy. I meant tonight and tomorrow, what are you doing?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: To Do List

Well,

1- Finish updating the data base without interruption

2- None of your business

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: To Do List

Are you mad at me, Yan?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: To Do List

No comment.


Jack stared at the computer screen. Through his office window he could see Ianto sitting with Tosh at her desk, sorting through files that hadn't been uploaded unto the computer yet. Mostly, these were old, old files that weren't in the system because previous Torchwood Three teams just couldn't be bothered with files so far back. Jack had made the mistake of offhandedly mentioning the sheer number of un-cataloged files to Tosh and she became a little mad with trying to get everything on hardcopy into the system. Ianto had been recruited early on and it was a little project of theirs.

Generally Jack just let it go on because really, it was good for Torchwood and it made the two of them happy. Just busy work, usually picked up during some down time. A pet project. But Jack took serious issue with Ianto ignoring him for dusty old files.

He hadn't seen his lover for days. Over a week, actually. It wasn't uncommon for them to spend a night or two apart, true, but never so many in a row. They had a rhythm. A nice one that was really starting to grow on Jack. Like maybe he was finally settling into this pre-determined seven year plan. Maybe he was becoming the man Ianto would say yes to. And that had a certain appeal the force of which he could barely admit in his head, let alone out loud.

It had been making him think a lot. About what he was giving up. Decisions were by their nature trade-offs. For every choice you make there is one you give up. Simple economics really. The most attractive option given up is the opportunity cost. He didn't want… certain people to be the opportunity cost. But he couldn't picture giving Ianto up.

Not to mention it could possibly skew the timeline to the point of utter chaos. That wasn't something to just forget. But that wasn't fair either. Ianto was not someone to choose just because he was the most sensible option. He was to be loved, and with all that any person had to give. Anything else would be wasting the potential of such a heart. Jack would not waste the man he considered both a lover and a friend.

If only that damned voice in the back of head would just quiet itself. Or at least come above that nagging whisper. Either one would be fine, at least then he might be able to make some sense of the mess he called his head of late. All this time away from Ianto was making him unfocused, and Jack really hated that.

He only felt truly calm lately when Ianto was about. And really, he just liked having him around. At work, yes, but infinitely more when they had some quality alone time. Given, the Team had been a little busy lately, so he'd understood the man taking a day or so off. But a week? And he was starting to get downright clipped in his e-mails. He stared in irritation at the computer screen and fired off another e-mail.


From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Fight??

Are we in a fight now? If so, when can the make up sex commence?

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Fight??

No fight, no make up sex.

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Fight??

Spoil sport. Seriously, Ianto, you're ignoring me for old files? That's not right.

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Fight??

Sorry, sir, but I'm not quite clear. Are you upset that I'm not blindly accepting your every advance or that I'm trying to be productive?

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From: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Fight??

You are mad at me! Why? I'm confused. You've been frosty with me all week. I don't get it. Talk to me, Yan.

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From: Ianto Jones "icjones-at-torch.uk.gov"

To: Jack Harkness "capnjack-at-torch.uk.gov"

Subject: Re: Fight??

We're not fighting, Jack. I'm just having an off day. Forgive me, I just need a night or so to myself. Don't worry, tomorrow I'll be your favorite coffee serving rent boy, as always.


Jack's fingers hovered over his keyboard. He really had no idea what to say to that. There was a really, really serious problem if this was how Ianto was feeling.

Was that part of the plan? Or was something wrong? He'd heard every couple had their off days but Jack assumed that one half of a relationship shouldn't feel like he was being used or rented. Jack had also not been one half of a couple for at least a hundred years, and even then it had been in a completely different millennium.

The captain was pretty sure that things hadn't changed that drastically though, going forward or backward, humans weren't that terribly different. It must then, have not so much been a time period problem, just an interaction problem. Jack closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He was… rusty with relationships. He hated being rusty.

Maybe he was lucky and Ianto was just kidding, just taking it too far with that heavy sarcasm of his. Trouble was, Jack was never one hundred percent sure when Ianto was kidding or serious, even sad or just having a laugh. He was a good little actor, his lover. Maybe he'd just crossed one of Jack's lines he hadn't known was there. But something told the older man that Ianto would know where any line was. Ianto practically breathed that line between too much and too little. Jack knew this because he frequently took untold amounts of pleasure in getting Ianto to cross his own lines. The result was always… memorable. Jack had even begun to cherish those moments when Ianto pushed past his boundaries and was really and truly just Ianto. No suits and no bullshit, just himself.

Jack sighed heavily and ran his hands through his short hair. He flashed back to the last time he had been so consumed with another person… and the badness that had eventually come of it. Through the office windows he could still see Ianto and Tosh, working patiently on those files. Ianto didn't look upset in the least. But then, Ianto never looked upset when he actually was.

Jack bit his lip. As he spotted something on the table next to Ianto, he felt like a really terrible person. Because that was unfair. To do that to Ianto… Jack didn't quite know if the younger man would ever forgive him. Picking it up accidentally and thumbing through it was one thing, but seeking it out for personal gain? That was very, very naughty.

Jack's hands twitched as he literally ached for that diary. God, that was a sinful idea. A peek inside Ianto's head. Jack could hardly dream of more. But so unfair. He, who was so unwilling to part with any small bit of information that might help Ianto on the (admittedly) rocky road of being with a man like himself. It would be beyond unfair to take a peek and not provide one in return. Jack had always been a "you show me yours, I'll show you mine" kind of guy. But that was easier said than done in this case.

Jack glanced furtively at the small black book sitting on the chair by Ianto's work station. So wrong. That was just breaking so many rules Ianto had for the two of them. Unspoken ones, special ones. It hurt Jack to even consider it. But the distance was starting to worry him. And he definitely didn't want Ianto thinking that he was just some fling. Some rent boy. Jack huffed and made up his mind. He would get that damn diary if it killed him. Metaphorically.