A/N: Hey B&G's…it's been a bit hard right now to think creatively. And then this popped into my head and onto my book. This is going to be a short story – just a couple of chapters – three or four tops. So this is the idea: What if after Cyberwoman, Ianto didn't go back to Torchwood? How different would the dynamic between Jack and Ianto have been if Ianto decided to become a "Freelance Operative", like Jack was before 2000? Let's find out…

Once again, don't own any of the characters of the Torchwood Universe (unless I throw in a few of my own). Those are the property of RTD & BBC Cymru. And here we go…

Torchwood: Freelance Operative Jones

Chapter One: When Did You Last Ask…?

When did you last ask me anything about my life?

That question looped over and over in Jack Harkness's head as he drove the person that posed it to him home. When had he ever asked Ianto Jones anything about his life? The young man in question was silent, looking down at his hands in his lap. Jack listened to the directions the SUV's GPS was giving him for Ianto's address.

As he continued to drive, he realized they had ended up in one of the seedier neighbourhoods of Splott.

'Here,' Ianto said softly, pointing to an older row home on the corner. 'Park in front.' Once Jack pulled in where Ianto indicated, Ianto opened his passenger door and waited as Jack secured the SUV. The front door was in desperate need of paint and was missing a few glass panes. Ianto pulled out his keys and opened the door with Jack trailing behind him. The outside state of disrepair continued inside the entry way to the door of the flat as well; much to Jack's consternation.

It was a first floor studio flat in the front of the building that at one time was the parlour to the house. But now, a double bed was shoved against the wall with triple windows. A small kitchen area that made the one at The Hub look palatial was on the wall next to the bed and a wardrobe on the opposite wall completed the décor. A door next to the wardrobe led to the ensuite – a shower stall dating back to the fifties, along with a porcelain hand sink and toilet.

When did you last ask me anything about my life?

Jack shook his head as Ianto sat forlornly at the head of the bed.

'Sad…isn't it?' the young man mused, his voice devoid of feeling. 'Makes your bunker look like The Ritz.'

'What…why are you here? Was it the money?' Jack asked angrily, his voice slightly raised in volume. Ianto simply shook his head.

'Used to live near here as a kid. Knew the area; the people…figured it couldn't be as bad as it was then.'

'But…Ianto. Didn't you get compensation for Canary Wharf?'

'Didn't touch a penny of it; had mine and Lisa's. Needed it to start sending out feelers for people who knew something of Cyberman/cybernetic Technology. Bastards are harder then ticks to flush out – and once you do find them they threaten to give you up to the authorities if you don't give them the money they want.' He sighed mournfully then. 'Even paid to put Tanazaki up at St. David's…bastard wanted a suite with all of the amenities. St. David's requested a £15,000 deposit. Tanazaki requested a £100,000 retainer. Between him and Lisa's medications and the people I had to contact to acquire them…it was expensive.'

Jack nodded. 'Tosh cancelled everything – the money's been returned to your account. As for Tanazaki, he was supposed to attend a symposium in Glasgow today. He did land in Glasgow yesterday, let a car there and made his way here. We'll change his destination slightly – keep him in Glasgow – and it will be reported on the news this evening that he was involved in a nasty multiple car collision.'

Ianto looked up in surprise at his boss, among other things. 'Thank you,' he said softly, finding the weathered carpet pattern very interesting.

'We have some things we need to talk about,' Jack continued, sitting at the end of Ianto's bed. His voice had lost any of the warmth it had in it previously. 'You're being suspended for four weeks as of right now. And with no pay. Owen will be by in the morning to make sure you are well. When you return…well, don't expect a warm welcome. You've abused everyone's trust.' And mine. Jack didn't voice the last bit, but it was definitely implied.

Ianto nodded as he stood and handed over his Torchwood ID and mobile. Jack took the ID. 'Keep the phone,' Jack said, handing it back. 'I'll call you everyday and I expect those calls to be answered.'

Again Ianto nodded, remaining standing. 'Of course, sir.'

Jack sighed and rose from the bed. 'If you need help finding another place, I can get you in touch with good estate agents,' he offered, suddenly realizing that Ianto was truly alone now.

At that, Ianto shook his head and went to the door of the small flat. 'No sir…thank you. I'll…I'll be okay.'

Jack nodded and Ianto opened the door to allow him to exit. Once Jack stepped through, Ianto firmly shut the door and locked it. As soon as he heard the SUV pull away, he pulled out a scanner and ran it across the room, finding three sensors Jack had dropped. Ianto snickered as he shut off all of the electronics in the room before he used the scanner to send a low level EMP throughout the space. Three puffs of smoke confirmed he got the sensors. He quickly set up a small electronic device to send back the same signal to Tosh's monitoring equipment at The Hub. As far as they were concerned, everything was just fine.

Ianto then stripped off the remains of his ruined suit and tossed it into the bin under the kitchenette sink as he got ready for a shower. Torchwood killed his girlfriend and took away any chances that he had at a normal life. Well…he'd be damned if they were going to get anything that was left. Tanazaki was dead…good bloody riddance. The only innocent in the whole fiasco was Annie, the pizza delivery girl. He'd find a way to make penance for her death.

Thirty minutes and a boiling hot shower later, he was toweling off when his mobile chirped, letting him know he's received a text message. His mobile, not the Torchwood one. Thankfully, the sensors Jack dropped were inactive – or else this would have been something else he'd have to get rid of. He was dreading this…because he knew now his next actions would make it real. He was no longer a Torchwood Operative…now he was on his own. He read the message: SUV gone. Plan A or B?

B, Ianto texted back. Commencing now.

OK, came the immediate reply.

There was a perfectly good reason why he came back here to this forsaken place. Because these people knew him; called him one of their own. Protected him…and didn't rip him off like some of the Patricians he had come across in the scientific world. Good thing was…as they had friends in high places, he had friends in low ones. And they could make problems disappear just as good as any high priced politician, government bureaucrat or assassin. They'd help him make a life beyond Torchwood.

He dropped his towel to the floor and padded over to the wardrobe naked, pulling out an already packed duffel bag and hiking rucksack. He then put on dark jeans, a black military jumper and zip up hoodie complete with black socks and motorcycle boots. He'd already transferred the money he and Lisa were going to live on to several offshore accounts under several aliases. The balance he had kept as cash for Tanazaki's last payment would now help him settle final accounts and get out of the country for a while. Pulling out his personal laptop, he saw that Tosh had indeed put the money St. David's and Tanazaki had requested beforehand back into his banking account. He quickly transferred it all to an account that could be accessed worldwide – and then he attached computer worms that would activate in the event the account was accessed by any of the Torchwood Servers. The purpose of these worms were to make Ianto Jones a ghost. They would go into every archive, system and service on The Web and delete any and all references to Ianto Jones. His work complete, he shut down his own laptop and stowed it away. He then opened the Torchwood laptop and got to fixing the rest of the place just so…

Twenty minutes later, his work was complete. He left the Torchwood laptop and mobile on his bed as he put on a heavy motorcycle jacket and collected his rucksack and duffel. And not looking back, he closed the door of his little flat…and his old life.

He had a motorcycle to pick up, a few local debts to pay off and collect – and a new life to begin.

~~TW~~

The second Jack left the sad little flat, he knew it was the wrong thing to do. He wanted to stay…honestly, he wanted to slap the boy silly one minute, then snog him breathless the next. His damned question kept banging around in his head, even after he'd shagged the American businessman he picked up at the pub a few streets down from the Holiday Inn. But now that it was morning, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

When Owen called him at nine, the medic simply confirmed what he was feeling. 'Jack – he's gone,' he said matter-of-factly over the phone.

'What do you mean "gone"?' Jack asked.

'Police were called and finishing up when I got here. You better get Tosh to look at the forensic reports and the local CCTV, if any of the cameras are working around here. They're calling it a break-in. Front door was busted open around 5am and there were bloody hand and fingerprints on the wall and wardrobe by the loo. Funnier still, people reported seeing a bloke in a gray overcoat leaving the scene. Torchwood laptop and mobile are missing – and no one has seen Ianto Jones. The D.I. on duty wants a word with you,' Owen finished quietly.

'I bet,' Jack answered. 'Gwen and I will be there ASAP. In the interim, get whatever swabs you can of the blood present – let's make sure it's Ianto's before we start thinking the worst of him. Maybe someone did make off with him.' Jack thought for a second. 'Who called the police, Owen?'

'Next door neighbour said he heard yelling in the hallway and then the sound of the door to Ianto's flat door being smashed in. He called the cops. Neighbours upstairs corroborated his story, and then added that they had heard someone yelling at Ianto in his flat around 2am – and saw you and the Torchwood SUV speed off afterwards. But they didn't see Jones leave – or heard any noise in the flat after you left. Three hours later they heard the commotion that the neighbour downstairs called the cops on. That's why the D.I. wants a word,' Owen concluded.

'Great,' Jack groaned. 'I'll have Tosh take a look at their SOCO findings, then I'll have her activate the LoJacks in the laptop and mobile.'

~~TW~~

Twenty minutes later, the Torchwood SUV pulled into a parking spot a few houses down from the roped off area. People in the area eyed Jack and Gwen with open hostility as they walked to the row home.

'Wow,' said Jack as they crossed the yellow police tape. 'Can't you just feel the civic love?' Gwen remained silent as she and Jack were directed to the D.I. on the scene. Another twenty minutes later and the police had cleared off, leaving the Torchwood team with the landlord, who had arrived ten minutes earlier with a new door and glass panes to fix the front door.

'A damn shame there,' the man, Daffyd, said as he began removing the jam to the broken flat door. He then brought the new door closer to the opening to begin measuring. The front door had already been repaired; gleaming glass had been installed in the holes. 'Was meaning to fix that today – had even told Ifan about that the other day when I collected his rent,' he said as he followed Jack's gaze. 'Everyone else just reached in through the hole and unlocked the door. Ifan was the only one who used his key.' The older man then passed a hand over his eyes, sniffling a bit. 'I hope nothing bad has happened to him. He was always a good kid.'

Jack shifted his gaze onto the man at that. 'You knew him then? From the neighbourhood?'

'Oh…aye,' Daffyd said good naturedly. 'His tad was a right bastard to the kids and their mam, but Ifan turned out all right, I guess. Made it to uni and all that. I hope them coppers don't mess with his sister too much…God! If anything happened to Ifan – well…she's the last of them left now, isn't she?'

Jack and Gwen nodded uneasily as they made their way into the flat. Daffyd walked away, agreeing to give them a little private time to look the place over. What they didn't notice was Daffyd pulling out a disposable mobile phone from his pocket and dialing a number as he watched out for the Torchwood team. The call was answered and Daffyd simply said, 'On you,' before ringing off. He pulled the SIM and memory cards from the mobile and dropped it down the street drain. He then walked back to the row house and sat down on the front stoop, waiting for Torchwood to leave.

~~TW~~

When did you last ask me anything about my life?

'Never,' Jack muttered to the phantom in his head as he entered the flat.

'What?' asked Gwen as she turned to look at him.

'Nothing,' Jack answered curtly. There were days that he really didn't like Gwen's way of hearing and questioning everything. Gwen had walked back out to speak with the D.I. in charge. Owen determined the bloody handprints were Ianto's, but the blood was Lisa's. Jack called back to the base and had Tosh change the test results in the Police Database. The last thing anyone needed were questions about a woman six months dead; killed in one of the largest terrorist attacks on UK soil.

'I've got the particulars on Ianto's sister,' Gwen announced as she re-entered the flat.

Owen closed his cases and looked up to Jack. 'Where do you think he's gone?' he asked.

Gwen started at that. 'You think he did this on purpose?' she asked.

'Either that or he's got the worst luck in the universe,' Owen retorted.

'Jack,' Tosh's voice called over their comm units.

Jack tapped his lightly. 'Go ahead, Tosh,' he answered.

'I've found the mobile and laptop sensors. They are in two different locations – but they are still in Cardiff,' she explained. 'I'm forwarding the information to your PDA right now.'

'What do the areas look like?' Jack asked.

'They're not very good ones,' Tosh replied. 'One is a pawn shop in Splott…the other may be the same just outside of Penarth.'

'Okay,' Jack said after a bit of thinking. 'Keep an eye on those sensors. Let me know if they move. Owen is on his way back – Gwen and I will go to his sister's. I'll go to collect the equipment and we'll regroup from there.'

'Okay. See you in a few,' Tosh answered, signing off.

Jack turned to Gwen. 'You and I will visit his sister now…maybe she'll know something we don't.'

'What are you going to do to him when you find him?' Owen asked as they gathered his equipment and walked out towards the SUV. Jack nodded to Daffyd, who nodded back and went inside to replace the new door.

'He did our admin and cover-ups,' he said as loaded the containers into the boot of the SUV. 'And he was perfection at his job. Who says we're ever going to find him?'

~~TW~~

Jack pulled up into the car park of a noisy public estate and parked the SUV, darkening its windows. He watched as a woman exited her home with two small children in tow and walked towards a group of mothers waiting with their children for the bus to take them to school.

Gwen sat silently next to him in the passenger seat. 'Do we question her together?' she asked. Jack shook his head as they watched the school bus pull up to the stop and take all the children. The gathered women then huddled together for a few minutes – and the woman in question started walking – TOWARDS THEM!

Jack groaned. 'Except fireworks in 3, 2 and –,' the rest of the sentence was cut off by the woman banging in the driver's side door.

'OI! Open up in there before I call 999 and tell them there's a stalker type riding about in a black SUV eyeing up our kids,' she yelled, the rest of the mothers joining her in communal support. That – and it was better than daytime TV at that moment.

Gwen opened the passenger side door and slid out quietly, keeping a neutral face as she studied the woman before her, Ianto's sister. Everything that Ianto was, she was not. He was quiet, reserved and efficient – she was loud, raucous and wasn't afraid of using the effects of mob rule to her own advantage. He was tall, thin and had the most beautiful blue eyes. She was short, rounded – and most disappointing of all – her eyes were dark brown. But the worst thing of all, Gwen realized as she thought about it, was she was standing before her…and Ianto Jones was gone. 'Rhiannon Davies?' she asked calmly.

'Maybe,' the woman answered.

'Last name formerly Jones, parents Ieuan and Ariana, both deceased. Only surviving relative of Ifan "Ianto" Jones?' she asked.

'Are you the cops then?' asked one of the other women in the crowd.

Gwen ignored her and continued to stare straight at Rhiannon. Rhiannon remained silent, her jaw jutted out defiantly. 'Mrs. Davies,' she began, holding a business card out to her. 'Your brother's flat was broken into early this morning and he has gone missing. Bloody finger and handprints were recovered at the scene – the blood is your brother's.' At that, the women gathered let out a collective gasp and a few reached out to Rhiannon. Gwen rolled her eyes and continued. 'We want him back safe – but we need to find him first.'

Rhiannon snorted at that. 'Ifan Jones is good at taking care of those he loves…and he knows how to watch out for himself,' she began. 'He left in a whirlwind six years ago for London and Uni; was gonna make a big name for himself. And for a while he did. We didn't see him much – but the kids always got gifts and money on their birthdays and Christmas. And when he came into town he always took them and us out. He met a lovely girl, Lisa Hallett, and brought her round…it was a nice meeting. And then…Canary Wharf happened – and his world went to shit. Because of YOU – TORCHWOOD! He called to say Lisa was dead, killed in that attack – and that he was coming home. But he was never the same. Said he got a job with Torchwood here, working a desk job…but he wasn't happier…it just got worse. Heard from him last night – he was a mess. Said he was sorry for running out on us and trying to forget us when he was at London…and then he said goodbye.'

She closed her eyes and sobbed – and her friends gathered a little closer to her, trying to almost physically shield her from the torment she was going through. 'Now I already told the police this. My brother…Ifan was just too smart for the likes of us…and you. He was too much of a tortured soul…especially after Lisa died. When she died…the rest of us…well, we just weren't enough. He lost…everything.' She sighed then. 'Our Tad was a bastard to all of us – but he had it in for Ifan – honestly I think it was because he looked so much like Mam. When Tad had his heart attack, I think Ifan almost drank himself into a coma in celebration at Uni.' She looked past Gwen to the SUV, then back to Gwen. 'Tad taught him how to hide, how to blend in until you couldn't tell him apart from wallpaper – which is a hell of an achievement because my brother is quite a looker.' A few of the women in the group laughed and tittered in agreement.

'If he's gone,' she almost sobbed and the ladies around her gathered tighter still. 'Then Ifan's finally at peace. And if he's still out there – you'll find him only when he wants you to. My Tad may have given him quite a few licks when he was younger – but my brother doesn't take any of it lying down now. If anyone crosses him now, God help 'em. Cause our baby Ifan grew up – and he's got claws.'

The women gathered cackled at that – and Gwen thought for a split second of the Witch's Coven in "Macbeth".

Rhiannon then waved away the card Gwen still held out to her. 'Don't bother leavin' it. I'll never ring your lot. When he's ready, if he's still out there, he'll give you a way of contacting him. And if you think that coming back here to roost on my doorstep will make it happen any sooner – don't believe for a second that I won't be calling 999.'

'And her story'll stick cuz we're all witnesses here,' another woman called out, making the others cackle again. Gwen shook her head as she got back into the SUV. Jack started it up and they drove out of the estate.

'So…,' Gwen said after a few minutes of silence. 'We're just to let things lie, then?'

Jack turned to her smirking. 'You kidding? I want to see these claws that Baby Ifan has,' he answered cheekily.

~~TW~~

Later that day Jack located the missing Torchwood hardware. The pawn shop owners reluctantly gave up the items and information concerning the sellers. What Jack didn't know was that as soon as he left the shops, both keepers sent a one word text to a mobile number that deleted itself once the message was sent: DONE.

~~TW~~

Ianto smiled cruelly as he closed his mobile phone and sipped on a fruity drink he ordered at the Oceana Cruiseline's poolside bar. He relaxed in a reclining chair as the grand oceanliner he was aboard chugged its way towards the warmer waters of Greece and the Mediterranean. Once he reached the islands – a little backpacking through them wouldn't be amiss. Then possibly Italy and Sicily. And finally Spain, France…and back to the UK. He sighed as he looked at the invitingly blue water of the main deck's pool. Torchwood would get his proposals. The Crown representative was rather happy with what he had suggested… it was in Jack's hands as to where all of this went next.

But for the moment, it was time for a dip. He was in swimming trunks after all.

~~TW~~

Tosh was cursing a blue streak in a combination of English and Japanese as Gwen and Jack entered The Hub through the cog wheel door. Jack flinched a few times at some of the words Tosh was spitting out. Gwen looked at him questioningly.

'Ianto planted several viruses in his electronic banking account,' he explained.

'BASTARD!' Tosh yelled out, turning to Jack. Jack took in the appearance of his normally cool and collected Tech expert. Her face was flushed, her eyes flashed fire – and he wondered at that moment just how far Owen had shoved his head up his rear to miss how enchanting this Japanese Temptress was at that moment. 'He's planted a worm! And it's reverse and forward attacking! Any new information that we have collected within the past few hours on him and entered into the system is gone! And all of the old stuff we had on him except for what we got from T1 is gone!'

Jack held up his hands, laptop in one and a mobile phone in the other. 'I come in peace,' he said softly. Tosh sighed then and nodded, the emotional storm finally dissipating. 'So…where's Owen?' he asked, putting the electronics on Gwen's desk.

'Rift spike,' Tosh said as she dropped to her knees and crawled under her desk, trying to gain access to the undamaged servers directly. 'Something small and inanimate came through around Cathays Park. He should be on his way back. This virus attacked about twenty minutes after he had left. I had found what he had done with the money I had transferred back to his account from St. David's and Tanazaki.'

Jack sobered at that. 'Where did he send the money?'

Tosh smirked. 'It was transferred to a bank in Switzerland. I can't go any further – every time I accessed the information concerning him, the worms deleted whatever I stored into our system. Just before you walked in, the account deleted.'

'And what does that mean?' Gwen asked.

'He's accessed the account and withdrawn the money. The account no longer exists.' Tosh looked to the screen and yelled out something else in Japanese.

'What just happened?' Jack asked, all ready feeling his stomach sink further.

'The bank's system has just gone into lockdown. All of the accounts have been transferred to a secured server and they are sending out attacking worms to destroy the system that is attempting illegal entry. Translation: they are going after me.'

'Can you shake them off?' Jack asked. Tosh simply looked up at him and rolled her eyes. Jack smiled. 'Good girl,' he said appreciatively, still wondering just how blind Owen had to be to miss this beauty. He then remembered what Ianto had told him about the payments he had to make to find help for Lisa.

'How much had he paid Tanazaki?' Jack asked.

'One hundred thousand – with a promise of five hundred thousand more. I found email correspondence between them – and Tanazaki was not an unsuspecting angel of mercy in any of this. He kept insisting that he needed the money so as to keep Ianto's and Lisa's identities secret once the "cybernetic extractions" were completed and he published his findings. When Ianto asked if they could reach a monetary compromise, Tanazaki threatened to go to UNIT – and you. He even mentioned you by name and sent surveillance pictures to Ianto, showing him he knew exactly what he was threatening. Ianto forwarded the money the next day,' Tosh answered softly, her anger replaced with sorrow.

'But…how much compensation did he receive for both himself and Lisa because of the Canary Wharf disaster?' Gwen asked.

Tosh shrugged her shoulders. 'Don't know – that was one of the first files the worms destroyed. And it's not just here. When I released them from the banking system – they took off. Anything mentioning his name, ID number and family history has been erased from the Web. I've even found directives to destroy all paperwork that has references to him. Eighty directives were sent out – fifty-six have already been carried out with the remainder scheduled to be done by the end of the day. And these worms are specific: His sister and her family are still in the system, but any back references to him are gone.'

Jack whistled. When have you ever asked….

'He was so much more than any of us thought, wasn't he?' Gwen asked softly, her voice filled with awe.

'The average compensation package from Canary Wharf was one-point-five million,' Jack said, remembering the memo passed from UNIT. Ianto said he got his and Lisa's together; I'm assuming because she had him listed as her next-of-kin.'

'Well,' Owen's voice crackled over everyone's headsets. 'Little bastard was hiding a lot more than we thought.'

'Yeah,' Jack agreed sadly. 'But did anyone even bother to ask?'

The others remained ashamedly silent after that. Jack cleared his throat and moved the Torchwood issue laptop and mobile from Gwen's desk to Tosh's. 'Search those carefully. Gods alone know what he may have put in them,' he said softly.

Tosh huffed as she opened the laptop and pushed the power button. The computer cycled through its startup – and then the screen went blank. A view of Ianto's flat replaced it and after a few seconds, Ianto Jones sat down in front of the camera.

'This isn't a live feed; I've just recorded this to the laptop's hard drive tonight. Been a busy night for all of us, hasn't it? I bring in an idiot narcissistic cyberneticist to try and save Lisa; instead he activates the Cyberman Programming within her and she kills him. You kill her – and then I make myself disappear. Because I realized I'm just not cut out for the Torchwood Retirement Plan. Good, bad or indifferent, I like to keep my memories – and I'd prefer anyone else on this planet to put a bullet in my brain before you, Captain Harkness – or your merry band.' He sighed, then shook himself and continued.

'Don't bother stalking my sister or her family…I love her too much to get her involved in my…messes. People around here know more about Torchwood and what happens in and around Cardiff then you all realize. The people I've known all my life may not have the book smarts that I have, but they're not the country plebeians you like to think they are. Doesn't help that you tear through the town in a black SUV with "Torchwood" scrawled along its sides either. As you had to have figured out by now, thanks to The Crown, I'm pretty well off – and thanks to you and Tosh, all the money I gave that bastard Tanazaki has been recovered.

'The reason for this video is to offer Torchwood Three a proposal. Captain Harkness, I know you were registered as an "independent contractor" for Torchwood Cardiff before the massacre at the turn of the century. I offer you my services as such if ever you would require one. I have already made the offer known to The Crown – and they have accepted. My computer hacking skills are nothing like yours, Tosh. You go in with the precision of a skilled surgeon. I bring a cannon to the knife fight. Both achieve the same goal – only my way is far uglier.' Ianto suddenly sobbed then, his face collapsing until he appeared like a lost boy crying to be found. In that instant he looked so young…

'I am sorry. I had always intended to leave after Lisa was…made well. She and I were to live somewhere where we could have and raise our children…far away from Rifts and aliens… But that was not meant to be…and now this is all I have left. I honestly don't know what I will do without Torchwood and Lisa as constants in my life, but I guess I will find out. Tosh? Don't worry about the worms; forty-eight hours after they have destroyed the last of any references to me, they will go dormant and only reactivate if they sense any mention of me on any computer system in the world. I want to be a ghost…and this is one way to start. Oh, Captain? I've left you a file with a few CV's of people who would be good replacements for my vacated position. Please give the file a read. And, if you do decide to use my services, text me using the Torchwood mobile you've just recovered. If you attempt to use it to track me, it will self destruct. Sorry, just a safety precaution. Owen and Gwen? Just shag and get it over with all ready. Only a deaf, dumb and blind person would miss the sexual tension going on between you two.'

The screen suddenly winked out. Tosh tried to bring the video back – and the laptop belched out an ominous cloud of white smoke; the smell of scorched electrical parts immediately following it.

'Damn,' Tosh swore – even as a small smile played across her lips. Jack joined her as Owen and Gwen couldn't look each other – or them – in the face. He then scooped up the mobile and headed to his office. Gwen made to follow him – and he promptly shut the door in her face.

Once inside his sanctuary he sat behind his desk and set the device on the flat surface.

When have you ever asked…?

He turned on the mobile and sent a text message – Now I'm asking: How R U?

The mobile immediately buzzed; a reply was received. M Good. Mobile is 4 wrk ONLY. Got something 4 me?

No, Jack texted back. Mayb soon – CJH

Ok – IJ

And the mobile shut itself down. Jack sat back in his chair, once again surprised at the resourcefulness of his former Archivist.

'Be safe Jones, Ianto Jones. It's a big world out there…come home soon,' he whispered to his dark and quiet office.

~~TW~~

It was a dark and windy spring night four months later when Jack found himself standing on the roof of the British Gas Company overlooking Cardiff. Sniffing the air, he suddenly caught the scent of very good coffee and smiled. This wasn't just any coffee – this was Jones brewed coffee. He turned around – and was taken aback by what he saw.

This was not the disheveled, bloodied, destroyed, pale skinned, emaciated boy that got away from him a few months before. The man that stood before him was very well dressed, self-assured, tanned, and incredibly filled out and fit! His face was smooth, had great color and his eyes positively twinkled. Jack was almost speechless…until he caught sight of the growing smirk on the young man's face.

'Jones,' Jack said in greeting. Ianto nodded and handed him a stainless steel travel mug.

'Captain Harkness, sir,' he said evenly.

Jack realized that although his clothes were rather expensive looking and expertly tailored, they were toned down and black. In essence – one would see him, but not really notice him. He chuckled at that. 'Never thought I'd live to see a human with a built-in perception filter,' he said as he sipped the coffee. He then closed his eyes and moaned appreciatively.

'Careful, sir,' Ianto said with mock reproach. 'That sounded downright pornographic.'

Jack smiled; the boy knew how to play head games. 'I took your advice and read the CV's you left behind. Hired Benjamin Fujiyama two months ago.'

'And?' Ianto prompted.

'He's good. We've not lost any new acquisitions and we can actually reference them to older items within the Archives. He's continued with the system you started,' Jack smiled then.

'And?' Ianto prompted again.

'He can't make coffee nearly as well as you – and has decided that Tosh is far better game then a tumble with The Captain,' he finished, mock pouting.

Ianto laughed at that.

So,' Jack began as he took another sip of the delicious coffee. 'You read the reports that I forwarded to you?' Ianto nodded. 'And your assessment?'

'Not Torchwood business,' Ianto answered quickly. 'A lot of people have gone missing recently in that area of the Brecon Beacons, but I did some checking and noticed the same thing happened about ten years ago.' He then pulled out a file from an attaché case Jack didn't realize he was holding. 'This time we can generally pinpoint where they went off the grid because of mobile phone towers and GPS signals. And with the locations of where the abandoned vehicles are being found,' here Ianto pulled out a map that had each disappearance and car recovery pinpointed. 'Your suspects aren't from the stars; they're from this village here – about three hours from town. My recommendation is that you hand this information to the local authorities and let them deal with it.'

'So…you're not interested?' Jack asked. 'A bit of a camping trip, hanging out with old friends…,' his voice trailed off as he saw Ianto's face twist into a grimace.

Ianto snorted loudly. 'What? You wanted to make this some kind of team building exercise? I'm not part of your team, Sir. I'm the outside hired help – and about that, don't worry about trying to haggle a price with me. The Crown has already paid me…you'll get their bill in your email tomorrow.

Jack's eyes widened in surprise. 'I wouldn't have held your paycheque, Ianto,' he started, slightly hurt.

'Says the man that held a gun to my head and threatened to kill me four months ago,' Ianto retorted quickly. Jack was shocked at the coldness of his voice and the sharpness lying within his crystal blue eyes. 'Sorry, but it will be a cold day in hell when I trust you.' A beep sounded and Ianto looked down to his watch, shutting off its alarm. 'I've another appointment that I'll be late for if I don't leave now. Call me when you've another interesting problem that you can't solve on your own,' Ianto called out over his shoulder as he walked towards the shadows where the tunnel for the stairs down was located.

As soon as Jack reached it, Ianto was gone.

When have you ever asked…?

Jack smiled ruefully. 'See you soon Jones, Ianto Jones. Thanks for the coffee,' he said softly to the darkness. The mobile he used to contact Ianto buzzed in his pocket. Taking it out, he chuckled as he read the text message.

Same 2 u, Sir.

~~TW~~

The next morning, at an ungodly hour, Ianto was rudely awakened by his hotel room telephone ringing very loudly. Half asleep, he picked up the receiver and answered.

'Operative Jones?' a voice on the other end asked. Ianto groaned…Jack Harkness had gone off and done something else stupid. He had taken the team into the Beacons…and The Crown representative said it would probably be best if he followed them…quickly. Ianto sighed deeply as hung up the phone.

Damn that good looking bastard! He thought as he padded to his room's ensuite.

Finis

A/N: So…before someone throws something at me digitally, I still have not forgotten about The Archivist's Archives! In fact, I've been refining the next chapter…as I penned this little story…and another chapter to it. I know! I know – you should NEVER have two stories being penned at the same time…but I couldn't help this! Next chapter will go up in a bit – and let me know if you'd like me to continue this darker vein of AU Torchwood after that.

Darque