Looking back Jack knew he shouldn't have been surprised it had taken longer than expected to move their bags, locate the spare wheel and get the tire changed. He even knew the rain wasn't deliberate as the sky opened in what felt like biblical proportions. Cold water dripping down his back had even found it's way into his shoes. Settling uncomfortably behind the wheel he started the car.
The cold silence radiating from Ianto as they drove through the growing storm was the least of his concerns as he finally pulled up outside the hotel. Jack hoped it was the darkness that left it looking less like the image he'd found online. Knocking on the door he found it jerked open by an elderly man wearing a bed cap. Not what he was expecting.
'You have missed check in. Non, the room is not available.'
'What do you mean not available?'
'I was speaking English Monsieur Captain. You missed check in, someone else arrived and they have taken the room.'
'You can't do that, I booked the room online and paid via credit card.'
'A non refundable transaction if you miss check in.'
Jack shook his head as he looked over at his damp husband. This was not part of his plan. 'Do you have any rooms available?'
'Oui, there is one.'
'Then I'll take it.'
'And will you be staying one night or two?'
'Hopefully just the one.'
The hotelier shrugged as he handed Jack the key. 'It is up the stairs and the last door on the left.' He muttered in French before vanishing, leaving Jack and Ianto dripping on his threadbare carpet holding their own bags.
Turning to Ianto Jack shook his head. 'Come on, you can yell at me once we've both had a hot shower.'
'As long as there are no dinosaurs I will reserve judgement.'
'Thank you.'
'Doesn't mean you ever, get to book another weekend away.'
'You said that last time.' Jack muttered as he opened the door to their room.
Ianto nodded as the light flicked on and revealed bunk beds. 'Oh I don't think that's something to be bragging about.'
Jack sighed as he followed Ianto into the room, kicking the door closed. The room was barely large enough for the two of them as Jack set the bags down and opened what he hoped was the bathroom door.
Jack was drying his hair while Ianto was taking his shower, it hadn't taken long to realise the bathroom wasn't big enough for two grown men. Much like the room itself. The lights flickered and Ianto swore as they were plunged into darkness. Groaning Jack found a lighter and hoped the candles weren't just decorative.
Ianto washed the soap out of his eyes with cold water before shutting it off and trying to find his towel. His mantra, there are no dinosaurs, there are no dinosaurs, there are no dinosaurs... The door opened and faint light surrounded Jack, revealing his towel. 'Thank you Jack.'
Setting the candlestick down Jack grinned. 'Still talking to me?'
'The room is too small for an argument Jack. And I'm sure you didn't plan the power cut.'
'No, I planned a king sized bed, a proper tub and a full bottle of bubblebath.'
'And did you plan pyjama's?'
'Nope.'
Ianto shook his head at Jack's grin as he pointed to the bunks behind them. 'I don't think so.' He pulled clean boxers on and moved around Jack, throwing the blankets back as he climbed into the bottom bunk. 'You still get to be on top though.'
Jack couldn't fault the logic behind that as he hoisted himself into the top bunk. 'Night Ianto.'
'Ah ha.'
Groaning into his pillow Jack tried to chase sleep and not think about the chill in Ianto's tone.
Light streamed in around the curtains, Ianto tried to sit up but ended up banging his head on the bunk above him. 'Oh Christ, this isn't a dream.' He rolled awkwardly out of the bed and yanked the curtains open, flooding the room with sunshine. Digging clean clothes out he got dressed as Jack joined him. 'There better be decent coffee Jack.'
Jack's voice soft. 'Only one way to find out.'
Moving through the hotel Ianto followed his nose to a dining room and found a pot of what he hoped was coffee. The waitress who greeted him didn't look a day under eighty, supported by the weight of her wrinkles she asked how he had slept. They exchanged polite small talk in French as Ianto sipped what turned out to be the last of the coffee. It was slightly bitter as if it had been brewed over a fire and left a little too long. His only consolation, that they would be leaving soon and could find another hotel that did have a king sized bed, a bathtub and coffee. Maybe then he could overlook the start to their weekend away.
'Oh Ianto, is that coffee?'
'Yes Jack, it is.'
Jack picked the pot up to poor himself a cup and groaned. 'It's empty.'
'Yes, but it was coffee. I'm sure they have tea.'
Jack just rolled his eyes as he looked around for a breakfast menu.
Ianto shook his head. 'Nope, I was speaking with Giselle, she started working here when she was twelve, about a hundred years ago I think. Although it could have been seventy.' Sipping his coffee like it was the best coffee he'd ever been forced to drink. 'The power is still out, so breakfast will be a surprise medley of whatever they can find that can be cooked on the old wood stove.'
'Oh.' Finding a glass of water Jack moved to a window table and sat looking outside. He frowned as he rose back to his feet. 'Um Ianto.'
'Yes?'
'Did Giselle say anything about the tree being down?'
Moving to stand behind Jack he shrugged. 'No, oh.' He put the finished coffee cup down and smiled at Jack. 'Looks like we aren't leaving any time soon.'
Jack turned to Ianto and dragged a hand though his hair. 'You say that with a smile but you aren't really smiling.'
'Oh, I am Jack. It keeps the laughter on the inside.'
Jack felt his shoulders slump as he fell into the chair. 'This just gets better and better, at least there isn't anything else that could possibly go wrong.'
Ianto just rolled his eyes.
Slathering butter on the mostly toasted bread Jack tried not to groan when a familiar voice echoed around the room. Catching his eye Ianto raised a perfect eyebrow in silent question as a mop of dark hair sauntered into the room.
'Oh yeah, it's dead quaint, wonder what's for breakfast.'
Jack turned his head to see Gwen Cooper slash Williams looking around the room. Her hand on the arm of a tall thin man who was most certainly not her husband.
'Don't make eye contact.' He hissed at his husband.
Ianto leaned towards Jack. 'Do you know her?' She looked vaguely familiar.
'In another life.' He whispered. 'She was part of, well, Torchwood. But that isn't her husband.'
Ianto sat back and folded his arms across his chest. 'How well did you "know" her?'
'Not that bloody well, and not for a lack of trying on her behalf either.' Jack sighed as he looked at his breakfast. Undine had said Gwen was as faithful to Rhys in this world as she had been in his. He just hadn't expected to be witness to it this time around. He watched as Ianto just nodded and turned back to his breakfast. He wondered if it wasn't too late to start praying for a miracle.
It wasn't until they were sitting in the salon playing cards that the inevitable happened. Ianto had excused himself from the table to see if there was an update on when they might leave the hotel when Gwen slid into his seat.
'Look, I know you saw us and I know you know my husband. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't say anything to him.'
Jack stopped himself from rolling his eyes as he shook his head. 'You happen to be sitting in my husband's seat.'
'You married him?'
'What sort of question is that?' He leaned forward. 'And you are hardly in the best position to be discussing marriages Mrs Williams.' He watched her face loose all colour. 'In another life I might have told you not to let your relationship with your husband slide. But I have a fair idea of what sort of person you are, and I don't think you're capable of listening.' He leaned back in his chair, seeing Ianto out the corner of his eye. 'Now, as I said before, you are sitting in my husband's chair.'
Gwen sat there a moment longer, her mouth opening and closing but no sound escaping. Rising slowly to her feet she fled the room.
Ianto slid into the once more empty chair. 'Do I want to know what that was about?'
'Probably not, and did you find anything out?'
'Power will likely be on this afternoon but the road wont be clear until tomorrow.' He picked his cards up. 'My turn?'
Jack nodded as Ianto set a card down.
Ianto lay back on the bottom bunk watching as Jack paced the length of their room. Three paces up, turn, and three paces back. And repeat. He set the magazine down he had been pretending to read. 'What is it?'
Jack stopped mid turn. 'It's all wrong.'
Carefully disembarking from the bunk so he didn't hit his head, again, Ianto stepped up to Jack. 'It was a nice idea.'
'But it's all fucked up.' He hadn't even bothered asking about the vineyard tour, it had started hailing after lunch. Which had consisted of some sort of soup and more mostly toasted bread.
Ianto wrapped his arms around Jack and rested his head on his husband's shoulder. 'Ah yes, but think of the stories I'm going to be able to tell when we get back.'
'That isn't helping.'
Ianto grinned as he stroked his hands down Jack's back and reached for his arse. 'I might be able to think of something to distract you.' He could feel tension melting from Jack as the man purred in his ear.
'What did you have in mind?'
Clothes quickly scattered the floor as Ianto bent Jack over, hands placed on the bottom bunk as he quickly prepped his husband. Lips moving across Jack's back. 'We haven't done this for a while.'
Jack groaned as his heat welcomed Ianto home. Usually he was the one on top but he had no hesitation in letting Ianto take control when the young Welshman felt inspired to. It was a bit cramped in the awkward little room but he felt the familiar rhythm building between them when someone banged on the door.
Ianto cursed in Welsh as he stepped back pulling his pants up, waiting for Jack to make himself presentable.
'Ah, Monsieur and Monsieur Captain. You will be pleased to know the road is now clear. You can check out now.'
Jack watched the locus of his despair turn and walk away before turning back to Ianto. 'He couldn't have waited two minutes?'
'Only two minutes?'
Jack groaned. 'That isn't what I meant.' He sighed softly. 'Do you want to get out of this horrible place? We can drive back to the airport and catch an earlier flight home.' He'd barely finished speaking when Ianto set his packed suitcase next to Jack's feet. 'I'll take that as a yes then.'
Checking to make sure they had everything Jack carried the bags to the front desk. He settled their bill before taking the bags to the car and loading them into the boot. 'I have to say, so far I think I preferred the camping trip we went on to this one.'
'Me too. Oh and Jack.' Ianto smiled at his husband. 'If you ever book a weekend away, for us, ever again, I'm staying home.'
