Chapter Two - Threatening to Jump

Disclaimer - Torchwood belongs not to me but to its creator RTD and co and the BBC. I do not claim Torchwood or its characters for my own, for they are not, and never will be. Nor do I own Heavy on My Heart by Anastasia, which I have quoted below.

And thanks to Talaayn for BETA-ing this story.

"Kyle, he leaves at 6.30am. Shall I pursue?"

Silence. "No. No, not yet. Let him squirm as he feels your eyes on him."

Chapter two

'I try to fly away but it's impossible,

every breath I take gives birth to
deeper sighs' - Anastasia, Heavy on My Heart

Jack's grin widened when he saw Ianto's contemplating expression. Feeling particularly childish he snuck-up behind him and placed his hands over his eyes.

He felt Ianto stiffen as he kissed his neck a couple of times. He smirked when he felt Ianto relax. "I think this is a little past harassment Sir," he said as he tried to shrug.

"Spoilsport," Jack grinned before kissing his jaw line. Frowning slightly Ianto stepped back and looked at the other man. Jack crossed his arms and tilted his head. "We both know you like me Ianto,"

"Well we both know you definitely like me," said Ianto as he busied himself with tidying the papers on Gwen's desk. Jack waited for Ianto to speak.

"You killed her. I haven't forgiven you yet," said Ianto without turning around.

"You hid a Cyberwoman in our basement!" retorted Jack in anger.

"She wasn't a Cyberwoman to me Jack!" exclaimed Ianto as he turned to face him. Tears filled his eyes making Jack avert his eyes.

"I'm sorry,"

"Sorry for what? Sorry that I made you think about it? Sorry that you hurt me? Sorry that you never paid attention? Sorry for killing her? I know you're not so what are you sorry for Sir?" cried Ianto, gripping the front of his jacket and shaking him.

A tear spilled from his eyes trailing down his face. Jack used his thumb to wipe it away causing the younger man to glare at him.

"Everything." said Jack shaking his head. "I should have paid more attention, to all of you. Especially you. I forgot how lonely your job could get. I was too wrapped up in my own sorrow and grief to notice. I am truly sorry. I mean it." He said looking at him directly in the eye.

Ianto nodded and smiled lightly. "This doesn't mean I forgive you," he said trying to be annoyed instead of moved by his speech.

Jack smiled slightly pulling him into a hug - more because he needed it than anything else.

"Who did you lose? Was it Canary Wharf?" he asked when was stepped back.

He watched as Jack's eyes became shiny and reflective. This frown upon his forehead crinkled, he took a deep breath as if it pained him to say the name.

"Yes. I lost Rose." he lapsed into silence. Lost in his memories his eyes glazed over as Ianto wondered whether or not to press the issue. The Jack broke the silence. "I met her a while back. Quite by accident really. Travelled together for a while. Until..." he broke off unable to explain his death. When everthing changed. Jack didn't want to tell Ianto he no longer thought of himself as human.

"Coffee Sir?" seeing that pushing him would only force him to clam up.

"Ianto you are a star!"

"So you say Sir," he replied before sliding away to the kettle.

Fives minutes later Ianto walked into Jack's office to find him gone. Sighing he set down the mugs and sat down. Patiently he waited for his enigmatic boss to appear again. He was so awarded by the clunking of boots on metal and the emerging of hands from a carefully concealed whole in the ground.

"You know someone could fall down there," chastised Ianto, swinging in the
chair.

"Like you did last week?" grinned Jack as he closed the hatch. "You're cute
when you blush,"

"Again with the harassment Sir," he replied but this time and had to try to keep the smile from his face. He concentrated on his coffee and not Jack's puppy dog eyes. He was not going to be sucked in to this.

"You're in my chair," he said with feigned annoyance.

"Yes,"

Jack averted his eyes from Ianto's and picked up his steaming mug. Gulping down a mouthful he ignored the burn as he swallowed. He stayed silent, keeping his thoughts inside. He was just about ready to burst but couldn't tell anyone. Certainly not the beautiful young man before him. After all it was his actions that led to his pain. Jack didn't appear to hear Ianto as he cautiously questioned him.

The Welshman frowned as he watched his boss set down his mug and grab his coat. He knew something was wrong but the man refused to open up to him. He didn't understand; they were always there for each other. Even after Lisa. For the past couple of weeks, he would just walk out of conversations randomly. It even led him to be electrocuted accidentally because of faulty wiring Tosh was telling them about. It hadn't been pretty. Luckily Owens cool headedness saved a lot of time. AS it turned out Jack was knocked out with an irregular heart beat. Owen saved his life.

Ianto sighed and stood up. There was still two hours until the others were due and the cleaning wouldn't exactly do it's self.

Her side ached a little. She winced as the pain flared as a haughty female pushed passed her. Turning around she shot knives at the back of her head. Shaking her head she continued towards the Tourist Information Office. Out the corner of her eye she glimpsed a man with a radio. Passing off the sinking
feeling as nausea she assumed he was there with construction. She failed to
notice the lack of other crew members or his fixed stare towards the secret
hub entrance.
She was too busy attempting to get to her work in one peace - without
collapsing from pain. She gave a startled cry as a male voice spoke in her
ear.

"I do believe we have met," he whispered.

"Owen!" she gasped before hitting his shoulder.

"I missed you this morning,"

"Sorry but I needed a change of clothes." whispered Gwen in his ear. She bit her lip as he accidentally bumped into her tender side. He kissed his apologies in front of the door. He pushed open to door and held it open for her.

The dark interior and rack of pamphlets greeted them. A shuffle came from the direction of the cupboard. Ianto appeared carrying more leaflets and posters in his hand. Nodding he set them down and opened the door.

"About time...useless...slow...tea boy..."muttered Owen as he headed down to the Hub.

Ianto glared as his back as Gwen turned to him. Giving him a sympathetic look she walked to the door. "I'm sorry about Owen. Sometimes he forgets he can push the button himself." she said before leaving. Ianto sighed as he sat down and logged on to the computer. Clicking of the messaging icon he signed in to find Tosh was online.

Ianto: Tosh. Hello
Tosh: Hi
Tosh: You had something to tell me Ianto?
Ianto: Gwen and Owen are in. Owens... more annoying than usual.
Tosh: Should be fun
Ianto: have you seen Jack?
Tosh: Not since yesterday. Perhaps he's on the roof?
Ianto: OK. Thank you

TOSH HAS SIGNED OUT.

Ianto Jones sat at his desk and tapped his fingers on the table. The familiar rhythm lulled him into a state of contemplation. Tap tap tap tap...tap tap tap tap...tap tap tap tap.

His unsettling worry told him Jack was upset. He contemplated guilt but he seemed so confident and in charge. The nagging doubt refused to leave him. While he was sure his boss wouldn't jump, he just had to check. But should he go up? Wasn't he trying to avoid his dark mysterious boss? The downside was his advances were getting harder and harder to ignore. Ianto just didn't want to admit that he might actually feel something for the man. After all he was still angry and hurt about Lisa.

His feet made the choice for him. 'Always been a sucker for following your heart haven't you?' he thought as he traversed the dark lonely corridor past the Hub and to the roof.

The rain battered down upon his head. The water obscured his vision as the wind dared him to move. Everything was so simple here. One wrong step, you plummeted to your death, or you walk safely to the door. 'Death,' he thought bitterly. 'If only I should be so lucky. I nearly got my entire team killed. How could I forget life was so fragile? Because I'm so indestructible.'

He lifted up his foot and hovered it above the sheer drop. A change in wind direction would send him hurtling down. He thought about falling, letting go. But he knew it was no use: he would just get right back up again. He was too old keep this up. Too old to play hard to get or chase the goose. Even after all this time he would have to watch his friends die.

'I almost did'

He heard to door open and close. He shut his eyes, expecting to hear Gwen's curious voice.

"Jack?" Instead he heard Ianto's worried one.

Surprised, he span around quickly as a gust of wind blew. Wobbling he fell flat, sliding down a little. Jack heard Ianto's footsteps hurry over. Looking up he stared into the frightened eyes of a child. His mind reeled backwards to a young boy he had tried to protect. The terror was as real as the terror of the countryside incident. Blinking, he shakily got up and walked over to Ianto.

"What can I do for you Ianto?"

"What's wrong?" he asked curtly.

"I told you I'm fine. Is there a reason you came up here?" Jack asked sharply, telling the other male to drop it. But Ianto just wouldn't listen.

"You've been acting strange for a while now..."

"Ianto, enough." silenced Jack.

Ianto nodded shivering. The cold wind blew against his wiry frame.

Thanks for reading!! I couldn't resist with the tapping! I've always thought if Doctor Who and Torchwood are the same world then why didn't we see the
Torchwood staff tapping? We see Saxon posters. Even Jack is taken in by the Master. :)