First Date

TWTWTW

Ianto spent a few hours down in the archives, printing out documents and collating files. That done, he made his way back up to the main Hub. Going first to Jack's office, Ianto placed the file of documents on Jack's desk to be signed. The Captain wasn't in his office. Going back down, Ianto next went to the autopsy bay, leaving a file for Owen. All that done, Ianto made his way to the kitchen to make coffee.

Tosh looked up from her workstation on smelling the aroma from the blended coffee. She smiled.

Putting five cups on a tray, Ianto began to fill them with coffee. He didn't know where the rest of the team were, but he knew that when they smelt the amber nectar, they would come running.

Tosh's coffee was the first to be delivered to her. Two sugars, a generous amount of cream. Just the way she liked it.

Owen appeared from the direction of the locker room. He no longer wore scrubs, but was freshly showered and dressed in his street clothes. His coffee was cream, no sugar. Ianto passed it to him as he stood by Gwen's workstation.

Gwen also appeared from the locker area, looking a little smug with herself. She eyed Owen, as she sat down. Ianto smiled. Indiscretions. He placed her coffee on her blotter. One sugar and a little cream.

Jack was the last to appear. He sauntered through the cog door as if he didn't have a care in the world. On seeing Ianto, his face lit up.

"Your coffee, sir."

Jack's coffee, industrial strength, black, no sugar.

"Thank you, Ianto."

Ianto bowed his head slightly. "My pleasure, sir."

Taking the last cup, Ianto placed the tray back in the kitchen and walked over to the battered old couch. Jack joined him.

"So, you finished down in the archives?"

Ianto nodded, sipping his coffee.

"Tourist office next then?"

Again, Ianto nodded.

"I had a word with your boss…."

Ianto smiled.

"….he says you can leave at 5pm today."

"I thank you."

"Mmm, maybe later."

Ianto chuckled. "Maybe later."

They drank their coffee, happy in each others company.

When he'd finished drinking, Ianto went around collecting up all the empty cups, taking them to the kitchen to be washed. He placed them on the draining board and then whipped his hands.

"I'll be in the tourist office, if you need me, sir."

Jack just smiled.

Once in the tourist office, Ianto opened the outside door so that the public could enter.

At 1pm, Ianto heard a voice in his ear.

"Close up shop, it's lunchtime."

Ianto smiled at Jack's voice.

"On my way, sir."

Ianto closed and locked the door and headed back down to the Hub. To his surprise, food had already been laid out on the boardroom table.

"Tosh and I went up through the invisible lift." Ianto nodded.

There was plenty of chatter during lunch. Politics. Religion. Fashion. Medicine. They discussed it all.

Ianto found it hard to keep his eyes from straying to Jack. He was sure Gwen was watching him watching Jack.

After lunch, Ianto cleared away and went to the archives to do more filing that Tosh had given him. By 3.55pm, it was all done and he turned off the computer and printer, then the lights and went back up to the kitchen. Turning on the coffee machine, Ianto placed a hand lovingly on the handle to start the water running through to the filter. He loved the sound it made; gurgling, spluttering. The end results were heaven to the nose and taste buds.

The coffee's given out, Ianto went about tidying up. Empty drinks bottles. Sweet wrappers. Discarded styrofoam cups. Screwed up paper. Everything went into the black bin bag, to be taken out at the end of his shift.

And Ianto just couldn't wait for it to be over. To get back to his flat, shower shave and get ready for his date with Jack.

But the last half hour dragged, making Ianto feel nervous. He was looking forward to his 'date' with Jack. But he felt trepidation, nervousness, bewilderment. Why would someone like Jack, someone who could have anyone, choose him? Really, Ianto didn't care. He did choose him, that's all that mattered.

Finally 5pm came around and Ianto pulled on his jacket and put his mobile phone away. He checked that he had his wallet and car keys, looked up at Jack's office and made his way to the cog door.

"I'll be going now then, sir," he called to Jack.

Jack came out of his office. "Catch you later." He winked.

Ianto smiled back, and was gone.

Gwen frowned, moving across to the railing overlooking the autopsy bay. "What's goin' on there, then?"

Owen shrugged. "Search me."

Gwen smiled. "Maybe later."

Owen frowned, then forced a smile. "Steady on. Once is enough, don't you think?"

"Rhys is away this evening, I thought…."

"Nah, not tonight. I'm busy."

Ianto walked to his car and opened the door, getting in, he started the engine and drove back to his flat. Once inside, he took off his jacket, hanging it up, and went to the bathroom. Coming back into the bedroom, Ianto stripped off the rest of his clothes, putting his shirt, socks and boxers in the laundry basket. Going back into the bathroom, he turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature and got in. Ianto sang as he washed himself down, then his hair. After ten minutes he got out, wrapping a towel around his waist. Going into the bedroom, he opened his wardrobe and took out a pair of Chinos and a light blue shirt. Smart casual he thought.

Jack went down to his bunker, stripped off his clothes and got into the shower. Twenty minutes later, he was ready to leave the Hub. As he got into the car, Jack glanced at his watch; 6.20pm. Getting out his phone he called Ianto.

"Sir?"

"Hi, I'm running early. You want me to come pick you up now?"

"Yep. I'm ready, too."

They both laughed.

"I'll be there in about eight minutes."

"I'll be waiting."

Jack put his phone away, gunned the engine and headed for Ianto's flat.

Ianto quickly combed his hair, put on some cologne and made sure he brushed his teeth, before heading for the door. He was going to wait for Jack outside. Taping his foot gently, Ianto watched for the sleek, black SUV. But what pulled up beside him was a white BMW, with Jack behind the wheel. He gestured for Ianto to get in.

"Nice car," said Ianto, looking around the interior.

Jack smiled. "A guy owed me a favour."

"I'm not even going to go there," answered Ianto, smiling.

Jack gently slipped a hand behind Ianto's neck, drawing them together for a kiss. "I've been wanting to do that all day."

Jack drew back, looking at the younger man. Ianto was bushing, but it was as if Jack had seen it for the first time. He smiled.

"Rydych yn hardd." Jack whispered.

"Diolch." Ianto answered, leaning back.

"Dy croeso."

"You're getting rather good at Welsh."

"I've had 10 years of practising."

Ianto raised an eyebrow. "You mean to say, every time I swore in Welsh, you knew what was saying?"

Jack smiled, pulling the car away. "Afraid so."

Ianto closed his eyes. "You never said!"

"More fun not to."

Ianto shook his head fondly. "Does Gwen know?"

"Na!"

Ianto laughed.

Driving at a leisurely speed, Jack took them to the restaurant he'd picked out It was called 'The Candle Light'. Once inside, they were shown to a table near the back - especially requested by Jack, of course - and the waiter left them with menus.

"Impressive," stated Ianto.

The waiter came back for their order.

"Rhoi i ni munud, os gwelwch yn dda."

"Yn sicr, syr."

The waiter left.

"Are we having the rest of the evening in Welsh?"

Jack shook his head. "Na."

"Good, I much prefer English, when conversing with you." Ianto smiled.

"Is that a fact. Well, I loved to hear those beautiful Welsh vowels….in both languages."

Ianto tilted his head forward in thanks.

The waiter came back for their order.

Ianto looked at the waiter and then at his menu. "I'll have the steak and wild rice, please."

"How would you like that, sir?"

"Medium rare, please."

Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Swordfish steak with mash potatoes and peas, please."

The waiter smiled, wrote down their order, took the menus and left.

"Have you been here before?" asked Ianto, not really wanting to know the answer.

"Yes, once. Last week, I fact." Jack watched the expression on Ianto's face change. "I came to check it out, for tonight."

Ianto looked at the older man and smiled.

"I haven't been on a 'date' in quite a while, Ianto."

They chatted until their meals arrived.

Jack looked at Ianto's meal, then cut a piece of his steak, placing it on Ianto's side plate. "Try it."

Ianto smiled, digging his fork into the meat and placing it in his mouth. "Mmm! It's quite sweet."

Jack beamed.

Ianto did the same, placing a piece of his steak on Jack's side plate.

"Mmm, mmm, that is good."

They ate their meal and the waiter brought the dessert menu. Both men shook their heads but did order coffee.

"Are you still enjoying working at Torchwood?" Jack asked.

Ianto looked deep into blue eyes. "Yes, I am."

"No….regrets?"

"Not one."

Jack smiled.

"I thought….after this, we could….go back to mine for a night cap."

"That would be a great idea," began Jack.

"But?"

"I want to show you something first….if that's okay?"

Ianto just nodded.

After paying the bill, Jack escorted Ianto out to the car.

"It's a short drive outside Cardiff."

They got into the car and Jack drove away. Ten minutes later, Jack parked outside a house. It looked old, but well kept.

"It belongs to me," Jack said, looking out the car window and then at the young man beside him. "I haven't been here in oh, ten years."

"Who looks after it?"

"A care taker. He lives over the other side of the road."

As if on queue, a man came across the rode and stood beside the driver's door. Jack got out and they shook hands. The man gave Jack a key. They exchanged a few words and then the man left.

Ianto got out of the car and joined Jack.

"Shall we?" said Jack, holding up the key.

Once inside, Jack led Ianto into the living room.

Ianto's eyes open in surprise. "Mae'n anhygoel, Jack!"

"Yeah, it is pretty amazing."

Ianto walked around the room, gently touching objects. "Where did you get them all from?"

"This Planet and that Planet. Some were gifts."

The room was crammed with ornaments and weaponry.

"I considered putting them all in the archives, but they were given to me personally, so I kept them here."

Ianto turned to Jack. "Aren't you afraid they'll get stolen?"

Jack shook his head. "State of the art alarm system. Graeme switched it off." Jack pointed. "Censors in every corner. Pressure points by the doors and windows."

Ianto looked around, smiling. "You used to live here?"

"Yep. Before I took over Torchwood in 2000. After Alex killed everyone."

"Did you….live with anyone?"

Jack smiled at the Welshman's tact. "No, I lived alone."

Moving toward the younger man, Jack wrapped his arms around his waist, drawing him close.

"I'm in love with you, Ianto Jones."

Ianto smiled, placing his arms around the older man's neck. "And I'm in love with you, sir."

"Mmm, you make that word so damn sexy!"

Ianto smiled.

Their lips met. When they parted, both man were smiling.

"You're the first person I've brought here."

"Diolch."

"Dy croeso."

Jack gave Ianto a tour of the rest of the house and then he drove him home.

As they stood outside Ianto's flat, Jack leaned in to kiss Ianto's forehead.

"I won't come in, I don't want to spoil a perfect evening."

Ianto looked confused.

"I….want you, right now and I know you're not quite ready for that, yet."

Ianto smiled shyly. "No."

They hugged.

"Goodnight, Ianto."

"Goodnight, Jack."

They kissed.

TBC

Rydych yn hardd - You are Beautiful

Diolch - Thank you

Dy croeso - You're welcome

Na - No

Rhoi i ni munud, os gwelwch yn dda - Give us a minute, please

Yn sicr, syr - Certainly, sir