Chapter Three
By 5pm that afternoon, Jack and Ianto were back in the Hub in Jack's office, talking. Jack had already sent the others home early, while he and the Welshman took care of some paperwork and monitored Rift activity.
Ianto had just made coffee, when Jack looked at the younger man and smiled. His phone was vibrating in his pocket. Taking it out, Jack looked at it and almost smiled.
"I seem to have a text…from you, Ianto Jones," he stated with glee.
"Me?" Ianto frowned, putting his cup down. "Arh! The mystery man."
Jack scrolled down and opened the text message. "Oh, yeah."
"What does it say, Jack?"
"It says… 'I want to meet with you now, my Cariad." Jack smiled, teeth gleaming. "Cariad, I like that." He continued to read the text, "'Our place. Just you and me. I'll be waiting, Ianto kiss kiss kiss'. Oh, I wanna collect on those kisses."He ignored Ianto's rolling of the eyes. " He's trying to get you into trouble, Ianto Jones. I wonder why? Little does he know that I'm your Cariad."
"Our place?" Ianto shook his head. "I've been thinking," he said, taking a sip of coffee, "about my phone and the more I think about it," he rounded Jack's desk and perched on the edge. "the less I'm sure I left it in Starbucks." He shrugged. "I didn't take it out while I was there. I got our lunch order and came straight back to the Hub."
"Could he have pick-pocketed it?"
Ianto thought about it, raising an eyebrow. "I suppose. It was rather crowded in the Bay that day."
"I think I'll reply to the text."
Ianto stood up. "And say what, exactly?"
Jack just grinned.
"I hate when you do that."
"I know."
TWTWTW
Barry and Frankie sat in Frankie's flat, eating fish and chips out of the paper.
Barry grinned as his phone made a tinkling sound. "I have a text. Wonder if it's from her."
Frankie popped a chip in his mouth. "Where did you say you knew Ianto Jones from?"
"School. Grew up in Newport, just like me, he did. He was quiet. Too bloody quiet if you ask me." He shrugged, irritated. "Kept himself to himself. Goodie two shoes, he was. I hated him."
Frankie shrugged. "He didn't remember you, then?"
Barry smiled. "No, thank Christ. Couldn't do this otherwise, could I?"
"S'pose not." He thought for a moment. "Why are you doing it, Barry?"
"Summit to do, ain't it. I saw him one day in Tesco. All suited up and full of airs and graces. I passed 'im, you see. Didn't recognise me. Pissed me off, that did. I thought, 'Right, I'll be 'avin' you, boyo' Saw him again last Tuesday. I took his phone right out of his pocket and he didn't feel a thing…and here we are. Like takin' candy from a baby."
"What does the message say?"
Barry looked at his phone and scowled. 'Can't meet you now. Maybe later. Will text you about 7pm' Barry threw his phone on the table. "Cheeky cow. She's supposed to be pissed off with 'im! I expected her to go off on one!"
Frankie rubbed a hand over his face. "Maybe she wants to do that when she sees 'im later. False sense of security and all that."
Barry scowled again. "But she won't, will she, you plonker!"
Frankie frowned. "Send another text then."
"Who too?"
"Can't you send one to Ianto Jones?"
Barry's eyes lit up. "Yeah, I can. Frankie, you're brill!"
TWTWTW
Jack sat back and looked at the play of emotions pass over Ianto's beautiful face. He smiled, watching as the younger man sat down.
"What are you going to text about?"
"Suggest a meeting place."
"But do I go."
"Yep and I'll be watchin' ya."
"This doesn't feel right, Jack."
"He's going around, dressed like me and sending you texts that are supposed to be from me! It has to stop, Ianto. We have to catch him to do that."
"You're making it personal."
Jack stood up so fast, that Ianto almost fell off the edge of the desk.
"It is personal!"
"Okay. Fine." Ianto stood up, straightening his tie.
Ianto's phone rang, indicating a text message. He remained still for a few seconds, before regaining his composure, taking out his phone and looking at it.
'Decided to text you straight back. Terra Nova at 8pm. Your Cariad'" Ianto frowned. "No kisses."
"You're out of favour, remember?"
"It still feels wrong."
Jack moved to the office door. "You have about an hour. Go shower and get changed."
"Changed. Into what exactly?"
Jack grinned cheekily. "Those tight jeans and sweatshirt you have in your locker."
Ianto pretended to look shocked.
"Yep, I saw them."
Ianto sighed aloud. "Where will you be? He must have seen you to be wearing that coat."
"I'll be outside Eddie's Diner."
Ianto moved towards the stair.
"Do ya think he knows you, Ianto?"
Ianto turned. "Hadn't thought about it, but yes, he could, I suppose."
"From where? Torchwood One? In your past?"
"I have absolutely no idea, Jack."
