Heart and Soul - Requiem
Chapter 3
Rosemary looked around at her staff as she got ready to brief them for the day. She knew they were in for a busy day. There was no slow time of the year for them, unlike many other departments in the university. The journal section serviced every department on campus. If it wasn't students doing course work, it was staff members preparing courses or doing research. The university ran papers throughout the year, including summer.
The extensive journal section ran across two basement floors including another with staff-only access. They had copies of almost every journal printed in hard and soft copy, including an extensive computer service allowing for access to every university, college and technical school in the United Kingdom
She stood with her back to the long counter which fronted a large office space. Within this space were eight desks arranged in two pods, along with the kind of equipment you find in any library.
She was always amused at how each desk was a reflection of the occupants' personality. For example one desk was covered in pot plants, any more and it would be a jungle. Photographs of grandchildren and family were pinned around another. Another desk held collection of stuffed toys along with a plant struggling to decide it if was going to live or die. One team member was clearly into action figures and had several in various stances of battle. Across each was the normal scattering of projects and requests in stages of completion.
She took a quick look around to gauge how everyone was today.
Her attention was broken as her newest member of staff entered the room, sleeves rolled up ready for action.
Rosemary never failed to marvel at how Ianto maintained his standard of dress so consistently. Every single day, without exception, he turned up immaculately dressed in what appeared to be an endless supply of suits, waist coats, deep coloured shirts and ties.
'He put us all to shame really,' she thought.
Being around students and more casually-dressed university staff all day meant they had, over time, unconsciously dressed down. However, she had noticed that since Ianto had joined the staff everyone, including herself, had begun to dress more professionally.
She nodded toward him as he came toward the counter; she noted that he tentatively smiled back. He was so quiet; a smile from Ianto was like a full conversation from others. He was slowly coming out of his shell, quiet and reticent he kept himself busy all day.
Another sign that he was settling in was the discovery that he had a very dry sense of humour.
"On the counter today Ianto, helping with general enquires", She indicated to the large group of students gathering, waiting for the counter to open.
"And looks the man in grey is back again today," she commented, nodding towards a man who could just be seen at the far end of the journal section standing observing the group of students waiting near the counter.
Ianto looked up to see the man she was referring to. He had been here almost every day on and off for some time, requesting information, asking for help, taking out journals. This was not necessarily unusual except he appeared to require a great deal of help. Not that he minded it, was his job after all, and in truth he enjoyed the challenge of tracking down the obscure articles the man appeared to have an unlimited list of.
Ianto got to work; he helped several students find articles, showed one student where the toilets were. He assisted a graduate student with the programme that allowed articles to be transferred from one university library to another. Found 14 articles on the ecology of the Pilgrims' Way, Kent. Helped two first years who were lost back to the main entrance. As he got back he found the man in the grey coat waiting for him. All the students were gone now and he was alone at the counter.
"Can you help me?" The man in grey asked, "I'm looking for an article published in 1956 by Professor Davies about the early developmental history of quark particle research.
Ianto nodded and moved over to the computer on the counter and set up a search.
After several moments the search completed filling the screen with details. He pulled the screen around to show the man.
"We don't have that particular journal here, its last publication was 1963, however Hull university has a copy and we can get one via inter loan, the time delay is approximately three days."
"Three days?" the man queried.
"Three days." Ianto continued, "because it's at another university. We apply for the article, they scan it and then forward it to us, we then print it out."
He saw the man nod his assent. "Ok, that sounds reasonable."
"If its urgent, we can get it here today," Ianto pointed out, "but there is a fee of five pounds."
"No, three days will be fine," the man replied.
"Who can I say it's for?" Ianto asked.
"Captain Jack Harkness," the man replied.
"Department?" Ianto asked.
"I'm doing a private research project, so I'm working independently," the Captain replied.
"I can leave it here for you to pick up if you like, sir,'' Ianto offered.
"Thank you," the Captain said, pulling out a note book smiling. "Now, I need to find everything on magnetic variations waves."
Ianto carried a large stack of journal articles on the subject requested; it was a large topic that required a number of cross references. He added the ones he was carrying to those already on the study desk.
"That's all the articles from 1976 Sir," he said.
"Do you require any others?" Ianto asked.
"No, I think that will do for now," Jack replied as he looked up at the young man and smiled.
"Thank you for all your help today," Jack added as Ianto moved away.
"Just doing my job, glad to be of assistance," Ianto replied.
Ianto made his way back to the counter noting that it was less busy now it was the late afternoon. Susan and another co-worker, Tracey, were busy by the desk taking returned journals and getting them ready to be put back onto shelves.
"How's the man in the grey coat today? He seems to require an awful lot of your kind of help?" Susan noted as Ianto joined them behind the counter.
"Have you noticed he only ever he asks for assistance from you Ianto; he waits until you and only you are available," Tracey added playfully.
Ianto shrugged, "Well, I am on the counter a lot, it's probably just coincidence," he commented.
Tracey looked towards the Captain and added "Where did he get those clothes, have you ever seen anyone wearing such an outfit? It's almost theatrical, but it does suit him."
Not looking away from his task of adding journals to the counter ready for sorting, Ianto replied, "Nope I'm sure I would recall meeting an American wearing a large grey World War Two coat, braces, and those boots."
Susan smiled. "It's so retro 40's," she said, "maybe he got caught in some time warp and ended up here."
"Has to be the explanation," Ianto remarked as he passed, moving back to his desk.
"Because I can't think of any reason someone would willingly choose to wear that coat."