AN Thanks to all of you who read/reviewed please keep reading and the reviews coming as they really help me with what's working and what's not. On to next chapter. xx

Mountains to Climb part 3

When Ianto returned to get the rest of what he needed for the dreaded ski holiday Jack wasn't around, for which Ianto was extremely grateful as Lisa was with him. They still had a month to go before their ski trip and Lisa was panicking that he wouldn't have all the stuff he needed and that the shop would be unable to get it in time if they had to order it.

"We still need to get you some goggles and gloves oh and a hat. What about a neck warmer?" Lisa was talking a mile a minute without giving Ianto a chance to answer. She then walked to the goggle stand and started taking them off and looking at them. Ianto wandered down the shop to look at the hiking boots that were on display thinking he could do with a new pair as his were beginning to look very tatty. He looked up briefly and saw the man Jack had been talking to the other day approach Lisa.

"Hi there. Would you like to try any of the goggles on?" Owen asked politely.

Lisa turned to him. "Hi. I'm not looking for me my boyfriend needs some. Hey Ianto come try some goggles on." She called across the shop.

Ianto rolled his eyes and put down the boot he had in his hand - he would have to come back when Lisa wasn't with him to have a serious look at them. He then joined Lisa by the goggles. Owen recognized him straight away and smiled. "Hi your girlfriend said you need some goggles."

"Yes I do. Which ones would you reccomend?" Ianto tried to sound interested.

"Well I don't ski, but my manager Jack snowboards - but you know that already - he reckons that these are the best." Owen said without thinking whilst picking up a pair of expensive looking goggles.

Lisa turned sharply to Ianto. "How do you know the manager snowboards?"

Ianto looked flustered. "Umm he told me the other day when I bought my jacket and trousers. I did tell you I'd been back in. You even approved of what I'd bought." Ianto said defensively.

"Yeah but you didn't tell me the manager snowboarded. He must be a mine of information. Is he here? We could get his expert advice." She asked Owen excitedly.

Owen glanced at Ianto. "No sorry it's his day off today. But I am more than capable of giving information on any of our products. Like I said these are the best; they are double lens with anti-fog, adjustable strap and they come with their own carry case which doubles as a cleaning cloth. Why don't you try them? See how they fit."

Ianto put them on and Owen adjusted them for him. "How do they feel? Not too tight across the nose?"

"They feel fine. I'll take them." Ianto said taking them off. "If you could point us in the direction of gloves please?"

"Sure they're just over here. These are all gloves suitable for skiing. The best ones are ones that are waterproof and breathable." Owen explained.

"Ok thanks we'll just have a look." Lisa said dismissing Owen.

"If you want to try any on let me know? I'll put the goggles on the counter for you." Owen told them politely before walking away.

Once Owen was out of hearing distance Lisa turned to Ianto and angrily whispered. "Guh I can't believe you didn't mentioned that the manager was into all this. I'm sure he's got some stories to tell. He might've been to the place we're going. Did you ask him?"

Ianto was flustered he couldn't very well tell Lisa that Jack had been flirting with him and even worse that he'd flirted back. "Um no it didn't really come up. I did tell him where we were going but he didn't say if he'd been there or not. What's the big deal anyway he snowboards not skis? He did mention about Snowdome and said we should try it. He said they'd done some training there and it was fun. Maybe we should go and try it out before we go to Austria? I could learn the basics before we go then I wouldn't have to spend so much time learning it over there. You could teach me."

Lisa dismissed the idea completely."No don't think so. Can't imagine it would feel the same as being on a proper mountain with proper snow. There's nothing like the real thing." Turning her attention back to the gloves she didn't see the look of hurt that crossed Ianto's face at her dismissal of his idea. Lisa picked out some gloves, a hat and a neckwarmer not even bothering to see if Ianto liked them. Ianto was too hurt by her dismissal to care about what he was trying on and just agreed with Lisa. As they got to the till Lisa's mobile rang so she left Ianto paying while she left to answer it.

"Thanks for your help," Ianto looked at the name on the badge, "Owen. Could you give this to Jack and ask him to call me please?" He said handing over a business card. "Tell him to call the mobile number on there."

Owen took the card and put it under the counter. "Sure I'll put it on his desk when I go upstairs." Owen completed the sale and said goodbye. He then picked up the card and looked at it before going upstairs. As he passed Tosh she asked. "Wasn't that the guy Jack was flirting with the other day?"

"Yeah it was. And he left his card with a message for Jack to call him. His name is Ianto Jones and he's a solicitor. He works for Stymonds and Son." Owen said obviously impressed.

"Wow Jack sure can pick them." Tosh laughed.

Owen laughed with her. "Yep and that's me off to lunch. Andy's around somewhere. See you in an hour."