Am in process of updating other fics too, just more at my usual snail pace.
'Hello,' Tosh said smiled as Jack opened the door, 'I got your call this morning and I came as soon as I could,' she shuffled with her bags past Jack, 'Owen was being a little bit difficult.'
'That's our Owen.'
'How is it with Ianto?' Tosh placed her bags beside the bench.
Jack sauntered forward and shrugged, 'Slightly awkward, he's very quiet. We haven't said anything else of importance. Feels like we're going to have to drug him to get any answers,' he ran a slow hand through his hair, 'and I really don't want to do that.'
'Getting attached?' Tosh teased with a smile.
'Just wait until you meet him,' Jack replied enigmatically. 'Speaking of the devil,' he said quietly, a dark haired man walked into the lounge, book in hand. Tosh and Jack watched through the wide doorway.
'He's cute.'
'Just wait.' Jack stepped forward, Ianto looked up, soft eyes widening.
'Sorry,' his voice twisted the sounds beautifully, 'I didn't know you had someone here.'
'This is Tosh,' Tosh gave a small wave, Ianto smiled in response, 'Tosh works with me. I-' Jack gestured, '-we were wondering, with your permission, if we could run some scans on you?' He held up his hand immediately, 'Just checking for bugs, I'm sorry but-' he pulled an apologetic face.
Ianto blinked dark lashes, 'Of course,' he placed his book down, 'what should I do?'
Tosh took over, 'If you could just hold out your arms,' she smiled hesitantly, slightly awkward as she ran the scanner over his body, stepping back with a smile after a minute, 'so far so good. If you could just place your hand on this,' Ianto wordlessly placed his palm on the offered screen.
'Will it read my fortune?' Ianto looked up at Jack, lips curled into a smile.
'Yep,' Jack strode over, looking over Tosh's shoulder, 'it says you're a good boy and get to live with me.'
'What a relief,' he said mildly, removing his hand.
'Just one last one,' Tosh said apologetically, 'and I need your blood.'
Something flitted over Ianto's face, Jack and Tosh exchanged a quick glance, 'Is that alright?' Jack asked carefully.
Without replying, Ianto rolled back his sleeve, exposing pale skin, 'Should I sit?'
'Might be best,' Jack opened one of Tosh's bags, Ianto closed his eyes as he saw what was drawn out of it. 'I'll do it,' Jack placed a gentle hand on Ianto's arm, nodding briefly at Tosh's surprised expression. He was about to do it when a warm hand stole over his on Ianto's arm, finger curling with a hint of desperation over Jack's. 'It's ok,' Jack said soothingly. 'There,' he said finally, 'done.' The hand slid off his and Ianto opened his eyes. 'Lie down for a minute,' Jack advised, patting his leg before following Tosh into the kitchen.
'How's it looking?' Jack nodded at the device in her hand.
'Give it 5 minutes,' Tosh laid it down and looked up, 'I know what you mean.'
'He's very-' Jack paused.
'Adorable?' She supplied, 'Vulnerable?'
'Something like that. I mean, did you see his eyes?' With a confused sigh, Jack leaned against the bench, 'I felt like I was asking to cut his arm off with a bread knife.' There was a long silence in the kitchen, Tosh's device occasionally making beeping noises.
'We still can't find any trace of him with MI5,' Tosh said.
Groaning, Jack let his head hang, straightening with a wry smile, 'Why am I not surprised?'
The device beeped, Tosh glanced at it and twitched a smile at her friend, 'He's clean.' With a grateful nod, Jack walked back out to Ianto.
'How are you feeling?' He gazed down at the composed face looking up at him.
'Fine, I just don't react well to needles.'
'Well, you're completely clean. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but-'
'You had to make sure,' he finished. Jack nodded, suppressing a sudden and uninvited feeling of guilt. 'I've written down everything I remember about 'Mr Sparkles',' Ianto offered, holding out a piece of paper filled with neat small writing.
'Thanks,' Jack said honestly, flipping over the paper with a raised eyebrow, 'on the Thai takeaway menu?'
'You've got three spares as well as two for an Indian and four for Japanese. On this coffee table.'
'On the off chance, are you slightly bored?'
'Organising things is part of my job.'
The couch creaked as Jack lowered himself down beside Ianto, the man shifted his legs sideways. 'We'll treat you as a witness, Ianto, you'll have Torchwood's protection, if you like.'
'Thank you,' Ianto drew his knees up, 'I know I was bait.'
'Yeah,' Jack shifted back into the couch, 'I gathered,' he paused suddenly, his expression turning speculative, 'how are you with computers?'
'I know the basics.'
'Hm?' Jack titled his head and shot Ianto an amused glance, 'I'm taking that to mean you're very good. I was wondering,' he suddenly grinned, 'do you know how to get into MI5?'
'I'm fairly confident,' the look Ianto gave Jack was faintly naughty. There was a pause, they both caught each others eyes and chuckled. 'Yeah, yeah I can do it.'
'I've always wanted to have a look around some of their files. Our resident computer genius,' Jack raised his voice, 'struggles to see all the files.'
'I'd like to see you try!' Tosh called back, appearing in the doorway.
'Right back,' Jack patted Ianto's knee and stood up, walking with Tosh to the door.
'I'll see you soon?' She queried.
'I think I'll bring him in soon, there is always Retcon if this doesn't work. I'll find a way to keep him occupied today.'
'I don't think he's telling you everything,' Tosh said carefully.
Jack shrugged, 'I'm not telling him everything either. He's doing pretty well considering he's been set up by his company and is now living in a stranger's home, who hunts aliens for a job. '
'I do think he could be dangerous.'
Jack mock saluted, 'Noted, M'am. Will be vigilant, guarded, Ma'am!' Tosh rolled her eyes. 'I know,' Jack sobered up, 'see if you can get me any more background information on him. I mean anything, anything we could possibly get a link from. He potentially be useful, but we'll make sure he's clean first. Also,' Jack placed his hand on Tosh's back and walked with her to the lift, 'did you see how cute he looked wearing my clothes?'
'Is he straight?'
'I don't know,' Jack pressed the button, 'I've been trying to tone it down,' he said nobly, ignoring the laugh from Tosh.
'You can't tone it down,' Tosh said firmly, 'I've seen you try. Besides, it's been what, five days now? Stop worrying about scaring him, he'll adapt. We have.'
'Thank you, your lift I believe?' Jack gestured towards it with a mock wounded expression.
TW
Jack sauntered down the hallway, running a hand through his damp hand. He could hear the sounds of Ianto in the kitchen, striding across the floorboards he let his hips swing slightly under the towel low at his waist.
'Sorry,' Jack stretched out to grasp his suspenders off the bench, smiling at Ianto, 'forgot them.' Ianto smiled in response and turned back to making lunch.
TW
'Tosh. He's straight.'
'I think he's gay. You're wrong.'
'I have nice legs. Not even a glance at them. In a towel.'
'You're wrong.'
'I'm right.'
TW
'Ok,' Jack deposited his laptop in front of Ianto, pushing several things onto the floor to make room, 'show us what you've got.'
'MI5?'
'MI5. This is connected to Torchwood, so use any of Tosh's programs you need. It took her 5 hours to get in, and access is still limited, reckon you can beat it?'
'Got a stopwatch?'
Jack flipped open his wrist strap, 'This'll do,' he pressed something, 'ready?'
Ianto flashed Jack his first grin.
'Aaaand, go!'
Ianto started typing.
TW
Pulling open his drawers, Jack selected another oversized t-shirt, oversized looked cute, before carrying it with other tracksuits to Ianto's room. He carefully pushed the door open, shaking his head at the spotless layout. Dropping the spare clothes at the end of Ianto's bed he pulled out the scanner Tosh had left him. The scanner sat quietly on the bed, light flashing as it swiveled around slowly in a circle between warbling softly, lights shining blue. Jack scooped it up with a smile and walked back out to the dining room, stopping in the doorway to watch Ianto typing quickly, eyes focused intently on the screen.
'23 minutes, 47 seconds,' Jack said quietly, Ianto didn't reply. 'Reckon you'll be able to do it? I know it took Tosh a while, and she was almost ready to give up at some points. Guess MI5 don't have a bad secui-'
'Done,' Ianto cut in, relaxing back in the seat. He turned to watch with a quiet smile as Jack darted forward, taking in the screen in astonishment.
'You did it,' Jack said softly, bent over Ianto's shoulders in wonder, slowly his face broke into a grin, 'you did it!' Firm hands squeezed Ianto's shoulders and Jack laughed delightedly. 'Wait til we tell Tosh, 24 minutes and 14 seconds!' Crowing happily he ran for the phone. 'Ianto Jones, you are amazing!'
'Tosh,' Jack sang into the phone, 'my boy did iiit, MI5 in 23 minutes and 14 seconds…yes,' he turned to look questioningly at Ianto, 'I'll bring him in tomorrow?' Ianto nodded. 'Great, see you then.'
'I think she's impressed,' Jack came back to stand behind Ianto, reading over his head.
'Here,' Ianto stood up, 'you have a look through. Do you have any coffee?'
Jack waved a vague hand, eyes never leaving the screen, 'Somewhere up there. If you find anything off in there just throw it out.'
Jack lost track of how much time had passed when a clink on the table beside him made him jolt.
'Sorry, just made you some coffee.'
'Thanks,' wrapping his hands around it, Jack brought it to his lips and took a sip, his eyes widened, 'wow,' he looked up in surprise at Ianto, 'that's really good.'
'You're almost out of coffee.'
'I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but-' Jack inhaled the aroma of Ianto's coffee, 'I'm changing my mind now.'
'Glad you like it,' Ianto said sincerely, 'I hope you don't mind, but I did take a few things out of those top cupboards.'
'Oh dear,' Jack stood, taking his coffee with him, 'top cupboards. Even I don't venture there.'
'I could tell,' Ianto sounded vaguely reproachful.
'Let's go assess the damage,' Jack blinked at the row of bent, dilapidated boxes, packets and tins that were lined up next to the sink.
'What do you eat?' Ianto asked curiously.
'Well, not those,' Jack raised his eyebrows, 'how about I get a garbage bag?'
'Three,' Ianto said firmly. 'If you don't mind, I'll check your fridge too.'
Smothering a small smile, Jack went in search of the plastic bags, the sounds of Ianto organizing his kitchen following him. After brief but savage battle with falling mops, buckets and snow boots, Jack returned with the requested garbage bags.
'Bags,' he announced, looking in surprise at the mountains of once-food on the kitchen floor, 'this all going?'
'Yep,' Ianto stated firmly, voice muffled form inside a cupboard, 'if you stack them into the bags then you'll be able to fit more in. Don't put anything with sharp edges down the bottom, it'll tear.'
Grinning, Jack began to stack them in, following the firm orders from Ianto. 'Done,' he said eventually.
Ianto's head withdrew from the cupboard, soapy sponge and bucket in hand, he surveyed the clean floor with a satisfied expression. Suddenly a flicker went across his face, 'You don't mind, do you?' He looked up uncertainly at Jack, a cobweb dangling down his dusty forehead.
With a chuckle Jack reached out and picked the cobweb off Ianto, 'No,' he brushed the dust off Ianto's forehead with the back of his hand, feeling his smooth skin, 'not at all. God knows it needed it a while ago, thank you, Ianto.' Jack grinned, 'You could be quite a good leader, wouldn't have picked you for the commanding type.'
Those pert lips quirked into a smile, 'Depends.'
Jack arched an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder at the lounge room before turning back to Ianto, 'You can do the whole house if you like, I'll be your boy, carrying the bags.'
Ianto's smiled spread to his eyes with a sparkle, 'Perhaps, if you do as I say.'
Jack saluted and they both grinned.
'I sent the MI5 information over to Tosh,' Jack was reluctant to wipe the grin off Ianto's face, 'she said the listing of you has been dropped, there were only a few references to you. Seems like someone's trying to clear you out of connection with them.'
'I would like to stay with Torchwood,' Ianto stood up and brushed down his clothes, quiet and withdrawn again.
'Ianto,' Jack stood also, staring seriously at Ianto, 'if there's anything else about MI5, something they've done, something you've done, or Mr Sparkles, you've got to tell me.'
'I don't know,' Ianto's eyes met Jack's, 'I really don't.'
'Ok,' Jack smiled, quietly still unconvinced, 'well, I'll take you into Torchwood tomorrow. See what you can do, I reckon you'll still be able to help with Mr Sparkles.'
'Why "Mr Sparkles"?'
'The stuff he's been testing makes you see pretty butterflies etc, pretty sparkly lights, before you explode rather messily.'
Ianto bent to pick up a spare garbage bag, 'Seems like Mr Splatter would have been more appropriate,' he flicked a dry glance at Jack.
'Come on,' Jack slung an arm around Ianto's shoulder, steering him into the lounge room, 'there's no escape now, we're on a cleaning mission.' Letting his arm drop, he trailed his hand briefly down Ianto's arm, gauging his reaction. There wasn't any. Frowning minutely, Jack watched as Ianto attacked his coffee table with vigour, he didn't seem uncomfortable, nor did he seem to welcome it. A challenge then. 'I still can't believe you're doing this with any sense of enjoyment,' Jack pulled the back cushions off the couch as Ianto started arranging various items in piles.
'More a sense of achievement, and I may need your help over here,' Ianto gestured to where stacks of dvds teetered dangerously at the end of the table and over the floor.
Jack settled cross-legged on the floor and started pulling piles down, 'You can put some music on if you like.'
'Does that mean I have to search for cds?'
'They're all already loaded in,' Jack said absently, flipping over dvds to read the back. Snow Patrol started playing in the background, Ianto's footsteps moved around the couch to stop beside him. Without looking up, Jack caught hold of Ianto's tracksuits and tugged lightly, 'sit, tell me how I should organise these.'
'Put the right dvd inside them first,' Ianto sat beside him, taking the dvd out of his hand.
'I don't think you're entirely human, Ianto.'
'Well, you are after all the expert on that. Although an alien race that organises your dvds doesn't sound all too bad.'
'Could have done with an invasion a while ago,' Jack agreed. 'You know,' he started slowly, running his eyes over the efficiently working man, 'we have a lot of old files and various bits at Torchwood.'
Ianto put down Independence Day, 'Am I being offered a job?'
'It's a possibility,' Jack said calmly, 'we could certainly use someone like you.' He gave Ianto one last glance then smiled, 'Let's sort out whatever mess you're in first, then we'll see.'
Ianto looked at the cover of Independence Day with a small smile, 'So you really do see aliens?'
'Ohhh yes, the other day we found these purple-'
Because who hasn't spent ages searching for a dvd then finally found it only to discover some idiot member of your household has put the wrong dvd in the cover.
So Ianto's relaxing a bit more now, he's becoming helpful to Torchwood…
*hums Jaws theme*
