Chapter 4

Two weeks passed and Adriana grew restless. She'd come to work every day and stayed for hours and she was sick of it. She wanted a day off.

"Seriously, you don't have a . . . movie night? Or, or a bowling tournament?" She asked over lunch one slow Monday.

Jack, Gwen, and Ianto looked at each other strangely. "No," Ianto said as if it were obvious.

"Okay 'cos I was starting to think you did and you just weren't inviting me," Adriana said jokingly.

"We never invite the newbies," Ianto replied.

"I'm not new anymore, I've been here two weeks now," Adriana reasoned.

"Hmm," Jack said contemplatively. "Then I guess you can come next time."

Adriana laughed and thanked her lucky stars that she actually liked and got along with all of her coworkers. Granted there were only three of them, but still, the odds were slim.

After one measly Weevil hunt, they left early to go home. But Adriana was bored and needed to go out and do something, anything. She approached Gwen as she was putting on her coat. "Hey, Gwen, want to go see a movie or something?"

"Sorry, Adriana, I'm having dinner with Rhys," she said apologetically.

"It's okay," Adriana said and turned to see Ianto walking passed. Poor boy didn't know what was coming. "Hey Ianto," she said coquettishly.

He turned to her, looking startled and confused. "Yeah?"

"Want to go catch a film or something?" she asked.

"Uh- sure, why not?" he replied. "I'll . . . get my coat."

Adriana smiled. She went to walk to her desk to grab her things but Jack was standing there, his arms crossed and face stern. "Heyyyy," she said uneasily. "Wanna go see a movie as well?"

"No, I want to know why you asked Ianto," he said jealously.

"I'm not stealing him, Jack," she laughed. "It's just a movie!"

And so it was. A really stupid alien movie which she and Ianto thought would be satisfyingly ironic. They whispered throughout the movie, discussing the inaccuracies of the aliens and weapons, almost getting them kicked out. After the movie they went for ice cream where Adriana spilled chocolate ice cream on her shirt and pants and Ianto was extremely careful not to spill one bit on his suit. They sat on a bench along the street outside the ice cream shop, the cool breeze picking up Adriana's hair and dropping it onto her ice cream cone.

"Do you always wear a suit?" Adriana asked, sucking on the ends of her hair to get the ice cream off.

"Yes, why?" he asked.

"Just wondering, 'cos I've never seen you out of your suit- er, I mean in anything other than a suit." Adriana blushed. Fumble!

Ianto smirked. "The ladies like the suit."

"You mean Jack?" Adriana laughed.

"Him and the ladies," he clarified.

"So, I know this isn't really my place to ask but, do you only go for men?" Adriana had been curious ever since she saw him check out a girl while the team was in public.

"It's hard to explain, really. And I don't mind you asking, you're around me enough to have a right to know that. But, I had a girlfriend for a while; she worked for Torchwood, as well. Let's just say things didn't end well, though I did love her. For real loved her. But, Jack . . . he's the only other man," Ianto explained.

"Interesting," Adriana said slowly.

"I don't suppose you have a boyfriend?" he asked. "You never mention anyone."

"No, no one to speak of," she said and looked down.

"My super powers are detecting tension," he said.

She smiled. "No, it's just that I moved here to get away from some stuff."

"You're from London. Were you running from the law? Who the hell moves from London to Cardiff?" he laughed.

"Someone who has a bad family, no real friends, and an ex boyfriend she put in prison," Adriana replied.

He didn't say anything, only nodded to say he understood.

"So, how do you deal with this? What do you do to get Torchwood off of your mind?" Adriana asked.

"I don't deal with it. I don't think about how much it affects my life outside of work," he said, not looking her in the eye.

"Lie."

"Okay, I read, watch films, whatever. There isn't a correct answer, everyone is different. Gwen goes home to Rhys, Jack does god knows what, Owen used to drink and go out, and Toshiko would delve into technology and maths," Ianto listed. "Everyone does something different; you just need to figure it out before you go mad."

"Well, I think I found something," Adriana said.

"And what is that?" he asked.

"Talking to you, and knowing that I'm not the only one who feels as if Torchwood takes over everything," she explained.

"Good," he grinned.

"We should do this every week," Adriana proposed.

"Sounds like a plan," Ianto agreed.

"A film and ice cream," she said. "Could we plan things with Jack and Gwen, too? 'Cos I know Jack was upset we were going out tonight and I wouldn't want to leave Gwen out. Maybe Rhys could come with her."

"Uh, good luck getting that started," Ianto said sarcastically.

Adriana pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Jack: "This Friday, Torchwood Bowling Competition. You in?" She and Ianto awaited his reply: "Fine. And stop flirting with Ianto."

"What does he mean?" she asked Ianto, confused.

He frowned and looked around. His eyes rested on a security camera propped on a telephone pole across the street. "CCTV," he said.

"Don't stare at it!" Adriana giggled. She took out her cell again and sent a reply to Jack: "I'm so not flirting with Ianto. I would never do that!"

"Okay in about two minutes we should be obviously flirting, like over the top," Adriana said mischievously.

"Finally, someone else who likes pissing off Jack!" he exclaimed somewhat sarcastically.

Then Adriana slid a hand on his thigh. "This is kind of awkward but hilariously funny," she whispered in his ear.

"I wonder what he's thinking," Ianto said, wrapping and arm around her shoulders.

"He's probably jumping into the SUV to come here and get me to feed to a Weevil," Adriana said, her lips brushing against his cheek.

To passersby, and Jack, it would appear that they were whispering sexy things to each other and were about ready to go home to bed. But to them it was slightly awkward but fun.

"He has threatened to feed people to Weevils before. I thought he was actually going to do it once," he said. "Would it be going too far if I groped you?"

"Yes, don't even think about it."

"Okay, sorry."

"Do you think he'll forgive us when he finds out it was a joke?" Adriana asked.

"Oh, I hope so," Ianto chuckled pretending to kiss her neck.

Ianto's phone rang. He looked at the screen. "It's Jack, what do I say?"

"Answer it and act normal and as if you don't know he can see us. I have a plan," Adriana giggled excitedly.

This is what happens when Torchwood takes away all free time. The team forgets how to have fun and acts like teenagers.

Ianto answered the phone. He cleared his throat and said "Hello, Jack . . . . Nah, the movie sucked . . . . We're getting ice cream . . . . Sure, we can come back to headquarters." Adriana moved closer to Ianto and loosened his tie. "Uh, s-sure. Yeah, no problem," he said, sounding distracted. Adriana kissed his jaw line, making sure the noise was audible but not overly obvious. Ianto took a deep breath and let it out. "No, no I heard you . . . . Everything's fine . . . . What's what noise? . . . Oh, that's, uh, that's, um I have to go!" he said and hung up.

"He wants us to go back to headquarters. Probably to lock us in separate cells and slowly decrease the oxygen levels," Ianto chuckled, putting his phone away.

"Then let's go," Adriana said, jumping up and offering an outstretched hand to Ianto. He took it and they walked back to Adriana's car.

When they reached headquarters, Jack was standing just inside the door looking so angry that for a second Adriana believed she actually made out with Ianto and didn't just fake it.

"It was a joke, we knew you could see us," Ianto said calmly with a roll of his eyes.

"I don't believe you," Jack said in clipped tones.

"Oh, please Jack. Didn't you notice that we only started flirting when you told me to stop as if you'd seen me do it already? I hadn't, but in your jealous eyes I had. Ianto looked around after I got that text and saw the security camera. Your CCTV spying is rude. And perverted," Adriana said exasperatedly.

Jack swiftly turned around and went over to a computer station and turned one of the monitors towards Adriana and Ianto. It showed them on the screen flirting intimately. Adriana was impressed with their work.

"Hey, we look hot," she said to Ianto.

He smirked. "We are quite convincing."

"We promise it was a joke," Adriana said, looking at Jack.

"Alright, you can go home," Jack said and went back to his office.

Adriana nudged Ianto. "Go up there and make it up to him," she said suggestively.

"See you tomorrow!" he said and jogged up the stairs.

Adriana smiled and made a very quick beeline to the door. On the way home she realized something. Something terrible. She realized that she fancied Ianto. Cursing to herself left and right, she realized that she hadn't stopped smiling since their prank. Once back in her flat she continued to swear loudly and kick at her furniture. She couldn't like Ianto! No way! Especially because of what he was doing at that very moment! She tried not to think about it, but then she figured if she did think about it it would erase any romantic feelings she had towards Ianto. She thought about Ianto and Jack for a whole thirty seconds before she realized it was a little bit sexy and she felt dirty.

Swearing at herself some more, she got a drink from the kitchen and texted Gwen: "Is it safe to call you right now?" but Gwen's reply was a phone call and not another text.

"You fell for Ianto," Gwen said rather than asked.

"What? How?" Adriana asked with her mouth gaping open.

"I guessed it before you two even left. Actually I guessed it when you both were the only one's laughing at each other's jokes," Gwen explained.

"You laugh at my jokes," Adriana said with the smallest of pouts.

"I laugh to make you feel better, but Ianto actually thinks you're funny," Gwen giggled.

"So you think he likes me ba- NO! That's not the right question! The correct question is: what should I do, Gwen?" Adriana wailed and flopped onto her couch.

"First, tell me about the evening and we'll go from there," Gwen said.

Adriana told Gwen about the entire night with as much detail about the important stuff as she could. She felt like a teenager again. Gwen laughed at the prank and Adriana asked "Are you laughing because you think it's funny or because you want to make me feel better?"

"No, it's actually funny," Gwen said honestly. "I would have loved to see Jack's face!"

"It was scary," Adriana promised.

"Right now I think the decision rests with him only because he's with Jack. We have to think of it from his point of view. If you two were together he'd have to worry about you much more than he has to worry about Jack and he has to see Jack every day at work after the break up," Gwen said reasonably.

"That's true," Adriana agreed. "Well, I guess I can deal with not having to make the decision. Thanks, Gwen! Tell Rhys I said hi."

"Will do, and no problem. I'm always here for you. See you tomorrow!"

Adriana hung up the phone and went to bed feeling only a little bit better about the situation.