Chapter 4

(Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood)

It was now half past ten and Evie was finally asleep. Not in the bed though, she was curled up on the couch between Jack and Ianto, her head resting on her uncle's lap.

Ianto looked across at Jack and narrowed his eyes. "That was a few more minutes?"

"Ok. Maybe it was a little longer."

"A little? Jack you've been here an hour."

"Well it was a good hour." Said Jack with a grin.

Ianto shot him a look that said he begged to differ.


Things had started off well enough. Evie and Jack had settled down to watch the shopping channel and Ianto had gone and made some coffee. Evie had eaten her sweets. Then Ianto had told her it was bedtime. Evie had demanded a story first. Jack had offered to tell her one. It had gone downhill from there.

Ianto had left Jack to it and gone into the kitchen to wash the mugs. When he returned Evie was standing on the armchair in the corner. Ianto watched as Jack cried "Go!" and Evie jumped with a thump to the floor. She ran three times round the coffee table. Then Jack yelled "Shark!" and she dived onto the couch beside him with a shriek.

"That's a story is it?" said Ianto from the doorway.

Jack looked up at him and grinned that infuriating grin. "It's interactive."

"Again!" squealed Evie and she ran back to the armchair.

Ianto strode over and picked her up. "Bed." He said.

"The sharks Uncle Yan! They're eating your legs!" screamed Evie as her uncle carried her across the living room. Ianto ignored her and took her into the bedroom. He pulled back the covers and dropped her onto the mattress. Evie scowled at him. Ianto tucked her in, switched off the light then shut the door behind him.

Evie rolled over and looked at the door. It remained resolutely closed. Uncle Yan was not coming back. And she'd been having such a nice time playing 'Shark!' as well. But maybe… just maybe… she could play it by herself. She threw the covers off and stood up on the bed. She wobbled slightly but managed to keep her balance. She looked down at the stormy sea (in other words her uncle's laminate flooring and blue rug) but could see no sharks. She dived in and 'swam' over to the curtains but oh no! A shark! She ran back to the bed and threw herself back on giggling manically.

She was really starting to get into the game when the bedroom door swung open to reveal her uncle. He did not look pleased. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"There's sharks Uncle Yan." Said Evie in explanation, jumping up and down on the bed. "And a scary octopus monster. Quick, get on the boat!"

Ianto sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "You should be sleeping." He said. "Not jumping about like a lunatic. Downstairs are going to complain."

"Nuh uh." Said Evie. "I'm going swimming." And she jumped off the bed and onto the floor. She ran round in circles for a couple of seconds then yelled "Shark!" and threw herself on top of her uncle.

Ianto hadn't been expecting this and fell backwards. His head hit the headboard with a resounding crack and he yelped in pain. Evie didn't let this bother her; she just laughed and started jumping on the bed again. Ianto gingerly felt the back of his head with his fingers. They came away sticky, he must have caught the edge of the headboard then. He moaned and prodded it again. Not only was he bleeding there was one hell of lump coming up as well.

Evie, seeing she wasn't the centre of attention anymore, clambered into her uncle's lap. "Did you bump yourself?" she asked.

"Yes." He said taking another look at the blood on his fingers.

"Oh." Said Evie as she noticed it too, "That's blood that is." Her eyes widened.

"I'm ok." Said Ianto, trying to reassure her.

Evie didn't need any reassurance. She knew what to do. She jumped off the bed and ran into the living room. "Uncle Yan needs a plaster!" she yelled at Jack.

Jack looked up as Ianto followed his niece into the room. His fingers were again exploring the lump on the back of his head. "What happened?" he asked, trying not to sound too amused.

"I hit my head." Ianto said shortly and went into to the kitchen to get the first aid kit.

When Ianto returned Evie was sitting at the coffee table with a piece of paper and a pen, her face screwed up in concentration. She was probably drawing a shark. Jack was watching her from the couch, a small smile on his face. Ianto collapsed into the seat beside him a wet cloth pressed to the back of his head.

"She's cute isn't she?" said Jack without looking up.

"When she's not beating me to a pulp." Ianto muttered.

Jack laughed. "It can't be that bad."

Ianto took the cloth from his head and showed the small red stain to Jack. "She drew blood."

Jack just laughed harder. So much for the sympathy then.

Evie had now finished her picture and was pushing Ianto to the side so she could sit between him and Jack. She shoved the paper under Jack's nose. "Look! It's a shark. And a octopus. And a starfish. And a crab." She said, pointing to various scribbles.

"Very nice." Said Jack.

"You're turn." Said Evie and she handed him the pen.

She and Jack then spent the rest of the hour drawing various sea creeatures. Since this was a lot quieter than playing 'Shark!" Ianto didn't complain. Eventually Evie had curled up, her head in Ianto's lap, and asked him to tell her a story. He'd gone for the more conventional "Sleeping Beauty' and within minutes she was asleep.


"Admit it." Said Jack. "It wasn't all bad."

"Well Evie seemed to enjoy herself ." Ianto conceded. "But if Bronwyn finds out she was up this late I'm a dead man."

"She won't find out."

"Oh really?" Ianto raised an eyebrow. "You were here for how long? A minute maybe? And she was telling you I was swearing."

"You may have a point."

"I do." Said Ianto trying to hold back a yawn and failing miserably.

"Tired?" Jack asked. Ianto really was adorable when he yawned.

Ianto nodded mutely as another yawn took hold.

"I'll go then." Said Jack and made to get up.

"No. Stay there. I'll put Evie to bed then see you out properly." Ianto pulled Evie into his lap then stood up slowly. She moaned and pushed her face closer to his neck. Ianto stood stock still. He really didn't want to wake her. Once he was convinced she was still asleep he moved off to the bedroom.

A minute or so later he returned with Jack's coat in his hand.

"Throwing me out?" asked Jack, getting up from the couch.

"You could stay but I don't think I'd be much company. You know on account of me being asleep."

Jack took the coat from Ianto and shrugged it on. "Well I suppose I better get going then."

"I suppose so." Said Ianto as he walked with Jack to the door. He paused with his hand on the door handle and turned back to look at Jack. "You know that drink you were talking about?"

"What about it?"

"Next week maybe?"

"Next week sounds good." Jack said with a smile.

There was a moment of silence as they both stood in front of the door, not knowing quite what to say. Then Ianto leant in and caught Jack's lips with his own. It wasn't much as kisses went, it lasted less than a second probably but Jack was pleasantly surprised nonetheless. He really hadn't been expecting it; he'd hardly had a civil word out of Ianto all day. "What was that for?" he asked.

"Does there need to be reason?"

"Other than the fact I'm totally irresistible? I suppose not."

Ianto opened his mouth to make a sarcastic reply but Jack stopped him with another kiss. This kiss was deeper and hungrier than the first and Jack's arms snaked around Ianto's waist meaning to pull him closer. But before he could Ianto pulled away. "Not the time Jack." He said with a nod towards the bedroom where Evie was currently fast asleep. If she woke up and caught him with Jack … well he wouldn't want to have to explain that one to Bronwyn. He was going to be in enough trouble as it was when she found out about the swearing.