"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

― Helen Keller, The Open Door

Chapter 4: Stage Four, Actually Coffee

"Man, I never knew that," Susan said, climbing up the stairs from the vault. At the top of the stairs she turned around to face her escort. "Thanks for showing me around, Ianto, that was awesome."

Ianto smiled faintly. "It was a pleasure, we don't get visitors often." He took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time. "But I believe it's time to feed Janet." He gestured towards the main area of the Hub. "Jack is waiting for you in his office. Do you think you can find your way there by yourself?"

"Sure," Susan said. "Thanks again."

Ianto waved her off and she made her way past Toshiko and Owen, who were looking at something on the computers. She glanced curiously at the two of them, but didn't stop since Jack was waiting for her and the tour had already taken quite a while.

Since the door was open, she knocked on the window that was working as a wall. Susan had always wondered how someone could work in an office that was basically made of windows. But if someone could, it would be Jack.

Jack looked up from the paperwork and gestured for her to step inside.

"Hi again," Susan said, grinning. She was feeling particularly giddy for some reason, standing in front of the actual Captain Jack Harkness. The fangirl in her must have woken up again during the tour of the Hub.

"Hello," Jack said, with a smile of his own. "Please, sit. You're making me nervous."

"Really?" she squeaked, falling on the chair. "Sorry, I don't mean to be too creepy. I'm just starting to realise this might actually be real since I haven't woken up yet or started flying all over the place or something."

Jack laughed. "Do you have dreams like this often?"

Susan wrung her hands nervously, trying not to stare too much. "Well, I watch a lot of TV and read way too many fics-" She stopped herself, horrified at herself for even mentioning it. Jack raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I kinda obsess over stuff I like... And I have super realistic dreams, so I've basically dreamt about every fictional character at one time or another."

"Any dreams about me?" Jack asked, resting his chin on his hand.

Susan blinked in surprise. "Uhhh. I'm not sure. They kind of fade away after a few days. But I do know I've dreamt about meeting the guy who plays you in Torchwood like, five times," she said and laughed awkwardly. "I have actually seen him twice in real life, but never talked to him. But I guess all of that pales in contrast of actually meeting you."

"Does it?" Jack asked.

"Definitely!" Susan exclaimed, nodding. "You're my favourite companion, after Donna."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Really? I'm not even number one?"

Susan raised an eyebrow back at him. "You're good, but trust me, after you meet Donna, you'll agree with me. She's really awesome."

Jack sat back in his chair, his eyes glinting. "So I will meet him again?"

Susan slapped her hand to her mouth, eyes widening. "You!" she pointed a finger at Jack's smug face. "You tricked me into telling you spoilers!"

Jack put up his hand in defeat.

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it?" Susan grumbled, crossing her arms.

"Sorry," Jack shrugged, not looking sorry at all. "I needed to know. I've been waiting for a while."

"You're not sorry," Susan said, but then grimaced. "But you shouldn't be, not really. You could have just asked me, you know. I know I shouldn't give out spoilers, but I wouldn't just leave you hanging like that."

"Really?" Jack asked his tone unreadable, "You would have told me?"

"Yeah," she said. "I knew the Doctor could be a bit of a jerk sometimes, but it was really uncool of him to leave you like that. He should have come back for you. Although..." She trailed off, thoughtfully.

"Although?" Jack asked, leaning in.

"He did regenerate straight after," Susan said, "It's possible his memories of the previous regeneration were still a bit muddled. But he should have come back for you after he remembered. He can travel in time, after all."

Jack nodded, looking thoughtful.

"But what do I know?" Susan snorted, "It's possible he did have an actual reason apart from being a jerk. I'm just a fangirl with too much time in her hands."

Jack shook his head, "Whatever you were before, it's changed now. You should remember that as long as you are here."

"Yeah," Susan said, grimacing. "I can't go around spewing out spoilers. Ugh."

"Ah, Ianto, you're back," Jack grinned, and Susan turned around to see Ianto standing at the door way, holding a tray with two mugs of coffee.

"Is the other one for me?" Susan said, her eyes widening. "Please tell me it's for me."

Ianto smirked, "It's for you."

He handed Jack and Susan a mug each and tucked the tray under his arm.

Susan stared at the mug of coffee in her hands, and took a sip. "Mmmm, no wonder people call this coffee orgasmic," she muttered. "This is heavenly."

Ianto spluttered and Jack was so startled he started coughing, having just taken a sip of his coffee.

Susan cringed, "Oops, did I say that out loud?"

Jack laughed so much his eyes watered. "Glad to meet someone who appreciates Ianto's coffee skills as much as I do!"

Ianto's cheeks blushed dark.

Susan shrugged, "Well, his coffee is legendary. It basically has its own fandom, too."

"Your world certainly sounds interesting," Jack said, still grinning, "Sounds like they truly appreciate our Ianto."

Susan glanced at the two of them. "Oh, trust me, you have no idea." Ianto and Jack were a legendary pairing, one that could probably rival Spock and Kirk. It was hard to find someone who didn't ship the two of them. Not to mention the whole shrine the fans build in Cardiff Bay after Ianto's death...

She frowned at the thought, but then smiled. "Anyway, thanks for the coffee, Ianto, you're a sweetheart."

Ianto nodded, "You're welcome." He gave Jack a look. "I'll leave you two to it."

Susan waited until Ianto was out of earshot, then raised an inquiring eyebrow at Jack. "So, tell me, have you two done it yet?"

Jack almost choked on his coffee again. "Done it?" he laughed, "What are you, eleven?"

Susan swagged her eyebrows. "So have you?"

"Why do you need to know?" Jack said, smirking.

"I'd like to know at which point of your timeline I am," Susan said shrugging, "I roughly know what point of the Doctor's timeline this is, but I don't have much to go on you guys."

"And you thought the best way to find out was to ask if I've shagged Ianto?" Jack asked, amused.

"Yes," Susan deadpanned.

"Well," Jack shrugged, amused, "I guess that's one way to look at things."

"Well, have you?" Susan continued.

"We've dabbled," Jack said, suddenly guarded. "There has been some tension after Lisa..."

Susan nodded, grimacing. "Yeah, that sucks. Well, what was your last case?"

"Is it really relevant?" Jack asked, frowning.

"I want to know where I am," Susan said, frowning back at him. "Well, when I am."

Jack sighed, rubbing his forehead. "About a week ago we had a couple of accidental time travelers from the 50's. It was hard. They didn't really adapt that well."

"Out of Time, huh?" Susan muttered. "That means Combat is next."

"Combat?" Jack asked, "Sounds ominous."

"Well," Susan tilted her head, "It's weevils. But you should keep an eye on Owen, he's in a bad place right now."

"I'll do that," Jack said, nodding.

"By the way," Susan said absently, "Have you seen my bag? I asked Ianto and he said you might have it."

Jack ducked his head and coughed, "Well, yes, I was just keeping it safe..."

"Meaning you snooped," Susan said, not impressed.

Jack tried to grin charmingly, but it was ineffective. "Ermmhh, yeah," he muttered and picked her bag from the floor. "Here you go," he said and threw the bag to her. She caught it, still glowering at him. Jack sighed, "Look, I needed to make sure that you had nothing dangerous in there."

Susan's expression softened, but then she scowled. "You think I would carry a weapon or something?" she asked. "No way. Weapons are for bad guys, I support the Doctor's policy of no guns."

Jack tried to look solemn, but a grin made its way to his lips. "I guessed," he said, holding out the replica of Eleventh Doctor's sonic. "It looks suspiciously like a sonic screwdriver, except it doesn't work."

Susan blushed and snatched it back. "It's a fan replica," she said, "We don't have the kind of technology to make a working one. Although I do have a theory it wouldn't be so hard if..." She stopped herself before she could start rambling, "Well, I guess I might find out a way some day, now that I'm here."

Jack nodded in agreement.

"Who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, 'Ooh, this could be a little more sonic?'" Susan parroted at him, waving the sonic at his face. "Here's your answer: I would."

Jack let out a laugh and raised up his hands in defeat, "Hey, I can see the usefulness now."

"I bet you can," Susan said, showing her tongue at him, "After it saved your ass a few times."

Jack gave her a playful look, "It is an ass worth saving, don't you think?"

"You're so full of it!" Susan laughed. "But... yes."