4.

Jack emptied the coffee can in the teachers' lounge and set it back into the machine before he sprawled into an armchair by the window. Owen glared at him from his position at the coffee machine, clutching a mug. "You could at least put new coffee on."

Jack looked at him, his eyebrows raised. "Why? I have enough."

Whatever Owen was going to say next was interrupted by the door opening and Rory making a startled noise.

Amy clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my God."

Sato looked up from the papers she was working through and froze. It became silent in the room, all eyes drawn to the figure in the door. Ianto took a deep breath. He was sopping wet, dripping water on the carpet of the teachers' lounge, his book bag and the books he was holding against his chest wet as well. His face was smeared with something that looked like soot.

He looked deeply shaken.

Owen was the first one to move. He set his mug down. "Jesus, mate," he said, putting an arm around Ianto's shoulders and leading him towards a chair.

Ianto dropped his books on the table and took a deep breath before he tentatively asked, "Would somebody be willing to share leadership of the 10b? It's just … I have so much going on with the theatre group and ..."

"Are you admitting defeat?" Sato asked, getting up from her chair. "Should I open the window for you?"

Ianto bit his lip and ducked his head.

"Can somebody tell me," Sato asked loudly, looking around, "why nobody is able to get that class under control?"

"They're just … deeply insecure," Ianto muttered.

Owen clapped Ianto's shoulder. "They're psychopaths."

Sato frowned. "Or maybe Ianto should show them some strength."

Amy scoffed. "Don't blame the kitten, Tosh. He is only the last in a row of teachers who came out of that room scarred for life."

"I take it then that nobody is willing to step in for Ianto?" Sato asked.

Silence answered her question. Jack looked around, finding himself hesitating and considering raising his hand for a second. But the urge vanished when he reminded himself that the 7a was an easy job he could just sit through until he got to the money. The 10b sounded like a piece of work.

Sato nodded. "Well then, Ianto, still your class."

With that, she left the lounge. Ianto got up shakily. He looked around at everyone and took a deep breath. "Anyone for coffee?" he asked and then went to the machine without waiting for an answer.

"Bloody monsters, that's what they are," Rory said.

The others nodded and murmured their consent. Jack looked at Ianto who stood huddled beside the coffee machine, a hand over his eyes.

xxx

Jack returned to the school at ten that night, sure that nobody would be there anymore. He got access with his keys easily enough and went to the janitor's store room. He'd already had a look at it during lunch break and had found many of the things he needed in store. The rest, he'd got from the building centre.

With the janitor's tools, he was able to build a laser-activated motion sensor, glad for all the things John had taught him in preparation for their various break-ins. It was made easier by the fact that he'd always been a quick learner where technology and mechanics were concerned.

He installed the sensor at the entrance door to the school and grabbed his pickaxe and the sledge hammer, going down into the basement with the motion sensor's receiver.

The basement consisted of one big room where not only the heating system was installed, but also rows of shelves and cupboards – all crusted with dust – holding old books and models and other educational supplies that weren't used anymore.

He didn't switch on the lights since it would be easier for him to see the motion sensor blinking when it was as dark as possible, instead orienting himself with a big torch. Using the mobile to find the position of the money, he was able to make out the wall he needed to break through.

He swung the pickaxe and started to build his tunnel.

xxx

Mica knocked on Ianto's door gently before entering. "I brought you tea," she said, sitting on the couch next to him. Ianto accepted the mug and gave her a quick smile that felt forced. Then he turned his attention back to the book he was perusing. Mica looked at the title: The 101 Of Teaching Aggressive Students. She grimaced. "Hey, you know, it's not that bad."

Ianto clutched the mug tighter, trying not to let his emotions show too much. "I will have to deal with them for the rest of the school year … and I bet that I will get them again next term."

"Are they really that bad?" Mica asked.

"Worse."

"Bernie too?" Mica asked carefully.

Ianto looked at her, his eyes narrowed. "He's the leader of the lot."

Mica ducked her head. "What will happen to me if you get a burn-out?"

Ianto put an arm around her and pulled her to his side. "I won't." He kissed her temple. "I promise."

Mica nodded and got up. "I'm going to my room. Emma and I want to Skype for a bit."

"Hey, sweetheart," Ianto said, halting her at the door, "are you okay?"

Mica hesitated. "Not really."

"What's wrong?"

She shrugged. "You wouldn't understand."

The words hit Ianto deeply, but he kept a smile on his face. "Try me."

"You're not my mother," Mica replied, irritation creeping into her voice. "Or daddy."

Ianto swallowed. "I'm not trying to be."

"Just leave me alone." With that, she left, almost running into Owen who stepped aside to let her through and looked after her in bewilderment until her door fell shut at the other end of the hallway.

"All right?" Owen asked, entering Ianto's room. "My printer's on strike. I'll use yours, okay?"

Ianto nodded numbly and leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes. "I don't know what to do, Owen. One minute she wants me close, the next she pushes me away. She won't talk to me. Says I wouldn't understand."

"Hm," Owen said, waking Ianto's laptop from stand-by. "She's a teenager."

"I think she has a crush on Bernie."

"Bernie Harris?" Owen asked with a grimace. "Like uncle, like niece, huh?"

Ianto frowned at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"She's got a crush on a psychopath. You've got a crush on a psychopath."

Ianto sighed. "I don't have a crush on Jack."

"You keep telling yourself that."

Ianto leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. "It's not just Mica, though. At university, I was always the best. And now this! Did you know that the 10b is also known as the amok class?"

"It's Bernie Harris," Owen said, "and that Carys Fletcher. They lead, the others follow." He looked at Ianto. "Hey, I saw a documentary the other day about teachers in America. They get bullet-proof vests in some neighbourhoods. I think we should buy us some."

Ianto rolled his eyes. "They key is patience. Kindness. Understanding."

"They'll kick your arse if you keep thinking like that," Owen replied. "The key is pepper spray." He hit the desk. "Damn it, Ianto, your printer's broken as well."

Ianto shook his head. "You need to jiggle the cable a bit."

Owen cursed but only a few seconds later, the printer whirred to life. "Fuck me, Ianto," Owen said, "you told me you graduated with 1st Class Honours. You actually did them with Distinction, you little teacher's pet. Disgusting!"

Ianto sat up straight. "Why would you print out my degree?" He got up and called up the printer properties, seeing that the degree had been ordered to be printed the evening before, at half past nine.

"That's when I came home," Owen said.

Ianto stared at the screen. "That's when Jack was here." He straightened. "Oh my God!"

"What?" Owen asked.

"I need to check on something," Ianto said and left the room. "Keep an eye on Mica."

xxx

Jack startled when the light of his motion sensor started to blink red. He removed his headphones and carefully crept up the stairs to the school building's ground floor. Somewhere, a door fell closed, the echo sounding through the silent hallways. Somebody was here. Somebody who could have very well seen what he was doing.

Jack cursed and followed the noise.

xxx

"This is unbelievable," Ianto muttered, staring at Jack Harkness's degree in the weak light of Tosh's desk lamp, and then his own. He had just taken both degrees out of Tosh's filing cabinet holding the personnel files. "He copied my degree!" He heard steps echo down the hallway and startled. Nobody should be at the school at this time of night.

Hastily and worried about someone trying to steal the little the school had, he put the files back and crept out into the hallway. The corridor was lit by the dim light the lamps scattered on the school grounds provided. He saw a shadow move at the far end against the windows and quickly left Tosh's office, running as quietly as possible into the opposite direction the shadow had moved and ducking into the assembly hall.

Whoever was here didn't want anyone to know or they would have switched the lights on.

Ianto didn't want to meet anyone who went to break into schools at night. He would use the stage entrance of the assembly hall and then call the police. Hurrying down the steps of the hall past the rows of seats, he tries to keep an ear out for the intruder. He threw one last glance back towards the door before he climbed onto the stage, going to the rear to reach the stage entrance. It was locked … and that was when Ianto realised he'd left his keys in Tosh's office.

Thinking frantically, he sidled back towards to the stage to keep an eye on the door. Just when he was fumbling for his mobile, the assembly hall's door opened.

Ianto ducked behind one of the paper trees set out for a play he was currently preparing wit the theatre group. The lights went on.

Ianto closed his eyes, hoping …

"That tree you're hiding behind is rather slim."

Ianto cursed under his breath when he recognised the smug voice. Then he decided that attack was preferable to defence and stepped out from behind the tree, glaring at Jack who was sauntering down the steps towards him. "You stole my degree!"

Jack faltered in his steps, his smug expression giving way to one of startled surprise, but then he crossed his arms and shrugged. "So?"

"So I will tell Tosh tomorrow and then you'll get fired."

Jack nodded slowly. "Do you really have it in you to do that?" he asked, stepping even closer.

Ianto noticed dust in his dark hair and on his face and frowned quizzically. "What were you up to?"

"Looking for a replacement bulb in the basement. One of the shelves came down," Jack answered and jumped onto the stage. "So, have you got it in you to rat me out?"

Ianto refused to back away and Jack stepped close enough that Ianto thought he could feel his body heat through the thin muscle shirt he was wearing. An irrational thought, he knew, but still … Jack was an attractive man. He steeled his resolve. "Yes."

Jack stared him in the eyes and Ianto balled his hands to fists, forcing himself to remain in eye contact. Finally, Jack huffed a breath and turned away. "I had a few problems at university. I need this job."

Ianto sighed in relief when Jack stepped away. "It's theft and it's cheating. And sexual assault."

Jack snorted and turned back around to him, his eyebrows raised. "I gave you a roofie, yes, but don't worry, I wouldn't even touch you with a pole. I've got better offers."

Ianto gaped at him. "What? You bastard!"

"Was that the b-word?" Jack asked in mock-shock.

"Don't fuck with me, Jack!" Ianto replied.

"Don't worry, I certainly won't."

Ianto got his mobile from his jeans pocket. "I'm calling Tosh now. Or better yet, the police. Because if you aren't a teacher, you have no right being here."

Jack snagged the phone from Ianto's hand.

"Hey!" Ianto grabbed for the phone, but Jack evaded him by turning away.

"Right!" he said, raising one hand to stop Ianto from coming closer. "You should go home, sleep over this and name me your price tomorrow."

Ianto stared at him. "My price?"

"The price for you to shut up and stay that way."

Indignant, Ianto reached for his phone. "I don't want money or favours or whatever else you're offering. I just want my Year 7 back and ..." He halted, an idea occurring. For one second, he wondered whether he was desperate enough … and then decided that, yes, he definitely was. He smiled at Jack. "On second thought, there is something you can do in exchange for my silence."

xxx

"Swap?" Tosh asked, a frown marring her face. Her eyes flicked between Ianto and Jack as if she wasn't quite sure what to think of them.

Jack nodded, his hands buried deep in his jeans pockets. "I have the mediator training," he recited what Ianto had told him he should say. "And the … uh ..." He halted, trying to remember. He'd only been half listening, too busy compiling a mental list of what else he'd need to dig his tunnel.

"You had that training," Ianto hinted and when Jack just looked at him, clueless, Ianto cleared his throat. "Aggressive youths."

"Oh, right!" Jack remembered. "I learned how to shut up aggressive youths."

Ianto and Tosh stared at him and he felt the eyes of the other teachers on the teachers' lounge dig into his back.

He added, "Gently."

Tosh looked at him appraisingly, her dark eyes seeming to look right through him. "Hm," she said. Then, she brushed a loose strand of black hair behind her ear and shrugged. "All right. Substitute teachers are supposed to have the harder balls anyway, so ..." She flitted her hands as if trying to tell them to leave her alone. "Fine with me."

Ianto smiled smugly at Jack while they turned away. "Good luck," he told him.

Jack scoffed. "I don't need luck," he replied. "They're children. I'll kick their arses."

Owen laughed. "It was nice knowing you, mate."