Chapter 6 – The Clemency
Ianto and Jack spent the short journey back to the Hub in deadly silence. Ianto wished Jack would catch his eye, but he kept his eye resolutely on the dark road. Even when Jack called Tosh at the Hub he wouldn't look at him.
"Tosh, did you get that energy reading a moment ago?"
"It was off the scale," Ianto imagined Toshiko at her computer, typing away like a concert pianist in the middle of a tricky sonata. "I couldn't miss it. But I'm sorry, I can't trace it."
"That's okay Tosh," he murmured calmly, not wanting to worry her, but Ianto could tell Jack was annoyed "You've worked hard. You all have, you'd better all go home."
There was a pause as Toshiko relayed this to the others.
"That's two nights in a row." They heard Owen's muffled reply.
"Ianto must be exhausted."
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Ianto knew he was free to go but he didn't. Jack hadn't told him either way. So he stood in alone in the basement, pretending to working. He liked the comforting silence it gave him time to think alone, and he needed that right now. The rest of the team didn't realise he had emotions half the time, but he felt like he couldn't explain them. He didn't have Gwen's empathy or Tosh's level head or even Owen's way of letting it all out via one night stands and alcohol. And he certainly couldn't smile when everything was going wrong like Jack. He had to bottle it up and let it twist like snake in his stomach, only letting out by accident when it became too much. If the rest of the team could see inside his head, see the way he really was then….
He sighed, leaning against the wall. Maybe he could go up and talk to Jack, bribe him with the old standard, coffee.
"I thought I'd save you the trouble." Ianto looked up as Jack waltzed into the room with to cups of coffee in his hand.
"I expected you'd be up in a minute." He passed the cup to Ianto with a disarming smile.
"Bribing doesn't work with me." Ianto told him, accepting the warm mug.
"Oh that's it." Jack laughed "when you do it it's a peace offering but when I do it it's a bribe."
"Sorry." Ianto bit his lip and looked at the floor.
"It's okay." Jack sighed, joining Ianto in leaning against the wall.
"Why did we argue?" Ianto murmured turning to look at Jack.
"Maybe it's because we're scared." Jack considered "We're both want to be right. And deep down we're scared the other is right." Oh well, its human nature. To ere is human."
"To 'arr is pirate." Ianto finished.
"Jack, The thing I saw was Gareth." Ianto tried to convince him. He reached out and took Jacks hand. Jack nodded.
"I hope to God your right, if only for your sake."
He smiled at Jack and gave him a quick peak on the cheek.
"Thanks."
He raised the coffee to his mouth and spat it out almost at once.
"Not up your standards then." Jack laughed.
"I knew there was a reason I always make coffee." Ianto groaned. He went upstairs, still feeling Jacks eyes on him.
bit boring but stay with it please!
