AN: We might have a bit of a run on uploads for a while. I have lots of chapters written after this one, but I've hit a bit of a wall so I'm hopefully that you lovely reviewers will motivate me to keep going.

Please review x

Owen remained leant up against the bench top. He looked so scared and unsure, and so not like Owen. He never did the vulnerable thing, he never displayed how he was feeling, not publicly anyway. Ianto walked slowly forward towards the older man, giving him plenty time and space to move away or react, but he didn't. He just stood there and as Ianto got closer his face began to crumple as tears sprang out of his eyes. The Welshman reached out one hand and placed it gently on Owen's cheek, thumbing away his tears. As much as Owen tried to fight it he couldn't help but sink his face into Ianto's palm, his bottom lip trembling as he sobbed quietly. Ianto brought his other hand up to Owen's opposite cheek, cupping his face tenderly as he swept the falling tears away with his thumbs, before dipping his head down and kissing him gently, softly and oh so delicately. It was missing the fire and intensity of their previous kisses, there was no grabbing and holding and roughness, but there was something there, something neither of them had expected to find.

"Why are you scared of me?" Ianto whispered as the kiss ended, looking down at Owen who's eyes were still shut.

"Because... because I don't know how to deal with how I'm feeling around you... about you." Owen admitted quietly before opening his eyes and looking up into Ianto's.

"So what do you want to do about it?" Ianto asked gently.

"I don't know." Owen said.

"Yes you do." Ianto pointed out with a small smile. "You can say it. I promise."

"What about Jack?" Owen asked.

"What about Jack?" Ianto replied.

"Aren't you and him... you know." Owen asked vaguely.

Ianto shook his head. "We haven't... you know... for a while." He smirked at Owen's sudden inability to say the word.

Owen nodded slowly as though taking all the information in.

"So what do you want to do about this?" Ianto asked again.

"You know." Owen's lips quirked into a smirk.

Ianto smiled too. "I thought you'd never ask." He said, his voice gravely as he dipped his head down once more, this time kissing Owen with all the intensity he could.

TORCHWOOD

"Well you're certainly getting into character." Jack remarked as Owen and Ianto walked into his office just after noon.

The earlier kissing had soon carried on into the bedroom, and when they'd awoken again they'd had little time to get ready and go into work. Clothes had been pulled back on and they'd practically had to jog to get to the Hub for noon.

"You don't get many showers in the park." Owen pointed out.

"Or razors." Jack added. "Though the rough and ready look certainly seems to suit you." He said leering slightly at Ianto.

"What's the plan?" Ianto asked, noticing Owen bristle bedside him.

"More of the same." Jack pointed out as though it were obvious. "Though it might pay to get there during daylight hours. We're predicting a small spike near the river later."

"And until then?" Owen asked roughly.

"There's paperwork on your desk, and I think a round of coffees would be appreciated." Jack suggested. "You can head back out to the park around three."

Ianto and Owen both nodded before walking back out Jack's office, Ianto heading for the kitchen whilst Owen disappeared into his bay.

When Ianto dropped a mug onto his desk a few minutes later Owen was hunched over filling in papers.

"A while? Really?" The medic asked, his eyes not leaving the page.

"What?" Ianto asked confused.

"You and Jack." Owen clarified.

"There is no me and Jack, just me, and our usual lecherous leader." Ianto pointed out.

"Promise?" Owen said looking up at Ianto, the vulnerable man returning.

"Promise." Ianto flashed him a brief smile before heading back up the steps out of Owen's bay.

"I'll meet you in the upstairs office at three." Owen called.

"Can't wait." Ianto replied, his tone deadpan, his eyes, unseen by the rest of the team, sparkling.

Owen couldn't hide his grin as he turned his face back to the papers on his desk.