THE SOUND OF SNOW PART 7

Ianto watched and waited for the door to close at Owen's back before speaking.

"How dare you check up on me like that? You had no right!" He hissed facing Jack with a fierce glare.

Jack met his look with equal annoyance. "As head of Torchwood three I have every bloody right, especially with your history." Perhaps he shouldn't have said the last bit.

Ianto lurched to his feet and paced around the room shoving Gwen's vacated chair out of his way as he stomped. "So you still don't trust me, well at least you're honest about it. You could have asked me Jack!"

Jack thumped the table. "I did." Ianto rounded on him leaning over the table resting his weight on bunched fists.

"No you didn't. You asked me about the calls. I told you I didn't remember; which was the truth. You did not ask my permission to spy on me. You asked if I was seeing someone else and if I didn't know better I'd say you were acting out of jealousy. What would have happened if you discovered I was seeing someone? Would they just disappear one night without explanation? Would you Retcon them?"

Jack leant back appalled by the suggestion. "Ianto, do you honestly believe I'd do something like that?"

"Honestly?"

Jack nodded.

Ianto straightened himself and stared out of the window, suddenly aware that Tosh and Gwen were watching them.

"I don't know Jack. It's ok for you to go off and sleep with whomever you choose, but when it comes to me doing the same. You know I really daren't in case something happened to them."

Jack was furious but he bit it back, this no time for a personal argument.

"Ianto we are getting off track here. There is a possibility that the anonymous calls you have been receiving are potentially dangerous, it has to be investigated if it's at all related to these recent deaths......"

Ianto yanked his phone out of his pocket and tossed it on to the table. "There you are the, you answer the fucking thing, maybe then someone calling you will make you die, permanently!" He turned and stormed out of the room, grabbing his coat from the hat stand behind Tosh's desk he fled the hub. Jack sat there staring at Ianto's mobile completely gobsmacked.

Owen entered the room a moment later rather apprehensively. "What the hell was that all about?"

Jack looked up at him with exasperation written all over his face. "None of your business."

Ianto only got as far as the tourist office door when he stopped in his tracks and realised what a total ass he had been. He stood there his hand shaking on the door handle before sucking in a deep breath and turning straight back around and heading down the stairs into the Hub. He was aware of three sets of eyes on him as he made his way up to Jack's office and hesitantly he tapped on the door before entering. Jack had just settled himself at his desk and was more than a little surprised to see Ianto standing there, looking very sheepish. Ianto was gripping the edge of the door.

"May I come in?"

Jack glared at him. "That entirely depends on what you have to say."

Ianto moved forwards and closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry Jack. I'm sorry. That was a terrible thing for me to say."

"Which bit? It all sounded pretty damming."

Ianto sighed. "I'm sorry."

Jack gestured to the empty chair in front of his desk.

"What's going on with you Ianto?"

Ianto sat and shrugged. It was hard to put into words and he sat silently trying to find the right ones.

"Yan?"

"I.... I don't know. I've just been thinking a lot lately." He fidgeted in the seat.

"About?" Jack was trying not to lose his patience and let his hurt show.

"Lisa, my Tad.... a different life. Sometimes it feels as if Torchwood is drowning me and that I've lost sight of who I am, who I was raised to be. I keep thinking that while I am here I will never...... I will never have a normal life, never be married or have a family; I wish to God that Lisa was still alive and my Tad. I miss my life. I don't even know why, because I was quite happy until a few weeks ago. I....." He trailed off, wringing his hands in his lap. "I am sorry Jack. I shouldn't be taking any of that out on you."

Jack nodded, more concerned than ever now.

"Do you realise how so unlike you this actually is? Do you not see why I am worried?"

Ianto met his look and had to force himself not to shy away from the hurt there. "I'm sorry."

Jack growled with frustration. "Will you stop with the apologies and just please do as I ask?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Now have your phone back, but don't answer any calls from a withheld number unless you are with one of us, just in case....please for my peace of mind if nothing else."

Ianto took the proffered Nokia and pocketed it. He stood up and sighed nervously.... he had to ask.

"Are we ok Jack?"

Jack offered up a smile at the pitiful tone. "We're ok." He tried to sound reassuring, but was far from certain himself how things now stood between them. It seemed to convince Ianto though.

"I guess I should get back to work then."

Jack rose from his seat and strode around his desk, reaching out and carefully drawing Ianto into an embrace. Ianto fell into it, burying his face against his shoulder, hands fisting the fabric of his shirt. Jack ran his hand through Ianto's soft hair. They said nothing and just held on. Jack really didn't know what else to do. They were drawn apart by the ringing of Ianto's phone and Ianto pulled out it out of his jacket pocket and frowned at the display, 'withheld'. He showed it to Jack, who nodded, and Ianto answered the call.