Doomsday: Post Apocalypse

a Torchwood story

by RoadrunnerGER

Dislaimer: Oh, really! They're the BBC's.

Summary: Ianto comes to Cardiff for a week to help with the archives, but is it as simple as that? Jack/OC, Jack?Ianto

Suspense/hurt/comfort – T – Ianto Jones & Jack Harkness

A/N: Oh, I had a feeling you'd like Ianto and his spidermice. :D Thanks, guys! Big thanks to DarkwingDuckie for catching up so nicely. You're a peach! Special thanks to my lovely beta mandassina. Enjoy!

Chapter 9 - Comparisons

On his way to London Jack tried not to think about anything. He had enough to worry about so he did not want to spend the ride brooding. In case an alert came in Jack did not want to use the Torchwood SUV for the trip and had decided to take one of his own cars that were usually parked in storage. He paid someone for taking care of them but sometimes, when his job allowed it, he tinkered around on them himself.

Ydris would love them, too, toying around with nuts and screws.

Brought up short by his internal double entendre Jack laughed out loud.

That would be me and my cars.

He knew exactly why he had not asked either of the handsome young Welshmen to accompany him, as their company made it unlikely that he ever got to London.

Admittedly, that would only apply to Ydris as it would mostly be me who's taking the initiative and he'd go along with it, but Ianto would give me hell for not driving.

A chuckle escaped him.

What is there about Ianto Jones that has me so captivated? I want to bed him all right, but if it was just that I probably wouldn't pursue him so insistently. There's something more about him. That suit of his suited him really well. He didn't even his intend to dress up and still he looked gorgeous! Those are his work clothes! Incredible!

Distracted by his thoughts Jack drove on auto-pilot until a horn startled him out of his musings. Realizing that he came horribly close to touching the other car and causing an accident Jack reduced his speed and changed to the left lane.

That was close.

Gripping the steering wheel tighter he took a deep breath, held it a moment and released it. Aside from accidents being rather unpleasant to say the least, Jack would have hated to trash his 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster.

Of course he could not take advantage of the powerful V8 engine that ran his dream of a car – blue, in the shade of ripe blueberries, with a broad white racing stripe - as he could hardly break the 70 miles per hour speed limit without endangering everyone else on the motorway. On a racetrack the sports car could have reached 165 miles per hour, with acceleration from a stop to 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds.

As it was Jack could not even speed up to 70 miles per hour because he was not the only one who wanted to go to London. The closer he came to the capital city the busier was the motorway. Nowadays driving a sports car was not as much fun as it used to be. The Cobra was made for running not casual cruising.

When his phone rang Jack activated the hands-free speaking system.

"Alistair," he greeted.

"I told you I'd call," the Brigadier told him with a hint of amusement.

"I'm on the road to London," Jack let him know. "Can we meet?"

"Sure," the Brigadier agreed. "I'm at the headquarters."

"All right. I'll be there in about an hour."

"I'll be waiting."

"See you later, Alistair."

Jack was looking forward to meeting the Brigadier but he dreaded the conversations they were going to have. Finally he knew what he wanted. What he did not know was what he would be expected to agree to in order to get it.

The worry knotting up his insides as well as the fact that he did not have breakfast made him crave food and he changed to the right lane to speed up and gain a few minutes so he could stop off on his way to UNIT's headquarters to get something to eat.

xXx

When Ianto returned to the Hub, carrying two heavy shopping bags, he was somewhat out of breath, but he hurried up to the gantry nevertheless.

"Ianto," Toshiko called, getting up from her seat to approach him. "Is something wrong?"

"No," he gasped. "I'm just late."

"Late?" she asked back, confused.

"I was away too long for my break," Ianto replied. "The grocery shop was farther away than I thought. Sorry."

Out of wide eyes the computer expert looked at the exhausted Welshman. "When did you even leave?"

Grasping the second bag with his right arm, too, Ianto looked at his watch. "Um… thirty-four minutes ago."

At that Toshiko had to bite back a chuckle.

"Sorry, Ianto," she said. "But don't worry about the four minutes. You're likely to gather overtime hours here."

"It's unprofessional," he murmured.

"What are you carrying there anyway?" Toshiko prodded, indicating the heavy bags.

"Just some stuff I needed," Ianto shrugged the second bag back to the left side. "Some for the kitchenette here, too."

"Well, then going shopping was job related," Toshiko smirked. "Now stop worrying."

"I'm not worrying," Ianto grunted. "Is there something wrong about being professional?"

"Of course not," she assured him. "But you're so tense, Ianto. Relax."

"Okay," he agreed just for peace's sake and turned to the stairs leading to the catwalk. "I'm not tense," he grumbled under his breath as he climbed up the stairs. If Toshiko could hear him he could not tell. At least she did not respond.

In the kitchenette he put his bags on the counter and unpacked what he had missed there. He put everything into the cupboard under the worktop except for the vinegar that he mixed with water before he filled the mix into the coffee machine and switched it on. A few low gurgles escaped it before it processed its program smoothly. With a smile Ianto left it to its work and returned to his own down in the archives where he busied himself for about an hour before he checked on the machine.

Nobody paid any attention to him as he moved smoothly up the stairs and fumbled around with the machine. Owen had vanished in his medical bay and had not been seen since the morning meeting. Suzie was still examining an artefact, and Toshiko could always immerse herself in writing programs or enhancing the computer system.

That he was left to his own devices was a little disconcerting for Ianto. As he was used to a hierarchic system with a supervisor being in charge of a division he expected to be controlled or at least directed. Here he was given his task, incorporate the new artefacts, and left on his own. That was especially strange as the archives were so far down the tunnels. The sheer physical distance to his colleagues put Ianto on edge. Usually there was a hustle and bustle all around him in the big office with numerous cubicles. He could hear the others' phones ringing, the clatter of their keyboards as they typed, their voices. He could smell coffee, tea, or perfume. Down in the vaults, it was just the cobwebs, the skitter of roaches and rodents, and the musty, dank smell of dampness.

Of course he could go up to the workstations at any time to talk to the others, but what took just a few steps at his office at Torchwood One was a longer walk here. He already had noticed that he should think twice about what he would need during the day and take enough to drink with him to what he began to think of as the dungeon.

The archives were cramped, the shelf boards bending under the weight of the artefacts stored on them. The items themselves were not marked properly and Ianto had difficulty finding the things listed in the computer. There was one big position with numerous entries but he could not recognize the actual artefacts as belonging to the same group.

It was enough to drive the meticulous Welshman up the wall.

Gladly he emerged from the vaults to check on the coffee machine. It was running smoothly and the result that he poured into the sink was almost clear. So he filled it with water this time and let it run again. As he did not feel like vanishing down in the archives again yet Ianto strolled down to the med bay where he found Owen bent over the keyboard at his computer terminal, staring at the screen that Ianto could not see from where he was standing. Going down the stairs, though, Ianto caught a glimpse at what the doctor was doing and realized that he was playing an online game. The small table was littered with sweet wrappings and several mugs stood on the floor behind him.

Ianto scowled.

When the cat's away, the mice do play. Doesn't he have other things to do?

For a moment Ianto just watched the medic who was so concentrated on his game that he did not even notice that his new co-worker stood right behind him. Finally he tried to address him and ask if playing computer games was his interpretation of working, but Owen either did not hear him or deliberately ignored him. When he kept prodding he got a distracted 'in a minute' in response but the doctor never moved away from his game. In the end Ianto picked up the collection of mugs and carried them upstairs.

Passing the workstations Ianto noticed that the one Owen used did not look any different than the small terminal downstairs. On Suzie's desk also stood three mugs. At least she had thrown her trash into a bin and not strewn it on the tabletop. Ianto gathered up those mugs as well and continued to Toshiko's desk.

"Can I help you?" the computer expert asked when he stepped up beside her.

"No, I'm fine," Ianto said. "It's just so silent down in the archives. I came up to assure myself that I'm not alone here."

"Oh, I see…" she muttered at the unexpected declaration. Leaning back in her chair she turned to face him and tried to determine how she could help, "What are you doing right now? I'm sure you could use Owen or Suzie's workstation if you need to enter things into the database."

"Especially as long as he's lost in the vast space of the internet," Ianto dryly stated.

"Is he roleplaying again?" Toshiko groaned.

"Well…" Ianto was caught by surprise by her statement. "Looks like it."

Toshiko sighed. "Well, there's no autopsy to perform and no alert came in… but he could help you for example."

"Yeah…"

"Go and tell him. He's not good at following Suzie's orders as long as we're not in the field." Curiously she eyed the mugs he held. "What are you up to with all those cups?"

"Just taking them to the kitchenette," he shrugged. "Do you have one, too?"

Toshiko shook her head and indicated a Starbucks cup to go.

"Okay," Ianto said and pivoted away from her. As he walked up the stairs once again he thought about Toshiko's suggestion to go to Owen and tell him to come and help him with the archiving. It was a really strange idea, especially as they had already established while he, Ianto, had still been stuck in the conversion unit, that Owen was superior to him.

Shaking his head dismissively Ianto put the mugs onto the counter. As it was not that big to begin with they took up almost the whole workspace. In order to make room Ianto let water run into the sink and washed the mugs as well as some cutlery that seemed to be stuck into another cup for ages already. Ianto wrinkled his nose at the life forms that had settled on the forks and knives, hoping that they were all native species, and he quickly disposed of the wooden chopsticks that looked like they would develop a life of their own any time soon.

By the time he was finished the coffee machine had completed its program as well and Ianto cleaned it out properly before he let it run with fresh water a final time. He had just switched the machine on when Toshiko called out for him.

"Ianto? Ydris has called. He'll be here in a bit!"

"All right!" he replied, feeling odd once more shouting through the whole central Hub. Checking if everything was put away as it should be he left the kitchenette and returned to Toshiko's workplace.

"He'll come in through the tourist office," Toshiko told him. "Why don't you go up there and let him in?"

"Okay."

She offered him a smile before she applied herself to her work again. Ianto left through the cog door and went up to the ground level with the elevator. Passing through a door that he figured did not enter directly in the tourist information office but a back room that was separated from the office by a beaded curtain.

Where's the door for the hidden entrance then? Ianto checked and found the camouflaged door to be rather inconspicuous on the other side as well. In the end it doesn't matter, I guess, as the front door's protected by a code in addition.

As the air was rather stifling Ianto opened the front door to the boardwalk where a water bus was about to cast off. Thankfully the passengers were on their way up to the Plass and none of them interested in the tourist office. Suspecting that all the leaflets and brochures were not up to date Ianto went to examine them closer. Looking at the pamphlets in the stand he found his suspicion confirmed. Quickly he gathered all the papers that were so outdated that they belonged in a museum as artefacts rather than in a tourist office as helpful information.

Some dusting wouldn't hurt either, Ianto thought miserably as he kept searching the counter and collected all the old flyers in order to dispose of them as used paper. Why do they neglect this office? It's a good front, but it would be even more credible if they'd keep it open.

Noticing movement on the periphery of his vision Ianto raised his gaze, expecting to see Ydris, but it was a brunette lady in a fuchsia coat who strolled into the office.

"Da bnawn," Ianto cordially greeted. "Can I help you?"

"Oh, please," she smiled a broad white smile at him, eyeing him curiously. "City centre… where can I get a bus to there?"

When he came back to Cardiff Ianto had picked up a network map of the bus lines but did not study it yet, so he had to make an effort to recall what he had seen at first sight.

"Where exactly do you want to go?" he asked distractedly in order to get time for thinking.

"Pardon?"

She sounded a little confused and Ianto suspected that she was not fluid in English, so he repeated his question more clearly, "Where exactly do you want to go?"

"Oh, um… here," she said, putting a travel guide on the countertop.

Seeing at what she pointed Ianto smiled. At the same time his mind was forming the route, recalling that she could take the same bus that he and Owen had used last Friday. Picking up a slip of paper and a pen he told her, "The bus leaves right in front of the Millennium Centre." Ianto waited for her to confirm that she understood and when she nodded he continued, "You can take line eight or eleven," and as he emphasized the numbers he scribbled them down on the paper, "to the bus station at the rail station or the stop on St. Mary Street." He noted both stops as well and drew a circle around the latter. "St. Mary Street is closer to the Market, though. Okay?"

"Yes, thank you." Once more she offered him a warm smile and wanted to take the paper from him, but Ianto shook his head.

"From the stop on St. Mary Street you just advance to the pedestrian area. On the corner to your left there is the Prince Of Wales, a really good pub, a bit further to the right are Royal Arcade and Morgan Arcade. Both are very interesting with exquisite shops. If you pass through there and turn to the left," he also added a rough sketch with the names to his directions, "you'll go straight toward it and have Cardiff Story to your right and Cardiff Market," at that he smiled up to her, "to your left."

"What's the story?" she queried.

"Cardiff Story is a small museum about Cardiff's development and has an information centre as well," Ianto carefully relayed and saw her nod. Giving her the slip of paper he asked, "Does that help?"

"Yes, thank you very much," she replied. "You're a big help. So… the bus leaves at the Millennium Centre?"

"Yes, that's right, ma'am," Ianto agreed, "You can't miss it."

"Thank you very much."

"You're welcome," Ianto nodded and watched her leave. Taking a deep breath he decided to go and get up to date city maps, bus network flyers, and schedules of the Millennium Centre as soon as he had the opportunity.

Through the open door he could see someone else approach the tourist information office and this time it was Ydris.

"Close the door behind you," Ianto demanded as soon as the other Welshman stepped in.

"Good afternoon to you, too," Ydris chuckled and pushed the door shut. "Something wrong?"

"Well, hello, Ydris," Ianto replied. "Not wrong, but I got an impression of what it's like to run a tourist office without having the corresponding information."

At that Ydris chuckled.

"So you couldn't help her?"

"Well, I could, but not with what I've got here," Ianto held up some of the outdated leaflets.

Having a closer look Ydris chuckled, "2001?"

"Yeah," Ianto rolled his eyes. "They're so advanced in some things and so backward in others."

Still chuckling Ydris said, "The way I got it this office isn't meant to be open."

Ianto scowled at him. "So you think that it's normal for a tourist information office in the bay area right beside the water bus dock to be closed the whole year?"

This time Ydris laughed. "No, but obviously it doesn't attract attention either."

"Hmmm."

For Ianto it was all but normal. The front of Torchwood Tower had been an insurance company and it was well known and busy. Absolutely no comparison to this sad example of a front that was in such a bad state that Ianto was surprised that no official had come yet to demand its removal from the well frequented bay area that was one of the biggest tourist magnets of Cardiff.

"Anyway, Jack said you made some calls concerning the Tasmanian tigers?"

"Oh, yeah," Ydris confirmed. "I've talked with a guy I knew at school. He's studied biology and he found me some contact details of wildlife centres in Australia and Tasmania."

"You could've googled that."

"Right, but Alan knows people there. I've written emails to two of them and got a reply from Tasmania. He's going to help with returning the tigers to the wild."

"So we've determined they're going to Tasmania?" Ianto queried.

"Not exactly," Ydris shrugged. "But Alan volunteered to take them there."

"You told him that we have Tasmanian tigers?" Ianto gasped. "Are you out of your mind?"

Now Ydris glared at the other man.

"Neither did I tell him what exactly we have nor am I out of my mind," he snarled. "All I told Alan was that I knew a private breeder who has decided that he wants to release his animals in their natural habitat and that they would belong in Tasmania. I never mentioned thylacines. I'm not Torchwood, but that doesn't mean that I'm stupid."

"I didn't say… I don't think you're stupid." Ianto scowled at Ydris. "I was under the impression that your eagerness carried you away. Now why would Alan volunteer to take the animals to Tasmania?"

"Well, it's a long flight," Ydris explained. "You can't just put them into a box, write Tasmania on it, and think they'd automatically land in a suitable environment. The flight from London to Australia takes about 20 hours, so it takes longer to Tasmania. They need to be fed and watered and when they arrive they'll go into quarantine."

Chewing on his bottom lip Ianto listened to the other's explanation. He knew a lot, but what actually lay ahead of their tigers was news to him.

"I didn't realize they couldn't be sent on their own and picked up at the airport at their destination," he admitted. "Let's go downstairs and talk about the details. Maybe your friend Alan can advise us."

"Sure."

No sooner said than done.

The two men sat in the boardroom and talked animatedly about the thylacines and their journey to their new home. They were excited about the prospect of the small group being able to save their species. After all, a small hope was better than no hope at all. They called the man in Tasmania with whom Alan had arranged the contact and agreed that he would take the tigers into quarantine and prepare their release into the wild. When the two Welshmen had finally worked out their plan, though, their conversation died away.

"So what's between you and Jack?" Ianto broke the silence.

"I… don't know what it is yet," Ydris muttered hesitantly but still continued, "If it is anything at all. I hardly know him."

"I got the impression that there's much more between you." The words were out before he could think about them and Ianto felt his cheeks heat up with embarrassment. Why didn't I downright ask if they're shagging? My mam would read me the riot act for such rude behaviour.

Obviously Ydris did not have such qualms.

"Well, it's just physical, you know?"

Suddenly Ianto found himself to be subjected to the other's scrutiny. Ydris eyed him intently as if he was trying to judge him in some way. It was a bit disconcerting but Ianto returned the gaze and waited.

Releasing a heavy breath Ydris said, "And yet he's flirting with you. I mean, that's why you asked, right? Because you wonder what to make of Jack and me? More of Jack of course?"

"Well, I know he's quite… liberal," Ianto replied, "I didn't think he'd flirt with one while he's together with the other, though."

"Together?" Ydris had to bite back a chuckle. "Wouldn't that require more than just sex?"

"Huh?" Ianto voiced his confusion, but a second later he caught on to the other's not so subtle implication.

"Though I wouldn't put it past him," Ydris stated. "I think he's open to pretty much anything."

"I've heard about that…" Ianto muttered, recalling how Owen had teased Jack about his constant readiness.

"I'm sure flirting is Jack's default setting. At first I was surprised that he made a move on you, but he also hit on Suzie."

"Really? I must have missed that." Ianto felt a tingling in his stomach that he tried to ignore. "What I did notice was how he boldly teased Owen. It was more like a jibe, actually. He must know that Owen isn't the least bit interested, so why would he seek to annoy him like that?"

Ydris laughed. "I guess it's kind of a game between them. Owen seems to need the occasional challenge."

Ianto nodded before an awkward silence descended between the two men. For a few minutes they both followed their own thoughts that still spun around Jack Harkness before Ydris finally addressed the transport of the Tasmanian tigers again. They double checked what they had arranged so far until Suzie came in to tell Ianto that she would go and get takeaway dinner for everyone, but that he was free to call it a night if he wanted to.

Ianto was a little undecided. On the one hand he would have liked to spend more time with his new colleagues, but on the other hand he was tired, the spidermice were waiting, and he also did not really feel up to taking the banter that was likely to develop. In the end he decided to excuse himself and go home. When he told Suzie so the second in command just nodded and wished him a good night.

A few minutes later the two men came down from the board room and strolled past the workstations, bidding the others goodnight.

"Oh, Ianto…!" Toshiko called out after him.

"Yeah?" he turned back.

"Could you wait a moment?" she asked. Seeing him nod she went over to Suzie to talk with her quietly.

"I'm out of here," Ydris murmured and waved at Owen down in the med bay. "Night."

"Night, Ydris," Ianto said and saw him out through the cog door. Not quite patiently he waited for Toshiko, wondering what she might want from him now after being left to his own devices during the day. When she finally approached she offered him a shy smile.

"We were talking about my collection," she said. "Do you feel like looking at it now and maybe sharing a drink before you head home?"

Taken completely by surprise all Ianto could do was nod.

tbc…