9.
Tony and the security guards are fighting to get to him, slamming bodies out of the way. In the background, the video continues on its serene, uninterrupted way.
Jack spots a fire extinguisher in the wings.
Jack grabs it and heads to centre stage. He aims the extinguisher at the crowd between Ianto and the stage. The chemical foam does its job, scattering fans. Jack leaps onto the floor, kicking a wild-eyed young blonde man in the chest as he fights his way to Ianto, taking him in his arms. Tony runs ahead of Jack, knocks a fan off the stage and waves for Jack to follow.
"Tony, not there." Jack yells frantically.
"I'll take care of this." He heads for the door. "Just follow me."
He turns and heads out to the sidewalk like a bull.
Jack's voice calling his name follows faintly.
Tony bursts out the front door and begins cutting a path through the crowd. Rain beats down.
"Make way here. Outta the way!"
A burly street regular gets a shove from Tony and comes back hard. The crowd immediately sides with him, yells encouragement. But Tony is the better man and sends him sprawling. The rest of the way to the curb opens up. At the parking area Tony discovers there is no limo and turns in bewilderment to Ianto. But he is not there.
A couple of people laugh.
Ianto and Jack emerge from the darkness between two garbage bins and get into the limo Henry has waiting there. The car moves out with a squeal of tires, narrowly missing Spector as he staggers out of the building.
"Hey! What the fuck... Harkness!" Spector yells at the retreating brake lights, " Harkness! Come back here..."
The limo skids around the corner and speeds off up the street, leaving Spector in helpless fury - apoplectic and speechless.
Jack turns and looks at Ianto. He is demure, shell-shocked, and alone in the centre of the large limousine seat. His hands rise to his face and his body begins to shake with sobs as he sits there alone in the tattered remains of his clothes.
Jack draws him onto his arms and tries to soothe him, rubbing his hands up and down the thin back as Ianto mewls into his neck.
"It's OK baby, it's OK" Jack crooned, rocking him as they speed though the night.
The feathery kiss against his neck has Jack's eyes fluttering shut as Ianto finally gives in and relaxes in his arms.
Henry senses what is going on and speaks softly. "Never done that before."
"It's been a long night." Jack murmurs as Ianto starts to breathe deeply, falling asleep.
.
.
.
The auditorium is a mess; the cleaning crew has begun to work on the debris from the riot. Black sneakers, walking, pausing, as if looking for something.
Lying on the floor is a small fragment of Ianto's shirt. A hand picks it up. The feet move on.
.
.
.
Flynn is asleep in his bed. Jack waits as Ianto glances in. Then he moves away. Opening the door to his room, he steps back, allowing him to enter ahead.
"Jack moves quickly into the room, checking the window and French doors. Ianto waits silently by the door. All is clear. He steps back to the door. As he approaches him he begins to tremble.
He gently reaches out and takes him in his arms. Slowly holding him he leads him to bed, moving aside some of Ianto's teddies, laid out on the pillows.
His hands go automatically to his tattered shirt but they are shaking so badly he cannot undo it. Jack gently does it for him. He willingly allows him to undress him and not a word is spoken between them. As he sits naked still trembling, Jack pulls down the covers and guides him gently into bed.
As he adjusts the covers Ianto reaches up and takes hold of his hand. He looks down, stroking his forehead like a child's.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I behave like that?" Ianto whispers.
"I know why." Jack whispers as he leans in, kissing Ianto softly.
Ianto sighs and his eyes flutter shut as Jack settles on top of the bedding, an arm protectively thrown across the young man as he hums softly.
Ianto snorts as he recognises one of his own lullabies and then relaxes into the warmth of the man beside him.
He is asleep within minutes.
.
.
.
Jack sits alone at a table in the huge kitchen, carefully cutting and eating a peach. The door at the other end of the room slams open and Tony stalks in, soaking wet.
He has just made his way home from the Mayan and he is boiling. He sights on Jack and moves toward him fast.
Jack just watches until Tony is almost upon him. As Tony reaches out to lift him by his shirt, Jack spins low out of his seat. Tony's legs are knocked out from under him. He lands hard on his back and finds himself looking up at Jack, who holds him down with the chair he was sitting on, like a lion tamer, a leg strut pressed against Tony's throat. Jack looks down at him questioningly, as if to ask, "Had enough?"
Tony scowls and nods. Jack lifts the chair away. Tony stands up and faces him. Jack turns away and Tony throws a punch at his head, barely catching him as Jack ducks and moves in under it. He hits Tony twice and throws him against a cabinet. Tony gets up slowly, looks around and grabs a carving knife from a hook on the wall.
He holds it in front of him threateningly.
Jack shakes his head. He's getting irritated.
He picks up the knife he's been using on the peach and flips it in his hand so he's holding it by the blade. With the same fluid motion we've seen earlier, he throws it at Tony.
It sticks in the wall an inch from Tony's ear. Tony does a slow take and then lowers his blade. Jack picks up his dirty dish and takes it to the sink. He glances at Tony.
"I don't want to talk about this again."
.
.
.
Jack has been talking to the uniformed guard in the gatehouse and now begins walking up the drive toward the mansion.
The grounds are quiet, beautiful, and misty.
We see him from behind some foliage, as if he's being covertly observed, stalked. A twig snaps and he turns sharply. It's Ianto. He's dressed in a soft pale blue jumpsuit and starts jogging out from behind the bushes towards him.
The suit softens his appearance; he looks lovely. His manner, too, has altered; he is charming - friendly and very childlike. "Hey! Gotcha, didn't I?"
"Hey." Ianto grins, "You're probably wondering what I'm doing. You didn't know I jogged, did you?"
Jack shakes his head.
"What's the matter? Afraid I'll get picked off in my snazzy running suit?" Ianto said with a soft slap at him.
"No. I'm afraid I'll have to jog with you." Jack grimaces and they both smile.
"Great. I guess I can't do it." Ianto stops pumping, gasps for air, and for one moment, rests a hand on Jack's arm to support himself. He removes it quickly.
"Will you walk with me a little?" Ianto asks with a soft blush. Jack nods and they cut off across the grounds.
Ianto seems to be struggling to say something as they walk and Jack waits patiently. Finally he speaks, "I know this is kinda late, but thank you. I'm really glad you're here. I am going to try to cooperate."
"That would be good." Jack smiles and they walk in silence for few moments. When Ianto finally speaks, he sounds genuinely unsure of himself, nervous. It's very appealing. And if it's an act, he's a terrific actor.
"Harkness... I have this problem. This minor little problem. You see, I'd like to go out for an evening. Just me and a girl. You know..." Ianto grimaces as he struggles, "... like a 'date.' But I can't go out on a date because you have to be with me every minute. I mean, what if she invited me up to her place afterwards? Are you going to come, too?"
Jack walks with a look of surprise, Ianto glancing at him furtively as he continues talking, "So the only thing I can figure is for you to take me out."
Jack doesn't miss a step, just keeps walking as he blinks.
"So... that's what I was wondering" Ianto says softly, "... you know. What do you think? But only if you want to."
Jack is bemused.
"Only if you want to... I'm not so bad..." Ianto huffs as he blushes deeply, disarmed by Jack's silence, "God, this is embarrassing. I'm
gonna run up ahead there. You decide."
He runs up the hill to the pool area, which is now above them. Jack walks up after him.
Rhiannon is yelling from a window on the second floor of the mansion. Flynn peers out with her. "Ianto! Sandy Harris is on the phone!"
Ianto and Jack look up.
"Tell her she'll have to wait, babe. I'm getting fixed up here, hopefully."
She watches Jack and Ianto, her expression neutral. She turns away. Flynn continues to watch his Tad with Jack.
Jack offers his arm and Ianto takes it, giggling as Jack helps him over the uneven ground.
With a soft kiss to Jack's cheek, Ianto flees.
His soft giggle lingering, along with his scent.
