X. Secret Santa (Series 1)

Of course it had been Gwen who had wanted to organize a Secret Santa gift exchange. Owen had griped and Ianto had rolled his eyes, while Tosh had looked cautiously interested. It wasn't something they'd done before, at least since Jack had taken over leadership, but he had eventually given in: it had been a hard six months, and the team could probably use some holiday cheer. God knew he wasn't one to think of those kinds of things and actually preferred to stay out of them.

Gwen had made a case for it, though, and she had been so excited and sincere that he couldn't say no. Of course, she'd had that affect on him since she had started, and he tried to keep her in line, yet sometimes…Jack shook his head as they all left the meeting, names for the exchange in hand. He was getting somewhat tired of his and Gwen's push and pull, the flirting that felt like more than flirting but would never be anything more; too often it felt like a power struggle, and that was not why he had brought her onto the team. So although he thought the gift exchange might be good for everyone, Jack couldn't help but wish someone else had come to him with the idea rather than Gwen.

He himself had stood down, offering instead to treat them all to dinner at St. David's for the exchange itself. That would be his contribution to team morale. Gwen had looked disappointed, and Jack had put aside the nagging feeling that she might have rigged the exchange if he had participated. Whether she wanted something from him or had wanted to give him something in particular, he didn't know and didn't want to find out. Frankly, he had other things…other people…on his mind now. That was his holiday cheer: flirting that had become more, stolen moments he found he was looking forward to more and more as the days and weeks went by.

And so before things got crazy—there was a large Rift spike predicted for the following day, one that would be dropping an airplane in their laps for the holiday—they all headed to St. David's, where Jack had reserved a table for five with several bottles of wine set in the center and ready to be served.

It did not take long for the team to relax—even Owen, who had seemed so against the idea. The girls sipped wine and laughed at something Ianto was saying over his cocktail. Jack found his gaze drawn to the Welshman, who glanced up and caught his eye. They exchanged a smile, and Jack found himself unexpectedly thinking about Ianto and what he was doing for the holidays—if he had Christmas plans with his family, if he had a date for New Year's. Jack idly wondered if there would be any time for them to spend together, and not just in—

His thoughts were interrupted by Gwen setting her glass down with a purpose. "How about we open our gifts before the food comes?"

"You're so impatient," said Owen. He signaled the server for another beer. "Like a kid in a candy store, you are."

"I can't help it," she laughed. "I love Christmas."

"Then by all means you start," Owen said, sitting back and crossing his arms.

The gifts had been placed in the middle of the table with the wine. As per Gwen's rather unusual rules, everyone had wrapped their parcels in the same paper and given them to Jack earlier that day. Finding the one with her name on it, she ripped it open to find a beautiful red silk scarf. She exclaimed over it and draped it around her neck; apparently she had admired it in one of the shop windows on the quay last week while out for lunch. It looked quite nice on her, and Jack had to commend whoever had picked it out not only for good taste, but for remembering something Gwen had seen and liked. Probably Ianto, because he was thoughtful like that and had a real eye for clothing.

"Owen, you're next," Gwen said, sitting back with a content smile.

Owen rolled his eyes and reached for a large box on the table. He too simply ripped off the paper and dug inside; apparently he was just as impatient as Gwen. He pulled out a set of six beer glasses and a six-pack of an expensive IPA. Nodding in appreciation, he glanced over at Ianto.

"Thanks, mate," he said with a grin. "It's perfect."

Ianto raised his eyebrows. "I didn't think we were guessing," he said. He finished his martini and set it down with a smile. "But you're welcome."

"How'd you know I liked this one?" Owen asked, reading the label. He looked sorely tempted to open a bottle, even with free wine and beer on Jack.

"You ordered it last week at the pub. It's a limited holiday edition so I figured I'd better snap it up." He paused as he poured himself a glass of wine. "The glasses are for the touch of class I imagine your flat could sorely use. I should have got some napkins too, I suppose."

Owen snorted. "Whatever, teaboy. Stop taking the piss and maybe I'll have you 'round to try one. Thanks again."

"I'll look forward to it." Ianto glanced away and caught Jack's eye again. Jack was impressed. Owen and Ianto did not always get along, and yet Ianto had taken the time to notice something about the doctor and get him something the man would appreciate and even enjoy. Owen, in turn, had actually offered to share it with Ianto; maybe there was something to this exchange after all.

"Go ahead, Ianto," said Gwen, nodding toward the center of the table. "Open yours next."

Ianto took a deep breath and reached for his gift. It was a long thin box, and Jack was fairly certain they all knew what was in it. They were not prepared, however, for the sight of it once Ianto unwrapped the box and opened the lid.

It was quite possibly one of the most hideous ties ever.

Ianto held it up, speechless. The entire table was quiet. After two much appreciated gifts, it was as if someone had dropped a bomb on the exchange. It was all Jack could do to not laugh at the look on Ianto's face as he stared at the red and green plaid tie before him.

"Well," Ianto said dryly. "I certainly don't have one like that." Jack let a snort escape and Ianto fired him a look. Owen looked skeptical while Tosh actually appeared a bit worried. Gwen frowned.

"I like it," she said, and Jack noted the slightly defensive note to her voice.

"And I do too," Ianto replied smoothly. He reached over to take her hand and squeezed it, having apparently heard it as well. "It can be my Torchwood Two tie, next time I'm up in Glasgow."

"Next time?" asked Owen with a snort. "Ever been there?"

Ianto shook his head, his composure back under control. "No, but now I have something to wear when I brave it." He smiled at Gwen. "Thank you. Really."

Gwen narrowed her eyes at Ianto before squeezing back with a smile. "Well, I thought it would make a nice holiday tie, since you don't seem to have one, but check the box," she said. "There's more."

"Uh-oh," Ianto murmured, apparently unable to stop himself. Jack was thrilled to see the man turn slightly red around the collar at his impolite slip.

Ianto pulled a small card out of the box and read it, his eyes going wide. "Thank you, Gwen. That…that's amazing."

She reached over and plucked the tie out of Ianto's hands as she examined it. "I hope you like it better. I won't tell Rhys what you think of his choice of neckwear, since he helped me pick this one out."

Ianto shook his head and laughed as the others watched them, confused.

"Care to explain?" Jack asked, and Ianto smiled at them all, holding up the card.

"A custom hand-made Italian silk tie on order from Alessio's, the new men's shop over at the Hayes." He grinned like a man who had won the races. "Brilliant. Their clothes are fantastic. I can't wait to pick it up and browse."

"I've heard you gush about it," said Gwen. She fingered the hideous plaid tie. "I can't say I'm surprised you don't like this one, but I didn't want to give you an empty box." She glanced up and grinned. "Your reaction was fun, though."

"It was a good reaction," Jack agreed. Ianto rolled his eyes at everyone's amusement and tried to change the subject.

"Go on, Tosh," he said. "Your turn."

Tosh took her gift from the center of the table, though that still left one last present. Jack wondered what it might be, since there shouldn't be any more, but instead focused on Tosh. She held a small box in her hands, the type that usually held jewelry. When she opened it, she gasped and shut it immediately, her face instantly red. Jack sensed Owen shift uncomfortably beside him.

"What's wrong, Tosh?" asked Gwen, sounding concerned. "What is it?"

Tosh took a deep breath and opened the box again. "It's beautiful," she murmured, and Jack thought that maybe her voice caught just a bit. With a watery smile, she turned the box around to show them all a set of small cloisonné earrings in the shape of mistletoe with a matching pendant. The berries were tiny red crystals that sparkled in the dim light of the restaurant. Everyone nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you, Owen," said Tosh softly, meeting the doctor's eyes with a heartfelt smile. Owen shrugged it off, obviously still uncomfortable.

"Well, you're welcome. Hope you like 'em."

"I love them," she said. "They're perfect. Thank you for remembering."

And then Jack remembered something Tosh had said out in the country, about kissing Owen under the mistletoe last Christmas. Which meant that Owen of all people had also put some thought into his gift. Tosh was obviously touched, and Jack couldn't help but nod approvingly at his team: they had done him proud. Not that they didn't make him proud in the field or at work, but here, when given the chance to offer a personal gift to one another, they had truly stepped up and delivered the Christmas spirit. Maybe they were finally becoming a team, after all.

"There's still one more gift," said Tosh. Gwen reached toward it and read the tag. "It's for Jack." She handed it to him, and he took it with a slight frown. He hadn't gone in on the exchange, preferring instead to treat the team to dinner. And yet a small shiver of anticipation ran through him as he eagerly tore off the paper. Before he opened the box, however, he glanced at everyone in turn, trying to guess who might have given it to him. Probably Gwen, as it had been her idea, and she'd been disappointed when he had decided not to participate. Now slightly anxious about what she might have given him, he opened the box and felt his mouth drop open.

He followed it with a wide-eyed look across the table, a soft laugh, and a shake of his head. Closing the box, Jack grinned at his team. "Thank you, whoever my Secret Santa is."

"What is it, Jack?" asked Gwen, looking around the table as if trying to figure out not only what it was, but who it was from. Yet no one was giving up the game, that was for sure. Tosh looked just as confused as Gwen, Owen appeared indifferent, and Ianto just coolly sipped his wine. Jack caught his eye and raised an eyebrow. Ianto allowed the barest hint of a smile to grace his lips.

Jack took the gift from the box. "It's a stopwatch," he said, pulling an exquisite watch on a beautiful gold chain from the box. Actually, it looked remarkably familiar, only in much better shape than the last time he had seen it. Examining it closely and finding it to be exactly the same as the one that had been recently broken, he laughed as he glanced up at Ianto again. The Welshman was positively grinning now, his eyes sparkling mischievously, yet no one else seemed to notice it.

"Who's it from?" asked Tosh, and Jack shrugged as casually as he could even though it was quite obvious to him.

"One of you, I assume."

"Wasn't me," said Owen almost immediately. "Ianto's the one with the stopwatch fetish."

Ianto raised an eyebrow as he set down his wine. "I just like to be prepared," he said dryly. "However, I don't tend to give people gifts based on my own fetishes. That would be selfish."

"It wasn't me," said Tosh, and they all looked at Gwen. Jack had eyes only for Ianto, though.

"I didn't get it either," Gwen said, still sounding puzzled. "But it's lovely. You deserve it, for letting us do this and for treating us to a wonderful night out." She raised her glass, and the others followed. "Happy Christmas, everyone. And thank you to my Secret Santa."

"You mean you haven't figured it out?" drawled Owen. It was fairly obvious, but then sometimes Gwen didn't pay attention to the obvious, because she was either trying to see something that wasn't there, or stubbornly seeing only what she wanted to see, instead.

Gwen was silent for a moment. "Tosh!" she suddenly exclaimed, and the Asian woman laughed as Gwen hugged her. They finished their toast just as their meal arrived.

Jack wished he were sitting closer to Ianto. It was hard flirting across the table without it being obvious, and he desperately wanted to touch the man, somehow, somewhere. He also wished he had got Ianto a gift as well. Then again, he was fairly certain the stopwatch was not just for his pleasure. In fact, the hotel key hidden underneath just about guaranteed it. Jack hadn't let the rest of the team see that; oh no, that was for his eyes only…and he couldn't wait to use it.

It would be a long wait, though. They ate slowly, ordering more wine and dessert and even coffee. And then finally Jack settled the check and walked them all out through the lobby. Ianto waved good-bye and slipped away to use the loo. With a kiss to Tosh's forehead and a handshake from Owen, Jack piled them into cabs for the ride home. Then he hugged Gwen and sent her toward the car where Rhys was sitting, waving at the man with a grin. Yet when he turned to head back into the hotel, Gwen asked him where he was going.

"Forgot my stopwatch," Jack replied with a wink. He motioned her toward the car. "Go on, I'll be fine on my own. Have a good night."

"Thanks for dinner, Jack," she said, sounding reluctant to leave, and he nodded. He hurried back into the hotel, ignoring her eyes on his back and making his way to the restaurant, where he found Ianto sitting at the bar with a scotch. A second glass sat beside him, a white napkin underneath, and Jack took it up, sipping the amber liquid and glancing at the napkin.

"Room 628, huh?" said Jack, holding it up. He pulled out the room key from his pocket and grinned. "Would that be what this is for?" Ianto glanced sideways at him.

"Yep."

"Tonight?"

"Got the stopwatch?"

"Yep."

They both kicked back their drinks, and with a smile Ianto headed toward the elevator. Jack followed, more glad than ever that he had let Gwen organize the Secret Santa exchange, because he was about to get the best gift of the night.

Author's Note:

And then much smut happened in room 628. The End.

(Also, this was supposed to be about mistletoe, but it got away from me. Oops.)