Chapter 10: Unobtainable

A moment passed and became a minute. The minute stretched. Slowly the Doctor pulled back from Ianto's lips and he dared to open his eyes to regard the young man he held in his arms, 'Oh… Damn.'

Ianto's entire body was stiff and his shoulders were tensed up almost to his ears. His eyes were wide and full of shock and perhaps a touch of fear. Ianto said nothing, just stood breathing quick and shallow, before he quickly looked down and away to the ground.

"Hey guys did I miss anything?" Jack approached full force and skidded to a stop with a grin. His eyes flicked between the two Timelords. The grin faded quickly. "What did I miss?"

The Doctor dropped his hands from Ianto's shoulders, opened his mouth and turned to Jack. Closing his mouth he turned back to look at Ianto again.

Ianto straightened his shoulders and then straightened his tie. Smoothing the features of his face, he turned to face Jack. A small, tight smile forced its way onto his lips as Ianto made deliberate eye contact, "Jack. We were able to contain the Avaninite. The authorities have been notified and are on their way."

"Yeah, but what did I miss?" Jack's voice was dangerously deep. His glare was directed at the Doctor. Once he turned to look at Ianto instead, Ianto immediately turned his gaze back to the ground. Jack tried again, almost a growl, "Doctor?"

The Doctor ran a hand through his hair, "Um, well… you see… we… well, that is to say, I-"

"I… I'm sorry!" Ianto stammered before disappearing back into the market crowd.

"Ianto!" Jack yelled after him. He whipped around and growled, "Doctor. What is he sorry for?"

"Nothing Jack. Ianto didn't do anything."

"What did you do?"

"I uh…" The Doctor couldn't help but consider just how long it had been since he'd last needed to regenerate, "Well, it would seem that I kissed Ianto."

"What?"

"I wasn't thinking Jack."

*****

It took more than an hour for Jack to finally track down Ianto in the vast marketplace. When he finally located him, Ianto wasn't shopping or wandering or browsing. In fact, to Jack it looked like Ianto was doing nothing so much as hiding.

Ianto sat on a low stone bench, under a tree, in the shadow of a building, trying very hard to go unnoticed by the throngs of people around him. He sat, elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, wishing for all the world that he was somewhere else, or was it someone else?

Jack let out a deep sigh and stepped forwards, "Where were you, Ianto? I was worried." Jack resisted the urge to grasp Ianto and hold him tight. Instead, Jack sat down beside him. "Where have you been?"

"I had to go back. Pay for the items I… needed for the containment device." Ianto's head was down, but his eyes flickered up to glance at Jack, searching. "Didn't have time before, when we were chasing the Avaninite."

Jack couldn't help but grin, "My criminal mastermind, a master thief. You are amazing." He noted the way Ianto's eyes dropped away from him again. "What?"

"You're cross with me." Ianto said quietly.

"No I'm not. Why would I be cross?" Jack laughed, "Trust me, the things I've stolen… and you, you went back and paid for them. That is so you, Ianto."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

"Then what?" Jack knew full well, but any delay in needing to respond was welcome.

"The Doctor." It was little more than a whisper.

"Oh. That."

"That." Ianto looked to be on the verge of tears.

"Why should that make me angry?"

"I would have been angry, if I'd come by and seen you and him…" Ianto lost the battle and Jack could see the tear start to roll down his cheek.

"Ya know what I saw?" Jack rubbed the tear away with his thumb, "I saw the Doctor kiss you. And what else I saw… was that you clearly didn't kiss him back."

"Jack."

"Ianto."

"Jack… You're not even a bit upset?" Ianto's brow furrowed and there was a sight pout on his lips.

"Ianto, do you want to know what I saw, really?" Jack made sure to catch Ianto's eye and held it as he continued, "I saw the Doctor kiss you… and I saw you look like you'd just been kissed by… by Gwen. Or… Owen."

"Owen wasn't all that bad," Ianto smiled slightly.

"Wait." Jack narrowed his eyes, "You've kissed Owen? When was this?"

"Long time ago. A lifetime ago."

"Was it while we were together?" Jack's eyes narrowed even further, "Where was I?"

"The Doctor." Ianto still sat, his elbows on his knees, and looked at the ground. "Travelling."

"Oh," Jack looked down as well.

"After you left, once we realised you weren't coming right back," Ianto paused. "I kind of went into melt-down one night. I… broke a few things, in the Hub. Owen was there. He tried to stop me, but I was a little… upset. And more than a little drunk."

"So Owen kissed you?"

"He said it was the only thing he could think to do to stop me from destroying the place."

"Likely excuse." Jack smirked, "More likely he saw it as his only opportunity to try and snog his co-worker."

"Well, it wasn't his only opportunity…" Ianto smiled shyly.

"Ianto…?"

"There was also the Himalayas…"

"Care to elaborate?"

"It was cold."

"That's not much in the way of an elaboration, Ianto."

"You were still gone." Ianto said simply. "Owen said you weren't coming back to me. Everyone said you weren't coming back to me."

"Did I ever say I was sorry?" Jack glanced sideways at Ianto. "I am sorry."

"Why? Because Owen kissed me while you were gone?"

"Yes. No. Well, that too. I'm sorry because I hurt you. I never meant to… I never want to hurt you, Ianto." Jack placed a hand on Ianto's back and rubbed lightly, pausing only to add with a small smirk, "And because Owen kissed you… twice."

"Once," Ianto leant back into Jack's hand.

"You said…"

"I said he had the opportunity. Didn't say I let him. I was freezing that time, not drunk."

"So if I want to keep you, I've got to keep you sober. Is that it?" Jack grinned. "But you're so much fun drunk."

"If you want to keep me," Ianto met his gaze. "You have to stick around."

"I can do that." He kissed Ianto softly, "I will do that."

"I'd like that." Ianto smiled into Jack's kiss. Then he pulled back slightly, a serious frown darkening his appearance, "Is the Doctor upset with me?"

"Upset with you?" Jack snorted, "Why would he be upset with you?"

"I don't know. It just seems that he should be. I feel like I've done something… wrong." Ianto pouted vaguely, "Because I didn't kiss him back."

"He wishes that you had kissed him back. But I think he also wishes he hadn't kissed you in the first place."

"He didn't mean it." Ianto nodded, "I understand."

"Oh he meant it, alright. Just as I meant it when I knocked him on his ass." Jack smiled and shrugged.

"You didn't." Ianto's jaw hung open.

"I did." Jack put an arm around Ianto and finally pulled him in tight, "We've already established that you're mine. Nobody kisses what's mine. Not even the Doctor."

"So, does that mean we're stranded here now?" Ianto rested his head on Jack's shoulder.

"Would you be upset?"

"I wouldn't be happy." Ianto frowned, "Big as this market is, it really isn't going to hold my interest forever."

Jack laughed, "But would you be upset?"

"I'd miss the Tardis… and the Doctor. He was showing me how to be a Timelord."

"But would you be upset?"

"I'd still have you?"

"Yep."

"Then I suppose I could survive..." Ianto kissed Jack's cheek, "…Marginally."

"But. Would. You. Be. Upset?" Jack dominated Ianto's gaze.

"No." Ianto smiled. The smile waivered slightly, "But what about you, Jack? Are you upset… Loosing the Doctor…?"

"I'd give up anything for you. But I haven't lost him. Neither have you." Jack kissed Ianto lightly. "He's waiting back at the Tardis with a slightly swollen lip, worried that he's scarred you for life and that you'll never forgive him."

Ianto just smiled and looked away, "You really knocked the Doctor on his arse… over me?"

*****

He's hiding from you, Ianto. The Tardis buzzed its displeasure.

"I should go and find him," Ianto replied with a small sigh.

Make him wait. Make him worry. He deserves it.

"That's not very nice. Besides, I'm sure he's sorry. He didn't mean to do anything."

Sorry or not… He shouldn't have acted… I haven't.

"What?"

Nothing. Where's Jack? Are we leaving soon?

"Jack said there was just a bit more shopping he needed to do. He'll be back soon, then we can go." Ianto ran his fingertips over the console monitor, "Do we know where we're going next?"

The Tardis sent a vibration rattling through her corridors, He'll probably leave it up to you. Like an apology. He's not good at apologies.

"I have an idea where I'd like to go, but I don't think the Doctor'll approve." Ianto scratched his fingernail at a small spot.

He won't tell you no, Ianto. He wants to make you happy.

"I don't know. I think he might have to say no."

Then ask me.

"I'll tell you, but when this has all settled down and he knows that I'm not upset with him. Then I'll still have to ask him."

If you just ask me, I could take you.

"Thanks. But I wouldn't do that. To either of you." Ianto leant against the jump seat and stretched aching back muscles, "I like both of you too much to come between you."

Will you just tell me where it is you want to go?

"After I ask the Doctor." Ianto sighed, and headed for his bedroom, "Besides, I still have to think it through. I'm not even sure yet… if it's even possible, really."

The Tardis massaged the corners of Ianto's mind and touched the ideas he wouldn't express. She didn't read his thoughts, she wouldn't do that without Ianto's permission. But she would read his emotions, and she quivered at the experience. Oh how Ianto wanted this. She would do whatever she could to give it to him. Whatever she could.

*****

"But you're a Timelord."

"Yes. I am. I still don't see what that has to do with anything, Cariad."

"It's just… it's just…"

"What Jack?"

"It's just… you're a Timelord. Youshouldn'tbedoingmylaundry."

"Ah."

"Ah?"

"Yep. Ah."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"What else should I be saying?"

"Well… I don't know, Ianto. Something."

"Okay. But I'm not sure what you're expecting me to say. I've always done your laundry. I don't mind doing your laundry. I really don't see the problem."

"But you're a Timelord!"

"Yes and before, it was okay then, back when I was…" Ianto was truly perplexed. "What was it Jack, that I was just a mortal human, or just your employee? What made it okay back then for me to do your laundry that is so different now?"

"I… you… uhhh…"

"Well that certainly clears things up, now doesn't it?"

"Ianto."

"Jack."

Jack just sighed and slowly beat his head against the Tardis' laundry room wall.

"I am a Timelord, Jack. I was human for a while. Okay. Fine. Whatever I am, I still want to look after you, to take care of you. Let me do that, okay? It makes me happy, looking after you." Ianto quirked an eyebrow, "Besides, we've seen what happens when you're left to look after yourself."

"But you shouldn't have to do that…" Jack whined in the tone that made Ianto realize it would be his final protest on the matter.

"I don't have to do it at all, Jack." Ianto smiled, "I want to do it." The smile eased into a smirk edged with suggestion, "Don't make me beg…"

Jack grinned, in spite of himself, "Oh, but Ianto, you know how much I love it when you beg. Especially-"

"Especially then, yes. So wouldn't it be better to save up my begging for especially… then? I will continue to look after you Jack, including doing your laundry, because you need me and because it pleases me to do it."

"Not gonna budge on that, huh?" Jack looked at Ianto's firm stance, his crossed arms and his slightly bemused frown. Definitely not going to win against that look, Harkness. Jack relented, "Okay, but I'm gonna figure out some things I can do for you."

Ianto smiled quirked the eyebrow that had Jack grinning broadly in response. He slid slightly closer and allowed Jack to put his arms around him, "Besides, technically, I'm not even doing the laundry, just pressing your new shirts after you left them all wadded-up in the carry-bag." Ianto smirked and kissed Jack on the side of his mouth before turning back and resuming his ironing.

The Tardis hummed in agreement.