Title: Hitting the Ground Running

Fandom:Torchwood

Rating: Adult overall.

Pairing: Primarily Jack/Ianto, with other secondary pairings

Chapter: 10/?

Word Count: 3847

Summary: AU. Majorly AU. Ianto Jones first encountered Torchwood as a teenager trying to leave his old life behind. However, when Torchwood Three gets rather violently restructured at the start of the millennium, he's got a new assignment in Cardiff. The only thing he wasn't prepared for was his new boss.

Disclaimer: Torchwood does not belong to me. I'm merely borrowing the characters with the promise to return them when I'm done.

A/N: At the end this time around…

Chapter Ten

In Which Ianto Comes to a Realization, Rejects it, and Wonders if he's Right

Ianto found his boss standing in the middle of the Hub, covered in blood and staring blankly into the distance.

"Jack!"

Jack turned to him, not even the barest shred of comprehension dawning in his eyes.

"Jack, what happened?" Ianto moved and gripped his shoulder, jolting Jack back to reality.

"We…we were walking to the restaurant and…I didn't even see it…oh, God, Ianto, I should have done something!" Jack had the beginnings of tears in his eyes, and Ianto really didn't want to see him break down.

"Weevil?" he asked quietly, and Jack's head-jerk confirmed it.

Ianto closed his eyes and asked quietly, "The body?"

"SUV."

"Jack," Ianto quelled every feeling rising inside him and tried to appear confident and rational as he forced Jack to look at him. "Go downstairs, take a shower, and get into bed. I'll deal with everything, don't worry. I'll be down as soon as I can."

Jack nodded, seemingly on auto-pilot as he turned to head down the ladder. Ianto ran a hand through his hair and began to face the thankless task ahead of him.

000

He shuddered after getting the body to the morgue before filling out the form and trying to think of a suitable story to tell Evan's family. His brain was far too busy to come up with a decent cover story, however, so he decided to leave it for tonight and see to Jack. Time enough for that tomorrow.

Hopping down the ladder, he found Jack sitting on the bed, a towel around his hips and his hair still damp from the shower. "Jack?"

"All done?"

"For the most part. Are you…are you okay?"

"Yeah," Jack shook his head. "You'd think that after losing person after person it'd get easier, but it doesn't. Maybe that's why I try to keep my relationships within the company…at least if an employee dies on the job, they're doing it knowing the risks. When an innocent," he flopped back on the bed, throwing an arm up over his face to cover his eyes.

"Jack, you can't blame yourself for that. Weevil attacks? They happen. It wasn't your fault. If anything it was mine; I pushed you to go find somebody…"

"Don't you dare, Ianto Jones. Don't you dare blame yourself," Jack growled at him.

"Alright, so we'll both stop," Ianto shrugged. "How's that?"

"Not that simple."

"Somehow, I knew you'd say that," Ianto sighed, suddenly bone-weary. "Look, Jack, just tell me what you need."

"I need you. I told you that over the phone."

"What do you want, though?"

Jack snorted. "Ianto, a long time ago I told you that after I died I needed something to make me feel alive."

"I remember," Ianto assured him. "That was the night you Ret-Conned that poor guy you brought back here."

"Right. Well, sometimes after somebody else dies…I mean, I wasn't in love with Evan," Jack said firmly. "I cared about him, but I wasn't in love with him. And now I just…there's no way to say this without it sounding stupid and callous, but…"

"No," Ianto was determined to stop this conversation before it got started. "Jack, a man just died. I'm not going to have sex with you tonight of all nights!"

"Ianto," Jack sighed. "So, how long do you wait, then? And what's any better? Sitting here crying? Getting drunk? Tell me how you mourn a lost lover…oh, that's right, you've never lost one. You're just a child, so don't try to tell me what's right," Jack had an almost demented look on his face, and while Ianto had never been afraid of him before, he almost, almost was.

"Just because I've never doesn't mean I don't have reverence for the dead!" Ianto retorted, reaching instinctively for his gun. "Now, just go to sleep and calm down."

"Calm? Calm?" Jack laughed rather maniacally. "Oh, Ianto, I am calm," he stood, his eyes dark.

"Don't make me, Jack," Ianto drew his gun. "I will if I have to, but I don't want to."

"You think you could shoot me?"

"If you try to come onto me? I will," Ianto's arm was shaking, but he was confident enough in his aim.

"Oh, Ianto," Jack sat back down heavily, the fight immediately going out of him. "I'd never. I promised that a long time ago, too. Over four years," Jack looked wistful. "The nightmares are going to be bad tonight."

"I'll stay if you want me to," Ianto put the gun down on one of the bookshelves.

"Yeah," Jack looked awkward now. "Yeah, I want you to stay."

Ianto got undressed and folded his clothes, placing them on a chair and slipping into bed beside Jack, trying really hard not to focus on the fact that his boss was naked under that towel. Jack clung to him, pulling them together, but before either of them could speak again Ianto had already fallen asleep, physically and mentally worn out.

000

If Jack woke up during the night, Ianto didn't notice, but he was still in bed when Ianto finally woke up the next morning, eyes open and staring at Ianto in the low light of the bunker.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Morning, Jack," Ianto almost didn't want to face the day, knowing he'd have to figure out what to do with Evan's body and contacting his family and…

"I'll take care of…you know," Jack told him, being freakishly telepathic again.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Sorry about last night…I kind of lost it."

"No worries," Ianto hugged him tighter. "I'll be around this weekend, if you need me."

"Why..,"

"Lisa. Whatever she's working on for Yvonne…"

"She's too busy for you, is that it?"

"Pretty much."

"Ianto," Jack reached to cup the back of his head. "If you want to stay all weekend? I'd love that."

"Then I will. Oh, and for the record? I adore Tosh."

"I knew you would," Jack grinned. "Why don't you give her a call? The three of us will do breakfast."

"Sounds good," Ianto made to get up but Jack pulled him in to kiss him softly.

"And I'm also sorry for…implying that sex would make it better. It won't."

"I'm glad you realize that. And Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Just so you know," Ianto blushed. "With the way I feel about Lisa right now…ask me tonight. If you want."

"You're serious?"

"Yes," Ianto swallowed. "Yeah, I am."

"I just might take you up on that," Jack kissed him quickly again. "Well, up and at 'em, boy."

"I'll phone Tosh?"

"Yup," Jack walked to the closet as Ianto went to scoop up his clothes and put them on. "Actually, we'll go pick her up so you can get new clothes."

"Alright," Ianto agreed, sliding his dress shirt and trousers on before following Jack up the ladder.

000

All things considered, he was grateful to Suzie for deciding it needed to be a girls' night out, as that meant Tosh wasn't at his flat. Of course, Jack was, and even though Ianto had decided that he was going through with this, he was still trying to stall as he took an overly-long shower.

"Ianto?"

"Sir?" Ianto stepped out of the shower and toweled himself off quickly before stepping out into the bedroom.

"Hey," Jack smiled at him from his seat by the bed. He was reading a book, but he closed it as Ianto came closer. "You sure?"

"If you are, sir."

"I thought about what you said," Jack leaned back in the chair. "You know, about sex not being the answer to everything? Well, I called…Evan's parents today. They…I mean, of course they're upset, but I got more of a 'well, we told him to stay here and get a good education, but he went cavorting off to Wales so it serves him right' vibe."

"Ouch," Ianto grimaced.

"Yeah. So we arranged a funeral and…everything, but of course I can't go. I've said my goodbyes, and I sound so…" he shook his head. "I haven't loved in a long time, Ianto. I don't let myself. That's why you scare me a little."

"Why?" Ianto asked softly.

"Because it wouldn't take much for me to love you."

"I've gathered that, sir. And I think you love far more often and freely than you're willing to admit," Ianto said honestly.

"Oh, I fully believe that," Jack nodded. "And I know that I consciously block people out, but I need to do something to keep my sanity. That's why I'm trying to move on as quickly as possible; not because I'm trying to dishonor his memory or because he wasn't a good person, but because I can't afford to dwell on my grief and remain sane."

Ianto considered this for a moment and realized that it made sense, and that for Jack moving on immediately didn't mean forgetting; it was just the easiest way to cope. He supposed he couldn't fault him for that, at least.

"So," Jack stood up, immediately seductive in his movement as he crossed the room. "What about you? You sure you're okay with this?"

Of course I'm not, Ianto thought, wishing he had some clothes on to fiddle with.

"Stupid question, I know," Jack regarded him carefully. "Just say the word and I'll leave."

"Jack, I think time has proven you right in that Lisa may not care for me the same way I care about her, and to be honest…" Ianto closed his eyes and let out a slow breath before continuing, in an undertone, "…some of the things she's done in bed haven't come from me."

"Ouch," Jack winced.

"Yeah. So, I think I need to do this to figure out…where I stand with her. What I feel for her. If you don't want any part of it…"

"So," Jack chuckled. "We both need somebody to sleep with and we're turning to each other. What does that say about us?"

"I don't know, sir," Ianto finally settled his hands on his hips and glanced at Jack. "What does it say?"

"I think it says we'd better move on before the awkwardness makes this unbearable. I'll have you know that nobody has ever held out on me as long as you have, so this is going to be particularly enjoyable," Jack grinned that predator's grin at him before moving forward and letting his hands rest on top of Ianto's. "And you?"

"I think you're right, si-ah!" Ianto gasped as Jack somehow managed to undo his towel and deep-throat him in about two seconds. "How do you…do that?"

"Practice," Jack pulled off to reply, licking his lips before lowering his head again, and Ianto found himself hardening almost instantly. If he had had any doubt that after all this time Jack couldn't get him aroused, the older man was quickly dispelling that.

"Bed," Ianto forced out. "Bed, Jack, or I'm going to fall over."

Jack quickly stood up and yanked Ianto over to the bed, resuming his enthusiastic work almost immediately while reaching one hand into his pocket to dig out a bottle of lube.

"You keep that…on you all the time?" Ianto chuckled, trying not to buck his hips.

"When I know it's needed," Jack responded, reaching to hand it up to Ianto as he let the younger man's cock slide from his mouth with a rather lewd sucking sound, kissing the head and darting his tongue into the slit as Ianto reached to fist a hand in his hair, needing that mouth back where it had been. "Impatient, are we?"

"Just get on with it," Ianto growled, yanking Jack closer as his eyes fluttered closed. Jack smiled even though Ianto couldn't see it and lapped at the head of the young man's cock again, sucking a bead of pre-cum from the tip before using his hand to smear saliva down the length as he began to stroke, setting a lazy pace that he knew would drive Ianto crazy. "Ah…Jack…please…"

"I told you," Jack said slowly, in time with his strokes. "I want to make this last."

"Time enough for that later," Ianto told him as Jack moved up his body, stifling a moan as Jack traced his tongue around the bud of a peaked nipple, his hand never changing pace.

"I'm going to make you scream before we're done," Jack hissed, closing his teeth lightly around the nub and touching it teasingly with his tongue. "I want to see you come undone; I want to see you raw, Ianto Jones," he stroked the young man's cock almost violently and Ianto jerked into his touch. "But you're right. Time for that later."

Ianto wasn't sure what that meant, but he realized that with Jack's hand on his cock and his mouth torturing his chest, he really didn't care. "Jack, please," he groaned, and for once Jack listened and began to move faster, shifting so that he could grind against Ianto's thigh even as he stroked him off, and oh, God, they were actually doing this and…his eyes flew open as Jack bit his nipple and fisted his cock at the same time, coming violently with Jack's name on his lips.

Jack barely gave him time to recover before he was nipping his way up Ianto's torso, sucking on his pulse and finally meeting his lips, continuing to rut against him. "Jack," Ianto said between kisses, his hands sliding braces down and undoing buttons before the older man sat up to get his shirt and undershirt off. "Jack, I want…"

"Go on, then," Jack raised an eyebrow, cockily inviting, as Ianto firmly pushed down all his nerves and reached for the fastenings on Jack's trousers, knowing by the obvious wet patch on the front that the other man was naked under them. Jack helped him kick off the clothes before Ianto knelt in front of him, cock already leaking pre-cum as Ianto leant forward, lapping at the head before sucking it carefully into his mouth. Jack's hand through his hair was gently encouraging, and Ianto copied what Jack had done to him, alternating sucking with licking and a gentle press of teeth that had Jack groaning in seconds.

Jack tugged him off far too soon and ran his hand through the cooling pool of spunk on Ianto's stomach, coating his fingers. "Just watch," he instructed, getting up on his knees and reaching behind him to slide first one and then two fingers inside himself, sighing at the initial breach before he started rotating his hips, screwing his fingers deep.

Ianto gulped and felt his spent cock begin to harden again, youthful stamina overriding the knowledge and a hint of guilt that this had never happened with Lisa. Watching Jack made him feel like a naughty teenager watching an online porno, he was that good. And…

"Wait, wait! You mean, you want me…"

"Less talking, more doing," Jack told him, locking eyes with him. And God, he was beautiful, Ianto thought; his hairless torso covered in a light sheen of sweat, eyes dark with lust, a red flush beginning to creep down his chest. "I take it you know…" he slid another finger inside of himself and groaned as Ianto scrabbled for the lube and slicked it over his now-erect cock, watching as Jack flipped onto his back and grabbed a pillow, shoving it under his hips.

Ianto stopped thinking altogether as Jack slid his fingers out and Ianto lined himself up, the pressure and heat around his cock like nothing he'd ever felt. He let out a moan he would later deny as he pushed all the way in, balls brushing against Jack's arse as Jack hitched his legs up and crossed his ankles behind Ianto's back, forcing him as deep as he could.

Ianto bent over, sharing Jack's breath before pulling out and slamming back in, Jack moaning in pleasure at the action. "I won't break," he promised and Ianto took that as his cue, his hips thrusting with far more force than he would ever have attempted with Lisa. The sound of flesh on flesh was loud and nearly obscene in the quiet flat, and Ianto barely registered Jack furiously jerking himself off before he thrust in deep and came with a cry, shuddering as he felt Jack's release splash onto his stomach before going boneless and slumping on top of the older man, breath coming in harsh spurts. "Oh, God," he forced out, the scent of sweat and sex and lust-enhanced pheromones assaulting his senses.

"Yeah, that," Jack agreed with a breathy laugh, holding Ianto close. "Here, stay here," he moved so Ianto slid out of him, a tired moan slipping from Ianto's throat at the loss of sensation. Jack went to grab a washcloth before cleaning them up, somehow getting Ianto under the covers and cuddling close, his head resting on the young man's shoulder. "Ianto? Talk to me?"

"Best sex of my life," Ianto said easily.

"Glad to know I haven't lost it," Jack idly traced patterns on Ianto's chest, fingernail circling around a nipple as Ianto sighed happily. "And you know, for an amateur, you weren't half-bad."

"Gee, thanks," Ianto rolled his eyes, happy beyond belief that this wasn't awkward.

"I mean it," Jack kissed his chest, sucking a mark where he knew Ianto's shirt would cover it as the young man groaned happily and ran his fingers through Jack's sweat-damp hair. "So, how's it feel to have sex with an alien?" he waggled his eyebrows and Ianto burst out laughing, pulling Jack up to kiss him sloppily through the giggling fit.

"Jack, you're only an alien by definition," Ianto finally calmed down enough to reply.

"True. I may be…advanced in a few ways, but as far as I know there's no cross-breeding," he winked.

"Didn't need to know that," Ianto told him, making a face.

"Of course you did," Jack kissed him, slowly this time, and Ianto allowed it for a few seconds before he pulled back. "Ianto?"

"You know that…this was a one-off, right? I'm not leaving Lisa just because…I have no proof," he finally said, reaching to run a hand through his tousled hair. "And I can't accuse her of something when I don't know…especially when what I've just done is as bad if not worse. Besides," he smiled at Jack, but it was a pained smile. "You've got what you wanted now, right? Four and a half years of trying to sleep with me and you've done it. That should be it."

"Ianto," Jack let his hand rest on the young man's shoulder. "You should know by now that while sometimes it seems real relationships aren't part of who I am that this isn't the case with you. I've told you."

"I know. But sometimes I wonder if you truly believe that," Ianto looked at him, blinking slowly, and Jack looked guilty for a moment before he shook his head.

"Look, you're exhausted. Get some sleep, alright?"

"You'll stay?"

"Am I welcome?"

"You know you are, Jack," Ianto turned away from him, tensing when Jack embraced him from behind and kissed the back of his neck. "Look, that was…incredible, but…"

"You said you needed to do it so you'd figure out what you felt for Lisa. Did it help?" Jack cut him off, asking the question rather quickly.

"Yes," Ianto said simply. "It did."

And let Jack make of that what he would. Ianto wasn't going to tell him if it meant that he realized he and Lisa were meant to be, or if he realized that what he felt for her paled in comparison to the feelings Jack could inspire in him.

Especially because at the moment he wasn't too sure himself, and he knew that he would have to make a decision soon, because he wasn't going to hurt Lisa or Jack anymore. He knew that of course no matter who he chose somebody was going to get hurt, and quite frankly it wasn't a position he ever thought he would be in.

In fact, he would have considered it amazing to even find one person who wanted him, some poor kid from the bad side of town, but to have two, both of whom were, in his humble opinion, far; far out of his league? Something had to give.

But it seemed like every time he told Jack that nothing would ever happen between them, something inevitably did. Was it a sign? Was his resolve just weak? Or was Jack using those bloody pheromones of his to mess with Ianto's brain? Ianto didn't think Jack would purposely do it, but sometimes it seemed the other man was projecting unconsciously, and maybe that had something to do with it.

So what was he to do? If he…

"Ianto, I can hear you thinking from over here," Jack murmured in his ear. "Just sleep. You're ruining the afterglow," he teased gently, hands stroking Ianto's chest.

"Sorry," Ianto apologized, equally as quiet, and turned his head so Jack could give him a chaste kiss. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I know this can't be easy on you, but take it from an old pro: I've been in the center of two lovers…literally and figuratively…"

"Jack!"

"Sorry. But I've been here before, Ianto. I'm not going to give you soppy promises about what we could be together: you know who I am and you know what I'm capable of, and I can only promise you that what you've seen of me is the truth. I'm about as far from perfect as they come, and I can't tell you that it's going to be easy, and I know you know how it'll end, but there it is," he admitted.

"Not exactly encouraging," Ianto shrugged.

"No, but it's honest, at least," Jack fell quiet, then, his arms tightening around Ianto's chest.

"Then you know what I have to do."

"Yes. I've known it since you turned eighteen, but I'm a stubborn man," he smiled against Ianto's shoulder. "Thank you for this. If it's all I ever get…thank you."

"You're welcome," Ianto lifted his hand to close it around Jack's. "And thank you as well, because I can't say I haven't been wondering."

"Most everybody does," Jack sighed. "I think I'm done with relationships for a while. Evan has taught me that again, inevitably, everything I try will only come crashing down. No, don't say anything," he said quickly as Ianto opened his mouth to speak. "It's my choice, Ianto. And I know this bouncing back and forth is hurting you more than you'd like to admit. So go be with Lisa; you have my blessing. But just know that if you ever get evidence that she's been unfaithful, I'll go deal with her myself," his tone darkened.

"I doubt that will be necessary, sir. But thank you," Ianto turned so he was facing Jack. "Now, can we sleep?"

"Yeah. We can sleep," Jack pulled him closer but didn't kiss him again, and while part of Ianto missed it, another part was grateful.

Maybe it would make what he had to do easier.

A/N: So. I know that some of you think that Ianto needs his comeuppance because he's, at this point, very clearly cheating on Lisa no matter how nicely he tries to rectify it for himself. This will happen next chapter, but maybe not in the way that you're all thinking…(I'm not saying anything else *whistles innocently, realizes she can't whistle, and hums instead*). Once again, thank you for all the lovely comments/reviews, and I hope that despite the angsty-angst of it you enjoyed it.