Chapter 10: Meeting the team part 2

Hours later Eleanor was finding it hard to adapt to the team's work pace. She had forgotten how fast things kept moving at the hub. She still didn't have an idea of what her job at hand was and felt lost in the middle of all the chaos, mostly produced by an excited Owen. Jack had told her to sit tight and when he would need her, he'll tell her. Welcome to the city of vague she thought. She walked into the kitchen and found Ianto making some coffee. She stood at the opening and watched him silently. Would he realize they were close in the future? She plucked up the courage to talk to him but her efforts were in vain. Jack's voice sounded through the hub: "Ianto, I need the files on the Rivers case, they're in the archives!"

Ianto rolls his eyes and yelled back: "Be right up there, sir, I just need to bring the team coffee first".

"Ianto" … Jack's voice soon turned threatening … "NOW! Let Eleanor bring round the coffee!"

'I can do it', Eleanor said. "You go and make sure the slave driver is happy. You know, before he chews your head off'.

Ianto looked round and chuckled. "He's not that bad. Just a busy day'. He gave her a little smile and thanked her for taking over. 'If Owen gives you grief, just threaten him that it's decaf". And with his head held high, he walked out of the kitchen.

Eleanor clapped her hands. Right, coffee and biscuits. Time to really meet the team.

First up was Gwen. "Here's some coffee miss".

"Oh please, Eleanor, call me Gwen". Gwen looked at her with a friendly smile.

Blue. Rhys. Balance. Andy. Happy. Wedding. Hope. Human. Excitement. Mediator. Jack. Love. Familiar.

Next up was Owen. "Hi doctor, care for a refill?"

"Ah thanks love, you're a godsend!"

Purple. Family. Katie. Medicine. Sarcasm. Pain. Oxford. Diane. Lost. Weevil. Not familiar.

Next to Owen, Tosh was busy at a new project. "Coffee miss?"

Tosh gladly accepted the coffee. 'Thanks. This project is giving me a headache".

Green. Mother. Lonely. Tommy. Grounded. Earth. Owen. Oh tosh you poor thing. Not familiar.

Last but not least, her two favorite men. She walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. When she came in, she found Ianto and Jack discussing the case Ianto had brought up.

"Hello captain".

'Hi Elly, can I call you elly?"Jack asked nervously.

"I'd prefer Eleanor, Captain". She smiled.

Grey. Death. Estelle. Wrong. Justice. Doctor. Impossible. Love. Ianto. Hero. Torchwood. Tardis. Rose. Martha. Familiar. Too much. Too close.

Eleanor tried her hardest to pull away from him. My god, all those feelings. All that darkness. All that pain. But also hope and love and a certain flair for life. With difficulty she managed to shut herself off from him. She had forgotten how complex her captain was.

Eleanor became painfully aware of Ianto looking at her. He had observed her carefully and she was worried that he might notice what she was doing. Quickly she turned around and handed over a coffee cup to Ianto. "Here you go, Mister Jones".

"You've brought me coffee? And please it's just Ianto".

Burgundy. Chocolate. Love. Father. Burning. Coffee. Pain. Jack. Lisa. Fire. London. Oh god Ianto what have you been through? You poor sod. Familiar.

"I did, Ianto. Why is that so strange?"

"No one ever brings me coffee. Thanks'. Contrary to what she expected, Ianto's voice wasn't bitter or sad but it was surprised. He smiled at her and she could feel he was feeling content and understood.

Ianto turned his attention to Jack. "I'll try to find the other files, sir".

He got up and left the room. Back to the archives.

Jack went over the couch and sat there, holding his coffee and taking in the sweet smell. He turned sideways and faced Eleanor. "So, what's his color? I know you tried to do me. I felt you. So I guess you did Ianto as well".

Eleanor laughed. She was starting to feel like a school girl trying to get info on her best friend's love interest. "He's a deep burgundy. A deep red that shines with a rare intensity of the sun. He reminds me of a vintage Merlot. Love, pain. A girl named Lisa shattered his world. And you".

"Me?" Jack tried to say as cool as he could. In vain, Eleanor thought, it's so very obvious that he's nervous.

"Yes, you". She gave him a meaningful look and much to jack's regret she announced that she would be heading downstairs to clear up the kitchen as Ianto was busy.

She saw the disappointment on his face and as she walked out of his office she softly but clearly said the following words: "don't worry, my captain".