As they returned to the main floor of the hub, Jack's arm found its way round Ianto's waist, holding tight as if it had been forever. Perhaps for him it seemed that way, Ianto thought, especially to someone as tactile as Jack. "So is that…"
"I had to have something to keep myself busy all those lonely night," Jack said with a wicked grin. "Not that I expect to have to worry about that soon." He stopped them right there and drew the younger man into a kiss, gently meeting his lips as he pulled their bodies close. "I don't plan to let you go any time soon."
"Oi, I'm out of here," Patrick called from the level below them. Jack and Ianto looked down at him, not stepping apart though. It wasn't as if it was the first time they had been seen kissing in the hub and while in general Ianto wasn't keen on public displays of affection, right now he didn't care, certainly not enough to leave the warmth of Jack's arms. It was odd, though. Normally Patrick would just slip out. It wasn't as if he wasn't aware what they had been through. Just then they saw movement off to the side, and realized that they were in fact not alone.
The two of them separated reluctantly as the man looked up at them. Ianto didn't know which surprised him the most, realizing that someone else was in the room, or the fact that he recognized him. The man was tall, thin and ascetic in a way that had always suggested a priest or monk to him. In fact, with the black suit and iron grey hair, all he was missing was the dog collar, or a tonsure and a monks robe. When Jack had mentioned the new 'member' of Torchwood, he hadn't made the connection with the man he had only briefly had contact with back at Torchwood tower. "Ah, Dr. Tarleton, I didn't realize that you were still here," Jack said, leaning against the rail.
"Yes," the man said, sounding rather distracted, or perhaps disapproving as he managed to look down his aquiline nose at the two men standing a floor above him. "Well, I gather you have been distracted." His voice fit the rest of him, cold, posh and full of upper class privilege and disdain.
Jack managed to ignore the implied snub or maybe didn't hear it. In fact Ianto wasn't sure it was a snub or just the man's usual way of treating anyone or anything that was not related to whatever project he was working on at the time. "Dr. Tarleton, let me introduce you to our Archivist, Ianto Jones. He should be able to help you with those records you are looking for as soon as…"
"We have met," Ianto said, breaking into Jack's ramble. The older man looked a little surprised, and he could tell that he would have to explain. "How have you been, Sir?" he asked. He had not known the man well, nor had he particularly liked him. There was something too cold, almost reptilian about him.
"Jones, yes, Torchwood Tower, I didn't make the connection. I had already gone to UNIT when everything…er…bad business," he trailed off as first Jack, then Ianto stepped away from the stairs, and onto the main floor.
"Yes, it was," he said, not wanting to discuss it anymore than the other man did. "What is it you are looking for?" Ianto wasn't sure why, but even with his limited contact, the man had always left him cold.
"I have been observing that creature, that weevil as you call it, down in the cell."
"Janet, her name is Janet," Ianto said.
"Er…quite…anyway, I was wondering how far back your records go, number of captures, attacks, that sort of thing." Dr. Tarleton looked uncomfortable, as if there was something distasteful about naming the resident weevil.
"We have data all the way back to the founding of this branch," he said, immediately back to professional mode. "Most of the statistics have already been input into the computer, though if you want the observation notes, there aren't any until the twenties. I am afraid the early directors were more interested in shooting them than observing them. I have or rather had been putting them into the data base but they are not in the best condition. I can allow you to see them," he said politely before Jack intervened.
"And you will, tomorrow," Jack said firmly, the voice of command that had served him well in two world wars and countless other battles in times and places best not mentioned in front of others. The man looked as if he was about to object but while he and Jack were of a height, he couldn't intimidate him as easily as he did others. Instead he nodded, put down the file he had been perusing and gathered his things to leave.
"I didn't know you knew him," Jack said, turning to pull Ianto back into his arms as soon as the alarm stopped.
"Knew would imply a significantly more sociable relationship. Dr. Tarleton was at Torchwood Tower when I was there. I was assigned to do some research for him. I wouldn't say I knew him, and I certainly didn't expect to find him here. Actually I haven't thought about him in years, and I don't mean the ones I spent asleep." He shivered a little involuntarily and Jack pulled him even closer.
"Yeah, a bit of a cold fish, isn't he? Anyway, he is only here for a little while. An old friend from UNIT called."
"Sir Alister?" he asked, knowing his lovers long association with the former head of UNIT in the UK.
"No, someone a good bit more recent, Brigadier Win Bambera, I don't think you have met her. She was out of the country, serving in Geneva for a good few years after an incident with the Doctor…long story. Anyway, she called up and said he wanted to do a study on weevil behavior and could I get him out of her hair for a while. I owe her."
"Ex-lover?" he asked, as he usually did, with Jack you could never tell.
"No, though not for lack of trying, but her husband swings a mean sword. Anyway, enough about everyone else, it is time to focus on the more important things."
"Like?" he asked, trying for his best professional look but it was difficult with Jack's arm around his waist, his hand caressing that spot just below his ribs.
"Like you and I."