ALRPGALW Chapter 11

Jack leaned against the black SUV staring up at Ianto's kitchen window. He had half a mind to go back up there and knock some sense into the younger man... verbally, that is. But instead, he got into the car and drove away. He thought he saw the curtain move, but still he left.

Ianto stayed were he was after seeing him drive away, he felt stupid, no he felt like a child again being shouted at for doing or saying something wrong, undermined. He sunk down to the floor and he cried. After a while, he didn't know why he was crying anymore but he did. Then he made himself stop, he couldn't cry anymore. He showered, and got changed in to his best suit and then opened his lap top. Time for Job Hunting. He needed to do this for himself to prove he could do it, that he wasn't completely and utterly dependent on Captain Jack Harkness and Torchwood.

Jack parked the car a few hundred yards down the street and just sat there. H edidn't want to go back to the Hub. He knew Owen would shake his head and tell him to let Ianto go. But he wouldn't...couldn't. He loved him too much. He watched as the young Welshman came out of the building, dressed in the suit Jack loved, and walk to his car.

Ianto had quite a few contacts. He knew he could get a job easily and after one phone call, he had a interview set up within the hour. He got in to his car, pulled his seat belt on and started the engine. Pulling away, he drove past the SUV, not noticing it there, Ianto drove to a law firm in the posh part of the Quay.

Jack watched Ianto drive passed and saw that he didn't seem to look in his direction. Maybe he hadn't seen the SUV. Starting the engine, Jack follows Ianto, keeping a few cars behind him. His heart was beating so fast in his chest that he had to fight to control his breathing. Was he really losing Ianto? Did he really intend to leave Torchwood? To leave him? Jack couldn't let either happen. He had to change the younger man's mind, one way or another. Jack's sanity depended on it.

Ianto parked up and got out, striding confidently up to the office. Half an hour later, he was back outside by his car, grinning. He started his new job as a legal secretary tomorrow. He knew he could do it.

By the look of triumph on his face, Jack guessed that Ianto got the job he'd had the interview for. He hung his head. Unbeknown to him, Ianto strolled over to the SUV, tapping on the window. Jack looked up, a look of utter desperation and defeat on his handsome face.

"If your going to follow someone, you need to do a better job at doing it," he looked at Jack. "Just because I'm not longer working for Torchwood, it doesn't mean I don't want to still be with you."

"Yeah, that'll work. What do we do? Stay at your place? You know as well as I do that that wouldn't work. Or we'd see each other on the weekend...maybe." Jack shook his head. "I really thought you loved me as much as I love you. Was I wrong?"

"How dare you say that!" he growled, pushing away from the door and walked away from the SUV. How could he even say that. Was he going to use guilt to get him back?

Jack sighed, thumping the steering wheel in desperation. He pushed open the door and got out, just standing there, watching the man he loved, walk away from him . "Ianto, wait. Please." Jack was lost for words, then said. "I know you love m...e, and I shouldn't have said that...I don't know what else to do or say to get you to come back." He looked at his hands. "I guess I should let you get on with your life. Stop trying to change your mind. As long as I'm still a part of you life, that it." Jack locked eyes with the younger man.

Ianto stared right back. "I don't want to lose you, Jack You're my life, but I think I need...no I do need something that's mine. Why don't you move in with me, then you can see me more. We can make this work, Jack."

Jack forced a smile. "I'll try, I really will. I have a few things at the flat. I'll bring more over with me...maybe tonight?" He looked at Ianto for conformation, then got back into the SUV. "A legal secretary, are we? Enjoy your new job, Yan."

"I'll see you tonight then?" he called back to him hopefully. He didn't need to wait for an answer. Ianto knew he would come, he had to come. So he got in his car and started the engine. He needed to get the flat sorted, and make dinner for them.

Jack sat behind the wheel, not starting the engine. Not looking at anything in particular. He was thinking about what to tell the rest of the team when he got back. Tosh definitely wouldn't understand. She loved Ianto like a brother.

Ianto drove home and let himself in. He was smiling. He wasn't sure of the reason why. Maybe it was because Jack had agreed to move in with him or maybe it was because he had a new challenge ahead of him. What ever it was, he wasn't going to knock it. He started cleaning up.

Jack got back to the Hub, three pairs of eyes watching him as he climbed the stairs up to his went towards the stairs, but Owen shook his head. "Leave 'im."Jack sat behind his desk for few minutes, before going down to his bunker and packing a duffle bag.

Ianto finished cleaning and then showered and changed in to jeans and welsh rugby jersey and started cooking Jack's favourite.

"Ianto isn't coming back anytime soon," Jack told them. "He's already got a new job." He looked down at his bag. "I'm moving in with him."Tosh smiled."I'm going round there now. I expect he'll be cooking my favourite meal.""Do you have one...?" Inquired Owen."I have quite a few, actually." Jack smiled. He left and drove to Ianto's flat. His and Ianto's now.

Ianto was standing at the stove stirring the sauce for their food and he sung along to the song that was playing on the radio, he had rolled up the sleeves of his jersey.

Using his key, Jack let himself into the flat. He stood in the hallway, listening to Ianto sing long to the radio. He smiled. The younger man had a great voice. He thought he better let him know he was here. "Ianto," he called out.

Ianto stopped singing and turned the heat down on the stove and walked out to Jack " Hey" he walked over and kissed him " Tea wont be long do you want a drink?" he slipped his arms around his waist.

"Yeah, a drink would be great." Jack put his hand inside his coat pocket and brought out a small package, giving it to Ianto. "A congratulations on your new job gift," he said, handing it to his young lover.

Ianto frowned " You didn't have to get me anything Jack" but he pulled back from Jack and opened it, he opened the box and looked down at it.

Jack knew that Ianto had a passion for stopwatches. He'd chosen well, he hoped. He watched the expression on the Welshman's face.

Ianto's eyes widened as he pulled out a silver stopwatch, he traced the engraved patterns on it, he looked up at Jack " It's amazing thank you" he clutched it to his chest and kissed him.

Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto's slim waist, pulling him to him. "I love you so much," he whispered into his hair. "I don't wanna do anything to jeopardise that."

"Nothing is going to jeopardize what we have. We won't let it." He held Jack at arms length. "I have to do this, Jack." He shook his head. "Maybe I won't like it. Maybe it doesn't work out. But I have to try. Can you understand that. just that, nothing we wont let it happen okay" He smiled. "Besides, we wont let anything happen, okay?"

Jack pulled Ianto back into his arms. "You got that right. I can't live without you. Not now. I love you too much."

Ianto smiled and rested his head on Jack's chest for a couple of minutes. "Better check on the food. Do you want coffee or something stronger?"

"Do you have any white wine? I could drink something refreshing."

Ianto went out into the kitchen and checked the fridge. He had three bottles of wine chilling nicely.