"Work to do"

TWTW

Ianto allowed his eyes to roam across the mall and alight once more on the figure of Jack in the security guard uniform. He looked strange out of his great coat, Ianto really missed the coat. But he was beginning to enjoy the uniform, especially as he was the only one who knew Jack had his gun safely tucked away underneath. Ianto squirmed slightly as he thought about his captain and what he would like to be doing to him right now. He looked away determined to concentrate.

Mrs Peters glanced up at him.

'Are you alright love?' she asked.

Ianto smiled at his co worker.

'I'm fine Mrs P, just trying to decide what to do after work'

'Oh you young people...so much energy...will you go out with Mr Harkness looking for nice girls?' she asked him smiling.

'Something like that Mrs P' answered Ianto with a grin as he watched Jack wink at him from across the mall.

Ianto turned his attention to the next customer who had a Christmas parcel for him to wrap.

TWTWTW

Toshiko had detected time anomalies in the shopping mall six days ago, they were inconsistent and unpredictable. It was three weeks before Christmas and the local council refused to close the mall for investigations. Jack had arranged jobs for the team in the shopping area so that they were available in case of emergency and could continue to observe and collate information on the disturbances.

So far sixteen different objects had drifted through the anomalies, ranging from weapons to children's toys but to date nothing living had appeared. Toshiko was convinced that a life force was trying to enter and Jack had agreed that the energy signatures did suggest the possibility.

There was no indication if the creature or creatures attempting to travel to Cardiff through the rift were tourists or an invasion force, so the team were waiting in states of varying excitement, anxiety and boredom. Most of their time was spent waiting, but every time another object fell through the rift, whichever one of them was closest to the energy signature had to investigate and this upped the level of anxiety briefly.

Ianto was working on the counter that was wrapping Christmas gifts in exchange for a donation to the charity the mall was supporting this year. Jack was a security guard, meaning he could wander all levels and all areas without question. Gwen was waitressing in the open cafe area which gave her a high level of visibility across the mall. Toshiko and Owen were elves outside Santa's grotto, entertaining children as they waited their turn to visit Father Christmas.

Owen was definitely not happy when he had been informed of his new employment and even less happy when he had seen the outfit he was expected to wear, a short tunic over green tights and a green floppy hat with stick on ears. At first he had been adamant that years of medical training should exempt him from such degradation, but Jack had assured him that most of the anomalies had occurred in the area of the grotto and Toshiko would need support and protection whilst she conducted readings.

Reluctantly he had eventually agreed, on condition that nobody would laugh at his outfit. Toshiko looked incredibly cute in her matching costume, but it had taken great determination on the part of other team members not to giggle when Owen had turned up in his.

Jack wandered past the grotto several times per day and gallantly tried not to smirk at Owen as he did so, Ianto from his safe vantage point could openly grin at the medic's discomfort at playing children's entertainer.

Ianto quite enjoyed his new occupation. Mrs Peters his co worker was nearing retirement age and had taken a shine to the polite and well dressed young man who had been sent to help her. They chatted easily and everybody who came to their booth was feeling good about making a Christmas donation to charity, so the work was pleasant.

Twice Ianto had been closest to a registered rift quake and had left his post at speed after a call from Jack via the comm he wore constantly. Mrs Peters assumed he had gone to Jack's aid to deal with trouble makers and had quickly become aware of their friendship. Ianto had not informed her that they were more than friends, not knowing how she would react. He did not wish to create an uncomfortable atmosphere if she was disapproving.

Jack sauntered across to their booth.

'Morning Mrs Peters...you've been busy this morning' he smiled at the older woman.

She looked up from sorting ribbons.

'Yes...and Ianto is a boon to me...he wraps parcels so beautifully...even the oddly shaped ones...he's quite gifted' she answered.

'It's the nimble fingers Mrs P...he can work magic with those nimble fingers' grinned Jack and winking at her he walked on.

Mrs Peters looked from him to Ianto blushing at her side and understanding clicked in her mind.

'So...not nice girls you'll be out looking for then?' she said to Ianto.

Ianto looked startled. He had no intention of denying his relationship with Jack but he wouldn't have chosen to advertise it either. He wasn't sure what to say and just stared for a long moment.

'No' he eventually admitted.

Mrs Peters suddenly gave him the brightest smile Ianto had seen in a long time.

'Your generation didn't invent it you know and you do make a very handsome couple' she said.

Ianto laughed in relief.

'You shouldn't be ashamed Ianto' she said earnestly.

'I'm not' answered Ianto.

'No..' she said 'but you're not exactly shouting it from the rooftops either are you?'

Ianto shrugged.

'My brother had a friend called Mark for many years and we all wondered if they were more than friends. But suddenly Graham announced he was getting married to a girl none of us even knew.' Mrs Peters looked ahead into empty space and the past.

'They were married for thirty years and had three children...but he was never happy...and he never made his wife happy. When he was dying of cancer eight years ago he asked me to contact Mark' tears glistened in the old lady's eyes as she remembered the scene.

'They spoke to each other whilst he lay in his hospital bed. I don't know what they said and Mark left straight afterwards. Wasted years Ianto...wasted years... I hadn't even realised Graham still knew how to contact him. He died three days later...surrounded by his wife and children but with sadness in his eyes' a single tear was allowed to trail down her face.

'Rejoice in a freedom that doesn't end in choices like that Ianto...know that you've lived and loved...don't die with sadness for lost opportunities clouding your vision...you live in an age of choice...be grateful...and choose well' she ended.

Ianto gave in to the overwhelming need to hug his colleague. He didn't say anything, just nodded understanding when she looked at him. He felt the extra key on his chain and considered again the implications it contained.

--

'Ianto I have something for you' said Jack shuffling his feet and looking slightly embarrassed.

Ianto studied him for a moment.

'Is it something totally disgusting that we cannot use in front of team members?' he asked wryly.

Jack smiled.

'No...but I'm not sure how you will react..you'll probably refuse to take it and insist that it's too domestic...but I want you to have it...I hope you will..' Jack was stuttering over his words.

'Jack...what is it?' Ianto became concerned seeing how nervous Jack was.

Jack produced a key from his pocket and held it out towards Ianto.

'It's to my house...I want you to feel free to be there, even when I am not...I want to share it with you' he stumbled.

'Oh' said Ianto flatly.

The two men looked at each other without speaking. After a long moment Jack began to withdraw the hand containing the key, but Ianto stopped him. He took his own key ring from his pocket and taking the proffered key from Jack, attached it with his own. Jack grinned at him.

'Not freaked out then?' he asked.

Ianto shrugged.

'A little...but not enough to turn down access to a house with central heating that won't quit when winter is coming' he deadpanned.

The two looked at each other.

'Another step Ianto' smiled Jack.

'So it would seem..and me without my shoes on' answered Ianto.

Neither man was entirely sure what the other meant by the gesture or the words, but for now they were willing to follow the flow and not fight it.

TWTWTW

Ianto shook himself out of his reverie. He still did not know what his acceptance of Jack's key meant, but he knew he had decided to stop analysing every step and just do what felt right at the time.

Later that same day Ianto saw Toshiko frantically signalling him from the grotto and made an excuse to Mrs Peters to go and see what was wrong.

'I couldn't reach you on the comm....the time distortion was so bad' explained Toshiko when he arrived.

'Next time you see Jack tell him the readings suggest something big will happen in the next few hours...good job it's getting close to closing time...hopefully the area will be clear by the time whatever it is comes through' she added.

'Right' said Ianto 'so extra vigilance until closing and then I expect we will not be going home tonight' the two grinned at each other.

With any luck the anomalies would be over soon and with no casualties and nobody to be Retconned.

Ianto returned to his booth.

'You're not really a mall worker are you Ianto?' asked Mrs Peters when he returned.

'What makes you say that?' he asked warily.

'I'm a people watcher...you and Mr Harkness, the two elves... and I thought you were sweet on the waitress in the cafe...but I know that's not likely now, so I'm guessing she is one of your little gang as well....what is it you are doing?...is it terrorists?' she asked a little scared at the possibility.

Ianto did not want to upset or frighten his co worker but felt she deserved some credit for her observational skills and he would not lie to pacify her, perhaps just be lenient with the exact truth.

'Something like that Mrs P...don't be concerned...if there is real danger we will evacuate the building...and I promise to keep you safe personally' he smiled one of his most charming smiles but she still looked concerned.

'I won't ask any more because I know you won't be able to tell me....but promise me to be careful Ianto Jones'

'I promise Mrs P' he answered earnestly.

TWTWTW

It was close to closing time and the mall was emptying quickly when all hell let loose. Ianto's first warning was Jack shouting over the comms for the whole team to get to the east corridor fast.

Ianto vaulted the booth counter with Mrs Peter's injunctions to stay safe ringing in his ears.

'If anything comes this way run...run and don't look back...leave everything' shouted Ianto over his shoulder to the woman he had become fond of in the last week. He looked long enough to see her nod, then ran towards Jack at speed, scattering the few remaining shoppers lingering to look in windows.

Alarms began to ring and people looked about themselves in bemusement. A sense of urgency began to gather as people realised this was not a drill and the tanoy was ordering them to evacuate the shopping area as quickly as possible. As people began to panic and run, Ianto offered up a prayer of thanks that so few shoppers remained at this time.

Gwen joined him in the east corridor as did Toshiko and Owen, the bells on their ankles providing advance warning of their arrival. They all looked slightly incongruous with their guns out and ready, but Owen and Toshiko looked especially out of place, bells tinkling and hats wobbling. Ianto shook himself, now was not the time to be thinking such thoughts, they had a job to do.

'Jack' he demanded over the comms 'where are you?'

There was no reply and the team looked at each other worriedly. This was the location Jack had specified and Toshiko's read outs confirmed a huge rift peak, so where was their leader. Guns trained the team set about scanning the place and marking out safe and searched zones.

A huge crash signalled an area of interest that the team zoned in on and Ianto drew in a sharp intake of breath as he saw Jack held by the throat by a vaguely humanoid shape. The creature holding him was intent on the kill and was much larger than a human and obviously possessed of greater strength.

Four more creatures emerged and Owen took over command as he ordered the team to take up strategic positions from which to cover all opponents and to open fire. It quickly became obvious that more than one well aimed bullet would be needed to take down these creatures. All of them had been hit at least once and it had merely seemed to enrage them. They had weapons of their own and soon a full scale battle was taking place.

Ianto could vaguely hear screams in the background as people heard the shots and panicked further, these creatures could not be allowed to enter the city. The creature holding Jack dropped him in order to gather his weapons to fire and it became obvious to Ianto that Jack was dead or at least unconscious.

Owen was calling the others to pull back, to prevent the escape of the creatures, to cover the exits from the mall. They were taking cover behind Christmas displays and exhibits, the contrasts of gunfire and Christmas plenty became gross in Ianto's mind.

Gwen screamed in fury as she ran from one cover to another firing as she went. Toshiko took a hit to her shoulder and went down. Owen's voice came over the comms begging her to be ok.

'I'm fine Owen...I'm fine...it's just a flesh wound...keep firing...we need to keep them from getting out' shouted Toshiko.

Owen hit one of the creatures for a fourth time and at last it collapsed and did not move again. The team were wary of considering it dead, but the reaction of the other creatures seemed to suggest it was. They all became still and then roared in anguish and continued fighting.

Ianto could see Jack recover in the background, it was too soon for him to have come back from dead, he must have been unconscious. Jack spoke to them over the comms.

'Guys...these are Mootars...inter stellar slavers...on no account let them leave here...and don't get too close' he whispered.

'Slavers?' questioned Gwen 'you mean they trade in people?'

'People...any life form..sentient life forms only...they raise most money' said Jack.

'Oh my God!' shouted Gwen 'that is just disgusting'

'Yeah...can we leave the social indignation until we've solved the initial problem of marauding aliens?' sneered Owen.

A sudden cry of triumph sounded from the Mootars and the team watched as they captured what appeared to be a young man and his father. The boy was only about fourteen or fifteen and was cowering in his father's arms as they were surrounded by the aliens and quickly disappeared.

'What happened?' asked Toshiko.

'They transported them to their ship' answered Jack 'that's how they do this...get in...capture as many as possible and get out quick...we've no way of getting them back so let's make sure they don't capture anyone else' he snapped.

'What will happen to them?' asked Gwen unable to leave it and concentrate on the job at hand.

'The man will probably be sold as labour..he looked strong enough' said Jack.

'What about the boy?' asked Toshiko with tears in her voice.

'The pleasure palaces' answered Jack and heard them all take a sharp breath with understanding and sorrow.

'Come on team..concentrate. Aim for the very centre of their bodies, it disables them...gives a chance to get more shots in' announced Jack.

The team renewed their concentration and another Mootar went down. The two remaining aliens were obviously wavering over whether to cut their losses and leave when they spotted a young child whimpering in a doorway. The child was only six or seven years old and clearly overwhelmed by what he was witnessing.

Ianto saw the determination to take one more slave become apparent in the eyes of the aliens and knew he had to stop them. This innocent child was not going to any slave labour camp and certainly not to a pleasure palace.

'Cover me' he screamed in to his comm and shot out from his hiding place. Whilst the aliens were engaged in fire he whipped the child into his arms and away from danger.

The child fought, having no reason to suppose Ianto was not as dangerous as anything else he had witnessed. Ianto fell in the struggle but did not let go his hold on the child as the aliens moved to surround them both.

'Nooo!' screamed Jack thinking he was about to witness his lover taken off to another world and who knew what horrors.

The Mootars looked up in surprise as this human ran at them and gunshot continued to rain down. They fired at Jack giving Ianto enough time to move the child out of range and Toshiko, Gwen and Owen rained bullets down indiscriminately, judging that a death for Jack was a small price to pay to keep the city safe from these despicable creatures.

Ianto saw the two aliens and Jack collapse and was torn between getting the child away from a scene he should surely not witness and going to his lover.

'Ianto...get the kid out of here...it's all under control' shouted Owen 'Go!' he ordered when Ianto at first did not move.

Ianto pulled himself together and half dragged, half carried the child to waiting police officers at the exit of the mall. He hurried back to the others. The aliens were all dead and Owen was organising clean up whilst Toshiko checked to make sure that no further rift anomalies were expected.

'It's closed Owen...nothing more predicted...nothing to suggest the signatures were ever here' she said with relief.

'Nothing except two missing people' snapped Gwen.

'Could have been worse Gwen' reasoned Toshiko.

'Not for them' seethed Gwen.

'We did what we could Gwen...stop beating us up for what we couldn't prevent...' Owen was getting annoyed with the Welshwoman and started giving orders for the removal of alien bodies.

Ianto sat with Jack waiting for him to return and feeling nauseous at the thought of the two captured people and the near miss with the child. He wanted to sob for them but that would be pointless, they needed to clear this mess up and reassure the citizens of Cardiff that they were safe once more.

TWTWTW

Jack gasped back to life in Ianto's arms and instantly struggled with him.

'Jack...it's ok' shouted Ianto to calm him.

'Ianto...you're ok...you're still here...oh God I thought they would take you' stuttered Jack sitting up and keeping hold of Ianto as he did so.

Jack calmed down and sat looking at Ianto.

'How could you be so stupid? I told you all they were slavers...I told you not to get too close... they almost got you Ianto and I wouldn't have been able to save you...don't ever do that again...you are never to put yourself in that kind of danger again...do you hear me?' demanded Jack getting very angry now as the relief flooded through him.

Ianto reacted to the aggressive tone with anger of his own.

'I was not about to let an innocent child be taken by those things Jack...you can't seriously expect me to keep myself safe at the expense of others' he announced exasperated.

'I could have lost you Ianto...you will obey my orders and not put yourself in danger...do you understand?' Jack shouted standing up and adopting an aggressive pose.

Ianto stood up to join him, equally as annoyed.

'You died Jack!...I don't just see you in danger...I see you dead..I hate that' he shouted.

'But I'll come back...it's different...you need to be kept safe' screamed Jack back at him.

'I need to do my job...and be a decent human being who would save a child even at risk to themselves...you're being unfair...and pompous!' countered Ianto.

'I don't care..you will not put yourself in danger again...you'll stay at the hub' yelled Jack.

'Arrogant git' shouted Ianto.

'Irritating child' countered Jack.

The two men stood looking at each other, both determined not to give in first and yet both desperate to be in the other's arms, to take comfort in the fact that for now at least, they were both safe.

'Ianto?' questioned Jack when Ianto had not spoken for while.

Ianto continued to stare at the other man unable to move or even articulate any more. The feeling of relief that they were both safe and the events were over had suddenly hit the young man and frozen him in place.

'Ianto?' Jack asked again.

Jack slowly moved towards Ianto half expecting to be thumped as closure to the argument they had been having. He stopped close enough to touch his lover and suddenly panicked.

'Ianto? You're not hurt are you...what's wrong?' he asked shakily running his hands over the man before him.

Jack's quick hands soon found the cause of Ianto's immobility, not injury but a raging erection. The relief was manifesting itself in physical form. Jack had lived and died, long and often enough to know that sometimes in these situations the body needed to affirm to itself it was alive and in one piece and that often resulted in the desperate desire for a hard fuck.

An affirmation of life. Sex and death were inextricably linked and yet so few people were willing to admit that fact. Jack had learnt over his long life that you were much more likely to get laid at a funeral than a wedding, however incongruous that fact might seem.

'It's ok Ianto' he said softly moving closer to the younger man who was obviously both astonished and slightly dismayed by his body's reaction.

His eyes darted about Jack's face looking for understanding and an answer to what was happening.

'It's ok Ianto...I'm ok...you're ok' Jack crooned 'this is ok' he whispered palming the other man's erection.

Ianto took a deep breath as Jack touched him and Jack was surprised as he was spun on his heels and dragged over to a shop by Ianto tugging on his wrist. He went with the younger man curious to know what was happening.

Ianto stopped before a table set up to display Christmas wares and shoved them haphazardly to one side. He physically thrust Jack at the table facing away from him.

'Hands on the table...don't move' he commanded.

Ianto might be feeling irrationally horny but he was also still angry. Jack smirked as he realised Ianto's intention, well he could live with a quick fuck in a shopping mall, great way to settle an argument he thought.

Ianto had ripped Jack's trousers down and Jack heard him spit into his hand before he felt fingers thrust into him. It was quite painful and not very erotic, Jack became unsure about his willingness to do this.

'Ianto' he began.

'Don't speak...don't move...I'll fucking kill you if you don't let me do this' Ianto spat.

What?

Where had his demure Welshman gone?

Anger, relief and annoyance were obviously not a good combination in this man. Ianto was clearly more upset by the whole episode than Jack had realised. Jack braced himself to endure whatever pain the action would bring and tried to placate his lover with compliance.

Ianto thrust into him suddenly and without warning and with so little preparation that Jack gasped back a cry and forced himself to remain still, whilst wanting to move away from the pain. Ianto began thrusting erratically and fast, breathing onto Jack's neck as he rested his head there, holding his hips tight, not attempting to make this pleasant in any way for his lover.

Jack recognised what Ianto was doing. This wasn't about sex or love, Ianto was marking his territory, claiming back what he had seen taken from him when Jack died, punishing his lover for arguing. Jack stood still and allowed himself to be claimed.

As Ianto grew closer to his release he began talking again.

'Don't tell me what to do...don't talk...don't move'

He gripped a fistful of Jack's shirt as if to keep him in place despite Jack's lack of struggle. Ianto reached a crescendo and bit Jack's shoulder hard as his orgasm hit. He rode it out and then slumped against Jack's back.

Jack did not attempt to move until he felt sobs wracking the other man's body. He turned in his arms and pulled Ianto into a hug.

'I'm sorry...I'm sorry' whispered Ianto into his neck.

'It's ok Ianto' soothed Jack stroking his lover's back.

'It's not ok Jack...I forced you..I hurt you'

Jack smiled down at his young lover.

'Don't be daft Ianto...you didn't force me to do anything...you know as well as I do that if I had struggled in any way at all you would have let me go' he insisted.

Ianto looked away. He knew Jack was right, if the other man had fought he would have stopped, but that didn't mean he hadn't enjoyed the illusion of force. He felt slightly ashamed of himself.

'I still hurt you Jack...and...and I think I liked that....that's not right...people who care for each other don't do that' he said hanging his head.

Jack pulled him into a hug.

'Yes you hurt me..but only a little...I understand Ianto..fear and relief, sex and death, pain and pleasure all in the mix together...it's ok' he assured him.

Ianto pulled out of the hug a little to look him in the eye.

'Really?' he asked.

'Yeah' said Jack softly 'but not too often eh?'

Ianto smiled.

'I'm still mad at you' he said quietly.

'Yeah...me too' answered Jack equally softly.

The two men stood in each other's embrace for a few moments.

'I don't know about you but I'd really like to have my trousers pulled up when Cardiff's police force decide to enter the scene' said Jack as they heard voices approaching.

'Oh God' said Ianto frantically pulling his clothes straight and trying not to laugh.

But it wasn't the police, it was Owen returning to see if they needed help.

'Good God you two are sick beyond words' he shouted as he came upon them still straightening clothes.

'Is there no situation you don't find sexually appealing Harkness?' he questioned.

Ianto looked at Jack in mute appeal not to reveal it had been his urges that had resulted in their current state. Jack took pity on him.

'Nope...not found one yet...you could always watch Owen...you might learn something!' he joked.

Owen's mouth hung slightly open as he tried and failed to form a reply to that.

'The police want to come in Jack...they want to know if it's safe, which according to all of Toshiko's readings it is...and Mrs P is threatening violence if someone doesn't reassure her that teaboy here is fine...God knows what the poor woman would think if she knew you and Jack were shagging amidst all the chaos' sneered Owen.

'Actually Owen she knows Jack and I are shagging and she thinks it's just great' said Ianto walking away to find and reassure his co worker.

Owen and Jack watched him go.

'Does that old lady really know you and Ianto are shagging?' asked Owen in slight amazement that Ianto would reveal so much about himself.

'I have no idea Owen..but it wouldn't surprise me...people are not dumb just because they are old...and we're not shagging' responded Jack.

Owen looked at him in disbelief.

'It's a bit late to be in denial now Jack' he scoffed.

'I'm denying nothing...except that what we do is not shagging' said Jack walking away from the other man.

Owen shrugged his shoulders. Well we all know that...it's about time they realised it too he thought to himself.

TWTWTW

Back at the hub Gwen was still insisting they do something about the two people taken by the slavers.

'We must be able to do something Jack...track them..go after them' she said.

'How exactly would we go after them? This time has no space travel vessels that could match them...and it's impossible to track Mootars even in my time..they have scrambling software that makes it impossible to get a lock on their systems and any attempt to transport on or off their ships without the correct codes leaves a mess of atoms rather than anything resembling a human being' said Jack sadly.

'Those people are gone Gwen...we have to accept it and be grateful it was restricted to two' he finished.

'There must be something' she continued.

'Go home Gwen' demanded Jack getting annoyed.

'Fine' the Welshwoman stormed from the hub knowing Jack was right but unable to let it go.

Toshiko's wound had been dressed by Owen and she had finished her calculations.

'No more rift spikes...absolutely nothing to suggest any further anomalies' she reported to Jack.

'No' said Jack sadly 'they will be back, but for now they will move on...that's how they operate...force themselves into a time..grab what they can and move swiftly to the next destination'

Toshiko patted his arm.

'We did what we could...I'm going home' she said.

'Night Tosh' smiled Jack.

'Jack..I don't sleep...I'm going to start the autopsy on these bastards...I'll keep an eye on the rift if you and Ianto want to go home' announced Owen with unexpected generosity.

Jack smiled at him.

'Thanks Owen..but I have to complete paperwork and talk to the police chief before I can leave' said Jack 'go home and get some sleep Ianto' he finished.

Ianto pulled him away from Owen to talk privately for a moment.

'Jack..I..' he began.

'It's ok Ianto..it's over...I'm sorry for what I said to you but I'm not sorry for wanting to keep you safe...I promise I will try not to let it influence decisions I make as a leader' smiled Jack in his best placatory manner.

Ianto smiled back at him.

'I like this job Jack...I know there is danger but I promise to try not to be foolish or careless' he replied.

They grinned at each other. Ianto put his hand in his pocket and drew out a key.

'I had it cut for you at the mall' he said offering it to Jack.

Jack took it and looked up.

'Ianto I have a key to your place..Torchwood protocols...I have for them for all staff' he said puzzled.

'I know...but that is protocol...for emergencies...' answered Ianto.

'This is a gift...for you to use whenever you want to...whenever you want to see your..' he stopped not knowing what the end of the sentence should be.

'Whenever I want to see my what?' smiled Jack.

Ianto thought. 'Lover' didn't quite cover it, 'boyfriend' was too weird, 'other half' was way too domestic, 'partner' was too formal, what was the end of the sentence.

'Whenever you want to see your Ianto' he concluded in exasperation.

'My Ianto' laughed Jack 'I like that...I like that a lot'