To be honest, I wasn't so sure of how the next few days or so were going to pan out. Ianto had been so embarrassed and so confused about how he had acted after our heart to heart the other day, so much to the point of ignoring me throughout the whole of yesterday. Despite our little chat about it all and despite him saying that he wants what I want, basically each other, I was still anticipating that I wouldn't be seeing much of the Welshman across the next couple of days. I didn't want him to feel like he needed to avoid me or create distance, I didn't want him to feel the need to be self-conscious or confused about everything, but I did want him, and so was prepared to wait until he was comfortable with it all – if that took taking the cold shoulder for 48 hours or so, then it was worth it.

But much to my delight, he didn't ignore me; he just carried out the day almost as if nothing had happened. Not because he was ashamed or had changed his mind, I hoped, but purely because professionalism is Ianto Jones's middle name. There was no way that anybody outside the two of us could ever have been able to tell that we no longer had a strictly professional employee/employer relationship. Perhaps the only give away, was the fact that he couldn't retain eye contact for long periods of time without blushing, or how I occasionally found myself staring out at him. Of course, these were all unnoticeable to those not in the know. It's quite nice having a little private, guilty, pleasure even if it's still largely in the 'unrequited' phase.

I'm still not sure that he should be back in work just yet, but convincing that man to take some time off, would be like convincing The Doctor to settle down. I did warn him that I have a very extensive list of punishments lined up if he fails to give in, but it's hardly much of a threat seeing as he would probably enjoy what I have in mind very much.

On another note, someone who is sure as hell not being 'delightful' is Owen. He was so insensitive towards Tosh earlier, acting as King of Innuendo and Flirtation whilst around Gwen leaving nothing to the imagination about their relationship. He can't honestly not realise that Tosh is besotted with him can he? If that's true than he actually is an idiot, rather than just an intelligent man who acts the fool like I thought he was. And showing off to Gwen with his soccer skills, or lack of, resulted in upsetting Tosh even more because he wrecked her computer that had her translation programme running on it. He didn't even apologise properly.

And it's not just the way he's behaving with Toshiko; he seems to be slipping professionally too. He completely misdiagnosed the cause of death for the skeleton we found at the excavation site along with 'the stapler' and 'the crab'. Hmm female shot to death… or male with ripped out heart? Not as if there complete opposites or anything, I bet I could have had a better first attempt at analysing the remains. I like Owen, I really do, despite the fact he can be an annoying prat a lot of the time, I genuinely enjoy working with him. But if he keeps this up then there may have to be consequences.

I sent Ianto home with the others this evening, made sure that he left on time with the others. a) Because he looks so exhausted right now that he shouldn't be at work til gone midnight, even if he doesn't get any extra sleep through going home early, and b) because I really don't like this whole waiting thing after all. I haven't had to wait for sex in a long time, mainly because I haven't felt the desire for it as much recently and any time that I have it's been a quick, drunken (on their part if not mine) one night stand. But I don't know what it is about that Welshman, but something is enticing me, making me want him and causing me to be impatient. And, even if this ends up just being a onetime thing, it should still be done properly and when he's ready. Of course, I'll be too tempted to forget all of this once I get him alone in the hub, so for now, sending him away keeps me from temptation.

Oh well, another day another dollar, hopefully Owen will be back to his usual, if still a little cocky, self and will stop being so harsh to Tosh.

I've decided that if Mr Jones is going to refuse to take time off, and seems undeterred by my threats, then I am going to just have to try and lighten his work load. He may only be doing our administrative tasks but there's a lot to do. Perhaps I'll get Tosh to take over some of the paperwork for a while, that should kill two birds with one stone seeing as she's been acting a little distracted ever since Owen behaved so childishly yesterday. I think that's why anyway, I can't think of what else would cause her to become so upset, even when I complimented her new necklace this morning she seemed jumpy and preoccupied. And as for Ianto, well, he'll never admitted but he seems so emotionally and mentally drained at the moment; so I'm do anything I can to lighten his load and aid his recovery… and if that means watching him bend over in that well-fitting suit whilst he tidies out my office then so be it!

Hmm, young Ianto didn't seem too happy about his 'demotion' as he put it. It had been hilariously funny watching him gather up all of the random rubbish that has pile dup in that room over the years. Some of it wasn't mine and had belonged to previous heads of Torchwood 3, but everything that made his eyes grow wide with shock definitely belonged to me. His face when he found the handcuffs and the 3-cupped bra (Aaah, the Sisters of Syruvia… a very fun loving race!) was an absolute picture.

"Well I only intended it to be a one off, but after watching you bend over like that; I may have to get you in here again sometime soon." I told him grinning, after he had asked if clearing out my junk would become a permanent duty. Naturally, he blushed in response, just as I had hoped he would, giving me something to hold onto until we finally get around to doing the deed.

After that, I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to puzzle out what these strange artefacts are that we found with the skeleton. I may be getting there with 'the crab', it appears to be some sort of transporter pod, but I am absolutely lost when it comes to 'the stapler'. Tosh is so much better at this than me, at fiddling about with all the alien tech, but as I said before I am trying to ease her burden at work a little too after she arrived so distracted this morning. Perhaps she really is just upset with Owen still, but part of me is worried that something deeper may be going on and I'm just not quite noticing – as usual.

Yes, as per usual, I just wasn't quite quick enough to pick up that one of my team members was going through a rough time of it. I thought I had finally learnt something after poor Ianto… but no. I had let Tosh's situation get to the point where she had decided to bring her new, human heart eating, alien girlfriend into the hub. This Mary was the owner (well sort of) of the transporter that we had found, she had been exiled from her home planet almost 100 years ago now and had been sent to earth along with a prison guard who she had murdered. She'd given Tosh a necklace which enabled you to listen in on other people's thoughts and had used this to persuade Tosh into sharing her bed and her workplace. Mary had used Tosh, to get to her transportation home, and Tosh was devastated.

It was hard, by I told myself to keep in mind how Tosh was feeling right now when I went to talk to her afterwards. I mean, I was mad as hell with her for breaching policy like that, but I was a little unnecessarily harsh in retaliation, especially when telling her about sending Mary to the centre of the sun… I was angry, as angry I had been with Ianto over Lisa, at her for having endangered the team and for having breached our privacy. I can only dread to imagine what she must have heard coming out of Owen or Gwen's thoughts. Thank god she couldn't seem to read my mind for some reason, I couldn't help getting particularly distracted as I observed my favourite Welshman eating a slice of chocolate cake earlier…. But anyway, I remembered what Gwen had told me after I had become so cross at Ianto, I tried to imagine how Tosh was feeling and be sympathetic towards her. After all, if I had acted further upon her strange behaviour, rather than just lightening her work schedule, then perhaps some of the pain she's gone through might have been prevented, I might have been able to warn her that Mary wasn't to be trusted.

It sucks to fall for the wrong person, I should know because I've been that wrong person so many times. I have never used people in the same way that Mary has, but with every relationship I entered into, I always knew it could never last. I let people fall in love with me despite knowing we had no future, and whilst it was always painful for me too, they never knew that pain was approaching. Everyone who has ever loved me has ended up hurt sooner or later, either emotionally or sometimes even physically, which is why I haven't let anyone get that close to me in a long time. It keeps things simpler, and I feel less guilty about things that way; seeing the way Tosh was so distraught after Mary today reminded me that I'm doing the right thing.

Ianto came and brought me a coffee about an hour back now, he seemed a little shaken by everything, out of concern for Tosh, but also perhaps because it all seemed to bring back memories of what happened with Lisa – after all the situations are parallel. He asked me if I'd had a word with her yet, said that it had made him feel a lot better to talk to me about everything. I told him that yes; I had, and also brought up the pendant and was keen to see that he seemed mortified at the idea of her having worn it around him. Just what had he been thinking? Things about me I hope… I've half a mind to ask Tosh tomorrow…

It's nearly midnight now, and I suddenly realised that I hadn't remembered to send Ianto home yet. I hadn't had any issues with controlling my temptations this evening seeing as I had a lot to mull over, but I still don't like him working such long hours in the tired and drained state that he's in.

I went down to the main floor of the hub, expecting to find him there buried under the large stack of paperwork which had accumulated after today, but was surprised to see him just data this desk next to a neat pile of completed work, staring into his hands. As I got closer, I realised that he was actually staring at his stopwatch that his hands were holding. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight, it was just such an odd thing to be doing – no offense to Ianto of course, and after all I am a lover of odd, but still…

"What on earth are you doing sat down here with that thing?" I asked, through my laughter.

"Nothing, just watching the time pass" He replied

"Fair enough, but I really think we can think of something much more creative to do with such a fine piece of equipment, wouldn't you agree Ianto?" I suggested, wiggling my eyebrows artfully.

I thought he wouldn't respond, judging by the shade of red that his cheeks were now turning. "Like what Sir?" He asked to my amusement.

I gave him the most creative answer that I could think of on the spot, of us wearing much less clothing than we are now and taking part in a very enjoyable, if tiring, kind of race. His blush deepened at that remark, and I can only imagine how he would have reacted if I had listed some of the things have thought about since leaving him this evening.

He didn't seem to be able to reply to my suggestion, so I simply brushed my hand against his perfect, fuchsia tinted cheeks and told him:

"I love it when your cheeks turn this colour"

Before heading back up to my office. He seemed surprised at the gesture, but not uncomfortable, I think he's slowly becoming surer of his feelings, or at least less uncertain… if that makes sense? Hopefully I won't have to wait much longer before we can prove just how many things can be done with a stopwatch.

Oh, and I still haven't got a bloody clue what that 'stapler' does – I'm genuinely contemplating the fact that that is what it might literally be.