A/N: Sorry about the slight wait! Uni work has been horrendous. Hope this is worth it!

Chapter 13

Timidity and Trepidation

Ianto crested the opening of Jack's private quarter's, pushing himself into his bosses office and began the walk across the Hub for some delightful early morning coffee.

Slipping first his right then left arm into yesterdays shirt he'd managed to grab from the neat pile on the way out, he quickly checked the Rift Monitor on his computer. Giving a smile that it looked to be a pretty Rift-event free day ahead, he continued his purposeful stroll towards the Kitchen. At least that meant he had time to think on the whole Jack situation.

Actually, perhaps free-time to think on Jack wasn't such a good idea. Jack seemed to manage to manifest in your mind in particularly distracting ways that could lead to a rather biased perspective, should you have enough time on your hands.

Slipping from a smile to a slight frown, Ianto found himself automatically placing coffee beans into the grinder, quite unaware of the man approaching him from behind.

"Aren't you cold, Mr. Jones?"

Spinning sharply, Ianto's hand flew to the counter in an attempt at locating a weapon - any weapon - and grasped firmly around a metal object. Facing the intruder, he brandished the object in defence, only to realise he was face to face with the Doctor.

Feeling his pulse return steadily to normal, he dropped the weapon to his side and gave a tight smile. "Hello, Doctor."

The amused smirk he received in reply was not lost on Ianto.

The Doctor grinned manically in return then looked pointedly down towards the other man's hand and the item held in it, before asking, "Did you really think that particular item would be appropriate for an attack? Wellll, I suppose you could always use it to try and whisk my hair like you would a soufflé."

Despite everything Ianto couldn't help but let out a small chuckle as he too studied the item he'd managed to pick up – yes that really was a whisk - before placing it back on the counter. Giving the older man an apologetic smile, he remarked, "First thing I could find. You did catch me off guard after all."

"Yeah, sorry about that," was the Doctor's reply, though not sounding very apologetic, more humoured.

"How did you get in here without setting the proximity alarm off anyway?" inquired Ianto flippantly, turning back to his previous task.

Grinning widely, the Doctor stated, "Not much is lost on you now is it Mr. Jones?" sounding rather impressed.

"I try my best, sir," he responded graciously.

"Oh no, now none of that." Ianto could practically hear the flapping of the Doctor's hand behind him, as if an attempt to swat away being called 'sir'. "I've been able to disable that awhile," was the simple reply to the previous question.

Quirking an eyebrow at that answer, as if in suggestion that Jack perhaps had taught the Doctor to disengage the alarm for some kind of lecherous activity, Ianto remained turned firmly towards the counter and away from the other man.

"Oh not like that," was the hastily stated response to the eyebrow lift the Doctor couldn't have seen. "I just like to be sneaky once in a while." There was a brief pause before, "So, are you not cold?" was spoken.

Looking down at the pale skin of his chest, uncovered by the shirt he'd left unbuttoned, Ianto realised he probably looked, and almost was, half naked. However, as always, keeping an air of professionalism, he retorted, good naturedly, "No. Quite warm actually. The Rift Manipulator holds quite a lot of energy, much radiated out in heat. It's always warm in the centre of the Hub," he turned around to face the older man, passing him one of the now three freshly made cups of coffee.

"Very considerate of you. Thank you," the Time Lord accepted gratefully, sniffing first, then sipping at the steamy liquid. Appreciation flooded his face and he stated, "Jack's right. Best coffee in the Universe," he paused again. "Wellll, I say Universe.... Definitely the Galaxy though," he remarked lifting the cup as a toast before taking another swig.

Expressing his gratitude with a smile, Ianto inquired, "Are you cold then, sir?"

Frowning at the title, the Doctor looked almost sternly at Ianto before declaring, "Binary vascular system. Two hearts," he clarified, tapping both sides of his suit covered chest, more for the effect of his explanation than Ianto's confusion, as the Welshman seemed to have understood automatically. "170 beats per minute, giving me an overall body temperature of 59°F," he stated proudly before letting a frown cross his face. "Means I don't really have a good concept of human temperature though."

Ianto nodded silently in understanding, swallowing some more hot coffee, allowing the 'liquid gold', as Jack referred to it, to glide down his throat.

An unprecedented look of concern flitted across the Doctor's face. "How are you, Mr. Jones?" Despite the formality of the address, Ianto received the impression the man was genuinely worried about him.

"Fine, Doctor," the younger man honestly replied. "Why do you ask?"

The Time Lord couldn't have looked like a dear trapped in head lights more if he'd tried. "Oh. No –no reason!" he half exclaimed, half stuttered.

Peering sceptically towards the Doctor, his interest was quickly interrupted by a yell somewhere across the Hub calling for coffee.

Both pairs of eyes darted up to the Captain's office, fully aware from where the sound had come from.

"Right. Hmm.." the Doctor quickly mumbled before declaring, "I'm going to be in the Tardis then. Figure I'd refuel this morning and then be back off on my merry way. Tell Jack to come say goodbye will you?" The last sentence Ianto barely caught as it was flung over the Doctor's shoulder whilst said man scurried to the main door.

The Welshman couldn't help but feel that the Doctor seemed to be fleeing in order to escape something.

***

Jack had sat himself firmly back down in his desk chair by the time Ianto had walked into the office with two steaming mugs of his finest. The Time Agent had considered the possibilities of where to stand, sit and even recline, but had decided nothing said I'm giving you space more than a massive block of wood between two individuals.

"You bellowed, sir?"

Letting a small smile slip onto his lips, Jack looked up to great the other man. And to great the coffee.

"Aaah, thank you, Ianto," breathed out Jack, happily extending his hand to take the proffered mug.

"Always here to help, sir."

A reminiscent look crossed briefly over Jack's face before here could mask it with placidity.

"I want you to know how thankful I am of that, too, Ianto."

The furrowed brow was not the reaction he was hoping for.

"I mean..." Jack stumbled over his words. "I know I don't say it enough," he paused to breathe a sigh, looking down at his desk then back into speculative blue eyes. "But thank you."

A heavy pause fell in the room, only broken when Ianto managed an uncomfortable clearing of the throat.

"Yes, right. Well... thank you... for the thanks, sir," he spoke awkwardly, eyes flitting towards the door through which he'd entered. "May I?" he asked pointedly.

Sadness filled only Jack's eyes, as he confirmed, "Yes, yes, of course," and watched the Welshman retreat. He leant back on the chair reclining almost fully to rub a palm over his face.

Why was Ianto so nervous?

What if it was Jack's timidity that was making Ianto uncomfortable? After all it was hardly what the other man was used to. This was certainly not the Jack Harkness he knew.

Jack made the decision to slip back to his usual self, at least to see if it could help revert the Welshman to his normal demeanour and make him feel a bit more comfortable.

Nodding in agreement with himself, he pushed out of his chair and made to follow Ianto out of the room.

***

"So how long do you think it will take before we end in bed together again?"

Ianto spun around to see Jack leaning relaxed and purposeful against the doorframe.

Jack's complete arrogance should have really annoyed him, but the images his words evoked sent a quick thrill through Ianto. Waking up with Jack this morning had done naught to help his resolve.

His breathing became acutely laboured as he watched under hooded eyes as Jack stepped closer still. Ianto knew precisely what was coming. And he couldn't allow Jack to kiss him again. If he did he'd never be able to stop himself.

The Captain's hands moved slowly, deliberately, coming to rest upon Ianto's hips. His dark blue eyes drew up to meet light blue ones, a coy smile playing on his lips. It was apparent from the Harkness grin that he knew full well the reaction he was eliciting.

This is ridiculous, this is wrong. Ianto thought silently, trying to regain control over his breathing. Jack had already broken his heart once. Ianto wouldn't, he couldn't, give him that power again.

He attempted a clumsy step backwards. "You... uh," swallowing to dispel the thickness in his throat, he continued, "you really should let go."

Jack's hands tightened almost imperceptibly on Ianto's hips. Almost.

"The Doctor!" exclaimed Ianto around a dry, strangled yelp.

The amused, yet confused eyebrow quirk Jack gave was very nearly the Welshman's undoing.

"Wants to see you!"

Still the quizzical look.

"To say goodbye!" Ianto shot out under Jack's arm and made a quick scurry back towards the kitchen, checking the dampness of his forehead as he went, the sheen of sweat he'd come out in only slightly moistening his skin.

"Outside!" he managed to yell over his shoulder before completely disappearing from the centre of the Hub and out of Jack's hearing range.

A/N: Remember – reviews make an author happy.. A happy author is more likely to ignore the pile of Uni work that doesn't yet need to be done and instead take to writing... which would mean quicker posts... hmmm *raises eyebrow suggestively*