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Owen reflected smugly that he was the only person who knew Jack well enough to tell how much this had shaken him. You had to know what to look for. Like the tension in the tiny muscles around his eyes. And the way his fingers tightened around his glass, as if he was trying not to grasp it too hard. Which was exactly what he was doing. The glasses Jack drank from tended to crack before he did. Owen couldn't help wondering how the Teaboy had gotten Jack into this state. Or was it just the idea of one of his toys finding someone else they'd rather play with? Quite possibly. As Suzie said, ego the size of a mountain.
"You say Tosh got a text from Ianto," Jack repeated. "Are you sure?"
"Saw the screen before she hid it," Owen confirmed. "She made up some rubbish story about who it was from. Then she got another and took off like someone'd lit a fire under her." He frowned. "Just when things were getting friendly, too."
"Did you see what the message said?" Jack asked intently.
"Not the first one," Owen admitted. "But the one before she took off said 'Not here. I'm leaving.' Something like that."
"They're meeting somewhere," Jack said thoughtfully. "Easy enough to find out." He pulled his PDA from the pocket of his coat and triggered a GPS search.
Owen watched for a moment before shrugging and pulling out his own PDA. They compared the displays. "Both of them on the same route," Owen confirmed. They watched the dots move, same pattern, in perfect synch.
-XXX-
Ianto's phone thrummed under his pillow. Lisa was asleep and he didn't want the ringing of the phone to disturb her, so he'd put it on silent.
"Hi Tosh," he said softly. "How'd it go?"
"It's in place," Tosh confirmed. "On the windowsill in your bedroom. Working well, too, I've checked."
"I meant," Ianto clarified, "How'd it go with Owen?"
"Easier than I thought. He likes talking about medicine. I think I've got all we need."
"You're brilliant, Tosh."
"So you keep saying. How's Lisa?"
"She's good. We're good. Tosh, I…" he broke off awkwardly.
"Hmmm?"
"I kissed Lisa tonight."
Tosh chuckled into the phone. "You always kiss Lisa."
"I mean…since she's breathing better now….we could…a real…"
More giggles. "I know. I was just teasing. That's so sweet." This was taking Tosh back to her teenage years, when she'd spent hours on the phone discussing first kisses with her best friend. She dropped onto Ianto's bed and rolled onto her back, settling in for a good gossip. Just like those teenage days.
-XXX-
Their glasses were drained by the time the dots became stationary. Same address. A growl rumbled in Jack's throat. "His flat."
"This," said Owen thoughtfully "is annoying."
"You think?" Jack rumbled sarcastically.
"Well yeah. I mean, she's a sweet one, our Toshiko. Nice. I didn't think she was on the menu, y'know? Hands off. Kept myself busy with Suzie. I've been careful around Toshiko, didn't want to spook her."
Jack's teeth flashed again. "The perfect gentleman."
"I can be," Owen assured him. "If the lady's worth it." He sipped his drink thoughtfully, relishing the burn of the spirit as it hit his throat. "But I dunno, if Teaboy's in there."
Jack took a careful swallow of his drink. More water than Scotch. "Probably not," he said thoughtfully. "You know what happened to her. She's not there yet."
"You might be right," Owen agreed, remembering Tosh's arm trembling beneath his hand. Remembering how disappointed he'd been when she left. She was a pretty thing, Tosh. Quiet. Sweet. It might have been nice. Hard work, though, given what she'd been through. Owen didn't know whether he had that much patience. Probably not.
"You gotta admire Teaboy," he continued, shaking himself out of his reverie. "He's playing well above his league. But he's being patient. Laying the groundwork and waiting. And all good things come to those who wait, isn't that what they say?"
Owen watched Jack's hand clench suddenly around his glass. "Careful," he warned. "You've already crushed one this week. I don't fancy picking glass out of your palm again." Owen smirked. "I know where that palm's been."
Jack forced himself to relax. Owen was baiting him. And Owen knew exactly which buttons to press. But two could play at that game.
"Want a guided tour?" Jack offered, leering.
"Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt," Owen answered shortly.
Jack rose to the challenge with the smile that had half of Cardiff panting.
Owen shook his head disgustedly. "Waste of ammo, Harkness," he muttered, taking another swallow of his scotch.
-XXX-
"I've missed it," Ianto said softly. "Kissing."
Tosh's eyes widened as she thought about that. All this time with Jack….. "You mean…you don't…with Jack?"
"No. Never. I wouldn't let him." Awkward silence. Ianto suddenly wished he hadn't said anything. But it was so hard, keeping all this inside. "It's the only thing I could keep for Lisa," he explained in a rush. "The only thing we could still have." He closed his eyes, fighting back the tears. Now that he'd said it out loud, it sounded pathetic. As if keeping that one little thing from Jack meant he wasn't betraying Lisa. "Sounds stupid, right?"
Tosh's eyes filled. "It sounds beautiful." She remembered that awkward conversation with Lisa. Which Lisa had forgotten and Tosh wished she could. "And I'm sure Lisa would understand."
-XXX-
"Always worth checking," Jack said teasingly, his foot reaching for Owen's beneath the table.
Owen stamped on the encroaching toes and snickered as the foot withdrew. He counted himself lucky to be relatively immune to Jack's charisma. He'd been too messed up when he started at Torchwood to notice the magnetism that oozed from his new boss. Now he could take it or leave it. Mostly he left it. He'd only taken Jack home once, just curious to see what all the fuss was about. And he'd come to the conclusion that it was like choosing between two brands of cola. Owen was a Pepsi man. He'd take a Coke if it was all that was left on the shelf, but it wasn't his first choice.
Jack usually didn't bother trying it on with him anymore, not that he'd ever really made his best effort. Owen had suggested, after that long ago encounter, that they'd make better hunting partners than bed partners. And Jack had thought that a fine idea. They'd cut quite a track through the sweet things of Cardiff, in the day. Not much of a challenge anymore.
When the game had worn thin, Owen set course for the Good Ship Suzie. And it was time to disembark. He hadn't been lying to Tosh when he'd said that was over. Suzie had been strange lately. Irritable and lost in her own thoughts. Vanishing for no reason, with no explanation where she'd been. Not his idea of fun anymore, Suzie wasn't.
Toshiko, now, that would be different. If it was her playing footsies under the table, Owen wouldn't be complaining. Not at all.
-XXX-
"My turn for confessions," Tosh volunteered, shutting her eyes tightly. If she didn't talk this through with someone, her head might explode just from the confusion. And who could she trust more than Ianto?
"Fire away," Ianto said, blessing her for the change of topic.
"I think Owen made a move on me," Tosh said breathlessly.
Ianto frowned, protective instincts rising in a flood. "Did he hurt you?"
"No Ianto, don't be silly. Of course he didn't."
Ianto relaxed back onto the mattress. "What, then?"
"He talked about how he and Suzie weren't together any more and he…touched me…"
"Where?" Ianto roared, before slapping his hand over his mouth. Lisa stirred but settled again.
"On the hand," Tosh shot back, giggling. "And the arm. We were in the middle of the pub." It really was like having a brother.
"Oh," Ianto felt foolish for overreacting, and then chuckled softly himself. "Did you like it?"
Tosh felt warmth rising in her face. "Yes," she confessed. "Then I got scared."
"Oh, Cariad," Ianto murmured consolingly. "Just give it time. You'll get there. With the right person."
"Are you saying Owen isn't my Prince Charming?"
"Too right, I am," Ianto answered with feeling.
-XXX-
The Teaboy thing must really be hitting Jack in the ego, Owen thought, if he's reduced to trying me again. As if. Sleaze. But Owen knew how to sort Jack out. He had a line ready that would cut deeper than a scalpel.
"Didn't I just say," Owen purred vindictively, watching Jack intently for the reaction he knew was coming, "That I'm not keen on Teaboy's castoffs?"
The glass shattered in Jack's hand. Owen laughed.
"Didn't think you did jealousy," Owen said scathingly, pulling Jack's hand over and checking it quickly for glass shards. Nothing.
"I don't," Jack shot back, incensed, yanking his hand free. But he wasn't surprised. It was typical of their friendship, if it could be called that, for Owen to goad him into something and then worry about the damage. "But I don't share either." He forced himself to relax and pasted a leer back onto his face. "Unless I'm invited to share the sharing. I don't like missing out."
-XXX-
Tosh yawned. "I should get home."
"Stay there if you're tired," Ianto offered. "Someone might as well use the place."
Tosh rolled over on the bed, tempted. She liked Ianto's flat. Neat. Organised. Filled with pictures of him and Lisa. Reminders of better times, symbols of the goal they were working towards.
"No," she decided eventually. "I'll need to go back to my place for clothes anyway. Might as well do it now." She yawned again.
"Stay on the phone, though," Ianto said anxiously. "If you're that tired. Talking will keep you awake while you're driving."
"Don't make such a fuss," Tosh chided, loving it anyway.
"Someone has to," Ianto countered. "And switch to Bluetooth. Both hands on the wheel."
Tosh stuck her tongue out at the phone and made her way back to her car.
-XXX-
Eventually Tosh's GPS indicator started moving again. "She's leaving," Owen announced. The bead of light that was Tosh's car moved through the streets and stopped again at her own address. "Didn't stay the night. Guess he missed out, too."
Jack drummed his fingers on the table, smiling apologetically at the barmaid who arrived to sweep the broken glass away. "Sorry about that, Bree. Don't know my own strength."
As always, the woman melted in the face of Jack's charm.
"Didn't hurt yourself, I hope," she said dotingly, tossing her long auburn hair.
"Not a scratch," Owen answered smoothly, smiling his best smile. The barmaid looked from one man to the other, eyelashes fluttering. Owen's smiled broadened. Perhaps he hadn't missed out tonight, after all. Assuming Jack would bow out, of course.
"Refills?" Bree offered.
"We'd love some," Owen assured her, scanning her appreciatively. "If you bring them."
Bree sashayed away, fully aware of the eyes following her.
Jack was still frowning at the PDA.
Owen smirked. "Don't like it when someone moves in on your toys, do you?" He was quite pleased with that. It was accurate. Jack played with people.
Jack scowled, his handsome face twisting. "I'm trying to protect Toshiko," he said defensively.
Owen snorted.
"He's cheating on her," Jack insisted. Just because he didn't hold with twenty-first century monogamy, didn't mean it wasn't important to someone else. Someone like Tosh.
"Yeah, with you," Owen scoffed. "Is that what you're going to tell her?"
Jack eyed him impassively. "Maybe."
"If you really gave a shit," Owen pointed out, "You'd back off."
Jack didn't answer. If asked, he'd have said Owen was his closest friend. But at the moment he didn't like him much. If at all.
-XXX-
"Hey, Tosh?" Ianto said awkwardly.
"Yes?"
"Jack's not my Prince Charming."
Tosh laughed so hard her eyes blurred. "Don't say stuff like that while I'm driving," she spluttered.
"But he isn't a monster, either," Ianto added quietly.
Tosh's mlaughter died. "What's wrong, Ianto?"
"Sometimes I feel so guilty."
Tosh sighed. "I know. So do I." She remembered Owen's face, animated for once, as he talked about the wonders of medical science. They'd worked together for years and she hardly knew him. Tonight was the first time they'd really talked and she'd just been using him for information. And, she reminded herself, he'd hit on her.
"Jack's been trying to be nice, lately," Ianto continued.
Tosh focused back on the conversation. "What, since he bit you?" she asked cuttingly.
Ianto laughed uncomfortably. "Yeah. But…um…I think he really was sorry."
"So he should be," Tosh said shortly.
"I just wish I could stop this," Ianto said wistfully. "It was bad enough when he was acting like an arsehole, but at least I didn't feel so bad about lying to him then. I try to keep out of his way, but the more I try to avoid him, the more he…well…"
"Can't get enough of you?" Tosh finished.
Ianto laughed hollowly. "I don't know how much longer I can do this, Tosh."
"We'll find more ways to keep him distracted," Tosh promised. "The GPS echo I just planted will help. You'll see."
-XXX-
"Christmas next month," Jack said. "Team drinks might be a good idea. The whole team."
"Divide and conquer?" Owen suggested. He could handle the idea of consoling Tosh. Even if it didn't go anywhere. And really, she did deserve better than Teaboy. He'd never admit Jack was right, but it did irk him, the idea of Teaboy dating Tosh and still screwing Jack. She was sweet. She deserved better. Which, he admitted ruefully, rules me out completely.
Jack's frown deepened. "That'd be cruel. Even for us." But his mind was playing out a very satisfactory consolation scene of his own.
Owen grinned. "We could start with observation. Get 'em plastered and see what they do. Proceed if warranted."
"It has potential," Jack said thoughtfully.
"That'll do then," Owen agreed. "I'll set it up. A proper Christmas do. Dinner and all. Torchwood can pay."
-XXX-
"Just arrived home," Tosh reported.
"Good night then," Ianto said, somewhat reluctantly.
"I'll stay tomorrow," Tosh promised. "We'll start getting Lisa strong again."
"Thanks Tosh."
"And we'll talk some more, OK?" Ianto was so strong, but he had to break sometime. Soon, judging by what he'd said tonight. Tosh wanted to be there when he did. He was always there for her.
Ianto sighed. "OK."
And that fact that he hadn't argued worried Tosh even more.
-XXX-
Jack pocketed the PDA and rose gracefully to his feet. He tossed a handful of notes onto the table. "That should cover the breakage. And the refills," he told Bree, as she returned with a fresh tray of drinks. "And buy yourself and Owen here a drink. Or two."
Jack moved smoothly towards the door, resisting the urge to look back over his shoulder. They'd played this game before, he and Owen. Jack set up the pieces and Owen cleared the board. Jack lingered just outside the door, listening.
"I can't drink while I'm working," the barmaid said. Jack grinned. Bree was playing coy. Who was she kidding?
"What time do you get off?" Owen countered.
"Hour or two," she answered. "A bit of a wait."
"You gonna make it worth waiting for?" Owen asked confidently.
The only response to that was a breathy giggle.
Jack grinned. Owen was right for the night. Bree was famous for her excellent customer service.
-XXX-
Owen let himself out of Bree's flat. She hadn't gotten out of bed to say goodbye. Not that it mattered. No illusions, Bree. Give and take and don't slam the door on your way out. Probably didn't even notice when he called her by the wrong name. She'd had a different face in her head too, no doubt. Jack, most likely. Owen hadn't missed the way Bree's eyes followed Jack as he left. But Owen didn't care. He'd had a Torchwood face on the inside of his eyelids, too.
-XXX-
Jack found a roof. Roofs calmed his mind. Allowed him to purge his emotions and think. He looked down at the lights of Cardiff, surveying his domain. Below were the people he'd sworn to protect, in honor of that ancient traveler who couldn't always be there to defend them himself.
Jack tipped his head back and searched the starry expanse above. He didn't really expect to see the elusive blue box. The Doctor Detector was still and silent, after all. But he hoped the Doctor arrived soon. The Doctor had changed Jack, turned him into more than the conman he'd been. Made him into someone he'd been proud to be. But he'd waited for over a century, and the years hadn't been kind. It was easier to be bad than good and more fun too. Sometimes the dark won. Making the decision to sacrifice one, or a few, to save the many wasn't as hard anymore. And using other people's loneliness to numb his own had become easier, too. Playing with people, drawing them in, binding them to him, all the while keeping back the part of himself that could be hurt. Because caring too much meant pain. Loving meant losing.
What he and Owen were planning, that was downright cruel. Tosh and Ianto weren't innocents, either of them, not with their pasts. But they were both wounded and if they'd found solace in each other, what right did he have to interfere? Or Owen. Both of them reaching for a pretty new toy only to find someone more deserving had beaten them to it. The right thing was to back away. Make Owen back away too. Because he and Owen broke everything they played with. Easier than risk being broken again yourself.
Only, it felt….good, coming back to the Hub to find Ianto waiting for him. Ianto, who cleaned up after him and brought him food and made that amazing coffee. Ianto, who held back just enough to make him the greatest prize of all. And Jack couldn't let go until he'd won.
But looking up at the purity of the stars, Jack couldn't help wondering what the Doctor would think of the man he'd become.
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