6 – Moving On

W/C: 4510
Warnings/spoilers/content: swearing, sexual references, M/M kissing
Summary: Ianto says goodbye to friends new and old and says hello to a new life.
Ianto's New Timeline: September 18-25, 2005
Characters: Ianto, 9th Doctor, mortal-Jack, Rose, immortal-Jack, Inspector Donaldson
A/N: a special nod to the mighty Douglas Adams and the number 42 (the Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything)

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After my chat with the Doctor I went back to my room to collect my things and as I neared the sound of Rose's bubbly laughter grew louder. I could hear them talking. They were in my room waiting for me.

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As I rounded the corner Jack let out a "there he is!" and I smiled. I was so glad they were there.

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"Hi there – you two having fun – in my room?" I made a mock frown and plopped down on the bed next to Jack. "I'm glad you're here." I sighed and leaned into his arm.

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"Well … we figured you two needed some privacy for your talk. We didn't want to miss you … soooo … we decided to wait for you here."

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"It was Jack's idea really! He dragged me in here!" She grinned and scooted out of range of Jack's swatting hand. "I think he's smitten!" she teased.

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"Of course I am! He's a hunk." With that he pulled me towards him and kissed me playfully on the lips. "You're just jealous!"

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"Ya, I am!" she agreed wholeheartedly which I must confess did wonders for my ego. "You two are so … ahem … cute together." She was choosing her words carefully.

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Jack leered and retorted, "that's not what you said last night blondie."

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She blushed a lovely shade of crimson. I was so glad I wasn't the only one around here who did that. "Wh…what did I say last night?" she asked nervously.

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"You said we were hot." He leaned forward and fanned himself like she had last night. "Then you ran down the hall after the Doctor. You two get it on last night? Hmmm?" He was really enjoying himself.

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She made a face; not a happy face; not the face of a woman who got it on with the Doctor. "Not even close." She flopped back on the bed with a groan. "He's oblivious. Brilliant and completely stupid at the same time."

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"Yep," Jack agreed, "totally blind." He turned to me and asked, "so … Ianto what's the plan? Are you going to come with us?" He looked so hopeful; sitting there with his heart on his sleeve. I'd never seen this side of Jack and this playful, young, carefree Jack was something I'd never see again.

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It was a gift but it couldn't last.

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"I can't …" I began, "I have things I have to do."

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"Ohhhh! Can't you do them later?" he whined.

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"No," I shook my head and took his hand, "I really can't. I wish I could … stay with you … but I can't." It hurt; saying this, watching his hopes being dashed and knowing I'd never see this Jack again.

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"That sucks," added Rose. "Well, let us walk you out …" she began but she took one look at our body language and changed her mind. "Ahhhh … maybe I'll just meet you in the control room …" she added quickly and ran from the room giggling.

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We moved towards each other and melded together. Our lips connected and our bodies wrapped around each other. This was a goodbye kiss; the kind you make movies about and the kind you remember for the rest of your life.

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We walked slowly down the winding corridor; it felt like a really long walk, much longer than yesterday. The Doctor was fiddling with a thingy on his what-chu-ma-call-it and Rose was slumped on the console room's pathetic excuse for a sofa when we finally found our way there.

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"All set then?" asked the Doctor. His voice sounded chipper but his eyes were dull and sad. I'd be sorry to see him go too.

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"Yep. Got everything in here," I said and held up my backpack. I dropped it on the floor and went over to him. I could see him getting jumpy as I started walking towards him; he definitely didn't like goodbyes. "Doctor … I want to thank you … for talking to me … for taking me to Raxa … Margaret's planet." I grinned and so did he, which was my plan of course.

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"Oh," he sighed, "Ianto. Ianto you are so very welcome. It was my pleasure meeting you."

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"The pleasure was mine, sir." I gave him a hug because I needed one and also because I sensed that more than anything he did too.

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He didn't say anything but he hugged me fiercely.

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"I was wondering … if there's any way to get a hold of you if I find myself in one of those important time-liney situations we talked about?" I pulled back from our hug and looked at him hopefully.

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He nodded and squished his lips together. "I think so." He pulled the sonic screwdriver out of his pocket and wiggled it between his fingers. He held out his hand and said, "your phone?"

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I pulled my phone out of my pocket and handed it to him.

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He pointed his sonic at it and I heard that soothing sound once again.

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He grinned, obviously satisfied and then handed it back to me. "That's my direct line. Here. " He pointed to the old fashioned red phone attached to the console. "Just press speed-dial #42 and it'll dial me directly from anywhere."

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"Thank you, I'll only use it in case of emergencies."

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"You can call me anytime. I'd love to hear from you from time to time." He wrapped an arm around me and led me towards the center of the room where Jack and Rose were leaning up against each other.

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Jack passed me my backpack and then he hugged me again. He kissed me one last time and he didn't even stop when the Doctor began tisking at us. Rose grabbed the Doctor's hand and just giggled.

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I stepped out of the TARDIS and shut the doors behind me but before I walked away I ran my hand across her doorframe and I whispered my heartfelt thanks. "Thank you TARDIS. You are a beautiful blue … ship. Oh, and thanks for giving me this lovely necklace. I promise I'll wear it."

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In reply, I felt her hum in my mind; she didn't send me words per se rather what I felt was a happy warmth followed by a wave of mischievous glee.

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I was back on the Plas; right where I'd started. I stood back and waited for the chilling noise of dematerialization.

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Once they were gone I turned around and looked up in search of the spot that hid a CCTV camera and I waved. I said, "I'll see you soon Jack!" and then I went home.

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TWXDW

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Later that day, while Tosh was reviewing the surveillance footage of the Plas she noticed a blue phone box appear out of thin air and then she saw a familiar looking young man step out. Then she saw something that really shocked her. He looked right at the camera and then waved. She saw his mouth moving and realized he was talking to the camera!

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She paused the footage and called for Jack with some urgency in her voice. "Jack … you should take a look at this …"

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"It's the same guy … I think," she said as she rewound the feed. She hit play and then stood back and watched as Jack experienced a rollercoaster of emotions; surprise-excitement-disappointment-disbelief-excitement-joy-lust. He patted her on the back exuberantly and sauntered off to his office whistling a happy tune.

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She had no idea what had just happened but apparently it was a good thing.

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TWXDW

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While I was walking home, I realized a couple of things.

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Things had changed.

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No more would I merely wait around for something to happen, or watch invisibly from the sidelines and I certainly wouldn't be sitting at home crying the blues.

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Those days were over.

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It was time to go back to work.

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I'd decided to check my messages while walking home. And to my utter surprise (not) the Doctor was a bit off with his timing. He'd returned me a week and a half late.

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People had started to worry; namely Colin, the Inspector and my sister.

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My brain lurched, my guilt meter tilted.

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Oh, fuck. Colin.

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I had no idea how I was going to deal with this.

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I had taken a few days off so no one noticed at first but when I didn't show up to work, I didn't call and even Colin didn't know where I was Inspector Donaldson had done a search; had come up with nothing and was seriously concerned. I'd never missed work and I certainly didn't not call.

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They were worried and I had no idea what to say, how to explain where I'd been. Now, I had a very good idea how Jack felt; interesting turn around I thought.

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So I lied.

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I said, "I took some time by myself to think about my future." It was mostly true. Just not the part about the remote cottage and the solitary week of deep thought.

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The Inspector asked if I'd had any miraculous insights or made any decisions during my deep thought retreat.

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I smiled and I nodded. I started summing up my present situation. "I've completed my degree, I've got some good work experience and I've made some amazing friends. But it's time I move on" I said quietly.

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"I agree. You need to follow your dreams son. You've been holding back. So what's it to be?"

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"Torchwood" I said. I told him about my interest in Torchwood and he groaned. He wasn't surprised – not in the least – he said – not after that gleam he saw in my eyes the last time Torchwood swooped into our lives and made a mess.

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So he wrote me a letter of recommendation and through 'the channels that be' he contacted Torchwood on my behalf. He harangued and he badgered and he insisted until they put him through to one Captain Jack Harkness.

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All the while, I sat and I listened, for over an hour and half he'd argued his way through level after level of bureaucracy. Then when he finally got through to Torchwood he started to lose his patience and then he started to raise his voice. It became quite obvious that Jack wasn't listening and he certainly wasn't interested in hiring some copper.

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"Tell him my name," I whispered.

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So he did. Then his eyes narrowed and he sat back down. Now he was the one listening and Jack was the one doing the talking. Only it didn't sound like arguing anymore. It sounded like wheedling and backpedaling and apologizing.

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"Sure," said the Inspector quietly, "I'll fax his CV and references over a.s.a.p." He hung up the phone, crossed his arms and sat back in his chair.

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"Anything you want to tell me?" He raised an eyebrow quite impressively high.

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I thought about it, tossed it around and came up with nothing; believable at any rate. So I just shrugged and said, "I ran into him." Only my voice squeaked at the end so he knew I was bullshitting. I just smiled though and kept my trap shut.

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"Right." He sighed, gave me a slightly disgusted look and tossed the paper work at me. "Fax this a.s.a.p. Numbers up there." He just shook his head.

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"Inspector … I …"

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"Save it. You owe me a beer. And a story. Better be one hellova story mate."

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So as it turned out he wasn't actually disgusted with me for wanting to join Torchwood he was just pissed that I wasn't telling him the whole story.

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TWXDW

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Two days after I faxed my resume, references, transcripts and letter of interest I got a fax back. It was hand written in Jack's distinctive scrawl; brief and to the point.

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To: Ianto Jones

Torchwood job interview

Monday – 1pm

:) JH

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TW Ianto's Journal TW Ianto's Journal TW

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September 25, 2005

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Had drinks with the Inspector this afternoon. He is one determined son of a bitch. He badgered me for hours over my deep thought retreat as he calls it. After nearly pouring half the contents of the bar down my throat he finally confessed that he thought I'd had some kind of crazy adventure or just gone off to sow some seeds. Who the hell says that anymore? Sow some seeds.

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He's one perceptive bastard. Damn him! And damn me! I didn't say anything. He took one look at me and started hooting "ah ha" over and over again. I'm so glad no one knew what he was ah ha-ing about. Thank the gods that he loves me. He swore he wouldn't ever tell another soul.

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I need to not drink. Especially, if I want to lie convincingly. I suck.

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Tomorrow is the big day. I need to chill out. I need to sleep.

I can't wait to find out how Jack Harkness gives a job interview.

I definitely won't be getting any sleep tonight.

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To do: repent you miserable cheating prick – repent!

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Not to do: get some sleep you look like shit, don't be a wanker tomorrow

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TW Ianto's Journal TW Ianto's Journal TW

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I was totally calm, cool and collected until Monday morning. Then I started freaking out. I certainly didn't get any sleep so I looked like hell. Then I couldn't decide what to wear so it took me forever to get ready. I was nauseous so it took me ages to get anything down. I was so jumpy I nearly got in a car accident on the way to the precinct. I was a disaster waiting to happen.

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Once I got there though, my two lifeboats talked me down off my proverbial cliff and I got it together. I just needed to hear you-are-awesome and you-were-born-for-this a few times from someone who really meant it. Once I'd convinced myself of my awesomeness I had a coffee and a muffin and I was good to go. I was ready to take on Jack Harkness.

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I arrived fifteen minutes early as usual so I took a leisurely stroll around the Plas. I knew he would be watching so I looked up at the camera and smiled. I had on my I'm-a-cheeky-bastard face and my favorite I-am-sexy-as-hell suit and I felt right as rain. I was riding the crest of the I-am-so-awesome high induced wave and I wasn't coming down.

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I saw him step off the lift platform. I'd been expecting a grand entrance especially after I'd smiled at the camera. He was decked out in his RAF greatcoat of course and he looked smoking hot. He smiled broadly as he strode over to me.

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"Jones, Ianto Jones … so nice to see you" he said as he extended his hand.

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I shook his hand firmly and replied "Captain Harkness, it's a pleasure to see you again and thank you for granting me an interview."

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"You could've just called. You didn't need to go through regular channels. You already come highly recommended."

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"Thank you Sir but my Inspector insisted on … helping. He's a bit protective – paternally protective" I clarified.

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He nodded and smiled. "It's always nice having someone on your side. You two sound close."

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"Yes, Sir. He's been very supportive. I'm very lucky to have met him" I said comfortably. Jack was leading me towards the tourist office entrance. The Plas was full of people coming and going from their lunch break.

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"We'll just take the back door since it's so busy out here."

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I nodded. I'd been thinking about how to handle situations like this. I was well aware of this entrance but he'd be expecting a reaction from me. This kind of thing would start happening more and more so I needed to decide whether I was going to act surprised all of the damn time or be a nothing ever surprises me kind of guy. It was time to remake myself again.

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I decided to go with the take-it-in-stride approach. Jack led me into the dark, dusty little office and reached behind the counter for the not so subtle red button. He was watching me closely out of the corner of his eye for any reaction at all. I was standing with my hands behind my back; relaxed but attentive. When he hit the button and the door slid open I just smiled at him.

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"You knew that would happen."

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Sometimes he was surprisingly perceptive. I nodded and reminded him "you said this was the back door."

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"Yes, I did. Come on, just follow me unless you'd like to lead the way?" He was fishing or maybe just joking, I wasn't sure.

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I just chuckled and followed behind him.

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He led me through the cog doors, quickly introduced me to Tosh, Owen and Susie and then led me up to his office. He closed the door, told me to sit and he sat down at his desk. He had my resume and other documents haphazardly strewn across his desk.

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"So, Jones, Ianto Jones what's your specialty?"

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"How much time do we have?"

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"Oh? That many?" He leaned forward and grinned eagerly.

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"Too many to count, Sir." I deadpanned.

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He smirked, stuck out the tip of his tongue and then sighed. "Let's start with your resume shall we?"

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"At your pleasure, Sir."

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"That sounds promising."

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I raised both of my eyebrows in question and allowed a slight smile to curl my lips.

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He smiled and scoured the paper in his hands for something to talk about. He stopped reading, grabbed a pen and made a little star in the margin. "It says here you've had weapons training?"

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"Yes, Sir."

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"Jack, please."

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"Yes, Sir."

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He frowned but continued "what kind?"

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"Mostly small arms, some crossbow and semiautomatics."

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"You any good?"

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"I'll let you be the judge."

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"Oh, really?" He sounded intrigued.

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"Sure. Just make an appointment for next week and I'll come in for a demonstration if you like."

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"I can't wait."

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Neither could I. I knew exactly what he had in mind.

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"What else would you like to know?"

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"Hmm?" He was obviously lost in thought. I could only hope he'd been daydreaming about all the salacious things he wanted to do to me down in the shooting range.

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"From my resume?"

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"Oh, yes" he laughed. "Ah … field training. How much experience do you have?

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"I've been working with the Inspector for several years. He's taken me under his wing. I've learned a lot from him.

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He nodded.

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"My strongest areas are resourcefulness, logical reasoning …"

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He held up a hand. "I'm gonna stop you right there. I don't want the psych test version. Tell me about your adventure with the Doctor. That'll tell me everything I need to know."

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"Okay. Fair enough…" I told him, in detail, what happened; everything from my meeting him on the Plas, going to lunch, catching Margaret, the TARDIS talking to me, needing a containment unit and then I skipped over to dropping Margaret the egg off at the hatchery. I had been talking a mile a minute and I confess I hadn't been watching him very carefully. I'd been lost in memory.

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Somewhere along the telling his face had gone white, deathly white, bordering on sickly, vomitously green. His knuckles looked ready to split as he gripped the arms of his chair with sheer desperation.

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I looked from his claw like hands to his ghostly face and then back at his hands.

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"You," gulp, "remember now, don't you?" I said in my tiniest most tentative voice.

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He nodded his head ever so slightly.

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He unwrapped his right hand, reached down and pulled open the bottom drawer. He pulled out a bottle of scotch, pulled the cork off and took a long deep swig from the bottle. He set it on the desk and then set two glasses next to it. He poured a finger or two into each and then passed me one.

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"I …" he shook his head "don't understand why I didn't remember before now." He tipped the contents of his glass into his mouth, set the glass back down onto the desk and then buried his face in his hands.

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"The Doctor told me you wouldn't remember our time in the TARDIS until we were both out of her sphere of influence, whatever that means…"

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"But the first time I met you was in the hub after you broke in. I remember it clearly. The rift had opened, you dropped in, we went up, talked to the Doctor, you two went away and I went back down here."

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"Do you remember going to Raxacoricofallapatorious with me?"

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"I do but I also remember it slightly different. How can I remember both? This is nuts."

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"It's a paradox. My fault actually."

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"How so?"

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I blew out a breath and wiggled my lips around. "Well, I wasn't really supposed to meet the doctor or you yet – either of you for that matter – and I certainly wasn't supposed to take a trip in the TARDIS." I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. I was getting a timey-wimey headache again and they were never fun.

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"I'm getting a timey-wimey headache. Time travel sucks." I sighed.

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"I know, it …" then he turned a new color and he looked even more shocked than he had before. "Holy shit!" his mouth worked open and closed but no sound actually came out. "I … just remembered the ah … hot tub." He looked at me as if for the first time.

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"How could I forget?" I joked.

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"I can't believe I almost did. That was memorable and I'm betting it happened longer ago for me than for you."

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"What? A few hundred?"

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His eyes flashed dark and he swallowed reflexively. "How could ya know that?" His voice had shifted towards the suspicious end of the spectrum.

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This was one of those times when I had to lie and lie well or all hell was going to break loose. "The Doctor … time travel … you know?"

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"Did he tell you what happened to me?"

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"Uhm. No. He didn't have to. I found out a different way."

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"Enlighten me?"

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"Jack, you of all people know we're not supposed to talk about certain things." I bluffed. I bluffed my brains out.

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He nodded, waved both hands and looked entirely penitent. "Yes, yes ... of course you're right. I'm sorry, I forgot about your timeline problems. That was the reason you sought him out in the first place wasn't it?"

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"Yes," I nodded "it was."

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"Okay. I'll stop asking about that."

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"No, it's okay. We can talk about it. We were both there." I snorted and shook my head. "It's crazy, I know." I looked at him more seriously and asked, "are you alright with this? Do you think you'll be able to work with me considering our … history?" I was suddenly very nervous.

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"Ya." He swallowed again and smiled more easily. "I think you and I could work together quite well and did in more ways than one, if I remember correctly."

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I just grinned. You know, that foolish oh-my-giddy-aunt-I-am-so-ridiculously-happy grin.

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"So back to my other skills …" I began.

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"Yes, back to your other skills. Please go on?"

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"I'm also an exceptional archivist. And I'm betting you have a serious archive problem that needs my attention. Am I right?"

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"You bet I do." He smiled eagerly and continued, "so let me get this straight … you can shoot, you have crime scene experience and you can fix our archives?"

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"Absolutely. And that's not all. I also happen to make the world's best coffee - for the right people."

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"Really?" His eyes glittered with excitement.

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I nodded and raised my eyebrows playfully.

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"When can you start?"

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"In a few weeks? I have some things to wrap up."

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"Personal or professional?"

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"A bit of both actually."

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"I see. Are you seeing anyone right now?"

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"Yes, I am actually."

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"Oh," he sighed emphatically. "That's too bad."

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I smiled and left it at that.

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He came around the desk and I stood up. He stepped close and took my hand. "Congratulations. You're hired."

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"That's quick. Are you sure? I have a few demands of my own."

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"Oh, and what would they be?"

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"I have a list."

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"Give me your list. I'm sure we can work something out."

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"I will."

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"You're a hard nut to crack Ianto. I look forward to getting to know you again." He led me down into the hub and said he'd walk me out.

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While we were walking down the corridor, I asked him what he'd told Tosh and Owen about my first visit to the hub. He'd told them I was working with an old friend of his and I had a high level security clearance so I could be trusted. I thought the excuse sounded a bit weak but I couldn't come up with anything better so I said I'd go along with it.

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Once we got up to the Plas, he'd started getting fidgety. "So, you haven't really accepted my offer yet. Are you going to take the job?"

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"Oh, sorry. Yes, I'd love to. I'm looking forward to it. Can I call you once I've got everything sorted?"

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"Yes, that would be great. I'm glad you got in touch with me Ianto. I have to admit - you really made a memorable first impression – both times."

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To be continued in … Chapter 7: Into the Desert

Thank you very much for all your wonderful reviews.

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