No spoilers

Beta-ed: GlassSplinter

Collecting sticky balls turned out to be a big cleanup operation. Of course Ianto did all the work. Owen and Jack just leaned against the SUV and commented. They didn't even pretend that they were contributing.

They just stood there while Ianto collected the sticky balls with his sleeves rolled up and hands covered with green rubber gloves. Sticky ball was an appropriate name for them. They were round, purple, sticky and their surface was all mushy. Ianto was careful not to squash them before he put them in a big container. It wasn't an easy task because they slipped through his fingers when he didn't hold them tightly enough.

When his collecting took him away from the SUV Owen looked at Jack and noticed how his Captain was staring at Ianto with a smile on his face.

"God Jack, why don't you just slip something in his drink and get it over with," he said, irritated.

Jack turned to him in surprise.

"And steal all your moves?" he said cheerfully. He acted like he was considering it. "No, it's no fun that way. Besides with my cheekbones I don't need that."

"I believe that with stiff Teaboy you do." Owen was pleased.

"You think?" Jack grinned, he couldn't help himself.

"You bastard!" Owen was shocked. "Is anyone safe from you?"

"You're safe." Jack said softly. "I wouldn't touch your scrawny ass."

"You wish." He snorted. "So, Teaboy gave in, I had a better opinion of him." That reminded Jack of how scared was Ianto when he thought they would catch him. He certainly wasn't scared of Tosh, or Gwen. He didn't want Owen to mock him. "So how was he?" He asked inquiringly.

"I'm sure he would be great." He decided to drive Owen's attention towards a different direction. "Polite tight guys often are. They aren't self centered like some people. And besides, office affairs are tiring. Don't you agree?" He stared at Owen.

Owen turned away his gaze. He didn't have any intention to discuss it with Jack of all people.

"So you say that you didn't pin down Teaboy yet just because you're lazy," he said with a smile. "Oh Jack, it's so you, to be that smug. I bet I'm resisting just because you're not interested."

Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"Either that, or you don't have any taste." He said and pushed himself away from the SUV. "Come on, or Ianto will say he doesn't need us at all, and he'll take over command."

"We wouldn't want that. We would all wear suits and file reports on how often we use the loo." Owen followed Jack.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." Jack tilted his head. "The suit part."

"Don't you dare Harkness," threatened Owen.

"What?" Ianto lifted his head. The container was full of sticky balls, there were just three balls left on the ground.

"Cancel pizza day," Jack said easily. "Do you need help Ianto?" he asked with an innocent look on his face.

Ianto looked at him ironically.

"You have perfect timing sir, like always." He collected the last three balls with one sweep.

"Of course I do," grinned Jack. He was pleased. "Let's go back. If we're lucky, the girls are naked wrestling by now."

"Now that's a thought." Owen jumped in the back of the SUV.

Ianto rolled his eyes and lowered the container next to Owen's seat.

"Hey, move that behind, what if it spills all over me." Owen backed away.

"Then we will have a quiet Owen for a change," Jack said, and entered through the passenger side door. "And have some respect, for all we know they might have a genius IQ, don't hurt their feelings."

Owen murmured while Ianto fastened a seat belt around the container.

"If I put them behind you they will be squashed at the first turn, and then we'll have a sticky ball jelly. Would you like that in your sandwich or with coffee, Owen?" Ianto asked with a serious look.

"You would, wouldn't you?" Owen shook his head. "Jack we give him too much power." Jack hid his smile behind his hand.

"You should be nice then." Jack answered while Ianto was starting the engine. "At least while he's holding the wheel."

"What, and miss all those funny curves?" Owen mocked, but he gave up after that, there was more than one funny curve on their way back. He knew because he'd driven through it while Tosh and Gwen were combing and bickering in the back. He should have instantly known there was something wrong with them, but he was too busy hurrying back so he could shag Gwen one more time. Jack was right, office affairs were tiring, and he was beginning to slack. It wasn't like shagging Gwen would turn out to be anything more than that, shagging.

During the drive Jack didn't look at Ianto, but he did think about him. If he had answered Owen's question truthfully he would had said that he was great and that he wasn't over it after one try like Owen had suggested. But he hadn't lied to him. Because Ianto didn't give in; he'd taken Jack. Well, that was a fact he wouldn't say to Owen. He'd never get enough of it.