Title: Hitting the Ground Running

Fandom:Torchwood

Rating: Adult overall.

Pairing: Primarily Jack/Ianto, with other secondary pairings

Chapter: 21/?

Word Count: 3189

Summary: AU. Majorly AU. Ianto Jones first encountered Torchwood as a teenager trying to leave his old life behind. However, when Torchwood Three gets rather violently restructured at the start of the millennium, he's got a new assignment in Cardiff. The only thing he wasn't prepared for was his new boss.

Disclaimer: Torchwood does not belong to me. I'm merely borrowing the characters with the promise to return them when I'm done.

Chapter Twenty-One

In Which Suzie Returns, Owen Drinks a Lot, and Ianto is Left to Wonder What, Exactly, One Can do With a Stopwatch

"And you kept her in the basement all that time, and nobody noticed? God, we were idiots," Suzie laughed harshly as Ianto finished tying up the kerchief he'd found for her head, obscuring the rather unpleasant bullet hole from sight.

"You were pre-occupied. Especially you," Ianto returned coldly, wondering why he'd decided speaking to her was a good idea.

"I guess you won't believe me if I tell you it was the glove, then?" Suzie looked down at the plate of digestive cookies Ianto had placed in front of her. "And do I really need to eat?"

"No idea," Ianto shrugged, perching on the edge of the table. "And no, to the other question. Because the glove's obviously still controlling you, but hopefully the part of you that is you is present enough to have a decent conversation with."

"Talk away. It's not like I have anywhere else to be."

So Ianto did, telling her about everything that had happened since her untimely death, and she listened attentively until the end.

"Well. I think you should consider yourself lucky that Jack didn't shoot you," she finally said.

"Probably," Ianto admitted.

"You're really in love with him, aren't you?"

"Inasmuch as anybody can be and still remain sane," Ianto said dryly. "Jack is an incredibly easy man to love but he's almost impossible to be in love with," he clarified, and Suzie nodded. "I think everybody that meets him loves him in one way or another, even those that have tried to kill him."

"Or those that have killed him," she said bitterly, and Ianto turned to her.

"You shot him?"

"Through the forehead," she nodded. "Didn't take, of course, but I could hardly know that. I take it you did know?"

"I've known since I was sixteen," he told her, sitting down in a chair on the other side of the table, and fiddling with the knot on his tie.

"You know it's not going to last, right?" Suzie finally asked, the sneer in her voice telling Ianto that this was more the influence of the glove than it was truly her. "He's going to find somebody younger and prettier and you're just going to be thrown away like so much old trash."

"I know," he said quietly, obviously surprising her with the admission. "But I don't care. Any time I can get with him…any time at all…I'm going to treasure it. There's nobody in the world like him, and the fact that he even notices me…that's he's willing to forgive me after everything I did, means that he's worth it."

"You really do love him," Suzie, obviously back to herself, sounded awed and a little lonely. "I've never known love like that. My father never loved me, and Owen…it was so obvious I was just a replacement, just him trying to get over Katie by being in a relationship that meant nothing."

"And Jack?"

"God, Ianto, all he ever did was talk about you, even when he was in bed with me," she laughed ruefully. "Guess I should have seen it. But then again, not too many men who would put up with a woman like me."

"You'd have found somebody, Suzie. There were other options…"

"Ianto, that glove made me a murderer. It's hard to walk away from that," she stared down at the cookies before taking one and nibbling on it.

"And what about the two people who are dead because of me?" Ianto questioned softly.

"Yes, Ianto, because of something you did, not by your own hand. There's quite a difference," she pointed out before putting the cookie down. "No tastebuds. Brilliant."

"I'm sorry. You deserved so much more," Ianto finally stood.

"I worked for Torchwood, Ianto. Quite frankly, I'm amazed you've lasted this long. But I suppose being teacher's pet has its advantages," she smiled bitterly and Ianto looked up as Jack came to lean on the rail, pointing at his watch.

"I have to go. It was…nice talking to you."

"Same. Good luck with everything, Ianto," Suzie, real Suzie, told him, and Ianto nodded to her before sweeping out of the room.

000

Brilliant, Ianto! He thought as he made his way through the Hub, cleaning up empty coffee mugs and throwing away scrap pieces of paper. There's 'quite a list'? Really?

He threw the paper rather violently into the bin and leaned back against Owen's desk, scrubbing a hand over his eyes. Yes, he knew perfectly well that Jack wouldn't actually expect him to come up with ways to use the stopwatch, but really, how tactless was that? It wasn't even a good line!

"Ianto?"

"Owen?" Ianto turned, taking one look at the other man and knowing that he'd need to call off his and Jack's engagement.

"She was dead, Ianto," Owen said in a listless voice, his normal snark gone, and Ianto wasn't quite sure how to handle him like this. "Gwen. When we got to the pier. I held her and…and she was dead. Like Katie," he laughed, somewhat hysterically, the sound so ugly and wrong that Ianto flinched. "Just like Katie. And you were right, I may not love her, but I can't watch anyone else die, Ianto. It…seeing Jack just shoot Suzie like that…I mean, I know it wasn't her any more, but I cared about her! Her and Gwen! And I wasn't supposed to, they were just supposed to be shags, but I…"

"Owen," Ianto took a step forward and settled his hands on Owen's shoulders, forcing the other man to look at him. "Calm down. You're hysterical."

"And you, so bloody lucky to have an immortal lover. Never have to watch him di…"

"I have seen him die!" Ianto exclaimed, probably too loudly, and Owen looked at him in shock. "I was sixteen. He was bleeding to death in an alley, he called me to come be with him, he…I didn't know he would come back to life and he shot himself in the head, Owen! So don't get on me about…" he took a deep breath to compose himself.

"Sorry," Owen visibly deflated. "I'm sorry, Ianto, it's just been such a crap day."

"Need a drink?"

"Yeah," Owen agreed. "Yours?"

"Mine," Ianto nodded. "And…how do you know about Jack…"

"Mate, I'm not an idiot. Tosh and I figured it out a while back; one too many fast-healing wounds, compounds in his blood that certainly aren't from this century, although we can't isolate them…"

"Fifty-first."

"Cripes, he's out of his time, ain't he?" Owen shook his head. "Three thousand years in the future, and he's here in this stinkin' place. What's in it for him, eh?"

"He's waiting for…a friend. And that's all I'm going to tell you right now," Ianto said briskly.

"Fine; fine. I'm not gonna press," Owen held up his hands. "So? Drinks?"

"Right," Ianto nodded. Sir? Jack?

What is it? Ianto, you're projecting like crazy right now.

It's Owen. I need to stay with him tonight.

Can I join in?

Not like that, sir. But let me check.

"Owen? Jack's still here; do you mind if he comes with?"

"As long as you two don't start shoving your tongues down each other's throats, it's fine by me," Owen shrugged.

Owen says yes.

Be down in a minute.

Sir, with all due respect, let me come up to tell you. Owen can hardly know we've been holding a conversation psychically.

True. Do that.

"I'll just go get him," Ianto nodded before heading for the office, barely reacting when Jack grabbed his wrist and pulled him in for a kiss.

"So…"

"Sir?"

"Rain check on tonight?" Jack whispered against his mouth, nipping lightly at his lips.

"Sir," Ianto agreed, bringing his arms up to pull Jack closer. "Owen says we can't when he's around."

"Pity," Jack moved lower and kissed his neck, sucking on his pulse, and Ianto tried to stifle a groan.

"Jack…Jack, later."

"You're no fun," Jack pouted, kissing him once more before drawing back. "But you're right. We'll continue this another time."

"Good," Ianto left the office, Jack trailing after him, and soon they were seated in his flat, Owen knocking back scotch like it was water. "Owen, you might want to take it easy…"

"Yeah," Owen vaguely agreed, but he set the glass down before slumping back against the sofa. Ianto wisely decided to put the scotch away and brought Owen a bottle of water over.

"Now drink it."

Owen gave him a sulky look and Ianto sighed.

"All of it, Owen. I am not dealing with you emptying your stomach into my toilet all night."

"He's right, Owen," Jack said, much softer than Jack normally said anything, reaching to put his hand on the back of Owen's neck and rub gently. Ianto had never seen Jack and Owen interact like this before, but he suspected that they had to be a lot closer than they acted most of the time or else they'd be squabbling a lot more often. "I know it's hard, but…"

"Jack, just because you and I both slept with Suzie…"

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "No, not…Suzie. I meant with Gwen. You care about her, don't you?"

"Maybe," Owen admitted. "But not…not like I'm in love with her or anything. She and Rhys are good together, and I'm not going to come between that, but I wish…"

"You wish there was somebody for you," Jack nodded. "I get that, Owen. I really do."

"No, you don't," Owen sounded peevish, and Ianto pointed to the water bottle as he sullenly took a drink. "You can get anybody you want into your bed; you just have to smile at them."

"True," Jack grinned and Ianto cleared his throat.

You're not helping.

"Thanks, Harkness," Owen muttered, and Jack had the grace to look guilty.

"Sorry. But Owen, you're an incredible guy underneath this front you put up to the world, and someday soon somebody's gonna see that," Jack promised, and Owen gave him a thin smile before pulling away.

"Well, mates, I guess the two of you'll want the place to yourselves, so I should be…" he wobbled a bit and Ianto grabbed him.

"Oh, no you're not. Jack and I can hold off for a night, I'm sure. You're staying right here until you work off that alcohol," Ianto informed him. "And finish your water."

Owen mumbled something at him and sullenly sipped at the bottle.

"And you can take the guest room," Ianto added, and Owen looked a little happier at that news.

"Good. I thought you were gonna make me sleep on the couch."

"No," Ianto sighed. "But get going; get some sleep."

"Fine," Owen huffed and stalked off to the spare room as Jack chuckled and pulled Ianto close to him.

"Does this mean I get to room with you?"

"Hmm, what makes you so sure I wasn't saving the sofa for you?" Ianto asked slyly, hands coming up to slide Jack's braces down.

"Cruel, placing me below Owen," Jack pouted.

"And I'd never do that, would I?" Ianto grinned at him before leaning in for a kiss, forgetting his promise to Owen completely.

Which, in all honestly, was probably not a good thing as Owen wandered in about five minutes later. "Ianto, you got any towels I can…can't you two keep it in your pants for five minutes?"

"Truth be told, Owen, it is still in my pants," Jack smirked at him.

"Barely," Owen grunted, and Ianto realized that was certainly true. His shirt was open and Jack was only wearing his undershirt, Jack's hands playing with the button on his jeans. "Ianto? Towels?"

"Right. Linen closet," Ianto gestured. "Take what you need."

"Thanks. And if I hear anything…I mean anything…tonight, I'm coming in there and throwing cold water on the pair of you," he threatened, and Ianto froze. "What? I'm just joking…"

"No, it's just…Suzie always used to say that to us," he admitted, and Owen looked down at the floor.

"Sorry."

"No, you couldn't have known," Jack assured him. "Don't worry about it."

"Okay. Well…goodnight, gents."

" 'Night, Owen," Ianto replied, and Jack waited until he'd grabbed the towels and closed the door to his room before tugging on the open ends of Ianto's shirt.

"Well? We're halfway there already. What say we finish getting undressed and call it a night?" he asked with a smirk, hands slipping back to Ianto's waist.

"Are you staying?"

"I'm not welcome?"

"Always, Jack, but…" Ianto shrugged. "You don't like to leave the Hub at night. You don't really sleep."

"I'm sleeping," Jack assured him. "Stop worrying. I'm not going to steal out in the middle of the night or anything."

"Just…lock the door if you do," Ianto pulled away and walked into the bedroom, Jack following and closing the door behind him.

"Told you, I'm staying," he smiled before turning Ianto around and slamming him against the door.

"Jack!"

"Quietly, I know," Jack reached to pull his shirt off before deftly unbuttoning Ianto's jeans and sliding them off, attaching his mouth to Ianto's neck in the process.

"God, Jack, we can't…"

"As long as we're quiet," Jack reminded him. "What Owen doesn't know doesn't hurt him."

"I feel like a teenager again," Ianto laughed. "Hiding from my parents."

"You ever do that?"

"I ran away from home at sixteen," Ianto reminded him, trying not to groan as Jack bit down between his neck and shoulder before licking the bite to soothe it. "But that's…not to say I didn't have some…girls over before that happened…"

"Girls," Jack echoed, kissing his way back to Ianto's mouth before gripping his hair and deepening the kiss, his free hand rubbing Ianto through his pants.

"Jack, we have to…"

"No, we don't," Jack repeated.

"But I promised…"

"Again, this is Owen. He's not going to care," Jack moved back a bit, bracing an arm beside Ianto's head. "But, if you're that against the idea, I'm sure we can reach a compromise."

"What sort of…compromise?" Ianto asked hesitantly, and Jack slid a hand into his own trousers, closing his eyes as his mouth opened in a gasp of pleasure. "As…incredibly appealing as that look is on you, that's not an answer, sir," Ianto gulped, and Jack opened his eyes.

"It's simple, really. Owen can't accuse us of anything if we don't actually do anything together…"

"…Oh."

"Oh, indeed," Jack slid his trousers down, predictably not wearing anything underneath them, and started to stroke himself, keeping his eyes locked with Ianto's the entire time. "So? Care to join me?"

"You're horrible," Ianto replied, although he couldn't deny he was feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Come on, Ianto Jones," Jack growled, leaning in and running his tongue along the curve of the younger man's ear. "Live a little."

"Guh," Ianto replied eloquently before drawing himself out, matching Jack's pace as he started jerking himself off.

"For the record, this doesn't count."

"Count…?"

"That rain check I talked about? This isn't it," Jack clarified, slowing to run his thumb over the tip of his cock and moaning rather exaggeratedly into Ianto's ear before stroking himself faster.

"I'd guessed, somehow."

"And you know what I want to do next time?" Jack asked, a tiny stutter in the middle plainly showing Ianto that he wasn't as unaffected as he appeared to be.

"What, sir?"

"I want to come inside you," Jack groaned, moving his hand faster. "I want you screaming my name when I do."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, yeah," Jack laughed. "You up for that?"

"Right now? You could ask me to do…ah…just about anything," Ianto knew he was close now, could sense that Jack was close, too, and he tried to bite off a moan before it got too loud.

"Ianto?"

"Y-yeah?"

"Come with me," Jack whispered in his ear, and the words sent him over the edge, his cries muffled by the fact that Jack had wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and crushed their mouths together as he did.

Jack kept kissing him, holding him steady as he slumped boneless against the wall before breaking the kiss, keeping their mouths only inches apart. "God."

"Good?"

"You have to ask?" Ianto laughed breathlessly.

"Bed?"

"Shower," Ianto replied. "I'm a mess."

"Need any…company?"

"Yeah," Ianto didn't hesitate. "But…only if you promise to behave yourself."

Jack nodded and, remarkably, did; he even offered to wash Ianto's hair as the younger man leant back against him and sighed in contentment. Jack even, despite his protests, picked him up and carried him to bed before shutting off the light and getting in beside him, spooning him from behind.

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"You promise you'll be here in the morning?"

Jack's silence told Ianto everything, but he was shocked when Jack clicked something on his wrist strap and a beep sounded through the room. "Tosh'll hate me for this, but I've diverted all rift disturbances to bypass my system and alert her on hers."

"I'll make it up to her somehow," Ianto slurred, yawning for good measure as Jack chuckled and kissed his shoulder.

"I'm sure you will," Jack said with obvious fondness. "Now go to sleep."

"Sleeping," Ianto replied sullenly as Jack kissed the back of his neck, nuzzling it a second later. "Hard to sleep when you do that, sir."

"Ianto Jones," Jack purred.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just like saying your name. Must be all those vowels," Jack said slowly, making sure to over-enunciate every word.

"Jack?" Ianto, now more awake, turned around.

"Ooh, are we going to have a heart-to-heart?" he asked excitedly.

"No, just a question. Do you know exactly where your ancestors came from?"

"Meaning…"

"Well, you sound American. At least, passably American. But you're from some planet way out there and…I don't know, it's weird, thinking about languages and accents and such, isn't it?"

"Nah, I know what you mean. Truth be told, it's pretty mixed up there; like I said, I'm pure human, far as I know, but most people aren't, and you've got people that obviously have ancestors from one place or another, but there are accents up there I've never heard on Earth, so who knows?" he shrugged, propping himself up on an elbow and looking down at Ianto. "But I can honestly say I've never heard anybody who talks the way you do."

"Now you're just flattering me."

"I'm not. Your voice is incredibly sexy," Jack mock-growled at him and Ianto laughed nervously.

"Stop."

"I know, flattery embarrasses you," Jack flashed a grin at him. "Any more questions about my heritage?"

"No, I think that about does it," Ianto decided, and Jack nodded before laying back down, shifting a bit to make both of them more comfortable.

"Okay. Now, goodnight," Jack said sternly, and Ianto smiled before kissing him gently.

"Goodnight, Jack."

It didn't take him long to fall asleep, and Jack just contented himself with watching his young lover for a time, running his hand through Ianto's hair before he decided grabbing a few winks wouldn't be a bad idea and he lay his head on the pillow, the even sound of Ianto's breath soon lulling him to sleep.