AN: Small worlds. This was a fun chapter to write. It involves a whirlwind of emotions though. Hope you like it.

Disclaimers: I don't own Torchwood.

Warnings: umm curse words, death, mentions of sex.

Jack plopped down on the couch beside Ianto. "Sorry about your door," he said.

Ianto shrugged.

"So you'll be interested to know that your landlord is not the first irate woman I've dealt with today," Jack continued.

Ianto looked at the older man and raised his eyebrows.

"Tosh," Jack said when he realized Ianto wasn't going to speak.

Ianto just nodded then went to his kitchen with the intent to make coffee.

"Don't you want to know what she said," Jack asked as he followed Ianto into the kitchen.

Ianto turned and glared at Jack. "Why are you here Jack? You said someone would come at noon, it's not even 10:45," he snapped.

"I was bringing your phone to you," Jack said.

Ianto held up his phone for Jack to see, "Thanks, I got it, you can go now and how about not coming back."

"I'm trying to apologize," Jack yelled.

"What?" Ianto said in disbelief. "I didn't hear an apology."

"I said sorry about the door," Jack pouted.

Ianto put his head in his hands and let out a growl.

"Okay Jack, lets, for arguments sake, say that you are indeed apologizing. What is it you are apologizing for, besides the door?" Ianto said slowly.

"For acting as if you meant for your girlfriend to try and take over the world," Jack said softly taking a step closer to Ianto and reaching up to brush his thumb over Ianto's tear stained cheek.

Ianto closed his eyes and leaned into Jack's touch, knowing how easy it would be to get lost in it once again. When Ianto opened his eyes Jack was standing even closer and the hand not caressing Ianto's cheek was on Ianto's hip. Jack smiled softly then leaned forward and captured Ianto's lips almost immediately trying to deepen the kiss, but Ianto pulled away.

"What else are you sorry for," Ianto whispered trying to block out Jack's pheromones.

"Not what you want me to be sorry for," Jack said dropping his hand from Ianto's cheek but leaving the one on his hip.

"Then you really should leave," Ianto said pulling away from Jack's grip and heading to the other end of the kitchen.

"Damit Ianto, I had to do it! You understand that if I hadn't, you, Gwen, and Owen would all be dead now," Jack yelled.

Ianto did understand that and maybe given time he could actually forgive Jack but not now. Not when 24 hours hadn't even passed yet.

"Just leave Jack," Ianto said and Jack left without another word.

TW-TW-TW

Ianto lay on his bed and stared at the red numbers of his bedside clock. It was too early to be awake but his mind was refusing to let him go back to sleep. It had been over a week since he had seen or heard from Jack. Owen had answered the phone the first time Ianto called to say he was going to the store, and after that Owen and Tosh were the only people he saw from Torchwood.

He had also had no contact with any rift children since that day. He felt a bit abandoned. He knew it was a security risk and that was the only reason but he had at least expected to see Jason. Ianto had been sure Jason would come see him despite the risk.

Owen removed the monitoring device from Ianto's door on his second day of medical leave. It had stopped working anyway because Jack had broken it when he bashed the door open. Ianto was also allowed to leave his flat without checking in, though the silver bracelet was still firmly in place, as well as the 5 kilometer restriction.

Ianto rolled out of bed. Sleep was going to continue to evade him so he just gave up. He trudged into his living room and sat down on his couch flipping on his telly to some early morning news program. There was a meteorologist discussing some odd weather reports in Cardiff. First was a rain storm in Splott that only covered one home, then a man in Grangetown was claiming his car got caught in a hail storm though no other vehicles were damaged. The meteorologist was claiming both instances to be hokum. Ianto wasn't convinced. He shut off the television after the camera return to the normal reporter and she said, "That's just the normal spookiness of Cardiff for you, Jeff."

This is what Ianto needed something productive to do. Owen had told him yesterday that Jack had gone to London for a UNIT conference and Tosh had just reinstated his passwords into the hub as well as giving him back his pass cards. He would go to the hub research the weather and leave a detailed description for Tosh. His mind made up he headed to his bathroom to get ready.

Once he was in his car, which he was happy to have gotten back three days before, he began to feel excited. So because there were no cars on the road that early he drove a bit faster than he should, turning corners as if he was being chased. He imagined he was James Bond, out to save the weather.

He laughed out loud. Once he reached the parking garage a smile was glued on his face.

The look of elation was still on his face when he entered the tourist center but quickly fell when he saw a cardboard box sitting on the counter. He cautiously peered inside. It was all of Lisa's personal effects from her underground prison. Sitting on top was Lisa's favorite picture of the two of them together. Ianto had a copy in his flat already. Tears started to flow freely from his eyes as he looked at it. He hardly noticed them; he was use to them now. He quickly picked the box up and headed into the hub. From there he headed to the incinerator and he tossed the whole box in. He didn't want those memories. Of his Lisa covered in metal in constant pain, nope he wanted to remember her whole. Ianto allowed himself five minutes to fall apart then he wiped his tears and headed back to the hub to Tosh's computer to look up strange weather occurrences.

Ianto printed out several reports about strange weather including the two the news program had mentioned. He went to the printer to get the reports placing them all in a manila folder then headed back to Tosh's computer to leave her a note about the reports. He had his head down reading one of them when Jack's voice startled him.

"You shouldn't be here."

Ianto looked up at Jack standing in his trousers and under shirt his braces hanging at his side. Ianto felt his breath catch. "Neither should you," he said to answer Jack's questioning look. He then closed the file and continued on his way to Tosh's computer, aware of the fact that Jack was following him.

Ianto felt Jack place a hand on his back gently and became hyperaware of the older man's pheromones. Yum was all he could think mixed with a guilty feeling in his stomach.

"What do you got," Jack said interrupting Ianto's thoughts.

Ianto took a deep breath, "funny sort of weather patterns."

Ianto looked back at Jack to see his face covered in worry. "Do you know what's causing it," he asked.

Jack made eye contact with Ianto and tried to hide the worry quickly. "Ya, but there is nothing we can do about it right now. How are you doing," he said softly.

Ianto shrugged. Jack let out a sigh, "Well there really is nothing that can be done right now, so why don't you head back home and get some more sleep?"

That's not what Ianto wanted to do at all. "Please let me stay and work, I can't take being alone anymore. I need something productive to do," Ianto begged.

Jack raised his eyebrows and grinned, "There are plenty of…" he began but Ianto cut him off with a finger placed on his lips.

"If that sentence ends with 'productive things you can do to me,' then you best not finish it," Ianto said with a charming smile.

Jack shrugged then took a step away from Ianto. "Okay," he said putting his hands up in surrender, "you can stay, but understand that I will be continuing to flirt with you."

Ianto smiled. "Good," he said then winked and walked away from Jack to go to the archives. He was sure there would be a mess in there that he needed to sort out. As he sat at his desk looking over the reports that his team mates considered done he tried not to think too much about the shocked look he had left on Jack's face.

TW-TW-TW

Ianto couldn't really understand how his team mates had managed to trash the hub so bad in the last week and a half. Once he finished in the archives he started cleaning the main hub. It looked like it had when he first arrived at Torchwood 3, well minus the shoe in the water.

He was disinfecting Owen's work station when Tosh arrived. Her face lit up when she saw him. She ran to him and engulfed him in a hug.

"Steady on," Ianto said not entirely comfortable with the hug.

"Sorry," Tosh said as she took a step back and straightened his suit back out from where the hug had crumpled it. "It's just really good to see you here in the hub," she said cheerfully.

"It's good to be back," Ianto said, "Do you want me to make you some coffee?" Tosh nodded.

"I want some coffee!" Jack yelled from his office.

"Right away sir," Ianto yelled back to him. It felt comforting to be able to fall back into his normal routine as if he hadn't been away.

Ianto quickly made a coffee for Tosh and Jack. Delivering Tosh hers first then head to Jack's office and sat the coffee in front of him.

"Take a seat," Jack said his tone questioning.

Ianto nodded and then sat.

"How are you doing," Jack asked for the second time that day.

Ianto was tempted to say fine, but knew Jack wouldn't accept that. So he went with the truth.

"It varies," Ianto said softly.

Jack nodded, "Yeah, that's normal. It never heals totally just the times between being okay and having a break down get longer and longer."

"Have you lost many lovers," Ianto asked before he could stop himself.

"Yep, so many, it's why I try and not to get attached anymore," Jack said then took a sip of his coffee. "Mm, I have missed this so much," he moaned.

Ianto laughed. "I am glad to see I am still appreciated for my coffee skills, sir," he teased.

Jack smiled then his face turned to a rare nervous expression. "I was wondering if we could maybe start again," he said softly.

Ianto nodded, "Okay, yeah," he said nervously then suddenly blurted, "I am sorry Jack; I promise that I didn't intend to sleep with you, it wasn't part of some master 'seduce Jack Harkness' plan. It just happened."

Jack nodded but didn't say anything. He stared at Ianto for a minute while he drank his coffee making Ianto feel extremely nervous.

"I just want to go on the record and say that I seduced you," Jack said finally breaking the silence.

"That's what happened is it?" Ianto said slightly chuckling.

"Yep," Jack said popping the p at the end of the word.

"Whatever helps you, well do whatever it is you do at night," Ianto said with a wink as he got up and headed back to the main hub. He heard Jack laugh behind him.

Ianto left the hub shortly after that to get breakfast. When he came back Gwen and Owen were there.

"What are you doing here," Owen said when he saw Ianto. His voice though not the same accent reminded Ianto of how Jason would address him in the past.

Ianto flinched slightly and looked down at Owen in the med bay the man had his arms crossed over his chest.

"I was bored, so I came to work," Ianto said.

Owen narrowed his eyes, "half days only, I want you to be home by 3, okay." he said.

Ianto nodded then offered Owen some pastries, Owen took one then smiled. "It's good to have you back," he whispered then louder said, "Get me some coffee Tea-boy."

Ianto rolled his eyes at Owen's attempt to hide his compassion from the rest of the team and went to get the doctor a Coffee.

After delivering the doctor his coffee he went to give one to Gwen.

"Thanks Ianto," Gwen said taking the coffee, "Glad you are back." Her voice sounded so fake Ianto almost called her out on it but decided against it. He did however glare at the back of her head when she turned back to her computer screen.

Jack walked up beside him then and gave him a questioning look. Ianto schooled his features and smiled at the man, "Would you like another coffee sir," he questioned.

"No thanks," Jack said to Ianto, "Gwen how about a little field trip," he asked Gwen.

Gwen turned to look at Jack with glee. Ianto felt that green demon inside his gut again. "Sure Jack sounds fun," she chirped.

Ianto wanted to roll his eyes. Jack hadn't even said what it was how did it sound fun?

Jack placed a hand on the small of Ianto's back causing the Welshman to freeze. "Okay, let's go then," he said still addressing Gwen.

Ianto could tell that Gwen noticed the hand on his back. He could basically see the green flames in her eyes he resisted the urge to smirk as Jack patted his back then took his hand away and headed toward the cog door. Gwen followed him looking back at Ianto once with a questioning glare.

About two hours later Ianto's cell phone rang. He saw it was Jack and answered it.

"Can I help you sir," Ianto said.

"Yep," Jack said lightly, "First why don't you have your comms unit on, I kept trying to get you and I only got Tosh."

"Sorry sir, I will put it on after this call," Ianto said.

"Great, okay can you get Tosh to look up the Cottingley Fairies photos and arrange for us to view them in the boardroom," Jack said.

"Sure, but didn't you just say that you talked to Tosh on the comms?" Ianto said confused.

"Well I wanted to hear your voice," Jack said his voice a little quieter. Ianto could hear Gwen's voice in the background no doubt talking to Rhys on her own phone.

Ianto felt himself blush. "Oh, okay, well I will let Tosh know, see you in a bit sir," Ianto said knowing his words were coming out too fast.

"Okay, bye Ianto" Jack said chuckling a bit then ended the call. Ianto closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

TW-TW-TW

"This is the youngest girl," Tosh said then switched the picture on the boardrooms television, "and this is the girl's cousin."

Everyone was in the boardroom looking at the Cottingley fairy photos. Ianto stared at them and couldn't really fathom why anyone would have believed them authentic.

"I blame it on the magic mushrooms," he said as he sat a coffee in front of Jack.

"What you do in private is none of our business," Jack commented.

Gwen started to have a debate with Owen over the authenticity of the photos. Owen was for them, Gwen was against them. Ianto looked up to see Tosh smiling at him and realized he was still standing close to Jack he moved away. Tosh's grin widened. He rolled his eyes at her. Jack caught the eye roll and winked at him.

"So where was this sighting then?" Tosh said and Jack's attention turned back to the paper in front of him.

"In a place called round stone wood," Jack said.

Once the meeting was over Ianto lingered behind and began to pick up the now empty coffee mugs. He jumped when he felt a hand on his back.

"Sorry," Jack said softly, "didn't mean to scare you, just wanted to let you know that Owen, Gwen, and I are heading to Round Stone wood, and I was wondering if maybe later tonight I could come over to your flat."

"What would be your reason for coming to my flat, sir," Ianto asked.

Jack smiled and put his hands up in surrender, "Just to talk, I promise," he answered.

Ianto bit his lip, and then nodded.

Jack smiled, "Okay cool, I will be there about 9, is that okay."

"Sure sounds good," Ianto said.

Jacks smile widened then he kissed Ianto gently on the cheek and left the boardroom.

TW-TW-TW

Ianto took a shower at 8pm and got into a pair of tighter then they needed to be track bottoms and a thin white undershirt.

He ordered a pizza. It arrived at 8:45. He decided he would wait for Jack to eat it.

At 9:30 he ate some of the pizza. At 10 he very nearly called Jack.

When Jack hadn't shown by 11 pm Ianto gave up hoping that Jack was just late and went to bed.

TW-TW-TW

Ianto showed up at the hub at 7:30 the next morning having made up his mind that he was going to forget about his fascination with Jack Harkness.

He went to the coffee machine and made Jack's coffee then headed to the man's office with a plan to place the coffee down and walk out quickly. When he got to the office he threw his plan and new decision out the window. Jack was just staring straight ahead his hand wrapped around a glass of scotch, and his cheeks stained with obvious tear streaks. Lying on the desk in front of Jack was a black and white photo of a beautiful young woman.

Ianto sat the coffee down and took away the glass of scotch. Jack barely registered the movement. Ianto then went into Jack's bunker and into the tiny bathroom in there and got a wet washcloth. When he returned to Jack's office he moved the photo and sat on Jacks desk directly in front of the man. Softly he began to use the washcloth to clean the dried tears off Jack's cheeks. Jack smiled at him then and Ianto smiled softly back.

"I'm sorry," Jack said after a while, "I should have called you."

"Doesn't matter," Ianto said softly then leaned back. "You want to talk about it?"

"Not really," Jack said as he stood up and pulled Ianto into a hug. Ianto allowed it then became a bit startled when Jack started to softly sob on his shoulder.

They stayed like that for a while, Ianto having to bite his lip to keep from asking questions; finally Jack stood up straight and wiped his eyes.

"Her name was Estelle, and I loved her so much," Jack began, "She died last night, the fairies, if that's what you want to call them, drowned her in a rain storm. God, I just can't…" he stopped then and closed his eyes. Ianto remained silent giving Jack time to speak his mind.

Finally Jack opened his eyes and looked at Ianto, "I will never be able to love you Ianto, because I can't love anymore. It hurts me too much."

Ianto got off the desk and place a hand on Jack's shoulder. "I don't ever remember asking you to love me Jack," he said softly.

Jack gave a small laugh and wiped his eyes, "No you never did."

"I never will either Jack, not if it's something you don't feel comfortable with. I really do like being with you, but it doesn't have to be anything more than friendship, Okay," Ianto said softly.

"Just friendship," Jack said with a grin.

"I will consider adding benefits later," Ianto teased.

"Of course, later when you are ready for the perks of being my friend," Jack said then pulled Ianto into an embrace and kissed his hair. He pulled away from him then and smiled wildly, "you're brilliant."

TW-TW-TW

Ianto was alone in the hub most of the day. He was able to get a lot of things done, mainly cleaning and filing. The team came back to the hub around 4 pm and everyone was mad at Jack, which in general just made everyone mad.

"I said you were to go home by 3, what are you still doing here Tea-boy?" Owen yelled at Ianto.

Jack came out of his office then, "how about this everyone go home!" he yelled at Owen mainly.

Tosh and Owen made their way out of the hub quickly and Gwen went to the boardroom to pick up the paperwork from the fairy case.

Ianto went cautiously to Jacks office. The man was leaning back in his chair his face in an expression of pure anger. Ianto resisted the urge to just leave without another word.

"Jack," Ianto said to get the man's attention. Jack looked up with questioning eyes, "I was wondering if maybe you might want to come back to mine."

Jack's face turned to one of confusion. "Did they not tell you what happened?" Jack asked.

"Tosh informed me, I am sorry you had to make such a hard decision," Ianto said then bit his lip.

"So you aren't mad then?" Jack asked. Ianto shook his head. Jack got up and grabbed his coat. "Well then yes Ianto I would love to go back to yours."