Jack pulled up to the small home parking the SUV in the driveway next to Ianto's vehicle. Going into the house he was pleasantly surprised to hear laughter coming from the kitchen when he thought that he would be coming home to find the Doctor hiding inside the TARDIS. Though, the smell of pastries was a good indication of how Ianto had lured him out. He took off his coat hanging it on the hook before making his way into the kitchen. The Doctor smiled at him from where he was sitting on a stool near the counter. Ianto didn't notice him right away as he stood at the counter stirring a large bowl.
"Hey, handsome. You come here often?" Jack teased as he grabbed Ianto's bottom startling him. Ianto turned his head kissing Jack briefly on the lips before concentrating once more on his baking.
"How did it go?" Ianto wondered.
"Exactly like I thought it would. He was determined to be arrested for his crimes and spend time in UNIT's cell rather than get help from Torchwood. Martha changed his mind just by being there," Jack informed his lover.
"Are you sure helping him is the best choice?" Ianto questioned not for the first time. They had already spent long hours, after the Doctor went to bed, discussing his choice to help Rose's Doctor. Despite the pain that John had caused to the Doctor, Jack still believed the actions were unusual for him. He knew that the Doctor had darkness in him but John was both the Doctor and Donna. He never knew either one of them to cause someone pain without cause and he couldn't believe that John would either. Thankfully, Ianto had understood. He had forgiven Sky despite her part in holding the Doctor captive at the facility and her assistance in helping Charles recapture the Doctor. Still, he had his doubts.
"John is a good man. He is deeply depressed and confused. He blames the Doctor for his pain and wanted to punish him for it," Jack answered speaking in code as this wasn't the way he wanted to tell the Doctor that Rose had died. He glanced over at the Time Lord who was listening as he slowly scratched Artemis's head. Jack smiled at him and he smiled back.
"We'll discuss it later?" Ianto clarified and Jack nodded.
"After dinner tonight, I need to go pick up his TARDIS and bring it back to the house. You're both welcome to join me as I want the Doctor's input on the TARDIS," Jack explained.
"Doctor's TARDIS?" The Doctor spoke up.
"No not your TARDIS, John's TARDIS. It was how he was coming to the house without us knowing. It is parked two hours away, though, so it is going to be at least a four-hour trip not including how long it takes us to load the TARDIS into the SUV. Thankfully his TARDIS is currently disguised as a cupboard so it will fit in the SUV and we won't have to rent a truck," Jack explained. The oven timer beeped and Ianto moved away from the bowl turning to the oven. From it, he pulled out a tray that had six small pastries on it. He set them on a cooling rack before placing a new tray in the oven. Jack walked over to the cooling rack looking at the pastries.
"I made treacle and lemon tarts for us to share for dessert tonight," Ianto told him.
"No banana?" Jack wondered knowing the Doctor wouldn't eat the lemon ones and would pout if there were no banana pastries for him to gorge himself on.
"It's the strangest thing. I keep making banana pastries and placing them on the cooling rack but when I go to move them to the fridge, they are gone," Ianto exclaimed trying to sound confused. "I asked the Doctor if he has seen them and he swears they just vanished."
"That is strange," Jack agreed. He noticed that one of the six tarts was gone and the Doctor was happily licking his fingers as he finished off the sweet. Ianto discreetly reached behind the bowl he was stirring and pulled out another smaller bowl. He gave it a quick mix before adding it into one of the shells. He added bananas on to the top then filled the rest of the tarts placing the last batch in the oven. Jack took the bowls moving to the sink to help wash the dishes.
"Do you want me to help start dinner, Doctor?" Ianto asked.
"What are we eating?" The Doctor questioned slowly.
"Chicken with roast vegetables," Ianto answered.
"No," the Doctor responded.
"I'll help you," Jack offered. He finished washing the bowls then put them in the strainer to dry. Taking the carrots, he started to peel them for Ianto while he prepared the chicken. The timer for the oven went off and Ianto moved to get the tarts out placing them on the wire rack to cool. The Doctor didn't even wait for Ianto to turn his back before grabbing the only banana one. He got down quickly off the stool rushing out of the kitchen with Artemis on his heels. Jack heard him rushing up the stairs. The footsteps headed towards Jack's room and the door slammed closed. "I'm surprised you managed to lure him out of the TARDIS."
"It was easy with the promise of pastries," Ianto answered. Almost as soon as Jack had left the house, the Doctor had disappeared into the TARDIS. Not that Ianto blamed him. He didn't have a really good track record of keeping the Doctor safe while Jack was away. He had already planned on making pastries in the next few days and figured today was as good as any day. Pulling out the supplies he needed he had made a few before going to retrieve the Doctor. Going into the TARDIS, he had found him in his room hidden behind the garden. The room had changed from the last time he had entered it. The room was slightly larger now with a telly in the corner. The telly had been on but the Doctor wasn't watching it as he laid on his back staring at the ceiling. Looking up, Ianto saw that there was an outline of stars and wondered what galaxy the Doctor was looking at.
"I really hope you made more banana ones or he is going to be unhappy when we have dessert," Jack commented.
"Of course. I have several hidden in the fridge that I made before I went to get him," Ianto laughed. Jack leaned over kissing Ianto quickly on the side of his head. Ianto smiled not returning the gesture as he continued to work with the raw chicken. They worked in a comfortable silence as they made the meal placing it in the oven to cook. With the prep work done and the Doctor upstairs, they took the opportunity to enjoy each other's bodies. Listening for his return they kissed as their hands ventured into the other's trousers. It was desperate as they panted into each other's mouths. They brought each other to release with a gasp spilling on to the other's hand.
Satisfied, they washed up and straightened their clothes. They finished making dinner and set the table for three. Jack tried to lure the Doctor down for the meal but he refused to leave Jack's room as he stared at a book. Giving up, Jack went down the stairs to eat. He made the Doctor a plate of food putting it aside for later. He ate his own meal with Ianto, then pulled out the pastries. The Doctor was easily lured down with the surprise banana pastries that were waiting for him. He ate them with no complaints before going to disappear again.
"Doctor we need to leave soon if we are going to retrieve the TARDIS tonight," Jack told him.
"I'm not going," The Doctor responded as he headed back up the stairs.
"Do you want me to call Mickey over to sit with you?" Jack wondered.
"No, Ianto can stay," the Doctor informed him as he paused on the stairs.
"Ianto is coming with me. You can either stay here with Mickey or you can come," Jack replied.
"I will come," the Doctor sighed coming back down the stairs. Artemis whined pressing her face into his hand and he pet her as he looked at Jack. Jack didn't need Artemis's behavior to tell him the Doctor was agitated, though. He didn't want to leave the house but he didn't want to stay without the men he trusted either. Jack moved closer hugging the Doctor tightly. The Doctor laid his head on Jack's chest taking comfort as he hugged Jack back with one arm.
"How about I sit in the back with you while Ianto drives. Would that be alright?" Jack questioned him.
"Yeah," The Doctor agreed. With his agreement, Jack got them ready to go. Ianto didn't mind driving as Jack sat in the back with the Doctor holding him close. Artemis sat on the floor in front of the Doctor her head in his lap as he continued to pet her. Ready for the panic attack that would inevitably come, they started on their journey towards London.