Author's Notes: Enjoy the new chapter! Thanks as always to the amazing Prothrombintime for so graciously reading my ramblings and for always offering excellent suggestions, feedback and support.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
October 3rd, 2005
It was just after seven o'clock on Monday morning when Ianto stepped through the Hub's cogwheel door, the relaxed smile on his face reflecting his exceptionally good mood. The date with Jack two days earlier had surpassed all his expectations, and it had ended in exactly the way he'd hoped, with an intense and passionate recommencement of their sexual relationship. Combined with another unhurried session when they'd woken the following morning, and several more rounds that evening after Ianto had made them dinner, it was fair to say he was a very satisfied man, albeit a somewhat tired and sore one.
It was as if a dam had broken, and they were frantically making up for all the time they'd been apart, at least from Jack's point of view. There seemed to be a tangible reverence in the way Jack kissed and touched him, mixed with a hint of fearful desperation, and it served as a poignant reminder of how long the other man had waited, hoping for the chance for them to be together again. Ianto couldn't deny that he was eagerly anticipating many more intensely pleasurable evenings in the weeks ahead as they made up for lost time. He loved Jack, he loved having sex with Jack, and if Jack wanted to shag him senseless every night of the week, that was more than all right with him.
Even Jack's departure in the early hours of the morning due to a Rift alert hadn't been able to shift his good mood, nor could the fact that he invariably faced more prodding and poking from Owen dampen his spirits. Even the prospect of the monumental amount of cleaning and paperwork he had to catch up on didn't perturb him in the slightest.
He felt cautiously hopeful that his life had perhaps turned a corner. He was back at work, where he belonged, and he was dating the man he'd grown to love deeply, as bizarre as that still seemed. While he was enough of a realist to recognise that his relationship with Jack would always be a potential minefield of heartache and despair, he'd decided that he deserved some happiness, as did Jack. He was determined to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.
Still smiling with contentment, he checked on Myfanwy, finding her sleeping peacefully in her nest, then made his way into the kitchen area, carrying the bag of coffee beans he'd brought from home. His smile faltered when he saw a large jar of instant coffee sitting on the counter next to the kettle. Screwing up his face in distaste, he quickly dropped the jar into the nearby rubbish bin and busied himself with cleaning the coffee machine in readiness for the first brew of the day.
The coffee machine was gurgling away reassuringly as he finished washing the Hub's supply of cups and mugs, his mind happily occupied with compiling a detailed to-do list for the next few days. He'd also been thinking about the training process for Toshiko and Owen. While Jack's training sessions had been thorough and extensive, they'd also been rather ad hoc. Ianto's sensibilities leaned towards a more structured approach, and with that in mind, he intended to prepare a comprehensive training schedule and assessment process.
The approach of heavy footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and glancing over his shoulder, he saw a freshly showered Jack sauntering up behind him. Sliding off his rubber gloves, Ianto turned to greet the other man, and was rewarded with a slow, deep, toe-curling kiss.
"Welcome back, Ianto," Jack said, smiling at him. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm good, Jack," Ianto replied, stealing another kiss before turning his attention back to the coffee preparations. "Really good. Glad to finally be back at work."
Jack pressed himself up against Ianto's back, his chin settling on Ianto's shoulder, and his arms snaking around Ianto's waist. Ianto felt Jack's nose tickle his neck as the other man inhaled deeply. "You're wearing your pink shirt," Jack murmured.
"So I am," Ianto agreed, not quite managing to suppress a smug little smile.
He'd chosen his outfit for Jack's benefit, including the charcoal pinstripe suit that Jack had always seemed to particularly admire, probably because it was just a little bit tighter around the backside and crotch than his other suits. He always liked to look his best, but he also liked trying to look good for Jack. He knew it was silly and superficial, but if it gave Jack even the tiniest amount of pleasure, it seemed well worth the effort. He doubted there was much he wouldn't do if he thought it would make Jack happy.
"Did you decide to wear it just for me?" Jack asked teasingly, kissing the sensitive skin just below Ianto's ear.
Ianto only just managed to stifle an appreciative groan. "I'm not going to have to give you another lecture about harassment in the workplace am I, Jack?"
Jack chuckled. "I can behave myself."
"I seriously doubt that," Ianto retorted fondly, trying with little success to ignore the way Jack's lips were tracing around the shell of his ear.
"So, I was thinking... we never got to the movie part of 'dinner and a movie' the other night," Jack said a moment later, his tone regretful. "I was looking forward to groping you in the back row."
Ianto chuckled wryly. "Doesn't really sound like an appropriate activity for a first date."
Jack gave a disappointed huff. "Second date then?"
"Actually, I was thinking third date," Ianto replied, smiling to himself. "For our second date, I'm planning to take you shopping. Then we'll have something to wear for our third date."
"Shopping?" Jack asked, sounding doubtful.
"Those leather jackets we were talking about?" Ianto suggested. "Can't very well wear a suit to the cinema."
"Oh, yeah." Jack kissed Ianto's neck again. "I like the way your mind works, Mr. Jones. And there's those changing rooms with tall mirrors... hmm, sounds like fun. So, later this week, Rift permitting?"
Ianto's mind had slipped sideways, his crotch growing tighter. He cleared his throat and forced his attention back to his coffee making. "It's a date," he said in a slightly choked voice, filling their mugs.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Jack reached forward and captured Ianto's right hand, tangling their fingers together. "Have I told you how much I love your hands," he murmured, tightening his other arm around Ianto. "Especially when these long, lean, talented fingers are wrapped around my..."
"Jack," Ianto warned, cutting him off. "Stop it. We have to be professional. Especially now that Tosh and Owen are on the team."
"Do you think that's possible?" he asked, sounding sceptical. "After all, they know we're together. They're not going to expect us to behave just like work colleagues."
"I know, but I want to make a good impression... earn their respect. I don't want them to think we can't keep our personal and work lives separate." Ianto turned and faced Jack. "Please, Jack. It's important to me."
Jack sighed. "I'm not going to stop flirting with you. Especially when we're alone like this. Don't ask me to do that, Ianto, not when I've waited so long to get you back."
Feeling a stab of guilt, Ianto decided to try for a compromise. "Okay, but just try to tone it down a bit when they're here and we're working, yeah?"
"Fine, I'll try," Jack agreed with obvious reluctance, then his eyes sparkled mischievously as a suggestive grin spread across his face. "Do I get a kiss to seal the deal?"
Ianto shook his head with fond exasperation. "You're impossible, you know that don't you?"
"Was that a yes?" Jack asked hopefully, looking unrepentant.
"Come here." Ianto wrapped his arms around Jack's neck, kissing him slowly and tenderly. Jack kissed him back, bringing his hands up to gently cradle and stroke Ianto's face. They continued kissing for a minute or two until the cogwheel door alarm sounded, and Ianto pulled away.
He smiled at Jack and passed him his cup of coffee. Jack grabbed it greedily, letting out an obscene moan as he sipped the dark liquid. He grinned at Ianto. "Gods, I've missed this. And it's as spectacular as ever."
"Ianto! Welcome back!"
Ianto turned and found Toshiko standing a few feet away, smiling at him brightly. "Good Morning, Tosh," he said with a polite smile. "Would you like some coffee?"
"Absolutely," Tosh replied, stepping closer to the two men. She nodded and smiled at Jack, then turned her attention back to Ianto. "I've been dying to try it."
"Go on, Tosh," Jack teased. "Give Ianto a welcome back kiss." He grinned widely, waggling his eyebrows. "I already have. Several times actually."
Ianto rolled his eyes while Tosh shook her head with a look of tolerant exasperation. But she stepped forward, tilted her head up, and gave Ianto a quick kiss on the cheek. "It really is good to have you back, Ianto. How are you feeling?"
Ianto was surprised by Toshiko's warm greeting, especially given that they were effectively strangers. "Thanks, Tosh. I'm fine... much better." He filled a plain white mug with coffee and passed it to her. "Here you go."
Tosh accepted the mug from Ianto and took a sip. Her eyes widened, and she looked at Ianto with an expression that was something close to awe. "Wow, this is incredible!" She looked at Jack and laughed. "Jack, you weren't exaggerating when you said Ianto's coffee is better than sex or chocolate."
Jack winked at Ianto, who just rolled his eyes again. "Well, I said almost better than sex," he said with a throaty chuckle. "Ianto's talents go way beyond coffee making." There was a suggestive leer in his voice that left no doubt as to which of those talents Jack was referring to.
"How do you put up with him, Ianto?" Tosh asked, looking between the two of them with obvious amusement. "You must have the patience of a saint."
"Actually, Owen asked me the exact same thing the other day." Ianto smirked at Jack. "But someone has to keep him off the streets and ensure the unsuspecting residents of Cardiff remain safe." He feigned a dramatic sigh.
"Hey!" Jack protested, a scowl creasing his forehead. "Why is everyone ganging up on me?" His lips twitched into what Ianto thought was definitely a pout. "I've been the perfect boyfriend for the last ten days. I've even suffered through endless hours of James Bond movies. I should be the saint!"
Tosh giggled while Ianto stared dumbly at Jack in shock, almost dropping the mug of coffee he'd just picked up and raised to his mouth. Jack had never bandied about the word 'boyfriend' before, even in jest, and he had no idea how to react. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to scamper away and hide in the depths of the archives, utterly mortified, or grab hold of Jack and kiss him senseless.
Fortunately, his emotional reserve won out and he did neither of those things. Instead, he quickly regathered his composure, hoping he'd managed to keep his features arranged in a sufficiently impassive expression. He gave Jack a warm, grateful smile. "You've been brilliant, Jack."
"Yeah?" Jack asked, his expression clearing.
"Yeah," Ianto confirmed, unable and unwilling to deny the simple truth.
"Well, I'll leave you both to it," Tosh said, smiling at both of them. "Thanks for the coffee, Ianto. If you like, I can show you the work I've been doing on the Rift Predictor later."
"Sounds great, Tosh," Ianto replied as she turned away and moved over to her workstation.
Jack leaned back against the counter next to Ianto. He gave Ianto's shoulder a playful nudge. "I think Toshiko is a little bit smitten with you. Not that I can blame her."
"Don't be daft, Jack." Ianto bit down on his lower lip as he wondered how to talk to Jack about the whole boyfriend issue, but decided he needed time to think it over first. He nudged Jack back. "Don't you have some work to do?"
Jack sighed and swallowed a mouthful of his coffee. "Yeah, I suppose." He straightened up and looked Ianto in the eyes. "Don't work too hard today, okay?" He grasped Ianto's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "It's good to have you back, Ianto. It hasn't been the same here without you."
"Thanks, Jack," Ianto said, smiling at him and watching as he retreated to his office.
He stepped out of the kitchen area and allowed himself a moment to cast his eyes around the vast expanse of the Hub. It was good to be back.
###
"It must be weird," Tosh said, looking at Ianto with a thoughtful, compassionate expression. "Waking up and finding out almost a year has passed, and that so much has changed. I think anyone would have trouble dealing with that."
Ianto was sitting next to Tosh at her workstation. It was later that morning and after enduring another examination by Owen, he'd tried to settle back into his routine, busying himself with cleaning, paperwork, and checking on the state of the archives. The brusque doctor had greeted him with a demand for coffee, and while he'd been predictably less demonstrative than Jack or Tosh as he'd sampled Ianto's offering, the widening of his eyes and the speed with which he'd hungrily consumed it had confirmed that Ianto's secret weapon had claimed another willing victim. Thankfully, Owen had also seemed satisfied with Ianto's recovery, but with the proviso not to overdo things for the next few days.
Tosh had just given him a walk-through of her Rift Predictor program, and while she'd admitted it was still a work-in-progress, he was suitable impressed with what she'd achieved so far. He was also gratified to find that he'd been on the right track with his own initial research, but it was Tosh's skills and genius that had taken it from a vague theory into a practical, working application. While most of the mathematics was beyond him, he'd been able to follow her explanations, even offering some ideas on improvements and refinements, all of which Tosh seemed to genuinely welcome.
"It was a bit of a shock at first," he admitted. "But I realised I've been given a second chance. I should be dead, but I'm not." He felt a soft smile pull at the corners of his mouth. "And Jack's been amazing."
"He adores you, Ianto," Tosh said kindly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're lucky to have someone who loves you like that."
There was a sad wistfulness in Toshiko's voice and although Ianto's first impulse was to deny the veracity of her words, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew it would be a lie. "I know," he said softly.
"I don't know if I should say anything, but while you were gone, Jack was so..." Tosh paused, sadness creeping into her eyes. "He seemed so broken. He tried to hide it from us, but it was obvious how much he was hurting. I was working late one night not long after I arrived and I found him down in the morgue. He was sitting on the floor, talking to you, and he was crying... it broke my heart to see him like that. I didn't know what to do so I just sat with him and held his hand." Pausing again, she gave Ianto a small, awkward smile. "He told me about you, about how brilliant you are, and that you're so clever and brave... he talked about how you keep him in line and always take good care of him... that you make him laugh, and how he loves when you roll your eyes at him. He said he'd been smitten from the day he met you."
Ianto tried to swallow around the lump in his throat as Tosh's words tore at his heart. He couldn't bear the thought of Jack being in pain, and he hated that he'd been the cause of it, even though it had been beyond his control. Shifting his eyes away, he looked across at the shimmering water tower and tried to regain his composure.
"I shouldn't have said anything," Tosh said, her voice filled with apology. "I'm sorry, Ianto, I..."
Ianto took a deep breath and looked at her again. He shook his head, giving her a reassuring smile. "No, I'm glad you told me, Tosh. Thank you. I know it must have been terrible for him."
A look of relief passed over her features. "I suppose that's why I feel like I already know you," she continued, smiling self-consciously. "And Jack's so much happier now you're back. He was so excited the other day before your date. It was very sweet. Owen was almost at his wits end... he was threatening to sedate Jack if he didn't calm down." She gave a small, soft chuckle. "And Jack looked so handsome in his suit."
"He is very handsome," Ianto said quietly, smiling at the memory of opening his door and seeing Jack in that stunning bespoke suit for the first time.
Tosh rested her hand tentatively on Ianto's arm and gave a gentle squeeze. "The two of you make a lovely couple, Ianto."
For the second time that day, Ianto found himself surprised and lost for words. Once again he wanted to protest that he and Jack weren't like that... that their relationship wasn't anything so normal and conventional. But he was starting to wonder if perhaps he had it all wrong. First it had been Owen, and now Tosh... even Jack had described himself earlier that morning as being his boyfriend. He really needed to find the courage to talk to Jack and get it straightened out once and for all.
"Thanks, Tosh," he managed awkwardly, unsure what else to say. Trying to push aside his discomfort, he forced a smile to his face. "How about some more coffee?"
###
Ianto carried a fresh round of coffees into Jack's office, putting the mugs down on the desk, and settling himself into the chair opposite the other man. Fiddling nervously with the knot of his tie, he took a deep breath to steady himself. It was lunchtime and Tosh and Owen had gone out, Tosh dragging a grumbling Owen with her, insisting that they were going out to buy lunch for the team in celebration of Ianto's return. Ianto had protested that they didn't need to go to any trouble on his account, but Toshiko had been fiercely determined. Ianto found himself liking the diminutive Japanese woman a great deal and hoped they would become friends.
Jack looked up from his paperwork, smiled at Ianto, then took a sip of coffee. "Thanks, Ianto. Everything okay?"
Ianto folded his hands neatly in his lap. "I was talking to Tosh before. She, uh... she said we make a lovely couple." He struggled not to cringe as the last word left his mouth.
"Well, we do," Jack said matter-of-factly. "I mean look at us, we're both gorgeous, desirable men. We're stunning together."
"Not to mention modest," Ianto added dryly.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Just telling it like it is." He grinned broadly. "Besides, you're modest enough for the both of us."
Ianto rolled his eyes, but continued on determinedly, "And this morning when Tosh arrived, you called yourself my boyfriend."
Jack frowned. "Yup, because I am. So?"
Ianto gaped at Jack, taken aback by his casual acknowledgement. "So, um... is that what we are... we're boyfriends... a couple?" he asked tentatively, almost choking on the words.
Jack stared at him with a confused expression. "Of course we are. Why, what did you think we were?"
Ianto shrugged, lowering his gaze. "Don't know. Just... well, it's all still a bit new to me..."
"You can't be serious," Jack said incredulously. "After all this time? You're still doubting me... us... really? Mind telling me what the hell is going on in that head of yours?"
Ianto looked up again, narrowing his eyes at Jack as a surge of irritation rose up inside him. "Well, it's not like we ever talk about it," he retorted. "Bloody hell, Jack, I don't know how this is meant to work when it's two blokes together. You know I've never done this before. And you're not exactly a typical bloke, are you?" He sighed in frustration, scrubbing his hand over his face. "You're always going on about our quaint little labels, as if we're so far beneath you and your enlightened fifty-first century ways. But I'm a twenty-first century bloke, with all the baggage and limitations that entails. I'm trying to figure all this out, but it's not easy for me."
Jack eyes widened, evidently shocked by Ianto's sudden, emotive outburst. He raised his hands defensively. "Hey, okay. Look, I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I know it can't be easy for you. It's just that I thought you were happy with the way things are. I thought this is what you wanted... what we both wanted."
"I am, and it is," Ianto insisted. "But when I was with Lisa, I knew where I stood. It was conventional. She was my girlfriend, we were together... a couple. Whereas with you... well, I've never known where we stood as far as conventional terms apply. Sometime soon I'm going to have to tell my sister about you... about us. So, what do I say? What do I call you?"
"You tell her whatever you feel comfortable with, Ianto," Jack answered evenly.
Ianto sighed again, annoyed that Jack seemed unwilling to give him a straight answer. "John Hart said you and he were partners. He said you were partners in every way."
"John Hart was a lying bastard," Jack said shortly, his expression darkening. "You know that. We were partnered together by the Time Agency, that's all. We were friends for a while and we had a physical relationship. Anything more was just the invention of his deluded mind."
"And us?" Ianto asked hesitantly. "Are we partners?"
Jack stared at him for a long moment, then he stood and moved around to Ianto's side of the desk. He leaned against the desk's edge, directly in front of Ianto, and looked down at him intently. Ianto shifted uncomfortably in his chair, but he resolutely held the other man's piercing gaze.
"Ianto, I almost lost you." Jack's voice was suddenly quiet and tentative. "And if I had, I would have had to live with so many regrets... all the things I should have said... the things I should have done differently. Now I've got the chance to do things properly with you, and I'm still terrified I'm going to screw it all up." He paused, looking pensive, then took a deep breath as if to strengthen his resolve. "Ianto, you mean the world to me. I love you. And to answer your question, yes, we're partners... partners in every way. At least, that's what I want us to be."
Ianto stared dumbstruck at Jack, his astonishment rendering him unmoving and speechless. Finally, he rose unsteadily to his feet and moved closer to Jack, until their faces were almost touching. "I love you too, Jack," he said quietly, but with complete certainty. "And I'd be proud to call you my partner."
He took Jack's face in his hands and kissed him fiercely. Jack's arms wrapped around him, holding him close, and Jack kissed him back with the same passionate intensity.
"Now who's committing harassment in the workplace?" Jack asked cheekily when they finally broke apart, their foreheads resting against one another.
"So, you don't want me to kiss you again then?" Ianto countered, adding a hint of challenge to his voice.
"Well, I suppose I can make an exception just this once." Jack bumped his nose against Ianto's. "But if it happens again, I may have to punish you."
"Is that a promise?" Ianto asked hopefully, his lips twitching with a playful smirk.
Jack chuckled. "You're getting as bad as I am." He pulled back just far enough for their eyes to meet, gently caressing his fingertips down Ianto's cheek. "Are we okay, Ianto? No more confusion or doubts about us?"
"Yes, Jack. No more doubts," Ianto replied firmly, feeling profoundly relieved.
They'd admitted their feelings to each other and the world hadn't ended, so he decided to take that as a good sign. Without a further thought, he pressed himself against Jack and kissed him again.