30
Jack had followed Ianto into the back office that was clearly Jack's given the mess and confusion pouring out of every available space. Ianto settled on the edge of the desk to look at Jack as he tried to pretend he was tidying up.
"Right" Ianto said softly "That cluster is worrying as we do not have a trace contact yet. I know Beckett and Lucy are working on it bit until we have a 'for sure' answer … I will worry slightly."
"I know. For the next few months these will pop up and we have no way of knowing where or how until the DNA sequencing tells us the stage of the drug so we know it's level of potency. Sending in teams with patches to clear it out is all we can do. Those already turned put down and those infected cleansed." Jack sighed as he finally gave up and sat in his chair so Ianto could turn on the desk to lean over it and look at him. Jack liked to see him like that, leaning back and so damned sexy.
"Early estimates in my head tell me we are going to lose over fifty people, maybe close to a hundred with this cluster" Ianto warned "The cover story of Anthrax will not fly forever. We will either need to start getting stricter with border control or get more patches."
"We can ask John but you know the price will go up each time" Jack warned "Besides. This is a fixed event. We can only interfere so much love."
Both men stared at one another as the term of endearment hung over them, then Ianto cleared his throat "So the border control can go to UNIT. They have the barriers and the manpower to be total tossers. I think we need to focus on the alien side of it, track any other possible drop points."
"Agreed. UNIT for mop-up while we check if another shipment is here on-world somewhere" Jack rose from the chair and went to walk around the desk but Ianto suddenly snaked his hand out and caught Jack's wrist, stopping him as he rose to meet him, their faces no so close Jack could see right into those fathomless pools of grey.
"I want…."
Jack waited as Ianto grew silent, then Jack whispered "what? What do you want Tiger?"
"A reset for us" Ianto finally huffed "Why can't we push a button or shoot something and jumpstart US."
Jack reached out his free hand to cup Ianto's cheek in his hand, the way he used to and it felt so right as he leaned in and kissed him, reveling in that taste that he had never forgotten.
Ianto.
"We have all the time in the known universe" Jack whispered as he let their noses touch. "In time… when there is time… I hope there will be an US. Including that little miracle of a monster."
Ianto shone as he nodded, their son definitely a highlight of his entire being and as they stood close with hands clasped together Gwen entered the office, puffing with her hand splayed over her belly "When you have finished your feckin teenage romance can I get some leave organized? I think I am gonna go any day."
"Finally!" Jack said as he turned slightly to look at her while still holding firmly onto Ianto's hands "You admit it. Time to let Rhys fuss a little?"
"Yeah well … this Decay thing is not going away like I hoped it would" she sighed.
"I told you… we have months of clean-up ahead. Why we are deferring to UNIT as much as… damn it" Jack finally released Ianto's hands as his VM chimed and he frowned as he looked at it "John. Seems he wants an audience with us."
"Lovely. Is it going to be a stage play or will he simply pole dance somewhere" Ianto muttered with annoyance, Jack snorting with mirth. He had missed that dry snark.
"Well … I am out!" Gwen waved a hand as she tined away "See ya on the flip side."
"Good luck" Ianto called after her then grimaced as he said to Jack "I hated the flatulence in the last few weeks. God, that child LOVES onions and you know how they make me fart."
Gwen paused to look back with confusion, then shrugged. She had no idea what the hell that meant.
Jack blinked, staring at Ianto with shock then he said softly "I love onions."
"I know, why I let him eat the bloody things even if he farts like a little demon afterwards. I think he has your constitution, can eat anything like a bloody mountain goat." Ianto looked out the window at the 'shop floor' then added "But why is she arguing with Rex?"
"Probably tried to hand off to him and tell him he was in charge of her shit now." Jack replied without even glancing away from Ianto "She makes out she is higher up the food chain, like she used to with Toshiko. Only … Rex doesn't let that shit slide."
"I don't like him" Ianto blurted out "Sorry but… he's an arse."
"You know… I kinda think that too" Jack said with surprise "I thought it was just me as everyone else seems fine with him."
Nah.
He's an arse.