7

Ianto knew something was going on, something he did not really like all that much as Jack seemed… nervy. Ianto finally asked "what is it?"

"We've had to snatch up Lisa"

"What?"

"They found where she was staying and started to stalk her. Openly like" Jack settled at the table of another horrible house Ianto hated with as much passion as the last "she and the fella she was shacked up with are now considered targets as they will get her to tease you out… as bait. Tell me Ianto… if they send her left hand to the police and tell them another part comes next… you would… wouldn't you. Even after everything… you would sacrifice yourself."

"I… I don't love her anymore. There was a time I thought she might be the one but there was always something there… like… looking through glass at her ya know? Pretty but not quite right. I gave up on the relationship almost a year ago when I realized the bond had not occurred, she is the one who keeps wanting to try again, so sure she can make me see that we are perfect together. She does not believe in Bond Mates. We are Perfectly… not right. To tell you the truth, even in the midst of all of this… I feel a lot calmer knowing she does not know where I am." Ianto assured him.

"You know… I saw a pic of the guy she is shacked up with… looks like a slightly older less handsome version of you. Not as handsome but the same facial features. Seems she had a type, eh?" Jack smiled. "Obviously… he has money… I bet not the dick size … sorry."

Ianto snorted, "Yeah."

"Well, we've snatched her right from under their noses… we've not told the Powers That Be either… there seems to be a leak somewhere so they do not know we have her and her bit of fluff. Suzie has an idea but I do not know if you will go for it." Jack shifted in the chair and Ianto knew he would not like it and nodded for him to continue "So… This guy looks a bit like you. I am thinking… we put her and him in one of our unregistered safe houses, then tell the Powers That Be that we think she is on the run… she kidnapped you or you escaped us and the two of them are on the run. We watch and see what they do, who moves and in what direction."

"Use them as bait with him as my stand-in?" Ianto got it "But will they be safe?"

"Of course they will… only my team will know the truth and I will be with you the entire time… so will goober here" Jack hooked a thumb at the dog that was causally licking Jack's leg like it was a lollipop. He didn't seem to mind but Ianto hated licking and really wanted to tell her off for it but… a little voice wondered if he did taste good. Ya know?

"So… misdirection. Let them think I am with her at one location… sneak me to another and then when the trial starts you can produce me from thin air."

"The thing is… they do not know that we have all the stuff we have. We sort of … didn't tell The Powers That Be everything there either. Just the DA who is also keeping it quiet about the footage. They think you are our only eye witness, they do not know that with or without you, we have all we need."

"So… I don't even have to be there?"

"If I don't think you are safe… you will NOT be there. No. The footage you provided and the testimony will put Saxon down for a long time… with you not there the footage will still tell the tale." Jack grinned "they had NO idea what we have, thanks to you."

"So… dead or alive"

"Hey.. don't talk like that. No. Hey, look at me. I am not going anywhere… nether are you. Come on.. who would look after Goober? Huh? Owen? Come on... she would have to devour him within a week to survive." Jack crooned and Ianto snorted with amusement as he knew Jack was right.

They had to play the long game.

The hand on his thigh that did not remove itself in a hurry nice too.

.

.

"So… John and Suzie are watching and so far no bites" Owen said as he sat on the floor brushing the dog like it was some cool prize only he got to do. Ianto was mildly touched that he liked the dog like this, more so that the dog was enduring the weird man touching her when she hates being groomed.

"How is Suzie?" Ianto asked.

"Good… I got to call her Hoppy. She said she would shoot me too if I wanted, got really pissy about it" Owen said with glee, sniggering as he went back to stroking the dog's face and crooning that she was still ssooo pretty.

"So… Lisa. Only the team here knows?" Ianto asked, still nervous about the whole bait and switch thing. He had a bad feeling it was not going to work.

"Me, Owen, John, Tosh, Suzie and you. Oh, and Lisa and her… what's his name?" Jack asked, clicking his fingers as he struggled for the name.

"Gareth" Owen supplied through the fur he was burying his face in.

"Right"

"so… Gwen does not know?" Ianto frowned "Is she the leak?"

"Possibly" Jack nodded "Hard to tell. Either way I think we would be compromised if we let it get recorded."

"Agreed" Owen sighed as he fell back on the floor and let the dog lay on him, her glee a surprise to Ianto as he watched her snuggle in. Awwww. She thought he was a puppy. How cute. Ianto grinned as she nuzzled Owen and sighed, closing her eyes to snooze on him like a huge fuzzy blanket.

He seemed ok with the idea too.

"I just can't help but feel like something is going to go wrong" Ianto finally said out loud, hating himself for it but knowing he had to say it "With my luck… there is bound to be something go wrong."

"Don't' be so hard on yourself" Owen's muffled reply came from the dog's armpit "After all… we are on it!"

"Or under it, as the case may be" Jack quipped as he laughed.

Ianto was not so sure.