8

The days seemed to flow into one long spot of boredom. Five days in and Ianto had read all three books in the place, had groomed the dog to immaculate design in such a manner that she could probably win a bloody Best in Show or something… he had even started weeding the back garden for a house he did not even like for Godsake.

Jack walked in from the local store, removing the fake beard and moustache he had plastered on "Ianto? They had books."

Ianto dared hope… rising and brushing his hands on his pants before going in to find four books neatly placed on the table. Jack was so pleased with himself. One was a Mills and Boon thing about a doctor and a nurse having a love affair that Ianto wanted to shove down the waste disposal on sight but resisted as Jack was kind enough to choose it. The others… well… one was a gardening book believe it or not, another was a history book on early man's space missions. The last one was on Old Earth's Ancient Egyptian pharaohs and Ianto swallowed down mild hysteria as he stared at the book, then looked at Jack.

"What?"

"Jack… did you not notice the name of the author?"

"Yeah… a Jones. Thought you might like that."

"Glenda Jones" Ianto said calmly, and then sighed as he shook his head, turning the book over to stare at the dust cover. She had been so beautiful. So talented and so damned pretty. Ianto let his finger trace the edge of her blonde hair then shook his head sadly. His mother had written three books, all good quality but all read by her son so many times. At least he sort of had her with him, a picture of her anyway. He placed the book so it stood with her picture facing him as he settled at the table to watch Jack put things away "any word?"

"Apparently Suzie got an infection from the bullet wound, has to have a round of things"

"Round of things."

"Sorry… ah… injections so her leg doesn't fall off or whatever" Jack said and Ianto again felt the urge to brain him with one of the tins of food. In some ways he was getting used to Jack talking in weird half-sentences.

"And Lisa and her Gareth fella? They still OK?"

"Yes, apparently The Powers That Be are more than satisfied he is you and are focusing all resources on that area, flooding the place with undercovers to protect them. Overkill." Jack sat on the edge of the table (which Ianto HATED) and looked at Ianto fully for the first time "You have dirt on your nose. God, you are so cute sometimes."

Both men stalled out, blinking slowly as Ianto blushed.

Jack exploded from the table, making Ianto jump as Myfanwy chuffed softly from the sofa "Sorry. Ah… more in the car."

Ianto looked over at his dog and asked her "What the hell am I doing?"

She had no answer for him there.

Out at the vehicle Jack cleaned against the roof, his head on his hands as he said to himself "What the hell are you doing Jack?"

.

.

The meal was delicious. Jack leaning back to sigh as he patted his gut and watched Ianto rise to clear way the dishes. "I'll do those. You cooked. Man… did you cook."

"Well… not much else to do and I like food too" Ianto replied as he settled back down, now not sure what to do.

Jack rose and headed to the kitchenette to run the sink, scraping the dishes into the disposal as he called over his shoulder "The dancing on ice show is coming on tonight isn't it?"

"Oh yes!" Ianto perked up, reaching for the remote and the show came on, the handsome judge Ianto had his eye on as cheeky as ever and soon both men were on the sofa laughing at the camp way the man was giving his scores to the poor couple who had slipped over.

"I don't' know if I could do that… ice skate."

"Nonsense, you have such a good body and you have a grace to you that lends itself to flight" Jack said as he fiddled with the remote, Ianto feeling that familiar burn across his cheeks as he looked through his lashes at Jack. He had leaned over and kissed him before either of them had a chance to think it over, Jack's hands moving to seize his waist and pull him closer also a natural embrace, soon the two men were necking like teenagers.

Then Jack's phone stated to ping with a weird noise Ianto had never heard before, Jack shooting out from under him with a yelp to slap at it. Wow. Way to kill the mood. Ianto sat there feeling a little foolish now, his blush for another sort of embarrassment as he tried to cover himself with a cushion. Looking up he saw several things at once.

He was not the only one aroused.

Jack was upset.

Ianto knew before Jack looked at him, the feeling of dread soo real as he rose to face him and hear the worst. He could 'hear' it in Jack's alarm. Lisa. Ianto glanced at Myfanwy who had risen from her spot as well.

"They just hit Lisa and Gareth's location."