8

Ianto was storming though the Hub, Owen looking up with a plaintive cry for Coffee but Ianto kept walking, straight out the Hub Blast Doors and as he stomped up the stairs he slid his glasses back into his breast pocket with a shaky hand.

That had been close.

He had forgotten the Captain's hands, how quick they were to seize something like a child seeing a chocolate… like … gods. A greedy lover. Ianto stopped walking and leaned against the wall of the stairwell finally letting himself have a moment. He thought he could do this. Thought it would be ok, that he could maintain this contact but … damn if it was not the hardest thing he had ever done just then. Walking away.

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Jack was watching from his office, the door slammed in Owen's face with a curt "Order fucking Starbucks then" before he had settled and called up the CCTV to find Ianto.

There he was, in the stair well. He was ….

Jack leaned forward with shock as he watched Ianto's shoulders shaking with grief, the man clearly weeping. The Ianto straightened up, produced a hanky and wiped his eyes, he seemed to be talking to himself but it was so quiet the mic in the ceiling light was not picking it up, Jack tried to read his lips and all he could get was bastard a few times and sorry. Damn it. Jack felt like upholstering his Webley and shooting something.

He was so frustrated, and not just sexually. For a moment there … Ianto had gotten completely under his skin and as he sat staring at the image of the young man Jack realized he was still there. Moving around making him itch.

Damn.

Such an itch needing to be rubbed.

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"You are bastards for asking this of me right now" Ianto was hissing as he tried to control his emotions, the coms coming on in his head unexpected "Well I am sorry I have a life outside of yours Grandy. You know I don't do that anymore, you all made it clear you didn't want anything to do with me. Drummed me out then felt badly after I saved the fucking world anyway so gave me a little retirement job. Remember that? Oh yes…I remember it well. I am still healing from it … whatever you need … ask someone still on the books. Do not come to a disavowed looking for a favor. Nope. Sorry Arthur old man … not this peasant!"

Ianto pulled back and straightened up, now breathing deeply as he stared at the wall in front of him, his face bland as he looked like he was doing breathing exercises. Then he whispered "Fuck. Where did you get those?"

Ianto's eyes were not staring straight ahead, they were flickering left and right, like he was reading something on the wall, but it was just a wall. Nothing there. Right? Not like he could see something we could not. Right? Well … maybe his eyes were glassy because he DID wear contacts. Only … they were not corrective lenses at all … nor were they Torchwood Regulation. Oh no … these puppies were state of the art and right now they were projecting schematics on the wall that only they could read, Ianto seeing that someone had not only the plans to make a dirty bomb capable of taking out most of Cardiff … they were amassing the necessary parts.

"Wait … it… is that Gallifreyan?" he was suddenly interested in whoever he was talking to "Eggsy. Shut up. Go back … pan left. There … by the book."

What was he seeing now? Someone else's vision? Huh?

"Yes… that is a Sonic. Christ … it's not his. It's a … ahhhh. Doctor Song. Great. The other Doctor that causes havoc when in town. Perfect … if her lipstick Sonic is here… she is too. Prefect. Just what I need .. a Mad Man in a Box and a Wicked Woman on the loose." Ianto slammed his forehead into the wall and groined "Yeah. Take it. Yeah. ON my way. Arthur … this is the last item old man. You hear me? The last time."

Ianto started up the stairs and as he got ot the top he paused, not aware of the camera looking directly at him as Jack stared intently at the screen. The mic now in the perfect position to catch what Ianto was whispering.

"How dare you. Do not bring me Mammy into this. She died for your cause… she gave it her all. Was a good bloody solider. Don't you dare use her memory like that. Last time. I mean it Arthur. They owe me.. not the other way around!"

Jack watched Ianto move off screen, heading for the door and it was several minutes before Jack could sit back, his heart pounding in his chest as he went over what he had heard.

Who was Arthur?

Ianto's mother? Didn't she die when he was a little boy? A car accident or something?

Jack stared into space looking a little like Ianto had then he grunted, rising from his seat.

Come on team … road trip!" he roared as he blasted through the hub, Owen scuttling up from the autopsy bay.

"Can we make a pit stop at Starbucks?"