3

"A cell phone would be good," he said. "I left mine at home."

Biker Man's lips quivered like he was trying not to laugh, even as he reached into a compartment on the back of his bike and pulled out a phone.

He handed him the cell, and Ianto stared at the device.

Whom should he call? Bianca had babysitting duties tonight since Ianto's sister and brother-in-law were out of town recovering from wedding fatigue. Beatrice was still on her honeymoon. Dad was visiting Mary's family for the night, and none of her other siblings lived within close driving distance. Besides, calling anyone in his family would be too humiliating.

Seemed there was no choice but to call John Henry so he could come get him.

Except he didn't answer. After trying twice and going straight to voicemail both times, Ianto gave up.

Could this night get any worse? he rubbed his forehead, trying to think of a solution.

"Problem?" a deep voice said from behind him.

Biker Man was a couple feet away when he spun around. Up close, he looked even better, which was a terrible thing to notice when he had a date waiting a few miles up the road.

Of course, John Henry wasn't answering his phone. He might have already stood him up.

"I couldn't get him," Ianto said.

"The guy with two first names?"

So Biker Man had understood at least part of his incoherent rambling. "Yes, it's a blind date. My sister set it up. The two first names made me hesitate, but that's not really his fault. Maybe his parents were trying to be cute."

Biker Man's eyes gleamed and his shoulders shook a little, a sure sign of suppressed laughter, so Ianto shut up.

Suddenly, music reached his ears. A driving beat meant to get people up onto the dance floor. They both turned toward the sound.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Must be coming from Deke's," Ianto said. "It's a dive bar on the outer limits of town. I never knew you could hear the music all the way out here."

A speculative gleam entered his eyes. "It sounds close."

"Close, but so far," Ianto said, shaking his head. "There's a river between us."

"How big a river?" he asked, glancing down, as if figuring out which clothes to start removing.

If Ianto weren't so Jones he'd have let Biker Man strip and swim for it. If nothing else, he'd enjoy the show. After twenty-eight years of proper behaviour, surely he deserved some kind of reward. But Ianto was a good boy at heart, and he couldn't put him in danger.

"It's deep. Runs pretty swiftly, too," Ianto said. "I wouldn't risk it in the dark. My stupid blind date isn't worth you drowning."

"So that's out." He stared down at Ianto. "Look, I have an extra helmet. I could—"

"Are you kidding? No, I don't know you," Ianto said, ignoring the way Biker Man's casual once over made his nerves tingle.

Mostly.

"I'm not driving off into the night with a strange man. Not that I think you're strange," Ianto said, trying to correct the collision course of mismanaged words tumbling from his mouth. "I just—"

Eyes dancing with mirth, his rescuer held up a hand. "I understand. So, if you won't go with me, and you're date with the two first names has left you stranded, what about a tow truck?"

Of course.

"Stupid—" Ianto muttered under his breath.

"Hmm?" the Biker Man said, one brow swinging up.

Maybe there was a good reason he hadn't been allowed out on a date in so long. Apparently, being in the presence of an adult male turned him into a raving idiot.

"Not you…me. I should have thought of a tow truck in the first place. I even know the driver, Rhys Williams. I used to babysit his little sisters. They're married now, but then everyone I know is married now."

Biker Man did laugh this time.

So glad he could amuse his rescuer. "I'll call him."

A tow truck should have been the perfect solution. Except Cardiff's one and only rescue vehicle was, in Mrs. Williams' words, out helping some fool couple who'd thought it would be romantic to neck in the woods.

The rendezvous had ended with them getting stuck in the mud. Mrs. Williams promised to get a call out to her husband, but he probably wouldn't be available for another half hour at least.

Heart sinking to his toes, Ianto handed the phone back. "It might be a while."

"So we wait."

"You don't have to," Ianto said. "I'm sure there's somewhere else you need to be."

"Not really," he said. "I'm not meeting with anyone till tomorrow, so I've got all night. Besides, I can't leave someone stranded and alone on the side of the road."

"Okay…so we wait for the tow truck."

"Looks like it."

They hopped up on the hood of Ianto's car. Once settled, they fell into a semi uneasy silence, with only the twang of dance music from Deke's to keep them company. Ianto wracked his brain for something non-idiotic to say.

"I'm Jones, Ianto Jones," he said, thinking he should at least have a name for him other than Biker Man.

"Jack," he said, matching his clipped tone. "So, Ianto, where were you coming from?"

"Cardiff." he pointed back in the other direction. "Lived there all my life."

Jack started and took in a quick breath. "What was your last name?"

"Jones." he waited. "Go on, make the joke. I know how easy it is to come up with Jonesy jokes. "

His face registered no amusement. Instead, he shook his head and muttered. "Of course."

"What?" he asked, bemused by his odd reaction.

For a moment, he hesitated. Then he smiled. "Nothing. What brings you out here?"

"I'm trying to get a life," Ianto said, whispering into the darkness. Trying to get past being plain, boring…scared… Ianto Jones.

Jack didn't answer right away, and Ianto feared he'd lulled him to sleep with his inanity. Then his whispered reply wafted across the breeze. "Me too."

"I hope you're having better luck at it than I am."

For a moment, their gazes met and then Jack unleashed a teasing grin that nearly knocked him over with the power of its potency. "I am now."

A shiver travelled down Ianto's spine. He couldn't be implying what he thought he was implying…could he? No, they'd met about five minutes ago. It had to be his panicked state and the fact that he was literally yards away from the scene of his nightmares.

Not now, Ianto told himself. Be in the moment. You have been given the gift of a half hour with a man who fits every fantasy a girl or boy could have. Do not ruin the experience.

"Why do you need to get a life, Ianto Jones?" Jack asked, pulling him out of the internal monologue. "What's wrong with the one you have now?"

"Nothing. That's the problem. I have nothing. Well, I have a big family and friends, but nothing that's mine. I've spent my life taking care of other people. I made sure everyone else had a life, but somewhere along the line I lost myself."

"Why did you have to take care of everyone?"

Ianto opened his mouth, ready to tell him, but the words wouldn't come. Grief slammed into him so swiftly he almost fainted.

"Hey, are you all right?" Jack reached out to touch his shoulder. "Ianto? What happened?"

"Sorry." he gulped down the sob that tore at his throat. "It's been such a long time, but the grief still catches me off guard sometimes."

"What do you mean?"

Ianto hesitated. Should he spill all his secrets to a total stranger?

"You can tell me," Jack said. "It's okay."

"My mom died in a car accident." he pointed behind himself toward the last curve. "Right back there, in fact. I was seventeen."

Jack took in a swift, shocked breath and put a hand over Ianto's. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too."