A/N – I was so excited to get to this track. I started it. Then life happened and I didn't get back to it for over a week. So, weirdly, it turned out very different from my original plan. Hope you like it.
9. Miss Otis Regrets (aka Captain Harkness Regrets)
The klaxons sounded and Toshiko Sato entered the Hub. It was only 4am but she liked coming in early to work on her projects unbothered. Since Jack had started spending most nights at Ianto's flat, it was even more enjoyable knowing she was in no danger of walking in on anything she didn't want to see. She smiled at the thought as she climbed the few steps to her workstation.
She was very surprised, then, to see an extremely disheveled (but thankfully fully clothed) Ianto sitting on the couch fast asleep. Tosh froze thinking perhaps she'd walked in on something when she heard noises coming from the autopsy area. She was again surprised when she saw Owen climbing the steps pulling on his jacket. He glanced at Ianto as he passed the couch and stopped when he noticed Tosh at her station.
"Sorry to mess up your quiet morning, Tosh." He said. "Don't bother waking him up, it's been a bit of a fuck up evening and now… I'm going home. I should be back by eleven." He took another look at Ianto, sighed then walked out the door.
Tosh looked over at the young man on the couch. He looked so much younger than his years when he was sleeping. Ianto didn't seem to have any obvious injuries. She glanced up at Jack's office. It was silent. If something was wrong with Ianto, Jack should've been here. She thought for a moment about going to Jack's office, but Owen had said everything was fine. She quietly put her things down at her station, started up her computer and sat down.
TWTWTWTWTWTW
Tosh was so absorbed in her programs; she was started when a coffee mug appeared by her keyboard. She turned to see an obviously still exhausted, but slightly more presentable Ianto Jones smiling at her and sipping from his own mug.
"Sorry to startle you. Don't worry, it's still early." He glanced at his watch. "Only five thirty." He stepped away, glanced up at Jack's office, then sat down at Owen's station and started absentmindedly doing something on the computer.
"What happened last night, Ianto?" Tosh asked, turning her chair. "I saw Owen. Is Jack okay?"
Ianto sighed, not turning from the monitors. "He will be… he always is, right?" He took a deep breath and nodded to the office. "He's sleeping. The longer it takes him to… die. The longer it takes to recover. It was public, so… hence Owen."
She glanced at her own monitors. "I didn't notice any rift alerts."
Ianto sighed. "It wasn't the rift or weevils." He paused. "Just good old Cardiff."
Tosh looked at him questioningly.
He took another sip from his coffee and turned to face her. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, he began. "You know, Jack and I were supposed to go to dinner last night…"
-= The Previous Night =-
Jack pulled the car into a parking spot in the city center. They both decided the SUV would not be a good idea for a night out for obvious reasons. They got out of the car and walked slowly along the pavement towards the restaurants. They were completely at ease with each other and conversation came easily. Both men were thankful for the ability to just walk down a street enjoying the evening without threat of aliens or monsters. It was rare to just be able to enjoy each other's company.
It was later than their original plans due to a phone call from the prime minister, so the streets and sidewalks were crowded with pub and restaurant patrons. Jack took Ianto's hand to keep him close in the throng.
An obviously intoxicated man suddenly stepped in front of them. "I think you two are walking down the wrong street." He slurred looking at their joined hands.
Not wanting to get involved in anything, Ianto tried to pull Jack away, knowing it wasn't worth arguing with this guy. But Jack stood his ground and gave the man a stunning grin.
Oh god, Ianto thought. He's going to make it worse.
"Come on, Jack. Just leave it, lets go." He said.
"Yeah… Jackie." The man goaded. "Listen to your boyfriend. Get out of here." He moved closer to Ianto.
And that's when the real trouble started. Jack's hero complex kicked in and he let go of Ianto's hand to give the man a strong shove.
"Jack!" Ianto tried to grab the captain as Jack lunged towards the drunk. "Enough. He's not worth it."
Ianto was finally able to grab hold of Jack's arm, and the older man turned to face him as a look of surprise and pain crossed his face. Both men looked down and saw a knife protruding from Jack's stomach.
TWTWTWTWTW
"The guy had a knife. Jack bled out right there in my arms waiting for the police. Owen got there and gave him a sedative so he wouldn't revive with all the emergency personnel there. We managed to bypass the hospital and get him back here. Now he's sleeping off Owen's industrial strength sedative." Ianto rubbed his hand over his face. "The guy is in custody. Apparently, this wasn't the first time he assaulted someone who was… "
Tosh put her hand on Ianto's knee and smiled at him. "You should really go home and get some proper rest."
He smiled back. "You're right. I probably should." He stood up with a groan, picked up both coffee mugs and headed towards the kitchen area. He stopped outside Jack's office, and instead of continuing to the kitchen, he stepped inside and closed the door.
"But you won't." Tosh said to herself as she turned back to her workstation.
Ianto stepped into the dark office and placed the two mugs on the shelf by the door.
"Hey." He said quietly, crossing to the desk where Jack sat. The soft light of the desk lamp hiding some but not all of the exhaustion on his face. "You shouldn't be up yet."
Jack gave a small smile. "Wanted to make sure I apologized for ruining your dinner last night."
Ianto stepped up behind Jack's chair and put his hands on the captain's shoulders. "Always the gentleman, huh?" He smirked.
"Not always." Jack winked, turning the chair to face Ianto. "I think we both should go back to bed."
End.
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