The car pulled in to the car park at UNIT's base. Ianto got out and caught Tosh as she flew at him, hugging her tightly and laughing. "Did you miss me, Tosh?"

She squeezed him. "Don't do that to us again! We thought we'd lost you."

"What?" He looked up, across the top of her head to Jack. "Why did you think that?"

Jack swallowed tightly. "The plane went missing over the Bermuda Triangle. The only signal we were able to find was your Torchwood tracker, which was stationary, apparently in the middle of the Sargasso Sea."

"You didn't say."

Jack shrugged. "You were safe, that's all that mattered."

"The plane is ready, sir." One of the aides from the Prime Minister's office had come to collect them. "We need to embark quickly."

"Yes, right. Got everything you two?" He released Tosh and picked up her bag for her. "The plane will take you on to Cardiff after we disembark in Miami."

Tosh entered the stateroom of the plane first and greeted Gordon with delight. He kissed her cheek and beamed down at her. "Tosh, what a pleasure to see you again, although the circumstances could have been better."

"You know I couldn't resist the opportunity to come and see you again." She smiled up at him. "Not to mention that it's my job."

"Indeed." He sobered and sat down, indicating that they should do the same. "I want to thank you both, and you Ianto. I don't know how you do this day in and day out, but I am aware now more than ever of the value of the job you do. I imagine that anyone who knows cannot help but be grateful to you."

"Thank you." Jack smiled at him. "Hearing that matters."

"And if I may continue with the compliments, you are much more amenable in person than you are over the phone, Captain."

He laughed and Ianto rolled his eyes. "You've got me on a good day."

Ianto was going through some of the files he'd been presented with at the base. "I have to go and deal with these, I'm sorry." He stood up. "I shan't be long, I hope."

He left smartly and Tosh scowled. "Jaack, you looked like a kicked puppy every time he leaves the room."

"Don't give up hope though." Gordon told him. "Just give him space, and don't give in too easily when he realises. The thrill of the chase will remind him what he's missing more than anything else."

Ianto closed the file and set it aside, spreading his hands across the desktop with a nostalgic smile. His mind hadn't been anywhere near the paperwork he was doing, which didn't surprise him. Over the last weeks he'd accepted that he missed Jack desperately, needed him back if he wanted any hope of being happy in the near future. But now, he was forced to realise that he wanted to be with him, wanted to be the one holding Jack when Jack needed it, wanted Jack to be the one to hold him.

There was a knock at the door, and a look at the clock told Ianto that they were due to land in Miami shortly, he'd missed the chance to spend time with Jack and Tosh. He sighed. "Come in."

"Hey." He swung around at Jack's voice and couldn't help his warm smile of welcome. "You got a moment?"

"Sure." He pushed his chair out slightly and looked up at Jack, who came to lean against the desk next to him. "I'd just finished."

"Good timing, we'll be in Miami soon." Jack told him.

He shrugged. "Not what I'd call good timing, I was hoping to spend some time with you, we won't have chance for a while." He looked up again. "I might have to take you out to dinner to make up for it, once I get back, if you like?"

Jack looked surprised. "I'd like that."

They stared at each other for a while, then Ianto broke eye contact, needing the artificial distance. "Do you know how hard it is, trying to concentrate on a UNIT report, when all I can think about is bending over this desk with your dick so far up my arse I'm glad I had my tonsils out?" Jack made a strangled noise and he blushed, running his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, that was vulgar."

Jack laughed. "I'm sure I said it to you once or twice."

"Hmm, the only difference is that we used to have the time to follow through and alleviate the... pressure." Jack chuckled, but didn't move, so Ianto rolled his eyes and stood up, pushing his chair back. He placed one hand lightly on Jack's chest and felt his heart beating against his palm. "It scared me, seeing you shot."

Jack covered his hand with his own. "I'll always be alright, you know that."

"I'll admit, it's not your body I'm worried about." He looked down to their hands. "It's in here." Jack closed his eyes and pulled Ianto towards him, holding him close. Ianto leaned into the embrace, enjoying the warm spread of Jack's hands across his shoulders and lower back. "I miss you, I really miss you."

"Then come home. Come back."

Ianto shook his head. "I can't." He pulled back to look at Jack and kissed him once before resting their foreheads together. "Because I realised something, and I need you to realise it too."

"You could tell me?"

He shook his head. "When you know, you'll know why I can't."

"I'm being blind, aren't I?" He asked.

"Not blind, you're just out of practice." Ianto smiled. "I'll show you."

"If you'll teach me, I'll do my best to learn."

He groaned and shook his head, dropping it to hide his face against Jack's neck. "Are you going to start with the clichés?"

"Well, you know, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do."

Ianto laughed, framed his face in both hands and kissed him thoroughly. "I hate that cliché."

Jack laughed against his lips and pulled him in closer. "Don't make me let go of you any time soon."

"Not planning to." He agreed. "Although it may make locking the... door..." He groaned and went to the door. "Hello, Jess."

"Ianto, sorry, am I interrupting something?" She blushed.

"Yes. Is there a reason for it?" He leaned against the doorway and knew that Jack was grinning his best shit-eating grin behind him.

She stuttered out her answer. "Yes, erm, we'll be landing soon, you need to return to your seat."

"Right, okay. Just... we'll be there soon." She nearly ran away down the corridor, and Ianto just waited until Jack's arms wrapped around his waist. He turned in his arms and kissed him once more. "I'm due back on Tuesday, late. Are you free Wednesday evening, rift permitting?"

"I am now."

"No you're not." He smiled. "I'm taking you out to dinner."