1

Ianto hadn't wanted to do this, the TV now sitting silent in the corner of his apartment's living room as the cable box recorded his show instead of him snuggled on the sofa with takeaway watching it but he had promised Owen that he would give this a go.

He looked around the table at the others present and withheld the urge to sigh. God. A séance. What a stupid idea.

"Sorry about that" Toshiko said as she entered the room after answering the front door, followed by a tall handsome man who slid into the empty seat beside Ianto with a polite smile. "Jack was late as per."

"Hey! Not my fault!" Jack said as she snuggled in "the roads are almost impassable with that storm out there. What a shitty night to do this."

"Yeah, best sort" Owen said eagerly, wiggling as the clairvoyant rolled her eyes and settled once more, the lighting only candles to help add to the eerie feeling of being in this house with the storm whipping around outside like an animal trying to get in.

Definitely would have been better having a night in, Ianto thought to himself as he glowered at his friends then nodded to show he was ready for this crap when asked.

"So how do we do this? We go around the table and introduce ourselves?" Owen asked.

"It's a séance, Owen" Ianto said softly "Not fucking AA."

Jack snorted softly, his face splitting into a wide grin. He glanced at Ianto and sniggered, then made out he was serious now as Owen grumbled about Ianto's lack of belief.

"OK, let's join hands please" she asked and they all did so, Ianto finding Jack's hand warm and gentle. He risked a glance and found him doing the same thing. Cue that incredibly embarrassing blush. What amazing eyes, full of cheeky mirth.

It was all a bust of course. Owen on the edge of his seat with wide eyes as the woman pretended to talk in different voices and do a little mini stroke thing that had Owen finally frowning as his Doctor's brain told him that was stupid now. Ianto ws not amused to hear his father coming through to say he was proud of him. Clearly this woman knew enough to guess his father was dead, but not clever enough to know his name and Google him enough to know there was not a loving relationship there.

Owen paid the woman and said thanks but after he had let her out and run with her to the car holding the umbrella over her, he stomped back in and stood dripping on the front foyer looking at them all standing there with fake fear gabbing at one another as if he was an apparition "OK. Don't say a fucking word!"

Jack giggled and accepted a glass of wine from Toshiko "well … it was entertaining I guess."

"That was one word for it, how much did she charge you for that charade?" Ianto asked sitting on the sofa with his legs folded and Jack could see the delectable way his trousers hugged his arse. Hmmmm. This was different, Owen didn't hang out with many who actually wear suits like this.

As if hearing him, Ianto turned his head to look at him, raising an eyebrow.

Jack grinned and openly leered, no way he we going to hide interest and to his surprise Ianto rose from the sofa and brushed down his trouser "Thanks but now I…"

"The meal is ready" Toshiko cut him off quickly and he frowned at her, finally seeing that this was all something other than just a silly show. Especially when he saw that he was seated next to Jack once more.

Oh really?

"So… what do you do for a living?" Ianto asked and then settle back as everyone talked about what they did, including Jack whose Heddlu position sounded plush is not a little dangerous. Bodyguard to the rich and famous. Not bad.

Jack noticed that Ianto did not say what his job was, letting everyone else speak and asking some questions. He was good at this, gleaning information. If jack didn't know better he would have said Ianto was a fellow investigator or something.

Jack watched him 'not-eat' too and was amazed at how much he appeared to eat when in fact he ate very little. He was a master at making others happy and when he excused himself to use the bathroom Toshiko turned to Owen "Did you see? He ate some."

"Told you, he likes your cooking love" Owen nodded, and then turned to another guest. Jack sat back and pondered things, the fact he had been placed next to this man twice made it pretty obvious that they had orchestrated this evening to get him to see this lovely piece of ….oh.

Ianto exited the bathroom and Jack could see that he had washed his face and slicked his hair back. Jack also saw Owen sitting up straighter as he looked at him chose a seat further away from everyone, then to Jack's surprise Owen showed annoyance before settling back to hide it.

It was another half hour of small talk and Ianto rose to leave "I have work in the morning."

"So you do work then!" Emily asked sitting in the lap of her fella… Damien?

"Yes, and I have an early shift tomorrow" Ianto smiled at her then took his leave. Jack followed him out to the door along with Owen and Tosh, watching Tosh get a kiss to her cheek. Then Ianto tripped lightly down the steps and over to a beat up old Honda Civic. They waved as he drove off and Jack found himself following the car with his eyes, intrigued as to how Owen know someone who was clearly not in the same financial bracket.

"What does he do for a job?" he asked Toshiko as they headed back inside.

"He is a qualified Tailor but likes to work at a local bookstore that doubles as a library as well in the back" she answered and he could have smacked himself for the obviousness of it.

Of course.

A nerd.