10

Jack woke to a lonely bed and he padded out into the living room.

God, what a pokey little flat, almost like a bloody rabbit warren with the curved hallway and many doors that let to equally pokey rooms.

It was like some sort of maze.

Almost like the old foxholes Jack remembered from the war.

Jack was pleased that his memory served him well and he found Ford humming softly as he prepared breakfast.

The plates of bacon and eggs were lovely and totally called for.

Ford's bacon being almost raw was a surprise though, he sort of thought Ianto was a burnt toast kinda guy.

"I like the fresh taste" Ford explained, as if reading Jack's mind and Jack grinned as he saw how different the two personalities were.

"I like 'fresh' too" Jack leered and Ford laughed in that deep boom that Jack found so fuckable.

They travelled into the hub and as the lift descended Jack watched with interest as Ford shrunk into himself and became frail.

"Hello Pet" Gwen cooed when she saw him and Ianto blinked owlishly as he offered a small smile in return.

"Oh Ianto, love" she sighed, "You have a lovely smile."

"Thank you Gwen" Ianto whispered as he reached, shakingly for her mug, "Good friends do bring it out."

Gwen looked over at Tosh and they shared a 'look' that made Owen's sigh louder somehow.

"Good morning Owen" Ianto turned and showed him the little smile.

"Hey mate, you want …"

"Please don't call me that" Ianto grimaced, "Please. Buddy, pal, dude, even settle for bro, but please … not mate. Lisa, she … when we were being silly we …. Er."

Ianto made a show of shrinking more and looking furtively at Jack.

Jack caught a small flare in his eyes, stepping forward to look closer as the anger seemed to fade as quickly as it appeared.

"We understand completely," Jack said calmly, not understanding at all.

"Yeah, yeah sorry … ah … Bud?" Owen tried.

Ianto reemployed the small smile.

Everyone sighed and relaxed as Ianto brushed past Jack and headed for the archives.

To everyone else, it looked like he was going to cry somewhere unobserved and they really felt for him.

For Jack, it was just an epic effort not to show his glee as the hand brushed against his crotch and then pressed in quite a deliberate way.

Jack cleared his throat and demanded they got to work and give Ianto a little time.

Then he slunk after him.