Ianto woke to find Jack watching him and rolled his eyes. 'You need a better hobby.'
'I don't need to sleep as much as you do.'
Sitting up Ianto shook his head. 'Doesn't mean you couldn't read a book or something.'
Jack laughed. 'I could but I still can't see in the dark.'
'Fair point, and hows my fire?'
He shrugged. 'Power's back on so the heating works again.'
Ianto looked at the flashing alarm and nodded. 'At least we'll be able to cook breakfast on the hob rather than in a fireplace.'
'You can do that?'
Ianto laughed. 'I'm sure I could figure it out Sir.'
'You know, I'm sure you could.' He agreed. 'It's about six now.'
'You thinking of going into the Hub?'
'Storms like last night sometimes push the weevils out of their sewers.'
'Do you need my help?'

'You've got Pip to collect and you may have to keep him entertained in case I'm not back here by eleven.'
'Am I still bringing him here for your interview?'
'Yeap.'
'What time will you head into the Hub?'
'Soon as I can, if it's quiet I can come back but you never know with weevils.'
'I'll make coffee and get a fry up on then.'
Jack leaned over and kissed Ianto on the forehead. 'You really are my favourite.'
'You're just saying that because of the coffee Sir.'
'No.' Jack winked. 'The fry up also sounds good.'
Ianto laughed as he threw the blankets back and looked for his slippers. 'I'll see you in the kitchen then.'

There was coffee waiting on the table and Ianto was about to set two plates of bacon and eggs down when Jack walked into the room.
'Good morning gorgeous.'
Ianto stopped. 'You aren't going to say things like that at work are you?'
Jack paused, coffee halfway to his mouth. 'Not if you don't want me to. But I wont stop the flirting.'
'They'd really think something was wrong if that was the case. Are you taking your car?'
'She hasn't had a run for a while.' Smiling at the thought of driving his little red MG, a car he'd brought brand new in 1956.
'Don't go though any puddles Sir, I'd hate to see her get drowned.'
Jack looked up at Ianto and laughed. 'I'll keep that in mind.'

Ianto strode into the station with an optimistic prayer the train would be on time. He wouldn't like to say he was board spending the morning at home instead of working on the bottomless pit he fondly thought of as his archives. But there were other things he could have been doing that might have been a better use of his time than the hoovering. Wearing a simple black suit with a black shirt and red silk tie that cost more than his sister probably spent on groceries a month he felt ready. He wasn't entirely sure what he was ready for, if it was to simply collect someone from the station, or if it was to lay a few ghosts to rest. This would be the first time he'd seen anyone from London since the fall.

It also left him wondering how he explained Jack to someone who's last memory of the Welshman was of drinks after work, Lisa at his side. How did he explain to himself, least of all any one else, that a scant five weeks ago he'd held the woman he loved in his arms as she begged him to let her go. And now, now he was actually in some sort of relationship with his immortal boss, who he slept next to every night. A man he was actually contemplating having a more physical relationship with. All while not even slightly freaked out by the idea.

Hearing his name he was pulled from his thoughts as Pip pulled him into a friendly, we survived the end of the world and I'm glad to see you, hug.
'Ianto Jones you look incredible. Cardiff suits you.'
He felt himself blush as he nodded his agreement. 'Yes, I think it does.' Stepping back he looked around.
Following his eyes Pip grinned, switching to German. 'We are being watched yes?'
Ianto shrugged as he replied. 'We probably are.'
'By your Jack?'
'And the girls if he's still at the Hub, perhaps we should wave?'

Suzie laughed as she watched Ianto and the slightly taller man at his side standing in the middle of the train station. They looked directly at a camera and waved. 'You know, I think they're on to us Tosh.'
'You might be right.' Jack intoned as he stood behind his second in command. 'Any idea what they are saying?'
Tosh shook her head. 'It's too crowded to pick anything usable up and I can't lip read like Ianto can.'
Suzie frowned. 'Ianto can lip read?'
Jack grinned. 'He does have very talented lips...' His voice trailing off as he recalled the goodbye kiss he'd been planted with before pulling out of the garage.
Suzie shook her head at the pair of them. 'Right. So shouldn't you be heading home Jack? For your interview with Captain British Marines? You know, the big chap standing next to your Ianto. The one looking very comfortable with him.'
Jack was prevented from answering when Tosh sprung into action.
'Sorry Jack, we've got weevils in Bute Park, they just mauled someone.' Fingers flying as she switched from stalking Ianto and Pip to tracking the reported sighting of Cardiff's other alien presence.

Suzie began scanning the screens next to Tosh and sighed. 'There's at least half a dozen of them.' She spun the chair around and called out. 'Owen! Grab your kit.'
Owen was already headed towards his team mates when he heard his name. 'Keep your hair on love, I heard you.'
Jack groaned as he looked down at the already torn sleeve of his coat from their earlier brush with a pair of weevils. 'Great, I'll let Ianto know I'm going to be held up.'
Owen snorted. 'Why doesn't he bring the big guy to the park and we can all see what he's made of.'
'Literally.' Suzie pointed out. 'If he gets mauled.'
'I've read his file, I'd be more worried about the bloody weevils.'
'Fine. I'll take my car and meet you there. Tosh you stay here and monitor us, if we can't contain them you'll have to ring the Brigadier for reinforcements.' He patted her shoulder, knowing her history with UNIT it wasn't an easy request to make. 'Suzie, I'll meet you and Owen at the park.' He strode away and tapped his comms unit, hopping Ianto had his on.

Reaching the car Pip frowned as he watched Ianto's expression change when the younger man stopped short.
Ianto pulled a comms unit out of his pocket and tucked it into his ear. 'Say that again Jack?' Unlocking the car he indicated Pip should get in before nodding and clicking the link closed. 'Change of plans I'm afraid. Are you up for a jog in the park?'
Pip looked from his dress shoes to Ianto and grinned. 'I'll cope.'
'You say that now.' Ianto muttered as he climbed behind the wheel of his audi and started the car. 'Wait until you've chased a weevil though the woods after the storm we had last night.'
'Hang on.' Pip turned to Ianto as he fastened his seat belt. 'Did you say weevil?'
'Yeap.' Ianto said, popping the P. 'Did you ever see any in London?'
'No, the last of the London weevils disappeared not long after I started working for Torchwood. There was one theory that they simply went deeper into the sewers under the city but no one's seen one for ages.'
'We have a few more of them here in Cardiff. You'll spend most of your time collecting space junk and chasing weevils if you take the job.'

Jack had to steady himself as he watched Ianto striding towards him, his suit jacket flaring out around him revealing the red lining. The man walking with an equal confidence at his side was clearly Pip. Suzie moved to stand beside him and nodded.
'Well he moves like he knows what he's doing so far.'
Owen barked a laugh. 'He's walking, even I can do that.'
'Yes but you don't look like that when you do it.'
Jack sighed as he shook his head. 'Time out kids. Save it for later.'

Ianto reached Jack and nodded. 'Captain Jack Harkness, this is Marshall Pippins. Suzie Costello and Doctor Owen Harper'
'You dealt with a weevil before Pippins?'
'No I have not.'
'Right.' Jack nodded to Suzie who handed over a canister. 'Weevil spray, you have a gun?'
'Didn't think I needed one for an interview Captain.'
Owen scoffed again. 'Seriously? This is still Torchwood.'
'Doctor Harper, have you tried to take a gun on a public train when your Torchwood identification got blown up by Darleks and Cybermen?'
'Christ, I can't bloody win with you London lot.'
Suzie handed Pip a gun and a spare clip. 'Don't mind him, he's got his knickers on backwards, and don't lose Doris, she's my favourite back up gun.'
Pip grinned as tucked the gun away. 'I'll look after her.'

Jack turned to Ianto and stepped him aside, his voice quiet. 'Go back to the Hub and help Tosh I don't want you to get hurt.'
'You can't treat me differently Jack.'
'I'm not, you're my archivist and the only one who can use the bloody coffee machine.' He moved to bring his hand up to Ianto's cheek but remembered the others could still see them, his hand dropping at the last minute. 'You're too valuable to risk in the field and this is what the others are trained for.'
'I'll be fine.'
'Yan -.'
He cut Jack off. 'Nope, and, I've probably had more comprehensive training than Owen.'
'You're really going to have to explain exactly what they trained you lot in at One.'
'Perhaps but not today.'

Jack nodded as he turned back to the others. He hated putting Ianto in any form of harms way but he also had a team to lead. He considered how to best split the team, did he send Pip with Owen and Suzie or keep the man with himself and Ianto. Making a decision he hoped he wouldn't regret he clapped his hands together. 'Okay kids, Suzie, you take Owen and head that way.' Pointing right. 'And I'll take these two with me.' He clicked his comms link. 'Toshiko, I need you to run interference with the constabulary, for some reason they like you more than me.' He laughed at her reply and nodded. 'Point taken, get them to keep folks away, and to stay clear themselves. I don't need another bloody rookie stumbling into a weevil nest.' He turned back to Suzie and frowned. 'Why are you still here?'
'Ah, Jack, a word?'
'No Suzie, you and the good doctor need to go to the right.' He waved them off before turning to Ianto and Pip.

'Not exactly the interview I had planned but that's Torchwood for you.' He turned to Ianto one last time, operating on hope more than any expectation his words might make the young man change his mind. 'No one will think less of you for sitting this out, and Owen definitely wont say anything.'
Ianto squared his shoulders back as he held Jack's gaze with a determination of his own. 'You should be more worried about what I'll be saying about your coat.'
'Oh yeah.' Jack grinned as his eyes automatically fell on the torn and bloodstained sleeve. 'You can fix that though can't you?'
'Of course I can fix it.' Ianto rolled his eyes.

Pip stifled a chuckle but still found two pairs of blue eyes staring at him. 'What?'
'Right.' Jack snapped into action mode and addressed Pip. 'I don't have a comms unit for you so stay close and watch out for the teeth.' He cricked his neck reflecting on his morning just long enough to catch Ianto's attention. 'It's nothing Yan, I've had worse shaving.' He turned to Pip and fixed him with an icy cold stare. 'But if Ianto get's so much as a scratch the weevils will be the least of your problems.'
His expression a professional mask Pip nodded. 'It's not my first rodeo Captain.' If Ianto hadn't mentioned the growing relationship between himself and Jack he'd have been left in little doubt after the look the Captain was now giving him. Woe betide any who chose to come between them was the thought that crossed his mind.
Jack nodded, his smile still cold. 'Lets do this.'

The highlights for Ianto, he was later to recall, were simple. He was still alive and they returned a total of four weevils to the sewers, Owen determined they were all juveniles as he tagged them and gathered samples for his growing database. Packing his kit up they were about to head back to the vehicles when they heard a scream.

Jack looked to Pip and Suzie and nodded as they all began running towards the trees.
Owen looked at Ianto. 'I hope you've got your running shoes on teaboy.'
'I can keep up.' He replied before following after Jack.
Ianto found Suzie dragging a young woman out of the way as two much larger weevils began moving towards Jack and Pip. Sparing a thought followed by a hasty prayer that the young woman had simply fainted he grabbed the first thing to hand.

Swinging the branch like a club he hit the weevil currently attacking Pip, stunning it enough for the former Torchwood One agent to get the drop on it. Before turning to the second weevil currently working on tearing Jack's throat out. With a strength Ianto hadn't expected he clubbed the weevil over the head and shoved it aside as he dropped to the muddy ground and pulled Jack towards him. Weevils ignored he let Suzie and Pip deal with them as he covered Jack's wound so the others wouldn't see how bad it was. Or that the captain had stopped breathing.

In the back of his mind were the twin thoughts of his not being able to salvage the coat and wondering if his suit would be alright with a dry clean or if it too was beyond salvaging. He felt the skin knitting together beneath his hands and nearly sobbed with relief as Jack took a shuddering breath and gasped back to life. He registered two guns being fired in the background and Owen calling his name as a medical kit was dropped to the damp ground he was kneeling on.

'Come on teaboy, I need to check Jack.'
He reluctantly moved aside so Owen could see for himself that Jack was okay. A mute nod the only acknowledgement he could give. He heard Suzie talking with Tosh over the open comms channel. Turning he saw two weevils lying in pools of their own blood as Pip held a dressing to Suzie's arm. It felt like the last few minutes had passed in a blur and that time had stood still in the same space. Next time, he resolved, that Jack gave him permission to go back to the Hub, he would.

Unbeknownst to Ianto there were four people watching him square himself up tugging his suit jacket into place and straightening his tie. Each quietly impressed with the man's calm, stoic presence. Jack shrugged Owen and his fussing off with a muttered comment about having a fast metabolism so of course he was healing quickly as he moved towards Ianto. Ignoring the others he pulled him into his arms, pressing their foreheads together in silent conversation.

Pip turned to Suzie who was now being examined by Owen. 'Do they do that often?'
Owen's expression darkened slightly as he gave the men in question a cursory glance. 'They do and it's creepy.'
'Oh don't start now Owen.' Suzie glared. 'There's nothing wrong with them.'
'You can't tell me you don't find their silent conversations creepy.'
'I can tell you I don't particularly care nor do I understand why you do. Are you jealous Owen?'
'I don't shag men and I don't need to be best friends with Jack so why would I be jealous.'
She shook her head. 'You tell me but I'm not dealing with whatever it is that creeps you out about all this so perhaps you could pull your head out of your arse and get over it.'
'I don't like psychics alright.' Pulling his gloves off he began packing his kit up and stalked towards the SUV. 'I'll get a tarp for these two.'

Pip turned to Suzie who shrugged.
'He's a complex mystery at the best of times and a wanker all the time.'
'But I'm not psychic and I don't own a crystal ball.'
'Of all the mysteries of the world, solving this one isn't on my bucket list. I'd also recommend heading back to the house with Ianto and not Jack.'
Pip looked at the MG and grinned. 'Bet she goes like a rocket.'

'Funny.' Ianto said as he joined the conversation. 'Since Jack drives it like one.'
'I told you, I'm a very good driver.'
Ianto turned to Jack who had also moved over to join the others. 'Of course, Sir.'
Jack looked at Ianto a moment longer before turning to Pip. 'Not sure I need to interview you now, the jobs yours if you want it.'
Pip felt all eyes on him, even the acerbic doctor as he nodded. 'I'll have to sort a few things out in London but I'd be happy to join the team.'

'Right.' Jack grinned as he rubbed his hands together. 'That's that sorted then. What train are you catching back?'
'Oh no you don't, I was promised coffee and I'm not getting on any train until I get some.'
Owen pulled his wallet out and flipped it open. 'If I give you a fiver to buy one at the station would that help?'
Jack stared at his medic and shook his head. 'I'll deal with you tomorrow.'
'Goodie.' Owen muttered as he tucked his wallet away and turned back to the weevils. 'A little help please?'

Suzie sighed. 'Nice meeting you Pip, looking forward to working with you and all that crap, but if I don't help Doctor Harper none of us will hear the end of it.'
'Oi.'
'Oh oi yourself.' She nodded at Jack and moved to help with the dead weevils.
'What about the jogger?' Ianto asked.
'Owen and Suzie will give her a low dose of retcon and get her to a hospital. I guess we should get back to the house if Pip wants a coffee.' Jack clicked his comms unit. 'Toshiko, perhaps you could explain why a jogger got though what's supposed to be a police cordon?'

In the Hub Tosh sighed as she typed madly. 'That would something I'm looking into but from the police chatter I'm getting the PC who was supposed to be guarding the west gate left her post.'
'Not helpful. Suzie and Owen will sort the woman out and be heading back with two dead weevils.'
'I'll have the gurney in the garage for when they get back.'
'Thanks Tosh, I'll see you tomorrow.'

Back at the house Ianto looked critically at Jack's coat as he began trying to sponge the worst of the mud and blood off the grey wool. It crossed is mind that might just be easier to run a google search and see if he couldn't just track down a new coat. He could get a number made so he'd be able to just replace it next time Jack got killed by a weevil. His hand shook at the memory and he wasn't sure he'd ever wash the metaphorical blood from his skin. He looked from the torn and bloody coat to his own suit jacket and wondered if he could clean that one up enough to be able to send it to the dry cleaners. Jack's assurances that they'd seen worse didn't help, not this time. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

'It's just a coat Yan.'
Turning he let the older man wrap him in his arms, words muffled against Jack's shoulder. 'Is it?'
'Yeah, it is. Come on, you need a brandy.'
'I need to drive Pip to the station.'
'We can call him a cab, come on.' He tugged Ianto's hand until they were standing in the kitchen and he could hand the man a drink.
'For shock and for surviving your first field trip.'
'I think I miss my archives. They're safer.'

Pip topped his glass up and shook his head. 'They aren't always, remember the three weeks Regie spent as a woman?'
Ianto laughed. 'He refused to come out of that office for two days.'
'How did you guys get him out in the finish?'
'It was pointed out to him that the alternative was for Hartman to find out and he'd be lucky if he only ended up as one of her science projects.'
Pip stopped laughing. 'Yeah, that's not as funny.'
Ianto sipped his brandy and privately agreed.

Sitting in his kitchen Jack hated that Ianto was right, he did like Marshall 'Pip' Pippins, he was an unassuming man with minimal presence, which wasn't an easy thing to achieve for someone a little over six feet tall. His dark hair sprinkled with grey and his green eyes were clear and friendly. The suit he wore, like Ianto's, looked well tailored and moved with the man rather than moving the man in it. And watching him move Jack had easily recognized the predatory qualities that suggested he was highly dangerous. The sort of man who usually carried not only a back up gun but probably a back up knife as well, when he was armed of course. Pip also looked like he could run up mountains. Lean, athletic and while not classically handsome he had a warm smile and appealing features.

And after talking with him for close to two hours, he found it impossible to hate him. He was a man who had never had his own team because he was quick to argue with his superiors over their treatment of and attitude towards all things alien. He eschewed the Torchwood One line of, "if it's alien it's ours", preferring to work with and learn from aliens instead. Shooting a weevil today was a sad necessity not a pleasure and he was everything Jack wanted in a field agent. He'd obey orders but he would freely argue his point, something he'd probably do eloquently, while dressed in his three piece suit. And, he could even build a bomb out of the contents of the average kitchen pantry, something he actually bragged about doing blindfolded. He was skirting the safe edge of lethal and Jack found it impossible to dislike him. It was Ianto he worried about, leaving him to speak with his London friend while he tried to salvage his shoes.

Ianto and Pip sat at the kitchen table and talked about everything that had happened in the last five weeks. They even shed a discrete tear as they remembered lost friends but parted smiling. With Pip extracting a promise that Ianto would help him find a flat when he moved to Cardiff. And a suggestion that perhaps they could scoop up a few of the other survivors of Canary Wharf.

Ianto felt conflicted as he watched the taxi arrive to take Pip back to the station. It had been reassuring to see someone who survived what he still thought of as the worst day of his life. Holding Lisa as she died eclipsed even the death of his mother but every day hurt a little less. Every day he was able to smile a little more and imagine a future for himself. Albeit a very different future to the one he had once planned. It was as if a cloud had lifted and allowed a single ray of light into the darkness that had threatened to engulf him. Guilt chased that ray of sunshine but the sun was brighter for it. He just wasn't ready to explore what it meant, and he certainly had no desire to even admit why he felt less alone in the world.

That night Ianto cried out in his sleep but didn't wake from restless dreams as Jack held him in the darkness. Leaving the older man hoping bringing a survivor from London into his Hub wasn't going to undo the progress his Welshman had made. He didn't want Ianto wondering why Pip had survived and Lisa hadn't. And he didn't want to return to the blood chilling screams that had followed the first nights after that black day. So he did what he'd spent the last five weeks doing, he held Ianto as they both chased their dreams.