Owen knew three things as he walked into the Hub. He was late, which in of itself wasn't unusual. He also didn't know why the weevils yesterday had attacked the way they did and he had no explanation he was willing to give Jack regarding his reaction to Marshal Pippins. If there were no end of the world emergencies he would be asked. Probably shouted at and if he was lucky he might even get decaf from Ianto. Then there was the likely extension of the cold shoulder from Suzie that had made the previous afternoon unpleasant. And disappointment from Tosh, which, ironically, bothered him the most.

Looking around he found Tosh at her work station but no other sings of activity. She looked up at him, a flash of sadness masked by a smile as she greeted him.
'Where's everyone else?'
'Suzie's on a retrieval in the Bay, Ianto's in the archives and Jack said something about yelling at the police.'
'Christ, no wonder they don't bloody like him. So, ah, no chance of a coffee then?'
Tosh snorted with laughter and handed him a five pound note with a post it stuck to it.
He shrugged as he shoved it in his pocket. 'Anything more from the weevils in the park?'
'Nothing new, there haven't been any more sightings or attacks so with a bit of luck they'll stay put.'

'When do we get lucky, this is bloody Torchwood Tosh.' Owen snorted logging into his computer he started opening his weevil files. 'I didn't find anything abnormal in the pathology to explain the spike in aggression and it's not a seasonal thing. Hang on.' He clicked on the email logo flashing at the bottom of his screen. 'What's this?'
Tosh didn't look up as she continued typing. 'Ianto found some digital records on weevils, he said if he finds anything else he'll pull it out of the archives for you.'
Nodding Owen opened the first link. 'Is there anything on the server?'
'I'm running a search now and I'm checking the police records for anything that may have been reported as an animal attack.'
'Thanks Tosh.' Owen said, settling into the silence of the Hub.

Jack strode out of the Cardiff police station, his classically handsome features set as if carved in stone. The jogger who had managed to get though the police cordon had been more severally injured than first expected, her recovery from the weevil attack was not guaranteed. His ire firmly impressed on the police he now felt free to face the day and considered suggesting a trip to the cinema to Ianto.

Cardiff Superintendent Meredith Evens was livid as he threw his office door open and moved to the centre of the station. 'Someone get Cooper in here. Now!'
Gwen frowned as she heard her name bellowed across the room, her attention caught by a man in his long grey coat as he sailed past her shared desk before looking around.

PC Andy Davidson looked up at his patrol partner and wondered what she'd done this time. Not for the first time it occurred to him just how far away from a promotion he was going to stay while saddled with PC Cooper. 'You've bloody done it now, best you get in there.'
Setting her cup of tea down she frowned at his tone. 'I haven't done anything.'
Andy watched as she tugged at her shirt to show more cleavage. Muttering to himself he went back to filling out the inevitable paperwork that went with being a police constable. 'Doesn't sound like nothing to me.'

Everyone looked up as the door to the Superintendents office was firmly closed. Words like gross misconduct and negligence and bloody Torchwood echoed around the station floor. The walls of his office proving insufficient to keep them in.
'And Cooper.' Superintendent Evens said as he opened his office door. 'You will be on desk duty until further notice.' Slamming his door after she scurried out he returned to his desk while muttering about bloody Torchwood. Not for the first time he wished he'd taken the job on Barry Island. What did his loyalty earn him if he was going to be stuck with self important idiots throwing their egos around his station and city.

Jack stood on the invisible lift, activating it via his wrist strap, smiling as he descended into his Hub and three heads looked around. 'Did you miss me kids?'
Ianto walked out of Jack's office. 'No but Colonel Mace did.'
His face fell. 'That was today?'
'Yeap. But you can call him back at three.'
Holding a bag up Jack tried grinning again. 'I got lunch.'
Ianto nodded, his reply cut off in knowing they weren't alone as he moved to join the others.

Suzie put the metal glove down she'd been examining. 'What did you get?
'Subway. That what they fished out of the Bay?'
'Yes, Ianto asked if they found the other one.'
'There's two?'
Ianto moved to stand beside Jack. 'Of course Sir, gloves do traditionally come in pairs, Sir.'
'Well I know that.' He started heading to the board room. 'But what does it do?' He asked his second. Eyes lighting up with anticipation.
She shrugged as she followed him. 'No idea. We scanned it and swabbed it and all we know is the metal is an unknown alloy and it has a slight energy signature that is also unknown.'
'So no instruction manual then?'
'No, it's probably just one more piece of universal crap tossed at us by the rift when the other one got lost behind someone's jousting kit.'
'Unless this is the one that got lost and it's pair will shortly follow.'
Suzie shook her head. 'I much preferred it when you weren't as optimistic.'
Jack laughed as he handed the wrapped subs around the table before taking his own seat. 'I've always been optimistic Suzie.'
'Not like this.' She muttered into her meatball sub.
Hearing her Owen privately agreed, choosing to say nothing least Jack remember yesterdays promise to deal with him. He wasn't ready to articulate the animosity he felt towards Marshall Pippins and Torchwood One. Nor did he want to set Ianto off.

Jack watched Ianto, napkin tucked into his collar as he ate his lunch. One day he wanted to see Ianto come undone. He wanted a smudge of chocolate on his chin or to see mango juice dripping onto his naked torso. A groan stifled, his eyes caught those of his beloved Welshman and they exchanged a smile. Deep breaths and control pulled back allowed him to eat his lunch with a hopeful thought thrown at Ianto that the man might not scurry back to the archives. The barely there smile in response and an almost imperceptible nod his only answer.

Alone with Ianto in the board room Jack sat on the edge of the table. 'So, I was thinking we should go to the pictures, after work.'
'What did you want to see?'
'Wasn't planning on actually watching the movie.'
'What were you.' Ianto stopped talking.
Jack grinned. 'Making out in the back row actually.'
'Bit of a cliche Sir.' Dropping his voice he moved closer to Jack.
'I prefer to think of it as a classic.'
'Like you Sir.' Closer still he watched the older man's eyes dance with hope and laughter.
'I think so.'
'So. What film should we not, watch, Sir.' Closing the gap between them.

'I'll ah, check what's playing. Did you look in the archives for anything on Suzie's glove?'
'Nothing yet Sir. Of course, most of the archives aren't digital.'
'Is that your way of asking for a raise?'
Ianto raised an eyebrow, his smile a playful smirk, one he knew did things to Jack. 'I'm assuming sleeping with the boss isn't a team-wide perk.'
Jack felt his cock twitch as he grinned. 'No. It is not.'
'Good. While I may not know what this is, Jack.' Using the man's name deliberately. 'I will not be played with.'
Jack swallowed as Ianto moved his hand to rest on his thigh. 'Not something you need worry about Yan.'
Bringing his other hand up to the back of Jack's head Ianto licked his lips before dipping in for a kiss. His voice a husky whisper. 'I hope not.'

They broke apart at a cough and Suzie's voice filtered into the room.
'Put the archivist down Jack, we've got a weevil in the industrial area.'
Jack wiped the pad of his thumb over Ianto's bottom lip. 'We'll ah, continue this later.'
'Of course Sir.' His smile a brief flash of gratitude as he felt his body return to his more usual state of control. 'Ah, Colonel Mace, Sir?'
'I'll call him later too.'
'Very good Sir.' Ianto moved away and watched Jack rise to his feet. 'Shall I help Tosh with the comms Sir?'
'If you would. Has Owen found anything yet to explain the increase in weevil activity?'
'No Sir.'

Ianto fell instep with Jack as they moved into the centre of the Hub. 'I gave him everything I could find but nothing explains it.'
Jack looked around for his medic. 'Owen!'
'Jack?'
'Was there anything, in the autopsies to shed any illumination on the weevil's behaviour?'
'Not a sodding thing.'
'Hmm.' Jack frowned. 'Come on then, lets round our latest one up.'
'If you hurry Sir.' Ianto said, his expression neutral. 'You can be back in time to call the Colonel.'
'Lets not get too carried away Yan.'

Two hours and one dead weevil later and to his disappointment Jack found he was back in time to call Colonel Mace of UNIT. Earning him an eye rolling from Ianto. And a frown at his discovery of yet another stain on the coat before moving to make coffee for the team.

Owen picked up his cup and sniffed cautiously.
'What's wrong Owen?' Tosh asked sweetly. 'You don't think he did anything to your coffee do you?'
Taking a sip he gave her a sheepish grin. 'He'd be within his rights if he did I guess.'
'You guess?' She sighed as she sipped her own cup of caffeinated heaven.
'Yes and no I'm not going to explain it, I've got another dead weevil to dissect and not a single bloody idea why.'
'I thought they were nocturnal.'
'So did I mostly, it just doesn't make sense and I hate having to chop them up like this.' He finished his coffee and headed to the autopsy bay. Shoulders slumped as he tried to work out the answer to one of the questions everyone was asking.
Tosh took their now empty cups to the kitchen, wondering if she hadn't just seen a chink in Owen's armour. As she also wondered if they would ever find out why the weevils were so much more aggressive than before.

Jack checked the time and was about to send everyone home when Ianto walked into his office. 'Good timing Ianto.'
'Is it Sir, Owen would like you to join him at his work station.'
'He better not be trying to download another computer game from China, he crashed Tosh's server last time and it wasn't pretty.'
'I believe it is related to the latest weevil Sir.'

Owen nodded at Tosh as Jack and Ianto joined them. 'If you could hit the lights please.'
'It's a bit late for a surprise party Owen. I think he's already dead.'
'I'm glad that stand up comedy routine of yours is coming along Jack. But I noticed something when I hit the weevil with a UV light.'
'That it didn't explode.'
'Thank you Ianto.' Owen turned a UV torch on, moving the light over the weevil's body.
'That looks like bruising.' Jack's eyes followed the path of the light. 'What can do that sort of damage to a weevil?'
'Hell if I know Jack, but it's not good.'

Tosh turned the lights back on and began pulling up Owen's autopsy findings.
'Last time I used to see something like this.' Owen spoke softly. 'Was in the emergency room on Sunday mornings. If this wasn't a weevil, I'd say someone was getting smacked around at home.'
Jack felt Ianto's hand snake into his and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

'I've gone over the data Ianto found me and had Tosh search the London servers and all I can think of is we don't have a sodding clue as to what's done this.'
Suzie looked at Owen. 'Could we have a rogue alpha weevil that's gone mad?'
'Duno. And Janet's not talking.' He sighed. 'I'm afraid it's going to keep happening Jack.'
Jack nodded as he considered his options. 'We'll have to give the police and UNIT some sort of brief, we need to keep this from escalating and we have no idea what's causing it.' He turned to Ianto. 'How are you at writing briefs?'
'Not my area of expertise Sir but I can pull something together if it means you don't have to speak to the Superintendent again.'
'I didn't give him a total bollocking Yan.'
Owen snorted. 'You didn't turn up with donuts either.'
Jack have an unapologetic shrug. 'Not really a fan. Anyway, not much else we can do just keep your communication lines open.' He gave Owen a pointed look. 'Maybe lay off the sauce for a bit and go home. But I want everyone in tomorrow at nine for a few hours.'

Ignoring the collective groans Jack returned to his office, waiting for Suzie, Owen and Tosh to pack up for the day. Only looking up from his paperwork when Ianto walked in and leaned against the desk. 'So I've had a look at what's playing there's Hairspray, one of the Die Hard films or something else.'
'Not the musical I think, even I'm not ready to be that stereotype.'
Jack grinned as he reached for Ianto's hand. 'Not ever or just not yet?'
'I will not be some caricature of myself just because I happen to be exploring a relationship with another man.'
'I'm hardly that myself.' Jack cautioned playfully. 'But I'm glad you're open to exploring us and I hope you'll tell me if you've ever uncomfortable with anything.'

Ianto sighed. 'Sometimes I wonder if I haven't fallen into this too soon after Lisa but then I remember what you said. That I should hold on to the memories and the love.' He brushed his thumb over Jack's wrist. 'Thank you for not retconning me.'
'I'm willing to admit that my motives at the time weren't entirely selfless.' Jack acknowledged. Watching Ianto's eyes for a reaction, surprised when the young man laughed.
'I did wonder. Come on, are you taking me out to dinner before the film or after?'
'Oh.' Jack rose to his feet and pulled Ianto up with him. 'Now you want dinner and a film.'
'Absolutely. I demand to be wooed.'
'Come on then, lets check the session times and decide from there.'

Walking out of the Hub Jack turned to Ianto, halting their progress. 'I never did ask Owen what got his knickers in a knot yesterday.'
'He was rather rude, Sir.'
'Is that going to be a problem?'
Ianto shrugged. 'Pip's a big boy, he can take care of himself. And I have decaf.'
Jack considered his archivist in that moment, standing in the shadows cast by a near by street lamp. 'I guess it's like any group of people who have worked together for a while, you bring someone new in and it changes the dynamic.' He shrugged. 'The kids will bicker a bit until they work out where they fit we just have to weather the storm.'
'You've seen this a few times haven't you.'
'Some days I feel every one of the years I've been alive, but with it comes a lot of experience in dealing with adults squabbling like children.'
Laughing Ianto reached for Jack's hand. 'Come on, we've got a movie to catch.'

They checked the session times and Ianto gave Jack a hopeful look. 'We should be in time to watch Die Hard.'
Watching the smile spread though the Welshman's entire body Jack nodded. 'Come on then or we'll miss the opening credits.'
'I'll get the popcorn.'
Jack laughed as Ianto made a bee line for the confectionery counter while he paid for the tickets. Turning he bumped into a couple standing behind him. 'Sorry.' Instantly forgetting the big green eyes of the woman and the friendly smile of the man she was with, he moved towards Ianto who was grinning as they headed for their seats.
'I only got the medium sized popcorn so you don't ruin your appetite for dinner.'
'Oh yes? And where am I taking you for this dinner you demanded?'
Ianto shrugged. 'Maybe we can just pick a kebab up on the way home.'

The voices faded away as Rhys Williams turned to his girlfriend. 'Maybe we should pick a kebab up on the way home too.'
'What?' Gwen hadn't paid attention as she tried to remember where she'd seen the American accented man before. 'Sorry? Didn't catch that.'
'After the picture, we should pick up kebabs on the way home.'
'Oh, sounds like a good idea.' She flashed him a smile. 'Come on then, Hairspray waits for no man.'

Walking out of the movie Jack couldn't help but smile at Ianto, making him self conscious.
'What?'
'I didn't say thank you for not making me watch the rom-com musical.'
'Yes you did, when you snogged me during the opening credits, and the ending ones.'
'Oh yes.' He laughed as they walked, shoulders brushing. 'You still feel like that kebab?'
Ianto was about to respond when his phone rang. Extracting the phone from his pocket he frowned at the caller ID. 'Pip?'
Jack let Ianto pull away slightly, only picking up some of the conversation as he moved to order their kebabs.

Tucking the phone in his pocket Ianto accepted the kebab Jack handed him. 'Pip's hit a slight snag in relocating to Cardiff.'
'He's still coming right?'
Ianto nodded. 'Yeap. But he'll have his daughter with him.'
'She's nearly at Uni isn't she?'
'Next year, he didn't give me too many details but he needs me to find him a flat or something they can move into so he can sort out transferring her to a school here.'
'If it's quiet we can start looking tomorrow, I know someone who can probably help.'
'You don't happen to own any more houses?'
Jack shook his head. 'Just the one house and an old book shop.'
'A book shop?'
He sighed. 'Story for another time Yan. Come on, lets get home before we regret the kebabs.'
'Home or should we just stay at the Hub? Since the others are heading in for nine?'
'Good point, Hub it is.'

Ianto woke to the smell of bacon and eggs and a kiss. As nice as the cooked breakfast was he found himself fast becoming addicted to Jack's lips. There was still a hint of the older man's hesitation which he found endearing. It had only been a matter of days since their first official date and he was still getting his head around the idea of being more intimate with another man. He dressed quickly, his wardrobe now shared between the Hub and home, as he headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Which earned him another kiss from Jack who had the morning paper on the table.
'I popped out for a loaf of bread and more milk and picked the paper up for you.'
'Thank you Jack.'
'Ah, but thank you for wearing your black jeans...' Jack all but purred as he leered at Ianto in his casual attire of jeans and a long sleeved shirt.
'Really?' Ianto teased as he sipped his coffee.
Jack nodded. 'Really.' He checked his watch. 'We've got about half an hour before the others trickle in.'
'I didn't mean to sleep so late.'
'I'm just glad you're sleeping better.' Reaching across the table to run his thumb over Ianto's wrist. 'I don't miss the nightmares.'
'Me either.' Ianto smiled.

They ate in silence and Jack sorted the dishes so Ianto could start looking at the property pages. Lost in his search he didn't hear Suzie approaching him until she stood at his side.
'Looking for your own place?'
Ianto shook his head. 'Pip asked me to start the search for him.'
She nodded as she considered his words. 'You're a good friend Ianto. I'm glad you aren't leaving Jack just yet, I think he needs you as much as you need him.'
She turned and walked away before he could say anything, leaving him staring after her, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Tosh watched Suzie walking away from Ianto, only turning when she sensed Jack standing beside her.
'It's nice to see her playing well with others, don't you think.' He grinned, hands shoved in pockets as Tosh nodded.
'She scares me sometimes, at how focused she gets on things, you know.'
Jack moved to lean against the railing, looking down at Suzie who was heading towards her work bench. 'She does rather, doesn't she. But she's good at what she does and she enjoys it, in a non creepy way.' He shrugged. 'At least I don't have to worry about her trying to kill me in my sleep, unlike some I've worked with.' His mind flashing to his past in the Time Agency. 'I've had some interesting partners.'
Tosh frowned. 'Who tried to kill you in your sleep.'
He laughed. 'Maybe not, but I trust her, her heart is in the right place and she doesn't strike me as cynically insane.'
'Don't you mean clinically?'
'That too.' He winked before walking away, hands in pockets and whistling.
Tosh stared after him wondering if any of them were still sane anymore. She moved towards her computer and gave a quick prayer for a quiet day.

Owen walked into the Hub only a little after nine, he barely managed to log in when the alarms went off. 'Christ what is wrong with the world.' He muttered as he moved to Tosh's work station. 'Let me guess Toshiko, light of my life, it's another bloody weevil attack.'
'That or a wolf.'
'I'll grab my gear then.'
Jack moved to check the screens with Suzie. 'Looks like a little one.' He turned to find Ianto. 'You go ahead and I'll meet you when you've done with the house hunting.'
Owen frowned. 'House hunting? I thought you two were officially living together now if the work place snogging was anything to go by.'
'It' not for Ianto.' Suzie said before moving towards her collection of weapons. 'Well come on Owen.'

'Christ, who died and put you in charge.'
'That would be me, the putting in charge bit.' Jack interjected. 'But she's right, we should get going. Come along Owen, we mustn't keep the weevil waiting.'
'Jack.' Ianto called out just as the older man was about to disappear with a flourish of his coat. 'No more stains or rips this time, yeah.' He heard Jack's laughter as he headed to the SUV with the words falling back to him.
'What? He really loves the coat.'
Owen's muttered reply lost in the vastness of the Hub as Ianto turned to Tosh and shrugged before picking his paper up.
'He's right, I do love that coat.'
Tosh just rolled her eyes as she began tracking the SUV. Some comments were best left unsaid, even if she wanted to know more about the snogging.