CHAPTER Two: Accounts & Introductions

"You're late!" cried Gwen the moment Jack stepped out of his black SUV.

Jack glanced down at his watch before replying, "It's just half past four, I'm right on time. Which is a miracle in itself. I was stuck in the office all day trying to help out some accountant that John hired."

"Uncle John hired an accountant?"

"So he wouldn't have to do the financing like I asked him to," explained Jack, following Gwen as she lead the way to the center. "I don't think I even got his name."

As they entered the building, Jack could not help but flinch as a loud chorus of "Mr Jack!" echoed around the room.

Before he knew what was happening, a large group of children, aging from five to 12, had surrounded him. This was why he got Gwen to pick up Owen.

"Mr Jack, can you tell us another story?" asked one little boy.

Jack had to stop himself from saying out loud that telling them the first story was a big enough mistake, instead choosing to reply, "Not right now, kiddo."

There was a chorus of disappointed groans, but before any of them could make more requests, Jack found himself being saved by the head child worker.

"Okay, kids, leave Mr. Jack be."

All the children reluctantly went back to the activities they had been doing before Jack arrive, giving the middle aged lady accusatory glares as they walked past.

"You have left quite an impression it seems," she smiled, leading the way to the front desk where he could sign Owen out.

Jack was waiting for another man who was signing his daughter out, when Owen bolted over and launched himself at his father, causing him to lose his balance and stumble into that man.

"Owen, what have I told you about doing that," he growled irritably, attempting to push Owen down as he proceeded to make his way up to his father's shoulders. Turning around, he smiled apologetically at the other man and said, "Sorry about that," before realizing that he was staring face to face at the accountant that he had been working with all day.

The man grinned back, and replied in a Welsh accented voice, "Not a problem. I know what kids are like."

"Yeah," chuckled Jack. He held out his hand and grinned, "I don't think we ever did get introduced today, Captain Jack Harkness, and who are you?"

Grinning also, the other man shook his hand and replied, "Jones, Ianto Jones."

Jack's eye widened and had to quickly put a hand over Owen's mouth before he blurted out, "That's the one Gwen was talking about."

Smiling pleasantly, the man took hold of his daughter's hand and passed Jack the pen so he could sign out, saying as he stepped back, "I think I may see you some time tomorrow about those finances. It was however, a pleasure to meet you, Captain."

Jack flashed him one of his trademark grins and replied, "And you, Jones, Ianto Jones."

Ianto grinned as well, before nodding farewell and heading out of the door. Jack stared after him until Owen felt obliged to kick him in the shins and say, "I'm bored, can we get ice cream on the way home."

----- TW -----

As they pulled out of the car park of Tosh's after school care, Ianto asked in as offhanded voice he could manage, "Do you know who that guy was?"

Not looking up from the laptop that she had on her lap, Tosh replied, "Yeah."

"What do you know?"

Still not looking up from the computer, Tosh asked, "Didn't you say you would see him again tomorrow? You know him already don't you?"

Ianto could not decide whether he should be proud or irritated by how easily his daughter had chopped down his whole 'ignorance story".

Sighing, Ianto answered, "I met him today, but we didn't really talk outside business, so all I know about him is that he is terrible with paperwork. So, what do you know?"

Finally looking up from her computer, Tosh's expression was a mix of curiosity and amusement. She answered, "He's Owen's dad. He used to work for the air force, and now he runs a Personal Investigation agency, he told us all a story last time he came in and now everybody likes him...He's nice, he reminds me of you."

Ianto gave her a surprised look, before focusing back on the road. "And how's that?"

"Well, he's funny and nice, and he looks just as lonely as you do."

Ianto spluttered at this, saying indignantly, "I do not look lonely."

"You do too," argued Tosh, crossing her arms.

Rolling his eyes, Ianto asked, "Doesn't he have a wife...or partner?"

Tosh shook her head, saying sadly, "I asked Owen about his mum once, and he said that she went away and it was just him and his dad and sister."

Ianto could not help but feel a pain of sympathy for the man. Lisa dying had been incredibly hard for both him and Tosh, he did not have any idea how much worse it would have been if she had just walked out on them.

"You seemed to like him," Tosh slyly stated.

Ianto gave his daughter a suspicious glance, replying slowly, "He was quite nice today."

"And he seemed to like you," the ten year old pushed.

"Maybe," conceded Ianto.

They fell into silence and Ianto had just begun to think that maybe the conversation had finished, when Tosh chipped in happily, "You should date."

"We should date?" asked Ianto slowly.

"Yes. It's what you do when you like someone, isn't it," said Tosh, her voice making it clear that she thought that the concept was simple enough to understand.

Shaking his head, Ianto laughed and replied, "I'm pretty sure usually, you have to have known the person longer than one day."

----- TW -----

"You see, it's fate. You're meant to be together," announced Gwen as they waited at the counter of a small corner shop for the ice creams that Owen had been wailing for ever since they left the center.

"Wrong, it was a coincidence," argued Jack, handing some coins over to the shop assistant and then handing the two ice creams to Gwen and Owen, before heading back to the car.

"I don't believe in coincidences."

"Nice for you then."

Sighing in exasperation, Gwen decided to take a different approach. "But you did like him, didn't you?"

"Oh, Gwen," groaned Jack, fighting the urge to bang his head against the steering wheel as he put the car into gear, handing Owen a DVD to play in the back.

"Don't you?" pressed Gwen, trying to hide her triumphant grin.

Rolling his eyes, Jack replied, "I've known him for one day, Gwen, what are you expecting, a declaration of undying love or something?"

Shrugging, Gwen replied, "A simple, 'yes I do', is good, but any declarations are fine in book."

"Unbelievable," sighed Jack as he pulled back out onto the road.

"Come on," complained Gwen.

Jack could see that the 15 year old was not going to let it go until she got an answer. "He's nice... for an accountant, and that is the best you are getting Gwen," Jack cried in defeat.

"I knew it. Now we just have to get you two onto a date and then before you know it, you'll be a taken man."

"Why do you care so much?" asked Jack.

Gwen did not answer right away. She started fiddling with the wrapper of her eaten ice cream, before saying slowly, "Because you're lonely, and you need someone nice to be with for once."

Gwen saw her father glance at her, his expression surprised, before he said, "I'm not lonely, Gwen."

"Yes, you are. Ever since Mum left, we've only had each other, and I just realized how difficult it must have been for you."

Jack gulped nervously, this conversation was getting a little too heavy. "So what brought this on?"

Gwen sighed again, something Jack had noticed she was doing a lot lately, and replied, "Andy's dad just walked out on him and his mum, and he needs to talk to somebody to about it."

"Oh."

"And he told me about how upset his mum is, and how difficult everything had been for them, and I realized that you went through the same thing."

"You don't have to worry about me, Gwen, I'm fine," said Jack, patting Gwen's hand.

"But you would be more than fine if you found somebody that you liked. I'm just trying to find that someone for you."

Jack smiled at her, and replied, "Gwen, thank you for caring so much, but I'm fine. Besides, I have you and Owen to spend time with."

"That's not what I mean."

"I know it isn't," grinned Jack, as he swung the car into a free spot out front their apartment building, and announced, "Everyone out."