Chapter Three
Jack used his wrist strap to activate the invisible lift and Owen stamped the snow off of his feet, as it descended into the main Hub. Ianto busied himself with making coffee for them all, as Jack approached the medic.
"Where have you come from?" asked Jack, raising an eyebrow.
"Travelodge, Atlantic Wharf," he confessed. "Met this bird in the Bowling Alley. We hit it off." He shrugged.
Ianto offered him a cup of steaming coffee.
"So it seems."
"Oi!" said Owen. "Watch it, Tea Boy!"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "I take it you have no plans for seeing her again."
"Too right, boss!"
Ianto smiled fondly, shaking his head. "That's a shame."
Taking his coffee, Owen went down into the autopsy bay. "Shut it!" Then he smiled. "No actually, it isn't."
Jack followed Owen. "Do you have anything to do today?"
Owen put his cup down and put his hands on his slim hips, looking around. "I thought I'd stock take. Refill the drawers and cupboards."
"Fine," Jack crossed his arms over his ample chest, looking down at Owen. "Get Ianto to type a list out and I'll get everything ordered."
Owen nodded, rolling up his sleeves.
"I better get down the archives," announced Ianto. "Documents to copy and file."
"Can't you bring some of it up here?" Jack moved away from the railings. "I don't like the idea of you being down there when it's so cold."
Ianto felt warmth flow through him at the concern in Jack's voice. "I'm sure I can, sir."
Jack smiled and went up to his office.
As Ianto spread the sheets of paper over the boardroom table, he bit on his lower lip. If it was still snowing hard this evening, the three men might have to spend the night at the Hub. He made a mental note to check provisions in the fridge and cupboards, just in case.. He only recollected cold pizza and maybe the remains of a Chinese takeaway in the fridge. They did have a few packets of biscuits, but he knew Owen would make short work of them. He also thought there might be some tins of soup, lurking in the back of the top cupboard, but he wasn't 100% sure.
Moving to the portable copier that Jack had kindly put in the boardroom, Ianto made copies of the documents before putting the originals back in protective sheets and the copies in a file. If he ran out of work, a quick trip to the archives was in order.
"Ianto?" Jack's voice in his right ear.
"Sir?"
"I've taken an inventory of food available to us. Just in case."
"You read my mind, sir." Ianto replied.
"That makes a change," Jack chuckled.
"And?" asked the Welshman.
"4 slices of Pizza. Cold Sweet and Sour Chinese takeaway. 2 Spring Rolls and half a container of Fried Rice. 4 packets of biscuits. 5 tins of condensed Chicken soup..."
"All reheatable," said Ianto. "Sorry, please continue."
He sensed that Jack was smiling.
"Thank you, Ianto. We have half a loaf of uncut bread…"
"Tosh's," interrupted Ianto.
"Right. A grab bag of salt and vinegar crisps…"
"Owen's."
"A bag of galaxy counters…"
"Er, mine."
"Thought so."
"I…like chocolate."
"Yeah, me, too."
"Anything else, sir?"
'You' thought Jack.
"Sir?"
"Mmm?"
"Any more food?"
"Food? Arh, yeah, food."
Ianto smiled.
"Marshmallows. One bag of."
"Gwen's." they almost said in unison, then laughed.
"I don't think we'll starve, sir, should we have to spend the night here."
"No, we won't."
"Won't what?" came Owen's voice from behind Jack.
Jack turned. "Starve if we get snowed in for the night."
Owen screwed up his nose. "Don't want to step on anyone's toes, Jack."
Jack frowned. "In what way?"
"Come on, Harkness! I've seen the way you look at Tea Boy, even if he hasn't."
Jack shrugged.
Owen held up his hands. "It's okay. I won't say anything. But tell him, Jack. I think you'll be surprised."
Owen left Jack's office and the older man smiled to himself.
"Sir?" came a voice in his ear.
'Damn, Ianto heard everything!'
"Ianto?"
"I have a bottle of Jack Daniels in my locker. Maybe we could talk later."
"I'd like that."
"So would I, sir."
"Jack."
"Jack."
At 1.15pm, Ianto was in the kitchen, can opener in hand.
"What are you doin', Tea Boy?" asked Owen.
"Condensed chicken soup mixed with sweet and sour chicken; to make it go further. Rice and spring rolls for lunch." Explained Ianto.
Owen hitched an eyebrow, unconvinced. "It sounds…interesting, to say the least."
Ianto laughed. "It will be edible, I promise."
The meal ready, Ianto took it to the boardroom, serving it with chilled water and followed by steaming hot coffee.
After lunch, Ianto checked the CCTV cameras outside by the Water Tower. The snow was still falling and only the brave hearted were out in it.
Owen looked over his shoulder. "This should keep the Weevils below ground."
Ianto smiled, then asked, "Is it that obvious?"
"Yeah. The ground is…"
"No, me…about Jack, I mean."
Owen smiled. "You light up when he's near lately. You're more relaxed. It's all good, mate." He assured his colleague, then he frowned. "How did you know anyway?"
"Jack's headset was still on."
"Arh!"
"We're having a chat and JD later."
"Good. You both deserve to be happy."
"What about Gwen?"
"She is happy."
"No. I thought…her and Jack…"
"Nah. Jack's not interested. Besides, she's got Rhys."
"Yep, Right," Ianto wasn't convinced
TBC