Ianto moved away from Jack, trying to put some sort of rational over what had happened. He closed his eyes and he felt the warmth of Jack's hands holding his. Opening his eyes he found himself at the door to his flat, his walk home a blur of muddled emotions competing to explode. He hadn't even begun to think about kissing Jack. Locking the door behind him he tossed his keys into the bowl on the hall table, leaning back against the door as he slid to the ground. Sitting on the floor with his head resting on knees his arms were wrapped around. The strength of the door at his back the only thing holding him up. He wanted to turn around, go back or to call Jack, just to hear his voice. Needing arms to hold him that weren't his own.

So why, when everything screamed at him singing songs of want, did he run from the intimacy he craved. Was it the ghost of Dylan taunting him? Eyes closed he remembered the antiseptic smell of the hospital and the crisp starch of nurses that was matched only by the sheets of Dylan's bed. Tubes and monitors tying him to a world his body had been determined to leave. Rushing to the man's side, he'd been called into work instead of where he'd wanted to be, running with Dylan. He'd hated the museum for stealing even that much of Dylan from him. Getting a phone call he'd never wanted to receive. He still remembered the world stopping and all the colour had fled. He'd rush out of the urgent meeting he'd been taking the minutes for, not even hearing their voices calling him back as he'd run.

His world had stopped spinning like a clock that had gotten stuck in the moment of Dylan's death. And now, for the first time since he'd gotten that phone call, it felt like time had started again. Tick had finally moved over into Tock. And he'd run away. His was a world that had been still for so long he no longer knew how to move, just as he'd forgotten how to see in colour. And the brightness of Jack dazzled him. He sighed as he remembered the feel of Jack's lips under his. They'd been softer than he'd expected and he hungered for more. So why was he sitting on the floor of his flat, alone.

Because if Jack had kissed him back he would have been lost.

They'd be removing clothes, tearing them off probably, before falling into an intimacy he wasn't ready for. This way his dignity was his own, tomorrow would find him soon enough, he'd deal with Jack then. At least at work he could be professional, detached. It would be Sir, not Jack. He felt his pocket vibrate, a text message waiting to be read. It was from Jack. He debated leaving it until the morning but habit saw him push the button to reveal the message.

'Hope u got home safe.'

He frowned, how dangerous did Jack think this place was? Which left him with a text message to respond to, after all, a text message was a social contract of sorts. Etiquette demanded he respond but a single 'yes' would be too short and anything longer would open a dialogue he wasn't ready for. He was ginning, Jack had thought about him long enough to be concerned he'd gotten home safely. He hit reply. 'Home fine c u at work tomorrow.' He could almost feel Jack grin from his front hallway.

Jack paced in his office. Ianto was late. Checking his watch again didn't make time move any faster. Spinning around as a door opened, looking up expectantly, his face fell as long dark hair filled his view.

Tosh called out a cheery. 'Morning Jack.'

Jack grunted as she tossed her handbag on the desk and settled in, starting her computer. She looked over her shoulder and frowned, Jack always said hello. He resumed his pacing, tempted to ring Ianto but it was exactly, he checked his watch, 8.35am. Ianto was five, no, now he was six minutes late as the watch moved to 8.36am.

Ianto rolled his shoulders back as he stepped into the office. 'Morning Tosh.'

'Morning Ianto.'

Jack snapped to attention as he heard their voices, he tried to move nonchalantly towards the door between them and him, leaning against it. 'Morning Ianto.' His eyes moved over the man with a greedy need to consume him. Hair was still wet, it hadn't been raining, surprisingly, so it must have been from his shower.

'Sir. Shall I make coffee?'

'Please.'

Tosh looked up. 'I'd love a coffee Ianto.'

He looked at her as if he hadn't even noticed she was there, although to be fair, since Jack had stepped into view, she hadn't been. He nodded absently as he turned to make coffee.

Jack waited at his desk for Ianto, he hoped the man would give Tosh her coffee first and join him in his office. He needed to know Ianto was okay. That they were okay. He also had to remember to breath when Ianto walked into the room with his tray, holding two cups of coffee. He didn't even know they had a tray as a coffee cup was set in front of him. He looked up at Ianto and smiled. 'Please, sit.'

Ianto set his tray down carefully and took the chair by Jack's desk. He'd been thinking about this moment since his alarm had gone off at six, and during the entire hour he'd spent running along the early morning streets of Cardiff. Even a shower and breakfast hadn't given him any hints as to what to say.

They both began speaking at once.

'Last night was...'

'About last night...'

Jack looked at Ianto and reached out for his hand. 'Are we okay?'

Ianto sighed, every wall he'd built around his heart was being melted by that touch. Walls he hadn't even realised he'd built as he nodded. 'I didn't mean to.' He stopped.

'To kiss me?' Jack prompted. 'Because I have to tell you, I liked it.' His thumb drew circles in Ianto's hand. 'I wouldn't even mind if we did it again. When your ready.'

Ianto wanted to close his eyes and slip into the idea of kissing Jack again, and maybe, not stopping.

A voice called out behind them. 'Jack, I've got John on the phone, he wants to talk to you. Said you weren't answering your phone.'

Jack muttered softly to himself. 'That bloody man isn't even in the country and he's getting in my way.' He looked up at Tosh. 'What time is it over there?'

Ianto spoke softly. 'They're an hour ahead of us, Sir.'

'Thank you Ianto. We'll, um, continue this conversation later then.' He grabbed his coffee and followed Tosh. 'Put him on speaker phone then, lets get this over with.'

Ianto collected his tray and his coffee and sighed softly. He walked towards his desk and saw Jack snatch the handset up, taking the phone off the speaker.

'I said, Jackie, how's my eye candy and have you fucked him yet?'

Jack hissed into the phone. 'How is that any of your bloody concern.'

'You couldn't wait to get me out of the way. You had dinner didn't you. I bet you cooked him spaghetti, you used to cook that for me.'

'That was a long time ago.'

'Hm, a bit grumpy, didn't get shagged last night then after all.'

'If you haven't called to tell me you've found Suzie then don't bother coming back.'

'Easy tiger, we've found her. In fact, she's just about to join me for breakfast. Say hello darling.'

Jack heard the phone move and another voice speaking.

'Hello Jack.'

'Suzie. Good to hear from you.'

'Don't. You sent Owen and bloody John Hart to bring me back.'

'Hey, I resent that Suzie Q.' John sounded almost hurt.

'Drop dead Hart.'

'Why?'

'Why Jack, because he's a horrible person, oh, not the drop dead thing. You mean why did I steal your money.'

'Yes.' He heard her laughter.

'Because I could.'

'Give John the phone.'

'He wants to talk to you again, although from what I heard before, well, I can recognise a lovers quarrel when I hear one.'

Jack heard John pouting even though the phone.

'You weren't paying attention then were you. What do you want now Jackie?'

Jack cringed, he always hated John calling him that. 'When can you bring her back here?'

'Owen is sorting our return flights now, he'll want to talk to Toshcicle and tell her all about it I'm sure. We'll be back this afternoon. Am I on speaker phone Jackie?'

'No.'

'Shame. Kiss kiss.'

Jack handed the phone to Tosh. 'I am going to shoot him one day.'

'What are you going to do with Suzie?'

'Hand her over to the police, after I've had a little chat with her.'

'I'll put the documentation together then.'

'Thanks Tosh. Get Ianto to give you a hand so he knows what to do.'

Tosh looked from Ianto, sitting at his desk and back to Jack. 'You and Ianto?'

Jack shook his head. 'Not you too Tosh. Not now.'

She nodded. 'You know Owen and I, we took a while to get together.'

'Yes.'

'He'd lost his fiancée in that car crash, it,' she paused. 'It took him a while to accept that his life had gone on when hers hadn't.'

'You think I don't know that?' He didn't want his relationship with Ianto to mirror that of Tosh and Owen's. They had danced around each other for a long time before they finally went out on a date. She'd been in love with him from the first time she'd met the man, he'd taken a while to catch up. He did not want that to be the case for him and Ianto. 'I better break the news, that John will be back today.'

Tosh grinned. 'And my Owen.'

Jack just shook his head as he walked away.

Ianto looked up as Jack approached him. 'He's coming back isn't he.'

Jack sat down as he nodded. 'This afternoon.'

'They found her.' He watched Jack nod again. 'Well that's something then.'

'Oh it's something alright Ianto. Please tell me we've gotten an email from someone who needs John somewhere that isn't Cardiff.'

'Sorry, no.'

'Have lunch with me.'

'I don't know.' Ianto sighed at Jack's puppy dog eyes. 'Okay, lunch.'

'The same pub or I can throw something together upstairs.'

Ianto stared at his keyboard, out meant public, which meant carefully considered conversation and no privacy. 'What will you be throwing together?'

Jack grinned. 'Now your just getting technical, I've got everything we need to make toasted sandwiches.'

'About last night.' Ianto hesitated, his carefully considered words deserting him.

'Too soon?'

'It's been a year. I can't hide from myself too Jack.'

He grinned again. 'You called me Jack.'

Ianto rolled his eyes. 'Are you going to say that every time I call you by your name? Besides, I didn't think this was a work related moment.'

Jack reached out for Ianto, touching his wrist lightly. 'It's not.' He was torn between asking Ianto if they were having a moment, and in asking Ianto what he was really afraid of. But it wasn't a question he was prepared to answer himself. 'I want you to help Tosh put a file together for the police.'

'Of course, Sir.'

Jack just grinned. 'Excellent, lunch?'

Ianto nodded. Was it madness to accept he wondered, or would the greater madness have existed in saying no.

'Come on, Tosh has had enough time to catch up with Owen, we should see when they will be back.' He rose to his feet, still holding Ianto's hand.

'Ah, Jack.'

'Oh, yeah.' He let Ianto go and stepped away, watching the Welshman rise to his feet and start to follow him.

Tosh was already putting data together when Jack called her name softly. He'd learnt from past experience that she didn't take to being startled well. She spun around to look at Jack. 'Yes?'

'When will they be back?'

She spun back to her computer and pulled the itinerary up for Jack. 'They should be back by one pm our time.'

'Good, let's treat this like any other case and get the paperwork sorted. Once that's done we can all take a long lunch and be back before one.' He left them to it as he headed back to his office, he had a phone call to make.

He didn't look up from his desk until Ianto brought him coffee and handed him a file. 'Please, sit.' He started looking though the folder, it was a sadly impressive collection of evidence. 'Is there an electronic copy?'

'Yes Sir, Tosh emailed it to you.'

Jack recognised the hand of Ianto in the collection of data in front of him. The man definitely liked to organise things chronologically. 'I really need to get you to sort out my DVD's.'

Ianto smiled as he met Jack's eyes. 'Maybe later.'

'You really are going to tip everything on it's ear aren't you.'

Ianto shrugged. 'I like order Sir.'

There was a knock as Tosh peered in. 'Jack?'

He looked up. 'Everything's in order if you want to take that long lunch now.'

'Thanks Jack, of course it wasn't just me.' She walked away, her step thoughtful.

Jack opened his email and forwarded the file before looking back at Ianto. 'I promised you lunch.'

'It's not even eleven yet.'

'I'll admit, the pair of you were quicker than I expected, but I'm a man of my word Ianto Jones.'

'So what happens now?'

'We have a few options, my favourite is where you alphabetise my DVD's while I secretly stare at your arse.'

'It hardly gives you the element of surprise if you tell me.' Ianto commented dryly.

'It's more fun if I know you know but we both pretend we don't know.'

'Right, and the other options you considered?'

'Hang on, is it the alphabetising you object to or the staring?'

'I'd just like to know the rest of my options.'

'Okay. There is always the pub lunch, a walk around the bay or I throw something together upstairs.'

Ianto considered his options. 'We could always go to my flat, I could put something together.' He watched Jack's eyes light up like a child's on Christmas morning.

'You'd actually invite me back to yours?'

'I believe I just did.'

'I'll get my coat.' He watched Ianto frown. 'What?'

'Your already wearing it.'

'Oh.' He looked from his coat to Ianto. 'Come on, I want to see your world Ianto Jones.'

He snorted. 'There's not much to see.' Following Jack out of his office.

'Shall I drive?'

Ianto looked at Jack and considered his response, shaking his head. 'It would actually take longer.'

Jack picked Ianto's coat up, holding it as he put it on, wrapping his arms around him for the briefest moment.

Ianto's eyes shot up as warmth settled around him, he focused on his breathing as Jack stepped back before they moved towards the door. They ventured out into the streets of Cardiff, their short walk completed in silence until Ianto stopped at a door in the corner of a wall.

Jack frowned as he looked back towards the warehouse. 'You live here?'

'Ah ha.' He unlocked the door.

'But that just took us.' Jack looked at his watch. 'Eight minutes, I can see the roof of the warehouse.'

'I said it would take longer to drive.'

Jack considered what Ianto was saying. 'So did you find the flat or the job first?'

'The flat.' He dropped his keys in their bowl as Jack closed the door behind him.

Jack looked around him, absorbing Ianto's home, the refectory table looked old, complimented by a table runner in deep burgundy. The only other decoration the wooden bowl now holding Ianto's keys. Hooks on the wall opposite waiting for coats. He followed Ianto into the living room, not surprised to find shelves of neatly arranged books and movies. Furniture all looked new, even the television and there was not one single photo or picture on the walls.

Ianto moved into his kitchen. 'Can I get you something to drink?'

'Coffee would be nice.' The kitchen was also neat and tidy and devoid of any hints as to Ianto's personality. Unless that was his personality. He accepted the coffee he was handed.

Ianto checked his fridge. 'I can do omelets, pasta or a fry up.'

'Omelet sounds good.'

Ianto began gathering the things he needed, placing them on the bench until Jack stopped him.

'Wait.' He stepped closer to Ianto. 'I'd really like to kiss you.'

Ianto put his whisk down as he looked at Jack, watching him take a step closer. Movement slow, deliberate and even.

Jack reached out to Ianto who took a tentative step towards him until Jack pulled him into his arms. He smiled at Ianto, they were the same height, making it easy to look the man in the eyes as his face moved closer. Arms wrapping around his body, hand moving up Ianto's back until he was holding his head, hungry lips finding their mark.

Ianto sighed as Jack kissed him, his mouth opening obediently, Jack's tongue brushing lightly against his own.

Jack deepened their kiss, taking as Ianto gave. Blood pounded though his body as they hung onto each other in that kiss. Jack was lost in Ianto's eyes, the man looking at him in wonder as the kiss ended. He watched as the Welshman brought fingertips to his own lips as if to capture the memory of the kiss. He wanted to kiss those fingertips, to explore the lips and loose himself in his response to Ianto. Instead he held himself still, waiting for Ianto, hoping the man wouldn't push him away this time.

Ianto moved his hand to cup Jack's cheek before moving in to kiss the man back. Ruled by need and hunger that exceeded a want for omelets as they both held onto to each other, hands cradling faces as they kissed. Hungry demanding kisses that threatened to devour them as they pressed up against each other in a desperate need to be closer. Ianto backed Jack against the wall and simply gave in. He had no idea how long he spent in Jack's arms, kissing and being kissed back.

He barely registered when Jack spun them around and pushed him against the wall or started to whisper words in his ear and kiss his neck. Hands rubbed against the fabric covering his crotch. All Ianto could do was groan, pleasure burst over his skin as Jack's lips traced a trail of fire along his collar bone. He hadn't even noticed the tie being loosen or buttons undone. He cried out as teeth nipped his skin and Jack licked him. They were both panting as they pulled apart. Jack held his face and smiled at him. Ianto felt himself drowning in blue eyes that he suspected were going to haunt him for a very long time.

Jack's voice raw with desire. 'I don't want to push you into anything Ianto Jones.'

He traced Jack's jaw as he shook his head. 'I don't feel pushed.' He looked over Jack's shoulder at the clock on the wall. It was later than he'd expected. 'Perhaps we should have lunch and continue this after work?'

Jack checked his watch and sighed before nodding. 'Come on, I'll buy us a sandwich each at the bakery on the corner.' He didn't think he'd ever spent an entire hour just kissing someone before and the time left to them wasn't nearly long enough for either of them to really enjoy. He wanted the first time with Ianto to be the stuff memories were made of. Fear prickling at the edges of his brain that Ianto wasn't looking for a relationship, and he didn't want a one night stand. Leaving him determined to make sure their first time wasn't the last. He kissed Ianto again and let the smell of the man fill his nose. He wanted to be able to find him no matter where they were. 'I don't want to leave either of us like this though.' He looked at the matching bulge in his own pants as his fingers brushed against Ianto's hardness.

'What were you thinking we could do to solve our mutual problem.'

'I'd like to lick you until you come.'

Ianto closed his eyes as he pictured the image of Jack on his knees, licking his cock until he exploded. He felt his heart pounding and his breathing speed up. 'I don't know that it would take very long right now.'

Jack shook his head. 'I want to take my time making love to you. I want you to know who is touching you.'

Ianto rested his head on Jack's shoulder. 'That sounds like heaven.'

'I plan to take you there.'

'You better live up to your hype.'

Jack kissed him until they were both struggling to breath. 'I think the one thing we don't have to worry about, is the chemistry between us.' He stepped back and straightened Ianto's buttons. 'I think we'll be amazing together.' But for how long he wondered. Could they sustain the heat between them or would they burn each other out. That was just one more in a string of questions he didn't have an answer to.