Jack goes flying …
CHAPTER FOUR
The bungalow was quiet as Ianto pottered around the kitchen. He was preparing their early evening meal, a cross between lunch and supper, and enjoying himself; he so rarely got the chance to cook. They were having salmon with the remains of the salad from the day before and a lemon meringue roulade to follow. The latter had been Jack's choice, he had such a sweet tooth. Ianto smiled as he thought of Jack, currently out on the deck watching the world go by. He made even the most everyday things like visiting a supermarket seem fun with his ability to see the lighter side of life. The Welshman had needed that after Lisa and counted himself lucky that Jack had put aside his, Ianto's, betrayal and allowed him to remain with Torchwood. Ianto could not imagine life without Jack in it.
"Ianto, come and see." Jack was in the doorway beckoning him out.
"I'm busy."
"Won't take a moment, honest." Jack was now tugging on Ianto's arm and so he went with the older man out to the deck. "Look!" said Jack in wonder.
Ianto looked and saw a number of teenagers and young adults flying huge kites from the beach. They were on skateboards and were propelled along by the kites, some being raised into the air. It was fascinating and Ianto stood and watched quite happily, admiring the skill involved. After watching for about five minutes, Jack couldn't stay still any longer.
"I'm going to go and see how they do it. Yell when the meal's ready." Jack was already at the top of the steps. "Maybe they'll let me have a go!"
Ianto was startled but not surprised. With an immortal body, Jack loved challenges at which a younger – and mere mortal - man would baulk. "You can only ask," he said, smiling at the delighted look that crossed Jack's face before he turned and was off down the steps.
Ianto watched Jack, who looked a good ten, twenty or even thirty years older than those on the beach, run across to the teenagers and start talking to a couple of boys who were preparing their kites. With his usual efficiency and charm, he was soon being shown the kite and, it appeared, instructed on how to fly it. Ianto popped inside and found his mobile, he wanted a photograph of this. When he got back, Jack was strapping on a skateboard and holding the kite's steering lines while one of the boys held the kite ready. With a final look towards Ianto, his grin visible even at that distance, Jack was ready. The kite was thrown aloft and it caught the strong sea breeze and was off with Jack towed along behind it.
Ianto set the camera to maximum zoom and snapped away laughing at Jack's evident enjoyment. He laughed even more when Jack lost control of the steering and ran into an outcrop of rock and went flying in the worst possible way. Luckily the kite came down safely and the boy it belonged to was able to recover it without difficulty. Jack was not daunted by his fall, he picked himself up and begged another go which the boy obviously allowed. Jack was set up again and was off, racing across the beach and even managing a few, deliberate, jumps into the air. Ianto took a video clip of one of these.
As Jack came to a halt and started to hand back the kite, Ianto sent the video clip to Toshiko for the amusement of the troops back in Cardiff. Then he went back to the kitchen and carried on getting the meal ready. He was about done, having just put the salmon in the oven, when he heard Jack bounding back through the living room.
"Ianto, Ianto, did you see me?!"
"Yes." Ianto came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. Jack's joy was transparent and contagious. "You were great, especially when you went head over heels on the rocks."
"It was fantastic!" enthused Jack, refusing to let Ianto's snide comment sidetrack him. "Oh, you should try it." He grabbed Ianto round the waist and swung him round, lifting him off the floor for an instant. "I'm sure Gary or Dean would lend you their kite."
"No thanks, I'm quite happy with my feet on the ground. I caught you in action, want to see?" He reached for the mobile and brought up the snaps.
"God, I look so good," said Jack as he flicked through them; modesty was never one of his virtues. "Wow, I was going really fast then."
"There's a video clip too."
Jack opened that and watched, his face lighting up like a kid at Christmas. "That is fantastic. I want to keep it, so I can remember the feeling. Would you send it to me?" He beamed at Ianto.
"No problem." He did it straight away, before he forgot and Jack immediately checked his mobile and stood watching the clip again and again. "Jack, leave that 'til later. Food will be ready in about ten minutes so let's set the table."
Jack looked over and grinned, flipping the mobile closed. "What a great way to end the day," he said as he walked to the cupboard for glasses and crockery.
"Day's not over yet," said Ianto, "I had something in mind for later involving my new stopwatch."
"Oh, I can't wait!" Jack put down what he was holding and made a grab for Ianto who quickly side-stepped.
"Well you're going to have to! Meal first, fun later."
"You are one big tease, Ianto Jones."
Ignoring the comment, Ianto asked, "Shall we open the champagne?"
"Yeah, let's."
-ooOoo-
The meal was fabulous, simple food well cooked and both men ate with genuine enjoyment. They toasted one another, the other Torchwood team members, the Rift, Cardiff, Wales and the Universe with the champagne. By the time the roulade was eaten – Jack had three slices – they were pleasantly tipsy. They giggled as they washed up and it was a miracle nothing was dropped and broken.
It was still reasonably early and Ianto didn't want to fall into bed immediately so pulled Jack down to the beach for a walk. The kite flyers had gone but there were other people about still, walking or just sitting and relaxing in the glorious evening sunshine. It was so unlike the normal Welsh summer that everyone was determined to make the most of every minute of every day. Jack and Ianto strolled down to the water's edge and paddled in the water, which was still cold, before walking towards the town with the waves lapping over their toes. The fresh air sobered them and they were quiet and reflective, talking only a little.
The pub was on the cliff and had great views out over the harbour. The two men sat on the terrace with their drinks and watched the little boats bob about on the water and their owners pottering about on the decks. The Torchwood pair talked about what to do the next day, Sunday, sad it was to be their last day away from the Rift and alerts. Jack looked across at Ianto and was pleased the weariness had fallen from his face; he looked young again. Returning the gaze, Ianto recognised the glint in Jack's eye and welcomed its return.
Around nine o'clock, when the pub was starting to fill with youngsters and the music was turned up loud, Jack spotted some of the young kite flyers and bought them all a couple of rounds of drinks as he plied them with questions about the sport. Ianto listened, amazed once again how easily Jack fitted into any situation. These kids were barely old enough to drink legally – privately the thought some of them weren't! – but they accepted Jack and were happy to share their knowledge and enthusiasm. When the music got too loud even for Jack, the two men said their goodbyes and strolled back along the road to the bungalow.
In the living room, Jack put on some slow, sexy music and pulled Ianto in close. "Let's dance," he murmured in the Welshman's ear. He had obeyed Ianto's orders to be circumspect in public and now he wanted to make up for lost time.
"Sounds divine." Ianto let himself be waltzed around the room, content to follow Jack's lead. He put his head on Jack's shoulder, body pressed close to the older man's. "This feels so good."
Jack said nothing, content to hold Ianto. He had been back from the year that never was for a few months but he still marvelled that this man had been willing to take him back into his life. The contentment Jack had found had helped ease him back into normality, to shed the horror of his time at the hands of The Master and he vowed never to leave again. He wanted to stay in Cardiff, on this little planet for the rest of Ianto's life. Only then would he consider what to do with the rest of the time allotted to him, time that stretched out before him for millions of years. He pulled Ianto even closer, refusing to think that far ahead. He was here, Ianto was here and that was enough for now.
Jack danced Ianto through the open patio doors and onto the deck, still holding him close, and they swayed together to the just audible music. It was still bright and sunny but there was nip in the air from the brisk breeze.
"Let's go in," said Ianto into Jack's ear, "and see what we can do with that wonderful stopwatch."
Jack shivered in anticipation. "I am yours to command, oh lord of the timepiece."
He released Ianto and they smiled at one another, both ready for a night of fun. Hand in hand they walked back into the bungalow.
-ooOoo-
When Ianto woke the next morning he was smiling. He turned onto his back and lay looking up at the ceiling remembering the night before and grinned. His lover had been inventive and energetic and the two had made love on and off all night; there had been little time for sleep but the Welshman wasn't tired. Propping himself up, he looked round the room – no Jack.
"Jack," he called, assuming he was in the next room.
"You called?" Jack was at the now open patio doors, dressed only in shorts with a bottle of water in his hand.
"What are you doing out there?"
"Deciding on my breakfast menu. After all, you'll be cooking this morning." He grinned and slipped through the door, closing it behind him. The day promised to be bright and warm but it was chilly now.
"The race!" cried Ianto, having forgotten about the bet made the day before. "No way are you going to win." He sat up properly, resting against the headboard. Reaching for his watch, he saw the stopwatch lying beside the handcuffs and grinned – it had been a very good night.
"It's not seven o'clock yet and the beach is pretty empty. Feel strong enough to face your humiliation?" Jack was sitting on the bed and leant in and kissed Ianto. "Unless you'd rather concede defeat now and we can do something more interesting."
"No way." Ianto pushed Jack away and looked at him sternly. "I am going whip your ass," he said in a passable American accent.
"Promises, promises." Jack kissed him again. "So we are going to stay here."
"No!" Ianto pushed Jack away again and then wriggled across the bed to the other side and climbed out. "The race is on." He opened a drawer and took out underwear, shorts, T-shirt and socks and began to dress. "Just look at these bruises," he complained, seeing marks all over his body. "You're too rough, Jack Harkness."
"And you loved every minute." Jack was pulling on socks and trainers, debating about the T-shirt: he looked so good without it. He'd go without, he decided, give the locals a thrill.
Five minutes later, after a quick trip to the bathroom and when Ianto had finished drinking Jack's bottle of water, the two men were on the beach. It stretched away from them on either side, deserted except for a lone woman walking along with a large dog. They agreed the route: right about two hundred metres to a rock, round the rock then back past the bungalow and on a further three hundred metres or so to where there was a green house on the cliff above then back to the bungalow. First one at the foot of the steps to the bungalow was the winner.
"On your marks, get set, go!" shouted Jack and started off.
Ianto set off steadily intending to pace himself. Jack charged ahead, looking round and making rude remarks about the Welshman's slow speed. He was at the rock first and waved as he passed Ianto on the way back down the beach. There was little separating them as they passed the bungalow, Jack's early lead was gradually being eroded by Ianto's relentless and steady pace which he stepped up just a notch as he warmed up. They were neck and neck at the green house and both men gritted their teeth for the final effort; what had started as a bit of fun was now serious and both wanted to win. Nearing the bungalow, Jack put on a spurt of speed and inched ahead grinning; he was going to win. Then … disaster, his foot struck a rock buried in the sand and he went down. Ianto, panting hard, surged past him and reached the steps to the bungalow.
"Yes! I did it! The winner!" he yelled in jubilation, dancing on the spot and arms above his head. He grinned at the woman walking her dog. She had reached this part of the beach and had a grin on her own face; she had seen the whole race, admiring the contestants both for their running skill and their lean and fit bodies. Ianto looked back at Jack and the grin faded. It was unlike his boss to still be sitting on the sand. He jogged back to him, "Jack?"
"I've broken my ankle." He grimaced as he moved his leg a little.
Ianto looked down and saw a broken bone sticking out of the side of the ankle which was bent at almost ninety degrees. "Oh God, does it hurt?" Ianto was on his knees.
"Of course it hurts!"
"Can I help?" asked the dog walker. She came closer, her dog – an Alsatian – bounding over to join her. "I've got some first aid training."
"It's okay, thanks," said Jack, managing to smile up at her despite the pain. "My friend here is a doctor. He'll look after it." The dog was now beside Jack, licking his face.
"Bruno, heel!" called the woman and the dog reluctantly left Jack. "Are you sure?" she queried again. She could see the ankle now and it was a bad break.
"We'll be fine, thanks. I'll look after him." Ianto put on his finest doctor impersonation and was relieved when the woman slowly walked away. The last thing they needed was for her to see Jack's bones knitting. "How long will it take to heal?" he asked when the woman was out of earshot.
"Not sure." Jack grunted in pain. "This bad, an hour or so probably. Help me up."
Together, they managed to get Jack upright and onto his good foot. With his arm round Ianto's shoulder's he hopped over to the steps up to the bungalow. After some trial and error, they found Jack made better progress climbing them on his own with both hands on the railings and hopping up. Ianto came behind him in case he fell and at the top he took Jack's arm again and helped him to the swing seat. The older man flopped down, tired from the run and the climb. He grinned up at Ianto.
"Sorry, won't be able to cook breakfast now."
Ianto hit him.
Next chapter, the boys continue to enjoy their stay …