As always my thanks for the following this story is getting!

Just a quick note about the title of this fic: basically when I'd finished writing the first instalment of this story I wanted to upload it ASAP and obviously, for those of you have written your own fics will know, you have to give it a title before you can do that. So I turned to my wall of stuff for inspiration (basically a random collection of pictures, newspapers articles, sayings and wrappers etc) and one of the headlines pinned up is "Bang goes the Divine Creator" and the rest is history...

Ianto nearly gasped as the pavement moved beneath his feet, descending into something straight from a sci- fi movie. His eyes widened as he took in every detail of the room, darting to and fro as he made a mental catalogue of potential escape routes- a habit he'd developed from the potential of picking up a nutter. He kept his face impassive as three pairs of eyes watched him and Jack descend on the lift, he wasn't scared exactly- he knew that Jack wouldn't hurt him, well he assumed- but he was still wary.

As the lift locked in place Jack jumped down and offered a hand up to help Ianto down. Rolling his eyes Ianto jumped off the lift without help, 'I'm not that bewildered.'

Jack chuckled, 'Some people faint, I tell you it's a nightmare to keep them on the lift while it's coming down.'

'I can imagine,' Ianto continued looking over the spectacular room, 'So...there's a top secret base underground in Cardiff Bay...well I can see the appeal: good shopping, in built water feature...'

'You never said he was funny, Jack,' Suzie smiled sultrily, 'Or that he was good looking...but then with you I guess that's a given.'

Jack gestured to each member of his team in turn introducing them to Ianto who nodded curtly at each one of them as he was introduced.

'You know,' Jack paused, 'I never did get your last name.'

'Jones, Ianto Jones.'

Jack laughed, 'Isn't that practically the "John Smith" of Wales?'

Ianto rolled his eyes, 'I guess my parents weren't very imaginative.'

'Care for the grand tour?'

'There's more?' Ianto admonished, 'Something to match your ego?'

'How do you know about the size of my...ego?

Ianto raised his eyebrow, 'You'd have to have a fairly large ego to wear that coat...'

'Hey!' Jack pawed at his coat, 'What's wrong with it?'

Ianto shrugged, 'I didn't say anything was wrong with it...in fact I quite like it...'

'Really...well in that case-'

'Would you stop flirting, Harkness?' Owen shouted down at them, 'Have you no shame?'

'No actually,' Jack grinned as he ushered Ianto through the room, 'We'll start from the bottom and work our way up shall we?'

'You promise?' Ianto deadpanned as he was lead down some questionably dingy stairs.

They worked their way through the hub, starting in the archives working their way through the cells, crypt and various tunnels, flirting horrendously as they moved about, coming to a halt in Jack's office. Ianto ran his tongue over his teeth as he thought about al he'd seen and everything Jack had explained.

Aliens.

It shouldn't really come as much of a surprise he guessed, with all the potential in the universe it was pretty big headed to think that they were the only race to develop in the infinite space. He understood what had attack him in the park and where they came from, what they were doing, where they lived- he was never going near a sewer grate again.

Toshiko appeared in the office soon after them carrying two steaming mugs of coffee, 'I'm sorry my coffee making skills aren't up to much...but I thought you'd like a mug.'

Jack smiled sadly as she placed them on his desk, 'Thank you, Tosh,' he picked up his own mug and took a sip, 'Not bad at all.'

Ianto watched as she smiled meekly at them both before ducking out of the office. Something wasn't quite right here...but he couldn't tell what. He picked up his mug and perched on the sofa in the room taking a small sip after blowing on the liquid softly.

'So...you're probably the most important man I've ever had buy me...' he frowned at the odd after taste the coffee possessed, 'Sorry, that's probably inappropriate.'

Jack chuckled softly, 'I think you just complimented me, don't worry about it.'

Ianto felt a prickling in the back of his neck as if he were being watched; he'd always been pretty good at sensing his surroundings. Looking around surreptitiously he noticed the team crowded unnecessarily closely around Owen's work station...which happened to be the nearest to Jack's office. Looking up at the man himself Ianto noticed that Jack was watching him unnaturally closely...coupled with the taste in his coffee...Ianto could have laughed at his idiocy, 'You've drugged me,' four pairs of eyes focused on him entirely as he sighed and put his mug down, 'Stupid, Ianto. This is classified stuff not something a common man could know,' he felt unnaturally calm given he was about to die, 'It's the kind of "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you" type thing right? Will it be quick at least? Will you look after my sister; give her a good excuse of what happened to me?' Jack began to laugh, 'I don't think this is very funny...'

'I'm not going to kill you! That's our own special blend of drug to make you forget what happened tonight.'

Ianto looked incredulous, 'Like forced amnesia?' his vision blurred, 'And something to make me sleepy?'

Jack nodded, 'Something to speed the process up...this time tomorrow you'll have forgotten you met me tonight...and everything else.'

'Seems like forgetting you is more tragic than anything else.'

'Because it is!' Jack forced a small laugh, 'Who would want to forget meeting me for the second time...I'm even more dazzling.'

Ianto grunted, in agreement or disapproval Jack wasn't sure, and then swayed precariously on the sofa before falling on his side, sound asleep. Jack took the opportunity to take in as much of the man's appearance as he could; revelling in the fact he had been able to see Ianto again and in turmoil at his being forgotten by someone else. Sighing he pushed himself off his desk and ran a hand through Ianto's hair and cupped the side of his face. Kissing him softly on the forehead, he moved him in a seated position and lifted him from the sofa, smiling when the young man nuzzled into his collarbone.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

The first thing Ianto felt when he woke up was a pounding headache, the kind that could only have come from a lot of drinking.

'I hope you feel like shit, Ianto!' Rhiannon sing-songed from the kitchen, 'You must have hit it pretty hard last night if you're sleeping in your clothes.'

Ianto groaned and struggled to order his thoughts beyond the pulsating ache radiating from behind his eyes. He hadn't gone out last night...had he? He was struggling to remember his own name let alone what had happened last night.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee hit him as Rhiannon made her way into his room, 'Here you are Cariad- coffee. Hot, strong and sweet just how you like it for a hangover.'

He opened his eyes a slit and attempted to smile into his pillow, 'Chhers.'

'Christ! You better get up soon or else you'll be late for the pub,' she gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, 'I'm off. I got a lecture on the breach position today.'

She was still muttering to herself as she left Ianto's room and the flat. Ianto stretched himself out in his bed, massaging his temples to try and get the blood flowing in his brain. He kept his eyes closed as he reached for the coffee, blowing on it gently before taking a sip. He smiled- Rhiannon was getting better at brewing. Daring to open his eyes, Ianto was surprised that the headache alleviated in the dappled light. Taking another sip he checked his surroundings, nothing out of place, no sign that a drunken man had stumbled through...

Because he hadn't been drunk.

The events of last night slammed back into him. Taking a punter, the creature- a weevil Jack had called it- Jack. Jack had been there and Jack's team...and that base- the hub? And telling him about...aliens...then drugging him. Saying that he wouldn't remember anything about last night...but it was as clear as day. The headache had been making him a little muggy...that must've been the sedative, anything artificial always made Ianto's brain sluggish the next day- it was the reason he hated taking Night Nurse when he had a cold. But he remembered everything, everyone.

What did that mean for him? Surely he wouldn't be allowed to know such things about the underworld of the government...but they didn't know he still knew. If he just kept a low profile maybe it would be okay. Ianto rolled his eyes, meeting Jack again had definitely been a bad idea. He could already feel his subconscious planning the next time they could see each other again, everything from a deliberate meeting to an "accidently on purpose bumping into each other". Besides it wasn't in Ianto's nature to be dishonest, especially with things that were objective...subjectively his morals were a little greyer.

No. He would have to turn himself in and let the chips fall where they may.

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Ianto. Now that he had made his mind up he couldn't concentrate on anything else- of course he did his job well and made sure to keep up appearances but he'd been distracted all day. The thought of what he would have to do, of what was going to happen to him...of seeing Jack again. Every time that certain distraction came to mind he couldn't help but smile, something that annoyed him greatly and stunned him entirely. The anticipation of what lay ahead meant that the day passed at a standstill for Ianto.

'Got a hot date?'

Ianto focused on Lisa, 'What?'

'You've been staring alternatively at the clock and the door almost all night!'

'Oh,' Ianto shrugged, 'No, just something I need to do.'

Lisa nodded, 'Must be something good.'

'What makes you say that?'

She shrugged, 'I dunno...you're distracted, not in an obvious way just in a...something good is going to happen way.'

'Sorry.'

'No, don't be!' she smiled, 'It's nice to see you happy about something for a change.'

Ianto snorted, 'What do you mean? I'm always happy.'

'I don't think you know the difference between content and happy, Ianto.'

'Is there one?'

Lisa mock hit him, 'Of course there is!'

Ianto smiled blithely, 'Well maybe contentment is happy enough for me.'

'Aim for the stars why don't you?'

He rolled his eyes, 'They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit you know...'

'Then you must be lowest of them all seeing as sarcastic is your middle name.'

'What did I say about flirting on the job?' bellowed from the kitchen, 'get on with some real work for a change.'

'Slave driver!' Lisa shouted back, 'There's no one even in here yet!'

'Then make yourself useful, woman, and find something to clean!'

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

'What's the matter with you, Harkness? That's the thousandth time you've sighed today.'

Jack cursed himself inwardly, didn't he make a promise that he wouldn't sigh over Ianto ever again? But how could he help it when the boy had turned into such a fine specimen...one he would never get to try again because of a stupid weevil.

'I'm not sighing, Owen. I'm breathing...heavily.'

'Suit yourself, but if you "breathe heavily" in my direction once more be prepared to fend off a flying scalpel.'

'Someone is in a bad mood today.'

Owen grunted, 'You would be too if some bird led you up to the goal and wouldn't let you score.'

'Sport analogies? Really?' Jack chuckled, 'I never did understand why you people always get around a topic like sex by covering it with metaphors.'

'Yeah well some of us actually have British sensibilities,' Owen smiled tightly.

'Lord, kill me now!'

'Not everyone can be as loose as you when it comes to the bedroom, some of us like a bit of romance...'

Jack stared as Owen incredulously, 'Romance? What's romantic about pulling drunken women in alleyways?'

'It has its own charm...'

'With accompanying smell...'

'Girls, please, you're both pretty. Can we please focus on coordinating Tosh and I?' Suzie's tinny voice echoed over the comm. system.

'What coordinating? Tosh negates everything I say anyway, we haven't given you a direction for over half an hour,' Owen complained, 'I don't even know why I'm still monitoring you, it's a simple pick up job.'

'Fine, fine. You and Jack go back to pissing on each other's legs, just turn off the comm. link if you're going to be verbal about it.'

Owen rolled his eyes as he disconnected from Suzie, 'She's getting moodier.'

'You'd know...' Jack mumbled.

'What was that?'

Jack waved him away, 'Oh nothing, nothing. Just thinking aloud.'

Owen snorted, 'Don't strain yourself...'

Jack was about to throw a witty comeback out when movement on the CCTV of the plass caught his eye. He moved closer to the monitor, narrowing his eyes as he studied the figure that had appeared in the frame. Fingers moving over the keyboard, he zoomed in on the figure extrapolating the image and brightening it to get a clearer look. He almost gasped when he realised that he was looking at Ianto Jones who was in turn looking up at the water tower.

Owen came up behind Jack when the captain hadn't replied, 'Bloody hell. What's 'e doing back here?'

'Good question...coincidence?'

Owen shrugged, 'I don't think he's ever been here bef-' he stopped talking abruptly when Ianto began waving up at the camera.

'That's interesting...' Jack watched Ianto as he bobbed up and down alternately waving at the camera and looking around to make sure he wasn't being watched.

'Should I go get him?'

Jack shook his head, 'No. I'll go up,' pressing buttons on his vortex manipulator as he jumped on the lift, 'I'll see what's going on.'

Ianto almost smiled when he saw Jack appear in front of the water tower, a determined look on his face as he strode over with his coat fluttering in the breeze. That coat.

'Hello,' Jack said curiously, 'Can I help you?'

Ianto gulped, 'Maybe...'

'Do you know why you're here?' Jack ventured, there was a possibility that Ianto didn't consciously remember and his brain was just offering a subconscious echo of the previous night's events. Hope and suspicion crashed noiselessly against his ribcage- hope that Ianto remembered him and suspicion as to why he might.

'Well, I remember everything about last night.'

'You remembered...eventually? Something triggered it off or-'

Ianto shook his head, silencing Jack, 'No, I remembered as soon as I woke up- well the sedative made me a little muggy but I remembered everything clear as day...did you give me a faulty batch of that...drug?'

'No...' Jack had heard of people like this, the small percentage of the population that had a natural immunity to the effects of retcon. The joy he felt at not being removed from Ianto's memory was crushed by the dilemma of what to do with him now.

'Well Jones, Ianto Jones...I think you'd better come back downstairs with me.'

Ianto looked around slightly nervously, 'What are you going to do to me?'

'To be honest...I haven't got a clue.'