Author's Note

The team goes home to adjust to their new abodes while Ianto has a revelation and Jack is conflicted.

The Disclaimer: I own nothing. All rights belong to Russell T. Davies and BBC. I make no money and intend no harm.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it, any reviews or comments would be great. :)

The team sat around the table in the boardroom. Jack stood at the head of the table, his hands planted firmly on its surface, a stern look on his face. He looked around at the expressions of fear and confusion on his team's faces.

"Okay." he said, authoritatively. "We have a problem."

"You think, Jack?" said Owen. "I mean look at me!"

"I know, I know. It's bad." he said. "But look, we've been in worse situations and you know it. So, for now, until we figure this out, we go on with our lives. The sphere stabilized after the explosion and nothing's changed since then. So, I think it's safe to assume we're going to be stuck like this for a while. The most important thing is to stay calm, all right? Go home, get some rest. It's been a long day and tomorrow when we've adjusted a little, we'll find a way to track that creature down. We'll find out exactly what we're dealing with and deal with it. Got it?"

"You can't be serious, Jack." said Gwen looking at him incredulously.

Oh, I am. Got a problem with that?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

"How the hell am I supposed to go home like this? Hmm? What do I tell Rhys when a strange man walks through the front door and says 'hey, I'm your wife.' It's all well and good for you lot, you've got no one to go home to."

"What? Like it's so much easier for us." said Owen angrily. "I've got to go home a woman. Ugh! This is going to ruin my weekend."

"Oh! All right, Mr. Playboy." said Gwen getting angry."

"You'll have nothing to worry about, sweetheart. You're going home as me, just try to contain your excitement, all right?"

"Oh please!" Gwen shouted, disgusted. "I've seen it all before and trust me, it's not that impressive."

Owen opened his mouth to reply but Jack cut him off. "Hey, Hey. You two, take it easy. Fighting won't make this any easier. We're just going to have to trust each other to return each other's bodies like we found them, okay? Do you trust me?"

They looked at him, unsure. "Do you trust me?" he repeated.

"Yes." They all said in unison.

Okay," said Jack. "And do you all trust each other?"

They looked at each other, then back at Jack. "Yes." they said.

"Owen!"

"Yeah, yeah. I trust them, okay?" Owen said sullenly.

"Okay, then there's no reason why this shouldn't work out." said Jack. "And Gwen, you tell Rhys the truth. Tell him something only you would know, he'll believe you. You've gone home from work in a worse state than this."

Jack stood up straight, "All right then." he said putting his hands in his pockets. "Home, all of you."

Owen stormed out of the boardroom closely followed by Gwen and their voices could be heard, arguing as they moved out of earshot. Tosh got up nervously, looked at Jack uncertainly, and then followed in their wake.

Ianto stood, brushing the front of the long RAF coat he now wore. "I always loved this coat." he said looking at his feet. "This is weird, Jack"

"What's so bad about it, it's like dating yourself." he said, smiling.

"The only man you'll ever be happy with." said Ianto returning his smile.

"That's not true." said Jack. "You make me happy." Jack took a step towards him and Ianto met his eyes. He found it strange looking into his own face. Jack moved closer and Ianto closed his eyes as Jack gently kissed him.

In that moment Ianto knew two things for sure. The first was that, no matter what happened, Jack would always pull them through. The second was that he loved Jack more deeply and completely than anyone he had ever known.

Jack pulled away, looking at him carefully. Ianto desperately wanted to tell him the truth; that he had always loved him. The words were nearly out of his mouth before he stopped them. He knew that no matter how much Jack may care about him, he would never love him. He looked away, unable to meet Jack's eyes.

"You okay?" asked Jack. "Is it weird? I'm sorry; I didn't mean to…I just wanted…"

"It's not that." said Ianto quickly, cutting him off.

"What's wrong then?"

"Nothing." said Ianto. "It's just…"

What?"

Ianto was on the verge of telling him again and again he decided against it. It would only make things harder, for both of them. "Nothing, really it's nothing. I'm fine."

"Okay." said Jack simply.

"I'd better be going. See you tomorrow." said Ianto, walking awkwardly to the door, unused to the longer, more powerful legs he now possessed.

Jack watched Ianto go and when he was sure he was alone, he collapsed into the nearest chair, exhausted. He didn't know how many hours he had spent puzzling over the one mystery he couldn't solve, Ianto Jones.

Jack thought of the look on Ianto's face before he left. Uncertainty, a timidity that was unusual in him. He figured Ianto would have told him everything if only he had pushed a little harder, he almost wished he had. He couldn't bring himself to do it, knowing how much he hated it himself.

That was one of the things he admired most about the Welshman. He never pushed, never pried. He accepted Jack completely, even with all his faults. He never asked him about his past, he didn't need to. Jack hated talking about his past, there was so much of it and Ianto sensed this. He knew and respected the man Jack had become not the man he used to be.

Sitting there in Ianto's best suit, Jack wished with all his heart that he had told Ianto the truth. The truth he had been hiding for too long. He loved him. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew in his heart that it was true. He'd promised himself that he would never tell Ianto, though he desperately wanted to.

Two things prevented Jack from confessing his secret. The first was that, in his long life Jack had learned that some things should remain unsaid, it was less painful that way. Once the words were spoken, he knew everything would change and he didn't want that to happen. He knew that one day, he would lose Ianto and that it would be less painful if he didn't get too close, no matter how much he wanted to.

The second thing was that he was afraid. The great Captain Jack Harkness was afraid of being rejected. He hated himself for feeling such petty emotions but he couldn't help it. After all he was only human. Jack knew how much Ianto had loved Lisa and he figured this thing between them was merely a thing if comfort and healing for Ianto.

The great Captain Jack Harkness, who had faced down Daleks and died more times than he could remember, a rebound. He didn't mind though. If it made Ianto happy then it was worth it.

Jack rose from the chair rubbing his eyes. He hated when he did this to himself and thought no more on the subject. He retreated to his quarters, to change out of Ianto's stiff suit. He lay awake and wondered how his team was coping. He thought of Ianto, at home in his body, a mischievous smile on his face.

Ianto arrived home at around midnight. He unlocked the door and trudged wearily into the flat. He collapsed on the sofa looking around, not really knowing what to do. He knew he should start his nightly rituals soon if he wanted to get to bed at a half decent hour.

He dragged himself off the sofa and into the bathroom. He gasped out loud when he looked in the mirror. Looking down and seeing Jack's body was one thing but seeing his intense eyes staring out at him from the mirror was just too much. He turned abruptly from the mirror and went to switch the shower on.

He stood under the stream of hot water for a long while, letting the steam ease his tension. He looked down at the body so unlike his own, running his hands over the muscular planes of the chest he had laid his head on so many times. He sighed heavily as he stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel, making sure to avoid the mirror as he did.

He dried off and got into his pajamas. He then laid out his clothes for the next day, as he always did. He wondered briefly if the clothes would even fit him, Jack being a bit taller than he was. He dismissed the thought and climbed into bed, exhausted. Tired as he was, he knew he wouldn't be getting much sleep that night. His thoughts turned to Jack, as they so often did, when he was alone. He wondered if he would ever see him properly again and a wave of sadness washed over him at the thought of never again being held in the arms he now possessed.

His mind wandered to the talk he had had with Jack earlier. He still wished he had told him the truth. He knew he loved Jack and there was nothing he could do to change that but he didn't want to. He knew that one day, he would die and Jack would just carry on and forget him. That hurt the most. Knowing the one person he cared most about would eventually forget he had ever even existed.

He thought of Jack alone at the HUB in his body and a playful smile touched his lips. Ianto closed his eyes and despite his earlier worries, fell asleep with Jack's face drifting, lazily through his mind.