A/N One last chapter before going to London, hope you'll like it! Only three more days before I see John live - yey !

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Torchwood, if I had there would be a lot of changes...

Chapter 18

A few weeks after their trip to visit Alice, Torchwood Cardiff was going to be inspected by someone from the head-office in London. Since Jack had worked there for several years, he knew everybody, and as he heard that it was Martha Jones and Tommy Brockless that were coming to do the inspection, he felt confident. They were both friends of his and since the Cardiff branch was doing very well, they needn't worry about anything.

So, he was very, very surprised when he sat in his office going through a report, and he looked up and in his doorway stood John Hart.

'Fuck, fuck, fuck!' was what went through his mind as he looked at his ex.

'Hello, lover, happy to see me?' John asked, smiling seductively.

This caught Ianto's and Owen's attention, as they were standing over Tosh's desk, waiting for her to come back with some papers they were going to go through. They quickly exchanged glances before looking up at Jack and the newcomer. Ianto instantly had a sick feeling to his stomach, Jack had told him about an ex, who was a real piece of work, this couldn't be him, could it?

They looked up just in time to see the man wrap his arms around Jack's shoulders and kiss him fiercely. Ianto felt his suspicions come true and was just about to run up to the man and hit him, as a clenched fist made contact with John's face. Jack had pulled away, and hit the other man hard in the nose.

'What the fuck are you doing here, John?'

'What, didn't you know, Jackie-boy? You're being inspected.' John stated as he pulled out a handkerchief, pressing it against his bloody nose.

'Yeah, by Martha and Tommy! Why are you here?' Jack repeated, stopping himself from hitting John again, since he thought that he already knew the answer.

'Well, sweetheart, I am their senior officer, and I've never been to Wales… So I thought I'd stop in and pay you a visit…' he grinned, and Ianto felt hatred bubble warmly on his inside, as he looked on. Jack had been proven right… John had come to try and win him back… Like that was going to happen, he had Ianto now, and he was happier than ever! But you never knew what John might think up, according to Jack, he was border-line psychotic.

By this time, Tosh had come back to her desk and looked at her friend and his ex, as the rest of the staff was gathering around her desk.

A few moments later, there was a knock on Jack's door, John Hart turned around and again a fist hit him in the face. This surprised everybody, since the person who hit him was not Ianto, as might have been expected, but the usually so timid Tosh.

'Goddammit,' John exclaimed, 'could you people stop hitting me!' He glared at Tosh, who now realised what she had done, and was starting to blush and looked at Ianto and Jack, to get support. She found it in Jack, who put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed slightly. Tosh regained her composure and felt strengthened by her friend's closeness. Jack realised at the same time that everyone in the office was now looking, and said:

'Everyone, go back to your desks, there's nothing more to see…' and gave his employees a small smile. Reluctantly, everyone did as they were told.

'John, stay here, I'll be right back, I'll get you an ice-pack.' Jack said to his ex-lover and left him in his office.

Hart followed Jack with his eyes, as he passed Ianto's desk on his way to the kitchen. It didn't go un-noticed that Jack put his hand on Ianto's arm, and spoke softly into his ear.

'Oh, Jackie, you've gone and replaced me, have you? Hm, well, I can't deny that he's cute…' John thought to himself.

At the same time, Jack reassured Ianto.

'Don't worry sweetheart, he can't harm us. But I think it's a good idea to lie low while he's here. I love you, and his being here doesn't change that!' He looked into Ianto's eyes and smiled.

Ianto felt much better after hearing this, and smiled back at Jack, before letting him go into the kitchen to get something to put on John's nose.

Jack went back to his office, and threw an ice-pack at John, who caught it in the air.

'John, I'm assuming that from now on, we're going to be professional, otherwise, I'm going to have to contact head-office and get someone else to do this…'

'Ok, ok… Jack, I'm going to be professional, I promise, I just thought you'd be as happy to see me as I am to see you. But, obviously, judging by the pain in my nose, you're not, so I'll leave you alone, and just do the inspection before I leave. It'll take about four or five days, I should think, so why don't we get started? Will you bring out this quarter's balance? Can I take your office?'

Jack, impressed by his ex and his fast retreat, just nodded, got up from his chair and made a gesture to his chair before going to the door.

'Sit down, and I'll go get it.'