A/N: You won't like this one...

Chapter 8 – Lamb is to Slaughter as Ianto is...

The first thing Ianto noticed was how quiet the Hub was. There was the usual noise from the fountain and buzz of machines, but other than the occasional sound of key strokes, it sounded like nobody was there.

The second thing he noticed was everybody was there. Owen was flipping quietly through a medical journal. Gwen was reading something on her computer monitor in a way that gave Ianto the impression she wasn't actually reading. Tosh was working at her computer with an intense focus that didn't match the limited Rift activity they'd detected over the last few weeks.

The third thing he noticed was the broken coffee mug a millisecond after he stepped on it. He stooped and picked up the larger pieces. He kept a small broom and dustpan behind the sofa and used it to sweep up most of the rest. He stopped by the workstations and grabbed a roll of tape. As he used the tape to pick up the smallest particles, he wondered what was wrong with his co-workers that none of them had even made an effort to clean up the cup.

The fourth thing he noticed was Jack wasn't in his office. He returned the roll of tape and looked at his co-workers studiously not paying any attention to him.

"Where's Jack," Ianto asked. He wanted to say 'Where's Jack, you lazy, slovenly bastards', but he didn't want to be rude.

"Said he was going for a coffee," Tosh eventually said.

"Um, Ianto," Gwen said apologetically. "I don't think you should talk to him. I think you were right. Maybe we should just wait this out."

"Fine with me," Ianto said shrugging slightly. "I'll use his absence to grab his laundry."

Ianto hadn't picked up Jack's laundry since they had argued in the Archives. That wouldn't normally be a big deal. While he made an effort to keep the place tidy and pick up after Jack daily, it wasn't really necessary. With Ianto's immaculate organization, he could disappear for two weeks, even accounting for alien and death related clothing mishaps, and Jack would still be able to find a clean change of clothes. If it came down to it, Jack could always go to the storage room and find copies of all his clothing. With his uniformed style, Ianto found it easier to buy in bulk. Based on Jack's rate of clothing destruction, Ianto estimated there were enough blue shirts in various shades and braces in the neutral colors Jack preferred to last the man two years.

So it was a surprise for Ianto when he hopped off the ladder and onto a pile of clothes. It looked like every piece of clothing had been thrown out of the drawers and torn out of the closet. There wasn't any point putting off the inevitable so after a plaintive sigh, Ianto began sorting through the mess.

"What are you doing in here," Jack asked ten minutes later. Ianto didn't turn from the clothes he was sorting on the bed.

"Apparently a space/time vortex opened in your room. Luckily it only threw your clothes on the floor. That's just my working theory. I haven't asked Tosh to look into it, but I think it's pretty obvious. The only other theory I can think of is an alien temper tantrum."

Jack grabbed Ianto's arm and spun him round to face him. He tightened his grip on Ianto's arm. Ianto grimaced in pain. Jack let him go.

"I was looking for my socks."

"Bottom drawer," Ianto said pointing at the empty dresser.

"I couldn't find the ones I wanted," Jack retorted.

Ianto shook his head and returned to sorting. Jack grabbed him again.

"Stop touching my stuff," Jack said. Ianto was reminded of an emotional teenager.

"I have to touch 'your stuff' in order to organize 'your stuff'. Some of these clothes are dirty, some need re-ironed..."

"I don't want you organizing 'my stuff'. I can take care of myself. I've let you have free reign over things and that's going to stop. Now."

Ianto looked at Jack and briefly marveled at the intensity in his eyes. 'I don't need you' replayed in his mind. This was Jack proving his point. Ianto raked the clothes off the bed and unto the floor. He kicked them around like tossing a salad.

"As you wish, sir. Wouldn't want to interfere with your system." Ianto pushed past Jack to the ladder. "Almost forgot, Captain. The team asked me to have a word with you. Stop being a dick."

"Excuse me," Jack said incredulously.

"I told them you were being a jerk lately because you are still upset about John killing himself or maybe because Owen wanted to be Weevil food. I didn't want them realizing you are naturally this way."

Jack looked down and Ianto could tell he was pouting. He hated it when Jack pouted. Damn the man!

"Look, I don't know what's wrong. Maybe you need to take a few days off from being Captain Jack. Don't push your team away. They care about you."

"As opposed to you," Jack said his jaw jutting out slightly.

"Jack," Ianto began as he leaned against the ladder, "I care. You know I care. If I didn't care it wouldn't hurt so much to know you don't. Call me if you want help cleaning this up. Otherwise, I'm going to take my own advice and leave you alone to work this out." Ianto climbed the ladder and went straight to Reception.

Around 7, Ianto was engrossed in a file he was digitizing. He didn't need to read every word of the files, but he found many of them too interesting to ignore. This one was about a reptilian creature that spit fire. It would have been a dragon if it hadn't been only six inches long. Still, the case file was written by Theodore Forrest in 1927 and Ianto had come to enjoy his style. He never used speed reading with one of his reports preferring to imagine someone reading the words to him like a story. The man wrote long, detailed descriptions of everything. He sounded like a frustrated novelist. Ianto had started to ask Jack about him to find out what he had really been like several times, but Jack never wanted to talk about former Torchwood employees.

Ianto chuckled at the image of Theodore using the creature to light a cigarette.

"Something amusing?"

Ianto jumped in his chair. Jack was on the other side of the beaded curtain. Once Ianto made eye contact, Jack stepped through into his office. Ianto wasn't happy with this trend of people invading his space.

"Torchwood has hired a few agents with a flair for dramatic narrative in their field reports," Ianto said smiling the same "servile patience no. 2" smile he'd used earlier on Gwen.

"Anyone in particular?" Jack leaned against the door frame. Ianto was on full alert.

"Theodore Forrest," Ianto replied. Jack smiled, but looked like he had a bad taste in his mouth.

"Theo...hadn't thought of him in a long time. He'd be happy to know someone was enjoying his reports. He took some pride in them. 'It's for posterity,' he used to say. Does it mention," Jack said his tone becoming darker, "in his reports that he hated aliens, but loved young girls? Does it come across in his writing that he was an alcoholic? His cruelty?"

"Well there's a bit in this one where he's using a little lizard as a lighter. That sounds a bit like animal cruelty," Ianto said unmoved by Jack. He was well aware that people were more complicated than they appeared.

"And you find that amusing?"

"I find how it's written amusing. If I'd been there, I believe I would have been horrified. I'd like to think I'd have stopped him. But I'm not there. I'm here, reading about it 80 years later."

Jack smiled and walked around Ianto's desk. He stood behind him and put his hands on Ianto's shoulders. He looked at the monitor. His hands rubbed Ianto's shoulders.

"I think you would have. Actually, I think you would have come to blows with him long before this. He did tell a good story, though." Jack pointed at the screen then returned to massaging Ianto's shoulders. "I apologized to the team and sent them home."

"I need to get going myself," Ianto said starting to stand. Jack held him down.

"What's your hurry?"

"I've got plans," Ianto said struggling to keep his head from rolling back against Jack's stomach.

"What's her name?" Jack's fingers dug deeper into Ianto's shoulders.

"Who's name?"

"Your new girlfriend – the one you took to lunch today. Gloria's steakhouse. Quite a bill. She must be a healthy eater."

Ianto laughed. He couldn't stop. It turned into a guffaw.

"Something else strike you funny?"

"The idea," Ianto gasped between chuckles, "that I could get a date let alone take her to lunch let alone get her to go out with me a second time...It's like you don't even know me." Ianto slipped out of Jack's grip and turned in his chair to face him. "I had lunch with friends. I'm going to play cards with friends tonight. Since when are you monitoring my credit cards?"

"I was curious. That seems like a lot of money for a suit, by the way."

"You pay for quality," Ianto said. "When you see me in it, you'll think it was cheap at twice the price."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you out of it."

"So this is another classic Jack mood shift?"

"Well, I was thinking, maybe I could use a little more recreation. Maybe if things stay quiet you can book a nice hotel with good room service. We could pretend we're on vacation, spend all day in bed. We've got the place to ourselves tonight. We could start there."

"And in 20 minutes when you've changed your mind?"

"I'm not going to change my mind. I'll sweeten the pot. You can put all my clothes back the way you like them." Jack crouched in front of Ianto. He rubbed his hands up and down Ianto's thighs. "You can start with the ones I'm wearing."

Ianto put his hands over Jack's. The warmth of Jack's hands seeped into Ianto's legs.

"Are you saying this because you are horny or because you want your mess cleaned up?"

"Can't it be both," Jack said smiling up at Ianto.

"Does this mean you admit you need me?" Jack stopped smiling.

"Why is that so important to you? I want you, now." Jack jumped to his feet. "Let's go soldier!" He held his hand out to Ianto. Ianto didn't move.

"Why is it so hard for you to say you need me?"

"Because I know what that means to you."

"Then you know why it's important."

"No," Jack said, "I don't know why you need to be needed. I don't understand the why."

"Just say you need me and I'll cancel my plans."

Silence filled the room and time seemed to stop. Ianto knew what Jack was going to say. He wanted him to say it so they could end the charade once and for all.

"I don't need you, Ianto." Jack crossed and uncrossed his arms nervously. "That doesn't mean we can't..."

"Yes it does," Ianto said. "I don't ask for much. I don't have a lot of self-esteem or self-respect so I don't ask you to stroke my ego or respect me. I don't ask you to be faithful or truthful. All you have to do is say you need me. I don't know, Jack, maybe you don't. You could lie and say you do. It wouldn't be the first time you've lied to me. If you can't offer me this one, small kindness, I'm going to go."

Ianto stood and stared at Jack. He hoped his face didn't show the nausea he felt.

"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Pick up bagels for the team." Jack paused, seemed to reconsider, and left.

Ianto watched Jack go through the secret door and stared at the door long after it closed.