A/N:

I finally decided to rewrite this portion of the fic from here to the end in an attempt to keep the lighter tone of the previous chapters. I should be back on the usual posting schedule unless someone points out a major problem. Thanks again for reading, reviewing, subscribing, faving, etc.!

Chapter 17 – Dave the Philosopher

Ianto double checked the scanner's display as he and Gwen walked towards Dave. Gwen tapped her earpiece activating the Comm.

"Jack, we've found the source. Looks like it's one of Ianto's questionable new friends," she said.

"We're at 517 Dorset," Ianto said glancing at an awning for the address.

"On our way," Jack replied.

They reached Dave and he enthusiastically shook Ianto's hand.

"Jaunty Jones! Fancy meeting you here – out for a morning stroll with a beautiful young woman!" Ianto suppressed a laugh at the idea of him being with Gwen as opposed to simply being in the same location as her.

"Dave, I'd like to introduce you to a colleague of mine, Gwen Cooper. Gwen, this is Dave Members. I do not recommend playing cards with him unless you've brought cash and plenty of it." Ianto clapped Dave on the shoulder. He was glad Tosh and Owen had declared the alien energy to be safe. Based on the readings from the scanner, Dave was swimming in it.

"Miss Cooper," Dave said taking her hand and kissing it. "I am charmed to make your acquaintance. We certainly didn't have beautiful women such as you as colleagues in my day. More's the pity!"

Ianto chuckled as he saw Gwen blush. He could imagine Dave being quite the charmer in his day.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Members," Gwen said pulling her hand away slowly.

"Call me Dave! So what are you doing out this way this fine morning?"

"Meeting some other colleagues for an early lunch," Ianto said remembering the diner two blocks ahead.

"Oh I just came from a lovely brunch kind of thing. I ate more than I have in a week! I was going to walk off some of those calories. Wouldn't want to ruin my figure," Dave said elbowing Gwen.

"You certainly seem full of life today," Ianto said enjoying the discomfort Gwen was clearly feeling.

"I am! You know, ever since we were arrested the other night, I've felt better than I have in years. And," he added conspiratorially, "I know what's caused it!"

"Really," Gwen said meekly.

"Yes, indeed." He fished in his shirt pocket and pulled out a metal container. He pushed a button and it flipped open. "Care for a fag?" Ianto and Gwen both declined. He pulled a cigarette out of the case and placed it delicately between his lips before closing the case. "The secret is to live your life as you want to live it not clinging miserably to every minute!" He lit the cigarette with a match. "I gave up smoking 12 years ago because it wasn't healthy. Guess what? I've missed it almost every day! It occurred to me when we were smoking at the poker game that those little moments like sharing a puff with friends are the important ones."

"You were smoking," Gwen said backhand slapping Ianto's stomach. "Jack's going to kill you!"

"Already took my punishment, thanks," Ianto said returning his attention to Dave. "So you've taken up smoking again?"

"Yep. See, at this point in my life, I know I don't have a lot of time left. When I'm on my death bed will I be thinking about how much I'll miss plain oatmeal and decaffeinated coffee or will I be wishing I could have one more greasy plate of bacon and eggs with a large cup of Joe and a cigarette for after? Not enjoying myself today will earn me what? An extra few hours in a nursing home? No thank you! I'll take my creature comforts now while I'm still of sound mind!"

Ianto couldn't agree more with Dave's philosophy. He knew that feeling of living on borrowed time. If he didn't believe his time was short he never would have started his relationship with Jack. He jumped into Jack's arms thinking 'seize the day for tomorrow may not come'. He respected Dave's decision to eat unhealthy foods and smoke if he wanted to. If Ianto ever made it to be Dave's age he was sure he'd be the same way.

"That's fine," Gwen said, "but there's no need to court the Grim Reaper! Maybe you should try enjoying your creature comforts in moderation? I'm sure you'd enjoy them more as special treats!"

"Hrmphf," Dave scoffed gesturing with the cigarette case still in his hand. "Now I know why we didn't have female colleagues. I bet she's got an opinion on everything, eh Jaunty?"

"You have no idea, Dave," Ianto said.

"He has no idea," Jack said at the same time over the Comm.

A moment later, Ianto saw Jack and Owen turn the corner of the block behind Dave. Owen was looking concerned over the scanner. Jack and Owen exchanged a few words, but Ianto couldn't make them out. He wondered why they had muted their Comms.

"Dave," Jack called out as they approached. Dave turned around and gave Jack a hearty handshake. "I didn't expect to run into you again so soon."

"Normally you wouldn't have, but it's such a lovely day I decided to go for a walk, then breakfast, and now another walk." Dave's smile beamed even through his somewhat discolored dentures. "I've been up for hours. I can't tell you the last time I felt so alive!"

"You certainly look good," Jack said returning the smile.

"This is Dr. Owen Harper, another colleague," Ianto explained gesturing to the medic. "Owen, this is Dave Members. He's one of my poker buddies." Owen's wiry frame seemed to tremble under the onslaught of Dave's handshake.

Jack engaged Dave in an animated conversation while Owen surreptitiously scanned him. He focused on the cigarette case Dave still had in his hand. Owen looked a little puzzled and pointed the scanner at Dave trying to keep it unnoticed behind Dave's back while he scanned him up and down.

"We really need to get going, Jack," Owen said after he finished his scan.

"Right," Jack said. He shook Dave's hand. "It was nice seeing you again."

"It was nice seeing you and nice meeting your colleagues," Dave said winking at Gwen.

"Do you need a ride or anything," Ianto asked. Even though they'd assured him the alien energy was harmless, Ianto didn't like to think about the elderly man being assaulted by it.

"I'm fine, Jaunty! Like I said, feeling great! In fact, if you've got the nerve and the money, why don't you stop by Dylan's tonight and we'll play a few hands of Follow the Queen," Dave suggested.

"Sounds like a plan," Ianto said shaking Dave's hand and patting his upper arm warmly.

"Great! I'll see you around 7." Dave gave another wave and continued walking down the sidewalk. Ianto noted he was walking faster, straighter, and steadier than he had when they left the jail. He didn't look like the frail, little old man he had.

"Amazing what a little alien tech, a night in jail, and a positive attitude will do," Ianto said after seeing Dave turn down a side street.

"How are we going to get the cigarette case from him, Jack," Gwen asked. Ianto didn't need to look at her to know she was doing that annoying eye lash batting thing she usually accompanied Jack's name with.

"No need," Owen announced. It has some residual energy on it, but it's not the real source we've been following."

"Then what is," Jack asked.

"It seems that old man has an internal artificial pacemaker."

"Oh God," Ianto said. They couldn't rip the man's chest open! Was the energy still safe? He felt horrible. He felt guilty for exposing the aged gangster to something he otherwise never would have encountered.

"Don't worry, 'Jaunty'," Owen said over enunciating the last syllable. "I reckon it'll be safe enough. He's feeling good. The device might spill some energy out, but not enough to convert any other objects into energy producers. His body is absorbing most of it."

"Right," Jack said clapping his hands together. "Let's get back to base. Ianto, you'll need to keep a closer eye on Dave, but it sounds like this might be a good thing for him. Owen, work with Tosh to verify your contamination theory. I don't want to do nothing then find out Dave's pacemaker turned half of Cardiff into an energy converter."

"What about me, Jack," Gwen asked smiling.

"Looks like you and me are going to be hanging back on this one," Jack said smiling back. Ianto mentally gagged as Jack and Gwen looked at each other.

Back at the Hub, Ianto made a quick coffee round and suggested fish and chips for lunch. Nobody objected so he called the Fish and ordered their usual fare.

"Hang on, I'll go with you," Jack said jogging over to the cog door Ianto was about to walk through.

"You don't have to, sir," Ianto said hoping Jack realized he was glad for any excuse to be near Jack.

"I'm feeling a little restless and it's not like I'm doing anything useful," Jack replied. "And don't say I have paperwork to do because we both know I'm a man of action!" Jack leered and Ianto had to turn to keep everyone from seeing his face contort as he tried not to laugh.

"I could go with you, Jack," Gwen said leaning against a railing. "I'm sure Ianto wouldn't mind staying and working on his tourist stuff."

"No, stay and watch the Rift," Jack said quickly pushing Ianto through the door. He continued pushing him along until they were in the elevator.

Jack didn't wait for the doors to close before he grabbed Ianto and kissed him desperately. One hand latched onto Ianto's arse and the other started on the back of his neck, but trailed to his clavicle by the time they pulled slightly apart.

"Owen mentioned you didn't seem to be able to keep your hands to yourself lately," Ianto huffed before kissing Jack again.

"I can't even blame having extraterrestrial energy in my pants," Jack said before licking Ianto's lips. "Does it bother you?"

"No," Ianto said. He put a hand on Jack's cheek and kissed him slowly, teasing Jack's mouth with his tongue. "I just wonder why." He gave Jack a quick peck and exited the lift.

"I don't know," Jack said following him out of the lift and into Reception. "Is it really such a puzzle why I'd want to touch you? It's like if I really liked popcorn. Would I eat one kernel and quit or would I want a hand full? The more I touch you, the more I want to touch you. I've been remarkably restrained, but I'm tired of the Ianto-free diet. I'm ready to binge!"

He pushed Ianto against the door leading out of the Tourist Information Center. Ianto put his hands up to push Jack away, but Jack grabbed his wrist and pinned them against the door. He pressed his body from shoulder to thigh against Ianto.

Ianto knew he could push Jack off him if he really wanted to, but he didn't. He liked how it felt to be all but consumed by Jack. He thought of Dave's philosophy and decided to enjoy the moment while he could. He tried to kiss Jack, but Jack pulled his head away.

"You're so beautiful and brilliant and thoughtful and sexy and the way you don't try to be or seem to know you are turns me on. You drive me wild, Ianto Jones." Jack rolled his hips against Ianto's. "I know you want me as much as I want you." Jack kissed him gently, but didn't loosen his steel grip on his wrists. "We've paid our dues," he said trailing tiny kisses along Ianto's jaw and onto his neck. "We deserve to be happy. Give me one good reason why we shouldn't be together now." Their eyes locked.

"CCTV," Ianto said. Jack stared and then laughed. Ianto loved the sound and smiled.

"That would be one way of letting the team know," Jack said nuzzling Ianto's ear.

"Owen thinks I'm an attention whore willing to trade my body to have you notice me. Gwen thinks I'm suffering from hero worship and loneliness. If they don't know what's going on, but feel obliged to give me crap advice what do you think they'd say if they knew the truth?"

Jack pulled back and faked a shocked look.

"You mean you don't worship me? I could have sworn I heard you screaming 'oh God' last night!"

Ianto laughed, but was cut off as Jack kissed him passionately.

"I love hearing you laugh." They kissed again. Jack's stomach growled and Ianto laughed again.

"We should get to the Fish to pick up lunch," Ianto said. Jack let his wrists go. Ianto alternated rubbing them.

"I didn't hurt you, did I," Jack asked his voice sounding concerned. He took Ianto's left hand and rubbed his wrist. He kissed it then did the same to his right hand.

"I'm not that fragile, sir," Ianto said enjoying the care Jack was showing him.

"I know, but I also know you wouldn't tell me if I did hurt you." Jack suddenly looked sad and Ianto didn't want to see that. He grabbed Jack's face and kissed him.

"After lunch I think I'll get some work done in the Archives," Ianto said moving away from Jack and opening the door.

"Room D," Jack asked smiling. Ianto nodded. "That sounds like a great idea," Jack said following him outside.

"Of course," Ianto said smiling at Jack. "I thought you knew. I'm brilliant."