Doomsday: Post Apocalypse
a Torchwood story
by RoadrunnerGER
Dislaimer: Oh, really! They're the BBC's.
Summary: Ianto comes to Cardiff for a week to help with the archives, but is it as simple as that? Jack/OC, Jack?Ianto
Suspense/hurt/comfort – T – Ianto Jones & Jack Harkness
A/N: Just a quick hello and thanks to everyone reading. I'd love to hear from you again! ;) Now, let's get to the important part: new chapter! LOL Special thanks to mandassina for beta reading. Enjoy!
Chapter 11 - Miracles do happen
"Owen?" Jack shouted across the central Hub. "It was your turn to bring in coffee for the morning meeting! I don't see any coffee to go, though!"
A groan reverberated up from the med bay just as Ianto was passing the entrance. "Yeah, I forgot," Owen admitted. "I'll go. Just a minute."
"It's okay, Owen," Ianto said. "You don't have to go. I'll make coffee for the meeting."
"You'll make coffee?" Suzie asked sceptically as she looked up from the item she was working on.
"Yes."
"How?" Suzie pushed who had not even noticed that Ianto was working upstairs the other day.
Ianto looked puzzled. "With your coffee machine?"
"You think you got the thing running?" Owen teased with a wicked grin as he came up from the med bay.
"It's running all right," Ianto replied, still a little confused. "I got coffee beans yesterday and now I'll put the machine to work."
"Okay…" Owen said, rolling his eyes and squeezing past the young man in order to go to the bathroom. The doctor was not allowed to try and make coffee and he was pretty sure that whatever Ianto made would not be any better than what Suzie lured out of the old machine.
"Why? What's wrong?" Ianto demanded to know. "I told you I can handle it."
"Nothing's wrong," Suzie shrugged and bent over the workstation again. "He just doesn't believe you, and neither do I."
Ianto was perplexed. What was it with those agents and their coffee machine? "Tosh?"
"It's all right, Ianto," the computer expert assured him and offered him a quick smile that got a mischievous touch when she winked. "Just go ahead."
"Okay…"
Despite Toshiko's support the reactions of his new co-workers still confused Ianto. For now he chose to ignore them, though, and walked up the stairs to the kitchenette on the catwalk to start up the machine. The other's insistence that the coffee maker would be trouble remained a mystery to him. Does it leak? I'd have noticed that when I descaled it. Maybe it overheats and burns the coffee?He shook his head. No, it's more likely they don't know what to do with it. They'd be better off with a regular coffee machine, not this professional one.
He shrugged and poured the beans into the grinder. When it was finished, he spooned the right amount in and switched the machine on. Then he got out his notes to have a last look at them before the meeting. Not that he needed to, but it made him feel better. This was his second morning meeting with the new colleagues and seeing how the first day went he wanted to do well… but also address the issues he saw.
The steaming machine was gurgling right in time when Ianto saw first Toshiko, then Suzie and finally Owen head up to the board room that was on the same level as the kitchenette. Ianto had just put the mugs and two thermos jugs on a tray and started along the catwalk when Jack sprinted up the stairs on the other side of the Hub. A moment later, the captain entered the room from one side and rushed to his seat at the head of the table, while Ianto came in on the other side and put the tray down on the tabletop.
Jack looked at him with surprise only to glower at Owen next.
"Didn't I just remind you that it was your turn to go to Starbucks?" the captain asked. Then he smiled at the Welshman. "Ianto, nothing against you. Really. It just was Owen's turn and I don't want him to worm out of his duties."
"He didn't," Ianto said. "I told him to stay and offered to make coffee."
"That's right," Suzie confirmed. "He said so."
"Yep," Toshiko added.
"For once it wasn't Owen's fault," Suzie teased.
"What do you mean with for once?" Owen grumbled.
"Take it easy, kids," Jack threw in.
"I mean it, Jack!" Owen griped. "Suzie's making mistakes, too."
"We all make mistakes, Owen," Toshiko told him softly.
While the others argued, Ianto filled the mugs and served Suzie and Toshiko first, then Jack and Owen. Finally, he sat down with his own mug beside Toshiko. Glancing around the table Ianto was completely mystified. Instead of nursing their drinks his new colleagues just stared at the mugs, seemingly unable to decide what to do with them.
Deciding that he had enough of it Ianto wryly said, "I didn't poison it. If that's what you're scared of…"
"Nothing personal, Ianto," Jack assured his newest team member as he feverishly thought about a way to get around tasting the brew even though it at least smelled like coffee. There was no way to avoid it, though, so he already racked his mind about what to tell Ianto once he had tasted it. "It's just that that thing hasn't worked properly for years. Why don't you go ahead and tell us about your plans for the archives?"
"I still don't get it," Ianto said and sipped at his coffee. "Why do you run to Starbucks if you have one of their machines right there in the kitchenette?"
The team looked at him, then at each other, but remained silent.
"Guys?"
"I'd really like to know what you have planned for our archives, Ianto," Jack insisted.
"Yes, sir," Ianto could not quite suppress a sigh. "By the way, the coffee won't taste any better when it gets cold. The archives," he emphasized, "if you want to call them that, need a proper system. You can't seriously file everything you don't recognize under alien tech. What you need is a detailed index with sub-categories and cross-references. As I know the filing program that you have transferred from Torchwood One it will facilitate incorporating what artefacts you have brought in from London." He paused and when nobody asked any questions he continued, "Your own archives is another subject. Your filing system is rudimentary and the order in the physical archives non existent."
While Owen and Suzie partially blocked out what Ianto said Toshiko smiled at Jack who stared incredulously at Ianto. The captain was shocked by the young man's subtle praise of the loathed software One had used as much as by the implied statement that the archives were a pigsty. Without sparing a thought about it, he grasped his mug and took a big gulp.
A second later Jack's eyes rolled up and he sat up straight in his office chair.
"Jack? Are you okay?" Owen asked, immediately in doctor mode.
"What is that?" Jack panted and drank again from his coffee. "This is awe-inspiring! Ianto, from where did you smuggle it in?"
"How often do I need to tell you that I made it?" Ianto groaned. He did not understand why Jack made such a fuss about an ordinary cup of coffee.
"Kids, you need to taste it! It's incredible!" Jack beamed at the Welshman. "Ianto, I'll make this part of your job description. From now on making coffee is one of your primary duties. You'll get a bonus of…"
"I don't need a bonus or something, sir," Ianto cut him short. "I did nothing special. Each of you could do the same."
Once more Suzie, Toshiko, Owen, and Jack stared at him wordlessly, then at each other, and finally erupted in loud laughter.
"No," Jack panted between laughter. "None of us could do this. You worked a miracle there, Ianto Jones! I insist you keep doing it."
"No problem, sir," Ianto said, feeling rather uncomfortable. It was so weird getting praised for something as ordinary as making coffee. "It really isn't that difficult. Though it definitely helped that I thoroughly descaled the machine yesterday."
Now the other team members sipped on their coffee, too, and Ianto was greeted by sounds of delight.
"Now, sir," Ianto said. "There are other subjects I'd like to address. Ydris contacted a biologist in Tasmania who will help us by taking the thylacines in for quarantine before he'll release them into the wild…" he trailed off when he noticed that nobody paid attention.
Jack, for example, was totally engrossed in enjoying his coffee.
"Sir?" Ianto prodded.
But it was not until Owen kicked at Jack's shin that the captain looked up from his mug.
"Sorry, what did you say?"
Ianto rolled his eyes but repeated the most important part.
"I told you about our progress with organizing the Tasmanian tigers' journey to their new home."
"Oh, right," Jack muttered. "And?"
"And it looks like someone will have to go with them to take care of them during the flight and in quarantine. One of Ydris's friends offered to do that."
"I see," Jack nodded, clutching the mug to his chest as if he was afraid someone might take it from him. "Do you have any information about what it will cost us?"
"Our current estimation is 1.600,00 to 2.000,00 quid."
"What?" Jack gasped and almost spilled his precious coffee. "Are you kidding?"
"No, sir."
"But that's ridiculo…" he trailed off when he saw the looks Toshiko and Suzie shot at him. At least Ianto seemed to be expectant rather than accusatory. "I'm not going to pay so much money for a stranger's trip to Tasmania. If anyone goes it'll be one of us."
"Maybe you can convince Ydris to go," Toshiko suggested.
"Perfect!" Jack cheered. "I'm sure he'll love it." Again, he drank from his coffee and scowled when he swallowed the last drops. "Ianto, do you have more of this magical coffee?"
"Yes, sir," Ianto said and went over to him with the thermos to fill the captain's mug.
"Thank you, Ianto."
Ianto returned to his place beside Toshiko. "Good that we could settle this, sir," he said. "There's still the matter of the archives, though. Organizing them as well as adding the new artefacts from Torchwood One will take longer than the estimated week… much longer."
Leaning back in his office chair and holding his mug in both hands Jack just smiled a mystical smile at Ianto. He had no problem with Ianto staying longer than planned. The captain instantly fell in love with the Welshman's coffee and he was pretty sure that he could find further use for the beautiful young man. The only issue he saw was if Ianto was willing to stay.
"You might want to think about hiring someone," Ianto suggested, destroying the captain's happy illusions.
Jack stared at him with open astonishment and tried not to show his disappointment. "I thought I did," he stated, "hire someone, I mean."
"So, in your opinion the week we agreed on automatically extends with the rising workload?" Ianto challenged.
Toshiko, Suzie, and Owen caught their breaths and waited for their boss's response.
"Yep," Jack simply answered.
Raising one eyebrow Ianto stood his ground, "I disagree, sir."
"Can we talk about it?" Jack asked, perplexed.
"That sounds better, sir," Ianto stated.
"Okay… Will you stay?"
"Let's talk about that after the meeting, sir," Ianto suggested. "There are other issues we should address."
"Oh, really?" Jack started to believe that bringing Ianto in would result in quite an uproar.
"Yes. I'd like to talk about the tourist office you use as a front, but we can do this later as well," Ianto told him matter of factly. "I'm sure that right now we're all interested in what you accomplished in London."
Jack choked. All of a sudden, he felt humbled by the realization that Ianto of all people addressed what he should have reported on his own accord. Feverishly he thought about where he should start, as the previous day had been quite eventful.
"Well, I met with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart to talk about wrapping things up at Canary Wharf," he finally started. "There are some details I don't need to burden you with, but let me give you an overview of the important stuff. First, Torchwood One will be closed for good." Hearing Toshiko try and stifle a gasp he went on, "Torchwood Two and Three will remain operational and I've officially been put in charge as Torchwood's new director. So everything will go its usual way here. I don't intend to accept personnel transfers from One to Three, though."
Clearing his throat Ianto tried to catch the captain's attention and when Jack looked at him expectantly he asked, "What exactly do you expect me to do as the interim director of personnel then?"
"To wrap things up," Jack told him without any hesitation, ignoring the indignant look Suzie shot at him. "They will receive a pension and can leave Torchwood with or without taking retcon. I'll leave that possibility open to them as they're bound by the Official Secrets Act. Or they can move on to UNIT. Colonel Mace offered to take them over."
"I bet he did," Suzie snorted wryly. "That way he can learn One's secrets on the quiet."
"Of course he can't," Jack scowled. "That's one of the points I want you to help me with, Ianto, the debriefing."
"How may I be of assistance with that, sir?" Ianto queried.
"You're great at organizing things," Jack shrugged. "You'd be responsible for the corresponding paperwork. Maybe you can also help me with the actual debriefing?"
"You mean like good cop, bad cop?" Owen mischievously cut in. "Ianto balancing out your blustering?"
At that, Jack glowered at his medic. "I'm sure Mr. Jones can give matters the right official appearance."
Ianto shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Sir, who's responsible for the finances here?"
"That would be me," Suzie beat Jack to it.
"Because I'm willing to do the necessary correspondence," Ianto explained, "but I don't know anything about payroll accounting. Maybe we can work together on that?"
"Yeah," Suzie grunted.
"Something wrong?" Jack demanded to know.
"No," she sighed. "It'll just be a heap of work."
"Well, I can't deny that," Jack said and turned to Ianto, "I'm glad that we can work things out together there."
Ianto nodded. "Did you talk with Major Billingham, too?"
"Yeah, right," Jack confirmed. "UNIT is still in the process of identifying the remains. He said that he'll be in touch again by the end of the week."
Once more Ianto nodded, this time because his throat was corded up. Thoughts of Lisa and Virginia and all the other lives that were lost during the Battle of Canary Wharf choked him.
"All right, kids," Jack declared. "I think that's it. Back to work."
As the others filed out of the board room, Ianto remained in his seat as he expected to clear his own status with the captain.
"Now, what am I gonna do with you?" Jack smirked as the door closed behind Toshiko, leaving the two men alone.
"Beg your pardon?"
"This coffee is amazing," Jack stated. "You don't expect me to ever let you go, do you?"
"You said you won't accept any transfers from One," Ianto stated dryly.
"Right, but you're already working for me," Jack chuckled softly. "Besides, you're different."
"I'm different? In which way?"
"I distrust One's personnel," Jack declared flatly. "You on the other hand have already proven your worth and your loyalty. Not just to the Institute. To me."
Ianto snorted. "By betrayal."
"One man's betrayal is another man's trustworthiness," Jack firmly told him, allowing no objection. "You did what you believed to be the right thing. Actually, you followed your superior's order. A man whom you trusted and who happened to be one of very few," if not the only one, Jack thought, "who did not betray you."
Ianto could not deny that the captain made a point. "Still, about my temporary employment…"
"Do you want it to be temporary?" Jack queried, leaning back with his coffee mug.
"You're asking me?" Ianto shot back.
"Who else should I ask?" Jack shrugged. "I have a pretty good imagination of what I want, but I have no idea what you want."
"I have absolutely no idea, sir," Ianto admitted.
"And I can perfectly understand why," Jack told him gently. "You need time to make those decisions. Can we agree that you're going to stay and help with the personnel, the funerals, and the archives for, I don't know, another three weeks?"
"I can't tell yet if four weeks will be sufficient, sir."
"As long as One's artefacts are incorporated we can deal with the archives," Jack assured him.
"The same way you've dealt with them up to now?" Ianto queried with barely concealed horror.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Where do I start, sir?"
For a second Jack looked crestfallen before he pouted, "I really don't know why you find fault with our archives."
"Have you been down there recently?"
At that, Jack grinned, "When I showed you the archives."
"That doesn't count."
"We go down there regularly," Jack explained. "We need a place to store what comes through the Rift after all."
"So you just put it there and forget about it?"
"No!"
"Then please explain your archiving system to me, Jack," Ianto demanded. "Because I can't make any sense of it."
Suddenly the captain's features lit up. He practically beamed at the Welshman who scowled in response.
"You called me Jack," the captain grinned like the Cheshire cat.
Ianto huffed. "Seriously, is there any system to your archiving?"
Just as quickly as the grin had cracked his face Jack's features turned sour.
Ianto choked. Even though he could not tell exactly what was wrong about what he had said, he knew that he had overstepped a line and he felt the urge to apologize. Biting his bottom lip, he searched for something to say without making it worse.
"There is," Jack rasped, "but… that's a long story and I'm not ready to tell you about it."
Accepting the explanation with a nod Ianto asked, "Could you still spare a few minutes to help me grasp your concept?"
For a moment, Jack mulled over that before he nodded. He reached for the thermos and pouring the last rest of coffee into his mug Jack asked, "Ianto, could you work some more coffee magic?"
"Of course, sir," he replied, sensing clearly that this conversation was over, and took the thermos from him. As he turned to leave he got only as far as to the door when he was stopped short by a casual remark.
"Oh, and, Ianto…" Jack held the freshly filled mug against his lips, watching the young Welshman over the rim. "If only one of those accursed spidery mouse things that you coaxed UNIT into giving to you comes anywhere near the Hub, I'm gonna make you my coffee slave for the rest of your life."
A grimace washed over Ianto's features, followed by a dramatic roll of his eyes, before he continued on his way without further comment.
tbc…