Title: You've Got So Far To Go

Author: David Frickin' Tennant

Disclaimer: Okay, honestly. If I owned Jack, Ianto, or anyone from Torchwood, would I really have to write fanfiction to give them the bloody date I wanted them to have? No. So it's kind of obvious that I don't own, so don't sue. xoxo.

Rating: T (for now).

Summary: Jack Harkness takes Ianto out on that date he asked about.

Note: Okay, wow. I'm not even kidding you guys when I say that this is the quickest anything I've written has gotten so much attention. I opened my computer today to seven messages about people either watching me as an author or watching this story, and I got one about a review. This is a hell of a lot more than I usually get, and I just wanted to thank each and every one of you. Enjoy this chapter; I'll start working on three tonight.

Four days later, Jack wandered into the Hub. "Alright, everyone. Go home for the night."

Tosh took a glance at the clock at the bottom of her computer screen. "Jack, it's six o'clock. You never let us go at six."

Gwen nodded, leaning back in a chair. "She's right. Got a hot date?"

Jack laughed. "As a matter of fact, I do. Now go home. All of you."

Ianto's face fell slightly, almost in dismay that Jack hadn't added onto his command. He got his things together slowly as he criticized himself for thinking that a date would actually happen. He should have expected this; it was too good to be true. It wasn't like he had actually planned on it, though. He'd just had a hope that Jack would want to be seen in public with him when it didn't involve business.

Heavy heart in his chest, he cleaned up the coffeemaker and made for the door, not even batting an eyelash when Owen tripped over something in his haste to get out. Usually, that would have been a laugh for him, something he could use to poke fun at Owen for about the next week or so, but that really wasn't the case for him any longer.

He made his way out into the car park and began his walk home. He hadn't lived very far, and he always enjoyed walking home, even if it was at night. Especially if it was at night, actually. Ianto loved taking scenic ways home, watching the water toy with the streetlights of Cardiff. It was beautiful. On a clear night, which was rare, the stars reflected in the water as the ripples caused by wind or tiny tides would make the lights and the stars dance together. Sometimes it would take an hour or two, and his legs would hurt by the time he finally made it, but it wasn't like he had anything else he really needed to be doing.

His phone started ringing with some God-awful default ringtone he'd never bothered to change. He didn't even look at it, just flipped it open and put it to his ear. "Hello," he droned, in a voice that sounded less like a "hello" and more like a depressed answering machine: Hi, you've reached Ianto Jones. I think right now I'd rather be dead.

"Well don't you sound chipper," an American voice sounded in his ear.

"Jack."

"Hey, go home and change into something more appropriate for a dinner-and-movie date, okay? You're a bit...overdressed for the occasion."

"Uh...what?"

"Geez, Ianto, I would figure you'd be more happy and excited. Are you feeling okay? I thought you've been waiting for this and all."

"I am. I just...why didn't you tell them it was with me?" Ianto asked sadly. He scuffed his toe along the concrete as he walked, digging in his pocket to fish for his keys. It was a nervous habit; the jingling of keys was just one of his many quirks. Though, to him it was rather calming.

"I don't think it's any of their business, that's all. Our relationship is for us, not them."

Not like it's too much of a secret... he thought. Everyone's seen us kiss. There's no doubt they've heard us when we... Ianto shook his head and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

In his office, Jack shifted in his chair, putting his feet up on the desk. "So get something nice on—but dress down," he said with a smile, "and I'll see you around..." He trailed off, turning to look at a clock. 6:15. "Think you can be ready in fifteen minutes?"

"If you'd like, yes."

"Good, 6:30, then. I'll be there to pick you up. What do you want to eat tonight, Ianto?"

Ianto hadn't given it much thought. In all honesty, he was fine as long as it wasn't something...fast like they had in the Hub. "I don't have a preference," he murmured. "You know what I like, Jack. Though, can I request that it isn't..." He paused, attempting to find the right words to describe what he didn't want. "Hub food? I can't tell you how sick I'm getting of pizza. I mean, it's good pizza, but I don't know how much more cheese I can eat until—"

"Absolutely. I've got a place in mind."

"Yeah." Ianto continued to fish through his pockets, finally getting his keys as he reached the steps to his building. "I'm at my building now, so..." He made his way to the third floor, and fumbled with the brass doorknob. The key stuck. "Are you bloody kidding me?" he murmured, swearing under his breath.

Jack couldn't help but laugh. "Need a little extra time, Ianto?" he asked cheekily.

"Not funny, sir."

"Hey, I said drop the sir."

Ianto finally managed to jam the key into the lock and push the door open. "6:30," he said, kicking the door closed behind him. "Which vehicle should I look for?" Please don't be the SUV...

"Not sure yet. You'll know, though. How many people are coming down the street at this time of night?"

Ianto kicked the door shut and walked across to the other side of the flat, looking out one of the white-trimmed bay windows. "A lot..." he mumbled. Of course there were a lot of people coming around. He lived in a decent flat in the middle of Cardiff. It wasn't exactly the smallest city in Wales, neither in size nor population.

"Well, you'll know it when you see it. I can toss pebbles at your window, if you'd like. We could Say Anything it up. I'll even hold a boombox."

Jack's proposal brought an adoring smile to the Welshman's face. "Well, if you threw pebbles at my window, that'd be Romeo and Juliet," he corrected. He began rummaging through his closet to find something more appropriate for their date, settling on a plain white button-down shirt and a pair of comfortable—yet sophisticated—dark-wash denim jeans. "And knowing you," he said with a small chuckle, "you'd toss a boulder and break my window."

Jack laughed. "I don't even know which window would be yours."

"Even worse." Ianto struggled to hold the phone to his ear between his head and his shoulder as he and Jack joked. He was finding it difficult to dress himself; sure, he had been extremely good at multitasking, but every so often, he dropped the phone and would have to struggle to pick it back up.

"You know, Jack," he said as he fumbled to unzip his suit pants, "I'm going to go so I can dress. I'm still expecting you around 6:30. Don't be late." He grinned.

"Is that a command I sense, Ianto Jones?"

"It might be."

"Well then. I'll try not to disappoint. I'll see you in ten minutes."

"Not the thing to tell to a man with a stopwatch, sir," Ianto murmured as the phone clicked on Jack's line. He hit the button at the top of the watch and smiled, then changed his clothes.