Dinner

The next morning passed without incident. No more Rift alerts. Tosh said it would be quiet for the next 24 hours or so. All fingers were crossed.

Jack took time out to catch up on yet more paperwork. It seemed never ending to the older man. He signed requisition forms. Read through reports destined for UNIT. Signed off on the latest medical reports that Owen had done on Janet, their resident Weevil. And ordered medical supplies. Satisfied that he'd put in a good mornings work, Jack made his way down to the kitchen.

Owen walked up from the autopsy room, just as Jack was about to touch the coffee machine. He was stood between Tosh and Gwen's workstations. "What are you up to, Harkness?"

"Mmm, me? Oh, I was thinking about making coffee."

"That is a bad idea, Jack, and you bloody well know it. Tea Boy will skin you alive, if he finds you messin' with his pride and joy."

"Yes, he will," came a voice from behind them.

Jack turned and smiled at the sight of the Welshman, then stepped back. "Right on queue, as always Ianto."

"So I see, sir," the young man frowned.

Jack winked. "Er, coffee?"

Ianto set about making coffee. "I took the liberty of ordering Chinese for lunch. I hope that's okay."

"Sounds great." Jack resisted the temptation to lean in a kiss his new lover.

Catching Jack's eye, Ianto nodded his head towards the other three members of Torchwood.

"Oh, yeah." Jack cleared his throat. "I-that is we, have something to tell you."

"We're all eyes," quipped Owen.

Jack looked at Ianto, who smiled. "Ianto and I are….dating."

Gwen's head came up. "As in, a couple?"

"Yep," said Ianto, a triumphant grin on his face.

Score one for the Welshman

"Since when?"

"Yesterday, actually," he replied.

Gwen's eyes held fire. Ianto could almost feel their heat boring into him. But he didn't care. Jack was now his.

"That's great new," said Tosh, smiling.

Ianto knew the Japanese woman would approve.

"Right, well, just as long as there's no hanky panky during working hours," said Owen. "Keep it for when you're alone, eh?"

"Of course," replied Ianto, bowing his head slightly, and blushing.

Jack opened his mouth to say something, but a look from Ianto made him keep quiet.

After handing out the coffee's, Ianto made his way up to the tourist office to wait for lunch to be delivered. Ten minutes later, he was back.

Bringing the carrier bags of hot food back down into the Hub, Ianto then took them to the boardroom, placing the bags on a side table before setting out plates, glasses and cutlery. Satisfied, Ianto called for the rest of the team to come and eat. They didn't need telling twice. The smells were enough to get their gastric juices going and Owen was the first to be seated. Opening the containers one by one, the young Welshman placed a serving spoon in each. When they were all seated, they helped themselves.

"You've outdone yourself, Ianto," remarked Jack, looking at the containers of steaming food.

"Thank you, sir. I thought if everyone was as hungry as I was, I'd order a few extra dishes." He smiled.

"Good idea, Tea Boy. For once, I approve."

"Thought you might," said Ianto, watching the teams medic dig into the containers.

Half an hour later, Ianto was tossing the left over containers into a black bin bag which he would take out with him when he left that evening.

The team went back to work, but Jack stayed behind watching Ianto clear away.

"Are you going back down to the archives?"

Ianto shook his head and smiled. "No. I'm doing a couple of hours in the tourist office. I have a customer returning for information on brail bus timetables."

Jack frowned. "Have you researched it?"

"Yep. Ordered 5 of each. In fact, they arrived yesterday morning."

"So, that's what that box was on the counter? I was wondering."

Ianto inclined is head. "Wonder no more, sir."

Jack beamed at the Welshman. "Thought we'd leave together tonight, if that's okay with you."

"Fine." Ianto told the older man. "But I need to stop off and get a few things for diner."

"Whadda ya have in mind?"

"I know you like good hearty food. I was thinking, shepherds pie, greens, sweet corn and gravy."

Jack sub-consciously licked his lips. "Mmm, a way to a man's heart is through his stomach, or so they say."

"Cream cakes it is them," laughed Ianto, walking towards the door.

Jack chuckled. "Be back here by 4pm at the latest."

Ianto gave a quick three fingered salute. "Sir!"

The older man shook his head, smiling.

"And apple crumble and ice cream for dessert," Ianto called back.

Ianto walked through the Hub and out through the cog door. Passing Gwen, he smiled.

"Dinner?" Observed Owen.

"Yep."

Gwen raised an eyebrow, then got on with what she was doing.

Jack went up to his office and looked around the room. He opened cupboards and draws until he found what he was looking for; a very old, very expensive bottle of red wine. He smiled to himself and placed the bottle on his desk. 'A very good wine to accompany beef' he thought.

Ianto settled himself into his chair, booted up the computer and checked his personal e-mails. The suppliers of the brail bus timetables asked if the order had arrived safely. Ianto sent them a reply. Happy that all his e-mails had been read and answered, the young man busied himself with removing all of the out of date brochures and replacing them with new stock. Once that was done, he made himself a cup of tea and waited for his next customer.

The phone rang in the tourist office. Picking it up, Ianto looked at the CCTV camera.

"Are you lonely, sir?"

"You better believe it." Jack snorted. "How'd ya know it was me?"

"Simple, really." He pointed. "The light on the camera is on." He waved.

"Drat! Foiled again."

Ianto looked at his watch. "I've only been gone less than 45 minutes."

"Is that all? Seems like hours to me."

Ianto smiled and looked at his watch again. "Come up and I'll make you a coffee."

Jack smiled. "On my way."

Shaking his head, Ianto replaced the receiver.

Leaving his office at break neck speed, Jack made his way through the cog door, to the lift. Pressing the button to close the door, he waited patiently for it to reach the top level and the corridor leading to the secret entrance from the tourist office. Listening, Jack slowly opened the door and entered the office. The smell of freshly brewed coffee assaulted his nostrils.

"Mmm, smells good!"

Ianto placed a cup in the older man's hand. "Just the way you like it, sir."

"Er, maybe you should start calling me Jack. You don't wanna know what the word 'sir', mixed with those beautiful Welsh vowels does to me."

Ianto smiled. "Jack, it is."

"So, the brail timetables are up, I see."

"Yep. Plus I've put out all the new stock."

"Owen and I used to hate doing a stint in here. So depressing."

"What, all those wonderful holiday makers and their interesting question?"

"Yeah, those."

Ianto shook his head fondly. "I rather enjoy it."

"Figured you would."

"So….what time do you think we'll leave here?"

Jack sipped his coffee. "If it stays quiet, I'll send the others home around 4pm. We can leave straight after."

"Fine by me. The meat is already cooked."

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"I was going to freeze it."

"Right."

"I cook off a batch at a time and then divide and freeze it for later."

"Apple crumble for afters?"

"I'll have to make that from scratch, but it won't take that long."

"Sounds delicious."

Ianto bowed slightly. "I do my best….sir."

Jack finished his coffee, gave the younger man a kiss on the lips and went back down to his office.

Just after Jack left, the man came back for the brail timetable. Ianto was curious and very helpful. The man went away with a smile on his face. Ianto carried on in the tourist office until 3.30pm, when he went back down to tidy the Hub, before he and Jack left for his flat.

"We ain't made too much mess," said Owen. "Don't want you being late for your 'date' with Jack, do we?"

Ianto answered with a smile.

Gwen still couldn't get her head round Jack and Ianto dating. She thought she might stand a chance with the immortal Captain.

As if!

By 4.07pm, Jack and Ianto were on their way to the supermarket to pick up a few items. Jack closely guarded his bottle of wine.

Carrying the basket as Ianto put items into it, Jack smiled.

"What?"

"Nothing. Been a while since I grocery shopped, that's all."

"Do you eat out?"

"Or get a take away, yeah."

"When was the last time you had a home cooked meal?"

"Probably 1986."

Ianto whistled. "Really? That long?"

"Yep."

Making their way to the checkout, Ianto paid for his items and then they walked back to the SUV.

"Tell me if I'm prying, but I know you've been married at least once."

Jack smiled and looked straight ahead, as he climbed into the drivers seat and did up his seat belt. "Twice, actually. Victoria in 1910 and Evelyne in 1970."

"Do you mind talking about them?" Ianto asked, getting in beside Jack.

Jack shook his head. "Working in the archives, you're bound to have read a lot about me," Jack looked at the Welshman, who said nothing, then started the engine. "Most of it, you can take with a pinch of salt. Twenty percent of it is true. You just have to know which parts."

Ianto smiled nervously.

"Victoria swept me off my feet. She was young, beautiful full of fun, and I fell madly in love with her." Jack manoeuvred the car out into traffic. "We were married for eight years. No children. She died of tuberculosis in 1918." A quick look around. "With Evelyne, the love grew slowly. We dated for two years before I finally proposed." Jack looked directly at Ianto. "She died in 1987 from breast cancer. I have a daughter, Alice. She has a son, my grandson, Stephen." Jack waited for Ianto to speak, he didn't. Jack took a deep breath and carried on. "Alice always had a hard time dealing with my immortality, unlike her mother." he smiled, remembering. "She never brought friends home. I never went to parents nights. Now, she keeps Stephen away from me. In her eyes, I'm bad. Not to be trusted."

"That must be hard on you." Ianto finally said.

Jack nodded. "Yep."

The car stopped outside Ianto's flat.

"When did you see them last?"

"Four years ago, when Stephen was seven."

Ianto shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault."

"I know, but…."

Getting out of the car, the two men went inside the building. Ianto opened the door to his flat and they entered.

Putting the bags on the side, Ianto took Jack's hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it. "I will never leave you," he said. "For all my life, I am yours."

Jack touched Ianto's face, pulling the younger man into his arms. "I love you, Ianto Jones."

Ianto kissed him back. "And I love you, too." The Welshman drew back. "But this isn't getting dinner made."

"'suppose not."

Jack pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table, prepared to watch his lover at work.

Ianto took off his jacket and went into the bedroom. "I'm just going to change. Help yourself to a drink. There's a bottle of scotch in the cupboard next to the fridge. Pour two, please."

Jack got up and did as he was asked. Taking a sip of the amber liquid, Jack pulled a face. The scotch hit the spot.

Minutes later, Ianto immerged dressed in blue jeans and a polo shirt.

"Nice," quipped Jack.

Ianto smiled and opened the cupboard, reaching for the flour. "I'll just make the crumble and then peel some potatoes."

Jack jumped up. "I can peel," he offered.

"Potatoes are in the bottom drawer. Peeler in the draw by the sink." Ianto smiled. "Thanks."

"The least I can do is help."

"When was the last time you spoke to your daughter?"

Jack put potatoes in a bowl. "About four months ago."

Ianto's head came up.

Jack smiled weakly. "She didn't answer."

By the time Jack had peeled the potatoes, Ianto was just putting the crumble into a warm oven, followed by the mince and onions in the microwave. "It's her loss," he mumbled, not quite sure what Jack would make of that statement.

"I guess I can understand her concerns. She doesn't want to confuse Stephen. He thinks I'm his uncle."

"I don't know what I'd do, if I wasn't allowed to see David and Micha again," said the younger man. Ianto moved across to the sink, putting the potatoes into a saucepan of water and putting them on the gas to cook. "That wine looks pretty expensive," he observed, changing the subject.

"Bought it in 1931. Been saving it for a special occasion."

Ianto turned his eyes away, not trusting himself to meet the blue eyes that he knew were looking at him.

"I'll get glasses."

Jack took his arm. "No rush. Let's go sit in the front room and finish our scotch."

Ianto nodded, happy for movement.

They sat on the sofa, talking about nothing in particular. Ten minutes later, Ianto was in the kitchen making the shepherds pie, placing it in the oven with the crumble.

Jack breathed in the aromas. "Mmm, can't wait," he said, joining the younger man. He leaned against the door jam.

Ianto could feel his eyes boring into him, and turned away.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Jack moved closer.

Ianto didn't answer.

Jack carefully turned the Welshman to face him, lifting his chin so their eyes met. "Ianto?"

Ianto lowered his gaze and Jack's eyes followed. He smiled.

"Now you know what you calling me 'sir' does to me."

Despite himself, this brought a smile to Ianto's face.

Jack turned off the oven, took Ianto's hand and led him to the bedroom. He could only wonder at what the night held for them both.

Fin

I'll leave that to your own imagination.