A/N: Here's the next chapter for you, and it includes a spot of Janto fluff! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 4

"Right, boys," said Gwen, digging around her bag for the car keys. "I'm off!" Ianto got up from his desk and walked over to the work station, picking up the black, leather jacket from the back of the chair and holding it up for Gwen to slip into.

"Ah, thanks love. Good manners, that's what I like." She glanced over her shoulder at Jack, "You could learn a thing or two from him, you know!"

"Ha ha. I was around when they invented old-fashioned manners. Oh the memories!" He smiled to himself impishly, and shook his head. "Still, let's not dwell in the past; where you off to then?"

"Cinema," she replied, this time trying to find her mobile. "Me and Rhys have a double date with Ben and Jerry."

"Ooo, you'll have to introduce me sometime!" Jack said, obviously not seeing the joke. Ianto just rolled his eyes.

"Well, hope you have a lovely time. I, on the other hand, have some cleaning to do," he said, looking around at the mess in the Hub. "I feel I've been neglecting the housework of late."

"Well, at least you'll have me for company!" grinned Jack.

"Not much cleaning will get done then…" smiled Gwen, heading for the cog-wheeled door; her heels clicking against the metal grate flooring. "I'm warning you now though," she called back, "don't you dare call me if there's a problem – this is the first evening I've had free for weeks and I intend to enjoy it!"

"Having seen what you can do when you're angry, I wouldn't dream of it!" said Ianto, his expression deadly serious. "I value my life too much."

"Glad I make a lasting impression!" she responded. "Bye then!" And within moments, she was through the door and out of sight.

Jack and Ianto were now alone. Well, alone if you didn't include the giant Pteranodon circling above their heads.

"So…"

"So..." Ianto agreed. They looked at each other in contemplation.

The Hub was filled with the hum of silence, bar the gentle trickling of water from the dominating central feature – not good for a weak bladder, Owen had decided. Jack was sitting on the sofa with his feet up on the coffee table – something that was always met with irritated protests from Ianto. He was yet to cotton on to the fact that Jack now just did it to annoy him; he thought Ianto looked his cutest when he frowned. The mental image made the Captain grin from ear to ear.

From across the Hub, Ianto was about to protest on seeing Jack's muddy boots, when the computer behind him beeped loudly. He span around in surprise, causing a stack of meticulously organised files to flutter onto the floor. He cursed loudly and crouched down to gather the dispersed sheets. Jack bounded over to the flashing screen as Ianto stood up, dumping the paper as far away from the edge of the desk as possible. He'd sort them out later.

"Ripple of rift activity – no, make that a surge of rift activity coming from the Quay area. Wow! We haven't had readings like this in a while. You'd better call Gwen back. We can pick her up on the way." Jack turned to face his colleague. "Oh, she's not going to be happy…" he said, handing Ianto the phone.

"Me?! You can do it!" He shoved the phone back into Jack's hands. "Unlike you, I can be killed!" He grabbed the keys off the desk and hurriedly made for the exit before Jack could protest. Besides, he hated Jack's driving. He wanted to take the wheel for a change.

*****

"Good evening! Glad you could make it" said Rhys sarcastically, chin cupped in hand and expression bored.

"Sorry, love," replied Gwen, giving him a kiss on the forehead. "I had to finish up something at…"

"Work. I know." He should be used to this by now; the lateness, last minute changes, the excuses… Heaven forbid he should have Gwen to himself for one night. Still, at least she was here in one piece. He'd often had dreams – nightmares – about seeing Gwen savaged by alien monsters, whilst the immortal Captain Jack Harkness just stood and watched…

"So, what film are we seeing?" Gwen chirped in her usual break-the-silence tone.

"I was thinking the new Terminator."

"A girly one, then?" She grinned. "Only kidding - sounds great. The big question is though," she said, pulling Rhys up from his seat. "Cookie dough or Chocolate Brownie?"

They walked in hand in hand, and found their seats – not too far forward, not too far back; just how Rhys liked it. The lights of the auditorium dimmed as the cinema's ancient machinery spluttered into life. Gwen leant closer to Rhys and nestled her head against his.

"This is nice," she whispered.

"We should do this more often," he replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Just as the opening credits rolled into life, a conspicuous buzzing sounded from Gwen's handbag. The man in the row behind tutted loudly as she hastily scrabbled around her feet to find her phone, dropping the box of popcorn in the process. She flicked open the clam shell mobile and frowned at the words lit up on the glowing display.

"Bloody Torchwood!"