Ianto and Jack visit the Big Pit. Jack remembers his past. My ancestors worked down the pits in Clydach Vale, near Tonypandy. Then there's dinner at St David's to look forward to.

Mirror Image – chapter 4

The drive in the car through the valley via Pontypool reminded Jack that this country he'd adopted was truly beautiful. He knew it had changed. The valleys were no longer full of coalmines, soot didn't hang in the air and it was easy to breathe now as they drove along the valley floor. Ianto talked about his past and of growing up in Wales. His Dad had died a few years ago but his Mum still live in Splott. When he said that Jack laughed, remembering Owen's spluttered, expletive like, saying of the word and Ianto's reply. Then he heard, 'Mind you around here the estate agents prefer to pronounce it Sploe.' He smiled and Ianto continued, 'Yeah it is rather a lame joke.'

'It depends on your delivery,' Jack replied.

'Yes I suppose so. I don't think I'll bother with the stand up routine then.'

Jack sat thinking for a minute or two about all the dry, sarcastic lines that his Ianto had spoken and now he was listening to another Ianto saying almost exactly the same words; it was weird to think of all the possibilities that were created by all those different timelines.

'What's it like being a twin?' Jack asked. 'Are you alike really?'

'Well Mum made sure we were treated as individuals and the mirroring meant that it was easy to tell us apart. We've always been dressed differently. Luckily we were both able but interested in different things. Ifan was always good with technology and the like, whereas I was always into history. He did data management and went to work for this company in London. He was always a bit cagey about exactly what they did. Then he got head hunted by his boss here and he came to work in Cardiff. It was good to have him home again. He was always the one for the smart suits and he can afford to dress well now. It seems his boss insists on it. He has this Armani which is great. I got married in it.'

Jack smiled. 'Not a suit man yourself then?' he asked. 'Pity I'm sure you'd look good in a suit.

Ianto blushed and replied, 'yeah Lisa always said so and I have to wear them for work but I'm more of a jeans and t-shirt man myself. I have to say that your look is pretty striking. The blonde hair is very distinctive. I'm guessing that you're not a natural blonde!'

Jack repressed a retort which offered the possibility of Ianto finding out later.

'Yeah not sure what made me do it really. I wanted something different. I guess I watched too much Buffy.'

'Ah that explains it – Spike! Now the question is do you have the whole outfit as I always loved that coat.' Jack raised an eyebrow and smiled.

'Look there's the sign for the pit. We should be there soon. I'll have to do some work; I need to look around and write some questions for the pupils to answer when they visit.' They parked the car and walked to the entrance. Ianto showed his ID and then paid for Jack.

'Well I asked you to come. Shall we do the underground first? I wasn't sure if it would be hot or cold. Jack found it interesting to think of all the men who'd done this dangerous job and all the deaths that had resulted from mining. It was a sobering thought; all those men toiling away in the dark to get that precious black gold that caused the valleys to thrive and the docks to be built.

Jack had spent some time working down a pit but not this one. He remembered all those dangerous and furtive fumbles in the dark, with men covered in coal dust, in total denial of what they were. Jack knew that they were taking risks as such activity earned you a gaol sentence then. They'd lived hard, risky lives and this was just another risk. He thought about Dai and Huw and had to brush a tear from his eye. Luckily Ianto didn't notice. They'd known each other since they were born. They'd grown up together and worked together and lived together. They were joined at the hip. No-one ever commented on what was obvious, that these two men loved each other, madly, passionately, deeply, to the exclusion of all others. They were protected by those around them. Jack had envied them. It had made him realise that even within this backward world that there could be something beautiful, something pure, sweet and kind. They'd died together; their bodies found with Dai trying to protect his lover. They'd been working a new seam and must have hit a pocket of methane. There'd been an explosion and the tunnels had collapsed and buried them. It had taken two days to dig them out. Jack worked along side the rest of the men to get to them. They ended up scrapping the rubble away with their hands and fifteen men had died on that occasion. He'd often wondered what might have happened if he'd been caught in one of the frequent accidents; what if he'd died then and come back to life. They'd brought out their bodies and buried Huw and Dai in the same grave. Together in death as they'd been in life. Now they could have been married and even had children. He was glad that things had changed so much. Except, of course, the valleys had died as well, as one by one all the pits had been closed. Still there was now new life in the valleys again as people moved out from Cardiff. And even if there weren't the pits anymore the kids got to experience a bit of what it was like for their ancestors.

Ianto had brought sandwiches and something to drink. 'I hope you don't mind but I guessed, knowing what you eat for breakfast, that you weren't a vegetarian. I'd better not over face myself if you're taking me out to dinner. It's not often that I get the good stuff.'

'So is it the food or my company that you're looking forward to most?' Jack asked, with mischief in his eyes.

'I don't know yet. I suppose it depends on how good the food is.' Ianto flashed a smile that made Jack's heart start to melt. The tinniest little flicker of hope began to burn in Jack's mind. He had no idea if Ianto had ever been involved with another man but there was no doubt that he was flirting with Jack. 'Did he realise?' Jack wondered.

They wandered around the rest of the museum with Ianto noting various questions for the pupils to answer. In the gift shop he bought booklets and posters. 'To use with the display of the kids work,' he explained.

Jack looked at his watch and was amazed to find that it was already 3pm. It would probably take them a bit of time to get back.

'Ianto you'll need to get change for the restaurant tonight; they're a bit particular. I already have a table booked for 7.30. I can wait at yours while you change if you want.'

'It's okay, I can meet you there. I've got a key to Ifan's flat. You can come with me if you want. I'll borrow the Armani; he won't mind. He has loads of suits.'

'Okay,' Jack said, 'just drop me nearby and I'll go to the hotel to change. I'll meet you in the bar downstairs at 7ish. Is that alright?'

'That'll be great. It'll give us both time to wash off the coal dust from today.' Jack really wished that he could do that job for Ianto.

The journey back took a bit longer. Ianto dropped Jack off at the hotel at around 5.30.

'I'll just try Ifan. He always prefers me to let him know if I'm planning a visit. I can have a drink tonight if he'll let me stay at his. He works the oddest hours. I'm sure that he should be in a union of some sort.'

'You'd probably be surprise at what sort of union,' Jack thought to himself.

In his room he showered, shaved and changed. He chose the midnight blue three piece with blue shirt and tie. He knew Ianto had always loved him in this colour. He said it brought out the blue in his eyes. He found that he was so nervous that he could hardly do up his cufflinks.

'Come on Harkness pull yourself together. It's a meal, that's all.'

Travelling down in the lift he tried to tell himself to have no expectations of the evening. He sat in the bar sipping fizzy water. He was never one for too much alcohol; he always needed to keep a clear head. He looked up as Ianto came in the door and all virtuous thoughts left his head. His heart came up to his mouth and he was sure that it must be beating out a rhythm on his sleeve. Ianto stood in the dark grey Armani suit; the very suit that his Ianto had loved so much. With it he was wearing a white shirt and a red silk tie. It was the tie that did it; visions of the same tie around one wrist or another or just lying against Ianto's bare chest, pointing downwards, filled Jack's mind. Ianto smiled and came towards him.

'Hey Jack I brush up well don't I?' he said laughing and he almost did a twirl.

'You most certainly do,' Jack replied. 'Now what can I get you to drink?'