This chapter takes place during 'Adrift,' immediately after they've been 'caught in the act'.

Thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed.

Gwen was gone. In fact, she'd probably never left the Hub quite so quickly. The outer door slammed shut even before the cog had finished rolling.

Jack's shirt was already off by the time Ianto was back in the hot house. Eager to pick up where they'd left off when Gwen barged in.

But Ianto was still dressed. Had all his shirt buttons done up, even. He sank onto a bench with his head sunk into his hands. "God," he gasped. "That was horrible."

"Embarrassing," Jack agreed. "Funny though."

"Funny," Ianto shook his head. "Humiliating. Most humiliating experience of my life, actually. And this from someone who humiliates himself regularly."

"Hey," Jack said, kneeling down in front of him and stroking the hands that were still sunken into his hair. "I thought you handled it really well. Dignified, considering."

"There's no dignity," Ianto said, still into his hands, "in inviting someone to join naked hide and seek. Did you really have to throw that in?"

"I was going for humor to defuse the tension," Jack explained. "By the way, did you clue her in to the island?"

Ianto nodded, finally raising his head. "I left a locator on her desk. Not that I expected her to find it until morning. You'll have to leave early to get there before she does."

Jack frowned. "I hope you're right about this. I still think we should have kept her out of it."

"She'd have found out eventually, now she's gotten the scent. Better to control it so you're there."

"So you said. I'm not convinced, but I'll go with your judgment."

"Nice to know you appreciate my brain, too." Ianto said, smiling faintly.

"You're got a great brain," Jack agreed, "But I'm kind of focused on the rest of you, just at the moment. Where were we?"

"The moment," said Ianto. "Has passed."

"Not for me," Jack persisted playfully. "And I bet I can get you back there, too."

"What if someone else storms in?" Ianto fretted, twitching away from Jack's grab for his shirt buttons.

"Twice in one night? Hardly likely. Besides, they all know already. Even Tosh made a comment the other day."

"Tosh," said Ianto weakly. "Tosh too?"

"Sweet, it was, in a saccharine kind of way. Wishing someone would look at her the way I look at you. Someone, ha. Owen, I'd bet my next paycheck."

"Are we gossiping?" Ianto asked, eyes rolling. "About the lovely Tosh and the undead doctor?"

"Since you aren't co-operating with my preferred agenda," Jack agreed, giving up for the moment. He shrugged back into his shirt and sat down beside Ianto. Laid an arm across his shoulders. Not the type of touch he'd had in mind, but better than nothing. "What do you want to do instead?"

"I think," said Ianto, "I'll just go home. Sleep. Try to convince myself it was a dream, her barging in. Or a nightmare." He shook himself free of Jack's arm and stood up.

"At least Gwen won't have time to gossip with Owen and Tosh tomorrow," Ianto continued gloomily. "Save me a few hours of insults from the not-so-good doctor. He's going to love the new ammunition."

"Just tell him to go to hell," Jack advised impatiently. He'd had just about enough of the mood.

"Easy for you to say," Ianto grumbled. "He saves all the best barbs for me."

"You were right," Jack said, with his last ounce of patience. "You really do need to sleep. The bed is this way. Come on." He took Ianto's hand and tried to lead him out of the hothouse.

"I'm not sleeping here tonight," Ianto said, pulling away. "I'm going home."

"Stop taking it out on me," Jack snapped. He'd thought the days of being frozen out were long gone, but here they were again. "It was bound to happen sometime. They've all got keys and they all work nights occasionally. It's hardly my fault we always end up in the Hub."

"Which implies," said Ianto, the tone of Jack's voice breaking through his mood, "that it's mine. How does that work?"

"You've never let me set foot inside your flat," Jack said bitterly.

Ianto blinked. "Didn't know you wanted to. You never asked."

"Haven't you read those signs in the shops? Don't ask, because a refusal offends?"

Ianto blinked. "But Jack," he said, bewildered by the bitterness, "You're welcome anytime."

"Right," Jack muttered. "Thanks. As long as I'm gone at a reasonable hour. Can't have the neighbors suspect anything."

He'd hurt him. He'd hurt Jack. Hadn't meant to. And he would do anything to fix it. Anything…This, Ianto realized, is what's called a light bulb moment.

"Anytime," Ianto said firmly. "You're welcome anytime. All the time, if you want."

Jack looked up, wondering if he'd heard right.

"Was that?" he began cautiously, "Did you?...It sounded like….."

"Was that a No?" Ianto asked, with a great show of innocence. Jack sounded almost as awkward as he had the first time he'd asked him out. Awkward and Jack was a rare combination.

Jack cleared his throat and tried again. "Are you asking me to move in?"

Ianto smiled. "Interested?" he asked pointedly.

"Do you want some time to change your mind before I start packing?"

"No," Ianto shook his head firmly. "Don't give me the chance to do something that stupid. Pack before I change my mind. Nah, sod that, it'll take too long. Just grab enough for a couple of nights. I'll have to clear you out some wardrobe space for the rest, anyway."

"Done," Jack said.

"Bring the coat, though," Ianto called after him. "I still love that coat."

Ianto hunted through his desk while Jack rattled around in his office, cramming who knew what into a duffel bag. Found what he was looking for before Jack reached the staircase.

Jack met him near the cog door, coat on, bulging bag slung across his shoulder. "You sure?" he asked quietly.

Ianto tossed him something that jingled. "Keys," he said. "Spare set. Your set. I'll get spares cut sometime. In case we both manage to lock ourselves out. Which, given my luck, would probably be while we were naked in the snow, or something equally undignified."

Jack cradled the keys almost reverently. "Ianto," he said, "I lo…"

But he was silenced with a determined finger across his lips. Followed by a kiss.

"Don't," Ianto reminded him.

Jack grinned. "You can stop me saying it," he warned. "But you can't stop me feeling it."

Ianto smiled back. "I know," he said. "and I wouldn't want to. Shall we go home?"

Hope you enjoyed this. Working on the next (possibly last) chapter now, where hopefully everything will make sense..….