With a little help from my friends Chapter 6

TWTWTW

Ianto left Jack's office, going first to the kitchen with the cups and then up to the tourist office for a few hours.

John stayed at Gwen's computer, happily pushing keys and smiling.

Owen was watching John from the autopsy bay. He looked up at Jack's office and then got his mobile phone out. Ringing Jack's number, he waited for the older man to pick up.

"Jack?"

"Owen."

"John's up to something, I know it."

Jack stood up and looked down at John. "I think he's after Ianto."

"Bloody nerve of it!"

"Ianto's smart. He'll keep out of his way."

"Yeah, but will John Hart keep out of his?"

Jack clicked his tongue against his teeth. "If he knows what's good for him, he will." He went back to his desk, switching on the CCTV camera in the tourist office. He hated spying on his Welshman, but this time it was for his own good. "But I'm gonna keep an eye on Ianto, just in case John does try anythin'." Jack told Owen.

"Yeah, that guy is definitely not to be trusted."

"I hear ya."

Jack put down the phone and watched Ianto as he busied himself with filling shelves and tidying the counter top.

Ten minutes later, John entered Jack's office. "I wanted to run something by you," John looked at the TV monitor, "but if you're busy…."

"No," said Jack, switching it off. "go ahead."

"Okay. That surge in energy we had at the weekend, I think I know what caused it."

"So…."

"It was an opening in the Rift, but not the usual kind…No aliens coming through. Nothing dropped. It was energy. Alien, but energy all the same."

"Where did it go?"

"It's all around us, the Bay, in town. If you go high enough, you could feel it."

"Okay, I'll get Tosh to keep an eye on it." Jack picked up his pen and grabbed a file from off the side of his desk.

"I could go take a look….take Ianto with me."

Jack's head flew up. "No!"

"What's the matter, Jack? He's well enough isn't he?"

"If you want to go, take Gwen."

"If that's what you want." John turned to leave. "You don't have to protect him all the time. He can do that for himself."

Against you, I'm not so sure thought Jack.

John left the office, walked down the stairs and over to Gwen. "Wanna find the source of last weekends power surge, Cup Cake?"

"Gwen! My name is Gwen!"

"Gwen."

Gwen looked up at Jack's office. He was stood in the doorway. He nodded.

"Alright. Lead the way."

"Let's go out through the tourist office. The surge happened out on the Bay, remember."

Jack watched them leave, looking at Owen as soon as they had passed through the cog door.

"Still don't trust him, Jack."

Jack came down the stairs, coat in hand. "I'm going out via the lift. See what they're up to outside."

"Okay," said Tosh. "I'll watch on the CCTV outside the tourist office."

John smiled at Ianto, as they passed through the office. Gwen frowned at how friendly John was getting.

Ianto rolled his eyes and frowned as well.

"Just going to check on the source of the energy surge last week," she informed Ianto. "We'll just be a tick."

"Okay," replied Ianto, tidying the counter.

As John left, he turned round and winked at the young Welshman. "Be seein' ya, Eye Candy."

Ianto sneared, looking away.

John laughed, closing the door behind him.

"Ianto?" A voice in the young man's right ear.

"Did you want me, Jack?"

"You okay?"

Ianto smiled. "And pray tell, why wouldn't I be?"

"Just checkin'."

"Stop worrying. I'm fine."

"Yeah."

"I'll be back down in an hour to make coffee and maybe a sandwich, okay?"

"Okay."

"Bye, Jack."

Jack didn't reply.

Ianto frowned. It wasn't like Jack to be so protective. Yes, he'd just gotten out of the hospital, but he was feeling okay, wasn't he?