Twenty: Transitions

John looked in the mirror as he checked himself over. The last few days had been trying in the extreme. Having to be towed despite all his protestations that the Torchwood could move under its power was a humiliation that was going to take a long time to overcome. It didn't help that the chief engineer of the Zhukov kept making snarky comments. Not that he didn't enjoy the sarcasm it was just that normally he was the one handing it out.

Five days of hard work and they had finally left this pestilential area of space and were now heading back to space dock at Mach two with escorts. It was a welcome return to normal but time was running out. Two weeks was all he had left before the delectable object of his lust left and the opportunity slipped form his grasp.

Checking himself over befre the mirror in his quarters, he was now as prepared as a bride on their wedding day. Shaking with anticipation he left his quarters. If he had this right Jones should be travelling between his quarters and his office. No doubt writing up the astounding outcome of the transfiguration project or reporting his daring heroic actions that saved the ship. John felt an added thrill, not only was Jones a Jones, he was a hero, a man of wonder, who was the epitome of everything John could have dreamed of. And nothing was going to stop him from having this Everest of man on the top of his list!

John groaned at the lift's announcement,' Vomit rocket…do you dare ride?' because no matter what his or his engineers best efforts were could remove it. He took a sniff; if nothing else the slight lingering smell of vomit was a satisfying reminder that even a lift in the creative hands of a Space Command officer could become a weapon.

The lift door opened on Jones's floor and John transversed the corridor. His eyes widened as he recognised the back of his beloved moving towards the lift at the other end. 'Ianto, precious ache of my groin!' he called out.

Ianto heard John's cry and turned to see John racing towards him. Trying to back away he found himself against the closed lift doors. The doors opened and Ianto staggered backwards. John approached, his face wide with gleeful joy and the lift doors closed. Ianto almost choked as John's pheromones invaded the small pace.

'You have no idea the trials I went through to get back to you. All the time away I was longing for you.' Ianto backed himself into the wall and John placed both his hands onto the wall and rubbed himself against him, fully erect.

Ianto's eyes widened as he tried to stutter a reply but the pheromones made him feel disorientated when John went down his knees. He feared John was going to take him here but John began to speak.

'Before we consummate my passion I have to make a confession.'

'A confession?' Ianto managed to croak out as he felt his own cock now fighting for release.

'I had to do things, desire of my lust, in order to pursue a most important agenda and I had to break my vow.'

'Vow?' Ianto tried to clear his mind, aware of when John stood his own erection would give every wrong signal in the known universe which he was certain John would take as the battle was won.

'Yes, greatest conquest of my life. A vow to remain chaste only until we had consummated my passion.'

'Really.' Ianto replied trying to mentally will his penis back to its flaccid state.

John sprung to his feet. 'But they meant nothing. I only survived by keeping thoughts of our union and the memory of your sweet manly odour in my nostrils. How I have longed to intoxicate myself on your wonderful scent. '' John took a deep sniff of Ianto's neck.

Blinking, John pulled back, confused, then lent forward and took another sniff and fell back, silent.

Ianto swore he saw the man's bottom lip quiver, huff and give Ianto a long glare.

'John,' Ianto said as he felt a strange mixture of relief and concern.

John pointed a finger at him 'While I was away, something happened. Didn't it? Because you have bonded.'

'Bonded, as in bonded bonded?' Ianto checked and saw John nod sadly.

'I have not,' Ianto replied indignantly.

'I am never wrong. The odour of the bonded is unmistakable.' John leaned forward and ran his finger over Ianto's lips and then tasted it. 'There was a kiss' John sucked his finger again and looked at Ianto. 'Two.'

Ianto spluttered. 'I-may-kiss- happened. I am not bonded with anyone. It's impossible. I would know.'

Slumping against the wall John looked into the distance, his disappointment clear, and began to speak wistfully. 'You were to be my pièce de résistance. To be added to the rarest of my collection. You were hard work which was surprising because the first was so easy.'

'You mean the other Jones?' Ianto checked recalling his father's declaration.

'Like many at first he refused. So after some negotiation I offered a gift. A bauble; an amusing trinket I picked up at some alien market years before.'

'What sort of gift?'

'It was ugly; a huge gaudy brooch.'

'Brooch so big?' Ianto did a circle with his thumb and forefinger. 'Orange, yellow, and black with flecks of green?' John nodded. 'My uncle Charles…he's the other Jones on your list,' Ianto said in disbelief as he made the connection.

John smiled in remembrance. 'Yes; it was at an engineering conference, we met at the bar. What followed was a heavenly day and night when I tasted the rarest and finest of delights. I have to say, for a quiet man he had unexpected reserves. And you, who were to be my finest crowning glory, has bonded.'

'Let me assured you of one thing,' Ianto said, reeling. 'I have not bonded'

'It's Harkness isn't it?' John demanded.

'Are you out of your mind?'

'While I was absent something happened, didn't it?' John accused.

'Well, sort of… but nothing like what you are suggesting. It was a spur of the moment thing both times and I confronted Jack and the second…well, that was in the heat of the moment. Bonded? Are you crazy? And with Harkness? Are you mad? Never, not in a million years. Never will that man…'

John placed a finger to Ianto's lips. 'Ah, sweet lost passion, I will always remember you as a what could have been.'

'I am not a 'could have been'. I am not bonded.' The lift door open they both turned to see Jack.

'And not with HIM!' Ianto pointed at Jack and stormed out.

'What the hell is going on?' Jack asked as he looked at Ianto's retreating back.

'You tell me.' John crossed his arms and glared at Jack.

'Have you seen Jack?' Martha approached Owen in the sick bay.

'I saw him early this morning when he was doing the rounds.' He saw the serious look on her face. 'Is there a problem?'

'He was meant to meet with me in his office an hour ago but he never showed up. He's not answering any of my calls.'

'That's my fault,' Owen admitted. 'We've been so busy I only got to give him a very cursory going over two days ago and I needed to check his feet. I made it a 'can't refuse to attend as senior medical officer' kind of order. One look and I sent him off for a shower, food, and rest and at least five hours sleep. To enable that sleep I ordered him to use one of the spare cabins.'

'I need the location it's vital I see him.'

'Nothing is more vital than our acting Captain taking a well-earned break.' Owen put the instrument he was holding carefully into its case.

Martha looked around to check they were on their own. 'I know how unfair this is but I've been sent a direct order. I have to send in a thumbnail report of senior officers by thirteen hundred hours.'

Owen stopped what he was doing and stared at her. 'Who?'

'I can't say. It's a direct order from the highest echelons within Central Command.'

'Did they? And just what did you have to say about me?'

Martha looked down, embarrassed. 'The focus isn't you.'

'Isn't me?' Owen crossed his arms in confusion and watched as Martha bit her bottom lip.

'Bastards,' Owen retorted. 'They are stitching him up aren't they?'

'I just need to talk with him, nothing more. Then I can report I've spoken to him,' Martha argued.

Owen picked up an instrument again and weighted in his hands. 'We're not even back and they want him out. Their hope that bad would out and he would screw up didn't work so now they have to find some excuse…' Owen paused and took a breath. 'What more does he have to do? Jack's earned his second chance a thousand times over. They stripped the meat from his feet to the bone, Martha, rather than hand over the codes that would have given them this ship. Then he finds a way to save us all. God knows how he and Ianto Jones managed to do it but they did…'

'Do you think I want to do this Owen? Every person on this ship is alive and free due to his and Commander Jones's actions. But for this report to have any credibility I have to say I met with the man,' Martha replied.

His jaw locked, Owen put the instrument down and glared at her.

'Please Owen. A single word is all I need,'

'I lied to give him some space, he's in his quarters.'

Racing along the corridor she tried to alert Jack she was on her way. She already had a mind to what she would say and it was as close to the truth. If she could get this over she could then send the report and get back to working with several crew members who needed her attention.

Pressing the door alarm she waited several seconds then tried again. Maybe she was too late and Jack was asleep. She looked at her wrist strap debating if she could delay the report. She had already discarded faking it because she was such a terrible liar and doing something so underhanded went against everything she held true. All she needed was to say she had spoken to the man then if she was asked she could say she had seen and spoken to him. It was the truth just not the whole truth.

From the time it was taking for him to answer meant he could be asleep. In that case she could creep in say she saw him then creep out leaving the man to rest.

Using her override code she carefully stepped in. She took a moment to listen. There was no indication the shower was on and through the frosted doors she could see a body shaped sort of lump. The lights were on so it was possible he was so tired he had fallen asleep before he had turned them off. She was loathe to wake him but was a lump shape enough? Cursing her own sense of honesty she crept forward and drew back the double doors.

Standing she looked at the montage on the wall that went from floor to ceiling, a collection of images overlapped images from the ships CCTV system, the hospital and Ianto's life from every possible angle past and present.

A large picture frame was on Jack's bedside table. Curious if it was the one she had seen before she moved forward and picked it up. A sudden wave of understanding filled her as she now understood Jack's desperation was more than a need for forgiveness. He needed the man he loved to see him for his true self.

Looking down on the image she felt a rise of panic. This was Jack's guilt, pain and the pathos of his unrequited love was bad enough without being compounded by her knowing.

She moved her hand forward to place the frame back but she couldn't recall just where it was. Then there were the doors had they been fully or partly closed.

Before she could move she heard the door open.

'This is not what it looks like,' Jack said his eyes as wide as hers.

'I think this is exactly what it looks like,' Martha said. 'How long have you loved him? She asked and Jack took the framed picture from her hand and bowed his head.

She saw Jack trying to form words when a tear dropped onto the upturned picture of Ianto.

'Oh Jack what am I going to do with you?' She took him into her arms.

Ianto got his drink from the replicator and went to join Owen and Tosh. They were one week away from space dock orbiting Zeta Toriga. There the ship would start a complete overhaul.

Meeting friends for drinks was a welcome return to normality but also represented a coming to an end of this adventure. Tonight Ianto didn't want to think about the past or his immediate future; all he wanted was to just sit and have a drink with friends. Once they returned it could be months, even years, before they would meet up again. The one thing he had learned from the Deep Space Exploration service was to enjoy moments like this to their fullest extent. Simple pleasure taken during a moment of calm pause before they parted and Ianto was forced into the glare of publicity his exploits and success at the transfiguration project. Apparently putting Eugene into the forefront as the main instigator as dual discoverer had not worked as he had hoped. No matter what his protestations it was Ianto people wanted to see.

Dialling up his choice he took the glass once formed and made his way over to the bay window where Owen and Tosh were sitting.

'What did you say to John? He's lost all his bounce,' Owen said as Ianto sat down.

'Did you finally use the off switch?' Tosh asked seriously.

Ianto drank a deep gulp from his Ruellian Beer. 'No, but he seems to have gone off me.'

'Not possible,' Tosh told him categorically. 'Once John has homed in on the object of his obsession he will not back off unless you are removed by distance. And even then he's just biding his time.'

They watched as John entered the Hub, scowling towards Jack who was sitting in the corner and then at Ianto. After several moments of concentrated glowering John lifted his chin with an exaggerated air of insult, huffed and headed towards the replicator.

'Curious.' Owen took a sip from his drink. 'What did John actually say?'

'He reckons I've bonded,' Ianto said.

'Well there was the kiss in the cargo bay.' Tosh raised her eyebrows.

'That was not a kiss. That was me letting Jack know what it was like,' Ianto told them bluntly

'What was like?' Owen sat forward curious to hear Ianto's version of what had become legend around the ship.

'He kissed me first,' Ianto replied taking another drink from his glass.

'So he kissed, you then you kissed him back,' Owen checked indicating with his hand between Ianto and Jack.

'It's nothing like you are thinking,' Ianto explained. 'It was an in the moment thing.'

'Which kiss? The one Jack gave you or the one you gave him?' Owen checked.

'Both, I think.' Ianto replied after thinking for several seconds.

'I'm confused,' Owen said. 'From what I've heard this was no ordinary kiss. In fact you pushed Jack up against a wall and gave him a thorough snog.'

'It was not a snog,' Ianto said in his defence.

'So Jack kissed you first and then you kissed him back to show him how it felt,' Tosh repeated.

Ianto looked between them. 'Look, he started this. Just before I went planet-side he kissed me out of the blue. I was stunned.'

'And so when you got back you just had to give him a demonstration of just how it felt to be kissed out of the blue.'

'Yes. No. I was angry. I demanded he explain and we had a row. When he refused to tell me I decided he should find out exactly how it felt.'

'By giving him a snog in the heat of an argument.' Tosh tried to keep a straight face.

'To send him a message?' Owen asked.

Ianto took a drink. 'Damn right. I sent a message. The audacity, kissing me out of the blue with no warning.'

Tosh laughed. 'You sent a message alright Ianto but I'm not sure it's the one you thought you did.'

Ianto looked confused

'Normally if one finds unwanted attention forced upon them one does not return said attention,' Owen pointed out

Momentarily Ianto looked confused then felt himself heat up.

'Back to the kiss,' Owen said trying to contain his glee. 'From what I heard, your return kiss was not a brush of the lips. It was a snog which, according to Martha Jones and those watching, lasted several seconds.'

'She's exaggerating,' Ianto said.

'So she and everyone who witnessed your very public altercation and snog are just making it up,' Owen double-checked.

'No, look it was a heat of the moment. I just wanted Jack to know what it felt like to have someone force a kiss on you.'

'And you know John is never wrong,' Tosh said looking between Ianto and Jack.

'Well he is this time,' Ianto replied

'It's Bonnie isn't it?' Owen declared and was rewarded with a furious look from Ianto.

'Now changing the subject. We had a bet,' Ianto told them.

'Ah yes the bet, Tosh said and she and Owen leaned forward.

'And you lost,' Ianto told them triumphantly. 'Which means I won. Now I have thought long and hard and the penalty…'

'But you also said there was as much chance of you sleeping with John Hart as Jack Harkness,' Owen interrupted. 'And evidence would suggest…'

'Listen.' Ianto tapped a finger on the table 'There was never a flying snowball's chance in hell I would ever sleep with John.'

'Do you see what he saying Tosh?' Owen said his eyes narrowing.

'No.' Ianto pointed his finger at Owen.

'And John did say you were bonded, unless you've been kissing any other officers on board we don't know about. Because if you have now is the time to fess up,' Tosh pointed out.

'Oh shut up.' Ianto took a long drink and Owen and Tosh high-fived.

Martha stood before Commander Jones' quarters and pressed the door alarm

'Come in,' Martha heard Ianto Jones call out and the door whooshed open. Stepping into his quarters she saw he was almost packed.

'Heading for the hills?' Martha said and Ianto smiled.

'The mountains of the Medway Vale on Tarsus Five to be exact,' Ianto said as he folded his dress uniform.

'Not back to the Space Academy?' she asked.

'I put in my resignation yesterday.'

"I was hoping you would stay. As you know sensor calibration is a speciality that needs people like you to inspire students.'

'I fake it well but the truth is I'm not a teacher and I'm the last person who should be a role model. '

'Like it not you are an inspiring man.'

'What I did was because that's what had to be done in that moment. Why people see it as heroic is beyond me. '

'I'm sad to hear that.'

'You have no idea how many times I heard those five words over the last day.'

'So you are really heading for the hills,' Martha repeated.

Ianto gave her tired smile. 'I ran away to the Torchwood to get away from my family in an attempt to get back into space. Even for a short time I thought it might give me some direction. After Lisa died I ran away via the Deep Exploration service. Now I'm forced under the spotlight. Why break the habit of a life time?'

'Are you being picked up by family?'

'Right now I want some time to think. Dad and I are due for a serious discussion that I am not ready to have. And as always the family will take my actions and use them for the greater glory of the Jones family. And right now I don't think I could handle any what they are planning in celebration.'

'That sounds a bit harsh,' Martha pointed out.

'I don't mean it to. I just need some space and allow time for what happened on board to settle down before I return. In a sense I need to find the courage to stand up for what I want Part of the problem is I don't know what that is. You have no idea just how cloying being a member of the Jones clan can all be. It's not that they mean bad it's just I hate having attention forced onto me. I found myself once by running away into the Deep Space Exploration Service. A life I never dreamed possible where I was seen for myself. Now I need to find a new future on my own, on my own terms. I've proven such a lot to myself this voyage and that's why I needed to see you. I wanted to say thank you.' Martha looked surprised. 'For making me face the past and what happened after the Diligence returned and I wanted to apologise. I was angry, hurt, lost and I lashed out. You are right; you are not Susie.'

'Apology accepted,' Martha said kindly. 'I'm glad to catch up because I need to add my own personal thanks. You saved us, Ianto. I know you think what you did was what you had to do in the moment but you saved me and everyone on board.'

'Not everyone,' Ianto said sadly.

'Captain Boston died doing something he loved as Captain of the Torchwood. I can only wish that I should be so lucky.'

'Thank you for your honesty,' Ianto said.

'I'm going to miss you Ianto. I'll look out for your next exploit in the news service.'

Ianto snorted. 'Unless fate intervenes I'm going to find some nice quiet corner of the universe and stay well out the way of any kind of daring exploit.'

'You sure? You seem to be an adventure magnet. Ianto Jones, adventurer extraordinaire who can supply extraordinary solutions to impossible situations,' Martha joked and swore she saw the man shudder.

'I've had a life time of extraordinary solutions to impossible situations. Now I am going to take three months of rock climbing on real mountains.' He smiled as the door alarm sounded.

Martha moved toward the door. 'Remember, sometimes no matter how far and hard we run, it often leads to us catching up with the one thing we are trying to avoid… ourselves.'

'I'll keep that in mind,' Ianto said as the door opened and they both saw John looking between them.

'It's not Martha,' Ianto said.

'I know that.' John put his arms on his hips as Martha left and he stepped into Ianto's quarters. Before John could respond Ianto pulled John into his arms and gave him a kiss.

'Bit late for that now,' John said when they drew back.

'That kiss was a thank you.'

John looked confused.

'A thank you,' Ianto continued. 'Those first few weeks your relentless pursuit helped me more that you can ever know. And part of me was flattered to have someone who wanted me so badly and was prepared to go to any lengths. You kept me on my feet for weeks. And the battle between us was not as unwelcome as I might have let on.' Ianto held out a garish pink fluorescent note. 'I know how disappointed you were so I have something for you.'

Taking the note John opened it and saw a name and address.

'This is the name and contact details of my cousin Jackson Leyton Jones.'

'He's a bit young,' John pointed out.

'He's a year out of Space Academy, a fellow engineer. He's just made third lieutenant and he's laid everything except ships docked in space port and it's been rumoured he's given some of those a feel up.'

John's face broke into a huge grin and he placed the note into his side pocket. 'Give my regards to your bonded.' John winked.

'I am not bonded!' Ianto said, gritting his teeth as the door closed.

Jack walked down the corridors, making his way back to the Captain's office. The ship felt ghostly now stripped of its crew and students. Only the engineers remained to assist in the repairs. He had said good- bye to everyone except the one person he wanted to. Ianto's departure was so swift and carefully managed he was gone by the time he had reached the docking port. From the angry messages from his father, it was clear even his family hadn't known of his plans to hire a private yacht. From what Martha had told him Ianto was taking a break to indulge in his new passion of climbing, Jack couldn't fault in his desire to escape the publicity surrounding his valiant efforts and astounding accomplishments. The entire population of Home Space wanted to meet the man who had managed not just to alert Space Command but managed to turn disaster into victory. And more astoundingly under pressure resolve a mathematical holy grail that had eluded some of the best minds for centuries. Life as they knew it would never be the same again and Ianto Jones most of all.

Opening the door to the Captain's office Jack walked over to the desk. Even now he could not bear to sit in the chair. He let out a huff of frustration. He had been asked to remain on board but why? There was no reason for him to be there, reports had been sent, debrief completed. He knew the truth; any future he had ended with the death of Ira Boston, the only captain in Space Command who could bear his presence in any capacity. He guessed he should take a good look around because this was the closest he was ever going to get to any captain's chair in Space Command and if he left and joined the civilian cargo space service he would be starting from the bottom.

He heard a message alert. Moving behind the desk he clicked on the message and braced himself.

Jack sat down in the captain's chair as he knees gave way. His mind whirling he heard the door open and he saw John Hart standing with his hand out a huge grin on his face.

'I've just heard. Let me be the first to congratulate you on your new command, Captain Jack Harkness.'

To be concluded in Part Three - Quantum Leap.