SPLASH

Chapter Twelve

OK, here's chapter twelve! Finally, I know... it's been a while. I'm working on a couple of novels at the moment (one's halfway through and the other I started on Friday...) so I'm very busy...

I had my birthday last Wednesday, and for a birthday treat I got to take two friends to Cardiff on Saturday! It was AMAZING, even with the amount of crowds for the rugby... Cardiff is a lovely city – I really urge you to go and visit if you can!

Disclaimer: I went to Cardiff. I've got several Torchwood posters. I can quote full episodes. I own eight episodes on DVD. Does ANY of that count?

Thought not.

"I'm still bored," Owen said suddenly, about ten minutes later.

Jack groaned and face-palmed.

Ianto rolled his eyes and got up, somewhat shakily, and vanished below deck for a moment.

"Ianto?" Jack asked. "What are you doing?"

Ianto climbed back up into the cockpit as the strains of Glenn Miller drifted up behind him. "I thought some music would be good," he explained. "This was the only CD I could find."

Owen looked scandalised. "Glenn Miller?" he asked incredulously. "Who the hell likes Glenn Miller?"

Ianto shrugged. "I rather like it."

"Fine by me," Gwen added.

"I don't mind it," Toshiko said.

"Reminds me of the 40's," Jack commented, relaxing back. He smiled at Ianto. "Good times. You would have liked the 40's, Yan."

"I'm sure I would, sir," Ianto replied dryly. "Unfortunately, I highly doubt that I'll get to visit the 40's in the near future."

Owen flopped in his seat. "I give up. What am I doing with this mad lot?"

Gwen smiled. She was looking a bit better – Toshiko had dug out some anti-seasickness pressure bracelets. "You don't have a choice."

"I do."

"What would a dead man do around Cardiff?" Gwen replied, abnormally insensitive.

Owen blinked in surprise. "Cheers, Gwen."

Ianto yawned. "I'm exhausted," he said in surprise.

"You're ill, tea-boy. What do you expect?"

The Welshman scowled at him. "I do coffee, not tea, Owen. If you're going to insult me, at least get..." the last part of his sentence was obscured by a huge yawn.

Jack only just caught him before he toppled off the seat.

Owen instinctively tried to check his pulse, then remembered he couldn't. "Pulse?" he asked Jack.

Jack laid sensitive fingers on Ianto's neck. "Slow, but OK," he said with a barely perceptible sigh of relief. "He's just asleep."

Owen nodded and sat back. "We'd better let him sleep, then," he decided.

Jack lowered Ianto's head gently onto his lap and smoothed back his lover's hair.

"In the Mood" played on in the background.

-T-

12 hours and 46 minutes later:

"Finally!" Owen yelled loudly, jolting Ianto from his slumber, as the dark bulk of Guernsey loomed into view..

Jack gave Owen a death-glare, before smiling down at Ianto. "You OK?"

Ianto yawned widely and sat up, blinking blearily. "Where are we?"

Jack grinned delightedly. "Here!"

"We're there already?" the Welshman asked in surprise.

"Yep."

-T-

Jack leapt over the side of the boat, onto the pontoon, and waved his hands about in delight. "OK, I must admit, I've never been here before."

"Blimey, Captain-Know-it-all has never been here before," Owen muttered sardonically. "That's a first."

Jack ignored him and wrapped an arm around Ianto. "C'mon – I need to get something to eat. My stomach is complaining."

"Your stomach is always complaining." Ianto squirmed from Jack's embrace and started up the ramp to the car-park.

Jack grinned and raced up after him, coat flapping about his ankles. He caught Ianto round the waist and swung him into a deep kiss, there in the middle of the car-park. A blue Mercedes honked angrily at them, making Ianto blush furiously and Jack to grin even more.

They strolled back to the team, flushed and beaming.

Owen rolled his eyes at them and Toshiko was hiding a grin behind a demure hand.

Gwen shook her head. "You two are like big children," she said to Jack and Ianto, exasperated. "We're on a mission, don't forget!"

They looked contrite.

Gwen laughed. "I thought you mentioned food?"

Was this chapter short too? I can't tell! Feel free to complain at the sheer crappiness of it... I've been doing more reading fic than writing them, to say the least.

Dammit – this fic is taking SO LONG TO GET TO WHERE I WANT TO BE!!!!! –rages and kicks cupboard- Sorry about that. I'm not the most patient of people, hence the name...

I'll try to get another chappie up some time soon... other works providing!

Jack and Ianto are both begging you to review! (I need to think of a better bribe...)