Chapter Forty-Four

I'm afraid that my updating is going to be pretty sporadic for a while now, as exams are starting up (well, instead of having one block of them, we're having one a week for the next two terms!), and my parents are dragging us all down to the boat EVERY WEEKEND. :-( I hate life, sometimes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood. Not yet, anyway...

Ianto saw the water surging towards him, slimy, salmon-grey coloured brains riding them like surfers, the noise making it impossible to even think straight.

Jack hurled himself in front of him, shoving him back towards the corridor and yelling, "Get out! Get out, now!"

Ianto stumbled backwards, his feet deadened in shock. As if in a dream, a nearest brain seemed to fly out of the water and latch itself onto Jack's back; Jack fell, his torso twisting as he splashed into the water.

The water was still coming, faster than before, and Ianto finally found his feet. He fought the urge to run, instead plunging into the water after Jack. He knew that it was foolish, he knew that, if they ever got out of this, Jack would have a complete hissy fit, he knew all this.

But that didn't stop him.

He felt a cold, wet weight hit him between the shoulder blades; a sharp pain pierced his neck like a spear, and he too saw the water coming up to meet him before he blacked out.

-T-

Ianto Jones wasn't the sort of person to sit in the pub in the evenings and drink with his mates. Ianto Jones wasn't the sort of person to be yelling obscenities at the television screen on which England was thoroughly beating Wales in the rugby.

He wasn't the sort of person to do either of these things, yet on that particular night he found himself there, partaking with a ferocious delight.

And he didn't even think anything odd of it. If he had really stopped and considered, he would have realised that something was wrong. Ianto Jones was clever enough to realise that, and some.

But he didn't stop to consider it. He just drained his beer glass and hollered for a refill with a throat raw from bellowing.

Dan, one of his mates, elbowed him in the ribs. "Lisa know you're here?" he asked in one of the quieter moments.

Ianto shook his head, not taking his eyes from the screen. "She thinks I'm still at work."

Dan winked conspiratorially. "I won't tell her if you don't tell Rosalie," he said.

"Deal." Ianto gulped at his beer again, the alcohol pleasantly befuddling to his senses.

Dan laughed, still disgustingly sober. "You'll regret that in the morning."

"Who cares?" Ianto shrugged and took another swallow. "I don't."

"Lisa'll smell it," Dan warned. "They always do."

Ianto stopped, and considered. "Why am I here?" he asked, after a moments bewildered thought.

Dan shrugged, and for a moment Ianto could have sworn that his eyes changed from brown to grey. "No idea."

"I don't drink," Ianto said, plonking the glass down, beer washing over the sides. He got up, Dan watching him in confusion. "I should go. Jack'll be wondering where I am."

"Jack?"

Ianto blinked at him. "What?"

"You said that Jack'll be wondering where you are. Who's Jack?" Dan's expression was suddenly horrified. "You're not cheating on Lisa, are you?"

Ianto frowned. "You must have misheard me," he said. "I don't know any Jacks."

"Sure." Dan tipped his head at the door. "Run along, then," he teased. "Can't leave the missus waiting."

Ianto nodded, stumbling to the door and staggering out.

Dan watched him go, his eyes a powdery shade of blue.

-T-

"Jack?" Ianto asked in horror.

Jack looked up from buttoning his coat. "Yeah?"

Ianto was staring at him in badly-concealed shock. "What are you wearing?"

"My coat," Jack said, confused. "Why?"

"You hate that coat," Ianto said. He gestured to the RAF coat, green eyes wide. "Last time I tried to make you wear it you refused."

"It was a fancy dress party!" Jack protested. "I just felt like a change."

"You can hardly wear it to school," Ianto pointed out. "The kids will laugh."

"They can laugh and be put in detention." Jack smoothed down the lapels. "I—"

"Look, Jack, you're clearly not thinking straight," Ianto interrupted. "I think it would be better if—"

"No!" Jack said angrily. "I'm in charge, and what I say goes. Okay?"

"Jack—"

"No." Jack swivelled on his heel and marched past his partner, swiping the blue plastic lunchbox from the table as he went, before yanking open the door and storming down the path.

Ianto followed him out. "You might want your brief-case," he called.

Jack ignored him, despite the small voice in the back of his head telling him to turn around and make things right. He carried on down the empty road until he rounded a corner and nearly walked straight into Ianto.

"What the—"

"Your briefcase," Ianto said with a tight smile, holding out a smart black case.

"How did you—?"

"I'll have dinner on the table by six, okay?" Ianto continued on over him. "Don't be late – there's a film on tonight that I want to see."

"I... okay. Sure." Jack took the briefcase, and, after a moment's hesitation, kissed Ianto on the cheek. "See you later."

-T-

"Mr Harkness?"

Jack looked up from his desk to see a petite blonde in a loose blouse at the open door. She had a red manila folder clutched by a perfectly manicured hand, and her short skirt had a slit up the side. "Sylvia," he greeted her, before looking back down at the forms on his desk.

"Sir, I was wondering if I should make a call to the Harpers?" Sylvia fixed her clear grey gaze on him. He shifted uncomfortably under her piercing stare.

"Why?" he asked, picking up his pen and doodling absently on it.

"Max has missed yet another day of school," Sylvia said. "Even Toshiko Sato's son has to attend school, no matter what he thinks."

"Toshiko Sato, the inventor of the Externet?" Jack queried. "She's got a kid?"

Sylvia nodded jerkily, her expression unreadable. "And a husband. Dr Owen Harper."

Jack sat back in his chair, tapping his pen against his lips thoughtfully. "So what's the kid done?"

"Skipped school." Sylvia barely hid her growing impatience. "Again."

"He's done it before?"

"Evidently," she said tightly. "So I was thinking that I should make a call to—"

"Why wasn't I notified before?" Jack interrupted, sitting forward again and leaning his forearms on the desk. "I'm the headmaster – aren't I meant to be told?"

"It didn't seem necessary—"

"Of course it's necessary!" Jack snapped. "I need to know what happens in this place, if I want to do my job properly."

Sylvia froze, taken aback by the vehemence in his voice. "Apologies, sir," she said coolly. "I wasn't aware that you would want to be bothered by something so trite."

Jack flicked the pen around his fingers, struggling to keep his temper under control. "I can understand why you thought that, but in future I want to know everything." The pen slipped from his grasp, rattling against the sleek polished yew.

"It won't happen again," Sylvia promised, backing out the room. "I'll make the call now."

"You do that." Jack slumped in his chair, pressing the bases of his palms against his eyes. "What a great start to the day," he muttered, before picking up the pen again and attempting to make a start on the forms.

-T-

Ianto's feet felt heavy and leaden, his wrists and fingers aching from long hours typing at work. His head was muzzy, like it was stuffed full of cotton wool. He touched a hand to his ear, just to check that there wasn't any white fluff poking out.

A girl gave him an odd look, and he blushed self-consciously. Idiot, he berated himself. Just imagine how amusing Jack would find it if you got labelled as the neighbourhood loon.

He frowned. There it was again – that mention of 'Jack'. Why did that name keep on spinning to the surface? He didn't even know any Jacks, let alone well enough to keep on thinking about them.

His mobile buzzed in his pocket, vibrating against his leg. Jack would like that, he thought, before catching himself and shaking his head. Must be the drink, he decided, pulling out his mobile and checking the caller ID. "Hey there, Lisa," he greeted her.

He could almost see her disapproving frown. "Have you been drinking?" she asked suspiciously.

"'Course not," Ianto replied. He forced a laugh. "What makes you think that?"

"Other than the fact that you sound only half-coherent?"

"Coherent," Ianto mused. "Sound like half-there, doesn't it? 'Co', and then 'here'."

"Ianto…"

"I'll be home soon," he said. "What's for dinner?"

"I was actually ringing to say that you'll have to get yourself something," she said. "I'm working late tonight – my boss wants me to finish off some paperwork."

"What's your boss's name?" Ianto asked. As soon as the words left his mouth, he realised how random a thing it was to ask.

Lisa paused, down the other end of the line. Then: "Harkness," she said, "Jack Harkness."

There we go! –satisfied smile-

I'm afraid that the next update won't be until Wednesday at the earliest, as I'm on the boat (minus my Dad's laptop) so won't have writing access for a few days... :-(

All the same, reviews are loved dearly and looked after very well, and I shall reply to any when I get back! :-)