"It's always nicer when there's a happy ending," Jack said, his gaze still fixed on the sky above them. He sighed softly. "We're going to need to clean this up," he said as he looked back down at the debris from the shuttle that littered the ground around them. He turned to Ianto. "Think we need to plant a story about vandals, or just let them find out for themselves when they come back to check the site?"

Ianto put his hands on his hips and surveyed the ground about them. "Nothing we can do tonight without killing ourselves, so it will have to wait until tomorrow. It's a good thing we've got the weekend to clean up, since no one will be back at the site until Monday at the earliest. I say we just let it lie and see what happens. They'll come to their own conclusions about vandals without us planting anything." Jack nodded in agreement.

"Okay people, let's go home. And let's be careful!" He pulled out the torch he had stored in a coat pocket and shone it on the ground to light their way. Ianto followed his lead while Gwen and Rhys walked together. The four of them chattered about what had happened as they made their way back to the road. Once they were out of the woods and back on the path, Jack looked at Rhys speculatively. This was the second time he had helped them out and he had been solid throughout the encounter.

"Jack," Ianto said as he paused and waited for the other man to catch up. "I'll come back out tomorrow to clean up. No need for all of us traipsing back out here."

"You don't have to do it alone, Ianto," Jack said. "I can help if you need it."

"What, the boss coming out and mucking up his boots? No, no need for that. Besides, isn't it part of my job description?" Ianto quipped with a smirk.

"That, and all of the other things that don't show up on the description," Jack laughed. "Besides, mucking up means cleaning up and that's always fun with two." Ianto shook his head and chuckled. Gwen and Rhys looked back at the two men.

"What are you two laughing about?" Gwen asked. They were always doing things like that and she never knew what they found so funny.

"Clean up," Jack said. Gwen gave him a confused look. "Never mind," he said shaking his head and waving them on. The trip back seemed faster than the trip out did and they soon found themselves back on the lane back to Rhys' office. They walked in companionable silence back to the car park together.

"Thank you all, we did good tonight," Jack said as they reached the SUV. "Go home. We're done for the evening." He and Ianto waved as Gwen and Rhys got in their car and headed home. Jack unlocked the SUV and got into the driver's side, Ianto getting in on the other side. He looked at Jack who seemed rather pleased with himself.

"This made you happy, didn't it?" He asked as Jack shifted gears and pulled out of the parking lot.

"Yeah, it did. I like not having to kill anything for a change. And helping Jaella felt good," Jack said with a smile. "Plus, it shows you guys that not all aliens are bad guys. That's always a bonus."

"Never thought they were all bad," Ianto said. He hadn't really considered it before, but he could see where Jack would think that he did. "Though we do end up with a lot of the riff raff, don't we?" He thought about it as he ran through most of the races that they had run into during his time at Torchwood. No, all in all, it didn't add up, but he still felt optimistic. Strange that he did, but there it was.

"Ianto, I wish I could take you up into the stars," Jack said. They were speeding down the road at his usual clip and Ianto concentrated on his face rather than the road. It was often better that way when Jack drove. "There is so much out there to see. So many brilliant races out there, carving out their own little corner of the universe. Maybe someday I'll be able to take you and show you."

"I think I'd like that," Ianto said, mesmerized by the expression on Jack's face. "Of all the places you've been to, which one is your favorite?" He swayed as Jack turned the corner into Mermaid Quay and they made their way around the complex to the car park.

Jack thought about it as he pulled into the private parking area and down the ramp to where they parked the SUV. "My favorite? Hmmm, that's a hard one," he mused with a twinkle in his eye as he turned off the engine and opened the door. Ianto followed suit and walked around the SUV to follow Jack to the back door. "Well, no it isn't."

"No? Which one then?" Ianto asked. Jack stopped abruptly and he all but walked into the other man. He turned around and grabbed Ianto about the waist and pulled him close.

"You can't guess?" Jack asked with a smile as he gazed into Ianto's eyes. He slipped his hands under Ianto's jacket and waistcoat and wiggled his fingers along Ianto's back.

"Well, I wouldn't presume to know, would I?" Ianto said with a tiny smile playing on his lips. He licked them unconsciously and Jack's eyes were drawn downwards. Damn, that always got to him when Ianto did that.

"Well then, step inside Mr. Jones and we can continue this conversation elsewhere," Jack said. He didn't let go, but stepped backwards into the open door way and pulled Ianto after him. "Don't forget to close the door," he said. Ianto just kicked the door and it latched behind him....

~*~