"You found a nice decorator, Jack," Becca said as she entered the room. She stopped just inside the entrance as she encountered Gwen. "You must be Ms Williams," she said.
"Yes, I'm Gwen," the other woman said. She extended her hand for a handshake and Becca Abrunjo took it. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I've heard a lot about you," Becca said with a smile. She looked down at the smaller woman and gave her a nod of respect. "Amazing job you did holding this city together."
"We do what we have to, don't we?" Gwen asked with a smile. "I'm sorry I can't stay, but I have a previous engagement with my husband for his business that we couldn't get out of, so I do apologize. I would love to stay."
"I'm sorry you can't," Becca said with regret. "Perhaps another time." Gwen nodded before going to Ianto and giving him a hug. She said something to him in a low voice and he nodded. She then took her leave, since she needed to go meet Rhys. Once she had gone that left Jack and Becca at the table while Ianto went over to the food preparation area. The table had been set with three place settings for them. Ianto opened a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass as Jack explained the hidden technology in the board room before they sat down. Ianto had moved several covered trays over to the table and once he had done so they were ready to eat.
"I took the liberty of having a local restaurant prepare something special for us," Jack said after they had been seated. "I hope you like seafood." Becca nodded and he sighed with relief, making her laugh. Ianto uncovered the three plates which had artfully prepared shellfish along with rice and a vegetable. There was also a salad, along with choices of dressings for them to choose as well.
"So Jack, you boys know what you're doing when it comes to adding technology into our systems, don't you?" Becca asked with a laugh as she took a bite of her meal. The crab was excellent and she dug into it, eating heartily.
"That's our job, Becca," Jack said, smiling as he picked up his wineglass and took a sip. "And I was involved in the original design of the Valiant." He kept his eyes down as he looked at his wineglass, slowly tilting it so that the wine swirled around it. "It stands to reason that we can improve upon it."
"I appreciate it," Becca said with a nod. "Anything that can give us an advantage is good. Though it seems that when we do run into something we are usually woefully unprepared, no matter how much we'd like to think otherwise."
"The universe is a big bad place," Jack said as he ate. "All we can hope to do is be watchful and hope no one shoots themselves in the foot." Becca laughed at his comment. Their conversation went from the upgrades to the Valiant to other ships that she had worked on. They had almost finished with the main meal before she put down the glass and leaned towards where Jack sat at the head of the table.
"I knew this would happen," she muttered and sat staring at him with her chin in one hand. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I've heard you have a way of turning the conversation around when you want to. How about you, Jack Harkness?"
"What about me?" Jack asked. He nodded to Ianto who picked up their plates and brought them over to the kitchen area, returning with cups of freshly brewed coffee and dessert in the form of a carrot cake. She nodded to Ianto in thanks as he served her, watching as Jack smiled up at Ianto before turning his attention back to his guest. Ianto placed a carafe on the table before he quietly took his seat and drank. Jack nodded to Becca. "You want me to honest? Sure, I can do that. If I ever have my way, I'll never set foot on the Valiant again. I spent a year of my life there, and it wasn't a fun experience. Saxon hurt my friends and I'd rather not relive any of that if I don't have to."
"I can understand that," Becca said as she sat back in her chair. She reached up to undo her collar and the top buttons on her uniform. "I heard the stories, and I'm friends with Martha. I know that you helped her save the world."
"I did what I had to," Jack said quietly. "We all did. It was just a good thing it worked." He took a sip of his coffee and saluted Ianto with his cup. "Besides, I tend to be partial to people with the Jones surname." Ianto smiled and nodded before looking down again.
"Ah," Becca said with a nod. "That explains it." She dug into her dessert, taking a bite. "My compliments to the chef."
"I'll be sure to let him know, he owns the restaurant on the other side of the Plass," Jack said with a grin. "And that explains what?"
"Martha insisted I needed to get Ianto a UNIT uniform," Becca said with a laugh. She also saluted the man opposite her with her coffee. He looked back down and shook his head ruefully.
"A whole uniform?" Jack said with a grin. "All I wanted was the cap." He laughed out loud and Becca joined him while Ianto avoided looking at them. They were two of a kind, he thought to himself.
Jack changed the subject, for which Ianto was grateful. That carried them through the rest of the meal and then he insisted on giving Becca the rest of the tour. Together, the three of them went through the vaults with Jack showing off some of their residents before leading the way back up to the main Hub area.
"Damn, I need to get back," Becca said, looking at her watch. "But this has been fun. Thank you, Jack. I wouldn't have missed this visit for the world."
"My pleasure," Jack said. He was leaning against the wall, the large Torchwood tile name gleaming in the light behind him. "I don't get to show this place off too much. Thanks for coming down." They shook hands and Becca rebuttoned her uniform in preparation for her departure. She looked up as a shadow passed overhead and saw the pterodactyl had finally stopped sulking. As it called out she quirked an eyebrow in Jack's direction and smiled.
"Ianto?" Becca said and Ianto shook hands with her. "It was a pleasure watching you in action. You are welcome on my ship any time."
"Thank you, ma'am," Ianto said with a smile. "The pleasure was all mine."
"Does he always do that?" She turned and asked Jack. He raised an eyebrow. "The sir and ma'am thing?"
"Yup," Jack said with a grin as he threw his arm around Ianto's shoulders. "Polite to a fault. Though usually these days if he calls me sir I know I'm in trouble for something I messed up." Ianto snorted.
"I had best be going," Becca said. "Thank you both for one of the most entertaining meals I've ever had."
"Our pleasure," Jack said with a grin. He let go of Ianto and led the way over to the exit. "Let me bring you upstairs. " Becca nodded and raised a hand in farewell to Ianto who waved as he watched them step through the doorway and into the lift. When they were gone he went to go feed Myfanwy since she hadn't eaten since before he left.
Jack brought Becca through the Tourist Centre entrance and escorted her back over to the helicopter which was still parked on the Plass. Her men came to attention as she approached with him, and Jack gave them all an admiring glance. They watched as the rotors slowly started moving as the pilot started the engine.
"You're welcome to drop in any time you find yourself in the area," Jack said with a warm smile.
"I'll be sure to take you up on it," Becca said with a nod and a smile of her own. "If only because the food is damned good here." They laughed and shook hands in front of her men before Jack stepped back to watch her board. He stayed where he was as the helicopter lifted and headed off into the night. Once it was headed back to the Valiant he made his way back down to the Hub.
The lights were set into the Hub's night mode, which meant that Ianto had finally settled Myfanwy down. Jack made his way to his office where he found Ianto seated at Jack's desk with his laptop. Ianto was busily uploading his notes and related data to the main computers. Jack stepped behind him and wrapped his arms around Ianto's chest.
"Welcome back" He said as he rubbed his cheek against Ianto's. "Glad to have you back home."
"Happy to be back," Ianto said as he uploaded the final bit of modified code along with his notes, completing his archive of the mission. "She's interesting, isn't she?"
"Yup," Jack said. "She certainly is." He watched Ianto log off of the computer and shut it down. "Tired?"
"A little," Ianto admitted. It had been a long couple of days which followed some other long days as he had worked to prepare for the Valiant's visit.
"Did she really give you a UNIT uniform?" Jack couldn't resist asking. Ianto nodded. "Where is it?"
"Downstairs on the bed," Ianto said. He knew very well where this was going to go.
"Want to go play dress up?" Jack breathed in his ear. Though he was tired, he was eager for a reunion with Jack. He nodded. "So what are we waiting for?"
"Nothing," Ianto said. He stood up and let Jack's arms trail down to his waist. He turned around and gave the older man a kiss. "Ready whenever you are."
"Good. Let's go downstairs," Jack said with a grin. He led the way, Ianto following behind him…
~*~
