Authors notes : Special Thanks to Rietta for all her support, whom without this story wouldn't exist.
This chapter is also dedicated to my friend Beki and especially to Bry, for all the Duracell Bunny moments, Concerts tickets and plot bunnies.
I don't Own Torchwood, never have, never will, oh well, I just borrowed them.
Chapter 2- Being Alive.
11th June 1999 (3 weeks after last chapter)
John Hart was nothing if utterly besotted with his partner, Jack Harkness, he had fallen for Jack the minute he'd seen him, when he walked in for one of the costume fittings for Phantom, and for John, it has been love at first sight, but lately, he'd been doubting the others feelings for him.
"John!?" he heard Jack call out as he entered the hotel room.
"In the bedroom babe!" he called back.
Jack entered the bedroom, and collapsed on the bed next to John, laying his head on his shoulder and starring at the wall.
"You okay?" John asked.
"Not really, I think we need to talk John" Jack said quietly.
It had been three weeks since meeting Ianto Jones, and Jack could not get the young welsh-man out of his head. He couldn't sleep, couldn't think clearly and he constantly wanted to ring Rhys and get Ianto's number...but he had John, and it was a stalemate relationship, he did care about John, but he was like the big brother Jack hadn't had and their relationship was going nowhere, as many times as John said "I love you" it just wasn't working out.
John sighed, he had a funny feeling about this talk. "What's up Jack?"
Jack, moved so he was propped up on his elbow, leaning over John. "It's not working is it? I mean, I do care about you, but, us...we're not going anywhere"
John closed his eyes and took a deep breath, Jack wasn't happy, he could let him go, he'd be happy.
"Jack, if you're not happy, I won't hold you here, I love you enough to let you go"
Jack smiled and kissed Johns forehead "Thank you John." He got up off the bed and headed for the door. He stopped when he heard Johns voice "It was good, yea?"
Jack turned and smiled "Yea,"
"Don't forget me?" John asked
"Never could" Jack smiled back "You don't have to loose me forever, I still want to be friends"
John smiled "Brill,"
Jack smiled and headed out into the room, collecting what little of his belongings where in his room and walked out the door.
In retrospect, looking back, some years later, John would realise that what he did next, was the major turning point in his life. He walked into the small kitchenette, grabbed the bottle of vodka and necked what was left, before picking up the phone and calling his best mate to see if he wanted to go down the local...it would be a few years till he saw Jack Harkness again.
****
One week later
"Take the next left please"
Jack indicated and turned left onto Soho Street, he checked his mirrors as he picked up the speed and then glanced briefly into a side street. This was the first time he had taken his driving test, and his stomach was in knots, but he'd never been more determined to pass something...that is, until he saw one Ianto Jones walking out of a store with a heavily pregnant women, he recognised as Gwen Cooper. He forgot about passing, love makes you do stupid things he reasoned later.
"Hold on!" he said to the driving examiner.
Without really thinking, he spotted a car parking space, and performed what must have been the scariest and most stupid move of his life. He indicated into the space, slammed on the breaks and performed a hand-break turn worthy of Michael Schumacher.
The driving instructor let out what could only be described as a shriek, as Jack brought the car to a screeching stop and without even turning off the ignition, jumped out of the car and bolted.
"Ianto" he shouted.
Ianto Jones was having a good laugh with Gwen, he took note of the learner driver and smiled, having passed his test back when he was eighteen, "Good luck to 'em" he said to Gwen nodding at the car.
"Yup" he noticed the car gathering speed, he heard the squealing tyres before he saw it, as the car slammed into the car parking space in a spectacular hand-break turn and out jumped none other than Jack Harkness, calling his name none the less.
"Jack!" he gaped, as Jack stopped in front of him and Gwen, grabbing them both into a huge hug and smiling widely at Gwen who was gaping at him.
"You do realise you've just failed your test," Ianto dead panned
Jack looked at the car, as the driving examiner got out of the car, he turned back to Ianto and shrugged "This is more important"
"What?"
Jack smiled and produced a business card. "This is my number," he highlighted a number "And I want you to call me, and I want to take you out on a date, I have a dinner with Lisa Hallet, next week, your welcome to join us, call me and let me know" Jack then kissed Gwen's cheek and Ianto's before turning and fleeing the scene and getting back into the car.
"Are you crazy!" The driving examiner yelled, shoving Jack into the back seat of the car and driving off.
"I know, I failed, but I had to do it"
The driving examiner sighed "Mr Harkness, you are definitely taking the test again, and certainly not with me!"
Jack smiled and nodded "Okay, it was worth it anyway"
****
Gwen and Ianto gaped after Jack in shock.
"Ianto...did Jack Harkness just say he wants to take you on a date..."
Ianto was quiet.
"Ianto?"
Suddenly Ianto snapped out of his daze and turned to Gwen... "He wants me to go to lunch with him to see Lisa Hallet?"
Gwen burst out laughing and pulled him into a hug "You know what this means?"
"What?"
"You need a new outfit"
Ianto starred at Gwen, "I haven't said I'm going to go yet!"
Gwen laughed "Course you're going!"
"I am?"
Gwen smiled, grabbed Ianto's arm and pulled him into towards Oxford street. "Yes, and we're going to get you some new clothes, and a super sexy new suit for this date"
Ianto rolled his eyes, but didn't argue, he let himself be pulled along the streets, he recognised a few shops that he would normally go to for suits, Marks and Spencer and Topman, but Gwen avoided these shops, and that's when he knew she was on a mission, and it was best to just go along with her.
Entering Selfridges Ianto cringed as he looked around, he didn't care for labels, as long as the suit was nice, he was happy with that, but expensive was not something he did very often, for other people yes, but not himself, he treated other people not himself, and this, Rhys always told him, would mean he would spend a long lonely life, unless he became just a little bit selfish, selfish enough to get what he wants, not give in when people tell him what to do, and also to reach out and get what he wanted. That's when it hit him. Jack was way out of his league, maybe he should just enjoy it while he could. Have the fun, live a little.
Gwen passed Ianto a dark red-wine coloured shirt and a tie that was black, with thin red-wine coloured striped going diagonally across the tie. He nodded his approval, he liked red. He was really starting to enjoy this. They moved onto find a jacket and trousers, skimming aside several until he came across one that he liked the look of.
"What do you think?" he held up the black jacket with thin, delicate, red pinstripes and matching trousers.
Gwen smiled "I think you're going to make all the men jealous."
Ianto laughed as Gwen shoved him towards the changing rooms. "I wanna see you in it!" she called after him.
He nodded his head and laughed slightly as he disappeared into the tiny cubicle. He changed quickly and raised an eyebrow as he admired himself for a minute. "Oh my god" he whispered out loud.
He unlocked the door and stepped out of the cubicle and turned to Gwen, who's mouth, literally hit the floor.
"Close your mouth Gwen, you're catching flies."
"Ianto...!"
Ianto raised his eyebrows at her, "yes?"
"I swear to god, if I was single I'd be dragging you back into that changing room!"
Ianto smiled "I'm hoping that'll be Jack's job"
"So you do like him...like that then?"
"Yea, I'm way out of his league like, may as well have some fun while I can, let him move on when he's ready, when he realises I'm not good enough."
Gwen scowled slightly "Ianto don't be a doormat, did you honestly not see the relief in his eyes when he got to us? It was like he'd found water after days in the desert. I was waiting for the free show to start"
Ianto starred at her "Don't be ridiculous, he's a west end musical star and I'm a history teacher from Caerphilly"
"You teach at Sully High School"
"Yes, I commute around thirty minutes"
Gwen laughed "I know this"
"Burns petrol"
Gwen smiled. "So, back on topic, you are DEFFINATLY buying the suit"
Ianto smiled "I gathered"
"You need shoes"
"I need shoes, I have plenty of shoes"
"Yes but you need 'fuck me' shoes"
Ianto raised his eyebrows and looked at Gwen "And prey tell, what 'fuck me' shoes"
"They're shoes that say 'come hither and have your wicked way with me'"
"On the first date? And aren't those thigh high leather heels?"
"That's not the point, and it's hardly a date when we're gonna be with a third party"
"No, but it's a start"
Gwen smiled and nodded her head "Go get changed then we'll go find the sexiest shoes we can"
"Yes ma'am"
"Cheeky" she slapped his arm and watched him walk away, admiring his behind as he walked.
"Nice arse"
"Now who's cheeky"
Gwen smiled. "Who me?"
Ianto smiled and vanished behind the curtain, reappearing not five minutes later, dressed in his normal clothing.
"Fuck me shoes?" she asked
Ianto rolled his eyes "If I must...but I much prefer men."
Gwen choked back her laughter. "Oh you must"
Ianto laughed and allowed himself to be dragged into the footwear section. Following Gwen, Suits he could do...but fuck me shoes?
****
Jack smiled as he picked up the hotel phone and dialled the number for Lisa Hallets agent.
"Can I talk to Miss Hallet please? It's Jack Harkness"
"One moment please" Jack heard the familiar music to Lisa's show's theme song fill the air and waited for the lady herself to pick up.
"Jack Harkness, you better not be cancelling on me"
"NO! Defiantly not!"
Lisa laughed "So what's up?"
"I'm bringing someone..."
"Oh? Does this mean I can bring Tommy then?"
"Yes"
"Fabulous Darling."
Jack laughed "Yea, first date for us though, so don't be making it uncomfortable"
"I'll be on my best behaviour"
"Fantastic!"
Lisa laughed and couldn't resist the urge to tease her friend "Do I get a name?"
"He's called Ianto Jones, he's a teacher,"
"A teacher Jack?"
"Oh yea"
"Goodbye Jack" Lisa laughed, recognising the need to hang up now, before Jack regaled her with details for well over an hours.
"Bye Bye!" Jack laughed.
After he had hung up the phone, he smiled at his mobile. Ianto had called, he just hadn't been in the room to pick up, but the voice mail message has been enough. He picked up the phone to listen to it again, feeling his heart stutter as the welsh vowels filled his head, and his heart.
"Hey, Jack, it's me, Ianto, I'll come on that date, erm...I'll meet you at the theatre where we first met, figured it was a mutual point, I'm in London for the weekend with Gwen and Rhys, ...I'm rambling...so...Theatre at 7...on Saturday, I'll be there...bye..."