AN: Have I made Jack OOC? I don't know. Read on, and let me know what you think.
Snow Watch: Still no snow, but something about minus five… Snow Day 2 likely for tomorrow.
Please Review x
"It's getting late. I should be going." Ianto said as he glanced at his watch and saw it was a little before midnight. They'd eaten the lasagne that Owen had made, and Ianto hadn't been lying when he told him how good it was. The rest of the evening had been spent talking about things they were interested in, and things they would call hobbies if Torchwood ever allowed time to do them. Kisses were shared frequently and they ended up nestled on one half of the sofa, Owen curled slightly in Ianto's hold as they looked out into night.
"You can stay if you want." Owen offered as he sat up and looked back at him.
Ianto smiled as he placed a sofa kiss on the Londoner's lips. "I need to get home. Get some sleep." He said.
Owen nodded. "Probably best." He admitted looking a little rejected.
"I just don't want to rush things. I don't want either of us doing anything we'll regret later." Ianto said laying a delicate hand on Owen's cheek.
Owen smiled gently. "It's okay." He said. "I agree – honestly." He assured.
Both men rose to their feet and Ianto reclaimed his suit jacket, pulling it on before moving towards the door of the apartment where he took his coat from the hooks nearby and slipped it on.
"Do you want a lift home?" Owen offered.
Ianto shook his head. "I'm okay. It's only a ten minute walk, and I don't imagine the driving conditions are all that good with the snow." He smiled.
"Okay. Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Owen said suddenly and surprisingly nervous.
Ianto nodded. "You will." He said. "I had a great time tonight Owen. Thank you for dinner." He said.
Owen smiled. "You're welcome." He said.
Ianto reached out his hand and placed it on the back of Owen's head, pulling the older man close as he captured his lips in a deep and passionate kiss. "Sleep tight." He whispered as they parted.
"Night." Owen murmured with a smirk as he pulled the door open for Ianto and the Welshman walked out and over to the lift. Stepping inside he gave Owen a small wave as the doors closed at the lift sank steadily to the ground floor. The smile on his face was still beaming as he stepped through the front door of Owen's building and onto the cold and frozen street. He got a few metres down the street before he noticed the Torchwood SUV parked on the opposite side. With an irritated sigh he checked the street for traffic before crossing and tapping angrily on the drivers side window. Jack rolled the window down halfway.
"Need a ride?" He asked calmly.
"What are you doing here?" Ianto asked.
"Are you screwing him?" Jack asked simply.
Ianto bristled. "Goodnight Jack." He said before turning on his heel and setting off back down the street in the direction of home. He heard the engine roar into life and grow closer, and he sighed once again as the SUV pulled into a space further down the street and Jack climbed out.
"I mean I didn't really believe it till I saw you walk you out just then. You forget there are CCTV cameras on the Plass so I saw your little rendezvous earlier. Then there is the fact you both went AWOL earlier. Owen's claims you went back to your apartment to dry off, but hey maybe that's just his version of weevil hunting. So I ask again, are you screwing him?" Jack snarled.
"No." Ianto said simply. "Stalking is low Jack, even for you." He spat before moving to walk past the immortal man, but being stopped by Jack taking hold of his arm.
"Get your hands off my Jack." Ianto seethed.
"You're lying to me." Jack commented.
"No I'm not. I have not had sex with Owen." Ianto spoke each word simply and pronounced as he pulled his arm free of Jack's grasp.
"Do you plan to?" Jack asked.
"Please remind me why this is anything to do you with you?" Ianto asked.
"You are both members of my team." Jack offered by way of reason.
"You're hardly in a position to complain about inter-staff relations Jack. We were at it for months, and I'm sure you recall Gwen's brief fling with Owen." Ianto replied, smirking as the pain he knew Jack felt about Owen sleeping with Gwen flew across his eyes. "Still hurts does it? Knowing someone you want wants someone else? Knowing she'll cheat on her husband with him, but not you?" He spoke in a tone of condescension that sparked a rare display of anger in Jack. The immortal man swung his fist and impacted fiercely with the side of Ianto's jaw. As Ianto looked back at Jack, his hand clasped with his bloody lip, the immortal man's face softened.
"I'm sorry." He said quickly.
"I think you need to get back in that SUV, and drive back to the Hub." Ianto said simply.
"Ianto I…" Jack began.
"Get back into the SUV and go home Jack." Ianto cut him off.
Jack turned and stalked back to the vehicle and climbed inside before speeding off down the road without a backward glance to Ianto. The Welshman stood on the street for a few moments considering his options as he rubbed his aching jaw. With a long and pronounced sigh he turned and made his way back towards Owen's building. Going inside he boarded the lift he'd exited just minutes before and stood patiently as it rose to the appropriate floor. Exiting the lift he walked the short distance to Owen's front door and knocked on it softly. When the door opened Owen smiled briefly before his face fell.
"What the hell happened to you?" He asked ushering Ianto inside. The Welshman trudged into the apartment and over to sofa where he sat down whilst Owen hurried into the kitchen area and retrieved a bag of peas from the freezer, before wrapping a towel around it and taking it over to Ianto. Pressing the pack to the side of the younger man's face as he crouched down on the floor in front of him he repeated his question.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Jack happened." Ianto said taking hold of the pack himself and leaning back in the seat out of Owen's reach.
"Jack?" Owen echoed.
"He was parked outside in the SUV. He saw us on the Plass and either followed us here, or went to my apartment first." Ianto explained.
"And he hit you? What for being in my apartment?" Owen asked confused but angry.
Ianto shook his head. "He asked me if I was screwing you. I said no, which is the truth. Things spiralled out of control a little, and I used what I know to hurt him. He snapped and took a swing at me." He said.
Owen sighed. "What did you say?" He asked.
"Doesn't matter." Ianto muttered.
"If it's reason enough for him to hit you, I think it matters." Owen pointed out.
"I thought he was about to complain about relationships within the team, so I pointed out the irony of that with two prime examples. Him and me. And you and Gwen. He has always wanted her, and it hurt him that you had her when he couldn't." Ianto explained.
"Brilliant." Owen said softly as he settled on the floor. "Are you okay?" He asked.
Ianto nodded. "Had worse." He admitted.
"Where is he now?" Owen asked.
"I suggested he went back to the Hub. Whether he took my advice or not I don't know. At this point I don't really care." Ianto said as he took the peas away from his face and stretched his jaw out.
"You wanna crash here?" Owen offered.
Ianto nodded. "I don't want to go back to my apartment in case he's there. I might say or do something we'll both regret." He said.
"It'll be okay." Owen reassured.
"I wish I shared your confidence." Ianto sighed as he closed his eyes and tipped his head back on the top of the sofa wondering if his life would ever be okay.
"I'll get you a blanket." Owen said getting up. "Unless you want to risk sharing my bed?" He offered.
Ianto opened his eyes and looked up at Owen. "Lead the way." He said simply.