AN: Glad you all approved of the previous chapter, and of Jack's reaction. I worried that maybe he'd over reacted and done something that Jack wouldn't do, but you all seemed to decide that it was a response that was realistic.

Snow Watch: No new snow overnight, but I am now victim of the widespread ice. Maybe I'll make it back to work tomorrow…

Please review x

Ianto pushed himself up so he was leant back on his elbows in the bed as he blinked a few times the following morning. The ceiling to floor windows continued into Owen's bedroom, though they were thankfully tinted, and it allowed him an unrestricted view of the Cardiff cityscape. The snow was still present on the street below which would mean another interesting journey to work, but at least the team would have the SUV if they needed to head out on an alert. His gaze drifted to the other side of the bed, which despite its emptiness appeared to have only been vacated recently. Ianto swung his legs out of the bed and dropped his bare feet onto the floor. Standing up he stretched a little before rounding the end of the bed and wandering out of the room and making his way to the living area, wondering whether or not to risk the questionably aged coffee Owen had mentioned the day before. He rubbed his jaw ruefully, the ache still present from Jack's punch. Ianto knew it would be sporting an impressive bruise by now and considered that he might need to come up with a viable excuse for the mark. As he reached the kitchen he found Owen settled on the stool by the bench with a mug in his hands and a concerned expression on his face. He was still dressed in the boxers and tshirt he had gone to sleep in the night before, and outfit not dissimilar to the one Ianto was wearing.

"Morning." Ianto said with a soft yawn.

"Hey." Owen said simply. "Sleep okay?" He asked.

Ianto nodded. "Thanks for letting me stay over." He said.

"No worries." Owen replied. "There's tea if you want some. I really wouldn't touch the coffee." He said gesturing at the kettle.
"You okay?" Ianto asked as he flipped on the kettle.

Owen shrugged.

"Vague." Ianto mused. "What's up?"

"I just don't want to go in today." Owen remarked as he brushed his hand through his short hair. "I don't know how you want me to act around you, or him." He commented.

"I don't think you charging in there and throwing your own punches is going to help if that's what you're offering." Ianto replied.

"Even if he deserves it?" Owen asked.

"Even then." Ianto said as he poured the hot water from the kettle into a mug. "I'll talk to him." He said as he leant back on the bench and held the mug between his hands in front of his face.

"Yeah that went well last night." Owen said roughly.

Ianto sighed. "What do you suggest then? Do you think I should walk in there and hit him? Or have you go in and defend my honour? Violence is not the answer. It isn't today, and it certainly wasn't last night. Hitting him back will only bring us down to his level, and I don't want that."

"What do you want?" Owen asked angrily.

Ianto slammed the mug back down on the bench top. "I want a coffee." He muttered before storming out the kitchen and going back down to Owen's bedroom. Marching inside he dressed quickly, tossing the tshirt Owen had leant him onto the bed before putting yesterdays suit back on. Pulling on his shoes and tying up the laces he stalked out of the room and headed for Owen's front door, meeting the medic in the hallway.

"I'm going to go home and change." He said by way of explanation.

"Look I'm sorry for snapping okay? I didn't sleep that well last night. Strange man in my bed and all." Owen mumbled an apology.

"I don't want to fight with you too Owen, but you have to let me deal with Jack my way. Right now he's just running on a theory. If you fly in there and kick up a fuss you make his theory real, and I don't think either of us wants that just yet." Ianto reasoned gently. "I'll see you at the Hub. Lets see how Jack reacts this morning, before we do anything crazy."

"And how are you going to explain this?" Owen asked delicately fingering the bruise on Ianto's jawline and recently healed lip.

Ianto couldn't help but lean into the touch. "I'll think of something." He said softly.

"So you want me to what? Wander in like I always so and if I'm asked I didn't see you after you left?" Owen asked.

Ianto nodded. "I think its best that way." He said.

"It's your call I guess." Owen said taking his hand down from Ianto's face.

"I'll get to the Hub before you do anyway – when do I not? The whole thing will have blown over by the time you arrive." Ianto reassured, though Owen wasn't convinced he wasn't trying to assure himself too.

Owen nodded. "Just be careful yeah? If he touches you again, we do my way." He said.

Ianto dipped his head down and planted a soft kiss on Owen's forehead. "I'll see you later." He said before walking out the apartment door. Owen sighed as he wandered into the bedroom and dropped himself down onto the bed. He smiled gently as he reached out his hand and claimed the tshirt that Ianto had left. Lifting it up to his face he inhaled the subtle scent of the man who'd occupied his bed, and his thoughts for most of the night. Owen had struggled to settle into sleep when the two men had climbed into bed the night before. They'd taken turns in the bathroom, but when Ianto had returned to the bedroom dressed in just his boxer shorts and requested a spare tshirt from Owen he'd realised that sleeping over was precisely what he'd be doing. Pulling the duvet up over their bodies as they nestled down into the large bed Ianto had glanced over at Owen and smiled softly.

"Night Owen." He'd said simply before rolling onto his side, his back facing Owen and soon falling asleep. As Owen had led flat on his back with one arm bent under his head he'd stared at the ceiling as he had listened to the change in Ianto's breathing as he'd drifted off. For the rest of the night he'd enjoyed minimal sleep, merely dozing on and off, unable to get comfortable and unable to stop thinking. He'd risen early that morning and left the Welshman asleep in his bed needing time away from Ianto to gather his thoughts. As he sat on the bed clutching the tshirt that was still warm from being worn, he realised that all he needed at that moment was for Ianto to come back.