Ianto watched Jack talking with Tosh at her computer before he headed back to his desk in the tourist office. He wondered if Jack would be very mad if he poisoned Owen's coffee but he dismissed the idea. Tosh was fond of Owen for some reason, and sometimes he wondered if she wasn't his only friend at work. So poisoning Owen was out as it might upset her.

He moved back to his desk and checked his emails, his bank wanted to sell him life insurance, nothing new there. And apparently he was the only living heir of some distant cousin in Nigeria, if he sent the lawyer the small fee of a thousand pounds his five million pound inheritance could be released to him. He was pretty sure that one was not legitimate as he hit delete.

It was the next email that had him hesitating, wondering what his sister might be emailing him about. He clicked open and found a reminder that he was cooking Christmas dinner this year. Although how he was going to fit everyone around his kitchen table was an even bigger mystery than why reality television was so popular. It also reminded him that he wasn't sure what the etiquette was of buying gifts for your lover when you weren't even sure if you were in a proper relationship. He knew the conventional wisdom, if you have to ask the answer is probably no. He just didn't want to know, and what if he was wrong. What if it was just taking Jack longer to get there. And what would he get Jack if they were buying gifts.

He grinned, this might just be the perfect opportunity to replace Jack's god awful collection of boxers with some that were less likely to make his eyes bleed. Chartreuse green, who thinks of these things. Besides which, they were very well paid so there was no excuse for appalling underwear. He was so lost in his thoughts he hadn't even noticed when Jack had moved in behind him, until he rested a hand on his back.

'Well I thought that went well.'

Ianto rolled his eyes as he looked at Jack. 'What part of that went well?'

'No one got shot.'

'Ever the optimist Sir, day's not over yet.'

'Ianto.'

'Captain.'

Jack grinned. 'Tosh thinks her rift predictor programme has given us a rift related anomaly, I'll be heading out with Gwen and Owen. We're expecting a plane.'

'Congratulations Sir.'

'Ianto.'

'The SUV has a full tank, and it should still be loaded, do you know where the plane is from?'

'Tosh has a theory it might be one that went missing, one of the lost planes of aviation history.'

'Amelia Earhart Sir?'

Jack shook his head. 'No, Tosh thinks it's something else, there was a plane that went missing in the general area, just before Christmas about fifty years ago.'

'They're going to be a bit late then Sir.'

'We wont know anything more until they land.'

Ianto nodded. 'Oh, I need to go to the dry cleaner, do you have anything that needs to go?'

'Probably, if you want to look in the bunker.' Jack checked his watch. 'I think it's going to be a long day Ianto.'

'Aren't they all Sir.'

'Some are longer than others.'

'Well if I do shoot Owen, just remember who wouldn't let me take the day off, Sir.' Ianto gave Jack his Mona Lisa smile before he remembered his emails. 'Oh, I don't suppose there is any chance of being ordered to work over Christmas this year?'

'You want to work over Christmas.'

'I'm, yes.'

'Hm, we can talk about that later, I can hear Owen and Gwen.'

Ianto watched Jack patting himself around the hips.

'Jack?'

'Just making sure I've still got my gun, he is our medic you know.'

Ianto rolled his eyes as the door behind him opened, Owen's voice drifting out ahead of him.

'All right then you two, said your goodbyes then have ya.'

Ianto gave Owen the ghost of a polite smile, he knew he could always start giving Owen decaf, then he wouldn't have to shoot the annoying little man.

Gwen pushed past Owen. 'And why can't I drive?'

Owen sighed. 'You don't know where we're going.'

'We have sat nav Owen.'

'I'm driving.' Jack cut into what was a familiar argument. 'I always drive.'

'Well,' Gwen piped up. 'You let Ianto drive the SUV.'

'Ianto's obviously very good with Jack's gear stick Gwen.'

'Thank you Owen, but I'm sure I could be too, if I got the chance.'

'I don't think so.'

'But I never get the chance.'

'This isn't going to change today either Gwen. Owen? Are you two ready, we have a plane to catch.'

Ianto heard Owen's reply and plotted a life of decaf.

'Some how Gwen, I don't think Jack is going to be drawing us up a roster any time soon.'

'Why not Owen?' Her voice fading as they walked away.

Jack watched Ianto a moment and flashed him a quick smile before he too walked away.

'A bloody roster...' Ianto muttered darkly. 'What next.' He turned back to his email. Rhi wanted to know if he was having anyone else to Christmas dinner. He wasn't sure how to broach the subject with Jack on that front. The man confused him. It was that simple, he didn't know where he stood with him. And that extended to the question of what he was supposed to do about Owen. He knew he couldn't really shoot him. And being annoyed about the snide comments wasn't really grounds for death or decaf. If he knew where he stood with Jack, he could deal with Owen. As it was he didn't really know what he was defending. So no, he probably wasn't inviting Jack to dinner Christmas day. Or should he. Ianto wanted to bang his head on the desk. This was doing his head in, but he didn't want to say anything if this was just sex for Jack because he didn't want to stop.

Which left him exactly nowhere in terms of knowing what was happening. And although Owen and Tosh knew there was, something happening, he didn't want to talk to either of them about it. He wondered why he was so reluctant, the thought that crossed his mind he immediately wanted to ignore. Along with the unease that whatever their relationship was, it wouldn't survive closer examination. And that would break his heart. So no, it wasn't a very comfortable thought. He didn't remember it being like this when he'd fallen in love with Lisa.

It would have been easier if he hadn't admitted that to himself he reasoned. But at least he didn't feel guilty when he thought about Lisa now. Part of him was always going to hold the memory of her in his heart. Realising there was room for both her and Jack in his heart had freed him up to find room for Jack in his soul. Which brought him crashing back to not knowing what Jack's feelings were. And that thought oscillated with his utter mortification that Tosh and Owen were drawing their own conclusions over his relationship. And that he didn't really know what that relationship even was. And he wasn't sure which was worse.

As for Owen's comments, he knew it was uncharitable of him to hope the plane might land on him. But it didn't stop him hoping, even just a little. He really couldn't see why Tosh was so bent out of shape over the ratty looking guy. He wasn't exactly nice to be around most of the time, and he was hardly classically handsome. Not like Jack. Ianto sighed. It always came back to Jack. He wondered how they were getting on out at the airfield. He decided to see if Tosh had an update yet. Sitting behind his desk was just giving him time to think, time he didn't want or need.

Ianto handed Tosh a fresh coffee.

She pointed at the computer monitors. 'Diane Holmes is the pilot, John Ellis and Emma Cowell are her passengers. Apparently they were all on their way to Dublin.'

'Are you finding much?'

She sighed. 'Some but it's a bit sketchy, there are a few newspaper articles from December in 1953, but it wasn't exactly the height of the internet age. I'm hoping we'll know more when they get back.'

'Right then.'

Tosh hesitated. 'Ianto?'

He took a breath and shook his head. 'I'd rather not talk about it, if your going to ask me about Jack.'

'You seem happier though.'

'Doesn't mean I know what's happening.'

Tosh nodded. 'I know it was a bit new for me, Mary. Well, you know all about that.' Tosh tried to find the words. 'If he makes you happy, then is that enough?'

Ianto closed his eyes as he composed himself, he'd wanted someone to talk to about how he was feeling. Given his other options, Tosh might at least have some indication of what it's like to be with someone you never expected to be with. To fall in love with. 'I'm not really sure,' he sighed. 'I think it was easier when I was just in the background. It's like, there's no light, until he walks into the room. I don't exist until he looks at me and I can't breathe.' He straightened a tie that wasn't crooked just so he would have something to do with his hands.

Tosh just smiled as she nodded. 'I kind of know a little of what that's like. At least you don't have to watch him with everyone but you. He knows when you've walked into the room, he sees you. I'm, it's like I'm not even there.'

Ianto reached out to Tosh, his hand resting lightly on her arm a moment. 'I think we are all at the mercy of others Tosh. And perhaps he does see you, but maybe he just doesn't deserve you yet.' Ianto turned to walk away.

'Ianto.' Tosh called after him. 'I don't know if I can believe that.'

Ianto shrugged. 'What would I know, I'm just a tea boy who happens to be shagging the boss.'

Tosh shook her head. 'I think your more than that Ianto Jones.'

'Well.' Ianto walked deeper into the Hub.