13
They walked into the hub and Owen shouted across at the girls, "See? I bloody well told ya they were shaggin'!"
Ianto went bright red and raced for the kitchen as Jack advanced on Owen.
"You listen here" Jack snarled as he reached out and snagged Owen's collar, "You leave him the fuck alone or you answer to me. I don't ask for much as your boss, but this? Not negotiable."
Jack's face was close enough for Owen to smell the coffee he had drunk at Ianto's while enjoying a breakfast Ianto didn't join him in eating.
His lips peeled back and Owen saw a side of his Captain he had only previously seen being forced on others.
He decided that he didn't like it.
Owen squeaked and wind-milled as he was pushed away, landing in his swivel chair which then rolled back a few feet while he gaped at Jack.
"He means something to me!" Jack declared loudly and Ianto almost dropped the tray of coffees as he wandered towards them. "I will not have him belittled because of my feelings for him!"
With a bright red face, Ianto delivered their beverages and Owen mutely accepted his.
"Thank you Ianto" Jack smiled as the striped mug was presented. "Where's yours?"
"Well, I actually got some sleep last night, thank you for watching over me, and I feel good enough without. By lunchtime I'll be gasping though! Good incentive to remember to eat" Ianto grinned as he reached out and absently flicked a bit of fluff from Jack's right brace as it sat on his shoulder, then let his hand rest for a moment.
"I'm glad you slept" Jack said back into those grey storms, "You were exhausted. You're not alone now."
Ianto hummed as he turned and then hesitated, looking up.
Everyone followed his gaze and then looked at each other with confusion.
"Anyone hear from Myfanwy today?"
"Who?" Tosh asked softly.
"Myfanwy. You know?" Ianto cocked his head adorably and flapped his arms, "Flap, flap?"
Everyone looked at him with mute confusion.
My Pteranodon!" Ianto exclaimed.
"The pterodactyl?" Gwen gaped, "You called the dinosaur that?"
"She is not a dinosaur, she is a Pteranodon, Gwen!" Ianto chastised with a frown, "She is lovely, she should have a lovely name. A fine lady!"
"How the fuck do you know it's a girl? Go to night classes to learn how to sex dinos did ya?" Owen snarked, already forgetting how close Jack was standing.
Ianto rolled his eyes towards Jack who gave a look of realisation, then grinned.
"I told him" Jack said, straightening up as Owen flinched, "Come on, work, work, work my wee minions!"
"I think I resent that" Owen muttered as he stomped off.
"Thank you" Ianto whispered as he passed Jack, letting their hands brush against each other briefly.
Jack watched him head for the ladder to her nest, knowing he must be able to hear her sometimes. He grinned as he thought about how they met, how Ianto tricked him that first time with the find of a lifetime.
Cheeky beggar could communicate with her all along.
Then he remembered that roll across the floor and realised that it had not been an accident either.
Or supposed to be what it turned into, given Ianto's stunned look.
Well, well, well.
Jack was strangely touched.
Ianto had gone through all that trouble to gain a foot in the door, wound up with a groping and still managed to look good in a suit.
As he pondered all of this, Ianto called out from the top of the ladder.
"She's not in here … oh … wait, near the back … I…. Myf?"
The screech as she barrelled out of the nest like a bullet made everyone jump, Ianto cry out and his hands slip.
Jack cried out with horror as Ianto fell, plummeting towards the grated floor of the hub with a look of confusion on his face.
Jack ran, hoping to cushion his fall, whatever the cost to himself, he would survive.
Please Gods, let Ianto survive too.