24

Ianto was steaming the suit trousers when the phone rang and he swore softly as he reached for it.

"Jack?"

"No this is his Agent, Margaret" came a breathy reply, "Jack asked me to tell his co-workers that he has been called away overnight but shall be back tomorrow."

"Wait, what?" Ianto sat on the bed with confusion, "We had a d…meeting this evening."

"Sorry, he didn't say anything about that, just that he and…ah…Toshiko had to go to London. Sorry" she snarled, "If he wanted to tell you more he would have done so himself, I'm sure."

Ianto looked at the suit and frowned, called Jack's mobile and just getting the answer phone.

"Hi Jack, its Ianto. Just had a weird phone call, please let me know what time for our little night out" Ianto tried to sound upbeat like he hadn't just been crushed, hoping Jack was still going to make it.

Ianto then called Gwen who told him she had been called as well and was going to postpone her party until the weekend, no point with the two friends not there to attend.

"Would be different if it was one of you minor cast members like Andy or something" Gwen had said, then after a moment of silence he had politely said goodbye and hung up on her stuttering apology.

Ianto bit his tongue as he resisted the urge to tell her he would not be able to attend as the weekends were for his children. In his morose mood he wondered if it even mattered. He was only a minor player, right? Even Gwen had said so.

Time went, as did Ianto's hopes and he picked at the meal his sister provided as she frowned at him, "What's wrong with you."

"Just tired" he said softly, begging off for early bed.

Of course he didn't sleep.

.

.

.

.

"We have some scenes to do" Owen called out as he swung in his chair and Ianto sat quietly, picking up the call sheets. No Jack or Toshiko listed.

"Well, I hope they sort themselves soon, at least they got some filming in while there" Gwen gushed, "They went to some WWII costume party and got an idea for this episode, will be another couple of days for them in a swanky hotel the bastards."

Ianto blinked, the urge to check his phone overwhelming but he held himself in check.

"As long as they sort Toshiko's problem, I'm happy" Owen replied, "How the hell could she work here for half the season without them realising she didn't have the right bloody paperwork. Christ, she could have been deported."

"What?" Ianto focused.

"Why they went, papers came from the nasty suits in London threatening to deport her and her elderly mum. Jack's gone with her to sort it out, along with a couple of the studio lawyers" Owen explained "Nice they found something for us to do, but a week off would have been nice. Look at them, bastards look to be enjoying themselves."

Ianto picked up the photo and stared at it, Jack's stern face peering out with Toshiko looking worried.

"We are going to pretend they are in another time or dimension or something" Gwen muttered, "Great. Another episode where Jack had someone else with him, my contract states…"

"Gwen!" Owen barked.

"What, you know he will shag everyone, eat and drink too much and then come back acting like he did all the bloody work! Look at this one, he really needs to kiss this guy?" she complained with a photo on her hand as Ianto rose and stalked over to the coffee machine. "Look at his tongue down this guy's throat!"

"Remember asking us when to wipe your chin?" Owen asked softly, "You just told Ianto Jack is sleeping away."

Gwen stared at Owen and then gave a cry of horror, "Oh Pet, I am so sorry. I am just jealous. I am sure Jack is pining for you too. Didn't he say on the phone last night? He told me he was going to have an early night."

Ianto swung to stare at her, "He rang you."

"Ah shit" Owen groaned, "I don't like this, I'm gonna exit stage left. Peace."

Owen slid off as Ianto slammed a cup down hard enough for the handle to snap off and Gwen jumped as she struggled to save the situation, "Maybe his phone battery went dead? We were cut off."

"Doesn't matter" Ianto spat, now dropping the cup in the sink, "not like he's wearing my bloody ring or anything is it."

He stormed down to the lower levels and stood seething, his fingernails sinking into the pads of his hands as he struggled with his anger.

He rang Gwen. He had time to ring Gwen and talk to her but not him.

Ianto knew he would not last with the boiling sound in his ears so he stalked back up, "Taking a minute for a fag."

Owen chortled, then put his head down as Ianto looked back at him and glared, then slammed out. He stood staring out at the water, wondering how it would feel to sink to the bottom and wallow for a while.

Would he struggle for air?

Did he need to breathe at all?

He couldn't breathe now.