No spoilers

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

"Did anyone mention some kind of a hero?" Owen spoke up long after Tosh and Ianto had gone.

"No one was talking about you, don't worry." Gwen replied to him and they fell back into silence.

Jack sighed and closed the door to his office. He had hoped that something big would happen soon. He was way too distracted. He felt his shell of solitude close around him. His awareness of passing time was on alert. He liked when he was able to forget that these people and this time was on the verge of disappearing. In a few short years and he would have to find some new people to impress and hide himself from.

He sat down and read some reports but he was aware that he was waiting for Ianto and Tosh. Her comment caught him off guard but he knew she was right. Except that she left handsome out of her description, she was right that he had shown some heroic qualities. He was selfish to keep him inside of the Hub. He was safe inside here and how often did Jack have the opportunity to keep someone safe. Nevertheless he knew he was wrong, keeping Ianto making coffee and cleaning was demeaning. He could so much more.

He brought up his file from Torchwood One. Of course they had run him through all sorts of tests before taking him in. They worked like that; figures and parameters were all that they saw. Ianto was capable, he knew that from experience. Even in his state of mind, a smile crept across his face. But Ianto shouldn't be cut off just because his boss had a thing for him. The coffee butler thing was born out of Ianto's despair and Jack's anger. He shouldn't have let it drag on for so long. He could justify himself by the fact that Ianto's coffee was divine, and that he wasn't exactly aware that he was shielding the young boy. That wasn't fair towards the rest of the team. He would be gone soon, the century had turned, and he was guaranteed that the Doctor would show up. After that they would need all the resourcefulness that they could gather, and Ianto was resourceful.

He called Owen up. After Suzie turned on them he considered Owen next in line, and Owen did seem to display that in more frequent opposition to his commands. That wasn't bad, Jack liked second opinions, but Owen seemed off balance, not reliable to react rationally. He hoped that Tosh would even that out.

"We should include Ianto more in field missions, I think he's ready." Jack started giving Owen his file across the table.

"Don't be stupid Jack." Owen replied without opening the file. "He almost pissed himself on the last mission. And he can barely be trusted after that entire cyber-girlfriend thing. You would know that if you weren't thinking with your dick. Why are you so bad at rejection? You're not irresistible, get over it."

Jack just glared at him for few moments.

"Like you did so much better on that mission; as I remember it you were tied down on your knees as well. And if you want details, you left the keys in the car and Ianto got us there in the first place, so I wouldn't keep score if I was you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Owen lifted his hands in defense and put down the file. "It was the shitty mission and we all got a go through the mud. But really, Tea Boy on a mission? He's good at cleaning and coffee, he'll only get hurt out there."

Jack leaned back in his chair as Owen hit his weak spot. But he reminded himself that death came in all sort of shapes and that he wasn't the master of it.

"You can get hurt too." Jack replied seriously. "Don't be so petty, when we're in danger we need all the help we can get. And just to remind you he did get Tosh out long enough to avoid further damage, we weren't very good at keeping Gwen safe."

Owen dismissed that with a shrug but didn't complain further.

"I guess he can drive." He admitted. "And after all, you are the boss aren't you. Maybe you can order Ianto to sleep with you too so we can get some rest from your bickering."

"Get out of here." Jack's voice sounded tired. "Get some work done and get some sleep tonight, you look like crap."