A/N: Ianto on John. I can't believe there hasn't been any thoughts about my take on Gwen/Jack situation, but I guess it's all been done before. Anyway thank you for reviewing and one vote. I'll try to keep things shorter and more regular.

Spoilers: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Ianto was furious. He couldn't get his bearings back. The moment he saw John Hart's message he went bonkers. He wasn't willing to believe Jack had returned solely for him, but there was a fair chance that Jack wanted him to be something to him after all. He did look him in an expecting way, like he was examining him. And there was that look just moments earlier when he talked about naked mud wrestling. It did provoke certain images in Ianto, they didn't involve Gwen. Ianto relaxed for a moment from that look that left him feeling naked, so when Jack's wrist strap beeped Ianto spoke up showing some insight on Jack's device, he was even entertained by the possibility of knowing something more about the device.

Then Jack pressed the button and there was the hologram like it came out of Star Wars, but it was a hologram of the man and Ianto hated him in an instant.

"Can't believe I've got an answering machine" sighed the man wining and Ianto knew it wasn't just a friend dropping by, he demanded Jack's attention with expectation like he was entitled to it.

"Sorry for the mess" he admitted the murder nonchalantly like it was a normal thing to do, leaving a man on the pavement for Jack to find.

"Drinks" he rubbed his hands claiming Jack for himself. Then there was a final joke ruining Ianto's favourite scene from Star Wars, he was no Leia.

When the message was over Jack's eyes looked haunted, he didn't see them anymore as he jumped in the car and stormed away. No way in hell Ianto was going to take that. It was one thing to be careful about his returning, but whole other to just let him leave with another time traveller that knew to harvest the Rift. Especially a so devious one, the Doctor looked peaceful compared to that figure; even in its small proportions Ianto could see trouble and heartlessness.

That's why as soon as Jack started the car Ianto paced away calling a cab, not waiting for the team to follow. He wasn't going let Jack with that man alone, it wasn't pure jealously, although it was there, it was fear, fear for Jack. He knew it was irrational, but he feared for Jack, even more because he couldn't die, horrible things could happen to him and he won't be able to escape in death. Seeing that man in the message didn't fill him with confidence that Jack would be safe with him.

The others followed him in the cab and he sat there unable to say to the driver to step on it, to hurry. They talked about Jack and their frustration with him and Ianto couldn't relate to that. Jack was Jack and he had life that was bigger than the four of them.

"It is more fun when he's around" he spoke up in the silence that occurred and they agreed. That kept them silent rest of the way. Working for Torchwood without Jack was dull and uneventful, a few more months and they would be bureaucratic and even like Torchwood One. Aliens and the chase were there but there was no flare, no humour, even Owen started to behave himself. They didn't put up a show for Jack; they really started to get along well together.

When they finally reached the bar Reunion, Ianto was annoyed by the name, he didn't get this far just to be replaced by an old flame; this was supposed to be his time, time Jack wanted to spend with him.

"Tosh and I will go behind, you two take front door, we'll go in if needed" Owen took charge as he did on the field.

Ianto positioned himself in front of Gwen trying to make out what was going on in there but they spoke to quietly to be heard. Suddenly there was a gunshot, shattered glass, then another one. They moved in when he called out keeping him at gun point. The man leaned against the counter all sleazy and overconfident and took their measurements like he was in a candy shop.

"You need the blonde" he said to Jack.

"Oh my God, he's worse than Jack" said Owen like Jack was anything like him.

"Captain John Hart" he said and Ianto doubted he could be captain of anything, maybe a self proclaimed one. Jack stood there trying to look casual about it but there it was, they stood too close, John acted too familiar.

"We were partners" John said with a hint of pride and Ianto had to ask what he meant by that, he didn't want to take half truths on this one.

"In every way" he answered lazily. Of course Jack tried to make it less important, and they fell into an argument like an old couple would have, to Ianto's horror he could see that between them, connection, their faces were turned to each other and Ianto hated the fact he had to lower his gun. He felt relief when Jack moved away and when John showed them hologram of the supposed bomb Ianto watched him closely.

"Yada, yada, yada" he said like a compulsive liar would, robbing the story of all the details, hiding the truth. Ianto could tell a lie, he had given his share of those, but he's done it to protect and defend, but he doubted this John partner had such noble intentions. It was like Seinfeld episode when yada's hid the robberies.

Irritatingly enough Jack decided to play along. He made John walk to the Hub. Waiting for the two of them to catch up was nerve wracking so Ianto tidied up while Gwen took a scanning device.

"No way in hell I'm letting that man in armed" she said "did you see how he shot at us without even a warning. That one is a bad one, bad compulsive liar, I've seen my share."

"Yeah" Owen agreed "and you, Tosh, telling him he's cute didn't help, he's stuffed enough."

"Hey, I was just noticing" she defended herself "give a girl some slack; I have a taste for bad guys."

"I'll say" Gwen laughed.

"And girls" smirked Owen.

"That was a onetime thing" Tosh didn't give in "you, Gwen, weren't any better."

"I was" she answered sweetly "I stopped before panties."

"Yeah, just because she shoved you off" Tosh continued.

"Hey girls, enough, you'll give me and Ianto a month's supply to think about" he spins his chair "well maybe just me. That man got to you, you better be careful not to provoke his train of thoughts, he doesn't strike me as a bloke who would stop at thinking, and not sure would he ask for permission."

"We should trust Owen on that one" Tosh said shaking her head "he should know."

"Hey I'm the good guy here" he shouted and they giggled. "See Jack storms in and everything becomes a joke."

"And you're so serious" Gwen mocked him.

"No, but Ianto is" he pointed at him with his pen standing and examining office area. "We must annoy hell out of him."

"Sorry Ianto love" Gwen smiled and Ianto smiled back.

"I'm just taking care there isn't anything worth taking at arm's reach."

"So, you're just as charmed with this guy as I am" said Owen satisfied.

"He did just murder a guy without an apparent reason, trashed and emptied fully packed bar, punched Jack till he bled, shot at us, sold us some convenient bomb story, got into an argument with Jack about who was the female in their relationship, and is now preparing to enter our top secret base with an endless supply of data not only on aliens and alien weapons, but also about Earth and Earth's inside governments and defence systems. Did I sum it up right?"

Owen raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah it sounds about right."

"So you think he'll try to make power turn in his favour" Gwen was battled.

"Doesn't seem like the type" Ianto said absently "but he seems like type to carry a lot of weapons, I need something to carry them out of reach." He walked towards Jack's office. There was a tray forgotten beneath whisky glasses, that whisky was rarely used. Jack surely wouldn't mind.

"Charming guy that tea boy of ours" said Owen thoughtfully "a bundle of joy."

"But we trust Jack on this one, he knows how to judge things" Gwen turned towards Tosh and Owen.

"He is the king of that" Owen said seriously "anyway we can't really lock him out, we don't have the knowledge, and he does still outrank us, he can't be retired, not for age, or for death for that matter."

"Jack is right, it is better to keep an eye on him" said Tosh firmly "if we denied him access, who knows what he would do, he has technology like Jack, which is hard to fight."

They all looked in wonder how Ianto was shining the tray.

"Will you offer him tea or coffee Tea Boy?" shouted Owen but in that moment the elevator started to descend.

There they were slowly going down. John's comments were clearly heard. Ianto took some peace that Jack held his hands behind his back in his Captain's pose and his body stood filling its space not leaning towards the man; he looked away from the guy. As Jack jumped down, Ianto took out his tray and Jack immediately understood Ianto's offering of elegant way to disarm John, there hadn't been need for explanation. They hadn't created a policy for this because there simply weren't any guests in the Hub to worry about. Only ones would be cuffed or dead.

Jack stood before Ianto handing him down weapons and he was calmed by his presence, he was in sight, in the Hub. As he took the weapons their hands brushed against each other and it was a soothing feeling, it was natural, it reassured his senses that Jack was really there. There were more weapons than Ianto could ever imagine hidden on his skinny body, but he wasn't impressed, most of them were just trophies to show around, some people collected stamps and post cards from places they'd been, this one collected weapons and carried his collection around. Ianto wondered if a dead person was connected to each weapon in his pack. He had an uncomfortable feeling it was more than one on each handle.

After he put his stack in the armoury Jack was out of sight, but John was there. Ianto kept an eye on him; a man who so deeply appreciates weapons wouldn't miss out to make himself a weapon of its own. He was relaxed enough for that to be true. He leaned against Tosh's ear, and she flirted, Owen frowned pushed aside. She was all sweet and open and Ianto knew it was an act, not an honest reaction like in the bar, because she would be more cautious and shy if she meant it.

"I'll give you a better view in the board room" she said sweetly.

"Oh I'd love to see the board room, is it packed with blonds? I don't believe Jack would strike out on such simple detail, he used to love blonds, and he was a blonde for a while." He threw a glance in Ianto's way. "And they are so much more fun." Ianto rolled his eyes and went to the board room.