A/N: here's some Jack finding a way to avoid conversation

Spoiler alert: To the Last Man

Beta-ed: TattoedLibrarian

Morning came too soon for Jack. With it came guilt and responsibility. But he didn't dwell on it too deeply. He felt for Tosh and Tommy, he enjoyed their dance around each other before the shift began. Nothing was more soothing than the beginning of a relationship. Especially one that couldn't go anywhere but was predetermined to stay at the point where everyone seemed gentle and light, full of kindness towards space and differences in character that could end almost anything. When the day was done Tommy was gone and he felt sorry for Tosh, but that's the way their life was. That was the choice. It seemed harsh but Jack had left enough loved ones for the chase, job, or rescuing mission, that he thought it to be inevitable. It was just part of life; life in the Hub was just more demanding and removed from the people you could meet in a coffee shop.

He knew Tosh would be here tomorrow chasing her task, making her brilliant solutions. She just needed to get through today. That's why he found enough work to keep her preoccupied through the week. As expected, she buried herself in her tasks and all he could see was her upright back as her fingers danced around her keyboard. Owen was quieter than usual throwing glances her way and that was just fine with Jack. After all it was Owen's job to keep them, not just fit, but sane too although he wasn't sure that little twat, as he sometimes said, was up for that job. At least he seemed less angry since Jack came back. The year that never was had taken some toll on his stubbornness against the future. Gwen was her cute self, she chased around wedding tasks as well as police reports. It seemed all was well.

That made Jack turn his gaze towards Ianto. Something was different about him lately and he couldn't pin point it. That troubled him, he didn't like surprises. All he needed was a sudden request for Retcon and permanent vacation. Not that he would be worried if that happened, he had his ways of persuasion and it proved that Ianto was not prone to resisting them. Well, maybe if he got too stubborn. But Jack was cocky enough to think that he would make Ianto stay. As Tosh worked on her Rift detecting techniques Jack was running around checking on the results. All he managed to do for Ianto was to smile as he grabbed his coat from Ianto's ready hands. Gwen was enough help for reconnoitre, the two of them out there; it was mostly just a wild goose chase anyway, sometimes literally. They gathered some strange looking alien bugs in the process, but after the last bug's tricks they handled them with care.

Ianto caught his gaze and just smiled at him before returning to his task. That made Jack really start to worry. It was a gentle looking smile. It shouldn't look like that, not after he didn't make any time for him for days now. That's why he decided to take action, starting immediately. He descended down the stairs in his usual swift pace. Ianto heard his approach and turned around to greet him with a smile. It wasn't a polite smile like the ones he used to throw around. It was a genuine smile, Jack learned to distinguish those. Jack stopped himself at arm's reach from Ianto. It took some effort to do that because for some strange reason it seemed more natural just to take one more step forward and take Ianto into a firm embrace. To prevent that from happening he shoved his hands to his pockets closing his palms into fists.

"You needed something sir?" Ianto broke the silence.

That made Owen swing his chair towards them. Jack threw disconcerted glance at him.

"Maybe biscuits Jack?" Owen spoke up with mocking in his voice. "We all like biscuits."

"That's exactly what I need" Jack grinned widely grateful for Owen's need to poke, he gave Jack simple way out of Ianto problem. He didn't need to think of anything deep or meaningful to say. "Cookies, water, pastries, thermos with hot coffee, chocolate, preferably dark." He turned his face towards Ianto and let his smile to become somewhat mischievous.

"When do you need it, sir?" Ianto took his writing pad, clicked his pen and casually took out his pocket watch to check the time.

Jack had to stifle a hard case of laughing out loud. The cheeky bastard was ready for the play on the spot.

"There's a stake out, it might take all night."

"Is that a code for shag night Jack?" Owen inquired tilting his head. "Couse if it is, it's very lame, and it's just bad taste to make Tea Boy run your errands."

"No, Owen" Jack didn't even turn around to look at him, he was busy watching Ianto's pen making notes on the pad, he wondered if he found that list of his, maybe they could find out some interesting facts about Jack's endurance. "Shag night would need proper food, something with a lot of stamina. There's an empty part of the road that's been misbehaving, but in a dull kind a way. It glimmers from time to time, but nothing happens. Do you want to spend the night with me in the car watching the pavement?" He offered with a menacing tone.

"No thanks" Owen swung his chair back around "unless there's a corridor of beautiful women walking the pavement, I have previous arrangements."

"What? With pint of beer" Tosh snorted.

"You know me so well" Owen answered cheerfully. "I have certain dose of relaxation that needs to be filled. Unless you order me to come?" He offered doubtfully.

"No, I wouldn't dream to stand between you and relaxation. Besides, it's me time, you would eat all my chocolate."

Ianto moved and started to open up cupboards making a stash of food.

"Double that" Jack instructed him.

"Who needs a diet when you can die your calories away" murmured Owen.

"Owen!" Gwen warned him off.

"He's not far off" Jack replied "this perfection is a reward for all the heartache."

"You know Jack, I would like to go…" Gwen voice trailed off.

"No worries" Jack waved his hand. "I'll keep myself occupied. You go and do your stuff, keep things together."

Ianto started to pack food into a backpack. Jack hesitated for a second wondering if Ianto caught his intention, or if there was a need for further instructions. Ianto lifted his gaze with slightly raised eyebrows silently commenting at his intentions. Jack looked at him doubtfully trying to decipher what Ianto thought. Ianto slightly nodded his head and that smile returned to his face softening his features. Jack took that as a yes and went back to his office.

That went well, Jack thought to himself, they'll sit there in comfortable silence and everything will be sorted out. If anything needed to be sorted out. Anyway, maybe it will be shag night after all. Jack wouldn't mind that.

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