Weeks went by with the rift being unseasonably quiet, save the odd weevil chase. Which inevitably meant long periods of time with nothing to do except catch up on paperwork. Of course, that doesn't mean that's what actually got done. Ianto, who always could find something productive to do, was cleaning the coffee machine. Jack was in some phone call to a UNIT official contemplating faking a rift alert to get out of it. Which left the others spread out in the boardroom, surrounded by unfinished files.

"So we all know Jack's mad for teaboy right?" Owen piped up, leaning back in his chair without any attempt to look busy.

"What gave you that idea?" Tosh mumbled, barely listening. She of course wasn't oblivious to the situation, but also wasn't the type to gossip.

"You're joking?! The fact that he's staring longingly at him all the time, yesterday I caught him watching the CCTV when Jenny met Ianto outside, it's pathetic"

"Shut up, Owen" Gwen rolled her eyes, "there was something between them, we know that. And actually, I could see it being something good. But Ianto's happy with someone else now, he doesn't have any feelings for Jack"

Tosh and Owen exchanged a doubtful glance,

"Um, I wouldn't necessarily say…." Tosh began

"That's bullshit" Owen finished less than tactfully, earning himself a glare from Tosh, "Ianto is definitely still…."

"Still what?" Ianto stepped into the boardroom, making them all jump. Owen almost startled himself completely out of his chair, steadying himself from the precarious angle he'd been leaning at.

"Still scaring the shit out of us" Owen gasped, "What are you, part cat?"

Ianto rolled his eyes, "just because you walk like a herd of elephants doesn't mean the rest of us have to"

He deposited their coffees neatly next to each of them and swept out just as quietly. Owen watched him go until he was out of sight, before turning back to the others,

"Yeah so he definitely still has something for Jack"

"why are you so bothered? You hate all this kind of drama" Tosh pointed out as she added another file to her finished pile.

"I know, but I don't wanna see the kid hurt, ok?"

The women grinned at eachother, "oh Owen, anyone would think you cared about him" Gwen teased, nudging the man playfully,

"Shut up" he mumbled, sipping on his coffee, "I just wanted to know, if it all goes tits up we'll be the ones who suffer after all"

X-X-X

Ianto stepped into the office to give Jack his coffee, finding the man slouched miserably on his chair, half listening to the tinny, angry voice echoing from the speakerphone. Jack always seem to invoke this reaction from the man pretty much as soon as he opened his mouth. He looked to Ianto despairingly as he approached, miming holding a gun to his head and firing. Ianto rolled his eyes and grinned, leaning forward to press a button on the base unit as he handed over the cup.

"There, you're muted now. You can get something else done while Colonel Jameson has his rant, and just unmute when he needs your input"

"My hero" Jack grinned, "that man could turn whining into an Olympic sport".

"What is it this time?"

"Something budget related, I forget" Jack waved his hand dismissively, "What are you up to?"

"Just finished a deep clean of the coffee machine, and I'm going to make a start on that box in the archives that's been helpfully labelled 'random shite' by Owen"

Jack chuckled, "fancy a break before you get to that? You could… sit and stay a while"

Ianto hesitated before taking a seat opposite the man, "I suppose I have a few minutes"

"Thanks" Jack smiled, "could use a distraction"

"I don't know any jokes, Sir" Ianto deadpanned,

Jack rolled his eyes fondly, "I'm not looking for a comedy act, don't worry"

"Good to know"

"how are you, Ianto?"

"Nothing much to report" Ianto shrugged, "You know me, just getting on with things"

"More than the rest of them I imagine" Jack nodded towards the boardroom,

"Oh, they're attempting paperwork I think. They get some credit for trying. Although I think there's more gossiping going on than anything else"

"Sounds about right" Jack smiled, "Gwen loves a drama and I think Tosh secretly does too even if she wouldn't admit it"

"She does indeed" Ianto agreed, "How are you?"

"I'm…. getting there" Jack said honestly, "I'm starting to think people are happy to have me back. That's helped"

"We are" Ianto nodded, "its been nice to be working as a full team again. You were missed, Jack"

Jack noted the use of his name, looking up at the other man and seeing sincerity. Their eyes met, and there was that familiar tension that sparked for both of them whenever they had moments like this. They were both pretending it wasn't there, but they weren't fooling anyone but themselves. And perhaps each other. Jack's hand twitched almost imperceptibly towards Ianto, as if he was going to reach and hold the younger man's hand, and Ianto found himself leaning forward,

"I missed you all, more than you know" Jack said sadly, "If I could turn back time and…."

"Captain Harkness are you listening to me?!" a shrill voice interrupted from between them, making them both startle,

"Shit" Jack closed his eyes briefly, "I better"

"Yep" Ianto rose to his feet, leaving the office without another word. Jack watched him go for a moment before turning his attention back to the colonel.

"Yes Sir, I'm listening" he began, as he watched Ianto head down into the archives. He would have to watch himself, he thought. He'd committed to being friends with Ianto, and that meant keeping his distance. He would bury any feelings he had for the sake of their friendship. He was sure he could do that. Completely sure.

Ianto took a deep breath as he reached the archives, simultaneously thinking he would have to watch himself. Jack was committed to being his friend, and he owed him the same. The thoughts he was having would go away, he was sure. Completely sure.