3

"A raise?"

"Yes. I checked and you are still on the same wage you haggled for when you started here. Base level. You are now in the field, as the broken ribs can prove and as such, as a field agent you are entitled to more" Jack said like it was no big deal.

"But what will the others think?"

Jack did not expect that. What? He blinked "Ianto, it is none of their business what you are paid. We don't discuss wages, it's not… look. Her Majesty is fair, also generous with us. To the horror of UNIT we have a lovely big budget and any surplus goes to other things. There is surplus, every year she gives more than we need… well… there was that time I sunk a submarine… well… look. Your pay going up fifty quid a week is not going to…"

"FIFTY QUID!" Ianto was shocked, "I thought… twenty. Fifty?"

"It's not much but it is then in line with Gwen who is still considered a new recruit so, come contact time we can look at reviewing it and maybe even a little more for the next financial year? I am thinking of implementing bonuses this year."

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why now. After everything, why offer this now" Ianto's eyes narrowed "Is this you attempt to buy me off or something? Or… or… do you feel bad and think this will sort out us?"

"Ianto… no. I know you and I will take time, and I am not doing this for my own personal needs… I think we all need to be on the same page with equal pay and you are a member of the team. You should be paid on the same level as everyone else. Fifty quid is a starting point." Jack answered him, amazed that there was this much resistance.

"Well.. thanks.. I mean... yeah… thank you" Ianto blustered, looking confused and sheepish at the same time.

Jack smiled and went back to his paperwork like it was no big deal but internally he found his heart pumping like this and been some sort of fight.

He had been afraid Ianto would turn it down.

Because in a way it WAS buying him off wasn't it. Sorry we didn't see your pain, sorry we killed your girlfriend who was no longer your girlfriend kinda thing. Sorry I can't tell you I have feelings for you because I am an uptight fucker sometimes and you will die on me like everyone else anyway. Yeah.

Sort of.

.

.

"But I don't need it"

"But you DO want it and if it is for the school trip I get the feeling you MIGHT need it tuppence" Ianto replied.

Jack paused on the stairs, looking through them at Ianto who was in his little bolthole under the stairs, his workstation hidden away from the others so he could have a time out sometimes. The phone was on speaker because Ianto was trying to get work done while arguing with his nephew.

"But I don't want to go on the trip."

"Yes you do, you just don't want to eat the food" Ianto said calmly, clinking a mouse and then turning a page on the file he was imputing.

"Well, it will suck!"

"Well if you act happy about the poncy coat your ma spent her hard-earned money washing bloody sheets for old man Tuner on, I could lend you my big backpack because you are not going to use it for trekking, the school backpack is all you need for each day trip from the camp. The huge pack will fit a lot of snack foods in the bottom under your clothes if you manage to get it in there without your mother sniffing it out." Ianto considered.

"The green one? The one Aunty Lisa got you? Really?"

"Yes. I guess… I guess I will not be using it again because I always liked my old blue one better. I only used it so she didn't think I was ungrateful for the gift but you know I don't like green" Ianto closed the file and looked up, directly at the man creeping on the stairs. "David, I have to go love."

"OK, you will drop it off right? Maybe some food already in it? It has pockets, I can fit a torch too. You know I hate the dark Unkie."

"Go see what you have and make a list of what you want, and I can see what I have in my camping gear" Ianto sighed, his glare deepening as Jack grinned and wiggled his fingers like a fuckwit.

"Bye Unkie, I love you."

"I love you too Turd."

Ianto closed the call and sat back, still eyeballing Jack "Sir?"

"Coffee?"

Ianto kept the glare contact for a moment longer with his cheeks sucked in and then he rose from the chair "OK, your office?"

"No, the meeting room please, we have a new case I picked up from UNIT against their will" Jack replied as he moved off.

Ianto knew he had been listening, knew he had likely wondered who the child was and then heard the Uncle part and now he also knew something. Jack was creeping on him, interested in the kids and probably already knew about the money thing for them… now Ianto knew why he had a raise. Ianto was not sure how or why this was something he felt uncomfortable with but since Jack had not said anything about it, clearly he was going to let it pass.

For now.