18
The next week was like a new dawning, like they had stepped through some trans dimensional warp beam or something. Everyone was happy, the HUB was full of laughter and banter. It was on the fifth day that Jack finally saw it.
Andy had arrived to visit Ianto with some information on a case and been allowed down into the main HUB and he was busy terrorizing Owen in the funniest way, only the fact Owen could not hold back the occasional giggle before acting annoyed again gave away the fact that he fitted in like one of the team.
As always, Ianto had given him time to see, to notice and work it out for himself without scolding or nagging, just an occasional push in the right direction and as he stood there watching the HUB move around him… he saw it.
Jack had backed the wrong horse.
Something Jack hated to admit… being wrong but Andy was so different to Gwen. Jack had gone for the flighty mare, overlooking the chestnut colt in the background. Damn… Ianto had warned him that Gwen was not a good fit, it had only made him dig his heels in more and try to prove himself to be the arsehat we was.
"Rhys! How's thing going for you?" Ianto asked, alerting Jack to the fact Ianto was on the phone with Rhys "I hear the weather is blustery."
"It's grand. The snow, the wind… I walk most afternoons with the dogs!"
"Dogs?" Ianto stopped walking, "You have dogs there? Archie has cats."
"I know… but I saw these dogs on a poster and… well… they are gorgeous hounds. Desperate for a home, their owner moving overseas… I hated the thought of them going into a pond or something. So majestic and… well… lovely. I love it here so much. You know, even Gwen is seeing how calmer things are. She loves it here too."
"Really? I would have thought she would miss the adventure of it all." Ianto said slowly, pivoting on his heel to walk in the other direction and smacking into the man standing right behind him listening into the conversation. He gave Jack a withering look and Jack grinned weakly.
"Well, she is jetting around on that private plane gathering shit from UNIT sites, gone every other day and she loves dressing up, shooting along on her heels and she can't stop talking about the high end meals and things."
"Wow. So, gonna miss it when you come back" Ianto said, and Jack felt his face going cold, the blood draining as Ianto looked directly into his eyes and continued to talk "You know… she could transfer there and make it a permanent posting if she REALLY wanted to. Imagine, a little one out there with you there on the moors, the doggies. The peace and quiet."
"Shit, I recon she might go for it. Of course she would cause a stink about leaving Himself… you know there's that thing there I can't crack."
"Don't you worry about that. I mean, not like she's gone… just a phone call away." Ianto assured him, "You work on her… I can work on Himself. I am sure Jack can let her be happy… let you both be happy there. He understands that your family and future family is more important. I mean… let's be serious here. She said herself, this is no place for children. My kids are old enough to leave behind with a sitter… a baby… there would never be a baby here. But there… a chance for a normal life?"
Jack felt warmth return as Ianto smiled, that old soft one he hadn't seen in a while.
Yeah.
Jack saw the way forward.
"Andy? Come to my office for a chat old chummy bum!"
Andy rolled hi eyes as he followed Jack up the stairs.
To his destiny.
.
.
Ianto was in the private quarters under the office and Jack lowered himself down the ladder to find Ianto on the bed, laying down in silence.
"Tiger? You OK?" Jack was instantly concerned "Is it one of your heads?"
"I am hiding."
"Hiding?"
"Andy's first official day here, I am hiding so I don't fuss and help him." Ianto sighed "Like watching your child learning to ride a bike or something. The urge to help and fuss a bit is overwhelming."
Jack laughed softly as he kicked off his boots and settled on the bed next to him, looking at the ceiling of the room. His hand found Ianto's and they enjoyed a moment, before he whispered "We COULD hide at home."
Ianto's head rolled to look at him, eyebrows raising.
"Owen can take over, it's a quiet day and I can just be on call if one of those pesky 'End of the World' events happen to occur…. If not… we can just be at home unpacking those boxes of books you got from your lockup now the bookcases are likely dry." Jack reminded Ianto that the stained bookcases Ianto had been so overjoyed to sand down and re-stain in a rich deep burgundy stain were still empty.
As he knew it would, it galvanized Ianto to action, the thought of some filing to be done, even if it is books. Ianto rolled on top of him, kissed him and then whispered in his ear "And I forgot to make the bed this morning too. Still so messy and.. smelly."
OK. Dirty pool.
Jack was moving just as fast now.
Cheeky Tiger.
But this life… was soooo much fun.
