Fic: The Sea After a Storm (56/?)
Title: The Sea After a Storm, Chapter 56
Rating: R
Warnings: Nothing really, just didn't feel like changing the rating
Spoilers: Season Two thru Adam (2x05)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©'s to Catherine Tregenna for situations and dialogue borrowed from Adam. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: Jack takes Ianto's suggestion to "forget everything for a while" a little too seriously…
Notes: Thanks again to everyone who's reading and commenting! :) You can find all the previous chapters of The Sea After a Storm here. This is a sequel to Vizzini’s Rule and To The Pain. Thanks again and forever to my amazing beta and wonderful friend
thraceadams for all the help and support; any mistakes are mine!
Special Episode Note: Once I started really thinking about "Adam," I realized that I couldn't include it in the story since I write in the past tense from Ianto's point of view and Ianto (and the rest of them) don't remember any of the events of "Adam." But the moments between Jack and Ianto were just too delicious to skip so I came up with Plan B. So here it is… I give you "Adam," written in the present tense, the only way it makes sense. I'd appreciate any con-crit because I hate writing/reading the present tense so this was a stretch for me. :) Hope you enjoy! *bites nails* We will rejoin our regularly written story and tense again in "Reset."
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Fifty-Six
Ianto shakes his head and tries to remember what he'd been about to do. He thinks hard for a second and then shrugs his shoulders. He stares down at the mug in his hands and hands Adam the cup of coffee with a smile. Adam's hand slides from Ianto's shoulder where he'd given him his 'good-morning' squeeze just like always and takes the coffee with a moan of gratitude.
"Damn, Ianto, you make the best coffee," Adam says, his eyes drifting restlessly around the Hub. "We the first one's in?"
"Jack should be up in a moment," Ianto replies. "He can't resist my coffee either," he adds with a little grin.
Adam's eyes narrow for a second and then he nods in understanding as he takes his seat at his workstation. "I can see why."
Ianto stands there for a moment, still trying to remember what he'd been doing. He gives up and shakes his head at his own forgetfulness and walks back to the kitchen area. He's just finished preparing Jack's favourite blue striped mug, when he hears Jack coming out of his office.
"Ianto, the siren call of your coffee is making me… uh, who's your friend?" Jack voice changes from teasing affection to concern as he nears Adam's workstation.
Before Ianto can ask Jack what he means, Adam is on his feet again, laughing as he claps Jack on the back.
"Jack, you old joker. I'll start coming in early more often if you're this funny in the mornings."
Jack grins and gives Adam a light punch on the shoulder. "Can't see you dragging yourself out of bed for a laugh or two, lazy bones."
Adam clutches his chest and groans as if mortally wounded. "Right to the heart. You're killing me! Ianto, is he always like this in the morning?"
Ianto opens his mouth to deliver a saucy reply but finds he has nothing to say. He really has no idea what Jack is like in the morning and when he tries to pin down why that seems odd, he can't seem to make his brain cooperate. He just shrugs and pours himself a cup of badly needed coffee. "I wouldn't know."
Jack gives him a strange look, but doesn't say anything, he just takes his cup of coffee from the counter.
"So, what's on tap today, blokes?" Adam asks cheerfully, dropping back into his chair. His hand runs over his keyboard almost nervously. "Or should we wait for Owen, Gwen and Toshiko to show up?"
"Well, Gwen's not back from Paris until tomorrow, remember?" Jack points out.
"Oh, right!" Adam smacks his forehead. "Completely forgot."
"As for today, it should be pretty quiet," Jack says easily. He steps over to Tosh's workstation and clicks a few buttons until a map of the city displays on the monitor. Ianto moves closer, sipping his coffee as Jack works, but takes a step back when Adam joins them. "Right here, there's been some strange reports. Might be weevils."
"Right," Adam says again. He rests his hand on Jack's arm as he leans in to look at the monitor. "Your second in command is ready to get to work. Let's head out!"
Jack shoots him a grin and pats him on the shoulder. "Good old Adam, what would I do without you? Ianto, hold down the fort?"
"I always do, sir," Ianto says smoothly. He feels a bit bereft as he watches Jack sling his arm around Adam's shoulders as they head towards the cog door, but he doesn't allow himself to dwell on it. I clearly need another cup of coffee, he thinks.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
When Jack and Adam return, Tosh and Owen are with them. The whole group is laughing over some joke Adam was telling them in the lift. When Ianto asks what was so funny, Jack brushes him off, saying, "You had to be there. Make us some fresh coffee when you get a chance?" Only the slightest inflection at the end keeps the request from being an order. He tosses Ianto his coat and continues into his office without a second look.
Ianto is hurt by Jack's dismissal, but no more than usual. When he first started at Torchwood, Jack had taken him out in the field quite a bit, promising him a more active role in cases, but he'd slowly changed his mind, leaving Ianto back at the Hub more and more often. Ianto still isn't clear on the reason why, but Adam assures him that Jack holds him in the highest regard so Ianto has to be happy with his role. Adam wouldn't lie to him, Ianto knows that.
The rest of the afternoon passes quietly. Apparently the team didn't find anything suspicious at the coordinates, although Ianto notices that Adam is acting a little odd and worries. He heads over to Adam's desk when the coffee is made, bringing him a cup made just the way he likes it.
"Did you find anything?" he asks, handing Adam his coffee.
Adam drops his jacket at his workstation and then pats Ianto on the arm. "Nope, nothing there. You didn't miss a thing, Ianto. Remember, I told you that I'd talk to Jack for you, see about getting you back out there, but you have to be patient."
"Right, yeah, sorry," Ianto says. He gives Adam a sheepish smile. "I just get eager sometimes."
"I know, I know you better than anyone, remember? I got your back, man, don't worry. We'll get you back out there soon."
Ianto nods. "Thanks, Adam. You're the best."
Adam just grins at that.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The next morning, Ianto wakes up a few minutes before his alarm as usual. He reaches across the bed, raising his head in confusion when his hand finds the sheets next to him cool and empty. He looks at the pillow next to his, still plumped from the last time he made the bed. For a second it seems strange, like… someone should be there. Ianto's brow wrinkles with confusion but he can't think of who should be there. Lisa has been dead for over a year and there hasn't been anyone in his life since then.
He shakes off his weird feeling and heads for the shower. He promises himself that today will be different, today he'll make Jack see him as part of the team, as more than just the tea boy.
When he arrives at the Hub, Adam is already there again.
"You're early," he says as he starts to make the coffee.
Adam taps the keyboard at his workstation a few more times and then turns to look at Ianto. "Yeah, trouble sleeping the last few nights. Think I need a new flat."
"Noisy neighbours?" Ianto asks.
"The worst," Adam says with a grimace. "Newlyweds."
Ianto gives him a sympathetic smile and then turns back to the coffee as Jack joins them. He sighs. So much for not being the tea boy, he thinks.
The others slowly trickle in, Gwen coming in last as usual.
"You're late" Jack says teasingly as Gwen comes through the door.
"Yes, Paris was lovely, thank you," Gwen replies teasing him right back.
Ianto sighs again, wishing for the thousandth time that he could share in the easy camaraderie with Jack that the rest of the team has. Gwen and Adam share a little joke about her not knowing him as Ianto looks on from his place at the coffee station, longing to be part of the banter but afraid to put himself forward while Jack is there. He can't stand the idea of being slapped down or, even worse, ignored yet again.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
That afternoon, Jack heads downstairs for a while, allowing Ianto to relax a bit. He and Gwen continue working on some cataloguing together, moving the sofa after lunch so they can chat with Adam while they work.
Tosh walks past with her usual confident air. "Just doing a quick check," she tells them all brightly. "We had rift activity two days ago, but nothing seems to have come through."
"Apart from me!" Owen squeaks, drawing everyone's attention. He has a tiny, sad looking stuffed rat that he waggles at Tosh.
"What's that?" Tosh asks.
"It's a screen-cleaner," Owen says. "I thought you might like it… um…" He falters and adds hesitantly, "Do you… do you like it?"
Ianto drops his head, trying to hide his grin. He shoots a sidelong glance at Gwen only to see her doing the same.
Tosh looks at the stuffed rat with barely disguised amusement. "Just what I need," she says. "A small rodent looking at me while I work. Think I'll call it Owen," she adds as she walks away.
"Oooh," Ianto whispers.
Gwen shushes him as Owen walks by sighing, a folder clasped to his chest like a security blanket.
"He's like a little puppy, bringing her sticks," she whispers to Ianto and Adam once Owen has passed. "When's he gonna realise he's got no chance?"
"Love is blind, apparently," Ianto observes. "He's idolised her for years now."
"Oh, leave him alone," Adam scolds them. "I think it's sweet. He's happy."
Gwen and Ianto share a look and burst out laughing again.
TBC in Chapter Fifty-Seven
.
This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/102811.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Rating: R
Warnings: Nothing really, just didn't feel like changing the rating
Spoilers: Season Two thru Adam (2x05)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©'s to Catherine Tregenna for situations and dialogue borrowed from Adam. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: Jack takes Ianto's suggestion to "forget everything for a while" a little too seriously…
Notes: Thanks again to everyone who's reading and commenting! :) You can find all the previous chapters of The Sea After a Storm here. This is a sequel to Vizzini’s Rule and To The Pain. Thanks again and forever to my amazing beta and wonderful friend
thraceadams for all the help and support; any mistakes are mine!
Special Episode Note: Once I started really thinking about "Adam," I realized that I couldn't include it in the story since I write in the past tense from Ianto's point of view and Ianto (and the rest of them) don't remember any of the events of "Adam." But the moments between Jack and Ianto were just too delicious to skip so I came up with Plan B. So here it is… I give you "Adam," written in the present tense, the only way it makes sense. I'd appreciate any con-crit because I hate writing/reading the present tense so this was a stretch for me. :) Hope you enjoy! *bites nails* We will rejoin our regularly written story and tense again in "Reset."
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Fifty-Six
Ianto shakes his head and tries to remember what he'd been about to do. He thinks hard for a second and then shrugs his shoulders. He stares down at the mug in his hands and hands Adam the cup of coffee with a smile. Adam's hand slides from Ianto's shoulder where he'd given him his 'good-morning' squeeze just like always and takes the coffee with a moan of gratitude.
"Damn, Ianto, you make the best coffee," Adam says, his eyes drifting restlessly around the Hub. "We the first one's in?"
"Jack should be up in a moment," Ianto replies. "He can't resist my coffee either," he adds with a little grin.
Adam's eyes narrow for a second and then he nods in understanding as he takes his seat at his workstation. "I can see why."
Ianto stands there for a moment, still trying to remember what he'd been doing. He gives up and shakes his head at his own forgetfulness and walks back to the kitchen area. He's just finished preparing Jack's favourite blue striped mug, when he hears Jack coming out of his office.
"Ianto, the siren call of your coffee is making me… uh, who's your friend?" Jack voice changes from teasing affection to concern as he nears Adam's workstation.
Before Ianto can ask Jack what he means, Adam is on his feet again, laughing as he claps Jack on the back.
"Jack, you old joker. I'll start coming in early more often if you're this funny in the mornings."
Jack grins and gives Adam a light punch on the shoulder. "Can't see you dragging yourself out of bed for a laugh or two, lazy bones."
Adam clutches his chest and groans as if mortally wounded. "Right to the heart. You're killing me! Ianto, is he always like this in the morning?"
Ianto opens his mouth to deliver a saucy reply but finds he has nothing to say. He really has no idea what Jack is like in the morning and when he tries to pin down why that seems odd, he can't seem to make his brain cooperate. He just shrugs and pours himself a cup of badly needed coffee. "I wouldn't know."
Jack gives him a strange look, but doesn't say anything, he just takes his cup of coffee from the counter.
"So, what's on tap today, blokes?" Adam asks cheerfully, dropping back into his chair. His hand runs over his keyboard almost nervously. "Or should we wait for Owen, Gwen and Toshiko to show up?"
"Well, Gwen's not back from Paris until tomorrow, remember?" Jack points out.
"Oh, right!" Adam smacks his forehead. "Completely forgot."
"As for today, it should be pretty quiet," Jack says easily. He steps over to Tosh's workstation and clicks a few buttons until a map of the city displays on the monitor. Ianto moves closer, sipping his coffee as Jack works, but takes a step back when Adam joins them. "Right here, there's been some strange reports. Might be weevils."
"Right," Adam says again. He rests his hand on Jack's arm as he leans in to look at the monitor. "Your second in command is ready to get to work. Let's head out!"
Jack shoots him a grin and pats him on the shoulder. "Good old Adam, what would I do without you? Ianto, hold down the fort?"
"I always do, sir," Ianto says smoothly. He feels a bit bereft as he watches Jack sling his arm around Adam's shoulders as they head towards the cog door, but he doesn't allow himself to dwell on it. I clearly need another cup of coffee, he thinks.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
When Jack and Adam return, Tosh and Owen are with them. The whole group is laughing over some joke Adam was telling them in the lift. When Ianto asks what was so funny, Jack brushes him off, saying, "You had to be there. Make us some fresh coffee when you get a chance?" Only the slightest inflection at the end keeps the request from being an order. He tosses Ianto his coat and continues into his office without a second look.
Ianto is hurt by Jack's dismissal, but no more than usual. When he first started at Torchwood, Jack had taken him out in the field quite a bit, promising him a more active role in cases, but he'd slowly changed his mind, leaving Ianto back at the Hub more and more often. Ianto still isn't clear on the reason why, but Adam assures him that Jack holds him in the highest regard so Ianto has to be happy with his role. Adam wouldn't lie to him, Ianto knows that.
The rest of the afternoon passes quietly. Apparently the team didn't find anything suspicious at the coordinates, although Ianto notices that Adam is acting a little odd and worries. He heads over to Adam's desk when the coffee is made, bringing him a cup made just the way he likes it.
"Did you find anything?" he asks, handing Adam his coffee.
Adam drops his jacket at his workstation and then pats Ianto on the arm. "Nope, nothing there. You didn't miss a thing, Ianto. Remember, I told you that I'd talk to Jack for you, see about getting you back out there, but you have to be patient."
"Right, yeah, sorry," Ianto says. He gives Adam a sheepish smile. "I just get eager sometimes."
"I know, I know you better than anyone, remember? I got your back, man, don't worry. We'll get you back out there soon."
Ianto nods. "Thanks, Adam. You're the best."
Adam just grins at that.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The next morning, Ianto wakes up a few minutes before his alarm as usual. He reaches across the bed, raising his head in confusion when his hand finds the sheets next to him cool and empty. He looks at the pillow next to his, still plumped from the last time he made the bed. For a second it seems strange, like… someone should be there. Ianto's brow wrinkles with confusion but he can't think of who should be there. Lisa has been dead for over a year and there hasn't been anyone in his life since then.
He shakes off his weird feeling and heads for the shower. He promises himself that today will be different, today he'll make Jack see him as part of the team, as more than just the tea boy.
When he arrives at the Hub, Adam is already there again.
"You're early," he says as he starts to make the coffee.
Adam taps the keyboard at his workstation a few more times and then turns to look at Ianto. "Yeah, trouble sleeping the last few nights. Think I need a new flat."
"Noisy neighbours?" Ianto asks.
"The worst," Adam says with a grimace. "Newlyweds."
Ianto gives him a sympathetic smile and then turns back to the coffee as Jack joins them. He sighs. So much for not being the tea boy, he thinks.
The others slowly trickle in, Gwen coming in last as usual.
"You're late" Jack says teasingly as Gwen comes through the door.
"Yes, Paris was lovely, thank you," Gwen replies teasing him right back.
Ianto sighs again, wishing for the thousandth time that he could share in the easy camaraderie with Jack that the rest of the team has. Gwen and Adam share a little joke about her not knowing him as Ianto looks on from his place at the coffee station, longing to be part of the banter but afraid to put himself forward while Jack is there. He can't stand the idea of being slapped down or, even worse, ignored yet again.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
That afternoon, Jack heads downstairs for a while, allowing Ianto to relax a bit. He and Gwen continue working on some cataloguing together, moving the sofa after lunch so they can chat with Adam while they work.
Tosh walks past with her usual confident air. "Just doing a quick check," she tells them all brightly. "We had rift activity two days ago, but nothing seems to have come through."
"Apart from me!" Owen squeaks, drawing everyone's attention. He has a tiny, sad looking stuffed rat that he waggles at Tosh.
"What's that?" Tosh asks.
"It's a screen-cleaner," Owen says. "I thought you might like it… um…" He falters and adds hesitantly, "Do you… do you like it?"
Ianto drops his head, trying to hide his grin. He shoots a sidelong glance at Gwen only to see her doing the same.
Tosh looks at the stuffed rat with barely disguised amusement. "Just what I need," she says. "A small rodent looking at me while I work. Think I'll call it Owen," she adds as she walks away.
"Oooh," Ianto whispers.
Gwen shushes him as Owen walks by sighing, a folder clasped to his chest like a security blanket.
"He's like a little puppy, bringing her sticks," she whispers to Ianto and Adam once Owen has passed. "When's he gonna realise he's got no chance?"
"Love is blind, apparently," Ianto observes. "He's idolised her for years now."
"Oh, leave him alone," Adam scolds them. "I think it's sweet. He's happy."
Gwen and Ianto share a look and burst out laughing again.
TBC in Chapter Fifty-Seven
.
This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/102811.html. Please comment there using OpenID.