SITE FOR SORE EYES - CHAPTER 1

Dec 06, 2011 08:03

Title: Site for Sore Eyes - Chapter 1
Author: iantosdreamer46
Genre: AU
Pairings/Characters: Ianto/Jack, Tosh/Owen, Gwen/Rhys, Chris/Damien
Summary:Jack is the owner of a construction company and has been asked by his two friends to build their new house in Cardiff. Ianto goes to work for Jack after leaving London and his ex girlfriend.
Rating: NC-17 Overall
Wordcount: 2,234
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, they belong to the BBC and RTD, I just like to experiment with them from time to time.

A/N I've discovered that AU's are addictive. This is for zazajb who started me with these and I hope it goes someway to making her smile.

A/N2 Apologies for any of you who are getting this multiple times, it's cross posted.

Jack hadn’t realised but he’d been working on Damien’s house for several hours.  When he looked at the clock it was 1.30am.  He’d not been fired up about anything for a very long time.  He silently thanked the two men for awakening his passion for work.
Climbing into bed he knew this was going to be an enjoyable project.

Jack arrived for work before everyone as always, he should have felt tired but he was too much on a high with sorting out the house to think about sleep.

Dawn popped her head around the door “Morning Jack, coffee?”

“Mmm please, I haven’t had time to put any on myself yet, sorry.”

“No worries, vanilla ok?”

“Yeah, great thanks.”

She left him sorting out the plans for the house.  She was pleased Damien and Chris had arrived the day before, Jack was smiling again and Dawn hadn’t seen him so animated since, well since he’d first met Hart.  She knew they’d parted friends but she was sure Jack still missed him.  This project would take his mind off his ex and maybe, just maybe there might be a new man in her boss’s life.  She could hope.

When Jack had arrived at his office he got straight into printing out the plans he’d been given.  He would have liked to have had the hard copy the previous night, but that would have meant him going to the office.  If he’d done them last night he’d have spent the night at the office, not really what he wanted to do.

There was a knock at his door, “come in.”

“Morning Jack,” Owen and Tosh had arrived “sorry we’re early but we were intrigued about this project.”

Jack was trying to fold one of the printed plans.  “Hey no problem, it’ll save me folding these, come and look.”

“Wow Jack, that is going to be one beautiful house.”

“Yeah, I thought so too when I saw it last night.  Do you think you could work you magic Tosh and give us a 3D design?”

“Sure, no problem.  I’ll ring in sick and go home and work on them.”

“Owen tells me you’re not happy where you are.”

“No, they’re still in the dark ages where CAD is, they refuse to let me use the 3D programmes available.”

“Ok, think about this, why don’t you come and work for me.  You can have whatever equipment, programmes you want.  No expense spared.  You can start today if you want?”

“Are you serious Jack?”

“I’ve never been more serious.  I think the work you have done for the city has been fantastic, but I also think you are capable of doing more.  And if I can give you that opportunity, then that’s what I want to do.”

“Wow….I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes….please.”  He batted his puppy dog eyes at her.  How could anyone refuse Jack when he looked at you like that?  Even Tosh had to admit he was one good looking guy.

“Ok, yeah, thank you Jack, you won’t regret it.”  She went and hugged him.  “I’ll ring the council and take the holidays owing to me, then I’ll tell them that I’m not going back.  They won’t be too happy, but I’ve had tons of hassle this last few months, so it’ll serve them right.”

“Do you want to phone from here, you’re more than welcome to!”

“Great, thanks Jack.”  Tosh couldn’t stop grinning all the while she was on the phone to her boss.

“Look what you’ve done Jack.”

“What?”

“You’ve turned her into a grinning monster.”  The two men laughed.

“Hey I’ve been trying to poach her talents for a long time now.  I’m glad she decided to join us.”

“You won’t regret it, I promise you that.”

“Damien and Chris are coming to mine for dinner tonight, how about you and Tosh join us then she can talk to Damien without me having to explain her designs and get them all wrong.”

“Thanks, you cooking?”

“Yep, thought it was about time I showed off my culinary skills again.”

“What’s going on boys?”

“Tosh, you and Owen are at mine for dinner tonight, that way you can show Damien what you’ve created.”

“Fantastic, what are you cooking?”

“Thought I might surprise you all.  And no it won’t be Lasagne again I promise.”

“Thanks Jack, we’ll see you later.”

“Hey, before you go, what did your boss say, or is it ex boss?”

“They weren’t happy, but they owe me the time so they can’t really do much about it.  Oh just one thing Jack?”

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“They definitely want six bedrooms?”

“Yep, you know what those two are for spur of the moment inviting people to stay over?”

“Ok, no problem.  I’ll get started on it straight away, I should have something ready - first draft mind you - tonight.”

“As always Tosh you’re a star.”

“Oh Owen whilst Tosh is busy on the designs I need you to do some work for me too.  I’ve decided that I’m taking a bigger role in this project, it’s about time I got back onto site, so I was thinking….”

“Steady Jack, that’s dangerous for you isn’t it?”  They laughed as Tosh slapped her lover playfully.

“Oi, thanks Owen.  No seriously, I’ve been holed up here too long, I could do with excitement on site, so what I’d like you to do is be my Assistant Project Manager and make a list of men you know we can trust to get this house built on time and within budget.”

“Ok, no worries, but does this mean….” He smiled

“Mean what Owen?”

“Does it mean you get that coat out of mothballs again?”

Jack grinned “yep you can’t have a Captain of the site without that coat as you put it.”

Owen groaned.

“Come on Owen you’ve got to admit I look good in it?”

Owen and Tosh smiled, they were pleased Jack was back to his old self.  It was about time.

The pair of them left Jack still copying the first draft of the plans.  They all knew there would be several versions before the house was complete.

For the remainder of the day Jack made sure all his other sites around the city were on track and the major problems they’d had at the hospital were now all sorted.  He made a mental note to call at the supermarket on his way home.  He’d offered to cook dinner, but he hadn’t really got anything in.  He’d been living off takeaways since Hart had left, he couldn’t be bothered to cook for himself.

“Dawn, have you got a minute?”  He shouted through the open door.

“Sure Jack, what’s the problem?”

“I’m going to need you to be my eyes and ears here whilst I’m on this job for Chris and Damien, but I’m also going to need a secretary for the site.  I was wondering if you know anyone?”

“I don’t think so Jack, I’m sorry.  But hasn’t Tosh got a friend who’s looking for work?”

“Great, I’ll ask her, thanks.  Now are you sure you can manage without me here?”

“I’ve done it before, so yeah no problem.  And if there is I’ll ring you.  When are you starting?”

“I’ve got the boys coming around for dinner tonight, so if all goes well it should be next Monday.”

“Wow that’s quick.”

“I know, but they want it as soon as possible, but I can’t blame them.  They deserve to escape when they need to.”

“Ok, just let me know when you’re starting and I’ll be here early.”

“No need for that but thanks anyway.  I knew I could rely on you.  I promise I’ll come into the office once a week.  You know what Friday’s are like on a site.  All the contractors go at lunchtime to travel home for the weekend.  So I’ll come in then and sign anything that’s required.”

“Fine, no worries.”

Jack left her to go do his shopping for that night.  He’d decided on spiced chicken with pasta shells and salad followed by a black forest gateaux.  He’d buy the gateaux, he wasn’t that good a cook.

He was still smiling when he let himself in his front door.  He looked at the clock in the kitchen, he’d put the chicken on to cook then he’d go find his coat, or as Owen called it that coat.  Owen, Tosh and Dawn had bought him it many years ago when he first went into business.  He’d joked about being a captain of industry and for his birthday that year they’d found the perfect present - his Captain’s great coat - saying now it was official.  Every site he’d been on he’d worn it and he, and the coat, had become somewhat of a legend around Cardiff.  Before he met Hart, he’d used the chat up line do you think this coat looks sexy? And more often than not he’d gone home with someone.  Then when Hart came along the coat got put in the wardrobe and had been forgotten about.  Now he was ready, ready to face being on a site again and ready, one day maybe to find someone new.

He put the coat on Harkness you’ve still got it.  With that the doorbell rang.  He rushed downstairs, made sure the dinner was ok then opened the door.

“Wow Jack, very hot!”

“What?” he’d forgotten he still had the coat on.

“The coat Jack, mmm very nice.”

For the first time in a very long time Jack blushed.

“Well can we come in?  Damien’s got some champagne and it needs to go in the fridge.”

“Yeah, sorry Chris, I forgot I’d still got this on.  Fridge is in the kitchen, through there” he pointed to the last room on the right at the end of the hall.

“What’s with the coat anyway?”

“Oh just a little joke of Owen, Tosh and Dawn.  I decided as I was going to be site manager on your house I’d get it out again.”  He went on to explain all about it to Damien and Chris and by the time he’d finished they were all laughing.  The doorbell rang again, Jack still hadn’t had a chance to take the coat off and he caught the knowing look between his two friends as he opened the door.

“So….the Captain’s back in business then?”

“Yeah, what do you think?  Have I still got it?”

“Definitely Jack, most definitely.”

“Oi Tosh, hands off, you’re mine!”

She pulled Owen close, “I know, but a girl can window shop can’t she?”  They laughed, Jack knew this was going to be a good night.

They had a relaxed dinner and everyone marvelled at how Jack’s cooking had improved.

“Ok, down to business, Tosh did you manage to work some magic on those plans?”

“Yep, shall I take Chris and Damien through to the lunge and show them, whilst you and Owen discuss workmen?”

“Mmmm discussing men is a very good idea.”

“Jack you’re definitely back!  You’re incorrigible, I was talking about builders.”

“Yeah, I know, I’m just thinking about summer days on site and half naked builders.”  They all laughed, it was great to see Jack happy again.

“That’d be great, just one thing though.  I’ll want a secretary for the site and Dawn reckons you know someone?”

“Yeah, she’s the fiancée  of one of Owens mates.  I think he’s going to be working this job, so it would make it easier for them.”

“Great what’s her name?”

“It’s Gwen Cooper.  I’ll leave you her phone number before we go.”

“Thanks Tosh, now go work your magic on the boys in there.”

She left Jack and Owen talking.

“Right Owen, any thoughts on what I asked you earlier?”

“Yeah, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.  You know you said you wanted me to be Assistant Project Manager?”

“Yeah, is something wrong with that?”

“No….not at all, it’s just….well I’d feel more comfortable as the Safety Officer, and as I’m a qualified first aider, I think I’ll be of more use to you in that capacity.”

“Ok, if that’s what you want, it’s fine by me.  So….any ideas about who would make an Assistant Project Manager?”

“I’ll come to that in a minute, I’ve got a list of others that are reliable and would love a chance at a project like this.”

“Fine, who are they?”

Owen handed Jack a list of about half a dozen names he knew could be relied on to keep everyone on task.  “That one there” he pointed to a name half way down the list, “that’s Gwen’s fiancé Rhys Williams, he’s a good bloke and certainly knows his job.”

“Great, thanks for these I’ll contact them tomorrow.  I want to hopefully begin the job next Monday.”

“Wow you are eager.”

“Yeah, I never thought I’d want to get back on a site, but Chris and Damien have got me fired up.  Now what about my APM, who do you have in mind?”

“He’s a great guy, he’s just moved from London, messy split with his girlfriend.  He wants a new start back in his home town, and this is just the job for him.  I’ve known him a number of years.”

“Come on then, apart from being a Cardiff man, what’s the guy’s name?”

“Oh yeah sorry, it’s Jones, Ianto Jones!”

tbc

Chapter http://iantosdreamer46.livejournal.com/36388.html2

jack/ianto, au, nc-17, site for.., masterlist

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