Same Time, Real Time

An instant message transcript between Jack and Owen, and the aftermath with Ianto.

Owen, I really need your help.

?

I need you to distract Ianto for me.

Should've thought, Jack, that you were the expert in distracting Ianto….

Not like that!

Why do you need me?

There's something I have to do.

What?

That'd be telling.

Well, tell. Otherwise you are on your own.

I need to restore my PC account from yesterday's backup of the Torchwood computer server.

Why?

Owen, you sound like a three year old - "why? why? why?"

Delilah

Ha-ha – not.

So just tell me why.

I had an accident. I just wiped out my email archive.

Oh, not again.

Possibly.

Application data folder again?

:-(

When will you ever learn? What's this, the third time?

Well, when it says 'are you sure you want to delete this?' it ought to spell out the consequences, too. If it had said 'you are about to destroy 10 years of accumulated email archive' I'd've thought twice about pressing OK.

So how do you suggest I distract the teaboy?

Go and pick a fight with him. You are good at that.

A fight? About what?

Not having a reason doesn't normally stop you.

Point taken.

Owen stands up from his desk, and walks casually across to where Ianto sits on the sofa, taking a break for once. He plonks himself down on the couch next to the archivist.

"What are you reading?"

"Our Man in Havana." replies Ianto, not looking up from his novel.

"Crap book," says Owen, provocatively. He knows it is one of Ianto's favourites. "Really stupid, that part where they play draughts using miniature bottles of bourbon and scotch instead of proper pieces." Out of the corner of his eye, he registers Jack getting up and stretching casually. He wonders if Jack will add in an innocent whistle for effect.

"What's so stupid about that?" asks Ianto. "I think it adds a nice realism to the plot, a human element." Out of the corner of his eye, he registers Jack getting up and stretching casually. He wonders if Jack will add in an innocent whistle for effect.

"They'd be well pissed afterwards," ventures Owen, trying not to be obvious about watching as Jack heads towards the door that leads to the computer room.

"They were." comments Ianto, watching as Jack heads towards the door that leads to the computer room.

Owen notices that Ianto has noticed. "Actually, to tell the truth, I really like the book." he says. "Genius idea with the vacuum cleaner plans."

They sit in companionable silence for a few moments. Ianto carefully marks the page he's on and looks at Owen.

"Application data folder again?" he asks.

The End

Who needs the plot bunny when real life serves up such ready-made situations. Anyone else been there, done that?