This was a combined product of boredom on a long car journey and procrastination (a word I learnt today describes my life) to avoid doing my psychology coursework.

The usual applies, I unfortunately don't own any of the characters etc.

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For the third time this week it had been 'one of those days'. Ianto gratefully shut the door to his flat behind him and leant against it.

Jack had called him in at half four that morning for a weevil hunt. Ianto had been surprised when they'd actually come across one; he'd have to speak to Jack about his misleading use of euphemisms.

He slid off his coat, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension in his abused muscles, and hung it up neatly on a hook by the door. As he did so he noticed a growing red stain on his white cotton shirt, yet another claim on expenses would be required.

The weevil had been exceptionally large, even by accepted weevil-standards, and had taken all of his and Jack's combined efforts to subdue. Three ragged gashes across his chest were his souvenir from that encounter.

Next Ianto stooped down to remove his shoes, following the same routine that marked his return home every day. Or at least, every day that he didn't come home with a horny Jack in tow.

The rift had been causing havoc amongst the torchwood team all day, flaring randomly and frequently but with no visible results. After the fifth trip to investigate the site of a flare Owen accused Tosh of writing a 'shite programme', a comment which didn't go down too well. Gwen's attempts at playing peacemaker had ended somewhat dismally when both had turned on her and accused her of interfering.

Oh yeah, most definitely one of those days…

In socked feet Ianto padded into his small but compulsively neat kitchen to put the kettle on for a cup of tea. When at work he loved nothing more than the sent of his own carefully crafted coffee but at home he tended to drink tea, finding it more relaxing.

In order to stop the arguments Ianto had eventually volunteered to replace Owen in investigating the surges in rift activity. It resulted in the inevitable bitching about him being Jacks favourite but things settled down fairly quickly.

The kettle clicked to indicate it had boiled and Ianto, lost in thought, poured the water into his mug automatically and began to make the tea.

After checking out eight flare locations in a row and finding nothing at any of them the brunette was beginning to understand Owen's complaint.

Ianto drummed his fingers on the kitchen counter waiting for the tea to brew; he liked his tea strong and full of flavour.

He had just begun to ask Jack if there was really much point in checking out any more of these 'flare sites' when Toshiko's rift monitoring system started beeping loudly and interrupting him. With a resigned sigh Ianto pulled up the details.

"Ok… It might actually be something this time round… Tosh's rift monitor is picking up a massive surge in activity. Possibly a tear…"

Ianto took out the teabag and topped up his mug with milk. Picking up the mug he savoured the warmth seeping through into his hands and took a sip. He closed his eyes to better enjoy the moment of respite after a 17 hour day.

They arrived at the site indicated by the computer programme in short order thanks to Jacks slightly maniacal driving style and with practised ease split from the SUV in opposite directions. Both drawing their weapons, they cautiously closed in on the abandoned warehouse by the docks.

As soon as they entered the location of the rift activity was obvious; a beautifully scintillating light hung in the air, hovering just above ground level. As they watched in began pulsing gently from orange to red to a light purple colour. Ianto was entranced by the deadly beauty of the tear but Jack had seen the very same thing once before and knew well the danger it represented.

"Ianto, run!"

Knowing better than to disobey his captain's orders, he ran.

Behind his closed eyes he could still see the pulsing lights if the rift. Shaking his head to dispel such thoughts he took another, deeper sip of tea.

Reflected on the walls of the warehouse Ianto could see the tear beginning to pulse faster and sensed a build up of energy. He just about made it to the doorway before the light flared brilliant white and exploded, throwing him hard into the side of the SUV.

Ianto lay in a stunned heap for several minutes feeling bruised blooming all along one side of his body. When he eventually recovered enough to pull himself upright the first thing he noticed was Jack lying in front of him with a significant splinter of wood stuck in his leg.

Feeling fortified enough by the tea to check the news and today's post he wandered through into his living room.

Owen took a lot of convincing but eventually he agreed that Ianto was fit enough, medically speaking, to go home alone except from a stack of industrial strength painkillers. Jack took even more convincing but was eventually swayed that Ianto needed to go home alone and sleep after being threatened with decaf for a week. He did however insist on giving Ianto a lift and dropped him off with a restrained kiss outside his block of flats.

It took a moment for the fact of another presence in his living room to sink in. Ianto had previously failed to notice the intruder who lay sprawled lazily across his sofa grinning smugly. It took another moment or two to register with Ianto exactly who it was that had invaded his home and his privacy.

"You!"

He carefully placed his mug on the cabinet that stood by the doorway before he dropped it. In his minds eye he could imagine the mug spiralling slowly towards the floor, splattering the dark milky liquid everywhere. Pushing aside such trivial thoughts he turned his full attention on the intruder.

"Captain Hart." He imbued the words with as much venom as he could muster.

The grin of the rogue on his sofa grew to Cheshire proportions "…at your service, Eye Candy…"

Reviews are welcome to let me know if the flashbacks work or just make it confusing. Who am I kidding… reviews of any kind are love!