AN: Sorry but the other stories are on hold until I can get back into them since COE my brain has fudged so I decided to start on something completely fresh to remind myself why I really detest the BBC right now.

This starts pre season one as in my universe season three simply doesn't exist... it's the only way really.

Comments would be welcomed, thank you.

THE DAMNED DON'T CRY

6am was never a good time for Owen Harper. 6am should be one of those times of the day that simply didn't exist as far as he was concerned. 6am was absolutely not the time to be standing about in the freezing pre-dawn winter rain waiting for a bloody Tea Boy to come out of the warehouse. Owen stomped his feet on the concrete and blew into cupped hands, Christ he was cold and where the hell were Suzie and Ianto? The sound of footsteps caused him to jump, much to obvious amusement when she shot him a disparaging look.

"We're done here Owen, may as well head back."

Ianto, silent as ever was standing in her shadow trying not to be seen. Typical. Owen snorted.

"Waste of time then?"

Suzie nodded.

"Bollocks. I could have stayed in bed!"

Suzie strode past him heading in the direction of the SUV and Ianto followed in her wake, keeping his comments steadfastly to himself, he was grateful for the disappointing outcome. His first mission out in the field with Torchwood three was a success; he was still alive and unscathed. His hands were sunk deep into the pockets of his tailored woollen over coat and he hunched himself into warm fabric and hurried along to keep up with Suzie's fast pace. Owen fell in step beside him, his head down against the wet and the wind.

"Fucking hate Wales." Was muttered just loud enough for Ianto to hear the provocation.

"Me too." He responded refusing to rise to the bait.

The drive back to the Hub was taken in sulky silence. Owen rode shot gun with Suzie driving at a gentle speed through the increasing traffic.

"We really need to refine the sensors, this is the sixth time this month we've been out here wasting our time." Owen snapped.

"Tosh is working on it, it's a lot better than it was so stop bloody complaining." Suzie replied waspishly. Ianto sat staring out of his window, watching Cardiff slide by with the onset of a new November day. He just wanted to get back to the Hub, check Lisa and disappear into the tourist office to catch up on the paperwork. Owen and Suzie continued in their debate, throwing flirtatious barbs between them by the time they had arrived back at the garage. They disgorged themselves from the SUV and Ianto went straight through the Hub to make coffee before Owen could start demanding it.

Jack watched from his office as he three colleagues returned. Ianto quietly sloped by in the direction of the coffee maker and Owen and Suzie blustered in behind him clearly enjoying their argument. Jack smiled to himself and shaking his head he went back to his desk and the rather daunting pile of forms he had to sign off. He was interrupted a few minutes later by a tentative tap on the door and then it opened and in walked coffee heaven, well Ianto Jones with a mug of his divine elixir. As was usual, Ianto hesitated in the doorway before quietly gliding in and placing the mug down on a coaster on Jack's desk. Jack looked into Ianto's unreadable blank mask and smiled.

"Thank you Ianto. How did it go out there today?"

Ianto dithered as if gathering up a suitable reply. "It was fine, sir. We didn't find anything other than weak residual readings. Owen complained, we all got wet and cold and then we came back." Ianto took a pace back and unconsciously smoothed down the front of his pin stripped jacket.

Jack nodded. "Good. I want you out on a couple of retrievals each week, build up your confidence out there. We'll carry on in the firing range as well."

Ianto sighed inwardly, field ops was the last thing he wanted. "Of course, sir. Was there anything else?"

Jack could think of a lot of things and he smiled up at the young man standing before him. "No, that will be all."

Ianto offered up a stiff, curt nod and turned and left. Jack watched his departing arse closely before turning his attention to the mug of coffee.

Ianto closed the door behind him and headed to Toshiko's desk and the pile of files there. She looked up from her monitors and smiled that sweet shy smile that Ianto had to privately admit he found calming. He gestured at the paperwork.

"May I take these?"

Tosh nodded and pulled off her glasses, taking up her mug of green tea that he had brought her before going to Jack's office.

"Yes, they're all finalised." She replied before having a sip of her tea.

Ianto nodded. "I bet Owen's aren't."

Tosh couldn't help but wince. "No, I'm sure." She felt sorry for the younger man and Ianto could tell it in her tone. He tried not to look frustrated.

"Never mind. I'll see to these and anyway I still have plenty to get on with. I'll be in the archive if you need anything." He cradled the folders against his chest and walked away.

Tosh watched him and sighed, but once she had finished her tea she was soon immersed once again in her computations.

Ianto worked ceaselessly filing the paperwork in the first instance and then after checking Lisa, going back to lower levels to continue sorting through the artefacts rescued from the wreckage of Canary Wharf. There were hundreds of items all just dumped in their boxes and crates and left. What the hell had Jack been thinking? There were also thousands of files, still in their box folders awaiting to be added into the collection housed at Torchwood 3. Ianto didn't mind, he was grateful for the task that kept him out of everyone's way and close by to where Lisa was securely stowed away. He felt safe down here amongst all these inanimate objects and enjoyed the prospect of learning all he could from them. Knowledge was power after all and maybe, just maybe, there was something in all this that could help Lisa. Ianto completely buried himself in his tasks totally unaware of the passage of time, trying to quell his constant fear of discovery and regret at the lies he was forced to tell. If it made Lisa better then every spoken false word would be worth it. He knew he had to be careful though, Suzie was constantly vigilant, though thankfully she almost never came here to the very bowels of the Hub. Owen, thankfully just dismissed him and Tosh didn't seem to notice him either. Jack was always watching, but it was nothing more than self interest and underlying lust that had more than once threatened to break the surface of Ianto's manikin exterior. Ianto sighed wondering how long it would be before the verbal flirting would move on to something more intimate. He would do whatever it took.....

Damned.... He knew he was and always would be, but he had no room for tears if Lisa was to survive or if he was to survive for that matter. Ianto chewed at his lip as he worked. The blue tooth in his ear suddenly beeped for attention and Ianto pressed it.

"Yes, sir?"

Jack's cheerful accented tones filtered through. "Ianto, go to the morgue and bring a trolley to the parking bay, we have a very heavy body to shift."

"Of course sir."

Ianto abandoned his task and did as he was told.

The wheels on the trolley refused to play ball and it took great effort to negotiate it through the swing doors that led to the SUV's parking bay. No one appeared to notice his efforts and he realised he was walking in on a very heated argument between Jack and Suzie. Owen was nowhere to be seen and Tosh was just opening up the back of the SUV as Ianto pulled up the trolley beside it. He turned to get a look at the contents of the back of the vehicle and suddenly screamed, drawing his gun from the shoulder holster under his jacket and firing haphazardly into the trunk. Tosh ducked out of the way and cowered to avoid the bouncing bullets and the next thing Ianto knew he was face down on the concrete underneath Jack who had expertly disarmed him. It took Ianto a moment to register the fact that he was still screaming. He wrestled somewhat futilly against Jack but almost threw him off in his panic.

"Ianto! Ianto stop, it's ok. It's dead. STOP!" Jack was bellowing in his ear. "It's dead!"

Ianto stilled and hauled in a shuddering breath and finally he went limp under Jack's weight, closing his eyes.

"Shit. I'm sorry I didn't think. I'm sorry. GET THAT THING INTO THE INCINERATOR!"

Ianto didn't see Tosh and Suzie haul the deactivated Cyberman onto the trolley and wheel it away.

Ianto felt faint and nauseas as Jack finally lifted himself up and then gently manhandled him to his feet. He felt himself sway and bright specks danced in his vision.

"Oh God, sorry, sorry sir." It poured out and then he lurched and vomited all over the concrete at their feet before passing out.

Jack only just caught him in time, rather taken aback by just how light Ianto was. He lifted him easily and Ianto's head lolled against his shoulder as he was carried through the Hub to the autopsy bay.

Owen was already there and was more than a little put out when Jack planted the unconscious Tea Boy on his metal exam table.

"He does need to be dead BEFORE the PM Jack." Owen quipped with a snide smile. He snapped on some gloves and Jack stood back as the medic got to work.

"What happened?"

"He saw the Cyberman, went for his gun. I tackled him to the floor. I think he may have hit his head. When I got him back on his feet he threw up and then passed out."

Owen sighed. "Help me undress him, may as well check him over properly then."

They set to work removing Ianto's jacket and tie and loosening his belt. Owen taped a sensor to his temple and Jack undid the buttons of the immaculate white shirt. He sucked in a sharp breath.

Owen looked at pale skin and prominent ribs, but there was an angry, partially healed mess of scar tissue below the left collar bone. It looked worryingly similar to hand print. Owen nodded he had known it was there.

"Canary Wharf."

Jack nodded. "I didn't realise he was hurt."

"A Cyberman got him, quite frankly he was bloody lucky. I can't believe you didn't think Jack." Owen berated and then sighed. "Poor fucker. His vitals are fine Jack, it was just a faint, probably shock at seeing that thing in the trunk. He needs some rest and a decent meal."

Jack couldn't argue with the assessment. He stepped back and left Owen to get on with his job.

"Just get him comfortable and leave him to sleep."

Owen nodded, knowing full well that that wasn't nearly enough to cater for the boy's needs. Still, not his problem.

Jack wandered back through the Hub to make sure that Suzie HAD put the Cyberman into the incinerator as instructed. He was pleased to find that she and Tosh were doing just that when he got there. Suzie was furious and once the furnace was closed up she turned to her boss, hands on hips and by God if that didn't look damned hot.

"You're a fool Jack. We could have learnt a great deal from that thing, what is it with you and destroying anything interesting we might find?"

Tosh took a step away from her colleague, not wanting to get involved in the argument again.

"There's nothing interesting about those things and we are not Torchwood London. If it's a threat it gets put down and destroyed, no arguments!"

Suzie shook her head. "Not even to learn how to defend ourselves against it?"

"There is no defending against those things, you just run, trust me and if you don't believe me talk to Ianto." He swung round and walked away.

Ianto woke up screaming. It frightened the life out of Owen who had come running from the boardroom with Jack close on his heels. It took them both to hold him down and some twenty minutes for him to calm. His face was grey and sheened with perspiration as he gasped at the air like a drowning man.

"Ssshhh, it's ok. Ianto it's ok." Jack gripped his arm with his left hand and rubbed soothing circles over the young man's back with the right. Ianto lurched forwards shuddering his head colliding with Jack's chest.

"Gonna be sick."

Jack grabbed the proffered bowl from Owen and Ianto puked into it; not that much came up, just bile and water. Ianto heaved for some time and Jack continued to caress his back.

"It's alright Ianto."

Owen discretely took the man's vitals again and nodded at Jack.

"He's fine, though I'd suggest sending him home to rest."

Ianto lunged upright almost head butting Jack. "NO!"

Owen met his panicked look.

"Tea Boy that's doctor's orders, you look like shit!"

Ianto swung his head round to face Jack. "I'm fine sir, really."

Jack took a pace back assessing him. "Owen's right. You look shattered. Take a couple of days."

The younger man sagged. "Where is it?"

Owen and Jack exchanged frowns of frustration. "Melting in the incinerator. It's gone Ianto." Jack replied. "Now lets get you dressed and I'll drive you home."

Ianto reluctantly complied. He'd sneak back in later to check on Lisa, when the other's had gone home.

Owen plonked himself down in the chair facing Jack's desk and took the glass of brandy that was passed to him. He twirled the golden liquid around the crystal while Jack sat down and took a sizable draught from his own glass.

"We need to discuss Ianto." Owen said placing the untouched alcohol on Jack's desk.

"How is he?"

Owen shrugged. "Physically?"

Jack nodded. "Start with that first."

Owen looked at his boss. "He's suffering from PTSD, that much would be obvious to a blind man. The blood test I took indicates he isn't taking the medication I prescribed, so I imagine he's had very little sleep and by the looks of him not much to eat either. He's quiet and he's jumpy and.... well, lets be honest he could be a hell of a lot worse than he actually is. I'm amazed he's able to function given the state of the rest of the survivors. Mentally, I think he's at the end of his tether, but I also think he will recover. Ianto is strong, he just needs a little time, he'll be fine."

Jack arched his eyebrows. "Is he fit for duty?"

Owen nodded. "Just no field ops. I think for the time being he needs order and routine, the filing and archives are ideal for that, anyway he's crap out there, too skittish."

"Right and what's makes you the judge of that?"

Owen shook his head. "Medical degree Jack. Just give him time to settle and heal in a secure environment, trust me it will help him. Anyway he's not ops trained, he's an office monkey Jack and I thought that's why you hired him."

Jack nodded, recalling the night he and Ianto had captured the pteranodon, there had been no indication of weakness then. He realised Owen was talking again.

"It was just seeing that Cyberman Jack. I don't think he's about to go buggo on us, but I can fully understand why he freaked out, have you seen the footage from Canary Wharf?"

Jack had.

"Ok, thank you Owen."

The medic took that as a dismissal and rose to his feet.

"Boss?"

"Yes?"

"Suzie's right you know, about studying them, we could really use the intel in case they come back again and that Doctor isn't around to save our sorry arses."

Jack met his look with a stony one of his own that made Owen back off a pace.

"No, any and all Cyber technology is to be destroyed. I know some is still turning up now and then, but it is too dangerous. I've seen the devastation that those things leave in their wake, believe me it makes Canary Wharf look like a summer picnic. Suzie is way too fond of messing with things that she shouldn't, I will not tolerate this planet being put at risk under any circumstances."

Owen got the message.

"Right boss. Well then I'm off, I'll drop by Ianto's flat on the way and check he is ok."

"No, it's fine I'll check in on him. I need to talk to him anyway."

Ianto was more than a little stunned to find Jack Harkness on his doorstep. He stepped aside to let him into his little flat and sighed as he closed the front door. Jack wandered into the overly neat and somewhat sterile lounge and sank down onto the couch, which was surprisingly comfortable. Ianto ever the polite host went straight to the kitchen and came back a few moments later with mugs of coffee. He handed one to Jack and sat himself in the armchair. Jack meanwhile had gazed about the impersonal room waiting for Ianto to sit down.

"How are you feeling now?"

Ianto sipped at his cup of coffee and had to hold back a wince as his stomach protested with a cramp.

"I'm fine sir, really. It was just seeing that.... that thing. I'm sorry."

"I didn't come here looking for an apology."

Ianto's gaze dropped to the carpet.

"Ianto?" Jack leant forward trying to decrease the distance between them without being threatening. "Ianto, talk to me?"

Eventually the young man looked up, his face schooled into a bland expression.

"About what, sir?"

Jack sighed. "I don't know, anything and please, you're off duty and my name is Jack."

"But you are still my boss, sir.... Jack. I've almost finished going through the Aa to Be crates from London, Tosh should have all the relevant data on the electronic database by the end of the week."

Jack hitched an annoyed breath. "Right, yeah.... that's good she'll be pleased. But that's work Ianto."

The young man feeling vaguely uncomfortable in his own home tucked his legs into his chair and gripped his knees, he just wanted Jack to go.

"I named the dinosaur Myfanwy."

It was so random that Jack actually smiled. "Myfanwy? Isn't that a girl's name?"

Ianto nodded. "She likes chocolate, therefore she's a girl."

"I like chocolate. Does that make me a girl too?" Jack's smile widened and there was a definite sparkle in his oceanic eyes that Ianto couldn't help but notice the playfulness there. He got up and padded off, returning with a bar of dark chocolate and passing it to Jack.

"70 percent cocoa, it's made from African cocoa, has a slightly bitter tang to it, but it's fabulous melted into Arabica coffee." Ianto resumed his seat and watched as Jack lazily unwrapped expensive foil from the small bar. He snapped off a chunk and passed the rest to Ianto. The chunk was dropped into his mug of black coffee.

"How do you know this?"

Ianto watched as he gently swirled the liquid watching the thick chocolate mix with the coffee and Jack inhaling the enticing scent.

"I know everything... about coffee and chocolate, at least."

"You do?" Jack's tone had adopted a somewhat seductive edge.

Ianto nodded, trying to ignore it, trying to ignore his need to be held and comforted and to be told that everything wasn't falling apart around him and he just wished that Jack bloody Harkness would go. He pushed down something far more primal at the same time.

"I learnt that coffee and chocolate are two sure ways to get what you want out of some one, but it has to be good coffee and chocolate, no cheap shit from the supermarket."

Their eyes met just as Jack put the mug to his lips and took a sip. The expression on his face was bordering on orgasmic as the flavours danced over his tongue before he slowly swallowed.

"Wow, but I bet you taste better."

Ianto's eyes widened just a fraction. "Careful sir, that's harassment." It slid from his mouth before he could stop it.

Jack burst out laughing missing the huge sigh of relief from Ianto. However he was yawning straight after and Jack didn't miss that. He drank the coffee watching Ianto with an appreciative eye before finally setting the empty mug down on the coffee table. He stood up straightening out his coat which he hadn't taken off when he arrived.

"I'll leave you to get some rest as per Owen's orders." He really didn't want to, he could happily sit and watch the intruiging Welshman all night, amongst other things.

Ianto got up and showed him to the front door a strange mixture of relief and disappointment flooding over him as he opened the double glazed door. Jack stepped past him and paused on the threshold looking out into the night.

"It's not all bad out there, you know." He said returning his gaze to Ianto, there was less then twelve inches between them and Jack wanted to close the gap to nothing, but he quelled the lust offering up a friendly smile. Ianto nodded.

"Thank you for coming by, sir."

Jack frowned.

"Sorry Jack."

"Better. Good night."

"Good night."

Jack turned away and strode down the path into the night.