Title: The Chronicles of an Affair

Author: enchanted nightingale

Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood/Doctor Who, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 12 : How to Hatch an Egg

After Jack and Toshiko drunk Ianto's coffee, they sat down and started planning the rescue and hide away mission. Ianto Already knew about the eggs in the location of the spaceship. Apparently, he had only called Jack for manpower.

"What species are the eggs? " Jack asked.

"Space harpies is the closest I can describe them, " Ianto replied. "Voela, the father, is a humanoid alien with orange-ish skin and feathers covering the upper body. "

"Space harpy, " Toshiko agreed.

"I never could pronounce the name of his species, " Ianto replied.

Jack arched an eyebrow. "If they are the species, I think they are, then they're most probably telepathic, " he stated, eyes focused on Ianto.

"I know, " the younger man replied.

"I know Torchwood one wants to question all such species and harness their powers. If they knew they had a telepathic species in their holding cells…"

"They don't know about the telepathy. Voela cannot speak any of the earth tongues. And so far, he has not given into the torture. He's dying, " Ianto stated in a grave tone. "And all he wants is for his family to be safe. I cannot get him out from the sublevels. But I can make sure his family lives. "

"Why do you need our help? " Toshiko asked. "You know where the ship is."

"There are over a dozen eggs, " Ianto stated. "Most of them just about ready to hatch. I can help one or two newly hatched little ones. But a dozen? " He shook his head.

Jack nodded. "I know a couple of people who can help long term. Is the spaceship able to fly? Because if yes, we might actually be able to get them off planet as soon as they are able to travel. "

Ianto nodded.

Jack stood up. "Then I better make some calls. You two get ready. We are leaving right after. We've space harpies to rescue. " he stormed past them, ready to exit the apartment when he stopped cold and turned to Ianto, an imploring look on his face.

The Welshman laughed. "Yes, I'll get more coffee ready and some to go. "

Jack grinned. "Be right back! " he yelled and left them alone.

Ianto shook his head and set about doing just that, making more coffee for Jack.

"Toshiko? Do you need anything? "

"More coffee as well. When Jack got us in the car, I was already coming out of an overtime Rift monitoring duty. The car trip over might have woken me some, but I need more caffeine, " the young woman replied.

"I really appreciate this, " he told her. "And I'm sorry that all I can offer is coffee, and take out after, " he promised.

Toshiko grinned. "Make it Indian and consider any dept repaid. "

Ianto grinned. "Consider it done," he promised and went to the kitchen.

Toshiko stood from the couch and stretched a bit, looking around the apartment.

"It is a nice place you've got here. A bit empty. "

"I know. I keep meaning to decorate but I never get the time. London might not have a Rift but it's like we have a huge sign that declares 'Come invade us!'. It's getting ridiculous really, " Ianto said from the kitchen. "I know things are crazy for your lot in Cardiff as well. Archie was telling me about sludge aliens the other day. One has a whole other division dealing with that kind of thing. I've seen them come back from missions looking like walking tar humanoids. "

"Don't let me get started. It's a good thing Torchwood pays well. Even someone like me, " Toshiko muttered the last part in a lower tone. Then louder, "Do you know how many pairs of shoes I've ruined? Books and trainers of course, but do you know how expensive a nice pair can be? "

Jack chose that moment to come back. He took one look at her face and laughed.

"Alien gunk on shoes? " he hazarded a guess.

"The bane of every Torchwood employee's existence, " Ianto added, coming back with a new cup of coffee which he promptly handed over to Jack. "You drink that while I go and get ready. "

Jack nodded, his mouth already inhaling the coffee.

Toshiko glance at Ianto's retreating back. "Is he the reason you were so darn chipper? "

"Perhaps, " Jack replied. But the suggestive grin on his face was a blatant tell.

The younger woman huffed. "You are going to be flirting all the way to the ship, aren't you. "

"It be a crime not to. Did you hear his voice? That sarcasm? "

"I thought you'd be more appreciative of his bum, " Toshiko retorted.

Jack just winked. "And you have not even seen him in a suit. He looks good enough to eat. "

"Well, he did promise me Indian. After that, you are free to do whatever you want. I want my Malai Kofta and my naan Jack. "

"I'm not getting between a girl and her naan, " he replied with a grin.

They took Jack' car on the way to the space ship. The leader of Torchwood 3 drove like a maniac. Ianto had only know one other male drive like this and the similarities between the Doctor's driving technique and Jack's was so similarly bad that he was having flashbacks.

"Does he always drive like this? " he asked Toshiko.

"We're in a hurry, " Jack defended.

"I swear he thinks speed limit signs are suggestions, " Toshiko replied.

"Good thing my Will is up to date, " Ianto deadpanned.

"What a comedic due you make, " Jack snarked as he pulled up in front of the warehouse Ianto had set in the GPS. He parked and was out of the car is seconds.

Ianto and Toshiko scrambled after him.

"This way, " the Welshman said and led them around the back.

A bit of climbing and after picking a couple of locks they entered the warehouse where the space ship was parked.

The dark panels of the ship looked like a mat black colour under the dim lights.

Jack whistled when he took a good look at the ship. "She's gorgeous!"

Toshiko came to a stop next to him, her face lighting up at the sight.

Ianto let them admire the space ship while he walked up to the door. Jack made an aborted move to stop him, possibly to explain how to open the ship. But Ianto had already been inside, and he had helped Voela with the repairs. The ship was low level telepathic, and that meant that as soon as Ianto touch the door panel, the ship recognized him and granted him access. He was already making his way inside and he missed the speculative look he got from Jack.

Meanwhile, the immortal turned to Toshiko. "Get your weapon ready and keep and eye out. I'll join Ianto inside. Anything enters, shoot first ask questions later. "

She complied, getting her weapon ready.

"And careful with the ship, " Jack added. "It's well, I use the moniker telepathic broadly, but it kind of is. One touch and it could think you are a danger and…"

"Kill me? "

"Stun, most certainly. Kill… Not so sure. "

"I'll keep my hands to myself, " Toshiko promised, inwardly dying to know how Jack always knew so much about alien technology. "

Jack found Ianto in front of the 'nest' containing the eggs. A quick calculation and he saw about eighteen of them.

"Do you think they will imprint on us like ducks? " Ianto asked.

"Hopefully we can get them to safety before they hatch, " Jack replied.

Ianto turned to face him.

"I know some people, " Jack shrugged, keeping his hands in the pockets of that ridiculous (-ly dramatic and handsome) coat of his.

"Aliens? " Ianto hazard a guess.

"They've spent so much time on Earth that I consider them locals. "

"I trust you. "

Jack shot him a startled look.

"I trust that you will do anything in your power to keep the eggs safe, " Ianto clarified. "It's why I called you in the first place. "

"You could have also called Archie, " Jack pointed out.

Ianto laughed. "Archie barely manages to leave Torchwood 2 to attend the meetings in London. If he could, he would not step foot out of his headquarters. "

"True. So, how will we do this? "

Ianto turned to look at the eggs again. "They look like they won't hatch today. "

"And you know this how? "

Ianto bit his lip. "Telepathic information transference. And memories, " he admitted.

Jack made an odd sound in his throat. "That's… dangerous. Ianto, human brains…"

"I'm not like most humans, " Ianto replied, a small smirk on his face.

The look he got in return was suspicious.

"I'm not going to spill all my secrets Jack. "

"I am trying really hard not to get turned on right now, just so you know. "

"Jack! "

The former Time Agent shrugged. "Keep your secrets. I enjoy a good mystery. "

"You're willing to just let that comment hang out there? "

"I may not know you long, " Jack told Ianto, "But I can read people. You are not like Yvonne's lackeys. You care about the aliens that turn up on this planet. You do not automatically think they are all out to invade and harm. I'm here because you are a good man Ianto Jones. And I want to help."

Ianto nodded.

"And I'd love to question you, " Jack continued, but this time, with a suggestive look on his face.

"Is everything an innuendo with you? " Ianto asked.

"Always, " Jack replied. He stepped away from Ianto and started looking around the ship, cataloguing things. "Such a nice ship. "

"Could you fly it? " the Welshman asked. He knew he could not. Not well at least. He had not seen a similar system before. If he could, he would have flown the vessel to safely by himself.

Jack shook his head. "I wish, " he replied. "It's low level telepathic. Even if I could get the engines on, I would not be able to steer this. It's not unusual for telepathic species to use their talents for steering. You said the eggs are safe? "

Ianto nodded.

"My contact was in the area. They can cloak this and smuggle it out of London. There are a couple of 'space harpies' planet bound and my contact confirmed they can care for the eggs. Once they hatch they can fly back to where they came from, " Jack explained.

Ianto nodded.

The Leader of Torchwood Cardiff checked his watch. "We've got an hour or so before they arrive. "

Ianto shot one last look at the eggs and nodded. "Let's go wait with Toshiko, " he suggested.

They soon walked out of the space ship. The young woman lowered her gun when she saw them.

"All quiet here. The eggs? "

"Safe for a while more. No baby space harpies to report, " Ianto told her.

"Tosh, you could go wait outside, in the car, " he suggested. "Maybe nap, " he added.

She seemed to think it over before agreeing.

"Will you two be okay? "

"We'll keep watch, " Jack assured her. "Anything happens and I'll notify you," he told her.

"I'll go bring the thermos from the car, " Ianto suggested as he followed Toshiko out the way they came from.

Jack nodded and while he waited for the Welshman to return send another message to his contact. Who was, as Ianto had guessed, an alien. He sent them the coordinates and then took another look around the warehouse. This was not what he expected to be doing next time he was alone with Ianto. He had entertained thoughts of maybe a drink first, but definitely a bed or wall, or couch, or carpet, he was not picky. Rescuing alien eggs from under Hartman's nose had not even been on his radar. Ianto had been brief in his phone call and Jack had been a bit suspicious that the young man was lying, hence why he had brought along as back up. Because he had expected a trap of some short. One did not reach Jack's age and not develop paranoia and a healthy (or unhealthy) habit of suspecting the worst from everyone he encountered.

He was still contemplating his inner turmoil regarding the Welshman that had caught his interest when said man walked back inside. Just as he received a short message from Tosh that she was in the car safe and the sensors showed nothing around the area. He acknowledged her and turned to accept the coffee.

"I have no idea what to think of you," Jack commented as he took a sip. "You have a lot of secrets Ianto. "

"No more that you have, Jack," the younger man replied.

Jack grinned. "You intrigue me and thrill me at the same time. "

"The intrigue I understand. Why the thrill? "

"You're dangerous," the immortal told Ianto.

"I don't understand how…" the Welshman started saying, but Jack moved. He abandoned his coffee and reached for Ianto, telegraphing his moves as he reached for the man's face and pulled him close, noses touching.

"You are dangerous because I don't care enough about your secrets, " Jack muttered against his lips.

"Jack… You are dangerous too. "

"I'm about to indulge my thrill seeking side, " Jack told him. He pulled back a bit, giving Ianto enough space to back off.

The younger man merely rolled his eyes and pulled Jack forward by the lapels of his coat, bringing their lips together.

Jack responded immediately, returning the kiss eagerly, lips moving together and hands pulling each other closer.

Then Ianto pulled back, chest panting for breath, face flustered. "This is a bad idea," Ianto whispered against Jack's cheek. Then his lips brushed against the other man's skin, almost as an afterthought.

"You started it, " Jack replied, leaning closer to the younger man. "And it is. The worst idea," he agreed and then he was the one kissing Ianto, lips firm and talented and managing to get a moan out of the younger man before breathing was once again an issue.

"There's a spaceship right there," Ianto said as he pulled back. "And eggs. Alien eggs. "

"And Tosh is just outside, in the car," Jack added, his eyes on Ianto's lips, enjoying how they were slightly red from their earlier kisses.

"Yes. "

"We can be quick, " Jack said and Ianto was nodding and they were kissing again.

Toshiko's alert that help had arrived found them just as they finished setting their clothes right. Ianto had one more shoe to tie and Jack was slipping on his coat.

And a few minutes later Toshiko was approaching, along with tall woman who held a remarkable resemblance to humans, but her yellow and green hair sported an 'other' like quality that had Ianto immediately short her as alien, instead of simply thinking she dyed her hair this way.

"Captain Harkness, " she intoned, a hint of accept on her words. "You called for assistance. "

Ianto was startled to realise that the 'accent' was the Galactic Standard. It had been a while since he last heard it spoken.

"Therania, " Jack greeted back in the same language. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. "

She merely nodded and looked at Ianto. "Therania Goodman," she introduced herself in English. "I believe you wanted assistance for a rescue mission. "

"We have eighteen eggs that need to be safe until they hatch and be repatriated at first opportunity. Telepathic species," Jack told her.

"I can see that from this space ship, " Therania replied. "The parental units?"

"Caught by Torchwood London, " Ianto replied. "Rescue is impossible. "

Therania nodded. She explored the ship and even went inside with Jack and Ianto, looking around and mentally cataloguing things.

"I have a Harpy on the payroll. I can move this by noon tomorrow. And I can cloak the area to provide protection until then, " she told them.

"Standard fee? " Jack asked.

"Of course, " she replied.

They had finished with arrangements and a written agreement of payment method and the human were about to leave when Ianto posed the question he wanted to ask.

"Are you of the Argolin? Your hair colouring… It's quite distinctive. "

"Only a quarter. It's a recessive gene, " she replied. She then shot him a more inquisitive look. "You are not one of the Captain's team. "

"He's with me all the same, Therania, " Jack cut in. He knew how she would react if she learned that Ianto was Torchwood 1. Most aliens were scared of the London branch.

The woman just nodded, and they finally said their goodbyes.

They were about to get back in the car, when Toshiko said to Jack in a low voice, so Ianto would not hear them.

"Really Jack? A warehouse? " with disbelief colouring her tone.

Jack winked at her.

"At least it was not the car, " she muttered.

End of chapter