Snowstorm

It was freezing cold, as Ianto Jones put on his warmest coat, scarf and gloves, then left the warmth of his flat, heading down to his car. He trod sure-footedly, so as not to slip on the icy pavement. Once inside his car, he turned on the engine and then the heater. Waiting for a couple of minutes until the interior of the car began to warm up, Ianto pulled away from his parking space and out into the main road.

Traffic was light, but Ianto still kept a keen eye on the road, ready for anything.

Anything but Captain Jack Harkness stepping in front of his car.

Ianto put his foot down hard on the brake, grateful for the restraint of the seatbelt.

"What the…!"

Jack moved to the passenger door, opened it and got in beside the bewildered Welshman. "Morning, Ianto."

"Sir?"

"Oh, I was in the vicinity. Chasing Weevils…as you do." He smiled at the younger man. "You better move, you've got a bus on your tail."

Ianto looked in his rear view mirror, pulling away. "Did you leave the SUV somewhere, sir? Do I need to drop you off?"

"No. I went on foot."

"In this weather?"

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine." Jack rubbed his hands together. "A cup of your coffee and I'll be 100% again."

Ianto drove on in silence. He didn't want to ask the obvious question…'Where was the Weevil'

Stopping by the invisible lift, Ianto waited for Jack to get out of his car before taking it to the underground garage, near the Tourist Office.

"I won't be long," he'd told his boss.

True to his word, Ianto was in the kitchen, coffee being made, within ten minutes. Jack stood at the window in his office, looking down at the Welshman, smiling.

Once the coffee was made, Ianto filled two cups, taking them up to Jack's office. Jack moved aside, as the younger man entered.

"Thank you, Ianto."

"My pleasure, sir."

They both sat.

"What would you like me to do first today, sir? I doubt there'll be many visitor to the Tourist Office. But I'll make an appearance at some point today, I think."

"Tosh gave me the document we found with the Balinain yesterday. They make interesting reading…if you can read Balinain, that is."

Ianto raised an eyebrow. "Can you read it, sir?"

Jack, smiled, shaking his head. "No, but I think Tosh managed to translate it. She e-mailed it to me last night.""Arh," came the reply.

Jack pressed a few keys on his computer and the screen lit up. A few more keys and he was into his e-mail account. "I'll send it to your computer in the archives. You can print it out and then file it."

Ianto took a sip of coffee. "Fine, thank you."

Jack brought up the CCTV cameras from around the Bay and up by the Millennium centre. "The snow is falling again. Wonder if everyone will make it in today."

"I can monitor the Rift activity, if Tosh gets snowed in."

Jack nodded. "Owen is up to date with autopsies and reports…"

"For once," finished the Welshman.

Jack laughed. "Don't let him hear you say that."

"I won't."

Jack looked at his watch. "6.35am."

"Have you eaten, sir? I can nip up to Tesco and get something."

"In this weather! No. I'm fine."

"There's some left over pizza and biscuits." Ianto told him, pointing towards the door.

"Maybe later." Jack leaned back, lacing his hands behind his head. "So, how are you, Ianto?"

"Me? I'm…fine."

"It's been a while since we had a good chat."

'Chat' thought Ianto, eyeing his boss.

"Life goes on, sir. I've…adjusted."

"Good to hear."

Ianto took another sip of coffee. "And you, sir, how are you?"

Jack smiled, taking a deep breath in, "Couldn't be better," he lied.

Ianto leaned back in the chair, resting his cup on his thigh. "I'll tell the truth, if you do."

Jack laughed. "Really."

"Mmm."

Jack thought for a moment. "Okay. I didn't go out after a Weevil this morning. I was out all night…thinking." He leaned forward. "Sometimes…I wish I wasn't here, on Earth." He shrugged. "Other times, there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Ianto nodded his understanding.

"It's hard for me…not being able to confide fully in anyone."

Ianto leaned forward, placing his cup on the desk. "I have a good ear," he said.

Jack smiled. "I know. But I don't want to saddle you with it all."

"Why?"

Jack sighed. "It's not been that long since Lisa and the cannibals. I just…"

Ianto looked at his hands. "You still don't trust me. I understand."

"No! It's not that. I understand why you did what you did with Lisa. You loved her. I get it."

Ianto looked up.

"After the cannibals, Tosh came to me. Told me how you risked your life so she could get away. Of course I trust you!"

"Then talk to me, Jack."

It was the first time Jack had heard Ianto call him that. It sent a shiver down his spine.