Chapter 10

Jack didn't think he'd ever been so proud of Ianto. Though he could see when the brave façade he had been wearing slipped slightly, he took everything that was thrown at him with a grain of salt. Even when Owen threw some light hearted comments about him being an alien boy, Ianto had just smiled and retorted back as though it was second nature to him. Jack figured it had something to do with the fact that Ianto could feel that Owen meant no harm by it. Jack also knew that Owen wasn't that stupid to mean harm in anything he said or did to Ianto.

"She doesn't like me." Ianto sighs as he sits down next to Jack in the board room. It had been a long day of tests, and probing, and quick gropes in every corner of the hub, and in all honesty Ianto was ready to go home.

"Who doesn't like you?" Jack frowned, though they both knew just who Ianto was talking about.

"Gwen. She feels threatened by me." Ianto sighs. Jack reaches over and takes Ianto's hand. Ianto watches as Jack slowly rubs small circles onto his skin, he feels comforted already just by the simple gesture.

"She does?"

"Yes." Ianto sighs looking down. Ianto hated the idea of anyone feeling threatened by him; not that it happened much. He didn't exactly look like the threatening sort of person. But she did. He thought he could understand it maybe if it was because of his alien blood, but it wasn't. She had felt threatened of him the minute he had walked into the hub.

"Why?" Jack whispers softly.

"Because she's in love with you." Ianto whispers.

"Oh." Jack wasn't quite too sure what to say. Though he knew that she had strong feelings for him, he never would have thought it would go as strong as love. Especially since she was married. "I don't love her." Jack says after a few minutes.

"I know." Ianto says, his voice soft. He could feel that Jack didn't love her. Though he knew there was something between them, and he knew that he didn't need to have any alien blood that helped him sense other peoples feelings to feel it. The chemistry was so thick between Gwen and Jack, that Ianto was sure a blind person would be able to see it.

Ianto stood up and walked over to Jack's chair and sat himself in his lap, snuggling against him and sighing contently when he felt Jack's arms wrap around him tightly. He'd never felt so secured, so safe till he was in Jack's arms. "I'm still not used to that." Jack whispers, his breath tickling against his skin.

"Used to what?" Ianto frowned, turning to face him.

"I was just thinking about how much I needed you in my arms, and then here you are." Jack smiles, holding onto him tighter. Ianto blushes, not knowing what to say. He leans down and kisses Jack softly on the lips. "You knew I wanted that to?"

"I know everything you want." Ianto smiles coyly against him, rocking his hips slightly.

Just as Jack was about to retort, the board room door opened and Gwen barged in. She didn't have the decency to apologise for what not knocking, nor did she look twice at Ianto. "Jack there's an emergency." Was all she said before walking out.

Sighing, Jack pulled Ianto away and kissed him softly. "Stay here, I'll be back soon." Jack whispers, kissing him softly before rushing down to the main area of the hub. Ianto sighed and watched him go. He sat down in Jack's chair and tried not to let the emotions he felt from Gwen ruin the good mood Jack had put him in.