Author's Note: Well, this is it. The end. It was kinda short, but fun. Thanks to everyone who added it to alerts and the three reviewers. Hope you enjoyed it!

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"Ianto?" Suzie Costello's voice rang in Ianto's ear, and he jumped involuntarily before hurriedly turning his comm. on.

"Yeah?"

"I've run out of smelly things to pick up, how about you?"

"Uh -" Ianto swept his torch around one last time - "Same here."

"Right, we're done then." After a long afternoon's worth of labor, Suzie still sounded full of energy. Ianto wondered how she did it.

"OK, so what do we do now?"

"I'll call Jack and give him a progress report. By the time we get everything together, someone should be here to pick us up."

Ianto almost felt like jumping for joy. He would be glad to be shut of the place. "Alright then. I'll see you out front."

He turned his headset off and stood for a moment. His first field assignment with Torchwood Three had been a success. He hadn't embarrassed himself, and he'd survived several run-ins with an angry alien. Ianto thought the day was going pretty well. Of course, he hadn't come out unscathed. He had several bruises from his tussle with the Spinacktigen, and his back was screaming from an afternoon of bending over to pick up rotting animals.

He tried not to groan as he heaved the black industrial strength bin bag onto his shoulders. He would love to go home and take a whole bottle of painkillers before sinking into his soft armchair with a cup of his favorite coffee. But of course, Ianto didn't have his armchair anymore. It was packed away in storage until he could find a flat in Cardiff, and he couldn't get a flat until he had a better hiding place for Lisa.

Now that he was working for Torchwood, Ianto would hopefully be able to smuggle his girlfriend into the Hub. She would be safe there, and Ianto was sure that there was something hidden in the archives that could help him save her. It was only a matter of time before he found it. And he would find it. Ianto had promised Lisa that he would save her, and he always kept his promises.

Suzie was already waiting for him when he stepped out into the fading sunlight. The cleanup operation had taken longer than he thought. Jack's second in command barely acknowledged him as he came to stand by her. He noticed that she was no longer wearing her hazmat suit, and Ianto remembered the instructions she had given him when they started cleaning up. Quickly, he stripped off his own suit and stuffed it into the bag at his feet. He was pleased to see the heavy material had kept his street clothes clean and relatively pleasant smelling. Maybe there was some good in the rules and regulations after all.

He was just about to say as much to Suzie when the Torchwood SUV pulled up. The window rolled down, and Jack stuck his head out. "Somebody call a cab? Need any help with your luggage?"

"No, we're fine," Suzie said. She picked up her bag and walked to the back of the SUV, waiting impatiently as Ianto hurried to copy her and then slamming the door shut almost as soon as he let go of his bag. No one said a word as Suzie and Ianto climbed into the car, and the ride back to the Hub passed in silence.

Once he had parked the car, Jack spoke up. "Ianto, you 'n' me are gonna take this garbage to the incinerator."

"Yes, sir." Ianto climbed out of the car and watched as Suzie disappeared after muttering something about paperwork. He was surprised when Jack took charge of one of the black bags; he'd thought he'd have to haul both bags himself.

Jack started talking as he led the way. "It's standard procedure to incinerate all biological evidence of any aliens. This'll be your job once you learn the ropes."

"Yes, sir." Ianto could barely keep up with the older man.

"Call me Jack. 'Sir' sounds like you're my butler." The American looked back over his shoulder, green eyes laughing.

"Aren't I your butler, sir?" Ianto was panting now. He hadn't realized he was so out of shape.

"No, you're not." Jack opened a heavy metal door. "You're a valuable member of my team. They all call me Jack and so should you."

"Alright – Jack. So just what am I going to be doing as a 'valuable member' of your team?"

"First of all, you're going to learn to shoot properly. I saw you in the warehouse today. Second, I'd really appreciate it if you would care to share your wonderful coffee with us. We'll take care of the rest when we come to it." They finally reached the incinerator, and Jack explained the antique controls to him.

On the way back up, Ianto decided to fulfill the promise he'd made earlier that day. "Uh, about that coat of yours."

"What about it?" Jack eyed him suspiciously.

"Well, I couldn't help but notice it doesn't look like it's been to the cleaners since it was made." He tried to keep his tone neutral. Jack obviously loved his coat.

"I had it cleaned back in the nineties!" Jack looked kind of guilty.

"If you don't mind paying extra for it, I could take the coat now and have it back to you tomorrow morning. I know a very good cleaner that offers an overnight service."

"You sure they're good?"

"The best, sir." Ianto wondered if the coat was a family heirloom or something. Tt looked very old, and Jack was way too protective of it for it to be just an ordinary coat.

"OK, why don't you take the rest of the day off then? The paperwork can wait 'till tomorrow." Jack finished speaking just as they reached the main Hub.

"Thank you, sir. But I actually wanted to talk to you about some things." Ianto followed Jack to his office. Now was as good a time as ever to ask for some new coffee equipment.

"What's on your mind?" Jack flopped into his chair and put his feet up on the desk, gesturing that Ianto should take a seat.

"Well if you want the best coffee, then you're going to need better um, equipment than what you're currently using." Ianto chose to remain standing. Jack said he didn't consider him a butler, but Ianto knew his place. "If you could lend me the expense account, I would be happy to purchase the necessary supplies."

"What's the matter with the coffee pot we have?"

Ianto struggled to keep his face straight as he explained, "Sir, my parents had a coffee pot just like that when I was a kid."

"So? It still works," Jack said defensively.

"I'm sure it does, sir. I just want to update the pot, the one you have is disgusting and probably doesn't keep the coffee very warm any more." Jack shifted guiltily as Ianto pressed on. "I'll also need to purchase fresh coffee and a grinder. There's no telling how old that stuff is, and it's probably stale."

"The coffee's pretty new, I think Suzie just bought it. And what do we need a grinder for?"

"If you grind the beans yourself, it makes the coffee taste better." Ianto sighed when he saw the look on Jack's face. "Trust me, I know coffee."

Jack stared off into space for a moment, obviously thinking hard. "Well, seeing as I don't have to pay for it – OK. Buy whatever you want."

"Thank you, sir. You won't regret it, I promise," He said, as Jack handed him a credit card. "I'll take your coat now and be on my way."

"See you tomorrow, Ianto." Jack tossed his coat at Ianto before he leaned back in his chair again, "Any chance of some of your coffee tomorrow?"

"Of course, sir." Ianto carefully folded the coat over his arm, getting another face full of Jack's pheromones. Then he turned and walked out.

Tosh smiled at him as he went past her desk. "Is he letting you go early, then?"

"Not exactly," Ianto said. "I've got some errands to run for Jack."

"Ah, I see." Tosh's smile made him wonder just what it was she was seeing. "Well, I'd better not keep you then. See you tomorrow!"

"See you." Not bothering to say good-bye to anyone else, Ianto left.

He dropped Jack's intoxicating coat off at the dry cleaners before driving to his favorite coffee house. There he purchased a new coffee pot along with a grinder. He hesitated a moment before deciding what coffee beans he wanted. He suspected that the team was used to unspecified garbage from a can and would be fine with whatever he chose. Smiling happily, he decided a dark Arabian coffee and a lighter shade grown Brazilian variety.

He glanced wistfully at the expresso machines on his way out. Ianto thought it best to go easy on Jack at first. He didn't want to push the man too far on something as ridiculous as coffee. He would wait a few months before quietly suggesting it to Suzie or Owen and let them bring up the subject with Jack. Of course, he wasn't really sure if there would be room for all the new equipment in the tiny space Torchwood Three called a kitchen. He'd have to see about that tomorrow.

Mind whirling with schemes, Ianto drove home. Lisa's unconscious form was waiting for him as usual, and he couldn't resist giving her a peck on the cheek as he passed. Today had been a good day, and he hoped that his luck would hold. His plan was working out nicely, and for the first time since he found Torchwood Three, Ianto felt like everything might just turn out all right.

The End

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Disclaimer: Torchwood and the characters belong to Russel T. Davies and the BBC. I am not either of those parties, therefore this is not mine. I wrote this for fun, not to make money. Please don't sue a penniless music student.