Pastry wrapped sausages and carol services

TWTWTW

Ianto walked through the hub door a week later to find Gwen decorating a Christmas tree. He looked at the tinsel and cheap baubles and sad looking angel on the top and winced. This was not his idea of good taste.

If Ianto had his way a tree would have no tinsel and only expensive and artistic baubles and definitely only white lights, but Gwen obviously intended this tree to be an Aladdin's cave of poor taste with everything thrown on in a haphazard manner.

Ianto grit his teeth. He knew his desperately co-ordinated and prim ideas were not in the spirit of Christmas so he would not spoil Gwen's fun.

'Looks good' he smiled at the Welshwoman as he passed her on the way to the kitchen area.

'Yeah I always do the tree at home' mused Gwen standing back to see where the last of the tinsel could be placed.

Owen arrived in a blast of cold air through the hub door.

'Oh good God Cooper is it not bad enough that all that crap is going on outside…why do we have to have it here as well?' he sniped as he saw the festive arrangement.

'It's Christmas Owen of course we will have a tree…stop being so miserable' demanded Gwen.

Toshiko followed closely behind Owen and gave a startled 'Oh!' as she saw Gwen's handiwork.

'Oh indeed!' snarled Owen as he left for his lab.

Toshiko smiled at Gwen.

'We've just never had a tree down here before' she explained kindly 'it was a shock'

'But you like it though' begged Gwen.

Toshiko looked at the tree and despite her own misgivings about the standard of decoration she smiled at Gwen again.

'It's a lovely idea' she said.

Jack emerged from his office and raised a quizzical eyebrow at the tree but otherwise ignored it. He smiled down at Ianto and raised his hand to indicate a drinking gesture suggesting he would like his first cup of coffee of the day. Ianto rolled his eyes but went to fulfil the unspoken request regardless.

Jack and Owen both appeared on the main floor tempted by the smell of coffee and Gwen stood back to admire her handiwork.

'I thought we could have a party later…rift permitting' she said and indicated the array of bags and boxes.

'I bought in supplies…wine and beer and sausage rolls and party hats and crackers and other things to nibble on' she explained.

'Oh for fuck's sake!' mumbled Owen under his breath.

'You're really not a Christmas person are you Owen' sniped Gwen getting annoyed that her plans were not being met with the expected enthusiasm.

'She's just trying to get into the spirit of the season Owen' placated Toshiko 'it wouldn't kill us to let our hair down and be nice to each other for an hour or two'

Gwen turned to Jack looking for permission to carry out her plans supposing nothing alien happened to prevent it.

Jack shrugged.

'It can't hurt I suppose' he agreed.

It wasn't the resounding joy Gwen was looking to inspire but she would take it.

TWTWTW

Later that same day Jack and Ianto were returning from a meeting with local councillors regarding the increasing Weevil problem. Few in local government knew about Weevils but it had become necessary to inform one or two trusted people due to the frequency of sightings by the public. Torchwood could no longer handle the cover up alone.

Jack, as always, had his patience severely tried in this meeting and Ianto had needed all his skills of mediation to get them all through the necessary arrangements without undue argument.

Despite Ianto's skill Jack was still a little annoyed as he stepped through the door of the hub. Ianto had remained quiet on the journey back to base in the knowledge that Jack needed to work his frustration out in peace.

As they came through the door Owen was just stepping into the main hub from his lab.

'How did those tests go?' asked Jack immediately.

'Can't find anything different Jack…I've tried everything I can think of but the blood work remains the same as ever' he admitted.

Owen had been attempting to find anomalies in the blood of the latest Weevil they had captured to see if anything could explain their increasing frequency above ground.

Jack sighed.

'I didn't really expect there would be' Jack admitted tiredly 'we will just have to keep taking them in until they get the idea that coming into the sunlight is not a good idea'

'There is a pattern though Jack' said Toshiko from her workstation.

Ianto, Jack and Owen all looked at her in surprise. She looked up at them and smiled.

'See they are coming up here, here and here' she explained pointing to a map on her screen 'I think they are coming for food from the restaurants nearby' she added.

They all concentrated on Toshiko's data.

'These are new restaurants and I have noticed they do not yet have council approved locking bins, which is easily sorted. I think if we concentrate our retrieval efforts in those areas for a couple of weeks and notify the businesses, perhaps quite forcefully, of their responsibilities in regard to cleanliness we may go some way to solving the small crisis' she finished with an air of triumph.

Jack grinned widely and threw his arms around Toshiko.

'Well at least one member of the team has been successful today' he said giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

'Ianto, relay the information to those ministers we were with, Owen clean up the lab and thank you for trying, Toshiko take a break' Jack announced waving his arms widely, with joy and a small amount of relief on his face.

'Where is the fifth member of our little gang?' he continued 'what has Gwen been up to? Is she still with her police pals trying to find out the gossip about Weevil sightings in local law enforcement?' he asked.

Toshiko frowned.

'I don't think she went Jack…she is upstairs in the conference room' she said.

'Oh' said Jack 'did she go with another angle then?'

'Actually I think she decided to set up the Christmas party' said Toshiko quietly.

Jack's good humour vanished. He had specifically asked Gwen to go the local police station and ask around to see what the word on the street was and he was not happy that she ignored his request in favour of something so unimportant when the rest of the team were working.

Ianto closed his computer and hung up on his phone call just as Jack was gearing up to a row with Gwen. He reached over and touched the captain on his arm.

'Leave it for now Jack…it's Christmas' he said gently.

Jack frowned at his young lover. He had no intention of letting Gwen off the hook so easily. But as he looked at Ianto he realised that perhaps he could let Gwen know he was not happy and give her the jobs no one wants for two weeks in the new year rather than ruining the Christmas cheer beginning to build in the hub.

He nodded briefly at Ianto and stormed upstairs to confront Gwen with her misdemeanours and his judgement on suitable punishment, but determined not to be dragged into a long drawn out situation. He would just deliver his decisions and then allow the enjoyment and merriment to begin.

TWTWTW

Jack and Gwen emerged shortly afterwards back onto the hub floor with Jack looking grimly satisfied and Gwen suitable chastised and quiet. The afternoon was spent tying up loose ends in readiness to take as much time off as the rift allowed in the next few days.

At five o'clock Ianto appeared with his coat on and preparing to leave the hub. Gwen looked up at him in astonishment.

'Ianto where are you going?' she asked 'the party will be starting soon'

'I'll be back later Gwen' Ianto reassured her.

'But why do you have to leave?' Gwen demanded 'I have spent all day preparing'

Ianto sighed in exasperation.

'Actually Gwen you spent a couple of hours putting out glasses, plates and carbohydrate laden pastry nibbles when you should have been working' he smiled slightly to take the sting out of his words.

Gwen looked sheepish.

'But you should still stay Ianto, I wanted us all to be here to celebrate' she insisted.

'I will be back' he reiterated.

'Where are you going that is so important?' she demanded again getting annoyed now.

'More important than wine and sausage rolls you mean?' enquired Ianto beginning to get annoyed himself now.

Jack appeared at the stairs to his office to see what the raised voices were for.

'What's going on?' he enquired.

'Ianto is leaving and we were supposed to party' insisted Gwen.

'Didn't you tell her you are coming back?' asked Jack puzzled what the problem could be.

Ianto nodded.

'Then what is your problem Gwen?' demanded Jack feeling his earlier annoyance at the woman returning.

'Where is he going?' Gwen demanded again.

'I am going to a carol service Gwen…as soon as it is over I will come back' said Ianto.

'Church!' exclaimed Gwen in disbelief 'Ianto you can go to church at any time' she insisted dismissively.

'No' said Ianto with force 'I can drink wine and eat pastry at any time but this particular service only happens once a year and I always go…I am not giving it up just to please you' and he started for the hub door deciding he would no longer argue his case.

Gwen looked to Jack for support.

Jack looked away from her and strode after Ianto picking up his own coat on the way. Ianto looked at him.

'Jack?' he questioned.

'Can I come with you Ianto?' asked Jack.

Ianto grinned at him, all his anger with Gwen vanishing with this simple gesture of support from Jack.

'Of course' he smiled helping his captain with his coat.

The two men left the hub leaving Toshiko looking down at her computer to hide a smile whilst Owen openly laughed and Gwen went red with annoyance and frustration.

TWTWTW

When Jack and Ianto returned two hours later the 'party' had already started. Owen was playing games on the play station that Toshiko had set up in the conference area and the girls had already downed several glasses of wine each and were chatting and laughing much more easily than they normally would.

Jack breezed into the room throwing his coat at the hanger in the corner making Ianto roll his eyes as it caught the hanger and fell into perfect alignment. By the time Ianto had hung up his own outer wear Jack was already handing him a glass of white wine and messily eating some pastry concoction.

'How was the service' Toshiko asked.

Ianto smiled at her.

'It was good, thanks' he replied.

Jack joined in the conversation.

'It was better than good, Tosh' he insisted 'it was beautiful, the church was full of candlelight, the people full of joy and anticipation, everyone content and peaceful with each other...I felt more relaxed and at peace with the world than I have in years' he exclaimed.

Ianto looked at Jack in shock. He had known the captain had enjoyed the service but hadn't realised how much it had moved the other man.

'Haven't been to something like that for...well for many years' he continued thoughtfully.

He smiled and moved away to rib Owen about his inability to complete a section of the game he was playing.

Ianto and Toshiko smiled at each other.

'Well at least you are here now and we can get this party started' griped Gwen.

Ianto looked over at her rosy cheeked slight inebriation.

'I think it already started' he pointed out but grinned at her anyway and pinched a crisp from her plate.

TWTWTW

It was Christmas day and Ianto had really had his fill of family togetherness and enforced jollity. He loved his sister and her two children and he even had a fond affection for her lug of a husband but he had been at their house since 8am when Rhiannon had called and insisted he drive straight there as the kids had been up since 5am and couldn't wait any longer to open presents.

It was now four in the afternoon, presents had been exchanged, dinner had been eaten, obligatory paper hats worn and crappy TV watched. Ianto wanted out and he wanted it now. It was with a great deal of relief that he received a text from Owen.

The text consisted of two words 'hub' and 'hurry!'

Ianto made his apologies and left quickly, noticing that Rhiannon and Johnny had obviously also had enough of entertaining as their urging him to stay was very half hearted. He started his car and rang Owen on the car phone.

'Owen what's up?' he asked when the medic answered.

'Jack died again' replied Owen with obvious irritation.

'What happened?' asked Ianto in concern.

'Not sure yet' replied Owen 'he called me from a disgusting back alley in the middle of Cardiff to come and pick him up because he was too dizzy to drive'

'You weren't with him?' asked Ianto in confusion, why would Jack be alone on a mission.

'Nobody was...got that much out of him...seems he was prowling around looking for Weevils. I think he found one because there was a lot of blood in that alley...pretty sure he bled out'

'Why was he alone? What the hell did he think he was doing?' demanded Ianto annoyed at the captain for taking risks.

'I don't know teaboy, he is currently sulking and refusing to talk, like a bloody five year old'

Ianto smiled as he heard an aggrieved 'Oi!' in the background presumably from the captain.

'He's not feeling too good by the looks of it and I suggested calling you...he said no but his eyes said yes' smirked Owen.

Ianto sighed.

'I'm pulling into the garage now, be there in two minutes' Ianto ended the call.

Still puzzling over the situation Ianto sprinted up the stairs to the main hub.

'Owen?' he shouted as he reached the main floor'

Owen appeared at the top of the steps to the med bay'

'He's all yours Ianto' he said and indicated down the stairs where Ianto could see the captain sitting on the edge of a bed.

Ianto wandered down the stairs towards Jack.

'Jack? What happened?' he asked quietly.

Jack looked up at him with sorrowful eyes.

'Ianto I'm sorry you were called away from your family on Christmas day' he began.

'Don't be...I'm not' smiled Ianto 'seriously Jack I had been there long enough and I was glad of Owen's call...although not glad to see this' he indicated Jack's blood covered clothes.

'Yeah retrieval went wrong' smiled Jack warily.

'Why were you out on retrieval alone? Why didn't you call one of us if it was urgen?t' asked Ianto.

Jack looked up at him.

'It's Christmas Ianto...wouldn't have called Owen but I felt too sick to drive the SUV and I could hardly call a cab dressed in bloody gear' he said.

Ianto sighed again.

'You shouldn't have gone alone Jack, I would have come'

Jack looked at him again.

'Was feeling sorry for myself I guess...another Christmas alone' he admitted.

'But you don't have to be alone, you could have spent Christmas with any of us'

'Even you?' asked Jack.

'Especially me' smiled Ianto ' believe me Christmas at Rhiannon's house could never be more tempting than Christmas with you...even chasing Weevils down filthy alleys would be better than another game of Monopoly or argument over the last mince pie'

Jack smiled genuinely now.

'Come on you need to hit the showers and then we will have some of our own Christmas cheer right here in the hub' insisted Ianto.

'Right' agreed Jack suddenly looking much healthier and happier and leaving for the shower room.

'Owen leant over the rail looking down into the med bay.

'Well I will leave you two lovebirds to it' he grinned evilly.

'You could stay Owen...have a drink and a laugh' offered Ianto ignoring the implication about his and Jack's relationship.

'Thanks' said Owen with genuine appreciation of the offer, but I have fast food and a bottle of whiskey at home that won't consume themselves, and he waved in Ianto's vague direction before leaving quickly.

Right, sighed Ianto and prepared to see if there was anything in the small kitchen freezer that might pass as food for an evening with his captain.

Ianto contemplated. Was he really happier to be with Jack than with his own family? Had their relationship moved on to such an extent?

TWTWTW

It had been an interminably slow week and now it was New Year's Eve and the team were all preparing to celebrate with friends or family. Gwen was talking nonstop about the traditional family get together she and Rhys would be attending that night, Toshiko was also off to meet up with family.

Owen was on call, not something the team had stopped hearing him bemoaning all day, so he would be spending his time at the hub, dissecting something probably. Ianto was going out with some friends from uni days that were down to celebrate the engagement of one of their number to a Cardiff lass.

'Jack what are you doing tonight?' asked Ianto as he got ready to leave 'I don't want you going on any mission alone' he added sternly.

'Owen is on call' observed Jack 'so I promise to tell him if I go out' he continued meekly.

'Why don't you come out with me and my friends?' asked Ianto impulsively.

Jack's head shot up, Ianto had never publicly allowed them to be seen as a couple.

'You know...I will tell them you're my boss...they'll be fine with another tagging along' Ianto continued oblivious to Jack's thoughts when the offer had been made.

'Oh' said Jack unable to mask the disappointment in his voice 'well I'll see'

'Ianto looked up puzzled by the tone.

'It's only drinks and possibly dancing but you will be welcome' he insisted.

Jack smiled.

'Yeah I might see you later' he said.

TWTWTW

Later that night after listening to Owen's grumbles for far too long Jack decided to take Ianto up on his offer. It would be good to see Ianto with friends from outside of Torchwood and it now seemed foolish of him to have thought the young man was offering it as a date.

He tracked Ianto's mobile phone and found him with nine friends in a fairly classy nightclub/bar in the town centre. He walked through the doors and spotted Ianto and his crowd immediately as they sat near the bar crammed around three tables pushed together and laughing merrily.

Just watching them made Jack feel old. They were full of the joy of life, full of promise and hope for the future. Jack felt so jaded at times, he had so many experiences, so much life lived, so much already done to look back on.

Ianto looked up and spotted him lurking in the doorway and gestured to him to join them. Jack took a deep breath and determined to be happy tonight, to revel in the energy emanating from the group and to share their hope and joy. To try to be refreshed by it.

He strode over to them and sat next to Ianto. Introductions were made and Jack offered to buy drinks.

'You can't buy drinks for everyone mate, that's hardly fair, you just got here and I doubt we will all get around to returning the favour' said a young man called Mark with dark hair and a scruffy t-shirt.

'Well that's not a problem...Ianto invited his boss so his boss should pay for the privilege' and Jack rose to go to the bar.

He wasn't angry that Ianto had introduced him to his friends as his boss, after all he had been warned that would be the case, it was just more disappointing than he had imagined when he had been relegated to the role.

Ianto joined him at the bar to help carry the order and placed a hand on his arm.

'Jack thank you for coming...are you ok?' he asked tentatively.

'I'm fine Ianto...you look like you are having fun' he smiled attempting to hide his disquiet.

Ianto smiled and looked around at his friends.

'Yeah we really are' he said 'it's ages since we all got together at once, it's interesting to catch up and everyone seems determined to enjoy themselves'

They returned to the table and drinking and laughter continued.

Jack found himself liking Ianto's friends more and more. Andrea, a lively blonde had quizzed him over the work he and Ianto did but had graciously allowed the subject to drop when she received little detail in the answers. There were two other girls among the crowd, one of whom, Marisa was monopolising Ianto's attention with a heated discussion on the latest changes to the Welsh rugby team.

Steven sidled over to Jack.

'You know when Lisa left him we all began to think he would never recover...he was so devastated' he began.

Jack looked up at him. He recalled that the official Torchwood line, after the debacle of Canary Wharf, was to invent ways in which the dead had gone to better jobs/lives elsewhere or had died before or after the battle of natural causes or road traffic accidents and so on. Lisa had officially taken a post in Africa working with a medical aid team. It had been given out after three months that she had been caught in cross fire during an attack by rebels and had died.

'Well she did die' said Jack quietly.

'But months after she left' continued Steven and none of us really thought she was good enough for Ianto...I think she was using him to make her ex jealous actually' he finished thoughtfully.

Jack looked at him in astonishment.

'Really?' he asked.

'Yeah' said Steven 'she was really hung up on the guy and still spent a lot of time in his office trying to win him back...nobody knew how to tell Ianto and we all hoped he would either realise, or she would realise what she had found in her new man...neither thing happened...made me quite angry at times and now I am mad I didn't tell him so he wouldn't have grieved quite so much' Steven sighed.

'I didn't realise' said Jack.

'Yeah Ianto is too nice for his own good sometimes' sighed Steven 'but it's good he has you now'

Jack looked at him warily.

'In what way does he have me?' he asked wondering if he were reading too much into this.

Steven looked at him with a smile in his eyes.

'I take it you really are his boss...but you are also something more' he insisted 'it's in the way he looks at you' he smiled and moved away.

Jack just gaped after him. Did they all know? Would Ianto be annoyed that his ruse had not worked? Steven was now with Ianto and whispering in his ear. Ianto suddenly looked up and caught Jack's eyes. For a split second Jack thought Ianto was going to be mad, then Steven nudged his shoulder and gestured in Jack's direction and winked.

Ianto laughed and all was right with the world.

TBC