Torchwood Fic: With Respect (Jack/Ianto)

[marita_c]

Title: With Respect
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: 2X11 "Adrift".
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit.
Summary: Post-ep for "Adrift". Jack confronts Ianto about helping Gwen behind his back. 
Beta: The brilliant andreth47

  

   With Respect by Marita C

* revised April 6, 2009

Ianto hesitates after setting the coffee cup on Jack's desk. That expression on his boss’s face usually means trouble. "Is everything alright?" he asks carefully. "I don’t know, Ianto. Is it?" Jack’s tone is oddly neutral. Ianto purses his lips and sits in the chair opposite Jack. "You’re angry."  Jack’s head tilts fractionally, barely noticeable. “You sent Gwen to Flat Holm. Against my orders. After I explained to you my reasons for keeping this from her." "They were the wrong reasons." Jack raises an eyebrow. "And that’s for you to decide?” he asks levelly. Ianto studies his face for a few moments. He has to reevaluate his initial observation. Jack’s expression is one of grim resignation rather than anger, but Ianto realizes he would’ve preferred the latter. Anger was easy. An angry Jack was something he could handle. This, however…   He takes a deep breath and tries to keep his tone placid. "You can’t keep Gwen in a bubble, Jack. You brought her to Torchwood. She’s a part of it now, horrible stuff included.” Jack looks away. He picks up a random pen and starts tapping it on the surface of the desk. When it becomes clear he’s not going to say anything, Ianto continues. "If it had been Owen poking around, would you have told him what was really going on?" Jack sighs and drops the pen. “Probably.” He looks at Ianto for a long time, frowning. “You think I’ve let my feelings for her interfere with my decision-making." It’s not really a question, and Ianto just arches an eyebrow and says nothing. “So you were trying to do what? Make a point?” Ianto rolls his eyes and sighs in frustration. “I was trying to save everyone some aggravation, Jack. She was not going to let this one go. She would've found out the truth eventually, with or without my help." “Maybe…” Jack says quietly, then shakes his head. “You should have seen her face, Ianto.  She was… devastated.” Ianto’s face hardens, and his voice takes on an icy edge when he says “Yes. Well. She'll know not to question your motives next time." The words seem to hang in the small space between them, and something shifts in Jack’s face. He gives Ianto a long, calculating look. Ianto frowns, blinks. “What?” “You scare the hell out of me sometimes, you know?” Ianto can’t quite hide his wince. Is that what he’s become? He looks away, then slowly gets up, turns around. “If we’re done here, I’ve got work to do.” “Hey!” Jack calls after him, a note of apology in his tone. Ianto pauses in the doorway, but doesn’t turn around. “I meant it in a good way. Seriously. Scary is good. I like scary. Scary makes things more interesting in bed.” Ianto’s mouth twitches. He closes his eyes. “We’ve never actually shagged in a bed, Jack, but if that’s the sort of thing you’re into, you need only to ask.” He doesn’t turn around. Doesn’t wait for an answer. Downstairs, the archives no longer offer a safe haven. A charge of desperation has etched itself into the musty air. Or it could just be the lingering scent of Gwen’s perfume.