Someone to Watch Over Me Chapter 3
Dec. 20th, 2011 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madbottomsTitle: Someone to Watch Over Me (3/?)
Pairing(s)/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tosh/Owen and OCs.
Rating: NC17 (overall)
Warnings: smarm, sap and crack – of the mills & boon type (seriously), m/m pairing
Disclaimer: Torchwood and its associated characters, and events are property of the BBC and Russell T. Davies but shamelessly borrowed for some fun.
A/N 1: I decided to go all Mills & Boon on you. But no swooning allowed.
Summary: Jack Harkness, a close family, and owner of a prestigious security firm is asked to take on the task of protecting Ianto Jones when he starts receiving death threats.
Three
*~*
Jack’s suspicions were immediately roused when Ianto didn’t argue about his insistence on driving him to work, His instincts told him he was up to something, be he wasn’t sure what.
Still, he didn’t dwell on it because he had a typical hectic work day ahead of him, starting with driving back to his place to change before heading to Harkness Security’s headquarters.
At lunchtime, he drove over to Jones Enterprise’s headquarters in Windsor. He and Owen long ago scheduled lunch. They tried to fit in a lunch appointment from time to time, as a way of keeping in touch despite their busy schedules. He knew of course that Owen would have questions about how things were going with Ianto.
‘I tried talking to him about taking some safety measures,’ Owen was saying, ‘but he just shrugs me off. Tells me he’s dealing with it. But, the thing is, he’s in a high-profile job and coming into contact with unsavoury gits every day.’
Jack nodded. ‘I’m doing my best. He wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me last night.’ He added wryly, ‘And you know, that breaks my heart because I’m usually known for my ability to be charming and ingratiating.’
Owen chuckled. ‘Yeah, but I haven’t got a choice…’
The door to the office opened ad Owen’s voice trailed off as Ianto strode in.
His clear, sky-blue eyes flashed in annoyance. ‘Are you two gossiping about me by any chance?’
He was dressed in an immaculate navy pin-striped suit that Jack had seen him in this morning, the cut of it fitting his body extremely well. The mere sight of him was enough to turn heads and awaken every male need Jack had. But Ianto had completely ignored everything he had said this morning.
Owen muttered curse under his breath. ‘I suppose Emma just let you come right in, eh?’
‘Actually, your assistant stepped away for a moment right after letting it slip that you were meeting with Jack.’ Jack watched as Ianto’s eyes settled on him then. ‘I might have known you’d be here. Patting yourself on the back for a mission accomplished, are you?’
Jack rose from his chair. ‘I’ll only feel a sense of accomplishment once we track down the guy who’s after you.’ Sternly, he went on, ‘I thought I told you to stay put and that I’d pick you up from the office when you were ready to leave.’
‘Yes, I do recall you mentioning it, but I didn’t agree to it, especially since I have my wanker big brother to thank for my new living arrangements.’ He folded his arms and sat on the corner of Owen’s desk, glancing back at his brother, who merely raised an eyebrow inquiringly at him.
‘Owen, you know the last time I checked, tenants still had the right to peaceful occupation of the premises without unwanted roommates being foisted on them.’ He fixed his brother with a hard stare. ‘So far I’ve resisted the urge to file a complaint with the tenant’s board. I know that would break mum’s heart.’
‘Is that what you came here to do? Complain?’ Owen added with exasperation. ‘And for the record, what would break Mum’s heart is if we found you dead in a ditch, you stupid arse. We’re all worried sick about you and this psycho who’s sending you threats.’
‘Well of course mum’s worried!’ Ianto retorted. ‘She was worried when Rhi went on safari in Africa after finishing school. When Geffin took up race-car driving. And when you took up rock-climbing. But she trusted you all to take precautions.’
Owen leaned forward. ‘What’s wrong with getting a little help in this case? I couldn’t even mention Jack’s name without you going ballistic on me.’ He folded his hands on his desk. ‘Jack is the best in the business. The only reason you won’t consider him is that you two do nothing but snap at each other.’
Great, won’t that make us pleasant roomies!’
Jack gained grim satisfaction from the thought that Ianto sounded worried about their living situation. ‘I can stand the heat, if you can, Button.’
Ianto gave him the imitation of a smile. ‘You might need to rethink that, Harkness, because I plan to light a fire and you might just get burned if you’re not careful.’
Their gazes locked while Owen stifled a laugh. Jack wondered what he’d say if he told him he’d already felt the heat and it was only getting hotter. And had been for years.
Owen cleared his throat. ‘If you think I’m meddling, Ianto, just consider it payback for your meddling in my life. That was a nice little performance last year, orchestrating to throw me and Tosh together.’
‘That was different.’
Owen’s expression showed doubt. ‘Oh yeah?’
Jack knew that, partly thanks to Ianto’s dealings, Owen and his best friend Toshiko were now married and the proud parents of one-month old Amy.
Ianto straightened away from the desk and stood straight. ‘You and Tosh were made for each other, Owen. Besides, you can’t say you’re unhappy with the way things turned out.’
Owen cocked his head and leaned back in his chair. ‘So, it was different because you had my best interests at heart, is that it?’
Jack nodded at Ianto, then looked back at Owen. ‘Obviously, unlike Ianto here, who had your best interests at heart, Owen, you’re just a dirty, rotten git who should mind his own business.’
Ianto sighed in exasperation. His brother and Jack were cut from the same cloth, despite the fact that one had been born into wealth and the other still had the air of the dangerous bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Neither of them would back down in a situation like this.
Jack looked at him levelly. ‘Somehow I didn’t think you’d be backing down easily despite seeming somewhat accepting this morning. You were almost docile by the time I dropped you off.’
‘You do know me better than that,’ Ianto tossed back.
‘Let’s call this a draw, princeling.’ He said it calmly, but his fixed look conveyed the message he would not be tricked next time.
‘Why don’t you join us for lunch?’ Owen offered. ‘Jack and I had organised to do lunch ages ago, but, as it happens, you’ve been number one topic so far.’
Ianto glanced at his watch. ‘Thanks for the offer but I need to get back.’
He’d succeeded in communicating his displeasure to his brother, but it was clear that neither Owen nor Jack was going to be moved to seeing his point of view—such as the need for Jack to remove himself from his house.
Since staying any longer would probably be an exercise in futility, he supposed that it made sense to agree to Jack’s offer of a draw and retreat from the field of battle. But if Jack thought he’d won, he was in for a big surprise.
Jack moved toward him. ‘I’ll come with you.’
‘You’re having lunch with Owen, remember? Besides, it’s broad daylight with plenty of traffic.’
‘Owen and I can have lunch another timer,’ Jack shot back, ‘Besides, we’ve said all we needed to say. My guys are starting on the security system for the house this afternoon and I need to get back.’ He nodded at Owen. ‘You don’t mind if we take a rain check, do you?’
Owen looked quizzically from one to the other before, Ianto could swear, a smile played on his lips. ‘Not a problem. Not a problem at all.’
Owen’s expression made Ianto wary, but he didn’t dwell on it as Jack came toward him, obviously intent on following him out the door. ‘Suit yourselves.’
“I’ll follow you back and then pick you up at work when you’re done,’ Jack said in a tone that invited no argument. ‘Give me a call on my mobile.’
‘Naturally,’ he responded sarcastically, though silently admitted that he’d unintentionally summarised part of the problem: he was afraid that having Jack around might seem all too natural all too quickly.
~*~
On Sunday, Ianto drove to Windsor to have brunch with his family. His brothers, sister and sister-in-law had all converged at his parent’ impressive Manor.
Jack came with him, as he knew he would have even if he hadn’t got a separate invitation from his parents.
Jack was still camped out at his house, but Ianto hadn’t given up hope of getting him out of there. Even if Owen technically still owned the house and Jack could claim to be acting at his request, that didn’t mean that Ianto was without options. He wasn’t prepared yet to take the drastic step of moving out himself, but he could ignore him as much as possible.
The main topic of conversation was, of course, his nameless antagonist. In comparison, the fact that he was living with Jack seemingly went over without any so much as batting an eye.
His mother seemed to summarise the general feelings by commenting, ‘We’re so grateful to you, Jack, for providing your security services. It does give us some peace of mind.’
His sister, Rhi added. ‘Lots of luck, Jack. And, if I know Ianto, you’re going to need it.’
Jack merely cocked and eyebrow but Owen and Geffin grinned knowingly.
Ianto tossed a quelling look at his siblings—a look that indicated their hilarity was definitely not appreciated.
By the time brunch was over and he joined his sister-in-law Tosh in the family room, he was gritting his teeth. If there was anyone who could sympathise with him, it would be his best friend.
He leaned back into a cosy leather couch facing Tosh. ‘Can you believe it? Grateful? Peace of mind?’ He opened his eyes wide in mock disbelief.
Tosh, who’d just taken the rocking chair to feed the baby, looked up. ‘I know, I know. But, Ianto, really, aren’t you the least bit frightened by all this?’
‘You mean the threats?’ Ianto shrugged. ‘Yes, of course. But I can’t let the fear paralyse me. Otherwise I might as well just lock myself away.
Tosh nodded understandingly.
‘But don’t tell anyone.’ He blew a breath. ‘If they knew I was the least bit bothered by this, they’d probably hide me in a bloody cave somewhere with bodyguards posted all around.’
Tosh chuckled. ‘Oh, Ianto, they really do mean well. Owen, for one, is genuinely concerned about your safety.’
‘I know. I just wish they’d give me a little more credit. And Jack, damn him, could give my family a run for their money in the over-protectiveness category.’
Tosh gave him a sympathetic look.
Ianto growled in exasperation. ‘Jack’s made himself at home in my house. Yesterday he was inspecting doors and locks and checking windows. He already has his people installing a home alarm system with a direct alert to the police.’
The alarm system had made him more comfortable, he conceded. It was just who was supervising the installation hat bothered him.
‘Hmm,’ Tosh murmured, looking down at the nursing baby. ‘There was a time when you would have done somersaults to get Jack’s attention.’
Ianto made a noncommittal sound in his throat. Tosh knew all about his teenaged humiliation at Jack’s hands. ‘I got tired of dining on the crumbs of that table long ago.’
‘I’d be shocked if a child of mine were dining on the crumbs of any table,’ Eleanor Jones said as she entered from the doorway into the family room.
Ianto watched as his mother—looking elegant as always, her dark, coifed hair tinged with some grey—sank into a nearby armchair. ‘Mum, how could you say that in there?’
‘Say what, sweetheart?’ His mother bestowed an indulgent gaze on the baby.
Ianto waved a hand. ‘Grateful, Mum? Peace of mind? I’m quite capable of taking care of myself. I may be the ‘baby’ of the family, but I’m not some delicate flower. Usually I can at least count on you at least in this family.’
His mother practically raised her children alone while his father built Jones Enterprises. When the youngest of her children had reached his teens, Eleanor had gone back to law school to finish her degree and eventually became a respected Magistrate. Ianto’s mother was his role model.
His mother’s gaze drifted back to him. ‘Of course I know you can take care of yourself. But there’s nothing wrong with thanking Jack for his help when you’re in real danger.’ She paused. ‘In fact, I hope you haven’t forgotten the manners I tried to instil in you and have already thanked him yourself. Have you?’
Ianto quashed the niggle of guilt. His mother had a sneaky way of turning the table on him. ‘The way all of you were falling over yourselves to thank him, you’d think he’d taken on his worst client ever.’
His mother raised her eyebrows and smiled. ‘Ianto, you know we meant nothing of the kind. Your brothers and sister were just teasing, and usually you’re besting them at their own game.’
‘Yes, well, think if the inconvenience that Jack has to put up with!’ Ianto sat up in his chair and pretended to think for a second before snapping his fingers. ‘I know! I made him pace downstairs waiting for me to get ready this morning.’ He glanced at Tosh, who was looking mildly amused. ‘You know how I love long hot showers.’
His mother tried and failed to look as if she were seriously concerned.
Ianto glanced between his mother and Tosh. ‘Hasn’t it occurred to anyone in this family that I’m, for all intents and purposes, living with a man?’ He covered his mouth in a mock gasp, then threw up his hands. ‘I mean, if it had been anyone but Jack, your reaction would have been the opposite of peace of mind, and Rhi and Geffin wouldn’t have been wishing him luck.’
‘But it is Jack, sweetheart.’ Eleanor paused thoughtfully. ‘Unless you’re suggesting something is going on between the two of you?’
‘Of course not!’ The thought was ridiculous. The Kiss didn’t count. ‘I was just arguing the what if? Is it so beyond the realm of possibly that Jack and I would find living together—’ he searched for the right words then gave up, ‘—sexually awkward?’ Not only that, it was too intimate, too personal, too everything!
A gleam came into his mother’s eyes. ‘Oh, I see.’
He knew that gleam. The last time his mother had it, she’d just found out that Owen and Tosh were having a baby.
Frustrated, Ianto slumped back into his chair in defeat. ‘No, you don’t see, Mum.’
He’d meant to use the co-habitation issue as a hook to gain some support by making it clear why Jack was living with him in the house was an untenable situation. Unfortunately, the plan had backfired and his mother was looking pleasantly surprised.
‘Well, what I do understand,’ Eleanor said, ‘is that there’s a perfectly nice young man in there.’
Ianto stared moodily out at the lawn and wondered idly how Jack would have liked being called ‘a nice young man’.
‘And, if someone were interested, I’d say he couldn’t do better.’
Ianto nodded at Tosh. ‘You and Owen have opened up the floodgates now. She’ll have us all married off soon.’
Tosh righted the baby, who’d finished feeding. ‘Well, you have to admit, Jack is a catch.’ She added, at Ianto’s look, ‘If you are interested, that is.’
Eleanor took the baby from Tosh and placed him over her shoulder to burp. ‘I think he is. He’s just too stubborn to admit it. So, my darling, do what you will but remember, I have eyes and I know sexual tension when I see it.’ Ianto stared. ‘So my darling, if you want to deny it, go right ahead, and take those long hot showers by yourself. Leave the cold ones to Jack.’
‘Mum!’
Tosh looked at Ianto and started giggling.
Eleanor headed to the doorway, baby in hand, a smile on her face.
‘We don’t even like each other!’ Ianto called to his mother’s retreating from. ‘We mix like oil and water.’
He turned to Tosh. ‘Why am I explaining myself?’
‘I think you protest too much, my friend.’
He grabbed a pillow from nearby and tossed it at Tosh, who laughed and ducked.
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on 2011-12-20 08:22 pm (UTC)Cheers and thanks for commenting.
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on 2011-12-20 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
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on 2011-12-21 10:33 am (UTC)Next part is up.
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on 2011-12-21 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-12-21 10:34 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-12-21 07:09 am (UTC)Ianto's mother is a riot.
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on 2011-12-21 09:42 pm (UTC)До лучших времен меньше суток ))!
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on 2012-01-14 08:23 am (UTC)