"Come Fly With Me" Chapter 31

[wanda1969]

Title: "Come Fly With Me"
Rating:  Adult concepts- but not explicit this chapter.

Spoilers/Disclaimers :  Torchwood, belongs to the BBC and RTD, I’m just borrowing the characters.

Summary: Torchwood characters in a story set in the glamorous world of international travel!

A/N: Now, I’ve never been to Noumea (but I’ve always wanted to go, which is why it’s in here!), so I’m not even sure that a ‘plane large enough to complete a long haul flight would be able to land there- it could well be too large for the runway… Let’s hope this lack of knowledge doesn’t ruin the story!

Chapter list:  http://wanda1969.dreamwidth.org/1863.html

Chapter 31

***

 

Ianto literally flopped onto his hotel bed, his flight case abandoned in the small hallway leading from the door. Captain Jack Harkness’ crew had just completed the main leg of their trial flight from London to Wellington, via Paris and Phnom Penh. The excitement of visiting a new (at least for most of them) country had kept the crew’s spirits up, but now the Welshman was exhausted- the journey hadn’t been troublesome, just excessively lengthy. In fact, the only really annoying part of the trip had been spotting John Hart across the departure lounge as they made their way to the aircraft. Fortunately, he’d been too far away to cause a scene- which had been a ‘good thing’, as Ianto was sure that he would have punched the man’s lights out if he’d been called ‘Eye Candy’ again, an act which wouldn’t have gone down well with the Team nominated for an award.

They were due one night in Wellington, before departing for their final destination for the next week, New Caledonia. Ianto would have loved the opportunity to catch up on sleep, but he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see at least some of the sights that late afternoon and early evening, before the morning flight out to Nouméa. They’d be in the New Caledonian capital for a week; he was sure he’d have the chance to rest then.

***

Two hours later and Ianto had had a nap, and showered and changed into his more casual clothing. He met Jack in the hotel lobby, and they set off from the hotel towards the waterfront overlooking Lambton Harbour. They walked towards Jervois Quay and headed south along the more pedestrian-friendly, wide pathway along the seafront. Ianto started to regret that, as an impoverished student, when he’d gone travelling, he’d not got much further than some of the more obvious stops on his ‘round the world’ ticket. He’d only managed to get to Sydney on his Australia stop, before flying out to the Southern Americas.

Ianto found himself warming to the place- unlike some large cities, it had a certain intimacy, historic buildings vying with modern highways and structures, and harbour-side parks. They walked, both of them happily surprised to find that the waterfront had so much to offer: Te Papa Tongarewa, open parks and green spaces.

***

They were both relieved as they sank into their chairs at the restaurant on Oriental Parade. They’d  spotted it, realising they’d walked rather too far from their hotel. Having seen Martin Boseley’s Restaurant recommended in the Tourism Board’s leaflet at the hotel, Ianto had been surprised that their early arrival meant that there was a free table at what seemed to be one of the City’s best eateries. It lived up to its reputation, as they both dived into their starters- Ianto the salad of beetroot pudding and cheese, Jack the poached scampi.

“Mmm, this is good…” he said shovelling in a forkful of seafood. “I have to say, Wellington is a great place. But I don’t think we should be doing the New Zealand leg as part of this in the future.”

Ianto cut into his Comte cheese. “Why?”

“It’s just too far for one flight route. Gorgeous as you always look, Ianto, you’re shattered… we’re all shattered. I bet the passengers aren’t much better, even if they’re going back on one of our normal scheduled flights this time. I’m gonna recommend we go straight to Nouméa from Cambodia next time. That’s just about ‘doable’.  But… adding Wellington or anywhere else in, and it’s just that bit too much.”

“It was a bit…  exhausting,” he agreed looking out over the harbour. “I wouldn’t mind coming back here- but not after a flight like that. Part of a holiday, maybe…”

“God, we need a proper holiday. Late summer? When we’re in the house and this, and the awards are out of the way.” Jack gave a thoughtful smile. He had had every intention of making the most of their next week away- not that he’d bothered to tell Ianto. The young man deserved some time off now, and Jack wasn’t going to let any of excuses from him scupper his plans for a break- even if they were there, at the other side of the world, as part of their work.

“It’d be a change to be the one on the receiving end of the holiday experience!” He grinned and pushed the empty entrée plate to one side.

“You’re not wrong there!” He mumbled through the last mouthful of scampi. “Y’know we both have to have tons of flight bonuses stacking up- we’ve only had a couple of flights to Cardiff since you started working with me. And I hadn’t really seen the point of using many of them before I met you- I swapped the left over bonuses to vouchers every year end. We could have a great trip…”

Ianto nodded as he finished his glass of wine. Torchwood offered excellent bonuses and perks- they had had a reciprocal agreement with a few other carriers and travel companies, as well as offering reduced cosots for family and friends. Unused bonuses could be converted to Airmiles and vouchers at a slight loss. When he and Lisa had been together, she’d eagerly booked holiday after holiday for the two of them in the supposedly ‘fun’ and ‘happening’ places of the Med, or weekends away with her friends, but since they’d finished Ianto had built up quite a cache of unused vouchers.

“I ‘spose we ought to start looking at somewhere then… ”

“I’ll bet we’ve got so much saved up between us both that we could give a few to your Mam, and perhaps Rhi and Johnny, too.”

Ianto stared at him- Lisa would never thought of such a thing. “We can’t have that many?”

“Think about it- I know for a fact that you didn’t have a holiday last year, and I’ve worked through most of mine the last three years.”

Their main course arrived and, in between mouthfuls of a shared dish of Langoustines and tagliatelle in white wine and herbs, they discussed all of the places and things that they’d both always wanted to see.

Ianto yawned as their plates were taken away. He was too tired to even contemplate pudding.

“Hey, you. I think it’s time we went back to the hotel,” Jack said softly and held his hand up to gesture for a waiter. “You need some rest before tomorrow. I’ll get them to ‘phone us a taxi.”

***

To be continued…

Comments

[wanda1969]

Thank you!
And I'm a strict vegetarian, so I have no idea whether their dinner was any good at all, or even whether it was appealing!!! The toast option sounds good to me! Although the beetroot pudding sounded rather good when I read it on the menu for the restaurant!