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: And here’s part 2 of the Torchwood Annual Awards… I hope this extra long chapter makes up for the very short Chapter 36!

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

Chapter 37 (part 2)

***

As the music finished, Jack gave Ianto one of those grins which was purely for him- and the kiss that he gave him only seconds later left no one in the room in any doubt, if they had been in the first place, that the two were together. It was far from subtle as Jack crushed his lips, and his body, against Ianto’s, the contact only breaking when they sensed that the dance floor was empty apart from them.

The Welshman recovered himself, and reached up to fiddle momentarily with the knot of his tie. “I think I could do with a Scotch- possibly a double! I’m not used to being the centre of attention…”

“You should be…” Jack purred in all seriousness. “Why don’t you go back to the table? I’ll fetch you a drink?”

“I’ll go. For a start, I think I need to freshen up- and secondly, I can’t go around letting you be the one running around after me. I can look after myself, you know,” he replied. He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and raised his eyes to the ceiling.

“I know, I know! OK I’ll see you back at the table, then…”

***

Inwardly, John Hart cursed silently. So, Harkness and Jones’ relationship was truly out in the open now; he’d lost his chance of making mischief there, but as he saw the younger man walk towards the door he thought that perhaps there was a chance to cause a little bit of dissent between the two. Unfortunately, it wasn’t now- he was deep in conversation with Torchwood’s Operations Director at the other side of the Hall.

***

Ianto splashed the cold water onto his face in an effort to quell the slight burning of his cheeks caused by all those stares directed at himself and Jack. He had no regrets- he just supposed that this was one of those ‘rites of passage’ that he had to go through.

The lavatory attendant handed him a small, clean towel to dab off the moisture.

***

“Two double Taliskers with ice, please,” The Welshman ordered the drinks and leant on the high mahogany bar and his eyes wandered over the room. They finally settled on Jack, who hadn’t quite made his way back to the dining table; he was currently speaking to Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, one of the founders of Torchwood.

He turned back as an almost inaudible clink of ice against glass alerted him to the arrival of his drinks. He handed over a tenner- the drinks were no longer free at this time of night, but were heavily subsidised.

“Ianto…”

He looked to his side to find Lisa standing next to him, a tall glass in her hand. She looked stunning in a silvery silk dress which contrasted against her dark skin, but he knew he was finally over her when he no longer felt that old pang of jealously or regret when he looked at her.

“Lisa… How are you?”

“Great”

“How’s Andrew?” He couldn’t help the bitter tone that he allowed to creep into his voice at the mention of the Flight Controller’s name.

“Fine. Things are going well…” she replied. “How about you?”

“Good- very good. The international flights are a bit gruelling compared to Europe, but we’ve been to some amazing destinations…” he dissembled, although he was sure she was questioning him on a more personal level; it was more than likely that Lisa had seen him dancing with Jack- after all, the whole of the room seemed to have been taking in the sight.

“Yeah, I saw your crew got the Best International Crew award… I also saw you dancing with Jack Harkness…”

“Ah, yes… well…” So, he’d been right. Ianto took a fortifying slug of his Scotch.

“It was quite a surprise.”

“I suppose it would be.”

“I… Were you gay all along? I mean, did you always fancy blokes even when you were going out with me?”

He gave a short laugh. “I’m not gay Lisa.”

“Ianto, most straight guys don’t dance with other guys- not to music like that. And they don’t kiss them either.”

“No, I don’t expect they do,” he conceded. “There are probably about half a dozen people here that I find attractive… and only one of them is a man- Jack. I’ve come to the realisation that I suppose I’m bisexual, if anything…”

She stared at him, wide-eyed. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“Tell you? I’ve only just realised myself… and I can tell you that it came as quite a surprise to me.”

“Well…” Lisa shook her head with wry half smile and sipped at her gin. “It’s not every day that you find out your ex-boyfriend is g… bisexual.”

Ianto just raised an eyebrow at that comment and then glanced over at Jack.

“And I never expected that Captain Jack Harkness would turn out to be gay either…” she stated with a jerk of her head in the pilot’s direction.

“Strictly speaking, he’s not gay either.”

“Whatever,” Lisa drawled sarcastically. “Anyway, it’s even more surprising to see you dancing like that. You never were one for public displays of affection.”

“What? We danced together…”

“Well, yes. But we were official.”

The corners of Ianto’s mouth tipped down into a small frown. “Lisa, we are ‘official’. We’re moving into a house together next month.”

“You’re moving in together?”

“Actually, we’ve been living together for a while now- I gave up the flat months back. It’s hardly a secret any more.”

“Jesus!”

***

Across the room, Ianto was leaning against the bar, deep in conversation with a dark skinned woman- from the look on his face, the conversation, while not heated or angry, was obviously less than totally enjoyable. Even from this distance he recognised the woman from a few of the photographs on Ianto’s laptop. It was Lisa Hallett. He quickly put an end to his talk with the Brigadier.

***

“I take it that Scotch is for me?” Jack’s cheery voice interrupted Lisa and Ianto. He briefly rested a possessive hand against Ianto’s shoulder blade and gave a reassuring squeeze, before releasing him to accept the glass of Talisker that the Welshman passed to him. He took a deep draught of the amber liquid.

Before Ianto could speak, Jack had swallowed down the whisky and held out a hand to Lisa and introduced himself. “Captain Jack Harkness. And you must be Lisa…”

Stunned, Lisa took his hand but was silent. God, the man was even more stunning close to than when she had seen him from a distance. His blue eyes sparkled and his wide grin revealed perfect teeth. She’d always dreamed of meeting the great man, but had never envisaged that the meeting would take place like this, that he would be introducing himself as her ex’s boyfriend.

Harkness chuckled. “I recognise you from Ianto’s photos,” he said by way of explanation.

“Oh… it’s good to meet you Captain Harkness,” she said recovering herself.

“Call me Jack.”

However mortifying Ianto found the next ten minutes he had to admit that as meetings between one’s ex-girlfriend and present boyfriend went, it could be seen as a success. The two skirted around the issue of Lisa’s infidelity, concentrating on less controversial subjects, like the awards and how they had found working for Torchwood; she even rather grudgingly congratulated them both on their house move. Ianto could tell that Lisa was just a little bit ‘starstruck’. She and her friends had never hidden the fact- even in Ianto’s company- that they found the dashing Captain attractive, and now he was sure that he detected an air of jealousy about her. A tiny part of him allowed himself to momentarily gloat over that fact that she was actually envious of him.

Ianto finally saw a reprieve in the form of Toshiko who was waving at the pair of men from the far end of the bar. He waved back. “Looks like Toshiko’s been trying to get hold of us. Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll only be five minutes, Jack.”

Jack nodded as he slowly figured out that Ianto was looking for a ‘get out’ from the conversation with Lisa. He said ‘goodbye’, muttering that it had been nice to meet Lisa and then left her and Ianto to conclude their meeting.

***

Gwen sat with Suzie and Beth and nursed her drink. In her wildest dreams she hadn’t expected Jack and Ianto to display their relationship so openly in front of what amounted to the entire company. Much as it irked her, it was apparent that Jack was besotted with the Welshman- the kiss that he had given him at the end of their dance told her that much. It appeared that Ianto had completely won the pilot over and she couldn’t possibly compete with him. It annoyed her no end, but she knew she had to admit defeat.

***

“I still can’t get my head round it,” Lisa sighed. And I just… can’t… imagine you with a man. You never seemed like the type who’d be that… submissive…”

“You don’t have to imagine anything.” Ianto rolled his eyes in irritation. “And there’s nothing ‘submissive’ about our relationship. Look, Lisa we’ve both moved on. You’re settled with Andrew and, quite frankly, I really ought to thank you for everything. I love my job, life’s going well and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

She gawped at him before she was finally able to articulate any words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t treat you well, Ianto… Just… Well… Good luck to you both…”

He laid a hand on her arm. “Thanks. Keep Well, Lisa. I really do hope you’re happy now- we were probably never right for each other after all. And don’t let it drift with Andrew, eh?”

Lisa nodded and smiled, feeling a little self-conscious at the reference to the man she had left him for.

“See you around, Lisa.” Ianto’s hand dropped away, and he turned to walk over to his friends.

“See you, Ianto.”

***

To Be Continued…