Fandomweekly Challenge 92 - In over his head

[m_findlow]

Title: In over his head
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: Minor spoilers for audioplay "Submission" .
Author notes: Written for Challenge 92 - Into the depths at fandomweekly
Summary: The team's latest mission and personal entanglements have Ianto feeling out of his depth.

Ianto felt a sense of trepidation as they left the bridge of the ship to reconvene in what must have been the ship's mess hall. People were sat around tables eating but there was no sign of where the food was coming from, which only made hunger twist in his stomach along with everything else. Airplane food was awful at best and the flight into Tokyo had been no exception.

For now though, it was less his hunger than it was his former Torchwood One colleague Carly, finally sitting down to properly meet his new team, that had his stomach in knots. In many ways this was the first time his old life and new life would collide, and that was unchartered territory.

Jack slid into a booth away from the other crew. Gwen slid in opposite him, leaving Ianto with the unenviable position of being simultaneously next to Jack and opposite Carly as they completed the quartet. Having old lovers and new lovers in such proximity made him wonder why he'd been so keen to call her in to help them. Because she's a marine biologist and an expert on deep sea habitat ecology, he reminded himself. He'd kept tabs on her over the years, reading her articles when he couldn't sleep.

'So, Carly,' Jack said, getting the ball rolling on the inevitable Spanish inquisition. 'You and Ianto dated? I mean, a guy doesn't keep your number in his phone for years unless it was something special, right?' It boggled Ianto's mind how Jack could be so blunt without the slightest hint of jealousy.

Carly gave a confessional shrug, as if to say "who wouldn't?". 'Anyway, it was only a short fling.'

'Really short,' Ianto added, trying to prevent a blush from rising in his cheeks and wishing she hadn't called it a fling. He still felt bad about falling in love with someone else whilst they were still in the early dating stages. Who knew you could fall in and out of love that quickly.

'Oh?' Jack's eyebrows raised with excited curiosity. 'Well, that's new. We never knew Ianto was such a ladies man back in London. How many others did you woo with your sharp suits and amazing coffee?'

'Oh, you know about the coffee thing?' Carly asked. 'Seriously, I don't think I've had a decent cup of joe since. You've completely ruined coffee for me, Ianto.'

'There's seventeen different kinds of pleasures in the Vegas Galaxy that don't even compare,' Jack added.

Ianto squirmed on the hard vinyl seat. 'Can we please stop talking about me? Perhaps we could discuss the mission? Plus Cudlow said we should be getting some sleep before we reach the dive site.'

Jack waved off Ianto's attempts to change the subject. 'Yeah, but who are you gonna listen to, a lowly captain like Cudlow or an admiral like me?'

'Self appointed admiral,' Ianto reminded him. Jack's ego truly knew no bounds, making sure he was unofficially the most senior ranking person aboard on this mission.

'We had plenty of time to sleep on the flight over,' Jack argued. 'Why sleep now when things are getting exciting? We're off to the most alien part of that Earth's oceans.'

'I never sleep on planes,' Ianto replied. 'It's the cabin pressure makes my ears pop and my head feel all stuffed with cotton wool.'

'And now the moaning starts,' Gwen said, rolling her eyes.

Carly smiled at them. 'Nearly eleven thousand feet to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Trust me, that's gonna make your ears really pop.'

Ianto's face dropped at the prospect. 'Can't wait.'

'Well,' Gwen began, 'I for one will take Cudlow's advice and get a few hours proper sleep. In this job, you never know when you'll get it next.'

Jack sighed at her as they all stood. 'Spoilsport. Think I'll go get to know our crew a little better.'

'You stay away from those nice young sailor boys, Jack,' Gwen warned him.

'Hey, you have your methods and I have mine.' Jack gave Ianto a suggestive look. 'I'll leave my cabin door unlocked. Unless you two are going to stay here and rehash the old days?' He didn't even wait for Ianto to reply, already leading Gwen out of the mess.

Carly's eyes followed Jack's outline as he left. 'Nice team you've got there,' she observed. 'A little cliche perhaps, but I can see the appeal.'

'They're good people. I trust them with my life.'

She folded her arms and gave him one of her studious looks. 'Yet you're still acting all funny. We're okay to still do this tomorrow, aren't we?'

'Of course.' He shuffled from foot to foot. 'Just… you know… it's the sea.'

He'd never told anyone else how he felt about the vastness and depth of the sea. Carly only knew on account of being a marine biologist and how he'd stoutly refused to go on a trip with her on her leave days to go shipwreck diving. He wished now that he'd bottled it and just gone with her. It probably would have been a lot of fun. The idea of going down to the very bottom of the deepest part of the ocean in a tiny little tin can however filled him with irrational dread.

'Nervous?' she asked.

He nodded slowly.

'First time?'

'No, I've been nervous loads of times before.'

She laughed. 'No, I mean, first time in a sub?'

He nodded. 'I know. And yes. Going to pop my submarine cherry along with my ears?'

She rested her hand on his arm. 'You'll be fine. I've done this loads of times. Besides, it's only a mysterious wailing voice coming from the deepest part of the ocean on Earth. Torchwood's got this covered.'

It was easy to forget sometimes that she'd been Torchwood just like him. Why else would he still have her number after all these years?

He faked a confident smile. 'With the admiral in charge, what could go wrong?'