m_findlow

Title: For the record
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 461 - Find/Found at slashthedrabble
Summary: Ianto wonders if he'll ever stop finding out new things about Jack

'What have you got there?' Jack asked, watching as Ianto was diligently poring over some old looking file on his computer screen.

'Nothing,' he said, closing down the screen.

Jack suppressed a laugh. 'You're a terrible liar, sometimes, you know that? Come on, spill. What could it possibly be that I would take offense to?'

Ianto shuffled in his chair, dragging the mouse back to bring up the window.

'Canadian Military First World War records?' He scanned the details. 'Hey, wait. These are my records.'

Ianto flushed red.

'How did you?'

'Hundred year military archive,' Ianto quickly replied. 'They've just been released for public access.'

'Huh.'

Ianto flushed again. He wasn't sure what to make of Jack's reaction. It was hardly a secret that he devoured anything he could find on Jack's long and colourful history. He had several military records: Jack's US Air Force file, British Army file, a short stint with the Royal Navy, more American military records that had been dummied up whilst he'd worked undercover for Torchwood. He hadn't expected this though. His little program that ran in the background, always searching for new references to their mysterious leader rarely turned up anything these days. He'd scoured the archives and what was on public record that he didn't have a copy of wasn't worth knowing about.

'Canada?' he said, hoping Jack would offer up something more than what sparse military files could.

'First rule of the Time Agency: never cross your own timeline.' Then he shrugged. 'Second rule: if you do, make sure you never meet yourself.'

He must have broken that first rule a dozen times at least, and that was just in his time on Earth. At least he'd stuck to the second. 'Best way to not run into yourself is to make sure you're never gonna be in the same place at the same time. Military are real good at making sure you're only ever exactly where they want you.'

'So, you drafted yourself to stop from crossing your own timeline?'

'Among other things,' he replied.

Ianto stared at the screen, having already memorised the long list of injuries he'd survived, and the miraculous recoveries that had him back out on the front line time after time. 'Feels like I'm forever finding out new things about you.' He didn't have to add the accusation that he'd had to find out most of it himself.

'It takes a whole lifetime to get to know someone,' Jack said, 'and I've already lived three or four lifetimes.'

'So, what you're saying is that I'll never find out everything.' He didn't make any effort to hide his disappointment. He didn't want Jack keeping secrets from him, however hard it might be to talk about some of those things from his past. Ianto couldn't rely on public records to tell him who it was he shared his bed with every night.

'You don't have to,' Jack replied. 'All that matters is who I am right here and now.'