m_findlow

Title: All is calm
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Jack, Ianto
Word Count: 500 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Prompt 22 - Silent Night at adventchallenge

As Ianto was finishing his tidying, he spotted Jack sitting on the sofa. He quirked an eye at him but Jack just patted the spot next to him, indicating that Ianto should occupy it. He slipped the file from his hand into the drawer and came over, setting himself down as Jack wrapped an arm around him.

'Just us now,' Jack said.

'Good planning rather than good luck,' Ianto replied. Everyone else had been sent home on strict instructions that they should spend Christmas Eve with their families and loved ones. Only they remained behind, knowing someone had to be here to keep an eye on the rift. Tosh's rift predictor program had suggested the rift didn't care for the holidays, and was highly likely to play up sometime during the night. It had only made it harder to force the rest of them to go home, feeling guilty that Jack and Ianto couldn't do the same. No one wanted to be traipsing around the city in the dead of night, battling fog and sleet, freezing temperatures and whatever alien thing it happened to throw at them.

'The hub looks even more Christmassy tonight,' Jack said.

Ianto didn't argue with him. It was very festive, with its sparkling tinsel and lights that flashed without being ostentatious. Somehow this year Jack had managed to deck the halls without going over the top. Instead, Ianto just snuggled deeper into Jack's side.

'You should get some sleep,' Jack said.

'The rift alarm is going to go off. What's the point? Might as well stay here and wait it out.'

'Yeah, but it could be five minutes from now or five hours. Can't have you falling asleep at the table tomorrow. Your sister won't be happy.'

'She's never happy,' he replied.

'Seriously, though,' Jack said. 'At least one of us can get some shut eye until then. Christmas day chasing after the kids is exhausting enough even after a good night's sleep.'

'Stuck doing rift duty. Not much of a way to celebrate Christmas Eve,' Ianto said, leaning his head on Jack's shoulder.

Jack sighed, leaning his head against Ianto's. Ianto felt just right, nestled there against him. 'At least we're together.'

'There is that,' Ianto said, entwining his fingers in Jack's.

It didn't take long before Jack could feel his lover's breathing slow, drifting down into sleep. He sat there and admired the lights as they twinkled all around them, waiting for the inevitable alarm that would send them into action. For now though all was quiet. It wasn't perfect, but it was still nice.

At some point, though he couldn't say when, his own eyes drooped shut, his grip on Ianto's hand growing slack. As the hub descended into peaceful repose, the rift alarm remained silent, and kept its silence all through the night. Perhaps it was the magic of Christmas, or perhaps Tosh's program still had a few glitches. Perhaps even the rift decided they were owed a gift on Christmas.