m_findlow

Title: Hidden in the dark
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Ianto, Jack, Tosh
Word Count: 1,302 words
Rating: PG
Notes: Written for Challenge 26 - Lantern at anythingdrabble
Summary: Ianto isn't worried about being in the dark of the archives.

'Can you fix it?' Jack asked, watching as Tosh fiddled with the device. It had been in a pretty bad way when he'd picked it up after the rift had so unceremoniously spat it out, but having it working again might come in handy down the track.

'I think so. But this part is damaged pretty badly. I'd need a spare part to replace it before I can get it working again.'

Jack picked up the burnt transformer and peered closely at it. 'We should have a spare or two around here somewhere.' Better that they just had to replace one damaged part than to have to throw the whole thing out. 'Ianto!'

'You know you don't need to yell out every time you need something,' he chastised, walking up to them, having only been a few yards away.

Jack gave him one of his charming smiles. 'I just like that you come when I call.'

'So do dogs, sir.'

He held out the piece for Ianto to take a look at. 'Need a new quantum transformer chip. Think we've got some down in the archives?'

'Let me check,' he said, walking over to his computer and running a search, consulting his records against the chip in his hands. He didn't always trust that the people before him had known precisely what things were, or at least what they were called. It always paid to have a visual reference you could double check. He was no computer genius, but the piece did look identical to several they had stored away. 'Yep. It's a bit of a hike, though. Hope you don't mind waiting.'

'I'll come with you, then,' Jack said.

'That's really not necessary. I'm perfectly capable of fetching it. It's just a long way down that's all.'

'Then I insist on accompanying you. Besides, you always say we don't spend enough time together. What better way to fix that little problem whilst we're at it.'

Ianto quirked an eyebrow at him, unable to deny him. 'Anything to get out of having to do your paperwork.'

Jack chatted amicably about work as he followed Ianto through the maze of corridors that made up the lower levels of the hub. It was a wonder nobody ever got lost down here. Ianto finally came to a halt next to a small supply closet.

'You keep them in there?'

'No, but there is something in here we'll need,' he said, hefting out the large camping lantern. 'Take this,' he said, handing it to Jack, before grabbing a second.

Jack held it up and frowned 'What's this for?'

'This section of the archives isn't electrified. We'll need our own light. Unless of course you'd prefer to go hunting around in the dark.'

'And we never thought to rectify that? I mean, I know the place is old, but surely we can afford to put some working lights down here.'

'It's hardly ever used,' Ianto argued, 'and our power bill is quite big enough as is without adding even more unused resources to it. Consider it us doing our part in reducing the UK's carbon footprint.'

Ianto flipped the small switch on the side of his lantern and Jack did the same, letting it cast a bright white glow. 'But anything could be lurking down here in the dark,' Jack said.

'Not anything,' Ianto replied cyrptically.

Ianto wound his way expertly through the pitch black, leading them with his own beam of light held high. Even with the lanterns, it was ridiculously dark down here. Jack was sure that something was eating up the light that his own cast, barely able to make out the rows of shelves and shapes of boxes before he was practically about to run into them. It was a health and safety nightmare.

'You come down here often?' Jack asked.

'Only when you need something, mostly,' he replied, completely at ease despite the heavy creepiness that seemed to linger in the air. 'It's best to leave things down here undisturbed.'

He easily located the correct shelf and box, setting down the lantern just long enough to look for the chip Tosh needed. Whilst he was searching, Jack took a few steps further along, squinting into the darkness. When he didn't find anything, he came back, standing there and waiting. He was just thinking about how it really wasn't the cosy time alone together he'd hoped for when something prickled the back of his neck. He spun around.

'Did you feel that?' Jack asked.

'What?'

'Like a warm rush of air.'

'Uh huh,' Ianto replied, his attention still fixed on searching the box for what he needed.

'Only its freezing down here.'

'It is,' he agreed, clutching the chip and putting the lid back on the box.

'So, how does warm air suddenly come outta nowhere?'

Ianto sighed at Jack's paranoia. 'It'll just be Gerald checking you out. He's quietly curious, and you're something new.'

'Gerald?' Jack asked, holding his lantern aloft, looking around with suspicion. 'Who's Gerald? A ghost?'

Ianto laughed. 'There's no such thing as ghosts, Jack. You know that.'

'So, if he's not a ghost?' Jack let the question hang in the air.

'He's a Gardereen.'

'A what?'

Ianto picked up his lantern and turned down the brightness on it, peering around in case the amount of light they'd brought down here was hurting his eyes. 'Do you remember that film The Neverending Story?'

'Vaguely,' Jack replied, unsure what that had to do with anything.

'And the big white flying dog creature?'

'Yup.'

'Basically that's Gerald. Long and furry, face a bit like a dog and about the size and length of four mini minors put end to end.'

'How do you know all that?'

'I caught him on CCTV once, snooping around. I don't know how he got here, but I'd say he's been roaming the archives for a good many years. Haven't you ever noticed how there's no rats down here when they should be everywhere?'

'He's a rat-catcher?'

'More like that's his staple diet. The first time he gave me a bit of a fright, but I think maybe I scared him more. All I saw was a blur of white fur. That's when I called up the cameras and got a proper look at him, checking him out on our database. They're harmless. Quiet, placid creatures that live mostly on their own.'

'And big?' That was Jack's primary concern.

'But also extremely shy.'

'And we have one living in our archives? Why is this the first I'm hearing about it?'

'I'm sure I've mentioned it before. You probably weren't listening, as usual. I've only seen him once or twice myself. He seems to know I'm there, and that I know he's here too, but otherwise we don't have much to do with one another. He did steal my chocolate hobnobs one day though, when I left them on my desk.'

'What is it with you and creatures that like chocolate?'

'I thinks it's the chocolate they're attracted to and not me,' he replied.

'Poor taste on their part,' Jack joked.

Ianto took another look around, but there was no more movement, nor any sound indicating that Gerald was still close by. Not that he usually made any sound. He just liked to keep an eye on things, and they were the ones intruding on what was obviously his space.

'I'm sure he'll introduce himself when he's good and ready,' Ianto assured Jack. 'It's actually quite nice to know that someone is keeping an eye on me when I'm down here. You never know what else might be lurking in the dark.'

'Okay, well for now, how about we leave him be?' Jack said, not entirely convinced yet. 'Some things in the dark should be left alone.'

Original 500 word version here