Torchwood: Fanfic: Out of time

[m_findlow]

Title: Out of time
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,025 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for badly_knitted's prompt "Any, any, running an hour late for everything" at fic_promptly
Summary: Jack just can't find enough time to fit everything in.

Today was just going from bad to worse, as far as Jack was concerned. No matter how he tried, or how much he rushed, he just couldn't seem to make up any time. He had a list of things to do as long as his arm. Surely somewhere along the line, he could make up some time, but so far, he'd been unsuccessful.

'Stop squirming, Jack. I'm trying to adjust the measurements for your inner leg.'

Jack tensed as he felt himself getting felt up. Normally he'd have a specific witty, innuendo-laced reply for it, but not today. 'I thought they were fine. Last time you said-'

'Yeah, well last time you wouldn't stand still either,' the tailor chastised him. 'Ianto will have my head if your suit isn't perfect for the big day.'

Jack sighed, rolling his eyes at his own reflection in the mirror. 'I'm meant to be at the caterers by now,' he said.

'Well, maybe if you'd been here on time, you wouldn't be so itching to get a move on now.'

Jack looked down at the short man with pins in his mouth, marveling at the way he could enunciate each word perfectly. 'Are you sure you're not related to Ianto?'

'I really think perhaps you want to add another three options to your hors d'oeuvre course,' the catering coordinator insisted. 'I spoke to Ianto on the phone yesterday and he agreed.'

'Good,' Jack said. 'Excellent.' One more thing he could tick off his own to do list.

'Now, I've got the full menu of options here, if you'd like to take a look,' she said, forcing the laminated folder his Jack's hands. 'Can I suggest perhaps the sautéed prawns as one of the options?'

Jack looked up from the long list of options on the menu, feeling overwhelmed. 'You mean Ianto hasn't decided yet?'

'He said you'd want to have some input and since you were coming down today anyway to finalise numbers and payment. Listen, hang about, yeah? We've got one of our chefs in the kitchen this morning trying out a few new things. He could whip up a few for you to try. Might make the decision a bit easier.'

'Can't wait.'

Jack dropped the huge crate of greenery on the kitchen counter. 'That should be enough to keep you guys going for a while,' he said, smiling. 'Sorry I kept you waiting. Busy morning.'

The Embican smiled back at him and bounced her youngest offspring on her knee. 'Thank you. You wouldn't believe how much these little ones eat. That garden out the back is lovely, but the plants on this planet just don't grow fast enough to keep up. We'd go out and buy what we need but-'

'I get it,' Jack said. 'A little hard when you can't blend in with the local population. Well, if that's all you need, I've gotta be going. We'll drop off another crate in a few days.'

'Just before you go...'

'Yeah?'

'You said you could take a look at this leaking pipe in the kitchen when you stopped by. Remember?'

'How could I forget?'

'It won't take long.'

The mayor huffed and loudly cleared his throat, which caused Jack to startle and look up at him from where he was slumped in the seat opposite

'I get the distinct impression you're bored by all of this and can't wait to get out of here,' the mayor said, giving him an annoyed look. 'Well, I don't fancy having to deal with you people either, but I've had to give up my Sunday so afternoon for this so you can just sit there and pretend to be interested.'

Jack cast a glance at his watch and groaned.

'Don't you give me that attitude, Captain Harkness! You're the one who wants these proposed changes to the underground sewerage network for the sake of a few aliens, which as far as I'm concerned, can go live in some other city's sewers. Now I want you to explain to me precisely how this is going to work. It's not like you're the one that has to go hat in hand to the First Minister for the funds, is it?'

The mayor pulled out the half inch thick report Ianto had duly prepared for the requisition, along with a poster sized map of the network, which he spread across the desk.

'Now, this section here, around Cathays Park...'

Jack stumbled through the door and threw the keys on the sideboard, not even reacting as they missed it completely, dropping onto the floor instead.

'Where on Earth have you been?' Ianto asked, appearing in the hallway. 'I was about to file a missing person's report. Rhi has been blowing up my phone demanding to know why we're not there yet!' He appraised Jack's somewhat harried appearance. It was so unlike him. Even after he'd been blown up and covered in alien slime he always managed to look like he'd just come out of hair and make-up, ready for his run on the catwalk. 'You look like you've run a marathon.'

'I have,' Jack replied. 'First I had to go and get that final fitting for my suit, then there was the appointment with the caterers, the delivery to drop off more parsley for those Embicans staying in the safe house on Argon Terrace. Then I had my meeting with the mayor.'

Ianto frowned. 'That still doesn't account for why you're late. You've had that schedule in your diary for weeks. More than enough time to fit it all in and be home on time to shower and change for dinner at my sister's.'

Jack sighed. 'Only I've been an hour late to everything today so I've been chasing my tail, trying to make up the time. Let's just say that plan didn't work.'

Ianto frowned again. 'Why were you an hour late? I told you to set your alarm for eight so you wouldn't sleep in.'

Jack shoved his watch in Ianto's face, pointing emphatically at it. 'Yeah, but you forgot to mention that we clicked over to daylight saving time last night!'

Comments

[bk_forever]

Poor Jack! That just upsets your whole day. I forgot last year...

This year I've already set my clock and watch forward so I won't get caught out!