Fandomweekly Challenge 52 - Temporary posting

[m_findlow]

Title: Temporary posting
Fandom: Torchwood
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG.
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Challenge 52 - Voluntold at fandomweekly
Summary: Ianto's plans never included being part of the team.

Ianto tuned out the sound of the team's banter as they each entered the boardroom in turn, arriving in various states of fashionably tardy. They knew all too well that Jack was never on time, but it didn't stop Ianto from ensuring his coffee was served in a timely manner. That, if nothing else, should get Jack up here. Jack didn't disappoint, swanning into the room with his usual effervescent flair.

Ianto set the steaming mug in front of him at the head of the table.

'Can I get a biscuit?' Jack asked.

'You had four with your morning coffee,' Ianto reminded him.

Blue eyes locked onto him. 'That wasn't a question.'

'Of course not, sir,' Ianto replied, proferring the plate as Jack took not one, but three chocolate hobnobs, setting them on the table. Ianto slid a serviette next to them but Jack didn't take the hint. 'I'll leave you to it.'

'Sit down, Ianto. This involves you too.'

He paused and frowned a moment before settling down in the seat furthest away, next to Tosh, wondering why Jack wanted to include him, a nobody, in his briefing.

Jack slurped his coffee noisily before beginning. 'Now that we're no longer affiliated with Torchwood One - as if we ever were,' he added, maintaining his air of disdain about the way they liked to do business, 'the Home Office would prefer us to check in with them regularly to report on our progress.'

'Progress?' Owen muttered. 'What happened "outside the government"?'

Jack grimaced. 'It's politics. Don't even get me started. But the Crown holds our purse-strings and they asked nicely for us to cooperate. So, we're going to need someone to take on the role of Home Office liaison.' The room fell silent as Jack looked at each of the in turn. 'Ianto. I was thinking you could do it.'

Ianto startled at his name being used, let alone being asked to contribute. 'Me?'

'You're always saying you never get out of the hub.'

He sat up a little straighter, fussing with his cuff. 'I get out. I go to the dry cleaners, the car wash, Sainsburys...' He realised with some embarrassment that the others were all looking at him with a mixture of disappointment, pity and surprise. He clamped his mouth shut and slumped back down.

Owen smirked across the table. 'For a moment there I was expecting Jack to throw you under the bus for the job,' he said, grinning at Tosh.

'Me too,' she agreed, before her look turned to one of guilt. 'Not that I don't think you'd do a great job, Ianto,' she added, quickly covering herself, but not without ending it by keeping her eyes fixed back down on the table in front of her.

'Well, it was never going to be you, Owen,' Suzie offered. 'These things require tact.'

'Which is why Jack didn't pick you either,' he retorted.

'Ahem.' Jack cleared his throat, reverting everyone's attention back to him. 'You can argue about who's the rudest and most obnoxious afterwards. For now, what we need to decide is what we going to tell them.'

'Nothing if you ask me,' Owen replied.

Jack inclined his head. 'Normally I'd agree, but they're going to want something. Enough to satisfy them but just enough that they're not going to want to ask anymore questions.'

They discussed everything they'd done. If Ianto had known ahead of time he'd have pulled all their reports from the last three months so they could work through it sequentially.

'Ianto, you getting all this?' Jack asked, raising an eye towards him.

'Yes, sir.' He'd extracted a small notepad from his breast pocket and had been making notes in shorthand, adding a few of his own thoughts based on the reports that he'd filed. The incident with the city's second Slitheen mayor was definitely out, but they could probably discuss Tosh's work on crystal matrix data storage and Owen's research on the medicinal applications of Pavano beans. Suzie's resurrection glove project was contentious even within their ranks. Probably best to say nothing at all about it. He'd filled several pages by the time they ran out of things to say.

Jack smiled in appreciation. 'Okay people. That's all. Ianto and I can refine it from here.'

Jack waited until the others had filtered out of the room, standing there as Ianto collected up their used cups onto a tray. He looked pensive. 'You are okay with this, aren't you? I mean, I know London probably isn't exactly a place of happy memories for you.'

'It's fine sir. I was just wondering about how long I'd have to be there.' He'd been fretting about how to work this into his schedule which revolved completely around caring for Lisa and keeping her hidden. His days were long and complicated enough now.

'It's a day trip,' Jack assured him. 'I don't want you in that room with Frobisher more than an hour. Two tops. You get the first train to London, be there mid-morning, done by lunch and back on the train home in time for tea. How's that sound?'

He nodded. Okay. He could do that. Up at five thirty. Showered and dressed by six. A good forty five minutes he could spend with Lisa checking her medications, talking with her, making sure she was okay, before getting a taxi to the station. So long as he was back again by tea, Lisa should be able to get through the day without him. No dillydallying around the London high street after his meeting. Straight there and straight back. 'Sounds like a plan, sir.'

Jack smiled. 'Good. I think this could be a good long-term project for you.'

Ianto hoped his expression appeared enthusiastic. He had absolutely no intention of hanging around here any longer than it took to cure Lisa and escape Torchwood forever. At the same time however, he didn't think anyone would miss him when he did, Home Office liaison or not.