With the entire contents of the British Library on one of the devices locked in their secure little box, and another attached to his laptop screen, paused halfway through Murder on the Orient Express, Ianto sat back on his couch and toyed with the last two. He’d been trying to work out the secondary function for almost two weeks now, and, as yet, got nowhere. The others were more than happy with his success in unlocking the link between the basic devices and any available computer, and were busy developing things for Torchwood’s use in advance of commercial exploitation, but this still nagged at him.
He sighed, and put one of the devices down on top of the box, still turning the other over and over in his hand while he went to fix a fresh cup of coffee.
There was a beep behind him, and when he went back he found the box had unlocked itself.
He looked down at the device in his hand, and smiled.
~*~
“I never got round to thanking you.”
“I wasn’t aware I’d done anything to earn it,” Ianto said quietly, tying the bin bag closed and checking he hadn’t missed any rubbish. Still clearing up the mess, even after everything he’d said and done. But there wasn’t anything else left for him now.
Jack took another step towards him, and held out the lock pick.
“I brought more useful things from London than that.” Ianto turned away, and picked up the bag. “Among other things.”
He heard Jack take a breath, then, “You could have kept this from me. There was always the risk I’d use it on the wrong door. But you didn’t. And it saved our lives, Ianto.”
Ianto just nodded, but he was startled when a warm hand patted his shoulder briefly.
“Always have a backup plan,” Jack said quietly. “So… thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ianto didn’t leave until he heard Jack’s door click shut.
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Date: 2009-02-23 02:02 am (UTC)He sighed, and put one of the devices down on top of the box, still turning the other over and over in his hand while he went to fix a fresh cup of coffee.
There was a beep behind him, and when he went back he found the box had unlocked itself.
He looked down at the device in his hand, and smiled.
“I never got round to thanking you.”
“I wasn’t aware I’d done anything to earn it,” Ianto said quietly, tying the bin bag closed and checking he hadn’t missed any rubbish. Still clearing up the mess, even after everything he’d said and done. But there wasn’t anything else left for him now.
Jack took another step towards him, and held out the lock pick.
“I brought more useful things from London than that.” Ianto turned away, and picked up the bag. “Among other things.”
He heard Jack take a breath, then, “You could have kept this from me. There was always the risk I’d use it on the wrong door. But you didn’t. And it saved our lives, Ianto.”
Ianto just nodded, but he was startled when a warm hand patted his shoulder briefly.
“Always have a backup plan,” Jack said quietly. “So… thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ianto didn’t leave until he heard Jack’s door click shut.