Slipping Through

Chapter 10 - Settling In
Written By: Totally4Ryo
Date Written: 7/13/08
Rating: PG 13
Word Count: 2773
Fandom: FAKE/Torchwood
Characters/Pairings: Dee/Ryo, Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Toshiko, Owen
Spoilers: FAKE – all through to volume 7, Torchwood - up to “Something Borrowed”
Warnings: Jack being… Jack. Dee being… Dee. And of course, two sexy male couples (but if you aren’t into that, why are you reading FAKE and/or watching Torchwood?)
Author Notes: Not as long as the last one, but some of you know I have been busy this weekend (and yes, I’m also working on the Captain and the Teaboy interlude).
Beta by: Grace Musica

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The next day, when Ryo and Dee arrived at the Hub, Dee immediately went up to the Captain’s office. Ryo joined Ianto by the coffee machine, looking at the others around the Hub, curious eyes following Dee, no doubt wondering why the New York detective was carrying Jack’s greatcoat.

Ianto handed Ryo a mug that seemed to have been designated as his own personal coffee mug. Ryo was not surprised the mug was something he would have picked for himself. The same about the mug that was set on the counter before Ryo, filled with Dee’s coffee.

“I can hardly wait to hear the various not-too-subtle questions,” Ianto remarked casually.

Ryo smirked. “Jack got distracted by the business call, I suppose, and forgot his coat.” He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. “Ah God, Ianto,” he sighed. “The thought of saying goodbye to your coffee one day is almost enough to give up trying to get home.”

Ianto smiled, knowing the compliment for what it was. “You could not go back to the Hub with it last night,” he said instead to Ryo, “as everyone left for the night.” Ryo nodded in agreement, having another drink of coffee. As they watched Dee leave Jack’s office, Ianto added, “Which reminds me that we do need to remedy that situation soon.”

Ryo already had Dee’s coffee in hand. “We’ll leave that up to the rest of you to decide if and when. Thank you, Ianto,” he said, lifting his mug and smiling.

“Enjoy,” the Welshman replied as Ryo went to meet Dee. “All those questions,” he added.

Ryo turned to lightly glare at him, then winked before going back on his way to meet his husband.

“Well?” Ryo asked, as he handed Dee his coffee.

Dee shrugged. “He said thanks and indicated for me to hang it up.” He grinned.

As Jack continued to work on his paperwork, Dee and Ryo went to learn more about Torchwood and how it worked, while trying to stay out of the way of the others. However, they found the others encouraged their participation. Tosh attempted to explain some complex programming, that had their heads swimming, including Dee, who back at home could be termed a “hacker”, for a hobby only, if you asked Dee. Owen came up to the perplexed looking couple and commented, “And here you thought you spoke her language.”

Tosh and Gwen both managed to give them some simple training on the basic operations using the computers. Both women continued to look at the newcomers, and share secret looks, giggling quietly. At least they thought the looks were secret, but it did not escape the two detectives’ notice. Owen would hover occasionally, looking like he wanted to make a comment, but could not make out his mind on exactly what to say. So he would go back down into the autopsy bay.

When Jack finally emerged from his office, he found the two detectives with Owen, staring in fascination at their first alien autopsy. Throughout their careers, both men had lost count on how many autopsies they sat in on. Owen was mildly impressed that they were not squirmish and even understood some of the comments he would throw out while he worked. Only when it was something unique to the alien’s race would the two men looked slightly confused. Owen, surprisingly, found himself stopping to further explain to them.

It was decided that during Torchwood’s downtime, the two detectives would come in and become accustomed to the workings of the team. Ianto was preparing material for them from the archives to study about certain alien life forms. While he worked in the archives, he also kept in mind Dee’s alien, in case he came across something.

Jack leaned on a railing and watched his team work, the two newcomers included. He had decided that the next call, he would send them along for hands on experience. When he noticed Ianto come from the archives, he stood up, indicating for Ianto to go over to him.

“Dee, Ryo!” he called out. “In my office, please.” He turned and went back into his office. Ianto trailed behind him, hands full with files he thought would be of use for the New York men.

Dee and Ryo looked up at the sound of Jack’s voice.

“Duty calls,” Owen snickered.

“We better go,” Ryo said, standing up and waiting for Dee to do the same.

“Good luck, you poor blokes,” Owen remarked, going back to his work.


When Dee and Ryo entered the office, Jack was already seated at his desk, lounging back in his chair. Ianto stood at the side of Jack’s desk. The detectives’ eyes immediately went to the greatcoat on the desk.

“You wanted us, Captain?” Ryo asked.

Jack looked over at Ianto, before waving Ryo off. “He’s almost as bad as you, Ianto. We go on a double date, and he’s calling me Captain.”

Ryo blushed slightly. “I like to sometimes. So what?” he mumbled, defensively.

Dee grinned. “Yeah, me too. If only our Captain back at the 2-7 could hear us now.”

“I doubt you ever been on a date with him either,” Ianto remarked smoothly.

Dee shuddered and Ryo shook his head of the mental image.

Jack laughed. “Now gentlemen, let’s get to business now.”

“Which is?” Dee asked, his eyes again on the greatcoat.

“This.” Jack lifted the coat by the shoulders and brought it to his face.

Ryo and Dee shared a look, while Ianto looked mildly amused. “Oh shit,” Ryo hissed, suddenly going slightly red.

Jack handed Ianto the coat, and turned to the other two with a huge grin. As the younger man went around to hang the coat up, Jack shook his fingers at the newcomers. “My my, you both were naughty last night. I hope you had as much fun as I’m thinking you had.”

Not only was Ryo red from the roots of his hair down to his toes, but so was Dee.

“Uh….” Dee stammered. “Yeah. We did. Thank you.”

“And here I thought we were lucky that the magic coat left no traces,” Ryo muttered. “I should have known better with him.”

Jack laughed. “It’s alright. It’s great. I’m glad you were able to find some serious ‘relaxation’ last night. Not that I’m encouraging you to make a habit of it, but should you feel the need to borrow it again, let me know.”

“Thanks,” Dee muttered, but he lifted his eyes to meet Jack’s. The Captain winked and Dee returned it.

Jack put his feet up on the desk, lacing his hands before him. “So… Captain Dee, is it now?” He grinned mischievously, while Dee grinned ruefully.

“Well…” Dee ended up smiling at the memories of the night before despite himself. “Ryo does make a mean cup of tea. His is the only tea I’ll drink.”

“Oh?” Ianto inquired, sounding like a challenge.

“I think it helps that when I serve him tea, it comes with a warning of, ‘Drink it or no sex later’,” Ryo found himself saying. He blushed slightly realizing what he said after watching Dee’s eyes go wide.

Jack laughed. “I will get details for this… eventually. But for now, I just want to see how you’re settling in with Torchwood? Then I’m going to hand you over to Ianto to learn about some of the usual alien life that we run across here.” Jack indicated the couch in his office. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

“I’ll make us more coffee,” Ianto offered.

“Hurry back, Ianto,” Jack said as he watched his lover leave the office.

+++ +++ +++

With the exception of when Dee and Ryo came through the Rift, it was mostly quiet for the days that followed. The night after the double date found Dee and Ryo making Toshiko a homemade Japanese meal that had her almost asking them to move in with her. They had a great time, getting to know each other more, and knowing they definitely had another friend in the strange world they found themselves in. Of course, Tosh tried to pry more about the coat while they were in private. There were many attempts to find out during that day, but Ryo and Dee stuck to the story Ianto and Ryo came up with, and did not deviate during their time at Tosh’s place.

The next day, after the third time the two newcomers spent time in the Captain’s office, Owen wanted to know if they were already shagging the boss. Dee quickly let Owen now that they were very happily married, thank you, and while they were able to look and appreciate, there would be no touching except with each other. Ryo stood at Dee’s side, enjoying watching the doctor rendered speechless for the duration, but otherwise remained silent. The two did faintly hear Owen say as they walked away to join Gwen at her desk, “Oi! Just asked a bloody question.”

Later that night, they found themselves at Gwen’s place, having dinner with the Welshwoman, and her husband. Gwen explained that she was able to tell Rhys about them and their predicament. It felt better to her with Rhys in the know from the offset, instead of attempting to pass the two foreigners as distant relatives as she did with Emma. If they had gone for that story, she figured they would most likely be Jack’s cousins. Dee and Ryo had much to say about Rhys, most of it good. They were a boost to her husband’s ego. He was somewhat nervous at first about two more handsome men who seemed to get along well with Gwen, including being comfortable enough to tease her, working with his wife. Both men assured Rhys that they were very happily married, and while they found Gwen attractive and sexy, and even Dee gave Rhys the eye, they never strayed. Rhys felt assured by the time the couple said good night, but Gwen teased her husband that while he did not lean in that direction, his ego was sufficiently boosted by Dee’s light flirting with the Welshman – something Jack had never done.


On their fifth day with Torchwood, Ryo went over to confer with Gwen about some police related topics that would concern him and Dee as far as their involvement with Torchwood would go.

Dee went over to Ianto, in hopes of coffee for him and his husband. Ianto was making the coffee, so after greeting the Welshman good morning, he waited, attempting to make small talk.

“So, I noticed Jack wasn’t around here much yesterday,” Dee mentioned, his eyes going up to where Ryo was talking to Gwen, while Tosh worked at her station.

Ianto shrugged minimally. “Jack does have duties that takes him outside of the Hub at times,” he merely replied, his attention mostly on his task of making coffee.

Ianto heard a hand slam on the counter, making items rattle. “C’mon, Ianto. Just who the hell do you think you are talking to like that?”

“Excuse me, sir?” he asked, setting the expresso down before he dropped it down. He turned to the man next to him. He found Dee, leaning on the hand still on the counter, leaning close, smirking at him. “I mean, Dee. What’s the problem?” he said, appearing unflustered. “You asked a question, I answered it.”

“Whatever.” The New Yorker’s smirk grew for a moment, then he grew serious. “I know you don’t mean how you say some things, but sometimes it feels like you’re patronizing, and that doesn’t sit well with me. I’m sorry,” Dee apologized.

“Well, one has to be at times, working with this lot,” Ianto replied.

Dee chuckled, then grew serious again, as Ianto returned to making the coffee. In a low voice he asked, “Did he go to Flat Holm?”

Ianto’s eyes went wide, then remembered just who he was talking to. He nodded. “Yes. But I hope you also know this is Jack’s secret.”

“Yeah. I know all about that. Him and Gwen… honestly. Sometimes I’d just love to smack them both upside the head. Both so friggin’ stubborn, but both missing the point.” Dee rolled his eyes for additional emphasis. He started to smile as Ianto held out the mug that was Dee’s.

“I try not to think about it,” Ianto replied. He studied the detective for a moment. “I trust if there’s something we need to know, you’ll let us know?”

“For now, I think I’d like to have a little chat with Jack first. I’m not going to force him or anything. Just a little talk. Then let him go from there.” Dee winked. “I can take Ryo’s, if you want.”

Ianto smiled as he handed the dark haired detective Ryo’s coffee. “I need to go down into the archives with Owen. If all remains quiet today, you and Ryo should be getting more experience with alien forensics.”

Dee laughed. “Now that’s something I really would not mind being certified in. Later, Ianto.”

Ianto watched as the New York detective walked through the Hub toward his husband. Considering the obvious accent the man had, how could he have slipped the way he had?

He picked up the tray with the coffee for the others.

Dee joined Ryo and Gwen, handing Ryo his coffee, with a cheshire grin.

“That isn’t usually a good thing,” Ryo commented, as he took his coffee.

“Where’s mine?” Gwen whined. She pouted at Dee.

“Hey! Do I look like the tea boy to you, gorgeous?”

Ryo frowned slightly at Dee. “I think the greatcoat is going to your head.”

“What’s that?” Gwen asked.

Ryo looked down at her and gave her his most charming smile. “Nothing.”

“Ianto called me ‘sir’,” Dee murmured to Ryo, smirking.

Ryo nearly spit out his coffee.


Late in the day, Dee he would have his chance to have his little talk with the Captain. The day went by fast with learning more about aliens, looking on as the team investigated alien tech, basketball games, and sitting around sharing stories.

Just as Dee started to approach the office, Gwen called out, “Weevil sighting at City Centre.”

“Great,” Tosh moaned. “Looks like we’re going to be busy with clean up.” She glanced over to Ryo. “If there’s a crowd, it’s going to be ugly.” She looked at his solemn nod. “But you know that already,” she said lightly.

Jack appeared at the door, shrugging on the greatcoat. “Ianto, go with Dee and Ryo in their car. The rest of us in the SUV. Move out!”

Dee was easily sidetracked from his task, as his eyes lit up. He actually threw a salute at Jack and spun to join his husband, grabbing their jackets along the way.

“You know, if Chief or the Commissioner ever saw you these last few days, they might have a seizure,” Ryo said low as they walked with Ianto to where they kept their rental car in the underground parking.

“Which is exactly why I shouldn’t change when we get back. I actually prefer to keep them both out of the hospital. Especially if the Commissioner tried to make a case about it,” Dee replied.

Ianto coughed, smothering a laugh. He looked ahead at the other four as they approached the SUV.

Ryo held out his hand as they came to their rental car. “Keys.”

“Aw c’mon, Ryo,” Dee started to protest. “I did alright this morning. I got us back from the market in one piece, didn’t I?”

Ryo rolled his eyes, his hand still out, waiting for the keys. He started to tap his foot.

Jack blared the horn of the SUV. “C’mon, a little haste,” he called out the window.

Dee fumed. “Fine. Here.” He handed the keys over to his husband and started to get in the car. Ryo tapped him on the shoulder. Dee looked up to find Ryo pointing to the left side of the vehicle.

“Passenger seat.”

“Actually gentlemen,” Ianto said, quickly grabbing the keys from Ryo. “Just this one time. Until you get used to Jack’s maneuvers to follow.” He smoothly got into the driver’s seat.

Dee jumped in the passenger seat. “Shotgun!”

Ryo glared at Dee as he got in the backseat behind Ianto.