Slipping Through

Chapter 12 - Home Is Where the Heart Is
Written by: Totally4Ryo
Date Written: 8/3/08
Rating: PG 13
Word Count: 4052
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?)
Summary: Dee & Ryo decide to further settle into life in Cardiff, resigning themselves to the circumstances they found themselves in, making the most of the time for however long it last.
Author Notes: This takes place about a week after “Gotta Run, Weevil Hunting”.
Beta by: Grace Musica

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Owen and Tosh turned toward the Cog door as it opened, revealing Dee, Ryo and two Weevils.

“Hey Jack,” Owen called out toward the Captain’s office. “The rookies are here, bringing their pets.”

Dee shot Owen a glare, while Tosh giggled. Ryo shrugged and made sure his captive wasn’t about to break away from him. Gwen was coming from the bathroom and leaned against a wall, her arms folded to watch the two Americans make their way across the Hub, heading for the cells below.

Jack came out of his office, and leaning on the railing looked down at them. “Looking good there,” he called out, with a grin. “You know the way by now. Dee, don’t forget to read ‘em a bedtime story when they’re tucked in.

Dee glared at the amused Captain. “Sod off, Captain.”

Ryo rolled his eyes, then grinned at his husband as both men made their way to the cells. “Sod off?” he asked amused.

“Button it, Ryo. I’m not in the mood.”


Later, when the two men were back in the Hub, talking to the members of Torchwood, it became apparent that Dee’s foul mood had little to do with just Weevil hunting. Ryo still looked clean in his suit, except for a few wrinkles. Dee, on the other hand, was soaked, his pullover and trousers stained with mud and dirt.

“Don’t tell me,” Gwen giggled as Ianto handed Dee a towel. “You’re into mud wrestling with Weevils.”

“Shut it, Gwen,” Dee snapped. A moment later, he sighed as Ianto handed him a mug of coffee. “If no one minds, I think I’m going to take a shower and find that extra set of clothes Ryo made me keep around here.”

Jack grinned and winked. “They’re down in my bunkroom.”

Dee took another sip of his coffee, paying more attention to the action. Putting down the cup, he finally gazed up at the Captain. Meeting Jack’s eyes, he said, with a wicked grin, “That’s so kind of you, Captain Jack, to fetch me my clothes.” He turned and started to walk toward where the showers were.

Once Dee left, everyone’s eyes on the detective’s retreating back, Jack turned to Ryo, with a wolfish grin. “If he wants me to deliver his clothes to the shower….”

Ianto shook his head, while Gwen and Toshiko giggled. Owen threw his hands up in the air. “That’s my cue to go back to my bay.” The doctor left the group.

Ryo smirked. “I think it would be better if you just gave me the clothes and I got them to Dee.”

“So you get to go down to my bunk then,” Jack leered, with a wink.

Ryo found himself blushing, which amused Jack to no end.

Ianto sighed, placing a hand on Ryo’s shoulder. “For everyone’s sake, I think I’ll get Dee’s clothes and bring them to him.”

Jack pouted, “No fair, Ianto.” As Ianto headed for Jack’s office, he said to Ryo, “He never lets me have any fun.”

Ryo shook his head affectionately. With a huge, phony put upon sigh, he said, “You know, you and Dee are starting to sound more alike everyday.” He gave Jack a little grin and went over to speak to Tosh and Gwen.

“That’s a good thing. Right?” Jack asked to Ryo’s back.

Ryo decided to ignore him, becoming engrossed in whatever the girls started to pull up at Tosh’s station.

After Dee came from the shower, dressing in clean jeans and a hoodie, he joined Ryo in Jack’s office to speak with the Captain. Dee was lounging in his seat, his booted feet propped up on the edge of Jack’s desk. It was a habit Dee picked up the last few days, at times, when he would find himself in Jack’s office. Jack didn’t mind it. Especially since it presented a very interesting view from his side of the desk. Particularly if he leaned just slightly in the right way.

“Eleven Weevils and one Blowfish this past week,” Jack was saying. “That’s impressive. And we’re all very thankful, because we were able to concentrate on other matters. After years of this, Weevil hunting can get tedious.” He smiled at the two handsome detectives.

Ianto entered, carrying a tray with coffee and biscuits. After everyone was handed their coffee, and the dish set where all could reach it, he sat on the corner of the desk.

Jack leaned forward after having some of his coffee. “I think anything over 10 a week, deserves a bonus, plus the agreed pay. What do you think, Ianto? Should we make that a standard for freelance agents?” He looked up at the Welshman.

Ianto nodded with a smile. “Most definitely. And for a Blowfish too.”

“Bonus for that, too,” Jack agreed. “I’ll have your week’s pay by the time you leave later today.”

“Thank you,” Ryo said sincerely. “You have been very kind to us.”

“You came through the Rift, it’s Torchwood’s responsibility to look after you,” Jack waved off. He smiled at the two. The next few minutes were spent in companionable silence as they drank their coffee.

“So, can I ask what was so interesting going on at Tosh’s station earlier?” Ianto asked, after sharing a look with Jack.

Dee shrugged. “We’re tired of living in a hotel. If this is going to take a while, we decided we’d feel better to have something we can call home for the time.”

Ryo took Dee’s hand and smiled. “We’re not giving up on going home, and we do miss our families. However, we also understand that it’s very likely that when the time comes, to those we left behind, it would be like we were never missing. We realized that for us, that’s more important than how long it will take us to finally get back.”

Dee nodded and lifted the hand holding his up to his mouth and kissed it, smiling at Ryo, before his attention went back to their hosts. “So, however long it takes, we’re up to the task. And take advantage of it in the meantime.” He smiled at Jack, before gazing around the office. “I mean, we’re working for Torchwood. Going Weevil hunting, helped you guys out with a major Retcon job a few days ago. We’re not going to toss this dream away worrying over things we have no control over, until something can be done about it.”

Jack smiled at the two men. He did not see Ianto’s eyes fixed on the clasped hands, or the way Dee so lovingly kissed his husband’s hands. Ianto realized he was doing so only after Dee kissed the hand, but somehow found it hard to avert his eyes.

“You do know we did try with a phone call, but apparently our ‘friend’ is momentarily indisposed. It’s not a matter of life or death, and as you said, whenever he does have time, chances are you’ll be back more or less around the day you disappeared,” Jack explained. “Knowing him, it could take a while.”

Ryo gave Jack a thankful smile. “That’s fine. As long as our families don’t worry about us, I guess we have time.” He grimaced a little. “As long as he understands we don’t have 100 years.”

Dee laughed, squeezing Ryo’s hand, Jack joining in with a chuckle. Ianto shook his head in amusement.

“Have you started looking at flats yet?” Ianto asked.

Ryo nodded. “A few days ago, but so far we just saw those with a lease.” He shrugged. “We could be here for another week, or for months, at least. But we’d be best to find somewhere that has month to month, so when we need to up and leave, we could.”

Jack shook his head. “So you find yourself with a flat that has an assured tenancy. And suddenly the Doctor arrives to take you home, and you up and leave during the night. What are they going to do to you? Go back to your dimension and make you pay for breaking the agreement?”

Dee was grinning. “That’s what I said, too. But Ryo, he wants to do things the right way. So that’s what we’re doing.”

“It won’t be fair to the landlord,” Ryo defended.

Dee shook his head. “Oh horrors… so the landlord can’t buy his new car the next month because we had to go home suddenly. I’m heartbroken.”

Jack was grinning, while Ianto looked at Ryo in sympathy.

“I take it that you enlisted Tosh and Gwen to help you out?” Ianto asked Ryo.

“I mentioned something to Gwen when we made the food run the other day, and suddenly the two of them offered to help,” Dee replied.

“Imagine that,” Jack said, highly amused. “We’ll all keep an eye out to see what there is out there, but my guess is that using our computers will be your best bet.”

Ryo grinned, taking out several folded papers from the inside of his jacket pocket. “We already have a list. So whenever the Weevils are quiet, we’ll start checking places out.”

Jack nodded. “Glad to hear. Onto other business. Dee, I need to ask, but anymore of those alien sightings of yours?”

Dee shook his head, frowning. “No. And I bet you’re all starting to think me crazy because of it. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I’m happy I haven’t run into any more aliens that aren’t here, but they are. That’s scarier than coming face to face with aliens that are here, if you know what I mean.

Ianto gave Dee a kind smile. “The test results back up that you did see what you did.”

“Maybe we need to take Dee back to the warehouse, and let him have a roam around,” Jack commented. “The more I think about it, the more I feel uneasy about the situation and I want to know more.”

Dee shifted uneasily, finally dropping his legs from the desk and sitting up more. “Do we have to? It feels too much like seeing ghosts and just creeps me out.”

Ianto gave a wry grin. “Listen to him. Weevils and Blowfish, he can handle, but not invisible aliens. What a pro.”

“Don’t try it,” Dee warned. “’Cause I’m onto you, Jones.”

Ryo laughed. “I think Ianto just complimented you, silly.”

“Sounded like that to me, too,” Jack agreed. “Relax. For now.”

Dee studied Jack’s face. “Something’s up, isn’t it?”

“We don’t have enough facts yet to say that,” Jack replied. “So we’re looking into what we can for now to make that determination. Meanwhile, there’s a meeting tonight that will include you two. After that, I’m hoping that we can convince you two to join us for dinner again tonight.”

Dee took Ryo’s hand in his, as he looked at the man who quickly became a good friend, as well as their boss. His eyes shifted to Ianto, who smiled at him.

“If Dee says yes, then I’m up for it,” Ryo said.

Dee grinned. “Well, I guess we could.” He pinned Jack with a knowing look, still grinning. “As long as Jack doesn’t forget his coat again tonight.” He gave the Captain a roguish wink.

“Yeah, whatever possessed me?” Jack said with a laugh. “You might as well hang around then until the meeting. I think Ianto could use some help with archiving, if you’re interested.”

Dee’s face visible lit up. “I’m interested.”

Ryo laughed. “Sure. Just as long as he doesn’t push any buttons to see what the alien tech does, why not?”

Ianto shook his head, looking at Jack, then Dee. To Ryo, he said, “I have to watch Jack normally. I think between the two of us, we can manage Dee.”

Dee pouted, looking over at the Captain. Jack leaned back in his chair and started to laugh.

“Pen-coc,” Dee muttered, pinning Ianto with a look.

Ianto slipped off the edge of the desk, nearly dropping his coffee mug. While he still managed to hold onto his mug, and keep his arse from hitting the floor, coffee splashed onto Jack, who was already jumping from Ianto’s sudden dive from the desk.

Ryo covered his mouth, looking down, trying very hard not to laugh at Ianto’s temporary loss of dignity, and the surprised look on Jack’s face when the coffee splashed on him.

Dee, however, just stared at Ianto in amazement. “What’s with you? What happened?” he asked.

Grabbing a napkin from the tray to wipe his shirt, Jack turned to Ianto. “Are you alright, Ianto?” he asked.

The Welshman stared at Dee, setting his mug down on the desk with a thump.

Dee continued to look at Ianto. His eyes shifted marginally to Jack and then back. With a snort, he said, “Figures, your suit is still nice and clean, meanwhile Jack’s shirt has an interesting pattern to it.” He heard a snort from Ryo and a chuckle from Jack, then shifted uncomfortably under Ianto’s scrutiny. “What? I suppose you’re going to blame me next.”

“Yes, I am,” Ianto remarked.

Ryo and Jack shared an interested look, wondering where it was going to go.

“Oh?”

Ianto positioned himself on the corner of the desk again, straightening his jacket, and folding his arms. “Since when do you know Welsh?” he asked.

“I don’t,” Dee replied.

Jack settled himself back in his chair, sitting forward and resting his elbows on his desk. Lacing his fingers together, his eyes went from Ianto to Dee. “For the most part, Dee enjoys making fun of how you speak in the U.K. However, I did catch him using a few common words.”

Dee nodded. “Just as you do. Kinda rubs off being around these wankers.” He winked at Jack, purposely using the last word.

Which earned him a light slap on the arm from Ryo, and a laugh from Jack. Even Ianto smiled, because Dee was right. Some things could rub off with enough exposure.

“Fine. Common British terms, I can understand. But Welsh is not common,” Ianto explained. “Unfortunately those of us who know Welsh is a very small number.

“But well… yeah,” Dee continued, rubbing the back of his head. “I didn’t know it was Welsh. All these years, I thought it was Irish. My mom’s family speaks Irish Gaelic, and so did she. She taught me the language, and then I learned some of the more colorful terms whenever my cousins would visit from Belfast.” Dee shrugged.

Ryo shook his head. “I know Scottish, but not Irish or Welsh. So whenever he used those words, I just thought it was Irish.” Ryo winked. “You know sometimes when I get Dee just past that point of remembering his name, he starts babbling in Irish.” He laughed.

Ianto’s mouth dropped, while Jack’s face lit up.

“Oh, please. I’d love to see that,” Jack stated, leering at Dee.

Dee smacked Ryo’s arm. “Watch it, will ya?”

Ryo’s eyes went wide. “Oh crap…. Did I really….?” His eyes shifted from Dee to Ianto, then to Jack. As all three men nodded, with little grins, Ryo started to blush. “Ah, Nevermind.”

Dee started to laugh, and leaned over to lightly kiss a red cheek. “I’ll forgive you this time, only ‘cause you’re too damn cute right now.” He looked over to Ianto. “Maybe I do know some rather interesting words in Welsh then.” He frowned just a little, in thought. “You know, thinking about it, Spencer’s parents divorced when he was little, and his dad moved to Wales. Sometimes Spencer would spend summers with his dad, near Swansea.” He grinned up at Ianto. “You know kids. Always picking up the bad words first. Hell, in the neighborhood I grew up in, I was able to curse fluently in 6 languages by the time I was ten. Anyway, Spencer and I are the same age, and we were the closest, even across the Atlantic. We spoke on the phone a lot when he wasn’t coming to visit us in New York.”

Jack laughed more. He winked at Ianto. “So now you know. Don’t be surprised if Dee curses you out in Welsh. And we’d all stay drier for it.”

“I’m sorry about that shirt, Jack,” Ianto stated, finally studying the damage. “If you can give it to me, I can start pre-soaking it. Then maybe tonight, you can go back to mine and I can get the stains out?”

“Only if we can make other stains.”

Dee snorted loudly, rubbing Ryo’s arm. “Hear that babe. They have hot sex too, while Ianto’s washing out stains from clothes.”

“Gee, sounds familiar,” Ryo mused, smiling at Dee.

“Maybe it’s my turn to forget my jacket at the restaurant?” Dee stated with a laugh.

Ianto sighed heavily. “Give me your shirt, Jack. Then once I have it pre-soaking, I’ll take Dee and Ryo down to the archives. And hopefully get them busy enough to keep them quiet.”

“And what about me?” Jack leered. He was already standing and pulling down his braces, and then his shirt from his pants. After he unbuttoned it, he handed it to Ianto, smiling sweetly.

“I’ll leave that up to you to figure out. And you better make it good,” Ianto commented dryly, taking the shirt. “Are you ready, gentlemen?” he asked, starting to walk to the door.

“See ya, Jack,” Dee remarked, standing his, checking out how the Captain’s chest muscles stretched the undershirt.

“Stay out of trouble,” Jack replied, realizing he was being checked out and winked at Dee. “And you, too, Ryo.”

Ryo snapped his mouth shut and stood up abruptly. “Later, Jack,” he said, breezing out of the office, to catch up with Ianto.

Dee chuckled, and gave Jack a two-finger salute. “Let us know if where we’re going for dinner tonight is clothing optional, Captain.” Laughing, he turned to follow Ryo and Ianto.

# # # # # # # #

Later that night, the four went to the Japanese restaurant at the Quay. They sat and talked until it looked like the staff was about to throw them out so they could close up for the night. As they left the restaurant, Dee mentioned that he was hoping to convince Ryo to check out a club in town. Ryo agreed, nodding vigorously, making it obvious he had already known about the club, and waiting for the chance to go. Jack and Ianto ended up going, Ianto surprised when Jack suggested it. The two Americans were open to including their new friends along, continuing their double date into the later hours of the night. The Welshman was not sure if he finally got to go clubbing with Jack only because of the two Americans, but he decided best not to complain.

When they headed out for the club, one that Ianto had never heard of before, he was expecting a chance to see Jack move his body to more popular music. To his surprise, when they arrived, he discovered it to be a jazz club that played live jazz and swing music. Jack was very pleased with the choice of clubs, and they found out the couple from New York preferred more quiet type of evenings when they go out to dance. Both loved jazz and big band music. Ianto discovered shortly after they found a table to sit at that the two detectives had very diverse tastes in music, and mood dictated what they listened to. Dee had explained how it was fun to go to the louder dance clubs for a chance to dance half naked and work up a sweat with his husband, but most times they wanted to dance in the more classical sense. They loved to dance in each other’s arms, to a good beat, or something slow and romantic.

Ianto watched as Jack agreed with the reason. During their time in the club, Jack did manage a couple of dances with both Ryo and Dee. While Jack danced with one of the married couple, Ianto found himself dancing with the other partner, and he found it very nice. He had to admit he had fun. More fun to Ianto was he had more than several dances with Jack, including a couple of slow numbers. Ianto wondered if one night he could manage to get Jack to go back, just the two of them.

Since they met at the club taking their own vehicles, they said good night outside the club in the early morning hours. Dee and Ryo headed back toward the Quay and the St. David’s hotel, while Jack got into Ianto’s car and they went back to Ianto’s flat for the night.

# # # # # # # #

Those in the Hub turned when the cog door opened, letting in Dee and Ryo. Both men were wearing dress shirts and trousers under the winter jackets they were already taking off, and shaking.

“What a damn day to be flat hunting,” Dee grumped, as Ryo took his heavy jacket to put on the couch with his. “Then we get a call we’re needed here.” He looked down at himself. “Dammit, and I don’t have any extra clothes to change into later when I’m all muddy.”

“Calm down,” Jack said, turning from where he was standing near Tosh’s station. “No Weevil mud wrestling. For now, at least.”

“What’s going on?” Ryo asked, walking across the Hub to join the others, minus Ianto.

“I’m getting more of those anomaly readings,” Tosh commented. “Spikes, but very strong.”

“While we were looking into the cause, I got a call from Andy, saying he has some frightened people who saw ghosts in broad daylight, in the streets,” Gwen explained, her eyes resting on Dee.

“Oh shit,” Dee muttered.

“Tosh, bring up the location on the screen,” Jack instructed. “You’re both up to par on these reading we’ve been getting the last few days from last night,” he said to Dee and Ryo.

“Yeah,” Ryo nodded. “You had your suspicions on what it might be already, huh?”

“I couldn’t say for sure,” Jack replied. “Had Dee not said anything about his sighting, I wouldn’t have thought of it.”

Dee frowned, his eyes on the screen. “You think this is connected to my phantom alien?”

“It’s a possibility,” Jack said, as Ianto joined them, handing Dee and Ryo coffee with a smile.

“Jack wants me to take you over to meet with the witness and talk to him,” Gwen explained. “I told Andy to get their address.”

Dee gulped, looking a little pale. Slowly he drank from the coffee, savoring the flavor. He closed his eyes a moment, feeling Ryo’s concerned stare at him. “I guess I don’t have a choice, huh?”

Jack shook his head. “Only you would know if there are enough similarities to what you saw. Not to mention, you will be dealing with the Cardiff police, even if just PC Davidson. Helping Gwen with the police liaison is also part of your agreed assignments.”

Ryo was rubbing Dee’s arm in comfort. “I’ll be there with you, Dee.”

Dee placed his hand over Ryo’s and squeezed the hand. Smiling at Ryo, he nodded. “You know I’d do it. I just need to prepare myself, that’s all.”

“I know.”

“Did you eat lunch yet?” Ianto asked. “I was just about to order Chinese. Gwen isn’t going anywhere until she has her Chinese.”

Dee laughed. “Well then, I’m with Gwen then. Chinese, then we’ll go talk to the witness.”

Jack shoved his hands in his pocket. “Great. Until then, Gwen, I want you to continue monitoring the police channels, just in case there’s anything else that doesn’t reach Andy. Tosh, continue monitoring and let me know if any new locations appear.”

Toshiko nodded her head, and after grinning up at Ryo, who was standing behind her, looking over the displays, she went back to work. Ryo pulled up a chair, making it clear that his place for the time was next to the Japanese woman, helping her gather information.

“Back to my cave, I guess,” Owen remarked.

Dee had been checking the scanner Toshiko had given him, wondering if he’d get to see it actually work. He strode over to the doctor, putting it back in his trouser pocket. “If you don’t mind, I’ll join you for a bit.”

“Oi! I got me a nurse now,” Owen commented. With a slight grin, he said to Dee. “As long as you lend me a hand now.”

Dee shook his head, taking his leave of the others, to follow the Doctor.

Jack chuckled. “I’ll be in my office,” he informed the others. His eyes caught Ianto’s and he winked.

Ianto nodded slightly with a small smile, intending to let Jack settle down in his office, before joining him.