Chapter Text
"Keep in touch, will you?"
The words pierced through the jarble running through his head as he pointlessly delved into the random papers that lay strewn across the tourist office desk. He turned, words leaving his brain. Martha Jones, the 'special guest', 'Jack's expert friend from UNIT,' also their makeshift doctor as Owen was...well, 'Out of Service.' Ianto's arms dropped down, mouth slightly agape. Taking a moment, to recognize how he likely looked in the moment, he allowed words to fall out.
"Leaving so soon?"
"Yeah," She laughed, filling up the empty space. Making the awkward more comfortable... in more ways than one. "Unfortunately UNIT has retired my "snooze button" privileges and with Owen being reinstated, you guys don't have a need for another medic..."
"Well," Ianto half shrugged as if implying the history of Torchwood and how it might help to have more people. However, that's a mouthful and even his movement would not exactly show it at all. "You--"
"Unneeded," Martha finished, already reading the implication loud and clear. "According to UNIT's Outreach Protocol, Section B, Article A: 'UNIT Advisors can extend leave until the role that they are replacing services for is deemed fit and is completely set.' Now, I'm with you and Jack that you need more people here but..."
"We're just the middlemen." He quoted, from an old familiar encounter. The meaning to him flew way above her head.
"Yes," She practically jumped. "Exactly that. Just gotta do what the boss man tells us, you know?"
He scoffed nodding slightly, before getting distracted by his papers once more.
"Jack gave you my number. So, you better use it." Martha reminded him, in a tone that reminded him of when Rhiannon attempted to be strict. However, unlike Rhi, Martha was a definite master of it.
"For what exactly?"
"For all of it, you know," Martha grinned as she tried to come up with the best way to say it. "For all the torchwood happenings, dabblings, Owen, and even just to talk..."
"Right..." Ianto got what he assumed was a pretty good grasp of the underlying subtext there.
"Besides," Her voice turned mischievous as if this were her end goal. "I would love for you and Jack to meet Tommy."
"Tommy?" Ianto asked, not really aware but she answered him back by flashing her engagement ring. "Oh... I'll talk to Jack... sure we could arrange something..."
"Sounds like a plan," Martha began to head out, before quickly turning with a wink. "After all, we Joneses have to stick together!"