Title: Captain James Harper: Coda
Author: Emma
Characters: Canonical Torchwood Three members… sort of.
Rating: Some chapters definitely not safe for work.
Disclaimer: Oh, please. If I owned them, would I let some of those idiots write the scripts? And if I were making any money off them, would I be where they could find me?
Summary: The darkness gathers, but the team finds strength in each other...
Author’s Note: A funny thing happened on the way to the smut... The Captain insisted on privacy. I'm not being completely fatuous here – I tried, but everything beyond what you see here came out either dull or sleazy. It felt wrong. I'm sorry if it disappoints.

Story is here

“He means it, you know.” Ianto opened the door and stood aside to let Jack and the Captain enter. “A Tylwyth Teg never offers an invitation unless they mean it. You could go live at the fort.”

“But why?” At Jack's wordless request, the Captain shrugged out of his jacket and handed it over. “Why would this Lord Gwyddyon take a look at me and offer me a position in his court?”

Jack and Ianto traded a look and burst out laughing. The Captain folded his arms across his chest, waiting them out with a slightly offended look.

“I'm sorry, Captain,” Ianto gasped. “No insult intended. It's just that we forgot you don't know anything about the Fair Folk. He asked you because he found you attractive and he noticed you found him attractive also.”

“I didn't... yes, I did.” The Captain flushed. “It's going to take a little time to get used to this... freedom. Not needing to hide.”

“Well, there are still bigots about, and your Church still condemns us, but you could live with someone openly and even enter into a civil partnership with them.” Jack grinned. “And the Fair Folk are outside all the rules.”

The Captain stared at Jack, eyes huge and face slack with shock. Ianto took pity on him. “We can talk about this later. Captain, how about a hot shower?”

“Ah... I wouldn't say no. I don't think I've had a decent shower since I left Grand Rapids. And the name is James.”

“You're going to love this one. And it's Ianto.” He led the way to the bedrooms. “The guest room is a bit small, I'm afraid. We're converting two flats on the top floor to a single, and we're stuck here for the duration.”

“Ianto...”

Ianto looked over his shoulder. The Captain – James – was standing at the foot of the bed, looking as if he wished himself anywhere but where he was. “What's wrong?”

“When we were... back there... Jack made me a promise. I want you to know I won't hold him to it.”

Ianto turned back, not stopping until he was standing very close to the Captain. “What sort of promise?”

“He had told me about you and I said I hadn't even... and he said before it was over I would. I thought he meant... but know that I see the two of you together, I understand. He probably thought we wouldn't get out or I would die or...”

Ianto pressed his lips against the Captain's, cutting off the nervous flow of words. He felt James stiffen then suddenly relax, mouth opening under his, hands coming to rest on his shoulders. He licked delicately at the inside of James's lips and was rewarded with a shudder. He let his wards down enough to See the Captain, and immediately understood the reason for Jack's action.

“I don't know what Jack had in mind when he made his promise,” he whispered, “but I think I should ask you how you feel about sharing.”

James swallowed hard. “Sharing sounds... good.”

Ianto stepped away. “Let's get you into the shower.” He explained the shower controls, pointed out the toiletries and towels, then studied James for a moment. “You're like Jack in the leg but a bit broader on the shoulder. I have something that should fit. One of Jack's impulse buys. I'll leave it on the bed.”

He walked out, closing the door behind him. Rummaging through the hall closet, he found the tracksuit bottoms with matching tee Jack had brought without trying on. Leaving it on the guest room bed, he returned to the great room to find Jack sitting at the dining room table, laptop open. He peeked over Jack's shoulder.

“Writing reports without having to be prompted? What is the world coming to?”

Without looking away from the screen, Jack reached back to grab Ianto's hand. “That's what worries me. We need to find this Bilis Manger.”

“He's the Servant, isn't he? The one Gwen foresaw.”

“I think so. I met him briefly and, unless he's better at hiding his power than anyone else I've ever met, he couldn't have done all this by himself.”

Ianto came around to sit next to Jack. “If anyone can find him, Andy will. I told him to call us in case of emergency but other than that to leave it until tomorrow. You and Tosh both need the rest.'

“Yeah. Ah... about James...”

“He told me about your promise. Completely embarrassed, poor man.” Ianto kept his eyes on the carpet. “He says he won't hold you to it.”

“He sounded so lonely. I remember those days. You could be hauled into court for what you did in the privacy of your own home. Men who kept underage mistresses passing judgment on two adult men because they were in love. If you wanted a military career you knew better than to even be seen with another man in any sort of social situation. Wife and children if you wanted to go above captain. It was all a sham and it made everyone involved miserable. More than one committed suicide.” he sighed. “When James said he hadn't even... I'm sorry, Ianto.”

“I'm not.” He looked up to meet Jack's eyes. “You and I have never lived by everyone else's rules, Jack, and this is no time to start.”

“Ianto...”

“Let me ask you something, Jack. Since we have been together, have you been tempted? Looked at someone and wondered what they would be like in bed?”

Jack smile was a little strained. “Do I get a “get out of jail free” card before I say anything?”

Ianto reached for the antique brandy decanter and glasses on the side table and poured a small amount for both of them. Handing Jack one of the glasses, he sipped at his, considering his answer. “Why should you need one? Everyone with a healthy sexuality does. They just don't act on it because there's more important things than instant gratification. And you have the best impulse control I've ever known.”

“That's not my reputation,” Jack pointed out.

“I know. It took me a while to figure out you did it on purpose. So many people just look at the surface and think that's the whole. If your feelings overrode your control this occasion, there had to have been a good reason for it.” He set down the glass. “I Looked at him, Jack. So much repressed hunger, and so much grief, so much anger. I think I would have thought less of you if you hadn't promised.”

He stood up and held out his hand. “Come on. James deserves the best experience we can give him.”

They nearly ran down the corridor. When they reached the guest bedroom door, they found the Captain wearing the track bottoms and staring at the t-shirt with a puzzled look on his face. He looked at them and held it out to them, pointing at the large red letters on the front spelling out SEX OBJECT.

“Jack's idea of a joke,” Ianto said. “It'll take a little long to explain right now. We came to tell you you're in the wrong bedroom.”

“If you want to,” Jack said gently. “No coercion and no expectations, James. Only if you want to.”

The Captain's eyes widened and his pupils flared. Dropping the t-shirt on the floor, he went out to meet them. Anyone less experienced at reading other people than Jack or Ianto would have seen only the confident tilt of the chin, the self-assured stance; they saw beneath to the uneasiness, the uncertainty. Jack took his hand and brought it to his lips.

“You have every reason to be uncomfortable. If you would prefer a slightly less adventurous introduction...”

“No! God, no! I have a year, maybe less. I could go to sleep tonight and not wake up. I want all the adventure I can get!” James threaded the fingers of his free hand through his hair. “I'm afraid I won't... measure up somehow.”

Jack laughed. “Do you know how tempting inexperience is, James? How arousing? Can you imagine how delicious it is to teach?”

“Or to learn?” Ianto pressed his palm over James's heart. “To feel hands that know exactly how and where to touch, a mouth that knows exactly how and where to kiss? To have your hands, your mouth, be taught the patterns of someone else's body? The hidden weaknesses, the sensitive spots?”

The low moan that erupted from the Captain's mouth and the sudden convulsive grasp of his arms around their waists answered all their questions. They guided him gently into the master bedroom, and felt his hands tighten at the sight of the half-acre of pillows and duvets that made up what Jack called an adequate bed.

Jack licked a path from James's throat up to his earlobe. “Would you like to watch us first?” The jerky nod was answer enough. “Get into bed. Make yourself comfortable.”

They waited until he had pushed some pillows up against the headboard and leaned back against them, hands folded demurely in his lap, as if that could hide the arousal that flushed his cheeks and made his skin glimmer with sweat. Then they undressed each other slowly, pausing to kiss and suck and lick and bite at the exposed skin. It was not a performance, but they were aware of being watched, of the quiet gasps and sighs coming from the bed, and it went straight to their groins.

When the last piece of clothing was disposed of, they turned to look at James. His eyes were feverish, his hands holding the duvet in a death grip, his tracksuits bottoms tented over an impressive erection. They looked at each other happily.

“Lesson number one?” Ianto purred.

“Lesson number one.”