Fic: Shadows Pulling Me To Lie With You Chapter 4/10
Title: Shadows Pulling Me to Lie With You
Author: backrose_17
Fandoms: Star Trek XI/Doom/Torchwood/Slight Doctor Who
Pairings: Kirk/Reaper!McCoy/Spock, Jack/Ianto, Sulu/Chekov, Scotty/Uhura, Pike/Archer, mentions of Jenny(the Doctor's daughter)/OMC and the Doctor/Tosh
Summary: A near-death experience brings to light a secret that McCoy has kept hidden for many years and now he must deal with the fallout. Meanwhile, Kirk and Spock fight the urge to claim McCoy as their own in order to keep him safe from someone within the Federation who seeks to control the Phoenix Force and use the legendary Reaper for his own nefarious purposes. Answers come in the form of McCoy’s grandparents, Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones.
Rating: R
Beta: RoyalLadyEmma
Word Count: 38,074
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood, Doom, Doctor Who or the awesomeness that is Star Trek. The Phoenix Force is owned by Marvel Comics.
Art by: tresa_cho
Mixers: madscribbles and wyntreaurora
Chapter 4
Without warning, violent shockwaves rocked the Torchwood Hub World before travelling across the universe. They were generated by the immeasurable power of the Phoenix Force being unleashed for the first time after centuries of dormancy. Those rare few who carried a piece of the flame themselves were awoken from their slumber with a powerful start, but none was more affected than Ianto Harkness-Jones, the first child of the Phoenix Force.
The joint leader of Torchwood shot upright in bed, his heart pounding in his chest and his eyes burning with his own eternal flame. His sudden jolt from the sweetness of a dream awoke his sleeping husband.
"Ianto, what's wrong?" As he gently cupped Ianto's face with his hands, Jack's gaze was irresistibly drawn to his mate's eyes. It had been so long since the Phoenix Force had stirred; in fact, not since the early 21st century, when they'd dealt with the invasion of the 456, a race of alien drug addicts.
"John has been forced to reveal himself to gain the freedom of his captain and crew and now they all know who and what he is. He needs us, Jack; we need to get on the Enterprise as quickly as possible," Ianto saw the look in Jack's eyes and he hastily added the proviso, "legally."
A pretty pout graced Jack's face. "You never let me have any fun," he whined to his husband.
"That's not what you were saying just a few hours ago," Ianto coyly reminded Jack and he pressed a kiss to Jack's pouting mouth but before Jack could turn the kiss into something more Ianto pulled away, earning an even bigger pout from Jack. Ianto merely smiled and he affectionately tapped his finger on the tip of Jack's nose. "Later, Cariad, I promise."
Jack watched with hungry eyes as Ianto climbed out of their bed and wandered over towards their personal communications station. As usual, Jack hungrily feasted his eyes on the sheer perfection of Ianto's bare form and he paid close attention to one of his favourite parts, Ianto's arse. "Who are you calling at this hour, Yan?"
Ianto turned mischievous eyes onto Jack. "An old friend for a lift." He knew exactly what Jack had been staring at, so he conveniently turned back around and gave his arse a sexy little wiggle, just for his husband's viewing pleasure. His efforts were instantly rewarded when he head Jack's growl of appreciation; the sound went straight to his libido and he knew it was going to be a very short call. There were far more pressing chores waiting for him back in their bed.
And as Jack tried to control his jealousy over just what kind of 'old friend' his mate was calling, Ianto was wondering what kind of trouble his grandson had gotten himself into this time.
*****
The moment they were safely back onboard the Enterprise and McCoy saw the determined look in Kirk's eyes, he knew there was a long talk in their very near future.
The moment the away team stepped down off the transporter pad, Kirk turned to face them. "Debriefing can wait until tomorrow morning; tonight I think we all need time to reflect on everything we've learned. But I will make one thing very clear." His eyes swept across his assembled crew, his manner was calm, but there was a note of unbendable steel in his voice. "What happened on Varden is to be kept strictly between us until I can personally talk to Admiral Pike. You will not mention it to anyone, is that clear?"
As much as Kirk hated to for it to be true, he knew that not even the Federation was free from internal corruption. He knew that there would be some among the upper echelons who would love to have the power of the Phoenix Force under their control. 'And there is no way I am about to let my Bones fall into the wrong hands. I never will let anyone hurt him or use him for evil!' Kirk vowed. He happened to glance up at his First Officer in time to see the look in Spock's eyes. Kirk was gratified to know that he wasn't the only one who would do everything in his power to keep McCoy safe.
Ensign Cassandra knew that she'd just heard the one order in her Starfleet career that she was going to have to disobey. 'I'm sorry, Captain Kirk, but a threat like this needs to be reported immediately. The Federation has to know about the powerful tool they have in their grasp. This is not something we have a right to keep from them.' Cassandra would do her duty and she knew just the person to get in contact with, the same one who had assigned her to the Enterprise with specific orders to keep an eye on Captain James T. Kirk and his crew full of rebels and trouble-makers.
As the others filed out of the transporter room Bones found himself alone with the two people he owed the most answers to, but Bones couldn't find the strength to look either Kirk or Spock in the eyes.
"We don't hate you, Bones," Jim said suddenly, breaking the tense silence that was beginning to fill the room.
Bones' head shot up as he heard Jim's words and his eyes widened in pure disbelief when he saw the truth written plainly on Jim's face and when he glanced at Spock and he saw the normally stony-faced Vulcan nodding eagerly, his jaw dropped open in shock. "I lied to you and you don't hate me?"
"We understand why you could not let anyone know who you truly are. The powers of the Phoenix Force and the Reaper would be a very valuable and dangerous tool should they fall into the wrong hands. We cannot fault you for trying to keep yourself and your family safe," Spock calmly informed McCoy.
Bones just blinked in bewilderment as he looked back and forth between the two of them; he wasn't sure if he could believe what he was hearing. The two people he cared the most about in the world, men he hated lying to, didn't hate him. 'I must be dreaming! That's the only thing that makes any sense.'
Seeing that they had yet to convince the doctor that they were indeed serious, Kirk crossed the distance between them and cupped McCoy's face with his hands. He tilted Bones' head upward, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "You are not dreaming, Bones. Nothing you could do could ever make me hate you," Kirk whispered softly.
Bones raised his hands and gently covered Jim's, feeling the warmth of their flesh seep into his own. "Okay, Jim, I believe you. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to give you the answers you need, but I can't tell you anything that might put my family in danger. It's not that I don't trust you," he glanced at Spock, "either of you, but because of the danger I would put them in if anyone was to find out about them. Please understand?" Bones hated the fact that he was pleading, but the stakes were too high for there to be any misunderstandings.
Jim saw the distress in his mate's eyes and he hated seeing that look on Bones' face. "Hey, there's no need to worry. We understand and we would never force you to say or reveal anything that would put your family in danger. Right, Spock?" Jim cast a glance at his second-in-command.
Spock moved towards the two men. "The Captain is correct, Doctor McCoy. We will never force you to say anything you do not wish us to know."
"Thank you both for understanding." Bones flashed them a rare but true smile.
As the three men, so very different in up-bringing and outlook, stood in the empty transporter room, none of them could deny the feeling of utter belonging that filled their souls. But faced with enormity of what lay ahead of them, not one of them was ready to make the first move to establish what could truly be between the three of them. The fear of rejection was as powerful an emotion as love, and for the moment, it controlled their actions.
*****
The moment she reached her room, the spy known as Ensign Cassandra Smith moved swiftly; using a highly classified and encrypted computer program, she managed to create a secure line straight to the man she reported to. Guilt weighed heavily in her heart as she waited for the call to connect.
Admiral Hadrian Johnson was an overly pretentious man extremely impressed with himself and his position, and while not very young, he was still considered by many to be very handsome. With his silver-peppered hair, dark grey eyes, and toned physique, many cadets, Starfleet officers and quite a few ambassadors were physically drawn to him, longing for the opportunity to spend private time with the man.
Unfortunately, there was no denying that there was a deep and deadly aura surrounding the man; it was a darkness that warned everyone who met him to be very careful around him.
As Admiral Johnson's face filled her communication screen, Cassandra swallowed convulsively as those hard grey eyes stared into her very soul. "So what do you have for me, Smith? I presume that the reason you are interrupting my evening is because you have discovered something that could be useful to me?" As Johnson's dark, hypnotic voice washed over her Cassandra fought the urge to shiver; as it was, icy fingers crawled the length of her spine. 'God, I'll need a shower after this!'
"Yes, sir, I do. Doctor McCoy is not who he claims to be..." Cassandra's voice trailed off; suddenly she was unable to finish what she was saying.
"What do you mean Kirk's precious McCoy isn't who he claims he is?" Johnson demanded; this was exactly the kind of dirt he was itching to get his hands on. 'If I had something on Kirk's precious Doctor McCoy then that upstart brat would have no choice but to fall in line if he wants to keep McCoy safe.' It was no secret of how deep a friendship the Captain of the Enterprise had with his Chief Medical Officer, and Johnson knew that McCoy was Kirk's main weakness.
When Cassandra continued to gape at him in silence, "Tell me what you know, Ensign, now!" Johnson ordered imperiously; his tone promised pain if she didn't obey.
Gasping in fear, the young ensign started to shake and it took two attempts before she could speak; she could see that the Admiral was enjoying her discomfort. "Doctor McCoy is John Grimm, the Reaper, and a Child of the Phoenix Force!" Cassandra blurted out, knowing full well it wasn't wise to anger the Admiral. The last person to disappoint him, well... the kindest rumour about them was that they ended up being reassigned to a remote outpost with no chance of promotion or reassignment. The more likely story was that they'd simply been 'eliminated' and not in a nice way, either. It was a well-known fact that to go against Admiral Johnson was to commit career suicide.
The moment those words fell from Cassandra's lips, Admiral Johnson sat up straight in his seat, peering at Cassandra with open curiosity and undisguised hunger.
"Are you sure it's him?" Learning that at long last he had found the Reaper was the most satisfying news he'd heard since his promotion and Johnson was practically salivating with the potential. Not only was Grimm the deadliest solider in the Universe but he was also the child of the Phoenix Force. 'All that untamed power just waiting for me, begging for me to take control. I will have Doctor Leonard McCoy!' Admiral Johnson vowed as he eyed his little spy over the two-way vid-screen.
"Yes, sir, I am. Doctor Leonard McCoy is John Grimm known as the Reaper and he is the great-grand child of Ianto Harkness-Jones, the child of the Phoenix Force." Ensign Cassandra confirmed her information, hating herself for betraying her captain and ship. 'But,' she rationalised, 'the danger that Doctor McCoy... No! He is not Doctor McCoy! He is John Grimm, the Reaper, and more importantly, he is a child of the Phoenix Force. By his very existence, he is a danger to us all! Admiral Johnson will make sure he's kept locked away and under constant guard, so that he's not around decent people.'
Cassandra knew she was lying to herself but it was the only way she could convince herself that this was the right course of action to take. Even so, she found herself unable to still the whirlwind of fear that swirled around relentlessly in her belly.
"I want you to keep a very close eye on Doctor McCoy." Admiral Johnson leaned forward and smiled charmingly at the young woman, confident that he had her in the palm of his hand. "I have also learned that Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones are coming aboard the Enterprise, and if what I have discovered is true, then Ianto Harkness-Jones is the first Child of the Phoenix." The thought of getting his hands on two children of the flame stirred a hunger deep in him that was stronger than anything he'd ever felt before.
"You are to keep a close eye on both Doctor McCoy and Ianto Harkness-Jones for me. They are key to ensuring the continuing safety of the Federation. And I think you'll agree that all that matters is keeping the Federation safe from our enemies," Johnson issued his orders in a crisp, no-nonsense tone.
For a moment, Cassandra's heart skipped a frightened beat; it was one thing to go behind her Captain's back and reveal the information about McCoy but this was different. She was being ordered to go against the immortal leader of Torchwood and more importantly, to plot against his mate. Talk about career suicide, this was certain death!
But as Cassandra looked into Admiral Johnson's dark, mesmerising eyes, she knew that a slow, horrible, gruesome death awaited her if she dared to go against Johnson. 'At least I have some protection from Admiral Johnson if something goes wrong. If the Captain wasn't so blinded by his feelings for Doctor McCoy he would have informed Starfleet right away once he learned who McCoy really was.' Cassandra knew she had no choice in the matter; she had to do whatever ensured her survival. "Understood, sir. I will keep a close eye on both Doctor McCoy and Ianto Harkness-Jones."
A shark-like grin, all teeth, never reaching his cold eyes, graced Johnson's face. "I thought you would say that, Ensign. I can tell you have a bright future ahead of you. That is" his grin widened, "as long as you remember who your real friends are."
Cassandra swallowed hard and she forced the bile in her mouth back down. "I will, sir." It wasn't until her screen went black that Cassandra let herself breathe again. Unfortunately, two breaths later and she was running towards the toilet, vomiting spilling out over the hand she had clamped over her mouth and down the front of her uniform. 'Oh, God! What have I done?' her mind kept screaming over and over again as she dropped to the floor and curled into a foetal ball.
In his plush office at Starfleet Headquarters, Admiral Johnson relaxed back into his chair with a glass of brandy in his hand. His mind was running over the knowledge that Cassandra had just given him, racing with possibilities and plans were already beginning to form. "No one will dare to question the Federation's power once I have complete control of two children of the Phoenix Force!" A feeling of absolute euphoria filled Admiral Johnson as he pictured just how truly unstoppable the Federation would be with such formidable weapons at his command.
'Nothing will stop me from leading the Federation to its greatest glory ever! We will become the most powerful and feared entity in the Universe!' After a short bark of almost maniacal laughter, Johnson took a long celebratory sip of his brandy.
*****
The first thing that Bones became aware of when he awoke the next morning was a feeling of dread in his stomach; it sat there like a heavy rock, weighing him down, body and soul. As he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, one thing became very clear; 'today is not going to be a good day.'
A strange energy seemed to be affecting of the crew as well; regardless of rank, post or duties, almost everyone seemed to be overly hyper but it wasn't until the doctor overheard a whispered conversation in the Rec Hall and he learned that the Enterprise was picking up two special guests did a picture of why start to form.
'Still, this is the Enterprise and it's not unusual for us to pick up Ambassadors or other important guests,' Bones thought as he moved through the ship with a scowl marring his face. Everyone was just too excited for his taste and he decided to put it all out of his mind as he continued towards the bridge.
But his entire attitude changed the moment he heard that the special guests Enterprise might be picking up were Torchwood World's leaders, Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones. The rumours he heard ranged from Starfleet's flagship was escorting them to Earth for a conference, although what conference no one had any idea, to the duo were actually thinking about opening a branch office of Torchwood onboard the Enterprise herself.
All Doctor Leonard McCoy knew for sure was that his life was never going to be the same again.
Arriving on the bridge, his worst fears came true and he felt the rock of dread in his belly double in size as he saw the knowing grin on Jim's face. He couldn't stop the deep groan that slipped from between his clenched teeth. "God damn it! Do not tell me it's true that we're picking up Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones of Torchwood!" Bones growled his words at Jim; 'I really want to hit something right now!'
Jim raised a quizzical eyebrow at his friend, 'I wondering what's bugging Bones?' and smiled winningly at him. "Okay, I won't tell you that, even if it is true." But he had to admit, 'I'm pretty damned impressed with the rumour mill of my crew; I only got the call from Pike a few hours ago.'
Hearing the news confirmed, Chekov's eyes lit up with delight and Bones fought the urge to groan again. 'Just what I need, a fanboy! Something tells me he isn't the only one, either.' As he glanced around at the crew, Bones' fears were confirmed as several others got the same dreamy look on their faces and the bridge was filled with a chorus of sighs.
"Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones are really coming aboard the Enterprise? Are you sure, sir?" Chekov asked and Bones noted that he was practically bouncing in his chair, as were several others. Excitement was running rampant on the bridge. Could it really be true that two of the greatest peacekeepers in the Universe were coming to visit? They were all eagerly waiting to hear their captain either confirm their hopes or destroy them by telling them that it was nothing but rumors.
The grin on Jim's face only grew wider as he hit the button on his chair for the ship-wide comm system. "This is Captain Kirk with a special announcement." He paused for a moment to let the murmur he knew was out there die down. "There have been rumours circulating around the Enterprise about us picking up the leaders of Torchwood. I am officially declaring that the rumours are indeed true. The leaders of Torchwood World, Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones are indeed going to be our guests.
Again, Jim waited, this time for the gasps and exclamations of the bridge crew to die down. "This is an official request for all you fangirls and fanboys out there to please keep the fuss to a minimum, especially with regard to the taking of photos and the getting of autographs. That is all." He'd kept his broadcast light and cheerful; he knew full well that there was no use in telling his crew to leave the Harkness-Jones' in peace. He might as well whistle in the winds as expect his crew to listen to an order like that. As he turned off the comm system, he winked broadly at Bones.
Groaning loudly, Bones hung his head in defeat. 'Maybe I can just lock myself in my office during their visit?' Bones wondered and then shook his head slightly, 'No, Jack will just find a way to break the lock. I'll have to keep a good supply of hypos on hand and hope to hell grandtad can keep granddad under control. At least I know I can count on Spock and Uhura to help me keep Jim and the others under control.'
Bones knew without a doubt that this was going to be a long trip just as he knew it wouldn't take very long for Jim, or although it was more likely to be Spock, to work out just how he knew Jack and Ianto. Realising that he had no other choice, Bones took a deep breath and glanced at Jim. "Jim, I think that talk I owe you needs to wait until after our guests arrive. Trust me when I tell you that they will want to be a part of this conversation."
The members of Enterprise's two away teams to Varden all raised an eyebrow and looked at one another. It was clear that they were wondering how the legendary leaders of Torchwood could possibly play into Bones' secret. Those who hadn't been there couldn't help but wonder what they had missed this time.
Seeing the utterly serious look in Bones eyes Jim knew that there was no way he would get Bones to utter one word until the doctor was ready to talk. Slowly and against his will, Jim nodded. "Alright, but the moment they get settled in I want answers," Jim declared, trying not to make his words sound like an order although they both knew that it was.
Grateful for the temporary respite, Bones nodded his head. "You have my word."
*****
News of Jim's confirmation that they were, in fact, picking up Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones flew through the Enterprise at warp speed. No matter where he went, it was all anyone on the ship could talk about; within the first ten minutes, it had gotten pretty old for Bones. 'I am so damned sick and tired of hearing about them and they hadn't even arrived yet!'
Scowling ferociously, Bones grunted and grumbled under his breath as he studied the PADD in front of him. He was trying to get some work done before his grandparents arrived and he had to deal with the inevitable aftermath of having both Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jack Harkness-Jones on the same damn ship. 'I only hope the Enterprise can survive the two of them.' He shook his head and reread the same data he'd been staring at for the past ten minutes.
The low murmur of voices broke into his thoughts and he fought the urge to roll his eyes - a habit he'd learned at his grandtad Ianto's knee, by the way - as he heard two of his gossiping nurses still going on about their soon-to-be guests.
"Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones have one the of the most romantic love stories ever!" the first nurse squealed with a shrillness that set Bones' teeth on edge. "I can't wait to see them in person!"
A dreamy sigh came from her friend. "I know! They are so loving and passionate. Imagine being together for eternity through a bond that can never be broken. I wish I could find that kind of love."
"You know what I heard? One of the ways they keep the romance alive after all these years is..." The woman's voice faded away, for which the doctor was grateful. He had no desire to know any more about his grandparent's love life than he already did.
'I wonder how romantic you'd think it really was if you knew the whole story?' Only those closest to the Harkness-Jones' knew the real truth to their love story. Only those few were privy to the pain and suffering Jack and Ianto had gone through before they finally got their happily-ever-after. 'Still, after the betrayal and pain they caused one another they only grew stronger and that's when it became a true love story.' Bones would always admit that he was the tiniest bit jealous of a relationship he'd grown up watching.
'I wonder if I'll ever share that kind of love with anyone?' That thought died a fiery death as Jim's smiling face and Spock's raised eyebrow flashed before his eyes. 'No, probably not; we're just friends and nothing more. I need to let that dream die.' Bones' shoulder drooped lower than his spirits. Despite what Alaula, the Varden seer, had said, even he wasn't fool enough to believe that he would ever be enough for either man, let alone both, and the fact that he loved them both just proved that he should let them go. ' They need to be able to find their own true loves,' he concluded sadly. 'They could never love a monster like me and I should be grateful that I still have their friendship.'
"I wonder if they're as handsome as the rumours say? And you know what? Maybe we'll get a live PDA action. I know I wouldn't mind seeing a real live Harkness-Jones show." The nurse's dreamy sigh reached Bones' ears and once again broke him from his depressing thoughts although for once he was grateful. Bones fought the urge to snort as he heard the other nurse sighed and agree with her that that was a show she'd pay money to see.
'I hope Jack doesn't learn about this; I have a feeling he might give them their money's worth! Then again, Granddad can be fiercely protective over grandtad Ianto and he just might go all caveman over the idea of others even thinking about seeing his Ianto naked.' Bones shivered; he could do without a live show of his grandparents' love life, but he also knew that the chances of that happening were slim to none. It actually made the doctor happy to know that Jack was surprisingly a very jealous man when it comes to Ianto.
Bones' final thought on the matter was, 'Thank goodness grandtad is going to be here, he's the only one who can keep granddad in line,' before a medical emergency in engineering required his full attention.
Author: backrose_17
Fandoms: Star Trek XI/Doom/Torchwood/Slight Doctor Who
Pairings: Kirk/Reaper!McCoy/Spock, Jack/Ianto, Sulu/Chekov, Scotty/Uhura, Pike/Archer, mentions of Jenny(the Doctor's daughter)/OMC and the Doctor/Tosh
Summary: A near-death experience brings to light a secret that McCoy has kept hidden for many years and now he must deal with the fallout. Meanwhile, Kirk and Spock fight the urge to claim McCoy as their own in order to keep him safe from someone within the Federation who seeks to control the Phoenix Force and use the legendary Reaper for his own nefarious purposes. Answers come in the form of McCoy’s grandparents, Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones.
Rating: R
Beta: RoyalLadyEmma
Word Count: 38,074
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood, Doom, Doctor Who or the awesomeness that is Star Trek. The Phoenix Force is owned by Marvel Comics.
Art by: tresa_cho
Mixers: madscribbles and wyntreaurora
Chapter 4
Without warning, violent shockwaves rocked the Torchwood Hub World before travelling across the universe. They were generated by the immeasurable power of the Phoenix Force being unleashed for the first time after centuries of dormancy. Those rare few who carried a piece of the flame themselves were awoken from their slumber with a powerful start, but none was more affected than Ianto Harkness-Jones, the first child of the Phoenix Force.
The joint leader of Torchwood shot upright in bed, his heart pounding in his chest and his eyes burning with his own eternal flame. His sudden jolt from the sweetness of a dream awoke his sleeping husband.
"Ianto, what's wrong?" As he gently cupped Ianto's face with his hands, Jack's gaze was irresistibly drawn to his mate's eyes. It had been so long since the Phoenix Force had stirred; in fact, not since the early 21st century, when they'd dealt with the invasion of the 456, a race of alien drug addicts.
"John has been forced to reveal himself to gain the freedom of his captain and crew and now they all know who and what he is. He needs us, Jack; we need to get on the Enterprise as quickly as possible," Ianto saw the look in Jack's eyes and he hastily added the proviso, "legally."
A pretty pout graced Jack's face. "You never let me have any fun," he whined to his husband.
"That's not what you were saying just a few hours ago," Ianto coyly reminded Jack and he pressed a kiss to Jack's pouting mouth but before Jack could turn the kiss into something more Ianto pulled away, earning an even bigger pout from Jack. Ianto merely smiled and he affectionately tapped his finger on the tip of Jack's nose. "Later, Cariad, I promise."
Jack watched with hungry eyes as Ianto climbed out of their bed and wandered over towards their personal communications station. As usual, Jack hungrily feasted his eyes on the sheer perfection of Ianto's bare form and he paid close attention to one of his favourite parts, Ianto's arse. "Who are you calling at this hour, Yan?"
Ianto turned mischievous eyes onto Jack. "An old friend for a lift." He knew exactly what Jack had been staring at, so he conveniently turned back around and gave his arse a sexy little wiggle, just for his husband's viewing pleasure. His efforts were instantly rewarded when he head Jack's growl of appreciation; the sound went straight to his libido and he knew it was going to be a very short call. There were far more pressing chores waiting for him back in their bed.
And as Jack tried to control his jealousy over just what kind of 'old friend' his mate was calling, Ianto was wondering what kind of trouble his grandson had gotten himself into this time.
*****
The moment they were safely back onboard the Enterprise and McCoy saw the determined look in Kirk's eyes, he knew there was a long talk in their very near future.
The moment the away team stepped down off the transporter pad, Kirk turned to face them. "Debriefing can wait until tomorrow morning; tonight I think we all need time to reflect on everything we've learned. But I will make one thing very clear." His eyes swept across his assembled crew, his manner was calm, but there was a note of unbendable steel in his voice. "What happened on Varden is to be kept strictly between us until I can personally talk to Admiral Pike. You will not mention it to anyone, is that clear?"
As much as Kirk hated to for it to be true, he knew that not even the Federation was free from internal corruption. He knew that there would be some among the upper echelons who would love to have the power of the Phoenix Force under their control. 'And there is no way I am about to let my Bones fall into the wrong hands. I never will let anyone hurt him or use him for evil!' Kirk vowed. He happened to glance up at his First Officer in time to see the look in Spock's eyes. Kirk was gratified to know that he wasn't the only one who would do everything in his power to keep McCoy safe.
Ensign Cassandra knew that she'd just heard the one order in her Starfleet career that she was going to have to disobey. 'I'm sorry, Captain Kirk, but a threat like this needs to be reported immediately. The Federation has to know about the powerful tool they have in their grasp. This is not something we have a right to keep from them.' Cassandra would do her duty and she knew just the person to get in contact with, the same one who had assigned her to the Enterprise with specific orders to keep an eye on Captain James T. Kirk and his crew full of rebels and trouble-makers.
As the others filed out of the transporter room Bones found himself alone with the two people he owed the most answers to, but Bones couldn't find the strength to look either Kirk or Spock in the eyes.
"We don't hate you, Bones," Jim said suddenly, breaking the tense silence that was beginning to fill the room.
Bones' head shot up as he heard Jim's words and his eyes widened in pure disbelief when he saw the truth written plainly on Jim's face and when he glanced at Spock and he saw the normally stony-faced Vulcan nodding eagerly, his jaw dropped open in shock. "I lied to you and you don't hate me?"
"We understand why you could not let anyone know who you truly are. The powers of the Phoenix Force and the Reaper would be a very valuable and dangerous tool should they fall into the wrong hands. We cannot fault you for trying to keep yourself and your family safe," Spock calmly informed McCoy.
Bones just blinked in bewilderment as he looked back and forth between the two of them; he wasn't sure if he could believe what he was hearing. The two people he cared the most about in the world, men he hated lying to, didn't hate him. 'I must be dreaming! That's the only thing that makes any sense.'
Seeing that they had yet to convince the doctor that they were indeed serious, Kirk crossed the distance between them and cupped McCoy's face with his hands. He tilted Bones' head upward, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "You are not dreaming, Bones. Nothing you could do could ever make me hate you," Kirk whispered softly.
Bones raised his hands and gently covered Jim's, feeling the warmth of their flesh seep into his own. "Okay, Jim, I believe you. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to give you the answers you need, but I can't tell you anything that might put my family in danger. It's not that I don't trust you," he glanced at Spock, "either of you, but because of the danger I would put them in if anyone was to find out about them. Please understand?" Bones hated the fact that he was pleading, but the stakes were too high for there to be any misunderstandings.
Jim saw the distress in his mate's eyes and he hated seeing that look on Bones' face. "Hey, there's no need to worry. We understand and we would never force you to say or reveal anything that would put your family in danger. Right, Spock?" Jim cast a glance at his second-in-command.
Spock moved towards the two men. "The Captain is correct, Doctor McCoy. We will never force you to say anything you do not wish us to know."
"Thank you both for understanding." Bones flashed them a rare but true smile.
As the three men, so very different in up-bringing and outlook, stood in the empty transporter room, none of them could deny the feeling of utter belonging that filled their souls. But faced with enormity of what lay ahead of them, not one of them was ready to make the first move to establish what could truly be between the three of them. The fear of rejection was as powerful an emotion as love, and for the moment, it controlled their actions.
*****
The moment she reached her room, the spy known as Ensign Cassandra Smith moved swiftly; using a highly classified and encrypted computer program, she managed to create a secure line straight to the man she reported to. Guilt weighed heavily in her heart as she waited for the call to connect.
Admiral Hadrian Johnson was an overly pretentious man extremely impressed with himself and his position, and while not very young, he was still considered by many to be very handsome. With his silver-peppered hair, dark grey eyes, and toned physique, many cadets, Starfleet officers and quite a few ambassadors were physically drawn to him, longing for the opportunity to spend private time with the man.
Unfortunately, there was no denying that there was a deep and deadly aura surrounding the man; it was a darkness that warned everyone who met him to be very careful around him.
As Admiral Johnson's face filled her communication screen, Cassandra swallowed convulsively as those hard grey eyes stared into her very soul. "So what do you have for me, Smith? I presume that the reason you are interrupting my evening is because you have discovered something that could be useful to me?" As Johnson's dark, hypnotic voice washed over her Cassandra fought the urge to shiver; as it was, icy fingers crawled the length of her spine. 'God, I'll need a shower after this!'
"Yes, sir, I do. Doctor McCoy is not who he claims to be..." Cassandra's voice trailed off; suddenly she was unable to finish what she was saying.
"What do you mean Kirk's precious McCoy isn't who he claims he is?" Johnson demanded; this was exactly the kind of dirt he was itching to get his hands on. 'If I had something on Kirk's precious Doctor McCoy then that upstart brat would have no choice but to fall in line if he wants to keep McCoy safe.' It was no secret of how deep a friendship the Captain of the Enterprise had with his Chief Medical Officer, and Johnson knew that McCoy was Kirk's main weakness.
When Cassandra continued to gape at him in silence, "Tell me what you know, Ensign, now!" Johnson ordered imperiously; his tone promised pain if she didn't obey.
Gasping in fear, the young ensign started to shake and it took two attempts before she could speak; she could see that the Admiral was enjoying her discomfort. "Doctor McCoy is John Grimm, the Reaper, and a Child of the Phoenix Force!" Cassandra blurted out, knowing full well it wasn't wise to anger the Admiral. The last person to disappoint him, well... the kindest rumour about them was that they ended up being reassigned to a remote outpost with no chance of promotion or reassignment. The more likely story was that they'd simply been 'eliminated' and not in a nice way, either. It was a well-known fact that to go against Admiral Johnson was to commit career suicide.
The moment those words fell from Cassandra's lips, Admiral Johnson sat up straight in his seat, peering at Cassandra with open curiosity and undisguised hunger.
"Are you sure it's him?" Learning that at long last he had found the Reaper was the most satisfying news he'd heard since his promotion and Johnson was practically salivating with the potential. Not only was Grimm the deadliest solider in the Universe but he was also the child of the Phoenix Force. 'All that untamed power just waiting for me, begging for me to take control. I will have Doctor Leonard McCoy!' Admiral Johnson vowed as he eyed his little spy over the two-way vid-screen.
"Yes, sir, I am. Doctor Leonard McCoy is John Grimm known as the Reaper and he is the great-grand child of Ianto Harkness-Jones, the child of the Phoenix Force." Ensign Cassandra confirmed her information, hating herself for betraying her captain and ship. 'But,' she rationalised, 'the danger that Doctor McCoy... No! He is not Doctor McCoy! He is John Grimm, the Reaper, and more importantly, he is a child of the Phoenix Force. By his very existence, he is a danger to us all! Admiral Johnson will make sure he's kept locked away and under constant guard, so that he's not around decent people.'
Cassandra knew she was lying to herself but it was the only way she could convince herself that this was the right course of action to take. Even so, she found herself unable to still the whirlwind of fear that swirled around relentlessly in her belly.
"I want you to keep a very close eye on Doctor McCoy." Admiral Johnson leaned forward and smiled charmingly at the young woman, confident that he had her in the palm of his hand. "I have also learned that Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones are coming aboard the Enterprise, and if what I have discovered is true, then Ianto Harkness-Jones is the first Child of the Phoenix." The thought of getting his hands on two children of the flame stirred a hunger deep in him that was stronger than anything he'd ever felt before.
"You are to keep a close eye on both Doctor McCoy and Ianto Harkness-Jones for me. They are key to ensuring the continuing safety of the Federation. And I think you'll agree that all that matters is keeping the Federation safe from our enemies," Johnson issued his orders in a crisp, no-nonsense tone.
For a moment, Cassandra's heart skipped a frightened beat; it was one thing to go behind her Captain's back and reveal the information about McCoy but this was different. She was being ordered to go against the immortal leader of Torchwood and more importantly, to plot against his mate. Talk about career suicide, this was certain death!
But as Cassandra looked into Admiral Johnson's dark, mesmerising eyes, she knew that a slow, horrible, gruesome death awaited her if she dared to go against Johnson. 'At least I have some protection from Admiral Johnson if something goes wrong. If the Captain wasn't so blinded by his feelings for Doctor McCoy he would have informed Starfleet right away once he learned who McCoy really was.' Cassandra knew she had no choice in the matter; she had to do whatever ensured her survival. "Understood, sir. I will keep a close eye on both Doctor McCoy and Ianto Harkness-Jones."
A shark-like grin, all teeth, never reaching his cold eyes, graced Johnson's face. "I thought you would say that, Ensign. I can tell you have a bright future ahead of you. That is" his grin widened, "as long as you remember who your real friends are."
Cassandra swallowed hard and she forced the bile in her mouth back down. "I will, sir." It wasn't until her screen went black that Cassandra let herself breathe again. Unfortunately, two breaths later and she was running towards the toilet, vomiting spilling out over the hand she had clamped over her mouth and down the front of her uniform. 'Oh, God! What have I done?' her mind kept screaming over and over again as she dropped to the floor and curled into a foetal ball.
In his plush office at Starfleet Headquarters, Admiral Johnson relaxed back into his chair with a glass of brandy in his hand. His mind was running over the knowledge that Cassandra had just given him, racing with possibilities and plans were already beginning to form. "No one will dare to question the Federation's power once I have complete control of two children of the Phoenix Force!" A feeling of absolute euphoria filled Admiral Johnson as he pictured just how truly unstoppable the Federation would be with such formidable weapons at his command.
'Nothing will stop me from leading the Federation to its greatest glory ever! We will become the most powerful and feared entity in the Universe!' After a short bark of almost maniacal laughter, Johnson took a long celebratory sip of his brandy.
*****
The first thing that Bones became aware of when he awoke the next morning was a feeling of dread in his stomach; it sat there like a heavy rock, weighing him down, body and soul. As he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, one thing became very clear; 'today is not going to be a good day.'
A strange energy seemed to be affecting of the crew as well; regardless of rank, post or duties, almost everyone seemed to be overly hyper but it wasn't until the doctor overheard a whispered conversation in the Rec Hall and he learned that the Enterprise was picking up two special guests did a picture of why start to form.
'Still, this is the Enterprise and it's not unusual for us to pick up Ambassadors or other important guests,' Bones thought as he moved through the ship with a scowl marring his face. Everyone was just too excited for his taste and he decided to put it all out of his mind as he continued towards the bridge.
But his entire attitude changed the moment he heard that the special guests Enterprise might be picking up were Torchwood World's leaders, Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones. The rumours he heard ranged from Starfleet's flagship was escorting them to Earth for a conference, although what conference no one had any idea, to the duo were actually thinking about opening a branch office of Torchwood onboard the Enterprise herself.
All Doctor Leonard McCoy knew for sure was that his life was never going to be the same again.
Arriving on the bridge, his worst fears came true and he felt the rock of dread in his belly double in size as he saw the knowing grin on Jim's face. He couldn't stop the deep groan that slipped from between his clenched teeth. "God damn it! Do not tell me it's true that we're picking up Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones of Torchwood!" Bones growled his words at Jim; 'I really want to hit something right now!'
Jim raised a quizzical eyebrow at his friend, 'I wondering what's bugging Bones?' and smiled winningly at him. "Okay, I won't tell you that, even if it is true." But he had to admit, 'I'm pretty damned impressed with the rumour mill of my crew; I only got the call from Pike a few hours ago.'
Hearing the news confirmed, Chekov's eyes lit up with delight and Bones fought the urge to groan again. 'Just what I need, a fanboy! Something tells me he isn't the only one, either.' As he glanced around at the crew, Bones' fears were confirmed as several others got the same dreamy look on their faces and the bridge was filled with a chorus of sighs.
"Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones are really coming aboard the Enterprise? Are you sure, sir?" Chekov asked and Bones noted that he was practically bouncing in his chair, as were several others. Excitement was running rampant on the bridge. Could it really be true that two of the greatest peacekeepers in the Universe were coming to visit? They were all eagerly waiting to hear their captain either confirm their hopes or destroy them by telling them that it was nothing but rumors.
The grin on Jim's face only grew wider as he hit the button on his chair for the ship-wide comm system. "This is Captain Kirk with a special announcement." He paused for a moment to let the murmur he knew was out there die down. "There have been rumours circulating around the Enterprise about us picking up the leaders of Torchwood. I am officially declaring that the rumours are indeed true. The leaders of Torchwood World, Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones are indeed going to be our guests.
Again, Jim waited, this time for the gasps and exclamations of the bridge crew to die down. "This is an official request for all you fangirls and fanboys out there to please keep the fuss to a minimum, especially with regard to the taking of photos and the getting of autographs. That is all." He'd kept his broadcast light and cheerful; he knew full well that there was no use in telling his crew to leave the Harkness-Jones' in peace. He might as well whistle in the winds as expect his crew to listen to an order like that. As he turned off the comm system, he winked broadly at Bones.
Groaning loudly, Bones hung his head in defeat. 'Maybe I can just lock myself in my office during their visit?' Bones wondered and then shook his head slightly, 'No, Jack will just find a way to break the lock. I'll have to keep a good supply of hypos on hand and hope to hell grandtad can keep granddad under control. At least I know I can count on Spock and Uhura to help me keep Jim and the others under control.'
Bones knew without a doubt that this was going to be a long trip just as he knew it wouldn't take very long for Jim, or although it was more likely to be Spock, to work out just how he knew Jack and Ianto. Realising that he had no other choice, Bones took a deep breath and glanced at Jim. "Jim, I think that talk I owe you needs to wait until after our guests arrive. Trust me when I tell you that they will want to be a part of this conversation."
The members of Enterprise's two away teams to Varden all raised an eyebrow and looked at one another. It was clear that they were wondering how the legendary leaders of Torchwood could possibly play into Bones' secret. Those who hadn't been there couldn't help but wonder what they had missed this time.
Seeing the utterly serious look in Bones eyes Jim knew that there was no way he would get Bones to utter one word until the doctor was ready to talk. Slowly and against his will, Jim nodded. "Alright, but the moment they get settled in I want answers," Jim declared, trying not to make his words sound like an order although they both knew that it was.
Grateful for the temporary respite, Bones nodded his head. "You have my word."
*****
News of Jim's confirmation that they were, in fact, picking up Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones flew through the Enterprise at warp speed. No matter where he went, it was all anyone on the ship could talk about; within the first ten minutes, it had gotten pretty old for Bones. 'I am so damned sick and tired of hearing about them and they hadn't even arrived yet!'
Scowling ferociously, Bones grunted and grumbled under his breath as he studied the PADD in front of him. He was trying to get some work done before his grandparents arrived and he had to deal with the inevitable aftermath of having both Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jack Harkness-Jones on the same damn ship. 'I only hope the Enterprise can survive the two of them.' He shook his head and reread the same data he'd been staring at for the past ten minutes.
The low murmur of voices broke into his thoughts and he fought the urge to roll his eyes - a habit he'd learned at his grandtad Ianto's knee, by the way - as he heard two of his gossiping nurses still going on about their soon-to-be guests.
"Captain Jack and Ianto Harkness-Jones have one the of the most romantic love stories ever!" the first nurse squealed with a shrillness that set Bones' teeth on edge. "I can't wait to see them in person!"
A dreamy sigh came from her friend. "I know! They are so loving and passionate. Imagine being together for eternity through a bond that can never be broken. I wish I could find that kind of love."
"You know what I heard? One of the ways they keep the romance alive after all these years is..." The woman's voice faded away, for which the doctor was grateful. He had no desire to know any more about his grandparent's love life than he already did.
'I wonder how romantic you'd think it really was if you knew the whole story?' Only those closest to the Harkness-Jones' knew the real truth to their love story. Only those few were privy to the pain and suffering Jack and Ianto had gone through before they finally got their happily-ever-after. 'Still, after the betrayal and pain they caused one another they only grew stronger and that's when it became a true love story.' Bones would always admit that he was the tiniest bit jealous of a relationship he'd grown up watching.
'I wonder if I'll ever share that kind of love with anyone?' That thought died a fiery death as Jim's smiling face and Spock's raised eyebrow flashed before his eyes. 'No, probably not; we're just friends and nothing more. I need to let that dream die.' Bones' shoulder drooped lower than his spirits. Despite what Alaula, the Varden seer, had said, even he wasn't fool enough to believe that he would ever be enough for either man, let alone both, and the fact that he loved them both just proved that he should let them go. ' They need to be able to find their own true loves,' he concluded sadly. 'They could never love a monster like me and I should be grateful that I still have their friendship.'
"I wonder if they're as handsome as the rumours say? And you know what? Maybe we'll get a live PDA action. I know I wouldn't mind seeing a real live Harkness-Jones show." The nurse's dreamy sigh reached Bones' ears and once again broke him from his depressing thoughts although for once he was grateful. Bones fought the urge to snort as he heard the other nurse sighed and agree with her that that was a show she'd pay money to see.
'I hope Jack doesn't learn about this; I have a feeling he might give them their money's worth! Then again, Granddad can be fiercely protective over grandtad Ianto and he just might go all caveman over the idea of others even thinking about seeing his Ianto naked.' Bones shivered; he could do without a live show of his grandparents' love life, but he also knew that the chances of that happening were slim to none. It actually made the doctor happy to know that Jack was surprisingly a very jealous man when it comes to Ianto.
Bones' final thought on the matter was, 'Thank goodness grandtad is going to be here, he's the only one who can keep granddad in line,' before a medical emergency in engineering required his full attention.