Fic: Souls of the Forgotten Chapter 8/10
Title: Souls of the Forgotten
Fandoms: Supernatural/Torchwood/The Avengers/Doctor Who
Pairings/Characters: Tony/Sam, Jack/Ianto, Castiel/Dean, Clint/Coulson, Natasha/Pepper, Thor/Jane, Bruce/Steve, Kevin Tran, Nick Fury, Linda Tran, Kevin Tran, Benny/Darcy, the Doctor, Rory/Amy and Balthazar/Tosh
Summary: Sam watched Dean and Castiel disappear right before his eyes; with the loss of Bobby he wasn't sure how he would survive or even how to begin to find a way to rescue them. Help comes in the most unlikely fashion when SHIELD suddenly offers to try and help Sam find the mysterious Doctor. Knowing they have their own agenda, Sam is desperate and accepts their offer any way.
Meanwhile, Dean and Castiel find themselves struggling to survive in a living nightmare. For them, aid comes from a most unlikely pair of people: a fellow trapped soul, Ianto Jones and the vampire, Benny. Together the four of them must find a way to survive in their hellish prison but also find a way home.
One year later they are rescued but during that time much has changed for the brothers; is for better or worse? And how will they handle the biggest changes in their lives?
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural, Torchwood or the Avengers
Beta: RoyalLadyEmma
Art by: Viviantanner
Chapter 8
"Damn it! I knew this was going to well!" Benny snarled viciously as he quickly shoved Ianto behind him. Without warning, a group of blood-thirsty Leviathans came out of the woods with their weapons at the ready, surrounding them from all sides. Benny knew that Ianto was going to be of no help; since the earlier moment in the woods when the Lady of Time had spoken to them, Ianto had slowly been getting paler and weaker.
Time was converging on them and Ianto was feelings it fully effects; at times the young Welshman was barely able to stand without the support from one of the others. Castiel had done what he could to ease Ianto’s suffering, but the power of the Rift that lived within Ianto was simply far too powerful for the angel to control. The only thing he could think of to say that Ianto’s growing distress was a good sign; it meant their rescuers were on their way.
Benny just wished they would hurry their arses up; the Leviathans were drawing ever closer and despite his small team’s fighting spirit, he wasn't sure how long they could hold off their attackers.
“Let’s see, past experience dictates that good news is usually followed by a horde of monsters standing between me and my goal, so this is right on schedule for me," Dean declared with a mixture of defiance, pride and concern.
"Indeed! It would not feel right if we were not jumped several times by the latest thing wishing us dead," Castiel added as he also took a defensive stance next to Dean and in front of Ianto.
Benny cast a glance at his silent, shivering friend, noting that Ianto was as white as a ghost and that his chest was barely moving as he breathed. 'Whoever you are I hope you hurry the hell up, I'm not sure how much longer he can last.'
******
The TARDIS gasped as she was struck by the sheer intensity of Ianto's pain. The Rift within him was reacting to her and she to it and she really hated that she was causing Ianto any kind of pain. Although they had yet to meet, the TARDIS loved Ianto almost as much as she loved her Doctor, Jack and those special companions that had travelled within her blue walls. Even after they were gone, returning to their own lives, they still remained very much a part of her heart.
With her hands tied by the constraints and continuity of time lines, she had been unable to act during the last three years. Instead, she’d been forced to watch as Ianto fought tooth and nail every single day just to survive in Purgatory. She knew that his battles had been made all the more difficult by the fact that his heart had been torn apart by not knowing where he truly lay in Jack's heart. As for Jack, he was drowning in guilt caused by never letting Ianto know just how much he valued, cared for, needed him and loved him. The miraculous time-travelling ship shook herself resolutely; 'No, it is time for their pain to end!'
"Whoa! Doc, what's happening?" Without warning the floor beneath his feet pitched wildly and Jack barely managed to hang on as the TARDIS took control and began piloting herself, flying through the void in what seemed to be a bit of a hurry.
"I have no idea but wherever she's going she's certainly in a rush... OOF!" The Doctor abruptly lost his balance and landed on his behind. He tried climbing to his feet only for the ship to lurch again as she changed directions; with a sickly smile at Jack, the Time Lord wisely decided to remain seated on the floor.
With his arms wrapped around the closest support strut, Jack stared at the Doctor, the fear gripping his heart clearly etched on his face. Given the urgency of the TARDIS’ flight, all he could do was hope that Ianto was alright.
******
Something was coming, something powerful. Ianto could feel it and from the way Benny and Castiel were tensing and looking around them frantically he knew they could feel it too. Dean griped his knife tightly, prepared to do battle as the Leviathans moved in closer. The four men knew they were going to have a fierce fight on their hands, one they knew they might not emerge from unscathed, when the most unusual sound filled the air.
“What the…” Dean raised his weapon, trying to keep one eye on the Leviathans while still searching for the source of the noise. "Is that grinding?" he asked as his ears identified the sound.
"I do believe it is," Castiel confirmed.
But it was Ianto who knew the owner of the noise and his heart leapt, although he wasn’t sure if it was with fear or joy. He’d heard it twice in his life: the first time was in person at Canary Wharf shortly before the Daleks and Cybermen invaded planet Earth, and the second time was on the CCTV footage of Roald Dahl Plass, when he watched Jack desperately running towards a 1960’s police box.
"It's the TARDIS." Ianto’s voice was flat and completely without emotion, which had his companions glancing at him curiously.
Before anyone could ask what a TARDIS was, something began fading in and out around them, and a strange structure started surrounding the men. Forgetting about the danger posed by the advancing Leviathans, they watched in bewilderment and awe as the most unusual room materialised around them. As things solidified, Benny, Dean and Sam found their eyes glued to the pulsing core of the centre console.
But Ianto's eyes were drawn to the one man he had longed to see for the last three years. There was nothing in the Universe that could have his dragged eyes away from the man becoming more and more solid with each passing moment. Within a matter of seconds, Ianto found himself face-to-face with someone he never thought he would see again. Silence reigned supreme until finally, "Jack." It was a mere whisper, a fervent prayer.
For a moment Jack was sure he had at last achieved his final death, that he’d been granted entrance to the afterlife and there, waiting for him, was the one man he had loved and could never forget. "Ianto," the name was torn from Jack's lips in a desperate sob as he surged forward and wrapped himself around Ianto. Ignoring everyone else, tears fell from two pairs of blue eyes as their lips met in a soul-searing kiss.
"I'm so sorry, Ianto!” Jack’s voice cracked with a broken sob. “I’m sorry that I ever made you doubt your place in my heart! I should have made sure every day that you knew just how much I love you and that I never wanted anyone else," Jack whispered when they broke the kiss. “I love you, Ianto, I love you so much.”
Gently brushing the tears from his lover’s cheeks, Ianto rested his forehead against Jack's. "I love you too, Cariad, and I'm sorry as well. I should have found the strength to talk to you, to tell you how I felt and what I needed. You’re not the only one to blame and I don't want you to think you have to carry the guilt alone.” Ianto pulled back just far enough to look Jack in the eye. “We are both at fault for not talking about our relationship."
Humbled by Ianto’s word, Jack tightened his hold on his beloved Welshman but then frowned as he felt Ianto shudder violently in his arms. The immortal drew back and searched Ianto’s face, growing concerned when he saw how pale the younger man was looking. "Yan, what's wrong?" Tenderly Jack stroked Ianto's cheek, cherishing the way he leaned into his touch.
The Doctor looked up from studying the monitor. "The Rift inside of Ianto is reacting to the TARDIS’ energy. He should be all right, but I think it would be wise if your young man rested." He spoke in such a firm tone that Jack responded immediately.
"Right!" Not caring about the fight Ianto was about to put up, Jack hefted Ianto into his arms bridal-style and he couldn't contain his hiss of dismay at how light he was to hold. "Into bed, Mr Jones, and then I’ll be getting some food into you. No arguments." Jack glared at his soon-to-be once again lover, daring him to protest.
Anything Ianto might have said was forgotten as his jaw snapped shut; one look at the sheer determination in Jack's eyes and he knew that this was a battle he would not win. Besides, after four years of subsistence living, sleeping rough and running for his life, it was going to feel really nice to be taken care of for a change. Snuggling deeper into Jack's strong arms, Ianto took a deep breath of the never forgotten 51st century pheromones and whispered against his neck, "You win… this time."
For the first time in nearly four years Jack felt whole and complete once again. 'I am never losing you again,' Jack vowed silently as he and Ianto left the console room, neither man noticing the amused looks of triumph and satisfaction from the others.
Knowing what was to come, the Doctor shook his head as he looked to the ceiling imploringly, "I do hope you’ll make sure they have a room far, far away from the rest of us."
Having been thoroughly ignored ever since the TARDIS had solidified around them, Ianto’s three companions had remained quiet, although they remained prepared for anything. They’d witnessed the emotional reunion between Ianto and the man they’d heard so much about and now they were watching a tall thin man with wild hair carrying on a conversation with his invisible friend. The look on Dean’s face clearly said he thought the man was crazy.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and he strode over to stand in front of the Doctor. "Right! If you’re done talking to your ship can you take me to see my brother?"
Instead of responding, the Doctor merely bounced over to the control console and began flipping switches, twirling dials and pulling levers. "You might want to hang on,” he offered helpfully, “as our next stop is the SHIELD Helicarrier."
"SHIELD? Why the hell would Sammy be on the...." Dean was cut off as the TARDIS gave a violent jerk and he went stumbling back, arms flailing as he tried to catch his balance on the ship’s pitching floor. Fortunately and as always, Castiel was ready and waiting to save him and Dean fell right into the angel’s out-stretched arms. With a hastily whispered “thank you”, the hunter straightened himself, grumbling under his breath when he noticed that Castiel and Benny had both managed to keep their balance without difficulty.
Lurking behind the console, the Doctor grinned smugly to himself as he ran an appreciative hand across his TARDIS’ control panel; his beloved ship did not take attitude from anyone.
*****
"What the hell is that noise?" Fury demanded as a loud grinding noise suddenly filled the air, causing everyone who was on the SHIELD Helicarrier’s bridge to stop what they were doing. Gathering in groups of two and three, poised and ready for any attacker, the crew watched in fascinated stillness as a 1960's blue police box appeared in the middle of the bridge. Fury arched an eyebrow and felt rather than saw Coulson come and stand at his shoulder. That better not be the latest threat," he grumbled under his breath.
Sam, on the other hand, could only stare in disbelief. He would know that ship anywhere the months of research he’d done over the last year, studying every scrap of information and every photo he could get his hands on. "That's the Doctor's ship!" he said reverently.
Coulson raised an eyebrow as everyone around him continued to stare. "Interesting; should I alert the team, sir?" Coulson asked his boss.
Fury nodded his head. "Do it, but warn Stark; I do not him running in here with guns blazing and tell Linda that as well. This is not a time to shoot first and ask questions later." Fury knew how protective Linda was over Sam; on more than one mission she’d disregarded protocol and had gone in guns blazing when Sam had been in danger. Fury shook his head ruefully; Linda Tran was the ultimate definition of a mother bear protecting her cub.
The others arrived within minutes of being alerted, and while they had their weapons out, they were held down at their sides, even Tony’s. Sam barely even noticed when Tony, Linda and Kevin joined him and actually started slightly when Linda rested a comforting hand on his arm.
"Sammy, are you alright?" she asked quietly. She could feel the tension radiating from Sam’s arm as he stared anxiously at the box. They had spent many an evening discussing his research into the Doctor, trying to determine his whereabouts and the best way to contact him.
"Do I have some ass to kick?" Tony demanded, glaring at the TARDIS suspiciously. "Seriously, a police box? Who travels through time in a police box?"
Sam paid the volatile man no heed; he could hardly breathe as the doors suddenly swung open and he went weak in the knees as he saw the first person to walk out was someone he’d been so afraid that he would never see again. "Dean?" he whispered in disbelief, his voice croaking with emotion.
Choking up himself, Dean grinned self-consciously at his baby brother, "Hey, Sammy! Whatcha doing?”
The assembled group on the bridge held their breath, waiting to see what would happen and they weren’t disappointed. The next moment both men were moving as fast as they could toward one another and when they met, they wrapped their arms around each other in a tight hold. They were both afraid if they let the other one go they would disappear before their very eyes.
For the time being, Ianto, Jack and the Doctor had chosen to stay inside the TARDIS where Ianto was recovering from his bout of time sickness. Benny and Castiel had also come out of the ship, and they stood back as they watched the brothers reunite after a year apart. Having studied the Doctor closely during their journey, Benny figured they weren't going to stick around for very long, and he didn’t want to get very far from the TARDIS. The last thing he wanted was to be accidentally left behind with SHIELD.
Almost against his will a smile spread across Tony's face as he watched his boyfriend reunite with his brother. There had been several nights when he’d been woken by Sam’s sobs and he’d held his hunter in his arms while he cried heart-brokenly. Now Tony’s eyes softened a great deal as he saw the over-joyed smile that graced Sam's face as he was reunited with his missing brother. Turning to the man next to him, Tony said, "Thor, buddy, I think you and your kin should take some lessons from these two. After all, most family reunions do not involve alien invasions and plots to take over the world."
"Indeed,” the Norse god nodded solemnly. “Sam and his brother could provide useful info on how to do family reunions." Thor had to agree that his friend Sam’s reunion with his brother was going far, far better than his own.
"I can't believe you’re here!” Tears slipped down Sam’s face as he pushed his brother back and looked at him closely. “I searched for you, Dean; I never stopped looking for way to rescue you and Castiel. You have to believe me, please!" Sam pleaded with him urgently and his grip on Dean’s tightened painfully.
"I do, Sammy, I do!" Dean could hear the desperation in Sam's voice as well as the relief and the happiness in his baby brother's eyes as he answered. Flicking his gaze over Sam's shoulder at the men and women watching them, it didn't escape his notice that one face in particular wore a dark glare that was cast directly at him. His brain instantly made the connection and he punched his brother in the arm. "Dude! Are you sleeping with Iron Man?" There was a combination of pride, surprise and even a tiny bit of jealousy in his words.
Sam shifted uncomfortably and rubbed his sore arm as a faint blush painted his cheeks. "Maybe... Are you finally sleeping with Castiel?"
"Indeed he is," Castiel spoke up quietly; he was tempted to join his young hunter, but decided he’d rather remain on the outer ring, watching everything and everyone around them.
Draping his arm around his brother’s shoulders, Dean relished the man’s closeness. "We have a lot to talk about," he said as he raised his eyebrow and he looked pointedly between Sam and Tony.
Sam smiled brightly and his heart filled with relief; for the first time in over a year his smile reached his eyes. His brother was home he didn’t care what Dean wanted, he’d go along with it just so they’d spend time together. "Yeah, we do."