Imprint on the Bedsheets
Title: Imprint on the Bedsheets
Author: blissfullyd
Word Count/Size of art: just shy of 7000
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, mentions of Tosh/Adam, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: pg-13
Summary: Who can you trust when you can’t trust your own mind?
Warnings: Minor character death
Setting/Time: Takes place after Meat, roughly when Adam would have occurred.
Beta: Great big thanks to lisa725 for stepping in and doing a super quick, super last minute beta. I kept messing with it, though. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or any of the associated characters. No infringement is intended.
A/N: This was written for teachwriteslash as a part of torchwood_fest. She requested an AU where the world we saw in Adam was actually Torchwood, with Adam being a part of the team and a good guy. Title is from Frank Turner’s “I am disappeared.” Some of the text was taken directly from the episode Adam.
It was a rare morning off, and Ianto was spending it shopping with his sister, her two kids doing their best to ignore the fact that the adults existed. Ianto adjusted his sleeves again and tried to smile at the right times along with Rhiannon’s story about the most recent disastrous school play that he’d missed. He’d been trying to hide the rope burns around his wrists and the surrounding bruises and lacerations. They had started to heal, but they were still nasty looking. He hadn’t been able to do anything about the bruise that darkened his left eye. He’d been grateful that Rhiannon had let it slide so far, hadn’t mentioned anything or pushed, but she’d caught the motion and reached out to inspect.
She made an odd choked noise when she saw the marks and squeezed his arm, just holding on. “Jesus Ianto! What the hell happened to you?”
He tugged his arm away, covering the marks and avoiding her eyes. “It’s nothing, Rhi, really.” His mobile rang, and he ignored it. This was not the time.
Her eyes narrowed, somehow angry and pitying at the same time. “That is not ‘nothing’, Ianto Jones. Did he do that to you?” she snapped and then said softly, “Did Jack hurt you?”
“What? No. Jack would never. No. Why would you think? I was -sort of mugged?” It was surprisingly difficult to lie to his sister when she was looking at him like that.
“Sort of-” Her voice got high and fierce, but she took a step back and he could see her visibly gather herself. Rhiannon took a deep breath and then focused back on him. His mobile rang again, and again, he silenced it. “Ianto, I love you.” She obviously had more that she wanted to say, and he was deeply grateful to her that she held back.
“I know. I-“ His mobile trilled again, signaling an incoming text message, and then trilled three more times in rapid succession. “I’m sorry, Rhi, I have to-” He waggled his mobile, took a step away, looked at his messages, and cursed. They were from Jack. There had been a rift spike about three blocks away, and there were life signs. Adam was on his way, and Jack wanted him to wait for backup.
Ianto put his mobile back in his pocket and turned to his sister with his serious face firmly in place. “Rhi, I need you to take the kids and go home.” She looked like she was going to protest, but he shook his head. “Please, just trust me. Go home. I love you.”
She nodded and called for Mica and David. Then she turned and said fiercely, “Don’t think this is over, Ianto Jones.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Ianto watched her begin to leave, fit his com into his ear, and ran in the opposite direction.
Weaving through a crowd without drawing too much attention to yourself is a skill that Ianto Jones had mastered. Years of weevil hunts and artifact retrievals had made him quite adept at dodging the innocent while not causing fuss enough to be noticed. Still, he couldn’t move as quickly as he wanted to; the density of the crowd and his injuries slowed him slightly. Soon he made it to the intersection Jack had texted to him, tapped his com link open, and made sure that his stun gun was handy.
“Jack? ETA on Adam?”
Adam himself answered on the open com link, sounding a bit harassed and frazzled, “Give me two minutes.” Ianto head the distinct sound of horns blaring and Adam cursing softly. “Make that three.”
“Ianto wait for backup,” Jack demanded. “The signal is coming from the alley to your left. Just wait there.”
Ianto shook his head. He was right there, whatever the rift had pulled through was right there, and the ones bent on world domination or who wanted to eat people rarely just hung around and waited for team Torchwood to show up. He had to act now. He had to at least see what they were dealing with. If it was too dangerous for him to approach on his own, he could retreat. But, surely, knowing what they were up against was better than going in blind. He was rationalizing, he knew, but he was nearly overwhelmed with curiosity. Ianto took a deep breath, pushed himself up against the wall, and carefully drew his stun gun, keeping it at his side but ready. One more moment to savor the anticipation and then he turned sharply into the alley, scanning for anything that looked out of place.
A woman was standing near the other end. It was her-it had to be. Her clothing wasn’t nearly enough for the chill Welsh air, and it wasn’t made from any textile Ianto could identify. The draped dress shimmered in blues and greens as she moved. Her hair was a shade of red that didn’t seem quite natural, and fell in loose spirals down her back. Her skin was so pale it was nearly translucent. As he neared, he could see she was shaking. Whether it was from shock, fear, or cold was anyone’s guess. She looked very much like a human from what he had been able to see with her back mostly to him. He inched closer, ignoring Jack yelling in his ear to wait for Adam; that Adam was nearly there. He reached for his com to silence it, and froze as she turned abruptly, startlingly silver eyes pinning him in place. Definitely not human then. She was breathing heavily, clearly frightened, and Ianto was struck with a feeling of unease. Slowly, he raised one hand in a gesture that was meant to be placating.
He took another step forward and gasped, knees buckling and eyes going wide. Ianto stared up at the woman who looked as terrified as he suddenly felt. Oh. Footsteps clattered at the end of the alley. Reinforcements had arrived. The woman looked from Ianto to Adam and back again before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.
Adam moved into Ianto’s line of site. He had his weapon drawn and trained on the woman. “Ianto? You alright?”
Slowly, Ianto climbed to his feet, limbs still shaking from the rush of adrenaline, but the fear had faded. He swallowed hard but nodded. “I’m fine. It was just strange. I think she fainted. Let’s get her back to the Hub before she wakes up.”
He went to lift the woman, but Adam stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Let me. You look like you can barely get yourself to the SUV. And turn your com back on so Jack will stop yelling in my ear.” Ianto cringed as he tapped his com on and began trying to placate one rather upset Jack Harkness.
***
Owen adjusted his glasses before reaching for the scanner. Other than his coworkers, he didn’t often get live subjects these days, and he was really looking forward to having a patient walk away from his exam table. He was a bit concerned. Her heart rate was rapid enough and her temperature high enough that were she human he would be concerned. He just hoped that this was normal for whatever species she was. At this point, all he could do was work off of an educated guess. She didn’t seem to be in any physical distress, so he decided it would be best not to give her anything for now. Owen just needed her to wake up.
“Come on now, lovely,” he spoke softly as he drew a blood sample to test. “We just want to help you.” Owen murmured quietly as he worked, explaining what he was doing and how he hoped it would help her, telling her that she was safe and that they all wanted to help her. He started when someone cleared their throat loudly directly behind him.
Turning, he found Ianto standing there looking apologetic and just a bit smug. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. I have some files. I was hoping you could narrow down where our guest came from. Anything notable so far?”
Jack joined them near the railing above and Owen let out a little cough, always uncomfortable being the center of anyone’s attention. “Well, she’s anatomically similar to a human - organs are in the proper places, nothing missing or extra. All vitals are slightly elevated than normal for a human. She is currently emitting a weak magnetic field. I’d like to see if the strength increases when she’s conscious.“ The computer beeped, cutting off the doctor’s excitement. He examined the results for a moment. “And there’s an interesting mixture of metals present in her blood. Iron, nickel and arsenic are all at levels that would be toxic to humans.”
“Add that to the silver eyes and what happened in the field,” Jack trailed off, looking unhappy.
“And I think she’s Thelluvian,” Ianto finished. “That means-“
“She’s empathic,” Jack cut in this time.
Owen cocked his head to the side and wondered when those two had started finishing each other’s sentences.
Jack clapped his hands together and turned to address the Hub as a whole. “Team meeting time!”
“Gwen’s not here yet!” Adam called back.
Jack growled and snapped back, “Meeting time. You can catch her up when she gets here. Thank you for volunteering, Adam.”
***
Minutes later, team Torchwood minus Gwen was gathered around the conference table as Ianto handed out fresh coffee. Adam let out an obscene moan has he sipped his. “Oh, Ianto, run away with me?” he asked pathetically. Tosh giggled into her coffee. Owen blushed and refused to meet anyone’s gaze.
“What’s in it for me, Smith?”
Adam’s face was pure mischief when Jack interrupted. “So, we’ve got a new Thelluvian friend.”
“Who could wake up at any moment,” Owen helpfully reminded.
“Right,” Ianto broke in and shuffled through his notes. “Thelluvians are empathic, but she doesn’t just feel it; she can project feelings. That’s what happened to me in the alley. I felt her fear.”
“They’re peaceful, can’t go to war because they all feel everything. They’re the best therapists in seven galaxies. They cut through the words and lies and just feel.” Jack paused for a moment, remembering. “But, they’re also symbiotic. Once they mate, they are dependent on that mate, literally. She cannot survive without her mate, and her mate cannot survive without her.”
“How long can she survive for?” Owen asked softly.
Jack shrugged. “You tell me, doc.”
Owen stood and began pacing in tight circles, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “I don’t know. She hasn’t woken up yet. That is not a good sign. Is there-We have to help her. What do we do?”
“I can run the prediction program and see if any rift activity matching the rift profile that dropped her here is going to open soon so we could send her back.”
Jack nodded. “Do it. Owen, do your best to keep her comfortable. Ianto, search the archives for mentions of symbiotic relationships, anything that might help. Adam, search the database and fill Gwen in when she gets here. The three of us will handle any minor incursions until we can send our guest home.”
The meeting broke up, but Owen just stood there for a moment, looking lost. Adam placed a hand on his shoulder, and Owen managed a weak smile for him at the gesture. Owen accepted the comfort for a moment and then cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped away. “Right. Best get to work then.”
***
Adam followed Owen down toward the medical bay and watched for a moment as the other man set to work checking on his patient again. He really hoped that the doctor wasn’t setting himself up to get hurt again. Poor Owen felt everything. Every wound, every loss. Adam wondered how he had survived working in hospitals. Owen glanced up and caught Adam’s eye. Adam nodded and moved away.
Toshiko was already working on the program, fingers moving furiously over her keyboard. He watched her for a moment too, and felt the familiar rush of pride because she was beautiful and brilliant and with him.
“Staring is not an attractive habit,” she said with a slight smirk, not looking away from her work.
He stepped closer and placed a kiss on her temple. “Just admiring the view, love. How’s the program coming?”
“I’ve got to isolate the signature of the spike that brought her through first. There were some smaller spikes in the same location around the same time, so I have to sift through them to see if I can isolate hers and, hopefully, find one that matches.”
“I know how much you love a challenge. Need anything?”
She shook her head and looked up at Adam for just a moment. “No. Thanks.”
***
Owen felt a flutter of nervous excitement tinged heavily with relief as his patient started to stir. Waking up was good. Good, good sign. He scrambled off of the chair he’d been sitting on and stepped closer to where she was resting. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on projecting calm and a desire to help, hoping that even if she didn’t understand his words, she would understand that. Slowly, her eyes opened, and Owen forced what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“Hello there, lovely. I’m Doctor Owen Harper. I’m here to help you. We’re going to send you home, okay? There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Just then the cog wheel door rolled back and with the blare of the alarm and flash of lights as Gwen entered, calling out an apology and an excuse for being late. It was followed swiftly by the sounds of Adam hushing her. Owen felt a stab of fear and his heart began to race. He acted instinctually, reaching for the alien woman’s hand, and resumed speaking to her, reassuring her that none of them were there to hurt her. Slowly, he began to relax.
His smile was less forced this time. “That’s right, lovely. We’re not going to harm you. I don’t know if you can understand me, but I’m here to help.” She studied him for a moment, her expression moving from confusion to compassion. When the emotion hit him it was like a physical blow. The sadness, the loneliness, and the grief of losing a partner that you love. Katie. His knees felt weak, and he sat abruptly as they gave out. He was lucky to end up in his chair and not on the floor. Owen’s vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears. It felt just as it had when he had first lost his Katie. The grief was overwhelming for a moment. Then, as the wave of sadness began to recede, he realized that it wasn’t all from himself. Was this what the Thelluvian woman was feeling being separated from her partner?
He shuffled closer to the woman, and she raised a hand, fingers trailing lightly down the side of his face. Then the emotion shifted. It wasn’t just the overwhelming grief consuming him anymore. The joy of being with Katie, of knowing that amazing woman, being with her, being loved by her, slowly seeped in through the pain, and suddenly things were okay again. It had been a long time since he’d been able to think about her and feel true happiness. Even if it was tinged with sadness, the happiness was genuine, and it was worth it. Katie deserved to be remembered.
Owen’s cheeks were wet, eyes still streaming, but it didn’t matter. He felt accepted and loved and balanced in a way that he hadn’t for years. “Thank you,” he breathed.
“Owen?” Jack was standing a few feet away from the doctor and sounded concerned. Gwen was a little behind Jack, weapon drawn but trained on the floor. Her eyes were wet.
“Everything alright?” she asked, voice high. She looked a bit shaken.
“Yeah.” Owen’s own voice was tight, so he cleared his throat and tried again. “Yeah. Everything’s just fine.” Honestly, he felt better than he had in a very long time.
***
Adam was sitting on the couch, working on the latest edition of The Archivist. He’d already gone through the database, helped capture a weevil, and done some of the paperwork that was obscuring most of his desk; he figured he deserved a break.
“Working on one of the comics?” Gwen asked, plopping down beside him on the couch and depositing a fresh coffee on the table for Adam, cradling hers possessively. “Ianto’s?”
Adam smiled. “Yup. The Archivist verses the Silver Siren with a special appearance by Doctor Dazzle.” He handed it to Gwen and she flipped through with a faint smile on her face. “What did Andy want?”
Gwen rolled her eyes fondly. Her former partner was becoming quite persistent when he saw something that he didn’t think quite added up. “He got one right this time. Sort of, anyway. You remember Ceri Roberts?” Adam nodded. That little girl had been adopted earlier in the year by a friendly humanoid couple that had crash landed in Snowdonia about a decade previously. Tosh had helped them get their paperwork in order, and Ianto had forged the proper documents. The small family checked in regularly with Adam and seemed to be adjusting well.
Gwen sighed loudly, “Well, there was a misunderstanding. Ceri has been getting into playground fights, and it has been bad enough that an investigation into her welfare has been launched. There were some missing records and paired with the strange stories little Ceri has been writing for her classes, Andy thought he’d check to see if this was one of ours.”
Adam sighed. “I’ll go visit them tomorrow, see what’s actually going on, and talk to Ceri about telling tales. Tosh will be able to clear up the records misunderstanding. Thanks Gwen.”
***
Tosh had cleaned up the rift signature from when the Thelluvian had been dropped through the rift, and was running a comparison on the prediction program, hoping for a hit. Everything was running smoothly, much more smoothly than normally, actually. She was working on the translation program, tweaking the embedded grammar structure, when a new idea hit her. Maybe she could create a temporal lock like the one that had been on the message about Tommy Brockless. If she could figure out a program that would create a temporal lock large enough to encompass the entire Hub in the event of an incursion. It would be the ultimate defense. It would keep the Hub and her family safe. She smiled. This would be a challenge, and the payoff would be amazing.
***
“No. No,” Jack repeated. He rubbed at the back of his neck, hoping to stave off the headache that was brewing. “No. I’m sorry, but you do not have jurisdiction over Torchwood.” He heard a small noise from the door and beckoned Ianto into his office, gesturing for the younger man to have a seat.
“Now we both know that’s an idle threat, and I do not take kindly to being threatened. I understand your interest, but your request has been denied. It is not going to happen today, next week, or any time in the foreseeable future. “ Jack pulled the phone away from his ear, wincing at the yelling on the other end. He smiled up at Ianto as he sat in his customary spot on Jack’s desk.
Something in the yelling brought his attention back to the matter at hand. “Yeah? I’d like to see you try.“ With that, he hung up the phone with rather more force than was necessary and leaned into Ianto. He smiled when Ianto automatically lifted a hand and carded it through his hair.
“The PM’s office still trying to come in and ‘inspect’?” Ianto asked.
Jack nodded and then looked up at Ianto, wearing his very best kicked puppy face. “Make them go away?” he asked pathetically,
Ianto chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
They stayed like that for a long moment, with Jack cuddled into Ianto, seeking the comfort the other man provided. “What time is it?” Jack asked eventually, voice muffled by Ianto’s thigh.
“Just after six.”
Jack nuzzled into Ianto for another moment before pulling himself upright with an exaggerated sigh. He gave Ianto’s knee a squeeze and left the office, yelling out into the atrium of the Hub, “Alright kids, let’s call it a day.”
Gwen didn’t protest, simply started gathering her things. Adam glanced up guiltily from where he was working on what looked like another one of his comics. Tosh started, looking like she had no idea what had been happening around her, too engrossed in her work.
“I’ll just set the alarm to tell you when the program finds a matching signature,” she called. Adam bagged up her laptop, grabbed her purse and held out her coat for her to slip into. She smiled at him before going serious again and approaching Jack. “There haven’t been any matches yet. And -um- I think Owen’s gotten attached,” she warned softly.
Jack nodded and looked up, catching sight of the man in question standing awkwardly near his med bay. “Thanks, Tosh. Go ahead and head out now. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Jack watched as three of the members of his team left, with jokes and good will. It gave him a proud glow, this family that he’d made for himself. “Owen,” he said as he approached the doctor, “how is she?”
Owen fixed his glasses and straightened his sweater, fidgeting a bit. “She’s resting now, but her temperature is slowly but steadily rising. Her other vitals are stable, but I’m not sure if they’re normal. I don’t have enough information. She’s -she just wants to go home Jack.”
Jack laid a hand on Owen’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “How are you?”
He was pleased to see Owen pause to think about it. “I’m -I’m okay. More than okay really. I’m good. I just -I want to help her, Jack. Let me help her.”
“You already have.” That earned him one of those rare smiles. “Now, tell me honestly Owen, is there anything else you can do for her right now?”
“No.”
“Then go home, get some rest, and be ready to help her and anyone else that might need you tomorrow, okay?”
Owen took a deep breath, looking like he might argue for a moment before deflating. “Alright. I’ll go. But Jack-“
“I’ll call you immediately if anything changes,” Jack promised.
The doctor nodded. “Have a good night Jack, Ianto.”
***
Owen was reluctant to leave, but Jack was insistent. He went home and began to tidy. There was something soothing when everything was in its proper place. He tried to focus on anything but work, but he could really go for a win right then. He hadn’t had one in a while. Owen hadn’t been able to save Beth or Tommy or that poor creature he’d had to euthanize. He just wanted one. He needed to save one. Otherwise what was the point of him? What was he doing? He was supposed to be good at this. Being a good doctor was really all that he had. No wife, no girlfriend, few friends, a job that ate up most of his time. It was all just too much. He felt trapped. He needed to do something, anything. Rummaging through his closet for a few moments, Owen changed his clothing and left the empty, mocking walls of his apartment.
***
Ianto smiled as he felt familiar warm arms wrap around his waist as he was shutting down the Hub for the night.
“How’s our guest?” Jack asked, breath warm and moist against Ianto’s ear. Jack kissed the younger man’s ear and then down his neck before latching on his pulse point.
“Sleeping soundly for the moment.” Ianto leaned back into Jack, pulled his arms tighter around himself. “Do you think we’ll be able to send her home?”
Jack shrugged, stepping back. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
Ianto turned and Jack stepped into him, both seeking comfort. Jack nuzzled into his neck and then chuckled and bit at his shoulder.
“Hey,” Ianto protested with a laugh. “Careful there. No more marks. My sister has already jumped to unfortunate conclusions. And you really do not want to have that uncomfortable conversation with her.”
Jack pulled back far enough to quirk an eyebrow at Ianto. “What does that mean?”
Ianto made an apologetic face. “She saw the bruises from the warehouse and thought that maybe you hit me.”
“But I didn’t - I would never-“
“Shh. I know that. I told her that too. But odds are good Rhi will watch us very closely for a while. We ought to actually make it to one of the Thursday night dinners she keeps inviting us to and we keep blowing off.”
Jack groaned dramatically and mock glared. “You’re lucky I love you, Jones.”
It got very quiet for a moment after that. The air felt thick. Jack had never said quite those words in quite that order before. Jack’s eyes went wide and vulnerable with just a hint of defiance, so much like when he had asked Ianto out on that first date all those weeks ago. Ianto just smiled. “Yes, I am.”
***
Owen woke slowly, fighting it. His mouth was too dry, tongue thick and stuck to the roof of his mouth. He smelled of whisky, smoke, and cheap perfume. What the hell had he done last night? Slowly he opened his eyes and quickly cringed. Everything was too bright. He groped for his glasses, adjusting them on his face, and somehow everything was so much worse when he could actually see it. He was in a room he didn’t recognize, with a woman he barely remembered, and his pants were just so far away.
Something was very, very wrong here. The pounding in his head told him that he had gotten fantastically drunk the previous night. He’d gone on the pull, and his mouth tasted like he’d licked the barroom floor. This was so out of character for him that he was more than a little nervous. Slowly, so very slowly, he crawled out of the bed, gathered his clothes, and snuck out of the bedroom, leaving the curvy brunette asleep in the bed. Good god, how he hoped she stayed that way until he could get dressed and get the hell out of there.
Owen had to focus on what he was doing. Dressing was difficult, the liquor making his limbs heavy and uncooperative, adrenaline making him clumsy. While pulling on his shoes, he tripped and knocked into an end table, sending a heavy book crashing to the floor. He heard a noise from the bedroom and rushed out the door, pulling his shirt on in the corridor. This was all wrong. He had to get to the Hub. Now.
***
A knock on the car window startled Gwen awake. She jumped, her neck cracking painfully, and spilled cold coffee on her jeans. She cursed, and grabbed for a wad of slightly greasy napkins from the cup holder and dabbed at her damp leg before turning to the window. Andy was standing there looking both sheepish and amused. Wait a second. She’d fallen asleep in her car? It came back to her slowly.
She’d been in the shop, picking up the garlic Rhys had requested when she saw Ceri Roberts and her adoptive parents. She just had to be sure that the little girl was safe. Gwen’s brow furrowed. It seemed so silly now. Why had she been so certain that Ceri was in trouble? She’d seen the happy family interact. She hadn’t seen any indication that Ceri was anything but a happy, well-adjusted little girl with doting, not-quite-human parents. Gwen knew that she was impulsive, reckless sometimes, and stubborn, but this -this seemed like too much. Andy rapped on the window again, and Gwen gasped, startled. She had forgotten that he was there. She gave him a smile that was more teeth than cheer and opened the door enough to talk to him.
He laughed, even as she glowered and cheerfully stated, “Got a call this morning that a strange woman was sleeping in car in front of the houses. You’re scaring the locals.” It was good-natured teasing, Gwen knew, but it still chafed. “Spookie-dos in the family neighborhoods? I may never sleep again.”
“No, no. Nothing like that, Andy. Just a bit of a misunderstanding. Everything’s fine now.” Gwen felt a brief pang of regret that lying had become so easy for her. “Thanks for checking things out, Andy.” She flashed him another smile, one that clearly said that the conversation was over, shut the door forcefully and set off for the Hub. Her mobile chimed with a text message, and only then did she realize that Rhys would be worried. Well, she’d just have to call him later. Right then, she had to get to the Hub because something was wrong.
***
Toshiko woke alone for the first time in a long time. It felt strange not to have Adam warm and breathing next to her. But they had fought, and she had felt so timid and insecure in a way that she hadn’t in years. He had been loud and pushy. They had both said horrible things. He’d called her cold, harsh, and said that she hid behind her calculations and programs. She’d called him manipulative, juvenile and said that he spent so much time trying to be the person that everyone else wanted him to be that she wasn’t sure which was his real face. They had both been cruel and hurtful, and their words had held just enough truth to cut deeply.
He had left before anything had been settled between them. She wasn’t sure where he had gone, but she’d heard him come in sometime in the wee hours of the morning. He’d slept on the couch.
Tosh felt wrung out and tired. She wasn’t ready to face the day. She got up anyway, made coffee, and got ready for work.
***
Ianto was standing behind the desk in the tourist information center, smiling softly to himself and generally looking like he loved all the world, when Owen, still feeling a bit panicked, burst through the door. “Leather jacket, Owen? It’s a good look on you.” The smile faded when he saw that Owen was genuinely upset about something. “What’s wrong?”
Owen considered telling him for the briefest moment before forcing a tight smile. “It’s been a weird morning.”
Ianto looked like he might push it; but in the end, he simply nodded and pressed the button to let Owen into the Hub. “Coffee is still fresh.”
“Thanks.” Owen smiled and made for the door. He paused and visibly reconsidered. “Say, Ianto, did anything strange happen last night?” Owen looked very uncomfortable.
“No. No alarms. Her temperature is up a bit. Nothing strange, though. Last night was good.” Ianto could feel the stupid grin spreading across his face.
Owen shuffled uncomfortably. “You stayed here then?”
Ianto’s brow furrowed. That was odd. It wasn’t like Owen at all to ask a personal question. “Yes, I did. Are you sure you’re alright? What happened to you?”
“I’m not sure.” Owen shrugged and finally made his way into the Hub. He ducked back before the door closed. “And Ianto? Thanks.”
***
The mood in the Hub was odd. Gwen had buried herself in her work, politely ignoring her coworkers. Tosh and Adam seemed wary of each other to the point that Adam had taken over for Ianto covering the Tourist Information Center for the morning. Ianto and Jack seemed so much more aware of each other.
Owen was worried. The Thelluvian woman’s temperature kept climbing. He couldn’t seem to find anything to help get it under control. Tosh’s program still hadn’t gotten any hits. On top of all that, everyone was acting so strangely.
By lunchtime everything had shifted again. Gwen seemed to have the same concentration but without the off putting air she’d had earlier in the day. She was just productive. Tosh was buried in her programs. Owen wasn’t sure what had her attention at the moment, but she wasn’t ignoring Adam any longer. Adam was alternately drawing his comic books and making impressive strides on the paperwork obscuring his desk. Owen himself was even making progress on his weevil behavioral study in between caring for his current live patient. He thought that Jack had even made nice with UNIT that morning.
Something was happening. Owen began watching the team interactions instead of the weevils.
***
It was late afternoon when he heard the cry. “Jack!” Gwen yelled.
He burst out of his office and down the stairs, demanding, “What’s wrong?”
Gwen gestured to the medical bay, and Owen responded with a pained, “She’s crashing!”
Jack ran to the bay, but he could only watch as Owen tried to save the woman’s life. Owen never stopped talking to her as he tried to resuscitate her, telling her that she just had to hold on for a little while longer, and they would get her home to her mate. He kept working long after she was gone, pleading with her to stay with him. It broke Jack’s heart.
Jack went down into the bay and gently pulled Owen away. “She’s gone. You’ve done all you could.” Owen fought with him for a moment before going boneless against him. Jack held him for several minutes, until the doctor pulled away. Owen didn’t say anything to his teammates; he just walked toward the bathroom to clean up.
Adam looked like he wanted to follow the doctor, but a rift alarm interrupted.
“We’ve got a pack of weevils at the park. At least four have been sighted,” Tosh said, her voice tight.
It was time for him to be Captain again. Jack took a deep breath. “Right. Tosh, Gwen, Adam with me. Ianto, will you-“
“I’ll take care of the body, Sir,” Ianto confirmed. And Owen, went unsaid.
“Thanks.”
***
Hours later, Owen was sitting morosely in his medical bay, staring at a crack in the wall that hadn’t been patched yet. He was feeling useless and snappish and defeated. Ianto had given up on him long ago and retreated to the safety of the archives. Come to think of it, Ianto hadn’t looked terribly happy at the time either, which was a big change from earlier in the day. Owen shrugged. He supposed a death would do that. He longed for a drink, briefly considering snagging the scotch from Jack’s office before giving up on the idea because it was just too far away. What was the point anyway?
The alarm blared, the door rolled back, and the team entered, dragging corpses of the weevils and arguing amongst themselves. It seemed to be particularly vicious between Adam and Tosh and Gwen and Jack. Four dead weevils? None of this was normal.
“Ianto!” Jack bellowed. “Get up here!”
Ianto appeared a few moments later, face a blank mask, suit still looking perfect, all buttoned up and tie straight. Ianto was hiding again. Jack was snapping at everyone and pulling away. Gwen was pushing further than she would normally, and Owen suddenly remembered something in the archive report on the Thelluvians. He pulled it out and flipped through, quickly finding the brief mention. Oh.
“Everybody stop!” Owen yelled, running up the stairs and into the main Hub. They all turned to him, stunned into silence at his uncharacteristic display. “Conference room. Now.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sure whatever it is can wait, Owen.”
“No, it can’t. I’m pulling rank. As the chief medical officer for Torchwood 3, I am calling a meeting in the conference room. Now.”
***
Even with Owen’s rarely used stern voice and pulling rank, it was several minutes before the team was gathered in the conference room. Tosh had made a quick review of the prediction program while Ianto, Jack, Adam, and Gwen deposited the weevils in the med bay for Owen to autopsy later.
By the time they finally gathered, the mood had deteriorated further. Toshiko looked sullen and withdrawn, Adam like he meant to harm them all, Ianto aloof, Gwen indignant, and Jack completely dismissive and rather annoyed.
“Care to explain why you ordered us all here, Owen?” Jack asked testily.
Owen narrowed his eyes but tapped on the keys of the laptop, bringing up an image of the archive report. A single sentence was highlighted. “That is why, Captain.”
“’Agents Allen and Howe experienced some emotional distress upon the death of the subject,’” Gwen read derisively. “Death tends to do that, Owen.”
“Will everyone just shut up for a minute and listen to me?” He knew he was being unreasonable and oversensitive, but such was the nature of the beast. “Think about it. Things have been different the past two days. We’ve all been working better, both together and alone. We’ve all gotten along, been creative, made breakthroughs - while we were under the influence of the Thelluvian. But now, now we’re suspicious, mean, depressed, snappish, withdrawn, angry.”
He gave them a moment, hoping that they were willing to listen. “We’re going through withdrawal. She affected us, and without whatever it was, we’re crashing. We’re hurting each other, and we need to stop before we do permanent damage.” He’d seen cruel words and stony silences ruin families before -it had happened to him- and he wasn’t going to allow it to happen to the one he’d chosen for himself.
They were all silent for a long moment, awkwardly avoiding each other’s gazes.
“Is that what happened last night?” Tosh finally asked timidly.
Adam looked alarmed. Owen gave them a wry smile. “You too, eh?”
“We-“ Adam trailed off, looking guilty. “We fought.”
Owen tried not to feel a happy thrill at that and failed. He was not proud of himself in that moment.
Gwen turned toward Jack and Ianto and asked bluntly, “Did the two of you fight, too?”
“No,” Ianto said sharply. “But that’s irrelevant. What are we supposed to do?”
Owen sank down into his customary seat and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. “Well, you said she was a therapist, right?” Jack nodded. “Then, we either work through our issues together, or we all go to our separate corners and hope for the best.”
Again, there was an uncomfortable silence. Owen buried his face in his hands and reluctantly admitted, “I really don’t want to be alone, though. God, I need a drink.”
Gwen gave him a sympathetic face and leaned close to wrap an arm around his shoulders. He had to fight not to shrug it off.
“Right,” Jack said a little shakily. “We’ve been all over the map these past few days. We need to get back to who we are, what defines us. We need to go back to what we have forgotten.”
Owen started, voice shaking, “You save one life, a hundred lives, but it’s never enough. Who will save me?” It opened the floodgates.
“I spent so long knowing I was special, waiting for someone else to see it.”
“Losing Lisa. It felt like the world had ended.”
“The fire at the gallery. It was the closest to hell I could imagine.”
“Being lost for so many years, hoping that if I was just good enough, he’d come back for me.”
“The way Rhys looks at me, like he’s scared of what he feels for me. I love him so much it hurts. Knowing what I know, how do I keep him safe?”
“You saved us all, Owen. We’ll save you right back.”
“I see it. I see it every day. You are amazing, and I am lucky to know you.”
“We both found a new purpose, new meaning.”
“I found you.”
“And you create things of such beauty.”
“You’re Earth’s defender. He’s not the kind to stay. That’s not your fault.”
“You fight for him.”
Nothing was resolved, but they all knew they had the support of their teammates. It was enough.
***
Jack leaned against the railing, surveying his kingdom. Ianto sidled in next to him, fingers brushing his on the railing.
“Dinner’s at 6. Are you sure you’re up for this?”
Jack smiled. “I’ve been through worse.”
“Worse than Rhiannon Davies on a tear? I do not envy you.”
Jack leaned into Ianto, nudging his shoulder, and watched the Hub below. Gwen snatched something from Adam, laughing as he tried to take it back. She handed it off to Tosh to keep the game going. Adam scooped up a giggling Tosh and spun her around, claiming his prize. Owen emerged from his bay, looking awkward and clutching a file to his chest.
“Is he going to be okay?” Ianto asked softly.
Just then, Gwen launched herself at Owen. The doctor stumbled but caught her in his arms and joined in the game, laughing himself.
Jack smiled widely and slid an arm around Ianto’s waist. “Yeah. I think he’s going to be just fine.”
Author: blissfullyd
Word Count/Size of art: just shy of 7000
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, mentions of Tosh/Adam, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: pg-13
Summary: Who can you trust when you can’t trust your own mind?
Warnings: Minor character death
Setting/Time: Takes place after Meat, roughly when Adam would have occurred.
Beta: Great big thanks to lisa725 for stepping in and doing a super quick, super last minute beta. I kept messing with it, though. All remaining mistakes are mine.
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or any of the associated characters. No infringement is intended.
A/N: This was written for teachwriteslash as a part of torchwood_fest. She requested an AU where the world we saw in Adam was actually Torchwood, with Adam being a part of the team and a good guy. Title is from Frank Turner’s “I am disappeared.” Some of the text was taken directly from the episode Adam.
It was a rare morning off, and Ianto was spending it shopping with his sister, her two kids doing their best to ignore the fact that the adults existed. Ianto adjusted his sleeves again and tried to smile at the right times along with Rhiannon’s story about the most recent disastrous school play that he’d missed. He’d been trying to hide the rope burns around his wrists and the surrounding bruises and lacerations. They had started to heal, but they were still nasty looking. He hadn’t been able to do anything about the bruise that darkened his left eye. He’d been grateful that Rhiannon had let it slide so far, hadn’t mentioned anything or pushed, but she’d caught the motion and reached out to inspect.
She made an odd choked noise when she saw the marks and squeezed his arm, just holding on. “Jesus Ianto! What the hell happened to you?”
He tugged his arm away, covering the marks and avoiding her eyes. “It’s nothing, Rhi, really.” His mobile rang, and he ignored it. This was not the time.
Her eyes narrowed, somehow angry and pitying at the same time. “That is not ‘nothing’, Ianto Jones. Did he do that to you?” she snapped and then said softly, “Did Jack hurt you?”
“What? No. Jack would never. No. Why would you think? I was -sort of mugged?” It was surprisingly difficult to lie to his sister when she was looking at him like that.
“Sort of-” Her voice got high and fierce, but she took a step back and he could see her visibly gather herself. Rhiannon took a deep breath and then focused back on him. His mobile rang again, and again, he silenced it. “Ianto, I love you.” She obviously had more that she wanted to say, and he was deeply grateful to her that she held back.
“I know. I-“ His mobile trilled again, signaling an incoming text message, and then trilled three more times in rapid succession. “I’m sorry, Rhi, I have to-” He waggled his mobile, took a step away, looked at his messages, and cursed. They were from Jack. There had been a rift spike about three blocks away, and there were life signs. Adam was on his way, and Jack wanted him to wait for backup.
Ianto put his mobile back in his pocket and turned to his sister with his serious face firmly in place. “Rhi, I need you to take the kids and go home.” She looked like she was going to protest, but he shook his head. “Please, just trust me. Go home. I love you.”
She nodded and called for Mica and David. Then she turned and said fiercely, “Don’t think this is over, Ianto Jones.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Ianto watched her begin to leave, fit his com into his ear, and ran in the opposite direction.
Weaving through a crowd without drawing too much attention to yourself is a skill that Ianto Jones had mastered. Years of weevil hunts and artifact retrievals had made him quite adept at dodging the innocent while not causing fuss enough to be noticed. Still, he couldn’t move as quickly as he wanted to; the density of the crowd and his injuries slowed him slightly. Soon he made it to the intersection Jack had texted to him, tapped his com link open, and made sure that his stun gun was handy.
“Jack? ETA on Adam?”
Adam himself answered on the open com link, sounding a bit harassed and frazzled, “Give me two minutes.” Ianto head the distinct sound of horns blaring and Adam cursing softly. “Make that three.”
“Ianto wait for backup,” Jack demanded. “The signal is coming from the alley to your left. Just wait there.”
Ianto shook his head. He was right there, whatever the rift had pulled through was right there, and the ones bent on world domination or who wanted to eat people rarely just hung around and waited for team Torchwood to show up. He had to act now. He had to at least see what they were dealing with. If it was too dangerous for him to approach on his own, he could retreat. But, surely, knowing what they were up against was better than going in blind. He was rationalizing, he knew, but he was nearly overwhelmed with curiosity. Ianto took a deep breath, pushed himself up against the wall, and carefully drew his stun gun, keeping it at his side but ready. One more moment to savor the anticipation and then he turned sharply into the alley, scanning for anything that looked out of place.
A woman was standing near the other end. It was her-it had to be. Her clothing wasn’t nearly enough for the chill Welsh air, and it wasn’t made from any textile Ianto could identify. The draped dress shimmered in blues and greens as she moved. Her hair was a shade of red that didn’t seem quite natural, and fell in loose spirals down her back. Her skin was so pale it was nearly translucent. As he neared, he could see she was shaking. Whether it was from shock, fear, or cold was anyone’s guess. She looked very much like a human from what he had been able to see with her back mostly to him. He inched closer, ignoring Jack yelling in his ear to wait for Adam; that Adam was nearly there. He reached for his com to silence it, and froze as she turned abruptly, startlingly silver eyes pinning him in place. Definitely not human then. She was breathing heavily, clearly frightened, and Ianto was struck with a feeling of unease. Slowly, he raised one hand in a gesture that was meant to be placating.
He took another step forward and gasped, knees buckling and eyes going wide. Ianto stared up at the woman who looked as terrified as he suddenly felt. Oh. Footsteps clattered at the end of the alley. Reinforcements had arrived. The woman looked from Ianto to Adam and back again before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.
Adam moved into Ianto’s line of site. He had his weapon drawn and trained on the woman. “Ianto? You alright?”
Slowly, Ianto climbed to his feet, limbs still shaking from the rush of adrenaline, but the fear had faded. He swallowed hard but nodded. “I’m fine. It was just strange. I think she fainted. Let’s get her back to the Hub before she wakes up.”
He went to lift the woman, but Adam stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Let me. You look like you can barely get yourself to the SUV. And turn your com back on so Jack will stop yelling in my ear.” Ianto cringed as he tapped his com on and began trying to placate one rather upset Jack Harkness.
***
Owen adjusted his glasses before reaching for the scanner. Other than his coworkers, he didn’t often get live subjects these days, and he was really looking forward to having a patient walk away from his exam table. He was a bit concerned. Her heart rate was rapid enough and her temperature high enough that were she human he would be concerned. He just hoped that this was normal for whatever species she was. At this point, all he could do was work off of an educated guess. She didn’t seem to be in any physical distress, so he decided it would be best not to give her anything for now. Owen just needed her to wake up.
“Come on now, lovely,” he spoke softly as he drew a blood sample to test. “We just want to help you.” Owen murmured quietly as he worked, explaining what he was doing and how he hoped it would help her, telling her that she was safe and that they all wanted to help her. He started when someone cleared their throat loudly directly behind him.
Turning, he found Ianto standing there looking apologetic and just a bit smug. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. I have some files. I was hoping you could narrow down where our guest came from. Anything notable so far?”
Jack joined them near the railing above and Owen let out a little cough, always uncomfortable being the center of anyone’s attention. “Well, she’s anatomically similar to a human - organs are in the proper places, nothing missing or extra. All vitals are slightly elevated than normal for a human. She is currently emitting a weak magnetic field. I’d like to see if the strength increases when she’s conscious.“ The computer beeped, cutting off the doctor’s excitement. He examined the results for a moment. “And there’s an interesting mixture of metals present in her blood. Iron, nickel and arsenic are all at levels that would be toxic to humans.”
“Add that to the silver eyes and what happened in the field,” Jack trailed off, looking unhappy.
“And I think she’s Thelluvian,” Ianto finished. “That means-“
“She’s empathic,” Jack cut in this time.
Owen cocked his head to the side and wondered when those two had started finishing each other’s sentences.
Jack clapped his hands together and turned to address the Hub as a whole. “Team meeting time!”
“Gwen’s not here yet!” Adam called back.
Jack growled and snapped back, “Meeting time. You can catch her up when she gets here. Thank you for volunteering, Adam.”
***
Minutes later, team Torchwood minus Gwen was gathered around the conference table as Ianto handed out fresh coffee. Adam let out an obscene moan has he sipped his. “Oh, Ianto, run away with me?” he asked pathetically. Tosh giggled into her coffee. Owen blushed and refused to meet anyone’s gaze.
“What’s in it for me, Smith?”
Adam’s face was pure mischief when Jack interrupted. “So, we’ve got a new Thelluvian friend.”
“Who could wake up at any moment,” Owen helpfully reminded.
“Right,” Ianto broke in and shuffled through his notes. “Thelluvians are empathic, but she doesn’t just feel it; she can project feelings. That’s what happened to me in the alley. I felt her fear.”
“They’re peaceful, can’t go to war because they all feel everything. They’re the best therapists in seven galaxies. They cut through the words and lies and just feel.” Jack paused for a moment, remembering. “But, they’re also symbiotic. Once they mate, they are dependent on that mate, literally. She cannot survive without her mate, and her mate cannot survive without her.”
“How long can she survive for?” Owen asked softly.
Jack shrugged. “You tell me, doc.”
Owen stood and began pacing in tight circles, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “I don’t know. She hasn’t woken up yet. That is not a good sign. Is there-We have to help her. What do we do?”
“I can run the prediction program and see if any rift activity matching the rift profile that dropped her here is going to open soon so we could send her back.”
Jack nodded. “Do it. Owen, do your best to keep her comfortable. Ianto, search the archives for mentions of symbiotic relationships, anything that might help. Adam, search the database and fill Gwen in when she gets here. The three of us will handle any minor incursions until we can send our guest home.”
The meeting broke up, but Owen just stood there for a moment, looking lost. Adam placed a hand on his shoulder, and Owen managed a weak smile for him at the gesture. Owen accepted the comfort for a moment and then cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped away. “Right. Best get to work then.”
***
Adam followed Owen down toward the medical bay and watched for a moment as the other man set to work checking on his patient again. He really hoped that the doctor wasn’t setting himself up to get hurt again. Poor Owen felt everything. Every wound, every loss. Adam wondered how he had survived working in hospitals. Owen glanced up and caught Adam’s eye. Adam nodded and moved away.
Toshiko was already working on the program, fingers moving furiously over her keyboard. He watched her for a moment too, and felt the familiar rush of pride because she was beautiful and brilliant and with him.
“Staring is not an attractive habit,” she said with a slight smirk, not looking away from her work.
He stepped closer and placed a kiss on her temple. “Just admiring the view, love. How’s the program coming?”
“I’ve got to isolate the signature of the spike that brought her through first. There were some smaller spikes in the same location around the same time, so I have to sift through them to see if I can isolate hers and, hopefully, find one that matches.”
“I know how much you love a challenge. Need anything?”
She shook her head and looked up at Adam for just a moment. “No. Thanks.”
***
Owen felt a flutter of nervous excitement tinged heavily with relief as his patient started to stir. Waking up was good. Good, good sign. He scrambled off of the chair he’d been sitting on and stepped closer to where she was resting. He took a deep breath and tried to focus on projecting calm and a desire to help, hoping that even if she didn’t understand his words, she would understand that. Slowly, her eyes opened, and Owen forced what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“Hello there, lovely. I’m Doctor Owen Harper. I’m here to help you. We’re going to send you home, okay? There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Just then the cog wheel door rolled back and with the blare of the alarm and flash of lights as Gwen entered, calling out an apology and an excuse for being late. It was followed swiftly by the sounds of Adam hushing her. Owen felt a stab of fear and his heart began to race. He acted instinctually, reaching for the alien woman’s hand, and resumed speaking to her, reassuring her that none of them were there to hurt her. Slowly, he began to relax.
His smile was less forced this time. “That’s right, lovely. We’re not going to harm you. I don’t know if you can understand me, but I’m here to help.” She studied him for a moment, her expression moving from confusion to compassion. When the emotion hit him it was like a physical blow. The sadness, the loneliness, and the grief of losing a partner that you love. Katie. His knees felt weak, and he sat abruptly as they gave out. He was lucky to end up in his chair and not on the floor. Owen’s vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears. It felt just as it had when he had first lost his Katie. The grief was overwhelming for a moment. Then, as the wave of sadness began to recede, he realized that it wasn’t all from himself. Was this what the Thelluvian woman was feeling being separated from her partner?
He shuffled closer to the woman, and she raised a hand, fingers trailing lightly down the side of his face. Then the emotion shifted. It wasn’t just the overwhelming grief consuming him anymore. The joy of being with Katie, of knowing that amazing woman, being with her, being loved by her, slowly seeped in through the pain, and suddenly things were okay again. It had been a long time since he’d been able to think about her and feel true happiness. Even if it was tinged with sadness, the happiness was genuine, and it was worth it. Katie deserved to be remembered.
Owen’s cheeks were wet, eyes still streaming, but it didn’t matter. He felt accepted and loved and balanced in a way that he hadn’t for years. “Thank you,” he breathed.
“Owen?” Jack was standing a few feet away from the doctor and sounded concerned. Gwen was a little behind Jack, weapon drawn but trained on the floor. Her eyes were wet.
“Everything alright?” she asked, voice high. She looked a bit shaken.
“Yeah.” Owen’s own voice was tight, so he cleared his throat and tried again. “Yeah. Everything’s just fine.” Honestly, he felt better than he had in a very long time.
***
Adam was sitting on the couch, working on the latest edition of The Archivist. He’d already gone through the database, helped capture a weevil, and done some of the paperwork that was obscuring most of his desk; he figured he deserved a break.
“Working on one of the comics?” Gwen asked, plopping down beside him on the couch and depositing a fresh coffee on the table for Adam, cradling hers possessively. “Ianto’s?”
Adam smiled. “Yup. The Archivist verses the Silver Siren with a special appearance by Doctor Dazzle.” He handed it to Gwen and she flipped through with a faint smile on her face. “What did Andy want?”
Gwen rolled her eyes fondly. Her former partner was becoming quite persistent when he saw something that he didn’t think quite added up. “He got one right this time. Sort of, anyway. You remember Ceri Roberts?” Adam nodded. That little girl had been adopted earlier in the year by a friendly humanoid couple that had crash landed in Snowdonia about a decade previously. Tosh had helped them get their paperwork in order, and Ianto had forged the proper documents. The small family checked in regularly with Adam and seemed to be adjusting well.
Gwen sighed loudly, “Well, there was a misunderstanding. Ceri has been getting into playground fights, and it has been bad enough that an investigation into her welfare has been launched. There were some missing records and paired with the strange stories little Ceri has been writing for her classes, Andy thought he’d check to see if this was one of ours.”
Adam sighed. “I’ll go visit them tomorrow, see what’s actually going on, and talk to Ceri about telling tales. Tosh will be able to clear up the records misunderstanding. Thanks Gwen.”
***
Tosh had cleaned up the rift signature from when the Thelluvian had been dropped through the rift, and was running a comparison on the prediction program, hoping for a hit. Everything was running smoothly, much more smoothly than normally, actually. She was working on the translation program, tweaking the embedded grammar structure, when a new idea hit her. Maybe she could create a temporal lock like the one that had been on the message about Tommy Brockless. If she could figure out a program that would create a temporal lock large enough to encompass the entire Hub in the event of an incursion. It would be the ultimate defense. It would keep the Hub and her family safe. She smiled. This would be a challenge, and the payoff would be amazing.
***
“No. No,” Jack repeated. He rubbed at the back of his neck, hoping to stave off the headache that was brewing. “No. I’m sorry, but you do not have jurisdiction over Torchwood.” He heard a small noise from the door and beckoned Ianto into his office, gesturing for the younger man to have a seat.
“Now we both know that’s an idle threat, and I do not take kindly to being threatened. I understand your interest, but your request has been denied. It is not going to happen today, next week, or any time in the foreseeable future. “ Jack pulled the phone away from his ear, wincing at the yelling on the other end. He smiled up at Ianto as he sat in his customary spot on Jack’s desk.
Something in the yelling brought his attention back to the matter at hand. “Yeah? I’d like to see you try.“ With that, he hung up the phone with rather more force than was necessary and leaned into Ianto. He smiled when Ianto automatically lifted a hand and carded it through his hair.
“The PM’s office still trying to come in and ‘inspect’?” Ianto asked.
Jack nodded and then looked up at Ianto, wearing his very best kicked puppy face. “Make them go away?” he asked pathetically,
Ianto chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
They stayed like that for a long moment, with Jack cuddled into Ianto, seeking the comfort the other man provided. “What time is it?” Jack asked eventually, voice muffled by Ianto’s thigh.
“Just after six.”
Jack nuzzled into Ianto for another moment before pulling himself upright with an exaggerated sigh. He gave Ianto’s knee a squeeze and left the office, yelling out into the atrium of the Hub, “Alright kids, let’s call it a day.”
Gwen didn’t protest, simply started gathering her things. Adam glanced up guiltily from where he was working on what looked like another one of his comics. Tosh started, looking like she had no idea what had been happening around her, too engrossed in her work.
“I’ll just set the alarm to tell you when the program finds a matching signature,” she called. Adam bagged up her laptop, grabbed her purse and held out her coat for her to slip into. She smiled at him before going serious again and approaching Jack. “There haven’t been any matches yet. And -um- I think Owen’s gotten attached,” she warned softly.
Jack nodded and looked up, catching sight of the man in question standing awkwardly near his med bay. “Thanks, Tosh. Go ahead and head out now. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Jack watched as three of the members of his team left, with jokes and good will. It gave him a proud glow, this family that he’d made for himself. “Owen,” he said as he approached the doctor, “how is she?”
Owen fixed his glasses and straightened his sweater, fidgeting a bit. “She’s resting now, but her temperature is slowly but steadily rising. Her other vitals are stable, but I’m not sure if they’re normal. I don’t have enough information. She’s -she just wants to go home Jack.”
Jack laid a hand on Owen’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “How are you?”
He was pleased to see Owen pause to think about it. “I’m -I’m okay. More than okay really. I’m good. I just -I want to help her, Jack. Let me help her.”
“You already have.” That earned him one of those rare smiles. “Now, tell me honestly Owen, is there anything else you can do for her right now?”
“No.”
“Then go home, get some rest, and be ready to help her and anyone else that might need you tomorrow, okay?”
Owen took a deep breath, looking like he might argue for a moment before deflating. “Alright. I’ll go. But Jack-“
“I’ll call you immediately if anything changes,” Jack promised.
The doctor nodded. “Have a good night Jack, Ianto.”
***
Owen was reluctant to leave, but Jack was insistent. He went home and began to tidy. There was something soothing when everything was in its proper place. He tried to focus on anything but work, but he could really go for a win right then. He hadn’t had one in a while. Owen hadn’t been able to save Beth or Tommy or that poor creature he’d had to euthanize. He just wanted one. He needed to save one. Otherwise what was the point of him? What was he doing? He was supposed to be good at this. Being a good doctor was really all that he had. No wife, no girlfriend, few friends, a job that ate up most of his time. It was all just too much. He felt trapped. He needed to do something, anything. Rummaging through his closet for a few moments, Owen changed his clothing and left the empty, mocking walls of his apartment.
***
Ianto smiled as he felt familiar warm arms wrap around his waist as he was shutting down the Hub for the night.
“How’s our guest?” Jack asked, breath warm and moist against Ianto’s ear. Jack kissed the younger man’s ear and then down his neck before latching on his pulse point.
“Sleeping soundly for the moment.” Ianto leaned back into Jack, pulled his arms tighter around himself. “Do you think we’ll be able to send her home?”
Jack shrugged, stepping back. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
Ianto turned and Jack stepped into him, both seeking comfort. Jack nuzzled into his neck and then chuckled and bit at his shoulder.
“Hey,” Ianto protested with a laugh. “Careful there. No more marks. My sister has already jumped to unfortunate conclusions. And you really do not want to have that uncomfortable conversation with her.”
Jack pulled back far enough to quirk an eyebrow at Ianto. “What does that mean?”
Ianto made an apologetic face. “She saw the bruises from the warehouse and thought that maybe you hit me.”
“But I didn’t - I would never-“
“Shh. I know that. I told her that too. But odds are good Rhi will watch us very closely for a while. We ought to actually make it to one of the Thursday night dinners she keeps inviting us to and we keep blowing off.”
Jack groaned dramatically and mock glared. “You’re lucky I love you, Jones.”
It got very quiet for a moment after that. The air felt thick. Jack had never said quite those words in quite that order before. Jack’s eyes went wide and vulnerable with just a hint of defiance, so much like when he had asked Ianto out on that first date all those weeks ago. Ianto just smiled. “Yes, I am.”
***
Owen woke slowly, fighting it. His mouth was too dry, tongue thick and stuck to the roof of his mouth. He smelled of whisky, smoke, and cheap perfume. What the hell had he done last night? Slowly he opened his eyes and quickly cringed. Everything was too bright. He groped for his glasses, adjusting them on his face, and somehow everything was so much worse when he could actually see it. He was in a room he didn’t recognize, with a woman he barely remembered, and his pants were just so far away.
Something was very, very wrong here. The pounding in his head told him that he had gotten fantastically drunk the previous night. He’d gone on the pull, and his mouth tasted like he’d licked the barroom floor. This was so out of character for him that he was more than a little nervous. Slowly, so very slowly, he crawled out of the bed, gathered his clothes, and snuck out of the bedroom, leaving the curvy brunette asleep in the bed. Good god, how he hoped she stayed that way until he could get dressed and get the hell out of there.
Owen had to focus on what he was doing. Dressing was difficult, the liquor making his limbs heavy and uncooperative, adrenaline making him clumsy. While pulling on his shoes, he tripped and knocked into an end table, sending a heavy book crashing to the floor. He heard a noise from the bedroom and rushed out the door, pulling his shirt on in the corridor. This was all wrong. He had to get to the Hub. Now.
***
A knock on the car window startled Gwen awake. She jumped, her neck cracking painfully, and spilled cold coffee on her jeans. She cursed, and grabbed for a wad of slightly greasy napkins from the cup holder and dabbed at her damp leg before turning to the window. Andy was standing there looking both sheepish and amused. Wait a second. She’d fallen asleep in her car? It came back to her slowly.
She’d been in the shop, picking up the garlic Rhys had requested when she saw Ceri Roberts and her adoptive parents. She just had to be sure that the little girl was safe. Gwen’s brow furrowed. It seemed so silly now. Why had she been so certain that Ceri was in trouble? She’d seen the happy family interact. She hadn’t seen any indication that Ceri was anything but a happy, well-adjusted little girl with doting, not-quite-human parents. Gwen knew that she was impulsive, reckless sometimes, and stubborn, but this -this seemed like too much. Andy rapped on the window again, and Gwen gasped, startled. She had forgotten that he was there. She gave him a smile that was more teeth than cheer and opened the door enough to talk to him.
He laughed, even as she glowered and cheerfully stated, “Got a call this morning that a strange woman was sleeping in car in front of the houses. You’re scaring the locals.” It was good-natured teasing, Gwen knew, but it still chafed. “Spookie-dos in the family neighborhoods? I may never sleep again.”
“No, no. Nothing like that, Andy. Just a bit of a misunderstanding. Everything’s fine now.” Gwen felt a brief pang of regret that lying had become so easy for her. “Thanks for checking things out, Andy.” She flashed him another smile, one that clearly said that the conversation was over, shut the door forcefully and set off for the Hub. Her mobile chimed with a text message, and only then did she realize that Rhys would be worried. Well, she’d just have to call him later. Right then, she had to get to the Hub because something was wrong.
***
Toshiko woke alone for the first time in a long time. It felt strange not to have Adam warm and breathing next to her. But they had fought, and she had felt so timid and insecure in a way that she hadn’t in years. He had been loud and pushy. They had both said horrible things. He’d called her cold, harsh, and said that she hid behind her calculations and programs. She’d called him manipulative, juvenile and said that he spent so much time trying to be the person that everyone else wanted him to be that she wasn’t sure which was his real face. They had both been cruel and hurtful, and their words had held just enough truth to cut deeply.
He had left before anything had been settled between them. She wasn’t sure where he had gone, but she’d heard him come in sometime in the wee hours of the morning. He’d slept on the couch.
Tosh felt wrung out and tired. She wasn’t ready to face the day. She got up anyway, made coffee, and got ready for work.
***
Ianto was standing behind the desk in the tourist information center, smiling softly to himself and generally looking like he loved all the world, when Owen, still feeling a bit panicked, burst through the door. “Leather jacket, Owen? It’s a good look on you.” The smile faded when he saw that Owen was genuinely upset about something. “What’s wrong?”
Owen considered telling him for the briefest moment before forcing a tight smile. “It’s been a weird morning.”
Ianto looked like he might push it; but in the end, he simply nodded and pressed the button to let Owen into the Hub. “Coffee is still fresh.”
“Thanks.” Owen smiled and made for the door. He paused and visibly reconsidered. “Say, Ianto, did anything strange happen last night?” Owen looked very uncomfortable.
“No. No alarms. Her temperature is up a bit. Nothing strange, though. Last night was good.” Ianto could feel the stupid grin spreading across his face.
Owen shuffled uncomfortably. “You stayed here then?”
Ianto’s brow furrowed. That was odd. It wasn’t like Owen at all to ask a personal question. “Yes, I did. Are you sure you’re alright? What happened to you?”
“I’m not sure.” Owen shrugged and finally made his way into the Hub. He ducked back before the door closed. “And Ianto? Thanks.”
***
The mood in the Hub was odd. Gwen had buried herself in her work, politely ignoring her coworkers. Tosh and Adam seemed wary of each other to the point that Adam had taken over for Ianto covering the Tourist Information Center for the morning. Ianto and Jack seemed so much more aware of each other.
Owen was worried. The Thelluvian woman’s temperature kept climbing. He couldn’t seem to find anything to help get it under control. Tosh’s program still hadn’t gotten any hits. On top of all that, everyone was acting so strangely.
By lunchtime everything had shifted again. Gwen seemed to have the same concentration but without the off putting air she’d had earlier in the day. She was just productive. Tosh was buried in her programs. Owen wasn’t sure what had her attention at the moment, but she wasn’t ignoring Adam any longer. Adam was alternately drawing his comic books and making impressive strides on the paperwork obscuring his desk. Owen himself was even making progress on his weevil behavioral study in between caring for his current live patient. He thought that Jack had even made nice with UNIT that morning.
Something was happening. Owen began watching the team interactions instead of the weevils.
***
It was late afternoon when he heard the cry. “Jack!” Gwen yelled.
He burst out of his office and down the stairs, demanding, “What’s wrong?”
Gwen gestured to the medical bay, and Owen responded with a pained, “She’s crashing!”
Jack ran to the bay, but he could only watch as Owen tried to save the woman’s life. Owen never stopped talking to her as he tried to resuscitate her, telling her that she just had to hold on for a little while longer, and they would get her home to her mate. He kept working long after she was gone, pleading with her to stay with him. It broke Jack’s heart.
Jack went down into the bay and gently pulled Owen away. “She’s gone. You’ve done all you could.” Owen fought with him for a moment before going boneless against him. Jack held him for several minutes, until the doctor pulled away. Owen didn’t say anything to his teammates; he just walked toward the bathroom to clean up.
Adam looked like he wanted to follow the doctor, but a rift alarm interrupted.
“We’ve got a pack of weevils at the park. At least four have been sighted,” Tosh said, her voice tight.
It was time for him to be Captain again. Jack took a deep breath. “Right. Tosh, Gwen, Adam with me. Ianto, will you-“
“I’ll take care of the body, Sir,” Ianto confirmed. And Owen, went unsaid.
“Thanks.”
***
Hours later, Owen was sitting morosely in his medical bay, staring at a crack in the wall that hadn’t been patched yet. He was feeling useless and snappish and defeated. Ianto had given up on him long ago and retreated to the safety of the archives. Come to think of it, Ianto hadn’t looked terribly happy at the time either, which was a big change from earlier in the day. Owen shrugged. He supposed a death would do that. He longed for a drink, briefly considering snagging the scotch from Jack’s office before giving up on the idea because it was just too far away. What was the point anyway?
The alarm blared, the door rolled back, and the team entered, dragging corpses of the weevils and arguing amongst themselves. It seemed to be particularly vicious between Adam and Tosh and Gwen and Jack. Four dead weevils? None of this was normal.
“Ianto!” Jack bellowed. “Get up here!”
Ianto appeared a few moments later, face a blank mask, suit still looking perfect, all buttoned up and tie straight. Ianto was hiding again. Jack was snapping at everyone and pulling away. Gwen was pushing further than she would normally, and Owen suddenly remembered something in the archive report on the Thelluvians. He pulled it out and flipped through, quickly finding the brief mention. Oh.
“Everybody stop!” Owen yelled, running up the stairs and into the main Hub. They all turned to him, stunned into silence at his uncharacteristic display. “Conference room. Now.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sure whatever it is can wait, Owen.”
“No, it can’t. I’m pulling rank. As the chief medical officer for Torchwood 3, I am calling a meeting in the conference room. Now.”
***
Even with Owen’s rarely used stern voice and pulling rank, it was several minutes before the team was gathered in the conference room. Tosh had made a quick review of the prediction program while Ianto, Jack, Adam, and Gwen deposited the weevils in the med bay for Owen to autopsy later.
By the time they finally gathered, the mood had deteriorated further. Toshiko looked sullen and withdrawn, Adam like he meant to harm them all, Ianto aloof, Gwen indignant, and Jack completely dismissive and rather annoyed.
“Care to explain why you ordered us all here, Owen?” Jack asked testily.
Owen narrowed his eyes but tapped on the keys of the laptop, bringing up an image of the archive report. A single sentence was highlighted. “That is why, Captain.”
“’Agents Allen and Howe experienced some emotional distress upon the death of the subject,’” Gwen read derisively. “Death tends to do that, Owen.”
“Will everyone just shut up for a minute and listen to me?” He knew he was being unreasonable and oversensitive, but such was the nature of the beast. “Think about it. Things have been different the past two days. We’ve all been working better, both together and alone. We’ve all gotten along, been creative, made breakthroughs - while we were under the influence of the Thelluvian. But now, now we’re suspicious, mean, depressed, snappish, withdrawn, angry.”
He gave them a moment, hoping that they were willing to listen. “We’re going through withdrawal. She affected us, and without whatever it was, we’re crashing. We’re hurting each other, and we need to stop before we do permanent damage.” He’d seen cruel words and stony silences ruin families before -it had happened to him- and he wasn’t going to allow it to happen to the one he’d chosen for himself.
They were all silent for a long moment, awkwardly avoiding each other’s gazes.
“Is that what happened last night?” Tosh finally asked timidly.
Adam looked alarmed. Owen gave them a wry smile. “You too, eh?”
“We-“ Adam trailed off, looking guilty. “We fought.”
Owen tried not to feel a happy thrill at that and failed. He was not proud of himself in that moment.
Gwen turned toward Jack and Ianto and asked bluntly, “Did the two of you fight, too?”
“No,” Ianto said sharply. “But that’s irrelevant. What are we supposed to do?”
Owen sank down into his customary seat and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. “Well, you said she was a therapist, right?” Jack nodded. “Then, we either work through our issues together, or we all go to our separate corners and hope for the best.”
Again, there was an uncomfortable silence. Owen buried his face in his hands and reluctantly admitted, “I really don’t want to be alone, though. God, I need a drink.”
Gwen gave him a sympathetic face and leaned close to wrap an arm around his shoulders. He had to fight not to shrug it off.
“Right,” Jack said a little shakily. “We’ve been all over the map these past few days. We need to get back to who we are, what defines us. We need to go back to what we have forgotten.”
Owen started, voice shaking, “You save one life, a hundred lives, but it’s never enough. Who will save me?” It opened the floodgates.
“I spent so long knowing I was special, waiting for someone else to see it.”
“Losing Lisa. It felt like the world had ended.”
“The fire at the gallery. It was the closest to hell I could imagine.”
“Being lost for so many years, hoping that if I was just good enough, he’d come back for me.”
“The way Rhys looks at me, like he’s scared of what he feels for me. I love him so much it hurts. Knowing what I know, how do I keep him safe?”
“You saved us all, Owen. We’ll save you right back.”
“I see it. I see it every day. You are amazing, and I am lucky to know you.”
“We both found a new purpose, new meaning.”
“I found you.”
“And you create things of such beauty.”
“You’re Earth’s defender. He’s not the kind to stay. That’s not your fault.”
“You fight for him.”
Nothing was resolved, but they all knew they had the support of their teammates. It was enough.
***
Jack leaned against the railing, surveying his kingdom. Ianto sidled in next to him, fingers brushing his on the railing.
“Dinner’s at 6. Are you sure you’re up for this?”
Jack smiled. “I’ve been through worse.”
“Worse than Rhiannon Davies on a tear? I do not envy you.”
Jack leaned into Ianto, nudging his shoulder, and watched the Hub below. Gwen snatched something from Adam, laughing as he tried to take it back. She handed it off to Tosh to keep the game going. Adam scooped up a giggling Tosh and spun her around, claiming his prize. Owen emerged from his bay, looking awkward and clutching a file to his chest.
“Is he going to be okay?” Ianto asked softly.
Just then, Gwen launched herself at Owen. The doctor stumbled but caught her in his arms and joined in the game, laughing himself.
Jack smiled widely and slid an arm around Ianto’s waist. “Yeah. I think he’s going to be just fine.”