Fic: The Sea After a Storm (49/?)
Title: The Sea After a Storm, Chapter 49
Rating: R
Warnings: Some mild references to adult situations (nothing really, just didn't feel like changing the rating)
Spoilers: Season Two thru Meat (2x04)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©'s to Catherine Tregenna for situations and dialogue borrowed from Meat. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: The team prepares for their assault on the slaughterhouse...
Notes: This was rewritten a bit for
bookwrm89, bettathnbarbie, twistoftate,
spud1963, and all my loyal readers who wanted to see Gwen catch Jack and Ianto kissing. :) You can find all the previous chapters to The Sea After a Storm here. This is a sequel to Vizzini’s Rule and To The Pain. Thanks again and forever to my amazing beta, wonderful friend
thraceadams. for all the help and support; any mistakes are mine!
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Forty-Nine
Previously on The Sea After a Storm, Rhys temporarily joined the team (over Gwen's objections), Owen ignored Tosh's flirting (over Tosh's objections), and Jack swore to save the space-whale (over everyone's objections)... Oh, and Ianto got caught playing Dirty Harry. :)
"Jack. Jack. Jack!"
Gwen's voice finally intruded on the kiss Jack and Ianto were sharing and they broke apart reluctantly. Jack held onto Ianto when he tried to move away, addressing Gwen over his shoulder.
"Yes?" Jack asked politely.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm going to take Rhys home now," Gwen said, sounding petulant to Ianto's ears.
He turned in Jack's arms, resting his back against Jack's chest so he could look at Gwen. Two spots of colour were burning in her cheeks and she looked peeved.
"Okay," Jack said in that same deadly polite voice.
Ianto hid a smile, knowing that tone meant Jack was irritated and trying to not show it.
Gwen tossed her hair. "Well, I just wanted you to know in case you need me… for anything."
"I think we're good," Jack said with a little extra emphasis on the 'we' that Ianto appreciated. "Get some rest and we'll see you both in the morning."
With another frown, Gwen gave Jack a tight nod and went out to the Hub to collect her fiancé. She turned to look at them once more as the cog door rolled back and Ianto felt a frisson of wholly uncharitable satisfaction run up his spine at the frustrated frown on her face. He chuckled and leant his head back on Jack’s shoulder.
"What's so funny?" Jack asked nuzzled Ianto's ear.
Ianto shook his head and swayed a bit in his lover's arms, almost giddy with the knowledge that Jack had chosen him. "Nothing," he murmured. "Dance with me?"
That made Jack chuckle. "Dance? There's no music."
Ianto kissed Jack's neck and stepped over to the little CD player Jack kept in his office. He hit play, knowing Jack well enough to know that there would be something danceable cued up. Sure enough, there was a little pause while the CD started spinning and then Nat King Cole's voice filled the office. Ianto turned back to Jack and held his arms out.
Jack gave him an 'I'm only humouring you' smile but he crossed over to Ianto and swept him up into a simple box step without comment. It took a few bars of the song, but soon Jack was relaxed against Ianto, moving him in slow circles as they both let the day slide away. A movement out in the Hub caught Ianto's eye on one turn and he glanced up to see Tosh watching them with a melancholy expression. He raised his head from Jack's shoulder and gave her a questioning look, but she shook her head and waved at him, heading for the cog door after giving him a smile.
Ianto let his head fall back on to Jack's shoulder and made a mental note to have lunch with Tosh again soon. He sighed at Owen's blindness, tightening his arms around Jack as he thanked the powers that be that Jack had seen him. He swore again that he'd fight through hell to keep his lover for as long as he could.
"You know…" Jack said quietly after a few more songs had played.
Ianto blew out a soft laugh against Jack's neck when Jack didn't say anything more. "Gonna need a little more than that, Captain."
Jack slid his hand down Ianto's back and then gave him a sharp smack on the arse, making Ianto jump.
"You know, if you're gonna get cheeky, I'm gonna hold you to that measuring tape idea."
Ianto pulled back and stroked Jack's jaw with one long finger. "That's not what you're were going to say originally," he said softly.
"Nope." Jack smiled at Ianto.
"What -"
Jack shook his head, interrupting Ianto. "It'll keep," he whispered. He captured Ianto's fingers with his mouth, giving them a little suck. "Measuring tape, Mr. Jones. We'll do you first," he added in a dark voice.
Ianto was confused. "Do me first? Wha-ahhhhh-ohhhhh… I - I see."
Jack had slid to his knees and had his mouth around Ianto's cock in short order. He gave Ianto a wink and set about his task with his trademark single-mindedness that Ianto always admired. Ianto buried his hands in Jack's hair and tried desperately to remember where he'd left the measuring tape before Jack's tongue left him unable to think at all.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Ianto awoke the next morning alone in Jack's bed. He sighed and pulled Jack's pillow into his arms and curled around it as he dozed for a few more minutes. They'd actually managed a good night's sleep, something Ianto hadn't expected. They'd worn each other out with the silliness involving the measuring tape which deteriorated into a game of naked hide and seek. Then they'd tumbled into bed together and fallen asleep immediately, not waking until morning. Ianto's brow wrinkled in concentration, replaying the night in his mind. No, no, that's not right. It wasn't a dream, he told himself. He'd awoken once to find Jack missing from the bed…
* * *
Jack was standing at the base of the ladder to his office, his head hanging dejectedly, one arm outstretched with his hand resting on a rung, as if he'd been interrupted in his climb. Ianto took a few seconds to admire his lover - the breadth of his shoulders, the muscles in his back and arms, the curve of his arse thrown into sharp relief by the faint light from above - before calling out softly.
"Jack?"
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Jack asked, turning immediately to face the bed.
"No. Is everything okay?"
Jack sighed and rubbed his hands over his face as he made his way back to Ianto. "I don't know," he said softly, the whisper not quite masking the frustration in his voice.
Ianto pulled Jack into his arms, wrapping the covers around them both. "Can I help?" he asked softly as Jack curled around him like a big cat.
When Jack was finally comfortable, he stopped moving and just held Ianto for a long moment. "You help just by being you," he said. "But unless you can find a way to turn back the clock so Rhys doesn't find out about Torchwood… no, I don't think anyone can help."
Ianto sighed. "I wish I could. But he'll be Retconned again by this time tomorrow so it amounts to the same thing… almost."
"Poor bastard, that'll be the second time," Jack observed.
Ianto tilted his head so he could see Jack's face. "How did you find out about the first time?" he asked.
"Find out?" Jack asked, sounding confused. "I'm the one who logged the missing pills."
"Missing pills? What? When was this?"
"Oh… um… just after the first of the year. Right about the time we shut down that damn weevil fight club nonsense. Gwen was the only one in the Hub when the pills went missing so I figured she must have taken them to use on Rhys for something she'd let slip. Anyone else would've just logged 'em out or asked for them."
"Huh," Ianto said, calculating. "I wonder why she didn't just nick them the next time, too."
"What next time?" Jack asked.
Ianto shifted, resting his cheek on the top of Jack's head again as he held him close. "Right after you left," he said softly. "After Abaddon… Gwen wouldn't leave your side after… after you died. She couldn't figure out how to explain being gone for four days so she asked me for the Retcon."
Jack was quiet for a moment. "Well, at least she knows how to administer it properly," he said in a low voice.
"True." There was a long pause and then Ianto kissed Jack's temple. "Do you think you can sleep some more?"
Jack nodded, pushing closer to Ianto again and letting out a deep sigh.
Ianto stroked Jack's back, humming one of the songs they'd danced to earlier as they both fell back asleep…
* * *
Ianto sighed and rolled onto his back. He hoped Jack was feeling better about everything this morning. Maybe he was right and they would be able to find a way to save the space-whale creature after all. Gwen would Retcon Rhys and everything would go back to the way it was. Ianto grimaced at his early morning optimism. Like anything ever goes smooth at Torchwood.
He tossed Jack's pillow aside and got out of bed. After he'd showered and gotten dressed, he climbed up the ladder to Jack's office. He didn't see Jack right away, so he set to work making the coffee. It was just starting to brew when Jack surprised Ianto, sneaking up behind him and grabbing him in a bear hug.
"Jack!"
"Mmmm… nectar of the gods," Jack murmured, burying his face in Ianto's neck. "The coffee smells good too," he added.
Ianto grinned and patted Jack's arm. He was about to make a witty rejoinder when the alarm for the door began to blare. He loosened Jack's hold on him and turned to give him a kiss before anyone came into the Hub.
"Good morning," he murmured against Jack's lips.
Jack kissed him back swiftly and then stepped back as Tosh and Owen walked in together. "Let's hope the rest of the day goes as well."
"All set?" Owen called brightly, his voice matching his lurid pink shirt.
"Not quite," Jack said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Just waiting on Gwen and Rhys."
"Uhh…" Owen looked around the Hub. "What for, exactly? We won't all fit in the SUV."
Jack shrugged. "They're meeting us here. Ianto will drive me, Rhys and Gwen to Harwoods. You two can meet us there. After we get the call, you'll follow us to a warehouse Rhys works with so we can load up in the back of the lorry without being seen - and so the SUV is fairly close in case of any problems. Then Rhys will drive us all in and we'll take down these bastards and figure out the best way to stabilise the creature and get it back here."
Owen just stared at Jack for a long moment. "Christ, that's convoluted. Gwen's plan?"
"It seemed best to just go along with her," Jack said dryly. "Have a cup of coffee. It's going to be a long day."
TBC in Chapter Fifty
.This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/99845.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Rating: R
Warnings: Some mild references to adult situations (nothing really, just didn't feel like changing the rating)
Spoilers: Season Two thru Meat (2x04)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©'s to Catherine Tregenna for situations and dialogue borrowed from Meat. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: The team prepares for their assault on the slaughterhouse...
Notes: This was rewritten a bit for
bookwrm89, bettathnbarbie, twistoftate,
spud1963, and all my loyal readers who wanted to see Gwen catch Jack and Ianto kissing. :) You can find all the previous chapters to The Sea After a Storm here. This is a sequel to Vizzini’s Rule and To The Pain. Thanks again and forever to my amazing beta, wonderful friend
thraceadams. for all the help and support; any mistakes are mine!
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Forty-Nine
Previously on The Sea After a Storm, Rhys temporarily joined the team (over Gwen's objections), Owen ignored Tosh's flirting (over Tosh's objections), and Jack swore to save the space-whale (over everyone's objections)... Oh, and Ianto got caught playing Dirty Harry. :)
"Jack. Jack. Jack!"
Gwen's voice finally intruded on the kiss Jack and Ianto were sharing and they broke apart reluctantly. Jack held onto Ianto when he tried to move away, addressing Gwen over his shoulder.
"Yes?" Jack asked politely.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm going to take Rhys home now," Gwen said, sounding petulant to Ianto's ears.
He turned in Jack's arms, resting his back against Jack's chest so he could look at Gwen. Two spots of colour were burning in her cheeks and she looked peeved.
"Okay," Jack said in that same deadly polite voice.
Ianto hid a smile, knowing that tone meant Jack was irritated and trying to not show it.
Gwen tossed her hair. "Well, I just wanted you to know in case you need me… for anything."
"I think we're good," Jack said with a little extra emphasis on the 'we' that Ianto appreciated. "Get some rest and we'll see you both in the morning."
With another frown, Gwen gave Jack a tight nod and went out to the Hub to collect her fiancé. She turned to look at them once more as the cog door rolled back and Ianto felt a frisson of wholly uncharitable satisfaction run up his spine at the frustrated frown on her face. He chuckled and leant his head back on Jack’s shoulder.
"What's so funny?" Jack asked nuzzled Ianto's ear.
Ianto shook his head and swayed a bit in his lover's arms, almost giddy with the knowledge that Jack had chosen him. "Nothing," he murmured. "Dance with me?"
That made Jack chuckle. "Dance? There's no music."
Ianto kissed Jack's neck and stepped over to the little CD player Jack kept in his office. He hit play, knowing Jack well enough to know that there would be something danceable cued up. Sure enough, there was a little pause while the CD started spinning and then Nat King Cole's voice filled the office. Ianto turned back to Jack and held his arms out.
Jack gave him an 'I'm only humouring you' smile but he crossed over to Ianto and swept him up into a simple box step without comment. It took a few bars of the song, but soon Jack was relaxed against Ianto, moving him in slow circles as they both let the day slide away. A movement out in the Hub caught Ianto's eye on one turn and he glanced up to see Tosh watching them with a melancholy expression. He raised his head from Jack's shoulder and gave her a questioning look, but she shook her head and waved at him, heading for the cog door after giving him a smile.
Ianto let his head fall back on to Jack's shoulder and made a mental note to have lunch with Tosh again soon. He sighed at Owen's blindness, tightening his arms around Jack as he thanked the powers that be that Jack had seen him. He swore again that he'd fight through hell to keep his lover for as long as he could.
"You know…" Jack said quietly after a few more songs had played.
Ianto blew out a soft laugh against Jack's neck when Jack didn't say anything more. "Gonna need a little more than that, Captain."
Jack slid his hand down Ianto's back and then gave him a sharp smack on the arse, making Ianto jump.
"You know, if you're gonna get cheeky, I'm gonna hold you to that measuring tape idea."
Ianto pulled back and stroked Jack's jaw with one long finger. "That's not what you're were going to say originally," he said softly.
"Nope." Jack smiled at Ianto.
"What -"
Jack shook his head, interrupting Ianto. "It'll keep," he whispered. He captured Ianto's fingers with his mouth, giving them a little suck. "Measuring tape, Mr. Jones. We'll do you first," he added in a dark voice.
Ianto was confused. "Do me first? Wha-ahhhhh-ohhhhh… I - I see."
Jack had slid to his knees and had his mouth around Ianto's cock in short order. He gave Ianto a wink and set about his task with his trademark single-mindedness that Ianto always admired. Ianto buried his hands in Jack's hair and tried desperately to remember where he'd left the measuring tape before Jack's tongue left him unable to think at all.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Ianto awoke the next morning alone in Jack's bed. He sighed and pulled Jack's pillow into his arms and curled around it as he dozed for a few more minutes. They'd actually managed a good night's sleep, something Ianto hadn't expected. They'd worn each other out with the silliness involving the measuring tape which deteriorated into a game of naked hide and seek. Then they'd tumbled into bed together and fallen asleep immediately, not waking until morning. Ianto's brow wrinkled in concentration, replaying the night in his mind. No, no, that's not right. It wasn't a dream, he told himself. He'd awoken once to find Jack missing from the bed…
* * *
Jack was standing at the base of the ladder to his office, his head hanging dejectedly, one arm outstretched with his hand resting on a rung, as if he'd been interrupted in his climb. Ianto took a few seconds to admire his lover - the breadth of his shoulders, the muscles in his back and arms, the curve of his arse thrown into sharp relief by the faint light from above - before calling out softly.
"Jack?"
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Jack asked, turning immediately to face the bed.
"No. Is everything okay?"
Jack sighed and rubbed his hands over his face as he made his way back to Ianto. "I don't know," he said softly, the whisper not quite masking the frustration in his voice.
Ianto pulled Jack into his arms, wrapping the covers around them both. "Can I help?" he asked softly as Jack curled around him like a big cat.
When Jack was finally comfortable, he stopped moving and just held Ianto for a long moment. "You help just by being you," he said. "But unless you can find a way to turn back the clock so Rhys doesn't find out about Torchwood… no, I don't think anyone can help."
Ianto sighed. "I wish I could. But he'll be Retconned again by this time tomorrow so it amounts to the same thing… almost."
"Poor bastard, that'll be the second time," Jack observed.
Ianto tilted his head so he could see Jack's face. "How did you find out about the first time?" he asked.
"Find out?" Jack asked, sounding confused. "I'm the one who logged the missing pills."
"Missing pills? What? When was this?"
"Oh… um… just after the first of the year. Right about the time we shut down that damn weevil fight club nonsense. Gwen was the only one in the Hub when the pills went missing so I figured she must have taken them to use on Rhys for something she'd let slip. Anyone else would've just logged 'em out or asked for them."
"Huh," Ianto said, calculating. "I wonder why she didn't just nick them the next time, too."
"What next time?" Jack asked.
Ianto shifted, resting his cheek on the top of Jack's head again as he held him close. "Right after you left," he said softly. "After Abaddon… Gwen wouldn't leave your side after… after you died. She couldn't figure out how to explain being gone for four days so she asked me for the Retcon."
Jack was quiet for a moment. "Well, at least she knows how to administer it properly," he said in a low voice.
"True." There was a long pause and then Ianto kissed Jack's temple. "Do you think you can sleep some more?"
Jack nodded, pushing closer to Ianto again and letting out a deep sigh.
Ianto stroked Jack's back, humming one of the songs they'd danced to earlier as they both fell back asleep…
* * *
Ianto sighed and rolled onto his back. He hoped Jack was feeling better about everything this morning. Maybe he was right and they would be able to find a way to save the space-whale creature after all. Gwen would Retcon Rhys and everything would go back to the way it was. Ianto grimaced at his early morning optimism. Like anything ever goes smooth at Torchwood.
He tossed Jack's pillow aside and got out of bed. After he'd showered and gotten dressed, he climbed up the ladder to Jack's office. He didn't see Jack right away, so he set to work making the coffee. It was just starting to brew when Jack surprised Ianto, sneaking up behind him and grabbing him in a bear hug.
"Jack!"
"Mmmm… nectar of the gods," Jack murmured, burying his face in Ianto's neck. "The coffee smells good too," he added.
Ianto grinned and patted Jack's arm. He was about to make a witty rejoinder when the alarm for the door began to blare. He loosened Jack's hold on him and turned to give him a kiss before anyone came into the Hub.
"Good morning," he murmured against Jack's lips.
Jack kissed him back swiftly and then stepped back as Tosh and Owen walked in together. "Let's hope the rest of the day goes as well."
"All set?" Owen called brightly, his voice matching his lurid pink shirt.
"Not quite," Jack said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Just waiting on Gwen and Rhys."
"Uhh…" Owen looked around the Hub. "What for, exactly? We won't all fit in the SUV."
Jack shrugged. "They're meeting us here. Ianto will drive me, Rhys and Gwen to Harwoods. You two can meet us there. After we get the call, you'll follow us to a warehouse Rhys works with so we can load up in the back of the lorry without being seen - and so the SUV is fairly close in case of any problems. Then Rhys will drive us all in and we'll take down these bastards and figure out the best way to stabilise the creature and get it back here."
Owen just stared at Jack for a long moment. "Christ, that's convoluted. Gwen's plan?"
"It seemed best to just go along with her," Jack said dryly. "Have a cup of coffee. It's going to be a long day."
TBC in Chapter Fifty
.This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/99845.html. Please comment there using OpenID.