Fic: The Sea After a Storm (66/?)
Title: The Sea After a Storm, Chapter 66
Rating: R
Warnings: Nothing really, just didn't feel like changing the rating
Spoilers: Season Two thru Adam (2x05)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood, Doctor Who and all their wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: In which Colin Kingsley-Brown pays another visit to Torchwood and Jack receives in interesting phone call...
Notes: Hullo my darlings - thank you to everyone who's reading and ESPECIALLY to everyone commenting! You can find all the previous chapters of 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 and wonderful friend thraceadams for all the help and support and beta work; any mistakes are mine!
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Sixty-Six
Previously on The Sea After a Storm: Brendan made is quarterly visit to Torchwood, much to Jack's continuing irritation…
"Jack," Ianto called as the Captain passed his workstation.
"Whatcha need, Ianto?" Jack asked, coming up behind Ianto and resting his hands on Ianto's shoulders.
"Colin Kingsley-Brown is back." Ianto tapped his keyboard and the CCTV on the Plass zoomed in on a dapper gentleman who was, once again, stomping his feet on the stone above the invisible lift. "Why is he doing that? Didn't you give him your mobile number?"
Jack nodded and groaned, letting his head fall against Ianto's back. "I gave him my mobile, your mobile, both our emails and showed him where the Tourist Office door is. Apparently he just really loves the lift."
"What does he want?"
"Oh, just some files... oh. Oh!" Jack raised his head suddenly. "Did I ask you to make copies of all his case files?" he asked in a panicked voice.
Ianto chuckled and reached up to pat Jack's hand. "Yes, I gave them to you weeks ago, right after he showed up the first time."
"Thank god," Jack muttered. He squeezed Ianto's shoulders and dropped a quick kiss on the back of Ianto's head. "I... er... I don't suppose you have an idea of where the files might be now?"
"I'm sure they're still on your desk right where I put them," Ianto said dryly. "I'll go find them for you."
"And I'll deal with Colin," Jack replied. "Thanks, Ianto. Let's see if this cures his obsession with the lift," Jack added darkly, flipping open his wriststrap.
Ianto shook his head with a chuckle and headed to Jack's office as the motors engaged and the lift began to lower into the bowels of the Hub. He found the files quickly - the folder was indeed sitting in the exact same spot on Jack's desk where he'd set it originally, just under several layers of papers. When he returned to the Hub, Jack was assisting their guest off the stone base of the lift even as Kingsley-Brown shook off his hands.
"Can manage on my own, boy, on my own." The gentleman fixed Jack with a withering stare as soon as he was standing on solid ground. "Bad form, Captain. Pulling the rug out, as it were, right from under me. Demmed unsporting, I say."
Jack grinned. "You were the one pounding on my door, old boy. All I did was open it."
"Harumph." Kingsley-Brown effectively dismissed the conversation with a wave of his hand and looked around with sharp eyes that belied his obvious age. "Don't see that lovely Oriental bird this time."
"Ms. Sato is out in the field," Jack explained with some asperity.
"No need to get snippy, Captain. I can't be arsed with political correctness," Kingsley-Brown said, emphasising every syllable of the last two words with disdain. "Lovely gal, lovely legs, and a brain on top of it. Just looked forward to seeing her again."
"Well, if you'd let me know you were coming -"
"Bah," interrupted Kingsley-Brown with another wave of his hand. "Privilege of age," he said with a mischievous grin aimed at Ianto. "I just show up when I want where I want and watch 'em all scramble. Now, just who are you, young man?"
"Belligerent bloody codger," Jack grumbled under his breath, motioning Ianto to join them. "Colin, this is Ianto Jones, our youngest operative, Chief Archivist, and general Operations Manager. Ianto, may I introduce -"
"Lieutenant-General Colin Kingsley-Brown, Retired," Kingsley-Brown interrupted yet again, reaching out to take Ianto's hand in a surprisingly firm handshake.
Ianto, still reeling from Jack's unexpectedly flattering description of his role at Torchwood, simply shook the older man's hand and nodded politely.
"That for me?"
"What? Oh, yes!" Ianto said, still flustered. He handed the thick file to Kingsley-Brown. "I believe you'll find everything you asked for in there," he added, straightening his tie.
"Excellent, excellent."
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. "Now, just what are you planning to do with those, Colin?" he asked.
Kingsley-Brown gave Ianto another one of his grins. "Suspicious, our Captain. Always was," he said conspiratorially. His tone changed to placating and he turned to Jack, adding, "Now, Jack, if you were really worried about what I was going to do with these files, you wouldn't have agreed to give them to me in the first place. I think he's showing off for you, Mr. Jones."
Jack's eyebrows shot up, making both Kingsley-Brown and Ianto laugh. Ianto turned his laugh into a cough at Jack's outraged expression and reached out to pat Kingsley-Brown on the shoulder. "Ahem, be that as it may, I do need to put something official in the file regarding your request, Lieutenant-General."
"Call me Colin, my boy. As for your official files, you can cross your t's and dot your i's and put down that I'm writing a book."
"Your... er... memoirs?" Ianto asked nervously, fidgeting with his tie again as Jack's eyebrows climbed even higher.
Colin grinned. "That would be something, wouldn't it? Hoo, hoo! The fur would be flying at Whitehall! But no, I'm trying my hand at a science fiction novel. Been bored a lot lately, thought I'd try something new." He shook the file under his arm. "Figured there might be some details in here I could use. The mind gets fuzzy on details over the years, generally a blessing but I'd like a refresher on the strange goings-on I saw during my time here."
"You know, if you need a dashing, hero-type for inspiration -" Jack began, preening for them.
Kingsley-Brown interrupted him with a snort. "I'll keep you in mind, m'boy," he promised dryly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Kingsley-Brown didn't linger at the Hub. He had plans to drop in on his unsuspecting granddaughter for dinner before catching the train back to Newcastle. Jack received a phone call as they were saying their goodbyes, so it was left to Ianto to escort him out through the Tourist Office. Luckily, Kingsley-Brown was occupied flipping through his files and didn't harangue Ianto about another ride on the invisible lift.
When he got back down to the Hub, Jack had finished his call and was sitting at his desk, staring off into space.
"Jack?" Ianto said quietly, knocking lightly on the door frame to Jack's office.
"Hm?"
"Everything all right?" Ianto asked.
Jack sighed, the sound drawing Ianto into the room as sure as if he'd been pulled. He stepped closer to his lover and rested a hand on his shoulder. Jack sighed again and turned slightly so he could wrap his arms around Ianto, pressing his face against Ianto's belly.
Ianto didn't press for details, just slid his hands through Jack's hair and over his shoulders comfortingly. Eventually, Jack loosened his arms and sat back, tugging Ianto over to lean on the desk in front of him.
"That phone call…" he started, his voice trailing off.
Ianto waited patiently, simply nodding to let Jack know he had his full attention.
"It wasn't bad news or - well, actually it was, but that was... It was just that it was from an old friend I haven't seen since... I've been back." Jack looked up to meet Ianto's eyes and sighed heavily. "Officially? It was a call from UNIT asking for our help on a case. We come across any dead bodies, we're to let them know ASAP. Here," Jack added, handing Ianto a slip of paper. "Any reports of deaths, suspicious or otherwise, that come to our attention, call that number and tell Dr. Martha Jones that Jack says 'get here'."
Ianto made note of the number and then tucked the paper into his jacket pocket for safekeeping. "And unofficially? Didn't you mention a Martha when you were telling me about your time with the Doctor?" he prompted.
"One and the same," Jack said with a nod. "She was with me for some of the time I was gone. So while I'm excited to see her again, it's..."
"Complicated?" Ianto finished.
Jack smiled wryly. "And how."
"Well..." Ianto glanced at his watch. "Why don't we knock off as soon as the others get back? Go get some dinner, relax, hope we don't come across any dead bodies for a few days at least."
"Oh! Owen texted me - it was a dead end. They're far enough out that they're all just heading home. So I think we should put your excellent plan into motion right now," Jack said, his usual grin back in place.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Later that night, Ianto awoke alone in bed. He sat up, groping for his dressing gown before his mind was fully engaged.
"Go back to sleep, Ianto," Jack said softly.
"Jack?" Ianto looked blindly in the direction of Jack's voice. His eyes slowly adjusted to reveal the dim outline of his lover, sitting in the chair by the window, gazing out at the night. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing... bad dreams... too many memories tonight..."
Ianto heard a soft rustle and then Jack was leaning over him, kissing him gently.
"Sorry I woke you, go back to sleep. Everything will be fine in the morning."
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to tell you?" Ianto murmured, reaching up to stroke Jack's cheek.
Jack chuckled. "So tell me."
"Everything will be fine in the morning."
Jack kissed him again and rested his forehead on Ianto's for a moment. "I... believe you. Good night," he whispered.
TBC…
. This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/107872.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Rating: R
Warnings: Nothing really, just didn't feel like changing the rating
Spoilers: Season Two thru Adam (2x05)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood, Doctor Who and all their wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: In which Colin Kingsley-Brown pays another visit to Torchwood and Jack receives in interesting phone call...
Notes: Hullo my darlings - thank you to everyone who's reading and ESPECIALLY to everyone commenting! You can find all the previous chapters of 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 and wonderful friend thraceadams for all the help and support and beta work; any mistakes are mine!
The Sea After a Storm: Chapter Sixty-Six
Previously on The Sea After a Storm: Brendan made is quarterly visit to Torchwood, much to Jack's continuing irritation…
"Jack," Ianto called as the Captain passed his workstation.
"Whatcha need, Ianto?" Jack asked, coming up behind Ianto and resting his hands on Ianto's shoulders.
"Colin Kingsley-Brown is back." Ianto tapped his keyboard and the CCTV on the Plass zoomed in on a dapper gentleman who was, once again, stomping his feet on the stone above the invisible lift. "Why is he doing that? Didn't you give him your mobile number?"
Jack nodded and groaned, letting his head fall against Ianto's back. "I gave him my mobile, your mobile, both our emails and showed him where the Tourist Office door is. Apparently he just really loves the lift."
"What does he want?"
"Oh, just some files... oh. Oh!" Jack raised his head suddenly. "Did I ask you to make copies of all his case files?" he asked in a panicked voice.
Ianto chuckled and reached up to pat Jack's hand. "Yes, I gave them to you weeks ago, right after he showed up the first time."
"Thank god," Jack muttered. He squeezed Ianto's shoulders and dropped a quick kiss on the back of Ianto's head. "I... er... I don't suppose you have an idea of where the files might be now?"
"I'm sure they're still on your desk right where I put them," Ianto said dryly. "I'll go find them for you."
"And I'll deal with Colin," Jack replied. "Thanks, Ianto. Let's see if this cures his obsession with the lift," Jack added darkly, flipping open his wriststrap.
Ianto shook his head with a chuckle and headed to Jack's office as the motors engaged and the lift began to lower into the bowels of the Hub. He found the files quickly - the folder was indeed sitting in the exact same spot on Jack's desk where he'd set it originally, just under several layers of papers. When he returned to the Hub, Jack was assisting their guest off the stone base of the lift even as Kingsley-Brown shook off his hands.
"Can manage on my own, boy, on my own." The gentleman fixed Jack with a withering stare as soon as he was standing on solid ground. "Bad form, Captain. Pulling the rug out, as it were, right from under me. Demmed unsporting, I say."
Jack grinned. "You were the one pounding on my door, old boy. All I did was open it."
"Harumph." Kingsley-Brown effectively dismissed the conversation with a wave of his hand and looked around with sharp eyes that belied his obvious age. "Don't see that lovely Oriental bird this time."
"Ms. Sato is out in the field," Jack explained with some asperity.
"No need to get snippy, Captain. I can't be arsed with political correctness," Kingsley-Brown said, emphasising every syllable of the last two words with disdain. "Lovely gal, lovely legs, and a brain on top of it. Just looked forward to seeing her again."
"Well, if you'd let me know you were coming -"
"Bah," interrupted Kingsley-Brown with another wave of his hand. "Privilege of age," he said with a mischievous grin aimed at Ianto. "I just show up when I want where I want and watch 'em all scramble. Now, just who are you, young man?"
"Belligerent bloody codger," Jack grumbled under his breath, motioning Ianto to join them. "Colin, this is Ianto Jones, our youngest operative, Chief Archivist, and general Operations Manager. Ianto, may I introduce -"
"Lieutenant-General Colin Kingsley-Brown, Retired," Kingsley-Brown interrupted yet again, reaching out to take Ianto's hand in a surprisingly firm handshake.
Ianto, still reeling from Jack's unexpectedly flattering description of his role at Torchwood, simply shook the older man's hand and nodded politely.
"That for me?"
"What? Oh, yes!" Ianto said, still flustered. He handed the thick file to Kingsley-Brown. "I believe you'll find everything you asked for in there," he added, straightening his tie.
"Excellent, excellent."
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. "Now, just what are you planning to do with those, Colin?" he asked.
Kingsley-Brown gave Ianto another one of his grins. "Suspicious, our Captain. Always was," he said conspiratorially. His tone changed to placating and he turned to Jack, adding, "Now, Jack, if you were really worried about what I was going to do with these files, you wouldn't have agreed to give them to me in the first place. I think he's showing off for you, Mr. Jones."
Jack's eyebrows shot up, making both Kingsley-Brown and Ianto laugh. Ianto turned his laugh into a cough at Jack's outraged expression and reached out to pat Kingsley-Brown on the shoulder. "Ahem, be that as it may, I do need to put something official in the file regarding your request, Lieutenant-General."
"Call me Colin, my boy. As for your official files, you can cross your t's and dot your i's and put down that I'm writing a book."
"Your... er... memoirs?" Ianto asked nervously, fidgeting with his tie again as Jack's eyebrows climbed even higher.
Colin grinned. "That would be something, wouldn't it? Hoo, hoo! The fur would be flying at Whitehall! But no, I'm trying my hand at a science fiction novel. Been bored a lot lately, thought I'd try something new." He shook the file under his arm. "Figured there might be some details in here I could use. The mind gets fuzzy on details over the years, generally a blessing but I'd like a refresher on the strange goings-on I saw during my time here."
"You know, if you need a dashing, hero-type for inspiration -" Jack began, preening for them.
Kingsley-Brown interrupted him with a snort. "I'll keep you in mind, m'boy," he promised dryly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Kingsley-Brown didn't linger at the Hub. He had plans to drop in on his unsuspecting granddaughter for dinner before catching the train back to Newcastle. Jack received a phone call as they were saying their goodbyes, so it was left to Ianto to escort him out through the Tourist Office. Luckily, Kingsley-Brown was occupied flipping through his files and didn't harangue Ianto about another ride on the invisible lift.
When he got back down to the Hub, Jack had finished his call and was sitting at his desk, staring off into space.
"Jack?" Ianto said quietly, knocking lightly on the door frame to Jack's office.
"Hm?"
"Everything all right?" Ianto asked.
Jack sighed, the sound drawing Ianto into the room as sure as if he'd been pulled. He stepped closer to his lover and rested a hand on his shoulder. Jack sighed again and turned slightly so he could wrap his arms around Ianto, pressing his face against Ianto's belly.
Ianto didn't press for details, just slid his hands through Jack's hair and over his shoulders comfortingly. Eventually, Jack loosened his arms and sat back, tugging Ianto over to lean on the desk in front of him.
"That phone call…" he started, his voice trailing off.
Ianto waited patiently, simply nodding to let Jack know he had his full attention.
"It wasn't bad news or - well, actually it was, but that was... It was just that it was from an old friend I haven't seen since... I've been back." Jack looked up to meet Ianto's eyes and sighed heavily. "Officially? It was a call from UNIT asking for our help on a case. We come across any dead bodies, we're to let them know ASAP. Here," Jack added, handing Ianto a slip of paper. "Any reports of deaths, suspicious or otherwise, that come to our attention, call that number and tell Dr. Martha Jones that Jack says 'get here'."
Ianto made note of the number and then tucked the paper into his jacket pocket for safekeeping. "And unofficially? Didn't you mention a Martha when you were telling me about your time with the Doctor?" he prompted.
"One and the same," Jack said with a nod. "She was with me for some of the time I was gone. So while I'm excited to see her again, it's..."
"Complicated?" Ianto finished.
Jack smiled wryly. "And how."
"Well..." Ianto glanced at his watch. "Why don't we knock off as soon as the others get back? Go get some dinner, relax, hope we don't come across any dead bodies for a few days at least."
"Oh! Owen texted me - it was a dead end. They're far enough out that they're all just heading home. So I think we should put your excellent plan into motion right now," Jack said, his usual grin back in place.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Later that night, Ianto awoke alone in bed. He sat up, groping for his dressing gown before his mind was fully engaged.
"Go back to sleep, Ianto," Jack said softly.
"Jack?" Ianto looked blindly in the direction of Jack's voice. His eyes slowly adjusted to reveal the dim outline of his lover, sitting in the chair by the window, gazing out at the night. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing... bad dreams... too many memories tonight..."
Ianto heard a soft rustle and then Jack was leaning over him, kissing him gently.
"Sorry I woke you, go back to sleep. Everything will be fine in the morning."
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to tell you?" Ianto murmured, reaching up to stroke Jack's cheek.
Jack chuckled. "So tell me."
"Everything will be fine in the morning."
Jack kissed him again and rested his forehead on Ianto's for a moment. "I... believe you. Good night," he whispered.
TBC…
. This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/107872.html. Please comment there using OpenID.