Subject: Fic: The Sea After a Storm (42/?)
Title: The Sea After a Storm, Chapter 42
Rating: R
Warnings: None really, just don't feel like changing the rating :)
Spoilers: Season Two thru To the Last Man (2x03)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©'s to Helen Raynor for situations borrowed from To the Last Man. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: In which Tommy is back in 1918, but will he use the key?
Notes: Last of TTLM - I really enjoyed writing this ep, hope you enjoyed reading! 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-Two
Previously on The Sea After a Storm: The time-shift began and the team said goodbye to Tommy...
Ianto screeched to a halt near the Tourist Office entrance with Owen right on his tail. He climbed out of the SUV, sending up a quick thanks that no eager constables had caught them speeding through town. Their Torchwood credentials would have gotten them out of any trouble, even if Owen was driving Tosh's car, but they didn't have the time to mess about. Ianto grimaced and pressed at his temples. He hoped his headache was just residual pain from being so close to the time-shift when it started and not an indication that Tommy had failed.
The team bolted from the car park and ran for the Hub. Once they were inside, Gwen, Owen and Tosh all ran for the workstations, frantically checking the computers as the rift alarm still blared. That's not good, Ianto thought as he stood behind Tosh, feeling helpless as the klaxon echoed the pounding inside his head.
"What's happening?" Gwen asked, looking back and forth between monitors.
"I don't know." Tosh was distracted, typing as she answered Gwen.
"The time-shift hasn't stopped," Jack said. The lights dimmed and he sprang into action. "Toshiko, show me the city. Now!"
She tapped her fingers and a map appeared on a monitor with small white dots multiplying on the screen. For Ianto, each new glowing spot on the map was accompanied by a jab of pain. He vaguely heard the others saying that the dots represented time-shifts, but he couldn't focus enough to join in the discussion.
"What about the rift key?" he heard Gwen ask when the pain subsided for a moment.
Tosh pursed her lips. "Tommy isn't using it."
"Why not?" Ianto asked distractedly as he shoved his hands deeper in his pockets to keep from cradling his head in front of the others.
"I don't know," Tosh snapped. "Because he's just gone back to 90 years ago? Because he's shell-shocked?" She looked accusingly over at Jack while Ianto nodded, hardly believing he'd asked something so stupid.
"One of us will have to go back," Jack said determinedly. He headed for the door, brushing his hand over Ianto's back as he passed.
No! Ianto shouted in his mind. Not now, not yet... But before he could protest aloud, Owen spoke up.
"Jack, wait! You'll get stuck in 1918."
Ianto gaze shot between Owen and Jack, silently begging Owen to come up with something anything to keep Jack from walking out the door.
"I've got an idea," Owen said. He motioned to the med bay with his head and then hurried down the stairs.
The rest of the team gave each other curious glances and followed, Tosh leaving her computer reluctantly, bringing up the rear.
Owen explained his idea of harnessing the rift energy being created by the time-shift to send Jack into Tommy's consciousness as a psychic projection like he was describing how to make a cup of tea. Ianto was sceptical, remembering how long and hard he'd worked to reach Jack while he was with the Doctor, but Jack was on board instantly.
"I can make him use the key," he said excitedly as he hopped on the exam table.
Ianto stood at the head of the table, unsure of how he could help but ready nonetheless.
"Let me do it," Tosh called from the walkway. Everyone turned to look up at her, concern clear on their faces. "He trusts me," she added in softer tones.
Ianto glanced at Owen who hadn't dropped his eyes from Tosh and then over to Gwen who was staring intently at Jack. There was a long pause and then Jack looked back up at Tosh.
"Okay," he said. He swung his legs off the table as Tosh hurried down the stairs.
Ianto took Tosh's coat and gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. She gave him a quick, grateful smile and then let him help her up on the table. Ianto moved out of the way to let Owen fit a neuroimaging scanner on Tosh's head to monitor her brain activity. He knew Owen was worried about Tosh from the doctor's sudden, professional calm. Trying experimental rift theories out on Jack was one thing, but Ianto could tell both Owen and Jack were fighting the urge to stop Tosh from risking herself.
Once Tosh was settled, Owen gave her the injection he'd readied for Jack and held her hand against his chest, his fingertips on her wrist. Ianto stayed out of the way, letting the others crowd around Tosh. He wasn't entirely sure he could stay on his feet much longer and didn't want to bump Tosh if he passed out. He took a deep breath and planted his feet a little wider to give him some stability.
"Tommy," Tosh murmured.
Tommy, Ianto echoed in his thoughts, Tommy, please use the key. He pressed his hands against his temples for a moment and then jammed his hands back in his pockets.
Listening to Tosh talk to Tommy, even just hearing the one side of the conversation, was heartbreaking. The rest of the team kept exchanging looks of concern and sympathy as Tosh tried to convince Tommy to use the rift key - everyone except Owen. His gaze didn't waver from Tosh and he held her hand as if it were her lifeline back to the present.
Tosh smiled gently. "Because you're my brave, handsome hero. Tommy... use the key."
"A Duw," Gwen whispered. She wiped a stray tear from her cheek.
There was a long, silent moment and then Ianto felt the pressure in his head disappear suddenly. He let out sigh of relief just as Tosh gasped and woke up.
"It's all right," Owen soothed, keeping hold of Tosh's hand.
"He did it." Tosh nodded her eyes filling with tears. "He did it."
"Okay," Owen said quietly. "Okay, let's get this off you." He gave Tosh's hand one last squeeze and then began to carefully remove the sensor pads on her forehead.
Jack gave Tosh another pat on the shoulder and turned to Gwen, catching Ianto's eye as well. "We need to see if there's any clean up to do," he said as he ushered them up out of the med bay, leaving Tosh and Owen alone.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Luckily, it appeared that there were no residual effects from the time-shifts. Ianto spent an hour or so listening to the police radio scanners and heard nothing out of the ordinary. Gwen and Jack left to check out a few of the spots close to St. Telio's in person but when Jack returned alone, he reported that everything was fine.
Tosh hadn't spoken to anyone other than to ask Ianto for Tommy's clothes. Ianto kept an eye on her as he went about his duties and caught Owen checking on her a few times as well. He'd just noticed that time was sliding from early to late afternoon when Jack appeared behind him, wrapping his arms around Ianto's chest. The Captain glanced over at Tosh, still sitting on the sofa staring at Tommy's clothes, and sighed. He rested his head on Ianto's shoulder.
"I was just going to go grab some lunch," Ianto said. "Will Gwen be coming back?"
Jack shook his head slightly. "No, I sent her home. I can't imagine we'll be getting anything done today."
Ianto nodded and patted Jack's hand. "I'll just pop out and grab the four of us something. Tosh really should eat."
With a quick kiss to Ianto's ear, Jack nodded and released Ianto who headed for the med bay.
"Owen, I'm gonna run to Tegan's. Any requests?" Ianto asked as he leant on the railing.
Owen cocked his head and then answered, "One of those ham and cheese toasties and some soup. It feels bloody freezing in here today."
"It was supposed to rain," Ianto observed absently. He glanced behind him at Tosh. "Jack's back but will you - ?" He broke off when Owen waved a hand at him dismissively.
"Already on it," he said, pointing at one of the internal CCTV monitor's that showed Tosh sitting on the sofa.
Ianto smiled. "You're a good man, Owen Harper."
Owen snorted and waved again. "Just go fetch the food, tea boy."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
When Ianto returned with lunch, he was soaked from the rain. He was surprised to find an equally soaked Owen standing along the railing of the pier.
"What are you doing out here?" Ianto asked.
Owen shrugged. He kicked at the rail, not looking at Ianto. "Tosh left."
"Left? Left as in... what exactly?"
"Left as in packed up Tommy's clothes like she was burying him and left. I followed her out, down to that little church. I think she took Tommy there. Anyway, she was upset but... calm. And then she went home. I hope," Owen added under his breath.
Ianto blew out a sigh and promised himself to give Tosh a call later that evening. "Well, there's no sense standing out in the rain. Come on, your food should still be warm," he said as he started toward the Tourist Office door.
Owen hesitated for a moment, still staring out across the bay, but eventually he followed.
"Tosh took off," Jack called by way of greeting when Owen and Ianto came through the door. "I hope you didn't get her anything special."
"Did she say anything?" Ianto asked.
Jack shook his head, taking one of the bags of food from Ianto. "I told her thank you, but she didn't look up to talking."
"She'll be okay," Owen said.
They set up the sandwiches, soups, and drinks on the coffee table and dug in. Jack took a huge bite of his sandwich and then stood up suddenly.
"Jack? Is something wrong?" Ianto asked, hoping he didn't need to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre.
Jack didn't answer, he just hurried to his office. He came out a moment later with a bottle of whisky and three glasses. He poured them each a few fingers of the amber liquid and then lifted his glass.
"To Tommy," he said reverently.
"Tommy," Ianto repeated, clinking his glass with Jack's.
"And Tosh," Owen added.
Jack and Ianto nodded, touching their glasses to Owen's.
"Tommy and Tosh."
TBC in Chapter Forty-Three
. This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/96269.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Rating: R
Warnings: None really, just don't feel like changing the rating :)
Spoilers: Season Two thru To the Last Man (2x03)
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Disclaimer: Torchwood and all its wonderfulness belong to the Mighty Beeb and He Who Must Not Be Named. All ©'s to Helen Raynor for situations borrowed from To the Last Man. No infringement, only worship intended!
Summary: In which Tommy is back in 1918, but will he use the key?
Notes: Last of TTLM - I really enjoyed writing this ep, hope you enjoyed reading! 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-Two
Previously on The Sea After a Storm: The time-shift began and the team said goodbye to Tommy...
Ianto screeched to a halt near the Tourist Office entrance with Owen right on his tail. He climbed out of the SUV, sending up a quick thanks that no eager constables had caught them speeding through town. Their Torchwood credentials would have gotten them out of any trouble, even if Owen was driving Tosh's car, but they didn't have the time to mess about. Ianto grimaced and pressed at his temples. He hoped his headache was just residual pain from being so close to the time-shift when it started and not an indication that Tommy had failed.
The team bolted from the car park and ran for the Hub. Once they were inside, Gwen, Owen and Tosh all ran for the workstations, frantically checking the computers as the rift alarm still blared. That's not good, Ianto thought as he stood behind Tosh, feeling helpless as the klaxon echoed the pounding inside his head.
"What's happening?" Gwen asked, looking back and forth between monitors.
"I don't know." Tosh was distracted, typing as she answered Gwen.
"The time-shift hasn't stopped," Jack said. The lights dimmed and he sprang into action. "Toshiko, show me the city. Now!"
She tapped her fingers and a map appeared on a monitor with small white dots multiplying on the screen. For Ianto, each new glowing spot on the map was accompanied by a jab of pain. He vaguely heard the others saying that the dots represented time-shifts, but he couldn't focus enough to join in the discussion.
"What about the rift key?" he heard Gwen ask when the pain subsided for a moment.
Tosh pursed her lips. "Tommy isn't using it."
"Why not?" Ianto asked distractedly as he shoved his hands deeper in his pockets to keep from cradling his head in front of the others.
"I don't know," Tosh snapped. "Because he's just gone back to 90 years ago? Because he's shell-shocked?" She looked accusingly over at Jack while Ianto nodded, hardly believing he'd asked something so stupid.
"One of us will have to go back," Jack said determinedly. He headed for the door, brushing his hand over Ianto's back as he passed.
No! Ianto shouted in his mind. Not now, not yet... But before he could protest aloud, Owen spoke up.
"Jack, wait! You'll get stuck in 1918."
Ianto gaze shot between Owen and Jack, silently begging Owen to come up with something anything to keep Jack from walking out the door.
"I've got an idea," Owen said. He motioned to the med bay with his head and then hurried down the stairs.
The rest of the team gave each other curious glances and followed, Tosh leaving her computer reluctantly, bringing up the rear.
Owen explained his idea of harnessing the rift energy being created by the time-shift to send Jack into Tommy's consciousness as a psychic projection like he was describing how to make a cup of tea. Ianto was sceptical, remembering how long and hard he'd worked to reach Jack while he was with the Doctor, but Jack was on board instantly.
"I can make him use the key," he said excitedly as he hopped on the exam table.
Ianto stood at the head of the table, unsure of how he could help but ready nonetheless.
"Let me do it," Tosh called from the walkway. Everyone turned to look up at her, concern clear on their faces. "He trusts me," she added in softer tones.
Ianto glanced at Owen who hadn't dropped his eyes from Tosh and then over to Gwen who was staring intently at Jack. There was a long pause and then Jack looked back up at Tosh.
"Okay," he said. He swung his legs off the table as Tosh hurried down the stairs.
Ianto took Tosh's coat and gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. She gave him a quick, grateful smile and then let him help her up on the table. Ianto moved out of the way to let Owen fit a neuroimaging scanner on Tosh's head to monitor her brain activity. He knew Owen was worried about Tosh from the doctor's sudden, professional calm. Trying experimental rift theories out on Jack was one thing, but Ianto could tell both Owen and Jack were fighting the urge to stop Tosh from risking herself.
Once Tosh was settled, Owen gave her the injection he'd readied for Jack and held her hand against his chest, his fingertips on her wrist. Ianto stayed out of the way, letting the others crowd around Tosh. He wasn't entirely sure he could stay on his feet much longer and didn't want to bump Tosh if he passed out. He took a deep breath and planted his feet a little wider to give him some stability.
"Tommy," Tosh murmured.
Tommy, Ianto echoed in his thoughts, Tommy, please use the key. He pressed his hands against his temples for a moment and then jammed his hands back in his pockets.
Listening to Tosh talk to Tommy, even just hearing the one side of the conversation, was heartbreaking. The rest of the team kept exchanging looks of concern and sympathy as Tosh tried to convince Tommy to use the rift key - everyone except Owen. His gaze didn't waver from Tosh and he held her hand as if it were her lifeline back to the present.
Tosh smiled gently. "Because you're my brave, handsome hero. Tommy... use the key."
"A Duw," Gwen whispered. She wiped a stray tear from her cheek.
There was a long, silent moment and then Ianto felt the pressure in his head disappear suddenly. He let out sigh of relief just as Tosh gasped and woke up.
"It's all right," Owen soothed, keeping hold of Tosh's hand.
"He did it." Tosh nodded her eyes filling with tears. "He did it."
"Okay," Owen said quietly. "Okay, let's get this off you." He gave Tosh's hand one last squeeze and then began to carefully remove the sensor pads on her forehead.
Jack gave Tosh another pat on the shoulder and turned to Gwen, catching Ianto's eye as well. "We need to see if there's any clean up to do," he said as he ushered them up out of the med bay, leaving Tosh and Owen alone.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Luckily, it appeared that there were no residual effects from the time-shifts. Ianto spent an hour or so listening to the police radio scanners and heard nothing out of the ordinary. Gwen and Jack left to check out a few of the spots close to St. Telio's in person but when Jack returned alone, he reported that everything was fine.
Tosh hadn't spoken to anyone other than to ask Ianto for Tommy's clothes. Ianto kept an eye on her as he went about his duties and caught Owen checking on her a few times as well. He'd just noticed that time was sliding from early to late afternoon when Jack appeared behind him, wrapping his arms around Ianto's chest. The Captain glanced over at Tosh, still sitting on the sofa staring at Tommy's clothes, and sighed. He rested his head on Ianto's shoulder.
"I was just going to go grab some lunch," Ianto said. "Will Gwen be coming back?"
Jack shook his head slightly. "No, I sent her home. I can't imagine we'll be getting anything done today."
Ianto nodded and patted Jack's hand. "I'll just pop out and grab the four of us something. Tosh really should eat."
With a quick kiss to Ianto's ear, Jack nodded and released Ianto who headed for the med bay.
"Owen, I'm gonna run to Tegan's. Any requests?" Ianto asked as he leant on the railing.
Owen cocked his head and then answered, "One of those ham and cheese toasties and some soup. It feels bloody freezing in here today."
"It was supposed to rain," Ianto observed absently. He glanced behind him at Tosh. "Jack's back but will you - ?" He broke off when Owen waved a hand at him dismissively.
"Already on it," he said, pointing at one of the internal CCTV monitor's that showed Tosh sitting on the sofa.
Ianto smiled. "You're a good man, Owen Harper."
Owen snorted and waved again. "Just go fetch the food, tea boy."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
When Ianto returned with lunch, he was soaked from the rain. He was surprised to find an equally soaked Owen standing along the railing of the pier.
"What are you doing out here?" Ianto asked.
Owen shrugged. He kicked at the rail, not looking at Ianto. "Tosh left."
"Left? Left as in... what exactly?"
"Left as in packed up Tommy's clothes like she was burying him and left. I followed her out, down to that little church. I think she took Tommy there. Anyway, she was upset but... calm. And then she went home. I hope," Owen added under his breath.
Ianto blew out a sigh and promised himself to give Tosh a call later that evening. "Well, there's no sense standing out in the rain. Come on, your food should still be warm," he said as he started toward the Tourist Office door.
Owen hesitated for a moment, still staring out across the bay, but eventually he followed.
"Tosh took off," Jack called by way of greeting when Owen and Ianto came through the door. "I hope you didn't get her anything special."
"Did she say anything?" Ianto asked.
Jack shook his head, taking one of the bags of food from Ianto. "I told her thank you, but she didn't look up to talking."
"She'll be okay," Owen said.
They set up the sandwiches, soups, and drinks on the coffee table and dug in. Jack took a huge bite of his sandwich and then stood up suddenly.
"Jack? Is something wrong?" Ianto asked, hoping he didn't need to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre.
Jack didn't answer, he just hurried to his office. He came out a moment later with a bottle of whisky and three glasses. He poured them each a few fingers of the amber liquid and then lifted his glass.
"To Tommy," he said reverently.
"Tommy," Ianto repeated, clinking his glass with Jack's.
"And Tosh," Owen added.
Jack and Ianto nodded, touching their glasses to Owen's.
"Tommy and Tosh."
TBC in Chapter Forty-Three
. This entry was originally posted at http://buttononthetop.dreamwidth.org/96269.html. Please comment there using OpenID.