Moonlight and Lusting Chapter 26/? Hard Decisions
A note from socalrose: Jack has to face Hart and Grey and make some very hard decisions.
This chapter is rated PG-13.
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Jack spent the evening eating Chinese food, snuggling on the couch with Ianto, and watching the Marx brothers’ movies. After viewing, A Night at the Opera, Jack yawned. “Right, time for bed,” Ianto said shutting off the telly. Jack didn’t resist when Ianto pulled him up from the sofa. Five minutes later they were both in bed, Jack fast asleep in Ianto’s arms.
Ianto instantly knew the minute Jack got out of bed. He waited a moment in case Jack just went to the bathroom but he didn’t return. Ianto got up and walked to the living room. Jack was standing by the large front window dressed in pajamas bottoms gazing at the bay. Ianto wrapped his arms around Jack’s waist from behind. “Bad dream?” he asked softly kissing Jack’s shoulder.
“No,” Jack replied. “I did sleep for a while, but I woke up, thought of Grey and . . .” Jack shrugged his shoulders leaving the thought hanging.
“It’s almost dawn; why don’t we get dress, go to your favorite rooftop and watch the sun come up together. Afterwards we can go have breakfast,” Ianto suggested.
“I’d like that,” Jack replied. They showered and dressed quickly. A short walk later they were on the roof watching the sunrise and Cardiff come to life for another day.
“Because of me this city was almost blown up,” Jack said quietly.
Ianto made Jack look him in the eyes. “Because of your planning and helping set up Pack Security with Harold, you saved Cardiff from the bombs. The only one who suffered is you.”
Jack saw the pain in Ianto’s eyes. “You suffered too, Ianto. Grey hurt both of us. What am I going to do about Grey?” Jack asked. Ianto pulled Jack into a hug.
“I don’t know Jack,” Ianto admitted. “But we’ll figure it out together.” He kissed Jack sweetly. “I’m starving let’s get some breakfast.” Jack and Ianto had breakfast at Casa Celi café and took some pastries to the Hub for the others.
They entered the Hub through the invisible lift. Tosh, Gwen, Harold, and Anian hugged Jack before Owen practically dragged Jack down to the medical bay to check him over. A few minutes later Owen admitted, “Everything physically is fine, but I want you to tell me the minute you feel claustrophobic, short of breath or panicked in anyway.”
“I will,” Jack agreed. “Right now I want a status meeting in the boardroom in ten minutes,” he added.
Ianto placed the pastries out on the boardroom table and prepared coffee. Tosh, Gwen, Owen, Harold, and Anian arrived together sitting down, choosing pastries to eat and accepting mugs of coffee. Ianto noticed Jack’s hand trembled a little when he took the blue and white striped mug from Ianto. He sat down next to Jack placed his hand on Jack’s thigh and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Jack gave him a small smile before turning to the group. “I want to thank everyone for doing a tremendous job saving Cardiff and for rescuing me. I couldn’t have come back without your help,” Jack stated.
Owen as usual came right to the point, “What are we going to do about Hart and your brother?” he asked.
“I’m not sure;” Jack admitted although he and Ianto had talked about it over breakfast. “I need to talk to them first and then I’ll decide.”
“You do know that Grey tried to kill Ianto - don’t you?” Gwen asked. Ianto glared at Gwen but she knew it was important Jack knew what had almost happened to Ianto.
Jack looked stunned. “Grey tried to kill you?” Jack asked hoarsely looking at Ianto.
“Harold and Anian stopped him Jack - I’m alright, I’m here, Cariad,” Ianto replied. Ianto cradled Jack’s face in his hands kissing him right in front of everyone removing the anguished look off Jack’s face and calming him.
“If you two are done snogging can we get back to business?” Owen asked. Everyone chuckled at Owen’s comment.
Jack held Ianto’s hand tightly in his and turned back to the group. “Owen, what’s Grey’s mental state?” Jack asked.
Owen hesitated and then finally said, “I’m sorry Jack, there’s no doubt about it; he’s criminally insane. Grey’s just too damaged from the torture he’s endured and he’s a danger to everyone. There’s no safe place we can send him to for treatment on this planet.”
Jack knew Owen was right but the truth hurt so badly. “I can’t . . . I can’t kill him; he’s my brother in spite of what he did to me and what he tried to do to Cardiff,” Jack said.
“We can’t keep him locked up forever Jack,” Owen countered. “He may be insane but he’s very clever and sooner or later he’ll escape and try to finish what he started.”
“Why don’t we freeze him?” Gwen suggested. “At least until you can get hold of the Doctor and then he could take Grey to an off world hospital where he could get the treatment he needs.”
“What Gwen is suggesting may be the best we can manage for now Cariad,” Ianto said.
“I know,” Jack admitted running his free hand through his hair in frustration. “Still I need to talk to him and see for myself.”
“What about Hart?” Tosh asked.
“Grey wouldn’t have known Jack was here if Hart hadn’t told him,” Gwen said.
“That may be true, but we wouldn’t have found Jack so quickly if Hart hadn’t come back to help us,” Ianto said reluctantly.
“I’ll talk with Hart first and decide what to do,” Jack replied. “Bring Hart up here; Ianto and I will talk to him alone.”
Hart wasn’t sure where the two guards were taking him. They escorted him into the boardroom and then stood outside in the hallway. He spotted Jack sitting at the table with Ianto beside him.
“It’s good to see you Jack,” Hart said smiling at him. “I knew they’d find you with the ring I gave you.”
“It’s because of you Jack was buried in the first place,” Ianto growled standing up from his chair. He still wanted to rip Hart apart.
“No Ianto, don’t,” Jack said placing a restraining hand on Ianto’s arm. Jack stood up and walked over to Hart. Hart looked small and pathetic in the orange jumpsuit. “Why did you go and find Grey?” Jack asked. “Did you think I’d fall in love with you because you found my brother?”
Hart looked at Jack and could see the pain and suffering mirrored in his eyes. “Yeah, I thought maybe if I found Grey and brought him to you, you’d realize how much I still love you,” Hart replied.
“But it didn’t turn out the way you thought it would, did it? Grey’s criminally insane and forced you to do his bidding to get his revenge. We stopped his plan though, at least he didn’t destroy Cardiff, but he buried me alive and almost killed Ianto,” Jack countered as he slowly backed Hart into the wall. “I forgive you for what you did to me,” Jack said before slugging Hart hard in the face. “I don’t forgive you for almost getting Ianto killed. Ianto, tell Tosh to find a rift opening for Hart to use as an exit from this planet. I mean it Hart, leave this planet and never come back.”
“I’m sorry Jack,” Hart said. “I know that doesn’t mean much coming from me, but I truly am sorry I brought all this misery down on you. If I had known Ianto was a lycan and you were life mates I would have never tried to find Grey.”
“Not buying your excuse Hart,” Jack countered. “I made it clear the last time you were here I didn’t want to be with you ever again. You should have respected my wishes. There’ll be no third chance - you got it?”
Hart’s shoulders slumped; “Yeah Jack I’ve got it,” Hart replied. The guards took Hart back to his cell to change back into his own clothes and prepare to leave.
“Do you really think this is a wise move?” Ianto asked. He wrapped his arms around Jack and pulled him close. Jack looked at Ianto.
“We both know Grey got the drop on Hart, tortured him and forced him to do all those things and he did help save me. He knows I’ll never be with him again. There’s nothing left for him here. I just want him gone,” Jack admitted resting his head on Ianto’s shoulder.
“We’ll do it your way Jack,” Ianto agreed. “Are you ready to see Grey?”
“No, but we’ve got to finish this,” Jack replied. Ianto called Harold over the comms and told him to bring up Grey. The guards brought Grey up to the boardroom in handcuffs. Once they brought him into the room they positioned themselves outside the boardroom like they had before when they brought up Hart.
Grey looked defiantly at Jack who was standing at the head of the table with Ianto behind him to his right. “I see the lycan dog dug up his favorite bone,” Grey sneered. Walking right up to Jack, he asked, “How did it feel dying over and over Jack, choking on the good old Cardiff dirt?”
Ianto just wanted to wipe the smug look off of Grey’s face, but he had to let Jack handle this situation his own way.
Jack had paled, but was standing tall looking right back at his brother. “I forgive you, Gray,” Jack said.
Grey balked for a moment before shaking his head. “You forgive me? No, you fucking bastard, you don’t get to make the grand gesture and have a happy ending. You ruined my life,” Grey hissed through clenched teeth.
“I've forgiven you, I gave you absolution, now do the same for me,” Jack replied.
“I prayed for death. Those creatures, the things they did to me, because of you, the favorite son, the one who lived, who'll always live. The only strength I have is my hatred for you,” Grey said.
“And I spent over a thousand years buried as atonement; no light, no sound, no human touch - totally alone and isolated. But I guess that’s not enough for you, is it?” Jack countered. He was starting to realize how truly insane his brother was and it saddened him.
Grey got into Jack’s face. “I begrudge you everything. I want to rip it all from you, to leave you screaming in the dark. I will never absolve you. All of it, it's your fault!” Grey screamed.
Before Ianto could step forward Jack had spun Grey around and clamped a cloth over Grey’s mouth and nose. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you, but I can’t let you endanger the family I have left,” Jack said as tears rolled down his face. Grey struggled but couldn’t avoid inhaling the medicine in the cloth and he slowly passed out. Jack slid to the floor sobbing and holding his brother in his arms.
This entry was originally posted at http://socalrose.dreamwidth.org/10319.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
This chapter is rated PG-13.
tw~tw~tw~tw~tw~tw~tw~tw~tw~tw
Jack spent the evening eating Chinese food, snuggling on the couch with Ianto, and watching the Marx brothers’ movies. After viewing, A Night at the Opera, Jack yawned. “Right, time for bed,” Ianto said shutting off the telly. Jack didn’t resist when Ianto pulled him up from the sofa. Five minutes later they were both in bed, Jack fast asleep in Ianto’s arms.
Ianto instantly knew the minute Jack got out of bed. He waited a moment in case Jack just went to the bathroom but he didn’t return. Ianto got up and walked to the living room. Jack was standing by the large front window dressed in pajamas bottoms gazing at the bay. Ianto wrapped his arms around Jack’s waist from behind. “Bad dream?” he asked softly kissing Jack’s shoulder.
“No,” Jack replied. “I did sleep for a while, but I woke up, thought of Grey and . . .” Jack shrugged his shoulders leaving the thought hanging.
“It’s almost dawn; why don’t we get dress, go to your favorite rooftop and watch the sun come up together. Afterwards we can go have breakfast,” Ianto suggested.
“I’d like that,” Jack replied. They showered and dressed quickly. A short walk later they were on the roof watching the sunrise and Cardiff come to life for another day.
“Because of me this city was almost blown up,” Jack said quietly.
Ianto made Jack look him in the eyes. “Because of your planning and helping set up Pack Security with Harold, you saved Cardiff from the bombs. The only one who suffered is you.”
Jack saw the pain in Ianto’s eyes. “You suffered too, Ianto. Grey hurt both of us. What am I going to do about Grey?” Jack asked. Ianto pulled Jack into a hug.
“I don’t know Jack,” Ianto admitted. “But we’ll figure it out together.” He kissed Jack sweetly. “I’m starving let’s get some breakfast.” Jack and Ianto had breakfast at Casa Celi café and took some pastries to the Hub for the others.
They entered the Hub through the invisible lift. Tosh, Gwen, Harold, and Anian hugged Jack before Owen practically dragged Jack down to the medical bay to check him over. A few minutes later Owen admitted, “Everything physically is fine, but I want you to tell me the minute you feel claustrophobic, short of breath or panicked in anyway.”
“I will,” Jack agreed. “Right now I want a status meeting in the boardroom in ten minutes,” he added.
Ianto placed the pastries out on the boardroom table and prepared coffee. Tosh, Gwen, Owen, Harold, and Anian arrived together sitting down, choosing pastries to eat and accepting mugs of coffee. Ianto noticed Jack’s hand trembled a little when he took the blue and white striped mug from Ianto. He sat down next to Jack placed his hand on Jack’s thigh and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Jack gave him a small smile before turning to the group. “I want to thank everyone for doing a tremendous job saving Cardiff and for rescuing me. I couldn’t have come back without your help,” Jack stated.
Owen as usual came right to the point, “What are we going to do about Hart and your brother?” he asked.
“I’m not sure;” Jack admitted although he and Ianto had talked about it over breakfast. “I need to talk to them first and then I’ll decide.”
“You do know that Grey tried to kill Ianto - don’t you?” Gwen asked. Ianto glared at Gwen but she knew it was important Jack knew what had almost happened to Ianto.
Jack looked stunned. “Grey tried to kill you?” Jack asked hoarsely looking at Ianto.
“Harold and Anian stopped him Jack - I’m alright, I’m here, Cariad,” Ianto replied. Ianto cradled Jack’s face in his hands kissing him right in front of everyone removing the anguished look off Jack’s face and calming him.
“If you two are done snogging can we get back to business?” Owen asked. Everyone chuckled at Owen’s comment.
Jack held Ianto’s hand tightly in his and turned back to the group. “Owen, what’s Grey’s mental state?” Jack asked.
Owen hesitated and then finally said, “I’m sorry Jack, there’s no doubt about it; he’s criminally insane. Grey’s just too damaged from the torture he’s endured and he’s a danger to everyone. There’s no safe place we can send him to for treatment on this planet.”
Jack knew Owen was right but the truth hurt so badly. “I can’t . . . I can’t kill him; he’s my brother in spite of what he did to me and what he tried to do to Cardiff,” Jack said.
“We can’t keep him locked up forever Jack,” Owen countered. “He may be insane but he’s very clever and sooner or later he’ll escape and try to finish what he started.”
“Why don’t we freeze him?” Gwen suggested. “At least until you can get hold of the Doctor and then he could take Grey to an off world hospital where he could get the treatment he needs.”
“What Gwen is suggesting may be the best we can manage for now Cariad,” Ianto said.
“I know,” Jack admitted running his free hand through his hair in frustration. “Still I need to talk to him and see for myself.”
“What about Hart?” Tosh asked.
“Grey wouldn’t have known Jack was here if Hart hadn’t told him,” Gwen said.
“That may be true, but we wouldn’t have found Jack so quickly if Hart hadn’t come back to help us,” Ianto said reluctantly.
“I’ll talk with Hart first and decide what to do,” Jack replied. “Bring Hart up here; Ianto and I will talk to him alone.”
Hart wasn’t sure where the two guards were taking him. They escorted him into the boardroom and then stood outside in the hallway. He spotted Jack sitting at the table with Ianto beside him.
“It’s good to see you Jack,” Hart said smiling at him. “I knew they’d find you with the ring I gave you.”
“It’s because of you Jack was buried in the first place,” Ianto growled standing up from his chair. He still wanted to rip Hart apart.
“No Ianto, don’t,” Jack said placing a restraining hand on Ianto’s arm. Jack stood up and walked over to Hart. Hart looked small and pathetic in the orange jumpsuit. “Why did you go and find Grey?” Jack asked. “Did you think I’d fall in love with you because you found my brother?”
Hart looked at Jack and could see the pain and suffering mirrored in his eyes. “Yeah, I thought maybe if I found Grey and brought him to you, you’d realize how much I still love you,” Hart replied.
“But it didn’t turn out the way you thought it would, did it? Grey’s criminally insane and forced you to do his bidding to get his revenge. We stopped his plan though, at least he didn’t destroy Cardiff, but he buried me alive and almost killed Ianto,” Jack countered as he slowly backed Hart into the wall. “I forgive you for what you did to me,” Jack said before slugging Hart hard in the face. “I don’t forgive you for almost getting Ianto killed. Ianto, tell Tosh to find a rift opening for Hart to use as an exit from this planet. I mean it Hart, leave this planet and never come back.”
“I’m sorry Jack,” Hart said. “I know that doesn’t mean much coming from me, but I truly am sorry I brought all this misery down on you. If I had known Ianto was a lycan and you were life mates I would have never tried to find Grey.”
“Not buying your excuse Hart,” Jack countered. “I made it clear the last time you were here I didn’t want to be with you ever again. You should have respected my wishes. There’ll be no third chance - you got it?”
Hart’s shoulders slumped; “Yeah Jack I’ve got it,” Hart replied. The guards took Hart back to his cell to change back into his own clothes and prepare to leave.
“Do you really think this is a wise move?” Ianto asked. He wrapped his arms around Jack and pulled him close. Jack looked at Ianto.
“We both know Grey got the drop on Hart, tortured him and forced him to do all those things and he did help save me. He knows I’ll never be with him again. There’s nothing left for him here. I just want him gone,” Jack admitted resting his head on Ianto’s shoulder.
“We’ll do it your way Jack,” Ianto agreed. “Are you ready to see Grey?”
“No, but we’ve got to finish this,” Jack replied. Ianto called Harold over the comms and told him to bring up Grey. The guards brought Grey up to the boardroom in handcuffs. Once they brought him into the room they positioned themselves outside the boardroom like they had before when they brought up Hart.
Grey looked defiantly at Jack who was standing at the head of the table with Ianto behind him to his right. “I see the lycan dog dug up his favorite bone,” Grey sneered. Walking right up to Jack, he asked, “How did it feel dying over and over Jack, choking on the good old Cardiff dirt?”
Ianto just wanted to wipe the smug look off of Grey’s face, but he had to let Jack handle this situation his own way.
Jack had paled, but was standing tall looking right back at his brother. “I forgive you, Gray,” Jack said.
Grey balked for a moment before shaking his head. “You forgive me? No, you fucking bastard, you don’t get to make the grand gesture and have a happy ending. You ruined my life,” Grey hissed through clenched teeth.
“I've forgiven you, I gave you absolution, now do the same for me,” Jack replied.
“I prayed for death. Those creatures, the things they did to me, because of you, the favorite son, the one who lived, who'll always live. The only strength I have is my hatred for you,” Grey said.
“And I spent over a thousand years buried as atonement; no light, no sound, no human touch - totally alone and isolated. But I guess that’s not enough for you, is it?” Jack countered. He was starting to realize how truly insane his brother was and it saddened him.
Grey got into Jack’s face. “I begrudge you everything. I want to rip it all from you, to leave you screaming in the dark. I will never absolve you. All of it, it's your fault!” Grey screamed.
Before Ianto could step forward Jack had spun Grey around and clamped a cloth over Grey’s mouth and nose. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you, but I can’t let you endanger the family I have left,” Jack said as tears rolled down his face. Grey struggled but couldn’t avoid inhaling the medicine in the cloth and he slowly passed out. Jack slid to the floor sobbing and holding his brother in his arms.
This entry was originally posted at http://socalrose.dreamwidth.org/10319.html. Please comment there using OpenID.