Fanfic - Counting Stars 16/17 [Torchwood: Jack/Ianto]
Apologies for the late update. I have reasons:
1) I unexpectedly lost computer access for nearly a week. When that was resolved, I discovered that
2) A significant portion of this chapter had to be rewritten because of a characterisation conflict I hadn’t noticed earlier. But before I could do that,
3) A rather nasty personal incident occurred and I found myself in completely the wrong headspace to do any sort of writing.
Now that I’m getting over 3), I’ve managed to edit and post this chapter up.
Thanks to those who were worrying about me and apologies once again to all readers for the lateness of this update.
Warning: This is where the Big Cliché really shows up. The first major half of it, anyway, and at the end you should be able to guess what the other half is.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen
Part Fifteen
Ianto’s arm healed up faster than Owen had expected, but in the meantime, he and Jack swapped off on duties again. It was almost getting to be routine. At least, Ianto reflected, he’d been given a ready-made excuse to visit Callista again. She’d done splendidly on her field trials, and whenever she felt ready, she’d be allowed to strike out on her own.
It was simple nervousness that kept her at the shelter still. In a bid to get her out a little more, Ianto got Jack’s permission to invite her over to the Hub. Jack, Owen and Gwen were out on a call when Callista came over, so Ianto introduced her perfunctorily to Tosh (who was busy with her programmes), then brought her down to the archives.
“This is where I spend most of my time,” he said. “It’s where we put copies of all our information, and store the artefacts we find.”
It is quite large, Callista said, both telepathically and with her hands, as she looked around. Ianto was glad for the telepathy, since Callista had long ago surpassed his basic skills at sign language. I suppose the space is necessary, given how long the organisation has been in existence. You mentioned you keep objects here?
“Some,” Ianto said. “I’m afraid I can’t show you all of them, but there are a few you could see, if you’d like.”
Please, Callista said eagerly. Even her facial expressions demonstrated the emotion perfectly, and Ianto couldn’t help smiling at her.
“This way, then,” he said, leading her into the first room down. They spent a few minutes looking through various aliens toys and gadgetry, before Callista stopped at one cabinet, frowning thoughtfully.
What is in here? she asked.
“A few things,” Ianto said, checking the labels on the side. “Supposedly cosmetic. Jewellery, that sort of thing. Here -”
He opened the drawers for her. The first few were uninteresting, and she dismissed them immediately. The fourth one contained twin rings of metal, looped through each other and decorated with delicate engravings. The utter shock radiating from her mind was hard to miss.
It took Ianto a week to get up the nerve to talk to Jack about what he’d learned, but just as he’d resolved to do so, Gwen and Tosh discovered the secret of the negative Rift spikes. He watched Gwen’s presentation, wishing that she’d remember what they’d talked about, wishing she realised that some things were better left unexplored, knowing she wouldn’t leave it at that.
And he knew that Jack needed to know, through her, that there was nothing else he could do for the residents of Flat Holm. He felt like a traitor (again) as he left the package on Gwen’s desk for her to find.
Pity she hadn’t checked it before trying to find Jack. Her walking in on them was mortifying (he’d have preferred Owen), and Ianto almost forgot to feel guilty. Almost.
“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.
“What?” Ianto asked, looking at him blankly. Jack folded his arms across his bare chest and frowned, his shirt dangling loosely from his hand. Ianto looked down at himself, picking at the buttons on his shirt.
“You’re not making me pay for that comment to her just now,” Jack said. “Why not?”
“Naked hide-and-seek,” Ianto said, snorting. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Any game is made better by being played naked,” Jack insisted. “She would’ve agreed with me.”
“Oh yes, because she’s the picture of agreeability,” Ianto said, shaking his head, still avoiding Jack’s eyes.
“Stop changing the subject,” Jack said abruptly. “What’s wrong? You’re all… edgy.”
Ianto bit his lip. “I - I did something I don’t think you’ll like.”
Jack was silent for a moment. “I think I finally understand that phrase now,” he finally said in a weak attempt at levity. “Feeling your stomach plunge to your toes?”
“You’ll find out what it is soon,” Ianto said, looking pleadingly at Jack. “I did what I thought was right, Jack, please believe that.”
“You’re not going to tell me what it is, are you?” Jack asked slowly. Ianto shook his head mutely.
“Then,” Jack said. “I’ll trust that you had a reason. When do you suppose I’ll find out by?”
“Soon,” Ianto said miserably. “A day, two?”
“All right,” Jack said, leaning in to hug Ianto. “Stop looking so upset, will you? We’ll work it out.”
“Just -” Ianto took a deep breath. “When you find out, I know you’ll be angry. Just… give me a chance to explain?”
“Okay,” Jack said, kissing Ianto’s brow, then his closed eyes, mouth trailing downwards. “But, well, you know me. If it looks like I’m going to be unreasonable, go ahead and slap me or something.”
Ianto huffed a laugh against Jack’s lips.
He sensed it the moment Jack realised. Ianto sat there in the tourist office feeling numb and terrified at the same time. It was an interesting feeling, but none of it showed through as he gave directions, sold souvenirs and offered suggestions for places to visit. Still, it was with a good deal of relief that he closed up for the night.
“Why did you give me the directions?” Gwen asked him quietly. Ianto had hidden in the tourist office as long as he could, and she’d caught him on her way out.
“You weren’t going to let it go,” Ianto said simply.
“You went behind Jack’s back,” she said, a hint of accusation in her voice.
“I know,” he said, refusing to look at her. “Are you happy now that you know, Gwen?”
“How can you say that?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “It was so horrible there, all those people -”
“The last thing all those people want from you is pity,” Ianto interrupted harshly. “But do you see now, that not everything can be fixed? That sometimes, ‘not enough’ is the best we can do? And that sometimes, it’s easier not to know?”
Gwen stared at him for a long moment, then left without answering. Her eyes were damp.
Ianto squeezed his eyes shut for a minute, summoning up every ounce of courage he could find. Then he made his way into the Hub.
Jack was in their bedroom. Ianto hesitated at the manhole cover, then quietly made his way down the ladder. If Jack wasn’t in the mood for company (his company, at least), he could easily spend the night on the sofa.
“Why?” Jack asked. He was facing the wall, and though he’d obviously heard Ianto, he wasn’t moving to acknowledge him in any way. Something heavy sat in Ianto’s chest, making it hard for the words to get out.
“She wasn’t going to let it go,” he said, repeating what he’d just told Gwen. He thought about going closer, but decided against it, hovering uncertainly near the ladder instead. “She was becoming obsessed by it.”
“She would have forgotten,” Jack said thickly.
“She wouldn’t have,” Ianto said. “But it wasn’t for her I did it. Remember -” he swallowed hard. “- Remember how I said you needed validation from her? I think you needed it for this more than anything else.”
There was a long silence.
“Jack,” Ianto said. He felt an overwhelming sadness brush against his mind before Jack locked it away. Ianto reached out mentally and leaned against Jack’s mind, willing him to let him in. “Jack.”
“The look on her face,” Jack said dully, rolling over to face the ceiling. He laughed humourlessly. “You know what, I think she thought I was kidnapping these people or something. Experimenting on them.”
“She wouldn’t have,” Ianto said, frowning.
“I’m pretty sure she did,” Jack said. He glanced at Ianto. “You know, she wouldn’t have been wrong, if she’d met me back when I was a Time Agent.”
Ianto sat down on the couch, eyeing Jack cautiously. “It wasn’t exactly a great time for you, was it?”
“Don’t make it something it wasn’t,” Jack said softly. “Back then, I didn’t see anything wrong in what I did. I think maybe, sometimes, I -” He cut himself off, but not before Ianto heard the rest of the half-formed thought. I let the team, let Gwen, get away with so much because I’m scared of tipping back over the edge, scared of not knowing how much discipline is too much, and how do I control them, do I have the right?
“Giving in too much isn’t good for the team either,” Ianto said softly. “I know you never wanted the responsibility, but you have it now, and you have to set the boundaries. Tosh and I aren’t the sort who’d push much, I don’t think, but Owen and Gwen are. And who knows about future members? You have to know how to deal with them.”
“When did running Torchwood turn into being a parent?” Jack asked wryly.
“Probably from its inception,” Ianto replied immediately. Jack smiled and shook his head at nothing in particular.
“About Gwen,” Ianto said hesitantly. “I know I shouldn’t have done it…”
“You were wrong to,” Jack agreed calmly. “And of course you were right in the end.” A wave of melancholic affection washed over Ianto’s mind. “As you tend to be when dealing with me.”
“This was an educated guess,” Ianto confessed. “For once, I knew exactly what Gwen needed, but I had no clue about you.”
“I guess it’s worked out,” Jack said. “Sort of. We’ll have to deal with Andy though.”
“Who?” Ianto asked. “Wait, Gwen’s old partner? What about him?”
“She asked him for help with the GPS,” Jack said with a sigh. “She told me on the way back. Let it slip, actually, I don’t think she intended to say that.”
“Should we Retcon him?” Ianto asked, frowning.
“I don’t know,” Jack said. “Think he’ll let it go if we ask nicely?”
Ianto smiled blandly. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll ask and we’ll see how it goes.”
“Tell him we’re investigating the disappearances and if we have any leads we’ll contact him,” Jack suggested absently. “If he doesn’t look like he’ll drop it…”
“I’ll bring some amnesia pills with me,” Ianto said. “See if I can’t meet him tomorrow morning, so he doesn’t lose too much.”
“All right,” Jack said. “Let me know how it goes. What are you doing all the way over there?”
“I wasn’t entirely sure if you’d want me here tonight,” Ianto confessed, loosening his tie.
“It’s your room too,” Jack said. “If I wanted space, I’d go for a walk. Climb a roof. I wouldn’t kick you out.”
“Duly noted,” Ianto said, undressing. He slipped into bed and Jack immediately wrapped himself around Ianto. “Jack? Are we good?”
“Yeah,” Jack replied softly. “We’re good.”
Ianto fell asleep quickly, drained by all the worrying he’d done earlier. Jack, on the other hand, stayed wide awake. He knew he wasn’t going to get any sleep that night. Jonah’s scream had shaken him badly, and all he really wanted to do was hold Ianto as tightly as he could for a few hours.
Jack woke Ianto up in the morning with a hand on his cock and teasing lips on his neck. “You see,” Jack said as if Ianto hadn’t just groggily opened his eyes. “What you did yesterday was absolutely right. That deserves a reward, don’t you think?”
“Mm,” Ianto managed, and Jack laughed.
“What do you want?” he asked. “Blow-job? Ride me? Fuck me? Let me fuck you?”
“All of the above?” Ianto gasped.
“Unfortunately, we can’t spend all day in here,” Jack replied.
“Pity,” Ianto said. “Blow-job - sixty-nine, I want your cock too, want you to fuck my mouth -”
Jack didn’t need any more encouragement. Ianto suspected he might have broken at least the speed of sound with how fast he moved. Then he let the slick warmth and heavy solidity of Jack’s cock distract him from anything else. Their minds were wrapped around and through each other, the dual sensations combining with the rawness of their emotions (melancholyloveneedlonging) to create a kind of intensity they’d rarely felt before. Jack came first, embarrassingly quickly, and Ianto followed him barely a minute later.
They showered afterwards, and then Jack made Ianto stay in the room while he got them some breakfast. They ate together in the bedroom (though not on the bed, at Ianto’s insistence), simply enjoying the quiet and company. Finally, at eight, Jack reluctantly agreed that they should actually get to work.
Ianto headed for the coffee maker… which had a post-it on it. He didn’t bother hiding the grin as he read what was on it: 22) Has a tongue to die for (actually, I’m talking about all the languages you speak). On the bottom was an additional note which read, Your baby has something for you.
In the archives, on top of the computers, was the next post-it, which said 11) Amazing poker face. Below it, Jack had written Where we began. The grin on Ianto’s face grew even bigger as he glanced at the security monitors, then headed for the morgue.
Jack’s impromptu little treasure hunt ended with Ianto collecting a series of notes that assured him:
13) Understands me. I don’t understand me. How do you do it?
18) Strong. In every respect.
7) Has tamed a pterodactyl. (Chocolate? Seriously? How’d you come up with that?)
23) Has a tongue to die for (okay, I’m talking about what you think I’m talking about).
39) Further to point 26 - unless they’re hurting me.
It took him a few moments to recall what twenty-six on the list had been, but once he did, he tracked down Jack and gave him a very long kiss.
Gwen took a few days to get over what she’d seen. Ianto couldn’t bring himself to apologise, not when he felt at least part of the blame lay with her. He did, however, take extra care with her coffee, and ensured that the pantry was stocked with her favourite snacks. Jack was rather amused by his quiet solicitude, and rewarded him for it in numerous inventive ways.
Discovering the truth of Flat Holm had shaken the team, but they soon fell back into routine. Ianto suddenly found himself with very little to do, since the archives were completely organised and up to date. Despite taking on some of Tosh’s workload, he still had way too much time to think, and his mind naturally kept circling back to what Callista had told him.
They find their way to those they are meant for, she’d said, her mind shining with a strange, indefinable emotion.
The twin loops of metal glimmered on the table in front of him. He hadn’t touched them for five minutes now, and the glow had faded into nothing.
“What’s that, Ianto?” Gwen asked curiously, stopping in front of his table. Tosh came over as well to look at the trinket.
“A peculiarity,” he replied, still watching the metal as if expecting something of it. It lay there innocently, gleaming in the fluorescent lighting of the Hub.
“Say what?” Owen asked, coming up behind Gwen, covered in green slime. Ianto raised an eyebrow and Gwen hastily covered up a laugh. Tosh had to turn away for a few moments. Owen glowered at them. “Don’t,” he growled.
“Don’t what?” Jack asked. Ianto tried not to jump at his sudden appearance. “Oh, Owen, I know green’s a good colour on you, but don’t you think you’re taking it a bit far?”
Owen pointed an eloquent finger at Jack, who simply laughed in response. Then Jack noticed what was on Ianto’s desk.
“God,” he breathed, the expression on his face instantly transforming from amusement into utter awe. “Where did this come from?” He reverently reached towards it, stopping just short of touching it.
“You know what it is?” Tosh asked.
“Something invented by a telepathic race, no one knows which,” Jack explained with a soft smile. “It’s a bit hard to explain - they’re designed with the recipients specifically in mind. They’re sort of intelligent… like the Hub computer, sort of. Just enough to know how to get to whoever they’re meant for. Can’t mistake their telepathic touch for anything else, it’s just -” He hesitated, then gently touched the surface of the metal.
The designs flashed into brilliance immediately, and Jack yanked his hand away as if it was burnt, staring at the rings in complete bewilderment.
“Oh wow, that’s gorgeous,” Gwen breathed, and reached out to touch them too. The moment her skin met the metal, the glow winked out. Ianto took a deep, steadying breath, and then another.
“Why does it do that?” Owen asked, dripping green slime.
“Because Jack’s one of the people it’s meant for,” Ianto told him calmly. “That’s what the glow indicates.”
“And Gwen isn’t, so it goes out?” Tosh guessed. Ianto nodded.
“Oh my god,” Jack said, with the most peculiar expression on his face as he stared at Ianto. “Oh my god.”
“Sir?” Ianto asked, still feeling preternaturally calm.
“Pick it up, Ianto,” Jack breathed, looking like he was trying not to hope, and failing.
Ianto obligingly picked up the rings - because that was what they were, rings - and watched as they flared into brilliance again. Beside him, Jack stopped breathing.
“So… you’re the other recipient,” Tosh hazarded. “What are they for, though?”
“No one really knows,” Ianto said. “Callista’s species is what is responsible for these beauties. She told me about them. And that the effects of these are unique to those for whom they are made.”
“Some sort of psychic stuff,” Owen guessed, then squelched as he moved. “Ah fuck, I’m gonna go get this off me.”
“I’d suggest you test a small patch first before showering,” Ianto told him. “Remember the last time an alien exploded on you?”
Tosh giggled. “Yeah, the goo hardened the moment water hit it,” she commented, eyes sparkling. “And since he was in the shower…”
“Have pity on the one who’ll have to manoeuvre your naked body around and chip hardened goo off it. Again,” Ianto said. Jack started and looked between Ianto and Owen in disbelief.
“This I don’t remember,” he said, eyes wide.
“It was while you were with the Doctor,” Ianto explained, then stood up, the rings still glowing insistently in his hand. “And since it’s past quitting time, I believe I’ll be retiring now.” He met Jack’s gaze squarely, watching as the decision firmed behind those blue eyes.
“Right. Everyone out of here then,” Jack said, clapping his hands briskly. “Early night tonight, so make sure you’re in on time tomorrow.”
“No need to tell me twice,” Gwen laughed, breezing over to where she’d left her bag. Tosh smiled hesitantly at Ianto - clearly, she understood that something had just happened, but wasn’t sure what - and grabbed her own things from her workstation.
“Shower,” Owen decided, and started squelching off.
“Shower at home,” Jack told him. “I’m closing the Hub down now.”
That earned him a five-minute grumble from Owen about how he’d just had his car cleaned, dammit. Jack was thoroughly unsympathetic (“Put some plastic down. And maybe next time you’ll not drip alien juices all over the SUV, either?”) and within fifteen minutes, the Hub was deserted save for Jack and Ianto.
“So,” Jack said, as the two of them stood there awkwardly, looking at each other.
“So,” Ianto repeated.
“Callista’s species, huh,” Jack said, a faint smile on his face. He leaned against his table and crossed his arms over his chest.
“She told me when she saw it react to me,” Ianto explained. “She - felt their presence, I think, and I took them out to show her.”
“They call out,” Jack murmured. “They must have sensed someone nearby who could explain things to us.”
“Callista seemed very impressed,” Ianto said, and looked down at the rings he still held. They glowed merrily. “It’s a rather different conceptualisation of the word, of course, but I had the impression - that, well, for most telepathic races in the Galaxy -”
“I know,” Jack said, and his voice was so rich and warm that Ianto had to look at him again, no matter how nervous he was feeling. “I want it. And you, Ianto?”
“So much,” Ianto whispered, and then suddenly Jack was in his arms and kissing him, and the world narrowed to the feel of Jack’s lips and tongue and teeth. And the warmth of the rings in his hand.
“Mmarfims,” he said as Jack continued to kiss the breath out of him. He somehow summoned up the strength to pull away a little (and ignore Jack’s discontented mewl). “The rings,” he said again, more coherently this time.
Jack’s grip on his loosened, and he took a small step back, just far enough for Ianto to bring his hand up between their bodies. The rings glowed brightly, the light increasing even more when Jack brought his own hand up to cup Ianto’s.
“With this ring,” he whispered, laughter dancing in his eyes.
“God. Gwen’s wedding’s completely gotten under your skin, hasn’t it?” Ianto deadpanned. Jack stuck his tongue out at him, and Ianto suddenly found himself outright grinning. He rolled the rings on his palm, snagging one of them by his thumb and forefinger, and held them up to Jack. His lover (partner-boyfriend-confidante-everything) smiled at him, and took the second ring in hand.
“I thee wed,” Ianto said softly as the loops seemed to melt through each other and separated into two distinct rings.
“Not exactly the most romantic setting,” Jack commented. “But let me -” He slipped the ring he was holding onto Ianto’s ring finger, where it settled as if it had been made for him (it had). Then, with an expectant look on his face, he waved his left hand in front of Ianto, who laughed and grabbed it and slipped the other ring on his finger, and then kissed it, which made Jack pull him ever closer and - and not kiss him, just hold him like he’d never held anything so precious before, and Ianto let his eyes slide shut and bask in the feeling of everything that was Jack and everything that was Ianto merging and spinning through and into each other with giddy ecstasy.
It was a long time before they finally separated, with identically ridiculous looks of delight on their faces.
“That’s what this whole thing was about,” Jack said, bumping his forehead against Ianto’s temple gently. “Why our shields fell, why this bond even exists.”
“Yep,” Ianto agreed. “The rings just stabilise the bond - they can’t create what wasn’t already there. One question, though, why rings?”
“They aren’t always,” Jack said. “Mind, all the information I have on these things were from my Traditions and Mythologies class, so -” He shrugged. “Apparently they take on the shape that most closely resembles whatever form of, um, union the recipients are most familiar with. And even in my time, there’s something about rings.”
“I can’t conceive of how these were created,” Ianto admitted.
“We’re humans,” Jack said. “Then again, I wouldn’t put it past you to figure it out eventually. You realise what this means, don’t you?”
“That it’s going to hurt you twice as worse when I die?” Ianto asked softly.
“Stop that,” Jack said, biting his earlobe. “Being pessimistic is my job.”
“That - ah - the sex is going to be twice as amazing?” Ianto asked.
“I was going to say, that we’ll always be together,” Jack said. “But I like the way you think. Let’s go test that out, shall we?”
Jack took to the now-stable bond with child-like delight. Before, they’d had to consciously concentrate if they wanted to meld through the other’s mind. Now, though, they were always there, in and with each other. Privacy was still possible, of course - Ianto privately likened it to working on different things, but in the same room. The option to simply turn around and ask a question was always there, but the natural state of affairs was a peaceful, contented quiet as they attended to their own jobs.
They didn’t announce anything to the team, but Tosh noticed the matching rings the very next day. She beamed at Ianto and Jack delightedly, though fortunately she refrained from creating a fuss.
“Should I get you a toaster?” she asked Ianto quietly when they had a moment alone.
“No alien tech,” Ianto warned her.
“Knowing our luck, it’d blow up in our faces,” she said.
“Worse - kill us and try to take over the world.”
“What a way to go,” she said. “What would you put on the death cert?”
“Incident with a toaster,” Ianto deadpanned. “You could always make it a microwave oven. The one in the kitchen’s about to give up the ghost, I think.”
“That’ll do fine,” Tosh laughed. “I’m so happy for you, Ianto.”
He gave her a rare, genuine smile. “I’m happy for me too,” he confided. “And thank you.”
She caught him in a brief hug and positively skipped over to her station. Jack laughed in Ianto’s mind, and Ianto shamelessly indulged in the unadulterated joy before getting back to his own work.
But naturally, in the fashion of Torchwood, they barely had any time to enjoy the new bond before things all went to hell. Gwen was running late that day when the alarms went off, picking up some form of non-human energy pattern. They headed out without her, though Jack did leave her a message telling her they were heading out.
They got to the building in question and split up to search it. Something was wrong, Ianto’s gut told him, but he tried to suppress the feeling and focus on what he was doing.
Then he saw the bomb and wished he hadn’t ignored his instincts.
His arm wasn’t broken.
It was a ridiculous first thought to have upon waking up, but he found himself rather astonished at the fact. He’d been fully expecting to find himself with a broken arm (leg, ribs, skull) the moment he’d seen the counter tick to zero. Well, to be perfectly frank, he hadn’t expected to live through the explosion, but still. His arm wasn’t broken!
Just dislocated, it felt like. He couldn’t move his shoulder. Why was it always his arms?
And then Jack was there, hauling crumbled debris off him. Ianto tried an experimental wiggle of his legs. At least those seemed to be working fine. He pulled himself up with Jack’s help, his lover’s relief tangible in his mind.
Ianto didn’t curse Jack even mentally when Jack set his dislocated shoulder. He thought that rather a display of willpower on his part.
Everyone else had made it out basically uninjured as well. Ianto considered this a minor miracle but decided against mentioning it. Also, he now knew why his arm hadn’t broken - it was Tosh’s turn, apparently. It was a very dishevelled group that finally got back together, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), Jack’s wristband chose that moment to provide them with the answer.
Be careful, Ianto whispered as he and Tosh raced towards the central server building. In the back of his mind, he could track Jack heading for the Hub, could distantly register what was happening even as he focused on what was before him.
Always, Jack replied. Don’t die, my Ianto.
Ianto and Tosh were almost at the station when he felt Jack’s mind being violently torn from him. Instinctively, he pulled back into his own mind, and found the process made easier by the ring’s presence. Somehow, it managed to anchor him, keeping him from slipping after Jack into death. He opened the comms channel as he followed Tosh into the building.
“Everyone,” Ianto said. “Thought you might like to know that Jack just died. Finish up where you are and get back to the Hub ASAP. Be on your guard; we’ve got at least one hostile inside, maybe more.”
“All right?” Tosh asked as they continued up cautiously.
“No,” Ianto replied honestly. “Something’s wrong about all this. Besides the obvious, I mean.”
“Like them?” Tosh suggested mildly, pointing out the three Death-wannabes (seriously, flowing black cloaks and scythe?) standing at the end of the room.
“Something like that, yes,” Ianto conceded, listening as the Death-y things waxed eloquent about their sinful ways. The moment they started approaching, he and Tosh drew their weapons and simultaneously gunned down their opponents. “Hm. There, then.”
“Sorted,” Tosh declared, stepping over the bodies.
“Anything else?” Ianto asked.
“Having a look-see,” she said distractedly as she checked her scanner. Ianto kept his hand on his gun, warily scanning their surroundings. “It doesn’t look like -”
That was when Jack came back to life, and Ianto tuned Tosh out so that he could pay attention. I’m here, he whispered reassuringly. I’m here, I have you.
Yan - Jack gasped, his mind flailing for security.
We’re all fine, cariad. Lend me your eyes and ears?
Jack responded by opening his senses to Ianto while he tried to catch his breath.
“Ianto?” Tosh asked hesitantly.
“Give me a few minutes,” he replied absently as he watched and listened to a conversation going on across the city. The more he heard, the more discomfited he became. There was something about the way John Hart was acting - something peculiar -
What is it? Jack asked silently.
I don’t know, Ianto replied. There was a moment of disorienting turbulence before their shared vision and minds settled; the view had changed to that from the top of Cardiff Castle. Lovely. But there’s something more to this, I’m sure of it.
I trust you, Jack said. He can’t kill me, so -
He can hurt you.
I have you to get me through it, Jack said grimly. Keep the others safe. Keep yourself safe. Come back to me.
Always, Ianto replied, just as Torchwood got the message to go up to the roofs. He carefully cut the visual connection with Jack and ran upstairs with Tosh, just in time to see explosions rock the city.
“Oh my god,” Tosh whispered in disbelief.
Ianto barely managed to slam his empathic shields into place as the terror of a city washed over him in waves.
Sweetheart - Jack began, and then the bottom dropped out of his world as the mental bond with Jack twisted.
Ianto dropped to his knees, gagging, only barely aware of Tosh rubbing his back worriedly. It took him a few moments to get control of himself and figure out what had happened, and then he pushed himself unsteadily to his feet.
“Hart’s kidnapped Jack,” he said. “They’ve travelled somewhere in time.”
Tosh’s face turned grim as she relayed the information to the others. Gwen had her hands full trying to get the police organised, and Owen was on his way back to the Hub. As if that weren’t enough, Ianto and Tosh discovered that the power at the nuclear plant had been lost, and that without the coolant systems, it was in danger of going into meltdown.
“Well, that’s not good,” Ianto said as he stared at Tosh.
“… No,” she agreed. As one, they took off running for the exit.
“Quick conference,” Owen announced. “What do we know?”
“Hart’s set off bombs across the city,” Ianto said. “We can assume city-wide panic at least. The power supply at the nuclear plant has been disrupted; someone needs to get there and see what can be done. Hart’s brought Jack back in time somewhere, and I have a suspicion he’s not working alone.”
“Okay,” Owen said, running his hands through his hair. “Good summary. Bad situation. Ideas?”
“I could go to the plant,” Ianto volunteered. “I know a little about the workings.”
“Okay, you do that,” Owen said. “Meantime - what is that?”
‘That’ was Tosh’s scanner, which was beeping annoyingly at them again. “Rift energy detected in the Hub,” she explained. “Another travel anomaly - I think we can assume John’s responsible.”
“Gwen?” Owen asked.
“Here,” she said over the comms, sounding frazzled. “Just left the station.”
“Get to the Hub,” he instructed her. “We’ve got a possible intrusion. Keep your guard up.”
“Got it,” she said.
“Now us,” Owen said, then broke off to swear creatively.
“What’s going on?” Tosh cried, as Weevils began to emerge onto the streets.
Ianto held onto the ring’s presence and dove into the collective mind. “Something’s - causing them pain,” he finally gasped out as he resurfaced. “Something sonic.”
Tosh fired at an approaching Weevil. “We can’t get to the plant like this,” she said grimly.
“Sure we can,” Owen butted in. “King of the Weevils, remember? I can get there. You two get back to the Hub and tell me what the hell I need to do.”
“No,” Ianto broke in. “I can get there too. I know how to make myself invisible to them.”
“You’re sure that’ll work?” Owen asked.
“Positive,” Ianto said. He wasn’t really, but Owen didn’t need to know that. He wanted Tosh and Owen out of harm’s way, and even if Hart was in the Hub, it was still the safest place for them just then. If Owen was injured in any way, he wouldn’t be able to heal, and he frankly couldn’t afford any more injuries. And Tosh - well. He wasn’t letting anything hurt his sister.
“Okay, original plan then,” Owen said. “Ianto, get to the plant. Tosh and I will get back to the Hub and see what’s going on. Keep the comms on.”
“See you later,” Ianto said, and Tosh gave him a brief, one-armed hug before she and Owen ran off. Ianto took a moment to centre himself, then cloaked his mind from the Weevils’ telepathy.
They were virtually blind, and relied on their telepathy to tell them if something was living or not. By hiding his telepathic signal, he was in effect rendering himself a non-living object to their perception. And since he didn’t smell like any of their usual preferred foods, they tended to leave him alone. It wasn’t foolproof, but coupled with his understanding of Weevil behaviour, it allowed him to get past the Weevils on the street without being attacked.
It helped that he was simultaneously able to mentally shove the Weevils off the streets and into less crowded areas. Trees, he told them. Get out, find shade. The bad sound is from underneath. Do not return until it stops.
Getting them further away from the source of the sonic disturbance seemed to work somewhat, and the confused Weevils began to flee. Not all of them though, and Ianto knew they were going to have a hell of a time trying to explain this away. Still, first things first.
“Tosh, what’s going on?”
“John’s apparently had a change of heart,” she told him. “Said he was being forced into doing this.”
“Fucker,” Ianto said pleasantly. “Give me a moment, gonna have to bully my way past security.”
He did so very efficiently (watching Jack was good for more than one thing). Once he was inside, he and Tosh attempted to make sense of the equipment.
“I can try and re-route the auxiliary power,” Tosh suggested once Ianto had helped her get into the system. “Let me just -”
And then Ianto heard the heart-stopping sound of a gun firing.
He worked numbly, swiftly. Tosh wasn’t dead. She couldn’t be dead. And yet she wasn’t responding to his pleas and that pointed to a conclusion he didn’t want to believe in.
They always die.
Tosh was (notdeadnotdeadnotdead) injured and who knew where Owen and Gwen were, and his bond with Jack was all twisted up and he couldn’t even reach Jack and how had things gone so bad so fast?
Ianto managed to hack past the security systems (Tosh had taught him that, would still be there to teach him more) and accomplish what she’d been trying to do. He’d have to set the system to vent the irradiated fuel into the control bunker, but the danger was past. Quickly, he typed in the commands, then raced out of the nuclear plant, stopping only to give security strict instructions not to let anyone near the controls.
He’d barely stepped out of the plant when the bond snapped back into place, singing joyfully as Jack’s mind flooded his again. He stumbled and barely caught himself, the relief so overwhelming he couldn’t think for a moment.
Jack had returned. Somehow, that made things bearable.
It took another few seconds for the bond to settle down again to a manageable level. As soon as he could, he pressed in, requesting a moment to talk. He didn’t want to distract Jack if he was in a dangerous situation, but at the same time - at the same time -
What? Jack sounded terse and troubled.
It’s Tosh, he said. She’s back at the Hub, I think she was shot. It wasn’t Hart, I don’t know who -
He was interrupted by the wave of anguish that washed over Jack. What? he asked, panicked. What is it?
Grey, Jack very nearly sobbed, and then there were a few minutes of confusion as Jack did something (what was it, Ianto wondered frantically, what was making Jack feel like that?) that nearly broke his heart. Ianto could feel the anguish ripping at his lover, and wrapped his mind around Jack’s helplessly.
My brother, Jack whispered after a moment. This was all him. All because he wanted revenge on me. Because I let go of his hand and he was taken by the slavers. It’s my fault -
Never that, Ianto interrupted fiercely. It’s not your fault, Jack, don’t you ever believe that.
I don’t - Jack began.
Tosh, Ianto said simply, and could feel when Jack-the-leader took over, shoving away the pain to be dealt with later.
Where is she?
Try her workstation, Ianto said. Quick. I think it’s bad.
He kept his mind twined with Jack’s, and so he sawfeltheard distantly when Jack found Tosh lying there in a pool of blood, trying desperately to get to the computers. He heardtold her not to move, did emergency first aid on her. The injury was serious, and he knew he couldn’t handle it alone. Pressure on it, pressure on it, don’t move, hold it there, and then heJack was flying over to the computers. Locate Owen Harper. Vaults. Engage Intercoms. Owenwhereareyou. General override, code 44-B0-1. Disengaging Vault locks. GetupherenowToshishurt.
Ianto wished a bloody cab would stop for him. He supposed he did look a sight, but really. Being caught in an explosion and then running all over bloody town trying to prevent Cardiff from going up in smoke had a way of leaving a man not looking his best.
By the time he got to the Hub, Owen had almost managed to stabilise Tosh. Jack hugged his mind close when they found out. It was still touchy, but he rather thought she’d pull through. If she’d lost any more blood, though - no one wanted to speculate about that.
Help, Jack said, sounding vaguely panicked. Ianto stepped through the doorway, the alarms blaring their usual song. Gwen’s crying on me.
Better you than me, Ianto said, too relieved to care. Is it all over? He ran down to the medical bay, stopping at the sight of Tosh in the bed, looking pale and exhausted.
“She’ll be fine,” Jack said. Hart was standing awkwardly near them, and Ianto momentarily wished for something heavy and blunt to throw at him. “She’s a fighter, our Tosh.”
“Of course,” Ianto said, smiling slightly. “Jack, I -”
He didn’t understand why the tremulous relief on Jack’s face suddenly morphed into abject horror. He still hadn’t figured it out when he heard the loud bangs, and sharp pain bloomed in his back and chest as John raised his gun, aiming towards Ianto. He did have time enough for Jack’s terrified face to burn into his memory before he collapsed, his legs giving out from under him.
He was dead before he hit the floor.
Part Seventeen