Sudden Parenthood - 2/?
Title: Sudden Parenthood
Rating: PG-13
Characters/pairings: Jack/Ianto, Gwen, OC (Aled)
Warnings: M/M, very dark in places, gruesome descriptions of wounds etc. Will be VERY VERY sad at end.
Spoilers: All of S1&2, plus 'Lost Souls' radio play, Dr Who s4 finale.
Summary: After an orphanage is attacked and all but one kid survives - the kid who lost his family to the Night Travellers - Jack and Ianto feel they owe something to him and, with some persuasion from Gwen, become adoptive parents.
Disclaimer: Well, maybe in a parallel universe... but nope, not here, don't own Torchwood, and can't really claim Aled...
AN: I'm new here on LJ, but I've been reading a lot of fics, so please be nice and leave a comment... they are much appreciated and I'll try to reply to any that I might be lucky enough to get.
( Chapter One )
"Oh, the poor pet," Gwen said instantly, rushing over and kneeling down beside the bed, reaching out towards the boy.
The boy flinched away from her, whimpering and burying his head in his arms.
Gwen looked startled. "C'mon, love, I'm not going to hurt you," she said, giving her best encouraging smile, the one that showed all her teeth.
If it was even possible, the kid looked even more terrified. He let out a sob.
Ianto frowned. "Gwen. Maybe you'd better leave him."
"But-" Gwen started to protest.
"Gwen."
Gwen shook her head and straightened up. The child visibly relaxed, his eyes gleaming from out of the shadows.
Ianto started to pat down his pockets, searching for something.
Jack frowned. "What is it?"
"Chocolate," Ianto announced. "I had some chocolate- aha!" He produced a Cadbury's Dairy Milk bar and unwrapped it, neatly folding the purple wrapper before bending down and holding a chunk out to the kid.
Jack grinned as he realised what the Welshman was doing. Gwen still looked perturbed.
The boy's eyes narrowed at Ianto, suspicious.
Ianto proffered the chocolate again.
A small hand whipped out and snatched the chunk.
Ianto patiently broke off another and waited for the kid to finish before holding it out again. His blue eyes were calm and steady.
"It's OK," he said reassuringly. "You need to come out of there. Can't be all that comfortable, under the bed."
He held out his hand again, this time absent of chocolate.
It was grasped by the pale hand, and the boy allowed him to help him out from under the bed.
Ianto had to bite back a gasp as he got a proper look at him.
Jack stepped forward, incredulous. "It's-" he started, then broke off, swallowing. "Hello again."
The kid didn't smile. His dark eyes were wary, and he kept on glancing at Gwen. It was obvious that he didn't trust her.
Jack noticed. "Gwen - can you please go and get a blanket from the SUV," he said, not taking his eyes off the boy with the tousled blond hair and mistrustful eyes.
Gwen glared at Jack before striding from the room, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she went. Ianto knew that he'd probably have to pacify her with a jam doughnut and a latte later that evening.
As soon as the door had closed behind her, the kid's stance changed. He straightened slightly, meeting Jack's gaze with a measured eye.
"You're the ones from the hospital," he said quietly.
"We are," Jack affirmed. Then, gentler, "I'm sorry about what happened. If I could have changed it, I would."
The boy took in the news calmly - on the surface. Behind his large eyes were shutters; Ianto recognised the look from his own face and from Jack's.
"What's your name?" Jack asked. Ianto knew that the Captain was trying to break the ice; both of them had dealt with the files. They knew more about him and his family than the kid himself probably knew.
"Aled."
"Aled....?" Jack prompted.
"Just Aled." Aled's face was impassive. It was impossible to tell what was passing through his mind.
"Well then, Just Aled - how old are you now?" Jack grinned.
Aled didn't crack a smile. "Eight. Nine in March."
"Not long now, then!"
Aled's brows drew together in a dark line. "It's December."
Jack looked lost for words - not something Ianto was used to.
"D'you want to come with us?" he offered. "I guess you want some answers."
Aled looked momentarily wrong-footed, but recovered swiftly. "Where to?" he asked, guardedly. No doubt he had been taught about 'Stranger Danger' and all that.
Jack grinned. "Somewhere very special."
"Are you sure it was a good idea bringing him straight into the Hub?" Gwen asked Jack in a loud whisper as they crossed the Plass.
Ianto glanced at Aled. He was wearing Ianto's coat over his pyjamas. He looked swamped by the black coat.
"Where else are we going to take him?" Jack retorted. "We can hardly drop him at some orphanage somewhere and fake some paperwork."
Aled's gaze briefly flickered to Jack. The Captain and the ex-PC seemed to have forgotten about little people having big ears.
"We'll go back and get your stuff later," Ianto promised him, trying to distract him. "But it might be better for us to have a talk first."
Aled nodded, staring up at the water tower in barely disguised awe. "Wow," he breathed.
"Not been here before?" Ianto asked in surprise. It seemed odd to him that a citizen of Cardiff had not been down to the Bay.
"Once," Aled told him. "With my Grand-Tad." He fell silent again, and Ianto figured that would be all he'd get out of him for now.
Jack and Gwen were continuing their bickering behind them.
"We owe him some answers, Gwen."
"Yes, and I'm all in favour of that, but you can't just bring a child into Torchwood! Have you thought this through properly,
Jack?"
"Of course I have!" Jack protested.
"And?"
"Well... I was thinking that he could stay with you and Rhys until we get him into another orphanage, or something... we'd find a way."
Gwen sighed impatiently. "Jack. Both Rhys and I work full-time - how d'you think we'd be able to manage a kid?"
"We'd find a way," Jack repeated.
Privately, Ianto thought that Jack was fighting a losing battle with the ex-PC. Gwen was determined, and she was no fool either. She was well aware that Aled was mistrustful of her. She didn't like it, but she accepted it.
Ianto cleared his throat. "Jack."
Jack grinned disarmingly. "C'mon then, Aled. I'm about to show you something you've never seen before..."
"I've seen the water tower before," Aled pointed out. "And the Millenium Centre."
Jack's grin grew wider, and he held out his hand for him to grasp. "Oh, it's a whole lot better than that. A whole lot."