Fic: Torchwood Paranormal, Part Sixteen
Just in time for Halloween!
Torchwood Paranormal, Part Sixteen
"Yes, I hear you, John, I just don't know what you want me to do about it." Jack switched his phone to his other hand as he opened the wardrobe and surveyed the shirts hanging inside. "Gray made his choice, we're just going to have to ride it out."
"Well, I am fucking tickled pink that you can be so philosophical about this, but the truth is that he's going to do his very best to destroy this lovely little life you've got going and unless we come up with a plan, I don't see how we can stop him."
"Look, I told you when you called earlier that this is going to have to wait until I return to London." Pushing aside the shirts, Jack pulled out a charcoal grey jumper and tossed it on the bed. "Now is not a good time, I've got too much going on here. I'll handle Gray when I get back."
"And when might that be? There's a nasty rumour going about that you're now working gratis on this shoot and I don't remember being consulted on that particular part of the deal."
"That has nothing to do with you. I've squared it with Martha, the team is volunteering its time, and I'm fronting the cost."
"My, my, isn't that sweet. And what, may I ask, are they volunteering to do?"
Jack paused and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. This day had already taken a lot out of him and the last thing he wanted to deal with was Gray's latest attempt to ruin Jack's life or John's predictable overreaction to Gray's threats. It was hard to concentrate on an ongoing and useless family feud when just a few hours earlier, Jack had thought he'd lost Ianto forever. There was nothing Gray could do that would ever come close to that kind of terror.
"I told you, the situation here is critical and it also isn't for public consumption. We're here to help the family now."
"You're what? What family? What the hell are you on about, Jack? Don't tell me that pretty country boy has got you all wound up over some ghosts in the attic."
"Relax, we're still getting an episode out of this, a damn good one, by the way, but this house is under attack. I'm not turning my back on them, no matter what Gray says or who he talks to."
"Well, it's your funeral, mate. Oh, wait, you're my client, so it's my funeral, too."
Tucking the mobile between his cheek and shoulder, Jack sat down on the bed and began unbuttoning his cuffs. "Yeah, nice try. You have plenty of other clients and besides, isn't it you who's always telling me that any press is good press?"
"Only if it makes us money, love, and until I can figure out a way to turn this to our advantage you're going to have to expect some rough seas."
"Whatever, I've been through worse, especially where Gray is concerned. Just keep the vultures from finding me here in Wales and by the way, tell your mole that he'd better keep his mouth shut, as well. The owner of the security firm is a friend of mine. One call from me and your friend is out of a job."
There was a short pause. "Figured that out, yeah?"
"It wasn't hard. I know my team and they certainly know you, so it had to be someone from the security van."
"Fine," John sighed, "I'll make sure he keeps mum. In the meantime, you might want to think about calling your brother and seeing if the two of you can come to some sort of truce before he spills all your tawdry little secrets to the press."
"Yeah, sure, I'll think about it, but I can't make any promises. My priority is Caernarfon Hall."
"Bollocks, Jack, your priority is that tasty Welshman. Not that I blame you, but for God's sake, he's still just a local lad and, if you know what's good for your career, you'll forget him as soon as you return to London. In fact, let me call that costume designer you were drooling over at Cat's party last week, I'm sure he could find many inventive ways to take your mind off--"
"Damn it, John, that's enough. What's happening here isn't any of your business and if I see one paparazzi so much as drive by the front gate, I'm shipping him right back to your front door. In pieces."
"Now, now, no need to get violent, I'll make sure no one finds out about your little Welsh love nest. Call me tomorrow."
Jack turned off the phone and tossed it aside, then let himself fall back on the bed to stare up at the panelled ceiling. As blithe as he'd been about Gray, there was no mistaking the fact that his brother had decided to make trouble at the most inopportune time possible, and while it was definitely annoying, there really wasn't anything Jack could do about it. Gray's reasons for trying to destroy Jack were complicated and deep-seated, and one phone call wasn't going to make a difference.
But the hurt never went away. After all these years, Jack knew there was nothing he could do to try and heal the rift between them, and the thought of living out the rest of his life alienated from his brother was devastating. No explanation for the choices he'd made so many years ago would satisfy Gray, and now it seemed Gray had found the perfect vehicle to make Jack suffer by going to the press and exposing Jack's secrets. Jack didn't know what had set Gray off this time, but it didn't matter. He would have done almost anything to reconcile with Gray, had tried almost everything he could think of over the years, but to no avail. And if it was too late now, if Gray had decided that harming Jack's reputation would bring him some amount of peace, then Jack would simply have to ride it out. His only real concern was Gray's timing; if whatever he'd decided to do was so dreadful that the press would start hunting Jack--a not unlikely scenario, given Gray's past behaviour--that may mean that the Hall was at risk of being dragged into Jack's personal issues.
Sitting up, he quickly finished unbuttoning his shirt and pulled it off, tossing it aside before reaching for the charcoal jumper, thoughts of his brother fading as he considered a new and troubling development at Caernarfon Hall. He wasn't sure what it was, wasn't even sure if it was any kind of danger, but somehow, somewhere, a balance had shifted.
Something had happened after everyone had gone their separate ways after dinner. Jack had been preoccupied during the meal with his own worries, but he'd been well aware that Philip and Ianto were communicating exactly as they'd always done, albeit with a certain sense of distance that Jack attributed to the fact that they'd had little or no time alone since the return from the mine. Feeling compelled to call John once more and find out more about Gray's issues, Jack had left Ianto alone to meet with Philip, assuming that they'd take the brief period of time before the investigation to have a proper reunion. If Jack once again felt the faint stirring of envy at their closeness, he quickly banished it, knowing that Philip was no rival, but instead, someone Jack could trust without hesitation.
Rising from the bed, Jack tried reaching out a tendril of thought toward Ianto, hoping to get an impression from him, but felt nothing in response. Philip's presence in the house was of some comfort to him, knowing as he did that Philip would protect Ianto in Jack's absence, if there actually was some kind of threat.
After pulling the jumper over his head and settling it into place over his white under shirt, Jack paused only for a quick glance in the mirror as he ran his fingers through his disordered hair, then left his suite in search of Ianto. They wouldn't have much time alone before the investigation began in earnest, and there was still a lot of prep work to do. Jack wasn't exactly thrilled that his team would again be in the music room without him because Gwen had been right when she'd pointed out that Torchwood Paranormal weren't scientists. Worse, with Jack on the sidelines, his ability to recognize any spiritual presence, benign or otherwise, would be unavailable.
Walking through the quiet Hall, Jack could feel energy gathering inside him, an energy that was sharpening his senses with each passing moment. There was something different about this night, something was going to happen, and he knew he had to be prepared for anything. He relished the idea of bringing Adam out in the open and vanquishing him at last, yet he was deeply aware that there were pitfalls around every corner, not the least of which was the distance he'd agreed to maintain from the music room. And as fascinated as he was with Adam and Philip, his primary goal was to make sure everyone came out of the experience unscathed.
Intuitively, he found himself in the cramped hallway that led to Ianto's office. He knew Ianto was inside--it was his growing Ianto-based intuition that told him so, nothing else--but he faltered and stopped before knocking on the scarred wooden door. Philip was there with Ianto and Jack was loath to interrupt them, especially since he was growing increasingly aware of some kind of intense communication between them. He knew that sensitivity wasn't one of his strengths, but he was quickly learning that caring for someone put their needs above his own, and Ianto's reunion with Philip was still so recent that Jack set aside his own desires and turned to leave, assuming that Ianto would join him when he was ready.
Momentarily at a loss, Jack decided to find his team and check their preparations, though he knew full well that Martha and Toshiko would have everything well in hand. He worried about them, worried about them all, and not just tonight. John had been right about Toshiko's skills being put to better use elsewhere, and Jack had always known that Martha had goals beyond their pokey little supernatural show. But where he'd once never seriously considered the breakup of his team, the turn of events at the Hall combined with Gray's current campaign made Jack wonder if his usually cheerful short-sightedness was finally working against him. Flying by the seat of his pants only truly worked when he was alone, or when all that was at stake was a television programme that was in constant danger of cancellation, no matter how good the ratings. As much as he loved Torchwood Paranormal and the work they did, the fact remained that he would chuck it all for the sake of those who'd come to mean so much to him.
He had no doubt that he'd solve the mystery of Caernarfon Hall and vanquish anything or anyone who threatened it--and it wasn't all hubris that led him to believe that. Behind the flirting and the dimples and the brashness that had made him a minor celebrity, he knew he possessed hard skills and serious attributes that weren't always spent in frivolous pursuits. Throw in a good portion of sheer stubbornness and he was damn near unstoppable, giving him what he now was afraid was only a false sense of security, a belief that he was the master of his own destiny.
But that belief was gone, gone because he was beginning to see a far different future ahead of him, a frightening but exciting future that held more mystery than any haunted house. Members of his team were going to leave some day and he could set them free with his blessing because there was more to his own future now than the next ghost chase, the next poncey dancing program, the next manufactured headline in the press. And ultimately, that hazy, thrilling future rested in the very capable hands of Ianto Jones, because when Jack thought about the next day, the next week, year, hell--the next decade--he couldn't imagine any of it without Ianto beside him. It was presuming a lot, given the brevity of their relationship, but common sense had never stopped Jack before from pursuing his dreams.
Halfway back to the staircase, he nearly tripped over a suddenly manifested Lucy, even as his brain told him that he could walk right through her without harming her. She was sitting in the middle of the hallway, her tail sweeping slowly from side to side, ears up as she gave Jack a welcoming yip. Jack smiled at her and held out his hand so she could give it her usual sniff of greeting, but when he tried to move around her, she danced sideways and blocked his way.
Phantom dog or not, Jack couldn't just plough through her, so he took a step back to try another approach. Before he could decide what to do, Lucy gave herself a thorough shake and then trotted around Jack toward Ianto's office. Jack watched as she pawed at the door, then sent him a beseeching look over her shoulder.
"You can just go inside, you know," Jack muttered.
That earned him a dismissive glance and a toss of her head as she continued to scrabble at the door, even though her paw sank through the wood and disappeared.
Setting his hands on his hips, Jack took a deep breath. Lucy wanted inside and even though she could walk through the door, it was as though she was waiting for someone to open it--Jack, obviously. Apparently his desire to give Ianto privacy, though well-intentioned, was off the mark.
"Okay, I get it." Jack approached the door, glancing down at Lucy. "Do you mind if I knock first?"
He lifted his hand but before his fist could connect with the wood, the door was opened by a pale but composed Ianto, the knot of his tie loose and his collar unbuttoned--yet an obviously alone Ianto, as Jack could only sense a faint trace of Philip's presence. But even in that trace, in that bare essence of cool, loamy earth, Jack scented a difference that was underlined by the teasing scent of cloves. He raised an eyebrow at Ianto, who nodded and gestured him inside.
"Things have changed," Ianto said as way of greeting. "They are changing, minute by minute."
Jack nodded as he watched Lucy curl up on the faded rug in front of Ianto's desk.
"Yeah, I can feel it. Well, I can feel something. There's a new energy here, in the Hall, in me." He gave Ianto a searching look. "But you, I'm not so sure."
"Neither am I." Ianto reached out and took Jack's hand in his, tangling their fingers in a gesture that was becoming more and more familiar between them. "There's more. We--well, to be precise, I--brought someone back with us from the mine."
Jack's mouth opened, then closed. "Okay, well, that's not what I was expecting, but judging by the fact that you're not freaking out, I assume that this is newcomer is friend, not foe."
The disdainful tilt of Ianto's eyebrow was eloquent. "Freaking out? Honestly, Jack, is that really a term you'd ever apply to me?"
Jack's grin was devilish as he used Ianto's grip on his fingers to tug them close together. "Sorry," he said, though he clearly wasn't, "but you just ferried another life form, quite possibly an alien life form, into an already pretty crowded house. If that doesn't call for a little drama, I don't know what does."
Ianto's smile was soft and warm as he looked into Jack's eyes. "Excellent point, although I'm beginning to think this is becoming the norm around here instead of the exception." His expression shifted, a brief lapse into unfathomable sadness that Jack would've missed if he hadn't been watching so closely. He felt it resonate inside his own heart, an empathic, residual ache that he attributed to Ianto's recent interaction with Philip.
"Okay, let's have a seat so you can fill me in on all the details."
Sitting in the chairs that flanked the window, Jack leaned forward and took both of Ianto's hands in his. On some basic, unexplainable level, he felt driven to remain close to Ianto, if not in actual physical contact. With so many other things on his mind, he didn't examine the impulse too closely, simply assigning it to the back of his mind for review later but freely admitting that it was becoming imperative.
"Well," Ianto paused to swallow, the space between his eyes furrowed, "first of all, it--he--hmm, let's leave it at he for now--isn't a threat. In fact, I think he's family. Philip's family. His true family."
The words were said in such a wistful tone that Jack gave Ianto's hands a sympathetic squeeze. "That's good, right? We could use another ally."
"I don't know if it's that simple. Philip is just as worried about Adam as we are, even now. Whoever the new entity is--we have to come up with another name, haven't we?--may not be of any help. And since we know that direct interaction with Adam may be toxic to Philip, I fear we are exactly where we were this morning."
"And what does Philip have to say about this?"
Ianto's mouth twisted downward. "Not as much as I would've liked. He's carrying the newcomer inside him, shielding him from me, but I don't know if that's by choice or by necessity. They have a--a deep bond, but I'm not sure what the nature of it is."
"Does it matter?"
"I guess not," Ianto said with a frown. "But I was able to discern that all three of them are, for lack of a better term, the same species. At least he told me that much. Jack," Ianto hesitated, his gaze on their joined hands, "Philip does not want us to confront Adam, he was very clear on that. He seems to think this new arrival will be enough to shift the power in the house and keep Adam in check."
Jack pursed his lips in a silent whistle. Things would change radically if Philip chose to block them. "I see. So he'd not on board with our plans tonight?"
"He's not opposed to them, as long as you and I stay away, as we'd already agreed. But I got the strong impression that he doesn't believe it will do any good."
"So he won't interfere."
"I don't know." Ianto sighed and pulled one hand away to scrub it over his face. "It was hard to speak with him since we weren't alone."
"Yeah, tell me about the newcomer. Pretty sure I've picked up on its scent."
"It's distinct, I know. As I said, Philip is protecting it, or hiding it, I'm not sure which. I felt nothing from it and it didn't attempt to communicate, as near as I can tell. Philip didn't have the words to describe it, but then again he really didn't need any." Ianto glanced out the window into the deepening twilight. "It was all a bit awkward."
"Understandable." Jack lifted Ianto's hand to his mouth and placed a brief kiss across his knuckles. "So are you okay with going forward? Having Torchwood re-investigate the music room?"
"Yes," Ianto replied, though without much conviction. "I'm just wondering now how much good it will do."
"Maybe none," Jack replied, "but our greatest weapon is knowledge, right? Maybe whatever we learn tonight will give us an idea about how to remove Adam from the music room and set Caernarfon Hall free."
"And if it doesn't? Are we actually overreacting to something that hasn't been an issue before?"
Silently cursing the absent Philip for being less than supportive at this critical moment, Jack shook his head. "Remember, if you and I can be affected by Adam, then the odds are good that some day, someone will come to stay at the Hall who has the same ability to see Adam that we have, whether they realise it or not. And without knowing how to handle it, Adam could use that ability to hurt them or anyone else. He was very persuasive when I was attacked in the music room, and I know better. You can't risk leaving him up there to just wait for his next opportunity." He shook Ianto's hand from side to side to emphasize his point. "We can't lose sight of the goal, Ianto. I know it hurts that Philip isn't working with us on this, but after what happened to him when he confronted Adam, I'm not so sure we should involve him, anyway."
"Of course." Ianto struggled to smile. "You're right."
"Look, I don't want to work at cross purposes with Philip any more than you do, but he's just as vulnerable as we are. We're doing this for him, too."
Ianto's next attempt at a smile was more successful. "You know," he murmured, "it's a lucky thing for us all that you work on telly and not as a politician, because you do seem to know exactly the right thing to say at the right moment."
Jack tugged at his earlobe. "You, uh, might want to rethink that assessment," he said, "since I've learned the ability to talk myself out of sticky situations from lessons learned from my unsavoury past, not knowledge gleaned from living an exemplary life."
"Your secret is safe with me." Ianto lifted his free hand to Jack's face, tweaking away a lock of errant hair that had fallen toward Jack's eyes. It was a gesture of guileless affection, the kind that Jack had so rarely experienced in his life, not even in his most intimate relationships, and the casual touch of Ianto's fingertips to his skin felt like a blessing. Ianto's belief in him shone from blue eyes now clear and calm, somehow seeing qualities in Jack that Jack never thought he'd find in himself. It was a humbling thought, but at the same time, he felt his shoulders settling into a strong line, his spine straightening, and suddenly his resolve was stronger than ever.
What couldn't he do, knowing that Ianto had such faith in him? What wouldn't he do?
Clearing his throat, hoping that he hadn't revealed the extent of his reaction to Ianto, Jack stood up and pulled Ianto to his feet.
"So, onward and upward, yes?"
Ianto reached up to his tie, sliding the strip of silk through the loosened knot. "I'd like to change first--" Ianto held up his hand before Jack could reply. "And no, that was not an invitation to watch. Or participate."
Jack's lower lip thrust out in a pout before softening into a grin. If Ianto could revert to that teasingly stern tone within a blink of an eye, then he must truly be feeling better.
"Fine, fine, whatever. I should go see how Tosh is doing anyway." He glanced at his wristwatch. "The rest of the crew is here, so we'll convene in the dining room and go over the plan. Meet us there when you're ready and oh, if there happens to be any coffee--"
"Well, it is a work night and you are still a guest of the Hall," Ianto conceded, "so I think that can be arranged. Jack?"
Jack paused at the door, his hand on the knob. "Yeah?"
"Earlier, at dinner, you were preoccupied. Is everything all right?"
"Oh, yeah, that." Jack waved his hand. "It's nothing, just some family trouble, nothing to worry about."
"Anything I can help with? You seemed upset and I--"
"No," Jack's tone was unintentionally brusque, but the last thing he wanted to do was add to Ianto's burden by blathering on about his brother's intentions. "I'm fine, really."
"I see. Sorry to intrude."
Something in Ianto's impersonal reply stung Jack, but not because Ianto appeared disinterested. Just the opposite, Jack realised that he was the one who'd been dismissive of something that had obviously been distressing enough for Ianto to pick up on. In a few clipped words, Ianto had backed away from the caring friend who'd inquired after Jack's well-being, and the sudden emotional chasm caused by Jack's flippancy was intolerable.
"No, I'm sorry." Jack dropped his hand and turned to face Ianto. "It's my brother, Gray. That's why John called earlier, to warn me that Gray was about to make trouble. He's been wanting to hurt me for years and now he thinks he's found a way to do it."
"He thinks or he has?"
"From what John has told me, I'm pretty sure Gray is about to go to the press and share some of those unsavoury episodes from my past that I mentioned. If not tomorrow, some time this week."
Ianto frowned. "To what purpose?"
Jack shrugged. "To humiliate me, I suppose. Gray doesn't know me well enough to understand that I'm mostly immune to that kind of thing. My only worry is that someone--" he inclined his head in Ianto's direction "--will hear something that makes him wonder if I'm really worth all the trouble."
Ianto lifted his chin, his expression resembling that of a man considering his options, but it was the hint of reserve in his eyes that tightened the muscles in Jack's neck, since he knew he'd put that hesitancy there with his initial reaction to Ianto's inquiry.
"It should go both ways," Ianto said quietly.
"I don't--"
"I'm sorry you don't get on with your brother, and should you ever wish to talk about it, I hope you know that I'll listen. And help, if I can." Ianto's shoulders twitched in the slightest of shrugs. "You've done so much to help my family, I'd like to be able to return the favour some day."
"Ianto." Jack closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then reopened them. "Whatever it is that Gray is going to say about me is ninety percent true and one hundred percent ugly. You may hear some things that make you uncomfortable and I don't know, call me selfish, but I want to remain a hero in your eyes a little while longer."
"Heroes are all well and good until it's time to fold the tea towels or push a wheelie bin to the kerb."
Jack frowned at him. "I'm not following."
Ianto took a step forward. "Listen, Jack, if you were only a hero to me, then I'd be grateful for your assistance and leave it at that. But what I said about being there for you if you need someone to talk to wasn't an offer made out of gratitude. If you and I--if we have a chance beyond this investigation and the walls of Caernarfon Hall, then you'll have to trust that I'm perfectly capable of accepting you as you truly are, warts and all. Can you accept me on those same terms?"
If the mood hadn't been so serious, Jack would've laughed. In a few short sentences, Ianto brought home Jack's every fear and hope when it came to intimate relationships.
"Jack?" Looking up with a shake of his head, he gave his attention to a waiting Ianto. "Is there an answer somewhere in there or have I just insulted you by implying you have warts?" He took another step toward Jack, close enough for Jack to absently admire Ianto's fine-grained, pale skin. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking," Jack said after a steadying breath, "I'm thinking that I'd like nothing more than to put all this behind us, find some place private, and make love to you right now. But--" he continued, grinning at the flush that rose to stain Ianto's cheeks--"we have a job to do first. And the sooner we get it done, the sooner you can start looking for those warts--and anything else you've a mind to search for. I trust you'll be very, very thorough."
"I've never been anything else," Ianto replied, his prim tone belied by eyes shining above still-bright cheeks. "Now, as you say, we have a job to do and I'm still over-dressed. I'll meet you in the dining room."
***
"All right, quiet down everyone."
Jack looked around the dining table as his team members settled into their seats and turned their attention his way. He'd always been proud of them both collectively and as individuals, but now the stakes were higher than they'd ever been before. He'd never sent them into a dangerous situation like this and if he hadn't felt that his presence would be a hindrance instead of a help, he'd be the first one through the door.
And that desire was still there. He believed that he was stronger than Adam, that through the force of his own will, he could fight off whatever influence Adam had over him. He understood the danger--every time he came close to the music room he could feel Adam's dark, seductive pull against his senses. He could also sense Adam's intelligence in that pull and that's what fascinated him the most. But under no circumstances would he allow Adam to continue to occupy his dreary corner in the music room. His own fascination with the entity was nothing compared to the safety and well-being of the Hall's inhabitants, so while part of him mourned the inability to know more about Adam, he was committed to defeating him and making the Hall safe for everyone.
And so was Ianto, of that, Jack was sure, yet Jack was aware that Ianto's attention was now divided between the problem of Adam and the new arrival to the Hall, and Jack could only hope that Philip's absence from the dining room now wasn't indicative of more trouble to come. Jack could sense Philip's presence but it was faint, removed, merely a dim shadow of Philip's robust energy that had returned to inhabit the house. Whatever the reason for Philip's reticence at this time, Jack found it hard to forgive, knowing that Ianto needed Philip tonight more than ever.
As for whatever the new entity was--Ianto was right, they really had to give it a name--Jack's awareness of it was even more muted, nothing more than the occasional whiff of spice that could just as easily have come from Rhiannon's kitchen, though Jack knew better. The new entity was maddeningly neutral, and that was enough for Jack to mistrust it, no matter what its association to Philip. He could barely feel Philip now, let alone the newcomer, and that deep thrum of energy he'd felt earlier had faded away almost entirely.
But he couldn't address that situation at the moment, even though he saw many of his own concerns reflected in Ianto's troubled gaze. Dressed now in a navy blue jumper and slim black jeans, Ianto looked less like someone ready to engage in unearthly battle and more like a young man about to go on a date. There was even a hint of metal peeking from beneath his collar of his pale blue shirt collar, an intriguing suggestion of jewellery that nearly derailed Jack's concentration completely.
But instead of allowing himself to get distracted, Jack chose to concentrate those desires toward achieving his goals. Turning to Tosh seated beside him, he pointed his finger at her. "Go."
"Right." After a quick glance at her notes, Toshiko raised her head. "In addition to our normal equipment--cameras, thermometers, EMF meters, etcetera--you'll also be using the ion generator in the hope that it will encourage the entity to manifest into a more corporeal form. I've also unpacked the geophone in case our friend up there wants to communicate through sound."
"We ran light and sound tests earlier," Rhys added, "everything checked out fine. All sight lines are clear, all the audio came back clean. Whatever is up there, it kept mum whilst we were setting up. We put several EMF meters around the room like you asked, but nothing happened, not so much as a peep."
Owen spoke next. "We've got backups for all the equipment, plus batteries, extra cords, anything else we can think of. Mind where you step in the hallway, we've stored everything there within easy reach."
"Jack," Martha said, "we've set a start time for eight o'clock. That is--" she looked at her phone--"forty-five minutes from now. How long do you want the investigation to last?"
"We'll start at sixty minute intervals," he said, "then break for thirty to assess our results. I don't want anyone getting distracted or bored, plus I want all of us to look over any gathered data together so we don't miss anything. Reviewing the information at these check points may give us an idea what to do next. What else?"
Tosh cleared her throat, bringing everyone's attention back to her. "We've backed up the van as close as we can to the steps. We'll be drawing more power from the Hall as well, since I've set up auxiliary systems in the drawing room and we'll need the extra juice."
"Good." Jack clapped his hands together. "Right, I think we're all set. Remember, I don't want anyone taking any chances, no matter how benign the opportunity may seem. We'll take it one step at a time and Ianto and I will guide you on comms. Andy, I want you to secure the music room door like you did during light and sound checks, make sure it can't close for any reason."
"Was that wise?" Ianto spoke up for the first time. "Adam--the entity has been trying to escape the music room, isn't leaving the door open simply be an invitation to do so?"
"Maybe," Jack nodded, "but we've seen how he can block the door and I don't want anyone getting trapped inside. Besides, if he'd been powerful enough to leave, he would have done so by now. I just don't think he's strong enough yet."
"You want me to stand in the doorway during the actual investigation?" Andy's eyes were wide as he glanced around the room. "Do you mean I'll be the only thing standing in the way of that monster getting out if he decides to run for it?"
"Relax," Jack assured him, "we won't let it get that far. Just make sure you're listening to us at all times and be ready to move if we give the word. You're there to make sure the door doesn't close, not to make sure Adam doesn't escape. Listen," he continued, gathering them all in with a sweeping glance, "just because we've given this entity a name doesn't mean that we should humanize it in any way. We don't know what its motives are but we do know it can harm us. I fully realise that you are all taking a very real risk based on our assumption that it can only hurt those of us who can actually see or sense it. If anyone isn't comfortable about that or anything else going on tonight, now is the time to speak up. Plenty of room in the van."
When no one said anything, Jack placed his fists on the table and leaned forward, lowering his voice. "We all need to be perfectly clear about this. If any of you have sensed anything in the music room, any kind of unnameable feeling, it may very well have been the entity trying to reach you. We've seen it manifest enough to physically attack one of us, but we've also seen its more seductive side. It wants to communicate, it wants to manipulate, and most of all, it wants to be set free."
"Would that be so bad?" Everyone's attention turned to Rhys, who leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "That one you call Philip has had free run of the place. Who are we to say that this Adam doesn't have just as much right to get out of the music room if that's what he wants?"
Jack held back a sigh. Rhys wasn't trying to be obdurate, he was merely expressing the opinion of someone who not only couldn't see Adam, but couldn't sense the menace that Adam radiated. Even the scratches on Ianto's neck, the only visual evidence of Adam's existence, had long since faded away. To his team, the music room was an empty space in a dusty old manse, and for all their professional attitudes and willingness to follow Jack's lead, that's all it could ever be for them. It was up to Jack to make their hard work bear fruit.
And that brought him back to a promise he'd made that he now regretted.
Straightening from the table, Jack gave Rhys a look that was part teasing, part acknowledgement of the truth in Rhys' words. "I am," he said simply. "He's come too close to being in my head, I know what he's capable of, and none of it's good. If we can't learn enough about him tonight, we'll have to figure out some other way to get rid of him. That may be beyond our current capabilities, so in that event--"
"Oh, for God's sake, Jack," Gwen said with a toss of her hair, "enough with the speeches. We're all here, we're all ready, and we all trust you. Let's get on with it, yeah?"
"Gwen's right." Martha stood up and began gathering her things. "We've got a long night ahead of us. I suggest everyone make their calls, check their emails, use the loo, do whatever they need to do. We'll reconvene outside the van in thirty minutes and gear up. Right? Good."
It was the signal to conclude the meeting, though Jack couldn't shake the feeling they were forgetting something or that he'd left something unsaid. He truly believed that no one was in danger and yet he had the uneasy feeling that there were too many issues still outside his control.
"What's wrong?" Ianto had wandered over to Jack's side of the table while he'd been deep in thought. He looked around to see that everyone had left except Ianto, who was looking at him with poorly concealed concern. "What are you worried about?"
"I'm not worried. Well," he amended, "not exactly. I just wish we had more to go on."
The side of Ianto's mouth lifted in a small grin. "It would seem my earlier pessimism is contagious, so let me remind you that we're only trying to gather information. That's as much as we can hope for."
"Yeah, about that." Jack put his hands behind his back, tucking the back of one hand into palm into the of the other. "I think we should re-evaluate our plan."
"We have a plan?" Ianto said. "Since when?"
"Funny, but more to the point, inaccurate. We do have a plan, I just don't believe it's going to work, In fact, I think," Jack paused, giving Ianto a quick, assessing glance, "that I should be in the music room with the team."
The words were barely out of his mouth before Ianto was shaking his head. "No. Absolutely not. I may have been attacked, but by your own words, you were being seduced. Between Adam's interest in you and your own curiosity, you'll be far too vulnerable. Better I should go in with the team. He doesn't like me, chances are good he'll manifest simply to get rid of me."
"Yeah, like that's going to happen."
"And once again, we're back to where we started."
"Then let's just stay flexible with this plan, okay? Open to possibilities?"
Ianto started to say something, then paused. "Fine," he said, "but only if we agree to make any decisions together."
It was Jack's turn to pause. Part of him wanted to promise Ianto anything, yet he was torn between keeping Ianto's trust and keeping Ianto safe. He could only hope he'd never have to choose between the two.
"Good," Jack said. "But with the understanding that when it comes to ghost hunting, this is still my team and I'm in charge."
Ianto tilted his head, arms crossed. "Very well. As long as you understand that this is still my house, and my family, and the ultimate decision of how we proceed with any new information is mine."
Jack's eyes narrowed, responding to the thread of steel in Ianto's tone. For all his self-effacing demeanour and dry humour, Ianto was no pushover--and at least Jack's equal in stubbornness. In a life filled with people who said yes to Jack at every opportunity, Jack found Ianto's ability to stand up to him just as fascinating as the stern blue eyes looking at him now.
"All right, you win," Jack sighed. "As usual. Together or nothing. In the meantime, we need to name our new friend. Just calling it that bright, glowy thing over there is going to get confusing around here pretty quickly."
"Your turn," Ianto said, "I've had enough of naming insubstantial beings running about my home."
"Okay, let's see. How about Rose?"
"Rose? Really? Why?"
"Well, it's a nice name," Jack shuffled his feet, looking over Ianto's shoulder, "and I was once in love with a girl named Rose. I've been partial to it ever since." He looked at Ianto and smiled, but it wasn't his best effort. Using Rose's name had been an impulse, but now he regretted it, seeing the curiosity in Ianto's expression.
"I...oh," Ianto murmured. "What happened?"
Jack shrugged. "She threw me over for a guy from Bathgate with a cheesy suede coat and bad taste in footwear." He winked at Ianto. "Hard to believe, I know."
"Did she break your heart?"
"Oh, she bruised it a little, but left it intact. I have mostly happy memories from that time in my life and last I heard, they're still together, living on some island and tending goats. So I guess I dodged a bullet on that one."
"Well then, Rose it is. A lovely name for an entity we know absolutely nothing about."
The gentle amusement in Ianto's eyes was nearly Jack's undoing. Ignoring the ever-present temptation to take Ianto into his arms, Jack instead reached out and placed a fingertip against a small bead on Ianto's necklace, one in a series strung on three pieces of cord twisted together. It was on his lips to make a flirtatious remark about the jewellery, but there was an immediate tingling sensation that ran up his finger and spread into his palm. He gasped, just as Ianto reached up to grip Jack's arm, his expression reflecting Jack's confusion.
"Did you feel that?" Ianto asked, his encircling fingers tightening as they slid down to grasp Jack's wrist.
"Yeah, I did."
Ianto touched the bead with his free hand, frowning as his fingers stroked the metal surface. "It's warm, almost uncomfortably so." Releasing Jack's wrist, Ianto reached for the clasp at the back of the necklace. "Perhaps I should take it off--"
"No, wait, wait." Jack leaned to get a closer look at the necklace. "What are these beads made of?"
"Copper, from the local mines. I found them loose in my mother's trinket box and had them made into this necklace when I attended university." He ran his fingers along the beads. "Odd, I thought I'd lost it years ago, but I found it on the floor next to my bed last week. I used to wear it all the time but didn't think to put it on again until this evening."
"Interesting timing for a lost item that makes me tingle for all the wrong reasons to suddenly reappear. Do you mind if I touch it again?"
"Go ahead."
"Okay, let me know if it gets too uncomfortable."
Placing his left hand on Ianto's shoulder, Jack lifted his right hand to the necklace. As his fingers neared the necklace, he could feel a subdued energy crackling from the beads. There was no repeat of the sudden burst like the first time Jack touched the necklace, but he could still feel a subtle vibration pulsing from the bead to his finger.
"What do you feel?" Jack asked, his eyes on his fingers as they stroked over the beads.
"Warmth," Ianto whispered. "All of them now, as though they're coming alive." He frowned. "But it's fading fast."
"And you've never felt anything like this before?"
"I don't recall ever having this sort of reaction to it, no. Did you get the same feeling when you touched it again?"
"Not this time. More like a low hum of electricity, not a shock." He dropped his hand as he looked up at Ianto. "So you weren't wearing it when you were attacked in the music room?"
"No."
"Then you need to keep this on."
"Are you sure? Why?"
Jack shook his head. "Call it a hunch. Philip and his new friend have a connexion to the copper mines. Your missing copper necklace turns up just as Torchwood is about to arrive and hunt ghosts. I think someone maybe trying to protect you, maybe Philip, maybe the same someone who knocked me sideways on the hill today."
"I'd rather not remember how our day began, thank you. But you reacted to the copper just now, so could it be harmful to you or protective as well? Our proximity to the mine certainly didn't seem to be beneficial to your health."
Jack didn't know how to answer. The energy he'd felt earlier was rising again, bringing with it a building anxiety that he'd learned long ago never to ignore.
"We'll cross that bridge when we reach it. Meanwhile--"
He was interrupted by a racing Lucy, who'd manifested near the kitchen door before running through the dining room, ears flat and tail tucked. Before Jack could comment on it, other noises began tugging at his awareness. Creaks and moans, too low for the human ear to hear but acute to Jack's ability, allowing him to identify the rising cries of the Hall's many ghosts.
And beneath those cries, like the sweet, seductive whisper of a dark lover, was Adam. No longer just an undercurrent, Adam was reaching out to Jack directly, his bleak, oily voice full of secrets.
"Oh, come,", Adam sighed, "come and see. I'll show you, I'll show you so much. Come to me."
It was an unexpected assault that caught Jack completely unaware, a bold move that Jack suspected had something to do with Rose's arrival, making it obvious that Adam was searching for an ally in a battle Jack was only now beginning to see would be for the very soul of Caernarfon Hall.
"We need to move," Jack said. He gritted his teeth and swallowed as a tendril of fear slithered its way down his spine. "We're too close to the music room."
"What do you mean?" Ianto's eyes widened. "What is it? What are you feeling?"
Grabbing Ianto by the elbow, Jack began towing him from the dining room. "No time to explain. Let's get out of--"
"Jack!" Gwen's voice, sharp with excitement, cut through his haze of escalating dread. "Come out to the van, quick! The monitors--my God!"
"On our way!" Stopping in his tracks, Jack turned to Ianto, whose white face and shocked expression revealed that he'd reached the same conclusion as Jack.
"We're out of time," Ianto whispered, "We have to help them, Jack, we have to--"
Before he could finish, Jack wrapped his hand around Ianto's neck and pulled him in for a quick, desperate kiss.
"I know," he said against Ianto's mouth. Resting his forehead against Ianto's, Jack closed his eyes. "Just remember, whatever's waiting for us, we'll face it together."
Part Seventeen
Torchwood Paranormal, Part Sixteen
"Yes, I hear you, John, I just don't know what you want me to do about it." Jack switched his phone to his other hand as he opened the wardrobe and surveyed the shirts hanging inside. "Gray made his choice, we're just going to have to ride it out."
"Well, I am fucking tickled pink that you can be so philosophical about this, but the truth is that he's going to do his very best to destroy this lovely little life you've got going and unless we come up with a plan, I don't see how we can stop him."
"Look, I told you when you called earlier that this is going to have to wait until I return to London." Pushing aside the shirts, Jack pulled out a charcoal grey jumper and tossed it on the bed. "Now is not a good time, I've got too much going on here. I'll handle Gray when I get back."
"And when might that be? There's a nasty rumour going about that you're now working gratis on this shoot and I don't remember being consulted on that particular part of the deal."
"That has nothing to do with you. I've squared it with Martha, the team is volunteering its time, and I'm fronting the cost."
"My, my, isn't that sweet. And what, may I ask, are they volunteering to do?"
Jack paused and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. This day had already taken a lot out of him and the last thing he wanted to deal with was Gray's latest attempt to ruin Jack's life or John's predictable overreaction to Gray's threats. It was hard to concentrate on an ongoing and useless family feud when just a few hours earlier, Jack had thought he'd lost Ianto forever. There was nothing Gray could do that would ever come close to that kind of terror.
"I told you, the situation here is critical and it also isn't for public consumption. We're here to help the family now."
"You're what? What family? What the hell are you on about, Jack? Don't tell me that pretty country boy has got you all wound up over some ghosts in the attic."
"Relax, we're still getting an episode out of this, a damn good one, by the way, but this house is under attack. I'm not turning my back on them, no matter what Gray says or who he talks to."
"Well, it's your funeral, mate. Oh, wait, you're my client, so it's my funeral, too."
Tucking the mobile between his cheek and shoulder, Jack sat down on the bed and began unbuttoning his cuffs. "Yeah, nice try. You have plenty of other clients and besides, isn't it you who's always telling me that any press is good press?"
"Only if it makes us money, love, and until I can figure out a way to turn this to our advantage you're going to have to expect some rough seas."
"Whatever, I've been through worse, especially where Gray is concerned. Just keep the vultures from finding me here in Wales and by the way, tell your mole that he'd better keep his mouth shut, as well. The owner of the security firm is a friend of mine. One call from me and your friend is out of a job."
There was a short pause. "Figured that out, yeah?"
"It wasn't hard. I know my team and they certainly know you, so it had to be someone from the security van."
"Fine," John sighed, "I'll make sure he keeps mum. In the meantime, you might want to think about calling your brother and seeing if the two of you can come to some sort of truce before he spills all your tawdry little secrets to the press."
"Yeah, sure, I'll think about it, but I can't make any promises. My priority is Caernarfon Hall."
"Bollocks, Jack, your priority is that tasty Welshman. Not that I blame you, but for God's sake, he's still just a local lad and, if you know what's good for your career, you'll forget him as soon as you return to London. In fact, let me call that costume designer you were drooling over at Cat's party last week, I'm sure he could find many inventive ways to take your mind off--"
"Damn it, John, that's enough. What's happening here isn't any of your business and if I see one paparazzi so much as drive by the front gate, I'm shipping him right back to your front door. In pieces."
"Now, now, no need to get violent, I'll make sure no one finds out about your little Welsh love nest. Call me tomorrow."
Jack turned off the phone and tossed it aside, then let himself fall back on the bed to stare up at the panelled ceiling. As blithe as he'd been about Gray, there was no mistaking the fact that his brother had decided to make trouble at the most inopportune time possible, and while it was definitely annoying, there really wasn't anything Jack could do about it. Gray's reasons for trying to destroy Jack were complicated and deep-seated, and one phone call wasn't going to make a difference.
But the hurt never went away. After all these years, Jack knew there was nothing he could do to try and heal the rift between them, and the thought of living out the rest of his life alienated from his brother was devastating. No explanation for the choices he'd made so many years ago would satisfy Gray, and now it seemed Gray had found the perfect vehicle to make Jack suffer by going to the press and exposing Jack's secrets. Jack didn't know what had set Gray off this time, but it didn't matter. He would have done almost anything to reconcile with Gray, had tried almost everything he could think of over the years, but to no avail. And if it was too late now, if Gray had decided that harming Jack's reputation would bring him some amount of peace, then Jack would simply have to ride it out. His only real concern was Gray's timing; if whatever he'd decided to do was so dreadful that the press would start hunting Jack--a not unlikely scenario, given Gray's past behaviour--that may mean that the Hall was at risk of being dragged into Jack's personal issues.
Sitting up, he quickly finished unbuttoning his shirt and pulled it off, tossing it aside before reaching for the charcoal jumper, thoughts of his brother fading as he considered a new and troubling development at Caernarfon Hall. He wasn't sure what it was, wasn't even sure if it was any kind of danger, but somehow, somewhere, a balance had shifted.
Something had happened after everyone had gone their separate ways after dinner. Jack had been preoccupied during the meal with his own worries, but he'd been well aware that Philip and Ianto were communicating exactly as they'd always done, albeit with a certain sense of distance that Jack attributed to the fact that they'd had little or no time alone since the return from the mine. Feeling compelled to call John once more and find out more about Gray's issues, Jack had left Ianto alone to meet with Philip, assuming that they'd take the brief period of time before the investigation to have a proper reunion. If Jack once again felt the faint stirring of envy at their closeness, he quickly banished it, knowing that Philip was no rival, but instead, someone Jack could trust without hesitation.
Rising from the bed, Jack tried reaching out a tendril of thought toward Ianto, hoping to get an impression from him, but felt nothing in response. Philip's presence in the house was of some comfort to him, knowing as he did that Philip would protect Ianto in Jack's absence, if there actually was some kind of threat.
After pulling the jumper over his head and settling it into place over his white under shirt, Jack paused only for a quick glance in the mirror as he ran his fingers through his disordered hair, then left his suite in search of Ianto. They wouldn't have much time alone before the investigation began in earnest, and there was still a lot of prep work to do. Jack wasn't exactly thrilled that his team would again be in the music room without him because Gwen had been right when she'd pointed out that Torchwood Paranormal weren't scientists. Worse, with Jack on the sidelines, his ability to recognize any spiritual presence, benign or otherwise, would be unavailable.
Walking through the quiet Hall, Jack could feel energy gathering inside him, an energy that was sharpening his senses with each passing moment. There was something different about this night, something was going to happen, and he knew he had to be prepared for anything. He relished the idea of bringing Adam out in the open and vanquishing him at last, yet he was deeply aware that there were pitfalls around every corner, not the least of which was the distance he'd agreed to maintain from the music room. And as fascinated as he was with Adam and Philip, his primary goal was to make sure everyone came out of the experience unscathed.
Intuitively, he found himself in the cramped hallway that led to Ianto's office. He knew Ianto was inside--it was his growing Ianto-based intuition that told him so, nothing else--but he faltered and stopped before knocking on the scarred wooden door. Philip was there with Ianto and Jack was loath to interrupt them, especially since he was growing increasingly aware of some kind of intense communication between them. He knew that sensitivity wasn't one of his strengths, but he was quickly learning that caring for someone put their needs above his own, and Ianto's reunion with Philip was still so recent that Jack set aside his own desires and turned to leave, assuming that Ianto would join him when he was ready.
Momentarily at a loss, Jack decided to find his team and check their preparations, though he knew full well that Martha and Toshiko would have everything well in hand. He worried about them, worried about them all, and not just tonight. John had been right about Toshiko's skills being put to better use elsewhere, and Jack had always known that Martha had goals beyond their pokey little supernatural show. But where he'd once never seriously considered the breakup of his team, the turn of events at the Hall combined with Gray's current campaign made Jack wonder if his usually cheerful short-sightedness was finally working against him. Flying by the seat of his pants only truly worked when he was alone, or when all that was at stake was a television programme that was in constant danger of cancellation, no matter how good the ratings. As much as he loved Torchwood Paranormal and the work they did, the fact remained that he would chuck it all for the sake of those who'd come to mean so much to him.
He had no doubt that he'd solve the mystery of Caernarfon Hall and vanquish anything or anyone who threatened it--and it wasn't all hubris that led him to believe that. Behind the flirting and the dimples and the brashness that had made him a minor celebrity, he knew he possessed hard skills and serious attributes that weren't always spent in frivolous pursuits. Throw in a good portion of sheer stubbornness and he was damn near unstoppable, giving him what he now was afraid was only a false sense of security, a belief that he was the master of his own destiny.
But that belief was gone, gone because he was beginning to see a far different future ahead of him, a frightening but exciting future that held more mystery than any haunted house. Members of his team were going to leave some day and he could set them free with his blessing because there was more to his own future now than the next ghost chase, the next poncey dancing program, the next manufactured headline in the press. And ultimately, that hazy, thrilling future rested in the very capable hands of Ianto Jones, because when Jack thought about the next day, the next week, year, hell--the next decade--he couldn't imagine any of it without Ianto beside him. It was presuming a lot, given the brevity of their relationship, but common sense had never stopped Jack before from pursuing his dreams.
Halfway back to the staircase, he nearly tripped over a suddenly manifested Lucy, even as his brain told him that he could walk right through her without harming her. She was sitting in the middle of the hallway, her tail sweeping slowly from side to side, ears up as she gave Jack a welcoming yip. Jack smiled at her and held out his hand so she could give it her usual sniff of greeting, but when he tried to move around her, she danced sideways and blocked his way.
Phantom dog or not, Jack couldn't just plough through her, so he took a step back to try another approach. Before he could decide what to do, Lucy gave herself a thorough shake and then trotted around Jack toward Ianto's office. Jack watched as she pawed at the door, then sent him a beseeching look over her shoulder.
"You can just go inside, you know," Jack muttered.
That earned him a dismissive glance and a toss of her head as she continued to scrabble at the door, even though her paw sank through the wood and disappeared.
Setting his hands on his hips, Jack took a deep breath. Lucy wanted inside and even though she could walk through the door, it was as though she was waiting for someone to open it--Jack, obviously. Apparently his desire to give Ianto privacy, though well-intentioned, was off the mark.
"Okay, I get it." Jack approached the door, glancing down at Lucy. "Do you mind if I knock first?"
He lifted his hand but before his fist could connect with the wood, the door was opened by a pale but composed Ianto, the knot of his tie loose and his collar unbuttoned--yet an obviously alone Ianto, as Jack could only sense a faint trace of Philip's presence. But even in that trace, in that bare essence of cool, loamy earth, Jack scented a difference that was underlined by the teasing scent of cloves. He raised an eyebrow at Ianto, who nodded and gestured him inside.
"Things have changed," Ianto said as way of greeting. "They are changing, minute by minute."
Jack nodded as he watched Lucy curl up on the faded rug in front of Ianto's desk.
"Yeah, I can feel it. Well, I can feel something. There's a new energy here, in the Hall, in me." He gave Ianto a searching look. "But you, I'm not so sure."
"Neither am I." Ianto reached out and took Jack's hand in his, tangling their fingers in a gesture that was becoming more and more familiar between them. "There's more. We--well, to be precise, I--brought someone back with us from the mine."
Jack's mouth opened, then closed. "Okay, well, that's not what I was expecting, but judging by the fact that you're not freaking out, I assume that this is newcomer is friend, not foe."
The disdainful tilt of Ianto's eyebrow was eloquent. "Freaking out? Honestly, Jack, is that really a term you'd ever apply to me?"
Jack's grin was devilish as he used Ianto's grip on his fingers to tug them close together. "Sorry," he said, though he clearly wasn't, "but you just ferried another life form, quite possibly an alien life form, into an already pretty crowded house. If that doesn't call for a little drama, I don't know what does."
Ianto's smile was soft and warm as he looked into Jack's eyes. "Excellent point, although I'm beginning to think this is becoming the norm around here instead of the exception." His expression shifted, a brief lapse into unfathomable sadness that Jack would've missed if he hadn't been watching so closely. He felt it resonate inside his own heart, an empathic, residual ache that he attributed to Ianto's recent interaction with Philip.
"Okay, let's have a seat so you can fill me in on all the details."
Sitting in the chairs that flanked the window, Jack leaned forward and took both of Ianto's hands in his. On some basic, unexplainable level, he felt driven to remain close to Ianto, if not in actual physical contact. With so many other things on his mind, he didn't examine the impulse too closely, simply assigning it to the back of his mind for review later but freely admitting that it was becoming imperative.
"Well," Ianto paused to swallow, the space between his eyes furrowed, "first of all, it--he--hmm, let's leave it at he for now--isn't a threat. In fact, I think he's family. Philip's family. His true family."
The words were said in such a wistful tone that Jack gave Ianto's hands a sympathetic squeeze. "That's good, right? We could use another ally."
"I don't know if it's that simple. Philip is just as worried about Adam as we are, even now. Whoever the new entity is--we have to come up with another name, haven't we?--may not be of any help. And since we know that direct interaction with Adam may be toxic to Philip, I fear we are exactly where we were this morning."
"And what does Philip have to say about this?"
Ianto's mouth twisted downward. "Not as much as I would've liked. He's carrying the newcomer inside him, shielding him from me, but I don't know if that's by choice or by necessity. They have a--a deep bond, but I'm not sure what the nature of it is."
"Does it matter?"
"I guess not," Ianto said with a frown. "But I was able to discern that all three of them are, for lack of a better term, the same species. At least he told me that much. Jack," Ianto hesitated, his gaze on their joined hands, "Philip does not want us to confront Adam, he was very clear on that. He seems to think this new arrival will be enough to shift the power in the house and keep Adam in check."
Jack pursed his lips in a silent whistle. Things would change radically if Philip chose to block them. "I see. So he'd not on board with our plans tonight?"
"He's not opposed to them, as long as you and I stay away, as we'd already agreed. But I got the strong impression that he doesn't believe it will do any good."
"So he won't interfere."
"I don't know." Ianto sighed and pulled one hand away to scrub it over his face. "It was hard to speak with him since we weren't alone."
"Yeah, tell me about the newcomer. Pretty sure I've picked up on its scent."
"It's distinct, I know. As I said, Philip is protecting it, or hiding it, I'm not sure which. I felt nothing from it and it didn't attempt to communicate, as near as I can tell. Philip didn't have the words to describe it, but then again he really didn't need any." Ianto glanced out the window into the deepening twilight. "It was all a bit awkward."
"Understandable." Jack lifted Ianto's hand to his mouth and placed a brief kiss across his knuckles. "So are you okay with going forward? Having Torchwood re-investigate the music room?"
"Yes," Ianto replied, though without much conviction. "I'm just wondering now how much good it will do."
"Maybe none," Jack replied, "but our greatest weapon is knowledge, right? Maybe whatever we learn tonight will give us an idea about how to remove Adam from the music room and set Caernarfon Hall free."
"And if it doesn't? Are we actually overreacting to something that hasn't been an issue before?"
Silently cursing the absent Philip for being less than supportive at this critical moment, Jack shook his head. "Remember, if you and I can be affected by Adam, then the odds are good that some day, someone will come to stay at the Hall who has the same ability to see Adam that we have, whether they realise it or not. And without knowing how to handle it, Adam could use that ability to hurt them or anyone else. He was very persuasive when I was attacked in the music room, and I know better. You can't risk leaving him up there to just wait for his next opportunity." He shook Ianto's hand from side to side to emphasize his point. "We can't lose sight of the goal, Ianto. I know it hurts that Philip isn't working with us on this, but after what happened to him when he confronted Adam, I'm not so sure we should involve him, anyway."
"Of course." Ianto struggled to smile. "You're right."
"Look, I don't want to work at cross purposes with Philip any more than you do, but he's just as vulnerable as we are. We're doing this for him, too."
Ianto's next attempt at a smile was more successful. "You know," he murmured, "it's a lucky thing for us all that you work on telly and not as a politician, because you do seem to know exactly the right thing to say at the right moment."
Jack tugged at his earlobe. "You, uh, might want to rethink that assessment," he said, "since I've learned the ability to talk myself out of sticky situations from lessons learned from my unsavoury past, not knowledge gleaned from living an exemplary life."
"Your secret is safe with me." Ianto lifted his free hand to Jack's face, tweaking away a lock of errant hair that had fallen toward Jack's eyes. It was a gesture of guileless affection, the kind that Jack had so rarely experienced in his life, not even in his most intimate relationships, and the casual touch of Ianto's fingertips to his skin felt like a blessing. Ianto's belief in him shone from blue eyes now clear and calm, somehow seeing qualities in Jack that Jack never thought he'd find in himself. It was a humbling thought, but at the same time, he felt his shoulders settling into a strong line, his spine straightening, and suddenly his resolve was stronger than ever.
What couldn't he do, knowing that Ianto had such faith in him? What wouldn't he do?
Clearing his throat, hoping that he hadn't revealed the extent of his reaction to Ianto, Jack stood up and pulled Ianto to his feet.
"So, onward and upward, yes?"
Ianto reached up to his tie, sliding the strip of silk through the loosened knot. "I'd like to change first--" Ianto held up his hand before Jack could reply. "And no, that was not an invitation to watch. Or participate."
Jack's lower lip thrust out in a pout before softening into a grin. If Ianto could revert to that teasingly stern tone within a blink of an eye, then he must truly be feeling better.
"Fine, fine, whatever. I should go see how Tosh is doing anyway." He glanced at his wristwatch. "The rest of the crew is here, so we'll convene in the dining room and go over the plan. Meet us there when you're ready and oh, if there happens to be any coffee--"
"Well, it is a work night and you are still a guest of the Hall," Ianto conceded, "so I think that can be arranged. Jack?"
Jack paused at the door, his hand on the knob. "Yeah?"
"Earlier, at dinner, you were preoccupied. Is everything all right?"
"Oh, yeah, that." Jack waved his hand. "It's nothing, just some family trouble, nothing to worry about."
"Anything I can help with? You seemed upset and I--"
"No," Jack's tone was unintentionally brusque, but the last thing he wanted to do was add to Ianto's burden by blathering on about his brother's intentions. "I'm fine, really."
"I see. Sorry to intrude."
Something in Ianto's impersonal reply stung Jack, but not because Ianto appeared disinterested. Just the opposite, Jack realised that he was the one who'd been dismissive of something that had obviously been distressing enough for Ianto to pick up on. In a few clipped words, Ianto had backed away from the caring friend who'd inquired after Jack's well-being, and the sudden emotional chasm caused by Jack's flippancy was intolerable.
"No, I'm sorry." Jack dropped his hand and turned to face Ianto. "It's my brother, Gray. That's why John called earlier, to warn me that Gray was about to make trouble. He's been wanting to hurt me for years and now he thinks he's found a way to do it."
"He thinks or he has?"
"From what John has told me, I'm pretty sure Gray is about to go to the press and share some of those unsavoury episodes from my past that I mentioned. If not tomorrow, some time this week."
Ianto frowned. "To what purpose?"
Jack shrugged. "To humiliate me, I suppose. Gray doesn't know me well enough to understand that I'm mostly immune to that kind of thing. My only worry is that someone--" he inclined his head in Ianto's direction "--will hear something that makes him wonder if I'm really worth all the trouble."
Ianto lifted his chin, his expression resembling that of a man considering his options, but it was the hint of reserve in his eyes that tightened the muscles in Jack's neck, since he knew he'd put that hesitancy there with his initial reaction to Ianto's inquiry.
"It should go both ways," Ianto said quietly.
"I don't--"
"I'm sorry you don't get on with your brother, and should you ever wish to talk about it, I hope you know that I'll listen. And help, if I can." Ianto's shoulders twitched in the slightest of shrugs. "You've done so much to help my family, I'd like to be able to return the favour some day."
"Ianto." Jack closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then reopened them. "Whatever it is that Gray is going to say about me is ninety percent true and one hundred percent ugly. You may hear some things that make you uncomfortable and I don't know, call me selfish, but I want to remain a hero in your eyes a little while longer."
"Heroes are all well and good until it's time to fold the tea towels or push a wheelie bin to the kerb."
Jack frowned at him. "I'm not following."
Ianto took a step forward. "Listen, Jack, if you were only a hero to me, then I'd be grateful for your assistance and leave it at that. But what I said about being there for you if you need someone to talk to wasn't an offer made out of gratitude. If you and I--if we have a chance beyond this investigation and the walls of Caernarfon Hall, then you'll have to trust that I'm perfectly capable of accepting you as you truly are, warts and all. Can you accept me on those same terms?"
If the mood hadn't been so serious, Jack would've laughed. In a few short sentences, Ianto brought home Jack's every fear and hope when it came to intimate relationships.
"Jack?" Looking up with a shake of his head, he gave his attention to a waiting Ianto. "Is there an answer somewhere in there or have I just insulted you by implying you have warts?" He took another step toward Jack, close enough for Jack to absently admire Ianto's fine-grained, pale skin. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking," Jack said after a steadying breath, "I'm thinking that I'd like nothing more than to put all this behind us, find some place private, and make love to you right now. But--" he continued, grinning at the flush that rose to stain Ianto's cheeks--"we have a job to do first. And the sooner we get it done, the sooner you can start looking for those warts--and anything else you've a mind to search for. I trust you'll be very, very thorough."
"I've never been anything else," Ianto replied, his prim tone belied by eyes shining above still-bright cheeks. "Now, as you say, we have a job to do and I'm still over-dressed. I'll meet you in the dining room."
***
"All right, quiet down everyone."
Jack looked around the dining table as his team members settled into their seats and turned their attention his way. He'd always been proud of them both collectively and as individuals, but now the stakes were higher than they'd ever been before. He'd never sent them into a dangerous situation like this and if he hadn't felt that his presence would be a hindrance instead of a help, he'd be the first one through the door.
And that desire was still there. He believed that he was stronger than Adam, that through the force of his own will, he could fight off whatever influence Adam had over him. He understood the danger--every time he came close to the music room he could feel Adam's dark, seductive pull against his senses. He could also sense Adam's intelligence in that pull and that's what fascinated him the most. But under no circumstances would he allow Adam to continue to occupy his dreary corner in the music room. His own fascination with the entity was nothing compared to the safety and well-being of the Hall's inhabitants, so while part of him mourned the inability to know more about Adam, he was committed to defeating him and making the Hall safe for everyone.
And so was Ianto, of that, Jack was sure, yet Jack was aware that Ianto's attention was now divided between the problem of Adam and the new arrival to the Hall, and Jack could only hope that Philip's absence from the dining room now wasn't indicative of more trouble to come. Jack could sense Philip's presence but it was faint, removed, merely a dim shadow of Philip's robust energy that had returned to inhabit the house. Whatever the reason for Philip's reticence at this time, Jack found it hard to forgive, knowing that Ianto needed Philip tonight more than ever.
As for whatever the new entity was--Ianto was right, they really had to give it a name--Jack's awareness of it was even more muted, nothing more than the occasional whiff of spice that could just as easily have come from Rhiannon's kitchen, though Jack knew better. The new entity was maddeningly neutral, and that was enough for Jack to mistrust it, no matter what its association to Philip. He could barely feel Philip now, let alone the newcomer, and that deep thrum of energy he'd felt earlier had faded away almost entirely.
But he couldn't address that situation at the moment, even though he saw many of his own concerns reflected in Ianto's troubled gaze. Dressed now in a navy blue jumper and slim black jeans, Ianto looked less like someone ready to engage in unearthly battle and more like a young man about to go on a date. There was even a hint of metal peeking from beneath his collar of his pale blue shirt collar, an intriguing suggestion of jewellery that nearly derailed Jack's concentration completely.
But instead of allowing himself to get distracted, Jack chose to concentrate those desires toward achieving his goals. Turning to Tosh seated beside him, he pointed his finger at her. "Go."
"Right." After a quick glance at her notes, Toshiko raised her head. "In addition to our normal equipment--cameras, thermometers, EMF meters, etcetera--you'll also be using the ion generator in the hope that it will encourage the entity to manifest into a more corporeal form. I've also unpacked the geophone in case our friend up there wants to communicate through sound."
"We ran light and sound tests earlier," Rhys added, "everything checked out fine. All sight lines are clear, all the audio came back clean. Whatever is up there, it kept mum whilst we were setting up. We put several EMF meters around the room like you asked, but nothing happened, not so much as a peep."
Owen spoke next. "We've got backups for all the equipment, plus batteries, extra cords, anything else we can think of. Mind where you step in the hallway, we've stored everything there within easy reach."
"Jack," Martha said, "we've set a start time for eight o'clock. That is--" she looked at her phone--"forty-five minutes from now. How long do you want the investigation to last?"
"We'll start at sixty minute intervals," he said, "then break for thirty to assess our results. I don't want anyone getting distracted or bored, plus I want all of us to look over any gathered data together so we don't miss anything. Reviewing the information at these check points may give us an idea what to do next. What else?"
Tosh cleared her throat, bringing everyone's attention back to her. "We've backed up the van as close as we can to the steps. We'll be drawing more power from the Hall as well, since I've set up auxiliary systems in the drawing room and we'll need the extra juice."
"Good." Jack clapped his hands together. "Right, I think we're all set. Remember, I don't want anyone taking any chances, no matter how benign the opportunity may seem. We'll take it one step at a time and Ianto and I will guide you on comms. Andy, I want you to secure the music room door like you did during light and sound checks, make sure it can't close for any reason."
"Was that wise?" Ianto spoke up for the first time. "Adam--the entity has been trying to escape the music room, isn't leaving the door open simply be an invitation to do so?"
"Maybe," Jack nodded, "but we've seen how he can block the door and I don't want anyone getting trapped inside. Besides, if he'd been powerful enough to leave, he would have done so by now. I just don't think he's strong enough yet."
"You want me to stand in the doorway during the actual investigation?" Andy's eyes were wide as he glanced around the room. "Do you mean I'll be the only thing standing in the way of that monster getting out if he decides to run for it?"
"Relax," Jack assured him, "we won't let it get that far. Just make sure you're listening to us at all times and be ready to move if we give the word. You're there to make sure the door doesn't close, not to make sure Adam doesn't escape. Listen," he continued, gathering them all in with a sweeping glance, "just because we've given this entity a name doesn't mean that we should humanize it in any way. We don't know what its motives are but we do know it can harm us. I fully realise that you are all taking a very real risk based on our assumption that it can only hurt those of us who can actually see or sense it. If anyone isn't comfortable about that or anything else going on tonight, now is the time to speak up. Plenty of room in the van."
When no one said anything, Jack placed his fists on the table and leaned forward, lowering his voice. "We all need to be perfectly clear about this. If any of you have sensed anything in the music room, any kind of unnameable feeling, it may very well have been the entity trying to reach you. We've seen it manifest enough to physically attack one of us, but we've also seen its more seductive side. It wants to communicate, it wants to manipulate, and most of all, it wants to be set free."
"Would that be so bad?" Everyone's attention turned to Rhys, who leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "That one you call Philip has had free run of the place. Who are we to say that this Adam doesn't have just as much right to get out of the music room if that's what he wants?"
Jack held back a sigh. Rhys wasn't trying to be obdurate, he was merely expressing the opinion of someone who not only couldn't see Adam, but couldn't sense the menace that Adam radiated. Even the scratches on Ianto's neck, the only visual evidence of Adam's existence, had long since faded away. To his team, the music room was an empty space in a dusty old manse, and for all their professional attitudes and willingness to follow Jack's lead, that's all it could ever be for them. It was up to Jack to make their hard work bear fruit.
And that brought him back to a promise he'd made that he now regretted.
Straightening from the table, Jack gave Rhys a look that was part teasing, part acknowledgement of the truth in Rhys' words. "I am," he said simply. "He's come too close to being in my head, I know what he's capable of, and none of it's good. If we can't learn enough about him tonight, we'll have to figure out some other way to get rid of him. That may be beyond our current capabilities, so in that event--"
"Oh, for God's sake, Jack," Gwen said with a toss of her hair, "enough with the speeches. We're all here, we're all ready, and we all trust you. Let's get on with it, yeah?"
"Gwen's right." Martha stood up and began gathering her things. "We've got a long night ahead of us. I suggest everyone make their calls, check their emails, use the loo, do whatever they need to do. We'll reconvene outside the van in thirty minutes and gear up. Right? Good."
It was the signal to conclude the meeting, though Jack couldn't shake the feeling they were forgetting something or that he'd left something unsaid. He truly believed that no one was in danger and yet he had the uneasy feeling that there were too many issues still outside his control.
"What's wrong?" Ianto had wandered over to Jack's side of the table while he'd been deep in thought. He looked around to see that everyone had left except Ianto, who was looking at him with poorly concealed concern. "What are you worried about?"
"I'm not worried. Well," he amended, "not exactly. I just wish we had more to go on."
The side of Ianto's mouth lifted in a small grin. "It would seem my earlier pessimism is contagious, so let me remind you that we're only trying to gather information. That's as much as we can hope for."
"Yeah, about that." Jack put his hands behind his back, tucking the back of one hand into palm into the of the other. "I think we should re-evaluate our plan."
"We have a plan?" Ianto said. "Since when?"
"Funny, but more to the point, inaccurate. We do have a plan, I just don't believe it's going to work, In fact, I think," Jack paused, giving Ianto a quick, assessing glance, "that I should be in the music room with the team."
The words were barely out of his mouth before Ianto was shaking his head. "No. Absolutely not. I may have been attacked, but by your own words, you were being seduced. Between Adam's interest in you and your own curiosity, you'll be far too vulnerable. Better I should go in with the team. He doesn't like me, chances are good he'll manifest simply to get rid of me."
"Yeah, like that's going to happen."
"And once again, we're back to where we started."
"Then let's just stay flexible with this plan, okay? Open to possibilities?"
Ianto started to say something, then paused. "Fine," he said, "but only if we agree to make any decisions together."
It was Jack's turn to pause. Part of him wanted to promise Ianto anything, yet he was torn between keeping Ianto's trust and keeping Ianto safe. He could only hope he'd never have to choose between the two.
"Good," Jack said. "But with the understanding that when it comes to ghost hunting, this is still my team and I'm in charge."
Ianto tilted his head, arms crossed. "Very well. As long as you understand that this is still my house, and my family, and the ultimate decision of how we proceed with any new information is mine."
Jack's eyes narrowed, responding to the thread of steel in Ianto's tone. For all his self-effacing demeanour and dry humour, Ianto was no pushover--and at least Jack's equal in stubbornness. In a life filled with people who said yes to Jack at every opportunity, Jack found Ianto's ability to stand up to him just as fascinating as the stern blue eyes looking at him now.
"All right, you win," Jack sighed. "As usual. Together or nothing. In the meantime, we need to name our new friend. Just calling it that bright, glowy thing over there is going to get confusing around here pretty quickly."
"Your turn," Ianto said, "I've had enough of naming insubstantial beings running about my home."
"Okay, let's see. How about Rose?"
"Rose? Really? Why?"
"Well, it's a nice name," Jack shuffled his feet, looking over Ianto's shoulder, "and I was once in love with a girl named Rose. I've been partial to it ever since." He looked at Ianto and smiled, but it wasn't his best effort. Using Rose's name had been an impulse, but now he regretted it, seeing the curiosity in Ianto's expression.
"I...oh," Ianto murmured. "What happened?"
Jack shrugged. "She threw me over for a guy from Bathgate with a cheesy suede coat and bad taste in footwear." He winked at Ianto. "Hard to believe, I know."
"Did she break your heart?"
"Oh, she bruised it a little, but left it intact. I have mostly happy memories from that time in my life and last I heard, they're still together, living on some island and tending goats. So I guess I dodged a bullet on that one."
"Well then, Rose it is. A lovely name for an entity we know absolutely nothing about."
The gentle amusement in Ianto's eyes was nearly Jack's undoing. Ignoring the ever-present temptation to take Ianto into his arms, Jack instead reached out and placed a fingertip against a small bead on Ianto's necklace, one in a series strung on three pieces of cord twisted together. It was on his lips to make a flirtatious remark about the jewellery, but there was an immediate tingling sensation that ran up his finger and spread into his palm. He gasped, just as Ianto reached up to grip Jack's arm, his expression reflecting Jack's confusion.
"Did you feel that?" Ianto asked, his encircling fingers tightening as they slid down to grasp Jack's wrist.
"Yeah, I did."
Ianto touched the bead with his free hand, frowning as his fingers stroked the metal surface. "It's warm, almost uncomfortably so." Releasing Jack's wrist, Ianto reached for the clasp at the back of the necklace. "Perhaps I should take it off--"
"No, wait, wait." Jack leaned to get a closer look at the necklace. "What are these beads made of?"
"Copper, from the local mines. I found them loose in my mother's trinket box and had them made into this necklace when I attended university." He ran his fingers along the beads. "Odd, I thought I'd lost it years ago, but I found it on the floor next to my bed last week. I used to wear it all the time but didn't think to put it on again until this evening."
"Interesting timing for a lost item that makes me tingle for all the wrong reasons to suddenly reappear. Do you mind if I touch it again?"
"Go ahead."
"Okay, let me know if it gets too uncomfortable."
Placing his left hand on Ianto's shoulder, Jack lifted his right hand to the necklace. As his fingers neared the necklace, he could feel a subdued energy crackling from the beads. There was no repeat of the sudden burst like the first time Jack touched the necklace, but he could still feel a subtle vibration pulsing from the bead to his finger.
"What do you feel?" Jack asked, his eyes on his fingers as they stroked over the beads.
"Warmth," Ianto whispered. "All of them now, as though they're coming alive." He frowned. "But it's fading fast."
"And you've never felt anything like this before?"
"I don't recall ever having this sort of reaction to it, no. Did you get the same feeling when you touched it again?"
"Not this time. More like a low hum of electricity, not a shock." He dropped his hand as he looked up at Ianto. "So you weren't wearing it when you were attacked in the music room?"
"No."
"Then you need to keep this on."
"Are you sure? Why?"
Jack shook his head. "Call it a hunch. Philip and his new friend have a connexion to the copper mines. Your missing copper necklace turns up just as Torchwood is about to arrive and hunt ghosts. I think someone maybe trying to protect you, maybe Philip, maybe the same someone who knocked me sideways on the hill today."
"I'd rather not remember how our day began, thank you. But you reacted to the copper just now, so could it be harmful to you or protective as well? Our proximity to the mine certainly didn't seem to be beneficial to your health."
Jack didn't know how to answer. The energy he'd felt earlier was rising again, bringing with it a building anxiety that he'd learned long ago never to ignore.
"We'll cross that bridge when we reach it. Meanwhile--"
He was interrupted by a racing Lucy, who'd manifested near the kitchen door before running through the dining room, ears flat and tail tucked. Before Jack could comment on it, other noises began tugging at his awareness. Creaks and moans, too low for the human ear to hear but acute to Jack's ability, allowing him to identify the rising cries of the Hall's many ghosts.
And beneath those cries, like the sweet, seductive whisper of a dark lover, was Adam. No longer just an undercurrent, Adam was reaching out to Jack directly, his bleak, oily voice full of secrets.
"Oh, come,", Adam sighed, "come and see. I'll show you, I'll show you so much. Come to me."
It was an unexpected assault that caught Jack completely unaware, a bold move that Jack suspected had something to do with Rose's arrival, making it obvious that Adam was searching for an ally in a battle Jack was only now beginning to see would be for the very soul of Caernarfon Hall.
"We need to move," Jack said. He gritted his teeth and swallowed as a tendril of fear slithered its way down his spine. "We're too close to the music room."
"What do you mean?" Ianto's eyes widened. "What is it? What are you feeling?"
Grabbing Ianto by the elbow, Jack began towing him from the dining room. "No time to explain. Let's get out of--"
"Jack!" Gwen's voice, sharp with excitement, cut through his haze of escalating dread. "Come out to the van, quick! The monitors--my God!"
"On our way!" Stopping in his tracks, Jack turned to Ianto, whose white face and shocked expression revealed that he'd reached the same conclusion as Jack.
"We're out of time," Ianto whispered, "We have to help them, Jack, we have to--"
Before he could finish, Jack wrapped his hand around Ianto's neck and pulled him in for a quick, desperate kiss.
"I know," he said against Ianto's mouth. Resting his forehead against Ianto's, Jack closed his eyes. "Just remember, whatever's waiting for us, we'll face it together."
Part Seventeen