Silver (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
a_silver_story) wrote2010-01-10 06:24 am
a_silver_story) wrote2010-01-10 06:24 am
Entry tags:
Another Life by a_silver_story | Part 11
Title: Another Life
Chapter: 11 | ??
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_silver_story
Genre Alternate Universe, Romance
Rating: NC-17 just to be safe.
Warnings: A bit of angst, and some tentacles and d/c in the future.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this, I'd be a rich rich rich bitch. However, I am not a rich rich rich bitch so you may all, therefore, assume I own nothing. Which I don't. It all belongs RTD and the BBC, in case any of you didn't know.
Summary: Ianto finds himself heartbroken and alone, but eventually learns that no matter what point in Captain Jack Harkness' life he finds himself, they will always fall in love.
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
First Part
Another Life
Snow had been falling all night, freezing the stream and camouflaging the white building with its blanketed surroundings. The only stark contrasts to the white of the world were the bark of the trees standing in the garden, the yellow glow of lights in windows and the green sheeting and grey scaffolding covering the right side of the building, desperately trying to ward off the cold where the walls of the school rooms once stood. To the west, a large group of people dressed in mourning black were huddled against the cold, becoming more and more obscured as the snow began to fall thicker and faster.
Ianto stood at the head of the three graves, right by Jack’s side. A few hundred others crowded around silently as the Captain spoke his condolences to the families of the three dead, and expressed his gratitude and relief that the tragedy had chosen to happen while the children had been in their morning assembly.
~*~*~*~
The building seemed to crumble in slow motion, but his feet were like lead, only allowing him to make laboured progress. He could hear Jack calling his name, though his voice was eventually drowned out by the shouts and screams of others as they raced towards the settling dust of the ruined walls. It filled Ianto's lungs making him cough and splutter, but covering his mouth with his sleeve, he ploughed onwards.
“Giacomo!” he yelled, finally amongst the rubble as the smog began to settle. It stung his eyes making them water, but he put the pain out of his mind as he began to frantically search.
~*~*~*~
The snowfall was thick, and they would have to cut the ceremony short soon or else they would be snowed out. Ianto could see Rhys through the thick-falling snow, stood by the other side of the graves with Till by his side as they both stared down into the ground. He tried to listen to what Jack was saying, but the density of snow in the air, coupled with the growing wind, was making it hard for his voice to carry.
He could hear the sadness in his tone, though, and reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Jack’s own hand raised and covered it, squeezing his fingers gently and appreciating the gesture.
~*~*~*~
“GIACOMO!” Ianto yelled again, shoving debris aside as he began to climb onto the rubble.
“Ianto!” Jack shouted. “Ianto! Wait! It’s not safe!”
Ianto ignored him, hauling himself over a piece of wall. The Captain caught up with him quickly, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and trying to force him to stop.
“Leave me alone!” he snapped. “Giacomo!” he called again. There was a groan of metal and a small child could be heard yelling out for help. Ianto instantly began to move towards it. Jack hurried behind him, carefully listening for where the sound was coming from.
“Here!” he called, finding the source of the little voice. He crouched down and through a gap in the rubble he could see a small, blonde girl half covered in brick and paper. “It’s okay Princess.” he told her gently. “We’re getting you out, and you’re going to be fine.”
Ianto was already pulling debris aside, digging his way inside. Jack joined him as others began to flood the scene. Security were already there to hold as much of the anguished crowd as they could while paramedics were beginning to methodically scan and search the ruins.
“Over here!” Jack called to them as a couple drew closer. “There’s a small girl stuck under here!”
In five minutes, they’d managed to get the child free, and Ianto carefully lifted her, holding her firmly as the medics performed a quick scan.
“Broken leg, broken forearm and a snapped collarbone.” the female paramedic informed them.
“Ianto,” Jack said. “take her back to safety.”
“But ... what about-?”
“Now.” Jack commanded, and Ianto bit his lip. Jack swallowed, then adopted a gentler tone. “If he’s here, I’ll find him. I’ll keep him safe.”
Ianto understood what he really meant. He didn’t want Ianto finding him in case all that was left was something Ianto shouldn’t see.
Nodding once and watching the paramedics injecting the little survivor with painkillers, he cradled her to him and began to carefully make his way back to the safety of the grass. He was met by nurses with a stretcher, and admitted the child to their care. She was still sniffling, and he gave her a reassuring smile as the nurses scanned her to reconfirm the initial diagnosis.
“What’s your name?” he asked her.
“Annabel.” she snuffled. “You’re Mr. Jones.” she told him.
He gave a small laugh. “Yes, I am. What are your parents’ names, Annabel? I can find them for you and let them know you’re going to be okay.”
“Angelica and Elaine Ivy.”
Ianto passed the names on, and one of the security guards managed to locate Angelica. She nearly fainted with relief when she found Annabel, holding her carefully and repeating her thanks over and over.
“When we couldn’t see her in the assembly crowd, we began to panic. I started hyperventilating and Elaine’s gone into labour ... but we’re alright ... we’re alright ....”
Ianto bit back a surprised sound at the mention of an ‘Elaine’ going into labour, and was pretty sure who the father of the child was. His main concern at the moment, however, was not Jack’s new arrival. “Assembly crowd?” he asked.
“Most of the kids and teachers were in assembly in the auditorium when it happened.” she explained. “They’re on the other side of these adults.”
Ianto thanked her and broke out into a run. He saw the beginnings of a large swarm of little people and sprinted the rest of the way.
“Giacomo!” he shouted, searching the children’s faces. “Giacomo!”
“Ianto! Ianto!”
~*~*~*~
Shivering into his coat as the crowds began to move away, Ianto glanced down at his side. Giacomo caught his eye, and seeing him hold his arms out to be held Ianto couldn’t help but stoop and pick him up. He was getting too big to carry for a long period of time, but right at that moment Ianto was simply too relieved he was carrying Little Jack on his hip and not in a box on his shoulder.
~*~*~*~
The paramedics, the Doctor and the Captain pulled twelve people from the wreckage and only one body. Two had later died from their injuries, but none of the deaths were children. Those who had been in the schoolrooms at the time were classroom assistants, preparing the work for the day’s lessons. Annabel had been caught on her way to deliver a note to one of them, and had been lucky to avoid the heavier falling debris.
It had taken them five hours to pull out all the people from the rubble and to make sure everyone was accounted for, and an exhausted, dirty and scared Captain finally withdrew from the mess. He saw Ianto with Giacomo and ran over to them, clutching Giacomo to him tightly and pulling Ianto into the same embrace. He held them both for a few moments, then parted from them, putting Giacomo down and breathing deeply.
“I have to ... the others ....”
Ianto nodded his understanding. “Jack!” he called suddenly.
The Captain hesitated and turned.
“Elaine Ivy went into labour earlier.”
Jack nodded and glanced away, turning to go and find his other children and leaving Ianto and Little Jack alone.
“What was that about?” asked Giacomo.
“What was what about?”
“Why was he picking me up and stuff?”
Ianto sat down on the grass and let Giacomo sit on his knee, holding him tightly and protecting him from the cold winter wind. “Because he loves us.” Ianto told him, and changed the subject in the hope of keeping his little boy’s mind off the catastrophe that was going on around him.
~*~*~*~
The funeral party were finally all back inside, and Jack went straight up to his office. Ianto disentangled himself from Giacomo and handed him over to Rhys and Till, following the Captain up the stairs. The Doctor had been very distant during the proceedings, giving the community space to mourn without intruding. Ianto had asked if he could go back in time and stop it from happening – or at least get the people out – but the Doctor insisted he couldn’t and explained all about established timelines and fixed points.
“You could if you wanted to, though.” Ianto pressed.
“I could, but changing an established event goes against how my brain is practically wired.” sighed the Doctor regretfully. “You can’t save everyone.” he added quietly.
“Maybe not everyone,” agreed Ianto. “but I know it’s possible to bring them back.”
The Doctor gave him an odd look, which Ianto shrugged off.
Jack was in his office, stood by his desk, leaning on his hands with his head bowed. Ianto quietly shut the door behind him and locked it, stepping up to the Captain’s back and snaking arms around his middle.
“It’s not your fault.” Ianto said, cutting off the Captain as he’d drawn breath the speak. Jack sighed and turned to face him, resting his head on Ianto's shoulder and holding him tight.
“I have to go to the senate. I have to get funding enough to either rebuild or find us a totally new place. The School is falling down around our ears, and we don’t have the finances to do anything about it.”
“If we cancel the Winter Celebration, we’ll be able to afford temporary walls to keep out the cold for the time being.”
“You already checked.” observed Jack.
“I already checked.” confirmed Ianto. “If we cut back the earnings of some of our higher paid workers, in two months we’ll be able to hire some temporary cabins enough to run the school again.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“... and I’m going to the senate with you. And if they still refuse us funding, I have a backup plan.”
“Thanks.” sighed Jack. “You didn’t need to do all this ....”
“You were hardly going to do it on your own.”
“You wouldn’t let me.” smiled Jack.
“No. Probably not.” agreed Ianto, pulling back from the embrace to look into his eyes. “C’mon ....” he sighed, taking the Captain’s hand and gently pulling him towards the spiral stairs that lead to his house. Jack followed without question, holding his hand tight.
“Sit.” Ianto commanded once they were in the bedroom and Jack obeyed, watching as he shut the door and took his jacket off. Ianto knelt on the bed behind him, rubbing his shoulders and easing out the knots of tension. Jack’s head lolled back to rest against Ianto's stomach, his eyes closing as the tightness began to melt away.
“I’m sorry about Elaine.” Jack said quietly, and felt Ianto's fingers pinch and stiffen a little too tightly.
“I’ll get over it.” Ianto eventually said.
“I should’ve told you.”
“Yes. You should. But ... he ... he’s a beautiful baby, Jack. You should be proud.”
“Not as proud as you. She went against our agreement and called him Ian.”
Ianto blushed a little. “She shouldn’t have done that.”
“You saved Annabel.”
“You and two paramedics helped.” Ianto reminded him.
“Well, I managed to persuade her not to call him ‘To-To’ if that makes it easier for you.”
Ianto sniggered, stilling his massage and dropping his hands to interlink over Jack’s stomach and pull him closer. Jack smiled up at him, raising his hand to touch his cheek. Ianto smiled back, and bent down at the awkward angle to kiss his mouth. They broke apart and Ianto settled himself down next to the Captain, lying on his side behind where he was sat and pulling him down to kiss again. With a small laugh Ianto rolled Jack over him until Jack was on his back and Ianto was lying between his legs, touching their noses together and kissing and laughing.
Jack’s hands were already wandering down to Ianto's waistband, and Ianto had to stop him at the last moment. “Don’t.” he said.
“Sorry.” the Captain replied.
“Let me take care of you.” Ianto muttered, stroking his hair and kissing his cheek before kneeling up and pulling open Jack’s belt. With a quick tug it came from of the loops, and Ianto bent down and began unbuttoning the black shirt, kissing each patch of skin that was revealed as he got lower and lower. With his teeth he pulled down Jack’s zip, making the Captain almost lose his breath with anticipation, reaching down to run his fingers through Ianto's hair.
Sitting back on his heels, Ianto tugged Jack’s trousers and boxers off in one as Jack lifted his hips to help, reaching up to try and pull Ianto's tie off and having his hands batted away. Instead, Ianto very much unceremoniously undid his tie and made quick work of his shirt buttons, socks, trousers and underwear. He pulled Jack’s socks off too, because he didn’t want to wind up giggling at the thought of making love to a naked man in socks.
Jack’s shirt lay open around him, and Ianto decided to leave it on him, lying between his legs and grinding his hips down to watch Jack’s face as the pleasure of the pressure shot through him. Leaning down, Ianto kissed his lips a few times, feeling Jack’s hands running over his back and squeezing his thighs. Finally, he deepened the kiss, his tongue delving deep into his Captain’s mouth as they moaned into it. Jack wrapped his legs around Ianto's middle, digging his heels in as he squeezed him between his thighs.
Breaking away from Jack’s mouth, Ianto kissed and nipped at his neck, working his way down to swirl his tongue around a nipple. Jack arched his back and hissed, tangling his fingers in Ianto's hair again.
“I ... I’m gonna come ....” he murmured, tugging at Ianto's hair slightly. Ianto persisted, running his hand over Jack’s stomach, reaching up to knead the other nipple between his fingers. Jack fought to hold on, curling his toes, thinking about paperwork ... and then Ianto raised his head and smirked at him. That wicked little smirk that he would never have guessed Ianto's almost cherubic features could form, and Jack went over the edge, coming hard between his and Ianto's bodies and gasping out Ianto's name.
He came back down to find Ianto licking the cum off his stomach and chest before crawling up the bed to lie beside him and kiss him. The kiss was languid and lazy – all Jack could currently manage – and Ianto smiled at him affectionately as they broke apart.
“Sorry.” muttered Jack.
“I wanted you to come. I don’t mind waiting.”
“Let me ....”
Jack reached down and tried to grasp Ianto's cock, but Ianto batted his hand away. “I’m taking care of you, remember?”
“Mmm.” sighed Jack, tilting his head so that their temples touched. He ran the back of his finger over Ianto's forearm, watching as goosebumps appeared in its wake. “Tell me about me and you from before.”
“Ummm ... what do you want to know?” asked Ianto.
“What did we used to do together?
“Erm ... I think I’ve given you a few demonstrations already....”
Jack laughed. “I know about that! Just ... when we weren’t in bed? What did we do together?”
“Thought about ways of getting to bed.” joked Ianto.
Jack laughed again. “C’mon, though. Tell me.”
Ianto sighed, and stared off into the middle distance. “We ... we used to go Weevil hunting.”
“That was the job though.”
Ianto bit his lip, thinking. “We just ... talked. You’d take me out for a drink and we’d talk. I’d make you some coffee or hot chocolate at the end of the day and we’d talk. Sometimes you’d take me out for dinner to somewhere really posh and show yourself up by talking with your mouth full and using the wrong cutlery.” Ianto laughed to the memory. “Once I tried to get you to go to a rugby match, but you completely and utterly refused to. Then I told you about how strong and muscular their legs were and how short and tight the shorts could get, and you were right there with pitch-side tickets and the rugby rule book.”
Jack smiled, lifting his arm for Ianto to lie beneath it, resting his head on his shoulder. Pulling him closer, Jack began to stroke his hair. “I suppose in some ways, I haven’t changed that much.” he admitted.
“You have.” insisted Ianto. “But you’re still you. I mean, you’re separate from my Jack in my head – you know that – but you’re similar to him.”
“Would you ... would you go back to him? If you could?” Jack asked quietly.
Ianto's eyes flicked up to meet his, then he turned away.
“I’m cold.” said Ianto. “Let’s get under the covers.”
Jack helped him pull the duvet back and they settled underneath, reassuming the position they were in before as Ianto rested with his head on Jack’s shoulder and his arm over his waist.
“Would you go back?” Jack repeated once they were comfortable.
“I ... I can’t go back.”
“The Doctor could take you back. He could take you home. Would you let him take you home?”
“I ... I never really thought about it ....” admitted Ianto.
“Well ... now you can think about it.” Jack sighed, his tone only slightly bitter.
Ianto raised his head slightly and pressed a kiss into Jack’s neck. Then another. And another. He ran his hand over Jack’s chest, working his way over the jawline until their lips met, Jack’s arms encircling him, holding him tightly and kissing him gently as he pulled him on top. Ianto lay between his legs again, feeling him getting harder and harder and sensing his own reaction to it.
Jack was told to lay still while Ianto prepared him, resting Jack’s calves on each of his shoulders as he stretched him open and made him ready. The Captain closed his eyes and breathed deeply as Ianto worked, his body sweating and glistening as he tried not to writhe. His lids snapped open when he felt Ianto begin to enter him, his fingers curling into the duvet as every inch slid inside his body.
Ianto began to move slowly and carefully, and Jack panted and groaned beneath him. The Captain found himself practically folded in half as Ianto leaned down to kiss him, his calves still resting on Ianto's shoulders, and he reciprocated hungrily. “Harder.” he whispered, his hand cupping the back of Ianto's head and holding their foreheads together. “Harder ....”
Ianto gasped for breath and moved faster and harder, snapping his hips harshly and digging his fingernails into Jack’s calves.
“C’mon ... I can take it!” gasped Jack. “Harder!”
Ianto let himself lose control, driving into Jack’s body again and again, aching from the exertion but unable to stop as ecstasy began to take over him. He felt Jack clenching around him hard and hot cum spurted between them, and all he could do was throw his head back with silent cry and feel every nerve ending light up inside him.
Kneeling back, the two men getting their breath back the only sound in the room, Ianto panted and gazed down at Jack. Jack smiled at him, reaching his hand up to cup Ianto's cheek and run fingertips through his hair. He bit his lip as Ianto pulled out of him, and turned on his side to rest his head on Ianto's chest as he lay down beside him.
“That,” exclaimed an Estuary accent from the doorway. “was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. Ever. And I’m nearly a thousand years old. Honestly ... you’d think you humans would have come up with a less ... animalistic way to do it ....”
Ianto groaned as the Doctor stared at them both and wished he could just pull the duvet over his head and pretend he didn’t exist. The idea of anyone – let alone an alien – watching him during sex completely mortified him.
“Doctor!” grinned Jack, getting out of bed shamelessly and wandering over to him. “What can I help you with?”
The Doctor’s expression became serious, and he withdrew his sonic screwdriver. Jack seemed to understand, turning away and finding his clothes.
“Where are you going?” asked Ianto, pretending to not be embarrassed.
“For a walk.” Jack said quietly. “You should go home.”
“I’ll wait here.” Ianto replied decisively.
“Go home. Be with your family.” Jack told him with a voice that meant Ianto shouldn’t argue.
Ianto tried to get dressed without revealing overly much to the Doctor, and once both he and Jack were fully clothed they began to follow the Doctor up into Jack’s office. Jack gave him a kiss and a hug when they parted at the stairs, and Ianto began to make his way back to his and Rhys’ flat.
It was quiet when Ianto got in, and he eventually found Rhys reading to Giacomo on his little bed.
“Hey.” he smiled, leaning in the doorway and watching them. “You two okay?”
“We’re fine, aren’t we kid?” Rhys assured him, and Little Jack made no reaction. “Oh ... he’s asleep ....”
Ianto gave a small laugh. “You were that involved with The Magic Porridge Pot, were you?”
“Hey!” scowled Rhys. “It’s a magic pot that never stops making yummy sweet porridge! What’s not to get involved with?” He carefully disentangled himself from Giacomo and tucked him in, putting the book back on the shelf.
“Dunno ‘bout you ....” contemplated Ianto. “... but I think we’re in need of a full dose of Lord of the Rings ....”
“Ah! You read my mind! Ooh! Y’know ... if you wanna make things interesting ... we’ve got salt, limes and tequila in the kitchen ....”
~*~*~*~
“I can’ move ...” groaned Ianto, his head pounding as someone tried to shake him awake. “Gerrofffff ....” he grumbled, trying to bat them away.
“Ianto! Ianto!”
“Jack’mo ... noh’ now ....”
“I’ll jump on you!”
“...
... am up! ... I’m up! Don’t you bloody dare jump on me!”
Giacomo giggled.
“Ow. Don’t laugh so loud.”
“Sorry!” Giacomo stage-whispered. “Rhys told me to give you this ....”
He offered a little patch to him, grabbing his wrist and sticking it on the inside over Ianto's veins.
“Wass’that?” Ianto asked, his head feeling like it was about to ... erm ... not do anything much at all. The patch was releasing something into his system that was actually curing his hangover ...
Genius.
“The Captain wants to see you. He says it’s urgent.” Giacomo was telling him, watching as he sat up and rubbed his neck.
“Mmm. Thanks, Jack. Tell him I’m coming ....”
“No no no!” Giacomo shook his head.
“What?”
“I don’t want to talk to him.” Giacomo said, turning a little pink.
“Why?”
“I’m shy.”
“Aww. You silly thing. You don’t need to be shy around the Captain.”
“But he’s ... big!”
Ianto sniggered. He couldn’t help it. He laughed and nodded, then bit his lips to try and stifle himself. “I ... ah ... he’s only an inch or so taller than me.”
“I mean he’s ... like ... he’s scary.”
Ianto frowned. “He’s not. He’s lovely.”
“But ... it’s like ....” Little Jack scrambled for words. “... he’s important and in charge and I can’t talk to him!”
To prove his point, he climbed onto Ianto's bed and his face in the covers. Ianto smiled and stroked his hair, combing his fingers through it as Giacomo smiled up at him.
"If you can't talk to the Captain ..." pondered Ianto. "... how did you know to give me the message?"
"He spoke to me. Oh - he's probably still waiting ...."
"Oh ... yeah ..." realised Ianto, and leant down to plant a kiss on Giacomo's temple. "Oi! Don't go to sleep there, mister." he threatened as he stood.
Giacomo yawned. "But it's early."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "Fine, alright then. This once."
He left Giacomo and made his way to the living room where Jack was waiting for him. They smiled at each other, and Jack hugged him. They sat down on the couch with two mugs of coffee, and Ianto shivered a little, wishing he'd thought to get dressed instead of coming out in his pyjama bottoms.
"What's up?" he asked, sipping his coffee and watching as Jack drank his.
"I've come to apologise to you." he said earnestly, giving an amused glance to the hangover patch on Ianto's wrist.
"What for this time?"
"For what I ... I did. I don't think the Doctor wants to look at me anymore."
"The Doctor is hardly a yardstick to judge yourself by." Ianto reminded him.
"I have to show you. You have to come down to the basement with the Doctor and I. He says you should see."
"See what?"
"At two 'o' clock, meet me in my office."
Ianto took a deep breath. "Erm ... okay. I'll do that."
"I ... I asked the Doctor about taking you home and ... and he said that he can take you to a time closer to your own. Your relatives and friends won't be there, but I'll still remember you. You and Rhys."
"I ... I ... I ...."
"Make up your mind later." Jack cut him off, draining his mug and making to get up. "I'll see you at two?"
"On the dot." agreed Ianto, and rose to show him out. They walked the short distance to the door together, and Jack hesitated, kissing him properly, slipping his tongue into Ianto's mouth and running his hands all over his body. They broke apart, slightly breathless, and Ianto bade him a quiet goodbye as he closed the door behind him. He leant on it for a second, then made his way back to his bedroom.
Giacomo was sat in his bed, drawing the patterns of his duvet cover with his finger. Ianto peeled the patch on his wrist off and tossed it into his waste paper bin before climbing in beside him. "You're cold." he frowned. "Did you get out?"
Little Jack blushed.
"Were you eavesdropping?" asked Ianto.
Giacomo gave him a confused look.
"Listening to other peoples' conversations?"
"No!" He shook his head vigorously. "I was going to go to the toilet and I saw you and the Captain and you were kissing!" he explained, wide-eyed.
Ianto sniggered. "So?"
"You had your mouths open!"
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because ... erm ... because it's nice?"
"Eugh! Don't you get germs?"
Ianto laughed. "Probably. Now: it's early. We can still get a couple of hours sleep if you're quiet."
Giacomo wriggled down and curled up foetally, snuggling his head into the crook of Ianto's shoulder. Ianto closed his eyes too, listening as Little Jack's breathing deepened and evened, feeling himself drifting off and stroking the little boy's hair absently.
His mind wandered to what Jack might possibly be wanting to show him - or being forced to show him - and he wondered what was so important Jack had even put a time on it. Normally, Jack just did something the second he felt like doing it unless someone else gave him the structure of a time and place. Whatever it was, it was important.
Heavy lidded, Ianto moved his eyes over to his dresser where the still unopened puzzle box Jack had bought him sat looking a little neglected. He'd thus far managed to discover a loose panel, but other than that he was totally stumped. He was seriously considering just smashing it open and lying about it.
Ianto jumped suddenly at the sound of Rhys' voice. "Oh for God's sake!" he shouted from the kitchen.
Carefully, Ianto disentangled himself from Giacomo and crept out of the room, down the hall and into the kitchen. "What's up?"
"I think we need a new oven." snarled Rhys. "This one's just ... I don't think it even works anymore!"
"What about the hob?"
"More chance of frying something over a candle." mumbled Rhys. "That's it! Everything is going to be microwaved until that bastard thing is fixed!"
"Language." Ianto reminded him.
"You say 'bloody' all the time."
"That's not so bad!" Ianto replied defensively.
"'Course it's not. Bloody perfect, you are." Rhys snapped.
"Wha -?" stumbled Ianto, taken aback by the comment.
"Sorry ..." Rhys sighed. "... just ... feeling a bit put out."
"What's wrong?" frowned Ianto.
"I ... I had a talk with Giacomo last night while you were with the Captain."
"Oh?"
"He asked if I'd be annoyed if he called you 'Daddy' but not me." Rhys grumbled, using a sponge from the sink to start washing down the already gleaming surfaces.
Ianto stared at his back, wide-eyed. "Why? I mean ... he's accidentally called me it a couple of times, but ... I assumed he'd do it with you, too."
"Well ... he doesn't. Apparently you're like his Daddy, and I'm 'Rhys'. Just 'Rhys'."
Ianto hugged himself. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. It's not like you're here all the time or anything ...."
"Er - what's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh come on, Ianto! You spend more time with the Captain than you do with me or Jack! Maybe that's why he sees you as his father figure - always bloody absent!"
"That's not true! How dare you! I have to work, don't I?"
"You also agreed to actually come home at the end of the day! This week, you've been home four nights - and that's only because you had a row with His Harkness! What about last week? Ahh yes! Only actually spent two nights in your own bed - and snuck out part way through one of them to go back to him!"
"I'm sorry. I'll tell Jack that I have to put our relationship on hold because Rhys can't handle the hours!"
"Don't be so effing selfish! What about me and Till? I've been wanting to take her out for the last two weeks but I can't because you're not here to look after Jack!"
"Babysitter?"
"You know how shy he is!"
"Let him get used to them!"
"He shouldn't have to! You could at least ... I dunno ... bring the Captain 'round here. At the very least."
"But you know how shy Giacomo is ...."
"Ianto! You know what I'm saying!"
Ianto sighed heavily. "Alright ... okay. Maybe I have been spending a disproportionate amount of time away from home."
"Too bloody right."
"I'm sorry."
"You're not."
"I am!" Ianto insisted. "I just ... I suppose I didn't think about it. And I did promise not to spend every spare moment with the Captain. It just ... all melts into one ...."
Rhys sighed, too. "Just ... please ... come home more often. He loves it when you're home - especially now that he'll have to spend every day for the next two months being home schooled by yours truly."
"If I'm definitely home three nights, and you're definitely home three nights, that'll make it fair, yes?"
"Wasn't that our original arrangement?"
"Sorry."
"It's okay." Rhys sighed. "You forgot."
"I didn't mean to. I just ...."
"Let's forget about it. Forget about it, and try harder. 'Kay."
"Yeah. Okay." nodded Ianto. "So ... you and Till?"
Rhys turned slightly pink. "Well ... it's been nearly two years. I think I'm ready to ... y'know ...."
"Move on from the right-hand method?"
"Ianto!" Rhys blushed, and Ianto sniggered.
"You know ... I always wondered ... what was Gwen like in bed?"
"Ianto!"
"Oh c'mon! Prude!" he prodded.
"She was ... y'know ... nice ...."
"Nice?" Ianto asked blankly.
"She ... knew a few things and ... stuff."
Ianto sniggered again. "What kind of stuff?"
"Stuff you wouldn't even tell at Confession."
"Good job we're not religious men, then."
"Mind your own business." Rhys eventually decided on saying. "Now - can you microwave chicken?"
Ianto shrugged and laughed, turning to leave the kitchen.
"Ianto?"
"Mm?"
"You will think about what I said, won't you?"
"Don't need to. I already know I agree with most of what you said."
"Good."
Ianto gave him a quick nod and went back to his bedroom, closing the door and snuggling back down beside Giacomo.
His eyes drifted closed and his body relaxed, and in less than five minutes he was sleeping peacefully once again.
Even Bromances have their troubles!
Comment if you liked, comment if you didn't - or comment if you just feel like making a Janto fan feel appreciated by a general audience.
Boo Ya!
Next Part | Previous Part | Torchwood Index | Request a Convo/Prose Fic
Chapter: 11 | ??
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones
Author:
a_silver_storyGenre Alternate Universe, Romance
Rating: NC-17 just to be safe.
Warnings: A bit of angst, and some tentacles and d/c in the future.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this, I'd be a rich rich rich bitch. However, I am not a rich rich rich bitch so you may all, therefore, assume I own nothing. Which I don't. It all belongs RTD and the BBC, in case any of you didn't know.
Summary: Ianto finds himself heartbroken and alone, but eventually learns that no matter what point in Captain Jack Harkness' life he finds himself, they will always fall in love.
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
First Part
Another Life
Snow had been falling all night, freezing the stream and camouflaging the white building with its blanketed surroundings. The only stark contrasts to the white of the world were the bark of the trees standing in the garden, the yellow glow of lights in windows and the green sheeting and grey scaffolding covering the right side of the building, desperately trying to ward off the cold where the walls of the school rooms once stood. To the west, a large group of people dressed in mourning black were huddled against the cold, becoming more and more obscured as the snow began to fall thicker and faster.
Ianto stood at the head of the three graves, right by Jack’s side. A few hundred others crowded around silently as the Captain spoke his condolences to the families of the three dead, and expressed his gratitude and relief that the tragedy had chosen to happen while the children had been in their morning assembly.
The building seemed to crumble in slow motion, but his feet were like lead, only allowing him to make laboured progress. He could hear Jack calling his name, though his voice was eventually drowned out by the shouts and screams of others as they raced towards the settling dust of the ruined walls. It filled Ianto's lungs making him cough and splutter, but covering his mouth with his sleeve, he ploughed onwards.
“Giacomo!” he yelled, finally amongst the rubble as the smog began to settle. It stung his eyes making them water, but he put the pain out of his mind as he began to frantically search.
The snowfall was thick, and they would have to cut the ceremony short soon or else they would be snowed out. Ianto could see Rhys through the thick-falling snow, stood by the other side of the graves with Till by his side as they both stared down into the ground. He tried to listen to what Jack was saying, but the density of snow in the air, coupled with the growing wind, was making it hard for his voice to carry.
He could hear the sadness in his tone, though, and reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Jack’s own hand raised and covered it, squeezing his fingers gently and appreciating the gesture.
“GIACOMO!” Ianto yelled again, shoving debris aside as he began to climb onto the rubble.
“Ianto!” Jack shouted. “Ianto! Wait! It’s not safe!”
Ianto ignored him, hauling himself over a piece of wall. The Captain caught up with him quickly, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and trying to force him to stop.
“Leave me alone!” he snapped. “Giacomo!” he called again. There was a groan of metal and a small child could be heard yelling out for help. Ianto instantly began to move towards it. Jack hurried behind him, carefully listening for where the sound was coming from.
“Here!” he called, finding the source of the little voice. He crouched down and through a gap in the rubble he could see a small, blonde girl half covered in brick and paper. “It’s okay Princess.” he told her gently. “We’re getting you out, and you’re going to be fine.”
Ianto was already pulling debris aside, digging his way inside. Jack joined him as others began to flood the scene. Security were already there to hold as much of the anguished crowd as they could while paramedics were beginning to methodically scan and search the ruins.
“Over here!” Jack called to them as a couple drew closer. “There’s a small girl stuck under here!”
In five minutes, they’d managed to get the child free, and Ianto carefully lifted her, holding her firmly as the medics performed a quick scan.
“Broken leg, broken forearm and a snapped collarbone.” the female paramedic informed them.
“Ianto,” Jack said. “take her back to safety.”
“But ... what about-?”
“Now.” Jack commanded, and Ianto bit his lip. Jack swallowed, then adopted a gentler tone. “If he’s here, I’ll find him. I’ll keep him safe.”
Ianto understood what he really meant. He didn’t want Ianto finding him in case all that was left was something Ianto shouldn’t see.
Nodding once and watching the paramedics injecting the little survivor with painkillers, he cradled her to him and began to carefully make his way back to the safety of the grass. He was met by nurses with a stretcher, and admitted the child to their care. She was still sniffling, and he gave her a reassuring smile as the nurses scanned her to reconfirm the initial diagnosis.
“What’s your name?” he asked her.
“Annabel.” she snuffled. “You’re Mr. Jones.” she told him.
He gave a small laugh. “Yes, I am. What are your parents’ names, Annabel? I can find them for you and let them know you’re going to be okay.”
“Angelica and Elaine Ivy.”
Ianto passed the names on, and one of the security guards managed to locate Angelica. She nearly fainted with relief when she found Annabel, holding her carefully and repeating her thanks over and over.
“When we couldn’t see her in the assembly crowd, we began to panic. I started hyperventilating and Elaine’s gone into labour ... but we’re alright ... we’re alright ....”
Ianto bit back a surprised sound at the mention of an ‘Elaine’ going into labour, and was pretty sure who the father of the child was. His main concern at the moment, however, was not Jack’s new arrival. “Assembly crowd?” he asked.
“Most of the kids and teachers were in assembly in the auditorium when it happened.” she explained. “They’re on the other side of these adults.”
Ianto thanked her and broke out into a run. He saw the beginnings of a large swarm of little people and sprinted the rest of the way.
“Giacomo!” he shouted, searching the children’s faces. “Giacomo!”
“Ianto! Ianto!”
Shivering into his coat as the crowds began to move away, Ianto glanced down at his side. Giacomo caught his eye, and seeing him hold his arms out to be held Ianto couldn’t help but stoop and pick him up. He was getting too big to carry for a long period of time, but right at that moment Ianto was simply too relieved he was carrying Little Jack on his hip and not in a box on his shoulder.
The paramedics, the Doctor and the Captain pulled twelve people from the wreckage and only one body. Two had later died from their injuries, but none of the deaths were children. Those who had been in the schoolrooms at the time were classroom assistants, preparing the work for the day’s lessons. Annabel had been caught on her way to deliver a note to one of them, and had been lucky to avoid the heavier falling debris.
It had taken them five hours to pull out all the people from the rubble and to make sure everyone was accounted for, and an exhausted, dirty and scared Captain finally withdrew from the mess. He saw Ianto with Giacomo and ran over to them, clutching Giacomo to him tightly and pulling Ianto into the same embrace. He held them both for a few moments, then parted from them, putting Giacomo down and breathing deeply.
“I have to ... the others ....”
Ianto nodded his understanding. “Jack!” he called suddenly.
The Captain hesitated and turned.
“Elaine Ivy went into labour earlier.”
Jack nodded and glanced away, turning to go and find his other children and leaving Ianto and Little Jack alone.
“What was that about?” asked Giacomo.
“What was what about?”
“Why was he picking me up and stuff?”
Ianto sat down on the grass and let Giacomo sit on his knee, holding him tightly and protecting him from the cold winter wind. “Because he loves us.” Ianto told him, and changed the subject in the hope of keeping his little boy’s mind off the catastrophe that was going on around him.
The funeral party were finally all back inside, and Jack went straight up to his office. Ianto disentangled himself from Giacomo and handed him over to Rhys and Till, following the Captain up the stairs. The Doctor had been very distant during the proceedings, giving the community space to mourn without intruding. Ianto had asked if he could go back in time and stop it from happening – or at least get the people out – but the Doctor insisted he couldn’t and explained all about established timelines and fixed points.
“You could if you wanted to, though.” Ianto pressed.
“I could, but changing an established event goes against how my brain is practically wired.” sighed the Doctor regretfully. “You can’t save everyone.” he added quietly.
“Maybe not everyone,” agreed Ianto. “but I know it’s possible to bring them back.”
The Doctor gave him an odd look, which Ianto shrugged off.
Jack was in his office, stood by his desk, leaning on his hands with his head bowed. Ianto quietly shut the door behind him and locked it, stepping up to the Captain’s back and snaking arms around his middle.
“It’s not your fault.” Ianto said, cutting off the Captain as he’d drawn breath the speak. Jack sighed and turned to face him, resting his head on Ianto's shoulder and holding him tight.
“I have to go to the senate. I have to get funding enough to either rebuild or find us a totally new place. The School is falling down around our ears, and we don’t have the finances to do anything about it.”
“If we cancel the Winter Celebration, we’ll be able to afford temporary walls to keep out the cold for the time being.”
“You already checked.” observed Jack.
“I already checked.” confirmed Ianto. “If we cut back the earnings of some of our higher paid workers, in two months we’ll be able to hire some temporary cabins enough to run the school again.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“... and I’m going to the senate with you. And if they still refuse us funding, I have a backup plan.”
“Thanks.” sighed Jack. “You didn’t need to do all this ....”
“You were hardly going to do it on your own.”
“You wouldn’t let me.” smiled Jack.
“No. Probably not.” agreed Ianto, pulling back from the embrace to look into his eyes. “C’mon ....” he sighed, taking the Captain’s hand and gently pulling him towards the spiral stairs that lead to his house. Jack followed without question, holding his hand tight.
“Sit.” Ianto commanded once they were in the bedroom and Jack obeyed, watching as he shut the door and took his jacket off. Ianto knelt on the bed behind him, rubbing his shoulders and easing out the knots of tension. Jack’s head lolled back to rest against Ianto's stomach, his eyes closing as the tightness began to melt away.
“I’m sorry about Elaine.” Jack said quietly, and felt Ianto's fingers pinch and stiffen a little too tightly.
“I’ll get over it.” Ianto eventually said.
“I should’ve told you.”
“Yes. You should. But ... he ... he’s a beautiful baby, Jack. You should be proud.”
“Not as proud as you. She went against our agreement and called him Ian.”
Ianto blushed a little. “She shouldn’t have done that.”
“You saved Annabel.”
“You and two paramedics helped.” Ianto reminded him.
“Well, I managed to persuade her not to call him ‘To-To’ if that makes it easier for you.”
Ianto sniggered, stilling his massage and dropping his hands to interlink over Jack’s stomach and pull him closer. Jack smiled up at him, raising his hand to touch his cheek. Ianto smiled back, and bent down at the awkward angle to kiss his mouth. They broke apart and Ianto settled himself down next to the Captain, lying on his side behind where he was sat and pulling him down to kiss again. With a small laugh Ianto rolled Jack over him until Jack was on his back and Ianto was lying between his legs, touching their noses together and kissing and laughing.
Jack’s hands were already wandering down to Ianto's waistband, and Ianto had to stop him at the last moment. “Don’t.” he said.
“Sorry.” the Captain replied.
“Let me take care of you.” Ianto muttered, stroking his hair and kissing his cheek before kneeling up and pulling open Jack’s belt. With a quick tug it came from of the loops, and Ianto bent down and began unbuttoning the black shirt, kissing each patch of skin that was revealed as he got lower and lower. With his teeth he pulled down Jack’s zip, making the Captain almost lose his breath with anticipation, reaching down to run his fingers through Ianto's hair.
Sitting back on his heels, Ianto tugged Jack’s trousers and boxers off in one as Jack lifted his hips to help, reaching up to try and pull Ianto's tie off and having his hands batted away. Instead, Ianto very much unceremoniously undid his tie and made quick work of his shirt buttons, socks, trousers and underwear. He pulled Jack’s socks off too, because he didn’t want to wind up giggling at the thought of making love to a naked man in socks.
Jack’s shirt lay open around him, and Ianto decided to leave it on him, lying between his legs and grinding his hips down to watch Jack’s face as the pleasure of the pressure shot through him. Leaning down, Ianto kissed his lips a few times, feeling Jack’s hands running over his back and squeezing his thighs. Finally, he deepened the kiss, his tongue delving deep into his Captain’s mouth as they moaned into it. Jack wrapped his legs around Ianto's middle, digging his heels in as he squeezed him between his thighs.
Breaking away from Jack’s mouth, Ianto kissed and nipped at his neck, working his way down to swirl his tongue around a nipple. Jack arched his back and hissed, tangling his fingers in Ianto's hair again.
“I ... I’m gonna come ....” he murmured, tugging at Ianto's hair slightly. Ianto persisted, running his hand over Jack’s stomach, reaching up to knead the other nipple between his fingers. Jack fought to hold on, curling his toes, thinking about paperwork ... and then Ianto raised his head and smirked at him. That wicked little smirk that he would never have guessed Ianto's almost cherubic features could form, and Jack went over the edge, coming hard between his and Ianto's bodies and gasping out Ianto's name.
He came back down to find Ianto licking the cum off his stomach and chest before crawling up the bed to lie beside him and kiss him. The kiss was languid and lazy – all Jack could currently manage – and Ianto smiled at him affectionately as they broke apart.
“Sorry.” muttered Jack.
“I wanted you to come. I don’t mind waiting.”
“Let me ....”
Jack reached down and tried to grasp Ianto's cock, but Ianto batted his hand away. “I’m taking care of you, remember?”
“Mmm.” sighed Jack, tilting his head so that their temples touched. He ran the back of his finger over Ianto's forearm, watching as goosebumps appeared in its wake. “Tell me about me and you from before.”
“Ummm ... what do you want to know?” asked Ianto.
“What did we used to do together?
“Erm ... I think I’ve given you a few demonstrations already....”
Jack laughed. “I know about that! Just ... when we weren’t in bed? What did we do together?”
“Thought about ways of getting to bed.” joked Ianto.
Jack laughed again. “C’mon, though. Tell me.”
Ianto sighed, and stared off into the middle distance. “We ... we used to go Weevil hunting.”
“That was the job though.”
Ianto bit his lip, thinking. “We just ... talked. You’d take me out for a drink and we’d talk. I’d make you some coffee or hot chocolate at the end of the day and we’d talk. Sometimes you’d take me out for dinner to somewhere really posh and show yourself up by talking with your mouth full and using the wrong cutlery.” Ianto laughed to the memory. “Once I tried to get you to go to a rugby match, but you completely and utterly refused to. Then I told you about how strong and muscular their legs were and how short and tight the shorts could get, and you were right there with pitch-side tickets and the rugby rule book.”
Jack smiled, lifting his arm for Ianto to lie beneath it, resting his head on his shoulder. Pulling him closer, Jack began to stroke his hair. “I suppose in some ways, I haven’t changed that much.” he admitted.
“You have.” insisted Ianto. “But you’re still you. I mean, you’re separate from my Jack in my head – you know that – but you’re similar to him.”
“Would you ... would you go back to him? If you could?” Jack asked quietly.
Ianto's eyes flicked up to meet his, then he turned away.
“I’m cold.” said Ianto. “Let’s get under the covers.”
Jack helped him pull the duvet back and they settled underneath, reassuming the position they were in before as Ianto rested with his head on Jack’s shoulder and his arm over his waist.
“Would you go back?” Jack repeated once they were comfortable.
“I ... I can’t go back.”
“The Doctor could take you back. He could take you home. Would you let him take you home?”
“I ... I never really thought about it ....” admitted Ianto.
“Well ... now you can think about it.” Jack sighed, his tone only slightly bitter.
Ianto raised his head slightly and pressed a kiss into Jack’s neck. Then another. And another. He ran his hand over Jack’s chest, working his way over the jawline until their lips met, Jack’s arms encircling him, holding him tightly and kissing him gently as he pulled him on top. Ianto lay between his legs again, feeling him getting harder and harder and sensing his own reaction to it.
Jack was told to lay still while Ianto prepared him, resting Jack’s calves on each of his shoulders as he stretched him open and made him ready. The Captain closed his eyes and breathed deeply as Ianto worked, his body sweating and glistening as he tried not to writhe. His lids snapped open when he felt Ianto begin to enter him, his fingers curling into the duvet as every inch slid inside his body.
Ianto began to move slowly and carefully, and Jack panted and groaned beneath him. The Captain found himself practically folded in half as Ianto leaned down to kiss him, his calves still resting on Ianto's shoulders, and he reciprocated hungrily. “Harder.” he whispered, his hand cupping the back of Ianto's head and holding their foreheads together. “Harder ....”
Ianto gasped for breath and moved faster and harder, snapping his hips harshly and digging his fingernails into Jack’s calves.
“C’mon ... I can take it!” gasped Jack. “Harder!”
Ianto let himself lose control, driving into Jack’s body again and again, aching from the exertion but unable to stop as ecstasy began to take over him. He felt Jack clenching around him hard and hot cum spurted between them, and all he could do was throw his head back with silent cry and feel every nerve ending light up inside him.
Kneeling back, the two men getting their breath back the only sound in the room, Ianto panted and gazed down at Jack. Jack smiled at him, reaching his hand up to cup Ianto's cheek and run fingertips through his hair. He bit his lip as Ianto pulled out of him, and turned on his side to rest his head on Ianto's chest as he lay down beside him.
“That,” exclaimed an Estuary accent from the doorway. “was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. Ever. And I’m nearly a thousand years old. Honestly ... you’d think you humans would have come up with a less ... animalistic way to do it ....”
Ianto groaned as the Doctor stared at them both and wished he could just pull the duvet over his head and pretend he didn’t exist. The idea of anyone – let alone an alien – watching him during sex completely mortified him.
“Doctor!” grinned Jack, getting out of bed shamelessly and wandering over to him. “What can I help you with?”
The Doctor’s expression became serious, and he withdrew his sonic screwdriver. Jack seemed to understand, turning away and finding his clothes.
“Where are you going?” asked Ianto, pretending to not be embarrassed.
“For a walk.” Jack said quietly. “You should go home.”
“I’ll wait here.” Ianto replied decisively.
“Go home. Be with your family.” Jack told him with a voice that meant Ianto shouldn’t argue.
Ianto tried to get dressed without revealing overly much to the Doctor, and once both he and Jack were fully clothed they began to follow the Doctor up into Jack’s office. Jack gave him a kiss and a hug when they parted at the stairs, and Ianto began to make his way back to his and Rhys’ flat.
It was quiet when Ianto got in, and he eventually found Rhys reading to Giacomo on his little bed.
“Hey.” he smiled, leaning in the doorway and watching them. “You two okay?”
“We’re fine, aren’t we kid?” Rhys assured him, and Little Jack made no reaction. “Oh ... he’s asleep ....”
Ianto gave a small laugh. “You were that involved with The Magic Porridge Pot, were you?”
“Hey!” scowled Rhys. “It’s a magic pot that never stops making yummy sweet porridge! What’s not to get involved with?” He carefully disentangled himself from Giacomo and tucked him in, putting the book back on the shelf.
“Dunno ‘bout you ....” contemplated Ianto. “... but I think we’re in need of a full dose of Lord of the Rings ....”
“Ah! You read my mind! Ooh! Y’know ... if you wanna make things interesting ... we’ve got salt, limes and tequila in the kitchen ....”
“I can’ move ...” groaned Ianto, his head pounding as someone tried to shake him awake. “Gerrofffff ....” he grumbled, trying to bat them away.
“Ianto! Ianto!”
“Jack’mo ... noh’ now ....”
“I’ll jump on you!”
“...
... am up! ... I’m up! Don’t you bloody dare jump on me!”
Giacomo giggled.
“Ow. Don’t laugh so loud.”
“Sorry!” Giacomo stage-whispered. “Rhys told me to give you this ....”
He offered a little patch to him, grabbing his wrist and sticking it on the inside over Ianto's veins.
“Wass’that?” Ianto asked, his head feeling like it was about to ... erm ... not do anything much at all. The patch was releasing something into his system that was actually curing his hangover ...
Genius.
“The Captain wants to see you. He says it’s urgent.” Giacomo was telling him, watching as he sat up and rubbed his neck.
“Mmm. Thanks, Jack. Tell him I’m coming ....”
“No no no!” Giacomo shook his head.
“What?”
“I don’t want to talk to him.” Giacomo said, turning a little pink.
“Why?”
“I’m shy.”
“Aww. You silly thing. You don’t need to be shy around the Captain.”
“But he’s ... big!”
Ianto sniggered. He couldn’t help it. He laughed and nodded, then bit his lips to try and stifle himself. “I ... ah ... he’s only an inch or so taller than me.”
“I mean he’s ... like ... he’s scary.”
Ianto frowned. “He’s not. He’s lovely.”
“But ... it’s like ....” Little Jack scrambled for words. “... he’s important and in charge and I can’t talk to him!”
To prove his point, he climbed onto Ianto's bed and his face in the covers. Ianto smiled and stroked his hair, combing his fingers through it as Giacomo smiled up at him.
"If you can't talk to the Captain ..." pondered Ianto. "... how did you know to give me the message?"
"He spoke to me. Oh - he's probably still waiting ...."
"Oh ... yeah ..." realised Ianto, and leant down to plant a kiss on Giacomo's temple. "Oi! Don't go to sleep there, mister." he threatened as he stood.
Giacomo yawned. "But it's early."
Ianto rolled his eyes. "Fine, alright then. This once."
He left Giacomo and made his way to the living room where Jack was waiting for him. They smiled at each other, and Jack hugged him. They sat down on the couch with two mugs of coffee, and Ianto shivered a little, wishing he'd thought to get dressed instead of coming out in his pyjama bottoms.
"What's up?" he asked, sipping his coffee and watching as Jack drank his.
"I've come to apologise to you." he said earnestly, giving an amused glance to the hangover patch on Ianto's wrist.
"What for this time?"
"For what I ... I did. I don't think the Doctor wants to look at me anymore."
"The Doctor is hardly a yardstick to judge yourself by." Ianto reminded him.
"I have to show you. You have to come down to the basement with the Doctor and I. He says you should see."
"See what?"
"At two 'o' clock, meet me in my office."
Ianto took a deep breath. "Erm ... okay. I'll do that."
"I ... I asked the Doctor about taking you home and ... and he said that he can take you to a time closer to your own. Your relatives and friends won't be there, but I'll still remember you. You and Rhys."
"I ... I ... I ...."
"Make up your mind later." Jack cut him off, draining his mug and making to get up. "I'll see you at two?"
"On the dot." agreed Ianto, and rose to show him out. They walked the short distance to the door together, and Jack hesitated, kissing him properly, slipping his tongue into Ianto's mouth and running his hands all over his body. They broke apart, slightly breathless, and Ianto bade him a quiet goodbye as he closed the door behind him. He leant on it for a second, then made his way back to his bedroom.
Giacomo was sat in his bed, drawing the patterns of his duvet cover with his finger. Ianto peeled the patch on his wrist off and tossed it into his waste paper bin before climbing in beside him. "You're cold." he frowned. "Did you get out?"
Little Jack blushed.
"Were you eavesdropping?" asked Ianto.
Giacomo gave him a confused look.
"Listening to other peoples' conversations?"
"No!" He shook his head vigorously. "I was going to go to the toilet and I saw you and the Captain and you were kissing!" he explained, wide-eyed.
Ianto sniggered. "So?"
"You had your mouths open!"
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because ... erm ... because it's nice?"
"Eugh! Don't you get germs?"
Ianto laughed. "Probably. Now: it's early. We can still get a couple of hours sleep if you're quiet."
Giacomo wriggled down and curled up foetally, snuggling his head into the crook of Ianto's shoulder. Ianto closed his eyes too, listening as Little Jack's breathing deepened and evened, feeling himself drifting off and stroking the little boy's hair absently.
His mind wandered to what Jack might possibly be wanting to show him - or being forced to show him - and he wondered what was so important Jack had even put a time on it. Normally, Jack just did something the second he felt like doing it unless someone else gave him the structure of a time and place. Whatever it was, it was important.
Heavy lidded, Ianto moved his eyes over to his dresser where the still unopened puzzle box Jack had bought him sat looking a little neglected. He'd thus far managed to discover a loose panel, but other than that he was totally stumped. He was seriously considering just smashing it open and lying about it.
Ianto jumped suddenly at the sound of Rhys' voice. "Oh for God's sake!" he shouted from the kitchen.
Carefully, Ianto disentangled himself from Giacomo and crept out of the room, down the hall and into the kitchen. "What's up?"
"I think we need a new oven." snarled Rhys. "This one's just ... I don't think it even works anymore!"
"What about the hob?"
"More chance of frying something over a candle." mumbled Rhys. "That's it! Everything is going to be microwaved until that bastard thing is fixed!"
"Language." Ianto reminded him.
"You say 'bloody' all the time."
"That's not so bad!" Ianto replied defensively.
"'Course it's not. Bloody perfect, you are." Rhys snapped.
"Wha -?" stumbled Ianto, taken aback by the comment.
"Sorry ..." Rhys sighed. "... just ... feeling a bit put out."
"What's wrong?" frowned Ianto.
"I ... I had a talk with Giacomo last night while you were with the Captain."
"Oh?"
"He asked if I'd be annoyed if he called you 'Daddy' but not me." Rhys grumbled, using a sponge from the sink to start washing down the already gleaming surfaces.
Ianto stared at his back, wide-eyed. "Why? I mean ... he's accidentally called me it a couple of times, but ... I assumed he'd do it with you, too."
"Well ... he doesn't. Apparently you're like his Daddy, and I'm 'Rhys'. Just 'Rhys'."
Ianto hugged himself. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. It's not like you're here all the time or anything ...."
"Er - what's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh come on, Ianto! You spend more time with the Captain than you do with me or Jack! Maybe that's why he sees you as his father figure - always bloody absent!"
"That's not true! How dare you! I have to work, don't I?"
"You also agreed to actually come home at the end of the day! This week, you've been home four nights - and that's only because you had a row with His Harkness! What about last week? Ahh yes! Only actually spent two nights in your own bed - and snuck out part way through one of them to go back to him!"
"I'm sorry. I'll tell Jack that I have to put our relationship on hold because Rhys can't handle the hours!"
"Don't be so effing selfish! What about me and Till? I've been wanting to take her out for the last two weeks but I can't because you're not here to look after Jack!"
"Babysitter?"
"You know how shy he is!"
"Let him get used to them!"
"He shouldn't have to! You could at least ... I dunno ... bring the Captain 'round here. At the very least."
"But you know how shy Giacomo is ...."
"Ianto! You know what I'm saying!"
Ianto sighed heavily. "Alright ... okay. Maybe I have been spending a disproportionate amount of time away from home."
"Too bloody right."
"I'm sorry."
"You're not."
"I am!" Ianto insisted. "I just ... I suppose I didn't think about it. And I did promise not to spend every spare moment with the Captain. It just ... all melts into one ...."
Rhys sighed, too. "Just ... please ... come home more often. He loves it when you're home - especially now that he'll have to spend every day for the next two months being home schooled by yours truly."
"If I'm definitely home three nights, and you're definitely home three nights, that'll make it fair, yes?"
"Wasn't that our original arrangement?"
"Sorry."
"It's okay." Rhys sighed. "You forgot."
"I didn't mean to. I just ...."
"Let's forget about it. Forget about it, and try harder. 'Kay."
"Yeah. Okay." nodded Ianto. "So ... you and Till?"
Rhys turned slightly pink. "Well ... it's been nearly two years. I think I'm ready to ... y'know ...."
"Move on from the right-hand method?"
"Ianto!" Rhys blushed, and Ianto sniggered.
"You know ... I always wondered ... what was Gwen like in bed?"
"Ianto!"
"Oh c'mon! Prude!" he prodded.
"She was ... y'know ... nice ...."
"Nice?" Ianto asked blankly.
"She ... knew a few things and ... stuff."
Ianto sniggered again. "What kind of stuff?"
"Stuff you wouldn't even tell at Confession."
"Good job we're not religious men, then."
"Mind your own business." Rhys eventually decided on saying. "Now - can you microwave chicken?"
Ianto shrugged and laughed, turning to leave the kitchen.
"Ianto?"
"Mm?"
"You will think about what I said, won't you?"
"Don't need to. I already know I agree with most of what you said."
"Good."
Ianto gave him a quick nod and went back to his bedroom, closing the door and snuggling back down beside Giacomo.
His eyes drifted closed and his body relaxed, and in less than five minutes he was sleeping peacefully once again.
Even Bromances have their troubles!
Comment if you liked, comment if you didn't - or comment if you just feel like making a Janto fan feel appreciated by a general audience.
Boo Ya!
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But yay, little!Jack is safe. As for the Doctor taking Ianto back...I could see Ianto wanting to go back just to give his Jack some closure (you know, tell him he's alright, tell him he'll see him again, even if it'll be so long Jack forgets Ianto...), and then coming back to Future!Jack. Of course, we don't know what this Jack is hiding yet...that might influence the decision. But Future!Jack needs Ianto to keep him in line. *nods sagely* Still loving this. Even if it makes me teary. <3
Amazing
(Anonymous) 2010-01-10 06:51 am (UTC)(link)Want more ! Need more !
This story is one of my favorite. I just hope Jack tells ianto he loves him so ianto doesn't go back to his time !
:)
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I'm glad little!jack is safe :) and now jack and ianto have somewhat made up, and we're going to see what's in the basement, and OMG SILVER YOU TEASE.
...BAD DOCTOR. NO. (I lol'd)
also, I think Ianto's going to end up staying in the future. there isn't really anything for him in the past that the doctor would bring him to, and here he has a family somewhat.
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*snickers* I find it so funny that Jack's newest child was named after Ianto.
Aww!!! Ianto and Rhys had their first fight. But they seemed to make up already too.
Hmmm... wonder if Ianto would take the Doctor up on his offer to go back to his Jack.
I really can't wait to find out what Jack did and what he has to show Ianto now.
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(Anonymous) 2010-01-10 08:10 am (UTC)(link)You had me scared for little Jack. I'm glad he's OK.
What was Gwen like in bed? Hahaha! She sounds like a real demon. ;-)
I love it that Jack's so affectionate. Even if he can't feel love, he can act lovingly and I hope that doesn't go away when he's whole again.
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As always, I loved this chapter! And now I'm dying to see what's in the basement.
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Gods I love your stuff, can't wait until the next episode!
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That was possibly the best part of this whole chapter, LOL. *flings you a threesome Doctor/Jack/Ianto icon* And now I just have to wait to find out what Jack is hiding...OMG IT BETTER NOT BE A DALEK LMAO.
*clings to cliff...ie*
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(Anonymous) 2010-01-10 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)Great fic. i love this new part. i can't wait to find out whats in the basement. im so glad that little jack isnt hurt. it was brilliant with the doctor walking in on them. i hope that ianto does bring jack by to babysit
how have you been?
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No, we haven't spoken for a while, have we? I haven't been on MSN that much to be honest - it distracts me from writing ^_^
I'm good, however. I've been recovering from another chest infection but other than that I'md fine.
You?
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I hope the infection gets cleared up then.
I'm doing well. Just loads of work to do for school and exams are coming up soon.
I've been loving this story so far. I'm always hoping in the next chapter we find out whats in the basement. It's driving me mad not knowing. I love that you added the doctor in the story. Are there going to be any updates in the IM series?
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more please!
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I'm glad Giacomo was safe.
I want to know what is in the basement.
I'm looking forward to the next chapter
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loving this series
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I am dying to find out what is in the basement.
Good one Rhys calling Ianto on not fulfilling their arrangement, I hope he and Till have a good date.
I love Giancomo and hearing of Ian (LOL at him being named after Ianto!), bet he'd have gorgeous kids.
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I made several of them for lots of different nations, so if you're not Irish I'll find the post so you can see if your country is there ^_^
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I'm Irish, so that's partly why yantoharkness's one appealed to me so much. Yantoharkness, please can I join the team?! I'll cheer very loudly!
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Wonderful update, so much to take in... and the basement is so gothic romance I can hardly stand it!!!
hangs on cliff with the rest....
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phew!
Great fic! Can't wait to read next chapter.
Can't believe the Doctor watched! :-}