Silver Service by a_silver_story | 30
Jan. 28th, 2010 05:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a_silver_storyTitle: Silver Service
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_silver_story
Chapter: 30/?
Genre: AU, Romance, Angsty, fluffy
Rating: NC17 / 18
Pairings: Main Pairing is Jack/Ianto. Also includes Ianto/Martha, Ianto/Tosh friendship, Ten/Tosh, Mickey/Martha (mentioned)
Warnings: M.M, rentboy!Ianto, Alternate Universe, torture (not graphic)
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. Now pass the retcon ...
Summary: Started as a PWP, but since it's me (sorry folks!) and I really can't do things by halves, it grew and grew and grew (and not in an innuendous sort of way). Doctor Smith owns a posh Cardiff hotel, and the respectable Sixth Earl of Boeshane is coming to stay - and he brings with him some very specific demands.
The story follows Ianto from being born, meeting Toshiko and them running away together to the city, right up until Ianto is taken to work in the Doctor's hotel as a 'service' butler for - you guessed it - Jack.
Everyone's fave OTP ensues. BOO YA!
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
FIRST PART | Chapter 1
Silver Service | 30
Silver Service
Jack watched Ianto's retreating back, feeling numb, powerless and uncertain. This was his fault. All of it was his fault and now Ianto, Owen, Toshiko and her unborn child were all going to suffer for it. He closed his eyes, sat in the car, trying to put out of his mind why they were visiting the hospital and what Ianto had chosen to do.
He had tried to forbid it, tried to hold Ianto back. But he wasn't taking orders anymore. He had turned around and told Jack exactly where he could shove his attempts to 'forbid' him from doing anything, fired with anger and passion and an underlying violence the Captain had never seen before. The stress of the past few weeks had been bearing down on him, and after the initial relief Ianto just wanted to get as far away from the Captain as possible, as fast as possible.
The entire drive he had been quiet, speaking only to give the odd direction or ask Jack if he was still feeling alright. The rest of the time he stared out of the window, his knuckles white where they clutched the material of his trousers and his lips pressed in a fine line.
"Don't do this," Jack begged as Ianto had begun walking away from him. "You didn't have to strike this deal ... this isn't your burden ...."
"Just leave me, Jack!" Ianto growled, shoving him away and beginning the purposeful walk towards the entrance of the hospital.
Jack had got back in the car - they had to leave it running in case they needed to make a quick get away. It was also stolen, and repeatedly hot wiring would eventually cause the car to break down. Behind the steering wheel, he clutched at the plastic, his fingers aching as he gripped too tight for too long, and iron stung his tongue as he bit his lip too hard. Closing his eyes, Jack tried to calm himself down, but he was getting more and more agitated the further away Ianto got from him, until he disappeared into the building.
Then it would only be a matter of minutes.
~*~*~*~
Ianto was too angry at the world to be kind to anyone - even Jack. He'd decided that remaining silent unless he had to speak was probably better than trying to make conversation. He was too snappy right now for civil conversation. He wanted an argument. He wanted a row.
He wanted a fight.
His insides were writhing, his palms were sweating and he was fairly certain his usually pale complexion had lost so much colour he was probably transparent.
Around him was a waiting room, relatively quiet apart from the buzz and bustle of the hospital going on nearby. There were a couple of people coughing, but hardly anyone was talking. Eyes lingered on him a little longer than made him comfortable, but he resolutely ignored the itching at the back of his neck, making his way to the front desk.
"I'd like to see Owen Harper, please," he told a nurse, smiling politely. She smiled tiredly back, typed on her computer a little then told him how to find the room he needed. Thanking her with words while inwardly damning her to Hell, Ianto began to climb the stairs.
The stairs were slower than the lift.
He couldn't stop time from passing, however, and no matter how slowly he walked or detours he took, he eventually arrived by Owen's beside. He was unconscious, as the nurse had said he would be, and surrounded by buzzing, beeping and wheezing machines. Ianto recalled waking up in a room like this a little less than a year ago, surrounded by similar machinery.
That had been the day he had lost Jack the first time - but it was also the day he had fallen in love with Lisa.
Ianto sighed heavily, hanging his head as he stood by Owen's defenceless body, watching the machine pumping air into his lungs, deflating them, filling them, deflating, filling ... keeping him alive. The heart monitor was beeping steadily in the corner, and he knew that it would go off like a siren if he didn't switch it off first, so carefully reaching over he pressed the switch on the side, watching the green lines on the screen flicker out of existence. Owen didn't notice, still unconscious.
Thinking about it now, Ianto had never seen him so peaceful. He was always annoyed or angry with something, and seeing him so relaxed and comfortable made Ianto wonder if he'd ever really known the Real Owen, rather than just the bravado show of cynicism and sarcasm he put on.
Ianto's breath was coming quicker as he got closer and closer to his goal. He ignored the voices in his head screaming at him to stop, ignored the angel on his shoulder as it tried to persuade him to back away.
Ignored the pain in his heart as the power drained from the life support machine.
~*~*~*~
Jack rested his forehead on the steering wheel, only looking up when he sensed Ianto's approach. He practically scrambled out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him and closing the distance between them.
"Save it!" Ianto snapped, walking straight past him to get back to the vehicle. "Whatever lecture you've got for me, I don't wanna hear it. Just take me home."
"Ianto ...."
"Everything's fine, Jack. Just ... can we go? Now?"
"You can't ... you just ... did you ...?"
"I did what was asked." Ianto replied shortly. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Ianto," Jack tried to put a warning in his tone, biting back his annoyance at being told what to do by someone he had once considered beneath him.
Ianto didn't reply, so with a heavy sigh Jack took off the handbrake and began to make his way out of the hospital car park. He nearly went into parked car when Ianto jumped, suddenly and violently, grabbing his arm. "Did you see that?" he asked, peering out of the windows as the darkness grew outside. "Did you see?"
"See what?" frowned Jack, knowing that Ianto would most definitely be paranoid.
"There!" he pointed. "Over there! I saw ... I saw ... shit shit shit. What if it doesn't work?"
"What if what doesn't work?" asked Jack, setting off again and trying to follow Ianto's wandering eyeline.
"I ... doesn't matter. I think ... maybe it was just a streetlamp ...." Ianto mumbled, sitting back in his seat. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep, deep breath, his fingers curling into white fists and his nails digging into his palms.
Jack kept his eyes on the road, seeing the exit for the car park coming up ahead. He took in his own deep breath, trying to force the nervous energy and tension out of his body.
"WOAH!" he exclaimed, breaking suddenly, the momentum forcing them both forward and making their seatbelts cut into their shoulders and chests.
There, standing in the middle of the road, appearing in the blink of an eye, was Faith.
Jack stared at her. "What does she want?"
Ianto was staring at her, too, looking paler than he had even after he'd come back from visiting Owen. Quickly regaining his composure, Ianto swallowed then made to get out. "We should ask her, I suppose."
Jack followed him, wishing he had his gun. He knew that Faith wasn't really a little girl, and would have no problem shooting her between the eyes if she tried to harm Ianto. From the look on her face, the anger radiating from her stance and the cold sheen in her eyes, he had a feeling she was planning to do just that.
"Mr. Jones!" she glowered. "We had a bargain!"
"I stuck to it." Ianto replied, looking and sounding much calmer than he had only a moment ago.
Faith looked ready to spit nails. Reaching into a pocket of her white dress, she produced some rune stones. With snarl she threw them in the air, a few of them catching Ianto on the chest or arms, and they clattered to the ground and scattered away.
"We had an agreement, and you did not keep it!"
"I did," Ianto insisted. "Ask your pretty stones."
The sun seemed to brighten as Faith stepped forward, the scattered stones gathering themselves towards her. She glared down at them, then turned her darkened gaze to Ianto. "You cheated!"
Ianto practically gaped at her, his tone mocking. "'Cheated'?" he repeated. "I did exactly as I was asked."
"You were told to switch the machine off!"
"I did switch the machine off," Ianto smirked. "Only, you never said I couldn't switch it back on again afterwards."
Jack felt a strong surge of triumphant pride, his eyes darting between Ianto and Faith, seeing the cool smirk on one face and the cold anger at defeat on the other. Faith seemed at a loss for words.
"I did not break the agreement," Ianto reiterated for her.
She drew herself up to her full height, which admittedly wasn't very tall, but it had the desired effect. The sun seemed to darken again, the shadows lengthening and falling across her face, her tone low and dangerous.
"Alright then," she hissed. "Alright, Mr. Jones. You're so clever. So very, very clever. And so loyal. You proved your loyalty today."
Ianto became wary, wondering where she was going, taking a subconscious step back and finding Jack stood just behind him.
"You should be rewarded." she continued, he tone threatening them still. "You fought so hard to get your Captain back, didn't you? But he's such a free spirit. A traveller. Doesn't like being in one place for too long. You, on the other hand ... you like familiar and constant surroundings. You like to stay near your home."
Jack put a protective arm around Ianto. "What are you going to do?" he asked, his own tone threatening as he tried to surreptitiously place himself between her and the man he loved.
"I'm going to do you a favour," she smiled, turning away. She melted into the darkness, an eerie silence pressing into Jack and Ianto's ears before the sounds of the hospital car park started returning.
"What did she mean by that?" asked Ianto, sounding wary.
Jack still had his arm around him. "I ... don't know. I guess we'll ... just ... have to wait and find out ...."
~*~*~*~
"Ianto? Ianto!"
Lisa was running towards him, flinging herself into his arms. "I didn't know you were coming! You should have said! ... where's Dad?"
"He's better now." Ianto told her, his face losing his smile a little. "He's going away for a bit. He ... he wants to give us space. Y'know ... after everything ...."
She bit her lip, gazing past him to the figure in the long military coat waiting by a car she didn't recognise. He was talking on the phone, his gesticulations signalling he was angry and impatient for something to get done. Ianto explained about the cars, and how Jack was trying to get it all covered up and smoothed over. She nodded as Jack hung up and glanced over, the two of them making eye contact for a brief moment. Lisa felt a pang of sadness, and before he could turn to climb back into the car, began running towards him.
"Dad! Dad! Wait!"
He hugged her close, and she clung to him. "Lisa ... I ...."
"Ianto explained ... stuff. I don't understand most of it but ... after what ... Saxon ...." she trailed off. "I ... I'm pregnant." she grinned, changing the subject.
He beamed back at her. "I know! And ... I'm ... I'm so proud. So happy. But ... I should go ...." He prised her off, stepping back as Ianto approached, his smile a little forced. "You two need time to yourselves. Ianto ... you ... thank you. But ... you need to take it easy - And so do you, missus. Get inside and put your feet up!" His smile didn't quite meet his eyes as Lisa stepped back from him and stood beside Ianto. "I ... uh ...." he tried, suddenly feeling awkward. "I ... I should go."
With that he turned and climbed into the car as quickly as possible, deciding to take it to his garage in order to pick up his SUV. Lisa and Ianto watched him go.
"Is that it?" asked Lisa, as the dust settled and the car rumbled away.
"For now." smiled Ianto, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently, savouring every moment before they would have to break apart. They touched foreheads together, enjoying the presence of the other, quietly appreciating each other's company.
And then Ianto felt it.
It was like a hook on a line caught in his ribcage, pulling mercilessly at his heart and causing nausea and pain to spread through his torso. Staggering backwards, he turned with his hands on his knees for support, his blood rushing through his head as Lisa's voice drifted to him from somewhere far away. He could feel gentle hands on his hair as he threw up his lunch, cold sweat breaking over his brow and his legs shaking until they gave way.
As suddenly as it started, it stopped.
"Ianto! Ianto!" Lisa was begging. "Ianto!"
"I ... Lisa ...." he groaned. "Ugh ... that was ... what the hell was that?"
"Come on ... we'll call a doctor ... come on back inside ...."
She helped him stagger to his feet, though he was reluctant to lean on her too much because of her 'condition'.
"Call being pregnant a 'condition' one more time, and I'll pull off your balls with a bull clip!" she threatened, pretty much dragging him into the house. They were on the doorstep when the screech of brakes brought their attention back to the here and now, and they turned to see Jack climbing out of his SUV, pale and wild eyed.
"Did you feel it?" he asked, almost frantic.
"What?" frowned Ianto.
Jack looked relieved. "It was just me ...."
"The ... pain. The pull?"
The Captain regarded him carefully, and Lisa's eyes darted between the two of them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Faith." sighed Ianto.
"Faith." growled Jack.
"Who ... who's Faith?"
"Difficult to explain." Ianto said, massaging his temples. "How do we ... how do we ... what do you think ...?"
Lisa sighed. "Do we have to go inside?" she asked, trying not to sound to disdainful, still wary of her father's behaviour and trying her damndest not to let on that she didn't think should could ever truly forgive him, his fault or not.
"What's going on?" Lisa asked again once they were sat in the living room. "What did you do?" Her eyebrow raised in Jack's direction.
"I didn't do anything." insisted Jack. "Faith must have ... she must have done something."
Ianto stared at the floor. "What ... what has she done?"
"Judging from what just happened ... I ... I think that ... maybe if ... if we get too far apart we ... we get sick."
Lisa's eyes widened. "WHAT?"
Ianto stared at Jack. "Why ... how ... no!"
"We could try it again ...." suggested Jack. "I could ... the garage is only a couple of hundred yards away, right? Just ... drive off in the SUV."
"... and if it happens again?"
"Then we have to ... face facts ...."
"Make her undo it!" Ianto demanded, standing up. "Get her to come here and make her undo it!"
Jack stared at him. The last day or so, Ianto had not been himself. Ianto never shouted. He certainly never properly demanded.
"I can't." Jack told him firmly. "She comes and goes of her own accord."
Lisa folded her arms and glared at him. "Can't or won't?"
"Can't!" Jack insisted.
"So what - we have to live together now? You have to live here?"
"I ... we could all move up to the ... to the Big House ...."
"You hate the Big House." pointed out Lisa.
"We could try seeing how far apart we can get - see if eventually we can rip the bond?" suggested Ianto.
"You'll die." Jack replied, simply. "Didn't you feel it? You'll die. We both will."
Ianto looked like a volcano about to erupt. "You ... you ... you did this on purpose! You wanted her to do this!"
Jack stood up, indignant. "I did not! How dare you? After everything!"
"'After everything' is what convinces me even more!" snapped Ianto. "You always just wanted to lock me away and keep me for yourself and never let me go - and now you've got your wish! Now I can never leave! Now I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life!"
Lisa slumped into the sofa. "I don't understand." she muttered, practically to herself.
"I. Did. Not. Do. This." Jack intoned harshly, squaring up to Ianto as they stood face to face.
"Either way, I'm trapped. Once again, you have me trapped."
"I ... it was never ... not intentionally. Hey! You think I want to spend the rest of your life attached to you?"
"Er ... yeah?"
"Not like this!"
"Of course not. You'd have wanted me to choose to fall into your honeytrap!"
"You need to calm down and think about what you're saying." Jack told him.
"Make Faith stop it!"
"I can't!"
Ianto's breathing quickened, his jaw set. Jack saw the swing too late, and only managed to dodge half of the fist that collided with his face.
"I'm fed UP!" yelled Ianto. "Fed up you controlling everything! Why can't you just leave me alone? I don't want you here - I don't want you in my life! I fucking hate you! Why can't you just go away?"
"Ianto ... please ... just ...."
"You're not wanted here!"
Jack reached out to touch his shoulder, then recoiled at the look of pure venom Ianto threw at him.
"Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Me! Leave me the fuck alone! You're not even welcome here!"
Before he could hit Jack again, Ianto stopped himself, turning on his heel and marching upstairs to his and Lisa's room. Jack and Lisa, downstairs, heard the door slam and the cottage shook with the force of it. The Captain turned to his daughter.
"I didn't do it." he said quietly. "I swear ... I didn't do it ... he got one over on Faith and ... this must be her revenge ...."
"Whatever, Dad. I'll go ... spend some time with the father of my child. Y'know ... like I should have been doing - and without your interference."
"Lisa ... I ... I ... that ...."
"I don't care. Just ... give us space. Maybe just shut yourself in the study and not come out for hours. Y'know ... like you used to?"
"Lisa ...."
Hugging herself, she left him in the living room, hurrying up the stairs.
Jack hugged himself, too. The silence after all the shouting was ringing in his ears, and the weight of the world was once again bearing down on his shoulders. Slumping down onto the couch, Jack stared vacantly into space, his arms wrapped around his chest, trying to remember the last time he had been truly, truly, completely and purely happy.
He smiled when it came to him.
It was in Spain, just before everything went to shit. They hadn't been in the hotel room five minutes before they'd wound up on the bed, and Ianto had fucked him before being flipped onto his back and ridden hard. They lay together, kissing slowly and lazily, almost falling asleep in each other's mouths.
"Are you still intoxicated with truth wine?" Jack had asked.
“Dunno. Ask me summit.” Ianto yawned sleepily, Jack's fingers ghosting over his cheekbone.
“Do you love me, Ianto?”
Ianto had smiled and his eyes had sparkled.
“Yes. I love you, Jack.”
Jack let himself slump until he was lying on his side, buried his face in a cushion and refused to cry.
FIN
Comment if you liked, or if you didn't, or if you're simply feeling type-ish.
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Author:
a_silver_storyChapter: 30/?
Genre: AU, Romance, Angsty, fluffy
Rating: NC17 / 18
Pairings: Main Pairing is Jack/Ianto. Also includes Ianto/Martha, Ianto/Tosh friendship, Ten/Tosh, Mickey/Martha (mentioned)
Warnings: M.M, rentboy!Ianto, Alternate Universe, torture (not graphic)
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. Now pass the retcon ...
Summary: Started as a PWP, but since it's me (sorry folks!) and I really can't do things by halves, it grew and grew and grew (and not in an innuendous sort of way). Doctor Smith owns a posh Cardiff hotel, and the respectable Sixth Earl of Boeshane is coming to stay - and he brings with him some very specific demands.
The story follows Ianto from being born, meeting Toshiko and them running away together to the city, right up until Ianto is taken to work in the Doctor's hotel as a 'service' butler for - you guessed it - Jack.
Everyone's fave OTP ensues. BOO YA!
Torchwood Index/Masterlist
FIRST PART | Chapter 1
Silver Service | 30
Silver Service
Jack watched Ianto's retreating back, feeling numb, powerless and uncertain. This was his fault. All of it was his fault and now Ianto, Owen, Toshiko and her unborn child were all going to suffer for it. He closed his eyes, sat in the car, trying to put out of his mind why they were visiting the hospital and what Ianto had chosen to do.
He had tried to forbid it, tried to hold Ianto back. But he wasn't taking orders anymore. He had turned around and told Jack exactly where he could shove his attempts to 'forbid' him from doing anything, fired with anger and passion and an underlying violence the Captain had never seen before. The stress of the past few weeks had been bearing down on him, and after the initial relief Ianto just wanted to get as far away from the Captain as possible, as fast as possible.
The entire drive he had been quiet, speaking only to give the odd direction or ask Jack if he was still feeling alright. The rest of the time he stared out of the window, his knuckles white where they clutched the material of his trousers and his lips pressed in a fine line.
"Don't do this," Jack begged as Ianto had begun walking away from him. "You didn't have to strike this deal ... this isn't your burden ...."
"Just leave me, Jack!" Ianto growled, shoving him away and beginning the purposeful walk towards the entrance of the hospital.
Jack had got back in the car - they had to leave it running in case they needed to make a quick get away. It was also stolen, and repeatedly hot wiring would eventually cause the car to break down. Behind the steering wheel, he clutched at the plastic, his fingers aching as he gripped too tight for too long, and iron stung his tongue as he bit his lip too hard. Closing his eyes, Jack tried to calm himself down, but he was getting more and more agitated the further away Ianto got from him, until he disappeared into the building.
Then it would only be a matter of minutes.
Ianto was too angry at the world to be kind to anyone - even Jack. He'd decided that remaining silent unless he had to speak was probably better than trying to make conversation. He was too snappy right now for civil conversation. He wanted an argument. He wanted a row.
He wanted a fight.
His insides were writhing, his palms were sweating and he was fairly certain his usually pale complexion had lost so much colour he was probably transparent.
Around him was a waiting room, relatively quiet apart from the buzz and bustle of the hospital going on nearby. There were a couple of people coughing, but hardly anyone was talking. Eyes lingered on him a little longer than made him comfortable, but he resolutely ignored the itching at the back of his neck, making his way to the front desk.
"I'd like to see Owen Harper, please," he told a nurse, smiling politely. She smiled tiredly back, typed on her computer a little then told him how to find the room he needed. Thanking her with words while inwardly damning her to Hell, Ianto began to climb the stairs.
The stairs were slower than the lift.
He couldn't stop time from passing, however, and no matter how slowly he walked or detours he took, he eventually arrived by Owen's beside. He was unconscious, as the nurse had said he would be, and surrounded by buzzing, beeping and wheezing machines. Ianto recalled waking up in a room like this a little less than a year ago, surrounded by similar machinery.
That had been the day he had lost Jack the first time - but it was also the day he had fallen in love with Lisa.
Ianto sighed heavily, hanging his head as he stood by Owen's defenceless body, watching the machine pumping air into his lungs, deflating them, filling them, deflating, filling ... keeping him alive. The heart monitor was beeping steadily in the corner, and he knew that it would go off like a siren if he didn't switch it off first, so carefully reaching over he pressed the switch on the side, watching the green lines on the screen flicker out of existence. Owen didn't notice, still unconscious.
Thinking about it now, Ianto had never seen him so peaceful. He was always annoyed or angry with something, and seeing him so relaxed and comfortable made Ianto wonder if he'd ever really known the Real Owen, rather than just the bravado show of cynicism and sarcasm he put on.
Ianto's breath was coming quicker as he got closer and closer to his goal. He ignored the voices in his head screaming at him to stop, ignored the angel on his shoulder as it tried to persuade him to back away.
Ignored the pain in his heart as the power drained from the life support machine.
Jack rested his forehead on the steering wheel, only looking up when he sensed Ianto's approach. He practically scrambled out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him and closing the distance between them.
"Save it!" Ianto snapped, walking straight past him to get back to the vehicle. "Whatever lecture you've got for me, I don't wanna hear it. Just take me home."
"Ianto ...."
"Everything's fine, Jack. Just ... can we go? Now?"
"You can't ... you just ... did you ...?"
"I did what was asked." Ianto replied shortly. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Ianto," Jack tried to put a warning in his tone, biting back his annoyance at being told what to do by someone he had once considered beneath him.
Ianto didn't reply, so with a heavy sigh Jack took off the handbrake and began to make his way out of the hospital car park. He nearly went into parked car when Ianto jumped, suddenly and violently, grabbing his arm. "Did you see that?" he asked, peering out of the windows as the darkness grew outside. "Did you see?"
"See what?" frowned Jack, knowing that Ianto would most definitely be paranoid.
"There!" he pointed. "Over there! I saw ... I saw ... shit shit shit. What if it doesn't work?"
"What if what doesn't work?" asked Jack, setting off again and trying to follow Ianto's wandering eyeline.
"I ... doesn't matter. I think ... maybe it was just a streetlamp ...." Ianto mumbled, sitting back in his seat. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep, deep breath, his fingers curling into white fists and his nails digging into his palms.
Jack kept his eyes on the road, seeing the exit for the car park coming up ahead. He took in his own deep breath, trying to force the nervous energy and tension out of his body.
"WOAH!" he exclaimed, breaking suddenly, the momentum forcing them both forward and making their seatbelts cut into their shoulders and chests.
There, standing in the middle of the road, appearing in the blink of an eye, was Faith.
Jack stared at her. "What does she want?"
Ianto was staring at her, too, looking paler than he had even after he'd come back from visiting Owen. Quickly regaining his composure, Ianto swallowed then made to get out. "We should ask her, I suppose."
Jack followed him, wishing he had his gun. He knew that Faith wasn't really a little girl, and would have no problem shooting her between the eyes if she tried to harm Ianto. From the look on her face, the anger radiating from her stance and the cold sheen in her eyes, he had a feeling she was planning to do just that.
"Mr. Jones!" she glowered. "We had a bargain!"
"I stuck to it." Ianto replied, looking and sounding much calmer than he had only a moment ago.
Faith looked ready to spit nails. Reaching into a pocket of her white dress, she produced some rune stones. With snarl she threw them in the air, a few of them catching Ianto on the chest or arms, and they clattered to the ground and scattered away.
"We had an agreement, and you did not keep it!"
"I did," Ianto insisted. "Ask your pretty stones."
The sun seemed to brighten as Faith stepped forward, the scattered stones gathering themselves towards her. She glared down at them, then turned her darkened gaze to Ianto. "You cheated!"
Ianto practically gaped at her, his tone mocking. "'Cheated'?" he repeated. "I did exactly as I was asked."
"You were told to switch the machine off!"
"I did switch the machine off," Ianto smirked. "Only, you never said I couldn't switch it back on again afterwards."
Jack felt a strong surge of triumphant pride, his eyes darting between Ianto and Faith, seeing the cool smirk on one face and the cold anger at defeat on the other. Faith seemed at a loss for words.
"I did not break the agreement," Ianto reiterated for her.
She drew herself up to her full height, which admittedly wasn't very tall, but it had the desired effect. The sun seemed to darken again, the shadows lengthening and falling across her face, her tone low and dangerous.
"Alright then," she hissed. "Alright, Mr. Jones. You're so clever. So very, very clever. And so loyal. You proved your loyalty today."
Ianto became wary, wondering where she was going, taking a subconscious step back and finding Jack stood just behind him.
"You should be rewarded." she continued, he tone threatening them still. "You fought so hard to get your Captain back, didn't you? But he's such a free spirit. A traveller. Doesn't like being in one place for too long. You, on the other hand ... you like familiar and constant surroundings. You like to stay near your home."
Jack put a protective arm around Ianto. "What are you going to do?" he asked, his own tone threatening as he tried to surreptitiously place himself between her and the man he loved.
"I'm going to do you a favour," she smiled, turning away. She melted into the darkness, an eerie silence pressing into Jack and Ianto's ears before the sounds of the hospital car park started returning.
"What did she mean by that?" asked Ianto, sounding wary.
Jack still had his arm around him. "I ... don't know. I guess we'll ... just ... have to wait and find out ...."
"Ianto? Ianto!"
Lisa was running towards him, flinging herself into his arms. "I didn't know you were coming! You should have said! ... where's Dad?"
"He's better now." Ianto told her, his face losing his smile a little. "He's going away for a bit. He ... he wants to give us space. Y'know ... after everything ...."
She bit her lip, gazing past him to the figure in the long military coat waiting by a car she didn't recognise. He was talking on the phone, his gesticulations signalling he was angry and impatient for something to get done. Ianto explained about the cars, and how Jack was trying to get it all covered up and smoothed over. She nodded as Jack hung up and glanced over, the two of them making eye contact for a brief moment. Lisa felt a pang of sadness, and before he could turn to climb back into the car, began running towards him.
"Dad! Dad! Wait!"
He hugged her close, and she clung to him. "Lisa ... I ...."
"Ianto explained ... stuff. I don't understand most of it but ... after what ... Saxon ...." she trailed off. "I ... I'm pregnant." she grinned, changing the subject.
He beamed back at her. "I know! And ... I'm ... I'm so proud. So happy. But ... I should go ...." He prised her off, stepping back as Ianto approached, his smile a little forced. "You two need time to yourselves. Ianto ... you ... thank you. But ... you need to take it easy - And so do you, missus. Get inside and put your feet up!" His smile didn't quite meet his eyes as Lisa stepped back from him and stood beside Ianto. "I ... uh ...." he tried, suddenly feeling awkward. "I ... I should go."
With that he turned and climbed into the car as quickly as possible, deciding to take it to his garage in order to pick up his SUV. Lisa and Ianto watched him go.
"Is that it?" asked Lisa, as the dust settled and the car rumbled away.
"For now." smiled Ianto, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently, savouring every moment before they would have to break apart. They touched foreheads together, enjoying the presence of the other, quietly appreciating each other's company.
And then Ianto felt it.
It was like a hook on a line caught in his ribcage, pulling mercilessly at his heart and causing nausea and pain to spread through his torso. Staggering backwards, he turned with his hands on his knees for support, his blood rushing through his head as Lisa's voice drifted to him from somewhere far away. He could feel gentle hands on his hair as he threw up his lunch, cold sweat breaking over his brow and his legs shaking until they gave way.
As suddenly as it started, it stopped.
"Ianto! Ianto!" Lisa was begging. "Ianto!"
"I ... Lisa ...." he groaned. "Ugh ... that was ... what the hell was that?"
"Come on ... we'll call a doctor ... come on back inside ...."
She helped him stagger to his feet, though he was reluctant to lean on her too much because of her 'condition'.
"Call being pregnant a 'condition' one more time, and I'll pull off your balls with a bull clip!" she threatened, pretty much dragging him into the house. They were on the doorstep when the screech of brakes brought their attention back to the here and now, and they turned to see Jack climbing out of his SUV, pale and wild eyed.
"Did you feel it?" he asked, almost frantic.
"What?" frowned Ianto.
Jack looked relieved. "It was just me ...."
"The ... pain. The pull?"
The Captain regarded him carefully, and Lisa's eyes darted between the two of them.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Faith." sighed Ianto.
"Faith." growled Jack.
"Who ... who's Faith?"
"Difficult to explain." Ianto said, massaging his temples. "How do we ... how do we ... what do you think ...?"
Lisa sighed. "Do we have to go inside?" she asked, trying not to sound to disdainful, still wary of her father's behaviour and trying her damndest not to let on that she didn't think should could ever truly forgive him, his fault or not.
"What's going on?" Lisa asked again once they were sat in the living room. "What did you do?" Her eyebrow raised in Jack's direction.
"I didn't do anything." insisted Jack. "Faith must have ... she must have done something."
Ianto stared at the floor. "What ... what has she done?"
"Judging from what just happened ... I ... I think that ... maybe if ... if we get too far apart we ... we get sick."
Lisa's eyes widened. "WHAT?"
Ianto stared at Jack. "Why ... how ... no!"
"We could try it again ...." suggested Jack. "I could ... the garage is only a couple of hundred yards away, right? Just ... drive off in the SUV."
"... and if it happens again?"
"Then we have to ... face facts ...."
"Make her undo it!" Ianto demanded, standing up. "Get her to come here and make her undo it!"
Jack stared at him. The last day or so, Ianto had not been himself. Ianto never shouted. He certainly never properly demanded.
"I can't." Jack told him firmly. "She comes and goes of her own accord."
Lisa folded her arms and glared at him. "Can't or won't?"
"Can't!" Jack insisted.
"So what - we have to live together now? You have to live here?"
"I ... we could all move up to the ... to the Big House ...."
"You hate the Big House." pointed out Lisa.
"We could try seeing how far apart we can get - see if eventually we can rip the bond?" suggested Ianto.
"You'll die." Jack replied, simply. "Didn't you feel it? You'll die. We both will."
Ianto looked like a volcano about to erupt. "You ... you ... you did this on purpose! You wanted her to do this!"
Jack stood up, indignant. "I did not! How dare you? After everything!"
"'After everything' is what convinces me even more!" snapped Ianto. "You always just wanted to lock me away and keep me for yourself and never let me go - and now you've got your wish! Now I can never leave! Now I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life!"
Lisa slumped into the sofa. "I don't understand." she muttered, practically to herself.
"I. Did. Not. Do. This." Jack intoned harshly, squaring up to Ianto as they stood face to face.
"Either way, I'm trapped. Once again, you have me trapped."
"I ... it was never ... not intentionally. Hey! You think I want to spend the rest of your life attached to you?"
"Er ... yeah?"
"Not like this!"
"Of course not. You'd have wanted me to choose to fall into your honeytrap!"
"You need to calm down and think about what you're saying." Jack told him.
"Make Faith stop it!"
"I can't!"
Ianto's breathing quickened, his jaw set. Jack saw the swing too late, and only managed to dodge half of the fist that collided with his face.
"I'm fed UP!" yelled Ianto. "Fed up you controlling everything! Why can't you just leave me alone? I don't want you here - I don't want you in my life! I fucking hate you! Why can't you just go away?"
"Ianto ... please ... just ...."
"You're not wanted here!"
Jack reached out to touch his shoulder, then recoiled at the look of pure venom Ianto threw at him.
"Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Me! Leave me the fuck alone! You're not even welcome here!"
Before he could hit Jack again, Ianto stopped himself, turning on his heel and marching upstairs to his and Lisa's room. Jack and Lisa, downstairs, heard the door slam and the cottage shook with the force of it. The Captain turned to his daughter.
"I didn't do it." he said quietly. "I swear ... I didn't do it ... he got one over on Faith and ... this must be her revenge ...."
"Whatever, Dad. I'll go ... spend some time with the father of my child. Y'know ... like I should have been doing - and without your interference."
"Lisa ... I ... I ... that ...."
"I don't care. Just ... give us space. Maybe just shut yourself in the study and not come out for hours. Y'know ... like you used to?"
"Lisa ...."
Hugging herself, she left him in the living room, hurrying up the stairs.
Jack hugged himself, too. The silence after all the shouting was ringing in his ears, and the weight of the world was once again bearing down on his shoulders. Slumping down onto the couch, Jack stared vacantly into space, his arms wrapped around his chest, trying to remember the last time he had been truly, truly, completely and purely happy.
He smiled when it came to him.
It was in Spain, just before everything went to shit. They hadn't been in the hotel room five minutes before they'd wound up on the bed, and Ianto had fucked him before being flipped onto his back and ridden hard. They lay together, kissing slowly and lazily, almost falling asleep in each other's mouths.
"Are you still intoxicated with truth wine?" Jack had asked.
“Dunno. Ask me summit.” Ianto yawned sleepily, Jack's fingers ghosting over his cheekbone.
“Do you love me, Ianto?”
Ianto had smiled and his eyes had sparkled.
“Yes. I love you, Jack.”
Jack let himself slump until he was lying on his side, buried his face in a cushion and refused to cry.
FIN
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Date: 2010-01-28 11:19 am (UTC)Two updates in one day! We know we're not worthy but we are so grateful.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!