WARNINGS: Jack/Ianto slash, Alex Rider crossover, some strong language and spoilers for Series 1 Torchwood and possibly all Alex Rider books to Snakehead.
Always Known
Captain Jack Harkness. An enigma. My former lover. I've always known he would leave me, always known forever was a dream. He's gone with the Doctor. It wasn't that hard to figure it out, what with the comments he had made to Gwen. I haven't told the team because I also know he'll be back soon, but he won't stay for long. I won't be here.
I wish I could hate him, hate him for all the pain he has caused me, all the hurt. First Lisa, then me. I feel as dead as her.
It wasn't hard to leave Torchwood. I simply placed my resignation on Gwen's desk once everyone had gone home. I got on a plane that night. It was too painful to face the memories, so I took Retcon too. I left myself a note.
To Myself.
I will notice that I have erased four years worth of memories. I have done so because it hurts to remember them. I was abandoned. The trigger is one I doubt I will ever see again, but it is there in case the impossible happens. I am currently on a plane to Australia; all the papers are in the travel bag. Lets make a new life.
From, me.
Sad, eh? I did forget easily. I landed in Australia and choosing to trust the handwriting I knew to be my own I didn't try to remember. It didn't take long for me to settle into the flat or the new job at ASIS, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. In fact, quite the opposite, after the experiences of Torchwood 1 it paled in comparison. And thus, Ianto Jones, top spy, was born.
My life was to change again when I received a mission, 16 years later, one that was technically unofficial. The ASIS was loaning me out (ever compared yourself to a library book?) to MI6. The briefing was clear; I was to masquerade as a father to the child spy, Alex Rider. All I had to do was get close to Gwen and Owen Harper (why did those names sound familiar?) and find out whom they worked for. They had been up to some unusual activities of late. Alex's part was to infiltrate them via their 14 year old daughter Cerwyn. Sounds simple right? Let me tell you my story and you'll see it wasn't quite easy.
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As Ianto Jones stepped into the Arrivals lounge he shook his head. Agents stood out like a sore thumb in crowded areas. He liked to think he was different. Australia had agreed with him, though he spent more time on other continents. He sauntered up to them, disregarding the board. He followed the agents out of the Cardiff International Airport. He then slid into the limo, next to the 14 year old spy.
"Ianto Jones, a pleasure to meet you Alex." He smiled pleasantly and he returned the greeting.
"You're Welsh." Alex added.
"Thanks for stating the obvious."
"What exactly is this mission?" Alex asked. Ianto raised his eyebrow.
"They haven't told you?" Alex shook his head and scowled. Ianto resolved to leave out nothing.
"Ok Alex, we are here because two people have caught the attention of MI6. Gwen and Owen Harper have been married for just under fifteen years; following the discovery Gwen was pregnant with Owen's child. This child is Cerwyn Catherine Harper, same age as you. Our job is to ascertain whether they are a threat to the British government. It is our duty to infiltrate Gwen and Owen's life, and attempt to find out as much as possible. To do this our cover story is that you are my son and we have lived in Chelsea for some years. This is low risk so my surname, Jones, is acceptable. We have moved here following the death of my wife and your mother, Aerona Jones." Alex did not miss the sad look that flitted over Ianto's eyes.
"She was your wife." Ianto nodded.
"She died two months ago. Scorpia." Alex sympathized and the rest of the ride was made in silence.
Alex watched the shops go by and wondered how long they would be there for. In truth when Blunt had offered him this job he had accepted it. Things were so bad at school, Jack had been forced to pull him out and hire a personal tutor who had got him up to speed with relative ease.
He looked at the older man and studied him. He would guess that Ianto was in his thirties, but knew he was closer to forty. The man had a certain look about him, one that Alex found disconcerting, which in itself was rare. The man had seen and done much more then Alex. He knew that he could never compete.
The car stopped, and out stepped Ianto and Alex Jones, ready to begin their mission.
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"You ready?" Ianto whispered softly as he parked outside of Alex's school. Alex gave a curt nod and left. Ianto watched him go and sighed. What had the kid been through to make him so cold? He shook his head and drove off. Ianto frowned as he pulled up at the local supermarket. He needed to grab some things to keep them going – but what did Alex like? He knew Alex was allergic to strawberries but that was about it. He sighed. He would have to go by instincts.
"Ianto?" Ianto turned at the sound of his name. Before him was an Asian woman who quite literally launched herself at him. Ianto was extremely confused.
"Er…do I know you?" He asked, then seeing hurt flit through her eyes, regretted the harsh words.
"I'm Toshiko, we worked together for three and a half years about 16 years ago now." Understanding flew through his mind – the retcon!
"In that case I apologise Toshiko, but since then I have had a case of amnesia where I was unable to remember those four years." He placed a false grin on his face and shrugged. Toshiko nodded in understanding.
"Retcon?" Ianto nodded and left the supermarket.
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"You lot get your arses here NOW!" Toshiko yelled, and the rest of the team plus Martha looked at her quizzically. She paused, wondering how to broach the subject.
"I've found Ianto Jones." She took in each person's facial expressions. Owen looked surprised, Gwen looked shocked, Jack blank and Martha confused.
"Who's Ianto Jones?" Jack answered.
"Our technical support before you came." Gwen scowled at him.
"He kept everything round here running smoothly, as well as reminded Jack on a personal basis that love isn't just a fairytale." Jack scowled back.
"Where has he been Tosh? We searched for weeks."
"I just looked him up on the database, it's weird because last time we did that we got nothing, now I have everything. He took retcon just before he left and went to Australia for a year, then went to Chelsea, London, got married and had a son, Alex. He moved back to Cardiff a few days ago. His wife Aerona Jones died in a random gun attack two months ago. Also, his son goes to Cerwyn's school."
As the others discussed coincidence, Jack silently retreated to his office and got out a picture from his desk. It showed him and Ianto at the beach. They had taken a long weekend away together. Tears slowly fell down his face and wondered whether it was unreasonable to hate a dead woman for having what he dreamed of.
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I am honestly not at all sure about this story, so all comments are welcome and if I get enough I'll carry it on.
