Torchwood Four
Summary: Why is it that Ianto sounded like he knew he wasn't going to see Rhiannon again when he was on the phone with her in 'Day 4'? That's because he did know. COE Fix-It. Multi-Chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
AN: My First Torchwood fic, so please, go easy on me! For the first chapter, I suggest listening to 'The Ballad of Ianto Jones' from the Children Of Earth Soundtrack, as that's what I was listening to while writing it.
Chapter One: The Ballad of Ianto Jones
The day-care at Rhiannon's house is in full swing when Ianto calls. Despite the screaming and laughing of the children, unaware of what danger befalls them, Rhiannon manages to hear the phone. Snatching the receiver from the cradle, she yells for the children to be quiet before putting the receiver to her ear. "Hello?"
"It's me." He doesn't need to say anymore as he walks through the streets of London towards Thames House.
"Oh, I...I thought you couldn't call here?" She's still trying to get used to the fact that her brother's part of something similar to the secret service. "Is it all over?" She hopes to god it is, just so that she can finally hold her children without worry of them being possessed by unseen forces.
"It's only just beginning"
Ianto's ominous reply only worries Rhiannon further. She just wants her kids safe, her little brother safe. Ignoring Johnny's remark about his car after she told him that it was her brother on the phone, Rhiannon continued to listen to Ianto.
"Listen, that column of fire over London, did you see it on the telly?" Ianto knew he was probably asking a stupid question, but he needed to know that Rhiannon knew the facts, needed to know that she knew to keep the kids safe before he...
His thoughts were cut off by Rhiannon's reply.
"No, I was watching The Other Side. Of course I did, you dumbo. What's happening? The kids said "we are coming," but who's they? Who is it?"
"Just stop a minute and listen" He doesn't mean to snap. He knows how it all, not just the 456, is going to end and knows that this is possibly the last chance he'll get to speak to her, so he doesn't mean to snap; he just wants to know that she'll be safe. He's not a seer, that's Fliss's speciality, but he doesn't need to be to know his fate, to know how this is all going to play out at the end of tomorrow, and the days, weeks, perhaps even months, following.
An exasperated sigh reaches him. "Ianto, just tell me, who are they?"
"They're from another planet." He doesn't expect her to take it well, and wishes that he could have told her another way, but she needs to know. He carries on: "They want children, that's why they're here."
"They what?"
"They want kids, millions of them."
"Why?
"I'm not sure." This is the only lie he'll tell, because he can barely stomach it himself.
"But for the next few days, don't let anyone take David or Mica away from you, for whatever reason. This goes for you people listening in on the wire, too. Forget the Official Secrets Act. If you've got children or grandchildren you need to hear this, and you need to tell every parent you know." Hoping that he had gotten through to Rhiannon, and perhaps, those listening, Ianto took a breath and pressed on. "Look, I've got to go. I love you. Don't let the kids out of your sight. I love them, too. I'm even warming to Johnny a bit."
"We love you too." Rhiannon replied, slightly shocked by her brother's show of affection and what it meant; what she hoped it didn't mean.
Then the line went dead.
"Ianto? Ianto, are you there?"
'Please speak, say something...' She pleads in her mind, but Ianto's gone. Silently, she walks over to Mica and pulls her daughter into a hug.
"What is it? What did he say? Come on, Rhi, what did he say?" Johnny wants to know what's wrong with his children just as much as Rhiannon does, but she can't even force herself to speak. She's too shaken. She knows about the aliens now, and she knows what her brother was really trying to say...
Goodbye
The sirens blare around them as the staff of Thames House realise that something is terribly wrong.
"What have you done!" Jack's voice pierces through the mechanical screech of the alarm. Ianto looks at him briefly; his Captain. He was certainly going to miss him.
"You wanted a demonstration of war. A virus has been released. It will kill everyone in the building" The 456 seem almost smug. A look of pure horror on his face, Jack runs out of the room, briefly holding Ianto who leans into the touch for just a moment.
Jack runs to the first guards he finds, "The air's poisoned. Call someone! Shut down the air conditioning, block every air vents, get gas masks, hazard suits, oxygen cylinders", before running back to the main room, only one thought on his mind; I have to save Ianto.
"If there's a virus, then there must be an antivirus. Release it now or i'll blow a hole in that tank, and we'll all die together." Ianto figures that he may as well act the hero, even though he knows it would do no good.
"Alright, you've proved your point. Now stop this and we can talk." Ianto can hear the desperation in Jack's voice and feels almost guilty for what he'ss about to do. Almost.
"You are dying, even now"
They both emptied their clips into the tank, but it does no damage whatsoever; there's barely even a scratch. The 456 then begin to emit a high pitched wail.
"What's that noise? What's it doing?" Jack questions the 456's actions for a moment before realising that time's still running short; he has to save his lover. "We've got to get you out of here, I can survive anything, but you can't!"
Ianto shakes his head, causing Jack's heart to shatter. "Too late. I breathe the air." Ianto knows it's a complete lie; he'd put a thin air bubble around himself as soon as they'd entered the building, making a note to thank Fliss for her premonitions later.
"No, there's got to be something, there's got to be an antidote!" He wasn't willing to give up on Ianto, not yet. He'd already lost way too much.
"You said that would fight" Now the 456 didn't just seem smug, but arrogant, cocky.
"Then I take it back alright? I take it all back but not him!" Jack screams at the tank, as if taking his words back would make everything better. Unfortunately, this wasn't high school.
Letting his legs go weak and purposefully rolling his eyes, Ianto slumps, Jack catching him as he 'falls'. He feels absolutely horrible for doing this to Jack, but it had to be done. The world needs to be saved; without anyone gaining the knowledge of his kind.
Muttering a string of no's as he holds his lover, tears forming in his eyes, Jack blocks out everything else, even the voice of the 456 as it mentions something about the remnant, Clem, focusing solely on Ianto; just Ianto.
"It's all my fault."
"No its not" Ianto really doesn't want Jack to feel guilty, especially as he isn't actually going to die. Guilt again gnaws at him and so, despite Chris' reminder to him that he couldn't, under any circumstances, let Jack know, he decids to give Jack one last test, one that would prove to Ianto that he was doing the right thing.
Ignoring Jack's protests for him to stop speaking, he whispers, "I love you" and is unsurprised by Jack's reaction. It was then that Ianto knew he was doing the right thing. He and Jack could never work out, not with the Immortal not knowing Ianto's secret, and certainly not with the barrier that Jack had put around his heart.
Closing his eyes, he prepares to encase his body in a thin layer of ice; giving it the impression of death. But Jack's voice, trembling slightly, stops him.
"Ianto. Ianto. Ianto, stay with me. Ianto stay with me. Please stay with me, stay with me. Please. Please."
His eyes flickering open, he smiles slightly. "Hey, it was good yeah" He has to act as if he's actually dying, as if Jack's refusal to acknowledge his love hurt. The second part wasn't actually hard. Despite knowing that that would be Jack's reaction, it had still hurt.
"Yeah." Tears form in both men's eyes as they try to be strong for the other. Ianto, as if he did not fear death, so that Jack would not worry, and Jack, so that Ianto would not fear death. It was funny that death wasn't actually even part of the equation.
"Don't forget me." Ianto whispers, and this time it was truthful. Because even though he knows he wouldn't die now, he still, like with Rhiannon, knows he will probably never see Jack again.
"Never could." And that was the truth.
"In a thousand years time you won't remember me." Even before his old team had contacted him about the imminent threat, this had always been Ianto's main concern. Even his kind wasn't immortal, though they did have a longer life span than most because of their abilities.
"Yes I will, I promise, I will." And with that, Ianto let go, encasing himself for the world to see him as dead, for Jack to have loved and lost once more.
"Ianto? Ianto? Don't go, don't leave me please. Please...don't" The tears were now falling freely down Jack's face.
"You will die and tommorow your people will deliver the children." With a steely gaze, Jack glares at the 456 before pressing a final kiss to Ianto's cold lips.
I love you too Jones, Ianto Jones; you sexy Welshman who stole my heart.
And with that, Jack succumbs to the darkness.
Jack wakes, hours later, to Gwen's sobs as she stares at Ianto's pale, cold body. Putting an arm around her, he lets his own tears flow, feeling completely useless.
What's the point of saving everyone we've ever saved, if we can't even save our own? If I can't even save those I love?
But when Gwen whispers "There's nothing we can do" the determined hero within Jack is spurred.
Yes there is. We can defeat the 456. I will avenge you Ianto, I promise.
Well, I hope you all enjoyed Chapter One! I certainly enjoyed writing it!
I think we all have to admit that Torchwood would be much better if they brought Ianto back, though I can see RTD's reasoning behind his death; you have to admit, it is good drama! I love how the scene was written!
But still! BRING BACK IANTO!
But! Apparently, we do have three new Torchwood Radio Plays starring GDL to look forward to!
Please Review! They make my day!
Thanks for reading!
Holly