Title: Whispers in the Dark

Fandom: Torchwood

Rating: I'm not very sure, but lets say PG-15, but that will probably go up, as this will get very disturbing.

Pairings: Ianto/Andy, Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys

Summary: Sequel to In the Dark. Ianto's trust in Torchwood is shattered for reasons he will not say. The people who buried him alive are still after him, and ready to prove that's not the worst they can do to the young teaboy. PC Andy's the only one Ianto trusts, because, somehow, it's all Jack's fault.

Right, here is the sequel to In the Dark. If you found that disturbing you should maybe give this a miss, as it will start to get very, very dark and twisted as we go along.

Chapter 1

PC Andy Davidson really hated some aspects of his job. Like the fact that he had to deal with drunken idiots who like nothing better than to throw up over his shoes. Or the fact that he was always the one who had to make the coffee in the station. Or, as in this instance, the shitty work hours.

It was something akin to four in the morning, and here he was, in some woods near the suburbs of the city, with a pair of dogs and his partner Michael, on what was probably a wild goose chase.

They'd been called out on a tip that someone had seen a group of men dragging a body into the woods. The likelihood was low, but they still had to check it out, hence the dogs.

"This place is giving me the creeps." complained Michael, looking around.

"What? Afraid a spooky-do's gonna jump out at you?" Andy smirked.

"You wish, Davidson." Michael grinned, his face thrown into sharp relief by the torchlight. Then he grunted as one of the dogs gave a jerk of the leash, then let out a bark, dragging the short, broad man along. "Guess he's found something."

"Right behind you!" Andy held on tight to the leash. The dogs were well trained, they wouldn't run off if he let go, but in the darkness, it'd be hell finding them if they hurried ahead to find whatever they could smell. "This better be good. It's bloody freezing tonight."

"And damp." agreed Michael. The dogs led them to a spot that looked freshly turned and began to dig furiously, whining and yipping.

"A body you think?"

"Dunno. Would make a nice change, eh?"

As they stood there, shining their torches down, Andy's ears pricked up as he heard a funny noise. It was muffled, but sounded like a shout. At first he didn't really think beyond the fact that it was an odd sound to hear. But then he realised the sound had come from under the ground.

"Shit! Michael call an ambulance!"

"What? Why?"

"Can't you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"Listen!"

They stood stock still, straining their ears. Then they heard it again. A muffled scream, begging for help. Andy went cold.

"Jesus Christ! There's someone… Jesus!" Michael yanked out his phone and fumbled to dial an ambulance, while Andy fell to his knees and began to help the dogs dig down into the ground. The screams got louder and clearer, and the words became clearer.

"Help! Please, please, let me out! Please!"

Andy's stomach clenched and he barely flinched as something jagged cut his hand as he scrambled to reach the person.

"It's ok! It's all right, we're here. We'll get you out." He called, hoping to reassure the person. A man it sounded like.

One of the dogs barked and his claws scratched against something wooden. A coffin.

'Who the fuck would do this?' Andy wondered, stomach rebelling at the idea.

"Michael give me a hand!"

Michael jumped into the hole and helped Andy clear away the soil, until the coffin was completely uncovered. Andy's fingers were shaking as he fumbled around for the latches on the sides. He had to pull at the cut in his hand as he yanked them loose.

Between them, Michael and Andy managed to lift the lid off and threw it aside as the man inside scrambled to get out, gasping for air and sobbing in terror. Andy climbed back into the hole and managed to get his arms around the man, lifting him up and hauling him over the edge of the hole. All the while he was saying,

"You're all right, you're all right."

The man shrieked and struggled against them, trying to get away. Andy realised he was completely naked and in the faint torchlight, he was also injured. He swallowed bile as he held his hands out, while Michael restrained the man, and spoke in soft tones, like Gwen would when dealing with suicidal people.

"We're not gonna hurt you. We're just trying to help you. We won't let anyone hurt you."

The man's struggles began to slow, and he seemed to understand what Andy was saying. Keeping his hands visible, Andy stepped closer, nodding to Michael to ease up on his grip.

"See, we just want to get you somewhere safe. Just calm down, and let us help you. It's up to you. We won't do anything you don't want."

"You… you won't hurt me?" whimpered the man, although he sounded more like a lost boy than anything else.

"No, of course not! We're police officers, we're here to help. See the painfully bright florescent yellow? I don't exactly wear this for the sake of looking good."

A brief, quiet giggle escaped the boy's lips. Big blue eyes flashed in the torchlight and Andy gave him a small smile.

"What's your name?"

"Ianto… Ianto Jones."

Why did that name sound familiar? Andy shrugged it off as Ianto tentatively reached out and Andy took his hand. His skin was freezing and he was shaking. Probably a combination of shock, lack of air and the lack of clothes.

"Ok, Ianto, an ambulance is on the way, so you just stay calm and I'll stick with you."

"You're Andy." murmured Ianto, squeezing his hand.

"That's right."

"You know Gwen."

Andy's eyes widened in surprise. "Gwen? Gwen Cooper?"

"Yes."

"How'd you know Gwen?"

"We work together."

"That makes you part of-"

"Where's Gwen? Where's Jack? Tosh? Where are they?"

Andy had never liked Torchwood, especially since they took Gwen on and she started getting hard. But he'd always noted how intensely protective of each other they were. How had they let this happen to one of their own? Their youngest probably, since Ianto looked barely out of his teens.

"I'll call Gwen, tell her what's happened, don't worry."

Stripping off his outer jacket, Andy set it around Ianto's shoulders. Ianto ducked his head, looking humiliated as he realised he was naked.

"I-I wet myself. Don't tell Owen."

"I won't, don't worry."

"Promise?"

"Yeah." Andy assured him, sitting down beside him and wrapping his arms around the lithe boy, trying to heat him up. Michael had left them, no doubt to keep an eye out for the ambulance. "Are you hurt?"

"D-dunno… they, they hurt me. C-can't feel it." Ianto's eyelids drooped, and he rested his head on Andy's shoulder. A slim, strong hand emerge from Andy's jacket to cling to his shirt. "Tired."

"C'mon mate, stay with me. Just until the medics can look at you. It'll be ok."

"Ok. Talk to me."

"Erm… what do you want to talk about?"

"Not Gwen."

"Right… what do you remember? Do you know why you were… why this happened to you?"

"No. I was walking around the city. Got grabbed and knocked out. Drugs I think."

"Then what happened?" Andy doubted this was the ideal topic, but the sooner he could get information, the better chance the police had catching the guys who did this.

"I… I was in a room… it was a warehouse I think. I could smell the bay."

"Were you alone?"

"No. There were others. When I woke up… I was tied to a pole, made to stand while they…" Ianto shuddered and curled up tighter, "No! Please… I don't want-"

"Sshh! It's ok. You don't have to talk about it. Stupid of me. I just… I don't feel right asking your opinion of Eastenders."

Ianto's breath was hot against Andy's neck, and he was glad to note that the chill seemed to be leaving his skin.

"Jack? Where's Jack? He should be here. Jack!"

"I dunno where your Mulder is, but we'll find him."

"Jack… he's supposed to… he promised." Ianto's grip tightened and Andy felt his neck get wet with warm tears.

"We'll get him, it's ok." Andy knew that Ianto was in shock, and he probably only just about understood what Andy was saying. He'd seen it before.

"I want Jack." Ianto was whimpering, and he was alternating between clinging to Andy and pushing away. Andy held tight.

"You won't tell Owen I pissed myself, will you? I don't want him to know. Please."

"Of course I won't. In fact I don't even know what you're talking about."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Andy! The ambulance is here." Michael called.

"Thank God. C'mon then Ianto. Let's get you checked over."

"No! I don't want them. Don't let them touch me." Ianto's eyes widened and he stared straight at Andy, looking terrified.

"It's ok, don't worry Ianto. They're not going to hurt you. They just want to help. Like me."

"L-Like you?"

"Yeah." Andy squeezed the hand, "Like me."

"Will you stay with me?" Ianto's eyes were wide, pleading, frightened, and oh so young.

"Of course. I'll stick to you like superglue."

With this promise, Andy managed to get Ianto to let the paramedics to look him over. This was much easier than he'd expected, since about two minutes after they started examining him, Ianto passed out. Although this wasn't such a good thing when Andy realised it was probably blood loss and shock and god knows what else.

"Jesus, d'you think we should get in touch with Torchwood Andy?" Michael was pale in the light of the ambulance. The same light had thrown into sharp relief all the injuries on Ianto's body. Andy couldn't think about them right then. He had to stay focused.

"I'll handle it. You take the car, report back and get the dogs settled. I'll stay with him."

"You sure?"

Andy glanced at Ianto, face bruised and battered, body covered with blankets to keep away cold and shock. He looked very fragile, and very alone. Andy knew he couldn't leave him until he was certain he was safe. He was a policeman. This was what he had joined for. Taking care of people.

"Very sure."

Comments are really appreciated.

Night's Darkness