Doomsday: Post Apocalypse
a Torchwood story
by RoadrunnerGER
Dislaimer: Oh, really! They're the BBC's.
Summary: Ianto comes to Cardiff for a week to help with the archives, but is it as simple as that? Jack/OC, Jack?Ianto
A/N: I know this will come back to haunt me. LOL Still, I really hope that I won't get stuck in this one like I did in two others. I don't want to write and write and… until I can post this in three years or so. I'm looking forward to the exchange with you. Thank you for enjoying Doomsday and I hope you'll like this one, too. Special thanks to my wonderful beta mandassina. Enjoy!
Warning: It's close to November and I'd like to write original fiction this year so this story might not be updated before NaNo is over. Just wanted to get it out so you can put your alerts on it… if you like. ;) Thanks.
Chapter 1 – Unexpected help
Cardiff
Taking care of the considerably smaller bodies of the procompsognathus dinosaurs and another weevil, Jack racked his mind about how he should dispose of the octopus carcass.
Can't sell it to restaurants. First, it's way too big for calamari rings. Second, it's already fried.
Chuckling he stuffed the last dinosaur into the oven and turned it on, burning the remains.
I can't incinerate the squid up there in the Hub. Maybe I could cut it to pieces? Then it should fit in the oven.
But even that would take forever. Wish I had a blaster. One shot and the thing would dissolve.
He sighed.
The thing will be decayed loooong before blasters are invented. Thankfully it shrunk when it was fried, but it's still huge.
Having worked all night to keep himself off brooding Jack was not only exhausted, he also had way too much on his mind to concentrate on the problem at hand. Deciding that staring at the carcass would not get him anywhere he took his coat and left the Hub through the tourist information office.
Out on the boardwalk he took a deep breath of salty sea air before he started walking up to the Plass to get to one of his favourite vantage points from there. He was strolling across the Oval Basin when he heard someone call out.
"Hey, Jack!"
Jack started, stopping abruptly, coat swinging around him. When he looked around he found the origin of the voice sitting on the big stairs bordering the basin. There was, holding a mug of coffee-to-go, the young man who had helped him chase the octopus, Ydris Rhydderch.
Who shouldn't be able to remember me, Jack thought with a hint of annoyance. Which really was a shame given how we spent the hours during lockdown.
The Welshman's green eyes bore into Jack curiously. This time Jack perceived the scar around his left eye as more prominent, though he could not say that it was appalling. He remembered that Ydris thought about that differently.
Deciding that he should not just stand and stare but find out if he really remembered Jack asked, "Do I know you?"
"Sure," the young man smirked. "It's me, Ydris."
"I'm sorry…"
Grinning mischievously the Welshman said, "You wanted to invite me for calamari, but the octopus turned out to be too big, and old, and tough."
His eyes widening with realization Jack could just stare at Ydris.
"Well, Jack, looks like your drug failed," Ydris shrugged. "I do remember all right. Staging a party at Andy's was the best you could come up with?"
Shaking off his shock Jack quipped, "I was on a tight schedule." Approaching him he asked, "What about the constables? Do they…?"
"Remember? No."
"Did you tell them?" Jack queried.
"No."
Thoughtfully Jack nodded. He knew that Retcon did not always work, but so far it had happened only twice and both witnesses were relatively easy to deal with. Now Ydris did not seem to be much different and loyal in addition if he really did not tell Gwen and Andy about what they had done in the days after the crisis. What bothered Jack was that Ydris was here now, obviously just waiting for him to appear, and he wondered what he was up to.
"So, what now?" Ydris asked. "Will you kill me?"
"What? Why?"
"Because I know who you are, what Torchwood is. Don't you have to assure that I'll keep the secret?" Ydris challenged.
Jack huffed. "Signing a confidentiality contract should do."
Scowling deeply Ydris said, "I thought you'd come up with something more inventive."
"Like what?"
"Hm… Like giving me a job?"
"Sorry, still no job vacancy," Jack told him, recalling at the same second the problem he had to deal with. "But…" he smirked. "I'd really like to invite you for octopus."
Grimacing sceptically Ydris joined Jack on his way back to the Hub. As they strode down the boardwalk toward the tourist information Jack used his wrist device to unlock it and pushed through the door.
"Come!" he beckoned Ydris. As soon as the young man stepped in Jack leaned over the counter and pressed the button under it. The front door fell shut while the hidden entrance opened. Jack led the way to an elevator that carried them down to another tunnel.
"I would've loved to take the scenic route," Jack said, ducking through the opening cog door, "but a carcass is sprawled right across the lift."
"Oh, that's all right. As long as I won't ever have to enter the Hub diving through the tunnel again," Ydris teased.
"Usually we use the sub for that," Jack smirked.
Stepping into the central Hub Ydris looked around. Even though he had seen it before he was stunned by the dimensions and the exotic equipment. Hopping down the stairs he followed Jack to the carcass.
"Oh, yeah, I can see your problem," he chuckled.
"It's too big."
"It is."
"What can we do about that?" Jack queried.
"Hmmm… do you have an axe?"
"An…" Thoughtfully Jack rubbed his chin. "Um… no."
"A big saw?"
This time Jack scratched his head. Finally he shrugged, "Suzie would know."
"You must have something you can cut it up with!" Ydris laughed. "Look around you, Jack! All this alien tech must be good for something."
Suddenly Jack smirked broadly at him and ran off, back up the stairs and down to the autopsy bay. When he returned he held a harmless looking item that reminded Ydris of a hand blender. Curiously he watched how Jack aimed at an arm and activated the device. A laser cut cleanly through the flesh, separating the end of the arm from the rest.
"Great!" Ydris cheered. "Now, how about an industrial shredder? Then you can toss the remains into the ocean."
"A funeral at sea," Jack beamed. "Ydris, you're brilliant."
Smirking at Jack over the carcass he replied, "You really don't want to hire me?"
xXx
The screaming of the saws on metal gave Ianto the creeps. Seeing them spin closer he tried to squirm out of their way but his restraints gave no leeway. All his struggles did him no good, only giving him pain, agony swallowing him whole. At the same time he was frozen with fear. Air caught painfully in his throat when he gasped for breath. They were about to rip into his flesh and…
Ianto woke with a start. His eyes flew open and his gasp echoed in the silence around him.
Light.
Wherever he was, it was not as dark as the prison he had dreamt about and that he escaped only hours ago. It also was softer, with a comfortable mattress underneath him and a warm duvet covering him.
Still Ianto lay rigid with fear.
Where am I?
The throes of his nightmare did not let go of him easily. It was only when he finally registered the loud snoring coming from his left that he could shake off the bigger part of his anxiety.
Owen.
Turning his head to the left he saw the medic curled on the sofa, one arm hanging down the front. Ianto bit back a chuckle and took just another deep breath. Just those small movements already alerted him to how stiff and sore he still was.
No idea why I turned onto my back again! For God's sake, that hurts!
The sound of a horn and cries of seagulls drew his attention to the panorama window to his right. Even without leaving his position Ianto could look across the bay and watch the ships. In the distance he could make out part of Mermaid Quay.
Somewhere over there is the base.
Following a human impulse Ianto pushed back the duvet and padded over to the bathroom.
How satisfying it can be to be able to do something as simple as going to the toilet, Ianto thought with surprise as he stood and relieved himself.
For a second Ianto feared that the flush would wake Owen, but as he listened he noticed that the steady rhythm never changed, and he smirked to himself. Ianto went to search the content of his suitcase for new clothes before he washed himself. Dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt he then sat on the bed and watched the bay again.
I should get something for breakfast, he thought as he felt his stomach grumble.
A look into Owen's fridge sobered him up. There was nothing but a jar of mayonnaise, a pair of sausages, and a half-empty can of tuna inside. Ianto disposed of the latter as it smelled like it was at least a week old.
Pretty healthy lifestyle for a doctor.
With a sigh Ianto looked around the kitchen that did not offer much more edible. If he wanted to eat breakfast he would have to go and buy some food. No sooner thought than done, Ianto grabbed his wallet… and paused. It was the one Lisa had given him for Christmas last year. When he came home last night he just gathered what he needed, including cash from their mini safe in the closet and the wallet, without thinking about it. Now he looked at the fine black leather wallet and felt another surge of grief wash over him. He could almost hear Lisa argue, 'Why don't you ditch the old one? I didn't take you for the type of bloke who'd carry it until it conforms to the curve of his arse! Do you plan to keep it until it falls apart?'
Sniffing Ianto tried to force the grief back. He let his fingertips run over the smooth leather before he stuffed the wallet into the back pocket of his jeans. This one certainly would suffer the destiny Lisa had predicted. Taking another deep breath he strode out of the apartment and pulled the front door closed behind him. He did not know this part of Cardiff well, but he was pretty certain that he would find a market or a bakery within walking distance.
On his way down the stairs Ianto became aware again of how sore he still was. While he had helped the team search the archives he forgot about it, too glad about finally being able to move again. Then he had been sore and stiff when he got up again at the hotel. Now he found that his muscles protested every step he took. Groaning he clenched his teeth and ignored it.
A walk will loosen me up, he thought. I need to move if I don't want to turn stiff completely.
As expected he did not need to go very far to find a bakery where he would at least get something for breakfast. When he reached out for the handle to pull the door open his gaze fell onto a note hanging in the window.
Room to let, apartment 4. Nice coincidence.
Intent on asking about the room, too, Ianto strolled inside and had a look at the offers while he waited. When it was his turn he chose a few pastries and intended to pay when the lady held out the paper bag across the counter. Ianto reached for it, but she did not let go, eyeing him curiously.
"Ianto?"
Surprised Ianto had a second look at her, but she did not seem familiar.
"You're Ianto Jones, right?" she prodded. "You were in my son's class."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but…" Ianto murmured, still at a loss… and still holding on to the paper bag above the counter that she would not let go of.
"I'm Colin's mom," she said. "Colin Dillard. You were in class together from year… four until graduation."
Now that name rang a bell. Ianto could not say that he had been best friends with Colin, which explained why he did not recognize his mother. Somewhere in the back of his mind the name triggered a hazy memory, though. He probably met her at school events.
Oh! Colin's the cousin of Eric!
The wheels slotted in place. He had been friends with Eric who was in the same year but a different class. Colin was the nasty little boy who flicked his bogeys at the girls, and neither Ianto nor Eric was happy when he had tried to tag along. As if she read his mind Mrs. Dillard said, "You lost touch with Eric, too. God, it's good to see you. How are you?"
"I'm fine," he lied and finally got his pastry bag.
Nodding, she asked, "Do you live in Cardiff now, dear?"
"No," Ianto shook his head. "I'm just here to temp at an office for a week or so, and, actually, I was about to ask about the note…"
"Oh!" she called out with enthusiasm. "The room to let. Yes, dear. Just a minute." And turning toward the door to the back room she shouted, "Sally! Could you tend the shop for a minute, please? Someone's asking for the room! I want to show it to him!"
"Sure, mom!" a female voice called back.
Before Sally had a chance to show up Mrs. Dillard ushered Ianto to the back door.
"Come, dear. Let me show you the room. I'm sure you'll like it. It's roomy and light and has a small ensuite."
Having no other choice Ianto fell into step behind her and followed her up the stairs while she went on babbling.
tbc…