AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first Torchwood fic, so be kind. I had a severe loss in my own life, and that inspired this. The first chapter is depressing, I know, but bear with me. I promise this fic will have plenty of love and happiness. Enjoy.
"I understand. Thank you. I'll be there shortly. Please let him know I am on my way." Captain Jack Harkness hung up the phone numbly. Ianto glanced over from his spot on the sofa, and seeing the lost expression on his lover's face, rose and walked into the office. Once the door was firmly closed behind him, he rested a hand on the older man's shoulder.
"Jack? What's going on?" He rubbed calming circles into Jack's shoulders.
"You remember my daughter, Alice?" At Ianto's nod, Jack continued. "She was in a car accident this morning. She died instantly."
"Oh, Jack." Ianto breathed. "I'm so very sorry." He thought for a moment. "What about Steven?"
"That's the next issue. He has no family outside of his mother."
"And you." Ianto added.
"Yes, and me. I'm to go pick up Steven at the station. Alice had a will..." He trailed off and raised his hands helplessly. "Ianto, I'm supposed to take care of him. I don't know the first thing about children."
"You'll do fine. You're a fast learner, Jack."
Jack nodded glumly and rose from his chair. "I should be getting on, then." Ianto hugged him warmly.
"Call me if you need anything."
Jack shot him a helpless look before heading out of the hub.
Steven sat on a small bench in the back of the police station, silently watching the coppers hurry by. They all seemed busy, but he knew that they were only doing that so they wouldn't have to speak to him. I mean, what would they say? 'Hey, sorry your mom's dead, kid?' He shook his head in disgust.
The station door opened and he saw his Uncle Jack enter, his greatcoat flying behind him. The older man gave the boy a small smile and went to the reception desk. The woman behind the counter greeted him coolly and they had a brief conversation before she handed him a small bag, which he tucked in his pocket quickly. She gestured to Steven and Jack strode over to him. Wordlessly, he sat down on the bench beside the child.
Steven took a deep breath. "Hi, Uncle Jack."
Jack looked at him, almost in surprise at his words. "Hi, kiddo. Want to get out of here?" He nudged Steven's knee with his own.
"Please. I don't feel well."
They stood and walked back to reception. Jack stooped to sign a few documents and the woman looked at Steven, concerned.
"Are you okay, Sweetie? Do you feel safe leaving with this man?" He gave her an angry glare.
"Mom told me if anything ever happened that Uncle Jack would take care of me. So he will."
"Alright." She said simply.
The twenty minute drive to the house seemed to take forever. Steven wasn't in a chatty mood, and Jack had no idea what to say. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and punched in the number for the hub.
"Yes?" He heard Ianto's frantic voice come on the line.
"Ianto, it's Jack. How are things?"
"Rift is quiet, Sir." Something clattered in the background and he heard Owen yell in surprise.
"Oh? Doesn't sound like it. How about the truth?"
"Jack," Ianto sighed in exasperation, "You have enough going on right now. We can handle the rift for one night. Take care of Steven."
"Fine, but I am calling tonight for a full report and I'd like everyone alive when I speak to you."
"Yes, Sir."
They disconnected as the car reached the house. Steven quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the car as soon as Jack put it in park. He quickly followed the boy up the front steps to the door.
"When did you two move?" Jack asked as he fished in the baggie, still in his pocket, for the key.
"Six months ago, and you'd know that if you ever came around." Steven answered quietly.
Jack sighed and stuck the key in the lock. "I know. There are things I can't explain to you right now about that, but I promise I will in the future." The key turned and the door swung open. "Why don't you go clean up and I'll figure out dinner?" Steven nodded and climbed the stairs, disappearing from sight.
Once the boy was gone, the Immortal began to look around. The front door led to the kitchen. The stairs were off to one side, and the living room was off to the other. Beyond the stairs was an office and a bathroom. Upstairs, there were three bedrooms and a bathroom. The master bedroom, Alice's bedroom, had a large bathroom and closet. It was a wonderful house, and it already had a cozy feel.
Jack heard the shower turn on, and he headed back down to the kitchen to take inventory. The process didn't take long, and he could see by the list on the counter that Alice had been planning on grocery shopping soon. The cupboards and refrigerator were pretty bare. He picked up the phone on the counter and dialed a number from memory.
Steven trudged down the stairs and followed a delicious aroma to the kitchen. His Uncle Jack was placing a large pizza and two plates on the table. He added two cans of soda from the fridge and sat down, his head in his hands.
"Uncle Jack?"
Jack's head shot up and he gave his grandson a quick smile. "Hey. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, I'm starving. I didn't really get to eat earlier." He sat down at the table and opened the box, serving himself a slice, and Jack did the same.
"So, Steven. I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Yeah?" He mumbled through a mouthful of pizza.
"I know that things are going to be different, and I know that I'm not your mom, but I'm really going to try."
Steven glared at him. "I don't want to talk about it right now. My mom died today, Uncle Jack. I do NOT want to talk about it. I know how death works and I know what it means. Yeah, I'm a kid but I'm a smart kid. I also know that you don't have kids and you don't know how to act around them. You don't need to talk to me about my mom." He grabbed a few more slices, piled them on his plate, and stormed upstairs, leaving Jack alone at the table.
"Fuck." He said to himself.
After he cleaned the kitchen and put away the leftover pizza, he went into the living room and sank down onto the sofa. As he was staring off into nowhere, his phone rang and brought him back to Earth.
"Captain Jack Harkness." He barked into the phone.
"Hello, Sir." His lover's coming through the phone softened him a little.
"Ianto. How are things?"
"Quiet now, honestly. We had a small mix-up with Janet, but things are sorted now."
"Good, good. Are you heading home?"
"Yes, but I'm on call tonight."
"Covering a shift without permission?"
"Yes, sir. This particular person needs to be with his grandson."
Jack smiled in spite of his sour mood. "Thanks, Ianto. Hey, is there any chance you could do me a small favor?"
"Anything. What do you need?"
"Can you pack me a bag with some clothes and things? Everything I need is down in my bunker."
"Of course, Sir."
Jack rattled off his new address and they hung up. Ianto had promised to bring his bag within the hour, and the idea of seeing the man he loved cheered him a bit.
"Uncle Jack?" He heard from behind him. He turned to see Steven, in a pair of pyjamas, standing in the doorway.
"Hi, Steven. What can I do for you?"
Steven kept his eyes on the floor as he spoke. "I'm sorry, Uncle Jack. I just... I miss my mom." His face crumbled and Jack was by him instantly. He crouched down and wrapped Steven in a hug.
"I know, Buddy. I know you do. I miss your mom, too."
The boy raised his head and looked up through his blond bangs. "You do?"
"Of course I do! She was my d-sister. I loved your mom very much."
Steven squeezed Jack with more force than he believed the boy had in him. "Are you really going to take care of me now?"
"I am."
"Are we going to be okay?"
"Yes. If we work together we are going to be just fine." He pulled back and gave the boy another one of his famous smiles. "You know, you're pretty smart for a kid your age."
"I know I am. I've always been smarter than the other kids."
Jack chuckled and ruffled Steven's hair. "Do you want to watch some television before bed?"
"Yeah!" He scurried over to the couch, grabbed the remote, and clicked on the television, settling on some unknown children's movie. Jack settled in beside him and really studied his grandson for the first time. The boy was handling this well, but he wasn't sure for how long. Sometimes these things took time to surface.
A knock on the door startled them both.
"Who is that?" Steven started to get up, but Jack laid a hand on his shoulder.
"It's a friend of mine bringing some clothes for me."
"Can I meet your friend?" Jack started to say no, but he saw a little excitement on the boy's face and he melted.
"Sure. Let me go bring him in."
He stood and opened the door. Ianto stood on the front steps with a large paper bag and a satchel slung over his shoulder.
"Hello, Sir." He said with a smile.
"Hi, Ianto. Come on in."
He hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Steven would really like to meet you." He gestured toward the hallway and Ianto stepped inside, setting the bags down. As soon as the door closed, Steven ran in from the den.
"Ianto, this is my nephew, Steven."
Ianto stooped down to one knee and held out his hand, shaking it when Steven offered his. "It's nice to meet you, Steven. And might I say, those are really cool pyjamas. I like Jake better than Finn too."
Steven's eyes widened. "You know Adventure Time?"
"Of course I do!"
Steven didn't need any more than that. He grabbed Ianto's hand and dragged him into the living room, where the show they were discussing was playing on the television. They chatted for a few moments before Ianto excused himself to empty the paper bag. Jack had stepped out to use the bathroom, and when he came back, Ianto was filling the cabinets with staple groceries.
"You're amazing." Jack told him, giving him a quick kiss.
"No. Just helpful, I like to think." He put away the last of the groceries and they sat together at the kitchen table.
"So, how are you holding up?"
"I'm doing alright, I suppose. Things got rough, but I think we are okay now."
Ianto reached for Jack's hands. "I am here if you need anything at all."
"I know. Thanks. Well, if I have you and Steven on my side, we'll all be okay."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Review and I'll update by the end of the week!