The Ones You Least Expect
Summary: Sometimes one person really can make a difference, sometimes it's the ones you least expect.
Characters: Ianto Jones(Centric), Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Owen Harper, Suzie Costello, Toshiko Sato (Doctor Who Crossover will occur later)
Pairings: Ianto/Jack main focus, will be others but no spoilers and expect a bumpy road for them.
Rating: M
Warnings: Explicit Violence, Swearing, Sexual Situations (Both M/M and F/M)
Disclaimer: All characters are property of bbc Wales and RTD. Which is lucky for you else the entire Torchwood plot would focus on Ianto and Jack being chained to my bed.
Author Notes: This will be a long story. It follows a timeline or alternate universe created during the events of another story I wrote called "Broken Time." Its recommend you read that one first. The story will work its way from Ianto's return from (see Broken Time) and work its way through the Torchwood cannon but things will be different.
Last note, I created a slightly different timeline then the shows, basically more time between episodes, its posted on my profile, not required to read, just their for any hardcore TW/DW fans that may get confused.
AN: For anyone enjoying this story, sorry I have trouble focusing on one project at a time, but don't worry I haven't abandoned this or my other projects. But since I now have five+ projects (several TW stories I'm writing not sure if I'll post or not) in the works I'll try and focus on the more popular ones first. So if you're liking a certain story make sure to review or put on alert and I'll try focusing on the more popular ones first.
AN2: This isn't the original Prologue, chapter 1 was. I felt adding this will hopefully get people excited for things to come. I don't like giving away spoilers but please don't assume this is the definite ending.
Prologue - An End Is Where We Start From
The Year 3563
Ianto Jones lay in his bed patiently awaiting his partners return. He knew his time was soon, he had lived a good life, a life he was never meant to have. At the stalwart age of 106 years old he lived a far longer life than most 21st century beings. It was a good life, a life with the man he loved, Jack Harkness.
They lived in a small village with many friendly faces and together had raised seven beautiful children, all of which they had adopted. All of them had already come to say their farewells and Ianto couldn't hold back the tears knowing he would never get to see his children ever again, their next visit would be at his funeral.
It was his time, he knew. He'd never change anything about his life, it was a far greater life than he could have hoped for, but he had regrets. Dying before your prime of your life and being forced to let go of all your friends and family was painful to say the least, but he wouldn't change it.
Ianto was pulled from his thoughts with the gentle squeaking of the bedroom door opening. Without looking up he smiled, a wide grin from ear to ear. He didn't look up, he didn't have too. Ianto would know that shy timid entrance anywhere, it definitely wasn't the invasive one the arrogant Time Lord would make, or the overly dramatised one of his lover. God, Jack did love to make a scene of everything.
No it definitely wasn't either of the two usual visitors. This timid approach, leaving the door slightly ajar as he peaked his head through carefully gauging that he wouldn't be intruding, always taking the consideration of others. It was the only other man Ianto had ever loved, a man Ianto was sure had died a very long time ago.
"My Doctor," Ianto whispered in a weak yet joyful tone.
The man walked in hesitantly approaching the bed, his insecurities obvious to the aged man.
"How?" the man stuttered as he carefully sat beside Ianto on the bed, his eyes meeting the mans for the first time in decades, "how did you know it was me? And not my better half?"
"Better half?" Ianto asked remembering the mans insecurities when it came to comparing himself to, for lack of a better word, twin. "Oh Doctor, to me you always were the better half."
Ianto heart warmed seeing that familiar smile grace his long lost lovers face.
"How do you always know its me? You always were the only one who could tell when we stood side by side."
"Well nowadays its simple, your arrogant git of a twin went and got himself regenerated again. Gots a massive arse chin now, he does," Ianto responded his smile widening to match his companion's. "Its a lot of things, like your mannerisms. His arrogance your modesty," Ianto didn't want to use the words insecurities, he was the only man Ianto had ever met to be insecure about being insecure. He continued, "but mostly its your eyes."
"My eyes," the doctor repeated silently more to himself.
"Yes, your eyes. His look tired, like he's holding the weight of the world on his shoulders. Yours are very human, filled with compassion and love," Ianto managed to get out before breaking out into a gut wrenching coughing fit.
The Doctor moved quickly to Ianto's side and helped him sit up while handing Ianto a handkerchief to cough into. The fit lasted several minutes before Ianto was able to calm down. He pulled the handkerchief away from his month and both noted the blood stains now splattered on the cloth.
"Won't be long now," Ianto whispered as the Doctor helped him lay back down. "Lay with me for awhile," Ianto asked as he lifted his arm in a welcoming gesture.
"I can't stay long much longer," the Doctor warned Ianto as he gently snuggled into Ianto's side, wrapping his arm as tightly around Ianto's waist as he dared.
"Timey-wimey thing?" Ianto asked, more of a statement than a question. In his years of knowing Jack and the Doctor he'd had to sit through the Time Lords rants several times.
"Yeah, something like that."
The two remained silent for awhile, taking comfort in the embrace neither imagined they'd ever get experience again.
"Did you have a good life?" the Doctor asked unsure the answer he wanted to hear. Part of him praying to Rasssilon that Ianto had been happy and a more selfish part wanting to hear not without him in his life.
"Yeah, I had a bloody fantastic life," Ianto reflected back on these past decades with Jack raising their kids and enjoying their life danger free. "But I have regrets, losing you the biggest of them."
"I would've come to you sooner if I could," the Doctor replied wiping the tears that escaped.
"I know, time is a bitch," Ianto added pleased with himself when he felt his companion shake gently beside him with laughter. He waited a moment allowing the more cheerful moment to linger before he continued, "I miss them," Ianto said as he started to cry. "God, I miss them. Gwen, Owen, Tosh and Suzie. She was my best friend and helped me get through so much."
Ianto's form began to convulse beside the Doctor, shaking bitterly from the large sobs that he could no longer control. The Doctor pulled his once be lover in tightly trying desperately to give the elderly man comfort.
"Fuck time," Ianto spat. "As soon as that arrogant twat shows up I'm hijacking his TARDIS and going back. Tell everyone I was okay that I lived a good life. Go back and stop you from going into that bloody building."
The Doctor ignored the outburst and simply continued to hold Ianto tightly until he got a grasp of himself again. It was so hard not to give into the mans wishes and find away to bring him back to the 21st century. How much the Doctor loved him and wished nothing more than to take away his regrets, but he couldn't. This moment needed to happen, it was a pivotal time in his own life and that of Jack's and the Time Lords. It just hurt so much knowing he'd never get to hold Ianto in his arms again.
"Its time," the Doctor whispered quietly, using every fibre of strength and willpower he possessed to pull himself away from his dying lover. "I have to go now, he'll be back soon."
"I understand," Ianto murmured wishing his body still had the strength to walk his Doctor to the door.
The Doctor leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Ianto's lips, their last kiss, before pulling away to make his way to the door. "I love you, Ianto Jones." His final words as he made his way through the door, just barely hearing Ianto's parting words.
"I love you too, my Doctor."
With those parting words Ianto watched one of the only two men he'd ever loved disappear. He lay their for a moment feeling a weight being lifted from his heart. His Doctor was alive, part of him always felt it, they never did find any traces of a body. At least he could die knowing that both the men he loved would be alive and well.
Moments later the door once again was thrown open with gusto, colliding loudly with the wall. Jack was back with his medicine. Why Jack insisted on Ianto continuing with his treatment he didn't understand, he was dying of old age after all and for that there was no cure.
"Honey, I'm home!" Jack bellowed into the room as he jumped carelessly onto the bed causing Ianto to rock with the force.
That was his Jack, a sheer force of life with the power of a hurricane blowing through and pray you not get caught in its path cause it will knock you off your feet. Or in Ianto's case into the clouds and never let you down.
"What happened?" Jack asked noticing the sombre reflective look Ianto was in.
"Timey-wimey," Ianto replied enjoying the scowl that crossed Jack's face at the code word for I cant tell you. It was rare that he got to use it, normally he was on the receiving end.
"Gods, you must hate us whenever we say that to you," Jack said as he carefully pulled Ianto up onto his lap holding him gently in his firm embrace.
Ianto didn't respond, he suddenly felt drained. He didn't have the energy so instead he just lay there in Jack's warm embrace enjoying the moment. Listening as Jack rambled on about the passing's and goings of the villagers, what their Time Lord friend was up too, how the coral now took up the entire room they kept it in, and anything that just happened to pop into Jack's mind. Slowly letting the darkness take him he drifted off into an endless sleep in the arms of his lover.
Jack had felt it, the moment when Ianto's heart stopped beating, but he couldn't bring himself to stop talking. For hours he clutched Ianto tightly to his chest ignoring the tears that flowed freely. Trying desperately not to allow thoughts of living for all eternity without this beautiful man in his life.
Please let me know what you think about the new prologue