Title: Stranger In My Arms
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Captain Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Gwen Cooper-Williams, OC
Warnings: Probably angsty
Summary: "In those first moments he looked completely different. His eyes a different colour, his hair a different shade and somehow, Ianto thought if he spoke, the voice wouldn't be the older mans..."
Author Notes: This came to me while writing a line of the story 'Three Days In Your Shoes' I'd really love to know what you think.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Torchwood 'cause then I'd be all like "Hey, back off, Ianto belongs to me!" but I don't.
Chapter Two (Untitled Chapter)
"You're late." Jack smirked, crossing his arms in front of him.
"Uh, right, sorry." Ianto stammered, how could he expect it not to be Jack?
"Are you okay?"
"Fine. Are you okay? You were a bit crazy last night."
"I'm sorry. I wasn't myself. I shouldn't have sent you home, it was selfish of me." Jack sighed.
"Well you've certainly changed your tune."
"What do you mean?"
Ianto shook his head and closed his eyes for a moment, "Never mind. Coffee?"
"I'll be in my office."
Ianto watched Jack as he walked towards his office. He couldn't put his finger on it but something didn't seem right. The hope he had of coming to work and Jack's smile reassuring him was gone now. He smiled over at Gwen when she looked up at him.
"I thought youu always stayed here nowadays." She said, confused.
"Yeah, usually. Jack and I had...well it wasn't a fight, I don't really know what it was."
"Well he seems fine today. Cheery as ever." Gwen chuckled.
"Really? Nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Well you know, last couple of days he's been acting a little anxious but now he's fine."
"Night away from me did him some good then." Gwen could see Ianto's face drop.
"Come on, I'm sure that's not it."
"It's alright Gwen, I'll talk to him about it. Coffee?"
"Thank you so much."
Ianto smiled, feeling just a little bit better. He walked over to his coffee machine, running his hand along it. If only people were as simple as that coffee machine. Life would be so much easier. Jack was hard enough as it was without the sudden mood swings. He brewed the coffee and took one over to Gwen, earning a cheerful sigh.
"Thank you so much Ianto, you're a sweetheart."
"Anything for you Gwen." Ianto smiled.
"I'm sure you say that to Jack all the time." She chuckled, taking a small sip.
"True but you two are the only ones I'd follow through for."
"Aww, go on then. Find out what's up with Jack."
Ianto nodded, heading up to the older man's office. He knocked carefully before walking in. He watched Jack, completely focussed in a file on his desk. It was like he was in a transe. That file couldn't be that interesting, could it? Ianto cleared his throat to get Jack's attention.
"Sorry Ianto, thanks for the coffee." He smiled, taking it from the Welshman.
Ianto just smiled at him before sitting in the seat opposite. Jack took a sip and hs eyes widened.
"This is amazing."
"You say that like you've never had my coffee before."
"No, it's just one of your best brews yet." Jack reassured him.
Ianto paused in thought, trying to find a reason for Jack to say something like that, "I think it's a new brand."
"That must be it."
Ianto stared at Jack. He looked fine. Same everything. His voice was even the same. Okay, so a few of the things he's said were a bit odd but that was Jack for you.
"Are you sure you're okay Yan? You know I'm here if you need to talk."
"Why did you send me home last night? Did you need a night away from me to get back to your usual self? I'm fine with that, I just want to know because if I'm causing any problems I just want-" Ianto let the words tumble out of his mouth until Jack spoke over him.
"Ianto! You haven't done anything wrong, you aren't causing any problems. I've just had a lot on my mind and a night away from you had me thinking, that's all."
"What were you thinking about?" Ianto asked curiously.
"Work mainly."
"Didn't seem like it was work on your mind." Ianto pointed out.
"What's with the interrogation? Last night, I had a lot on my mind but now I've thought it through and I feel a lot better."
"So do you want me to go home again tonight?"
Jack leaned back in his chair, putting his feet on the desk, "You stay here where I can keep an eye on you."
"Feet, down." Ianto said sternly, chuckling when Jack did as he said, "And thank you. I couldn't sleep without you last night."
Jack just grinned at him, "Go on, I've got to make a call."
- - - - - - - - - X x X - - - - - - - - -
Jack jumped up with a start. He looked around the room, trying to figure out where he was. The room was an off white colour, the kind of white that could drive you mad if you stared at it for too long. There was a wall of TVs and a small phone in the middle of the room. He rushed over to it and tried to use it, having no luck. He turned back to the door and rammed his shoulder against it, doing whatever he could to open it. The deafening silence of the room was abruptly broken when the phone rang. He ran back to the small mobile, answering it.
"What do you want?"
"To make you suffer Jack." The voice on the other end chuckled.
"Why am I hearing my own voice?"
"It was an interesting discovery, Captain Jack Harkness can't die..."
"Teyla? Teyla, this is ridiculous!"
"Don't interrupt. So I sat there, thinking about how to hurt a man who can't die and the answer seemed fairly obvious."
"Where am I?"
"Stop inturrupting! As you know, I'm quite the technological genius. I had some technology that could be used to adapt to new environments and badda bing badda boom, I take your place."
"You want to hurt me? I'm here, you have me, go for your life."
The TVs in the room suddenly came to life, showing different areas of the hub. Gwen was at her desk, Ianto was at her side and he saw himself sitting in his chair.
"Oh, I'm going to hurt you. I'm thinking Gwen first, save the best until last."
"Don't touch them!"
"You won't break through that door by the way. Enjoy the show."
"Teyla? Teyla!" Jack yelled into the phone, getting only the click of the other line hanging up as a reply.
I couldn't come up with a name for this Chapter. If you have any ideas, let me know, I'd love to hear them. Please Review.
Cheers,
Gabz
xx
