Resurgence - Chapter Two

Author: Milady Dragon

Author's Note: This chapter (and the next several) are sad. So have the tissues handy.

21 January 5193 (Earth Standard Date)

Luna University

The Moon

Ianto Jones was teaching his one class for the day when Phillip stepped into the back of the lecture hall.

The dragon hadn't wanted to get back to his classes, but at the same time there really wasn't anything he could do until they'd found some sort of lead on HYDRA. It had been fine while Phillip had been down, after his magic had been overloaded, but once his son-by-mating had been cured there hadn't been any real reason for him to stay on Hubworld.

Ianto had been out of the game for far too long to really contribute anything to the investigation. It had been difficult leaving, but while he usually didn't mind waiting for things to happen, there were times when he really needed to keep himself occupied. His classes at Luna University were just the ticket.

It hadn't hurt that Jack had insisted. His mate had convinced him to go back, even though Ianto would have preferred to stay. HYDRA had been striking at random targets, and the dragon had thought there really would be something he could do to help.

He'd even tried to use the birth of his and Jack's newest granddaughter as a lever to let him stay on Hubworld. Phillip and Clint's daughter, Daisy, had been born not even a month ago; she was a beautiful purple and white dragon child, and she'd come at a time when Phillip really couldn't take the time off to spend with his mate and family. Jack had offered to take over the investigation, but Phillip had insisted he was fine, and that had left Jack open for, not only his usual consulting work for Torchwood, but to be a willing sitter for the littlest dragon in their family.

Ianto was a little put out that Jack had practically ordered him back to work, but the dragon knew now that it had been for the best. Ianto loved teaching, especially since the subject was his own race, and it had given him a calm that he wasn't even aware that he'd needed.

But then, Phillip had shown up in the middle of his class.

His son-by-mating looked…Ianto's voice faded out as his eyes met Phillip's, and his heart slammed painfully against his ribs.

Something was terribly wrong.

"I'm sorry for the interruption," Phillip said into the sudden silence, his voice harsh as if his throat was aching, "but I need Professor Jones to come with me immediately."

"Is it Jack?" Ianto demanded, rooted to the spot, his eyes changing into their dragon aspect out of his control. There were several gasps from his students, but then they all knew who he really was, even if it had never been stated aloud.

Phillip shook his head. "Ianto, please…come with me."

With a lurch, his muscles unlocked and Ianto was practically running toward Phillip, past the rows of students and up the steps leading to the rear of the hall. He didn't even hear the whispers that followed him, concentrating on Phillip's presence and not even noticing just how cold it was at the back of the room.

Phillip didn't say anything. He simply turned and left, and Ianto had no choice but to follow. For Phillip to be here, looking like he did…sad, and tired, and with fury and vengeance in his gaze…if it wasn't Jack, it had to be someone else…Clint, maybe? Or little Daisy? Maybe one of their other children? What was so terrible that Phillip had had to come in person to tell him?

Ianto ran, catching up with Phillip just as he turned the corner and headed toward the doors that led to the outside. "What's wrong?" he demanded, grabbing his son-by-mating by the arm and pulling him to a halt.

"We should go outside," Phillip evaded. "Something…" he shook his head. "We need to go outside."

Ianto released him, and without a word Phillip practically jogged the last bit of distance to the doors, flinging them both wide open and heading out into the quad beyond, seemingly not to care one whit about his own dignity, which would have been a clear sign if Ianto hadn't already known that whatever Phillip was going to tell him was bad.

The only reason for going outside would be that Phillip was afraid that Ianto would lose control and revert to his dragon form.

Fear crept up and lodged into his throat. Ianto suddenly wanted to go back inside to his students, and continue the lesson without knowing what had brought Phillip all the way from Hubworld, and away from Torchwood and his family. Ianto's knees threatened to go out from under him, and it was only by sheer willpower that kept him from hitting the ground hard.

He knew, with dread, that this would change.

Phillip stopped right in the middle of the quad. At this time of day, most students were in class, so the area was fairly clear. Only a handful of people were about, laying on the short-cut grass, studying before their next lessons.

He turned and faced Ianto. In that moment, the dragon could see that the man's hands were trembling, and there were tears in his eyes. "Ianto…I…"

"Just tell me," Ianto begged, horror nearly gagging him.

Phillip nodded jerkily, swallowing hard. "It…it's Sabrina…"

Ianto suddenly couldn't breathe around the pain in his chest.

"She…" Phillip continued, and the tears in his eyes began to fall. "She was following up a lead on Stark's World, when…Goddess, I'm so sorry…"

Sabrina.

Phillip didn't have to finish.

Ianto knew.

He knew.

Without even needing to trigger it, Ianto was transformed in a heartbeat, roaring out his agony into the artificial sky, the sound of it echoing from the very struts that supported the atmospheric dome over their heads.

The Song of Mourning broke forth, the dragon not even aware he was singing.

He sang for Sabrina, who was dead.

He sang for his family, who would also mourn the loss of their sister, aunt…friend.

He sang for his mate, Jack having carried her and gave birth to her.

He sang for himself, who had just lost a daughter, the child he'd decided to name for his sister, who'd also been killed so many centuries ago.

Other voices joined in the singing. Rowena, and Abraham, and Jocelyn, now in their own dragon forms. Phillip and Henry, not dragons by blood, but dragons in heart and soul.

Their grief was public, and horrible, and those who were witnesses would be talking about it for days, and years, at how terrible it was when a dragon was lost to their loved ones.

But Ianto didn't care.

The dragon was once again mourning one of his own blood, and the universe would know of his grief, and his rage, and his vengeance against whoever had taken his child from him.