AN – this is for kausingkayn and bbmcowgirl for their lovely reviews and their apparent love/hate relationship with Jay. Which I hope I'm right about because it was what I was after. Thank you. You may also possibly be the only two people reading this…
"Get up." Jack ordered.
Jay pushed her chair slowly back and stood up, exaggerating the movement, refusing to move quickly.
"Move." Jack pointed towards the door.
Just as slowly, Jay turned to face Jack defiantly. She couldn't start giving in to him too easily. She had to start taking a stand now or she would never be able to.
Jack lashed out again and grabbed the back of her scrubs, forcibly turning her around and pushing her in front of him. Keeping a firm grip he propelled her out of the door and towards the stairs. Pressing his comms he spoke to Ianto and Gwen. He didn't care if he was the bad guy right now.
"As soon as you get done, meet us in the vaults." He barked.
He didn't wait for a response before he turned his comms back off and continued to push Jay in front of him through the Hub.
Jay remained silent, worried that anything she said would betray her. Lying came so naturally that she was going to have to work on her responses for a while to make sure she didn't reveal too much. But she tried to make the silence appear sullen.
She allowed herself to be pushed into a cell and didn't protest as the clear door was shut behind her. She sat down on the hard bench and watched out of the corner of her eye as Jack retreated from the door. She heard him walk into the cell next hers.
"You're so pissed with me that you're going to resign yourself to a night in a cell just to spite me?"
Jay didn't receive an answer.
********
It was some hours later that the silence in the vaults was finally disturbed. Ianto and Gwen appeared together. Gwen carried a small metal box in her hands, and Ianto an armful of blankets.
Jay stood up and walked to the cell door, flashing a grin at Ianto, then cocked her head to one side quizzically. Jack left his cell and raised his eyebrows at the young man. Gwen failed to suppress a snigger.
"Ianto?" Jack enquired.
Ianto scowled. His face was streaked black with soot, but what skin showed was pink. His previously spotless suit was also covered in black scorch marks. He also had a little less eyebrow than he'd had at lunch time.
"There was a small miscalculation with the bomb dismantling." He said stonily, his voice daring anyone to say anything. "Moving on; we have got a receiver, we just need to calibrate it to your wrist strap Jack."
Jay watched from the closed door of the cell as Gwen pulled what looked like a watch out of the box in her hands. It had a metal disc about the size of two stacked £2 coins now welded to the top of it. A small light blinked from the side and some circuitry was visible at the top.
Jack took the watch. "Good work guys." He tapped at his wrist strap and the light on the modified watch blinked rapidly a few times, before settling back into its previous rhythm.
"That should do it." He opened the door to Jay's cell and handed her the watch. Jay took it from him and stepped passively back into the cell to strap it to her wrist. He was going to want to test the limits of the receiver so this was not a good time to anger him further.
As she had guessed Jack opened his comms. "I'll head up stairs. Let me know when anything changes."
Jack left the vaults and headed upstairs. Jay sat back down on the bench and prepared herself for the pain. She didn't trust Jack not to push things just to reinforce the power that he had over her.
Some minutes later she heard Gwen's earpiece beep. Ianto and Jay listened to Gwen's side of the conversation.
"Yes all okay down here…Jack, you can't really….okay, okay, no need to shout." She turned back to Jay. "Jack's got all the way to the front door and you're still breathing so it look likes it's worked. Jack wants us back upstairs, but he's told us to lock you in. Sorry."
Gwen gave Jay a sympathetic smile and headed off down the corridor. Ianto offered the blankets that were still in his arms to Jay.
He really was something special she thought. She had seen it as soon as she arrived last time, and had meant it when she had asked him to leave with her. She would enjoy travelling with this young man; could make a life with him. Would make a better life for him that Jack would. Jack hurt people. That's all he knew how to do.
She looked at her arm before taking the offered blankets and setting them down on the bench. As Ianto closed the cell door she spoke again.
"Is this your watch Ianto?" she asked.
"Yes. I thought you would like it if we could make it as close to what you were used to as possible; you know, leather strap, wearing it on your wrist."
Jay was touched by his thoughtfulness. She had felt like an arm had been cut off losing her vortex manipulator, and just the feel of something weighty around her wrist was already comforting.
"Thank you Ianto."
"Don't thank me, thank Jack. He doesn't know it yet, but tomorrow he's taking me shopping for a new watch." He smiled at her and headed out of the vaults, hands in pockets.
Jay watched him go with a heavy heart, before sitting back down on the bench. There was no telling how long she would be here for so she figured she may as well make herself comfortable.
She lay down and rested her head on the pile of blankets. She was only there a second before she was sitting bolt upright again and moving as far away from the blankets as she could.
The blankets that smelt of Ianto.
**********
The next morning Ianto headed downstairs into the vaults.
Jay had heard his footsteps and was already standing in her cell leaning casually against the wall.
"Morning." He said brightly. Jay raised her eyebrows.
"Is it?"
"Yes." he said, pressing the controls that released the cell doors. "I have got Jack to agree to release you from the vaults – well during the day at least – so I came to invite you up for breakfast. And I have been shopping for you. Got you some things. I guessed your size."
He held a couple of bags out towards her. She took them from him with a grateful smile, her mind wondering just what Ianto had done to change Jack's mind. Once Jack was decided on something it took someone very talented to get him to relent.
Suppressing a grin at the sudden memory of Ianto's talents, she pulled out a pair of sturdy black leather boots from one of the bags, a couple of pairs of jeans and some boxers from the other.
"Oh Beautiful; you are a star. Thank you."
Ianto flashed an uncomfortable look at the use of Jay's nickname for him and changed the subject. "Out of interest. Why do you wear boxers?"
Jay gave an easy laugh, wincing suddenly as it pulled at her ribs.
"Same reason you do. They're comfy. Also I seem to lose my trousers a lot you feel a lot less silly fighting in boxers."
Ianto opened his mouth to respond, but decided he'd rather not know. He handed her another bag.
Opening it Jay brought out two corsets. They were Jay's preferred style and the right shade of red. She smiled warmly at him, her eyes suddenly bright.
"You really are amazing Ianto."
He blushed slightly at the compliment, then watched as she fingered the bones in the corsets and absentmindedly touched her side; a look of regret flittered across her face.
"I've got one more bag. I guessed your body wouldn't be ready yet." He passed her the last bag.
This one contained five V-neck, skinny t-shirts, three black and two red. Jay looked at him gratefully.
"Thank you" she said, glad that she had not had to voice her weakness. Desperate to get out of the scrubs she turned her back to Ianto and pulled off the white top. Jay was not exactly shy, and it would normally have been fun to have teased the young man, maybe try to seduce him a bit, whatever Jack said. But he had done a good thing for her, and she would not repay him by playing with him.
As the scrub top went over her head Ianto saw for the first time the mass of scars on Jay's back. He reached out a hand to touch her, then pulled back at the last second; a look of horror on his face.
"I did that didn't I? When I sent you away. It's my fault. Where did I send you Jay?"
Jay lowered her head briefly. Shit. She hadn't even thought. She pulled a black t-shirt over her head spoke to the wall.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm here now."
"But those scars. I did that to you didn't I?"
"You've never hurt me."
"Look at me."
Jay turned round. Ianto looked physically pained and she put on a soothing smile.
"Don't I look fine to you?"
"Answer the question Jay."
Jay sighed. Dropping the smile she let her face go soft. "You are a good man Ianto Jones." She said it with feeling, staring into his deep blue eyes.
Ianto's face hardened under his personal grief.
"Don't play your fucking clever little words games with me. You may be able to use that bullshit the others, but not on me."
He turned on his heel and walked out. Jay's shoulders slumped. That was indeed going to be a problem, she thought. That's the trouble with the quiet ones. They tend to listen.
She turned to slowly dress herself.
********
Once dressed Jay headed up to the main Hub guessing breakfast would be in the boardroom. She was already starting to feel more like herself. The clothes fitted perfectly, not that she had expected anything else from Ianto. Now, snug in her new jeans, with the heavy weight of the boots and a make-do wrist strap, she felt part of herself returning to normal.
However, she had decided that for the time being she would play it cool and not upset anyone. Jack was clearly particularly volatile at the moment and Ianto was insecure and hurt. Gwen had been kind so far, but Jay wasn't convinced that it would last any longer than her recovery. Gwen was the kind of person that would take care of a pigeon with a broken wing, but once the wing was mended, she would just see the pigeon as vermin once again. Jay mentally questioned herself and the fact that she had just compared herself to vermin in her own analogy. Could she not even pretend to herself any more? This sucked.
She carefully arranged her features into a passive expression, and knocked hesitantly on the boardroom door. She waited till she was called in and sat gingerly at the far end of the table to Jack where a steaming cup of coffee and some pastries sat waiting for her.
"Thanks for this." She said to the room in general, getting no response. The silence was thick and the atmosphere heavy. She took a sip of coffee and her eyes rolled back into her head.
"You know, I didn't really notice it yesterday, but I had forgotten how good this is. You really are a master Ianto."
Gwen saw Jay's attempt to lift the atmosphere and went with it.
"We keep asking him to share his magic secrets with us, but he refuses. I reckon he's secretly using alien tech."
Ianto looked indignant. "I do not use alien tech. I just happen to be very good at it. With a little care it can be quite easy."
"Easy?" Jack said teasingly, also relieved to have the mood lightened. "Well if it's so easy why don't you let the rest of us try? Scared we'll do it as well as you?"
Gwen and Jay both grinned as Ianto blustered a little. "I didn't mean easy as in easy, I meant…oh never mind what I meant. Shut up and drink your coffee."
Jack smirked back at him, then looking up caught Jay's eye. Jay dropped her gaze immediately, playing passive again. She would do whatever it took to make sure she didn't spend all her time here locked in the vaults.
"Did you sleep well?" Gwen enquired.
"Not particularly. That's the thing about having multiple broken ribs and trying to sleep on a concrete bench. Not the greatest comfort level." Passive did not mean not trying her luck a little.
"Well, we don't have any mattresses for them." Jack said rather pettily.
Something flashed in Jay's head. "That's a lie." She said almost as a reflex.
"Okay. We do have some, but I don't know where they are."
"That's a lie too."
Jack looked at her sharply while Gwen and Ianto mentally cringed, worried another fight was about to start.
"Will you stop calling me a liar? This is my house and if I choose to refuse you a mattress, well, that is my business."
Jay stared at the table a look of concentration on her face and sipped at her coffee. Something niggled at her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Ianto pushed himself away from the table, growing uncomfortable in the changed atmosphere again and his guilt making it difficult to be around Jay.
"I have to go and feed Myfanwy and the SUV needs servicing so I'll be out most of today."
"That's a lie." All eyes now shot to Jay. She looked up at Ianto. "The Myfanwy thing sure, but the SUV service; that's a lie."
Jack gave Jay a warning look, but his mind was also trying to process why Ianto was trying to make himself scarce from the Hub for a day if what Jay said was true.
"I – I can't explain it, I just know that he's lying." She paused and met Jack's eyes. "You don't think?"
"Well, I have heard rumours." Jack replied.
Gwen glared at them both. "Full sentences please. Remember?"
"Hang on." said Jack, raising a dismissive hand in Gwen's direction. "Jay, close your eyes."
Jay did as she was bidden.
Jack held up four fingers in front of his face. "I'm holding up four fingers." he said. Jay nodded.
"Now I am holding up three fingers." he said, but left all four fingers in the air.
"Lie." said Jay smoothly.
"I am holding my coffee cup." Jack stated, picking up Ianto's mug.
"Lie." said Jay again and opened her eyes.
Jack leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling at the possibilities.
"Wow."
"Yeah. Wow." agreed Jay.
Gwen muttered through clenched teeth. "I am not going to tell you again."
Jack quickly flashed her an apologetic look. "There have been rumours in the past about Macadian discs that have also allowed the wearer to be able to tell when someone else is lying. Almost like an instinct, a sixth sense, but never, ever wrong. But I've never seen it, never even known anyone that could verify their existence."
Jay was lost in her own thoughts. "I thought they were a myth. One of those friend of a friend of a friend things." Suddenly a smile split her face and she looked at Jack smugly. "Well. This certainly changes things doesn't it? Looks like I've just become useful."
AN – well, there you go. Jay with a potentially redeeming feature? And I promise proper action in the next chapter. Guns and everything.
And for any slash fans reading this, I have added another chapter to the slash spin off Time for Three. It's under my listings and is a Jack/Ianto/Jay slash-fic set between chapters one and two of Partners in Time.
As always reviews and concrit of any of my stories hugely appreciated. Jooles
