I don't own Torchwood or its characters.
Sorry for the long waiting time…I've had some difficulty writing this story. I think it's rubbish, but I'd best finish it anyway. Thanks to everyone for the reviews, hopefully you think differently about the story than I do!
NeddieSeagoon: As far as Gwen being too mean, I don't usually write her this way…it just fits the story. My apologies, and my plan is to bring the team together in following chapters. :P As far as Jack being nastier…well, I'll do my best. But no promises, I'm horrid at nasty Jack. Tosh? I find her difficult to write. Definitely a favorite character and I love Tosh stories, but I'm always afraid I'll screw it up. And thanks so much for your review, it was very helpful! I'll do my best to write Tosh in a bit more, but her character's so lovely I'd be afraid to mess it up terribly. :D
Pelowskin: I love fluff, but it may not happen for a couple chapters. The boys will have some issues to work out. :D Hang in there!
TW
Ianto's eyes opened slowly. He felt numb and his vision was blurry, he could only make out a few shapes. He heard the beeping beside him and turned his head. "Hospital," he whispered. "Jack?" he called out as loudly as he could, flinching as he turned his head from side to side, scanning the room. No Jack. No anyone. Wonderful.
A nurse entered the room smiling. "Why Mr. Jones! You're awake! Just give me a minute and I'll call your friends." Ianto shook his head adamantly. "They'll want to know you're awake, Mr. Jones."
Ianto was trying to speak, and she bent down closer. "Not them…call sister. Rhi." She nodded.
"How do I contact your sister, love?" He glanced at the pen she was holding, and she grabbed a scrap of paper. "Alright, give me her number." He spoke the numbers quietly and she headed out of the room to call Rhiannon. Ianto wasn't sure why, but he didn't want to see anyone from Torchwood. Maybe he blamed them a little for not realizing he was gone, maybe he felt like an idiot for allowing himself to be captured. Either way, it would be nice to see Rhi, even if she decided to fuss over him constantly. Oh God, he thought to himself. Please, please don't bring Johnny. Ianto could put up with a lot from his sister, but he could never put up with her husband.
The nurse came back in and smiled at him. "She's on her way. Now you should get some more sleep, love. She'll probably be here by the time you wake up." She hesitated, looking worried. "Do you know what Torchwood is?" He nodded. "Well, they're refusing to allow the police in here. I can…well, if you'd like, I can get the police for you." He shook his head no and attempted to smile at her reassuringly. It probably came out more as a grimace, he thought to himself. "And if your friends show up, what would you like me to do?" He stared at her. "Should I keep them away?" Ianto thought for a minute then slowly shook his head. If they showed up, he might as well let them in. "Alright then, I've got to finish my rounds, but there should be people checking in on you a few times an hour." He nodded and shut his eyes, sleep overtaking him.
TW
Jack stepped quickly into the conference room, shutting the door behind him. "Alright, we're all here. So how do we find these guys?"
Everyone's eyes drifted towards Selinia and she folded her arms across her chest. "Oh good lord, they won't be difficult to find. I know where they live. Just give me a gun and I'll take care of it."
Tosh looked shocked, Owen looked like he was about to hand her a gun, Gwen frowned, and Jack's face was unreadable. He folded his arms across his chest, mimicking Selinia.
Gwen spoke first. "So, assuming they're at their homes, what exactly do we do with them? We can't just…Torchwood them. They're human beings, Jack!" Leave it to Gwen to point out the obvious.
"I know. Suggestions?"
Owen's voice was casual. "I say we 'Torchwood' them anyway." He shrugged and spun his pen around.
Tosh spoke next. "Why not hand them over to the police? I can create indisputable evidence, and they'll be locked up."
Everyone looked at Gwen next. She frowned. "I agree with Tosh."
Jack leaned back in his chair and shut his eyes. "Alright, we have a plan. Selinia, you'll come with me. Owen and Gwen will take the other guy. Tosh, you're coordinating." Tosh moved towards Selinia and handed her a sheet of paper.
"Addresses." Selinia nodded and scribbled them onto the paper. Everyone was about to leave but Gwen stopped them. "Jack, you need to tell us about Selinia. I'm not moving an inch until we get some sort of an explanation as to why we're trusting her."
Jack sighed and sat back down in his chair, the others quickly following suit. "Gwen, do we really have time for this?"
"I'm sorry Jack, but after Captain Hart, I'm sure we'd all prefer not to go in blind."
Jack scowled at her but she didn't budge. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"She's your wife?"
"WAS my wife. It was more of a fling, really. Does it matter?"
Tosh's voice cut in. "She's a time agent?"
Selinia sounded irritated. "She's right here, you know." That earned her Tosh's 'I'm not amused' look.
"Yes, we joined the time agency around the same time. I was partnered with her and Hart for a few months."
"Months?" Owen raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Then she got assigned someone else and it was just me and Hart. Anything else you'd like to know?" Jack was getting irritated. He missed the days when they knew nothing about him and they didn't have the courage to ask him this many questions.
Gwen huffed then looked at Selinia. "Why do you need the bracelet?"
Selinia laughed merrily. "I thought we'd been over this already. It's part of my plan for a heist. There's a particular piece of jewelry in a museum on Corirgens that's worth a lot of money. The bracelet would make it a hell of a lot easier to get inside." Everyone but Jack stared at her blankly. "Corirgens. It's a planet. Seriously, Jack, don't they know anything?"
"Twenty-first century, Sel."
"Oh, right."
TW
Owen kicked in the door and Gwen walked past him, gun drawn. He followed and they scanned each room, searching for any signs of life. They split up, Gwen heading towards the basement and Owen taking the second story. He'd just finished checking the rooms when he heard Gwen calling for him. A few seconds later he was by her side, staring down at a mutilated body.
Gwen reached up towards her earpiece. "Jack, we've got a problem."
"Doesn't seem like a problem to me," Owen mumbled.
Gwen explained about the body, verifying that the body matched the description Selinia had given them. Jack had found the other man in his flat, surrounded by blood. It looked like their deaths hadn't been quick.
Jack's voice came over everyone's earpieces. "Everyone head to the hospital. We don't know what's happening, and we need to make sure Ianto's safe."
TW
Ianto jerked awake, sensing another presence in the room. He kept his eyes shut for a moment, dreading the reunion with his sister. He'd never been much of a brother to her, only checking in with her for an evening every six months or so…less recently. She would probably be angry that the first time she'd heard from him in eight months was to let her know that he was hospitalized after a mugging. But she was his sister, and they loved each other, even after all the crap they'd been through.
He opened his eyes and scanned the room, his eyes resting finally on a dark figure in the corner. The shadows were dark, and his eyes were blurry. He didn't recognize him until he stepped forward, and when he did, Ianto reached toward the button to call the nurse.
"It's disconnected, Eye Candy." John Hart was standing beside the bed, arms folded across his chest and looking at Ianto with raised eyebrows. "How've you been?"
"Been better." Ianto's voice was raspy and quiet.
"I can see that. Ah well, Sel always did underestimate people."
"Why are you here?" Ianto was frustrated. His supposed friends were nowhere to be seen and he was alone in a room with John fucking Hart.
"Well, when Sel didn't show up to our rendezvous, I figured something went a little off the plan. So, here I am! You should be thanking me, anyway. Took care of those two buggers who did this to you." His face twisted into a rather disturbing smile. "Hey, don't take that as me caring. I just had some free time on my hands."
"Took care of them? Who's Sel?" Ianto was keeping his sentences short. Talking hurt his throat too much.
"Ya, they're dead. No need to thank me, I'm sure your team would've gotten around to it. And Sel's Selinia, Jack's wife." Ianto's eyebrow shot up. "Jealous?" Ianto rolled his eyes. "Ya, well, Jack moved on long before Selinia ever realized it. Gotta love jealous ex's." Eye roll again.
"Why are you here?"
"Been over that, Eye Candy."
"In my room."
"Oh, you don't want me here?" John pretended to look hurt. Eye roll. "Honestly? I figured Jack would be here. Where is everybody, by the way?" Shrug. "Ah, abandoned. Oh, I intercepted the call to your sister. Hope you don't mind, I didn't feel much like witnessing a family reunion. Haven't had enough to drink yet."
He was interrupted by Jack bursting into the room, quickly followed by the other three Torchwood members and Selinia. John put his hands up innocently and smiled. "Jack, Selinia! Nice to see you! And Tosh, looking beautiful as always." Tosh blushed but kept her gun trained on him. John kept talking as he worked his way around the bed to stand beside Selinia. "Well, looks like everybody's doing well. Well, except for Eye Candy. You should all keep a closer eye on him, really." He looked at Ianto who was watching him quietly. "Guessing you didn't notice he was gone until it was too late. They must've been busy." He winked at Ianto. "Oh, and you're welcome for taking out the two goons. Honestly, the rift must've been crazy active for me to be able to get to them first." The team glanced at each other. "No? Ah, I see then. I'm disappointed, Jack. Time was you would've tracked them down and did far worse than I gave them. Ready, Sel?" He glanced at her and she nodded, reaching forward and snatching the Appearance Manipulator from Jack's pocket. The two were gone in a flash of light and the team was left in stunned silence. They slowly holstered their guns and Jack stepped forward to stand beside Ianto's bed.
"You okay?" His voice was quiet. John's words had gotten to him. He should've done something sooner, he should've paid more attention. Ianto whispered something and Jack leaned in closer. Ianto took a deep breath and repeated the words.
"Get out."
TW
I know, I know! I didn't throw Selinia off a cliff or into the rift or beat her up. I just let her go. But this isn't a Selinia/Jack story, it's a Jack/Ianto story. Very very sorry. I just needed someone to rattle things up a bit, and she fit the bill.
And I apologize if the chapter has mistakes…still no beta. :P