Wrong Place, Wrong Time
a Torchwood story
by RoadrunnerGER
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood, RTD and the BBC do. Long live Ianto Jones!
Summary: On an early night off Ianto Jones learned the hard way that when everything about your job is unexpected, it's the everyday dangers that could kill you. Janto, set s2
A/N: The waiting is over… for now. ;) Thank you for your comments. And thanks to my faithful beta Kitsa. Enjoy!
Chapter 7
"Jack? I've parked just outside of Bute Park," Gwen reported over her earpiece, "Following Ianto on foot from here."
"Okay, Gwen," Jack confirmed. "We're almost there."
"Owen will catch you up in about a minute," Toshiko told him.
"Is anyone following the money?" Swanson wanted to know.
"Not right now," Jack said.
"It's still at the post office," Toshiko explained after a look at her screen. "I've got the address and the tracking device. They won't get away."
"No, they won't," Jack agreed with grim determination.
Hearing the rage in his voice made Swanson shudder. She could not sit and watch Captain Harkness take the law into his own hands.
"My men can follow the signal," the detective inspector suggested. "You don't have to do it all by yourselves."
"We may not have to," Jack replied, "but those men made it our fight when they decided to take Ianto hostage. They're not part of your jurisdiction anymore."
Swanson did not like the sound of that.
"For goodness sake, Captain. What do you plan to do with them?"
Pulling the car up on the curb outside Bute Park Jack stopped the SUV and turned to face the police officer. Jack's look hit Swanson like a blow.
"If they hurt Ianto they'll wish I resorted to only killing them," Jack hissed.
"Captain Harkness," Swanson said gravely. "You can't honestly think that you'll get away with whatever you plan to do to those men!"
"Oh, but we will, Detective. We will." Jack's smirk was rather menacing.
"Jack?" a gasp echoed out of the speakers. "Jack, help me! Where are you? Jack?"
"Jack?" Gwen called. "Ianto's in the park, on the first big lawn. Looks like he's losing it."
"What do you mean?"
"Please! Don't!" they heard him scream.
"Jack! He's stumbling. Tell me you blocked the signal."
"Sure we did!" Jack barked. "Tosh?"
"Of course! First thing I did. I sent him a message!"
"It doesn't look like he got it," Gwen told her. "Ianto?"
"Please! I won't tell anyone anything! Let me go!" Ianto screamed, as he fell to his knees.
Gwen saw a few walkers stop to see what the man was screaming about and feared he might cause a panic if Ianto began to shout about a bomb. So she started forward to get to her colleague and calm him.
As soon as Ianto spotted Gwen he crawled backwards.
"No! Stay where you are!" he panted.
She saw tears stream down his cheeks and her heart broke for her team-mate.
"Easy, Ianto," she said, showing her open palms. "Everything's all right."
"Nothing's all right!" Ianto snorted. "There's a bomb around my neck! So stay away from me or you'll die with me!"
"No one will die here, Ianto," Gwen said softly.
"It could blow up at any second!" he cried. "Go! Go!"
Gwen did not go. Tears of her own shot into her eyes at seeing their support officer like this.
"Get away from me!" Ianto screamed, scrambling to his feet and stumbling backwards in an attempt to avoid her closeness.
"You have to help him!" Swanson urged Jack, but he already pushed the door open and darted out of the car.
"I sent him several messages," Toshiko said and set the computer on standby. "But his vision's blurred. I don't think he read them."
Before Swanson could prod her Toshiko was out of the car and running to its rear. Out of the boot she took a box and followed Jack, already well ahead of them.
The captain ran down the path, his greatcoat billowing behind him. Ahead of him he saw Gwen as she tried unsuccessfully to calm Ianto down.
"Go!" Ianto screamed, his voice breaking. "Go! Save yourself! Leave me! Go!"
Trembling horribly Ianto could not stay on his feet. He fell again and vomited into the grass.
"Ianto!"
The young Welshman was breathing hard, and did not notice the man calling out for him at first. Finally hearing the familiar voice Ianto forced himself to look up and saw Jack storm up to him.
"No!" Ianto choked painfully. "Stay away from me!"
Jack remained unimpressed, bridging the last yards, and fell to his knees beside Ianto, pulling the young man into his embrace.
"Shhh, Yan. You're safe," Jack murmured close to his ear. He had to gather all his strength to hold the struggling Welshman. In his panicked state Ianto did not hear him, too busy trying to free himself. Jack did not let that happen.
"I've got you, cariad," he told him reassuringly, deliberately using the Welsh term of endearment and wrapping his arms around him. One of his hands trailed up Ianto's spine and to the back of his head. "Easy. The signal's blocked. You're safe. You're safe."
"I'm not! It's got a timer, too! They'll kill me!" Ianto sobbed. "You've got to let me go or the bomb will kill us both."
"They can't, Yan," Jack assured him. "It's harmless. You're safe. You're safe."
"You sure?" Ianto asked meekly.
Gently taking Ianto's chin Jack tilted his head up. "I am sure, Yan," he said and bent forward to kiss him.
Ianto wanted to pull away but Jack held him firm. Their lips met and Jack put everything he had into the sensual and reassuring kiss. It felt so wonderful and for a second Ianto could almost believe that Jack was right.
"Shhh," Jack murmured into the kiss. "Everything's all right, cariad. The signal is blocked. You're perfectly safe."
"Jack!" Ianto sobbed, clinging to his partner and clawing at his greatcoat. His fingers dug into the fabric and Jack sensed the fear and desperation tearing through his Welshman in the kiss they shared. This time there was more passion, more hope, and for a moment Jack allowed himself to enjoy the contact. Ianto melted into his embrace and finally relaxed a little.
"Jack?"
Unwilling to let go Jack ignored Toshiko.
"Jack!"
"What?" Jack groaned as he turned just enough to answer her.
"Let me take off that necklace," Toshiko said. "C'mon."
"Yeah. Sure," Jack replied and tried to sit back. Ianto did not let go of him, though. "Whoa! Easy, Yan!" Jack soothed, caressing Ianto's temples and kissing him again. "Tosh just wants to get rid of that nasty collar. All right?"
But Ianto shook his head and moaned something unintelligible.
"Don't be scared. You're safe now."
"All right!" a new voice mingled in. "Out of the way! Where's my patient?" Swanson stepped aside willingly while Owen pushed Gwen away to get to Jack and Ianto. "Hey! How're you doing, teaboy?"
"Bugger off, Owen!" Ianto groaned.
"The fuck I will," Owen replied snidely. "Now let me check your pulse." Prying one of Ianto's hands off the greatcoat Owen took hold of his wrist. "Still pretty fast," he admonished. "You won't go into shock on me, will you, teaboy?"
"Owen," Jack barked.
"What? I'm the doctor. It's my job to make sure he's okay."
"Stop calling him…"
"Teaboy?" Owen deadpanned. "But he is, isn't he?" Pulling out a small torch he shone into Ianto's eyes. "Looks normal."
"I think they look awesome," Jack murmured and turned Ianto's head to kiss him again.
"You're a sick man, Harkness," Owen growled. "Taking advantage of the boy."
"Can I take off that collar now?" Toshiko cut in sharply and pushed Owen aside. "Thank you." Squatting down beside the men she reached out for the metal necklace around Ianto's neck. In moments she managed to open the padlock and remove the bomb collar, placing it into the containment box she had brought from the SUV. "There you go. Now… resume cuddling."
Jack did not need to be told twice and pulled Ianto back in. This time it was Ianto who kissed him, fiercely and passionately. Fingers threaded into Jack's hair, pulling hard as Ianto's grip tightened. His mouth opened to attack Jack with his tongue. The captain let his Welshman have his way, responding to his eagerness with enthusiasm.
Shaking his head Owen got back up.
"Can't you wait until you're back in Jack's cave?" he scolded, rolling his eyes at the pair. "And what about the ruddy bastards that did this? Bad guys to catch, remember? Then you can shag each other senseless for all I care, as long as you wait til I've gone."
In response Ianto held on to Jack even stronger.
"You know," Jack mumbled between snogging, "I'd have no problem with… proving my love…"
"Love?" Ianto interrupted, nibbling at Jack's ear at that moment.
"Yeah, my love for you right here and now," Jack continued, "but I think, Owen's right."
"Don't want to stop," Ianto moaned as he kissed a trail along Jack's neck.
"I know," Jack whispered and did the same, kissing away the gruesome touch of the metal ring that had been around Ianto's neck. "Yan, how about we…" he whispered in his ear.
"Jack," Ianto gasped, but let reluctantly go of Jack. "I'll remind you."
"That won't be necessary," Jack smirked. "You ready to catch the bad guys?"
"As ready as can be," Ianto declared with fresh determination and got up first, holding out his hand to pull Jack up. "Let's ship their ruddy arses to jail."
tbc…