Part 28: Another Rainy Tuesday
It was raining. It was raining and he was late. Shit. Second week on the job and he was late. He ran as fast as he could to the bus stop. The doors were just about to close when he thrust his arm in between. The driver scowled but he flashed a smile at the surly man and quickly took a seat. He shifted impatiently in his seat as the bus ploughed down the road. Hopefully he would get there in time. But he wasn't really counting on it.
God I knew I shouldn't have stayed up to watch that movie.
He was off the bus before the doors had even fully opened. He raced down the block towards the Torchwood Tower and shoved the large glass doors open. He swiped his security card and pushed his way through the inner doors to get inside the lobby. He didn't even bother to wait for the lift; instead he ran to the door marked 'stairs' and ran at full speed to the fifth floor.
"Just in time, mate!" Charlie said as he hung up his wet trench coat on the hook by the door.
"Barely! I overslept and thought I was done for!"
"Ha! Doesn't matter anyway. Hartman had all the heads meet in the third floor boardroom as soon as they got in today. We're on our own here."
"Oh good! Then no one will notice if I go grab a coffee."
"Get one for me, will ya?"
He smiled at his coworker and went back out the door. The break room was just down the hall so he took his time. When he arrived he noticed that the coffee pot was empty and smiled. He had worked at a café for over a year and had come to appreciate the pros of making a good pot of coffee himself.
He carefully measured grinds and water and then stood there watching as the beverage brewed. He loved coffee. He drank so much of it that his friends joked that if they cut him open the dark roasted brew would trickle out in place of blood.
He poured coffee into two paper cups and picked them up. He didn't bother with lids as he was just going back down the hall. Hardly anyone but those stationed on the fifth floor ever came up here so there was little chance of running into anyone.
However fate had decided to intervene.
His body collided with another just outside the break room. He heard a hiss as the hot coffee made contact with skin and winced.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going and I…"
His body tensed as he became aware of the intense gaze that was locked onto him and slowly looked up to face one of the most striking men he had ever seen.
Tall, over six feet, with a toned body, short black hair, dark brown eyes, straight nose, high cheek bones, square jaw -- tall, dark and handsome. Quite the complete package. It was not easy for him to control himself. He felt a surge of heat through his body that nearly overwhelmed him. He had to force himself to breathe in slow, even breaths and focus on getting his heart rate back to normal (Thu-thump thu-thump).
The man stretched out his hand in greeting. The hand was large, strong and had a firm grip.
"No problem. I'm Jason Monroe."
Monroe's voice was rich and deep; shivers trickled down his spine at the sound. He had to regain control of his body or else he would go mad. He had never been attracted to a man before but right now he was finding it difficult to focus on anything but that perfect face.
He parted his own lips and spoke.
"Jones. Ianto Jones."
Ianto shot up with a gasp. His heart was pounding as sweat poured down his body.
"A dream… just a dream." It had just been a dream. But it had felt so real. He could remember what Jason had been wearing and the tilt of his head as he had smiled down at him. He could remember offering to pay the dry cleaning bill and then fixing a fresh cup for the older man.
He could remember every single detail as if it had just happened.
But I didn't know Jason until I came here.
He looked over at the man sleeping next to him. Jason had spent a good portion of the day assuring Ianto that John Hart was not at all appealing to him. Hart's wrist strap had been confiscated and the Time Agent was put up for the night in a motel. Ianto had wanted him locked up but Miranda had pointed out (much to Hart's delighted laughter) that Hart was not considered an official threat and therefore they had no such right. At least he couldn't use his Vortex Manipulator to sneak into the base while he was on the planet. Jason had said that it would be given to him when he was ready to leave.
The patter of rain falling outside drew Ianto's thoughts back to the dream. He slowly, so as not to disturb his lover, rose and stepped over to the window. He watched the rain hit the glass and shivered. He turned and walked to the kitchen area. Opening the refrigerator he pulled out a bottle of juice. As he straightened up he noticed the calendar.
Tuesday. A rainy Tuesday.
Could his dream be real? But he didn't remember Jason back then.
Too much too soon. That was what Jason had said yesterday. That had to be it. There was so much going on that his mind was overloaded and was compensating by taking over his dreams. Yes, that was it.
Are you sure?
He looked up and frowned.
Come on Tea Boy. You're smarter than that!
Owen. The bastard antagonized him in life and now in death. But he found that hearing the voice of a dead colleague didn't bother him nearly as much as it should have. That alone did bother him. The last time he had heard the ghosts was in Jason's apartment a few days back. How could he be so used to it now? What did it mean? It was almost as if they were watching over him from the darkness.
Funny how much had changed in that short time.
He jumped as a pair of arms wrapped themselves securely around his waist.
"Such a serious face, Mr. Jones."
"Throwing my own words back at me?"
"Too damned early to think of something more original. Breakfast?"
"I was thinking that maybe we could eat out this morning. That is, of you want to?"
Jason pressed a kiss against his neck and ran his fingers lightly over Ianto's navel, sending delightful shivers through the younger man.
"Not having to do the dishes? I'm in."
"Good." Ianto turned and tugged him towards the bathroom. "Shower then breakfast."
"Works for me."
~_~_~
Miranda was walking from the supply closet to her desk when the phone in Jason's office rang. It was still early so the Bluemont leader and Ianto had not yet arrived. In fact there were only herself, Jenny and Dan in at the moment. All three were busy trying to get caught up on work and Miranda was working on less than three hours' sleep.
She went into the office and lifted the phone to her ear.
"Torchwood."
"I need to speak to Jason Monroe."
"He's not here yet. Can I take a message?" She reached for the notepad on Jason's desk.
"When will he be in?"
"Probably another half an hour. He and Ianto usually are in by nine." Pen, she needed a pen.
"Ianto?"
"Second in Command, Ianto Jones." She found a pen and lifted it. "May I ask who's calling?"
Click.
She frowned and set the phone back on its cradle. Probably a cop or government worker. They often had to deal with the police and government so it was never a surprise to get phone calls from them. She wasn't used to being hung up on though. Probably a bad connection or something. She shrugged and went back to her own work. She was two days late on a report and Ianto was a stickler for getting things done on time.
By the time she was sitting at her desk the phone call had left her mind.
~_~_~
Jason parked the car and turned off the ignition. He and Ianto got out of the car and started for the research center entrance.
"Good morning Eye Candy! You too Sunshine!"
"Ianto, no!"
Jason curled his fingers around Ianto's bicep and held him fast. He could completely understand where Ianto was coming from as far as John Hart was concerned. Hell, if Tyler ever showed up he wouldn't let the backstabbing bastard get within a hundred feet of Ianto. But he was also not going to have a reenactment of yesterday.
John Hart smiled a bright, cheery smile as he sat on the low wall in front of the entrance. He kicked his feet as if he hadn't a care in the world. To be honest, he enjoyed winding the younger man up. He had enjoyed it when Jack had been involved and he was loving it now with Monroe. Ooh, that man was built! Too bad it was easy to see that it was Ianto who turned him on. Didn't mean he wouldn't try though.
"What do you want?" Jason demanded as he steered Ianto as far from Hart as possible.
"Besides you? My wrist strap, actually."
"You're leaving?" Ianto said icily. "I'll go get it. Shall I program the coordinates for you? Say, for the sun?"
"You're sexy when you're angry, you know that?"
"Sod off!"
"Ianto," Jason said in a warning tone.
Glancing at his lover Ianto visibly deflated. He stepped a little closer and glared at the shorter man who was just grinning at them.
"Wait here, Hart. I'll bring it up. And then I want you gone."
"No problem," Hart said smoothly. "I only wanted a look ar-- Eye Candy, what is it?"
Jason looked at Ianto now.
Ianto had tensed, his body tight and rigid. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he felt a shiver trickle slowly down his spine. His heart began to pound out a familiar rhythm (Thuthu-thump, thuthu-thump) and his nostrils flared as an achingly familiar scent reached him.
51st centuries pheromones. You people have no idea…
Jason could feel his heart breaking as his lover turned.
"Ianto!"
A man with dark brown hair, straight nose, mesmerizing blue eyes and a long blue-gray coat was walking towards them. The dark haired woman standing with her hands over her mouth didn't even register to any of them.
The man moved with swift, purposeful strides. Each step accompanied the feeling of having a new crack in the wall that guarded Jason's emotions as he watched the man walk towards them.
He couldn't even move as Ianto brushed past him and ran to the other man.
The man gathered Ianto into his arms and held him close.
"Ianto…" he breathed as he cradled the trembling body to him.
"Jack…. Jack…."
A single tear broke free. Jason felt his heart shatter.
And it began to rain.
~_~_~
Part 29: Reasons Why
It had been raining only a few hours before they had met. The ground was still a little bit damp as first one then the other found themselves rolling on the ground with a Weevil.
"Captain Jack Harkness. And you are…?"
"Jones. Ianto Jones."
They were all ready falling for each other.
Jack knew how dangerous his life could be and he was afraid of what would happen to the young man should he let him in it. So he brushed him aside. The next morning he tasted the first of so many exquisite coffees and prayed that he could maintain his air of indifference. The next evening, a rainy Tuesday, he let himself forget his concerns as he followed Ianto to the warehouse. As they rolled on the floor he found himself feeling freer than he had felt since he first came back to life. Looking into those bright blue eyes he found himself falling.
"I should go."
Stay! I want you to stay!
And so he gave Ianto what he wanted. He asked him to join Torchwood III.
Even with all of the pain that they had to endure -- Lisa, Abbadon, Jack's leaving, John Hart, Jack's infatuation with Gwen, Gray -- Jack never once regretted bringing Ianto into his life. What he did regret was his inability to express his feelings with words.
"He thought we were together. Like a couple. He said 'you two' like, ahhe, 'you two!'"
"But we are." He gave a pointed look to his lover. "Does it matter?"
Oh, it had mattered, at least to Ianto. He had seen the hurt flash in those eyes then and again back at the Hub.
"Even she's calling us a couple now."
"I hate the word 'couple'."
"Me too." His voice had been so soft, so hurt and Jack had stiffened and pretended not to hear.
He remembered kissing Ianto desperately as he forced him onto the platform that night. He wanted to tell him how much he cared but there wasn't time.
"I'll come back," he promised as the lift began to rise. Ianto had looked at him with sorrow and pain on his face.
"I always do." But would he? Even he hadn't been for certain. He had never been blown up and the Doctor had admitted to him at one point that Jack was a new thing, an anomaly. Who knew if he was even truly immortal?
Ianto had taken hold of Jack's hand in the car and refused to let go as they sped away towards safety. Jack had carefully pulled Ianto closer to him. Ianto was trembling as he smiled a shaky smile at him.
"I'm okay," Jack said.
"Yeah. You came back. I just wish it hadn't been so painful. For you."
"What do you mean?"
"I could hear you. Screaming." His voice had stayed soft so as not to alarm Gwen or Rhys in the front seat. Ianto had laid his head against Jack's bare shoulder and had fallen silent until Gwen asked where they were going.
Jack and Ianto had had many arguments during their time together. Over how the Archives were set up, over Lisa, over how Jack had had no choice with the faeries (although to be fair that argument had been Ianto telling him that he had been in the right so "stop being so hard on yourself!"), over the Doctor and Gwen and how jealously wasn't becoming, over Owen being allowed back on the field. Their last argument stood out in Jack's mind because it had been done with softer tones, no yelling or cursing involved. It was as if they had known that it was the last argument they would have.
"I've only just scraped the surface haven't I?"
"Ianto, that's all there is."
"No." Such sad eyes. "You pretend that's all there is."
He had been right but Jack had also been very afraid. He kept certain things to himself, like his family and his immortality, because he knew that they were things that could be used against him. In truth, the reason he wouldn't acknowledge them as a 'couple' wasn't due to a loathing of the word. Most enemies wouldn't take a sex buddy hostage but they would take a lover. A partner. That was what Ianto had become to him. He was terrified that someone would realize that Ianto was more than just a shag and warm body. He was terrified beyond all reason that someone who wanted to hurt him would kidnap Ianto and use him as a tool against Jack. And so he avoided the issue whenever possible.
He even tried to convey that to Ianto by telling him that Alice and Steven had been taken hostage. He had seen the worry, the fear on his lover's face but he had forced himself to turn away. It wasn't just about keeping Ianto at arms' length anymore. He had to protect his own family as well.
Ianto had curled up beside him that night despite being angry and hurt because of Jack. No words had been said; Ianto had simply wrapped himself around his lover and fell into a fitful sleep. The next day they had gone to stand up to the 456.
"I'm sorry," Jack said as soon as he started the car.
Ianto hadn't said anything for several moments. Jack was worried that maybe that fight had hurt Ianto too much to forgive him. Then he felt Ianto's trembling hand curl tightly around his.
"Me too."
He was forgiven.
The lift seemed to move too fast. Jack looked at the man next to him. Was Ianto even afraid? Jack was. Jack was scared to death. He didn't know what he was facing. He had never met the 446 so he didn't know what they might do or what they were capable of.
Jack leaned over and pressed his lips hard against his lover's. Ianto's mouth opened to allow him access and his hands (still trembling) reached up to tangle in Jack's hair. Jack pulled Ianto as close as he could to him and slipped his tongue in. He was so afraid that this kiss would be their last so he memorized everything he could about Ianto. He had never kissed with both his and his partner's eyes open. It was as if Ianto were trying to memorize him too. His eyes were filled with only one emotion. Love. Ianto Jones wanted to make sure that Jack knew he loved him.
They broke the kiss and turned back to the lift doors, smoothing down their clothes.
If only they had known how quickly the end would come.
"Then I take it all back but NOT HIM!"
Oh God, please not Ianto! I've lived a thousand lifetimes and will love many more but I can't take this.
He knew that one day Ianto would die. Had always known. It was inevitable. But he had been determined that Ianto would die of old age surrounded by loved ones in their bed. No one who loved Jack got to experience that.
"It's all my fault."
"No it's not."
Stop protecting me! All of it -- Lisa, Owen and Tosh, Gray and now you -- stop telling me that! It's because I'm me! I did it. I did this to you! I killed you! I loved you and now I've killed you!
"I love you…" The words were soft and tear-filled. Ianto's resolve to remain brave and unafraid was crumbling.
"Don't," Jack breathed as he cradled Ianto close to him. I'm not worth it. I've killed you, so how can you say that? For the first time he regretted giving in and hiring Ianto. If he had refused then Ianto would not be dying. Ianto would be living a full life surrounded by loved ones. He wouldn't be breaking Jack's heart.
"Hey? It was… good, yeah?" Still trying to protect his immortal lover. To spare him from pain.
"Yeah…" Ianto was dying. He could feel it with each labored breath. Where was the Doctor? Why wasn't he here?
"Don't forget me…" Oh, how could I? So many lives and only the one with you mattered. No one made me feel as alive, as mortal as you. Not Estelle, not John, not Gwen, not Lucia. Not even the Doctor. No one. Just you, Ianto Jones.
"Never could." He tried to smile but tears were making their way free. He saw the doubt in Ianto's eyes. He remembered their conversation in the hospital not so long ago. No, Ianto would never, NEVER be a blip in time for Captain Jack Harkness. When all life had ceased to exist and there was only Jack, in some form or another, he would still remember Ianto. He knew that. Somwhow, he knew that he would never be able to forget Ianto Jones.
Because he loved him. He loved him enough to want to make him immortal. He loved him enough to want to die with him and never wake up. The darkness wouldn't frighten him if he were with Ianto. Ianto, who had held him each time he died. Ianto, who had forgiven him so quickly, though painfully, for Lisa's death. Ianto, who had assured him that Jasmine had wanted to go with the faeries and who had arranged Estelle's funeral. Ianto, who had been willing to let him go to Gwen. Ianto, who had staked his claim on Jack at the wedding.
It was always going to be Ianto. No other lover, no matter how dear, would ever compare to Ianto. No other lover would be able to take Ianto's place in his heart.
"In a thousand years' time… you won't remember me…"
The life in those eyes, eyes that had sparkled so many times, was fading. And Ianto was still unsure if he had meant anything to the one he loved.
"I will, I promise." I can't forget you. You, who I wasn't even supposed to meet. You, a man from the 21st century, who stole my heart so completely. Oh, Ianto, there will never be anyone else like you. Not for me. No one will be able to compare. You loved me even though I was a monster. With you I was happy, truly happy.
Ianto looked at him as his heart stopped. His eyes drifted closed as Jack whispered for him to "Don't leave me, Ianto, please." I need you. Please stay with me. You made it bearable. How can I go on without you? We were supposed to be together for years. I was going to tease you about gray hairs and wrinkles. I wanted us to be together. I would have gladly bore your children if you wanted. And I know that you did…
He pressed his lips to Ianto's one last time, grateful that they had kissed in the lift, as those lips he knew so well were all ready growing cold.
He felt his body sag and he lay himself down next to Ianto, pulling the still warm body towards him. It wasn't close enough.
"I love you," he whispered to the back of Ianto's head. Why hadn't he said it back? He stared at the dark hair, wishing in vain that when he awoke this would all have been a bad dream. He felt his own eyes close and knew that it was not.
When he awoke it was with the softest of sounds. He pulled Gwen close as he looked at Ianto, skin gray and eyes closed. Nothing else mattered anymore. He couldn't even think about Alice and Steven. So what if the 456 took the children? What did it matter? Ianto was dead. There was nothing else. Nothing.
His heart was broken. He was broken.
Captain Jack Harkness had lost the only reason he had to stay sane.
But Ianto had children in his life. His niece and nephew. So he forced himself to tell Gwen to save them. He didn't care about anything else now. Just the two little kids who Ianto had protected by staying out of their lives.
He had been surprised at Alice's acceptance of him, of her confidence in him. That she had told Johnson that he could find a solution and save them all. She wasn't the reason that he had elected to help Johnson though. He had chosen to help because of Ianto's family. He had to protect them. He owed it to the man he'd been unable to save, the man he had let down, to try to save them.
Looking at Steven on the platform had been difficult. He had realized as he made the decision to sacrifice the boy that he was about to lose the very people that Ianto had wanted to meet. He loved Steven and Alice. He really did. Would Ianto have been able to stay with him knowing that Jack had made such a horrible decision? As he stood with his hand over the button he felt a presence behind him. He felt as if Ianto was right there, a comforting hand on his shoulder, giving him the strength he needed to do this. He pressed the button and stepped back, back into the invisible warmth of a recently dead lover. He watched as Steven died and tears ran down his face. Maybe he could at least save the rest of the children. Maybe then he would be able to forgive himself for loving someone too much to let them lead a normal life. Maybe he would be able to bring Ianto and Steven back one day.
The warmth of Ianto's presence pressed up against his back as the alien cries sounded throughout the room. Jack didn't even hear Alice's cries. He knew that any hope or absolution on her part was gone now. She would never be able to forgive him for killing -- no, murdering her son. The only reason he'd been able to do it was because of Ianto. Ianto kept him going even in death.
The warmth faded as Steven collapsed on the platform, dead.
The funerals were two days later.
Alice wouldn't allow him to come to Steven's funeral. Not that he would have anyway. It was at the same time as Ianto's. Steven had known that Jack loved him. Ianto… Jack wasn't so sure. He wasn't sure that Ianto knew how important he'd been to his Captain. So he had to go. He had to tell him he loved him. He had to say goodbye.
The burial was the hardest thing that Jack had ever had to endure. He had stood in the back and recalled every thing he could about Ianto. He had faced Ianto's family alone. He had remained quiet as Rhiannon had slapped him and said it was his fault.
She was right.
He ran away from Wales. There were too many memories of Ianto there. He ran all over the world but he couldn't stop the pain that engulfed him with each breath he took. He had only been able to sleep since his immortal life began with Ianto next to him. He killed himself many times just so he could not feel anything. He hoped desperately for even just a glimpse of Ianto in the darkness. There was none. And so he had to continue. He had to live his life. A life without Ianto. It had come far too soon.
He had gone to the gravesite before meeting Gwen. He had taken a small pendant with him. The pendant had belonged to his mother. He dug his hands into the cool dirt and placed the pendant there. That way a piece of him would always be with Ianto.
"I won't forget you. Not in a thousand years, not ever. How could I? I love you."
Ianto would have wanted him to stay, to help Gwen rebuild Torchwood but he couldn't. Not yet. He needed to have some time to himself. He had not properly grieved for anyone in his entire life. He needed to grieve for Ianto now. He would also grieve for Owen, Tosh, Gray, his father. Everyone he had ever cared about he would grieve for. Ianto would have been pleased to know that Jack was finally tearing down the wall he'd built around his sad memories.
"This world is too small, Ianto. Forgive me but I have to go away for a while." He touched his fingers to his lips and pressed them against the cold stone. "You'll be in my thoughts. Every day, no matter how bad it gets, I'll think of you. I'll remember how good you look in red. The taste of your mouth first thing in the morning. The way you'd roll your eyes when talking to the police over the phone. How OCD you were, especially when it came to organizing your book shelves. How hot you looked carrying a stun gun."
He smiled sadly as he looked at the engraving on the tombstone.
Ianto Jones. Brother, Uncle, Friend and Lover. Remembered forever by the ones who loved him. He will never be forgotten. For all of time.
"Maybe one day our paths will cross again. This universe is filled with so many possibilities, so who knows? I know that I'll keep hoping and praying. We only just found each other. I took you for granted; I forgot that our time was limited. If I can find you again, I promise that I'll make the most of it. I also promise that I won't forget how to love. Just give me a little time. You're a tough act to follow, Ianto Jones."
He had then gone to say goodbye to Gwen. His memories of Ianto Jones were the only thing that kept him going.
One day he would find his way back to Ianto. He would not be satisfied until he could hold Ianto in his arms once more. Be it in life or in death. Let the darkness take him.
One day they would be together again.
As the rain soaked through even his thick coat, Jack tightened his hold on the trembling figure that was pressed up against him.
That day had come. Ianto was alive. Somehow, some way Ianto had come back to him.
He pulled back enough to cradle Ianto's face in his hands and press his lips once more to the ones he had always thought of. Always came back for.
"I love you," he whispered as the kiss ended. He looked into the blue eyes that had always sparkled. "I love you."
Ianto smiled sadly up at him and caressed his cheek.
"I love you, as well, my Captain."
Jack pulled Ianto close once more. As he wound his arms around Ianto he became aware of the others who were watching the reunion.
Gwen was crying, her smile not quite hidden behind her hands. John Hart was standing with his mouth hanging open. A tall, handsome-beyond-words man stood with his hands clenched, lips pressed in a thin line and a single tear running down his chiseled face.
Jack took in the dark eyes that were filled with pain. He knew that look. He had seen it every single time he had looked into the mirror.
He tightened his grip on Ianto.
He wasn't going to let him go.
Not again.
Not without a fight.
Bring it on.
~_~_~
TO BE CONTINUED
~_~_~
Torchwood America Timeline:
Part 1 has no real time frame as it's an introduction. Part 2 is day 0, as it is the day before Ianto arrives, and day 1.
Part 3 and 4 are also day 1. Part 5 and 6 are day 2, leading into day 3.
Part 7 thru 9 are day 10 (which means that those 3 parts move fast) and then lead into day 11 (the morning after).
Parts 10 and 11 start eight days later (which means that while Ianto is comparing Jack and Jason, Jason is reading the e-mail from Gwen). Day 18.
Part 12 takes place three days after Jason gets Gwen's e-mail (day 21).
Part 13 and 14 take place at approximately the same time (the evening of day 21 in WV, USA and the following morning in Cardiff… time zones confuse me so don't expect me to calculate time differences). It also carries on two days later (day 23)
Part 15 and 16 take place on day 24. Part 17 and 18 are day 25. Part 18 also starts day 26. Part 19 is day 27. Part 20 takes place on day 29.
Part 21 takes place on day 30. (Jason and Ianto have been together for 20 days now. Wow. All ready meeting the family too!)
Part 22 takes place the morning after, day 31. Part 23 takes place on day 31, in the afternoon while Part 24 is in the evening (or morning, depending on the timezone).
Part 25 thru 27 are day 32. Parts 28 thru 29 are day 33.
