Chapter Nine: Exes and Heartache
October 29, 2014. Wednesday afternoon. Jason's house.
Kate was breathtaking.
She had long chocolate brown hair that cascaded down her back and framed her heart shaped face and beautiful brown eyes. Her shapely legs were so long that supermodels probably envied her. Her hourglass figure looked as if it had been hand crafted just for her. She was without a doubt very beautiful indeed.
God how he hated her.
Jason could barely hide his smile as he felt Ianto press himself tighter against his side. Ianto was jealous. He wondered if jealous sex was like make-up sex; if so then that was great news for him.
The Monroes were all in the living room. Kate sat on the couch with the two oldest, Richard and Christine, next to her. Rob and Katelyn, the younger two, had made themselves at home on the floor where they could play with their ipods and still contribute to the conversation. That left Jason and Ianto on the loveseat together.
"So," Kate said as she crossed her legs for probably the hundredth time in five minutes. "Exactly how long did you say that you two have been together?" She narrowed her eyes at Ianto as she spoke.
"Couple months. But we've known each other longer," Jason replied as he leaned back. He casually draped his arm along the back of the loveseat behind Ianto. "So why the sudden desire to come to Bluemont, West Virginia?"
Kate leaned forward just enough so that her cleavage became noticeable and smiled sweetly at him. "Rob and Katelyn had a few days off from school, teacher meetings or something, so we thought it's be nice to visit. The last time we saw you was last spring."
"It's been crazy at work these last few months," Jason said.
"How did you two meet? Not at work I hope. Office romances never work."
It was the predatory look in her eyes that made Ianto fight back.
"It does so long as you keep the office out of it," he said coolly.
Her brown eyes narrowed at him again and her lips pursed tightly.
"Figures. You're so busy at work that the only people you see are your employees. I often wondered if you were getting busy at work."
"Kate, don't start."
"Only looking out for you, dear."
"I'm sure. I can handle myself, thank you."
She turned her greedy eyes back to the young man across from her. Tyler had left her for a younger woman and her other lovers had followed suit. She had never expected Jason to actually fall in love, especially with a man. The fact that the man was also several years younger than her made her blood boil. He wasn't even that much to look at! The male body couldn't compare to that of the female. Females had curves whereas males were mostly hard angles. Why would Jason, who was extremely handsome, want someone with such a body?
Ianto's cell phone beeped. He excused himself and went upstairs to answer it.
Jason looked at his ex-wife and tried not to let his irritation show. He was not going back down that path again. Even if he had never met Ianto he would never go back to Kate. The feeling of uselessness had gnawed at him during the last years of their marriage. Not knowing at the time if his baby girl was really his had made him feel inadequate as a husband and partner. No, Kate was barking up the wrong tree if she was indeed looking for a husband.
"Sorry to do this, but I'm needed in the office," Ianto said as he came back down the stairs, keys in hand.
"You need me?" Jason asked as he rose to his feet.
"No, you can stay here. I'll walk." Ianto pressed a quick kiss to Jason's mouth and smiled at him before making his way out the door.
"Call when you're ready to go home and I'll come get you."
"I will."
Jason closed the door behind him and turned back to face his family.
~_~_~
Same day. Cardiff.
Kahl watched as Harkness and his team tackled a large amphibian-like alien. The Time Agent knew that he would get in trouble if he were caught but he wanted to know what the hell was going on. For him it had been only hours since he'd tried to kill Monroe but it had actually been more than a month. Time travel could be a pain even for seasoned Time Agents.
Which Jack Harkness used to be before he'd come to this pathetic planet.
Harkness and his team secured the alien and loaded it up in a van to take to their base. As they drove off none of them even noticed the man in black military clothes standing to the side of the road. Time Lords and alien hunters weren't the only ones with perception filters. Kahl smirked to himself at how easy it would be to follow them to the base and no one even know. Of course they probably had some sort of security systems in place to catch intruders but with his Vortex Manipulator he would be able to override them.
He licked his lips and touched the button that would take him back to the Time/Dimension station.
Had he bothered to look to the left he would have seen a man in a red military jacket and tall boots watching him.
The man leaned back against a tree and watched as a former colleague vanished. He didn't know what was going on but he knew that if it involved Jack Harkness it couldn't be good.
~_~_~
Back at Bluemont. Torchwood base.
"Any idea?" Jenny asked as she looked at the mother Weevil and her babies.
Ianto frowned as he watched the mother burrow the little ones beneath the pile of straw and then proceed to claw at the wall. The low moaning that came from her mouth made his skin crawl.
"Jack and Owen used to speculate that Weevils were mildly telepathic. When a large number of them had been captured and tortured for sport it seemed to prove that theory. However we never really studied them closely enough to form concrete facts." He rubbed at his neck. "When did this start?"
"About four hours ago."
"Keep monitoring and recording. It's probably nothing but it wouldn't hurt to continue Owen's work."
Jenny looked from the Weevils to him. "Would you be able to call up the files on the studies for me? Maybe having a fresh pair of eyes would help with it. I might see something that he missed."
With a nod Ianto turned towards the stairs. "I'll have the files on your desk this evening."
He opened the door and started up the stairs.
"So what do you want to do tonight?"
Ianto tensed.
"Hmm, I was thinking something along the lines of dinner at yours'."
He shook himself. The false memories had been nonexistent these last few weeks. It had to be the stress of meeting Kate that he was suddenly hit with them.
"Please stop! You're killing him!"
"That's the point, little boy. He's not worth your tears."
Ianto closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. Since beginning this relationship he had often envisioned Jason being tortured. The reason was always the same. Because they were in love Jason was beaten before his very eyes.
That was one false memory he loathed more than any other.
~_~_~
"He seems nice," Christine said as she helped her father clear the dishes from the dining room table.
"You're not fishing are you? 'Cause I ain't biting."
She giggled and carried a stack of plates into the kitchen. Jason followed with the rest and a shake of his head.
"How old is he?"
"Twenty-nine this past August."
"Oooh, a cradle-robber!"
"Funny. You're a real comedienne, you know that?"
Christine smiled at him and started to load the dishwasher.
"Need any help?" Ianto asked as he came through the door.
"I told you to call." Jason frowned at him.
"I was only there for a little while. It's still light outside so I walked." Ianto smiled at the concern on his lover's face. "Don't worry, I got my 'big boy briefs' on; I can handle myself."
"You're so damned stubborn sometimes." There was no heat to the words, just a tenderness that couldn't really be described with words.
"You love it."
"Sometimes."
"Nag."
"Git."
"Been learning proper English have we?"
"You two sound like a married couple!"
Ianto blushed while Jason's hand drifted towards his pants pocket before he realized it and he pulled it back.
"So," Jason hastened to change the subject. "How's school?"
"Great. Now, back to you."
"Rather blunt, aren't you?" Ianto asked mildly.
"I try. And before you ask, I know about Dad's job, so don't hold back with me. I'm going to join when I'm done with college."
"That's still up for debate," Jason said firmly.
"Anyway! How serious are you two?"
Ianto looked at Jason. Jason looked from his daughter to his lover.
Christine looked at them both.
"Uh-huh. I get it. Don't worry, Dad," she kissed his cheek. "I'm on your side." She turned, winked at Ianto, and walked back to the living room.
Jason couldn't help but grin.
"So… she knows about Torchwood?"
~_~_~
October 30, 2014. Thursday morning. Bluemont Torchwood base.
TO: "J. Monroe, Bluemont"
FROM: "G. Cooper-Williams, Cardiff"
SUBJECT: Re: RE: Expansion
Hello! I understand completely about the Rift eating up all of your time. I have attached all of the files on the expansion for you to analyze. I would like to talk to you face-to-face. Would a videoconference be possible?
Please read the files and contact me as soon as you can.
Sincerely,
Gwen Cooper
~_~_~
"Miranda, Susan, Bobby, make sure the place is secure." Jason looked at his team gathered in the main room. "There's something important we need to discuss. Team meeting in one hour in the boardroom."
Everyone looked around to gauge each other's reactions and then they returned to their workstations. Ianto watched as they got back to work and then stepped close to his lover.
"What's going on?"
"One hour, Ianto." Jason reached up and touched the fade scar on the other's cheek. "I don't want to go over it twice. Trust me?"
"Yes. I just wish I knew what was wrong."
"You will soon, I promise." Then, completely against the boundaries, Jason pulled Ianto to him and kissed him deeply.
Blue eyes clouded over with anxiety and fear; something was seriously wrong. His heart began to pound.
"Relax," Jason murmured against his lips.
"Not making it easy. Did I do something?"
"No." At least he hoped not. "Wanna go out to dinner tonight? With the kids… and Kate."
"Sure. I'd love to." Ianto bit his lip worriedly. "I'll be downstairs with the Weevils. Call me in forty-five and I'll make some coffee."
"Great. Until then, get your ass back to work."
"You just want to ogle it as I walk."
"It's the most I get while stuck here, so move it."
Jason kept the smile on his face until Ianto had followed Jenny to the door.
He really wasn't looking forward to this.
One hour later Jason sat at the head of the conference table with Ianto at his left. The rest of the team was gathered around the oval table waiting for Jason to start the meeting. "First off, I received an e-mail a few days ago from someone who is no longer an employee of Torchwood yet claims to be."
"Who?" Dan asked.
"That's not important."
"Why not?"
Oh, because I'm sleeping with her former coworker and I'm absolutely terrified that if he finds out that she's back at Torchwood and that his former lover is too then he'll run back to Britain and I'll lose him forever.
"There is a possible conspiracy in the Institute. We need to find out why there are secrets being kept and who's behind it all."
"Jason," Miranda interrupted. "I don't think we can keep it a secret anymore." She looked at Ianto pointedly.
"I am not conspiring against anyone. I'm not a spy, either," Ianto said, his temper barely reined in.
Jason couldn't tell who did and did not believe him. That was never a good sign.
"No one here is pointing fingers at anyone else," he began.
"No, but that also means that everyone here is under suspicion," Sam stated firmly.
Everyone but Jason, Ianto and Shelly seconded that notion.
Ianto found himself taking Jason's hand and clutching it tightly. He had cried himself crazy when Jason had died. How could they believe that he was their enemy? He had thought they were past all of that nonsense.
Miranda folded her arms and glared at him. She had never really gotten over her friend being demoted to make room for Ianto.
"You stalked Harkness for a job. You hid a partially converted Cyberman in the basement for six months. It got loose and could have destroyed the world. Your punishment was a suspension. Were you fucking Harkness all along or just after that little disaster?"
Ianto raised his voice in anger. "She was called Lisa. Leave Lisa and Jack out of this. I made a mistake; I was too blinded by my feelings for Lisa to see that she was killed the day of Canary Wharf. Jack understood that and chose, despite what I'd done, to give me a second chance. My relationship with him has nothing to do with this."
"Only that it set a precedent for the current situation."
"How so," Ianto demanded. His grip on Jason's hand tightened.
"Miranda…"
"Let's see…" Miranda ignored the glare Jason sent her direction. "You convince Harkness to keep you on after the Cyberman. Two members of your team are killed less than two years later. You show up and are made second to Jason who almost dies shortly after becoming involved with you." She narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious, wouldn't you agree?"
"Very suspicious," Sam said. "I almost felt sorry for you when Jason told us that no one, not even your sister, wanted anything to do with you when you woke up. But I'm not buying it anymore. You faked your own death and falsified records so that you could infiltrate us. You, Harkness and Cooper are planning to take over."
"That is ridiculous! Why would I choose to come to this backward place?" he lashed out. "And by the way, Jack is gone and Gwen's living a happy life with her husband and child. So leave them alone."
"Really? So then why has she been emailing Jason? Plus we have photographic proof that both of them are back at Torchwood Cardiff." Miranda smirked at him and waited for him to snap again.
Ianto slowly angled his head towards his lover.
Jason swallowed and said, "We have pictures of both Cooper and -- and Harkness at Cardiff." He tried to ignore the way that his lover was looking at him. Betrayal filled the eyes that had gazed at him in worry and affection earlier.
Ianto stared at Jason, upset by what he had heard. His blue eyes were filled with hurt that the man he'd given his body to so freely hadn't trusted him enough to tell him about this. He knew that Gwen and Jack both hated him but Jason knew that he still cared deeply for his former friends.
Memories of days gone by swarmed inside his head. He tried to not think of the pain of being unwanted and deceived by the ones he had loved the most. But he was soon lost to the memories.
Just us... in this room... for as long as it takes. Terrifying. Really? Are you asking me out on a date? Interested? Well, as long as it's not in an office. Some fetishes should be kept to yourself... Are you going back to him? Lots of things you can do with a stopwatch. Oh, yeah! I can think of a few. He cheats, he always cheats. I blame it on magic mushrooms. What you do in your own time is none of our business. And for the record: measuring tapes never lie. Being here, I've seen things I never dreamt I'd see. Loved people I never would have known if I'd just… stayed where I was. And I wouldn't change that for the world. Bordering on the avant-garde. Do I show off? I came back for you. He's a reminder of my past, I want him gone.
His stomach was churning and his chest was on fire like it had been the first few months after Lisa. He felt the most horrible, deep-rooted pain. Everything hurt. This was worse than Lisa. Worse than Jack leaving him. Worse than being in the darkness.
"Ianto?" Shelly asked in a small voice. She didn't understand how everyone could be so quick to accuse him of being a traitor when it was so obvious that he was in pain.
"Can't imagine the time when this isn't everything. Pain so constant, like my stomach's full of rats." The blue eyes locked onto Jason's face. "Feels like this is all I am now. There isn't an inch of me that doesn't hurt."
Jason stared at his lover as he spoke in a voice void of all emotion; his once piercing blue eyes empty of life. Those same eyes that had looked at him in gratification last night and worry just over an hour ago had become hollow. Now Ianto stared out into nothing as memories cascaded inside his head, locked in a battle for dominance.
He hurt. Everything hurt. The pain was so great that all he could think, see, feel was the pain. Nothing else mattered, as he couldn't focus on anything but the pain.
"Are… are you okay?" Jenny asked. She stood and started to reach for the young man in concern.
Words that he had used once before, when his life had crumbled around him, came back to him now. He pushed them from his mouth without thinking because they had the exact same meaning now that they'd had almost seven years ago. Only now instead of just saying them, he shouted them out with anger, frustration and betrayal coloring his voice.
"Like you'd care! When's the last time you asked me anything about my life?"
You're just a tea boy. I'm much more than that.
But he was wrong; he hadn't been more. He was nothing important. He had been nothing. He was still nothing.
Inside he could feel the rats gnawing away at him with each passing second. He raised his empty eyes again towards Jason. He couldn't pull his hand away. Ianto merely looked at the man who had not only claimed his body but who had also captured his heart. He had made the same mistake twice.
"Ianto…" Jason tried to pull the younger man to him but Ianto resisted. The words coming from his lover's mouth scared the hell out of him.
"I love you." Ianto's voice broke and tears streamed down his face. "I told myself not to but I let myself love you and just like Jack, you broke my heart. I was nothing to him and I'm nothing to you. You used me."
He pulled away from Jason now and stood. He turned and walked out the door. Once he had entered the corridor he ran. He ran as fast as his legs would take him. The tears blinded him but he didn't care.
He had a stomach full of rats, after all.
~_~_~
Late that night.
Jason drove around town searching for Ianto. It had been several hours since Ianto had fled the base in the midst of everyone's accusations and he was beginning to panic. The slight weight in his pocket offered him no comfort. It was nearly midnight and Ianto was missing.
Jason slammed a palm down on the steering wheel in frustration. He should have known better than to sit everyone down and explain what was going on with Ianto in the room. Even after all that had happened they still did not accept Ianto as a part of the team.
"I don't see why you're taking his side! It's so obvious what's going on here!"
"Oh really? Tell me Miranda," Jason snapped as he yanked his coat on. Keys. Keys, where were his keys? "What possible reason could the Institute have for wanting to overtake us?"
No one had been able to give him an answer.
Jason forced his mind back to the problem at hand. He would deal with the others later, after he'd found Ianto.
Ianto had run out without his jacket, keys or cell phone. Jason had first gone to the small apartment first in a vain hope that Ianto was sitting against the door waiting for him. Instead he had thumped his head against the door and headed back down to his car.
Now he looked up as the heavens opened. Rain. Just fucking great.
If he didn't find Ianto soon he was going to have to hit something.
~_~_~
Ianto sat on the damp ground beneath a tree. His thoughts were as bleak and gray as the sky. All he wanted to do was forget. He wanted to forget everything. Jack, Jason. Cardiff, Bluemont. But he couldn't; he was a slave to his memories.
"So, still sorry you hired me?"
Jack grinned up at him as he leaned back in his chair, coffee cup in hand. "Not when you make coffee like this. Starbucks doesn't stand a chance, not with you. That, and you look good in that suit."
"Sir!"
Jack had always made some comment about his clothes. That flirty attitude had made the pain of deception easier to bear.
"So, how are you, Ianto? And don't lie to me."
"Well, sir, it's been roughly five days since I killed Lisa. How do you think I am?"
"You didn't kill her. Torchwood did. And the Cybermen. Not you."
"If I had come to you sooner then it wouldn't have ended like that. I should have asked you to help me end her misery instead of stalking you for a job."
"Hey, I don't regret hiring you. Seriously, so don't give me that 'Don't be an idiot' look. Wanna know what I do regret?"
"What, sir?"
"That we weren't there for you like we should have been. That Torchwood One destroyed itself. That you had to suffer."
"Thank you, sir."
A part of him still believed that Jack had cared. It couldn't have all been a lie.
"I just want to know where we stand, Jack."
"So you're asking me to define our relationship?"
"No, just… I just have to know if Owen is right. That I'm a part-time shag."
"You're not," Jack assured him. "But, Ianto, that's the most I can give you." He frowned. "You know what's weird?"
"What?"
"Earlier, when Michael was here, you said that you didn't own me. You told me to go be with him. It was like you understood."
Ianto looked away. "I thought I did, but I don't. Guess it's a part of being a 21st century human." He turned back to his Jamesbondathon. "Forget about it, Jack. I don't own you. I have no claim on you whatsoever. Don't even know why I brought it up."
Jack moved behind him, placing his hands on Ianto's shoulders. He pressed a kiss just below the left ear.
"Even if Michael had been able to stay, I wouldn't have gone back to him. I wouldn't do that. Not to you."
Oh but now he knew the truth. Ianto knew that he was not special or exciting enough to make Jack Harkness monogamous. No, he was faithful to Ianto only so long as it suited his purpose.
Old memories brought with them a bittersweet feeling that made him feel ill. He raised his face to the falling rain. If only the rain could wash away the pain. He was forever to be plagued by what he once had. All that was left were his memories.
Ianto shook his head to clear it. He should have never gotten involved with Jason. It had been a mistake. But then again, his nightmares had lessened since the first time they had slept together. Now when Ianto dreamed he did not awaken in fear of what was to come.
He pulled his knees to his chest and sighed.
"Do I look like I give a damn what Harkness would have done?"
Jason had not enjoyed being compared to Jack. He could understand that. Every time that Jack had mentioned a former flame it had eaten away at his heart. The only consolation he had was that perhaps it was Jack's way of remembering the people who had been important to him.
He recalled so many times that they had discussed remembering what was important.
"Do you remember everyone you've met? Everyone you've loved?" he asked one night just after Jack had returned to them.
"You will live so long, see so many things. I only hope that something about us here, on Earth will be memorable enough for you to remember us," he said as he watched Jack sleep the day after Owen and Tosh died.
"I'm just a blip in time for you," he bit out as he watched Jack in the trance.
"That's why I write in my journal every day. So that when too much time has passed and the memories are faded, I can look back and recall everything that made Ianto Jones tick," he said as he wrote about being a woman for a week.
"Don't forget me," he pleaded softly as the tears began to fall. He could feel his body dying. Jack's arms were warm.
"In a thousand years' time, you won't remember me…" he whispered as he felt the numbness set in. Jack looked so sad.
He hoped wherever life took him that Jack Harkness would want to remember something about him, be it what he looked like or that he made fantastic coffee. As for himself, he had to let go. He could still remember his past. It was a part of him, but he knew that he had to let it go. Jack didn't need him. Gwen and Rhys were happy without him. His family was fine without him. He only had himself. He had begun to consider Shelly a friend but their friendship was still so new. He couldn't just pick up the phone and call her with his tales of woe.
And Jason…
"I love him," he murmured. Ianto Jones didn't do casual relationships. He gave his entire being to the one he loved. And he loved Jason Monroe. If only Jason still wanted him.
Don't think like that. Stay positive. Jason no doubt had his reasons for not telling you about the email. He needed to find Jason and talk to him.
Ianto climbed awkwardly to his feet. He staggered and leaned against the tree trunk for support. He felt like he was going to be sick.
Headlights from a car blinded him. He raised a hand to his eyes and tried to stave off the nausea and so didn't hear the car door slam or the hurried footsteps.
"Ianto."
He opened his eyes.
"Jason," he choked out. He stretched out a hand towards the man he loved.
He felt his lover's strong arms envelope him in their warmth. He rested his head against a broad shoulder and turned his face towards his lover's neck. The man's subtle scent made him feel safe again.
"Are you okay?" Jason's voice was soft and worried.
"Mm hmm." Ianto lifted his head and looked him straight in the eyes. "I love you."
He threw up all over Jason.
Jason just sighed and held him tight.
"I love you too."
~_~_~
12:47 a.m. October 31, 2014. Friday, Halloween.
Jenny yawned tiredly as she reached for her cell phone. It was very late and she and her husband had just been heading to bed when her phone rang. The caller id showed Monroe, Jason. She sighed.
It had been a long day. After Ianto had made his dramatic exit Jason had let them all have it. She and Jason the same age yet he always managed to make her feel like a child. They had all yelled and gotten angry until Jason had given them The Look. It was a look that was just the right amount of intimidation and disappointment.
She flipped open her phone and hit the green answer button.
"It's late, Jason."
"Ianto's sick." Jason Monroe never wasted time with pleasantries, not when it was important.
"What's wrong?" Jenny tossed the covers back off her body and stood, already in Doctor Mode. She was a professional, after all.
"He threw up and I brought him back to his place. His temperature's at 101 degrees. He says he's chilled and he's thrown up again."
"I'm on the way." She somehow managed to get her coat on without dropping the phone. "Jason, for what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"Just hurry."
She dressed quickly, kissed her husband, and ran out the door. If Jason was that worried the she knew that something was wrong. Ianto's immune system was shoddy at best when it came to fighting infections and viruses.
Jenny parked her car outside the grocery store and jogged up the stairs to the apartment. Upon opening the door she looked around and say Ianto on the bed beneath a pile of thick blankets. Jason sat on the edge of the bed as he wrung out a towel of cold water.
She removed her coat and opened the snap on her medical bag. The thermometer showed that Ianto's temperature was at 101.2 degrees. She checked him over for injury and asked him some questions. His voice was raspy and weak but he was lucid. He complained of chills, a 'jittery stomach that was busy doing the tango', weakness in his body and a headache.
"The flu," Jenny stated as she finished her examination.
Jason nodded and stroked Ianto's damp hair.
Jenny pulled off her gloves and dropped them into the trashcan near the bed. "His immune system is more vulnerable to illness than ours'." She handed him a bottle of medicine. "Give him plenty of fluids and keep him in bed as much as possible. Keep those blankets on him, even if he claims later to be too hot. He needs to sweat it out."
Jason carefully retucked the blankets around Ianto's still form. At least he was asleep. It was a nice change from the crying and shaking of earlier.
"Got it."
Jason nodded at her and then walked over to the kitchen area. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out several kinds of vegetables.
"What are you doing?" Jenny asked as she joined him.
"Making soup. He'll need to get his strength built up."
"At this hour though?"
Jason shrugged; he needed to stay busy. When Ianto had first gotten sick on him he had worried it was something much worse.
"It'll taste better once it's set for a few hours."
She watched as he rinsed the vegetables in the sink. She knew he was an excellent cook; no doubt Ianto would rave about the soup for days. But that wasn't what caught her attention.
It was the intense look on his face. She had seen it before.
When she and her husband had started dating her parents had been against it. He was not good enough for her; they were from two different social classes. He'd had to scrape by and get loans for college while she had paid for medical school with her trust fund.
The look on Jason's face was the same look she had worn on her own when she told her parents that she was 'going to marry that man and have his children and there's nothing you can do about it!' Even the bad stuff, like his job layoff, made her stronger. She had never regretted falling in love with him.
"It's not just a fling, is it? This isn't casual…"
Jason's hands stilled. He looked down at the tomato in his palm and then shook his head.
"I can't imagine a minute without him. Tonight I was so scared that he was gone. I feel as if I'm half a person when he's not around."
"Well then," she said as she reached for a knife to chop the onion. "Don't mess this up."
~_~_~
November 1, 2014. Early Saturday evening. Apartment above the grocer.
Ianto smiled at Christine as she set down a cup of tea. He couldn't help but like his lover's oldest daughter, as she was just so likable.
"I'm sorry that you have to baby-sit me," he said as he reached for the tea.
"It's no problem. Dad can't help it that he had to go investigate a possible alien sighting."
Jason had been loath to leave him on his own as his temperature was still very high so he had called his daughter and asked her to come over. She had bounded through the door less than twenty minutes later and jumped right into the role of caregiver. She was a natural.
"Still, I feel bad. You came to Bluemont to see your father and you're stuck here."
"Not so bad. At least I don't have to listen to Mom moan and groan that Dad's being mean and all that."
"Daddy's little girl," he teased.
"Yep. That's me!"
Christine reminded him of Tosh and Gwen. She was smart and compassionate. She knew her way around a computer and was very determined. Christine Monroe was also a very resourceful girl who followed her instincts.
As Ianto couldn't sleep they engaged in a conversation about Torchwood. He found the story of how she learned about her father's job very amusing.
"He couldn't talk to us about his job. All we knew was that it was some government thing and he had to move to West Virginia for work."
"So how did you find out?"
"It was the summer before my senior year of high school. We came here for a visit. I was bored and wanted to go outside so I rode my bike around town. I saw Dad with Sam come out of a store and ride off in a van. So I followed the van all the way to the base. They parked in the parking lot but then went down the block to the alley. By the time I caught up to them, they were gone. I picked the lock and snuck inside. I knew Dad would be mad if he found me so I hid in a supply closet for an hour before I got brave enough to look around. I ended up running smack into Dad and nearly gave him a heart attack."
"What did he do?"
"He yelled at me for a while then I got the tour. It was supposed to be a lesson, to make me see that he had his reasons for not talking about work." Christine grinned at Ianto. "They were having problems with this new software so I plunked myself down at a desk and got to work. Dad and the others were speechless."
"I wish I'd been here to see it!" Ianto said with a laugh. He rarely got to see Jason out of his element and would have thoroughly enjoyed the scene.
"It was great! I was allowed to stay the rest of the day so long as I promised to not tell Mom or the others about any of it. I fixed a few more glitches and got to watch an autopsy; that was cool. As we were heading home I told Dad that I wanted to help him. We got into a big fight over that."
"He's your father; he was just looking out for you," Ianto assured her. "Some aliens are nice but there are many that aren't. Remind me to tell you about some of them."
"Only if you leave nothing out. Not a single detail."
"Deal. Now, what's this about you joining Torchwood?"
"If I get good grades, which I am, and can prove myself capable, which I will, Dad says he'll give me a chance. I can't wait until I get to use a gun and hunt aliens."
"I doubt he'll put you out in the field right away or give you a gun. You need to be trained first. Besides, like I said not all aliens need to be hunted. We actually help many of them get back home or integrate into Earth culture. We try to help as much as possible. Killing is a last resort."
"I know. But I also know that if my family or friends are in danger because of an alien then I want to be able to protect them. I just hope that I do a good job. Oh, that's my cell; be right back!"
He watched as she hurried over to the couch and retrieved her phone. It was her mother, he guessed, from the way she rolled her eyes and stepped outside to talk.
Christine was a gem of a find. So much of her personality was like Tosh's.
Tosh had taken so much pride in her work even if no one noticed what she had done. He remembered when an alien device had turned him invisible and he'd been forced to break into an enemy base. Tosh had figure out his personal login number and made him use it to enter the building. Far from being mad, he had found her delight at breaking the code amusing. She had been so proud that she had known him so well.
Christine's delight at breaking into the Torchwood base was just as amusing and made him proud.
He smiled softly at that only to chuckle as the first memory he had of Gwen popped into his head.
"Hi, sorry I'm late. Somebody order pizza?"
The look on her face as the office door had closed and locked itself only to be followed by a false wall opening had been priceless! Somehow he had managed to hold in his laughter until the secret passageway was securely sealed again. It had been obvious that she had expected something out of a horror movie in every slow, cautious step.
"You look happy."
Jason's voice startled him out of his recollections. He looked up and smiled at his lover.
"I suppose that I am happy. When did you get in?"
"Just now." Jason sat down on the edge of the bed. "Are you, though? Happy, that is. Harkness is back at Cardiff and you're here."
"With you," Ianto said softly. His smile was genuine; yes, he was happy.
"Yeah, with me." Jason frowned and rubbed at his neck. "You could be with him."
Ianto reached out and touched his face. "I could, but then I wouldn't be with you. I made my choice. Don't ever doubt how I feel about you." He moved so that he could snuggle against the broad chest. "I'm happy here with you."
Jason nodded and wrapped his arms around him. "So, I was thinking… Thanksgiving is coming up. I have to stay in town as I have off the week of Christmas. You're on the roster to work the weekend of Thanksgiving. Want to spend Thanksgiving with me?"
"Sure. Just so long as you don't expect me to cook. You know I'm not very good at it."
"I'm fantastic at it, so all I need you to do is look pretty and watch football."
"American football? Can't I just watch cheesy holiday movies and sneak bits of food while you cook?"
"Only if you're in an apron."
"Done deal. What about you family?"
"Kate will have Rob and Katelyn with her; probably go to her sister's as she can't cook at all. Richard has a big project for school so he'll be at his girlfriend's. Christine has already insisted on coming here and working the kitchen. So it'll be the three of us. That okay with you?"
Ianto finally felt as if he belonged somewhere. He felt as if he were more than a part-time shag and Tea Boy.
He couldn't help but smile. "Careful, one day she may run Torchwood."
"Don't doubt it for a second. She runs circles around me as it is!"
"And you love it."
"I do."
~_~_~
November 5, 2014. Wednesday afternoon. Bluemont Torchwood base.
Ianto was back at work.
Jenny couldn't explain it but the younger man had been seriously ill for only two days before there was no sign of infection in his body. All that she said was that it probably had to do with his immune system. No one knew what all had happened or been done to Ianto's body so they were left with more questions than answers. As head doctor Jenny had insisted, with support from Jason, that Ianto stay home and rest regardless of how much better he felt. There had been an argument but he had agreed, if only so he could spend the time watching television (he had recently become addicted to a show and there had been a marathon of past episodes).
Satisfied that he was not going to relapse anytime soon, Jenny had approved Ianto for duty.
The only bad thing about his sick leave had been Kate. Jason's ex-wife had taken advantage of the fact that Ianto was stuck in bed and had called Jason's phone relentlessly while he was at work and had monopolized his time when he wasn't. At least Christine had been able to play referee and had also visited him each day. She even made certain that Jason didn't overstretch himself at work. Ianto was sad to see her go but looked forward to his first Thanksgiving where he would get to see her again.
The Rift alert sounded shortly after lunch. Ianto set down his coffee and wandered out to the main area. He joined the others gathered around Bobby's computer and looked at the readout.
"That looks familiar," he said with a frown. "I just wish I knew why."
"Okay then," Jason said as he pulled on his jacket. "Ianto, you're with us. Maybe once we get there and see whatever it is, you'll be able to remember."
Ianto nodded and retrieved his coat and gun. He quickly followed Jason, Miranda and Dan to the van.
It took less than ten minutes to get to the site of the Rift energy. They climbed out of the van and looked around at the abandoned warehouse.
Ianto made a face as soon as he saw the warehouse. He didn't have much luck with the damned things. A sedated pterodactyl had nearly crushed him in one. Two greedy brothers had carved up an innocent creature and he'd nearly been shot at in another. The day before he 'died' he'd argued with Jack in the Torchwood One warehouse. The last warehouse he'd been at he'd been impregnated by a Nostrovite. Ianto hated warehouses.
"Okay, Dan with me. Ianto, you and Miranda go left. Comms on at all times."
Ianto glanced at his lover briefly before heading around the left with Miranda. Although they maintained a professional distance while on the clock he still could not help but worry whenever Jason was out of sight. He wondered if Jason felt the same way.
"Ianto, you two see anything yet?"
"No," he said into his headpiece. "There's nothing."
"Maybe whatever it was has gone?"came Dan's hopeful voice.
"Yeah, right," Miranda scoffed as she and Ianto exchanged dubious looks. "We wouldn't get that lucky."
A minute later Ianto perked up, sure he'd heard something. He touched Miranda's arm and gestured towards the door before them. They both watched it and then backed up when they heard a slight scuffling followed by a cough. They looked at each other and raised their guns.
"Jason, we heard something."
"We're on our way."
He knew that they should have waited but Ianto wanted to get this over with. Since he was feeling better Jason had promised to take him out to dinner. There was a movie showing at the cinema that he wanted to see and was certain he could talk his lover into seeing it with him.
He reached a hand to the door's handle and started to pull it open. The handle was broken and so it swung forward violently and almost knocked into Miranda. Ianto pushed her aside and took the brunt of the blow. He ended up flat on his back with someone on top of him. Someone heavy.
"Not that I'm complaining, but I hardly know-- Eye Candy?"
No. Oh no. Nononono. NO.
"No."
It couldn't be… It was impossible… It was cruel and unfair and downright mean. This was so much worse than meeting Kate.
"Yes."
Oh, that cheeky, insufferable voice that he despised with every fiber of his being.
"Hart," he choked out. Oh God…
"That's me."
Ianto wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. Instead he covered his face with his hands and tried not to scream.
~_~_~
Back at base.
They all stared at the man who was at the table with his booted feet upon it. His hands were laced together behind his head as he smiled at Ianto. For his part Ianto paced around the room like a caged animal. The hatred for the other man was practically tangible and they all watched the Welshman warily.
"I do so love to watch you walk, Eye Candy," John Hart purred as he watched Ianto stalk around. "You have one of the tightest looking arses I've ever seen." He leaned a little to the side to get a better look at said arse. He did not even attempt to look ashamed or scared.
Jason clenched his hands into fists and tried to keep himself in check. Blood stains were a pain to clean up. Back at the warehouse he and Dan had burst into the room only to find this shorter, older man groping Ianto who looked mad enough to kill. He had yanked the guy off his lover and demanded answers.
"Jason, this is John Hart," Ianto had bitten out.
"John Hart?"
"That's Captain John Hart, if you don't mind, Sunshine."
Jason really didn't appreciate the nickname. He also didn't appreciate that the man was purposely antagonizing his already upset lover.
Ianto spun around to face his former enemy. He crossed the room and pressed his gun to Hart's forehead. The look on his face could only be described as murderous.
Jason quickly realized that he would have to intervene, especially as Ianto didn't seem capable of reining his temper in.
"What the hell are you playing at, Hart?" Ianto demanded. He didn't notice the shocked looks he received from the others as he held the gun tight in his grip. He was so close to just pulling the trigger.
And Captain John Hart?
The bastard was smirking at Ianto as if this was all a joke. Like Ianto didn't hold his life in his hands.
"Every few months I pop by and see what's new on this dingy planet of yours'." Hart leaned back and smiled a salacious smile at Ianto as he raked his eyes over Ianto's trembling figure. "I never expected to run into you here, of all people. But since I'm here, what can you tell me about Sunshine? What a body! Those muscles are simply delicious. And such a gorgeous face. I'll bet he's good in the sack too!"
"Like you'll get the chance to find out," Ianto ground out angrily.
"Ooh! You're so sexy when you're jealous," John said in a wicked tone. "Can't say that I blame you! The things I would do to him! So, how about letting me join in?"
"Fuck you!"
"Oh, goody! I always did like you, Eye Candy!"
Ianto's eyes darkened and he let out a sound that could have been a growl. He yanked Hart from the chair and slammed him against the wall with enough force to make the man's skull crack ominously.
"My name is IANTO. Not Eye Candy. Ianto."
Even Hart was surprised at Ianto's reaction.
Jason shook himself and moved towards them slowly. He had to force himself to remain unbiased and detached since it was clear that Ianto couldn't. There was obviously bad blood between them. He carefully pried Ianto's hands off the other man. Ianto was trembling with so much anger, so much hatred that Jason knew he had to get him out of the room.
"Come on Ianto," Jason said as he steered his lover towards the door. "I'll deal with him. You go with Shelly and make us some coffee." And you can settle yourself down.
"Never fear, Ianto!" Hart smiled brightly at the two of them, his confidence returned now that he was out of immediate danger. "I'll be sure to keep Sunshine here warm for you." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively at the two men.
The bright blue eyes flashed in fury.
"Not bloody likely!" Ianto twisted around and tried to get to Hart. "Touch him, get too close, even just breathe on him and I swear I will rip your cock off and feed it to you on a stick!" he shouted as he struggled against the strong arms that were locked around his waist.
"Ianto, calm down!" Jason tightened his grip but knew that anger was a powerful adrenaline booster.
Hart cooed at Jason, "Don't let him hurt me Sunshine!"
"I will kill you."
"Ianto!"
Sam moved to help Jason restrain Ianto. He was a couple inches taller and the same build as the younger man but even with Jason's help it was difficult to keep a hold of Ianto.
The rest of the team had moved back against the far wall and watched the scene play out. None of them knew the details but it was clear that Ianto and John Hart hated each other. Under less dangerous circumstances they would have been amused to see Ianto lose his cool. But the enraged glint to the blue eyes was very real. If he got free, Ianto would kill John Hart.
Jason had had enough. He took a deep breath and pulled Ianto back hard. He kept a tight grip on Ianto's arm as he shoved him forcefully out the door. The singsong tone of Hart's voice carried through the door even as Jenny hastened to close it. Jason pulled Ianto down the corridor and into his office. He closed the door and pressed Ianto against it to keep him there. Ianto struggled but now that the object of his hatred had been removed from his line of sight, the fight left him.
When Kate had been in town Jason had learned that a possessive Ianto could probably be a sexy Ianto given the right conditions. These were not the right conditions. With his current frame of mind, Ianto was more scary than sexy.
"You need to calm down, Ianto, do you understand?"
"Just let me--"
"Ianto. LOOK AT ME."
Before the authorative tone hadn't worked on Ianto. Now it caused the wavering body to go rigid and Ianto fell silent. He stared up at his lover with a desperate expression on his face. It was amazing what sleeping with someone could do to a person.
Jason regarded him carefully. He knew little about Ianto and was unsure if this level of volatility was normal for his lover. He had to tread lightly.
"Talk to me. What's the matter? I know this guy is an creep but that's no reason to go crazy."
Ianto drew in a deep, shuddering breath. His face was scrunched up in an effort to not cry.
"He and Jack… They… Once they were… together…" he rasped out as he clutched at Jason's tee shirt.
"So you're jealous?"
Jealous because of Harkness. After all that talk about choosing to be with Jason, Ianto still couldn't let go of the past.
"No, it's…" Ianto tried to collect his thoughts. He had to find the words to make Jason understand. "He helped Jack's brother. Tosh and Owen died because of him. We almost lost Jack too. And now he's here and he's… Jason!" He clutched at his lover. "You don't know what jack told me, what he's like… I won't let him take you from me…" He dissolved completely.
Perhaps it was all too much too soon for Ianto. First there was the transfer to Bluemont followed by a burgeoning relationship. Not to mention learning that Harkness and Cooper were still at Cardiff. Add the meeting of Kate and John Hart was just another slap in the face to Ianto's fragile state of mind. It was a nervous breakdown about to happen.
Jason sighed and pulled Ianto close to him, ignoring the tears that soaked his shirt.
"I am not going to leave you for him. I love you." He kissed Ianto's forehead. "You have nothing to worry about."
"I can't lose you. I just found you again," Ianto mumbled.
"You won't lose me."
Ianto pressed himself closer, his face buried against Jason's neck. He breathed in Jason's scent and tried to calm himself down with the pheremones.
"I lost you once… It killed me to forget."
Jason frowned and pulled him closer.
Something tugged at his mind, a memory long forgotten.
"Please stop! You're killing him!"
A memory of a faceless lover in tears because he was hurt. Images from a nightmare he'd had many times since leaving London ten years ago.
"I'll never forget you. Please remember that. Remember that I love you…" Words whispered against his neck as hot tears ran down their faces.
"We'll be together one day. Nothing can keep us apart forever. I promise I'll find you…" he said as he wrapped his lover into his embrace. "Don't forget any of it."
"I'll never forget you, even when you're forgotten." His lover kissed him for the last time. "As long as we love each other, that's all that matters. We'll find each other again."
"Then I'll always love you, even if I don't remember."
It couldn't be real. A memory of Ianto that had been buried deep so long ago. But that was impossible, wasn't it?
Jason closed his eyes and tried to calm himself.
The faceless lover was Ianto Jones.
What the Hell was going on?