Reality Check XIV
"Ianto!" Jack's cry was a reflex, the sight of his Ianto broken on the floor made a voice in his head scream as he felt the pain as empathetically.
"You always have to go for the dramatics Captain." the Trickster hissed, giving the human at his mercy a swift kick. Gwen and Jack winced.
"Jack?" Gwen murmured as she hid uselessly under the keyboard. Jack stood slowly, and walked in small commanding steps towards the monster. Ianto stirred and his eyes fluttered lightly like tiny butterflies emerging into the blinding sunlight from their chrysalis.
Ianto stared. Not at the alien that held him captive not at his immortal captain or his frightened teammate. He turned his face to the ceiling; the light shimmered across his face like a prisoner finally released into the sun. His eyes connected with something, he gave an imperceptible nod.
All hell broke loose.
Jack staged back as a gust of wind shot passed him in a brown leathery blur. Ianto rolled out the way, hitting his head with a bang that was lost in the pandemonium of other noises. Gwen screamed and jumped out from under the desk as the same shapeless blur knocked over a monitor.
The Trickster stared at the Pteranodon; if you didn't know better you'd think it was fear that disfigured his face into a grimace.
Myfanawy seemed to wait a moment before giving an ear drum splitting screech. Jack, not caring for a second for his own safety, dived at Ianto at the same time the dinosaur launched itself at the alien.
Jack wrapped his body round Ianto's and pulled him away from the carnage.
"Gwen, press the enter key, press…" his command was cut short as the Trickster gave out an agonizing scream.
Gwen pulled herself together and followed Jacks orders. Her fingers raced over the keys as fast as Jack directed, missing Tosh's delicate precise touch typing at every key stroke.
Jack held Ianto to him, stroking the top of his hair.
"Its okay, it's okay." He murmured, trying to convince himself.
Ianto watched Myfanawy fight for her life unblinkingly. His eyes never left her as her screams mingled in awful harmony with the Tricksters. He didn't flinch as blood spattered his jacket.
Myfanawy suddenly knocked her adversary to the floor; it was as if Jacks mind was playing tricks on him. The huge Pteranodon seemed to turn to the tiny cowering Ianto, staring intently at him as he had moments before she attacked.
Her sharp maw connected for the last time. The Trickster's body seemed to leap in the air like a cruel puppeteer had jerked its strings. The body seemed to suspend in midair before it melted like grains of sand disappearing forever.
Myfanawy's victory cry was hollow as if her triumph meant nothing to her. She was unemotionally attached to it.
She stretched her scratched blood stained face toward Ianto. Jack and Gwen automatically fell back, but Ianto was still.
They stared at each other. The human and the dinosaur. Ianto reached out a trembling hand and touched an unsacred piece of flesh. Myfanawy flew suddenly into the air, Ianto stood to better see her progress. The whole thing took less than a moment but it stayed in Jack's mind for a long time.
"Why did she do that?" Gwen whispered.
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Two hour latter Ianto sat in his dark flat, crying. He cried because of what he remembered of the Tricksters world, the simplicity and the happiness. He cried because of the Lisa he'd never had. He cried because of the Jack that could never exist. Then he cried because the memory was fading. Like the old sepia toned photos he filed every day. He just couldn't remember.
The doorbell wrung. He opened the door his eyes red and blotchy. Ianto's heart leapt into his throat and lent on the door frame, not trusting himself not do anything rash.
"Um, Hi!" Jack bit his lip "I've got you pizza."
They looked at one another, unsure why that action struck such a cord in them. Jack dropped the box onto the hall table as he flung himself into Ianto's waiting arms.
They held on to another as they desperately tried to hold the fake memories of straightforward times. A time when a simple I love you didn't mean a death sentence as you watched the one you love grow old, when watching the sunrise over Cardiff didn't make you wonder if it would be your last, when you didn't have to worry about the universe safety before your own.
Jack kissed Ianto, trying desperately to truly express the love, fear and loneliness he felt every day. And Ianto, after all they'd been through, smiled.
"We're really going to be okay." He whispered into Jack's chest. Jack returned his smile, a lone tear trickling down his cheek
"I finally told you I love you, but by tomorrow neither of us will remember." He thought.
"Why did Myfanawy save us?" Ianto asked. Jack shrugged. "Perhaps we'll never know."
Jack picked up the pizza box and dropped it onto the kitchen table. Ianto made coffee and jack found the cutlery and plates. For perhaps an evening they could play the game of domestic bliss.
But the truth was, Ianto thought, as he gazed at Jack, metaphorically separated by more than the table, that neither of them were suited to the rules.
Even in the Trickster's world they'd known that. In his heart Ianto knew that they both could never be truly happy with normality. Not like Gwen, to who ordinariness a dug she needed regally to keep sane, but Ianto had ended that love affair with that sweet addiction they day Lisa died. And Jack, well, he'd never taken the first dose to start with.
Jack reached out his hand and linked his fingers with Ianto's. Ianto gave his would be lovers hand a reassuring squeeze. Sure, they didn't need to play the game but that didn't mean they couldn't try. Just for tonight, just for a while.
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I'm so so so sorry it's taken so long. only the epilogue to go and your free. there's one question that needs clearing up. All my love, please reveiw.