The Adventures of Tintin: The Crypt Of Popol Vuh

Written by: FossilQueen1984

Disclaimer: Hey there, major apologies for the lack of updating, but I am taking an observation class, along with some writer's block. Here is chapter 14 and I still only own Helene, Rosamund and the babies. All other characters are the artistic and intellectual property of Herge, Neil Gaiman, Steven Moffat, Russell T Davies, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, BBC, BBC America and Twentieth Century Fox. Enjoy this chapter.

Suggested Soundtrack: Princess Leia's Theme/Solo and the Princess- John Williams, Fairy Tale- Enya

Chapter 14: Calm Before the Storm

After returning her coat to the rack, Helene settled into Tintin's warm embrace as they continued to watch the football match. By halftime, Antwerp was ahead 5-nil. It was here Nestor wheeled in some hot soup. "I thought you would want some lunch, if that's all right, Miss Helene," he asked cautiously. Helene thanked him warmly, and as they ate lunch, the game returned only to have a couple of drunk hooligans flash across the field.

"Well, that's attractive," Tintin commented sarcastically as the camera panned to Belgian officials leading the men away. Helene nodded in agreement and wondered what Harkness and Ianto would think. Rosamund replied that they would probably enjoy flashing in public, and in fact nearly got themselves killed over it.

Tintin and Helene looked over at Rosamund, curiosity peaked. Haddock, who was still muttering about his Loch Lomond, waved his hands indicating Rosamund should tell the story, so she did. "It's like this, young ones. It was late spring and all of us members of Torchwood Europa (sans Sakarin) had been invited to the World Cup playoffs in London. I was excited for you, Helene, because this would be your very first trip overseas. At the time, the laws regarding homosexual behaviour in public were being scrutinized because the Yalta Conference was going on at the same time. Of course, Jack was perfectly happy about flirting with the opposite sex, being the pansexual he is, but Ianto wouldn't have any off it. He felt he was being betrayed by the one person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Well, we had only been in London about a week when we got our tickets to see the Barcelona vs. Manchester United Match. Apparently, one of the soccer players was quite taken with Ianto, and they had a clandestine affair during our holiday. That's when things went south.

Jack had slept around with a girl who was the daughter of a referee, and he was angered by this, because he had arranged for his daughter to marry the goalkeeper of Glasgow's team. Hurt, Jack spent half the night at a pub, when he ambled back to his hotel room and walked in on Ianto and the soccer player. Well, Jack took all his anger out on the goalie and the next morning, the Spaniard walked into the locker room and shot himself.

An investigation was made, and somehow Ianto and Harkness were pinned for the suicide. Now that they had made up, they went to the exhibition match ahead of us, and flashed the Queen Mother during the anthem! A riot ensued as both idiots attempted to escape the frenzied mob. However, they were eventually caught and locked up in Reading Gaol until Haddock paid their bail. When Haddock got there, he learned there had been an outbreak and Ianto and Jack were in the medical wing, suffering from severe wounds. Worried sick, your father lectured them about their sex addictions, but welcomed them back with open arms. Paying the bail, we went back to Belgium early and haven't been back except for your wedding to Tintin."

Tintin and Helene nodded, this did sound like something Jack and Ianto would get into. Currently, Ianto and Jack were in Northern Ireland aiding locals with missing livestock and wolf-like creatures. Just then the telephone rang! Wondering who it was, Haddock left the den to answer it.

"Marlinspike Hall, Haddock speaking."

"Haddock is that you? It's wonderful to hear your voice again. Lima is lovely, but it gets very hot here this time of year."

"Calculus, you old codger! How are things in Lima? Have you heard about Castafiore and the Thom(p)sons?"

"Of course I have, it's all over the news down here. Of course, there has been very little news. Oh, there's my tea-"

With a sharp click, the line disconnected and Haddock was left to wonder what in blue blazes Cuthbert had been talking about. One thing was clear, he knew as much as they did about the situation. Given the time of year and political turmoil, Christmas was not going to be a very happy occasion.

That evening over dinner, Haddock discussed what he and Calculus had spoken about. Helene commented that no news was good news, but the fact remained their friends were in lethal danger, a certain reliquary needed to be returned, and Helene was due to give birth in a matter of weeks. This was it, the calm before the storm.