Chapter 20 – Meetings and Discoveries
A/N - Hello all! This is a shorter chapter, sorry about that, this is not a fun place in the story and so it was much more difficult to write. I meant to give credit last chapter to one of my most faithful reviewers, who also came up with the brilliant idea of David Davies actually being Rhys' son. Kuro Mitsu, you are amazing!
Newport, Wales, Earth, 2008, Davies Residence
"Shut up Mica!" Johnny yelled at the terrified little girl.
He grabbed her arm and jerked her roughly out of the cabinet, shoving her into the hallway. She fell against the corner of the wall, hitting her head on the way down. It hurt badly, but she was too afraid to cry.
"You little bastard!" Johnny stared down menacingly at David, who trembled in fear.
"Should have known that you weren't mine! Such a little prat, I can't have you and your queer ways rubbing off on Mica. I'm goin' set you straight you little nancy boy!"
He reached into the closet and grabbed David by the front of his shirt and shook him causing the boy's head to snap back and forth, even hitting the doorframe.
Little David cried as the man he knew as father continued to yell at him and hurt him.
Ianto heard Mica screaming, crying for his father to stop.
His heart was pounding, and he was wishing that it wasn't such a bloody long way to the house.
He came to a screeching halt, slamming the gear shift into park. Ianto tore open his glove compartment and pulled out his Torchwood issued firearm just as Mica started screaming at her father.
He jumped out of the car, and was able to hear a loud crash and more yelling from inside the house.
Without even a glance at the gawking neighbors he tore across the yard, gun in hand.
"Shut the hell up Mica, I'll do what I like to this little bastard!"
Johnny pulled David out of the cupboard and slammed him against the wall.
"I'm not going to put up with any more shit from that fucker Williams' brat!"
He drew back to punch the little boy, and all of a sudden he was flying.
A large man in a blue coat seemed to come out of nowhere and tackled Johnny to the ground before beginning to pummel him.
Poor David had fallen to the ground shaking and crying.
A woman appeared at his side and gently touched his shoulder. David jumped in fright, trying to back away, but only managing to press himself into the wall. He noticed Mica a few feet away from him, sobbing in fear.
The woman knelt next to him, and he tried to focus on her as he heard his father swearing at the man he was trying to fight off.
"David, Mica," the woman said gently. "I'm your Uncle Ianto's friend Siani, come with me alright. We're going to take care of you."
David looked at Mica and then at the pretty woman who was smiling at him and nodded his head. She swept down and picked him up, followed by Mica who clung to her side. David buried his face in her neck, wishing that he would wake up and that this would all just be a bad dream. His back hurt and his head too, there was blood dripping into his eye and making it sting.
He was so scared, and he couldn't hear his Mam anymore.
Just then his Uncle Ianto kicked in the front door; David was sure in that moment that he was a superhero.
"Uncle Ianto!" David cried.
"Oh God!" Ianto said in horror.
He took in the scene around him, the living room was in shambles, furniture broken and overturned, things strewn about.
Siani was carefully making her way to the back door, making sure to keep the children's gazes away from the kitchen where their mother lay on the floor, with Owen and the Doctor frantically working on her.
Ianto quickly made his way over to them and helped them out the back door. He took David from Siani's arms and cradled him, checking his injuries at the same time. He reached for Mica as well, but she seemed to have plastered herself to Siani's side, not willing to budge.
Ianto pulled out his handkerchief and used it to stem the flow of the blood from David's head wound. The children cried and clung to Ianto and Siani who tried not to cry along with them.
From where she was sitting, Siani could see Owen checking Rhiannon, who seemed to have regained consciousness.
The next hour or so passed in a blur. The local police showed up, one of whom was Rhys' brother. Apparently Rhys had demanded a phone from Tosh as soon as the others left, and he called his brother right away.
Jack had done a number on Johnny, so much so that he had to be taken to A&E before they could take him to jail. Jack made sure to let the police know just who they were and that Johnny was not to be allowed bail under any circumstance. He may have pulled the "take it up with the Queen" card.
Owen had gone with Rhiannon in the ambulance. The paramedics checked out the children and bandaged their cuts after declaring that their injuries would not require a trip to A&E since they were to be under Owen's care.
Jack and the Doctor joined Ianto, Siani, and the children in the back garden. The children had finally calmed down some, Mica eventually falling asleep in Siani's arms.
"Oh Jack." Ianto said when he saw his mate.
Jack had taken a punch to the face, resulting in a nice shiner; his knuckles were swollen and raw. He merely shrugged and kneeled down next to his mates who sat with the children on a low wall.
The Doctor stayed back allowing the family some private time.
Jack gently placed a hand on David's back who looked up from where he was cradled against his Uncle's chest.
"Are you Jack?" David asked.
"I am." Jack smiled softly at the bruised little boy.
"Thank you. Uncle Ianto said you would help us and you did."
Jack choked back his tears as the boy looked at him so gravely before looking up at his Uncle. He could clearly see the adoration on David's face when he looked at Ianto.
"You're very welcome David; we both know that your Uncle Ianto's always right."
David nodded his head solemnly before looking at Ianto once more. He pulled on Ianto's jumper, indicating the he should lean down.
When Ianto did, David began to whisper in his ear. Jack watched on as a smile grew on Ianto's face. Ianto leaned back to look at David and nodded, whispering back in David's ear.
The next thing Jack knew, he had his arms full of nine year old, and plopped onto the ground. He chuckled softly as he hugged David back.
"Uncle Ianto said that you're Uncle Jack, and she's Auntie Siani." Siani and Jack looked at Ianto, a little surprised.
Jack smiled down at David, "Ah, yes, I suppose we are."
"Good," David said. "I've never had an Auntie before though, only Uncle Ianto."
"I understand, but I think you'll like her." Jack replied. "And, she's really pretty too. Don't you think?"
David glanced up at Siani shyly, and immediately buried his head in Jack's neck when she smiled at him. They all saw him nod his head.
The Doctor smiled at them, glad that he got to witness the aftermath of a crisis for once, maybe he should stick around longer in the future. He quietly walked over to the others so as not to disturb Mica as she continued to sleep.
"I'm going to take the TARDIS back to the Hub. I'll stay and help out Tosh if she's needs it, you all stay and focus on your family."
"Thank you Doctor, I appreciate your help today." Ianto said.
"Think nothing of it; I'm just glad I could be here. I'll let the others know what's happened."
"Alright Doc, thanks." Jack said. "We should probably head to the hospital, Owen text to say that Rhiannon is in a room now. They want to keep her overnight for observation, but she's going to be fine."
Jack felt David almost collapse in relief against him, and the little boy began to cry quietly.
Standing up, Ianto reached down and helped lift Jack and David from the ground. He took David from Jack and held the boy close as he cried.
Siani stood as well, and Mica woke from the movement, crying out slightly.
"Shh, Mica. It's all right." Siani soothed the little girl.
"Where's Ewythr Ianto?" She sniffled.
Siani turned slightly so that Mica could see Ianto standing next to her."
"He's right here, see. Now let's go and pick out some jammies to take with us alright? We're going to go stay with your Mam."
"Where is she?"
"She's in hospital, lamb." Ianto told her. "The doctors say that she needs to stay there tonight so that they can make her feel better; so we're all going to stay with her so that she doesn't have to be alone."
"Alright," Mica said, now more awake and aware of her surroundings. "Ewythr Ianto, who are they?"
Ianto smiled at his niece, and leaned over to kiss her forehead.
"They, my anwylaf, are the Doctor," Ianto explained, pointing to each of them in turn; "your Uncle Jack, and your Auntie Siani."
Mica looked at all of them, the Doctor waved at her and she smiled. Uncle Jack smiled, which made her blush, he's very handsome. Then she looked up at the woman Uncle Ianto said was her Auntie, she quite liked her.
Mica squeezed Siani's neck and kissed her cheek.
"Okay Auntie Siani, I'll show you my favorite jammies. Can I take Bear with me?"
Ianto smiled as he watched the pair make their way back into the house. He saw how Siani shielded the little girl's view from the destruction, walking quickly through the living room.
Jack stood next to Ianto and David.
"Uncle Ianto, can I bring my Harry Potter book, and will you read it to me?"
"Of course David, let's go with Uncle Jack and get your things together, and then we'll see about a story once we're at hospital with Mam."
"Alright."
"I'll see you all tomorrow." The Doctor said before he walked into the TARDIS.
The three turned and watched him leave. Jack and Ianto smiled as David looked on in awe as the blue box he hadn't noticed before disappeared with a strange sound.
"Whoa." David said, eyes wide in wonderment.
"Whoa indeed. Come on Bach, let's go see Mam."
Jack wrapped his arm around Ianto's waist as he carried David back into the house, hoping that this tragedy would turn out for the best.
Cardiff, Wales, Earth, 2008
Gwen Cooper leaned back against the hood of her car atop a familiar Cardiff rooftop.
He was late. She hated it when a man kept her waiting, it was just backward.
As she waited, she thought back over the last couple of days. She felt a bit guilty about Rhys. Jack's horrid treatment of her had made her completely forget about Rhys until after she got home and he was not there waiting dinner on her.
To be fair she did try to call him several times, but he wasn't answering her calls. That really pissed her off and she wondered if the others were keeping him from talking to her. She would find out soon enough, they couldn't hide him away forever.
Gwen turned her thoughts to her most pressing problem, getting rid of Jack's wife and the Tea-Boy. She hated Hart, especially once she realized what his relationship with Jack had once been, but he was necessary to her plan.
It should be easy enough to get him to take her out, I doubt he'll need much convincing. Once that's taken care of I can focus on getting rid of Ianto permanently. I wasn't going to, but it would be better to arrange some sort of accident for him. Yes, that's much better, and then he'll be out of the picture for good.
That decided, she was left with one final problem, what to do about Hart once it was all over with. Somehow she had to figure out a way to frame him for Ianto's murder and at the same time make sure that he didn't expose her involvement.
She knew that Jack didn't trust him, and that would be in her favor. After all, once the obstacles were removed he would be free to be with her the way she knew he really wanted to be.
For the first time since she stormed out of the Hub the day before, things were looking up for Gwen Cooper. Before long she would have everything she had ever wanted, and Jack had given her the time off to make it happen. Maybe he knew that and wanted her to save him!
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she did not immediately notice the yellow light steadily appearing across the roof.
"Of all the rooftops, on all the planets, in all the galaxies, you had to walk onto mine!"
Gwen cringed at the smarmy and misquoted line from the man who came out of the light.
"Vera."
John nodded in return.
"You're late."
"Well, time differentials and all that, you know how it is. Now, what's this about Jackie-boy and a wife?" John saying, falling back into the role he had played during their previous interaction.
"An alien calling himself 'The Doctor' showed up several days ago with a woman that Jack says is his wife. She's supposedly from the future."
"Name?"
"What?" Gwen asked, thrown for a moment by the interruption.
"What is her name?"
John worked very hard to not roll his eyes; this woman was a first-class twit.
"Oh, Siani something or other."
Gwen gave a dismissive gesture with her hand and continued with her big sell. She leaned back against her car in a calculated move that she knew maximized her best assets.
"Anyway, I don't buy it. All of a sudden this alien, who is apparently the enemy of Torchwood, just shows up out of the blue with some strange woman?" Gwen shook her head. "I think it's all some kind of plot against Jack."
John remained silent while Gwen made her schpeel; of course she had no way of knowing that he was also reading her thoughts at the same time. He repressed the rage rising inside of him, and listened as she thought of her plan to kill his sister and her mate, and then take Jack for herself.
"-really must be done. Don't you agree?" Gwen pressed with a wide-eyed expression.
He thought quickly, scanning her thoughts for the question she had just asked.
"You may be on to something. It does seem strange that this Doctor would show up unannounced with a woman Jack thought to be long-dead. I'll need to do some checking on my own."
John sauntered over to Gwen until he was pressed against her, using every ounce of his not inconsiderable acting ability.
"Make no mistake sweetheart, I don't care who this woman is, Jack is mine and no one will stop me from having him." He said, laying on the "Captain John Hart" as thick as possible.
It was all he could do not to gag when he sensed her arousal and heard the thoughts running through her head. Instead he just leered at her before dragging his body across hers as he stood, the things he did for family!
"Of course." Gwen said in a placating tone. "I'm just looking out for him after all. We'll have plenty of time to investigate; I can't get back into the Hub for four weeks."
"Wait, you don't have access to Torchwood?"
John wanted to laugh, he already knew that she was suspended, but he was interested to see how she spun this one.
"No, I don't. That woman has turned Jack against me, and she's got to the rest of them too somehow! I'm worried that she might do something to Jack, but don't worry, I already plan to watch them."
He let himself roll his eyes this time.
"Sorry doe-eyes, but why don't you leave the surveillance to me?"
"I don't-"
"Listen, I've been doing this awhile, and I don't have anyone that's going to notice me being out at all hours. Besides, this will free you up to finish planning."
Gwen thought about it for a moment; she wanted to be the one watching them, she didn't want to give Hart a chance to get to Jack. But he did have a point; once Rhys came home she would have to play the attentive fiancée. She couldn't let him get suspicious; she would just have to keep a tight rein on Hart.
"Fine. You watch them and I'll figure out how to get rid of the problem. You can't let them see you under any circumstance though."
John gave her an incredulous look. "This isn't my first time sweetheart, believe me, I know my way around Jack Harkness, and in him, on top of him, just about any way you can think of; he'll never know I'm there."
Gwen seethed internally at Hart's remarks about her Jack. She was definitely going to have to kill him after this was done.
"Right, I need to go, I've been here long enough. You know how to contact me; I'll expect to hear from you within the week."
"Certainly, do give my regards to that man of yours won't you?" John leered at her.
Gwen scowled at him and got into her car, driving away without a backward glance.
John gave into the urge and allowed himself a shake, trying to get rid of the sensation of her thoughts and touch. He looked up to the top of the light post across the rooftop.
"Did you get all of that?"
A light flashed in confirmation.
"Good, I'll see you shortly, and then I need a shower."
Miles away Tosh sat behind her computer terminal shaking with rage. The Doctor placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, but he was also struggling to control himself. He had been hoping that Jack would be generous with his punishment of Miss Cooper up to this point, now; he would raise no objections to whatever actions Jack decided to take.
Hart appeared in the Hub near Tosh's station, setting off the intruder alarm which Tosh quickly disabled.
"Really, you would think that you didn't want me to visit!" John said with an impish grin.
Tosh rolled her eyes. She was trying to keep an open mind and not reach for her gun. Siani insisted that Captain John Hart was merely a persona her brother had adopted to complete a job, and that he was actually a kind and decent person. Though she did receive ample warning that he had a mischievous streak that made Jack look tame in comparison.
"Hart."
"John, please. It's good to see you again Toshiko, and under somewhat better circumstances. Please allow me to apologize for my behavior when I was here last. The people I was working against were watching me, so I had to make it believable. I'm sorry for locking you and Owen in that supply room."
"I understand, Jack explained to us what really happened. Honestly, it may take a while before the urge to shoot you goes away, but I promise not to shoot unless you give me reason to do so." Tosh replied with a wry grin.
John laughed; it was a rich, melodic laugh that for some reason set Tosh's pulse racing. Granted, she had thought that he was gorgeous from the moment she first laid eyes on him, but the whole thinking he was a psychopath thing put a bit of a damper on any type of regard.
"I'll have you know that I have it on good authority that the urge to shoot me never quite goes away."
"Oh really, and who says that?"
"My sister." John said with a smile. "Speaking of other gorgeous brunettes besides yourself, and the Doctor here, who I've failed to introduced myself to, my apologies Doctor."
The Doctor waved off his apology and accepted his handshake, eager to get to know this man. He had a fascinating mind.
"Where are my sister, Jack, and Ianto?"
John looked around the Hub, hoping that they would appear. He needed to see his sister desperately, needed to feel that she was real.
He noticed the troubled looks pass over the Doctor and Tosh's faces.
"What is it? Is something wrong? Where are they?" John asked, panic creeping into his voice.
Tosh stepped toward him and placed a hand on his arm to calm him.
Both John and Tosh gasped as a wild sensation rushed through both of their bodies. It was hard to describe; it was like a fire, and lightning, and something comforting and soft all at the same time.
John stared at Tosh, who returned his gaze with equal shock. He had found her! After all these long, lonely years of watching others find their soulmates, here she was!
They both continued to stare, mouths agape. John finally snapped out of his shocked state and reached forward to hold Tosh's face between his hands.
The Doctor watched with a wide grin upon his face, he loved happy endings! It had been a very long time since he had the privilege of witnessing a bond discovery, it was always a beautiful thing to behold, and it made both of his hearts ache in loneliness. And then, for a moment he thought he heard the sound of a wolf howling in the distance. He shook his head and focused back on the new couple, this was no time to dwell on things that were lost.
John leaned down and rested his forehead against Tosh's.
"Saiai kon'nichiwa."
Tosh's mind was running at lightning speed, recalling everything that Jack and Siani had described about bonds.
Oh my god! I have a soulmate! I have someone who wants me, me! And he's hot!
Calming herself, and her inner teenager, Tosh sighed.
"Watashi no ai kon'nichiwa."
John smiled widely, looking very much like his sister in that moment.
"We will continue this sweetness," John said as he gazed into Tosh's eyes. He reluctantly pulled back and straightened, though his arms fell to encircle Tosh's shoulders.
"Um, okay. Now, can you tell me where my family is?" John asked, trying very hard to concentrate on finding his sister and brothers-in-law, and not his beautiful unclaimed mate beside him.
Looking up at John from within his embrace Tosh answered.
"There was . . . an incident," she said, glancing over to the Doctor.
"What do you mean? Are they alright?"
"They are, yes, well mostly."
A/N2 - I hope you all enjoyed it, please send me a note to let me know what you think. I would also like to know your thoughts on Owen. Who should he end up with, should he end up with anyone? I have a story arc in mind, but I'm eager to read your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!
IMPORTANT NOTE: I will be posting the first chapter of a new story within the next day or two. It is a crossover fic of Torchwood/Doctor Who/The Avengers. It will be another triad fic (I seem to be stuck on those right now), but not with an OC. It will be a Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones/Clint Barton pairing, along with some other fun ones. I hope you all will take the time to read it and let me know if you think I should continue it or not. Thanks!