AN: Wasn't really sure how to cover "Fragments" as it is made up of individual flashbacks, so I have just covered those which occur in Ianto's memories, and incorporated some of the details from "The Torchwood Archives". There is a lot of dialogue from the show in here, but I have added a few scenes and fillers of my own too. I can't believe we're nearly at the end of season two already!
Episode Reminder: "Fragments" sees Jack, Ianto, Owen and Tosh visit an abandoned warehouse where they are faced with four bombs. As each bomb detonates the team is injured and each member experiences a flashback to how they came to be part of Torchwood. Upon rescue by Gwen and Rhys the team is faced once again by John Hart, who this time has a surprise in store for Jack – his brother, Gray.
When Ianto crept around the dusty wall of the abandoned warehouse with his gun raised he knew that whatever was sending out the signal would be waiting for him on the other side. As he'd made his way through the warehouse he'd imagined a hundred and one possible things waiting for him, but never what he was faced with as he rounded the wall and found a small metal device in front of him, red digital numbers ticking down menacingly.
"Shit." He muttered as the numbers flickered tauntingly down to zero. Ianto took a deep breath and closed his eyes in the split second before the device detonated. He kept his eyes closed as he felt the heat from the blast, the wave knocking him to the ground. Ianto called out in pain as the walls crashed around him and he found himself trapped under a pile of debris, a cloud of dust choking the air. His left shoulder seared with pain, his body pinned to the ground from the waist down. Stretching out his right arm he clawed at the bricks and dust in front of him, his head flicking up as he heard the distant shouts of his name.
"Ianto? Ianto?" Jack's voice called through the building. A brief surge of relief flowed through the Welshman before he blacked out, his mind drifting to the memory of his first meetings with his charismatic leader.
TW
Ianto had first met Jack in Bute Park in the early hours of a Wednesday morning. Jack was wrestling a Weevil, and Ianto was pretending that he'd just been passing when he came to Jack's rescue. Beating the Weevil three times with a handy tree branch he'd found he was slightly alarmed when the beast turned on him. Thankfully Jack knew what he was doing and pinned the creature down, smothering it with a sedative spray and injection, before putting a hood over its head and standing up.
"Thanks." Ianto said breathlessly after tossing the branch away and leaning against a nearby tree.
"No… thank you." Jack said looking at him. "And you are?" He asked.
"Jones… Ianto Jones." The Welshman said extending an arm.
"Nice to meet you Jones Ianto Jones." Jack said shaking hands. "Captain Jack Harkness."
"Lucky escape." Ianto said, looking down at the hooded creature.
"I had it under control." Jack said.
"You think so?" Ianto asked smirking slightly. "Looked pretty vicious."
Jack laughed. "You're erm… you were bleeding." Ianto commented, reaching out to touch the wound on Jack's neck. Jack recoiled backwards, leaning out of Ianto's range.
"Had worse from shaving." Jack said simply.
"Looked like a Weevil to me." Ianto looked again at the creature on the floor.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Jack said in a tone that implied he did.
Ianto looked up at Jack with a bemused look and a brief raising of his eyebrows.
"I'll take him from here." Jack said, heaving the Weevil onto his shoulders. "Thanks for the assistance." He said as he walked away past Ianto.
"Anytime." Ianto said, before adding to Jack's retreating back. "By the way, love the coat."
TW
On the occasion of their second meeting, a few days after the Weevil event, Ianto came armed with the first of his secret weapons; a mug of his finest coffee.
"Morning." Ianto called cheerfully as Jack exited the door of a Tourist Information Office on the edge of the boardwalk around the bay.
As Jack approached, stopping a few feet before him, Ianto held out a white mug. "Coffee?" He offered.
Jack took it tentatively, sniffing it nervously before taking a mouthful. "Wow." He said, handing the mug back.
"I want to work for you." Ianto said simply.
"Sorry no vacancies." Jack replied.
"Look let me tell you about myself…" The Welshman began before Jack cut him off.
"Ianto Jones, born August 19th 1983, able student, but not exceptional, one minor conviction for shoplifting in your teens, number of temporary jobs – mainly a drifter, until two years ago you join the Torchwood Institute in London. Junior Researcher, girlfriend Lisa Hallett." Jack spoke as if reading from a resume.
"Deceased." Ianto interjected.
"Sorry." Jack replied as the two men walked down the boardwalk.
"Look – you checked me out." Ianto dove in front of Jack and placed a hand on his chest, stopping him from walking any further.
"You knew what a Weevil was." Jack said as explanation. "Thought I was gonna have to come deal with you."
"But instead you could see I had the right qualifications for the job." Ianto offered.
"There is no job. We're nothing to do with Torchwood London – I severed all links." Jack set off past Ianto once more.
"Yet when it burnt, two members of your team scavenged the ruins." Ianto said, once more resting his hand on Jack's chest.
"Don't want the equipment getting into the wrong hands." Jack said removing Ianto's hand.
"And you're the right hands are you?" Ianto asked. "Trial period – three months?"
"No."
"Three weeks? Three days?" Ianto begged. "Let me prove myself to you – I'll work for nothing."
"No."
"I saw what they did at Canary Wharf. What am I supposed to do with those memories?"
"You are not my responsibility." Jack's voice was getting more aggravated. "And we're not hiring." He snapped before striding off once more.
"Same time tomorrow then." Ianto called, not giving chase this time.
"There is no job for you here, and there never will be." Jack called as he left.
"I really like that coat." Ianto called, causing an unseen smirk from Jack.
TW
Their third meeting was the one that sealed Ianto's admission to Torchwood Three, and his favourite of all their early meets.
Jack was racing through Cardiff's streets in the SUV when he found Ianto stood in the middle of the road wearing a well fitting suit. He screeched the vehicle to a halt with a sigh before climbing out and marching over to the Welshman who hadn't flinched once, despite the proximity of the SUV.
"Okay this has got to stop." Jack shouted.
"No listen to me…" Ianto started.
"I don't have time for this. Look I don't know what your problem is. I want you out of this city by sunrise. There is no place for you here. Go back to London and find yourself another life. Keep stalking me I'll wipe your memory." Jack pointed angrily at Ianto as he spoke.
"No but the thing is…" Ianto tried.
"Look any conversation between us no matter what the subject is over – finished. Done. Forever. I'm getting back behind the wheel of that car. If you're still standing in the road – I'm gonna driving through you." Jack turned and headed back for the driver's side of the SUV.
"So you're not gonna help me catch this pterodactyl then?" Ianto asked as if it were a normal activity for a night in Wales.
Jack's head snapped back around to look at him. "The what?" He asked.
"The pterodactyl… its currently doing laps of a warehouse just around the corner… but if you're too busy…" Ianto asked.
"Get in." Jack pointed at the passenger side of the SUV as he climbed into his seat. Ianto jogged over and leapt into the vehicle.
"Where is it?" Jack asked.
"Turn left here and it's about 50 yards on the right. Do you have any equipment?" Ianto asked.
"We might not be Torchwood One, but we do know what we are doing thank you." Jack replied as he sped off following Ianto's directions. He swung the SUV onto the patch of land outside the warehouse and climbed out, opening the boot of the vehicle and dragging out a box that when opened contained a large syringe.
"Okay that is the only special equipment you've got?" Ianto asked unimpressed.
"Yeah cos I keep dinosaur nets in the back of the SUV." Jack replied sarcastically as he built the syringe.
"Torchwood London would have." Ianto pointed out, to a scowl from Jack.
Jack moved towards the door for the warehouse and kicked it open, the two men heading inside. The pterodactyl swooped towards them.
"Nope." Ianto said as they both ran back out again, closing the door and leaning against it.
"How'd you find it?" Jack asked.
"Rift activity locator." Ianto said.
"Torchwood London." Jack said.
"See? Quality kit." Ianto said.
"Its quite excitable." Jack said breathlessly.
"Must be your aftershave." Ianto suggested.
"Never wear any." Jack looked at Ianto.
"You smell like that naturally?" Ianto asked.
"51st Century Pheromones – you people have no idea." Jack mused. Ianto looked impressed.
"Ready for another go?" Jack asked.
"I'm game if you are."
"Three… two… one." They burst back into the warehouse. Jack ran left and Ianto right as the pterodactyl swooped for them again. They ran round behind it and collided. The creature settled, turning to look at them both as Jack approached, one arm raised hoping the pterodactyl didn't think he was food.
"We're not gonna harm you. You can't stay here. Come back with me – I've got somewhere nice and big where you can fly around." Jack said.
"So you'll let the pterodactyl in and not me?" Ianto whispered.
"We need a guard dog." Jack pointed out.
"I can be that. Like a receptionist. Building maintenance. Food and drink. Dry cleaning – that coat of yours must take a battering. Like a butler – I could be a butler." Ianto offered.
"We don't need a butler." Jack said still focusing on the dinosaur.
"Excuse me – dried egg on your collar." Ianto pointed to his shirt.
"It was a busy week." Jack defended.
"What exactly is your plan?" Ianto asked stopping Jack in his tracks.
"I'm gonna be the decoy." Jack started.
"And it will rip you to shreds." Ianto said.
"Dinosaurs? Had them for breakfast. Had to – only source of food protein after the asteroid crashed. Long story." Jack said as he realised that Ianto was looking at him like a mad man. "Here you go." He said handing him the syringe. "One injection to the central nervous cortex. I'll keep it occupied. Move." He said.
"No." Ianto replied.
"What?" Jack asked as Ianto returned the syringe.
"It knows me – I'll be a better decoy." Ianto said.
"It'll be too dangerous." Jack said.
"No – I've got a secret weapon." Ianto reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. "Chocolate – preferably dark."
Jack was far too shocked by what he'd just said to argue as the Welshman set off towards the pterodactyl. As Ianto pro-offered the chocolate bar and talking soothingly to the creature, Jack tiptoed around behind it armed with the syringe. As Ianto tossed the bar towards the creature it began pecking at it, but soon noticed the approaching Jack. The man ran at the creature, grasping its leg as it took off over its head, and proceeded to be flown around the warehouse, dangling precariously. Ianto watched as Jack pushed the syringe into the creature, before letting go and plummeting to the ground, only to be caught by the Welshman, Jack flattening him onto the concrete floor. "Sorry." He said before rolling them quickly out of the way of the pterodactyl that had fallen victim to the sedation, and hurtled down onto the warehouse floor beside them. Ianto and Jack laughed, satisfied with their evenings work, Ianto still lying on top of Jack, bodies pressed firmly together. They stopped laughing when they realised their faces were millimetres apart, and took a moment to look into each other's eyes. Ianto tried in vain not to stare.
"I should go." Ianto said softly, before getting up, leaving Jack led on the floor feeling breathless due to both his impromptu flights, and the proximity to the gorgeous Welshman.
"Hey!" Jack called as he leapt to his feet. "Report for work first thing tomorrow."
Ianto stopped, his head bobbing in a brief nod, his back still facing Jack before setting off out the warehouse.
"Like the suit by the way." He added for good measure.
Ianto began to cry as he walked out the warehouse. He walked quickly back to where he'd left his car, unlocked in and slumped into the driver's seat as he sobbed. He'd got what he wanted, but deep down he knew he had much more than he wanted, and that would only land him in deep trouble.
TW
Jack heaved the last of the brickwork off Ianto before pulling the Welshman to his feet.
"You okay?" Jack asked as Ianto screamed.
"My shoulder… I think it's dislocated." He said.
"Can you take this?" Jack asked taking hold of Ianto's lower arm, chancing a reassuring squeeze of his hand.
"Yeah." Ianto said.
"Take a deep breath." Jack said before pushing up firmly, relocating Ianto's shoulder, and causing him to scream out once more.
"Where are the others?" Ianto asked once he'd composed himself.
"We need your help to get Toshiko out." Jack said.
"Owen?" Ianto asked.
Gwen was sent after Owen whilst Jack and Ianto were going to go and help Rhys with Toshiko.
"Okay?" Jack asked looking at Ianto as Gwen rushed off.
Ianto nodded slightly.
"You know, you're pretty cute all messed up and dirty." Jack flirted.
Ianto couldn't help but smile despite the pain. "Your team has been buried alive by four devices of unknown origin, yet you still manage to flirt." He said.
Jack laughed. "Just trying to get that smile back on your face." He said.
Ianto smiled again. "Thanks."
Jack kissed him softly on the forehead, placing one hand delicately on the side of Ianto's face. "Come on… lets go get Tosh and get out of here."
TW
As the holographic image of John Hart vanished Jack took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
"Jack – what's going on?" Gwen asked.
Jack turned but looked past Gwen and straight at Ianto who was stood at the back of the group.
"Are you okay?" Ianto asked. Jack nodded silently.
"Jack – what is going on?" Gwen repeated.
"If I knew that, do you think we'd be in this mess?" Jack snapped looking down at her. "Everyone back to Rhys' car." Everyone bar Ianto set off who walked over to Jack and pulled him into a hug, as tight as he could manage with his shoulder still sore.
"If he'd hurt you… or killed you…" Jack said softly.
"We're all fine Jack… and we're going to sort this out… and then we're going to get really drunk – okay?" Ianto said looking at him.
Jack nodded with a gentle smile. "And talk… we're going to talk about… I need to tell you about Gray." He added.
Ianto placed one hand on Jack's face and kissed him softly on the forehead, mimicking Jack's actions from earlier. "Come on – let's go save the world." He said, setting off after the rest of the team, Jack close behind.