It felt good to step into the shower under the cold water. Jack asked if he needed help but NG reassured him he would be fine. Jack said, "Okay, I'll change the sheets. I'm leaving the bathroom door open and will be in to dry you off when you're finish." NG frowned as he let the water hit his head. "Don't give me that look. You have been through a lot, let me pamper you a bit." NG shook the water out of his hair in agreement.
Jack turned to the closet to get the sheets. Like Ianto taught him, he kept the closets organized. He picked out a light sheet, cotton and pale blue so NG was comfortable. It is important to keep his temperature low as some fabrics could hold heat or absorb it. So the light cotton was a better choice. He picked out one of his big undershirts next, thinking it would give NG more room as well as a pair of his boxers.
"Did you always wear boxers?" NG asked, dressed in his robe and drying his head with a towel. Jack didn't answer as NG stumbled a bit but recovered. Jack went to help but he saw the look in NG face and understood that he needed to do things on his own. NG eased himself down on the bed rubbing the sheets with his free hand. "There is nothing like clean sheets when you are sick. Hey don't worry; I'm still a little off balance. I saw that look. You don't have to worry. I'm sure the fever will pass." All of a sudden he thought of how much he should tell Jack. But he didn't know how to begin. So thinking it for the best, he waited for Jack to approach the subject first.
Jack saw the hesitation on NG's face. It must be about how to begin the conversation about where he had been. Also the bit with the excess moonstone energy was really nagging at Jack. But he didn't want to push him. He felt NG watching him as he picked up the bed sheets and headed to the hamper in the bathroom.
To NG the sound of that ancient wooden hamper squeaking its protest at being opened followed by the tradition thud of anger when the lid fell were the noises of his home. He closed his eyes, taking in the other sounds as well as the smells he thought at times he would never have touch his senses again.
"I missed that ancient thing," he said when Jack returned. His robe was hanging off his shoulders where ringlets of brown wet curls hung, almost touching the smooth skin. The rest of the wet mop shaped his face in a youthful manner.
"You look like that three year old Brat again, the one that danced me around an airport in Paris. Did I ever tell you how much I hated you that day?" Jack pointed his finger at NG.
NG's smile was evil, much like the one that little boy at the airport had on his face when a police officer was carrying him away. Jack in handcuffs watched the triumphant tongue that stuck out at him had him thinking the kid was a menace.
That tongue came out again, repeating the past for Jack. He laughed at the whole thing. It felt good to remember these little moments. So many of them he tended to forget, lost in the hands of time and buried with the rest of the world's lost times.
"Now that is the sound I wanted to hear, your laughter. Things could have gotten too serious just then. I don't think I'm ready for that." He reached for the shirt placed towards the bottom of the bed, noticing it was oversized. "Yours?" He asked, watching Jack lean on the dresser as the Immortal nodded yes. NG breathed in Jack's smell as he pushed his face and arms through the shirt, letting the robe fall off. He stood to smooth out the shirt, being careful because of a quick dizzy feeling that came from standing a little too fast.
"You needed something bigger." He went over to NG fixing the shirt. He snaked his hand down to NG's middle with a smile. "You've somewhat expanded since the last time you were home." That made Jack think. NG shouldn't have been that large yet.
Jack's face was priceless; a perfect balance between awe and giddiness with joy when his hands felt the little ones move. NG couldn't do anything but giggle, making Jack's eyebrows rise up in confusion. "You make me sound like a water balloon or gas using 'expand' like that. And yes Jack that is normal, at some point they grow and I will be house sized before this is over." NG's smile faded as he caught the sudden seriousness in Jack's eyes.
The room was silent for the longest time except for the men's breathing.
"One week, you have been gone one week from here. How long was it for you?" He moved away from NG, taking a seat on the bed.
NG went for the boxers. "Did you ever free ball, Jack?" It was a weak attempt at trying to change the mood.
"I might have at one point. I guess yes would be the answer." He couldn't sit anymore. He was nervous. NG was evading the question, which wasn't what he had hoped for. "Can't you let me in a little?" The thought was amplified he hoped enough to break through to NG.
NG looked down, noting Jack's thoughts as they caressed his mind. "Two weeks our time." He whispered, raising his face to look at Jack. "Does it bother you?" NG waited.
Jack said the first thing that came to his mind. "Yes, it does. That means a time lapse, this could be a problem." "Like we need more of those." He kept the thought to himself because that was exactly how a Time Agent would have responded to the situation. It had been a long time since his Time Agent side had surfaced. He found himself at the dresser. Opening the drawer he reached for the box, pulling out the moonstone. He turned, showing it to NG.
NG wasn't shocked, though earlier he was being pulled to it as if his inner self knew it was in the dresser drawer. Jack spoke while NG concentrated on the stone. "Ianto was here charging it, at least that is what he said." He brought the necklace over to the dreaming face of NG who had linked with the stone. Jack hesitated before he handed it to NG. The stone shone bright changing colors as NG held it up on its chain. Without much thought NG put the stone around his neck. "Is that wise?" Jack asked nervously, watching the stone get brighter as it made contact with NG's skin.
It faded shortly after it rested on NG's chest. "Yeah, it appears I'm one with the stones. How do I begin this? I could say, "you have nothing to fear, I come in peace" but that sounds like a fifties science fiction saying and I'm not an alien. At least I hope you don't see me as that." He adjusted the boxers a bit before sitting back down on the bed. "You have to give me a little time to piece this together." He went to put the pillows up on the headboard but Jack beat him to it, coming around on the other side to lean in on the bed.
Jack took a seat on the bed, resting his back on the headboard next to NG. NG smiled, leaning his head into Jack. "I need to trust you, Jack. Above all things, I need you not to fear me, but believe in me and help me. If I don't have you to turn to, I don't think I will make it." He wasn't sad, just resolved in his words as he buried his head into Jack's chest.
It broke Jack's heart, but love does that from time to time. So with all honesty Jack said. "Always NG, no matter what." He kissed the top of his head, snaking his arm around his lover to hold him.
He felt NG smile before NG told on him the one thing he was sure of. "The moonstone increases inner sight. The one thing I have come to a definite answer about is Ianto. Jack, it wasn't him that came to me, or visited you. It was his likeness, but it wasn't him. I don't know, but my thought is the shard still had enough power to manifest itself as Ianto when I buried it. Which means that something has been guiding me. I hope it is a good something." He snuggled close to Jack.
Jack whistled. "Damn that is a big something. NG, what do you think is guiding you and why?" Jack silently agreed that this was a lot to think about at this moment. He could feel the fever return and NG shook a little with a chill. "Right, this can wait. You need your rest. Anna will be here soon, and I don't want her yelling at me." He went to move.
NG held tight to him. "Don't go, just hold me, please, just don't leave me right now. Jack, I need to have you next to me. Please?" He pleaded.
"Hey what makes you think I will leave you? I'm on your side, and we will work this out. I promise." He felt NG's head sink as he went back to sleep. Jack just hope his promises weren't hollow. He needed to believe he could make this work or what good was his being around in this world.
John watched Mark from the doorway to his workshop absent-mindedly playing with the Vortex Manipulator. It was Darby's; the one Mark had shown to John when they had just met. "I know what you are thinking and it isn't a good idea. I barely have this piece of junk up and running. Do you think a trip to visit Loyalwin will somehow give us any more answers?" He came around to Mark's side, placing his arm around his husband. "We just came to terms with things. Do you think I want to lose you? Mark it isn't easy traveling with the VM, and you are a lot older than I was when I went for Ianto. Also on a good day, these things could be somewhat unpredictable and since the Doctor played with it I have no idea if this thing will even get you to the right place, let alone the right time." John ran his free hand over Mark's face, tucking the hair blocking John from seeing his eyes behind his ear.
He sighed when all he got was Mark narrowing his sharp brown eyes at him. "Here we go again." John kissed the cheek closest to him. "Never a dull moment with you, you know that right?"
"I can't just let him suffer. I need to do this for him. Haven't I let him down enough in the past?" His brown eyes softened as he found John's. As almost an afterthought Mark spoke softly to his husband. "John, if something does happen…"
John shook his head as he walked towards Mark. "It won't, with you it just can't, not after all you have been through." He reached for Mark's hand, smoothing it gently with his. "Besides, I think the Universe is done playing with you. By the look of things, it is NG's turn." Mark was pulled into a hug while John kept speaking. "So let's put this idea out of your head for now. I don't need more worry." Mark was staring at the VM more intensely. "Mark, are you listening to me?" John turned Mark around to face him.
Mark's smile seemed put on, almost faked as he replied. "Sure John, anything you say. We should get ready now to go see NG." He leaned in, giving John a kiss that went straight to his toes.
"I don't believe this is the end of this. I know him, he will find a way to make some of this worse before it can get better." He shut the light switch off by the door and as a safety precaution he did something he never did in his own house. He locked the door.
Jolein opened the door for Anna as the doctor hauled in some equipment just as Leon, Dan and Harry pulled up into the driveway. "Give Anna a hand," Jolein yelled as she walked through the front door.
"What, are your arms broken?" Leon taunted, being very much the younger twin.
"No." She spoke to his mind. "I'm taking energy readings. It was something that should have been done last night for better definition. I just hope I'm not too late."
"Let me guess, she is pissed we didn't get here last night? Like Mother Anna would have let us near her chick!" Dan said, seeing the frown on Leon's face looking around to make sure Anna was out of earshot. He sighed before trying to console Leon. "Hey, buck up, what's more important is that NG is back? Let her bitch. We all know that Jolein is good at that, at least!" He punched Leon in the arm as soft brown eyes shone at him with what for the briefest of moments Dan thought was Mark's face.
"She knows you said that Dan." Leon stuck his head into the SUV to get some equipment and to hide the grin on his face.
To Harry, Dan began to sweat before he started to laugh. "Oh you are a funny one, quirky like both your parents. I almost fell for that!" He went to the boot of the Torchwood vehicle of choice and picked up what look like a gun with a camera lens on the end of its barrel; it was small, almost handheld.
Harry raised his eyebrows, spying what Dan was holding. "That isn't that device I saw advertised on some Sky channel a few months ago, is it? For ghost hunting, isn't it?' He came around to Dan to relieve him of the device.
"Yes it is, we bought the whole bunch and most of them were knock offs said to be Thermal readers, EMF detectors or cold patch sensors that had shown up on eBay about six months ago. The few that we kept were more or less as advertised and the one you're holding we had to track down which was the one item we were interested in the lot and Jack, much to his disappointment was out bidden on. It was hard to get it out of the owner's hands since in his opinion it worked to hunt ghosts. The EMF detector for the most part or the one made by humans was real and actually in working order, but not at all like this little baby turned out to be. The gentleman was awake long enough to tell us it worked on ghost, just not the kind of ghost that he had wanted to find. He doesn't even remember he was a ghost hunter now.
"This device floated through the Rift about sixty years ago and somehow disappeared on route to Torchwood London. Jack and I were watching TV and saw them so he bought them all and insisted that the names of the 10 that were sold be given over. It really is a device, I learned from Jack, that picks up the sounds of Time." Harry stared at him looking like Rhys did when things went over his head.
"I don't follow you." He waited for Dan to laugh.
Dan didn't laugh. He just looked at the young man thoughtfully taking the device back as he handed Harry a bag of equipment before shutting the boot of the SUV and heading up the path from the driveway to the porch stairs.
"You don't have to follow everything all the time. Hell, it takes time to get used to working here. But you shouldn't stop learning. When we get back to the Hub, I'll give you a lesson on EMF signals and Quantum Mechanics. But right now just keep your eyes open and your senses sharp and listen first instead of chatting. From what I understand the way Ianto told it, your mother was all mouth and thumbs when she first joined. He would tease her that he begged Jack to keep her around even though it was clear the others didn't fancy her at all. It changed at some point, that is from Jack having faith in those he picks because of his own inner belief. Ianto used to say that he couldn't get what Jack saw in others and he believed he never would figure it out. I wonder if in the end he did?" He judged the stairs lost in reminiscing before he climbed them.
Jack was at the door, holding it open, seemingly very aware of their conversation as he spoke. "No, Dan. He didn't figure it out. I don't think I can explain it. I just see who is needed for Torchwood and then I go for it. Ianto wasn't a recruit, he was a pest like that hungry cat that you feed once and it doesn't leave. But after a time I felt the need to take him in. Almost cost us our lives, as you know. But he made amends and sometimes those that start off on the wrong foot can be the best one you hire. You will learn that when it is time for you to recruit team members of your own." He watched Harry snicker, as Dan turned white as he stood in the living room. Harry took the detector from his superior and placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
"Should I set things up here?" He asked, watching Dan stand as still as a statue. It was plain Dan didn't hear a word Harry was saying while he just stared at Jack.
"Oh, crap, you never said I would have to hire people! Jack, I suck at being a people person! I mean I was never a good judge of character. Sally went after me because she knew I didn't see what she was feeling. And you, you dug me out of a bin in a hole at the bottom of nowhere. I wouldn't even be able to find the right hole and which shovel to dig with." Dan blinked but still didn't move.
"What shovel to dig with? What does that mean?" Harry asked as he waited for someone to tell him what to do.
"He means large scoops or big, is the ground hard or soft, does it need to be picked or can it be moved with bare hands like sand." Jack smiled at Harry. "Kind of not really the way I would have thought of recruiting, but it works." He winked at Harry and turned back to Dan. "Well get use to it because before I give you complete command, you have to find two new members as additions to our family. Oh and Mandy wants to be a field agent, so one should be your secretary. Now, I believe you have readings to take. I left Jolein with NG; he is more or less awake. Try not to ask him too many questions. He is being vague so it would be pointless. He keeps insisting he needs time to get things together. Oh and I left the shirt he was wearing when he came back with Jolein. It is alien of origin so remind her to analyze it and sent us each a report." He smiled with a wink.
Dan blinked once leaving his stupor behind he turned to Harry. "Set up the laptops first then set the EMF detector to the settings I have listed in NG's file. It is in the folder at the bottom all ready to go. I want the data from the device recorded and put into the file. I'll look at it later." He handed Harry the device and putting his fingers on two buttons he continued. "It is simple, hold the two buttons down for 10 seconds, this red light here will come on to tell you it is scanning. All you have to do is point it and walk around. I'm leaving you to set this up to while I give Jolein a hand with checking up on NG." He grabbed a small handheld object that looked like an MP3 player before heading to the bedroom.
"Wait, you are trusting me to do this correctly?" Harry looked so lost it brought out the paternal side of him. He went to the younger man and patted him on the shoulder.
"Like Jack said, I have to have faith."
Mark was gnawing over all the things that might have happened to NG while John and he drove over to the house. He was chewing on his nails, a habit John had not seen from his husband in years. It was also one their daughter had when she was upset or didn't know how something was going to turn out. He smiled at the road as he reached to pull Mark's hand away from his mouth.
"If you eat all of them you'll have nothing to leave scratches with on my back with later on. I'm sure it isn't as bad as you are making this." He kissed the hand watching Mark lean his head against the glass with a sigh.
"Even now all you think about is the next time you get laid. John, I have to worry, some things are meant to worry about. From what Jack said, NG won't say anything. I have the strangest feeling that Jack is lying. He never could lie to me without me knowing but it didn't mean I didn't accuse him of things, even if they weren't true. I was awful at times to him. Gods, I could be a bitch back then." He sighed again as he lifted his head to look out the window.
John laughed, bringing a smile to Mark's face when he knew what John was going to say. "And you are still a bitch! Mark, Lovely, you really have to stop beating yourself up over this. And I mean all of it and that includes what we may have to do to NG. This isn't about what you did anymore, but about NG. I love you but please, I have never asked, but for us, let this go." He turned the car down NG and Jack's street and headed for the house. Mark didn't say anything as John parked the car and cut off the engine before he turned to Mark reaching for his face.
Mark turned into John's rough hands; long lashes brushing his skin with a blink before he went straight for John's eyes with his pools of sadness.
"I hate when your eyes are sad. You look so lost, just like that day I found out who you really were. I loved you so much then, but I love you more now. Mark, let it go." He leaned in taking a kiss from his husband.
Mark returned it with passion. But when they parted and John looked back into those soft brown pools he saw that spark of fire, Mark's defiant side that said to John, "I can't let it go, but I will try to control it and not let my feelings get in the way of us."
"A full house, just for me coming home. I feel special." NG spoke as he went to sit up in bed. Anna handed him a cup of some bad smelling drink. He took a sip as he crinkled his nose. He turned his face up to look at her. "Oh and you give me a cup of piss to drink! What is this Anna? I thought drinking horse piss to cure a fever was an old wives tale?" He then closed off his nose before downing the rest.
"At least you didn't throw it at me. I thank you for that. And it isn't horse piss, just something my grandmother used to give us when we had a fever. I'm pleased to say it is working in keeping it down, but it isn't going away." She sat on the chair that Jack had been sitting in when NG first woke up.
"NG, be nice to Anna, she is trying to help you." Jolein was playing with the moonstone that was charged by something posing as Ianto. Playing was the right term; she held the chain up in front of her face and spun the stone round with her hand. "This thing is hypnotic. I never really looked at it this closely, but then again it wasn't sparkling when it was dead. Now that it lives it is a very different thing indeed. And you said they sang to you?" NG nodded when she looked at him. "That must have been something. I'm very jealous little brother. But I can tell you now, this isn't normal energy; this is a life force signature." In Jolein's mind she was studying the stone but to NG and Anna she looked more like she was cat-like and playing with it, tapping the chain to move the stone around again.
"She is like a child," Anna remarked with a grin while Jolein ignored the comment or rather she just didn't hear it. "And speaking of children, NG you are rapidly going into your six month, a little too soon for my liking. I think your children will be here early much like you were because of the moonstone. Was their exposure long term?" She held up the scanner to reconfirm her readings.
"You sound not the bit concerned over this discovery, Anna. Am I suddenly that normal that this doesn't bother you?" He frowned.
"Well, you don't seem bothered either!" She stuck her tongue out at him as she handed him another cup of piss water. "NG, they aren't in danger, like you weren't, so I'm not concerned. They are developing rapidly and completely, just like with you. My concern was for Andie if she would grow quicker and the others wouldn't have. That would have been very tragic. But somehow even if she was the only one exposed to the full power you were exposed to like you said, your body is moving with her and feeding it to the others, it would seem. So they are keeping up with her in growth. Ianto is still my favorite at being born first." She went over to the dresser to have a look at the stone while Jolein was playing with it.
"Well, at least we are getting to the point where rapid childbirth seems to be the norm. Maybe we are missing out on a golden opportunity in the sales of the moonstone energy. The advert could read, 'Get pregnant and give birth in half the time!' Somehow that seems wrong, but it is nice not have to wait long on this, right?" He smiled at the pair, as they were suddenly engrossed with the moonstone. He laughed a little as he said, "What is it with shiny things and women?"
Mark didn't let NG out of his sight for more than the time it was to wait on him hand and foot. NG didn't like the way his Papa was acting so he told Mark he just wanted to have some peace. If peace was the word. It seemed like everyone was playing with the moonstone while trying to get answers out of NG. All NG wanted to do was sleep to distance himself from his expanding middle. He just kept thinking it was growing every time he looked away.
The children were happy every time a loved one touched Papa's belly to feel them move. They were enjoying the attention even more so when Daddy came over and kissed NG's great expanding middle. The love that NG felt they had for Jack made him feel all goofy with pride. Jack caught that look and planted a sweet kiss on NG's lips slightly exciting the both of them.
"No, not yet Jack, wait until the fever is gone, for heaven's sake!" Anna yelled, causing the whole room to laugh.
NG didn't mind if his future was doom and gloom because right now this present was warm and priceless. His smile caught the attention of all in the room. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," Jack answered. "It is just good to have you home."
John didn't hear the gate squeak for he was deep in thought and into his fifth beer as a throat was being cleared. He looked up to see Ben standing in front of him.
"Wool gathering John?" The sun hit Ben's blond hair; cut shorter than the last time they had seen each other.
"Just what does that Earth expression mean? I'm from a farming community and even I don't get it. Gathering wool isn't as brain dead for one thing and seldom do you have the time to daydream. Nothing involving farm life gives you enough time to dream, most of the time you are too tired to care about anything else." He caught Ben's smile with his pronounced crooked tooth bringing John back to the time that this man was in his bed.
Ben laughed as he stuck his hand out to John. "I suppose I should correct what I said. How are you doing?" He held the hand longer than normal, sending electric shocks through his body. He felt John's eyes feel up his body like they used to. Ben blushed.
John shook out of it and stood up, releasing Ben's hand. "Sorry, you just, well you know…" He stammered like a schoolboy before continuing. "My what a beautiful day."
Ben laughed again. Neither man was aware that their husbands were watching them.
"This is awkward." Mark said.
"Tell me about it. I just don't follow it sometimes. Ben told me he was going to get something out of the car while I made sure that Jack would still talk to me. I come back out to see Ben and John in the garden. Does it bother you as much as it bothers me?"
"Jack and you weren't talking? He doesn't tell me anything anymore. I should have read that on him. He can't hide it when he does something stupid from me. And getting mad at you is a stupid thing so it should have been transparent. Damn, NG's adventure has made me lose my touch." He frowned when the two men out in the yard punched each other playfully in the shoulders. "Yes, it will bother me as much as it bothers you. I left John for three years because it bothered me." He sighed.
Nick crinkled his nose. "He called me a few days later and said he was sorry. Jack, that is. So that was enough for me. But if you ask me, I think you and I should have run off together. It would have served them right for keeping the fires burning like this. I would have cherished you." Nick smirked.
"Yeah, right, I'm sure. I find you very attractive, always have. It is never too late. I can have my bags packed in fifteen minutes. Or is that too long since we waited this long?" He winked at Nick. "Oh watch John, this is where he tries to be all cool and fails. He is so rusty at pickup lines it is embarrassing. Good thing he is working on an old flame, he wouldn't get a new one to burn with passion." Mark giggled.
"So you are saying he has lost his potency?" Nick hoped that was what Mark meant.
Mark laughed, bringing down Nick's hopes. "No, he is as vigorous as ever."
"Well, I had hoped…" He sighed. "I know you two are happy and Ben and I doubly so, but sometimes I can't stand it; just the thoughts, it has been so many years and we have moved on but sometimes I just catch him looking at photos and they are of John. I feel if I react, it will all fall apart. Like when I thought I went too far with Jack and told him how I feared NG." Nick saw a flash in Mark's eyes so he quickly added an explanation. "I had to say what I felt. Mark, my only child works for Torchwood, now she wants to go into the field. I had a parental reaction only. You understand." To Nick's surprise Mark smiled warmly.
"Yes I do and all too well. Oh and about the other problem, our husbands being flirty, my mother just put a damper on that. Ben is heading this way." He motioned with his chin at Ben heading for the door off the living room that went to the back garden. And sure enough there was Jolein Sr. in the garden, confronting John. He shuffled a bit under the demon glare of his mother-in-law, which brought a "serves you right" grin to Mark's face.
Ben hurried in from the garden with flushed crimson cheeks, looking hot with embarrassment when he saw Mark and Nick watching him. "Hey, Mark… um… your mother is here." He smiled.
Mark slinked past Ben, smacking his ass. "You do realize that Nick hasn't had John or me? Interesting, maybe it is something that we should look into." Mark winked as Nick howled. But the next bit was cold and almost icy making Ben back away a little. "He will always be mine, Ben. Sorry that you got in the middle of our lives." He left the way Ben came in.
"He is scary," Ben said as he turned to Nick. Nick for the most part looked upset. "What is the sad face for?" Ben said innocently.
Nick couldn't fault him. Sometimes he just didn't think Ben knew he did anything wrong where John was concerned. There was such a hypnotic response between the two. It was sad that if Nick and Mark hadn't been around, or just if they just let them go for good the pair may have been happy together.
"I was just thinking of what might have been or what could have been." He smiled, taking Ben into his arms and kissing him.
When Ben came up for air he was giddy. "That was amazing. You are truly the best kisser as well as the best husband." He wrapped his arms around Nick, hugging him. Nick sighed, forgetting the cold of Mark's words and the scene with John that they witnessed out the window. Right now he knew that Ben was his, the past was the past. And though Nick knew that it easy to forget the past and because of that it may be repeated, he also knew that sometimes the past was best forgotten. And the affair of Ben and John was best buried.
End Chapter 35
TBC