Surprised? I know I am but I meant it to be quick.
Very short chapter but I didn't want it to be long. The next chapter might be though. Not sure when that will be up. But at least this one resolves some things, more or less.
Enjoy and don't forget to review.
Jack took a breath; he just couldn't believe that JP could do such a thing "Please tell me you have an identical twin."
JP's brows furrowed "Yes actually, I do. Why?"
"Thank God" Jack sank into the visitor's chair, "I didn't believe it was you."
"Jack, you're going to have to explain just what the hell you're talking about."
…
JP was silent for long moments after Jack's explanation.
"JP?" Jack prodded "you okay?"
JP took a shuddering breath and rubbed his temples "I knew he had issues, I just…mon dieu, I guess Edie was right."
"Right about what?"
"Edie's never liked Jean-Maurice, thinks he's my evil twin."
"What do you want to do about this? The police don't have the DNA results yet; unless your brother attacks someone else and leaves his fingerprints…"
"I know, they'll think it was me."
"But listen," Jack said "because Hermes is a Torchwood employee the police are reluctantly letting us help with the investigation. We told them we'd find the guy but they get to carry out justice because of his other victims."
"Do I hear an unless in that?"
"Well, Methos wants to kill the man responsible for attacking his son."
JP's hands hadn't left his temples "God, I don't know what to do Jack. He's in town till Friday, then he goes back to the states."
"Where does he live?"
"Nashville, he's a music producer."
"Okay, I'll check to see if there have been similar attacks there. Try and keep an eye on him, we don't want him attacking anyone else. Tell you what, we can give the police the results and tell them you have an identical twin."
JP sighed heavily "Wait on that, please. You can tell Gwill but…I need to figure this out."
…
JP had been raised Catholic though he himself wasn't anymore. His father however had been devout. He left work early and went to St. Peter's to light a candle for his daddy.
"What do I do, Daddy?" he asked as he lit the candle. He sat in one of the pews and stared up at the altar.
…
JP got home and found Jean-Maurice in the living room playing monopoly with his daughters. He roughly pulled him up "You stay away from my girls."
"Daddy" asked Ceinwen "what's wrong?"
"JP, what's the matter?" Jean-Maurice said.
"Like you don't know" JP growled.
Edie came out of the kitchen "JP, what's going on?"
"Ceinwen, Claudette, go to your room."
Edie shooed the girls down the hall "Do as your daddy says."
Jean-Maurice shoved JP back "What's wrong with you?"
"That's what I'm asking you. You are a cop's son, how could you?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You attacked the wrong man" JP slugged him "How could you come to my town and pull this shit?"
….
Edie's panicked phone call had Jack nearly breaking the sound barrier to get to her and JP's house.
He got there to find JP standing over the prone body of who was obviously his twin brother who was on top of what used to be the coffee table.
"He's still alive" JP said shakily "I want him out of my house."
…
JP hadn't moved from where he was standing when Jack got back from taking Jean-Maurice to the police.
"Has he moved at all?" Jack asked Edie.
"No, I think he's in shock. I took the girls to Geraint's house. He hadn't moved an inch when I got back."
"Is his mother still alive?"
Edie nodded "She lives in a retirement community in Baton Rouge. I haven't called her yet. I don't know what to say."
Jack waved a hand in front of JP's face "JP, you in there?" he gently pushed JP onto the couch "JP?" Jack sighed "Okay, I didn't want to resort to this: the Bears are better than the Saints."
JP blinked and sputtered "What? They are not."
"And that's how you get a straight American man out of shock; you insult his team. Are you okay?"
JP shrugged.
"Why did you beat him up?"
"I don't know what came over me."
"Well it's a good thing he's heavier than you. Hermes will be able to identify him by his body type. Are you going to be okay?"
JP shrugged again.
…
June 15
Jack picked up his dad at the train station. Dwight and Phoebe were still in the States—apparently their mother got them in the summer.
"Hey Dad" Jack hugged him.
"Jack, it's good to see you."
Jack picked up Frank's suitcase "How are things in Chicago?"
"Same old, same old. How 'bout here?"
Jack sighed "I don't even know how to describe it."
"Does it involve headaches?"
"Oh so many."
"What are your plans for Sunday?"
"Nina and I are going to spend the morning with you. Then there's going to be a party at Cadfael's house in honour of the day and Ianto's father's birthday. Then at night I have special plans for Ianto. He has been under entirely too much stress lately and he needs to relax."
"I don't need details."
…
The next night…
Gwendolyn helped Cadfael into his druid robes "Will you be all right?"
"Of course I will, as long as you stay here. As long as I know you and the children are okay, I'll be fine."
"Promise?"
Cadfael kissed her "Always my love, always."
…
Stephanie tried to shove a bag of cookies into Aldwyn's hands "At least take a snack."
He took it and set it on the table "We won't have time for a snack, luv. I'll eat when I get home."
"How long do you think it will take?"
"No idea."
"Will you call me when you're on your way home?"
"You'll probably be asleep."
"I don't care. Wake me up."
…
Gemma handed Geraint a cup of tea "Do you know what you're dealing with?"
"We won't know till we get there, I'm afraid" he took a sip "You'll stay here, won't you?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Knowing you and the other spouses…we don't want you in danger."
"We don't want you in danger either."
Geraint put down his tea and took her hands "I know but this is our fight. The ten of us have to do this on our own. I'm as sure of that as I am sure of my love for you."
…
"You can't just expect me to just stay here while you go off and fight a monster" JP crossed his arms "that seems very reversed."
Edythe rolled her eyes "Don't be getting chauvinist on me, Jean-Paul. You know this is something my brothers and sisters and I have to do."
"Doesn't make me feel better. I'm your husband, Edie, I should be protecting you. That's how it works, I don't care what century it is."
Edie kissed him "Aren't you an anthropologist? Haven't there been several matriarchal societies?"
"Men still do the hunting but if you get me started on that you'll be late for your monster fighting."
…
Nina kissed Drystan deeply "Do you think you'll get problems from papa rats?"
Drystan blinked "You mean paparazzi? I haven't had trouble so far. But if we see any photographers and we would, Gwill will just flash his badge or flex his muscles and they'll scurry like the papa rats they are."
"Are you gonna be okay though? Fighting this whatever it is?"
"Well it's not like I'll be by myself. You've nothing to worry about, sweetheart."
…
Gwillym was polishing his druid's staff.
Anwen sat down next to him "When will you be home?"
"Impossible to say, cariad. Think of this as when I'm on any other case."
"I am and I feel the same way every time. I'm allowed to worry aren't I?"
Gwill leaned down and kissed her "Of course you are; wife's prerogative. Listen, if you get scared, take the kids and go hang with Jack. He'll be just as worried as you."
"You're riding there with Ianto aren't you?"
"Yep, wants to save on fuel, man's a skinflint. Gets it from Tad."
"I hope you're not too tired in the morning. The kids and I are making you breakfast, bacon, eggs and hashbrown sandwiches."
Gwill licked his lips "Baby, I'm never too tired for bacon."
…
"It's weird Rhi, why are you doing this?"
Rhiannon sighed "I have too, Johnny. The ten of us have to. You know that."
Johnny took her in his arms "I know that, luv and you know I trust you. I'm just worried."
"I know but I won't be alone. We'll all be fine, don't worry. I should be home in time to fix you breakfast."
"Nah, you'll be tired. I'll make you breakfast."
"But it's Father's Day."
"Doesn't matter, you've been under enough stress lately to be worrying about me."
…
Christopher paced the length of their living room "You Joneses oughta come with a how-to manual."
Gavin laughed "Perhaps a disclaimer as well? Maybe a warning?"
"Definitely a warning and a hell of a lot of Advil" Christopher stopped and sighed heavily "You know I love you, right?"
"Yes" Gavin put his hands on his shoulders "and I love you. I'm marrying you aren't I?"
"You really don't expect me to just wait here and worry while you go and fight a demon?"
"Well, now you'll know how I feel when you go on assignment."
Christopher put his hands on Gavin's waist "You're right, I'm sorry. It's just weird, this whole thing."
Gavin rested his head on his partner's shoulder "I know."
…
"It seems backwards somehow, you going off to fight something while I stay home and knit" Jim said.
Gwenora looked at him "Are you really going to knit?"
Jim rolled his eyes "It's a figure of speech honey. I know this sounds chauvinist but I'm the man and I should be doing the fighting."
"This is different, Jim dear, you know that. This is something my siblings and I have to do."
"I know that. I'll wait up for you, okay."
"You don't have to."
"Well I will. I love you."
"I love you too."
…
Jack grumbled "I can't believe you're making us all stay home."
Ianto sighed "We don't want you following us because we don't want you in danger. We'll be able to concentrate more if we know you're all safe at home."
"Okay, the other spouses I get. But I'm immortal. I could be your wing man."
"Jack please, just do as we ask. I know you're immortal, but I can't stand to see you hurt."
Jack wrapped his arms around him "I know, Tiger but can you imagine what it's like for me?"
Ianto leaned into his embrace "I know but you know only the ten of us can do this."
Jack kissed the top of his head "We'll stay out of your way, but we'll probably end up waiting together."
"That's acceptable."
"I expect you to come home to me."
"With my shield or on it."
"Nope, you are no longer allowed to talk like that. You come home in one piece because I have plans for tomorrow."
"Oh?"
"It's a surprise."
"I have a present for you too."
…
The ten children of Cadfael Jones stood outside the house they believed was responsible for their father's death.
Cadfael Jr. took a deep breath "All right everyone, we just have to have faith."
They all nodded "Right."
…
Cadfael Jones Sr. awoke with a gasp. He wasn't sure how but his children must have defeated the demon and Cadfael was allowed to return to his body. He was never actually dead in the first place but they thought he was, so much so that they put him in the family crypt; fortunately an autopsy wasn't performed—that would have killed him.
He got up off the slab and the smell of his dead relatives hit his nose. Now, how to get out of this crypt? The door didn't open from the inside. Oh look, a window—he'd have to break it and crawl out. He sighed, he was too old for this.
…
All righty, the next chapter will likely be posted I don't know when. It depends on the muses. But definitely after this Sunday.
Please review and let me know how you're liking things. I know people are reading it and I really appreciate that. It means a lot.
So, in the next chapter, Cadfael Sr. is going to feel like Rip Van Winkle…and what's gonna happen when he finds out about Jack and Ianto? Jack better get ready to duck. ;)
TTFN
