51
Jack leapt from his horse, running while screaming at Ianto to kick off the stirrups and as he neared the bank he found the horse floundering, tying to swim in the cold water, the freezing water…shit…the bellow freezing water.
No Ianto.
The saddle was empty and as the horse rolled in the churning water it was clear he was no longer still stuck in the stirrups.
Jack began to run the edge of the bank, looking into the ice shelf in the hopes that Ianto had swum in towards shore and was trying to get out.
"IANTO"
Jack slipped, his Great Coat discarded as were his boots as his double socked feet now sank into the snow and he sobbed with fear as he looked for a flash of colour in the murky water.
Red.
Jack struggled to a halt on his hands and knees as he brushed the snow away, peering down to find red rubbing against the ice.
Ianto.
Jack raced to the edge, breaking ice as he slithered into the water and he screamed with pain as it bit at him like tiny knives, a deep breath and then he dove beneath the ice, fighting to get to Ianto.
Please.
Jack's fingers were numb but he tried to grab for him, missing and feeling his lungs screaming at him as he tried again.
Wouldn't do to die here Jax, no one knows where you are.
Jack came up for air and gasped, then went back down trying not to think about the fact Ianto didn't have the luxury of that breath, his fingers again struggling but they caught in the shirt, pulling Ianto towards him and they raced for the edge of the ice, Jack struggling for a breath once up, then he looked over at Ianto, shaking the limp body as he screamed his rage.
Come on.
Jack was trying to get Ianto out of the water when he felt warm breath, looking up to find his horse staring at him with a look of stupidity. Jack hooked the reins and clucked his tongue hoping like hell the horse would comply and slowly he was pulled from the water with Ianto in his other arm.
Jack knew his arm was out of its socket now from the horse's jerking but he didn't have time for that, Ianto so still, cold and lifeless.
"Baby" Jack sobbed, rolling him and slapping at his back. "Please? Stay with me, don't go"
Minutes, barely minutes right? No time at all.
Right?
Jack felt his hand stinging as life returned and he slammed his hand into Ianto's back again, this time feeling no give.
Oh gods, he's frozen solid.
No.
Jack ripped at the shirt and found the armour in place, startling him as he stared at it.
Of course. Ianto had panicked, his adrenalin had spiked and it had engaged. Jack sat back and tried to focus, tried to stop panicking himself, what did this mean? What was happening?
Jack stroked Ianto's face, crooned as he tried to find a pulse but those lifeless eyes stared up at nothing at all.
The light had gone out behind his eyes.
Jack gave in and wept, laying across the limp body as he let himself give in to the hypothermia that had been lingering in the hopes of chalking up another one. After all, why not.
Jack stopped shivering as he gave in, his face close to Ianto's and he watched those lips slowly start to freeze as the water crystallised on the body.
Ianto loked like a beautiful Diseny Prince locked in the clutches of a cruel ice queen's spell or something. His blue skin translucent.
"I love you" Jack whispered to the corpse he was still trying to cling to.
Maybe, maybe he won't come back. It being so cold he might not.
Right?
He could stay here dying over and over again until the first thaws of spring?
Would that be long enough?
Jack had no more tears, no more energy.
No more cares.
Ianto was gone.
It had all been for nothing.
Ironic that he had thought he would let the whole world born for this man and in the end it would be ice that takes him.
Irony.
Jack fucking hated irony.
It was getting late, dark soon. The lizards would come slithering along soon enough. Would they find them? Recognise people?
Jack imagined the snow blowing over their joined bodies, the snow blanketing them in some sort of tomb where he and Ianto would lay like this forever.
Jack sighed, his body so damned heavy. So tired.
In the distance a horse whinnied, sounding afraid but it didn't matter now.
Jack let his own light fade.
He hoped this time there be Ianto waiting beyond the darkness.
This time.
Jack's eyes glazed as their light went out, his face softening and features sliding as gravity called to the flesh and bone.
Darkness fell.
No more light to see.
