TITLE: To Separate The Lies From Truth
PART THREE OF SERIES: The Five Elements (AU Verse)
CHAPTER SUMMARY: Just some plain old Jack whump, pure Janto love and some secret scheming.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood or Doctor Who which is unlucky because Jack and Ianto deserve so much more!
WORDS: 2900
NOTES: It was so hard to resist posting this last night. I have the first 11 chapters written but that's only half, and if I post too regularly, I'll run out before I finish writing! Anyway. I'll save the next day updates for any possible upcoming cliff-hangers. I honestly can't remember where I've left any. 😉
Chapter 3: Course of Action (2006)
10th October 2006
Three months after what had now been named 'The Fall of Canary Wharf', The Torchwood Team was still dealing with the fallout. The public had widely accepted the explanation of drugs in the water supply to cover up the appearance of the Cybermen in every street, but the team themselves were not even half-way through sorting the magnitude of files and artifacts they'd scavenged from the ruins.
Part of the reason for that, Jack speculated was right in front of him, snarling viciously. Well, maybe not the exact reason precisely - he'd in fact never seen this species of alien before - but the rift had dumped it on their doorstep (or more literally rooftop) which was something the rift seemed to be doing quite regularly recently. While there hadn't been an increase in the amount of activity, there had been an unusual increase in the number of living aliens falling through.
As a result, he and Ianto were currently standing on top of an abandoned building which looked as if it could be demolished at any moment, fighting to subdue an alien that disappeared whenever they tried to shoot it, before reappearing a few feet away.
"I need to get closer. Get a shot in before it has a chance to vaporise." Jack theorised.
"There's no way you can get close enough." Ianto argued, shaking his head. "Immortal doesn't mean invincible, Jack!"
"More so than you!"
Jack didn't wait for another response before he set off, racing forward. It didn't matter to him whether immortal meant invincible or not, it was still better that it was him rather than Ianto. It would've been impossible to get close without being spotted but that hadn't been his plan. The creature so far had one weakness that he could see and that was that its size meant it was slow to manoeuvre, and if he timed it right, he could get close and shoot before it had time to react.
Barely three seconds after he'd bolted forward, Jack took his chance. The bullet was aimed dead centre, but even from the short distance resulted only in striking a small cloud of smoke as it transformed once again.
'Okay…' Jack mentally growled. It might be slow to move physically, but just how quick could this bugger vanish?
The creature shrieked as it reappeared on the other side of him, throwing its head back and swiping sideways. Jack ducked away, with reflexes that surprised even himself, but the arm clipped his shoulder at full force, and he flew back several feet. Landing on one of the skylights, he shook off the impact, ignoring the ominous creak of the glass under him as the creature charged once more towards him.
Another shot reverberated through the air. Jack watched as a hole appeared in the centre of its temple and the creature fell forward on top of him, finally dead from the unexpected bullet that struck him from behind. However, the moment of relief was lost, as failing to hold the extra weight, the glass smashed, sending both him and the body into the misty darkness below.
Blinking back to consciousness, Jack swore as his body shuddered in pain. Nausea threatened to crest, but he was unsure whether it was from the pain, or if he was just sickened by the thickness of the sharp metal rod protruding through his flesh. Any movement brought about agony, even breathing. Jack gritted his teeth in response, trying to steady each breath and hoped the pain would eventually recede or that Ianto would reach him soon.
~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~
Ianto couldn't do anything but stare as Jack fell through the shattered glass of the skylight. Had he'd been closer, or Jack had been in eyeshot, he could have at least used his gifts to slow his lover's descent, but unable to help, Ianto turned and raced straight for the roof access stairs.
He could sense Jack's pain even through his shields as Ianto raced over to where Jack laid half buried between rubble, metal frames and glass, the large rod impaled through his stomach unmistakable.
"Shit." He tried to hold in the curse that broke past his lips at the last second.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking." Jack coughed weakly. Despite the pain he could sense radiating from the latter, Ianto was surprised to see him conscious as he knelt down beside him, clasping Jack's hand in his. "I tried but I can't get it out." He added.
"No." Ianto shook his head, the meaning in Jack's words clear. "I'll just make it worse."
"You have to." Jack claimed. "I can't heal with it in, Ianto. I'm gonna die either way." Each word was laboured but his truthfulness showed in both his voice and mind. "At least one way's quicker."
Ianto despised how easily Jack had accepted the prospect of another death, but he knew the latter was right. The wound couldn't heal when obstructed and every second Ianto was reminded of Jack's pain as it was reflected in his own mind. Resigned, Ianto opened the flaps of Jack's greatcoat to more closely inspect the rod. The metal was smooth even without it made slippery with blood. He'd never be able to get the correct grip to pull and at that moment Ianto knew there was only one way the metal was coming out. The way it'd gone in.
"It's implanted in the rubble below." Ianto explained, still slightly hesitant. "It'll be easier to lift you up and off, rather than trying to pull it out."
"Whatever." Jack replied indifferently. "Just do it."
"Okay. Ready? This is going to hurt." As soon as the words left his mouth, he recognised how absurd they sounded, still aware of Jack's pain echoing around his mind.
"It hurts now." Jack laughed in agreement, but the sound caught in his throat. "I've had worse."
Ianto didn't want to imagine what could have been worse than this, even with having seen Jack die and revive before.
Mentally preparing himself, he lifted Jack up as straight as he could. Unsurprisingly, he could sense Jack trying to help with supporting some of his weight, but in his weak state it didn't amount to much. Jack screamed as the rod slipped out through his back, fresh blood pouring around both wounds, staining his clothes further both front and back.
Ianto placed Jack down gently beside the rod, trying not to jostle him further. He winced at the second scream that followed when his hands pressed immediately downwards on the wound, the blood slipping through his fingers in a matter of seconds, as he purposefully tried to ignore the stomach-churning length of metal coated with blood and guts only paces away.
"I can at least try." Ianto argued as Jack pushed his hands away. There must be something, someway that he could use his powers to save Jack from another death, but Jack shook his head, the vibrations sending another jolt of pain through Jack's body, and subsequently his own mind.
"It's too late."
Ianto couldn't answer, but dropped his hands reluctantly from Jack's side. He had hoped Jack would have passed out in a pain-free oblivion while he bled out, but fate wasn't with him. Instead, they waited silently, the only sound the infrequent short gasps of pain that escaped Jack's lips as his skin slowly turned cold and clammy; each breath shallower than the one before.
"I'll be back." Jack spoke suddenly, his voice barely audible it was so weak and scratchy. "Stop looking so ominous. I always come back."
"I know." Ianto assured, but something inside him always feared that one day Jack's luck would run out, although even if he did come back, Ianto didn't think he would ever get used to seeing somebody who was usually so full of life, devoid of it.
"So tired." Jack mumbled, his eyes struggling to remain open.
"Sleep." Ianto whispered, somehow managing to keep his voice calm, although he's sure that if Jack was more alert the Captain would be able to see a glassiness of unshed tears in his eyes. "I'll be here when you wake up."
There was something of a feeling of relief when Jack's eyes flickered closed for a final time, his body going limp and the pain vanishing in Ianto's own mind. He pushed the feeling back, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to Jack's cheek. Straightening, he lifted Jack once more, this time into his arms as he stood.
Ianto was glad Jack's eyes weren't open as they returned to the SUV. He didn't want to see the emptiness behind them again. It was only the third time he'd been there when Jack died and the first time, he'd been too surprised and relieved to take notice of how it must have felt. The second had been during a weevil hunt about a month before last Christmas, but they'd been separated at the time, and Ianto had found him only seconds before Jack had sat up gasping for air.
Parting with Jack for the shortest time he swore was physically possible, simply to retrieve the dead alien into the boot of the SUV, Ianto kept one eye on the still form as he drove for his flat. It would be easier than the awkward questions that'd occur in the case someone was still in the Hub, but he also believed it would be more comfortable than Jack's bunk.
He didn't know how long it would take for Jack to revive. The time with the weevil he'd been awake in under 5 minutes, but Jack had explained that the faster the death, the faster he tended to revive. Slowly bleeding out from being impaled however, Ianto decided, was what he'd class as the complete opposite of a quick death and so he reckoned it would be at least an hour or two before he came back.
Back at his flat, Ianto ran a warm bath, before stripping Jack and dropping the soiled clothing on the bathroom floor. The wounds on both Jack's front and back were no longer oozing blood and Ianto thought he could see the beginning signs of them healing as he lowered him into the water, washing the congealing blood off his skin.
Once clean and dried, Ianto carried Jack to his bed, pulling the duvet up around him. He wasn't as cold as before the bath, but he knew that would change if he was out for a while longer. Ianto glanced at the corner chair he considered dragging closer, but on an impulse, he changed his mind, slipping in behind Jack. He sat up, leaning against the headboard, and pulled Jack up between his legs, so that his head lay in his lap. He had never done it before, but for some reason it felt right.
A little while later, Jack's eyes flew open and he took a great gasp of air, sitting upward and struggling in Ianto's arms. Ianto recovered quickly, and only tightened his arms, Jack's panic radiating through his own mind.
"Easy, Jack. You're alright." Ianto whispered. "You're safe, we're both safe."
The movements froze at his words. "Ianto?"
"It's me. I promised, didn't I?"
"You did." Jack turned slightly to look at him. There was less panic from him, but Ianto could sense his confusion. "I'm….Am I in your bed?"
"Yeah. Thought it might be better than waking up on a floor covered in blood." Ianto reasoned. "But I'm just glad you came back."
"I always have, and always will." Jack assured. "Especially if I wake up like this." To Ianto's surprise, Jack leaned in and kissed him, long and softly, before snuggling back down into his lap. "Thank you." Jack added with clear sincerity and Ianto smiled, wrapping his arms back around him.
"Anytime."
"I haven't been here for a while." Jack stated after a while in silence, sitting up again and looking around Ianto's bedroom. "We just keep ending up in my bunk lately after work."
"Not that I don't enjoy our time in your bunk." Ianto answered, getting up from the bed as well to start collecting the mess of bloody clothes and towels strewn around the floor. Jack winced internally at the reminder of his most recent death. "We really need to have a break from the office more often."
"Maybe we should." Ianto froze where he stood in the entrance to the ensuite, flustered. Seeing his reaction, Jack quickly continued, blabbering nervously in an effort to explain himself. "I mean…I was thinking…maybe we could….when the rift is next quiet. A dinner? A movie? As a thank you?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?" He was surprised. He'd never been asked on a date before, not that he could remember at least, and while it was true a lot of what the two of them did would often be considered as dating to the general public, he never would have thought Jack would be one to officially declare it as one.
"Interested?" Ianto swore he'd never seen - or felt - Jack so uncertain, but the one word portrayed it even more than his earlier blabbering.
"Well, as long as it doesn't involve the Hub or takeaway."
"Good because I was thinking…" Jack started distractedly, but then paused, confused. "Wait, was that a yes?"
"Yes, Jack." Ianto smiled. "A date sounds great."
~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~
Suzie shoved another box of now catalogued reports to the side. She'd barely glanced at each form as she'd worked, most of them describing another boring and useless artifact that London had once owned. She didn't know why she'd been saddled with the job anyway; it was more Jones' line of work. The obsessive perfectionist would probably end up having to redo them anyway so why not give him the task in the first place. Instead, he was out with the infatuated Captain on another rift retrieval, while she was stuck here. Even Tosh and Owen were out on different alert.
Not only that, but it was a bloody Tuesday, and taking a glance at the other two boxes Jack had requested be completed today, she knew she was going to be late for that night's Pilgrim session, if she made it at all.
That fact annoyed her to no end. She had wanted another private confession with Max – not that he'd remember as usual – to help her set her story straight before she met with her client the following day. She'd promised him a share of the power of the glove, in debt for his silence on a different matter, but that had been before Jack had forbidden her access to it. She couldn't stall him much longer.
It had been by large the most phenomenal discovery she had ever made during her time at Torchwood. The simple metal glove was capable of something humans had desired for centuries, the power of immortality and she was drawn to that power. Suzie couldn't help but think what this would mean for the world.
Alright, it was true that currently the effects only seemed to last a little under two minutes, and that was only on the recently deceased, but she was certain that with more practice, that number would have lengthened if it hadn't been for Jack and Ianto pulling the rug on her studies. Wasn't Jack the one constantly quoting that this century was where everything changed. Maybe that bloody glove was what could have brought that about!
Heaving the next box onto her desk she ripped off the lid and pulled out the first file. She barely glanced at each file as she went through, hoping to get it finished as fast as possible, but halfway through the box, the corner of a photo caught her eye.
Slipping it from the paper clip, she almost dropped the image in surprise before flicking through the file it came from intriguingly.
So, Ianto Jones had a secret of his own.
The weird occurrences over the years that she'd written off as coincidences, finally made sense and she couldn't help the anger that started to rise. Hiding the file in the back of her desk drawer, she continued on with the other files, but her mind was even more distracted than before.
First, she had to try find the glove in the magnitude of the archives. The digital records wouldn't be hard to search, but removing it would be more difficult. Yet the sparks of another plan were forming, something that might help with convincing her client to be patient tomorrow.
It never failed to have a plan B.
Next Up: Gwen's introduction to the Hub.
Notes: I love every review. Hope you enjoying it so far!