6
Ianto blearily looked around with confusion that soon turned to horror as he recognized the place he was in was a police cell, rising to roar with anger at being taken like that.
"OI, that's enough of that!" an officer appeared at the door's slot "You'll get your chance with the judge in the morning."
Ianto stewed with his arms folded, alternating between terror and anger. He had demanded a phone call and been denied but deep down he didn't want anyone to know. That shame... that deep seated shame he had felt as a child in this situation came crashing back and he did the same thing he had done back then He decided to face it alone wit his head high.
The next morning the door opened and the same woman appeared with a wide grin, and a black eye "Come on little tart. Let's see what the judge makes of you!"
"Where is my lawyer?" he demanded but she just laughed as she ushered him from the cell.
Ianto was led to the dock and he looked over at the man in the wig "hello Sir William."
"Ianto?"
"Yeah." Ianto smiled wanly.
"Your honor, this street worker was arrested for resisting…"
"Really… a woman came up to me in the street, propositioned me and when I turned her down she tried to kidnap me… then I try to fight her off and she arrests me with extreme force? ME?" Ianto roared back "You kidding? She never identified herself, I was knocked cold and received no medical attention and until she entered my cell a short time ago I had no idea what she even was, Sir William."
"Officer Ferell? You identified yourself to the good Ianto Jones did you not?"
"Ah… he has no ID and has not provided any information… your honor, how do you know his name?" she asked with confusion.
"I provided nothing because I was unconscious" Ianto sighed "And he knows my name as he is a client of mine. "
The judge roared with mirth as the court gasped as the implication, shaking a finger at him "Mister Jones, you cheeky monkey. Officer, you seem to have arrested my favorite Bookstore Owner. Pity… you know… he does not even lean in your direction. Mister Jones… are you OK? Did you get seen to by a physician?"
"No. Not even a cuppa" Ianto huffed.
"Let's see the camera footage then" the Judge settled back and the officer paled.
"I was not wearing one" she spluttered "undercover and…"
"So… the CCTV? Your team were recording you from a distance perhaps?" the Judge demanded and to her horror one of her colleagues rose and held up a remote. Clicking it.
Everyone watched the weird conversation and heard Ianto's denials, saw Ianto's confusion and her lunge. The Taser and Ianto's body dragged by his feet to the van.
"Ah. Right" the judge said after a moment or two "So… no identifying yourself as an officer, no official rights read… he was unconscious and you… what. Scooped him up? Oh dear… this does not look good."
"My jacket was inside as I had just stepped out for some air, I have no idea where my things are… if my friends even know I was taken … I received no duty of care and to be quite honest with you… my ears are still ringing. I am sure I have a concussion. Had I been drunk I may have aspirated on my own vomit in that cell!" Ianto was becoming indignant now. Not the scared little boy in the cell, the man in the light of day that held the gaze of another man that knew him well enough to know his anger. "Refused a phone call, refused a lawyer... seriously... none of this is even lawful!"
"Quite right Mister Jones, quite right… Bailiff, see to it that this man gets medical treatment immediately" the Judge boomed, then glared at the officers now huddled meekly with alarm "And as for you lot… you better hope Mister Jones will take a settlement for this terrible misconduct. Personally… I would seek advice immediately from both HR and your Union officials on how to proceed. This man is going to come for you! I know I would recommend it Ianto. Say hello to your old man."
The gavel banged as he boomed "All charges dismissed without merit, so noted that this was an unlawful arrest and detainment… Gabby, make sure to note that in his file please dear… yes… Right. Mister Jones, go with the bailiff here, he will make sure you are taken care of."
As Ianto headed out of the room he heard the judge add "And Gabby… get me the number of their superior please."
.
.
Ianto entered the house to silence, walking to his grandfather's room where the old man was awake and glowering at him as he entered "Ah, the man DOES remember me then!"
Ianto stood there looking at him long and hard, then noted the Sippy cup by the bed "What are you drinking?"
"This is not about me. Where the fuck have you been? You stood Jack up in the middle of the goddamned date?" the old man rattled out, trying to sit up more and Ianto knew it would be to rant at him better.
"Grandy, I had a shit night and I only just got out of the bloody courthouse, I came straight here and…"
"He's hurt! I put a lot into this and the least you could do is one fucking date! Jesus, not even a peck on the cheek?"
"He's here already hiding in another room." Ianto said softly as the Sippy cup made sense, his favorite mocha from downtown "He came by to tell you early before I could… I see. That's how it is. You don't want my side of the story, of course not. Why would you… no one ever cares about my side of the story. Guilty right? Always guilty because someone said so. Right. Fine. You don't need me I will head off to work. Fine."
Ianto turned to leave and staggered, reaching for the doorframe and the old man was suddenly concerned "Boy? Are you OK?"
"Does it matter?" Ianto asked as he turned back to face him and the old man saw the circles around the sunken eyes and the unshaven face for the first time and it finally registered that something had happened as Ianto snorted "Just a concussion and broken heart. So what. Why say anything… no one cares."
"Ianto? Come here, tell Grandy what happened."
"No. I will see you later when he's gone since clearly I made a terrible mistake agreeing to the bloody date in the first place. I hope the woman he was chatting up at the bar with her big tits was more fun in the end," Ianto stormed out of there, feeling defeated.
When was he going to learn he scolded himself, he was born unwanted.