NB: I started this years ago and finally finished it. Firstly, because I love Ianto, secondly because I always wondered why The Doctor ended up with John Frobisher's face and thirdly because Ianto and Jack deserve a happy ending.
Of Eyebrows And Accents
"Who the hell are you?"
The accent cut through his headache with all the finesse of a brick through a window and Ianto hadn't even opened his eyes yet, let alone, come to the conclusion that he was alive…. Again.
"How the blazes did you get inside my TARDIS?"
Ianto squeezed his eyes as tightly shut as he could. The light seeping through his eyelids was almost as offensive as the strident voice.
"I don't bloody believe this. I'm the one who is supposed to be picking up strays, not you!"
Ianto was confused and some moments later he figured out he was lying on a hard, cold floor. Vibrations from rapid stomping were rippling through his aching body. He shivered with the chill.
"And you're naked too. You could have at least dressed before inviting yourself in!"
Ianto curled into himself, frightened. What was going on? He was dead, lying on a chequered floor at Thames House, Jack's tears dripping down onto his face. But that wasn't right because he remembered a house full of ghosts and his Tad. Jack had been there too. They had lost one another again. The Rift had closed and Ianto was…. Where?
"Ugh." Nausea climbed up from his gut and Ianto shuddered as the weight of something soft suddenly enveloped him. A Blanket.
"Goodness me you're whiter than the abominable snowman. Where are you from?" Gentle hands patted and rubbed him to warm him. "Do you understand me?" And there, the first hint of compassion in a lowering of volume. Ianto just wanted to shrink away, but he was unsettled enough to finally force open his eyes. His fingers grasped and tugged at the blanket, pulling the fabric tightly to him as he cautiously sat up. He swayed a little and was shocked by the face that suddenly appeared far too close to his own.
"Yes, I can understand you." It was more a rasp than a proper reply.
"Oh thank goodness for that, I'm rubbish with languages."
Ianto shivered where he sat huddled under the cover. The animated face was way to close for comfort. The eyebrows were especially concerning even though it was obviously a human face.
"Have we met?"
Ianto frowned at the man, realizing he was thinking exactly the same thing. Hadn't the man said TARDIS?
"Are you the Doctor?"
The stranger reared back, arms gesticulating wildly. "How do you know that? And you're Welsh! I know we've met!"
Ianto's confusion only grew as more memories assailed him. Recognition followed and then anger. "Yes we have met. Mr Frobisher. You're that sanctimonious Scottish git from the Home Office. There's no way you can be the Doctor! And you know perfectly well who I am. Ianto Jones, Torchwood, the one you tried to have assassinated!" He sucked in a deep, panicked breath then. "Hang on, that cant be right."
"Hey, what's wrong with Scottish? Being Welsh is much worse, all those Ls and Ds in every word. But I can assure you Torchwood Boy I am the Doctor and you… Oh… Ianto.. Captain Jack's Ianto? Oh."
The eyebrows appeared to be moving independently of one another and Ianto could only stare at them.
"But I saw you at Thames House, I've dealt with you on the phone a dozen times. You negotiated with the 456."
Finally the crazy, skinny man stopped moving. He crouched down a couple of paces away and Ianto couldn't help but admire his jacket. He was trying to ignore the eyebrows though.
"The 456? Those child snatching, murdering drug addicts? Jack told me about them. I never met them, they were a fixed part of Earth's history and I could not interfere. I'm sorry."
A hand was held out and reluctantly Ianto grasped it.
"Come on Welshman on your feet. I think we need to have a conversation."
Standing up was a bit fruity but Ianto kept his balance and refrained from throwing up. He had questions.
"Am I alive?"
"Well, obviously, although you shouldn't be. My TARDIS pulled you out of the timestream. I think we need to get you dressed."
That wasn't exactly the top of Ianto's to do list. "Do you have coffee?"
"This isn't a bloody Starbucks at the end of the universe, it's a TARDIS. You'll have to settle for tea."
"Oh. Do you have a spare suit?" Ianto was eying up the stylish jacket again.
"Oh I'm sure the old girl could find you something."
Ianto nodded, wondering who the old girl was.
"Am I really on the TARDIS?" Ianto's eyes widened with wonder as he took his first really good look at his surroundings.
"Its beautiful." He whispered. He suddenly felt warmth flooding through him, as his gaze took in the unusual architecture.
The lanky man patted his shoulder. "Here, come and sit down. You could do with a cup of tea. Some biscuits maybe?"
Ianto allowed himself to be steered to a couch and nodded his head. "Yes, thank you. But I have to ask. Why do you look exactly like John Frobisher?"
The Doctor could only shrug uneasily. He had no control over what his regenerations left him with, but he remembered what Jack Harkness had told him about the 456 and what John Frobisher had done.
Ianto sat quietly, his thoughts racing. Was he really alive right now? Perhaps this was some cruel trick of the afterlife.
He started as a mug of steaming tea was waved under his nose.
"I added some sugar, thought you might need it." The Doctor stood back to get a better look at the young man. "Its not often I get a dead man visiting me."
Ianto sipped at the tea, it was actually quite nice, but he sensed the Doctor was awaiting an answer.
"Well, it's only the second time I have come back to life. I honestly don't know how I am here. Last thing I remember is closing the rift in Cardiff, but even then I was dead. I died at Thames House and then some how I was back. This thing brought me back, I mean how is that even possible? My body must've been incinerated by now, so how am I back? I'm confused."
Suddenly the Doctor was there, waving a device in front of him. It made a strange high pitched buzz and its green light was almost blinding. Ianto had to close his eyes for a moment. Just as quickly the Doctor stepped back and stuffed the device into his coat pocket.
"Bloody unbelievable, but here you are and now you're here to stay it seems."
Ianto swallowed nervously. "What? You're holding me prisoner? Why?"
The Doctor shook his head, a sorrowful expression on his face. "No, no… Not that. Its just that you've become a fixed point in time, like Jack. You're immortal Mr Jones!"
The mug slipped from Ianto's grasp and bounced away, spilling tea on the metal grill floor.
"Oh, I er, oh. Oh my." Ianto felt suddenly sick, he knew what that meant. He knew how Jack had suffered over the many years he had been alive, and the prospect of eternity settled into his gut like a lead brick.
The Doctor watched him intently for a few minutes as the young man before him processed the seemingly unwelcome news. He knew there was nothing he could say and that Ianto would ask his questions once he figured out what they were.
"Why don't I show you to Jack's room and you can have a shower and a bit of a rest. The TARDIS will provide everything you need."
Ianto rose to unsteady feet and tugged the blanket tightly around him. "I'm sorry, I spilt the tea…"
"Not to worry. Come along, it's this way."
Ianto shuffled along in the Doctor's wake, not paying much attention to where he was going.
He came straight to his senses as soon as he stepped into Jack's room. He was hit, suddenly by familiar scents and sounds and he stood on the threshold gazing about at all the things in the brightly room, from aeroplane posters to the huge bed and greatcoat hanging up on a wardrobe door. A dressing table was covered with an eclectic collection of niknaks that Jack had obviously acquired during his time travelling with the Timelord. The Doctor was smiling kindly at him.
"You make yourself at home."
Ianto nodded aware of a stray tear that was falling down his cheek.
"Can you find Jack for me?"
The Doctor nodded. "I will do my best. He'll be over joyed to see you."
Ianto couldn't hold back the hopeful look on his face. "Really? You think so?"
"Of course. I just don't know where he is. He was very…. Well.. Upset, after he lost you. I think he may have gone back to Earth though, to continue with Torchwood, so that's where we'll start. How does that sound?"
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Ianto replied.
Jack couldn't get out of the Hub fast enough. The sudden appearance of the TARDIS on the Plas was always guaranteed to get him moving and Gwen hadn't a hope in hell of catching him up, so she settled for walking. Once again the Doc's face had changed and Jack practically skidded to a halt as he inspected the new look. He was somewhat shocked to see a familiar face that haunted his nightmares staring back at him.
"Doctor?"
The tall skinny man nodded, understanding Jack's apprehension and stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets.
"I can't understand why I look like this either." He really didn't know what else to say.
Jack nodded and reached out a hand. The Doctor grasped it and then they pulled one another into a warm hug.
"Its good to see you Jack."
They stepped back and Jack gestured at his face. "Its good to see you too. I just… sorry its…"
"I know." He clapped his shoulder and grinned. "Anyway Captain, I have a wee surprise for you. You'd better come in."
By this point, Gwen was at Jack's side looking thoroughly confused but Jack raised his hand to silence her before she could open her mouth.
"The Doctor changes his appearance from time to time." He said, indicating quite clearly that was the end of the discussion.
Predictably Gwen huffed in annoyance and then she followed The Doctor and Jack into the TARDIS.
Gwen stood in the doorway and gawped, but Jack was instantly drawn to the sight of the Doctor's companion, sitting on the couch hunched over a book of some kind.
Jack could feel time freeze around him as he stepped forward. The man lowered his book and put it aside. He stood up and faced Jack an unreadable expression on his pale young face. A face that Jack would never forget.
"Ianto?" The word, uttered like a prayer slipped from his tongue. "Ianto? Is it really you?"
Ianto stood there, tears glistening, unable to form words. He just held out his hands.
Suddenly Jack was there, all around him, warm and solid. And Ianto held on for all he was worth, burying his face against Jack's neck he cried. It was all he could do. Jack was crying too.
Gwen hadn't moved, she and the Doctor just stood there and watched as two men found one another again. Gwen didn't want to ask how or why, she didn't dare in case she was dreaming. It was a reunion of two broken souls. It was a miracle. She turned to the Doctor.
"I don't know how you did it, but thank you." She whispered.