Torchwood: Divergence
Book One: Dychwelyd
Chapter 41
"What have I done?" Harkness whispered numbly, the world around him disappearing in a flare of crimson light.
*You have done nothing yet, Eternal, but take heed, * a Scieron voice breathed in his mind. *If you continue as you have been, these visions could well come to pass. If you cease to trust, you will cease to love, and our little cysgod will perish for all time in utter agony and crushing despair. We honestly want what is best for maintaining balance in your Universe and know much depends on your presence in the future. We believed you needed your annwyl by your side to face the years to come, and you initially proved willing to give him the love and devotion he needs to survive.
*But if you stop believing in his desire to protect and preserve, the decades will harden your heart with doubt and derision. Your instinct to question any alien act has served you well in the past; however, it could now devastate your future. If you cannot trust in us, the Children of Void, then trust in the loving heart of your young Ianto Jones... do not diminish and cheapen the suffering he endured to return to you, by wounding him with unfounded suspicion and unvoiced accusations. He is fragile, our Frân Arian, a mere infant in the realm of immortality, and so terribly unsure of himself and his worth to the world. Be his guardian and guide, Javic Piotr Thane of Boeshane, and remember the Pledge you made as Jack Harkness to love him forever with all of your heart. *
The red glow faded, and Jack found himself in the SUV with a hand on either side of Ianto's face as the young brunette took a deep shuddering breath.
"I didn't hurt her…" Ianto whispered hoarsely, tears slipping down overly pale cheeks from his sad, red-rimmed eyes.
"I…" Harkness' voice failed him and he felt his own eyes sting as the true impact of the Scieron's message hit home as well as the fact that they knew his birth name. "I heard. We were worried for nothing… just a Torchwood quirk, yeah? You'd never hurt anyone or anything unless you were forced to or driven beyond all reason. No way you'd ever harm Gwen's baby, not even unintentionally. You're too gentle natured for that."
"Why are you crying?" his partner prodded shakily, his concern obvious.
"I was afraid I was about to actually lose you for good," the older man admitted tightly, smoothing the Changeling's hair with one hand. "You started to have a seizure like when you first came back, and your eyes went all glowing red. I'm sorry I pushed you into such a state. You were so scared you'd done something wrong, and I wasn't being any help. All I kept thinking about was the same thing that's bothered me every time I've watched you fight as a Guardian… whether I could trust the Shadows that changed you. Instead, I should have been paying attention to my gut feelings. I don't need to worry about them, because I know I can trust you and that's all that matters."
"Right now, I don't know if I trust myself," Ianto confessed, his confidence noticeably shaken.
"Don't make me go geek and do the whole Dark Side of the Force speech," the Captain warned with a slight chuckle, trying to lighten the mood as he shifted to kiss the younger man on the forehead and ruffle his hair into total disarray before easing into the driver's seat once more.
Jones managed a weak smile at the comment, unconsciously rubbing the spot on his chest where the mortal damage had so recently been repaired, as his lover buckled up and got them back on the road. Harkness glanced over at the twenty-six-year-old who was calmer, but still wore the lost child look he tended to acquire when he was worried or upset or scared. Feeling guilty for ever doubting the young Welshman and truly shaken by the scenario the Scieron had shown him to graphically illustrate the warning Gwen had given him weeks ago, the American reached over to take up Ianto's right hand in his own left, lacing their fingers together. The recently resurrected Archivist didn't look at him or their hands; he simply sighed and closed his eyes, a good deal of the anxiety fading from his expression.
"It's been a rough day," Jack stated quietly, briefly squeezing his lover's hand. "Why don't you hit the shower and catch a nap before dinnertime when we get home? I'll turn the team loose early, let Gwen bundle her family home for some pampering, and give us a little alone time."
"But there's work to do," Ianto protested, always having hated to feel useless when there was actually something needing done.
"You said yourself that dying is never easy," the older immortal beside him countered firmly. "And coming back isn't exactly a picnic either. The times I'm most likely to manage any real sleep these days, are usually right after I've come back from the Dark... or in the wake of one of our more energetic evenings of mind-blowing sex. Trust me. You're gonna be tired and moodier than a pregnant Welshwoman in line at a 'Harry Potter' movie premiere with a fidgeting ten-year-old for a few hours the first dozen or so times you cheat Death, until your body gets used to the shock. After that you just have to put up with the tired part of the equation, and the more violent the cause of death, the more exhausted you'll feel when you revive."
"Good thing I'm dating an expert," Ianto breathed with a weary smile. "I suppose a dose of hot water and a little down time couldn't hurt. As long as you're sure you don't need me to do anything else."
"All I need you to do is get some rest and relax," Harkness stated solemnly, then started to grin. "Because once we're alone tonight, I intend to wine and dine you however you choose... and then I'm going to wear you out completely."
"Tease..." his lover murmured, sounding more like himself again.
"Not this time, Agent Jones," Jack promised with a laugh, able to feel the younger man relaxing. "I think the new Hot House is calling... and the new Boardroom... and the bedroom of course... maybe even the firing range."
"A 'dabbling' free-for-all," Ianto surmised, a more heartfelt smile lighting his features, one that would have had his eyes sparkling if they'd been open. "And lucky me... I found the stopwatch."
"Oh, it is definitely going to be on tonight!" the Captain crowed enthusiastically, tightening his grip on the Welshman's hand again. "The Rift's finally winding down from its back log, Martha says Johnson's starting to recover and make sense, you did a spectacular Lone Ranger routine with the Williams clan today, and I got an eye-opening spectral kick in the pants from the Scieron that put my priorities back in proper order. I'm beyond ready for a Barista Boy break."
Ianto chuckled, the sound dissolving the last bit of the cold knot that had formed in Jack's guts when the Scieron had so harshly pointed out the potentially disastrous path he'd been treading. The rest of the drive passed in harmonious silence and both men were feeling reasonably relaxed when they made it to the Hub. They entered through the main passage from the dedicated underground parking area UNIT had created during reconstruction, coming out of the lift and through the big rotating door, once more hand in hand... to find Gwen waiting for them with a worried expression.
"Rhys okay?" Jack asked immediately, wondering what was wrong.
"Touch of concussion, bruised neck and shoulder," Cooper reassured. "I had Lois follow him and Eb home before she went to visit Johnson. Everything all right with you two? We saw you pull off the road and a red glow in the SUV. I didn't want to go back with the baby in the car, but I was worried."
"Minor moment of post-resurrection panic," Harkness explained evenly as the woman focused her gaze on the RAF coat clad twenty-six-year-old beside him.
"Ianto?" Gwen called questioningly, meeting the Scieron Changeling's tired and still slightly red-rimmed eyes. "Feeling okay, sweetheart? You looked so scared back at Harwood's when I asked if you'd taught your Scieron name to Ebrill. I'm really not mad you know, just surprised. I didn't mean to get you all worked up over it."
"I... was afraid it was because my blood got all over her," Jones confessed with a wince. "That the Shadows in my cells had transferred to her somehow. The Scieron told us that can't happen though, and the reason she learned the name is just because small children and animals can hear them speak whether anyone else can or not."
"He worried himself into a near seizure and scared the crap out of me," Jack added, reaching over to gently brush the younger man's scarred right cheek. "His punishment for that is a shower, a nap, and having to put up with me fussing over him till morning."
"Bad day, yeah?" Gwen murmured sympathetically, stepping close to give the young Archivist a hug. "It's over now. My husband and baby are just fine because of you, Ianto. That's all I care about."
Her friend gingerly returned her embrace and she could feel the tension flowing out of him at her words. He was still so unsure of himself in this new life, so afraid of doing something wrong.
"Martha's gone to the monthly UNIT meeting," she informed her teammates as she gave Ianto's chest a reassuring pat and moved away to grab her coat and purse. "Turlough went to meet an old friend from Australia who's visiting, and I'm off for home. You two relax and enjoy your evening."
"Definitely," Jack smiled, his eyes shining.
Cooper headed for the big cog-wheel door, pausing on her way out to wave.
"Don't forget to turn the CCTV back on when you're done 'relaxing'," she reminded with a grin, then disappeared with a few final words. "Love the coat, Ianto!"
"She knows us far too well," the Archivist stated quietly, blushing ever so slightly.
Harkness laughed and nodded agreement, then pointed imperiously toward the office.
"Shower. Nap. Go." he ordered firmly.
"Yes, Captain Cardiff," Ianto promised docilely, obediently heading up the stairs even as he unfastened the borrowed, blood-stained great coat he wore. "Oh, about dinner... I'd like the shredded beef and eggplant lasagne from Bellini's, with the rosemary-basil breadsticks and their fresh baby greens in balsamic vinaigrette, so you won't yell at me about needing more vegetables in my diet. A few banana quarters dipped in dark chocolate would be lovely for a treat with coffee after."
"That's the dine," Jack smiled. "What about the wine?"
"Water's fine," Jones called as he moved into the office and placed the man's coat on the tree it normally occupied when not in use. "I've never been big on wine aside from an occasional glass in the evening with a good book, and beer is best with pizza or at the end of a hot day. Besides, you're intoxicating enough for me... and there's always the brandy or whiskey on your desk if we decide we fancy a nightcap."
The young Welshman had just stepped into the bedroom and switched on the lights, when he felt his partner's hand on his now bare shoulder. He turned, only to find himself gifted with a teasingly intense kiss. Then Harkness drew back to meet his gaze.
"Wash up and rest," the American urged, deftly removing his lover's Bluetooth earcomm as well as his own. "I'll get things set for the next alert and come wake you when I've got supper on the table by the couch."
"I'll... have your coat cleaned tomorrow morning," Ianto murmured breathily, briefly closing his eyes as he obviously resisted the temptation to lean in for another snog. "Ready by mid-day. And there's the spare I found in the Archives with the Webley till then. Um... I should go... go hit the shower..."
Jack smiled and nodded, playfully swatting his lover on the arse when the Changeling turned to head for the ensuite. Then he moved to exit the bedroom and make a few arrangements for the evening ahead. Tonight, Cardiff and the world at large were on their own, because Torchwood was taking a little holiday... and Captain Jack Harkness was in charge of the fireworks.
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Welsh bits:
cysgod = shade or shadow
annwyl = beloved
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AN: I think Jack has truly gotten the message now. There are no guarantees he won't have the occasional brain-fart in the future, but for the moment, he's got his head on straight again and his focus back where it belongs. And Ianto gets a "Happy First Scieron Guardian Resurrection" celebration in the form of a " 'dabbling' free-for-all"... things are looking up.
(Am I forgiven for the scare from the previous chapter?)
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM
