Chapter Two
Jack wandered through the lower corridors of the Hub, thinking back to the previous year, when he'd done the exact same thing, the exact same night. He'd been looking for Ianto then as well. The Welshman had been searching the lower levels for the smuggler's cave rumored to lie somewhere nearby along the bay. Though he hadn't said anything since, Jack wondered if Ianto had really been looking for it, or had simply retreated after the grim events of that night—and if he had ever found it.
Jack was hoping for a better night than the previous year, when Ianto had left and Jack had spent both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone. They'd managed to connect on Boxing Day, and it had been good, but Jack was looking forward to spending more time with Ianto this year, to actually celebrating the holiday instead of simply tolerating it.
Assuming the Rift stayed quiet and the aliens stayed in London, Jack had plans with Ianto, and they included more than sex. Because it was more than sex after six months together, even if neither one of them would admit it to the other. He'd bought wine, and food, and a gift he hoped Ianto liked. All he wanted was a quiet night together, cooking dinner and watching a movie before retreating to the bedroom. He wanted to wake up next to Ianto, exchange gifts, share a Christmas breakfast. He hoped Ianto was looking forward to it as much as Jack, but like last year, Ianto had been distant and busy all day. All week, in fact; more than anything, Jack wanted to reconnect.
He was not surprised to find the archives empty, and for some reason, his feet carried him toward the same stairway where he'd bumped into Ianto the year before. He headed even lower, down corridors he hadn't seen for decades, half wondering if he'd ever seen some of them at all. It was dark, and cold, and he doubted that Ianto was down there, yet something drew him forward.
Tapping his comm, which he'd remembered this time, he hoped Ianto would answer so Jack could return to the much warmer upper levels. "Ianto? Where are you hiding this year?"
There was no answer. Jack sighed; Ianto didn't have his comm, or it may not be working so deep below ground. Jack decided to turn around. Impulsively checking his wrist strap, however, he was surprised to find a heat source not far away. A large heat source, with multiple life signs. His breathing picked up as he continued forward, drawing his gun against whatever he might find.
There was light ahead, and he moved quietly toward it, hoping that the Hub hadn't been infiltrated. A small part of him worried that Ianto was hiding another big secret, but he buried the thought as he found himself at the edge of a large cavern; it must be the rumored smuggler's cave, the one he'd once tried to find, the one Ianto had gone searching for the previous year.
Only it wasn't filled with modern-day smugglers. It was lit by lanterns placed at even intervals along the walls. There were desks in between, and a few sofas, and even a small kitchen area, with two other tunnels leading away. In the center of the cavern was a large Christmas tree surrounded by small rugs. It was warm and cozy, bustling with noise and activity, and smelled faintly of warm cookies.
Several dozen men and women moved about, carrying large sacks, writing on clipboards, and punching notes into data pads. As Jack watched in astonishment, a dark-skinned man materialized on one of the rugs next to the tree—like a landing pad of sorts, then. The man was wearing a red jumper and had a large sack over his back. And he was wearing a vortex manipulator.
"No way," Jack murmured, staring at the scene before him. A young woman materialized on another carpet pad. She was shivering and looked cold and miserable. A tall blond man stepped up and handed her a warm mug, which she sipped gratefully as he took her sack. They retreated to a sofa, where the man pulled out a clipboard and nattered on while she leaned back and closed her eyes, exhausted. The man stopped, smiled, and left her for a few minutes.
Jack was watching the scene in stunned silence when someone turned and saw him. It was an older man, with white hair and a beard, wearing a long scarlet robe that looked more like an overcoat. His eyes widened behind round spectacles, and he called out to several men in black nearby. As they moved toward Jack, there was another materialization by the tree, and Ianto appeared on one of the rugs, looking drained as he set down an empty rucksack.
Jack thought about retreating, about running back through the tunnels to the main part of the Hub and putting it on lockdown. But what was the point? Ianto was in there, and Jack needed to know what the hell was going on.
Was he dating a time-traveling smuggler?
Stepping into the cavern, Jack waited for the men in black. They must have been guards of some sort, for each grabbed an arm without speaking, their faces set with neutral grimness. Jack didn't protest, his eyes on Ianto the entire time. A young woman came up to him and must have said something about Jack, because Ianto whirled around and saw him. His eyes widened as well and his face went pale; he'd been discovered. At what, remained to be seen.
The white-haired man in scarlet robes strode over with Ianto, clearly disappointed as he narrowed his eyes at Jack before turning toward Ianto.
"I knew this was a terrible idea." He said with a light Spanish accent. "How you ever thought you could keep this secret from your coworkers is beyond me."
"No one ever comes down here," Ianto told him, sounding shocked and staring at Jack like he'd never seen him before. "No one knows it's here."
The white-haired man turned back with a raised eyebrow toward Jack. "Tell me, Captain Harkness, how you managed to find us when no one ever comes down here because no one knows it's here."
Jack stared at him, his instinctive response to retort and argue warring with his desire to protect Ianto. Because he sensed that Ianto was in trouble.
"I was looking for Ianto," Jack replied as evenly as he could. "And ended up walking farther than I intended. I picked up several life signs with my wrist strap and decided to investigate."
The white-haired man turned toward Ianto, obviously taken by surprise. "A wrist strap? He has a vortex manipulator?" Ianto nodded without a word.
"Who are you and why are you here?" Jack demanded.
The man ignored him and picked up Jack's arm, examining his wrist strap. "Where did you get this? It's not one of ours."
"It's mine," Jack snapped, pulling his arm away. "I earned it. Ianto, what the hell is going on?"
"Jack, I'm sorry, I can explain—"
The white-haired man raised an eyebrow again, and Ianto stopped, looking stricken.
"We're working," the older man said. "And you're interrupting, Captain Harkness. We don't have time to explain, so I'm afraid you'll have to stay here until we figure out what to do with you."
"What to do with me?" Jack exclaimed. "This is my Hub. You're trespassing, and you expect me to sit around and let you get on with whatever's going on here? I don't think so."
The man folded his arms over his chest. "Ah, so you want to ruin Christmas then, do you, Captain?"
"Ruin Christmas?" Jack turned to Ianto. "Tell me what's going on. And tell me you're not involved."
The older man laughed, a deep rumble that echoed across the chamber. "Oh, Ianto is quite involved. He has been for several years now, though we may have to reevaluate that."
Ianto's head whipped up, his eyes wide. "No! I can explain, I swear. I have a break in…" He checked his left wrist, where he was wearing a wrist strap. Jack felt his stomach clench, seeing it on Ianto's arm. Another secret. "Two more jumps."
The white-haired man studied him, then nodded. "Make them quick, then. I'll sit with your other boss. I admit I'm curious about him."
"Your other boss?" Jack asked quietly, unable to set aside the feeling of betrayal.
"Jack, I will explain everything," Ianto told him, pulling himself up straighter. "It's not what you think, at least, not if you're thinking it's something bad, because it's not bad, it's something good and amazing and—"
The young woman who had spoken to Ianto earlier approached with another rucksack, stuffed to bursting. Jack was fairly sure he saw a bow poking out of the top.
"Your next jump is ready, Mr. Jones," said the young woman. She had ginger hair and a nice smile, though she was pointedly avoiding looking at Jack.
"Thank you, Meghan," Ianto said. He looked torn between staying and going, and shook his head to focus. "Two jumps, Jack, and I'll explain everything."
"And I'll keep an eye on him," the white-haired man said. "Back to work, Ianto. Before we get behind schedule. Remember last year."
"Yes, sir," Ianto murmured. Jack frowned at hearing Ianto address another boss that way, but fortunately there was no flirting behind it. Jack wasn't sure he could handle that, on top of finding Ianto in an old cave beneath the Hub with a dozen people wearing wrist straps. He also wondered what had happened the previous year.
Jack watched as Ianto went back to his rug. It was white with a large red dragon on it. Ianto smiled weakly at him, punched several buttons on his wrist strap, and promptly winked out of existence.
"Where did he go?" Jack demanded, turning on the old man beside him. "Or should I say when?"
"I believe his next jump is Caernarvon," the white-haired man said. He studied Jack over the bridge of his nose and glasses. "And only a few hours ahead. Let's sit down. I have some questions."
"So do I," Jack told him, but followed him toward a large sofa on the other side of the tree. The old man sat down and waited for Jack to join him. He then motioned at one of the many people scurrying about, and soon they both had a warm mug of hot cocoa and a plate of cookies. Jack was starting to have some crazy ideas, and almost wondered if he was dreaming—or hallucinating.
"Who are you?" he asked. "What is this place, and what is Ianto doing here?"
"I am Nicolas," the other man said. Whereas he had been bordering on angry moments earlier, now he seemed relaxed, though still on guard. He sipped contentedly from his mug, dark eyes studying Jack from under bushy black brows, far more clever and insightful than he let on.
He did not offer more, and Jack quickly grew frustrated. "What do you do here, in this cave, Nicolas?"
"What do you think we're doing?"
"It was said there used to be a smuggler's cave here in the 1800s," Jack said. "Are you funneling goods through time?"
The man laughed again; it was both heartening and unsettling. "Not at all. We're not doing anything illegal, unless making people happy is against the law."
"I'm not happy," Jack grumbled. The older man sighed.
"That's because you don't understand what you've stumbled into," he said. "But I assure you, we want nothing but the best for the children of the world."
At that moment, Ianto appeared on his rug. He seemed even more frazzled than when he had left and threw Jack an apprehensive look before calling for Meghan again. She frowned as she listened, then hurried away. She returned with a thermos, an energy bar, and another sack. Ianto gulped it down, practically inhaled the energy bar, threw the sack over his shoulder, and disappeared.
"Llandudno, I believe," Nicolas murmured. "He'll exhaust himself at this pace."
"Doing what?" Jack asked. "Am I supposed to believe you're some sort of mythical Christmas figure spreading holiday cheer?"
"You can believe whatever you please," the man replied. "My name is Nicolas Garras. I was born outside Madrid in 1942."
"And now you live in a cave in Wales?"
The man shook his head. "I did not think it would be a good idea. I'd much prefer a sunny villa in Tuscany or a sprawling hacienda in the country. But Ianto thought…well, I'll let him explain why we're here when he returns. I imagine you will have much to talk about."
"Is he in trouble?" Jack demanded.
"That remains to be seen," the old man replied. "Tell me, Captain Harkness. How did you come by your wrist strap? You said you earned it. Does that mean you stole it?"
"No, I earned it," Jack said. "I trained for it, worked for it, bled for it, and died for it. I was a Time Agent."
Nicolas sat up. "Indeed. Well. Ianto did not mention that."
"That's because it isn't his information to share," Jack replied. "And he doesn't know much about it. It was a long time ago."
"When it comes to the safety of this operation and the hardworking men and women who sacrifice their Christmas to ensure it, I believe it was worth mentioning. We need to know the risks."
"What operation?" Jack asked. "And who says I'm a risk?"
"You've discovered our secret," Nicolas said, as if that explained everything. "And you have a vortex manipulator. You could change everything."
"The 21st century is when everything changes," Jack murmured, then shook his head because this probably wasn't it. He did not mention that his wrist strap no longer worked. "You still haven't explained what's going on here, underneath my Hub."
A middle-aged woman materialized nearby, looking extremely agitated. She was covered in some kind of dirt—ash, perhaps—and called for someone immediately. Jack noticed that those who hurried around the most—Meghan and the others running around with data pads and clipboards, coffee and rucksacks—did not wear wrist straps. He suspected they were some sort of assistant, assigned to each time traveler.
Nicolas sighed. "I will let Ianto explain. Excuse me, I need to see to Ms. Maxwell. She appears more annoyed than usual."
Jack didn't have time to protest before the old man left him to speak to the woman covered in dirt and ash. She started talking and gesturing until Nicolas nodded and patted her on the shoulder. He said something to her assistant, who lead her toward one of the tunnels leading away from the cavern. Nicolas gave Jack a thoughtful look, murmured something to a nearby man in black, and took the other exit. If Jack hadn't been waiting for Ianto to return, he would have followed the old man. Then again, the man in black moved closer, as if guarding Jack in Nicolas's absence.
Ianto materialized after a few minutes, stumbling as if he'd been in a hurry when he'd transported. He looked even more exhausted than before, and Jack wondered what Ianto was doing that was so draining. Or perhaps from the look on his face—fear, apprehension, and dread—Ianto was more worried about Jack than overworked by Nicolas.
He handed his empty rucksack to Meghan, who offered him a mug that he waved away. Instead, he hurried over to Jack, still sitting casually on the sofa and watching.
"Thank you for waiting," Ianto started. "I know you must have many questions."
Jack stood and faced him. "It was only a few minutes for me," he said. "How long was it for you?"
Ianto blew out a breath. "Several hours," he said. "Usually we stop to rest, but there's no way I could fall asleep without talking to you."
He looked pale, his eyes dull, his hair slightly out of place and a scuff of dirt on his face. Jack frowned. "Are you okay? How long have you been up?"
"It's been a busy few days," Ianto said. "Normally I'm fine, but I think moving our headquarters here was a mistake. I've been too distracted."
"Worried about being discovered?" Jack suggested. Ianto flinched.
"Yes," he murmured. "And I'm sorry you found out this way. I wish I could have told you, but it's not allowed. Not friends, not family, no one."
Jack crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. "Thing is, you still haven't told me anything. I have no idea what's going on, except that there's a dozen men and women using vortex manipulators to come and go from the Hub as they please. And that you have another boss and a cute assistant," he added.
Ianto's eyes slipped closed. "We should talk somewhere else. Can we go back to your office?"
"I don't know," Jack replied. "Will your other boss let you?"
Ianto flinched once again. "I think so. I've told him about you, so it can't be a complete surprise that you're here."
Nicolas appeared behind Ianto, causing him to jump. "Considering you assured me complete safety and secrecy, yes, it is a surprise. Especially that wrist strap."
Ianto did not reply.
"However," Nicolas continued. "I suspect we can work something out." He raised an eyebrow. "And he is very handsome. You look quite good together." He was obviously holding back a smile. Ianto looked gobsmacked.
"What?" he asked. "But I never—I'm not—we're aren't—"
Jack rolled his yes. "He is, and we are. Come Ianto, let's go have a chat."
He took Ianto's hand and lead him out of the cavern without a look back, determined to understand what was going on. And if possible, to salvage something from this unexpected Christmas surprise.
Author's Note:
Well, this was not exactly what I expected when I set out to write a holiday story! I had several fun prompts on Tumblr and a slightly different idea in my head, but this came out instead. I'd suggest not thinking too hard from here on out. Thank you for still reading!