TITLE: To Separate The Lies From Truth
PART THREE OF SERIES: The Five Elements (AU Verse)
CHAPTER SUMMARY: The harvest is here…do secrets have to be revealed to survive…?
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood or Doctor Who which is unlucky because Jack and Ianto deserve so much more!
WORDS: 4200
Notes: And ANOTHER 4000+ words. You can tell I love Countrycide! Anyway, here it is, the final chapter of the part. This starts halfway through the end of the last chapter, just from Ianto's POV.
Chapter 19: Reap What You Sow (2007)
19th April 2007
"It's the villagers, they're canni…Tosh! Get down."
Bullets struck the trees inches from them as he yelled, but Tosh didn't react at the words as she continued to hurtle through the branches and shrubs, and Ianto cursed internally as it took him almost a second too long to realise he hadn't said those words aloud.
"Tosh!" Ianto shoved them both down under an overhang just as it was showered with another spray of pellets. He could hear Jack almost screaming for him to answer in his mind, but there was too much happening around them to risk distracting himself by answering. "Sorry, you good?"
"Yeah, that was close." Tosh whispered back. "They can't see us right? It's too dark."
"They're shooting wildly, but it won't be long before one of them is lucky."
Footsteps were nearing them, and they both held their breaths not to make a sound, Ianto taking the chance to try ease his worsening headache from Jack continued shouts across their bond by answering.
"We can't stay here." She murmured quietly, bringing him back from his conversation with Jack, and Ianto knew she was right. Their minimal cover wouldn't be enough to hide them forever. This wasn't a movie, and it wouldn't be long before they were spotted.
"I know you're here!" The footsteps returned with others, stopping only metres from them, a twig snapping above their heads. "No-one's coming for you."
Ianto slipped his hand into Tosh's, his voice low as he hissed gently. "Get ready to run.
Directing a hurried final message to Jack, they ducked out from the overhang aiming for the next cover of trees, just as their previous position was showered with another round of bullets. They kept low as they ran, but not even ten metres from the overhand, Ianto dragged them both to a halt, seeing the numerous beams of torchlight surrounding them, noticeably outnumbered and trapped from all directions.
"Hush now. No more games." The same voice from before taunted. It was clear this was the leader of the group, as the other's stepped aside to let him through. "There's nowhere to run."
They were backed up slowly against the broad chest of one villager as the man came closer, but despite knowing it couldn't end well, Ianto was unable to smother a slightly sympathetic but satisfied laugh as Tosh directed a clean kick to the leader's groin, refusing to be intimated. He was startled, however by the speed the man recovered as Tosh's hand was ripped from his as she was lifted up against a tree by her throat, her shallow gasps strained as she struggled for breath as the man's hands choked her.
"Tosh! Let her go!"
The headlights of the SUV startled everyone but Ianto. He took chance of the distraction as taught, charging directly the man strangling Tosh, knocking him back into the tree. The success was short-lived however as a wordless cry was the only warning before the butt of gun smacked down hard on his forehead.
His world turned black momentarily as he fell limply to the ground, stunned but not unconscious and he felt Jack's anger through his dazed mind, as the Captain wasted no time in leaping from of the SUV before it was fully at a stop.
His concentration slipping from the throbbing pain in his head, made it difficult to keep track of the number of bullets firing through the air, but each cannibals dropped in turn. Their shouts of pain rather than the silence of death did however register in Ianto's brain, part of him was actually pleased. Death would be too easy for any of them.
Ianto sensed movement beside him as the man he attacked stood once more from the base of the tree. His gun lay abandoned in the mud, and for a moment Ianto thought he was about to make a run for it, but instead Ianto was alarmed as he felt himself roughly snatched upwards from the ground by his collar, his thoughts too far behind the rest his body to react in time. A red stained butchers knife appeared from nowhere, as his body was used as a shield, the sharp blade hovered a threatening but teasing distance from his throat, as the man stared at Jack daringly.
"Let him go or I'll shoot. Let him or I'll shoot!" Jack yelled, not dropping his aim.
"Who are these people?" Gwen asked appearing with Owen from behind Jack, clearly surprised by the level of violence the latter had displayed, but the aim of her gun steady none-the-less.
"This is our village." The man snarled gleefully next to his ear, almost with a hint of pride. "This is our Harvest."
"They've murdered everyone who's passed." Tosh explained, standing up shakily and taking a proffered spare weapon from Owen. "They're cannibalising the bodies."
"Only in the bloody countryside." Owen spat. "You sick fuckers."
"You're surrounded." Jack declared, ignoring the confusion from the others, his focus only on Ianto himself. "Put the knife down!"
"No, not yet." A sharp pinch at his neck roused Ianto further, as the man's grip on the knife tightened, the blade starting to dig into his flesh. "You see, you're all meat. I'm afraid we're all just meat, and meat has to be tenderised first. Has to be bled, like veal. It takes a long time, but it definitely makes the meat taste better."
The determination from both Jack and the man behind him was so intense, Ianto knew better than any of them that neither were going to back down, yet Ianto had an advantage only Jack knew about.
It was a risk and he knew it. Not only had he never used his powers in front of anyone on the team but Jack (and maybe Suzie) before today and that he knew Tosh was already suspicious after his trick to escape there were a multitude of other ways his plan could fail. Yet, it was the only idea he had, and all he could do way maybe hope the others would be too distracted by what happened here today, to notice what he was about to do.
Lifting his head carefully – avoiding looking at the sickening blade at his neck, he held Jack's gaze intently. silently conveying his plan as the fight returned in his eyes, before slowly bringing his hands up to clutch at the ones around his throat as if trying to pull them away, but instead he let his power build inside him, slowly, concentrating on only releasing heat without a flame.
"Argh!" The man screamed in pain as his forearms burned under Ianto's hand, the cleaver dropping from his grips as the man stumbled backward in shock. "You fucking bitc…!"
A loud retort of a single gunshot cut off the curse as Jack fired dead centre into his forehead dropping the leader to the group like a stone, Ianto following as he was caught in the momentum.
"Ianto!"
He didn't get a chance to even stand before he found himself wrapped tightly in strong arms. Jack's eyes searched him up and down for any life-threatening injuries before their lips were pressed together in an awkward but relief-filled upside-down kiss.
"I'm fine. Honestly, Jack, I'm okay." Ianto assured, eventually pulling away, and it was true. His head hurt, but the gash had since stopped bleeding, and other than that there was nothing but bruises. The knife at his neck had pinched, but not broken the skin. If anything, he was just exhausted, and wanted nothing but to head home, but there was still too much to be done. There were several groaning forms around them, but Ianto hadn't had the chance to count how many had been up in the Big House while escaping, and they couldn't risk even one being left free. "There might be more up at the house."
"There's one in the boot as well. I'll deal with them." Jack's meaning was blatant and while Ianto would rather he didn't go alone, but he knew there would be no point arguing when he was this adamant. "Let Owen check you over. Tosh?"
Jack turned to the genius as he spoke and Ianto followed his gaze. She was staring at him with confusion but Ianto had the feeling she was beginning to connect some dots between what he'd done earlier, and how he'd escaped the man's hold. Tosh shook out of her thoughts at Jack's words, but from what Ianto could read from her, there was a much-needed conversation to be had when this was all over.
"I'm good." She assured. "Just bruises…"
"Okay, enough with the self-diagnosing." Owen interrupted. "Both of you sit."
Ianto obeyed silently alongside Tosh, letting his hand slip reluctantly from Jack's as he moved, the other straightening up.
"Gwen, stay with Kieran in the car and call the Police. This is their jurisdiction now." Jack ordered, shouldering the shotgun once more before finishing. "Just not till they get here. I'll be back in a minute."
~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~
Dawn brought with it a new air of stillness, which had settled upon the team as Jack drove them back towards Cardiff, all intent on leaving the horrors of Brynblaidd far behind them.
With the case having no connection to either the rift or aliens, there'd been nothing to cover up. Their captive cannibals have all been arrested after emergency services had finally arrived, and after simply giving their statement and slipping a small dose of retcon to Kieran – who was too young to have to remember what they'd all experienced over the last 24 hours – the team has solemnly collected all their equipment from both the village and the remains of their campsite, before sliding gratefully into the SUV.
All but him had fallen asleep almost instantly, though he was positive Owen had been fighting the urge for as long as he could, in favour of watching them all, but with the silence came the guilt that had started to drown upon Jack not even a mile into the journey. For once Jack was actually relieved his lover was asleep so he'd couldn't pick up on the swirling pit of emotions, because Jack knew the revelations of what they'd seen had shocked his team more than anything else ever had. It was one thing to see the most atrocious of acts committed by aliens on a regular basis, but seeing them done by your own species, the ones you spent every day protecting, was something else entirely.
Jack reluctantly woke the team as they finally passed onto the familiar streets of Cardiff, Gwen being the first to be dropped off into the confused but caring hands of Rhys. Not long after, Jack pulled up outside Owen's studio apartment.
"Same goes to you Owen." Jack began, repeating what he'd told Gwen only moments before. "I don't want to see you anywhere near the Hub for at least 48 hours. Get some sleep."
"Thanks, but I should stay with Tosh tonight." At the first sign of Tosh's polite protests, Owen continued. "Neither you nor Ianto should be alone with those head wounds, and don't think I've forgotten about your gunshot wound, Jack."
Ok, Owen might not have forgotten, but Jack certainly had done, the wound no longer having any outwardly signs of ever existing, pain and all. He groaned, already mentally planning the rift 'alert' that would make himself scarce when Owen inevitably wanted to inspect it.
"She can stay with us. I have a spare bed, she can use." Ianto spoke up suddenly, in answer to Owen, but then quickly turned to Tosh, looking at her questioningly. "If that's alright with you, I mean?"
"As long as you're sure, Ianto. Thank you"
"Three injured adults in one flat, what can go wrong?" Owen balked humorously, but didn't protest further as he opened the door to the SUV. "I'll be round to check in on you all in the morning. Or later tonight if you get what I mean. God, you'd think I'd be used to a messed-up sleep schedule."
Owen slid from the backseat, muttering as final thanks for the ride and for the new-founded reason for his hatred of camping, as he disappeared into his building. Jack brushed off the taunt like always as he set the car back into gear, but inside his gut churned once more.
"It wasn't your fault, Jack." Ianto declared, breaking the silence with no warning that he almost slammed on the breaks in surprise as he turned to the former. He clearly hadn't been shielding his feeling as well as he thought. "Don't look at me like that. I can read your face a mile off." Ianto added, which while true, wasn't the full story, and so was probably for the benefit of Tosh in the backseat.
"You all could have been killed!" Jack argued, and even as he spoke, he spotted the dark bruises that were already starting to creep into appearance on Ianto's face from the gunbutt. They were starkly visible even in the minimal light inside the car, and surrounded the small gash that thankfully was no longer bleeding. "And all because I thought it'd be a good idea to go into the middle of nowhere, with barely any plan!"
"You weren't expecting anything to happen." Ianto reasoned. "We all knew the trip wasn't meant to be work related."
"But-"
"Ianto's right, Jack. We saw through it instantly." Tosh interrupted. "Since when have you ever dragged us halfway across the country – out of the rift's range – for something that had no hallmarks of alien activity?"
"I…" Jack started to protest, but stopped at the stares from both his team members. He still felt some fault lay on him, he was meant to be a leader, but some things weren't worth fighting over. "You're right. I thought after everything that happened lately we could all do with a break – some team building – but it's probably made things worse now."
"I think we'll be fine, Jack. We survived, and stopped them from killing anyone else, and while I'm almost hundred percent sure I'm going to throwing out all things meat related from my fridge as soon as I get in, it won't last forever." Ianto assured. "There's no rhyme or reason in the world that can justify what those villagers did, so it's easier not to think about it."
"When did you become so wise?" Jack teased, but his grin slipped when Ianto merely shrugged.
"It was something I thought of to help back when…" Ianto trailed off, but it was obvious what he was talking about. "Well, you know…"
"Yeah." Jack replied, not sure what else to say at the unexpected mention of Ianto's past, and the car fell silence the rest of the way to Ianto's flat.
Jack followed in after Tosh as Ianto opened the door to his flat, and switched on the lights – not wanting to bother with re-opening all the blinds. If Jack recalled correctly, it'd been a while since Tosh had last been here, let alone stayed as she had when she'd first been freed from UNIT's captivity, but the layout of the Flat hadn't changed much over the years, and clearly Ianto had the same train of thought.
"Make yourself at home Tosh. Everything should be where you remember it." Ianto announced, dropping his keys on the kitchen counter, while Jack shrugged off his coat, hanging it in its usual spot. "And feel free to use the shower first."
"No, no. This is your home, you should…"
"I know, and you're the guest." Ianto interjected. "I'm going to make us some hot drinks, but would you like anything to eat. I know you were hungry."
"Just some hot chocolate would be fine, Ianto, as long as you're sure." Tosh replied, taking the hint from the change of subject. "I lost my appetite a while back."
"No problem."
Jack stood back as he watched the interaction between Tosh and Ianto. To an outsider it wouldn't have looked anything unusual, but it hadn't escaped his notice, both back in the countryside and on the drive home that neither had looked each other in eye as they spoke. Even now he watched as Ianto kept glancing sideways at Tosh, tracking her movements around the flat as she headed for the bathroom. It was almost as if he was expecting her to say something.
"You want anything, Jack?" The words jolted Jack out from his thoughts, and he turned towards Ianto who was busying himself in the kitchen.
"I'll have whatever, I'm not fussed, but are you sure you should even be on your feet?" Jack replied. "Owen still wasn't entirely convinced you don't have a concussion."
"Jack, if you ask me if I'm okay one more time…" Ianto huffed with exaggerated annoyance, and Jack held his hands up in defeat.
"Okay, no more, but only after this final one." Ianto placed the bottle of milk he'd just grabbed from the fridge onto the side, before stopping what he was doing and turning towards him expectantly. "How are you after what happened with… I mean I know you don't like using your gifts to harm anyone."
Ianto looked at his feet and didn't answer for a long while, that Jack couldn't help but reach out and check what was running through his lovers mind. However, Ianto eventually answered before he could, probably sensing his worry.
"To be honest I didn't even think about that at the time." Ianto explained. "I could read from him that he wasn't going to surrender, and had to do something."
Jack nodded in agreement. "You're just lucky the others were more focused on the villagers rather than what your hands were doing." He added teasingly. "If you argued that it wasn't the best place to explain my immortally to them, then I'd say the same applied to you."
"Yeah..."
Jack frowned confused at the rather serious and distracted answer, as Ianto turned back to the hob, pouring milk into a saucepan.
Jack leaned back against the adjacent counter, watching as Ianto tried, to switch on the Hob, but failed. The ignition switch clicked useless over and over, but the gas didn't alight.
"You got matches anywhere?" Jack asked after a few more futile attempts, starting to open drawers to look for the indicated items.
"No, I don't bother buying them." Ianto answered, stopping his search. "Not when I can just do this."
Ianto let up his pressure on the igniter switch, instead sparking another small fire above his fingers.
"Um Ianto? Sorry, but do you have any clean clothes I can borrow…"
Jack jumped startled at the voice, and Ianto quickly quenched the small flame in his palm, stuffing his hands in his pockets as they both turned to Tosh who'd just entered. She was wrapped in Ianto's somewhat unused dressing gown, staring at where Ianto's hands had just been.
"Yes, of course." Ianto answered, cheerfully as if nothing had been seen, when it was evident to all in the room that she had. "Second drawer down in my room, there should be some pyjamas. Probably a bit big, but better than the clothes you just took off."
"Er…Yeah. Thank you." Tosh stammered finally tearing her gaze away from the same spot. "Um, I'll go get dressed…"
Tosh all but backtracked from the room, and Jack stood numbly looking between the two of them, uncertain whether he should follow. However, Ianto merely sighed, turning back to the saucepan, and alighting the hob effortlessly, with no sign of the trouble from before. That and the subtle guilt, but also relief Jack could sense from the other, sparked realisation in him.
"You did that on purpose!"
Ianto sighed again, not looking from the heating milk as he spoke. "You haven't asked how we managed to escape yet." Puzzled, Jack moved to ask, but Ianto continued regardless. "I melted the bolts on the door to the room we were held in. I tried to block her view, but I could tell she was suspicious of how I managed to open it so easily, and she became even more so after my stunt with the leader afterwards."
"She hasn't said anything…"
"Not yet, but I could tell she'd been wanting to ask. So, I have I…but I just didn't know where to start." Ianto shrugged again, but then suddenly released a small laugh. "I think I might finally understand what you mean when you say showing is easier than telling. Although that being said, it's considerably less of shock to demonstrate my gift than yours, not to mention less painful, so don't go getting any ideas." Ianto added the last point after a moments consideration, looking sternly at him.
"How much are you going to tell her?"
"Just the basics.." Ianto replied. "Nothing to personal or complicated tonight. I think today's been overwhelming enough."
Jack went to reply, but at that moment he sensed movement in the doorway, and saw Tosh had returned, now dressed in oversized nightwear. She was hovering apprehensively, uncertain whether she was interrupting something and if she should enter. "Sorry. I can go…"
"No, it's fine Tosh. Come in and I'll explain." Ianto responded. "I know you've been meaning to ask ever since we escaped."
"Yes. Well, I mean I thought you'd done something, but I wasn't actually sure what until…"
"I know, and firstly, I'll start by saying sorry and that I didn't mean to spook you." Ianto began, sitting down opposite Toshiko in the living room. "I've never told anyone on the team about how I joined Torchwood, but I know you've all been wondering."
"Your file says you went missing until around the time you joined."
"I did." Ianto returned simply. "Jack found me at Torchwood One at the start of the decade but I wasn't an employee if you get what I mean."
"They imprisoned you, because of what you did earlier? I don't know what you call it?" Tosh deduced. She shifted nervously in the seat before hesitantly asking the next question. "Are you human, or…?"
"Tosh…" Jack started, unnecessarily protective. He starkly remembered the disbelief and panic Ianto once felt on that specific topic.
"Jack, please. We're Torchwood, it's a legitimate question." Ianto interjected. He didn't seem offended by the question, but maybe that was simply because it was Tosh. "Can I at least try and explain first?"
Jack nodded silently, and Ianto continued.
"Yes, I'm human, I'm just different. The problem was that Yvonne didn't believe the results."
Jack scoffed, and couldn't help interrupting again. "She didn't want to believe the results. There's a difference.
Ianto glared at Jack and ignored him. "I can control fire, you saw that part today, but it's not just that. It's the same with water and air. Things like that."
"Why keep it a secret? We trust you." Tosh asked. "We wouldn't have thought anything differently of you."
This time it was Jack who shifted uncomfortably in his seat, though it went unnoticed from the other two as Ianto tried to answer Tosh the best he could. He knew some of his reasons for keeping his immortality a secret was different to Ianto's, but there were also some stark similarities. He knew the team wouldn't react badly to the truth – not like many had in the past – so why did he still want it a secret?
~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~
Ianto sighed gratefully as he slid under the covers next to Jack. It'd been a long and tolling day and all he wanted to do was sleep for the next week.
He'd spent the last half hour answering Tosh's questions, but had managed to avoid the more personal topics of the Fae, his empathic abilities and mostly his bond with Jack. It was still such a new feature of their relationship that he wanted to keep it just between them for a little while longer.
"You've been quiet?" Ianto asked, turning towards Jack who'd barely said another word since around the middle of the conversation. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. I was just thinking about what Tosh said about secrets and trust." Jack answered, cuddling closer to Ianto, and the latter could guess where this was heading. "She knows your secret now, which is fine, but I can't help but think it'll make things more complicated when she finds out about mine."
"Jack, you know I'm all for you telling first rather than them having to see you die, but I also understand why you haven't and after today I don't think I can judge." Ianto assured. "Plus, I think one mind shocking revelation is enough for the time being."
"You're probably right." Jack mumbled into his back.
"That is what you always say." Ianto teased. "But for now, while your superior 51st Century body might not need sleep, I'm pretty sure I've been up for almost 30 hours."
"It's been a draining day for everyone, but I'm glad you're okay." Jack agreed. "You had me worried there for a minute."
"So did you." Ianto returned. He didn't think he'd ever forget the pain that seared through their bond when Jack had been shot. "Immortal or not, I don't like seeing you hurt."
Jack didn't answer, there was nothing really to say, instead he closed his eyes and burrowed closer to Ianto.
They were both asleep within minutes.
Notes: Ahaha now Tosh knows! Don't worry more Tosh – and reaction – to come, as of course next chapter (and I promise only one this time) is Tosh centric – it's Greek's Bearing Gifts! Hope this reveal went as well and is believable as it was for Jack.
Next chapter will though be up in 3 days rather than 2, however, as I'm slightly behind on writing the final chapters, which at the moment plans to be two chapters but knowing me I'll write too much and it'll turn to like 3 or 4, but I'd rather leave a bigger gap here than on a cliff-hanger later on. Sorry :)
