TITLE: To Separate The Lies From Truth

PART THREE OF SERIES: The Five Elements (AU Verse)

CHAPTER SUMMARY: Combat, with some extra guests. Part 2

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Torchwood or Doctor Who which is unlucky because Jack and Ianto deserve so much more!

WORDS: 3600

NOTES: Next Chapter is here! Let's see if any of your guesses were right….


Chapter 23: Stay Of Execution Part 2 (2007)

11th December 2007

Weevil Fights Club. Sometimes Ianto wondered whether the human population were as smart as other species thought.

He might have had the title of SIC for a while, but this had been the first major case he'd lead before and riding the lift down to the hub in silence, he couldn't help but wonder whether his decision to let Owen in undercover had been the right call. Undercover missions weren't something they had the most experience with, but at the time, it'd been the only idea the team could come up with. But still the final decision had been down to him, and now Owen was in hospital after his cover had been blown.

"How Owen?"

Tosh and Gwen accosted Ianto as soon as the cog door to the Hub rolled open, despite already having sent multiple messages updating them both as he'd waited at the hospital.

"Exactly the same as my last message." Ianto replied, stepping through the cage. "Awake and moaning at the amount of fuss over, and I quote, 'A few small bite marks.'"

"Sounds like him." Gwen mused, both of them looking relieved. "What about Jack. Did you get hold of him?"

"No but wherever he went sounded important. He'll be back when he can." Ianto checked his watch, seeing it had gone two in the morning. "Both of you go and sleep. With Owen out of action, the next few days may be busy."

The pair nodded, slowly collecting their stuff before leaving. Frankly Ianto wanted to join them – he'd been awake for nearly 2 days straight before and during this case - other than a short sleep when awaiting news from Owen's undercover alias – and he was dead on his feet. But there was something else he needed to do first.

The truth was he'd called his lover multiple times in the past while, but why this phone was on – it rang long enough before going to voicemail, the calls weren't being picked up, and all his messages were still unread. The way he'd raced from the Hub earlier that day – or was it yesterday now – it could only mean one of a few things.

Jack's go bag, and the hand in the silly jar, was still here, meaning it had nothing to do with the Doctor, but he hadn't thought so. For one, Ianto hadn't heard the tell-tale arrival of the Tardis, plus the panic and worry Jack felt flooding both their minds, it had to something else.

A simple call to Flat Holm in a spare minute, hadn't brought any answers, and neither had there been a negative spike, but of what he could think of, there wasn't anything else that had required the sudden and vague exit earlier. At current, the only secrets about Jack he kept from the team were his immortality (and all that that entailed) and the horrific truth of the rift.

Another call and message going unanswered and unread, Ianto sighed. He hoped Jack would forgive him for this next invasion of privacy, but he needed to know his lover was safe. Jack's phone's location was scrambled as always, but pulling up the tracker for the SUV, it was a simple job to locate him, parked outside a hotel in Bristol.

Bristol?

He'd known Jack hadn't been anywhere close as their bond was currently defunct as it always was with distance, but he hadn't expected the latter to be so far away. As far as he knew – and he was pretty sure he would know if it was the case – Torchwood had no links to Bristol and that only raised more concerns.

Which only doubled when he saw it'd been parked in the same place for almost 6 hours now.

Despite always arguing it wasn't the case, Jack was partly right on saying he didn't need as much sleep as others, and he certainly wouldn't be one to stay at a hotel instead of staying up for only an hours extra drive back home.

Something had to be wrong. Grabbing his overcoat, Ianto externally rigged all Rift alerts to Tosh's phone and made his way to his car.

~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~

Just over half a mile from Bristol, Ianto recognised the exact moment his bond with Jack reconnected, getting stronger and stronger relatively quickly, as he drove fast along the empty motorway. He wasn't however, the only one.

"Ianto?" Jack confusion was evident over their link, but Ianto was simply happy to hear and sense something. "What…? Where are you?"

"Turning off the A4 now." He replied. "I've been calling and texting all evening. You said you'd have your phone on…"

The rest of what he meant to say was transparent, and Jack thoughts and emotions clouded for a seconds, before they came back clear "Sorry, been distracted." He could sense a hint of guilt, but it was subtle, almost as if he wasn't at all worried about going off grid at a moments notice. It was followed however by sudden alarm as the latter panicked on why he'd been calling. "Wait. Is everyone okay?"

"Owen was injured, but he'll be fine." Ianto replied, knowing Jack would have been able to sense his honesty, or lack of, if he'd deflected, but still he wasn't having a full mental conversation while driving. "I'll explain when I get there."

"I take it you tracked the SUV to know where I am." Jack returned, but there was no hint of amnesty at the lack of privacy as he'd expected. "I'll meet you on Floor 3."

Ianto drove the rest of the way to the hotel quickly. wondering why he'd given him the floor but not the room number, and wasn't surprised when a concerned Jack met Ianto at the doors to the elevators, the door to room 314 ajar behind him.

"What happened? Was it the Weevil case?"

"Turns out the Weevil were being kidnapped by estate agent Mark Lynch, only he ran an underground Fight Club and decided Weevil's were their next best opponents."

Jack's annoyed huff was almost imperceptible behind his worry. "And Owen?"

"They would have recognised me from the garage and Tosh and Gwen from the cameras at the docks so Owen was the only choice to go undercover at the estate agency, but his cover was blown before we got there and was blackmailed into getting into the cage." Ianto explained, guiltily. "A few serious scratches and bites but he'll be fine - probably have to be off work for quite few weeks though."

Jack picked up on his guilt far too easily, however. "It's not your fault. You did well."

"It was my first case, and someone ended up in hospital." Ianto returned, not really believing Jack's words himself. "What are you doing here anyway? I wasn't aware of any Torchwood links in Bristol."

"There's not, it was personal." Jack's eyes flickered to the ajar door behind him as he spoke, and Ianto sensed Jack's nervousness at the question. "It's complicated."

"Jack…" Ianto raised his eyebrows ironically. "You're talking to the person with probably the second most complicated personal life we know, expect for you and maybe The Doctor."

Jack however merely sighed. "I know, I just don't want you to feel hurt that I didn't tell you. At first there wasn't really much to tell, probably still isn't really. This most likely will just be a unique circumstance so I…"

Ianto sensed his lovers stress and worry as the latter started rambling and quickly cut him off. He didn't know what had Jack so nervous, but his answer would always be the same. "Jack, I've said before. We might have known each for a long time and are lovers, but I don't expect that I know everything about you. You've lived too long to share everything. You don't have to even tell me now, if you'd rather not."

"No, you drove the whole way here, you shouldn't have to go back now. I can tell you're exhausted." Jack objected. "It's….there's another element of immortality that I've never mentioned. In some ways it's both a blessing and a curse, but… well just come in…"

Jack moved back from the elevator, and Ianto followed him through the ajar door to room 314. At first he didn't notice anything out of place in the dimly room, until he spotted the mop of blond hair belonging to a small boy laying on the large bed in the centre of the room, wrapped up in the large duvet that made him look smaller than he already was.

From the multitude of emotions from Jack, it was evident the young boy was related to him, but while he didn't look older than 7 or 8, it still meant he would have been born before he'd even met Jack. "Is he your…?"

"My grandson, Steven." Jack finished. "He doesn't know of course, he thinks I'm his Uncle."

Ianto had been fully expecting Jack to say he was his son, but he couldn't be that surprised he was a generation off.

"Well, I've always thought you were a natural with Mica and David." Ianto finally answered. "I suppose that make sense now."

"Wait, is that it?" Jack's head snapped up to meet his eyes in surprise, and Ianto hid a smirk as he felt Jack's apprehension ease. "That you thought I was a natural?"

"What did you want me to say?"

"I don't know." Jack shrugged. He took a seat on the sofa in the corner of the hotel room, and Ianto joined him, sensing his doubt and unease return. "I've never really had much chance or experience with being a father actually. This is only the 4th time I've seen him truthfully. His mother, my daughter, we don't exactly get on."

"What's different today then?" Ianto asked. "Is …er…your daughter okay?"

"Alice." Jack supplied. "A car accident on the way to school, at least that's all Steven recalls. She'd should be fine as soon as she awakes. Not looking forward for when she realises I've got Steven though."

"Is it that bad?" Ianto asked. Jack made it sound that their relationship had its own rift a bit bigger than just not 'getting on.'

"Alice's mother, you might recognise from the archives. Lucia Moretti was a Torchwood operative in the 70s. We didn't plan for a child, but as you know, sometimes these things happen." Jack explained. "I was having a bad time then, and Alice – or Melissa as she was christened - was just what I needed then, until Lucia discovered my unique trick when Melissa was two. She didn't take it well and fled. I didn't find them again until a few years ago, so I haven't really been a part of their lives."

Ianto frowned, his lover's guilt drowning them both, but it was certainly misplaced. "That's not your fault, Jack."

"I know." Jack sighed. "But then again I can't really blame Alice for it either. She grew up with her Mother resenting me. It's all she knows."

"You've never tried to tell her the-"

"Uncle Jack?"

Ianto was interrupted and they both turned at the sound, to see Steven sitting up slowly in the bed, his casted arm huddled close to his chest as he glanced around confusedly.

"Hey Buddy. Is your arm hurting again?" Jack jumped up from the sofa and moved closer to the bed as he spoke.

"Yeah…" Steven's words were barely audible as he side-eyed Ianto warily.

"This is Ianto, Steven." Jack introduced. After what he'd shared of the events earlier today, it was understandable Steven was cautious. "He's a good friend of mine. He won't hurt you."

"Do you work with Uncle Jack in the government, Ianto? That's what he told the lady so she didn't take me away? Have you ever fought in the air force too?" Ianto wasn't completely sure what he was referring to, but guessed he'd get the story from Jack at a later point, and was about to answer when a different thought came to Steven. "Wait, is he here to tell us we can see Mum, yet?"

"Not yet Solider, the hospital will call me when that happens." Jack returned, hunting through his greatcoat pockets for a moment, before pulling out some prescription medicine, and sitting down next to Steven on the bed. "Now for your arm, I think you have more of the medicine now, then you can try get some more sleep. It'll pass the time until you can see Mum."

"I don't want to sleep anymore." Steven protested, although he swallowed the spoonful of medicine Jack offer without complaint. The tiredness, however, that Ianto felt in his mind overlaying Steven's stubbornness – which was definitely inherited from Jack – betrayed him as he settled into the large bed, yawning. "Fine, but will you wake me up when the doctor calls?"

"I promise, Solider." Jack chimed. Ianto could sense the longing from him, as he tucked the bedding closer to Steven as the boy drifted off.

"We should sleep too." Ianto settled as comfortably as he could on the sofa. There wasn't much room, especially once Jack had joined him, but they were used to the small camp bed in Jack's bunker so it wasn't that different. He suspected the latter wasn't planning on sleeping, but soon enough Ianto felt his breathing soften just as Steven's had not that long before, Relaxing he let himself follow. He doubted they'd sleep for long, but it was better than nothing.

Dawn was creeping through the window, when Ianto next awoke, hearing Jack speaking lowly close-by. He pushed himself up on the sofa, just as his lover hung up his second, secure mobile, and turned to face him.

"That was the hospital." Jack relayed. "Alice's awake. She wants to see Steven."

~ * o ~ * o ~ T ~ o * ~ o * ~

Alice lay half upright in her hospital bed, trying to ignore the loud bustle of doctors and nurses around her ward and the scratchy blanket covering her as she waited.

She'd awoken an hour or so earlier, to find herself in the hospital, and had already been subjected to a large multitude of test and scans, had moved rooms - twice – and had been given breakfast, but all she wanted was to see her son.

The last thing she remembered was calling Steven's name in panic before a large weight struck the car, and nobody she spoken for a long time once she'd awoken had known anything to tell her. Until her doctor had arrived to tell her he'd left for the nearest hotel with his 'Uncle'. However, despite the short relief at knowing her son had survived the accident, there was only one person she knew that dressed like he'd 'just stepped straight out of the 1940's' as the doctor had described, and her troubling returned.

Truthfully, she didn't know her father very well, but her mother had been very adamant about what she thought Jack Harkness to be. She didn't often speak of him, but when Alice had asked, she made clear that her father was selfish, egoistic, untrustworthy, and only cared for what was important to him. Yet, it was the continuous lessons about just how dangerous Jack that were driven in the most. A man long lived and never aging was not natural. It meant he had nothing to lose.

"Mummy!" Alice looked up at the door to her hospital room open and a blur of blond hair charged in, jumping onto the bed and into a hug.

"Steven, darling, are you okay?"

The form buried half into the blankets nodded, before her son sat up again to answer properly. "I broke my arm, but I was scared. You wouldn't wake up." He lifted his arm and Alice spotted the thick white cast she'd missed before. Her heart dropped as she imagine the pain and fear Steven had felt, as her eyes scanned the rest of him for more injuries. "Then the doctors wouldn't let me see you, but Uncle Jack took me to a hotel to wait instead."

"Did he?" Alice turned to see her father for the first time, who was standing in a few steps into the room, his hands stuffed in his greatcoat pockets. She hadn't even heard him enter. "How did you even know in the first place? You can't just turn up to see Steven whenever you think it's convenient."

Her tone came out more flippant than she'd planned and she saw Jack's shoulders straighten defensively and gaze drop, but he didn't say anything. Instead, it was Steven who answered, looking confused.

"But Mummy, Uncle Jack saved from a mean lady."

Alarmed, Alice looked at Jack questioningly. Her father's eyes flickered towards Steven's hesitantly before he answered cryptically. "Social Services."

It was clear he didn't want to explain the full details while her son was in earshot, and apparently she hadn't been the only one.

"Hey Steven, do want to come with me to find some breakfast and leave your Mum and Uncle Jack to speak?" Alice looked over again at the new voice, to see a young man in a suit stepping forward though the door, for where he'd clearly been hovering. "We can come back straight after. If that's okay with you of course ma'am."

She was slightly taken back by the politeness, but recovered quickly. "Who are you?"

"Ianto's Uncle Jack's boyfriend, Mum." Steven piped up, still bouncing slightly on the corner of the bed. "Well, Uncle Jack just said he was a friend, but they fell asleep on the same sofa last night. I don't know why, it was tiny and must have been really uncomfortable, but I'm right, aren't I?"

Steven had turned towards Jack with the last question. Her father looked slightly shocked but chuckled, while she was pretty sure the other man – Ianto- blushed. "You're right, Soldier. Though I was pretty sure you were asleep."

Her son shrugged nonchalantly and turned back to her with a wide innocent smile that she didn't have the heart to chastise him for the impolite gesture. "Is it okay if I go get breakfast with Ianto? I'm hungry."

She hesitant momentarily, but eventually nodded. Steven slid down from the bed, slowly but eagerly as Ianto guided him from the room with a subtle nod at Jack as they left.

"How are you?" Her father stepped forward once door had shut again, though his hands remained in his pockets. He almost looked guarded.

"Fine. Doctor says I can be discharged later if everything remains the same." Her eyes flickered nervously to the doorway where Steven had just vanished with an all but stranger.

"Ianto has a nephew Steven's age." Jack informed; he must have read her expression. "He'll be fine."

"Are you serious about him?" she asked instead, even if she could guess the answer already. She'd never heard a story of him ever having serious relationship. Even her own mother hadn't been a serious relationship for him, so she couldn't picture that he was even capable of having one in the first place. He slept and flirted with everyone, but it would never stretch further than that.

"More than I thought possible." Jack nodded, surprising her. "He's... Ianto's my SIC."

"Another Torchwood member then." Her voice was suddenly void of any emotion. "How old is he?" She asked abruptly. Torchwood members joined young, but never usually passed thirty.

Jack stared at her defiantly. "Twenty-eight."

"Oh God!" Alice cried horrified. "He's near 5 years younger than me! Have you no shame!?"

"He is young, yes, but Ianto understands me better than all my other partners before him," Jack hissed.

"So, he knows your little secret then does he?"

"As a matter of fact, yes he does and while he hates it it's not for the reasons you'd imagine. He accepts me for who I am." Jack retorted. "Why are you so unfair to him? I wouldn't have expected you to get so worked up about the fact that I have a partner who's younger than you, if that's what this is all about. You know everybody's young in comparison to me."

"Don't remind me. I already look older than you and it's never gonna stop." Alice spat back. "I just can't stand it, Dad, and I just know that one day, you're gonna be standing at my funeral looking just like you did when you were standing at Mum's."

"I'm more than aware." Jack replied, his voice quiet and almost depressive, that it made Alice pause. "I'm sorry that everything's come to this, with your mother and me... but in my defence, I'm not the only one at fault. I may not always have been the best father, but it was your mother who disappeared."

Footsteps and muffled voices signalled Steven and Ianto's return from the restaurant, halting any further conversation as the pair entered with a packaged sandwich and a carton of juice.

"We should go. I'm glad you and Steven are okay."

Her father turned and left before she could say another word, ruffling Steven's hair in goodbye as he passed. She opened her mouth automatically to call him back, but the words failed in her throat. Ianto flashed a troubled and suspicious glance between her the door, but covered it with a warm smile as he too said goodbye to Steven before following her father from the room.

Stay Of Execution: noun - A cancellation/postponement of a punishment. In this case, Jack gets a short break by having a chance to see his family which is normally blocked from him.

Notes: So? There you go! Ianto know knows about Alice and Steven – I thought it was time. Next up is Out of Time. It'll be up in 2-3 days. Still haven't finished the last chapters ahaha