Disclaimer : Ianto's not dying, nor are Tosh and Owen(he's not living but dead either), Jack doesn't give a damn about Gwen - Obvious proofs that I don't own Torchwood. (And it's not possible to mistake me for RTD 'cause really, even if you're blind, you can't mistake a 17 year old girl for a man)
Warnings :
Slash(of course, since I'm writing it)
Lot's of emotional moments, tissue might be needed (I needed that while writing it)
Gwen-bashing
Unbeta'd
Pairings : Jack/Ianto, slight Owen/Tosh, Gwen pinning on Jack
A/N: I love reviews - all kinds - suggestions, constructive criticism, praise(of course) or just a little hi, telling me that you are reading this.
Now, on with the story.
"..Ianto Jones, will you marry me?"
"Jack - "
"Please say yes, Ianto. I love you"
"I love you too Jack. But I cannot say yes"
"Yan, don't -"
"You told me to think about myself sometimes, now I'm telling you to do the same Jack. Think of yourself. Face it, we do not know for sure that the antidote will be found. What then Jack? If I get well, and you're still interested, if you ask me then, I'll say yes, I promise, but now I can't. I can't Jack" Tears rolled down his face but he didn't care. All he could do was hope that Jack would agree. He couldn't let him sit by his side like this forever. It made him happy, more than happy to see how much Jack loved him but it also increased his guilt of being the cause for pain in Jack's life.
"Ok, if that's what you want, Ianto," Jack replied with a tight smile. "But remember your promise because I know that however long it might take, you will get well one day Ianto Jones. And that very day, I shall take you out and we'll stand under the stars and I'll ask you to marry me. Remember your promise then and say yes Ianto." His voice was husky due to crying. Jack hugged his lover as he muttered incoherent words of reassurance, to both himself and Ianto.
----------------------XxX----------------------
In a few days, the atmosphere in the hub got a bit lighter. They realized that the best thing at present would be to keep Ianto happy. Well, happy may not be the right word, but maybe keep him smiling and divert his attention from his condition for at least a little while.
"And Jack says 'Wait we can't go save the world, I haven't had sex with even one alien today!'" said John, relating a past anecdote from his time with the immortal as they all sat in the main hub, near Ianto. The Rift was quiet and the team got a lot of time to chat around.
"One day he went up to the enemy alien, stark naked and said, 'I am too tired of fighting. Let's have sex and then sort this out," joined in Martha.
"He's still the same, you know, just minus the aliens. Not an hours went by without me seeing him and Ianto all over each other," remarked Owen.
"Not our fault, you're the one who entered his office without knocking," defended Ianto. "Though I'm not disagreeing that Jack is a sex-maniac," he added, smirking.
"What! Shut up now all of you! What is it today? 'Team up against Jack' day?" said Jack with a mock-hurt expression.
"Not yet but not a bad idea Jack," said Tosh.
"Toshiko, you too! Oh please what have you done to my sweet Japanese girl!" Jack feigned fainting and the others laughed at his antics.
----------------------XxX----------------------
"Hey John," said Ianto as the time agent came and sat next to Jack.
"Hiya eyecandy. Hello Jack. You looking tired. Go rest "
"No, I'm fine," replied the immortal, still not ready to leave his lover.
"Jack, you have been sitting here constantly since a week. Go, get a break. I'll be fine here with John. Sit on the rooftop for a while, go to my flat and check if it's fine, go weevil hunting. Do anything but please go out for a while. You need to, please. I'll be okay."
"But Ianto -"
"Jack, I do not want any discussions. Leave now and do not dare to come back in less than one hour," commanded Ianto.
"Yes sir," said Jack, wearily.
"And Jack?" Ianto called out as his lover turned around to leave.
"Yeah?" Jack said turning his head around.
"Don't peep in from behind the wall or something. I will know if you do"
"Yes sir. John, please -"
"Worry not, Jack, I'll take good care of Eyecandy."
"Thank God! I thought he'd never agree." Ianto breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't believe it, you're still trying to keep him away?" John said, disbelief colouring his face.
"No, you moron. I'm not. I just wanted him to go get some fresh air. He's been sitting here all the while. He needs some exercise, needs some time alone to think about it all rather than just be swept away by circumstances."
"So you're finally understand that he doesn't need to move on and all that?"
"No, I still think he should. But I've realized that he won't. You were right, he won't."
"Talk about it. It'll make you feel better."
"Talk to you?"
"Let me remind you that you admitted less than a minute ago that I was right"
"Fine, fine. He asked me to marry him."
"That's so sweet. Trust me, despite what he might say, he is like a wife and a good one at that," replied John, a far-off look in his eyes. But he soon got rid of it. "Sorry, just -"
"It's okay John. You know I'm not jealous of you or anything. But the thing is, I said no"
"You did what?"
"Said no to him." Ianto related the event to a mildly shocked John. On hearing the story, John realized that Ianto was right. He had not been thinking from the Welshman's point of view.
"You did the right thing. But Ianto, promise me you'll wait for yourself to get well. Promise me you won't lose hope, even if for Jack's sake. Promise me you won't try to set him up anymore."
"I promise" was all Ianto could say in reply.
"By the way, when you marry, do invite me"
"You'll be my best man, John."
"Great. And, just for the record, don't ever let him use a microwave."
"Why so?"
"He tried once, put in some popcorn in a closed bowl, the bowl exploded and so did our microwave."
"I'll keep that in mind. Anything else I need to know?"
"Don't ever call him Jackie," winked John. "Unless of course you want to be tied to a chair with all your clothes on and be made to watch him wank."
----------------------XxX----------------------
Ianto was right, Jack thought as he came out of Ianto's bathroom after a shower. I really needed this.
He put on a light blue T-shirt and black jeans, having decided to do away with his usual shirt and slacks for the day. It was too warm for that.
The captain decided to clean up his lover's flat a little, while he was here. He started out with the DVDs which he had put here and there in the last few months and the Welshman, being busy at work had not had a chance to arrange. He was in the middle of arranging them alphabetically (he'd thought of doing it genre-wise but decided that this was easier) when his phone rang. He panicked as he took it out of his pocket,fearing the worst. Without even looking at the caller's name, he pressed the answer button.
"Hey Jack," came Gwen's voice from the other side.
"Gwen? What do you want?" Whatever Ianto may say, he wasn't about to forgive Gwen for at least the next 1000 years.
"Just noticed that you weren't there at the hub, and you hadn't told anyone where you were going, so -"
"I do not need to tell you of my where-abouts. So keep out of it, okay Gwen? And as for anyone knowing, John knows where I am."
"Oh, I should have thought. That's why he's out freely chatting up Ianto"
"What do you mean to say Gwen. Say it directly, I do not have much time."
"All I mean to say is that, Jack, you're wasting your time on a man who's gonna be lying in bed until God knows when, and has no qualms about flirting with your ex-es"
"If that's the only reason you called, them I guess I'll hang up now"
"No! Actually Jack, I was wondering if you'd like to go out for some coffee, it's been a while since -"
"No I would definitely not like that. And in case you don't know, I've given up coffee for a while. Moreover, Ms. Gwen Cooper, it'd be better if you remember that it's Ianto because of whom you're still on the team. Now, if you don't mind, I've got work to do." Jack hung up the phone, frustrated. How dare she accuse Ianto! And that too with John? She was crazy if she thought he'd believe her. Ianto, his Ianto would never cheat on him. Jack was sure of this. He was more sure of Ianto's fidelity than his own.
----------------------XxX----------------------
"Owen, could you hand over that file to me please?" said Tosh, her eyes fixed on her computer screen.
"Yeah, here it is," replied the medic handing her a folder.
She opened the folder only to find a small post-it note along with the required papers. The note, in Owen's handwriting, had just two words - 'Play along' Tosh looked at Owen who glanced towards Martha, indicating that it was her plan.
"Hey what about ordering some pizza today?" asked Owen casually.
"No home deliveries, Owen, at your rate, you will soon make Torchwood the best known customer of each food joint in Cardiff," chided Martha. "I think Gwen won't mind getting takeaway for us. But I feel more like having Chinese." She glanced knowingly at Tosh.
"I was thinking of Italian for the day."
"No need to fight kids, you all will have a say here," said John, understanding their plan. Ianto merely rolled his eyes. He too wouldn't mind having a bit of fun at the cost of Gwen. "So Ianto, what would you like?"
"You know there's this sweet little French restaurant down the road that Jack wanted to try. So I guess that'll be it for us."
"I'm not sure Jack would be wanting that, he's been having quite light meals these days," interrupted Gwen, angry that Ianto thought it fit to be ordering for Jack himself.
"In that case I think Ianto's order is perfect, Jack himself won't eat much but if Ianto's ordered it, then he'll never say no," John said in Ianto's support.
"Very right Captain," seconded Owen. "If Harkness is not taking care of himself, someone else has to do the job for him."
"And of course the someone can only be Ianto, since he's the only one who can talk sense into him," agreed Martha.
Ianto coughed slightly, giving the others a meaningful look.
"And into us as well," said Tosh, understanding that Ianto wanted them to stop their childish prove-to-Gwen-that-Ianto-is-the-one-for-Jack-and-make-her-jealous-and-misereable act. "So, everyone let's just make up a list of all that we want to order and Gwen can get all that except for Owen's pizza, which I think we'll order for home delivery since they already know Torchwood as a valuable customer."
Ten minutes later, Martha handed the list to Gwen with names of four different restaurants spread across Cardiff.
----------------------XxX----------------------
Ianto smiled at Jack as the latter helped him up into a sitting position.
"What?" Jack asked, unable to comprehend why his lover was smiling.
"Do I need a reason to smile when my boyfriend looks at me with all the sappy and corny emotions so visible in his eyes?"
"Shut up, I'm neither sappy nor corny and not anything else of that sort."
"Yeah and Paris Hilton is a virgin."
Jack pouted as he climbed up the bed and sat next to Ianto, placing the plate in his own lap. Smiling, he lifted up a spoon of curry and brought it to Ianto's lips. The situation definitely has its own bright side, he thought.
"Anything else you need?" Jack asked as he got up from bed to set aside the plate.
"Yeah, you," replied Ianto. "Jackie," he added after a pause.
"Oh, you're so gonna pay for this, Ianto Jones. And now I'm not letting you talk to John even for a second."
"Oh come on Jack, be a sport."
"No, you're not talking to John at all now. Moreover, I've come to know that you've been flirting him up in my absence," Jack said, with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Well, I might have. After all he is sexy," Ianto teased.
"Sexier than me?" Jack asked as he grabbed Ianto's chin and moved closer. His husky voice and warm breath against Ianto's lips made the Welshman shiver in pleasure. Before they knew, Jack's lips were on Ianto's, his tongue teasing the archivist's lips, demanding entrance. Ianto gave in and opened his mouth, letting the American's tongue ravish him. One of Jack's hands rested at the nape of Ianto's neck while the other was buried in the Welshman's hair.
"Oi, can't you remember that this is a public place?" shouted Owen, causing them to break apart. Ianto blushed hard. Jack ran a finger along Ianto's lower lip and placed a small chaste kisd on his lips before turning to Owen. That was when they realized that it wasn't only Owen who'd seen them but the entire team. Tosh and Martha were giggling endlessly. Owen, of course, had a disgusted look on his face but his eyes showed how happy he was. John too was joyful to see the two like this and made no attempt to hide it, though Jack sensed a barely there hint of sadness in his eyes. Gwen was furious. He's paralyzed and yet all the bastard can think of is kissing my Jack! And poor Jack, he doesn't even understand how the tea-boy is cheating him with the new captain!
"Even a future drug does not stop you from molesting the tea-boy, does it?"
"Of course not Owen. In fact, I couldn't think of a better time to molest my tea-boy," replied Jack, drawing in Ianto for a more sexual kiss as Owen groaned.
"Stop it this very instant, Jack Harkness and don't you dare kiss me like that in public ever again!" shouted Ianto, blushing more than ever.
"Hey it's not public, it's just us and the team. Besides, John and Martha are always ready to have a show, Owen has seen more than that and Tosh, well she has too, on the CCTVs at least. Plus, I can kiss you anywhere I like, any how I like. There are no rules I need to follow for kissing my fiancé"
"Jack, maybe you've forgotten but he said no to you, love," spoke up Gwen. I know it hurts you so much, but I don't want you to be stuck in the denial phase, you need to get over it, Jack! He's cheating on you!
"Actually Gwen, he did not say no. He just postponed saying yes. But whatever my future husband says to me is none of your business," Jack replied softly but firmly as he got up and went to stand directly in front of her.
"Hell, it is my business Jack! He doesn't deserve you. He is just a butler for Torchwood!"
"Ianto has an official level five Torchwood training which is more than you can even dream of. He has been a part of the team since before you even joined."
"You're blinded Jack! All this act of loving you, he's doing this only to get your trust. Like he got you to trust him to bring that cyber girlfriend of his to the hub. He's probably planning something bigger now!"
"Shut up Gwen! Ianto has proved himself to be a true member of Torchwood. He's proved his loya-ties to me. If you doubt that, it means you doubt me, in which case, you have no place in Torchwood. And remember, if it wasn't for him, the Cyberwoman would have killed you that day. If it wasn't for him, Tosh wouldn't be here with us, we'd never have got rid of those cannibals. If it wasn't for him, you'd have died of that poisonous lip gloss. If it wasn't for him, Rhys would have died in that alien meat fiasco. If it wasn't for him, I would have long before killed you for doing this to him. So Gwen Cooper, you'd better thank him for all that he's done for you, inspite of all that you did to him"
"Jack, I'll make you realize the truth," Gwen breathed as she pulled out her gun, pointed it towards the Welshman and pressed the trigger.
----------------------XxX----------------------
A/N:
1. Ah! Another cliffie! I'm starting to get good at this evil writer thing, no? What do you think? Will Gwen shoot Ianto or will someone step between them? If yes, then who (don't say Jack)? If not, then what will happen to Ianto? Tell me soon!!
2. I know it was sad that Ianto say no. If I had him say yes, it'd seem really selfish which Ianto is obviously not. But see the bright side, we'll get a sweet 'under the stars' proposal scene. :-)
3. I do not know if french cuisine has curry or not and I was too tired to search it up. I did the French thing as I just wanted each of them to put up a different choice to trouble Gwen.
4. I just love John Hart!! That's why all this John and Ianto understanding thing. In further chapters though, I'll try to write a bit of Ianto and Owen friendship and also some Ianto and Tosh. Maybe even slight Towen pairing.
A big thanks to all those who are reading this, those who added the story to Favourites/Alert list, and those who reviewed.
To JantoForever21, Nolynona, random-nasha, katwinchester, milady dragon, yyqh : Thanks for the wonderful words, keep reviewing guys, your words bring smile on my face, no matter how upset I may be.
To whatawaste : I don't know if it's just me but I've always felt that Owen's basically a nice guy but doesn't show his emotions too much. especially after watching Fragments, where his soft loving nature is brought out. So, I always portray Owen this way. Ianto, according to me, inspte of whatever dark past and stuff he may have, is always the kinda guy who won't hold it against someone, will see the good side of people, so I can't picture him having a grduge against Gwen, despite what she did.
To HydroJen : I'd love to have you as a beta from the next chapter onwards. For this one, I decided to let it be unbeta'd because I won't have time to post it if I got it done.
To LittleWing : I too loved that part, even though I first thought that it should've been Ianto who waited by Jack's side. Guess the Torchwood writers too love a hint of gwen-bashing ;-)
I take your word about the Doctor's abilities as I myself haven't watched Doctor Who.
To SLNS : I'm not on LiveJournal so I can't post it up there but thanks for your suggestion.
The next chapter will be posted in April as I've got my final exams starting on the 3rd. Wow! That's gonna be the end of school!! But if I get enough reviews, I might post another one. That's only fair as I know I've ended this at such a crucial point. So if you want a chapter before April, go review ;-)
See you soon. As always, all constructive criticism, suggestions and praise are welcome. Also, wish me luck for the exams. Hope I'll survive without fanfiction for a month :-(