Chapter 7
Owen and Toshiko gathered around Jack's desk, each moving files out of the way, clearing a space to sit upon and faced their leader who was reclining tensely in his chair.
Without preamble, Jack looked up at Owen and asked, "What happened?"
Toshiko watched Jack's face change from a flinty glare to a mask of hatred as Owen related the conversation between Ianto and Prince Varnia in the kitchen. His hands whitened as they curled into fists and his gaze turned murderous.
Jack slammed his fist down on the desk and shouted, "I knew it! I knew he would pull a mind trick like this! Damn him! I knew he couldn't be trusted!"
Tosh spoke in a quiet, soothing tone, "Jack! Ianto didn't succumb to the Prince's ploy. You saw how he stormed out of the kitchen. He was angry! And Owen said that Ianto knew what the Prince had done. So he may have pulled a trick on him, but it didn't help him with Ianto, did it?"
Jack's face softened and he turned apologetically to Toshiko, "Yeah, you're right. It didn't help him with Ianto. I'm sorry Tosh … Owen … I'm just so wound up at the moment … I'm not thinking or acting clearly. I'm just worried about Ianto."
Toshiko nodded in understanding. Owen was not quite so gracious. As usual.
"Harkness, for fuck's sake! We're all worried about Ianto. Even he is worried about what will happen to him. Why did you let the Doctor drag him into the Tardis? What possible reason could the Time Lord want for doing that, other than to coerce Ianto into being with Prince Varnia? Because if he had intended influencing Ianto to stay, then he wouldn't have needed to drag him away, would he? Did you think about that as you watched them go? Did you actually think about that?"
Jack turned his face towards Owen and the look of absolute horror that crossed his features, gave the young medic all the answer he needed. Owen scowled at him in disgust, then glanced over to Toshiko whose face mirrored the same horror.
"What have you done, Jack? What the fuck have we done? Letting him take Ianto like that!" Owen's frustration sounded in his tone. The whole team had just stood by and watched while the Doctor had taken Ianto. And none of them had tried to stop them.
"Owen. Ianto … he … he loves Jack! Nothing the Doctor would say could sway him. Nothing. We all know this. Ianto will not choose Prince Varnia. Because it will be Ianto's choice that prevails. Prince Varnia won't be able to force him, will he Jack?"
The Immortal look with grateful eyes towards Toshiko, "No, Tosh. Ianto won't be forced against his will." And he smiled, suddenly aware and grateful for the young Welshman's unswerving, unflinching, unfailing love and loyalty for him.
Jack sprang to his feet, causing both Owen and Tosh to jump up in surprise. "We're gonna stop this! Now! I'm going to get Ianto out of the Tardis. I need the rest of you to restrain the Prince."
Tosh grabbed the Captain's arm, "The Shadow Proclamation! Jack, don't do anything that will endanger us all. Wait … please wait! I have an idea."
Jack and Owen both stopped and turned to stare over their shoulders at Toshiko. They saw the determined look on her face and nodded. Tosh immediately went behind Jack's desk, sat down in the chair and started up his computer, "Just need to do something first", as her fingers raced across the keyboard. "There! All done!" Then rising slowly she shot a surreptitious glance up at the CCTV in Jack's office. Jack and Owen realised Tosh had just disabled the feed.
Just then, Jack's Vortex Manipulator sounded, the lights blinking. Jack looked down at it, opened it up and pressed a few buttons. "About bloody time, John!"
A hologram began to materialise. Captain John Hart's image appeared to them. "Ok. I've heard everything. I have a plan. I'm going to action it the minute I join you. It will work. You just have to play along. Nobody is gonna take Eye Candy away except me. You have to trust me, Jack. I can't tell you the plan. I need you all to react naturally when I execute it. Just trust me, Jack. At least, this time! And Jack? Why the fuck did you let the Doctor drag Ianto into the Tardis? Makes it a bit harder, Jacky boy. Gotta go. With you all soon."
Tosh and Owen beamed at each other. Jack smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. What are you up to, John? And why the warning? Something tells me I'm gonna HATE your plan … but I will trust you. I don't have a choice.
"Let's get back downstairs. We're just gonna wait for Ianto and the Doctor to come out. And wait for John to take action."
"I'm sorry, Ianto … I'm really sorry", the Time Lord whispered softly as he looked back up from the blinking monitor into the stormy blue eyes of Ianto Jones who stood before him shaking; watched as the young man's cheeks became suffused with the deep red of his anger.
Enraged at the Doctor's meaningless apology, Ianto yelled at him, "SORRY! You sit there before me and tell me, you're sorry! That isn't true, is it Doctor? You're not sorry at all! You dragged me here on purpose. Showed me all that stuff about Prince Varnia. About his empathic ability. His very special and unique empathic abilities. And the consequences of what will happen to him if he doesn't 'bond' with his soul mate. FUCK!"
The Doctor shook his head sadly. Ianto was right. He had deliberately brought him into the Tardis, shown him everything he knew would sway Ianto, knowing exactly how it would deeply impress upon the young man's mind. And upon his heart. He knew the young Welshman very well. And he had deceived him.
Straightening himself, he gazed at Ianto with great sadness, "Ianto. The choice is still with you. You don't have to do this if you don't want to. I'm not forcing your choice, Ianto, I'm just giving you all the facts you need to make your own choice. I'm sorry it has to be this way."
"Oh really? My choice? To make as I see fit? You have now made it IMPOSSIBLE for me to choose anyone but Prince Varnia, haven't you? And you have the gall to stand there and mouth off an apology that means nothing! Because … let me get this straight, yeah? If the Prince doesn't bond with his 'soul mate', because of his special empathic powers, he will die! If he dies without producing an heir, it will probably lead to a breakdown in the political balance on his planet, which will destabilise the fragile peace they have in that sector. Meaning, a major war is likely … no … inevitable, which will have far-reaching consequences. And as I understand this … it could reach beyond that sector, as the various factions call on their allies from other sectors of his galaxy, thus threatening the stability of the whole Universe! Is that right, Doctor?"
The Time Lord squared his shoulders and nodded, "Yes, Ianto. You've understood the situation correctly."
"So! I go off with Prince Varnia, leaving behind my family, my friends, my planet and … and the love of my life … to travel to a faraway kingdom on a distant planet and bloody well live happily ever after!"
"Yes", answered the Time Lord, "if that is what you choose."
"Then to add bloody insult to injury, because Prince Varnia and I are both males, he will have to sleep with a concubine in order to produce an heir! And this will repeat while he produces his own dynasty! But that's alright, isn't it Doctor? I can just read a book or go for a walk while my husband is screwing someone else! Because that's the way they do it there. And I'm just a stupid, bloody human whose feelings are of no consequence. Because I do understand now, Doctor, that when we make that connection, I will fall deeply in love with the Prince. And I will have to wait while my poor human heart shatters, every time this 'acceptable' betrayal is inflicted upon me!"
"Yes", the Doctor answered, "that's exactly what will happen."
"Tell me, Doctor. Did you know before you and Prince Varnia arrived here on Earth, that I was the chosen one! Did you?"
"No", the Doctor replied, "and neither did Prince Varnia. It's only when he laid eyes on you for the first time, that he knew … he felt it within himself. And that's when everyone else realised … even me. Well … I don't think you realised it til later. But the rest of us did, Ianto."
"So! That's it then. You know, Doctor, I never really understood why Jack ever loved you. You treated him so badly. You 'rescued' him, turned his life around, saw that he fell in love with you, would do anything for you, even lay down his life for you. And what was your response? You abandoned him. Without a backward glance. Yet he waited for you … for over 100 years. And the minute you showed up … he left us all … abandoned us all for you! And my heart shattered then when I realised he had left me, abandoned me … to go and be with you! And I hated you for that!"
The Doctor rubbed a weary hand across his forehead, saddened because he already knew that from Jack in the year that never was when the Immortal discovered who had captured his heart. Ianto Jones.
"Yes, Ianto. But he came back for you. Make no mistake about that. It wasn't just the team he came back for, Ianto. Jack came back for you. And he gave me up in order to come back to you. I had offered him the chance to travel with Martha and myself across the Universe because that's what Jack loves to do. But he turned my offer down. For you, Ianto Jones."
Ianto's eyes softened momentarily. I never believed Jack when he told me he'd come back for me. He never mentioned he gave up the chance to travel again with the Doctor. At least I have that. I will carry that knowledge with me … Jack came back for me. I'll hide it in the corner of my heart that belongs only to my Captain. And no bonding will ever be able to erase that corner of my heart that I save for Captain Jack Harkness. I will love him for all the rest of my days … no matter who I am with.
"Then you know, Doctor, you know that when I make my choice and break … break my Captain's heart, he will blame you. He will blame you for this, even though I will not tell him or Prince Varnia why I am making this choice. I know Jack. He will blame you. Are you prepared to face the wrath of Captain Jack Harkness? Face his unforgiveness? Possibly for centuries? Because I don't know if he will be able to forgive you, Doctor, as he did once before. Are you ready for that?"
The Doctor turned to face the young Welshman with a determined look on his face, deep regret and sadness in his ageless eyes and replied, "Yes, Ianto. I am ready. Are you?"
A bitter sob broke out from Ianto's lips, "Yes! Yes I am. You know, Doctor. It would be far easier for me to lay down my life … die for your cause … than it is to live through it. Do you understand?"
Placing a firm hand on Ianto's shoulder he softly answered, "Yes, I do. I wish for your sake, that it could have been that way. Because I know it will be so much harder for you to live with this. And I really am sorry, Ianto Jones."
Ianto merely nodded, wiping furiously at tears streaking down his face. Then he turned towards the door and with the Doctor, walked out of the Tardis back to the waiting group.
Jack looked up and saw Ianto in a deeply distressed state, his face was tear-streaked and his eyes downcast as he moved to stand apart from him and the team.
Prince Varnia was upset to see how bad Ianto looked. His heart ached and he just wanted to take the young Welshman in his arms. At a tentative touch the young Prince reached out, then sighed as he felt the inpenetratable barriers Ianto had still in place. He cast a furtive glance at Jack, wondering why the Captain wasn't moving to comfort his young lover. That was strange.
Ianto lifted his head and stared at his team, his love and grief pouring out to them from his beautiful, blue eyes. They were all alarmed, especially Jack who didn't know what to do. They were all waiting for John to act.
Ianto moved quickly towards Jack, pulled him into a tight embrace and fiercely kissed his lover, his undying love for Jack pouring into the Immortal's heart. Jack was momentarily stunned by the intensity of Ianto's kiss, feeling the young Welshman pour into him his love through his mind, his heart and his lips. Then he pulled back from the Immortal slightly, touched his cheek tenderly to him and whispered, "I will love you, my Captain, for all the days of my life."
Moving quickly back to stand with the Doctor, Ianto looked at each and every member of his team, his mind burning their faces into his memory, and then at Prince Varnia.
Looking back at Jack, who was visibly upset and afraid at what had just happened, Ianto spoke with strength in his voice that only sheer determination gave him, the words he never wanted to say.
"Jack! I've come to a decision. I've made my choice. And I choose Prince Varnia!" Unable to bear the look of devastation in his Captain's eyes, Ianto moved quickly to stand in front of Prince Varnia before his resolve vanished.
Ianto's team mates were just as stunned as Jack … just as shocked at Ianto's words. And Jack nearly collapsed with the unbelievable pain that crushed his heart when he saw his lover pull the young Prince into a desperate embrace, kiss him with a fierce intensity that he had kissed him, then whisper in his ear.
Jack fell to the ground when he heard Ianto's words to Prince Varnia, "I am yours." He never heard a word as his team pulled him up, Tosh and Gwen wrapping their arms around their Captain, while Owen hurled abuse at Ianto, unable to understand the young Welshman's capitulation.
Prince Varnia was also oblivious to the commotion around him. Ianto's earth-shattering kiss had completely overwhelmed him and his words … his words had captured his heart. Moving his hand softly up to cup Ianto's face, the Prince felt the surge inside him as he prepared to make the connection, nearly collapsed with joy when he felt Ianto's barriers come crashing down.
He had just begun the 'bond' with Ianto, when suddenly a stranger appeared from nowhere, pulled the young Welshman out of his arms, then proceeded to kiss him deeply. Prince Varnia gasped in shock as he felt the stranger 'bond' with Ianto through his kiss, exactly as he had intended.
Before the Prince, or the Doctor, who had a look of sheer horror on his face, or anyone else could react, the stranger had fiddled with something on his wrist and with a sudden flash of white light, the two of them disappeared.