Doomsday: Post Apocalypse
a Torchwood story
by RoadrunnerGER
Dislaimer: Oh, really! They're the BBC's.
Summary: Ianto comes to Cardiff for a week to help with the archives, but is it as simple as that? Jack/OC, Jack?Ianto
Suspense/hurt/comfort – T – Ianto Jones & Jack Harkness
A/N: Yeah, I know, you were thinking "how could you, Jack?", but there's more to it. Hope I could pull it off. Some feedback would be great, if you have a minute. Thanks. Special thanks to my beta mandassina. Enjoy!
Chapter 14 – Twisted approaches
Checking his watch Ianto realized that it was not quite eight in the evening. Straightening his back, he raised his arms and stretched upward, left and right and to the back to work the kinks out of his sore muscles. A yawn escaped him and Ianto was surprised by how tired he was.
Maybe due to the sewing. I don't have the best light down here, but I want it to be a surprise after all, so it's not advisable to do it right in the central Hub where the captain can watch.
Once more he let his hand run over the wool and smiled, being content with his work. He put the coat back onto a hanger and hung it on one of the shelves so he could gather up all the things he needed before he went up to the main Hub. The coat went onto the coat rack and a list Ianto had compiled for Jack onto the desk. His grumbling stomach made the Welshman aware that it was evening already and that he had not eaten since his lunch break.
Which applies to the others as well.
For a moment he thought about ordering takeaway like pizza or Chinese, but as he had no way of knowing when the others would return he refrained from it. The thought of food reminded Ianto of his spidermice, but he had left a handful of chopped fruits as well as a small bowl of cat food for them so they should still be adequately supplied.
I could get some sandwiches. No. What am I thinking? They're perfectly capable of getting themselves food when they can.
Standing between the vacated workstations Ianto felt left out. What should he do with himself now? Go home? It did not feel right.
I really should get one of those earpieces. Then we could keep in touch.
For a moment the Welshman contemplated if he should go back to the archives but if he was honest he could not stand the sight of anymore files tonight. As his gaze drifted to the sofa and the chest serving as a table in front of it he sighed. Team Torchwood definitely did not know the definition of the word order. He piled up the magazines that were scattered on it, picked up some wrapping papers that he tossed into the bin, and took a mug with some leftover coffee to take it to the kitchenette. On the way there he collected two other mugs and was about to wash them when he heard the door of the armoury open.
"You don't have to perform the autopsy tonight, Owen," Jack told the medic sharply. All he wished for was to be on his own. "We know what happened. Go home."
"First I'll give you a once over," Owen insisted and tried to shove Jack toward the med bay.
"I'm fine! Leave me alone!"
"If it was anyone else you'd be pestering me to do a thorough check-up!" Owen snarled, intent on not letting the captain get away. "The sooner we start, the sooner we'll be done!"
"No."
From up on the catwalk Ianto had a good view across the whole Hub. He saw Toshiko emerge from the armoury as well while Owen now stood at the entrance to the med bay, arms crossed over his chest and fixating Jack with a death glare.
"I'm waiting," Owen grumbled.
"You can wait until hell freezes over!" Jack barked. Only four short days had passed since they came back from London which were not enough to recover from the multiple deaths he had suffered, especially as he had been working his ass off. He was so terribly tired. He needed a break. So he had to fight to keep his desperation out of his voice when he demanded, "Tosh! What are you doing here? Go home!"
"Suzie brought the body to the elevator," she stated as she walked up the stairs to the gantry. "Please, let Owen make sure you're all right."
"I am all right, Tosh," Jack sighed and wished for a genie that would transport his co-workers home. "Now leave me be."
"Those… things almost killed you, Jack," Toshiko all but whined. "Please. We just want to make sure you're okay."
"She's right, Jack," Owen grunted. "C'mon! Just a look with the Bekaran scanner."
Ianto found that Jack looked positively dangerous when he rounded on the doctor and the computer expert, "What the hell do you want from me? Why can't you take my word for it? Now get out of here before I really get angry!"
While Toshiko flinched away from him and retreated back down the stairs to get to the cog door Owen stood his ground.
"What's the matter with you?" he thundered. "We could be done already instead of screaming at each other! You've been cranky ever since we left the scene! What's wrong with you?"
"What's that to you?"
"You're our leader, Jack! I'm the doctor and you're not well. You're my responsibility!"
"Fine!" Jack pouted, "I'll release you from your duty!"
"You're firing me?" Owen gasped incredulously.
"Get the hell out!" Jack screamed and grabbed the first thing he could lay hand on which happened to be the stack of magazines Ianto had sorted earlier and forcefully threw it at the medic. One of them hit Owen's forearm when he brought it up to protect himself. The others scattered on the floor.
"Fine," Owen huffed. "Have it your way."
Pivoting on his heels he bounded down the stairs and left through the armoury. As soon as the door fell shut behind the doctor Jack threw his head back and let out a long, high-pitched roar of fury and frustration. When he paused to gasp for breath his gaze fell upon the catwalk and the Welshman who still stood at the kitchenette and watched the scene with mixed emotions. Seeing the pale blue eyes bore into him with barely suppressed rage, Ianto shivered.
"You!" Jack hoarsely thundered, pointing at Ianto as if he aimed with a gun, "My office! Now!"
Ianto choked on the lump that suddenly stuck in his throat. What had he done wrong? With trepidation he put down the mug he held in hand when the others returned and went to the staircase.
Jack stormed into his office, trying to think of another outlet. As mad as he was right now he might do something to the newest addition to his team that he would regret tomorrow. On the other hand he knew that the punishment had to match the crime. He could not just reprimand Ianto and let him go his way. He had to come up with something more impressive and right at that moment that was a thorough spanking. The captain got as far as his desk when he stopped dead in his tracks and spun around.
My greatcoat!
With widening eyes he stared at his beloved coat and how it draped down the coat hanger on the stand. It was right where he had left it, and for a split second Jack wondered if he had imagined that it was gone, but something was odd about the picture. He rarely put the coat onto a hanger, just on the hook, and it appeared rarely neat. Someone had cleaned it. Someone had mended it. Someone called Ianto.
Slowly turning his head to look over his shoulder, Jack noticed a thermos flask and a fresh mug sitting right next to a handwritten list. Suddenly he had a frog in his throat and he had to support himself on the backrest of the chair standing in front of his desk as he felt slightly nauseous. His breath caught in his lungs and his lips started to tremble as he realized that he had done the young man wrong.
To Ianto it looked like rage when he carefully entered the office, still wondering what was going on, and addressed Jack with a tentative, "Sir?"
Being barely able to speak Jack pressed through gritted teeth, "Did you take my coat?"
"T-to clean it, sir," Ianto croaked. Seeing the captain shiver he feared another eruption like the one that hit Owen. He can't even look at me. It has to be bad.
It was all Jack could do not to scream again with frustration. Why did he take it all so wrong? Why did he not learn? Had the Doctor been right when he said he would be bigger on the inside? As it was he did not prove him right. And what would Rose say to his lack of empathy? Both she and the Doctor would be horrified.
Fighting for what was left of his composure Jack rasped, "Why didn't you ask?"
"I…" Ianto choked. "I wanted to d-do something for you. To express my gratitude for… getting me out and… well, for doing what you've done during the crisis and after, asking UNIT to cooperate and to arrange proper funerals and…"
Ianto trailed off. He was not sure why he defended himself as he did not think that he had done something wrong.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I should have asked, but… I wanted to surprise you."
In his emotional uproar, Jack first could not believe what he heard, but when the Welshman's words finally sank in he gasped for breath. All of a sudden his world began to spin around him, he swayed and tried to turn the chair around. Missing as he sat down, the chair toppled over and Jack came to sit on the floor instead, almost hitting his head against the desk while the chair landed on its side.
"Sir?" Ianto called out and rushed to his side. "Jack, are you all right?"
Jack tried to answer but only a sob bubbled out of him. His eyes filled with tears that spilled down his cheeks and with every gasp for air his breath hitched in his chest.
Wrapping his arms around the captain's shoulders, Ianto tried to steady him. He felt him sag against him and held him tighter, using one hand to rub circles on his back.
"Shhh," he soothed. "Easy. Everything's all right, Jack. Take a deep breath. C'mon."
Jack tried to follow Ianto's instruction and sobbed instead. He could not wrap his head around how someone he barely knew could be so considerate. It was more than anyone had done for him in a very long time. The gratefulness that filled him had become something strange to him and he still struggled with his emotions.
At the same time Ianto tried to guess what made Jack dissolve in tears and suspected that it had something to do with the mission.
"What happened, cariad?" he murmured close to his ear as he leaned Jack's head in the crook of his neck. With one hand he kept rubbing soothing circles on the captain's back while he ruffled his dark hair with the other. "Did the mission go awry?"
"Hmmm?" Jack sniffled and put his arms around Ianto's muscular form. It felt so good to be held like this.
Realizing that he was being too forward, Ianto muttered, "Sorry. It's not my place to ask."
Jack gasped. He was not sure what to do. Fresh tears threatened to fall. How can it be that this man, this child, is so much wiser than his years suggest? How can he be so understanding? He deserves an answer. Not the whole truth, but something.
After a moment's thought he told him, "Something happened to me. When I was travelling with the Doctor. I don't know…" His strength seemed to bleed out of him and he leaned against his desk. Did he want to tell Ianto about how the Doctor had left him behind? It felt so right to talk to him. He watched the young Welshman how he sat on the floor, waiting, but not prodding. After a short while he saw him tense and shift his position to get up.
"We were separated and I tried to meet the Doctor here, but my vortex manipulator was malfunctioning, taking me to the wrong time… and then it burnt out, getting me stranded."
"Your what?"
"Never mind," Jack warded off with a soft chuckle. It was fascinating how Ianto focused on the technical thing instead of the mystery surrounding his existence. Or did he do it on purpose? "It took me some time to travel to Cardiff, and when I finally got here I could not find him."
Ianto nodded. "That's why you were so disappointed that you missed him in London."
Disappointed? Inwardly Jack cringed and he had to bite back a bitter laugh. Oh, Ianto! The understatement!
"You have questions," Ianto simply stated.
"Yes." Jack was stunned at Ianto's incredible insight.
"And while you were waiting you created something you can be proud of."
Jack paused. Maybe his insight's not quite that incredible.
"No," he said. "No, I'm trying to build something that the Doctor can be proud of." Jack saw Ianto's features darken and wondered what was wrong. "Ianto?"
"Isn't it more important to build something that you can be proud of?" the Welshman challenged.
Stunned Jack gaped at him.
"You know why I came to Cardiff?" Ianto queried.
"Why?"
"Because I was curious about you lot here," Ianto explained. "And because I believed what Dr. Markham told me about you. That you're not like Torchwood One. That you're trying to make a difference."
Jack swallowed a fresh lump in his throat. "That's not… I'm not the hero you think me to be."
"Are you kidding?" Ianto puffed. "After everything you did? You fought the Cybermen in Cardiff. You fought the Daleks. You came to London to save what was left to save. You saved me! And now you're telling me you did nothing special?"
"Yeah," Jack croaked. "Because I should've done more! I should've… done something!"
"Done what?" Ianto gently prodded.
"Stopped her!" it burst out of the captain with a suppressed sob. "I tried to figure out what those ghosts were. I had a really bad feeling about them but I needed to know more and… well, that's why I tried to find someone in London who would help me."
"Markham."
"Yes, but he did not know a lot about the project. He tried to learn more while we conducted our own experiments, but before any of us could gather enough information…" once more he gulped down a frog in his throat, "the ghosts turned into Cybermen."
"But, if you suspected the ghosts to be dangerous, why didn't you confront Hartman with it?" Ianto demanded to know. "She should've seen reason then."
For a long moment Jack looked at him silently. Ianto waited. He sensed that Jack needed to take his time to answer to difficult subjects… if he answered at all. Ianto figured that as long as the captain did not change the subject or simply leave, chances were good that he would actually get an answer.
In point of fact Jack did not think as much about if he should answer but about how he should explain himself.
"It's complicated," he finally said, staring at the concrete floor rather than at Ianto. "You know I've been with Torchwood for a long time, right?"
"Yes."
Jack sighed. "Then you can probably imagine that I've had a lot of experiences with the Institute."
"I think so, yes," Ianto confirmed.
Secretly Jack doubted that Ianto had any idea of what kind of evil he had encountered inside the walls of Torchwood. Still it was encouraging to know that he would not simply reject what Jack was about to tell him.
Seeing the captain shiver, Ianto smoothly got up from the floor and retrieved his coat. Gently he put it around Jack's shoulders. Returning the captain's small smile Ianto sat down beside him, leaning his back against the desk as well.
"I have to start earlier," Jack told him. "Back when they began to build the tower Yvonne asked me to come to London and give her advice about how to handle a space-time-rift. We were at the old headquarters so I never had an actual look at the location or the opportunity to take any readings. Yvonne explained to me that the tower was supposed to give them access to the apparently stationary breach in order to control it. We talked about the Cardiff Rift and how we dealt with whatever washed through. Yvonne's assistant took notes and the director assured me she would contact me again if she needed further information."
Again Jack sighed.
"I should've known better."
When Jack fell silent, Ianto knew better than to prod him. The captain would continue on his own when he was ready.
"You're not the only one with a shady history, you know?" Jack finally said in a teasing tone. His smile, though, looked pained.
Confused by the change of subject Ianto raised an eyebrow at the captain.
"Your youth sentence," Jack elaborated and conceded, "Okay, it was shoplifting. Once. It's just an example. Everyone makes mistakes. Some are bigger than others…" he trailed off. "What I mean is that Director Hartman was not any better than all the Torchwood bitches before. She kept track even on minor slip-ups."
"You were prone to being blackmailed?" Ianto suggested.
Finally Jack met his eyes.
"Yes," he admitted.
Ianto nodded. "Did she threaten you or… did she know about Toshiko?"
"Toshiko?" Jack all but gasped. "What do you mean?"
"Well, she told me about how you got her out of the UNIT prison," Ianto admitted.
"Oh." Jack was honestly surprised. On second thought, though, could he see a friendship developing between them, so it was not that surprising after all. What was really unanticipated was that Ianto actually managed to worm his story out of him, but right now Jack did not care. It was liberating to be able to talk to someone, so he went on, "We were at work when the first ghosts appeared on a late January morning. One of them showed up right in our Hub. Suzie and Tosh freaked for a second before we started to try and figure out what happened and where the ghost was coming from. No such luck. After a minute the spook was over. We wanted to tick it off as a one-time appearance when the ghost came back the next day and when it showed up more regularly we became worried.
"At the same time the people got used to the ghosts. Some said they recognized dead relatives."
"Yeah, I remember," Ianto threw in. "Then the news started to air a ghost watch."
"What about your flat?" Jack asked. "Was one of them in your flat?"
"Thankfully not," Ianto snorted. "It was bad enough that they were out on our street."
"I take it you were not a fan."
"Definitely not."
"We weren't fans either," Jack tried to pick up his thread.
"Except Owen," Ianto chuckled.
"Not as much a fan as being fascinated by the hype around the ghosts," Jack huffed. "Anyway, when the appearances became more regular we became suspicious. I called Director Hartman, but her assistant just told me she was not available at the moment."
Ianto chuckled wryly, "So much for her people skills."
"Why are you saying that?"
"She prided herself with being a people person," Ianto explained. "Called everyone by first name. Ludicrous."
"Did she call you by first name, too?" Jack prodded.
"I seriously doubt she even knew I existed," Ianto laughed softly.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Jack said. "There's a note about your psychic evaluation in your file after all."
The captain's serious tone brought Ianto back to the subject. "I guess there was a lot she was informed about."
"You can bet she was. To become director of Torchwood you've got to be a cross between a piranha and J. Edgar Hoover." The way Ianto rolled his eyes made Jack smirk. "You remind me of Lumiere and…"
"Walt Disney?" Ianto interrupted incredulously.
Grinning sheepishly, Jack admitted, "I love those movies."
Laughing good-naturedly, Ianto smirked, "Who am I to judge? I'm into totally unrealistic spy novels." When Jack smirked back he asked, "So, who's the other then?"
"Cogsworth," Jack replied teasingly, "but I can also see a good deal of James Bond in you."
At that Ianto scowled, "What's that supposed to mean? You think I'm as pinched as Cogsworth and as fickle as Bond?"
"No," Jack shook his head and when he searched Ianto's gaze, the ardent longing in his eyes sent shivers down the Welshman's spine. "I think that you have Lumiere's sense of duty and loyalty… and James Bond's courage and incredibly good looks."
When Ianto blushed, Jack chuckled. "And that's exactly how I want you."
For a moment, Ianto looked at Jack scrutinizingly before he challenged, "I seriously doubt that," he paused, "sir."
It took Jack a second to catch up on what Ianto meant, but then he laughed out loud. "You mean in bondage? Oh, Ianto! You're incredible!"
"By the way…" Ianto prodded, "which Bond would that be? Connery, Moore, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan…?"
"None of them," Jack murmured seductively and tentatively brushed his hand over Ianto's thigh. "Even offering descriptions, novels leave the appearance of a character up to the reader's imagination, so I believe I just found my ideal James Bond."
"Careful, sir," Ianto scolded, without trying to remove Jack's hand. "This could be considered harassment."
"Hey! You started it!" Jack complained, only to add with a salacious grin. "Would you like it if I'd harass you?"
"No," Ianto said flatly.
Jack scowled and sat back. "Then I just lessened my chances for dating you?"
"Not necessarily."
Jack smirked. "What are my odds anyway?"
"Hmmm… about thirty-eight percent in favour, sir."
"I see," Jack murmured. "That's not that good yet, is it?"
"No, sir."
Uncertain about how to continue they sat in silence. Neither of them had forgotten what they were talking about. The banter had been a release. Now Jack tried to find the right pace for his tale.
"It was mid February when I decided that I was fed up with being stalled by Hartman's assistant," Jack finally said. "I drove to London to confront Yvonne personally."
"And this meeting didn't go that well?" Ianto guessed.
"That's one way to put it," Jack sighed and started to talk:
Snow was in the air on that late February morning and when Jack arrived at Canada Square in Canary Wharf the first flakes tumbled down from the dark grey sky. As he was early, Jack left his car in the underground garage and took a short walk around the plaza. His gaze went up the highest building in London, wondering just once more what was going on behind its walls.
Taking a deep breath, Jack strolled back into the tower where he took the elevator up to the top storey where director Hartman had her office. Upon leaving the carriage, he was confronted by security guards and a member of Yvonne's team who tried to stop him, but Jack did not care. Being in charge of Torchwood Three gave him authority with an A2 security clearance. He had the right to know what was going on.
With long strides he marched down the corridor, his greatcoat billowing around him when he entered the open plan office he had to pass on his way to the director's office.
Jack stopped dead in his tracks.
The office had changed since he had last seen it. Back then it had been empty, the craftsmen just starting to work on Yvonne's office. Now there were several desks with technicians working on their computers. The rear part of the huge room was empty.
Most intriguing for Jack, though, were the two huge levers and energy cannons that were directed at the rear wall.
Jack's features darkened at the sight. A look at his wrist device confirmed his suspicions.
"Captain Harkness, Director Hartman is not prepared to see you," the assistant addressed him. "I must insist on you leaving this area."
Abruptly swivelling around, his swinging coat adding a dramatic flair, Jack got in the young man's face.
"Prepared or not, I need to see her," he said darkly. "As I can see, she's in her office and she doesn't appear to be too busy."
With that he pushed past the assistant and through the door in the shatterproof glass partition, breezing into Yvonne Hartman's office.
tbc…