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: Thank you, guest, for addressing those subjects… and thanks to everyone else as well. I love to hear from you. Now let's find out how it continues... Enjoy!
Chapter 15 – Human relations
"Yvonne…" the assistant started to apologize as he rushed in right behind Jack.
"It's okay, Matt," the director said, smiling at him. "I'll talk to Captain Harkness. Thank you."
Nodding, the assistant left Yvonne's office, closing the glass door behind him.
"What do you want, Captain?" Yvonne asked flatly, putting her folded hands on top of the file she had been working on.
"Answers," Jack snarled. "What the hell are you doing with the breach?"
"We're controlling it," Yvonne replied jovially. "You came all the way from Cardiff to ask me that?"
"Well, as you neither accepted nor answered my calls I believe my visit to be warranted."
"Oh, really?" Yvonne said, amused. "I don't answer to you, Captain. If anything, you answer to me."
That stung. Jack was about to reply when she cut him short.
"You severed the ties to Torchwood London, as you don't get tired of pointing out. I don't see any reason why I should respond to your questions."
"Maybe because you asked for my advice," Jack spat, refusing to back down. "Those cannons are not meant to control the breach. So tell me what you're trying to do to it!"
"We're working on a project of supreme national importance," Yvonne said sweetly. "And I am neither willing nor feeling obliged to reveal anything about it to you. If you'll excuse me now."
Picking up a pen, she returned her attention to the file on her desk. Jack was ready to explode.
"I won't just watch you endangering the entire planet with your project, Director," he snarled. "Do you have any idea what you're dealing with? Do you know what those ghosts are? Or where they come from?"
"The ghosts are a side effect," Yvonne stated dryly. "They are harmless. And yes, I know what we are dealing with. We even have statistics about the project. So I can assure you that we have everything under control. You can drive back to Cardiff and toy with your own rift."
"Yvonne, I really believe that you should run more tests on the breach. I don't think…"
"Exactly," Yvonne interrupted him. "You don't think. Otherwise you would think twice about confronting me like this. I might recall your request about seeing our secure archives if you don't leave us alone."
Jack scowled.
"You asked for my help," he told her. "I'm just concerned that control is slipping from your hands and…"
"And you might find the cells in our secure archives quite hospitable," Yvonne cut him short, reaching into her desk drawer and putting a gun on the tabletop.
Jack winced at the implication. She knew him. And Yvonne was callous. She would shoot him dead without flinching, and when he came back he would find himself in one of the cells.
"In order to guard against misunderstandings… You are Torchwood property, Jack. Your liberty is at our discretion," she advised with a sweet smile. "Become a threat and we won't hesitate to incarcerate you." Now her gaze became menacing. "I'm worried about your team, Jack. With you gone, nobody will stand between Miss Sato and UNIT. I'm afraid she'll have to serve her life-sentence. Dr. Harper has conducted several unapproved experiments. He'll lose his licence to practise medicine. And as Miss Costello certainly will stand by you, we will have to prosecute her with treason."
By then Jack shivered with rage, seriously contemplating pulling out his Webley and shooting the director.
"Dear Jack," Yvonne chirped, eyeing his defensive posture with disdain, "I know how much you love to solve problems with your gun, but if I were you, I would withstand the urge to pull the trigger on me, drive back to Cardiff and forget about the ghosts. We're capable of dealing with them. We do every day. And now excuse me, please. I have work to do."
"I managed to save face until I was in the elevator," Jack rounded up his tale. "I don't really remember how I got back to Cardiff even though I must have driven myself."
When he trailed off he became aware of Ianto's right arm lying across his shoulders as the young man leaned against him. His left hand lay on Jack's left forearm, his thumb stroking soothingly. At the captain's last words Ianto reassuringly squeezed his arm.
"You know," the Welshman murmured, "when Toshiko told me about the conditions of her release I was appalled, but now I start to think that you had no other choice."
"It was the only way to get her out," Jack murmured and Ianto could hear the compassionate pain vibrating in his voice. "She's not just a genius. She's brilliant, strong, and kind… She didn't deserve a fate like that."
"I still don't understand how they could do this to her if she only tried to save her mother."
"You mean that UNIT should have considered the hostage situation to be extenuating circumstances?" Jack asked and saw Ianto nod. "Well, she still committed treason. Being incarcerated was better than being shot."
Once more Ianto nodded. He had to admit that he did not think about it from this point of view before. What would I do if I was put into such a position? What could I do? His heart clenched painfully when he wondered what he would have been prepared to do for Lisa. She had died to buy him a little more time. A little more time that would save him in the end. Tears lurked in his eyes.
"What could she have done?" he asked.
"She should've told her superiors," Jack tonelessly said. "It would've been a counter-intelligence case, so I think MI-5 would've dealt with it."
"You mean she should've refused? Should've put her mother at even more risk?"
"There was no guarantee that the kidnappers would let her go anyway," Jack told him sternly. "In fact Tosh told me that they did cheat, trying to force her to continue to work for them. Reporting the extortion attempt would've saved Tosh from prosecution…"
"And have further endangered her mother," Ianto cut in. "Do you really think their chances were better if Tosh had reported the kidnapping?"
"Well, statistically…"
"Statistically," Ianto huffed. "One can find statistics about anything. Doesn't mean they're anything significant."
At that Jack had to chuckle. "So true."
Not for the first time Jack let his fingers run over the wool of his greatcoat. It felt wonderfully warm and fluffy, as if it was new. Suddenly the suspicion was back and he asked with confusion, "Ianto, this is my coat, right?"
Scooting away from him Ianto scowled at the captain.
"What kind of question is that, sir?"
Biting his bottom lip with a sheepish grin Jack shrugged lopsidedly, "A logical one. This feels like new."
"Slide your hand into its right arm, sir, and feel right below the shoulder. Then you'll know that it's not new."
Doing as he was told Jack inspected the coat's inside and found a hardly noticeable seam. Once more he bit his bottom lip. I did him wrong again.
"I'm sorry," he murmured and felt his voice fail, "You worked a miracle, Ianto. And all I can say is: Thank you."
"You're welcome… Jack."
That made the captain smirk. "Seriously, Ianto. I'm very grateful and… and I'm so sorry for doubting you and getting so angry before I knew the facts."
"You were really pissed off because it was gone, right?" Ianto said. "I'm sorry. I should've asked."
"Yes…" Jack conceded, "but I'm really touched by the thoughtful thing you've done. Please accept my invitation to take you out to dinner, as an apology for believing you could do something as horrible…"
"As horrible as what?" Ianto gasped.
"As horrible as disposing of something as personal as a coat without asking."
Ianto was stunned beyond words and could just shake his head with disbelief.
"I'm really sorry, Ianto," Jack pleaded. "Allow me to take you out to dinner."
Once more Ianto shook his head.
"No, sir. You've done so much more. Not just for me. For so many other people. Cardiff. London. The whole world. Mending your coat was a small thing to do."
"But I did you so wrong by assuming the worst," Jack insisted, helplessly trying to reach out for the young Welshman even though he knew he would reject him. "Please. Just dinner…"
"Apology accepted, sir," Ianto firmly told him and smoothly got up. Taking hold of Jack's outstretched hand he pulled him up to his feet. "You're ruddy tired, so I'll ignore you getting soppy. You can buy the team's takeaway the next time." Straightening the coat he smiled at Jack and said, "If it's any consolation, your odds just rose to forty-five percent in favour."
The ridiculous smirk that cracked the captain's features made him laugh. Reaching out for him Ianto straightened out a fold in his coat and Jack wished those elegant hands would touch his skin instead. When he tried to take Ianto's hand the Welshman avoided him.
"Careful, sir," he muttered. "I… can't do that. Too soon."
"I know, Ianto," Jack replied gently. "I thought I made clear that I'm respecting that. I know I'm being forward… but I'm not stupid."
"Yeah."
"Can we keep up our game, though?" Jack smirked. "I really love it."
"Our game, sir?"
"Flirting, rejecting, counting my odds…" Jack clarified. "You'll let me know when it's time for dinner, right?"
"Yes, sir," Ianto agreed and meant it. Actually he was glad that Jack was not empathic. Otherwise he would notice that Ianto did indeed feel it. As soon as the gloomy mood lifted from Jack he sensed it again, the desire and his animalistic attraction, and could not deny the effect.
"I'm glad you're here," Jack said. "And thank you again for mending my coat. You don't know how much it means to me."
Ianto thought that he got a pretty good idea after experiencing Jack's wrath and desperation but refused to mention it.
"I made you a thermos of coffee, sir," he said instead. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Sure," Jack teased with a lecherous grin. "But that would sooo exceed going out for dinner."
"Careful, sir. That could be considered harassment."
Jack laughed. "Is that going to be your favourite saying while you're here?"
"That depends," Ianto teased with a broad smirk. "You don't want me to reduce your odds again, do you?"
"No way," Jack shook his head. This game was so sweet and painful at the same time. "Thanks for the coffee."
"You're welcome." As he could cheer Jack up again, Ianto thought he could try and address one of his worries. "Um, Jack… about the spidermice."
"Uh, uh!" Jack waggled a finger at him. "Don't ask me. You of all people should know that I'm not on best terms with those critters."
"I know, Jack," Ianto agreed with a shy smile. "It's just… what shall I do with them? I can't keep them at my bedsit forever. The cage is way too small for them."
"You should've thought about that before you coaxed UNIT into giving them to you."
"I accept that you don't want them here, but maybe you have an idea where they're better off than with UNIT."
All Jack could offer was a helpless shrug.
"What about Edinburgh?"
Jack shrugged. "You can ask Archie if he's willing to take them in." Seeing Ianto's disappointment, Jack said, "But you don't want to give them away… I understand that, Ianto. I… just can't stand them. Keep them if you find a way. Just make sure they're not discovered. I trust you to keep our secrets."
"Of course," Ianto assured him. "What do you think of me?"
"Only the best," Jack said with a broad smirk, his thoughts drifting to other spheres again.
Incorrigible, Ianto thought.
"Well, it was worth a try," he said. "Good night, sir."
"Good night, Ianto." And, ohhh, how do I wish I could take you in my arms. Just for a hug. Inwardly he sighed as he watched the Welshman leave his office.
Walking away was not as easy for Ianto as it appeared to be. There was a part of him that wanted to give in to the charming captain, but as he had told him, the time was not ripe for them yet. So Ianto picked up his bag from the chest in passing and returned home to take care of his spidermice and prepare for another day.
xXx
"Now, aren't you glad the Welshman has his own bedsit now?" Suzie teased as she followed Owen into his apartment.
"Huh?" he kind of burped. Neither of them was quite sober anymore. After two pints apiece at Eddie's diner they decided to take their thirst elsewhere and as Owen's flat was much closer to the bay they went there.
"Well, I guess I wouldn't be here now if he'd still occupy your couch, right?"
"Actually, he took the bed," Owen said as he opened the fridge to get out the beer. He popped two open and held one out for Suzie.
"You let him have the bed?" she laughed and took a swig.
"I was in doctor mode," Owen shrugged and toed off his shoes before he padded to the sofa.
"You like him."
"You make it sound like an accusation," Owen huffed and dropped onto the couch.
"Well, I don't know what to make of him yet."
"Did you inherit Jack's suspicions at anything Torchwood One?"
At that she grinned. "Probably."
"I think he's okay," Owen shrugged, taking a drink from his beer. "I spent some time with him while he was trapped and he didn't appear to be as narrow-minded as the others there."
"Probably," she repeated and knelt on the sofa beside him, her left leg dangling over the edge as she sat. A crooked grin played around her lips when she took a gulp of her beer. "I still don't understand how he convinced Jack that he's on our side."
"There's a side?"
"Of course there is. Jack didn't sever the links to headquarters without a reason." She shook her head and drank again. "No, I mean our captain's thinking with the wrong head again."
At that Owen chuckled. "And that surprises you? It's Captain Jack we're talking about after all."
Putting her right arm on the backrest Suzie rested her head in her hand and sipped on her beer again. She eyed Owen intently. "Do you trust Ianto?"
Quirking an eyebrow at her he replied without a lot of contemplation, "Yeah."
"Why?"
Owen shrugged. "I do. He's got wit and courage… he was good when we were in the secure archives. Shot that predator, too."
"He's an archivist," she kept bugging. "One's archivist. And still Jack gives him a free hand. Who knows what he's doing down there in the vaults."
"God help us, he might be organizing them," Owen said in mock dismay. "We'll never find anything again." After finishing his beer with two more gulps he burped and put the bottle onto the coffee table. Turning to Suzie he mumbled, "Stop worrying. You know Jack doesn't trust easily. One hint at the Welshman playing a wrong game and not even his sex appeal will help him."
Suzie still did not look convinced.
"What can I do to make you forget your worries for a while?" Owen smirked lecherously and reached out to thread his fingers into her dark curls. Taking hold of her hair he pulled her closer and their lips met in a feverish kiss. "Does that help?" he grunted when they broke up to breathe.
"A little…"
Taking her bottle away he put it onto the table, too, and leaned back in. Their kisses became more passionate and their hands roamed across one another's body until…
…an inappropriate sound made Suzie back off.
"Ewwww, Owen! Really? We're snogging and you fart…? Eeeewwwww!"
"It escaped me," he murmured sheepishly.
"Make sure it doesn't escape you again or I'll be the one escaping."
"Won't happen again," Owen promised and reached for Suzie's blouse, fumbling open the buttons.
"It better not," she threatened as she pulled his sweater over his head.
Owen's vest followed as well as Suzie's blouse and bra. Sharing more kisses they groped at each other. Her breasts were so wonderfully firm under his hand and teasing her nipples made them even harder. Without breaking their kisses they fumbled their zippers open and wound out of their trousers. Having no clothing left that restricted their motions they sprawled onto the couch, legs tangling and kissing heatedly, striving for their union.
xXx
Opening the door to his bedsit, Ianto was surprised by an unexpected sight. Toshiko sat on the sofa, playing with one of the cuddly spidermice. It ran up her arm and over her shoulder. Before it could get into her hair, Toshiko blocked its way with her hand. When it sat on her palm she lightly petted it with two fingers.
"Hey."
"Hey, Ianto. Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't feel like going home. Your landlady let me in."
"It's okay," he assured her. "How are they?"
"Fine, I think." Toshiko smirked at the little creature she held. "They're fascinating."
"Did you feed them?"
"Yes. I gave them water, too." She smiled at him. "They seem to behave now."
"They still need another home," Ianto sighed and put down the bag and carton he carried. Should he tell her about his conversation with Jack? He decided against it. "Do you like pizza?"
"That depends. What's on it?"
"Um… a bit of everything," Ianto smirked and sat down beside her, turning the carton around to push back the cover. "What do you think?"
"Well, that's not meat feast," she chuckled and got up to return the spidermouse to its comrades in the cage. "They're sooo cute!"
"It's not much meat on it," Ianto stated. "Just some chicken."
"What else?" Toshiko queried, sitting back down with him.
"Hmmm, red onion, artichoke, feta, tomato… sweet corn, mushrooms, chilli peppers."
"What cheese is this?" she asked, bending forward for a closer look.
"Oh, um… mozzarella and cheddar."
"Interesting choice."
"Tastes good together," Ianto shrugged and tried to pick up a piece of pizza. "Hmmm…" Getting up he went to the tiny kitchenette in the corner of the room. It was just a board with a small sink, a microwave, and an electric kettle. On a board above stood a few dishes and a small stand with cutlery. Ianto returned with two plates, forks, and knives.
"Makes things easier," he chuckled.
"Indeed."
While Ianto distributed slices of pizza onto the plates, Toshiko got up to wash her hands. When she sat down with him, they tucked in. For a while they ate in silence that was finally broken by Toshiko.
"Was he very mad?"
"Who?" Ianto mumbled around a bite.
"Jack."
Gulping his food down Ianto said, "Yes and no. He didn't have a reason anymore when he entered his office."
"Ianto!" Toshiko gasped. "Did you really take his coat? Are you out of your mind?"
"It needed cleaning," he shrugged and took another bite of pizza.
"As cranky as he was on the drive back I was a little worried," she explained. "He had figured out that only you could've taken it. Right then I thought he'd rip your head off."
"Nah, he just screamed around a bit," Ianto reassured her. "I'm all right… and he's fine, too. Really."
"Okay." Toshiko could not stand it for very long, though. Her concern was clearly audible when she said, "Those things… they're like whirlwinds and they attacked Jack. We had to resuscitate him. I wish he would've let Owen give him a once over. With the Bekaran scanner it's really not a big thing."
At her mention of resuscitation Ianto paused. It intrigued him that his colleagues did not seem to know about Jack's strange ability. They had worked with him closely for years after all. Ianto himself was still trying to wrap his head around the idea that the captain was immortal.
"I guess he was just a bit sensitive because of the shock," he suggested. "When I left he appeared to be all right. Brooding a bit, but okay."
"Good."
They finished the pizza off in companionable silence. Ianto could sense that something was still weighing on Toshiko's mind, but he was far from asking. If she wanted to talk she would address the matter on her own accord. His gaze drifted to the cage where the spidermice settled in their nest of silk threads.
"They're sleepy," he smiled.
"It's late," Toshiko stated with a lopsided shrug. "We should be sleepy, too, but I'm too wound up."
"Yeah, so am I," he agreed. "The captain and I had an intense talk and it's still going round my head. It's hard to come to rest."
"And how's the archiving going?" Toshiko asked in an attempt to change the subject.
"Good," Ianto drawled. "It'll take a while."
"Yeah, sorry. Our archiving is kinda… innovative."
At that Ianto laughed softly. "Nice euphemism."
"It's nice that you're here, you know," she murmured and scooted a little closer to lean against his side. "We can talk so well with each other."
"Don't you talk with the others?"
"Well, we do talk, but… not so much after work." She snuggled against him and put her head on his shoulder. "I'm just not on the same wavelength with Suzie and Owen, well, Owen's not interested in… talking with me."
Smiling to himself Ianto put his arm around her shoulders.
"I guess he just hasn't noticed yet how brilliant you are because he never comes out of his med bay," he softly chuckled. "I'm sure he'd be crazy about you once he has a better look."
"Sure," she huffed against his shoulder. "That's why he's shagging Suzie."
Oh.
As Ianto was not sure about what to say about that, he did not reply.
"They really need another home," Toshiko murmured. "The cage is way too small for them. We could take them to one of the unused store rooms and…"
"No!" Ianto stopped her. "No. Not to the Hub. If one should get near Jack… unimaginable!"
"Okay… but where else could they go?"
"We'll think of something."
Sinking a bit deeper in the cushions Ianto leaned his head back. It was nice to sit with a friend like that. Toshiko's presence was very welcome as he simply did not have to be on his own with his brooding. Now he just tried to relax which worked so well that he fell asleep while Toshiko was snoring softly in his arms.
tbc…