I don't own Torchwood, or any of the characters (we can but dream).
A sort of follow-up to 'In These Arms', it becomes clear in later chapters, fear not!
Title from that great Alice Cooper song 'Poison'!
Don't own that either. Damn!
Please R&R! Thank you!
Poison
Chapter One
The bar was overcrowded, stuff and loud. Jack would have been in heaven, but he was on a mission. Rift energy spikes kept showing up at these co-ordinates. Ianto had already gone around the back way, and was heading to the basement. Jack was going to go up a level, to see if anything was going on there.
"Jack!" came Ianto's voice through the comms. "Jack, I think I might have found something!"
"Okay, I'm coming down to meet you." Jack was a blur of action, his Greatcoat whipping through the air as he spun around and headed for the basement.
The steps were steep and narrow. Difficult to carry boxes of bottles up and down on.
He heard a crackling noise that didn't come through the comms. He increased his speed.
"Jack...!" came Ianto's slightly panicky cry.
"I'm... here..." Jack rounded a corner, and saw the reason why Ianto was slightly panicky. In the middle of the narrow hall was a monster. "Jesus Christ!"
The thing, whatever it was, was huge. If it stood on its hind haunches, it would tower over both men. It was hairy in places, and its physique resembled that of a wolf, but its face was more like a hairy lizard. The fur was a greenish colour, as if mould was growing in it. Fangs stuck out of its mouth at odd angles. Yellow cat's eyes stared at them with burning hatred and hunger.
"... Shit," said Jack. The creature let out a sound that was halfway between a growl and a snort.
Jack pulled his Webley out of its holster and pointed it at the beast.
With unbelievable speed, it leapt over their heads landed on the floor behind them, turning to face them once again.
Ianto looked at Jack with a confused look in his eye, but Jacks eyes were huge with fear and understanding. Ianto looked behind him and understood.
It was a solid wall. They were cornered.
The thing tensed its haunches, ready to strike.
Jack fired a round at it, but the thing was too quick. It leapt onto Ianto, pushing him to the ground.
Jack shot again. This time, the bullet found its mark.
The creature let out a high keening noise as the bullet buried itself into the beasts head. It growled once more, and fell to the ground, dead.
"Ianto!" Jack ran to the man, and fell to his knees at his side. "Ianto, are you alright?"
Ianto was blinking blearily and hauled himself into a sitting position. "Yeah, I think so. Scratches here and there, few bite marks. Bloody hurts."
Jack laughed with relief. "You had me worried."
Ianto sighed, amused. "Take more than that to get rid of me."
"Don't I know it?"
"Anyway, what the hell was that thing?" Ianto asked as Jack pulled him to his feet.
"Honestly? I have no idea. Weird though, wasn't it? Looked like something out of a Sci-Fi show."
"Don't care. It's dead now. Took your time, didn't you?"
Jack laughed, and took out his mobile, keying in Gwen's number.
"Gwen, hi, just to say... we're bringing something... unexpected back to the Hub, ok? See ya soon."
Ianto was looking at the beast as though he had just realised something.
"What?" asked Jack with amusement.
"How the hell are we going to get it into the SUV without people noticing? Look at the size of..."
Ianto trailed off, clutching his head and wincing slightly.
"What?" Jack asked again, this time concerned for Ianto.
"Ah, just slight headache. I think I may have hit my head on the floor."
Jack frowned slightly. "We'll check you over for concussion when we get back to the Hub. In the meantime, I really do need your help getting this into the SUV."
Ianto sighed, and picked up the hind legs of the beast, careful of its claws.
***
It was dark outside on the road, the street lamps doing their best to illuminate to road.
Jack threw a concerned look at Ianto. The man was slightly paler than usual, and a fine sheen of sweat covered his face. He had his eyes closed, as if concentrating on something.
Suddenly, he moaned.
"Jack, pull over."
Jack did without questioning.
Ianto undid his seatbelt at lightning speed, jumped out of the car and ran to the bushes. He clutched his stomach and threw up messily in to the hedges. Jack, highly concerned, unbuckled his seatbelt and got out, careful to avoid the traffic. He walked over to Ianto, who was vomiting again, and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you ok?"
It was a daft question, but Jack could think of nothing else to say.
Ianto wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, and nodded. "I'm ok, I think. Just... I think I ate something bad."
Jack frowned again, and patted his shoulder. "Let's get you back to the Hub. Get some sleep."
Ianto nodded again, and went back to the car, went to the boot to extract a bucket. He then clambered back in and shut his door. Jack followed suit.
The engine started.
"Jack?" asked Ianto. "Do you think you could take it easy, please?"
"Sure, if it makes you feel better." Jack kept the SUV at a steady 50 mph.
Next to him, Ianto groaned again, and threw up into the bucket. Jack winced. Ianto surfaced again, panting, his hair plastered to his forehead.
"Christ, Ianto, are you sure it was something you ate? Food poisoning isn't normally this quick to set in."
"I'll be fine, Jack, don't worry too-" again Ianto broke off to vomit noisily into the bucket.
"No sex for me tonight, I'm guessing?"
"Ummm... no. Sorry." Ianto was panting heavily, and he was very pale, the sweat rolling down his face.
Suddenly, he gasped, held his stomach and bent double in pain. "JESUS... CHRIST!" he exclaimed, and lent over to throw up again. This time though, it seemed like he didn't have a lot left in his stomach to bring up; he dry-retched over the bucket, only to break off with a choking sound.
"Ianto, seriously, this can't be something you... ate..." Jack broke off as realisation hit him.
The bite marks.
The creature was poisonous.
Ianto was oblivious to Jack's sudden understanding. He was dry-retching for all he was worth, as though something was trying to force itself up his throat.
Jack rummaged in one of the pockets of the SUV, and brought out a bottle of water. "Drink some of this. Then, at least, you'll have something to puke on. Stop it hurting so much." He sounded distant as he frantically thought of what to do. Ianto, his lover Ianto was dying slowly beside him, and he was terrified.
Ianto took the bottle, and swigged down a mouthful, swallowing it. About four seconds later, it came back up again. Ianto spluttered, and took another gulp.
The SUV pulled into the parking space, and Jack jumped out, and ran out to help Ianto. The man was still busy bringing up the last mouthful of water. When he emerged, Jack took the near full bucket from him, and threw the gore into the hedge. He then slowly helped Ianto out of the SUV, and handed him the bucket. Ianto took it gratefully.
Jack placed an arm round the man's shoulders, and tapped the comms.
"Gwen? Yeah, come to the parking lot now. I really need your help. Thanks."
He looked back at Ianto, who was leaning heavily against the vehicle.
A minute later, Gwen emerged from the shadows.
"Jack, what...?" She trailed off when she saw Ianto.
"Gwen, I need your help getting Ianto into the Hub. Now."
Jack looped Ianto's left arm around his waist, Gwen doing the same to his right. They half walked, half dragged Ianto towards the Hub. The bucket lay forgotten next to the SUV.
Ianto groaned, and retched heavily, bringing up more water and digested food. Gwen leapt back, trying to stop it hitting her shoes.
"Gwen, grow up and help me!" hissed Jack. Most of it had ended up down Ianto's suit, but some of it was over Jack's trousers. He, however, didn't care. He was more focused of getting Ianto back to the Hub, to safety.
They were dragging Ianto through the cog door soon. Jack peeled himself away from Ianto and said, "Gwen, look after him. I need to make a phone call." Gwen let go of Ianto and stood next to him, stroking his arm as he dry-retched again.
Gwen's phone went and she flicked it open.
"Hello? Hey, Rhys. You ok? Good. Oh, I'm fine, bit busy, you know..." She wondered off, leaving Ianto by himself, leaning against the railings. Jack was half way through his phone call when he heard a clattering sound. He looked up and gasped. Ianto had fallen against the railings, having vomited a stream of blood down him front. And Gwen was nowhere to be seen.
Jack began to run towards Ianto, snapping his mobile shut as he went. He crouched down beside Ianto, who's eyes were distant in their pain.
"Ianto? IANTO!"
And then, with a high keening sound, Ianto fell forwards into Jack's arms, unconscious.
So, What do you think? Is it okay? I'm not entirely happy with it. But we shall see ho it pans out. Please R&R!