Chi waited in the hallway for hours, not daring to open the panel. He knew what was happening, he could feel the despair flooding the room. Finally the Commander flung the cell door open. The guard snapped to a salute.
"Prepare him for the sutu."
"But that is not our way!" protested Chi.
She morphed her hand into a blade, her golden eyes wide with rage, and lightly cut his neck as he pressed back against the wall.
"Do you think I'd didn't know what you were doing, old man?" the Commander snarled. "He is livestock! Your pet is mine to do with as I wish!"
She pressed the blade against his throat. "You should have been executed with your son!" Her consort moved closer to her, lightly touching her shoulder. Her control returned. "Being my father's brother will not always save you," she warned. "Now tend to your pet and prepare him!" She turned and left.
His hands were shaking as Chi opened the door to the cell. Jack was on the floor, his eyes vacant and his body trembling. There was not much blood this time, but the Adyan guard immediately saw the damage was much worse. He gently gathered the Captain's body in his arms and placed it on the cot.
"I'm sorry, Jack," Chi whispered as he chained the prisoner's arms above his head so the body was forced into a sitting position on the bed, the traditional posture for the sutu. After arranging the pillows to make the Captain as comfortable as possible, he gathered two quilts and wrapped them around the quivering body.
Ignoring the red eye of the camera, Chi placed his hands on Jack's temples and entered his mind. He tried to see Jack's form, but the firestorm of nightmare memory still raged. He withdrew his hands in defeat. He had to wait. Moving to the chair next to the bed, he sat heavily, holding his head in his hands murmuring, "Beasts. We have become worse than beasts."
Jack lay curled at the center of the whirlwind in his mind. Memories tossed by the wind cut into him like blades twisting… shredding. Let me die! But the Commander did not even leave him that mercy. The voices continued. Just looking at you, Jack…Wrong. So alone. Freak! He could not bring his arms down to protect his face so turned and pressed it against the ground.
He flinched as he felt something moving at his back, curling around him, wrapping around him. A hand moved behind his head and wrapping its fingers around his eyes.
Jack!
He struggled against the grasp. A trick! Another torment!
Jack, stay with me. Let me hold you, protect you.
The voice played at the edges of his mind.
Cariad.
He felt a soft kiss against his neck and then another. One hand stayed to protect his eyes while the other stroked his shoulder as the wind began to ease.
You are not alone.
This can't be real. A trick!
Jack! A whisper at his ear. Turn and look at me.
Jack hesitated, then slowly, painfully turned on his back.
The blue eyes, the clear and penetrating gaze, the soft lips.
Ianto?
The man brushed his fingers through Jack's hair and kissed him on the forehead.
Ianto, are you real?
Yes. He kissed the Captain on his ear.
I want you to be real.
I know. He kissed Jack gently on the mouth.
Don't leave me. Please.
I'm here, Cariad. He gently pulled the wounded man into an embrace. I'm always with you.
Jack leaned into the embrace. I'm so tired.
I know, Jack, you must sleep so you can heal. Ianto stroked the bruised lips and kissed him.
I'm afraid…
I know.
They don't know where I am… Jens… Toshi.
They will find you.
I'm afraid…when I wake. His eyes were heavy. Afraid…you…gone.
Sh-h-h He kissed Jack again as the Captain slipped into unconsciousness. You must sleep…heal… He held the sleeping man with tenderness, slightly rocked him, his face burrowed on Jack's shoulder. I'm here, I'm always here…Sh-h-h.
The Adyan guard stood in the distance as the air cleared, watching the Captain and the young man in a suit. Who? What was he? Chi moved closer.
The fylgia startled at the movement and rose to his feet.
The Adyan stopped. I will not harm him.
Stay back!
Chi was surprised at the clarity and force in the young man's words and responded. I can help him.
Your people have done enough! The young man scowled. Stay away!
The Adyan raised his hands in defeat and backed away. Whatever this was had a strong presence and protected Jack. Chi would return again and reason with it. The immortal would need both their help to withstand what was to come.
The man returned to the Captain and lay down beside him. He carefully wrapped his arms around him, placing his chin on the sleeping man's shoulder. A slight breeze rustled the shattered landscape as the fylgia kept vigil.
Chi turned away, and stepped out of the landscape of Jack's mind. He pulled his hands away from the sleeping man's face, adjusted the quilts, then took his place at the door, keeping watch.
Reader Clue: Sutu like many other words for the Adyans is taken from Sanskrit. Caraid is Welsh.