Summary: After the events of "Cyberwoman" and "Countrycide", Ianto is left emotionally broken. Will Jack be able to put him back together?
Rating: M
Characters: Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness,Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper, Gwen Cooper
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Owen/Tosh
Warnings: Swearing, angst, suicide attempt, Gwen bashing
Spoilers: Cyberwoman, Countrycide
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I just like to play with them.
Jack sighed as he sat at the kitchen table, staring at his laptop and pretending to be working. He was glad he'd decided to plant that bug behind the head of Ianto's bed; subtly placing it there when he reached over to lovingly embracing the younger man. Jack knew that Gwen was the last person Ianto would choose to confide in. Whatever they were discussing, it couldn't be good.
Ianto's relationship with Gwen was tenuous at best. They had been civil enough to each other at first. But after the discovery of Lisa, that's when she began to show her true colors. Jack understood that she was upset about being strapped into the conversion unit and potentially killed. But after he'd had time to cool off, he also understood Ianto's grief. He understood how grief could blind you to reason, and make you do whatever it takes to save the one you love.
From what Jack knew of Gwen, she had never experienced that kind of loss. She certainly hadn't lived through the horrors that Ianto - or anyone else on the team, for that matter - had endured. So she had no way of understanding Ianto's motivation. Jack was beginning to see that maybe he was wrong in considering her the "heart" of Torchwood. She'd done nothing to prove herself worthy of that title.
Torchwood already had a heart, and it was Ianto.
His fears confirmed when he heard Ianto ask Gwen to Retcon him, and then heard Gwen agree without the slightest bit of hesitation, the best thing Jack could do at the moment was to play along.
As Gwen walked out of Ianto's bedroom, Jack looked up, feigning surprise.
"You were in there longer than I expected!" he observed.
"Yes, well, you were right, Jack," Gwen said, smiling sweetly. "Poor Ianto has been through enough. There's no need to punish him more."
Gwen leaned against the table, brushing her fingers lightly over Jack, and Jack nearly flinched at the touch. The woman really had no shame.
"I'll come back to see Ianto later today, all right?"
Jack nodded, an appreciative smile masking his true feelings of worry and distrust. "Good to see the two of you have come to an understanding.
With a nod and an obviously forced smile, Gwen leaned over and kissed Jack on the cheek. "Goodbye, Jack."
Jack watched Gwen walk out, and waited until he was sure she was gone. Then, he stepped just outside of Ianto's flat, making sure he was out of earshot, and dialed Owen on his mobile.
"Owen. We've got a problem."
TWTWTWTWTW
"Hello, Jack!" Gwen called cheerily, setting her purse down on the kitchen table. "Just doing some cleaning, then?"
Jack nodded, not bothering to look up as he scrubbed the kitchen counter. "Ianto maintained a certain level of cleanliness here. I want to make sure things are up to his standards when he gets out of that bed," he explained, only half joking.
Gwen grunted, trying not to let her annoyance show. Such adoration in Jack's eyes as he talked about Ianto's obsessive cleanliness! After everything Ianto had done, Jack still clearly had feelings for him. Gwen couldn't understand it.
She knew she had no right to feel jealous. She had Rhys, and he was a good man. But Jack was exciting, dashing and heroic. Rhys might be safe, but Jack made things interesting. Gwen saw no harm in a little workplace romance on the side. It hadn't worked out so well with Owen. But Jack? Well, maybe Gwen actually had a chance with him! If only he hadn't been so preoccupied with Ianto, the bloody tea boy who kept dangerous secrets.
Well, Ianto would be taken care of soon enough. After a generous dose of Retcon, he'd be drugged back to babyhood. A fresh start, without sin. Jack would understand. Gwen was sure of it! Besides, Ianto wanted to forget! She'd be making him pay for his crimes, and letting him forget his pain. As far as she could tell, she was doing what was in everyone's best interest.
"Is Ianto awake?" Gwen inquired, staring in the direction of the bedroom.
"He wasn't when I last looked in on him," Jack answered, momentarily pausing his task. "But you can go on in. If he does wake up, he'll be happy to see you."
"Thanks." Gwen nodded in return, making her way to the bedroom.
Standing just inside the room, Gwen knocked lightly on the door frame. "Ianto? Are you awake?" she asked softly.
Ianto gave a low groan in response, and Gwen took that as an invitation to enter.
"D-do you h-have it?" Ianto stuttered, slurring his words a little.
"Right here, love," Gwen smiled; the picture of mock kindness. On the nightstand was a pitcher of water with a glass beside it. Gwen filled the glass a little more than half full. She then proceeded to take a bottle out of her coat pocket. Opening the bottle, she poured out about a handful of pills and set them on the table. Then, one by one, she emptied the clear contents of the capsules into the water, letting them dissolve in the clear liquid.
"Is it ready?" Ianto asked, looking as if his skin felt much too tight on him; his eyes pleading for release from the memories that were his prison.
"It's ready," Gwen nodded, helping Ianto to sit up.
"I'll need your help." Ianto nodded to the glass. "My hands aren't steady just yet."
"I understand," Gwen acknowledged with an insincere smile, guiding the cup to Ianto's mouth and letting him take small sips. "That's it...soon all of your sins will be forgotten."
TWTWTWTWTW
"Back so soon?" Jack grinned, setting a plate of biscuits down on the center of the table.
"Yes. Poor dear was only able to keep his eyes open for a few minutes," Gwen replied, leaning against the back of a chair and eyeing the biscuits hungrily.
"Yeah. It kind of feels like he never came out of the coma at all," Jack laughed sadly, reaching up and taking two cups out of the cupboard.
"Say, would you like to stay for tea? I could do with some conversation. And Ianto is hardly talkative these days."
"I'd like that," Gwen said agreeably, taking a seat and trying her best to conceal her excitement at being asked to spend some time alone with Jack. "I could use some tea about now."
His back to Gwen, Jack's mouth turned up into a dark smile. "After all you've done for Ianto today, I'd say you deserve it."
On a far corner of the kitchen counter, hidden beneath the food processor, lay a "Dear John" letter for Rhys, which Jack had expertly forged in Gwen's handwriting.
TWTWTWTWTW
The next morning at Flat Holm , Helen looked on as their newest resident slept . The woman had been out cold when Captain Harkness brought her in under the cover of night; a victim of complete memory loss. Apparently a former PC, she had now regressed to an infant state.
Helen sighed. In an ideal world, this woman would be able to start over. To mentally "grow up" once again. But Flat Holm didn't have the staff or the resources for such a task. The dark haired, freckled woman who lay before Helen would have to live out the rest of her days in this state. All that she could do was offer her care and comfort - and make sure they were well stocked on adult nappies.
The woman blinked into wakefulness, and as she took in her surroundings, frightened whimpers escalated into hysterical cries.
Rushing over to her, Helen gently stroked the woman's cheek in a effort to soothe her, patiently waiting until she calmed herself.
"It's all right, Gwen. No need to cry," Helen cooed. "We'll take good care of you here."
(Author's note: In case you're wondering, no, Gwen did not Retcon Ianto. Owen replaced the supposed "Retcon" with sugar pills. Ianto just fell back to sleep easily because he is still recovering.
I couldn't find a way to work this explanation into the chapter without it coming off as awkward. But I'm going to work it into the next chapter. After all, Ianto is going to want to know why he woke up remembering everything.)