Torchwood: Divergence
Book Two: Adferiad

Chapter 57

Turlough was out the door and running, his obvious concern and sense of urgency making the other two uninjured team members worry even more. Within three minutes he was out front with the big Torchwood vehicle, he and Jack carefully getting Ianto coat wrapped and into the back seat with the older immortal holding him close.

"I'll drop you at the van," Turlough told Gwen, urging her into the front passenger seat. "Don't worry about keeping up when I take off, just get back to base in one piece."

The stop was brief, the SUV pulling away as soon as the former PC closed her door, leaving her to run over to the driver's side of the van, scramble inside and follow. Inside the main vehicle, Jack was murmuring words of comfort to his partner, both relieved and alarmed that the twenty-six-year-old's skin burned to the touch. It meant the Shadows within him were working to heal his injuries, but also meant they must be struggling to have spiked his temperature so high.

"Martha," Turlough called, engaging his comms the instant he got onto a real road and wasn't fighting the steering wheel. "Full trauma protocol. We're bringing Ianto in as fast as I can drive. Open wounds, broken bones, torn vasculature as well as muscles and connective tissues at the shoulders and hips, possibly the elbows and knees to a lesser degree. Serious blood loss, possible organ damage from manual torture. Alien tech caused brain damage, so his Shadows are very busy. We're also dealing with deep scalp lacerations, possible skull penetration from nose to hairline under third-degree, maybe even bone deep burns. Hot metal intrusion into the eyes, orbs and sockets both, possible traumatic nerve disconnection. I know it's a lot, but we can't exactly take him to an NHS or UNIT facility. Just be as ready as you can. And if you could get us a cleared route so I don't cause or get into a crash, all the better."

He accelerated even more, listening to whatever was being said over the Bluetooth.

"Excellent, Gwen," the thirty-year-old said after a moment. "Tell Andy 'thanks', yeah?"

Then he addressed the pair in the back seat, his eyes never leaving the road.

"Hang on, Ianto," he called encouragingly. "Blues and Twos are working with UNIT to clear us a straight shot to Millennium Square, and Martha's gearing up for our arrival. Is he breathing all right, Jack?"

"Kind of fast," the American replied, his guts knotting when the Changeling in his arms flinched and whimpered in pain. "Shallower than I'd like, but his airways seem clear. I wish…"

The Captain's words cut off suddenly as his injured lover started to gasp and shudder in prelude to a seizure.

"No, no, no," Harkness half begged, trying to hold the Welshman tighter without hurting him more than he already was. "Please… Not now, Ianto… if you strain the wounds you could bleed out. I've done it before and it's not a good way to go."

The coat muffled twenty-six-year-old gave a choked moan, convulsed once in the older man's arms then simply trembled and gasped, blood starting to flow from his nose and ears in a slow but steady stream.

"Turlough," Jack called worriedly. "He started to have a seizure but only spasmed one time, and now he's bleeding from the nose and ears. What do I do?"

"Sounds like traumatic expulsion from a breached aneurysm," the redhead in the driver's seat frowned. "If he's still breathing, then at least the Shadows are on top of it. Unfortunately, this is mostly their battle and knowing what that device was capable of, I'm not surprised there's been cerebrovascular compromise. All you can do is try to comfort him as best you're able, promise to take care of him, and see if a kiss will help like it has before."

"Ianto," Harkness called softy, taking the advice. "I've got you, buddy. I'm right here to do whatever you need me to… please, let me help you."

He shifted his grip enough to give his partner a good solid energy sharing kiss, then simply held him close and hoped it was helping. Suddenly, he heard a whisper in his mind, the soft Otherworldly voice of the Scieron he referred to as the Welshman's Faery Shadow Mother.

*The damage is too great for simple healing,* the entity explained quietly. *We need to take a more active role, or risk months of suffering, little cysgod. Even still, what I offer will be much like fighting the venom several cycles ago, though more intense. A periodic span in the Dark beyond the Door, allowing us to open a full portal inside your body to directly influence the most severe damage until our cells within you can accomplish the rest. A matter of weeks instead of months. Can you bear this, Frân Arian? Can you, Jack Harkness?*

"Jack…" Ianto choked; his voice barely audible. "Will… will you…?"

"Let you die?" the Captain breathed, feeling tears sting his eyes. "You know I never want that to happen… but seeing you like this is killing me by degrees. I bore the pain of the void in my heart when they fought the poison before. I can do it again. Whatever's going to help you the most."

*Do not fear,* the Scieron reassured. *I will see your annwyl safely to the Door and back each time. This will allow the singularity to open completely within him so a blood pool is not needed and we will not have to take him to our plane. Be brave, our Frân Arian, and in time you will be whole again. Take his breath with a kiss, Jack Harkness, so he knows your love travels with him, and we shall begin.*

"Turlough," the American called again, his voice tight. "The Scieron want to take drastic action. No matter what you hear back here, just keep driving and get us home."

"Yes, sir," the redhead acknowledged, inwardly cringing at the thought of what might be happening in the back seat.

"I would never do this if I didn't love you so much, Ianto," Jack whispered, carefully shifting the younger man in his arms again. "I'll see you soon."

Then he engaged his lover in a deep kiss, felt the younger immortal tense instinctively when his air cut off before he went bonelessly limp as their mouths parted. Tears won free to slip down the Captain's face, and he closed his eyes as he began the painful wait for his beloved Archivist to revive.

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AN: Ianto has a long hard road ahead, and it won't be much easier for poor Jack.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM