Chapter Nineteen
Sorry it's been an entire week – I sprained my right hand on Thursday, the night I intended to write and post this, and as a result I can't write or draw, and typing is slow and painful. As it is, I promised that it wouldn't be long, so I've dosed up on the meds and here it is.
AN: This story now goes into a crossover with Dr Who, and Martha will be appearing, as will Donna and the Doctor. I'll let you know if the muse decides on other characters popping up.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood, but I do own Julia and her husband, Ralph. I also own their (deceased) daughter, Clara.
"What do you mean?" Owen asked sharply. "The gloves are gone, and even if they weren't I wouldn't let you."
Jack gave a rough approximation of his brilliant smile, although his heart wasn't in it. "The TARDIS," he said simply.
Toshiko gave a little gasp, tears still sliding down her cheeks. "Jack! You can't!"
Jack's eyes were over-bright. "I can and I will," he said defiantly.
Owen released Tosh and stepped forward, crossing his arms. "We won't let you."
Jack smirked coolly. "That might have worked once, but I've just lost my lover and there's nothing I wouldn't do to get him back."
"Jack, please," Toshiko whispered through her tears. "Don't do this."
Jack's flinty gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, but he shook his head. "No. I can't lose him, not yet. We haven't had long enough."
Tosh bit her lip. "Nobody gets long enough, Jack," she said softly, touching his shoulder. "We just have to make the most of what we get."
Jack looked despairing. "Please, Tosh. I need him back."
Owen stared at the Captain. His face was pale and blotchy from crying, his blue eyes shining with grief and unshed tears, and his wet hair was slowly springing back into position. The medic sighed. "Look, Jack, what if he can't do anything? The Doctor, I mean."
Jack's face clouded with pain. "He must be able to do something. He's got the TARDIS."
Toshiko nodded slowly. "But how are you going to contact him?"
"Martha's got his number." Jack shrugged. "I'll get it off her."
Tosh looked up at Owen, her chocolate-brown eyes uncertain. Owen gave her a little smile and a slight lift of the shoulders, to say, Whatever you want to do, I'll go along with it.
Jack noticed the exchange and felt a huge pang for similar ones he'd shared with Ianto. His gaze slid to Ianto's marble face, and unconsciously reached out to touch his cheek. His skin was cold to the touch, which made fresh tears well up in Jack's eyes.
"I'll go and get my phone," he announced. "I'm calling Martha."
-T-
The cabin he had shared with the young Welshman looked no different than it had before. Ianto's pyjamas were still folded up neatly on the covers, his book on the shelf under the porthole. The bed was made, the duvet tucked and smoothed. The pillows were plumped; the morning light, reflected off the water dancing in turquoise patterns across the blue fabric. Even though Jack's world had fallen apart, nothing else had changed.
He steeled himself and picked up his phone. He sat on Ianto's side of the bed, hugging the young man's pillow as he scrolled down the list of contacts.
Martha picked up the phone on the third ring. "Jack?"
Jack bit his lip as he wondered what to say, how to explain the events of the past few hours in a comprehensive way. "Ianto's dead," he blurted out, before breaking down in a flood of tears.
On the other end of the line, Martha was silent for a moment as she digested this information. "Oh Jack," Martha said finally. What words were there to comfort the bereft man sobbing into the phone, so many miles away. "I'm coming on the first train down to Cardiff."
"We're not in Cardiff," Jack said thickly, clearly wiping away his tears. "We're in Guernsey."
"Right. I'll get a plane over," Martha promised. "Or a ferry. Or something."
"I was wondering if you could give me the Doctor's number?" he asked quietly, burying his nose in the pillow and inhaling Ianto's scent. It smelt of fresh coffee and exotic spices, with a dose of citrus, from the shampoo he always used.
"There wouldn't be anything he could do, Jack," she said softly, worry for her friend edging her voice. "Look, I'll be with you by this evening, OK? Don't do anything stupid."
Then the line went dead, and Jack just sat there with the droning buzz in his ear. He bit his lip and let the tears fall, soaking the blue material of the pillow.
Toshiko looked in. "Jack?" she asked.
Jack didn't look up. "Martha says she'll be here by this evening," he said indistinctly, speaking into the pillow.
Toshiko nodded and, on a whim, sat on the bed next to him and wrapped her arms around him. They just sat there, the small Japanese woman comforting the Captain as he sobbed.
-T-
The TARDIS was throbbing gently as the Doctor relaxed for the first time in several days. He flipped the page of his book, humming to himself.
Then the phone rang.
The Doctor stared at it in annoyance for a moment, before picking up. "Hello?"
"Doctor, it's Martha."
"Hello Martha! What's the call for? End of the world?" he joked.
Martha's voice was sober as she replied, "It is for some."
The Doctor frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"It's Jack, Doctor. Ianto's just been killed," Martha said sadly.
"The Ianto?" the Doctor asked. "The Ianto who makes the coffee? The Ianto in the suits? The Ianto who Jack went home to?"
"Yes, Doctor," Martha replied patiently. "Ianto Jones. He got killed this morning, by an alien. Jack's distraught."
"Right."
Martha sighed. "I was wondering if you could drop by? He's in Guernsey – don't ask me why. I'm on my way down there now - I think Jack needs all his friends with him at the moment."
"Right."
"Jack needs you, Doctor. Please."
"Right."
"Can you say something other than 'right'?"
"Who're you talking to?" A loud voice interrupted anything he might have been about to say. Donna had entered the control room, wrapped in a white dressing gown.
"Is that Donna?" Martha asked.
"The one and only," the Doctor replied dryly.
"Mind if I speak to her for a minute?"
"'Course." The Doctor handed the mobile to the red-head, mouthing 'It's Martha' as he did so.
Donna beamed. "Martha! I— what? No! ...God, the poor man. Of course. No problem. Right away, I'll make sure that space-man gets there. See you."
She flipped the phone shut and turned to glare at the Doctor. "Guernsey, now."
"But—"
"Now!" Donna snapped. "One of your friends has just lost somebody he loved. You get your skinny ass there right now, Martian-Boy, or you'll get hell to pay for from me!"
The Doctor gulped and nodded, jumping up and busily flicking switched. "All right, all right!"
Donna nodded smugly and grabbed onto the rail as the TARDIS lurched through the Vortex.
Wow, that was long (for me, anyway)! I've spent the entire day on this, and my hand is killing me, so I hope you like it! I'd really appreciate reviews – I just got a whole bunch from two of my best friends who haven't quite got the hang of comprehensive reviews... so con-crit is loved!
AN: I don't know if I've got Martha, the Doctor, or Donna right. It's been a while since I've written for Doctor Who, so I'd love to know how I've done.