Chapter Twenty-five
Here's chap. 25! Sorry about the wait – I've been rather bogged down in school-work recently, and my parents are getting a tad upset about the fact that I've been spending quite a long time on the computer recently... :S My bad.
There will be a one-shot coming along soon... just bear with me, it's being stressy about being written!
Disclaimer: Torchwood is just this massive sandbox – owned by the Beeb - that I like to play in.
The window was open, allowing a breeze to play with the blue-flowered curtain. Jack was propped up in the queen-size bed, white sheets over his knees, reading a book.
The door opened soundlessly and Ianto backed into the room, carefully balancing two coffee cups and a plate of biscuits on a tray. He sat down on the edge of the bed and handed a cup to Jack.
Jack raised an eyebrow, wrapping his large hands around it. "Biscuits in bed?" he questioned.
Ianto shrugged. "It's a day off," he explained.
Jack grinned and took a sip. "Perfect, as usual."
Ianto opened his blue dressing-gown, revealing a baggy t-shirt and boxers, before slipping under the duvet and peering at Jack's book. "What are you reading?"
Jack flipped the book shut and showed Ianto the cover. "The Time Machine," the Welshman read, before cocking an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit..."
"Silly?" Jack suggested, hand snaking out around Ianto's shoulders to draw him closer. .
"No, it's just that I can never watch sci-fi now, not without bursting into laughter," Ianto admitted, blushing.
Jack nodded. "I know what you mean. But H. got a lot right."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Mostly because I told him it."
Ianto's mouth fell open and he stared at Jack. "You did not!"
"Did too." Jack smirked.
Ianto shook his head. "Next thing you'll be telling me that you slept with Einstein."
He slapped a hand over Jack's mouth before the captain could reply. "So don't want to know, Jack."
Jack pouted, but cheered up when Ianto proffered a chocolate chip biscuit. "What're we doin' t'day?" he asked through a mouthful of biscuit. Ianto winced as crumbs sprayed his nice clean sheets.
"I've got to do some shopping—" he started, but Jack cut him off.
"That can wait, can't it? For now, why can't we go out and do... stuff together?"
Ianto looked taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Jack shrugged. "Go out of the city for the day. Go on a picnic. You know. That sort of stuff." He took a gulp of coffee in an effort to look nonchalant, eyes watering as the hot liquid scalded his throat.
Ianto smiled. "I'm sure I can arrange something."
Jack nodded, still clutching his throat. "Great," he rasped.
Ianto studied him for a moment, before leaning forward and claiming his mouth in a kiss, hand cupping Jack's face. Jack relaxed into the kiss, opening his mouth and letting Ianto flick his tongue across Jack's teeth.
Jack finally broke away from the kiss, gasping. "What was that for?"
Ianto smiled, picking up a biscuit and taking a neat bite from it. "Thanks."
"For what?"
Ianto just smiled secretively and polished off his biscuit.
-T-
Jack nearly threw himself out of the TARDIS when it finally ground to a stop.
Donna and Toshiko were sitting at the table, deep in conversation. Owen was glaring at Jack, and the Doctor was—
A fist collided with Jack's head, sending him reeling. He staggered backwards, scowling at the Doctor.
"Don't you dare," the Doctor warned when Jack opened his mouth. "Don't even think about it, Jack!You stole my TARDIS, that--"
"But he brought her back," Donna argued, standing up and folding her arms. "You can't blame him for wanting to bring his lover back."
The Doctor visibly deflated. "Fine. Fine. Did you find what you needed?"
Jack found himself smiling for the first time since Ianto had died. "Yeah. I did." He looked to Toshiko and Owen. "I can bring Ianto back."
Owen held his gaze for a minute, before nodding abruptly. "Do it."
"Do it," Tosh echoed, not taking her gaze from Ianto's prone figure on the polished wooden floor.
Jack followed her gaze, and knelt down beside his lover's body. He picked up Ianto's cold hand and held it tightly, closing his eyes and letting himself fall into the darkness of the Psychic Realm.
-T-
Ianto was alone, still alone. The blackness was pressing in on him, making it hard to breathe.
He wrapped his arms around his chest, shivering as the intense cold tried to bite into his very core. He wished desperately for something to huddle into, feeling the loneliness echo in the void.
He was about to reach into his box of memories for comfort when a distant glow hummed into life, a fuzzy star far away.
He watched in fascination as the light grew brighter and more intense, creeping closer as it grew in strength.
It felt strangely familiar and soothing; a half-remembered lullaby that he realised that he should know inside out and back to front.
A murmur in his ear startled him. "Ianto?"
He leapt back, confused. "Who are you?"
The light flickered a little, as if Ianto's words had hurt it. "It's me. Jack."
Jack. As the word resounded in Ianto's head, the light grew brighter and brighter, until Ianto was blinded.
Then, all of a sudden, the light was gone, and in its place a man stood, swathed in a heavy gray-blue RAF coat. His eyes were a clear blue, his nose straight and his face picture-perfect, like nobody else.
"Ianto?" he asked, in a smooth American accent. Ianto remembered that accent.
"Jack."
"You remember me?"
"I..." Ianto hesitated, and Jack flinched in pain. His eyes darkened, and he looked away. Then, all of a sudden, Ianto remembered everything. He felt so stupid for not remembering every facet of this man's face, for not remembering the exact timbre of his voice. "Yes. Of course, Jack. I remember you."
Jack's face relaxed, and his eyes regained a bit of their shine. "You do?"
Ianto smiled at him. "You came to find me."
"Of course."
"I'm glad." Ianto couldn't help but reach out a hand to touch Jack's cheek. "You're really here," he breathed. "I thought—" he broke off, not wanting to upset Jack.
Jack kissed his palm gently. "You thought what?"
Ianto blushed, embarrassed. "I thought that you might not come," he admitted quietly.
Jack swept him into a crushing hug. "Fat chance," he murmured against Ianto's head. "I had to make sure you kept your promise, didn't I?"
Ianto chuckled. "That you did." He leant back and hungrily pressed his lips to Jack's.
Jack responded hungrily initially, before pulling back regretfully. "We need to go."
Ianto felt a flicker of excitement ignite in his chest. "I can come back?"
"What did you think I came for?" Jack responded.
Ianto felt another flame join the first one inside his chest. He wanted to kiss Jack again, but wanted to get home even more. He'd spent far too long in this dark place already.
Jack had clearly read his feelings in his face, because he squeezed Ianto's hand tighter. "Let's go."
Another chapter's up! I hope that you enjoyed it.
I got interrupted several times whilst I was writing (a flock of 50+ sheep broke into our garden and we had to spend a couple of hours getting them back into their field!), so I can only hope that it doesn't read too brokenly.
Reviews are really loved... it'd be so cool if we got to 250 reviews by chapter 27... (hinthint) ...that would require another special one-shot – the one for 200r is going to be up sometime this half-term. :D