Mac
Looking at the calendar on the wall Jack was not sure how to approach Ianto's coming birthday. This time last year he was lost, trapped in a nightmare. Although he had freed him Ianto was still trapped. The passing of each day just melded into another, sometimes the only seeming difference was the meals he prepared. He knew the schedule was partly to blame for this but without it Ianto could not function.
On hearing Ianto's story the kind ladies Ianto had surprised with his race around the church yard had created a wonderful brightly coloured cloth appliqué wall calendar. The ladies had added a large number of icons representing the weather so if it was sunny they added a sun, or clouds, rain, wind and so on to choose from. Every day he and Ianto stood in front of it and added the date, the season, and the weather. Regardless from what Jack could make out it was meaningless to him because he had completely lost his sense of time. Jack had to admit this was not completely true; Ianto understood how each day worked within a seven day rotation. For Ianto there were no months, seasons or years just one day following another. In five days it was his birthday; he would be twenty six years old and they had marked this out on the cloth from another wonderful selection of icons representing special events. In this case a large birthday cake.
If it was in his power Jack would love to make his birthday as memorable and special as it was possible to be. But there was no point in trying to cook him something special because he would refuse to eat it. They were making contacts with the locals who were wonderfully supportive but none of them were friends as such. Not any he could invite here, even if he did Ianto would most likely become non-responsive. The same was true for the Torchwood team. He knew Tosh, but only via email, and Owen fleetingly. The others he had no recollection so any visits would have to be carefully prepared. Ianto wouldn't get any enjoyment out of them anyway because he wouldn't be able to interact on any meaningful level, he let out a deep sigh.
He wanted to celebrate that Ianto had lived, and was making slow steps to recovery. He was speaking and trying to express himself. He was trying the best he could in the most difficult circumstances, and he loved him so very much. Ianto didn't know this but for Jack the most special time of day was holding Ianto as he slept. As he lay there with his arms around him he could promise nothing would hurt him in that moment He watched as Ianto sat on the floor crossed legged engrossed in the book across his lap. This one was on motorbikes. How Ianto could find tech specs so fascinating was beyond him but it was like Ianto and numbers, something that been had unlocked in his mind.
He came back to his dilemma. There had to be something he could do to celebrate its passing, no matter how small. He had ordered a gift and a card, and if nothing else they could visit Marigold the pig, and the beach it if was fine day, but he wanted to do so much more.
Mac had no idea what to expect as he looked down the street. He glanced at his watch: eleven thirty, and it was almost that now. He had seen the pair of them walking about holding hands. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. This was not something you saw every day on the Island. He had heard about men holding hands on the mainland. He supposed he could ask about it but he was not one to speak with folks here and kept much to himself.
He ran his workshop, fixing cars and motorbikes. He had no time for idle chit chat and had no times for fools and there were a large number of fools he had to deal with. He hated folks and they hated him simple as that. They tolerated him because the only other choice was to take their vehicle to the mainland which many did, but if they needed something right there and then they had no choice. If he didn't love fixing motors so much he would remain home and ignore the lot of them. But this workshop belonged to his father and his uncle and he had worked here his whole life. So when Jack rang, this American asking if his young man could just come and watch him work he was surprised to say the least. He had explained that Ianto, the young man in question, was recovering from an ordeal, and he asked him to spell it out. Well that had been the kicker. His Uncle had been a prisoner of the Japanese in the Second World War and he had never been right after he had returned. At first he had refused but then he got to thinking what harm could it be if the man just came and watched him work. He turned as he heard a knock on the door, and saw the American standing with the young man.
Jack introduced Ianto and reminded Mac not to ask any questions or offer him a choice. Mac nodded and pointed indicating where Ianto should stand.
His eyes wide open Ianto couldn't take his eyes of the motorbike which was in pieces. It was like one of his puzzles and as he studied it he could see how it fitted together. Mac went to take the piece he was fitting as he saw Ianto point to it. Taking it without a word he slotted into place as Ianto pointed to the next part.
"Has he ever had a motorbike?" Mac asked in his thick Island accent as Ianto pointed to the next correct part.
"Not that I'm aware, he's got a few technical manuals," Jack replied. "He likes how things work and motorbikes in particular," he added.
"You better come closer you lump, if you really want to see," Mac grumbled. Jack was about to react when Ianto nodded and moved forward to get a better look.
Ianto watch in fascination as Mac worked. It was like magic he knew exactly where everything went.
"Jack tells me it's your birthday," Mac asked. He saw Jack shake his head as he thought Mac was about to ask Ianto a question.
"Yes," Ianto replied. Jack looked at him and let out the breath he was holding in.
"Well this is an odd birthday present," Mac pointed out.
"I love motorbikes," Ianto told him. Mac now indicated where he should stand as he moved to the other side of the bike.
"Is that right?"
"My first real motorbike," Ianto pointed to the bike Mac was working on.
"So you love motorbikes and have books but you've never seen one up close," Mac reflected back.
"Like the bus wheels," Ianto told him as Mac pushed back his cloth cap and looked at him.
"Was he a city boy?" Mac asked Jack who was standing watching by the door.
"Yes, we worked in the city. Ianto had an Audi, but not a motorbike." He saw Ianto smile.
"I like Audis, too, but I like motorbikes better," Ianto stated.
Watching, Jack leaned back and observed as Ianto enjoyed being near a real motorbike. He had been wracking his brains for ideas of making today special, when he had recalled the local garage. He had asked Morag about it but she had warned against it. Mac MacDonald was a miserable excuse of a man; rude, grumpy, he would run over you if you got in his way. He was a known recluse who spoke to no-one. Now in his 70's no one knew why he kept going. The locals only used him if they were desperate. Jack weighed up the risks, and decided there was no harm in asking.
His request had been met first with silence then a demand for an explanation. As most locals now had an edited version of Ianto's ordeal they were only too willing to offer assistance in one form or another. In fact Jack was constantly amazed at their kindness, the ladies and the W.I being one example. Despite this Mac had refused, but then called a day later advising he had changed his mind. Ianto could come for one hour on the specified day.
Today that hour had flown past when Jack interrupted and indicated they needed to leave.
"Thank you for this," Jack said. He held out his hand as Mac wiped his cleanest hand down his soiled dungarees then took and shook it
"Thank you, I loved seeing a real motorbike," Ianto added as he also shook Mac's hand.
"Well you were no trouble and didn't rattle on like most folks," Mac told him and Jack stifled a smile. Ianto had never said a word above a four word sentence the whole time he was here.
He saw Ianto was hesitant to leave and he turned as Mac now continued to work. "I really like you Mac," Ianto said as he left.
Mac pushed his flat cap off, and scratched his head as the pair now headed back towards the harbour. 'Well if that didn't take the cake,' he thought. 'Maybe not all folks on the Island were fools after all.'
Jumping over the potholes Ianto looked and smiled at Jack.
"I really like Mac, he's my friend, I hope I can go another day, I love motorbikes," he declared.
"Well next time we go into town we can go and say hello," Jack offered not sure if Mac would tolerate another visit due to his statement this was a one off never to be repeated event.
"Okay," Ianto said as they took path that led to the beach.
Much to Jack's amazement that is exactly what Ianto did. The next Tuesday Ianto popped his head inside the garage door and said, "Hello."
"So you're back," Mac said sliding his cap back off his head. "You had better stand there then." He pointed to a spot close to him. Ianto stood and watched Mac work.