Notes: Chapters like this one are rather hard to write because we all know Jack's story is long and vast, and many of it can be completely up to the writer. This is part one, but his story will not be written consecutively, because there is no way Jack can get through his entire 150+ year life story in one sitting.
So I apologize for the delay, and forewarning to expect some more. I have two vacations coming up and will not do anything but enjoy them.
Also, milestone! The written story itself (so not including author notes or extra notes) has reached over 50,000 words! I'm shooting for at least 100,000 by the end of CLCA itself. Now, enjoy.
Chapter Spoilers: None, but is the aftermath of my cover of episode 2.04 (Meat). Doctor Who – 1.09 thru 1.13, 3.12 & 3.13, and Sometime Never (prose)
Ianto pulled out of the parking space and began driving. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he finally spoke up. "Where do you feel comfortable talking, Jack?"
"Anywhere you would feel comfortable listening," Jack answered honestly. Personally, he wanted to talk at Ianto's flat, but knew the younger man had his doubts about their soon-to-be discussion.
Ianto thought for a moment before stating his preference. "Honestly, I don't want to do this at my place. I'm hoping tonight we can hopefully work out some kinks, but if something should happen… I would just feel safer at the Hub, is that alright?"
Jack understood where Ianto was coming from. If he happens to not forgive me, he doesn't want his flat stained with those memories. Jack smiled inwardly. Though, that goes to show he cares about me more than he lets on, or at least I hope that's what it means. "That's fine, Ianto. I want you as comfortable to discuss things tonight, too."
The rest of the drive to the Hub was silent, but not as awkward as it was initially. Once inside, they set about going over the nighttime tasks; shutting down and running the nighttime programs, feeding any residents that required a later feeding than the others. The tasks helped calm each man's nerves. The only task left undone was shutting off the lights, going into complete sleep mode. They were both too uncertain about how their discussion would pan out to complete it.
With all the tasks completed, both men gathered on the couch in Jack's office. Jack offered Ianto some scotch, but he declined, stating not wanting to drink in case he needed to drive home. The reaction upset Jack a bit, but again he understood where the younger man was coming from.
He sat down beside Ianto, close but separate. "Where would you like me to start?" he asked.
Ianto racked his brain for a logical starting point. He wanted to know so much about the immortal, but had no idea what to ask about, and didn't want to overstep any boundaries. Then he thought of one, "Could you tell me about the friend that Gwen supposedly reminds you of?" he asked innocently, hoping it wasn't too much of a touchy subject.
Jack smiled, already reminiscing. "Of course I can. I know you saw the list from the battle. She was Rose Tyler," Jack paused, letting the younger man think back.
"I wondered about her," Ianto stated while nodding. "She didn't work at Torchwood, so now I assume she was the Doctor's companion?"
"Yes, she was," Jack confirmed the assumption. "But to explain how I met her and the Doctor, I need to go back a bit further.
"As you now know, I worked with the Time Agency. Since it's from the future, I can't tell you too much about it because of Timelines, but I joined up when I was old enough. Our purpose was to change without interfering, to leave an effect with no evidence of cause. To be untraceable, undetectable, invisible. To all intents and purposes, the Agents do not exist.
"But then I discovered that they wiped two years of memory, and I still have no clue why. When they refused to give them back, I left the agency and went rogue; turned into a conman and freebooter. I honestly hoped that I could con other agents enough that the agency itself would be forced to give me my memories back, but that didn't work either.
"Anyway, my first time in 1941, I had already assumed Jack Harkness' identity. I needed a cover so that my con, involving a Chula ambulance, would be dealt with properly. I was watching the skies for any evidence of Time Agents coming through when I spotted Rose dangling from a barrage balloon. I could tell she was going to fall, so I made sure to catch her," he paused and laughed at the memory. Jack decided to steal a glance towards Ianto to gather his reaction thus far, which all Jack could see was complete attentiveness, giving nothing else away.
So he continued, "Eventually I learned she wasn't travelling alone; that's how I met the Doctor. It turned out that the ambulance had nanogenes in it and they had escaped and caused a disaster of their own. Then there was the bomb that was supposed to impact the exact location of where I landed the ambulance. I prevented the bomb from landing once it was no longer needed, and took it upon my ship and set as far away from Earth as possible.
"But Rose convinced the Doctor to save me, because that's what she does, she cares. Since I no longer had a ship, and proved myself in times of emergency, the Doctor allowed me to travel with them. We had so many adventures together. Remember the report you found about the time I locked Suzie, Tosh, Owen and myself in the Hub while the Slitheen mayor ran amuck around the city?" he asked while turning his attention back to the young man. Ianto nodded, remembering their research involving the Blathereen, another family of Raxicoricofallapatorians.
"Well, I was there; the younger version of me, the mortal version. I couldn't risk any of the team running into me, and I couldn't risk the paradox that was bound to occur if I ran into me. That was just one of my adventures with the Doctor and Rose.
"The last memory I have of Rose, though, is on the Game Station in 200,100. Again, I can't tell you too much, but my first death was there, among the ashes of the Daleks. I didn't know how I survived when I knew they killed me, but I heard the TARDIS disappearing and tried to catch up, but couldn't. That's when I started my search for the Doctor. I tried to set my vortex manipulator for the 21st century, but ended up in 1869 where it burnt out. I'll save those tales for another time.
"But while I was away, I did get some answers. Maybe not all the answers I wanted, or at least the ones I wanted to hear, but I learned what I needed to. I'm stuck this way for a very, very long time. I may die eventually, but essentially I'll be alive for millennia. Another is that Rose is very much alive. And finally, I now know that she is the reason I am immortal.
"The Doctor sent Rose away from the Game Station in 200,100 when the threat from the Daleks was too great. Apparently Rose protested; she did everything she could to find a way back. And she did. She opened the TARDIS, looking into the Time Vortex, absorbing its power. No one, not even a Time Lord, is supposed to hold such power. It was too strong for her. But she used it anyway to get back to the Game Station, to kill the Daleks, and to bring me back to life. She brought me back out of love, Ianto. She didn't mean for the Time Vortex to now be a part of me; she just wanted to bring me back. And I miss her," Jack began breaking down.
Ianto took the immortal into his arms, letting his cry out the pain that ripping open these old wounds was bound to cause. While Jack sobbed, Ianto reflected on Jack's story.
So he was a conman and that's how he met the Doctor. His time with them obviously changed him if he went from conning people to helping people and aliens. And the reason why he locked the team in the Hub during the Slitheen attack now makes sense. But Rose; his dear Rose. I can't fault her for wanting to right the wrong of Jack's death when he chose to defend her and the Doctor against an otherwise undefeatable foe. If I didn't already know he could come back, I would find a way to give him life again. I would do it out of love, just like she did. And now I can see how Gwen reminds him of Rose. Ianto sighed almost in sync with Jack's final sob.
Ianto decided to break his silence. "I understand now, Jack. And while I'm still not a fan of the Doctor, I am a fan of Rose. She's smart, she must have been beautiful for you to be captivated by her, and she loved you. She brought you back because she loved you. Hell, I would, too, even though I know…" Ianto paused when Jack looked at him quickly, as if shocked.
Ianto thought over his words. Oh shit, I basically just told him I love him, what do I do?
Jack decided Ianto's next course of action for him. "You would bring me back… out of love?"
Ianto knew he needed to be honest. Jack just professed a difficult part of his past to him, and being honest was the least he could do for the immortal. Damn the consequences, it was about time he just started being honest with himself and everyone else. "Yes, I would because I do… love you," he finally admitted, though the latter came out quite faint.
Jack smiled, and for the first time, it reached his eyes, which Ianto immediately noted. "I'm glad to hear it because… I love you, too, Ianto."
Ianto was completely flabbergasted. He had always hoped that Jack would tell him those three words, but always thought the immortal was incapable of doing so due to lovers dying and all. Once he got over the shock, he smiled brightly and kissed Jack with all the passion and love he had for the immortal. Jack returned the kiss with equal passion and love.
When the need for air became too much, they broke apart, resting their foreheads against each other, smiling. "So…" Jack decided to break the silence, hoping to get some definitive answers. "Does this mean we can work this out?"
Ianto nodded, "Yes, Jack, I think we can work this out. I want to work this out. I love you, and now that I know the truth, I believe we have a chance." He smiled looking into the older man's eyes.
Jack returned the smile, but then had to stifle a yawn. Though he doesn't need a lot of sleep, Jack's emotions that were haywire as of late had drained him; not to mention so did the life inside of him, which he had subsequently forgotten about.
Ianto noticed the yawn. He got up pulling the older man with him. "Come on, you. Let's get some rest."
Jack did not protest. He followed Ianto over to the hatch and down the ladder into his bunker. Both men stripped to their boxers, not in the mood, nor having the energy to accidentally get in the mood, for anything more than sleep. Once Ianto's head hit the pillow, he immediately fell asleep, with Jack's head on his chest, and the older man sound asleep wrapped in his arms.
Extra Notes: The bolded line in Jack's explanation is reference to the Doctor Who Novel: Sometime Never. It is (mostly) a direct quote describing the Time Agency. Just wanted to explain that DW reference.
Please Comment and Review! I greatly appreciate and would love to know what you all think about it thus far, and where you hope to see this go! This is far from over, and I have a lot more in store. Maybe even more if there is something you want to see and I am able to accommodate it! You just have to let me know, first!