13
Ianto woke to a cold sweat and the bed covers encasing him like a tomb. He struggled from them as his heart pounded and sat in the edge of the bed trying to calm his rapid heartbeat.
Shit.
Will the nightmares ever go away? He had thought them conquered but this bloody show had stirred up so many things and he knew deep down that the counselling he had been offered and declined might have been a good idea after all.
He rose and opened the door, checking down the hall and he padding across to Jack's room where he raised his hand and knocked tentatively. The door swung open almost immediately and he was struck dumb by the beauty that stood there, his PJ bottoms hanging loose about his hips and the bare chest so smooth, like tanned marble.
"Yan?" Jack said softly, his surprise evident. "What's wrong, did you see a ghost?"
"Jack?" a familiar whine from behind him in the room, "That room service? Don't let it get cold."
Ianto felt his face flare as he stepped back and Jack's look of horror told him this had been a bad idea "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't….sorry."
Ianto stumbled back and fled to his room with his heart now pounding more than ever as Jack called softly after him to come back.
Will the humiliations never end?
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.
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Next morning he sat with Owen and Tosh, careful not to look in the direction of the other two as they sat together talking, seems Gwen was getting a bigger part today. Wonder why.
Ianto glared at his plate of inedible eggs and Owen poked at him gently, "Who pissed in your breakfast?"
"I had a nightmare" Ianto hissed, "A….well. A flashback and panicked, I fled my bed like a fucking child seeking Daddy's comfort."
"Jack" Owen guessed, "You went to his room for reassurance? Really? You made a move?"
"She was already there" Ianto sighed, pushing the plate back as he gave up on it all together, "Thought I was room service."
"And today the scene where him and I search the village had become me, him and Gwen" Owen leaned back with a huff, "Fuck. I wondered what was going on when I got this morning's call sheets."
"Yeah, you, Jack and Gwen are Team A, me and Tosh team B" Ianto agreed, "I notice we have the small back-up film crew where as you three have all the high tech ones."
"Power play" Tosh said softly, "She sure does go for the kill early. I think she was intimidated when they bought you back and wants to make sure her part is still bigger."
"Fine by me" Ianto snorted, "I didn't want to come back at all, the less time I spend on set the better!"
.
.
.
It had been a bad idea to split up, Jack had been too busy wanting to lead Gwen and Owen in a certain direction that must have been pre-chosen for the show and Ianto knew he and Tosh were surplus so they wandered in another direction where he hoped he might sneak a quick smoke.
When he turned and she was gone he knew they were still in the game and turning to find the bag being lowered did nothing for his sense of humour. He panicked and it all became a blur as he tried to remain calm, telling himself it was all part of the game, it was OK but damn if he wasn't panicking.
Then something struck him on the head and his last thought was that this was not part of the deal.
.
.
.
He sat in the cellar and tried to remain calm, tried not to let himself lose control. Do Not Panic.
"God damn it" Tosh muttered, "This is not funny. It stinks down here, you OK?"
"Sure" Ianto replied, "I have been taken somewhere deep underground, like…a dungeon where I am now waiting for someone to come in and shove a gun in my face before leading me to my demise. Of course, they will make it as scary as possible for me, it seems to be their MO to try and break me, my lawyers will have a field day over this fucking head injury, I'm still bleeding."
"Ianto, you are reading too much into this" Tosh assured him, "Jack would ever let them scare you like that again, he was so upset when he learnt about your wife. He screamed and ranted. Believe me, they would not push it again. It must have been a mistake, they misjudged when to pull back the swing."
When the silly bitch came in with the bad acting and the shotgun he knew he was in trouble, more trouble than Tosh realised. It was all wrong, it smelt wrong, and it was all…too real.
They were lead up to a kitchen and Ianto smelt it.
knew it.
Remembered it.
This was not a set. Not props and they were definitely over their heads as he looked at the man currently touching Tosh in a way that made her squeak with horror.
The head butt seemed a natural response, after all they were going to kill one of them and this time he would be damned if he was going to be forced to watch someone else die. Tosh escaping was a relief. The gun butt slammed to the head was no real surprise.
After all…
Ianto knew death when he smelt it.
This was not part of the set, this was real.
,
,
,
,
What if? Real life behind the scenes bits.
OK, some have been asking about the little things that are hints to the 'real' world so if you want me to start revealing the little snippets I am happy to add them in the notes at the end of each chapter.
So far…
Chapter 1 – Barbara and Janet…Rocky Horror Picture Show was where Janet got her name.
Chapter 2 – Jack's office does contain Doctor Who props including the binoculars from the 'Lost Child' episode. We all know it is the Doctor's hand. Also a pair of 3D glasses can be seen in some shots. We know the Doctor loves those things. The 'Don't apologise' comment is from the comic-con where John tells a fan not to apologise when asking a question. Flotsam and Jetsam was to be the title of the first episode and there was a Doctor Who Exhibition Poster in the Tourist Office.
Chapter 3 and 4 – none.
Chapter 5 – Burn Gorman did indeed have a skate ramp behind the studio, he is an avid skateboarder and John is well known for his antics on and off set.
Chapter 6 – They did film in 'bulk' with the up to three episodes all filmed at once.
Chapter 7 – none
Chapter 8 and 9 – none
Chapter 10 – Small Worlds was originally called Stolen Child.
Chapter 11 – none
Chapter 12 –Yes, a certain naughty little cockney monkey actually managed to unbolt the claw foot bath while very drunk and John had to pay for the damages to the room.
Chapter 13 - Brynblaidd where they stayed during filming is haunted. Eve was terrified and spent the night in John's bed.