Same Ianto, Different Jack
Chapter 23
by Gracefultree
A/N: This is another chapter in New Lisa's universe. Warnings for Gwen-bashing (Though there are other chapters where she's not bashed, she is in this one.) Warnings also for drugs and slight non-con. Please enjoy and let me know what you think.
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Ianto threw himself down onto the ratty couch under the Torchwood tiles with a ragged sigh. He'd spent the last three days in the Archives trying to create a semblance of order. New Lisa, though she'd taken on most of the responsibilities he had in his home universe, hadn't been up to the task of sorting the Archives, and New Lisa's Jack hadn't made it a priority, so they were even worse than when he'd started at His Torchwood Three. He groaned, rubbing he eyes. He felt a migraine coming on from the stress.
This would be the third time he turned the Archives into something usable rather than the piles of papers, folders and tech that it was before he came. The only consolation was that he could remember where things tended to be from universe to universe, so he had a head start, in his mind, of how to do it.
Now it was Christmas Eve, and New Lisa wanted to spend it with him, and he wasn't sure what he wanted. He'd managed to avoid going back to her flat the last few nights, simply by being too busy to leave the Hub. New Lisa, aware of his dedication to his work, hadn't protested, remembering how his OCD tendencies would come out when not appeased.
But tonight? Tonight he was supposed to go to dinner with her, then back to her flat, and New Lisa's Jack had been adamant that he do it. For all their sakes, Her Jack had said. To cut the tension. Strangely insightful, for a Jack, Ianto mused. He had roughly an hour to decide if he was going to do it or not. In the distance, he heard New Lisa's Jack's office phone ring with an internal line. He heard the rumble of New Lisa's Jack's voice, then his footsteps as he left his office to log on to one of the workstations.
"Ianto?" New Lisa's Jack called softly. "Can you come here a minute?"
With another groan, Ianto levered himself up and walked over. On screen was a familiar Cardiff city map, with a red dot indicating something being tracked. With a start, he realized it was New Lisa's car. "Shit," he whispered, remembering what would be happening.
New Lisa entered the Hub through the cog wheel door, coming up behind the two men.
"What do you think?" New Lisa's Jack asked, indicating the screen.
"He's going home," Ianto and New Lisa said at the same time. New Lisa and Her Jack turned their heads quickly to look at Ianto in shock.
"What do you know?" Her Jack demanded. "What's happening?"
Ianto closed his eyes and took a deep breath to center himself before letting it out and opening his eyes. "I can't tell you," he said with determination. "It would create paradoxes if I used my knowledge of the future to help you."
"But, Ianto —" New Lisa protested.
"No, he's right," Her Jack interrupted, defending him. "Time travel is tricky. Come on, we'll all go see what's happening." With that, New Lisa's Jack herded them all to the SUV.
They weren't in time to save New John Ellis.
New Lisa burst into tears when she saw the scene. New John was more efficient than Ianto's John, or perhaps more ingenious, or perhaps New Lisa just wasn't as careful about following Torchwood's weapons policy. New John found her gun in the glove box and shot himself. It meant that her car would be able to be cleaned and used again, but Ianto doubted she'd be able to drive it. After giving her a hug and kiss on the forehead, he grabbed a body bag and started maneuvering the body out of her car. New Lisa's Jack moved to help.
"You don't seem shocked," New Lisa's Jack commented softly.
"He chose a different method in my universe, but he still did it," Ianto murmured. They lifted the body into the boot of the SUV.
"You should stay with her tonight," New Lisa's Jack said. "I think she needs you after seeing this. She's not as used to the violence as the rest of us."
"Maybe she'd prefer you," Ianto muttered.
"I doubt it. She barely talks to me anymore, since you've come."
Ianto grunted.
"Seriously, go to her. Take her home, cook her dinner, sleep next to her. Do those boyfriend things I'm not able to do. I'll finish the clean up here and come by hers later to check on you both."
"You really think that's best?" Ianto asked. New Lisa's Jack nodded. "I guess you're getting your way and shoving me at her," he grumbled before changing topics. "We'll have to get her a new car. I can use this one."
"You're ok with that?"
"I've lived through too much for someone killing themselves in a car to keep me from driving it when it's in perfectly good condition."
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Once at New Lisa's flat, Ianto set about making one of His Lisa's favorite comfort foods, beef stew. She disappeared into the bathroom for a shower. As the stew simmered, Ianto got out a pair of wine glasses and opened the bottle of Malbec she had in her cupboard. With a start, he realized it was the same bottle he'd gotten three nights before the Battle of Canary Wharf as a treat for her but they'd never managed to open, getting distracted in the way of young couples by some enthusiastic sex on the sofa. In his universe, he'd drank the whole thing by himself the same night as the Battle, once Lisa was safely tucked away in a lorry to go to Cardiff in the morning when the dust settled a little bit.
He started setting the table. It all felt very domestic, not something he'd done in a very long time. He hadn't done it with His Jack, except on one or two occasions, and New Jack, though he allowed his romantic streak to show quite often towards the end, always wanted to go to restaurants rather than stay at home, since home was the Hub for both of them. So the most recently he'd done it had been with His Lisa, before the Battle, before his life changed in so many ways. He dropped into a chair.
"Ianto? Are you all right?" New Lisa asked, returning to the room and putting a hand on his shoulder. "You're crying!"
"I —" He broke off before he could get more than the single syllable out, the tears coming more quickly. "I —"
"It's ok, you don't have to say anything," she said, wrapping her arms around him. He leaned against her, burrowing his face into her chest, sobbing as he clutched her tightly to him. They stayed like that for a few minutes while he cried, eventually calming himself with her scent and presence. When he let her go, she took his hand and kissed him. He sighed and wiped his face while she went to pour the wine.
"Sorry," he said. "It just hit me, is all. I'm here with you, but you're not her, but you are…"
"It's all right. I've been trying to understand the whole thing myself."
He smiled tentatively. She smiled back. He reached for the serving dish and started spooning stew into bowls. She went around to her side of the table and picked up the loaf of bread, accepting the first bowl. She passed him a piece of bread. They smiled at the same time.
"Thanks for cooking," she said.
"Not a problem," he replied. "I hope you like it."
Several hours later, they ended up on the couch, drinking a second bottle of wine, curled together. Ianto held her under his arm, relaxing for the first time since he'd arrived in this universe.
"What keeps you going?" New Lisa asked after returning from the bathroom. She'd refreshed her lipstick, he noted, smiling slightly.
"I'd given up on everything but Jack," he admitted. "After I lost you the second time, I built my life around him. Everything I have, everything I am, I gave to him. I gave him my heart. I don't know if it was the right decision or not, but I did it. I couldn't keep myself from him. Those weeks after my suspension? Torture. Getting back to him is my driving force. I have to stay together long enough to get back to him."
"I feel like we've had this conversation before."
Ianto shrugged, sipping his wine.
"And now you've been jumping between universes and finding it hard to stay true to him?" she suggested. "Because he's not with you? And there're so many other hims out there? And now me?"
"I don't know how long I'll be here. Each time, it's getting shorter. Well, this is only my third universe, but I spent a year in the first one and five months in the last, so… what if I'm only here two months? How can I open my heart to you and Your Jack if I'm only going to leave again? How can I give you a piece when it's all his?" He paused. "As if it were that easy to keep myself from feeling things."
"But you said you love that other Jack, too," she pointed out, snuggling closer.
"Yeah, but he's — It's not like he's an extension of My Jack, but he sort of is."
"I've never thought about the complications of going to alternate dimensions."
"I want to trust you, to trust Your Jack, but can I? Don't answer. I know you'll say yes."
"Actually, I was going to say 'probably'," she said with a laugh. He laughed with her, leaning over to kiss her. "What's that for?"
"It feels natural to kiss you," he answered. "More than I expected."
"Good," she said with a sigh, her mood shifting to seduction in a heartbeat.
"Lisa, I'm not your Ianto," he reminded her. "We've never —"
"We'll figure it out," she said, resting a hand on his knee, massaging his leg.
"I haven't had sex with a woman in a very long time," he blurted.
"I'm sure it'll come back to you," she replied with a smirk that looked wrong on her face. She put her wine glass down and took his away to move it out of the way. "You're the best I've ever had," she purred, straddling his lap. His Lisa wasn't usually this bold, but a part of him didn't mind in the slightest, used to His Jack's artless advances when time was of the essence. Not that time was important now, since they had the whole night off, and potentially the next day, depending on Her Jack's mood.
"You're better than Jack, you know," she added, wrapping herself around him and moving to whisper in his ear. "With him, it's just sex. With you, though, think how much more it could be…"
New Lisa started kissing and nibbling on his neck. Ianto took a deep breath, smelling her perfume and becoming aroused. It was a new perfume, new since she'd been in the bathroom a few minutes before, one His Lisa had never worn. Strawberries. He shifted so she could feel his interest. Laughing, she kissed his lips. He tasted strawberries. Why strawberries? a small part of his brain asked. She hated them, and the idea that she'd wear strawberry perfume, let alone lipgloss, startled him. Not enough to stop kissing her, though. He felt compelled to kiss her, to touch her.
"You want me, don't you?" she murmured, rubbing her whole body against him in another bold move he wouldn't have expected from His Lisa. He gripped her hips, holding her in place, confused and wanting to slow down. "Don't stop, darling. We'll be so good at this," she continued, reaching between them to undo his trousers and bring out his erection. He threw his head back and moaned at the touch, feeling a wave of lust take control of his body. He hiked up her skirt, finding that she hadn't bothered putting on knickers when she'd changed before. Either that or taken them off just now. "That's it, Ianto, let me ride you," she hissed.
"No, not like this," he managed through a haze of strawberry scented thoughts and raging desire that burned through him. "Not yet. I just want a bit of snogging. I'm not ready for more yet. "
"Yes, you are," she declared, pumping his erection. "Just feel how hard you are for me!"
"No, I — I want Jack," he pleaded. "This isn't you. You're not like this. Let me get Jack."
"Jack's not here, but I can call him. I want you happy, Ianto. If that means sharing you with Jack, I'll do it. But let me take care of you until he gets here, ok?" She lowered herself onto his cock. "I've waited all week for this," she murmured, kissing him so hard he couldn't speak.
Ianto felt his body moving, felt her responding, felt his will to resist fading away. Jack! he shouted in his head. Jack, something's wrong. You've got to help me! I don't want this! I want you.
"Jack…" he groaned.
"You called?" New Lisa's Jack asked from the doorway, a lopsided cocky smile on his face. New Lisa didn't even blink at his sudden appearance, nor did she stop what she was doing. "I gotta say, it's kind of hot to watch you fucking her while calling for me."
"Jack," Ianto repeated, his voice cracking. "Jack. Fuck, Jack!" He dropped his hands from around her waist, everything but his cock slackening, as if his muscles were turning to jelly. He shuddered. New Lisa murmured appreciatively.
New Lisa's Jack tilted his head to the side, regarding them for a moment. He stepped closer, reaching out to run his fingers through Ianto's hair. Ianto closed his eyes and whimpered, throwing his head back, parting his lips. New Lisa's Jack leaned down and kissed him gently. He pulled back as if he'd been burned.
"What the fuck?" he demanded. He sniffed the air between Ianto and New Lisa, frowning. He grabbed the back of New Lisa's neck and pulled her head back, running his nose along her throat as he sniffed again.
Faster than Ianto could react, New Lisa's Jack grabbed New Lisa around the waist and pulled her off Ianto and across the room, shoving her against the wall, his forearm across her neck. She squeaked. Ianto blinked lazily a few times before groaning again, his hips still moving along with the rhythm her movements had created.
"What's wrong with you?" New Lisa's Jack demanded, his anger hot as he glared at her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I — I — we were just —"
"No! Look at him!" he ordered, pointing at Ianto, who sat on the couch, dazed, his eyes rolled back in his head, his cock out, fucking air. He hadn't moved to put it back in his pants, though New Lisa was across the room with Her Jack. "Is that what Ianto's like? Is it?"
"Um, no," New Lisa answered, swallowing nervously against his arm. "I don't —"
"What did you give him?" Her Jack snarled. She shook her head, not understanding. "What did you give him?" he repeated, growing more angry.
"Nothing! I didn't give him anything!"
"Then what's with the strawberries? You hate them!"
"It's just a new perfume Gwen gave me. She said Ianto would like it, that she'd heard him talking about missing it from his universe."
"Perfume?" New Lisa's Jack asked, his eyes growing wide. He dashed to the bathroom, coming back immediately with a clear bottle that sparkled strangely in the light. "This?"
"Yes," she answered, rubbing her throat and readjusting her dress to cover herself.
"This isn't perfume," he told her, shaking the bottle. "This is a very powerful alien pheromone extract. And you've just used it to seduce Ianto against his will. You drugged him!"
"What?" she shrieked. "No! No! I wouldn't do that! I — I — No!"
"You did," he growled. He turned his back on her, dropping the bottle into a pocket of his greatcoat. "I'm calling Owen. He might have an antidote. You go shower that shit off yourself. And stay away from Ianto for the next 24 hours. We don't know what the effects will be." He walked over to Ianto and sat down next to him.
"Jack…" Ianto whispered, his head lolling in New Lisa's Jack's direction.
"It's all right, Ianto. I'll take care of you."
"I know."
Her Jack paused, his hand hovering over Ianto's groin. "Do you want me to help relieve the pressure? I've been doused before, and I know how much it can hurt."
"Never turned down one of your blow jobs before," Ianto murmured. "Not gonna start now."
"I meant my hand."
Ianto's face crinkled in distaste. "Jack," he whined.
"My hand or nothing, Ianto," New Lisa's Jack said firmly. "If I'm going to get to blow you, you're damned well going to remember it!"
"Hand," Ianto muttered, defeated.
New Lisa's Jack took care of him quickly, then gently put him back together, sighing that Ianto barely moved at the necessarily intimate touch.
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"Results are in," New Lisa's Owen called, startling Ianto awake from where he lay on the autopsy table. He opened his eyes to see the doctor's back as he held up a paper for New Lisa's Tosh and New Lisa's Jack, who were standing at the railings looking down, to see. He wondered if New Lisa and Her Gwen were behind him, but didn't have the energy to look. He closed his eyes.
"And?" New Lisa's Jack growled.
"He's been drugged," New Lisa's Owen declared. "And you were right, it's the sex pheromones. The thing is, there's as much in her blood as in his."
"Maybe she absorbed some when she sprayed it on herself?" New Lisa's Tosh suggested.
"I thought that, but with their difference in body mass and ability to metabolize toxins like this, she should have a much higher percentage than she does. She said she'd sprayed it on herself about ten minutes before you got there, Jack?"
"Yes. And they were drinking."
"That wouldn't change these numbers that much," New Lisa's Owen said, his voice changing as he considered the possibilities. "The only thing I can think of is that she somehow got an antidote, or was given something to counteract the effects. Because it's clear to me she was under the influence, too. Either that, or Jones has an unusually low tolerance for this kind of thing."
"Lisa's completely devastated," New Lisa's Tosh put in. "I took her back to my flat, because she couldn't stop crying. She kept going on and on about how Gwen assured her it was just perfume and that Ianto liked it. Even gave her a lipgloss to match." New Lisa's Jack's head whipped around at that. "She thought that it might help them get closer, if she used something he liked. She had no idea it was a drug!"
"You're right," New Lisa's Jack added. "I don't think she knew. She wouldn't have done something like that. She was overwrought by the case we handled earlier and wanted comfort, and it didn't turn out how she planned it."
"I'm just glad you were there to stop things," New Lisa's Owen said. "And to think I thought it was harmless and almost used it! God, I'm an asshole sometimes."
"Yes, but you didn't use it," New Lisa's Jack said. "That counts for a lot. You're growing up, Harper."
"Fuck off!"
New Lisa's Jack chuckled. "Ianto?" he called. "I know you're awake down there. Why don't you open those beautiful blue eyes for me and tell me what you're thinking."
Ianto opened his eyes in time to see a smirk on New Lisa's Tosh's face and a look of surprise on New Lisa's Owen's. He sat up with some difficulty, leaning on the doctor's arm and waiting through a dizzy spell before he felt good enough to look up again.
"You're saying both Lisa and me were drugged?" Ianto finally asked. "Likely by Gwen? Why on earth would she want to do something like that?"
"She has a crush on our fearless leader," New Lisa's Owen explained. "Despite the fact that he stopped flirting with her after the first few weeks."
"And she's noticed I'm flirting with you," New Lisa's Jack added. "If she could get you and Lisa together, in her mind, she'd have a free ride to my bed. As if."
"At least you have some taste," New Lisa's Tosh muttered under her breath, studiously not looking at New Lisa's Owen, who had the decency to fidget uncomfortably.
"What kind of drug?" Ianto asked. "I didn't catch that part. Standard date rape stuff?"
"Much more sophisticated," New Lisa's Owen said. "It's an extract from an alien's sex glands. Very powerful pheromones."
Ianto nodded to himself. He glanced back up at the pair above him. "I'd like a minute alone with Jack, please," he said softly. The three Torchwood agents shared a significant look between them before New Lisa's Jack nodded. With his help, Ianto made it to New Lisa's Jack's office, where he settled into the visitor's chair with a muttered curse.
"Well?"
"Is there any relation between this drug and your own pheromones?" Ianto asked bluntly. "Because if there is, I've been shagging one or another of you off and on for close to three years, which would impact my response to the drug."
"There shouldn't be. Though I can run a gene sequence analysis once the others go home to make sure. I've got something in the Secure Archives that should be able to tell. Do I smell like strawberries to you?"
Ianto sniffed New Lisa's Jack's neck, inhaling deeply. He couldn't help the sigh that escaped his lips. "You smell wonderful," Ianto answered, his breath hot on New Lisa's Jack's skin. "God, I want to fuck you right now!" he declared. New Lisa's Jack raised a sardonic eyebrow.
"Time for that later, I think," the captain answered. "Once we know the drug is all out of your system. I'm not one for coercion."
"Thank God that's something all the Jack's I've met seem to share," Ianto said. "The first one, My Jack, he said that the pheromones only works if there's already interest."
"That's right."
"I'm interested."
"I can tell." New Lisa's Jack chuckled. "Patience, Ianto. I'm not going anywhere." He paused. "Except perhaps to Gwen's to decide if I want to fire or suspend her."
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"We expecting anyone?" Rhys asked, heading towards the door. "It's eight in the bloody morning! On Christmas!"
"I'll get it," Gwen answered, rushing past him to pick up the intercom phone. "Hello?"
"Gwen? It's Jack. Can I come up?"
"Sure," she answered enthusiastically, buzzing him in. Two minutes later, Jack strode into their flat, his greatcoat billowing around his ankles, Owen at his heels.
"Jack? What's going on?" Gwen asked. "You said we all had the day off."
Jack smiled thinly, looking around the flat. "Rhys, right?" he asked, extending a hand. "Captain Jack Harkness. I need to borrow —" He broke off, noticing the fifth person in the room. "What's she doing here?" he demanded of Gwen.
"Oh, this is my cousin, Emma. She's just visiting for Christmas," Gwen answered, motioning vaguely in Rhys' direction.
"Cousin?" Owen asked sarcastically. "Is that what you told him?"
Rhys looked from Owen to Jack to Gwen and back again.
"Owen, take Emma back to the boarding house, then meet me at the Hub," Jack ordered. "Gwen, you're coming in, too."
"Wait, what are you doing?" Rhys demanded angrily, stepping up to confront Jack. "You can't just barge in here and start making a mess of Christmas. You promised she'd have this one day!"
"Things have changed," Jack said. "Come on." He waved at Gwen.
"No! I won't allow it."
"You're going to allow it, Mr. Caveman, because you have no idea of what's going on. We have a job to do, and —"
"And why are you taking her cousin?" Rhys interrupted.
"Emma isn't Gwen's cousin," Jack said. "She's a stranger that we've been taking care of, who should have been at the boarding house," he finished, glaring at Gwen.
"She was just lonely, Jack," Gwen said, trying to placate him. "I couldn't let her spend Christmas alone! Diane and John both buggered off somewhere, and —"
"It's fine," Emma said softly. "I'll go back. I don't want to be a bother."
"She's not your cousin?" Rhys yelled, leaving off his confrontation with Jack to round on Gwen. "You lied to me?"
"No, Rhys, you don't understand…"
"I understand a lot more than you think," he declared. "I know you're fucking Captain Gorgeous over there," he added, pointing at Jack.
"No, actually, that would be me she's fucking," Owen interrupted. "And I've broken it off, only she was too self-absorbed to notice."
"You lie to me so easily, Gwen! What's going on with you?"
"Rhys, I can't deal with this now," Gwen said, trying to push past him. He didn't budge. Owen escorted Emma from the flat after acknowledging Jack's expression and nod. "I have important work to do."
"No, I think you can stay here and tell me why you've been lying to me. And why you've been cheating on me. Do you honestly expect me to stay with you?"
"Rhys…"
"Come on, Gwen," Jack said, tugging on her arm. "I'm sorry," he said to Rhys.
"You don't have to apologize," Gwen hissed. "We can always retcon him."
Jack's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "You'd drug your own boyfriend?" he asked in a carefully neutral voice.
"Sure. He wouldn't remember any of this. He's not supposed to know anything about Torchwood, anyway."
"Last time I checked, we hadn't mentioned Torchwood once until you brought it up just now," Jack pointed out.
Rhys looked back and forth with growing apprehension. "Now, look, mate, no need for that kind of thing," he said, backing away. "I won't say a word. I promise. I'll sign the bloody Official Secrets Act and everything."
Jack glanced back at Rhys. "Come by the Plass tomorrow at noon," he said. "We'll talk then. In the meantime, you might want to leave her or kick her out. Your choice. We suspect she drugged two of her colleagues yesterday, and she just suggested doing the same thing to you, so I'd advise thinking long and hard about whether or not she's the kind of woman you'd like to be with."
"How dare you?" Gwen demanded, angrily, shoving ineffectually at Jack's arm. "How dare you accuse me of —"
"Remember this, Gwen?" Jack asked, holding up a bottle of clear liquid.
"What's that?" Rhys asked, curious.
"It's a very powerful date rape drug that Gwen gave to one of our female colleagues, claiming that it was simple perfume, so that she would seduce our newest recruit."
"He's her boyfriend, Jack," Gwen snarled. "They hadn't had sex in ages. I was just helping them along!"
"By making them want sex so desperately that they couldn't consent to it because of a drug? Ianto was very clear that he wasn't ready for sex, and this drug had him doing things he didn't want when he was sober. It took away his ability to say no. It made his body respond in ways he found uncomfortable and humiliating. I repeat: Date. Rape. Of both of them, since you tricked Lisa into wearing it. Lisa regrets the whole thing more than you can possibly imagine, and she didn't even cause this! You've possibly ruined their entire relationship, and destabilized everyone else at work because of your desire to 'help.' No one will ever trust you again, you know."
"I just wanted to help…"
"Drugging someone isn't helping!" Jack shouted.
"I'm gonna agree with you on this one," Rhys added, crossing his arms over his chest. "Those are some scary accusations."
"I didn't do anything wrong!" Gwen declared.
"That's it. We don't have time for this," Jack said, pulling a stun gun. He pressed it against her side and discharged it, sending enough electricity through her body to knock her out instantly. He picked her up off the floor and threw her over his shoulder. "Do some thinking tonight, come to the Plass tomorrow and we'll talk. In the meantime, I'm taking her with me," he said to Rhys.
"I don't want her coming back here," Rhys declared.
"I'll send someone by to help you pack her things. We can store them until we figure out what to do with her."
"She, um, she'll be ok, though? She won't be hurt?"
"We no longer execute traitors," Jack said seriously. "We have other options, now."
"Traitors?" Rhys blurted.
"She intentionally drugged two Torchwood employees, who, by the fact of their jobs, are direct employees of the Crown. Under the proper circumstances, that's a treasonous offense."
"Well, shit."
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Ianto looked up from New Lisa's Tosh's monitor to see New Lisa walking into the main Hub. Their eyes met, and she looked away, her cheeks reddening in shame. He left off watching the confrontation between Her Gwen and Her Jack from the CCTV camera installed in New Lisa's Gwen's flat and walked over to her, pulling her into a brief hug.
"I forgive you," he whispered. "I know it wasn't your fault."
"I'm still sorry," she answered.
"I know. It'll be all right." He kissed her forehead. "We'll find a way to start over."