Same Ianto, Different Jack
by Gracefultree
Chapter 44: Sontarans
Posted: May 6, 2015
A/N: I'm sorry! I'm so sorry it's taken as long as it has! You see, I had the ending all planned out, and then I went away for a week, and, stupid me, hadn't written it down. I thought it was so good I'd remember it. Well, as these things happened, I had an idea for a new story while I was away, "Synchronicity, or, Jack's Other Profession," which had a scene in it that inspired "Who He Wants To Be," and WHWTB just demanded that it be published, and for those of you who've taken a look, it's 47 chapters, 170k words, with no end in sight... except I've written the next dozen or so chapters...
Be that as it may, I now know where this story is going again, and basically how to get there. One or two more chapters after this one, I think, and I can't promise when they'll be done, since I'm trying for weekly updates for WHWTB.
I really appreciate your loyalty to keep taking a look at this story now and again, and a big thanks to all the people who ask about it and remind me that you want to know what happens. Thank you!
Please enjoy, and don't be too cross with me.
Ta!
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Ianto froze, his blood stopping in his veins at the sound of the Sontaran behind him. Reluctantly, he turned. There were two Sontarans, the last two of the original ten, standing a few yards from him. He tried to regulate the terror. He'd never faced one of the clones before, and he felt adrenaline coursing though him, sending his blood charging around his body.
One of the Sontarans wore his helmet, however the other, the one who had presumably spoken, had his head open to the air. He looked like a boiled potato with a face, wearing body armor. Ianto stifled the urge to laugh hysterically. The Sontaran brandished his weapon, a stolen automatic from one of the Torchwood operatives. The other Sontaran held one of their plasma rifles.
Thinking quickly, Ianto prayed for a quick rescue, even as he planned for his own escape. He had to get away, he had to save Bruce. He had to get back to Jack.
"Allow me to release my comrade and remove my helmet to fight you in single combat, skin to skin," Ianto said, hoping that playing into the Sontaran's code of honor would buy him (and whatever rescue was available) some time.
"You are brave, human scum," the Sontaran said. "Brave and foolish. I am Cloft, of the 57th Imperial Battle Brigade."
"Ianto Jones, of Torchwood," Ianto replied.
"Ianto?" Jack shouted in Ianto's ear. "Ianto, what are you doing here? Fall back! Fall back!"
"Sorry, Jack," Ianto answered. "I must do my duty and protect the planet."
"No! Ianto, no! Save yourself!"
"I can't, Jack."
"Drop your burden, filthy rat, and face me," Cloft ordered, brandishing his stolen weapon.
Slowly, Ianto lowered Bruce to the ground. As he did so, he took Bruce's spare gun and clip of ammunition. He removed his helmet and night-vision goggles, closing his eyes as he did so to help his eyes adjust. He stood, a handgun in each hand.
"Where are you?" Jack demanded. "Ianto! Answer me! Position! Position!"
"I love you, Jack," Ianto said softly, pulling the earpiece off and tucking it into a pocket. He didn't want the distraction of Jack shouting in his ear as he faced his enemy. Turning, he straightened his spine and faced the Sontarans with his head held high. "If I defeat you, all Sontarans are hereby banned from Earth," Ianto declared firmly.
"Ha! The weakling thinks to give us ultimatums," Cloft's companion said, his voice robotic through the mask. Cloft laughed along with him.
"Little does he know of my prowess as a marksman," Cloft added, hefting his weapon.
Ianto squared off. In the distance, he heard an explosion.
"And now he tries to distract us," Cloft muttered. "It won't work, spineless one. We know no fear or distraction where battle is concerned."
Ianto blinked, loosening his wrists. Kill or be killed. Protect the planet. Save Jack from another gruesome death.
Bullets tore through the air as Ianto and the Sontaran fired at the same time. He watched his bullet pierce the Sontaran's eye even as he felt bullets pounding into his chest. He collapsed, dropping his guns. Not even the special alien-augmented bulletproof vest was effective at this short range. He coughed up blood.
"Ianto!" Jack shouted from above him, and Ianto managed to look up in time to see Jack flying through the air as if surfing on the car door upon which he stood. His greatcoat, torn and bloody, was a halo of blue-grey wool. "Hold on, gorgeous, I'm coming!"
Jack controlled his fall to land on Cloft, shoving a hand grenade down the neck-hole of his armor. Dropping the door, Jack spun, kicking out at the other Sontaran and knocking him to the ground. He picked up the Sontaran's plasma rifle.
"No one attacks my man and lives to remember it," Jack snarled in a voice so deadly even the Sontaran seemed to pale.
Ianto rolled to his back, gasping in pain. Something was broken inside him, he thought. Several somethings. Everything was on fire. He heard rather than felt something crack, and suddenly the pain lessened. He groaned, because he couldn't feel his legs anymore.
"Jack…" he gasped. "Jack…"
Jack spared him a quick glance, long enough for the Sontaran to climb to his feet and fling Jack aside. Jack rolled and jumped to his feet in a fluid move Ianto had seen countless times before. The Sontaran produced a second gun, of the human variety, and shot at Jack, hitting his hand, thereby destroying the plasma rifle, which exploded in Jack's face. Jack screamed in pain, but pulled away, dancing just out of the Sontaran's reach.
"Gotta catch me first," Jack taunted, moving, circling, drawing the Sontaran away from Ianto.
The hand grenade exploded within Cloft's armor, destroying the Sontaran and filling the air with the smell of cooked meat. Ianto retched from the stench. Suddenly, he felt like he was bound and gagged, kneeling on the floor of a filthy kitchen, a meat cleaver held to his throat. Thick mucus filled his airway. He reached up to his throat, nails scratching at skin. He vomited blood.
Jack and the Sontaran had lost their weapons. They faced off, Jack in a defensive crouch, the Sontaran firm on stubby legs. Jack had nearly two feet on the Sontaran, and while he was thinner and more mobile, the Sontaran was surprisingly deft on his feet. They grappled, Jack trying to use his height to advantage while the Sontaran dug in his heels and let Jack waste his energy.
Ianto scrabbled at his flack vest, struggling to get the zipper open. Even the tiny movement sent fire rushing through him. He coughed, tasting more blood over the bile from his earlier sick.
Internal bleeding, he thought, trying to assess the situation. Punctured lung. Probably a broken spine. Shit. This is beyond Mike and the others. Maybe beyond my healing ability.
Oh, God, I'm going to die!
He managed to get a hand inside the vest and slipped it down so he could reach his trouser pocket. A paroxysm of coughing struck, and more blood flowed.
Only one chance, he thought. Please, Jack, remember and find me.
His ears started ringing, whether from the explosions or nearby gunfire, he couldn't tell. Jack made a strangled cry. A body hit the ground. Jack was dead. Again. He hadn't been able to help him, after all.
Ianto cursed in as many languages as he could.
"Not so fast, worm," a raspy voice said above him. The Sontaran sauntered over and kicked Ianto's hand, sending its contents flying. "You challenged Cloft to the death, and your companion broke that vow. Now, I kill you both." The alien put a heavy booted foot on Ianto's chest and pressed down. Ianto gargled, choking on blood and bile. He could feel the sharp edges of broken ribs.
I can't die. Not now. Not when Jack needs me. I can't die. I can't die, Ianto chanted as he struggled to breathe, to move, to do anything.
"Get the fuck away from my man!" Jack shouted, startling him. He hadn't even heard Jack revive. He felt a slight tremor and the Sontaran collapsed, landing beside Ianto with just his feet still touching him.
Ianto reached for his Vortex Manipulator and pressed a combination of buttons he never in his life expected to use. As the blue light enveloped him, he heard Jack's anguished cry.
"Don't leave me! Ianto! No!"