Torchwood: Divergence
Book Two: Adferiad
Chapter 23
Cooper saw Jack close his eyes and shudder, turning to hide his face against the side of his partner's neck as she headed out the door. She could only hope that the time-out helped their leader somehow, and that her 'game' hadn't just made an already bad situation worse.
Between walking to the kitchenette, pouring the hot coffee from the side pot into a thermal carafe, the time to warm the dessert and load a tray with it, the coffee, sugar and cream augmented cups, then walk back, she'd been gone about fifteen minutes. When she made it to the Boardroom again, Ianto was patiently using his handkerchief to carefully clean all signs of tears and sweat from the Captain's eyes and face, oblivious to the same on his own. Gwen pointedly ignored the two, setting out the chocolate pizza, pouring coffee, and gathering the dinner dishes for later removal.
"All set," she called airily, glancing at the pair by the door.
Jack leaned close to whisper something in his partner's ear, shifted to give him a small tender kiss on the lips. Then he rose first, taking a deep though shaky breath as he offered the younger man a hand. Ianto winced as he gained his feet but made no comment, simply using one shirt sleeve to rub the moisture from his face as they approached the table.
"You even brought coffee," Harkness smiled at Gwen, his eyes red rimmed and rather sore looking but no longer clouded with misery. "Ianto's taught you well."
"She's a quick learner and already has an edge," the named Welshman stated quietly, settling into his chair once more with a noticeable flinch, his eyes markedly red as well. "Wife, butler… really not a lot of difference in the grand scheme."
"I'd say there's normally one big difference," Cooper smirked as she passed her friends pieces of dessert. "But in your case it doesn't count."
"You mean regular butlers don't sleep with the boss?" Ianto asked with manufactured surprise. "I feel like such an overachiever."
That managed to win a chuckle from Jack, and they settled to enjoying the chocolate pizza in silence for a few minutes.
"You know," the Captain said with raised brows after several bites. "I've always been kind of leery of this type of dessert. But this one is actually really good."
"I think they truly are using real Dutch baking chocolate," Ianto commented, reaching for his coffee. "It's a dark somewhat beyond semi-sweet but not as bitter as a lot of German types, and I'd say they let the crust double proof before baking so that it's airier than the regular pizza. The fudge-caramel drizzle is just enough to bring out the sweet side of the dish, without being too much. Nice."
"You drive me crazy when you go all Gordon Ramsay on me like that," Gwen shook her head. "Because I can't help wondering how a bachelor working nearly an average of 16 hours a day at Torchwood could possibly know that stuff. I know you can cook, but do you… or did you before living at the Hub? Or is this all just part of your 'sponge for trivia' nature, like learning every nook and cranny of the Archives?"
"I didn't do much major cooking at my flats, or even the little Victorian terrace house I'd moved into after the whole temporarily female so my landloard kicked me out for having an unapproved roommate debacle," the twenty-six-year-old shrugged, making both of his companions blink in surprise as they'd not been aware of the reason for his sudden move back when it had happened. "At least not until Jack started coming over most nights. No time, as you pointed out, and it's pointless to do any serious cooking for one. As for how much is simply fun facts and how much is practical knowledge gathered over the years in fits of boredom, you may never know. You could ask Jack, since I do cook here when there's time at night or in the early morning, hence the rotating stock of groceries in the fridge and cupboards. Or I could just invade your kitchen some evening and you can see for yourself. I can even shout, swear, and rant for proper effect if you like."
"Hey…" Jack began slowly, automatically making both of his companions nervous when his most charming smile appeared. "It would be like real, normal people. Ianto and I could come over to your house for dinner, bring a nice bottle of wine, maybe one of these for dessert. Then you and I could entertain the baby while he and Rhys did the cooking, and we'd wash up after… it'd be great."
"Seriously?" Cooper asked, wondering if he was just taking the piss.
"Seriously," Harkness nodded, looking over at his partner for approval. "Something quiet and completely non-work related once in a while would do us all good. Have Martha and Turlough handle any alerts with Lois or Johnson to Co-ordinate for them. I think it'd help a lot with our stress levels like the shorter work days for you and the others."
"I wouldn't mind a nice evening out of the Hub like that," Ianto admitted, finishing his coffee. "It would be like an occasional special treat. If you don't think Rhys would object."
"I think Rhys would be thrilled," Gwen grinned. "He's always saying he'd like to have guests over, but he knows none of our friends go for that sort of thing. They're more meet at the pub than come for dinner. You two decide on when and we'll be ready."
"We'll figure something out and let you know," Jack smiled. "Probably after the Holidays. I'm actually kind of excited about this. I've never done the social dinner thing before. Not to meet the friends or family of anyone I was involved with, not even the couple of times I tied the knot. You'll both have to coach me on proper behaviour."
"Same boat, sorry," the Shadow reborn Welshman beside him countered, his expression slightly sad in spite of the cheerful tone he used. "Gwen'll just have to coach us both."
"I think you'll be fine just as you are," the one-time constable reassured, wondering if the idea of a 'social dinner' had touched on a sore spot for the twenty-six-year-old. "Rhys and me know you both far too well to be worried about proper manners and all."
They finished up their dessert in companionable silence, then got all the various dishes and cups on the tray with the empty coffee carafe. Ianto picked up the loaded server, a strong flinch and small hiss of pain making his lover reach for the item instead.
"It's fine," the Archivist reassured with a quick little smile. "I'll bring back a bin liner for the boxes and bottles."
He headed out of the room and the older man dropped into his chair with a groan.
"Honestly, Jack," Gwen prodded with quiet intensity, coming to crouch down in front of him. "Are you two all right?"
"I'm… still a little touchy," the American confessed wearily. "Not quite settled, but getting there. This meltdown was a long time coming and uglier than I'd ever imagined. Ianto should have been resting in the wake of that kind of resurrection, and instead he stayed up taking care of me. Even after the worst was over he just held me, told me how much he loved me and that he'd help me feel better again. But I hurt him, Gwen. Not just with the terrible things from my past that I babbled about, or having to see me come totally unglued like I did. He had to physically restrain me at times and fought so hard not to go into seizures because what was happening was upsetting him so much… I unintentionally broke one or more of his ribs during a particularly bad moment of self-destructive guilt, then he ripped muscles in the same area and gave himself nose bleeds trying to keep the seizures at bay. He says it's nothing, but I feel like I abused him."
"You didn't hurt him on purpose and Ianto knows that," Cooper insisted evenly. "And he's so much stronger and braver than any of us ever gave him credit for. You're willing to take a blade through the heart for him, Jack. Don't ever doubt for a second that he's willing to do the same for you. Everyone always looks to you to be the strong one, but right now you need someone to lean on for support. He loves you so much and has done for so long… let him be there for you tonight, yeah?"
Harkness slowly nodded, the true depth of his fatigue showing as he relaxed slightly. The situation seemed to be on the up-swing at last.
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AN: Better… but not out of the woods yet…
Posting Saturday and Sunday until New Year's Day… You'll still be getting the actual Christmas chapters after the Holiday… Hope that's okay.
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM