Torchwood: Divergence
Book Two: Adferiad
Chapter 61
Over the rest of that day and the one after, Ianto had experienced his remaining periods of death, which had turned out to be more than first expected. The final stint had been the longest, seeing him bound in the Dark for nearly three straight hours as the Scieron had worked to repair the remaining brain damage and clear up the worst of the nerve related issues, as well as give everything else - including several lacerated arteries and a nearly ruptured spleen – a good boost. Jack had been anxious but determined to weather the wait, and be there at his lover's side when he woke. Gwen had slept over at the Hub both nights, wanting to be close at hand for her friends.
That had been a week and a half ago, Ianto once more able to be up and around after the first six days, as long as he was careful, didn't do any lifting, or tire himself out. His main problem was that though the burns on his face had nearly disappeared, the physical damage from the piercing metal as well as the last of the tears in his optic nerves were still a work in progress and could take up to another week to fully heal. So, he was getting antibiotic drops and special ointment in both eyes twice a day before fresh bandages went on, to assist with the recovery as much as possible. He was also confined to the Hub for his own safety.
And though Jack had made good on his promise by spending a lot of time keeping the younger man company and being his eyes when needed as the days went by, he'd spent a great deal with Gwen for a change as well. The former PC had been pulling late shifts and trying to fill in on alerts that Harkness normally would have handled with his partner. Their playful banter and laughter in the office at night when Ianto sought the comfort of his bed, both cheered and worried the twenty-six-year-old. There was something in the tenor of Cooper's voice, a certain edge to their Captain's replies, that caused a cold, uneasy knot in the Changeling's guts. He was fairly sure that Jack still harboured fantasies about the raven-haired woman, and found himself wondering more and more if the older immortal might be having second thoughts about their current Scieron forged relationship as his recovery dragged on.
Ianto tried hard to put those thoughts from his mind however, and just get on with what duties he could actually perform at the moment, hoping fervently that the trust he had in his lover wasn't misplaced after all. The young Welshman had managed to learn his way around by listening for certain machinery and counting his steps. He'd even been back to making coffee for the past two days, though delivering it wasn't within his scope just yet. Today, he was actually alone in the Hub, while the rest of the team tried to deal with a serious incursion of giant, ten-legged, land-faring, blood-sucking, Centarian Lamprey that were infesting the warehouses along the main docks.
It was about 9:00 am, Lois wasn't due in till nearly noon because of an issue at the building her flat was in, and Ianto had just finished brewing a fresh pot of coffee. He was about to pour himself a cup, when the Rift alarm suddenly chimed through the base.
"Shit," the Archivist hissed, turning with one hand out to find the railing and try to hurry downstairs.
The still blind twenty-six-year-old slipped on one riser, missed the last two entirely and cried out in surprise as he hit the deck plates hard on his hands and knees. Without hesitation however, he scrambled up and stumbled dizzily toward the pinging sound of the nearest work station. The Welshman found the chair, fell into it and reached for the keyboard with stinging fingers. A few keystrokes, and the system's Audio Information Dispersal programme came online, the Changeling feeling around for the closest headset. He got it on, listened carefully to what the computer was saying via the work station's speakers as he tried to catch his breath.
{Sensors detecting Rift spike… high level… multiple life forms registered,} the machine voice pronounced while Ianto typed commands for more details.
{Location: Southern Factory Woods… Life form comparison: Hoix, times four,} the reply came back. {Temperament: Aggressive.}
"Bollocks," Ianto cursed, feeling blood running down both shins from unknown damage, sharp pains lancing through his knees, hips, and shoulders, his head starting to ache badly as he activated the Bluetooth earcomm he wore. "Jack, we've got trouble."
[Ianto?] Harkness called back in surprise. [What are you doing on comms? Gwen, watch it! Ow… that's gonna bruise…]
"Rift alert," his partner explained with a grimace. "Big spike in Factory Woods, four Hoix, really hungry and bad tempered. Where are you with the walking teeth?"
[Almost done,] the American stated, sounding a little out of breath. [UNIT should be able to finish clean up here, we'll head for the Woods. Be on our way in about five minutes. Keep monitoring the new spike if you can… how are you doing that, by the way?]
"Engaged the AID programme," Ianto responded tightly, his head starting to ache more and more. "The Hoix are on the move… I'll try to keep you posted on their position."
[You okay?] Jack pressed, a whistle in the background indication that Turlough was calling the group back together. [You sound kind of shaky.]
"Took a misstep," the young Welshman hedged. "Just a bit rattled is all. System says the Rift breach is starting to close, and the Hoix are headed southwest toward Llandough at about ten kilometres and hour… sounds like they're hunting."
[We're on it,] Harkness responded. [You try to take it easy, yeah?]
"I'll just sit here and listen to the system for you," Ianto promised, rubbing the back of his neck as his headache grew even worse. "Be careful."
[Will do,] the older immortal reassured, the connection going quiet.
The young Guardian in the Hub switched off his headset, leaned his elbows on the work station and rested his pounding head in his scraped hands.
{Aggressive life forms approaching populated areas,} the system warned some minutes later. {Speed increasing… twelve kph… fifteen kph…}
"Jack," Ianto called as he turned his Bluetooth back on, gritting his teeth against the sharp throbbing behind his bandaged eyes. "They're almost into the housing past the Woods and accelerating. They've likely spotted prey… human, pet, both… can't tell."
[Which street will get us in front of them?] the Captain prompted.
His partner typed as quickly as he could with how hard his hands were now shaking, praying he wasn't misspelling anything.
"Penarth Road to Llandough Hill," the young Welshman directed, relaying what the computer was stating in response to his query for an intercept route. "Left on Llandough Hill, then left on Leckwith Road. They'll hit the area in approximately six minutes… they're definitely on a hunting run, their path isn't varying. Something's in their sights and they're not letting anything distract them."
[Got it,] Jack acknowledged. [Let me know if they stray.]
"Still on course," Ianto breathed, listening to the intercept tracking the system was calmly reeling off. "Just past the houses on your right, there's an easement that heads for the Woods. Take a right along it and they should be directly in front of you."
[Oh, yeah!] Harkness shouted cheerfully. [Just in time to keep somebody's collies from becoming a snack. Good… they're back tracking toward the Woods. Get those tranquilisers loaded, Martha. Ianto, relay our position to UNIT. See if they've got someplace to keep these guys and tell them we should have them darted in about ten minutes.]
"On it," the Hub-bound twenty-six-year-old assured, one hand pressed over his left ear as the pain in his head and joints ratcheted up another notch, his lower back and groin now aching as well. "I'll be off channel for a minute or two."
He used the computer to speed dial the number they had for their UNIT contact, felt a wet warmth on his upper lip as he routed the call to his headset, and knew his nose was bleeding.
[Team Eight,] a female voice answered. [Identify and state your business.]
"Torchwood, authorization; Jones, Ianto – four-seven-four-three-one-seven-four-five-six," the young Welshman responded clearly, cringing involuntarily on the last three numbers. "I know you've got a group mopping up on the docks, but Captain Harkness has a bigger mess in Factory Woods near Llandough just north of Leckwith Road along the easement. Four Hoix, currently being tranqued for pick up if you've got space."
[You lot are busy today,] the unidentified red cap observed, the sound of rapid typing audible over the line. [Looks like there's room at the Inn. I'll send the big truck to Llandough for pick up. Careful of your digits with that mob. Squad ETA is approximately ten minutes. Lucky they were loading those dead slugs in Cogan.]
"Perfect," Ianto breathed. "Thanks for the assist."
[Here to help,] a smile evident in the woman's voice. [Have a better one.]
The call disconnected, and Ianto shakily got the normal comms back online.
"Ten minutes, Jack," he informed his Captain, tipping his aching head back slightly as the ooze of blood from his nostrils became a steady trickle.
[Well done,] Harkness panted, sounding like he'd just been having the time of his life. [Last one's darted, down, and hog-tied. Good co-ordinating, Barista Boy. But you sound tired… go relax for a while till we get back.]
"Think I might get my head down for a few minutes on the couch," the Changeling murmured, carefully rising and heading across the Hub, now starting to feel slightly dizzy as well as being in pain. "Kind of achy at the moment."
[You sure you're okay?] the American on the other end of the channel asked evenly, his concern obvious. [You don't sound too steady.]
"I'm fine," Ianto breathed, only to suddenly find himself down on the deck plates between the work stations and the couch, every ache and pain magnifying even as he felt himself lapse into a seizure and all sound seemed to retreat down a long tunnel.
[Ianto?] Jack's voice called over the Bluetooth, his tone now beyond simple concern. [Ianto?!]
But the young Welshman couldn't hear him by that time, the whooshing thud of his own heartbeat drowning out everything else, his consciousness slipping away.
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AN: Yeah… Ianto has just had a serious set-back. (Didn't realise this one was a bit of a cliff-hanger… oops.)
Sorry for the late post. On-going internet issues.
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM