Torchwood: Divergence
Book Three: Rheoleiddiad

Chapter 38

Close as the Pierhead Building was to base, there was no way Jack was going to have Ianto try to walk there for their meeting. The younger man had managed to pretty much overcome the most debilitating effects of the hyper-pyretic crisis he'd suffered after learning this niece's fate. But he was tired, weak, and running overly hot when he got up to prepare for the trip, the fact that his arm was continuing to heal only complicating matters. He was still very vulnerable both emotionally as well as physically, and his partner wanted to make things as easy on him as possible. So, they took the SUV over to the historic brick building that sat between the Millennium Centre and the Bay, made their way inside to wait.

Ianto was moving slowly and with minimal assistance at the moment, but was simply too shaky and worn out to actually function normally. Mrs. Carver brought them a bottle of cold water as Harkness helped the extremely pale Changeling out of his great coat, and soon the pair was sitting at the small table in the corner that afforded them the best view of the room and quickest access to the rear exit. The Captain had pushed some of the other tables and chairs further away before settling with his back to the wall, his companion just to his left so that the newly created open space was both behind and beside him.

"You're almost as white as the turtleneck you're wearing," Jack commented with obvious concern, reaching over to caress the younger man's scarred right cheek. "And your fever's up again. I know you want to do this with your sister, try to be there for her because of your niece and nephew. But if it starts to be too much, makes you feel sick like this afternoon, tell me… we'll cut things short and try again tomorrow, okay?"

"This has been the worst single day since I came back from Hell in August," Ianto breathed, sipping from the now opened bottle of water his partner handed him. "Right before Christmas and then the incident with that dream were pretty bad, but this… I'd like to say I'll be fine and up to being supportive for Rhi and the family. But honestly, I don't know if I can even get through the initial reunion without winding up in a seizure. I'm just going to wing it and hope for the best. I know you'll step in if you think I'm pushing too hard, and that's okay, because I'm so messed up right now I don't know my own limits."

"I've got your back, Barista Boy," the American reassured with a cheeky smile, the expression turning soft and loving as he leaned close to give the twenty-six-year-old a solid kiss for comfort.

They heard the big room's main door creak at that moment, and both looked up to find Rhiannon and her husband staring at them from the threshold. Harkness rose and stepped around past his lover to be able to greet the couple, the young Welshman gaining his feet much more slowly and carefully, automatically settling the pewter flecked black field jacket he wore. His sister had obviously been crying most of the day, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy, but she managed a tremulous smile as she approached the purposefully isolated table.

"Mrs. Davies, Mr. Davies, I'm Captain Jack Harkness," the immortal American nodded politely, shaking hands with each in turn before moving to stand just behind the chair of the young Guardian the pair were here to see.

There was surprise and a tinge of fear-laced concern in the peacoat clad woman's eyes as she gazed at her younger brother, and took in how thin, pale, and unsteady he was. She came to put her arms around him, seeming almost afraid to touch him. Ianto returned the embrace with a slight sigh, glad to be reunited with his sister, but still nervous about how things would progress.

"Hey, Johnny," he called quietly over Rhiannon's somewhat tousled head.

"You look like shit," the heavyset blond remarked candidly, but it was apparent that he was also pleased to see the younger man. "Better than dead though, yeah?"

"Thanks," Ianto half-smiled, then winced. "Need to sit…"

His sister released him immediately, tried to steady him as he eased down into his chair once more. She quickly pulled an empty seat over and sat facing him, reaching for his nearest hand and holding onto it like a lifeline.

"Jack told me about Mica," Ianto murmured shakily, his expression haunted as what the Scieron had shown him flashed through his mind again. "I'm sorry, Rhi… I wish there was a way to make it not happen."

Tears welled in the woman's eyes, her husband stepping over to claim the chair beside hers and put his hand on her shoulder.

"My baby girl, Ianto…" Rhiannon wept, trying to hold it together but failing. "He killed my Mica…"

"I know," her brother breathed, too exhausted to fight his own tears as he squeezed her hand and looked to the man beside her. "How's David?"

"Still at Hospital," Johnny stated flatly. "Catatonic shock they say. He saw it happen, sat with her waiting for Emergency Service. Now he just stares… won't talk, hardly blinks. They're saying he'll need IVs if he won't eat or drink. Talked about long term homes, because he might never snap out of it."

Davies' voice broke on the last few words and he quickly looked away, struggling to be strong for his wife.

"I… I'll go by to see him, yeah?" Ianto offered, his family's misery combined with the visions his Shadows had shared with him making his heart race and chest tighten painfully. "Have our… our team doctor take a look. Maybe she can help…"

It was becoming hard to breathe and the young Welshman carefully pulled away from his sister as tremors set into all his limbs, saw fear for him in her tear blurred eyes as his own vision narrowed and he started to gasp.

"Jack…"

Harkness was instantly beside him, eased him out of his chair and onto the floor in the middle of the open area he'd created near the table for exactly this kind of situation.

"It's okay," the Captain stated calmly, reassurance for his partner as well as the twenty-six-year-old's alarmed relatives. "I've got you… just breathe and let it go."

Ianto gasped sharply as the convulsions hit, powerless to fight the reaction in his current state. When the world finally bled back into focus from the void, he could hear his sister sobbing to her spouse about how the same thing had happened when she'd first seen him back in October. Jack simply held him close, gently stroking his hair and rocking him slightly like a small child.

"You back with me?" Harkness queried softly, lightly kissing the younger man's fevered brow when his breathing went from short gasps to deeper gulps of air and his muscles started to relax.

"Yeah…" Ianto whispered hoarsely, trying to sit up but finding himself too weak to manage. "Sorry… Help me up…?"

His partner half-smiled and simply shifted to pick him up, then carefully settled him back in his chair.

"Deep breaths," the Captain coached, rising to grab the bottle of water they'd been sharing and steady his Archivist so he could take a few sips. "Better?"

The still trembling Guardian nodded, his blue-grey eyes sad but grateful when he met his lover's gaze.

"Thanks… I was hoping to avoid that," he murmured, taking a deep breath and letting it out very slowly. "We should probably head home soon… I think my temperature's spiking again."

"Go home and let your boss put you to bed," Rhiannon sniffled, having managed to get her tears under control. "God, Ianto… seeing you like that… and Captain Harkness so careful with you. That's why he wants to keep you close, yeah? I'm glad he takes good care of you. You did tell me he was nice."

She rose and leaned over to give him a gentle hug, kissed him on the cheek and forehead.

"You come see Davie tomorrow if you're up to it," Johnny suggested, obviously shocked by what had just occurred. "We'll stay in touch."

"Jack put your number into my mobile for me," his brother-in-law nodded wearily. "He can give you my new number, so you can reach me direct if you need to. I'll at least have Martha stop at the hospital in the morning to take a look at David. Which one is he in?"

"University," Davies provided helpfully, handing a mobile to the American standing directly behind Ianto's chair. "Bed at the far end of the kid's ward. Rhi and me'll be going back over from here. They told us we could do turn-about sitting with him tonight."

"If he has nightmares, don't let them sedate him," Ianto insisted with a convulsive shudder. "The drugs'll just trap him in the dreams and make things worse later on. And absolutely no restraints. If they try to insist because he's disturbing the ward, demand a private room. And if they won't do that, demand he be discharged. If they still argue, tell them you're calling your solicitor, and you'll be out the door with him before you can blink."

"Sounds like the voice of personal experience," Jack commented, somewhat alarmed by the idea that his lover had apparently been sedated and restrained against his will in the past.

"Happened after the Canary Wharf attack," the younger man breathed. "I'll tell you about it later, yeah? And the solicitor trick I learned from Owen."

"No surprise there," Harkness smirked, then sobered and looked at the very uncertain couple nearby as he returned their mobile. "Go be with your son. I'll get Ianto home and tucked in. Dr. Martha Jones will be by to see David in the morning. If you do end up taking him home tonight, just call me and I'll have her head up to your place instead. If Ianto feels up to it, we'll come with her. I know things are going to be rough for your family in the days ahead, so if there's anything we can do to help let us know. We'll do our best for you."

"Thanks," Johnny nodded, getting a hold of his wife's hand as she paused to give her brother another quick one-armed hug.

"We'll get you through this," Ianto promised softly, trying to return the embrace even though he was still shaking like leaf in high wind. "All of you."

"Get yourself well, yeah?" Rhiannon urged, then wiped her eyes with her free hand and met Jack's steady gaze. "Thanks for bringing him out. I'm sorry I argued with you last time we met, ended up fainting and all. It's just that family's really important to me. But I realised that for Ianto you are family, and I know he's trying to protect us from whatever it is you and your people do. So, I have to learn to be happy that he's still alive and leave him be like you said. Though I'd still like to hear from you now and then, you silly little sod."

The last was aimed at her sibling, who gave her a weak smile and slight nod.

"I'm sorry I kept him a secret from you," Jack stated evenly. "I'm afraid I'm kind of overprotective since London. It was good to finally meet you and your husband properly. I'm just sorry it was under the current circumstances."

The couple nodded sadly, then headed for the door as the Captain got Ianto on his feet and back into his long black coat. Time to call it a night.

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AN: Ianto has his family back, and determined to do everything he can for them. Jack is right there with him… As it should be.

Apparently the site is still having that e-mail bollocks going on again and Notifications aren't making it to people. I can only apologise and hope you'll check the site for chapters until they resolve the issue this time.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM