Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 8
Jack was heading back to the Hub, having gone to take care of a report of a Weevil attack near Rhiwbina. He'd found the responsible alien, but lost it in the sewers when it had bolted. So, he'd looked for the victim, found the corpse and was bringing it back to the Autopsy Lab for later identification and cover story creation.
He was glad Lois had agreed to return to work for the evening, The twenty-nine-year-old had shown up around 7:00 with dinner; pasta for herself and him, and soup for Ianto if he wanted it. He hadn't since the Scieron portal was still active, but the thought was what counted. Habiba had than spent time doing alert drills at Gwen's workstation, studying maps of Cardiff as well as the surrounding areas, and going over online Welsh lessons with her recently gifted dictionary. She'd cheerfully brought him coffee when he'd asked for it, fetched another bag of saline and had him show her how to connect it to the port, then done tracking and communications when he'd had to go out after the Weevil. She'd promised to go sit with his recovering partner when he'd reported he was coming home, and he hoped the young Changeling would be feeling at least a little better when he arrived.
Back at the Hub, Lois was sitting in the chair by the bed reading aloud to Ianto from one of the books out of the case that made up the bedroom's door. They were only a few pages into the first chapter of 'Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles', when the injured Welshman took a deep though shaky breath and opened his eyes, the lurid red glow that shone from them finally fading.
"You doing okay?" Lois asked with a smile, putting the book aside. "Need anything?"
Ianto blinked owlishly, shivering more and more.
"Cold…" he grated quietly.
"Let me get you another blanket," the young black woman frowned, rising to go open the in-wall wardrobe and part the clothes to access the recessed shelving behind them. "The Captain should be back anytime now. I know he sits with you to keep the chills away when your fever gets really high."
She came to spread a heavy thermal blanket over the trembling Changeling, automatically reaching up to smooth his hair like a worried parent.
"Is that any better?" Habiba queried uncertainly. "I can sit with you if you honestly think it'll help."
Ianto gave a slight nod and grimaced in pain, his shivering obviously aggravating his wounds.''
"Here, let me double this over you," the Torchwood receptionist and GSO-in-training advised, getting the blanket shifted before kicking off her shoes and easing over onto the mattress beside her injured mentor. "I'll just slide my arm behind your neck… and hold the covers close for you."
Lois sat beside the young Guardian, hoping she was helping. She noticed the scent of his cologne and smiled, realising it was something she automatically associated with the unique, alluring aroma the Captain always gave off, and that both instantly made her think of the Hub.
"Feel up to a cup of Gran's remedy once Jack is here to sit with you?" the twenty-nine-year-old asked solicitously. "Might help you warm up a bit."
"Yes, please…" Ianto breathed with the barest hint of a smile.
"That's what I like to see," Habiba laughed, briefly leaning her cheek against the top of his head. "Makes this whole place gloomy when you're sad or hurt. But it all brightens up with a smile."
They both heard the cog-wheel door, but the young receptionist didn't intend to move until their leader was ready to take her place. His steps plodded across the deck plates and down into the medical bay, there was a heavy thud, then the sound of one of the cooler doors opening. A few minutes later the man was in the office hanging up his coat, came their way with another bag of saline and raised brows.
"You've got a new bed warmer," he smiled. "Should I be jealous?"
"Only if it'll get you hot under the collar so you can help him stop shivering," Lois replied with an answering smile, managing to blush only slightly. "You come make him comfortable, I'll go make some magic mix to warm everyone up."
"Thanks for taking care of him," Jack nodded, offering her a hand up off the bed, his eyes conveying his deep appreciation.
"The portal shut down just a little while ago," Habiba explained as she stepped back into her shoes. "But his temp is way up and the shivering is hurting his gunshot wounds. You two cosy up and I'll be right back."
Harkness paused to remove his boots, then got settled beside his lover and put and arm around the younger man's shoulders, pulling the covers close around his bandaged body.
"I think she likes you," he chuckled, kissing the Welshman on the forehead.
"Feeling's mutual…" Ianto breathed, leaning his head against the Captain's upper chest. "And I am quite the catch… or so I've heard… But she knows I'm yours…"
"Smart, dedicated, and very easy on the eyes," his partner grinned. "I think we'll keep her."
"Cheers…" Ianto murmured with a shaky smile.
"There's that smile again," Lois called cheerfully as she came in with a small tray bearing three gently steaming cups. "You've got the best medicine possible right there beside you, but hopefully this'll help you feel better too."
Jack assisted the younger immortal as he carefully inched up a little higher against the pillows, made sure he was steady enough to hold the cup with both hands bandaged before Habiba passed it over. She then gave the American his, took up her own and settled into the chair with a contented sigh.
"Think you two will be okay if I leave in twenty minutes?" she asked seriously. "I mean, I do know how to switch out IV bags now and don't mind fielding Rift alerts to see if they really need a response or can wait till morning. I know where the blankets and spare pillows are kept, so I can just sleep over on the couch if you need an extra body to help out."
"We should be fine," Harkness reassured as he sipped the milk drink she'd made. "But the offer is duly noted and may be called upon at a later date. You've been great tonight. An asset to the team and worthy successor to Torchwood's own Jedi Master here."
"Absolutely…" Ianto nodded with a tired smile.
"I will never be your equal when it comes to coffee," Lois lamented, then laughed, obviously pleased with the praise. "But it just makes me try harder with all the rest. Though I think you've got me beat hands down when it comes to alien wrangling as well. Give me a belligerent Council member or lost tourist any day."
"I like a gal that knows her limits and plays to her strengths," the Captain chuckled. "You go ahead and take off whenever you're ready. Ianto and I will be just fine."
"Well then," their receptionist decided with a happy sigh. "I'll do the washing up in the kitchenette when we're all done and call it a night. And I'll be sure to remember your coat and breakfast. I managed to hit the Cleaners before they closed on my way home earlier, and Mr. Grant said I could pick it up any time after 5:30 tomorrow morning. So, I can grab it on the way to pick up breakfast."
"Speaking of which," Jack nodded, briefly sitting his cup aside to pull his wallet from the back pocket of his trousers. "This is to cover dinner, which was great by the way. And this should do for breakfast. Anything sound good, Ianto?"
"I rather fancy… a bacon, egg, and cheese… something or other from the café…" the Archivist replied wearily.
"Works for me," his partner agreed. "So, sandwiches, wraps, pocket, pastries, croissants… whatever they've got fresh and hot with bacon, eggs, and cheese tomorrow. And thank you in advance for that and making the run to the Cleaners."
"Yes, sir," Habiba grinned with a quick salute. "You're very welcome, sir."
"You taught her to call me 'sir'?" the American accused jokingly, giving his lover a narrow-eyed look.
"All you…" the younger man breathed as he finished his hot drink. "It's the coat… and the commanding presence… Just begs for a 'sir'…"
Lois and Jack laughed, the young woman getting all the cups back on the tray.
"I'll come say goodnight on my way out," she promised, heading through the office and into the Hub.
"How's the pain level?" Harkness asked quietly, meeting the Welshman's tired gaze.
"Fairly horrific…" Ianto replied truthfully. "Too tired to care though…"
"They had that portal open for a long time," Jack nodded, gently smoothing the Changeling's hair. "That's a lot of major damage to be dealing with, even after what minor help Martha and Turlough managed."
"Up by morning…" his stubborn Archivist insisted shakily, still shivering off and on. "Though I might need support… That leg's bound to take a while yet…"
"I saw how many tiny pieces the joint and everything around it got blown into," Harkness pointed out with a grimace. "Turlough found three large bullet fragments while he was trying to fit things back into something close to normal position. Yeah, I'd say that brace'll be on for most of the day tomorrow and I know we have crutches around here somewhere."
"Primary storage downstairs…" the twenty-six-year-old huddle against his side murmured, shivering hard again. "Room 6-A, row five, third shelf, should be a couple sets… with the other medical backstock… Adjustable height ranges are on the packaging…"
"Why am I ever surprised when you come out with stuff like that?" Jack laughed, leaning close to give the younger man a soft but meaningful kiss. "I'm gonna see Lois out when she goes. You try to relax for a bit."
At that moment, the young woman in question came back through the office with her coat on and her purse over her shoulder.
"Right," she smiled. "I'll see you two in the morning then. I hope you'll be feeling better, Ianto. I'm sure the Captain will take amazing care of you."
"Thanks for coming, Lois…" the bed bound Welshman called quietly, returning her smile.
"I'll walk you to your car," their Captain offered, rising from the mattress to get his boots back on. "Private gated parking it may be, but this is Torchwood, so I'd rather not take chances."
He departed with Habiba, only to return about ten minutes later.
"It's official," the American grinned as he came into the bedroom and closed the door, after having dimmed the Hub lights. "She definitely likes you. Fortunately, she sees you as a smart, super-sexy combination of younger brother, bestest buddy, and Jedi Master. Between her and Turlough, I think you've got your own fan club."
"Must be the coffee…" Ianto commented, his eyes closed once more. "I'm torn between being strangely flattered… and wondering if they need a psych-eval. Though I will admit… if I'd never gotten involved with you after losing Lisa, I'd date Lois in a heartbeat…"
His partner chuckled appreciatively, starting to strip down for the night even as he stepped into the en suite to brush his teeth.
"You and me both," Harkness stated with a nod as he finished up, his tone becoming teasing when he came to carefully draw back the covers on the bed, then turn off and briefly disconnect both the IV and oxygen so he could help the younger immortal to the loo. "And there's nothing wrong with a fan club."
"As long as you're Grand Master," Ianto breathed, wincing as his companion gently lifted him from the mattress. "And keep the minions under control…"
"I've always wanted minions," the Captain laughed, carrying his lover into the en suite and settling him on his feet in the open doorway of the water closet by the commode, so his weight was on his good leg. "Do I get a fan club too?"
"Most of the world's your… fan club, Jack…" Jones half-smiled, his breath hitching for a moment as his lover 'helped' him relieve himself, to spare his bandaged hands. "Lots of competition for Grand Master… but that's okay…"
"It is?" the older immortal prodded with raised brows, steadying his companion when he shakily moved to brush his teeth.
"Why scrap with the fawning masses…" the Changeling explained, beginning to sound out of breath again as he waited for the Captain to wash and dry his own hands. "When I'm already… your personal aide… hero support… and favourite bed warmer…"
"Oh, you are feisty tonight," Jack grinned, lifting the twenty-six-year-old into his arms once more for the trip back to the bed. "And radiating like a boiler on the Titanic. Let's get your oxygen back on… I'll switch to the new bag of saline I brought in with me… reconnect to the port… new piece of tape on the tubing… good to go. Are you comfortable? Need pillows shifted, more or less blankets?"
"Bed's okay…" the Shadow reborn Welshman murmured tightly, looking pale and drawn, his pain levels obviously increased by the brief period of activity. "But… I think all the painful places… need another good kiss…"
"Most fans just get autographs," Harkness stated with wide-eyed false innocence, trying hard not to break into a wicked grin. "How did I get so lucky?"
"You are the club GM…" Ianto countered with a deadpan expression. "Rank does have its privileges…"
The Captain laughed delightedly at that, more than happy to accommodate the injured Scieron Guardian before they settled for the night. Anything for his Barista Boy.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
AN: Ianto is recovering well, and Jack is happy to help in any way (all the better when he can be a bit handsy/naughty).
And Lois is definitely a brilliant Padawan learner to Ianto's Jedi Master.
(Drag my fierce love of Star Wars into Torchwood? You bet!)
Back to Sundays as of next week. Thanks for your patience.
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM