Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 22

Harkness came up behind his partner, his expression dark and his tone clipped.

"What the hell just happened?" the older immortal demanded, trying to rub some circulation back into the hand he'd been holding the Archive bin with and clearly favouring his recently regenerated fingers.

"Not… just now… please…" Ianto panted, his vision going dark at the edges. "I…"

He didn't get any farther, his air cutting off in strained gasps as his knees buckled and he slid down the nearest wall to half sit, half sprawl in the corridor. Suddenly there was a hand supporting his head, strong arms easing him into a less awkward position as the seizure hit, then nothing but void-black silence.

When the world swam back into focus, Ianto found himself in Jack's arms, both Lois and Gwen hovering nearby as well.

"I think we all need a break," the Captain stated evenly, his eyes reflecting regret and concern. "We're all way too tired and tense. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I'm the one who told you to help Turlough whenever he needed a hand, then got nasty about it. That wasn't fair, and if I hadn't delayed you none of the rest of this would've happened. You wouldn't've pushed yourself into a seizure trying to be two places at once, or gotten hurt keeping Gwen from falling. How you did that in total darkness…"

"Like… shooting blind…" his Archivist breathed shakily, trying to smile. "Still clipped a wing on the shelving though… and I think I came close to breaking… Gwen's wrist when I grabbed her… Sorry…"

"Works fine, so I'm sure it's just bruised, and at least I didn't break my neck or bash my brains out hitting the floor," the former PC insisted. "Though now the adrenaline's wearing off, I'm thinking I may need a change of certain clothing to avoid adding total embarrassment to being bruised and bloody exhausted. I don't know which sacred me more, falling or being snatched out of the air."

"Okay, that's it," Harkness pronounced, keying his Bluetooth to send. "Everybody stop what you're working on, pack it up and head for the Boardroom. We are officially done for the day. We've been working almost non-stop since Archie keeled at T2, and we need a serious break. I think Ianto could use a little fresh air, so the two of us will go grab something for lunch. The rest of you pull drinks, then just sit and relax. As soon as lunch is over, go home. We'll start fresh on this mess in the morning, yeah? Oh, Martha, we need a quick check on Gwen and Ianto when we come up, then you're off duty."

[Ready and waiting] the young doctor replied.

[I'm just installing the last converted blade from the Glasgow systems] Turlough explained calmly. [Then this'll all be done down here in the Pit, and I can help with the major moving tomorrow. I should be up in about fifteen minutes.]

"Good work," Jack acknowledged, turning his attention to the rest of the team in the corridor with him. "You two head on up. We'll be there once Ianto's caught his breath."

"Come on, Lois," Gwen half-smiled, starting for the door at the end of the long tunnel they stood in. "We can go clean up while we're waiting on the boys."

Both women moved away, leaving Torchwood's senior team members on their own. The Captain shifted his hold on his partner so he could give him a good solid kiss, then just stroked the younger immortal's hair and let him breathe.

"I really am sorry for being an ass earlier," he murmured contritely. "Getting mean with you when I'm in a bad mood is a habit I still need to break. Next time I do it, tell me to back off, yeah? Remind me that you're not here to be my verbal punching bag."

"Yes, sir," Ianto nodded, meeting the American's unhappy gaze. "Do I have permission to put you on your arse if you don't take the hint?"

"Absolutely," Harkness stated solemnly, then smiled crookedly. "As long as you promise to kiss it better if you do damage."

"Of course," the twenty-six-year-old sighed, managing to return the smile.

"Feel steady enough to head upstairs?" Jack queried with a raised brow.

"I think so," his lover reassured. "Sore in a few spots, but I should be able to make it without staggering like a drunkard."

"Well, let's get you up then," the Captain suggested, moving to ease them both to their feet. "We'll have Martha give you a once over, then go grab something yummy for lunch. How'd you slice open your hand, by the way?"

"Deflecting the ladder when I grabbed Gwen," Ianto shrugged as they started down the corridor, still evidencing a noticeable limp as he wrapped his handkerchief around his injured appendage. "Would've hit one of us on the way to the floor otherwise, or might've slid into the bottom of the ladder you were on and sent it down as well. I gave it a good shove, but got the corner in the hand from where Owen broke the cap off before."

"Hurt that knee again too, didn't ya?" the older man prodded worriedly.

"It's feeling less than grand," Ianto nodded. "Didn't exactly get to rest it the way I was supposed to when the brace came off, because of all the fuss with Torchwood Two. So, it's been a bit touchy the past few days, and I twisted it a little landing on the shelves with Gwen. Just needs some hot water and a few solid hours of no running about."

"You wanna stay here for the lunch run?" Harkness offered when they made it to the lift. "I'm sure I can handle it solo. Give you a chance to elevate your leg for a while."

"Fresh air appeals more at the moment," the young Welshman insisted with a tired smile. "I can always put it up while we eat."

"Then we'll have Martha clean up your hand when we hit the Hub and take off when she's done," Jack decided, snaking an arm around his lover's waist and pulling him close. "Might be good to change your shirt first though."

"And you can decided where we're going for lunch," his Archivist added equitably. "Real food. I think we're all fairly well done with pizza for a span after the past few days."

"Fair enough," the Captain nodded, ruffling the younger man's hair. "I'll get you some water while Martha's working her magic on your hand. Your temp's up."

"I'm so damn tired," the young Changeling sighed. "I know the two of us can get by on a lot less sleep than the others, but one and half hours total in five days is really pushing it. Definitely for me, and getting there for you too by how short your temper's gotten. Once the team leaves, I say we hit the shower then crash for a while. If we happen to feel up to something more entertaining after that, all the better. But we both need to catch up on our rest. There's a lot of work left to do, and we need to be 100% to help keep the others from getting hurt. Plus, I'd rather not have to flatten you for yelling at me again."

Harkness shifted his hold on his companion, turned him so he could give him a very enthusiastic kiss, then hugged him tight for a moment.

"Good call," he grinned. "Don't let me get by with being an asshole. I know it goes against your Jedi calm, 'don't argue with the boss' nature, so it's pretty exciting when you call me out like that."

"I'll be happy to put you in your place more often, sir," Ianto half-smiled. "If it'll get me that kind of kiss and could lead to a bit of dedicated 'dabbling'."

"Deal," the older immortal laughed, leaning in for another quick snog as the lift door opened. "Let's get back to the Hub, so you can clean up and we can feed the kids. We'll shove 'em out the door, catch a nap, then see what the night has to offer. Only one thing bugging me right now though. Why's the Rift been so quiet since we left for Scotland?"

"My fault," the twenty-six-year-old limping beside him confessed quietly. "I didn't think a week or so's backlog would be too hard to clear, and figured we'd be pretty harried with the move and then the rework in the Archives. So… Mother Shadow has been sort of hanging about on this plane to freeze up the Rift till we can safely deal with it. I meant to mention it earlier, but kept getting distracted. Sorry."

"Ianto Jones," Jack said slowly, his expression slightly surprised, eyes shining. "You have always been the Torchwood guru of organization since I hired you. I wouldn't even have thought about something like that. But you took care of the big picture and got everything in line to handle the current crisis with Glasgow. Wow… we owe you big time, buddy."

"I'm okay with letting the team slide on this one," Ianto smiled, looking both pleased and embarrassed. "However, if you're really feeling weighed down by such a huge debt, I'd be willing to accept certain personal services as compensation."

"My pleasure," Harkness chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows.

The pair finally made it to the Hub, Lois and Gwen already lounging on the couch when they came in, the latter holding a flexible cold pack around her left wrist. Ianto continues past to limp downstairs into the Autopsy Lab, the Captain veered off to hit the kitchenette for the water he'd promised the younger man. And in a short span they were both heading into the office to clean up, before setting out after lunch.

"Back in a bit," Jack called when they emerged a few minutes later. "Meet ya in the Boardroom."

Then the two men disappeared through the big cog-wheel door.

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AN: Definitely time for a long break.

I'm not sure which reviews I had the chance to respond to from last time, so if I miss one, I apologise.

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