Fic- Forever Part Twenty Five

[branwen_blaidd]

Title: Forever

By Branwen Blaidd & Oncoming Scone

Part Twenty Five of Thirty One

Pairing: Jack/Ianto

Rating: Adult - Dark Themes, Violence, Graphic sex, AU

Spoilers: Torchwood & Doctor Who all seasons to date.

Summary: Set after Exit Wounds and Journey’s End, no-one is coping with recent tragic events. In an attempt to bring the team back to unity and strength, Ianto makes a decision that will change the fate of Torchwood, and the world, Forever.

Disclaimers: Despite 5 months of creating this together, we own nothing and never will! The various songs, verses, etc do not belong to us either. 

Notes: This is AU, though it begins in line with canon up to Exit Wounds. We hope to post one chapter each day at roughly the same time. Comments please!

 

 

As Ianto sank into bed, naked and held in Jack’s strong arms, he felt exhaustion overcome him. There had been too much, too much pain and anguish, too many tears. Now was the time for silence and for taking comfort in each other and moving on.

He realised, as he rested his head on Jack’s shoulder and breathed in the smell of him, that they hadn’t spoken since before their shower. He breathed deeply and decided it was not the time for talking. He wrapped an arm around Jack’s waist. Jack slipped an arm around Ianto’s shoulders and held him tight.

“Ianto…”

“Hush, Jack,” he whispered. “No talking now.”

Jack kissed Ianto on the top of his head, feeling his warmth. “Yeah. Sleep now.”

Ianto mumbled happily and closed his eyes. He felt himself drifting off to sleep, content and peaceful for the first time in what felt like forever.

As he fell asleep, one thing pressed into his mind: Jack, gripping onto him as if Ianto were the only thing keeping him safe.

                                                * * *

The steam. All Ianto could see was the steam, covering them both, covering their sins. Jack’s skin was soft beneath him. Warmth spread through him, through them both. They were close, stroking each other’s skin and all was okay.

Jack whimpered and Ianto reached out for him, grasping for him in the steam. He couldn’t see him.

“Jack!” he called out. “Jack!”

Again and again, Ianto called but the only reply was more whimpering.

Ianto couldn’t bear it. Jack, his Jack, was in pain; Jack needed Ianto and Ianto couldn’t get to him.

The steam became a curtain, thick, white and damp. It clung to his skin, cloyed at him and wouldn’t let him fight his way through it.

A splash of red spread out over the whiteness. Blood. Ianto screamed.

“Jack! Jack!”

Still Jack only whimpered. Ianto lurched for him, fighting desperately to find him.

“Ianto!” rasped Jack.

Ianto’s fingers brushed across warm flesh. Jack.

Ffydd

                                                * * *

Ianto jerked awake with a start and couldn’t remember what on earth he’d been dreaming about. He felt shaky all over.

Jack was asleep beside him. Ianto shuffled up into a sitting position and gazed down at him. Jack was sleeping peacefully. Well, sort of peacefully. He wasn’t crying or whimpering, but little frowns kept crossing his face.

Ianto wanted to wrap him in his arms and protect him from everything. That was strange. Usually Jack was the one to do all the protecting. He overdid it on the protection front usually.

Ianto stroked Jack’s face as he slept on. “It’s all right,” he murmured. “I’m going to look after you now. I love you.”

                                                * * *

Now the darkness only stays the night-time

In the morning it will fade away

Daylight is good at arriving at the right time

It’s not always going to be this grey

Both Jack and Ianto found relief in the never-ending onslaught of mind-numbing tasks that Torchwood provided for them the next day. Jack barricaded himself in his office and hid behind an impressively high stack of reports that Ianto had vigilantly returned to Jack for his signature.

“These need to be signed off by you to say that you’ve reviewed them. And you should add your notes where necessary,” Ianto advised, his nose in a clip board.

“Boring,” Jack muttered, secretly happy that he would be confined to his office with, he hoped, no drama.

Ianto simply raised an eyebrow and continued to reel off a list of mundane activities that would be taking precedence that day. Jack merely sulked into his files, so Ianto left him to it. 

Ianto was feeling fairly chipper. Donned in one of his favourite suits, including his best waistcoat, he luxuriated in his comfort zone, reclaiming the hub as his own. Gwen was rewarded with a sterling cup of coffee which she sipped at happily. The sight of Ianto being Ianto was wonderful, a real sight for sore eyes.

None of them could pretend that things would ever return to the way they had been, or that there weren’t considerable wounds in need of healing, but it seemed that they were on the road to recovery. The rift seemed to want to help them. It stayed quiet and stable. Even the weevils gave them a well-earned rest. So Gwen and Ianto decided to spend time perfecting the CCTV system, ensuring there was adequate coverage and that the combination of alien tech and latest the intelligence from GCHQ ensured they were well prepared.

They conspired and giggled like old friends. Jack watched them. Everything back to normal now. But his stomach flipped at the sight of them being so normal. So natural. He wanted to join them. But he didn’t have it in him.

He pouted at his office and sat back down at his desk, signing off each report without much more than a glance at the subject line. He didn’t care. He couldn’t care. He reached out for his coffee. It wasn’t there. At last. Something interesting to do…

“Ianto! Coffee!” he shouted, without looking at Ianto. He slumped into his chair again and chewed his finger, scowling at his pile of work. He wanted Ianto.

Moments later, Ianto arrived, calm and collected, and neatly placed Jack’s mug on his desk.

“There you are, sir,” he said pleasantly. But his eyes were firm. He stood very still and fixed Jack with a slight question in his eyes.

Jack looked up at him. Ianto was here now. But still it didn’t feel right. His stomach felt all wriggly.

“Thank you,” he said, rather dismissively, and sat forward to continue his work.

“Are you okay?” asked Ianto.

“Yep,” answered Jack, eyes focussed on a document.

“No more fibbing, mister.” It was said gently, but Ianto sat on the edge of the desk and continued to look firmly at Jack.

Jack’s eyes darted to Ianto’s and he squirmed in his seat. Ianto watched Jack as he battled against another pout.

“Do you need me to leave you alone or do you need me to stay?” he asked with a smile.

Jack didn’t answer immediately. He stared back at the paper in his hands. He opened his mouth to say something and closed it again.

Finally, without looking at Ianto, he spoke. “Don’t know.” He cleared his throat quickly.

Ianto simply leant forward and kissed him on the head. “Carry on with this. I’ll be back later.”

Jack watched him leave and his heart sank. He felt like a child who’d been instructed to finish his homework before he could watch his favourite TV show. He pushed the reports to one side and began surfing the internet for something more interesting to do. 

When Ianto returned silently four hours later, he noticed there had been no progression with the reports. He had put two phone calls through to Jack in that time, but neither had lasted very long. Jack hadn’t noticed him arrive. He was staring intently at the computer screen, studio headphones clamped around his ears. Ianto edged around to see what Jack was looking at.

He grinned. Jack still hadn’t noticed he was there. He remembered Jack telling him that one of the most painful things about living through the 20^th Century was the painstaking wait for the internet. Ianto could only imagine what shared information was like in the 51^st Century. He stayed silent and studied the screen.

Jack was watching pop videos. On YouTube. Ianto sniggered. This is what the aliens should be afraid of. He politely waited for The Beatles music video to come to an end before expertly intercepting Jack’s hand as he went to click on another video. Jack jumped in surprise and guiltily tugged the headphones off.

“Hello, Jack. How are those reports coming along?” asked Ianto, cheerfully. Jack spluttered for a moment before remembering he was the boss and he would do whatever he wanted. He glared at Ianto defiantly. Ianto folded his arms, still struggling not to laugh, and glared back at Jack.

“I was doing…research,” lied Jack, wondering if he could find a way to prove that The Beatles were aliens.

“No you weren’t,” said Ianto, gently. “I said no fibbing.” He stroked Jack’s hair. He knew Jack was struggling, searching for any kind of distraction he could. Ianto found it easy to bury himself in work. Jack had a harder time shutting off his feelings. He took a deep breath. He needed to get Jack somewhere more comfortable.

“You’ve been hiding in here all day…”

“Paper work,” said Jack indignantly.

“Which you’ve hardly touched. Come on, Jack. Let’s go. You can attempt this again in the morning.”

“Who’s the boss around here?” huffed Jack. Nevertheless, he stood petulantly and shuffled some papers in an attempt to prove that some work had taken place. Ianto sniggered again. Jack glared at him and Ianto had no choice but to wrap his arms around him and kiss his cheek.

“Come on, Grumpy,” he said fondly. “Today’s nearly over. That’s one step forward. Let’s have an early night.”

Jack scowled and mumbled something about not being grumpy.

Ianto lifted his chin. “I’m here with you,” he breathed. “You’re not alone.” There was a mournful silence. The one they’d both spent the day trying to avoid. It came. And then it went. And once it had gone, it didn’t seem so bad after all.

Jack shifted on his feet, feeling rather stupid. “Early night?” he questioned with an apologetic glance.

“Yep,” said Ianto. He took Jack by the hand and led him to their private quarters.

Comments

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

not sure how to say this, but you've caught the emotions so well, the sluggishness and confusion come across really well - not sure I make sense but it's meant as a compliment!

[oncomingscone.livejournal.com]

It is a compliment! Thanks. We didn't want to rush through the consequences of everything that's gone before!

[stargazer60.livejournal.com]

Trying to be normal when things still aren't...

Strange, tough times....

Will things ever be the same again?

Can't wait for the next part!

[amcpep.livejournal.com]

Just read the last two chapters. Wonderful writing, the emotions are so strong - especially during the shower where they were each trying to hide things from the other. And today, that mournful silence - I hope it truly has gone. Hope for them yet.

[thrace-adams.livejournal.com]

Oh Jack...you know you have to tell Ianto...not tellling never goes well...*sigh* Good chapter!

[drunkendeadcat.livejournal.com]

another top notch part