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branwen_blaidd) wrote2009-08-09 02:02 pm
Fic- Blue Moon's Child
Title: Blue Moon’s Child 3/4
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Jack/OMC (past)
Rating: Teen- dark themes, sexual mentions.
Spoilers: Mild for COE
Summary: Cardiff 1993 and Jack Harkness is investigating some odd readings.
Disclaimers: I own nothing.
Notes: COE doesn’t exist here but again, I’m using details from it to create a story. Plot!fic here! Comments please!
Jack was in the archives. They really were a mess. What they needed was someone meticulous and clever who could sort through this mess. But they didn’t have anyone.
It was Sunday and he’d been here since the very early hours of the morning, searching for some reference to anything like the orb. He’d inputted his extensive readings into the computer in the hope that something would trigger in the database. But nothing. Well, almost nothing. The computer had picked up a very low reading of rift energy, like a mere echo. That meant it had come through the rift, which Jack could have guessed. But the low reading indicated it had been some years ago.
“Jack, what are you doing here so early?”
Jack looked up. It was Alex. He looked a little drained. Jack wondered if he wasn’t sleeping too well.
“I’m still working on the source of those odd readings.”
“Oh.” Alex came up beside him. “It’s not like you to keep on something so long.”
“Well, there’s this kid involved. I think he’s being exposed to some kind of alien artefact. It looks like it’s closely linked with him. It reacts to his moods. It doesn’t seem like it’s hurting him but it might be. It’s nothing I’m familiar with and I haven’t been able to find any reference to it down here.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a sort of…blue orb. Looks like glass. It’s only small. Fits in this kid’s hand. I thought it was an Isolus but the readings aren’t right.”
Alex frowned. “It doesn’t sound like anything I’ve come across either.” He patted Jack on his shoulder. “Keep at it. You’re doing a good job.”
“Thanks. Elaeth’s helping me a lot.”
Alex nodded and moved to go. Jack turned to him. “Hey, Alex, are you okay? You seem…tired.”
“Oh. Yeah, I suppose.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Demands of being the leader. You understand?”
“I’ve seen the toll being leader can take. Look after yourself, Alex. We need you. Lean on me if you need to. I’m your second, after all and I don’t need much sleep.”
Alex smiled. “Yeah. Thanks Jack.” He turned and slowly walked away.
Jack frowned after him for a moment, then went back to his own work.
He had hoped Alex might have recognised the artefact. He did do more actual work at Torchwood than Jack did. It had become Alex’s life, whereas Jack had plenty of other things to occupy him. He didn’t even stick around Cardiff all the time. After all, he had at least seven years before The Doctor showed up. But for Alex, Torchwood was everything.
Jack sighed and went back to his searches. This was probably a fruitless exercise but perhaps he could find something which would help. It was worth a try. Perhaps after a week of searching he may possibly find something. Jack sighed dramatically and moved onto the next drawer.
* * *
Ianto was sullen and quiet in the car as they drove to church. He was in his Sunday best; his little black suit with a white shirt and red tie. His hair had been severely brushed and his face had been washed to within an inch of its life.
Ianto wasn’t talking to Da or Rhiannon. Da kept trying to make it up with him but Ianto ignored him. Rhiannon let her disgust at Ianto’s behaviour be obvious. She kept tutting at him and poking him to respond to Da. So Ianto ignored her too.
She was in the front passenger seat, chatting with Da. Ianto cuddled up to Mam, though she was as unresponsive as usual. Ianto wasn’t sure why they still took her to church. She never noticed she was there. She couldn’t pray anymore, or go to confession, or take communion. Maybe she could hear God inside her head. Maybe he spoke to her.
Ianto put his head on her shoulder. She was warm and soft, like always. Da had helped her into her best dress, a soft blue floral print with a little white cardigan. The wool tickled his cheek.
“Mam, do you hear God?” he asked.
Iestyn glanced in the rear view mirror. “Don’t crowd your mam, Ianto.”
Ianto didn’t speak but sat back up. He started to think about what he’d say in confession. He knew it was a sin to lie in confession but maybe it would be okay if he just didn’t say everything. He wondered if Da was still going to go to confession.
Ianto sat quiet and still, like he was supposed to, all through the service. And then it was time for confession.
He slid into the confessional and sat on the wooden bench. He could just see the shadow of the priest on the other side of the grille between them.
Ianto knew the ritual well by now and he spoke tonelessly. “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It’s been a week since my last confession.”
“Yes, my child. What sins have you committed?”
“I…shouted at my Da and…I ran away.” He hesitated, knowing he was supposed to say everything. He hadn’t eaten but he’d told his Da he wouldn’t eat so it wasn’t Ianto’s fault the food had been wasted.
“Anything else, my child?”
“No, Father.”
“I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For your penance say three Hail Marys, Three Our Fathers and say a special pray for me.”
“Yes, Father.” Ianto made the sign of the cross and left, guilt still gnawing away at his insides. He took his seat and watched as Rhiannon, then Da both did their confessions. Ianto wondered what Da was saying. Was he telling the priest that Ianto hadn’t eaten? Or was he confessing for shouting at Ianto, for saying mean things and for smacking him?
Ianto looked at his Mam. She was gazing straight ahead at the altar, her hands clasped neatly in her lap just the way Da had sat her down. He reached out and closed his little hand over hers. He remembered her holding his hand firmly but gently that day. He remembered begging for just a few more minutes at that beach. He remembered that strange humming noise. He remembered Mam’s scream.
Ianto blinked his tears away. He didn’t want to think about that. He never wanted to think about it. But sometimes it crept up on him and he couldn’t stop it.
Everybody filed back into their seats and the service resumed. Nearly over, Ianto thought. He liked God. He could talk to God but he didn’t like church. He didn’t like the priest. Mam always used to say that God was inside Ianto, with him at every moment and the church was no more or less God’s home than the trees and the sky. He liked that. He liked to pray at the park, by himself where nobody but God could hear him.
* * *
Jack was still in the archives when Elaeth arrived. “Did you find anything?” Elaeth asked. Jack smiled at him. The young man, not even twenty one yet, looked fresh faced, well rested and utterly gorgeous.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Jack said and put his arms around Elaeth’s waist. Since there was no one else around, Jack kissed him full on the mouth and Elaeth beamed.
“Thanks. Did you have any luck then?”
“Nope. Bugger all.”
“Can I help?”
“Yeah. Start at that end. You know what you’re looking for?”
“Yeah.” Elaeth moved down to the other end of the block of cabinets. “Do you think it’s dangerous, Jack? This orb thing?”
“Dunno. I hope not but it could be. It doesn’t feel like it’s dangerous, at least not to that kid. But…I don’t know, he may be dangerous with it, if it’s reacting to his moods like it seems to be.”
“Tomorrow, if he comes, what are you planning to do?”
“I need to get him in here and run scans and I’m not sure how I’m going to do that.”
“You’re good with kids. Offer him some sweets if he comes for a ride on the invisible lift!”
Jack laughed. “Let’s try to do this without getting arrested, eh?”
Elaeth put on a shocked expression. “You can’t mean you don’t have a prison fetish? Surely not!”
Jack laughed and just had to kiss Elaeth right there and then. “Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee the policemen are as gorgeous as you are!”
* * *
Ianto didn’t like school much. It wasn’t that he got picked on or anything. He kept mostly to himself and he was usually ignored. He kept his head down and stayed out of trouble. But school bored him. He’d much rather be on his own in his private world inside his head.
Normally, he left his orb at home but the man said he wanted to learn about it so Ianto had stashed it in his blazer pocket. It was comforting to have it there. He kept closing his hand over it and rubbing it gently. He wondered why the man was so interested in it. It was just his orb, special to him but nobody else really.
Ianto wondered why he trusted Jack but he did. There was something about him. He was nice and he had kind eyes and a brilliant smile. Ianto gripped his orb tight and tapped his pencil on his desk, thinking. Not long now. He wouldn’t wait after school for Rhiannon to finish at the high school. He’d run off quick and go straight to the bay. He could run fast. It wouldn’t take long to get there.
“Ianto Jones, will you get on with your work!” snapped his class teacher. “I’m on my way to check yours and if you haven’t finished, you’ll be finding yourself in the headmaster’s office. I won’t have you daydreaming every single lesson.”
Ianto scowled but bent his head over his maths. He’d finished it ages ago. It wasn’t like it was hard. It just bored him, all that pointless showing his working. Teachers needed everything explaining to them. Ianto doodled in the back of his book to look busy and willed the end of the day to come soon. It was the last lesson. Just registration at the end of the day and then it would all be over and he’d be on his way to Cardiff Bay.
* * *
Jack peered at his computer screen, carefully studying the collated scans he’d taken of the orb. There were certainly some odd readings about it, some signature he’d never seen before. There was the echo from its journey through the rift but there was something else, some strange frequency. He’d never seen anything like that before.
It was nearly time to meet Ianto and Jack still wasn’t sure how the hell he was going to get the lad to bring his orb into the hub.
“Jack?” said Elaeth’s voice. Jack turned to look at him. Elaeth was edging towards him, carrying a slim folder. “I think I’ve found something.”
Jack brightened, straightening up. They’d already spent two days searching and found nothing. “You have? Fantastic!”
“It’s not much. Just a mention. And this drawing. Look.” Elaeth opened up the folder and held it up for Jack to look at.
Jack swung down off his chair and over to Elaeth to peer at the paper he was holding up. On it was only a picture of an orb, like Ianto’s orb only it was more red than blue. Underneath it was a handwritten note.
Deposited by the rift on 30th March 1956. Claimed by Torchwood a mere twelve hours after arrival in Cardiff City. In that time, it had already invaded the mind of twelve year old Leah Hughes. Warning, extremely dangerous. In the event of discovery, capture and destroy orb and all those contaminated by it.
“Well, that doesn’t sound good,” said Jack grimly.
“That’s what I thought,” said Elaeth. “What do we do?”
Jack checked his watch. “It’s nearly time to meet the kid. We need to get him down here. We can’t afford to be gentle about it. We’ve got to get him down here and runs tests, see how dangerous this thing really is. Come on.” Jack thrust the file back at Elaeth, then turned and strode for the lift.
“Jack, wait,” called Elaeth, hurrying after him. He stopped Jack just as he reached the lift with a gentle hand on his arm. “There’s no use in scaring the lad. You saw him the other day. He’s nervous. Just be careful with him.”
Jack sighed. “You’re right.” He leaned forwards and kissed Elaeth gently on the lips. “You stay here. I’ll go and gently bring him in, okay?”
Elaeth nodded. “Okay.” He glanced around. “I’ll stay here and make sure everything’s ready, since I’m here on my own.”
“They’re out chasing weevils or something. Even Alex.” He grinned. “So, you’re in charge until I get back.”
Elaeth blushed and smiled. Jack grinned and rode the lift up to the top.
* * *
Ianto had raced out of school the moment it was over and gone straight to the bay, running all the way. Now, he was sitting on the pavement, watching the people go by him and looking out for Jack.
Suddenly, there he was, standing on the pavement opposite Ianto. Ianto frowned. He’d had his eyes on that spot and he hadn’t seen Jack arrive. But there he suddenly was, standing in his big blue coat and looking back at Ianto.
Ianto got up and ran across to him. “Hello.”
Jack smiled at him. “Hey, soldier. Want to see something really cool?”
“Like what?”
Jack bent down to whisper in Ianto’s ear. “Like aliens.”
Ianto frowned. “There’s no such thing as aliens. There’s God and that’s it.”
“There are aliens, Ianto, and I’ve got proof. Come on. All you have to do is come with me and I’ll show you.”
Jack felt guilty as he saw Ianto’s eyes widen in anticipation. He was manipulating this young boy to get what he needed and he could see how vulnerable Ianto was. But he needed to do this. This was his job and it was important. It could mean the difference between life and death for the inhabitants of Cardiff.
Jack put his hand on Ianto’s shoulder. “Well? What do you say?”
Ianto looked behind Jack at the pavement he’d appeared on out of nowhere a few moments ago.
“Will you show me how you appeared like that?”
“Sure thing.” He took Ianto’s hand and led him onto the pavement.
“They can’t see us now,” Jack whispered. “Look, all those people. They could look right at you and they wouldn’t see you. Go on. Try shouting. They won’t hear you.”
Ianto glanced up at Jack, wide-eyed. Then he grinned. He opened his mouth and bawled as loud as he could.
“Hello! Can anybody hear me?”
Nobody looked their way, of course.
Ianto giggled.
“See? Told you,” said Jack.
Ianto laughed gleefully, then shouted out again. “Stinky pubes! Vomit gobs!”
Jack chuckled. “See? Bet you’d normally get in trouble for that, huh?”
“Yeah! Da says proper public behaviour is important. I don’t get it.” He looked up at Jack. “Are we going to see the aliens now?”
“You bet!” Jack flipped open his wriststrap, pressed the appropriate button and they were moving down.
Ianto let out a surprised little yell and stared down at his feet. “We’re moving!” He reached out and held on tight to Jack’s arm. “You came out of the ground?”
Jack grinned. “Yep!”
They rode the lift all the way down to the bottom and Ianto’s eyes got wider and wider as he gazed around.
“Wow!” he gasped.
Jack grinned. “Want to see the aliens?” he asked as they landed.
“Yeah!” Ianto leaped off the lift, ran forwards and skidded to a halt in front of Elaeth, startled and frightened.
Elaeth gave him an awkward smile. “Hi.”
Ianto glanced back at Jack who nodded encouragingly. Ianto turned back to Elaeth, still looking a little afraid. “Hello,” he said.
Jack joined them. “I’m going to show Ianto the aliens, Elaeth. Get the probe ready.”
Elaeth’s eyes widened briefly in horror but he quickly reset his expression and nodded. Jack glanced at Ianto, who thankfully hadn’t noticed Elaeth’s brief expression.
“Come on, Ianto. Let’s show you these aliens!”
Ianto grinned cheerfully. “Okay!”
Jack put a hand on Ianto’s shoulder and guided him through the passages and down the stairs to the cells. They had two weevils, a hoix and caffrey in there. The caffrey was no harm really and they were planning to release it as soon as they had established it was free of disease.
As they stepped down the stairs and into the little space in front of the cells, Jack felt Ianto’s little hand sneak into his as he gazed in wonder at the aliens. His hand squeezed Jack’s fingers as he took in the huge spittle-covered teeth of the weevils and the wrinkled, snarling face of the hoix. But he didn’t flinch away from them. Instead his big blue eyes took every detail of them in, like he was storing them forever inside his brain.
He gasped when they reached the caffrey. It was a huge bird-like alien, like a cross between an eagle and a person. It walked on two legs but had huge purple wings and was covered in feathers. It’s eyes were big and haughty and it had a dark purple eagle-like face. But there was kindness in its eyes too and it gazed inquisitively at Ianto.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a caffrey. It’s from another planet, Ianto, far away. There are millions of them there. They can fly really far and really high. They can even give people rides. Back on their home world, they charge for the pleasure. That’s how they make their livings.”
“Wow,” breathed Ianto. He stepped forwards and put his hand on the glass. “Hello,” he said to the creature. The caffrey put its beak against the glass which separated and gazed at him.
“He won’t be here long,” said Jack. “We’ll let him go free. He won’t hurt anyone.”
“Wow,” said Ianto again. There was a silence.
Then, Ianto let his hand drop and he turned to Jack. “You wanted to learn about my orb,” he said.
Jack nodded. “That’s right, Ianto.”
“You can then. Will you do scans on it and things? They do that in Star Trek!”
Jack smiled. “Yes, we’ll do scans on it.”
Ianto put his hand inside his blazer and brought out the orb. “You can take it then, if I’ll get it back.”
Jack took it. “You’ll get it back,” he said and hoped vaguely that he was telling the truth. But if the record they’d found was right about the orb, it wouldn’t matter if Ianto had the orb or not. He wouldn’t be going home with it. He wouldn’t be going home at all.
Jack inwardly shuddered as he thought about what he may have to do. But if the orb had invaded this child, they couldn’t risk him going out into the world. Jack glanced at the cells as they left. Would this little boy have to spend the rest of his life in one of those cells? Or would he be ending his short life in their interrogation chair?
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*bites nails and worries*
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I want it all to work out for Ianto and Jack
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