Lost inside of you 36/37 + epilogue

[zazajb]

Title: Lost inside of you 36/37 + epilogue
Author: zazajb
Rating: NC-17 overall, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Martha/Tom, The Doctor [10] Lois/Peter, John Hart
Spoilers - TW anything is possible - via memories, inc DW
Summary: Sequel to No place to hide and All the time we have. Sometimes I don't know where I end and he begins...

Previous chapters: http://zazajb.livejournal.com/6286.html

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters - just like to dabble with them from time to time
This is for the wonderful wise_n_witty who was there at the very start – little realising the monster she’d unleashed!

With thanks to the wonderful Wykling for the awesome banner *hugs*

A/N This last chapter was way too long for LJ and so I’ve split it into two separate chapters, but this is the final 3 parts to complete the story. Total word count 129,500

 

 

Chapter 36

 

The TARDIS door opened and the Doctor emerged in his familiar brown suit and long coat. His eyebrows rose until they vanished into his hair as he looked around slowly, taking in the distressed trio on one side of the hub and the tense set of the other two men. Turning back to the TARDIS he stuck his head inside the door, “D o n n a...you might want to reconsider that bikini...I don’t think this is Barcelona..!”

 

He stepped further into the main hub, slipped his hands into his pockets and walked towards Jack, stopping a foot away as the Captain eyed him warily. The Timelord nodded at him briefly and turned to look up at Ianto. He tapped his temple, “...no welcoming committee? How ‘bout you make me some of your wonderful tea and then we’ll see if we can sort out why my ship insisted that we come to find her favourite Welshman..?” His voice was gentle and Ianto found he had tears in his eyes...tears of relief... He nodded and went into the kitchen.

 

The Doctor turned back to Jack and stepped closer, dragging him in for a hug, whispering urgently in his ear, “I need you to take off your wedding ring...now...don’t ask questions, just do it...” He released him and turned towards the three still huddled together, walking briskly, his hand extended, “Peter, good to see you again...ladies, a pleasure as always...” he shook the medic’s hand and smiled at Gwen and Lois, noting the tear stained faces that appeared to be the current uniform for all Torchwood employees... “So, Peter, how’s that project you’ve been working on coming along...you must show me what progress you’ve made...” he slid his hand into the small of Peter’s back and steered him towards autopsy, still talking brightly at top speed as they disappeared down the stairs...

 

Gwen and Lois watched the proceedings with utter confusion and hurried towards Jack who stood staring at his left hand like he’d never really noticed it before. As they reached him he took a deep breath in and, with fingers that trembled, he pulled off his wedding ring and clutched it tightly in his hand, swaying slightly as a wave of dizziness washed over him... He gasped and fresh tears trickled down his cheeks, “Ianto...I lo...” as he slid unconscious to the floor...

 

“Jack..!” Gwen dropped to her knees beside Jack’s inert body as the Doctor came running up from autopsy with Peter on his coat tails. The Timelord stopped next to Gwen, Peter moved past him, calling for Lois to follow him as he took the steps up towards the kitchen two at a time, unsurprised to see Ianto out cold on the floor after the Doctor’s hurried, whispered instructions... Lois gasped in horror as she entered the kitchen, her eyes wide...

 

“What’s going on..?” she asked anxiously.

 

“I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think this...” he indicated the prone Welshman, “... is a good thing, according to our good Doctor... Now, help me get him downstairs to the sofa...”

 

Between them they carried the unconscious man down the stairs and placed him gently on the raggedy sofa where the Doctor and Gwen had already moved Jack. Stepping closer, the Doctor reached down and carefully removed Ianto’s wedding ring, placing it in a small box with ornate carvings on the outside. He moved to the other end of the sofa and prised Jack’s fingers open to add his ring to the box, snapping the lid closed and aiming his sonic screwdriver at the tiny lock. Then he dropped the box into his pocket and glanced round at the depleted Torchwood team who were watching him in silence...

 

“I’ll explain everything shortly...I promise...” he looked at Gwen, “I don’t suppose you could finish making the tea...I really could do with one...” he grinned, the wild, lopsided grin they were all used to and suddenly the tension lifted...and just for a moment they allowed themselves to believe that it would all be all right...

 

Gwen went off to the kitchen. The Doctor turned to Lois, “...could you clear us some workspace here – I don’t want to leave them...” he moved on to Peter as Lois began moving the piles of random books and magazines from the low table in front of the sofa, “...I need you to sort out two shots of sedative that will keep them out about an hour, with a second shot in case we need it...oh, and bring your printouts up here...I think they’ll be useful...” he nodded, satisfied as the medic headed back to autopsy to carry out the instructions, impressed at the efficient way his orders had been obeyed without question...Jack really did have the best people he mused...

 

“Oi, Space-boy! What’s going on?” Donna’s voice brought a smile to his face and he turned to face his forthright companion.

 

“Ah, Donna, perfect timing! Can you fetch us some of the Pexillian stools that we used at that conference...they’re in the fifth storeroom...” he wrinkled his face in thought, “...go right past the stairs, through the double doors and second left...then second left again...it’s the small door...you’ll probably have to crawl in..! he added as an afterthought, “...they’re not very tall...but very amenable...” he offered, seeing Lois looking at him with her mouth slightly open. “Actually, maybe you could give Donna a hand...we’ll need five...”

 

Lois blinked and hurried after Donna who grinned at her and they vanished back into the TARDIS...

 

Five minutes later they were sat around the large coffee table, on very small, but extremely comfortable stools, mugs of tea and Ianto’s secret stash of chocolate Hobnobs in front of them. The girls had moved Jack and Ianto so they were in each other’s arms, a sight they were much more used to so it wasn’t quite so awful seeing their tear-streaked pale faces as they lay unconscious. Peter had given them both a shot of sedative as instructed by the Doctor and now they all turned their attention to the Timelord as he pulled the ornate box out of his pocket and placed it quietly on the table.

 

“Ok, good to see you all again, but not under such circumstances... As you know, I gave Jack and Ianto their wedding rings as my wedding gift...they were rather special, in that they gave them an empathic link...given that both already had significant telepathic ability – albeit, dormant ability – it was a much stronger link than I envisaged and it gave them, and me, significant pleasure to see them so close...

 

We spent a week making sure that they were both happy with the link and its effects and Donna and I went merrily on our way... About a week ago, or thereabouts...difficult to say with all the timey-wimey travelling we do...the TARDIS started picking up echoes of thoughts that were not Ianto’s, but were from Ianto’s head...they’d forged a living link from our brief trip and from the time she’d spent down in Ianto’s golden room... and she brought us here... her decision to protect someone she values very much...and as we got closer I felt the distress from both of them... So, that’s how we got here... ”

 

He tapped the box with his fingertips and a wistful expression crossed his face fleetingly before he was once again the enigmatic Timelord...Rose...what could’ve been...

 

“Now, something, or someone, has managed to tap into the frequency and from what I’ve seen of these...” he indicated the printouts of the brainwaves Peter had been studying, “...this someone is very skilled...there’s barely a trace and it’s only because I know what to look for that I’ve been able to find it...” He spread the sheets out on the table and they all leant over them as the Timelord pointed to a minute flicker in the readout, “...there...that’s it leaving before it could be detected during Jack’s deep level scan and here where it’s returned...that was harder to spot given their likely activities at that time...he always was highly sexed, your good Captain!”

 

The assembled group shared a muted chuckle despite the situation as each pictured numerous occasions when they’d caught the two in compromising positions, fond smiles briefly chasing the tension away...

 

Gwen added what they knew “We know who it is – John Hart – he’s an ex-Time Agent and ex-partner of Jack’s from a long time ago – but in the future, more of your timey-wimey stuff – he’s violent and we’d all like to kill him very slowly but we don’t know where he is now... He was at a house in Splott but when the police forced their way in, it was empty and as the intense headaches and random violence that swept that estate has stopped since he targeted Ianto we haven’t got any way of tracking him... We don’t really know why either...we know he was jealous of Ianto, but is that enough to explain why he’s suddenly attacked him...unless he just wanted to split them up..?”

 

Taking a deep breath, the Doctor shared the final worrying thoughts he’d picked up from Hart, through the TARDIS, “...he didn’t just want to split them up...he was planning to get Ianto to kill himself so he could turn up and comfort Jack himself...”

 

“Ianto would never do that...” Gwen was emphatic, “...he loves Jack too much...after everything they’ve been through, how he came back to life...he’d never kill himself...”

 

“Oh, I agree totally...Ianto in his own mind wouldn’t, but Ianto controlled by Hart would do more or less anything he was told...you said yourself he said he didn’t know what was real any more... Ianto was fighting it...and fighting hard...but he was losing...he’d decided that Jack was worth dying for...that’s what that scene when I arrived was all about...he was risking everything he was to get Jack to tell him why Hart had done this...”

 

“But Jack didn’t know...he said he didn’t know and I believe him...” Lois whispered, unwilling to believe that Jack would knowingly allow his beloved Ianto to be hurt...

 

“In the beginning, when we didn’t know who it was, but...” Peter grimaced, trying to put into words what he felt in his gut, “...I watched his face when Ianto was yelling at him...he knew something that he hadn’t known before...something must have happened the last time they were together...when we didn’t know where they were...he looked broken when Ianto accused him of lying but there was guilt there as well...and that’s where you came in...” he glanced at his watch, “...twenty minutes left...”

 

 “Right, we need to get busy before they come round. I needed them unconscious so Hart couldn’t use his connection to hear what we were saying...this box...” he tapped it lightly, “...blocks brainwaves but as I wasn’t sure who, why or how far he’d infiltrated I couldn’t take any chances... The TARDIS will be able to pinpoint the location once we get them awake and the connection re-established...now we can’t tell them what we’re doing in case Hart gets warning and changes location so I’m going to tell them that the TARDIS brought us here because Ianto was upset, which is true...I’ll take them in to see her and run the search while Ianto’s in there...you’ll need to be ready to move as soon as I find him – maybe you can set off an alert that won’t need either Jack or Ianto to go...whatever...I’ll leave that to you...

 

When you get him, bring him back here...in one piece please – I think Ianto and Jack might like the pleasure first...but I’m sure they’ll share..!” he grinned at their mutinous expressions and they nodded ruefully, acknowledging the truth of his words... “How long?” he looked at Peter.

 

“Ten...maybe twelve minutes...” The team moved to Gwen’s workstation to set up a phoney weevil alert, leaving Donna and the Doctor sat at the table. Donna scratched behind His Nids’ ears, his loud purring echoing, soothing...

 

“What are you going to do with this Hart bloke when they get him?”

 

The Doctor shrugged, “...that’ll be down to Jack and Ianto...” He turned to look at the two men who had not moved, their pale faces tugging at the heartstrings. He sighed, missing the easy warmth of the two in his head...

 

“Two minutes...” Peter called out.

 

“You all set?”

 

“Yeah, one weevil alert primed and ready...”

 

“I’m going to put their rings back on...just go with whatever I say...”

 

The team nodded and huddled closer together, watching as the Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to unseal the box and then slide each man’s ring back onto their fingers. He stepped away and was fussing the tiny dragon in Donna’s arms when they stirred, low moans as they slowly regained consciousness...

 

“Jack..?” Ianto’s eyes fluttered open and he realised he was wrapped in his Captain’s arms. He blinked rapidly, trying to remember how he’d got here...

 

“Ianto..?” Jack showed similar signs of confusion...the last thing he remembered was Ianto yelling furiously at him...the memories came flooding back and he struggled to a sitting position, helping the Welshman upright as he moved. Jack left his arm draped around Ianto’s shoulders, unsure of the response if he removed it, guilt washing over him as he recalled the events of the previous twenty four hours...

 

They looked at each other and then up at the Doctor who was now watching them intently. “Back with us then?“ the Doctor smiled at the two bemused men. “We thought you might be more comfortable on the sofa rather than the floor – you both blacked out...no idea why...we’ll see if we can puzzle it out...” He noted Jack looking at his wedding ring with a perplexed expression and smiled, “...seems a long time ago now, Jack? Hard to believe it’s only three weeks...” The temporary confusion would lift, but hopefully not until after they had Hart in custody...

 

Ianto moved as if to get up, not sure why he felt so self conscious with Jack’s arm around him...they were married...they loved each other...he frowned, desperate to remember...the only thing his brain would helpfully supply was a riddle...a life without risk...and a vague memory of gentle blue eyes and a wind-swept mop of sandy coloured hair... He sighed and sank back against the warmth of Jack’s embrace, the older man’s arm tightening its hold on his shoulder...

 

Turning to gaze at Jack, he noted the guilty look that lurked deep in his eyes and wondered again how they’d got to this juncture...nothing made any sense, but he was aware of a gradual build of frustration that appeared to be directed towards his Captain, that feeling intensified as Jack broke eye contact and looked away...he’s hiding something...

 

“I need coffee..!” Wrenching himself from Jack’s hold, Ianto stood and gingerly tested his balance before heading for the kitchen.

 

“Yan..!” Jack’s voice shook and fresh tears welled in his eyes. He looked to the Doctor for help.

 

“Let him go...he’s as confused as you are right now and he just needs some time to get his head together... When he comes back we’ll take our drinks into the TARDIS and see if we can’t work out what’s going on...”

 

Jack nodded, slightly comforted, yet aware of the burden of his guilt weighing him down. He took the Doctor’s outstretched hand and hauled himself off the sofa, to find himself with an armful of vibrant redhead as Donna flung herself at him and hugged tight. He hugged her back, managing a smile at the Doctor’s indulgent expression...Donna was so good for the Timelord..!

 

Ianto returned with five mugs of regular coffee, a cappuccino for Donna and a tea for the Doctor. He looked much more composed and smiled at the worried faces...”It’s gonna be ok...” as he handed out the drinks, “...although when I catch up with the person who found the Hobnobs..!” the feeble joke enough to lift the tension just a little.

 

Leaving Donna with Peter, Lois and Gwen, the Doctor led Jack and Ianto into the TARDIS, her welcoming warmth flooding their heads despite their shielding, her worry pressing against their defences... “You can let go in here...it’s safe...” the Doctor’s voice filled their heads as both men automatically lowered their shields and broke down in choking sobs as their minds merged in an emotional reunion. The Doctor rolled his eyes as they flung themselves into each other’s arms and kissed hungrily, pent up anger and confusion melting away as they mapped each other’s mouths, gentle moans lost against the rising passion...

 

Taking advantage of their distraction, he stepped to his console and ran the search program, sending the co-ordinates to Gwen’s workstation...

 

Moments later Peter stuck his head through the door, “...got a weevil alert at the back of the cinema so we’re off to deal with it...” his tense expression shifting to one of gentle amusement as he took in the scene in front of him... “...young love, eh!” he nodded at the Doctor and closed the door... It was now or never...

 

As Jack and Ianto were looking quite comfortable, the Doctor took the opportunity to check their shields and the strength of their link, his reading confirming what he’d expected...they were completely entwined, layer after layer of merged thought and shared emotion...no wonder Ianto had passed out when Jack had removed his wedding ring – it was like being hit over the head with a brick! They’d get through this, he was sure...provided Jack could tell Ianto why he’d been targeted...that guilt lay heavy on his friend’s mind and he couldn’t see what it was, although he had an idea...

 

He sipped his tea and gazed at his feet as the two men kissed each other to the stars and back, hands stroking gently through hair and running down bodies, cupping faces and holding close, the depth of emotion radiating outwards with the intensity of a small sun... This was more like it...

 

John Hart lay stretched out on the sofa, his hands behind his head as he relived the argument...this was just getting better and better...eye candy was becoming more unstable with every passing hour and it really was quite erotic... His mind drifted away, imagining the different things he could do to the pretty Welshman...Jack could watch...maybe join in...a moan of desire escaped his lips and he squirmed on the battered old sofa, moving a hand to slide down his body, pressing down against the growing bulge in his trousers...

 

Gwen put her foot down, weaving through the traffic in an excellent impersonation of Jack’s wild driving. Beside her, Lois and Peter squeezed into the passenger seat as they planned their attack...which was actually a simple two in the front door, one round the back, shoot him if you have to but don’t kill him...much as we’d like to... “Remember he usually has a veritable arsenal of weapons on him so watch yourselves...” Gwen’s voice was strained, her expression set and determined, matched by her team mates, “...expect the unexpected and let’s get the bastard..!” she added with feeling as she screeched to a halt in the parking bay they’d used previously...

 

Jumping down they checked their weapons and moved cautiously towards number 33, sneaky bastard...they’d been shocked at the audacity of the man when they’d realised he’d simply moved across the road to Ted Llewellyn’s house...he must’ve been laughing his head off as he watched them storming his previous bolt hole...it made them even more determined to catch him and deal out some special brand Torchwood justice...preferably laced with significant amounts of pain!

 

The house was quiet and appeared deserted...Gwen nodded as Peter headed off round the back and she and Lois crept towards the front door using a smart tech alien key to melt the lock silently in seconds. Guns aimed ahead of them they crept into the house... The sitting room door was ajar, sounds of panting floating out on the air... Peering through the gap in the doorframe they could see Hart laid out on the sofa, his hands down his trousers as he pleasured himself.

 

Nodding, Gwen slid into the room, Lois covering her and following her in. They were within three feet when Hart realised they were there and with mind boggling speed he swung off the sofa, dragged his gun from under the cushion and covered the short distance between himself and Lois, who was closest, to grab her violently by the hair and press the muzzle of his gun painfully into her throat. Gwen aimed at his head as he smirked at her, “...took your time...thought Jack’s little team were supposed to be the best...or was that the old team...the weasel medic and the oriental...the dead team...

 

“Let her go...” Gwen snarled, white hot fury burning hatred in her eyes.

 

Hart laughed and twisted his grip tighter in Lois’ hair, gasps of pain escaping her lips. Her eyes met Gwen’s, “Speed...the film...” she took a sharp intake of breath as the gun pressed harder into her skin, “...do it..!”

 

Gritting her teeth, Gwen took aim as Hart hauled Lois behind the sofa, Gwen following him... Lois steeled herself as Gwen’s finger tightened on the trigger just as Peter crashed through the French doors, throwing himself at Hart’s back and plunging the two back up syringes of sedative he’d prepared for Jack and Ianto into the man’s neck. Hart staggered, Lois twisting her body away, despite the hand still tangled painfully in her hair, as the bullet left the barrel of Gwen’s pistol and lodged itself in Hart’s thigh. He went down...hard, dragging Lois and Pete with him and the three fought fiercely for several adrenalin fuelled minutes until the sedative took hold and he went limp, his wound pumping blood...

 

Gasping painfully, Peter helped Lois to her feet and dragged her into an emotional embrace before kissing her hard, relief flooding through him that she was safe. Releasing her he dropped to his knees and checked the prone figure on the floor as Gwen gave Lois a relieved hug before watching her team mates working to stem the bleeding.

 

Peter rapidly packed and dressed the wound and they dragged Hart’s unconscious body to the door while Gwen retrieved the SUV and they slung him unceremoniously into the boot before returning to the hub at the same breakneck speed...


Chapter 37   http://zazajb.livejournal.com/26390.html