Twos and Blues...16/?

[zazajb]

Title: Twos and Blues: 16/? 
Author: zazajb
Rating: R - N/C-17 overall, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, [past]Jack/John, Tosh/Owen, Gwen/Rhys, Andy, Gareth, Harris, Nick, Pete, Mica, Rhiannion
Spoilers – none – totally AU
Summary:  Jack is the Station Commander of a retained* fire station. This is the story of their adventures. Words:  this chapter 4500

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

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters – anything you recognise is owned by RTD & BBC, even if they don’t know how to look after them properly...
With thanks to the wonderful fjorda77 for the awesome banner *hugs*

A/N So, I’ve finally gone completely AU...new departure for me – thank you for all the comments so far...and please excuse the liberties I’m taking with Welsh geography! Updates will now be posted to both LJ and DW

A/N1 Retained stations are crewed by part-time firefighters who live and work locally, responding to a bleeper signal when the fire appliance is needed – in all other respects they are the same as whole-time firefighters... SWFRS= South Wales Fire and Rescue Service PDA= pre-determined attendance [the minimum number of appliances sent to a particular premises no matter what the call]

A/N2  So, back to school and my writing time is seriously curtailed. I will post once a week, and once my lesson planning gets back into a routine you might get an extra one midweek as well. This chapter dedicated to musicluvr for her birthday. Happy day hon xxx

Cross posted so you might get this more than once – sorry!

Twos and Blues 16/?

 

Chapter 16

Ianto had been taken by surprise when Hart first appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and had his back against the swing doors before he rallied, planting his feet firmly as Hart kept coming forward so they ended up nose to nose, Hart’s eyes boring into Ianto’s usually sparkling blue ones, eyes that now took on a look of combined anger and confusion.

“Into the kit bay, Eye Candy. Your friends are gone, they won’t be here to save you from me...but you look like a man who enjoys a challenge so let’s see how you do...how quickly you submit to me...” he leered, “you’re going down...” He thrust his hips forward, his obvious arousal pressing against Ianto’s thigh and the Welshman took an involuntary step backwards to escape the pressure, a movement Hart quickly capitalised on as it took them into the recesses of the kit bay and out of sight of anyone who happened to pass or enter the main doors...

Hart pressed his advantage until Ianto was backed up against one of the pegs, the unfamiliar aroma of a myriad of fires and smoke surrounding him as the kit he was leant on assailed his senses. This, coupled with the scent of wanton desire and uncontrolled rage emanating from the unstable firefighter had his adrenalin pumping as he considered his options – fight or flight?

“Why...why are you doing this?”

“What a cosmic joke, Eye Candy! The job, the jokes, the sex...nothing means anything...so run Ianto Jones...” his expression became a menacing snarl and he leant closer still, “run – Jack Harkness is mine...always has been, always will be and your pathetic little charms are nothing compared to what I can give him...have given him...”

He paused and traced a finger down the side of Ianto’s face as the Welshman suppressed a shudder, “...or maybe you could watch...watch as I take my Captain, hard and brutal...just as he likes it...then maybe I’ll take you...own your body...” his tone sent chills down Ianto’s spine, these were not empty threats – Hart was deadly serious, “...use it for my pleasure and leave you bloodied and broken on the floor...oh I’ll make su...” He gasped as Ianto suddenly moved, simultaneously bringing his knee up hard and diving sideways out of Hart’s grasp...

John Hart’s expression became one of pain and murderous rage and he launched himself at Ianto as the Welshman scrabbled to get up off the floor, stumbling over a pair of boots knocked from an adjoining peg... They went down together and Ianto gave grasp for grasp, the pair rocking wilding on the floor as Hart lost all control, his intention now to cause as much pain and damage as possible...”I’m going to smash that pretty face of yours so no-one will ever look at you again...” he snarled through clenched teeth.

Braced for the inevitable impact from Hart’s fist, Ianto gaped as the other man’s weight was lifted from him and a furious Pete slammed Hart up against the wall. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing...” Pete was livid,  “conduct unbecoming, physical assault...attempted murder...”

Hart struggled in Pete’s fierce grip, “he won’t stay with you...we shared something...” he spat out, taking his chance as the Crew Manager glanced across at Ianto to ask, “you okay?” He staggered as Hart’s fist crashed on his jaw and the man wrenched himself away, barrelling through the kit bay doors and running from the station. Seconds later his car screeched away and vanished down the road.

Ianto helped Pete up off the floor, grimacing as the other man wiped the blood from his split lip. “That looks nasty...” he took a shaky breath “thanks for coming to my aid...I didn’t mean for you to get hurt...” They draped their arms around each other’s shoulders and rested their foreheads together, panting as hearts thudded painfully in their chests and the adrenalin receded, leaving them limp and drained...

The kit bay door opened and Jack came in, his frown deepening as he surveyed the two men in front of him...”would someone like to explain precisely what the fuck is going on here!” as Pete and Ianto released each other and turned to face their irate Captain, his eyes flashing dangerously, intense steely blue grey depths swirling with a multitude of conflicting emotions...

“Hart..!” was the only word Pete got out before Jack strode past him to gather Ianto into his arms and hold him tightly.

The momentary silence was broken as a voice drifted through the swing doors from the appliance bay side of the room and Nick’s smiling face appeared, “...should we carry on or...oh, sorry!” he stopped mid-sentence as he took in the tense atmosphere, “are you okay?” noticing Pete’s bruised and bleeding mouth for the first time....

He glanced from Pete to Jack and Ianto and his face fell, the logical assumptions to be taken from the scene were heartbreaking and he backed out swiftly, mumbling to himself as his eyes burned with unwelcome tears.

“Nick...!” Pete suddenly realised what it looked like and was desperate to explain, but...he was a professional and as such remained where he was...

“Go after him...don’t let Hart ruin your relationship as well...” Jack lifted his head momentarily from where his face was buried in Ianto’s neck.

“Thanks Jack...Nick..!” He vanished through the doors and bumped into his young lover almost immediately as he stood slumped against the appliance with tears falling thick and fast down his face. “It’s not how it looks, honestly hon...can I explain...please..?” Nick nodded mutely and allowed himself to be pulled into a hug, his tense stance relaxing as Pete explained how he’d come across Hart about to beat Ianto into a pulp when he’d come back for the video camera to record their ladder drill...

“We okay?” he finished, tentatively brushing the tear tracks on Nick’s face away with his thumb...

Nick smiled softly “my hero..! Can we go home now? I don’t think I can face any more ladder drills tonight...”

Pete pressed a quick kiss to his lips, wincing a little at the pull on his torn flesh. “Go tell Rhys and Spook that there’s been an upset with Hart – no need for any details – that drills are off for tonight and we’re all going home...” he squeezed Nick’s arse briefly and moved back towards the kit bay, “I gotta see what the Captain wants to do about Hart...he might want a statement so I’ll have to do that before I can leave. You okay to wait for me or...”

“I’ll wait...” He traced his finger lightly over Pete’s swollen lip, “I need to take care of you tonight...okay?”

“K...” They each went in different directions, Pete knocking lightly before re-entering the kit bay. Jack and Ianto hadn’t moved, Jack was murmuring in the Welshman’s ear as he stroked his hand softly through his hair.

“Captain..?” Pete spoke softly...apologetically “I’ve told Nick to get the drill practice wrapped up for tonight and get the others off home... What do you want to do about Hart? Do you need a statement?”

Releasing Ianto, Jack turned towards his Crew Manager with an ashen face. “You and Nick okay?”

Pete nodded, “yeah, we’re good...thankfully he was prepared to let me explain...”

“Good! Okay, if we go back to the watch room we can get this written up...”

“No! Jack...I don’t want to make a fuss...it’ll be my word against his...” Ianto’s voice shook, but he met his Captain’s gaze determinedly.

“He’s gone too far this time...he has to pay for this...and it won’t just be your word, let me show you...”

Intrigued, they followed Jack back to the watch room where he logged on to the computer and selected an icon from the bottom taskbar.  Tapping a password rapidly into the login screen, he clicked on menu, selected 30 minutes and clicked play. They watched as the whole incident replayed on hidden CCTV, Jack’s face reflecting a murderous fury as he saw how close Ianto had come to serious harm on his watch...at his fire station...

Downloading the file he explained why the cameras were there, “a few years ago there was a spate of petty thefts, phones, loose change, the odd wallet...it was worrying as there seemed to be no other explanation than one of us...that left a bitter taste and I just couldn’t believe that any of my crews would do such a thing, so I had a quiet word with the powers that be and they came in and fitted this system under the guise of decorating – so we got a fresh lick of paint as well!

Turns out it was a teenager from over the back – he’d wait for the first crews to arrive...we tend to leave the door open for the next guys behind us...then sneak in and hide in the cupboard under the stairs where we keep the brooms and stuff, then once the standby crews were dismissed he’d come out and help himself. Sadly for him he was caught on camera, then caught red-handed when we staged a shout. He got 2 years youth custody and his parents were so ashamed they moved away rather than face us all...

Anyway, since then it just runs and this is the first time I’ve looked at it in over three years...” He took Ianto’s hand, noting how pale the young man had gone as he’d watched his ordeal on the screen. “We need to report this through the proper channels, if not there’s no telling what he might do – he used to listen to me, but now...I’m not sure he would...” his voice dropped to a whisper “and I couldn’t bear the thought of him hurting you...please Ianto...”

Ianto looked from Jack to Pete who nodded briefly. Taking a deep breath the Welshman nodded back. “Okay, but quietly...I don’t want my sister knowing and I don’t want @Yanno affected...”

“Deal! I’ll get in touch with the Deputy Div Commander whom I know well...purely professional!” he winked and Ianto smiled, blushing, as he acknowledged the sudden rise of his green goblins.

Pete chuckled and Ianto nudged him good naturedly. Jack handed them each a sheet of paper and a pen for their statements and pulled out a confidential report form for himself. “It’ll go ‘sealed file, eyes only’...”

The sound of pens scribbling on paper was eclipsed by merry chatter as Rhys, Spook and Nick entered the room. Rhys and Spook said good night and left, Nick stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do until Jack waved him to the last empty chair and tossed the local paper at him. “...we won’t be long...” he paused,” and I’m sorry if we gave you a fright earlier...Pete was the good guy...” he grinned “you’ve got yourself a gem there!”

Pete’s blood supply fled south at Nick’s quiet and confident “I know..!” and their eyes met, desire smouldering within. Pens continued to lay ink trails on paper until all three finished writing and read through. Satisfied with the accuracy they signed and dated them and handed them to Jack who also read them through before placing them in the envelope with his report form and sealing it, signing over the seal and covering it with clear tape.

He pushed back his chair and stood up. Nick and Pete followed suit, both shaking Jack’s offered hand warmly before leaving the station together. Moments later Nick’s metallic purple Jag pulled away, leaving Jack and Ianto alone. Glancing at his stack of paperwork Jack shuddered and piled it up in his tray which he then shoved in the cupboard. “No way I’m doing that now...we need to go home – and I have every intention of losing myself completely in you until we fall asleep...” He placed the report envelope into the orange cloth pouch and sealed it with the plastic seal before placing it in the internal mail tray.

Ianto stood and held out his hand. “Take me home, cariad...”

They left the station hand in hand and headed for home...

Arriving back at @Yanno, they climbed the stairs and went straight through to the bedroom, sudden weariness kicking in as their adrenalin rush from earlier dissipated. Jack removed Ianto’s clothes carefully and helped him into bed, shedding his own in haste to slide in next to him and wrap the young man into his arms where he planted a myriad of soft kisses over his face as he whispered gentle words of love and comfort. Ianto’s eyes slid closed and his breathing evened out, Jack watching over him protectively as the images of what could so easily have happened rolled on continuous playback through his head, until he felt his own eyes closing and, finally, he slept.

In a bar on the far side of Cardiff, John Hart downed his third double whisky in swift succession, indicating to the barmaid for another refill. She eyed him appraisingly as she held his glass under the optics “Bad day?” she leant forward, her ample breasts jutting out from her low cut top, as she placed the drink in front of him.

Hart snatched the glass up and tossed the drink down his throat. “None. Of. Your. Fucking. Business. Bitch!” he snarled in her face, threw a tenner on the bar and headed for the door. Once outside he roamed the streets and the bars, more drinks followed until he was finally drunk enough to wipe the memory of earlier that night from his head. He sank into a doorway and wept.

When the young constable tried to move him on an hour later, Hart was too far gone to realise that smashing his fists into the policeman’s face was not the best of moves, until, handcuffs painfully biting into his wrists, he was slung into the back of a police van and found himself once more facing the custody sergeant, Stone.

Tonight, though, Jack’s phone went unanswered. Hart hammered on his cell door, yelling and screaming for Jack, finally falling asleep on the floor just after five am. Constable Edwards filed his report, adding it to the doctor’s confirmation of his broken nose and fractured cheekbone. The reports were filed with the CPS; John Hart’s latest meltdown was in the system...

Ianto woke wrapped in the warm circle of Jack’s arms, his Captain’s breath soft against his neck, and he sighed contentedly. “Morning gorgeous...” Jack’s whisper tickled his ear and he gave an involuntary wriggle, feeling the immediate reaction from behind him. “You keep doing that...” Jack gasped as Ianto chuckled and deliberately squirmed closer, hot tendrils of desire racing through them both...

“C’m here!” Shifting in Jack’s embrace, Ianto turned to face him as Jack’s mouth crashed on his and they kissed hungrily, the pent up worries from the night before now set free as hands raked over skin, touching...feeling...possessing... Their lovemaking was wild and untamed, both needing to feel the other and they tumbled over and over, the quilt sliding to the floor as they took each other to the heights of euphoria before slumping in a tangled and sweaty heap, panting hard, bodies tingling with the bliss of release.

Shifting on to his side, Jack traced a finger over the outline of Ianto’s lips, pink and swollen from his kisses “I love you Yanno...you’re my life, my soulmate....I could’ve lost you...”  His voice trembled as he gazed into the Welshman’s blue eyes, love blazing from their cobalt depths.

“Sshh, I’m here...now and always, cariad...” Ianto tugged Jack’s head down to capture his mouth, his tongue seeking its mate to dance sensuously as they each lost themselves in the other...Breaking apart some long pleasurable minutes later, they slid out of bed, linked hands and headed for the shower where gentle touches and tender caresses washed the last of the tensions away.

Jack dressed quickly and picked his uniform up from the floor were he’d dumped it the previous night. As he hung the trousers on a hanger, the tape measure fell out of the pocket and landed on the floor, unrolling merrily. Grinning widely, Jack scooped it up and moved quickly around the bed to where Ianto was sorting out his clothes, still with his towel around his waist...

He grabbed a handful of towel and pulled the Welshman towards him, unwrapping his prize with a throaty chuckle. “We need to take some measurements...” he arched an eyebrow as Ianto’s body reacted immediately. “You really think that’s on the list for your uniform fitting?” Sinking to his knees he got busy with the tape as Ianto gasped and arched his back, his hips thrusting forward as Jack suddenly engulfed him in the moist warmth of his mouth, expertly combining tongue and a light scraping of teeth until the Welshman was mumbling strings of unintelligible Welsh, moving ever closer to the precipice and he exploded in Jack’s mouth, fireworks going off in his head with the intensity of his climax.

Sagging in his Captain’s embrace, Ianto panted heavily, his body tingling from head to toe as he came down from his orgasmic high. “Bloody hell Jack! That was...”

“My pleasure! “ Jack finished for him, grinning. “now, arms out so I can do the rest of your measurements...” The requisition form was retrieved from Jack’s other pocket and dutifully filled in with all of the relevant measurements ready to be submitted the next time Jack went to the station.

Finally dressed, Ianto pressed a soft kiss to Jack’s lips and they headed through to the kitchen where the Welshman made them bacon sandwiches and a coffee. Jack checked his phone which was still on silent from the previous evening. He’d had three missed calls – one from Gavin, one from an unknown number and one from his message service. Gav had then sent a text to say the new contracts for the clients they were seeing today were ready and in his tray...

Dialling callback, Jack grimaced as he listened to the message from Sergeant Stone. He pressed one to replay the message and put it on loud-speaker as Ianto joined him at the table. The Welshman’s face was impassive as he listened to the list of assault charges being brought against the man who’d threatened him with physical harm...that could’ve been me if it wasn’t for Pete’s intervention... A wave of gratitude washed over him and he resolved to thank Pete properly if he saw him for breakfast as usual...

“Yanno...you okay?” Jack’s voice cut into his thoughts and he looked up into the anxious gaze of his Captain.

“What’ll happen to him?” The carefully controlled tone, almost disinterest, didn’t fool Jack in the slightest.

“They’ll throw the book at him this time – it’s less than forty eight hours since he accepted a caution...no leniency left!”

“So, even without our reports, he’s in deep?” As Jack nodded, taking a huge bite out of his sandwich, Ianto continued, “so if we kept ours ‘in house’..?” Ianto took a bite of his own breakfast.

“It’s too late to stop the reports going to HQ, but they’re going ‘eyes only’ so I can talk to Tony – Deputy Divisional Commander and tell him that you want it dealt with at Brigade level rather than a criminal offence...is that what you’re saying?”

Ianto nodded, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on his plate.

Jack reached out and tipped the Welshman’s chin up. “You’re a better man than I am, Ianto Jones...not many would be so forgiving...”

The subject was dropped as they finished their breakfast and moved down to the shop. It was still early - not yet seven. Jack shrugged into his coat and tugged Ianto in for a tender kiss, releasing him reluctantly when they ran out of air. “I could stay...help you today instead...I’ve only got one meeting and that can be...”

Ianto rolled his eyes, “Beat it Harkness!” he grinned ruefully, “sorry, no pun intended!”

Jack smiled unwillingly, “I just want to keep you safe...”

“I know...and I’m fine! You’ve already checked to make sure all the bits are in the right place and that they all work..!” his voice dropped to a whisper “...and I love you for it, but you need to get to Cardiff and then you’ve got work to do...” the eyes rolled again as Jack indicated the kind of work he would prefer, “go, Jack!” he pressed a firm kiss to his lips and propelled him gently towards the door. “See you later...”

Dangling his car keys in his hand, Jack nodded, suddenly grabbing the young man’s waistcoat to kiss him hotly, tongue plundering his mouth passionately, leaving him panting breathlessly as he strode out of the door towards the SUV.  He grinned as Ianto acknowledged his wave weakly, leant back against the door frame as he caught his breath.

A sudden feeling of vulnerability washed over him as the SUV disappeared from sight and he quashed it fiercely, throwing himself into preparations for the day. By seven thirty everything was ready and he was stood nursing a mug of vanilla blend, his eyes idly following the @Yanno logo around the wall as the events of the previous evening replayed through his unwilling mind, needing to be assessed and understood before they could be put aside.

He jumped at a light tapping on the glass, spinning round to see Pete and Nick at the shop door. He let them in, dragging them both into a tight hug as soon as they were over the threshold.”Thank you...I never said it properly last night, so thank you...”

They grinned at him. “We wanted to make sure you’re okay...is Jack still here?”

Ianto shook his head as he moved towards the coffee machine and prepared them a couple of New York blends. “You want a bagel or croissants?”

“Just coffee’s good...” Nick grinned and squeezed Pete’s fingers, “we’ve had breakfast...up very early today!” he winked and Ianto chuckled, knowing exactly what they meant!

“Seems to be the theme for the day!” They slid into one of the booths and he brought them up to date with the call from Cardiff police. “Jack’s calling a short meeting later today so he can brief everyone and I’ve asked him to keep last night’s incident within the brigade – they’re going to throw the book at him anyway for punching a cop so I don’t need to make a fuss... they can deal with it in-house...” He shrugged, “I know it seems like I’m letting him away with it, but it means I don’t have to worry about how it affects my sister or this place...so it’s for selfish reasons rather than any concern for...” he hesitated over the name, “...him...” He took a deep breath. “So, you two okay then?” he glanced from one to the other.

Pete draped an arm around Nick’s shoulders and pressed a quick kiss to his lips “We’re good...better than good..!”

“My hero!” Nick winked, adding in an undertone “it’s amazing what that one small phrase does to him!”

Laughter broke out around the table and Ianto relaxed. A few minutes later Rhi and Sue joined them and they chatted casually whilst Ianto made the ladies coffee and put their breakfast on. Nick and Pete finished their drinks and left, both hugging the Welshman warmly as they said their goodbyes.

Rhi took the plates and cups to the dishwasher, Ianto flicked the radio on and the working day began...

The morning flew past, the cookies for the toddler group proving incredibly popular and Ianto sold out when they bought his remaining stock to take home. Grinning broadly as they raved about his coffee, he noted down a few cookie requests and waved them farewell.

Rhi smiled from the kitchen archway as she watched her baby brother; coming here had been the best decision he’d ever made and it made her proud to see him thriving, happy with his work and his Jack...a lifetime away from his previous existence with Lisa... She’d been aghast when Ianto had sent a card and a Mothercare voucher to his former girlfriend, but she could see now that he’d meant it when he said he was happy for her...”she’s got her life...I’ve got mine...and I love my life now, Rhi...I just love it...”

A brief lull in the customers gave Ianto the chance to check the message that had vibrated in his pocket some twenty minutes ago and he smiled at the tiny screen Cardiff done, HQ done, fill you in at lunch, finishing early...you me and a smexy afternoon Mr Jones! ILY J

He tapped a quick reply and shoved it back in his pocket, the time whizzing by until Jack arrived in the height of the lunchtime rush. Shrugging his coat off and stowing it carefully under the counter, Jack grabbed a tray and began to clear tables, earning himself a wink and a mouthed love you as they passed.

The clearing up took very little time with an extra pair of hands and the ladies were gone by three, both delighted with the bonus in their pay packets. “See you Monday...” Sue called as she left, waving.

“Now, Mr Jones...I do believe I promised you an exciting afternoon...” as he folded the Welshman into his arms to kiss him into oblivion...

tbc