zazajb: (captain coat & coffee man)

Title: Tissues and tall tales...
Author: zazajb
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – none, set S2, AU
Summary: An illness in the family sparks off a few memories... Words 7250

Fic masterlist: http://zazajb.livejournal.com/6286.html

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters – anything you recognise belongs to RTD & BBC, I’m just playing with them...
Written for the [livejournal.com profile] longliveianto  bingo prompt: Illness


X-posted Longliveianto, Jantolution, jackxianto & TW_classic & tw_proper, jantosparkle, ijs[apologies to those getting this multiple times]

A/N Considering I’ve never done family/children Janto fic before I seem to be getting into it in rather a big way...forgive the indulgence here! Also apologies for the gap in posting [and reading – not forgotten you guys, honestly!] but work has been utter madness - six weeks of stress packed into three and a half, plus my Head of Department has been off ill so I’ve been doing all that as well and there haven’t been enough hours in the day! However, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel...

Thanks to the wonderful talented [livejournal.com profile] ianto_love_jack  for the banner and icon *hugs*

Dedicated to [livejournal.com profile] iantosdreamer46  for her birthday  

 

Tissues and tall tales...

“Tad...Dad..!” Brychan burst into the room and dropped his school bag in the middle of the floor. “Euan’s going to Splashdown and his mum says I can go too...can I?” he paused for a burst of coughing, “please..?”

Jack glanced at Ianto who was reading a Princess Bella storybook with Ammeline on the sofa. “What d’you think? He’s been coughing a lot this week...”

“P-l-e-a-s-e Tad...I love the water slides...” the big puppy-dog eyes went into full mini-Jack mode and Ianto felt himself succumbing despite his misgivings about the state of their son’s health. He’s turning those big Jack eyes on me!

“I’m not sure it’s...” he started.

Pleasepleaseplease! I’m fine, Euan’s got a cough as well and he’s allowed...” the pout appeared briefly before Brychan remembered that he never did as well with that strategy so he turned up the intensity of his pleading gaze, swinging round to give Jack the full benefit for good measure!

You know you’re going to let him go!

I guess I just can’t resist that look...for anything!

I’ll remind you of that later when the kids are in bed...

The two men grinned and shook their heads minutely. “Okay!” they said together.

“Thanks Tad” Bry squeaked excitedly as he flung himself on Ianto, half squashing his little sister in his exuberant embrace. He wriggled out of Ianto’s hug and repeated the action with Jack who’d now returned to the kitchen where he was sorting out Ammeline’s tea.

Jack hugged him tight before ruffling his hair and swatting him playfully on his backside as he scampered from the room. Amme’s toast’s done, he sent, adding a gentle love you which was caressed softly and returned.

Moments later Ianto and their daughter joined him at the kitchen table, Jack settling her into her high chair as Ianto moved to the coffee machine to make them a mug each. They leant against each other and watched Amme munching happily on her marmite toast fingers, a tiny pot of fromage frais that she managed to smear half into her hair and half in her mouth, and finally crunch contentedly on a sliced up apple.

Ianto dug his phone out of his pocket when it beeped. He flicked it open and read swiftly as Jack began to clean their daughter’s hands and face with a baby wipe before handing her a beaker of juice.

Euan’s mum...apologising for not asking about Splashdown first, and for not stopping when she dropped Bry off earlier – she had to pick Ellie up from a netball match. Apparently Ellie’s going to the cinema with a group of friends – Jacqui’s one of the designated drivers so rather than go all the way there and back twice she thought she’d take the boys into the water park while the girls watch their film and then they’ll all go to Pizza Hut afterwards...

So we’ll be all alone after Amme’s had her bath and gone to bed?

Yep! You better practice those puppy-dog eyes!

Done! Tell her yes and thank you!

Ianto grinned as he tapped a reply and pressed send, another beep returning almost instantly. He chuckled as Jack sent him a full-on big eyes puppy-dog look followed by some decidedly interesting scenarios.

Whoa tiger! We’ve got things to do first!

Like?

Like bath and tuck our daughter up in bed, sort out our dinner and get Bry’s school stuff ready for tomorrow...

The pout replaced the ‘come hither’ look and a quietly grumbling Jack scooped up their happy chattering two year old and headed up the stairs. He was chuckling with her by the time he reached the top – until he checked on Bry’s preparations for his swimming trip to find the entire contents of his chest of drawers scattered far and wide over his room.

Yan – your son’s turned his room into a war zone...

Why is he always mine when he’s made a mess?

‘Cause you’re so much better at sorting him out than me! Anyway, I’m bathing our daughter... He felt the emphatic roll of his partner’s eyes and grinned. “Bry, Tad’s on the way up – he won’t be happy with the state of your room!”

“But I can’t find my swim shorts!” Brychan protested. “I’ve looked everywhere...”

“In your wardrobe, in your swim bag, ready from last time...now get this tidied or I might have to change my mind about you going...” Ianto said firmly, coming into the room quietly and making him jump.

“But Tad...Jacqui’ll be here in a minute...” the pout reappeared.

“Then you need to be quick about it, young man..!” he’s so like you Jack!

 But you love us and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Jack snickered at the further eye roll and tested the bath water, adding Lavender Baby Bath and splashing to make bubbles. He pulled the rest of Ammeline’s clothes off and tossed them into the hamper, smiling softly as he placed the little girl in the bubbles and dropped in a few of her favourite toys. He felt Ianto’s gentle caress of his mind as he shared the images of their happy giggling daughter as she squirted Jack with her plastic frog, dad and child having as much fun as each other.

The doorbell rang and there was an anguished wail from Brychan whose room was tidier but not finished. Jack grinned you great big softie as Bry hugged his Tad hard when he was allowed to leave the rest of the clearing up and the pair hurried downstairs to answer the door.

Euan’s twelve year old sister Ellie smiled at them “mum’s just turning the car round...” she said as Ianto handed Bry some money for his entry fee “...and you can spend the change if it’s okay with Jacqui...”

“Thanks Tad” He accepted a kiss and followed Ellie back down the path to where Jacqui was waiting at the end of the drive. She waved and waited until the two children had fastened their seat belts before driving off.

That’s one gone...

Amme’s almost ready for bed – just getting her jammies on and then I’ll read her a quick story...

I’ll finish Bry’s room and get his school clothes ready for the morning, then I’ll be in to say ‘night to Amme and then we can both start dinner...

Know what I’m having... the accompanying leer drew a chuckle and an instant tightening in Ianto’s trousers when he felt Jack’s hot breath on his neck as the older man started the seduction in his head and pressed feather light kisses to his skin...

You keep that up and it’ll all be over before we get anywhere near the bedroom! he gasped as a surge of heat rushed to his groin and he resisted the urge to give it some attention with the heel of his hand.

Jack grinned and retreated from his Welshman’s head, leaving Ianto’s skin tingling and his heart pounding. He hurried around their son’s room, anxious to get everything ready so he and Jack could enjoy some quality time...who knew that two children and a secret agency to run would take up so much time!

Shortly after, he joined Jack in their daughter’s pale pink and white bedroom. Jack was just finishing the tale of Tom and Pippo and the Washing Machine, one of Amme’s favourite bedtime stories, “...but I know he’s going to get dirty again because he won’t stop playing in muddy places!” he concluded and closed the book.

The two men smiled fondly at their little girl who was now fast asleep. They each pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Sleep tight, princess...” and they left, closing the door quietly behind them.

Seconds later they were in each others arms, mouths crushed together as tongues duelled excitedly and hands raked eagerly over clothing, tugging shirts from trousers to reach the warm flesh below... Ianto moaned into the kiss as Jack swept every contour of his mouth, every flick at those sensitive spots sending sparks of heat cascading down his body where they gathered expectantly in his trousers.

They broke off momentarily for much needed air, Jack growling “bed” into his ear as their minds swirled together without conscious direction, concentrating instead on the sensations of throbbing arousal and pounding heart beats, super sensitive skin and the pleasure of heightened desire from shared thoughts.

Jack grabbed Ianto’s hand and pulled him urgently towards their room where they fell onto the bed as their lips crashed together once more and he proceeded to kiss his young Welshman senseless. Ianto’s hands raked over Jack’s body, one settling in his hair, the other groping at the buttons on his shirt, expertly undoing them one-handed until his shirt hung open and he tugged the sleeves over his hands, dropping the unwanted article on to the floor. Jack’s t-shirt rapidly joined the shirt on the carpet and he groaned against Ianto’s pink, kiss swollen lips as the Welshman’s hands raked over his bare chest, fingers splayed to cover as much of him as possible until they settled on his nipples, pinching and rolling them between his fingers as they hardened under his touch...

Ianto pulled his mouth from Jack’s and kissed his way down his neck, pausing to suck at the soft skin behind his ear which drew a growl of want from his Captain’s lips before he continued across his throat and back up to capture his lips once more, the kiss hot and open mouthed as desire mounted. Fuck Yan, I want you so much... the images that accompanied Jack’s thoughts were wild and wanton and sent fiery waves of passion coursing through them to converge in their groins as they arched their bodies together.

Jack tugged impatiently at Ianto’s clothes strip...now!  he ordered, fumbling at the Welshman’s buckle, button and zip as Ianto shoved Jack’s trousers and pants down to pool at his ankles, held captive by his boots. Ianto swiftly unbuttoned his own shirt and dragged it over his wrists, flinging it aside with abandon as he lifted his hips off the bed to allow Jack to push his trousers down. They paused for a moment to kick off shoes, socks and the tangle of clothing around their ankles as Jack rolled them over to finish on top, pressing Ianto into the bed. He ground their hips together, smirking at the wanton moan that fell from the young man’s lips, then rolled off to lay beside him.

Ianto shuddered at the delicious sensation of warm breath huffing a trail through the soft hair on his chest, running down across his stomach and back up, teasing his nipples...he opened his eyes, his lust-darkened ones meeting the sparkling blue grey of Jack’s as he lay propped up on one elbow watching the reactions of his gorgeously aroused Welshman...

Ianto smiled, parting his lips as Jack leant down to kiss him, allowing the Captain’s tongue to explore the contours of his mouth, winding his arms around the older man to pull him in closer... His body responded with enthusiasm more Jack...please... Jack’s hand slid down his body, the touch light, sensual, the promise of pleasure tantalising... Ianto arched against the touch, tiny gasps of desire escaping against his lover’s mouth as he moved his hand slowly and his body quivered with delight...passion building, feeling it echoed in Jack’s head...

The kiss grew in intensity, tongues duelling, fingers of flame creeping across heated skin, nerve endings stretching, trembling... Jack’s hand moved faster, pulling back from the kiss to drag his tongue down the side of the young man’s neck, biting down at the juncture of neck and shoulder, sharing the twin sensations of pain and pleasure that shot through his lover, drawing a loud moan from those deliciously pink kiss-swollen lips...

He trailed his tongue lower, down his chest, through the soft hair, seeking out his nipples and grazing them lightly with his teeth, teasing, blowing, sucking as Ianto’s breath came in short gasps, his eyes closed and head thrust back against the pillow...

Jack retreated from the young man’s body, his hand motion stilling as he gazed down at his Welshman, delighting in the way he unravelled before him, totally open and unburdened, his hips canting off the bed to press against Jack’s hand...his eyes opened, they were full of love, passion and desire in equal measure... “...please Jack...” he whispered hoarsely, “...please...make love to me...”

Jack crushed his mouth to Ianto’s feeling the familiar leap of wonder and butterflies in his stomach as their lips touched...the young man fisting his hands through his hair as Jack fumbled under the pillow for the lube, the kiss hot and messy as their passion rose. Ianto moaned against his mouth as he felt a cool finger slide inside him, pressing back against it as it was joined swiftly by a second where they sought out that magic spot, brushing across it, drawing gasps of pleasure from his lips... jacjkjackjack echoing through their heads... Jack added a third and Ianto cried out, arching his body, thrusting against him only to whimper as they were withdrawn...

He devoured Jack’s mouth hungrily, nothing mattered but the touch of Jack’s hands, the feel of Jack’s lips and the simply fucking fantastic feeling as he pressed into him...he was so aroused he almost fell off the edge as soon as Jack began to move...panting hard against his Captain’s mouth he concentrated on the feeling of hot skin to hot skin...the way their teeth clashed and that intoxicating and heady scent that was Jack...

His body was on fire, every cell tingled with electricity and he felt the wild euphoria building as his release swept him away, shouting out his Captain’s name as he saw stars and he exploded on a wave of pure bliss...the feelings cascading through his lover and pushing him to his own climax so they flew together, shuddering through the after-shocks to slump in a post-orgasmic glow...

Jack brushed a lock of hair from Ianto’s forehead and gazed into his eyes...everything he was feeling was reflected in those shining blue pools, no need for words... He kissed him softly, their minds and bodies totally in tune as they slowly got their breath back...

Ianto curled into his Captain’s embrace, his body tingling pleasurably from head to toe... He closed his eyes...love you cariad...

Love you too...

Moments later they were asleep.

They were woken by an assault on the doorbell, the energetic pattern announcing the return of their six year old. Shit! Ianto sat up sleepily, his hair wildly dishevelled and glanced anxiously around the bedroom for his clothes.

Jack grinned as he dragged his trousers on, braces dangling down by his knees, his chest bare. I’ll go, you wake up a bit first... He planted a soft kiss on his Welshman’s mouth and scampered barefoot down the stairs, opening the door to an impatient Brychan who looked at his Dad with an all-knowing older-than-his-years quirk of an eyebrow.

“Hi dad, you were asleep in bed weren’t you!” he grinned up at Jacqui, “they do this sometimes...it’s because they’re old and they have to rest their superpowers...” he told her conversationally.

Jacqui received this information solemnly, controlling the urge to giggle as Jack waggled his eyebrows at her cheekily, her gaze noting the twinkle in his eyes, tousled hair and kiss swollen lips, coupled with the obvious lack of clothing... “Mmmnn, nice view...” the thought bringing a light blush to her cheeks as her mind supplied an array of interesting images.

Jack chuckled and winked at her. She blushed deeper and smacked him playfully on the arm “Stop it you!” she chuckled, “you’ll get me all hot and bothered! Anyway...” she added hastily before Jack could add any of his trademark innuendo and melt her brain completely, “...sorry we’re a bit late – Ellie was invited to sleep over so we called in for her school clothes and things first...”

His grin widening, Jack laughed, “we fell asleep af...” he broke off, “...work’s been busy...” by way of explanation, as Ianto joined them, his hair showing signs of hasty flattening and his lips equally pink and kiss swollen, his feet also bare.

“Hey kiddo!” he ruffled Brychan’s hair affectionately, “have a good time?”

“It was brilliant, Tad, the slides were so fast...”

“It’s a good job they both swim like fish! See you at the weekend Bry – you can come back after the story session if you like...” Jacqui chuckled as he bounced happily then yawned widely.

“Cool, thanks Jacqui...and thank you for taking me today...” he yawned again and leant against Jack’s legs.

“Okay young man, say goodnight and then off to bed.”

“G’night...”

The three grown ups watched as he walked slowly up the stairs, huge yawns floating back in his wake.

“Thanks for taking him, it was good to have a few hours to ourselves once Amme was in bed...” Jack draped an arm round Ianto’s shoulders and pressed a light kiss to his temple.

Jacqui smiled, “...my pleasure, now I’d better get Euan home before he falls asleep in the car” as Jack and Ianto waved at the face peering out of the car window, getting a sleepy half-wave in return. “Night Jack, Ianto...” she glanced back along the path to see them kissing softly in the open doorway, their hands framing each other’s faces. Hurrying to her car she slid into the driver’s seat as her brain supplied numerous hot images of the two handsome men...

It was long minutes later that Jack and Ianto surfaced from their sweet and tender kiss, closed the door and headed up to tuck their son into bed. He was coughing again but was soon fast asleep.

After a coffee and an omelette each for a belated dinner, Jack led Ianto back to their bedroom where they stripped quickly and headed to the shower in the en-suite. Pressed together under the steaming spray Ianto made love to his Captain, tenderly, with soft kisses and slow, deliberate touches as the water cascaded down on them, before they dried each other and slid under the covers to curl up sated and content in each other’s arms. They slept.

Ianto woke in the early hours to hear persistent coughing from Brychan’s room. Slipping carefully from Jack’s embrace, he crept into their son’s room. Bry was asleep but a single glance showed Ianto that he was far from peaceful. The six year old’s face was flushed and he moved restlessly on the bed, his quilt had been thrown off and was half on the floor. Ianto pressed a hand to his son’s forehead. It was hot and clammy. The boy stirred but didn’t wake. After covering him up again and checking that his glass of water was full, Ianto went back to his own bed, leaving Bry’s door ajar so he’d hear if he woke.

What’s up? Jack’s thoughts swirled against his own as he slid back into bed and was immediately wrapped back into Jack’s arms.

Bry. He’s been coughing and he’s got a temperature...

Do we need to call Owen? Jack was anxious, moving to sit up.

No, it’s just a cold I think. We’ll keep him off school today though, just to be sure... Ianto pulled Jack back down and turned to face him, capturing his mouth in a gentle kiss, lips warm and responsive under his own as he melted into the embrace. Kissing softly they drifted back to sleep.

Bry was still coughing, hot and restless when they checked on him at seven o’clock. I’ll go in today – got that scheduled call with HM and I need to go across to Flat Holm – you stay with Bry and I’ll be home as soon as I’ve done the essentials... I’ll see if Owen’s got any suggestions and I’ll drop Amme off at nursery on my way in... Ianto grinned you can play nurse... the accompanying images sending their own temperatures rising!

Ianto made coffee and prepared breakfast while Jack got Ammeline up and dressed and kissed them both goodbye shortly before half eight. Brychan was still asleep.

Once Ianto had driven away, Jack took his second cup of coffee and went to sit up in his son’s room. Ianto had left out the bottle of Calpol ready for when he woke, the pain killer for children would bring his temperature down and ease the soreness in his throat. He’d been sat quietly reading for about half an hour when the six year old stirred, coughing painfully as his eyes fluttered open.

“Dad...” he croaked, breathless from coughing, “my throat hurts...”

“I know...” he’s awake “here, sip this...” Jack helped him sit up and handed him a glass of water. Bry gulped some down and coughed violently as Jack hurriedly took the glass back off him.

Bry’s eyes filled with tears, “it really hurts, Dad...”

Jack squeezed his hand, “This’ll help...” he said as he shook the bottle of medicine with his other hand. Bry swallowed two teaspoonfuls and leant back against the pillows.

“Why don’t you or Tad ever get ill? Is it because you’re super-heroes?” He broke off to cough painfully.

Jack grinned and shared the question with Ianto, getting a chuckle in return. How’s it going at the hub?

Just done the call to HM, she’s more than happy with the updates and says there’ll be a garden party invite in the next week or so for her birthday – what do we buy the Queen of Great Britain for her birthday?

Huh? No idea!

Never mind – I’ll think of something! How’s Bry?

Coughing! I’ve given him the Calpol...

Hopefully that’ll make him sleepy...read him a story or something and he’ll probably nod off again. Make sure he drinks something though...

Yessir! The salute that accompanied the reply made Ianto smile as he prepared coffee for the team before he headed out to Flat Holm. He kept the link with Jack active, their minds nestled together comfortingly so they could share both home and work.

Jack plumped up Bry’s pillows and settled him more comfortably under the quilt. After another burst of coughing he repeated his question, his cheeks flushed red and his eyes puffy above dark circles confirming Ianto’s diagnosis of a bad cold... Chuckling, Jack grinned and leant back in the chair...

“We might be superheroes but even we get ill sometimes... There was this one time when Coffee Man was bitten by a nasty bug while we were searching an old abandoned warehouse. The signal was jumping all over the place so we split up to try and cover as much of the ground as possible. This bug was about the size of your bedside table and was flying at Tosh when your Tad pushed her out the way behind him...

Next thing I know and Tad’s on the floor with this huge alien insect on top of him. I felt his pain as it bit him – you know that we can hear each other’s thoughts and feel each other’s emotions don’t you?”

“Yes and you can’t ever die...” Brychan rasped painfully, “those are your super powers...is Tad listening now?”

“Yes he is and he’s sorry he’s had to go to work...he wanted to be here with you....”

“Tell him it’s okay...what happened next?”

“Well, Uncle Owen was closest after Tosh and he stabbed the bug in it’s soft belly with a syringe of sedative...a medicine to make it go to sleep...and it just curled up into a ball like a giant bluey-green woodlouse. When he saw it was really asleep, Owen checked Tad over. He was shivering violently and looked so pale, even though he insisted he was fine – you know your Tad!

“Oi, tea boy, look at me! Where did it get you?” Owen tipped Ianto’s head up to shine a light into his eyes, noting the lack of focus and the sluggish reactions of his pupils.

“That’s Coffee Man to you...” Ianto’s voice was on the edge of being slurred, like he’d had just a little too much to drink, “and it bit me on my thigh...”

Owen grabbed at his belt buckle and swiftly yanked the Welshman’s trousers down.“In your dreams Owen!” The slurring was more pronounced now and his pupils had narrowed to tiny pinpricks of black Owen noted worriedly. As he examined the large puncture wound, Ianto’s eyes rolled in his head and he slumped in the medic’s arms.

“Ianto! Fuck! Jack, help me here, see if you can reach him – do that bloody irritating mind thing you two do...now!”

Yan...talk to me...don’t you dare leave me!

Cold...so dark and so cold...so alone...

I’m here sweetheart...I’m here...

Jack... he shuddered violently I bloody hate insects!

The Doctor told me about one time he regenerated after being attacked by blue spiders the size of sheep...that was way back though... He felt Ianto’s horror at the mention of the spiders, followed swiftly by a flash of hurt at the memory of Jack flinging himself at the big blue Police Box on the Plass.

Hey, I came back for you...you know that...you were all I thought off in that long dark year – your smile, your gorgeous Welsh vowels, the way your eyes sparkle when we...

I know... A pause. Jack..? Am I going to die? I’m so cold and it’s so dark...is this the darkness...is this what it’s like?

I don’t know, sweetheart, but Owen’s trying to find out...

Hold my hand...please...I don’t want to go into the dark on my own...

“That’s good...keep doing that....” Owen’s voice broke into Jack’s thoughts and he realised the medic had his poison kit out. “I’ve given him a shot of anti-venom and a sedative, but quite honestly, I have no idea what this is ‘till we get them both back to the hub. He glanced at Gwen who was comforting a sobbing Tosh, well aware that his girlfriend was blaming herself for Ianto’s condition as he’d pushed her out of the way. “Ladies, we need to get that thing back to the lab so I can see what it is... I’ll help Jack with Ianto...”

Jack stood carefully and scooped his Welshman’s limp body into his arms, heading for the SUV where he set him gently on the back seat before reluctantly climbing into the driver’s seat as Owen slid in beside his patient.

Tosh and Gwen followed them out, carrying the body bag they’d shoved the unconscious bug into. They dumped it in the boot and climbed in, Gwen up front, Tosh next to Owen, the medic squeezing her leg briefly. Jack screeched the tyres before they’d even closed the doors and they hung on, knowing his worry over his partner meant he would make the SUV practically fly back to the hub...

Mere minutes later they were laying Ianto gently on the table in autopsy. Owen shone his torch into the young man’s eyes, breathing a sigh of relief when they reacted automatically to the intrusion. “I think the anti-venom’s done the trick, but Tosh and I’ll do a work up on his blood...you know, the usual stuff, just to make sure. “Here...” he slid a cuff on to Ianto’s wrist, “this’ll monitor his vitals and feed the data directly to my monitors down here so you can take him back upstairs – your office sofa might be better than your cubby hole...just in case...”

“Is he going to die? He kept saying he could see blackness – that’s what I see – and he was cold...”

Owen shrugged, “He’s not dying as far as I can tell...although it would’ve been useful to know...”

“You’re still not killing him just to make sure he comes back!” Jack huffed indignantly, even though he knew Owen was teasing him in an attempt to lighten the mood. He gathered the Welshman back into his arms and carried him up to his office, setting him down gently on the battered sofa. Grabbing his greatcoat from the coat stand, he arranged it over the still form, tucking it in tightly around him. Then he knelt on the floor gazing down at the man he loved so very much, willing him to come round.

He reached out to his mind but it was a swirling void – nothing bad...just nothing...it was like he’d closed down... He stroked his fingers lovingly over Ianto’s forehead, then traced down his cute button nose and then around the outline of his mouth...those delicious pink lips that he loved to capture with his own so they moved sweetly against each other...

He frowned. Something was wrong...  His lips...they were turning blue... Panicked, Jack crushed his mouth down onto Ianto’s, filling him with his life force as his mind searched in vain for some sign of consciousness. So caught up in what he was doing, he didn’t notice when Ianto’s arms snaked around his neck and the Welshman began kissing him back with a vigour and passion that drove his blood supply south and he moaned softly into the kiss...

“Keep an eye on him I said – not snog his face off!”

Jack jumped as Owen snarked behind him, pulling back from Ianto’s mouth and suddenly realising that the young man’s arms were wrapped around him. He gazed into those crystal blue eyes as their minds reconnected and the rush of emotion filled him with a warmth that resonated from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toes.

“Jack!” Owen sounded pissed now and even without turning Jack just knew that the skinny medic would have his hands planted on his hips and a scowl on his face. “You wanna tell me why you disobeyed my orders...”

“He was having trouble breathing...”

“Not according to my monitors...”

“His lips were turning blue...honestly..!” he protested, glancing down at the Welshman’s face, even though he knew his evidence would had been kissed away. “Owen, his mouth is still blue...”

Cariad, I’m fine...I feel fine...well maybe got a bit of a cold...

We’ll let Owen be the judge of that...

“Jack...Owen..?” Tosh called up from where her and Gwen were looking at her workstation, “you need to see this...”

I’m coming too...

Jack helped Ianto to his feet and wrapped an arm around his waist as he guided him down the stairs to the main hub. They joined the others at Tosh’s workstation.

“What is it, Tosh?”

“We’ve found that bug – it’s a Maolosian Bhle bug – they’re nocturnal and their bite carries a powerful venom to paralyse their prey...”

“The anti-venom seems to have worked so far...” Owen moved across to Gwen’s computer and pulled up the results of the blood test, “Ah...we have a problem...”

Owen! What kind of problem?” Jack tightened his hold on Ianto’s waist, pressing him closer still as he felt the young man sag in his embrace.

It’ll be okay...I promise...

I’m scared Jack...

“The venom’s neutralised now, but as it was metabolised into his bloodstream it left certain anti-bodies and it’s going to take time for them to work through his system...there are a few side effects...” his voice trailed away.

“Exactly what kind of side effects?” Ianto leant heavily against Jack.

“Well, the blue skin colouring will take about a week or so to fade once it’s spread all over...”

All over?” Ianto’s voice was an anguished squeak.

It could be an interesting week... Jack sent in an attempt at light-heartedness, the variety of suggestive scenarios accompanied by a simple declaration of his love and a promise that they’d get through this...

“And you’ll also have to stay out of the light or you’ll get blisters...that’s why their skin is blue – it’s their camouflage against the night sky and hides their weakness from predators...”

“Are you sure about this, Owen? Is there anything else we can do?” Jack looked pleadingly at the usually acerbic medic who shook his head briefly and mouthed a sombre “sorry, that’s it...”

“Thank you Owen for your honesty...I’ll be fine and let’s face it, I don’t out that much anyway...not sure blue is really my colour, but I guess we’ll find out as the week progresses! Now if it’s okay with you, “he looked at Owen, “I need to make some coffee...” as the doctor nodded.

You want some help making the drinks?

Give me a minute...need to get my head around all this...

Ianto walked elegantly up to the kitchen, a picture of control until he was out of sight, his breath coming in heaving sobs as he leant against the worktop. The door opened and Jack came in, wordlessly drawing him into a tight embrace as he stroked his hair, whispering words of love and nonsense that he repeated like a mantra into the young man’s head.

Eventually Ianto’s sobs subsided and he managed a tiny smile as Jack tipped his face up to kiss him softly, his tongue seeking its mate to slow dance first in one mouth then the other... This wasn’t about passion or desire, just a need to be close and to reaffirm love and commitment...

They broke apart, foreheads resting together as they shared warm breath. “You know the blue Smarties were always my favourite...” Jack whispered into Ianto’s ear, the revelation teasing a muted chuckle at the thought of being compared to a child’s sweet. “You’re gonna be the most gorgeous blue Welshman in the universe and I’m going to kiss every inch of you...” he pressed a light kiss to the end of the young man’s nose. “Why don’t you make a coffee for the two of us while I kick the others out...”Cupping his cheek briefly, Jack left a still-trembling-but-better-than-he-was Ianto selecting beans in a well-worn routine that he found strangely comforting as his Captain sent the rest of the team home. 

Jack...thank you...

Welcome, sweetheart...love you...

You too...

Tosh wanted to say goodnight to Ianto and left protesting quietly as she was ushered out the door by an unusually tactful and thoughtful Owen.

They’re gone...

Ianto brought the mugs up to Jack’s office and even in the muted light the pale blue skin was noticeable...Jack thought it gave him an ethereal quality that reminded him of winter sunlight glinting on freshly fallen snow.

Ianto placed the mugs on the desk. What?

You’re beautiful...

I’m blue!

I like blue... He tugged the young man into his lap and captured his mouth in a searing kiss that had the Welshman seeing stars, his knees weak and senses blown. The coffee went cold as they lost themselves in each other. Some considerable time later, they surfaced long enough to slide down the ladder to continue without clothes and tangled around each other in Jack’s tiny bunk...

The next morning the blue was a shade deeper and Ianto found he preferred the shadows of the main hub to the brightly lit workstations and he made coffee by the subdued glow of the emergency lighting...

Owen had checked him over from top to toe, smirking at various points of the examination as he pronounced that blue made everything look smaller! Jack had cuffed the medic affectionately around the ear and informed him that blue seemed to add a certain je ne sais quoi to the proceedings, much to Ianto’s embarrassment, as he turned a delightful shade of lilac when his pale blue skin blushed.

Tosh had hugged him tight, coming to the shadows to talk to him about cataloguing the species and the effects of the bite into their digital archives... Gwen had dragged him, wincing, into the light to “get a good look at you” before he’d scuttled back to the shadows like a beetle bloody typical, I’m turning into a cockroach!

By day four the blue was a midnight shade and his skin held a lustre that made him gleam as he moved around the archives in the semi darkness. When walking through the main hub he wore dark glasses to protect his eyes and a hooded cloak over his suit as the light made his skin feel like it was bubbling under the surface.

A giggling Tosh and grinning Owen had presented him with a child’s toy light saber the day after he’d first worn the cloak and Jack had thoroughly enjoyed the Star Wars role play that night as they’d immersed themselves in fantasy use the force Jack..!

Day five saw the first signs that he’d turned a corner with his earlobes paling a shade lighter, although Jack claimed he’d sucked the colour out of them, and the whites of his eyes seemed a little less blue... Ianto was now heartily sick of being cocooned underground and yearned for the outside. Jack came in from a weevil hunt at three in the morning to find Ianto gazing longingly at the sky on the CCTV...

As they tumbled back into bed and he wrapped Ianto into his arms he had a sudden thought and grinned into the darkness, kissing his Welshman’s neck softly as the young man dropped into a restless sleep. Jack increased his shields by one point and thought through his plans for the following day...

While Ianto was making their early morning coffee, Jack rang Tosh, pleased to hear Owen’s dulcet tones as he sang in the shower in the background, and ran through his plans with her. Tosh suggested a few additions to his plan and they’d just finished thrashing out the details when Ianto reappeared in his hooded cloak and glasses.

Taking the tray of toast and coffee from him, Jack plonked it on the desk and wrapped the young man into his arms as their lips met and they kissed tenderly as their minds swirled pleasurably. Threading his fingers lovingly through his Captain’s hair, Ianto melted into the embrace and lost himself in the heady sensations of everything that was Jack and the world and all things blue faded away...it was just them, right here, right now...

The roller door siren announced the arrival of Gwen and they parted softly. Jack entwined their fingers and they sat in the semi-darkness of his office to eat their now cold toast and drink their lukewarm coffee. Tosh and Owen arrived shortly after and, after making and distributing the coffee, Ianto headed for the archives and the shadows that he felt comfortable in.

As soon as he was out of sight, Jack and Tosh got busy. Tosh downloaded what they needed from the internet and set to work, while Jack grabbed his coat and vanished in the Welshman’s Audi.

Ninety minutes later he was back with several bulging carrier bags which he carried up to his office. Tosh grinned and followed him, grabbing a memory stick from her workstation. She went into the office, closed the door and pulled the blind down. Gwen watched the proceedings with raised eyebrows, shrugged her shoulders and carried on with her reports.

Preparations completed, Tosh left Jack’s office smiling broadly. She stopped at Gwen’s desk and whispered in her ear. Gwen giggled and picked up her bag, skipping to the roller door before disappearing behind it. Tosh waited for Owen to come up from autopsy, they linked hands and they too left the hub, flicking the lights off on their way out.

Jack emerged into the gloom and carried his large tray down carefully, setting it on the neat pile of files at the side of Tosh’s work station. He pulled his i-pod out of his pocket and set it in the speaker dock on Gwen’s desk. Running back up to his office he returned with a desktop fan, a four inch square open box of smooth pebbles and a piece of alien tech that he set on the floor behind the two workstations. Finally, he shrugged into his coat and draped Ianto’s black wool half-trench over the back of Gwen’s chair. Satisfied that everything was ready he lowered his shields and reached out for Ianto’s mind...

Ianto...you okay sweetheart?

I’m fine...just filing...routine...

Can you come up? I need to show you something...and I’d actually really love a coffee..!

I knew there was an ulterior motive! Give me five minutes to finish this batch and I’m all yours...

Promises, promises...

Think yourself lucky that the others are still there or I’d have you stripped so fast you’d...

Yan, files, quickly...all that talk is...

Sod the files, I’m on my way...

Grinning inanely at the surprise he’d planned for his gorgeous blue Welshman, Jack stood ready with his multi-function remote control. As Ianto’s footsteps sounded on the stairs, Jack pressed his remote. Sounds of birds tweeting and the rustle of the wind in the trees filled the hub and the roof was suddenly transformed into a dusky pre-dawn state with the first pale vestiges of colour peeking up from the distant horizon. The fan began whirring, gusting over the box of scented pebbles to fragrance the air with that crisp, fresh, early sunrise sensation.

Ianto stopped in surprise, cariad?

You couldn’t go outside so I’ve brought the outside in to you... He strode over and took Ianto’s hand in his, leading him to the main workspace where the screens were all dark and without the projected half-light it would’ve been impossible to see anything! Ianto  gazed at the tray, the green turf edged in tiny plants to form an indoor garden on a large tea tray and he was rendered speechless, overcome with emotion that Jack had noticed his growing frustration with his enforced captivity and devised this wonderful plan to bring the outside to him...

A strangled sob burst through as he flung himself into Jack’s arms and their lips crashed together in a searing kiss, fingers tangling in hair, keeping him close...

Thank you cariad...this is perfect and it’s better than the real thing...

 Love you, my little boy blue...

Love you too...now take me to bed...

I was hoping you’d say that..!  as he led the young man to a pile of blankets...thought we’d embrace nature..!

They sank to their knees, mouths locked together, teeth clashing, passions rising, as they gave themselves to the moment...

Four days later, a very faintly pale blue tinted Ianto spread the blankets out under the trees at their favourite picnic site at the top of a steep hill before making love to his dashing and handsome Captain as the breeze tickled their skin and they revelled in the joys of simply being alive...

Jack grinned and leant back in his chair as he finished the story of Coffee Man’s blue illness and how Captain Coat had tried to make him feel better he’s asleep again...

Good! I’m on my way back from Flat Holm so I’ll be home soon...

I’ll have the blankets laid out in the living room...

End

 

The Adventures of Captain Coat & Coffee man continue in the next prompt... http://zazajb.livejournal.com/40969.html
zazajb: (captain coat & coffee man)

Title: Into the sunset...
Author: zazajb
Rating: R, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – none, set S2, AU
Summary: An alien adventure holiday causes havoc on a film set. Team Torchwood saddle up to help... Words 3800

Fic masterlist: http://zazajb.livejournal.com/6286.html

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters – anything you recognise belongs to RTD & BBC, I’m just playing with them...
Written for the [livejournal.com profile] longliveianto  bingo prompt: Era: Old West


X-posted Longliveianto, Jantolution, jackxianto & TW_classic & tw_proper, jantosparkle, ijs[apologies to those getting this multiple times]

Thanks to the wonderful talented [livejournal.com profile] ianto_love_jack  for the banner and icon *hugs*
A/N Apologies for the lateness - a bout of food poisoning just robbed me of the last 4 days...but feeling better now!


 

Into the sunset

Saturday mornings were eagerly anticipated in the Harkness-Jones household these days – and not just by the children! Ianto found himself thinking about the story he was going to tell as early as Monday morning as he made the coffee for the team... His mind wandered during team briefings, half an ear on the proceedings enough to ensure he didn’t miss anything, and it was not unheard of for him to be found hidden in the archives scribbling notes in his special Captain Coat and Coffee Man notebook...

Jack had professed to finding the whole situation highly amusing, loving the sparkle in his partner’s eyes and the more adult version of the story telling that he had streamed directly into his head just for him... Highly amusing that was, until a blushing blonde had stopped them this morning and asked Ianto for his autograph...and the Welshman had been so taken aback that he’d signed the library story time flyer she’d held out without hesitation, smiling when she’d gushed at how wonderful his stories were. She’d taken the signature and darted forward, planting a swift kiss on his cheek before giggling her thanks and departing hurriedly.

Jack and Ianto had swapped “what the..?” messages in their heads as Brychan had hopped excitedly on the spot...”told you told you told you..!” he chirped happily, “all the girls fancy Tad...”

 “What?” simultaneous exclamations burst forth. Brychan grinned broadly in a miniature carbon copy of Jack as he squeaked breathlessly at his parents,

“...all the mums think Tad is sexy and they’re all coming to story time today so they can see him...” he drew in a huge breath before continuing dramatically, “even Miss Martin is coming!”

Bloody hell! You really are the hot favourite..! Jack teased Ianto, knowing the Welshman was always slightly intimidated by their son’s Headteacher good job she won’t be getting the X-rated version...I figure you’d be in detention for at least a month!

Don’t joke, cariad...what am I going to do...what if she...I mean...she might... he sighed heavily, biting nervously on his bottom lip.

“Don’t worry Tad, I told her that Dad would be there too and he’d sort her out if she upset you!”

That’s it, I’m done for! Ianto streamed despondently into his Captain’s head not only is she coming to hear our life’s adventures, your son has effectively told her to behave herself or else he’ll set you on her! He furrowed his brows, are there any other schools we can send Bry to when he’s kicked out for insubordination?

Jack laughed and ruffled Bry’s hair fondly, “Nice one champ! I’m sure I won’t need to ‘sort her out’ but it was a good thought to protect your Tad...” he leant down to whisper conspiratorially in his ear, “it’s our secret that Tad is scared of her, okay?”

Bry grinned and winked, nodding, before resuming the pushing of his sister along the pavement as they approached the library.

Jack straightened and reached for Ianto’s hand, drawing him into a gentle hug. You’ll be fine...she’ll love the story...and you... He chuckled as his partner groaned, maybe she’ll become a groupie and want your autograph like that cute blonde back there...

Jack, that’s so not funny...I don’t think I can... His thoughts stuttered as Jack pressed their lips together in a sweet and tender kiss as he stroked his fingers through the younger man’s hair, love and encouragement washing over him as Ianto sank into the embrace.

They broke apart, minds swirling contentedly thank you cariad... Ianto sent a soft smile.

All part of the service...

Love you...

You too...now get your gorgeous arse through those doors – your audience awaits..!

They hurried after Brychan who was waiting impatiently by the door, his best friend Euan beside him gazing at Jack in undisguised hero worship. Bry grinned and nudged him, “Don’t stare too much, it’s supposed to be a secret...”

“But it’s Captain Coat..!” Euan breathed, gasping when Jack patted him on the shoulder and winked as he bent down to release Ammeline from her pushchair, scooping his sleeping daughter gently against his chest where she snuggled into him without waking.

“Can I go in now dad?”

“Yeah, after you’ve handed me Amme’s bag...” Jack bent his knees so Bry could slip the strap over his shoulder. “Thanks, now let’s go listen to the superhero story for today...”

“Thanks dad, come on Euan...” as he dragged his still awestruck friend away and they vanished into the library.

Beware one hyper son on the way in..!

Yeah, just seen him...you won’t believe this Jack...about fifty kids and almost as many parents...

Lots of mums..?

Uh ha...lots of mums...no sign of Miss Martin though...

There was a pause...Jack?

“So good to see you Miss Martin...yes, she’s just turned two...” Jack streamed the conversation to Ianto’s head, grinning at the heartfelt groan that greeted it... They made their way into the library and through the arch to the children’s section. Karen, the librarian was waiting to guide the Headteacher to a chair at the side so Jack took the opportunity to move to the other side where he settled himself carefully on the floor with Ammeline curled up in his lap. He gazed adoringly at their sleeping daughter, sharing the picture with her Tad...she looks so like you Yan...she’s beautiful...

She is...and got her dad wrapped around her little finger..! I’m gonna start now so the noise might wake her...

I’ll cover her ears...have fun....my Coffee Man..!

My hero Captain Coat!

“Good morning children, mums and dads...are we ready for another adventure with Captain Coat and Coffee Man?”

The cheers and applause was tremendous, falling to expectant silence as Ianto leant slightly forward and began...

“Jack...call you need to take...” Tosh leant over the railing into autopsy where the Captain was going over Ianto’s latest chronon readings with Owen, “It’s Jonathon Penn...”

“Be right up Tosh, Owen that’s great news...”

“He still hasn’t tested it properly yet...”

“You are not shooting him just so he can prove he’s immortal!”

Owen shrugged “then he’s still on a provisional licence as far as my prognosis is concerned, but yeah, chronon levels are stable and match yours exactly...”

Jack grinned and clapped the medic on the back. “Thanks Owen, now to see what Jonathon wants...” He took the stairs two at a time and bounded over to Tosh to take the phone from her. “Jonathon, you got another charity fundraiser for us? It’s not Ianto’s birthday ‘till August...” His grin faded and he frowned, “okay, we’ll be over as soon as Gwen and Ianto get back...” He hung up and turned back to Tosh. “See what you can pull up on that old film set out towards the river...any history of rift activity, rumours, old wives’ tales...ghosts...that sort of thing...”

“Ghosts?”

“There’s an independent film being shot there at the moment - apparently the set’s haunted and it’s playing havoc with the schedule...”

“I’ll see what I can find...”

“Thanks, Tosh...Ianto?” he touched his comm.  unit. “You all done with those weevils?” He chuckled at Ianto’s wry reply, “haha, okay, pick me up on the Plass, you and I are going to check out some ghosties...”

Ten minutes later Gwen hopped out of the passenger seat and Jack slid in. His eyes narrowed at the familiar paper bags from their favourite bakers clutched in her hand and she laughed. “Don’t worry, yours is in the glove box and there’s another one for when you get back – Ianto knows your habits all too well..!” She raised an eyebrow suggestively and giggled as the Welshman blushed. “Have fun..!” Moments later she was on her way down on the invisible lift and the SUV was vanishing from sight.

Jack delved into the glove box and sank his teeth happily into the large slab of chocolate brownie, scattering crumbs everywhere, much to Ianto’s displeasure. “mmnn...what?” he mumbled through his mouthful, earning himself another frown from the driver’s seat. “S’nice...” the frown deepened as he crammed the last of the cake into his mouth and shook the crumbs off his coat and onto the floor before settling back in his seat.

“Tosh...what you got for us?” as the pretty tech genius sounded in his ear.

“It’s not been used for some twenty five years – seems there’s not much call for an old-fashioned film lot these days, but going back over the records there’s been reports of gunfire and strange noises for years...Police always put it down to kids...there’s a roving patrol that passes it, but no on-site security or anything and it’s pretty much forgotten.

We’ve never noticed it on our systems so whatever it is hasn’t come through the rift...but those monitors I gave you should be able to pick up anything unusual once they’re in place...”

“Thanks Tosh, we’re almost there now.” He turned to Ianto, “okay, now what’ve I done? You’ve gone all grumpy on me!” he slid his hand onto the other man’s knee and squeezed gently, “I don’t like upsetting my favourite Welshman...should I’ve saved you a bit of brownie...I would’ve but it was just so chocolaty and chewy and...”

Ianto rolled his eyes “you’re drooling Jack! And since you’re asking, you can clean up all those crumbs when we get back...” his face broke into a grin at the expression on his Captain’s face, “...and it’ll be me stood close behind you in the garage as you’re bent over sweeping... Role reversal..!” think about it before you start pouting!

Jack’s face lit up as he translated the telling off into the promise of a pleasurable encounter to come... yes, Ianto...sir! “Now let’s go see what Jonathon has to say...” he said aloud as they pulled up into the car park that was crammed with film vehicles of all sizes.

Jonathon was waiting for them and led them over to the director, a beefy looking man wearing rather unflattering too tight trousers and a check shirt whose buttons struggled to contain his beer belly. He had that ‘running time against the world’ weary look of defeat in his eyes as he shook hands and gazed hopefully at them.

“Jon says you’re experts at dealing with this kind of stuff...I really hope you can sort it out because all my extras quit this morning when we tried to do a scene in the Saloon and a squid thing suddenly appeared and started playing the piano and that’s just the latest...”

Jack interrupted what appeared to be the start of a long drawn out list of everything that had plagued this production “did you manage to capture any of these strange events on film?”

“Not until today...it’s here...” he indicated the monitor and they watched the scene replay exactly as he’d described it, the screen going dark after the panicked exit of the actors was followed by that of the cameraman!”

Jack grinned.

You can’t be serious!

Why not, I’ve always wanted to see you in hot pants, leather chaps and a cowboy hat!

Very Rhinestone Cowboy!

Oh yeah!

You’re drooling again!

Well I’m liking the picture I’m seeing...

No!

No, NO? Or no, you’ll think about it?

You’re incorrigible!

You’re irresistible!

Okay, Jack, but before you get too excited, I don’t think they wore hot pants in the Old West!  

The pout appeared and seemed to confuse both Jonathon and the director who’d not been privy to any of the rapid thought swapping.

Ianto grinned and this just perplexed them even more! “I think we can sort a couple of problems out for you here, “he said calmly, ignoring the whoops of excitement from Jack going off in his head like fire crackers you’re such a kid!

C’mon, don’t tell me you never wanted to play cowboys and Indians on a proper Old West film set? I was in the right time but never the right place...yeehaw!

Jack! Unless you want me to hog-tie you I suggest you pay attention!

Oh promises promises...

The frown and an image of a large pot of decaf had the desired effect and Jack grinned happily at the two bemused men. “What Ianto’s saying is we’ll be your extras on this shoot and see if we can solve the mystery of your strange goings-on at the same time...”

The director looked like he was about to throw himself on them in gratitude so they stood hurriedly. “We’ve got a couple of monitoring devices to put in place and then we’ll be back with some more equipment and the rest of the team.

“We’ve got a scene to film at sundown...do either of you ride?”

Jack, behave!

“Yes, we both do...”

I said, behave!

Sorry!

“If you can be back here for rehearsals in two hours and then we’ll film into the early evening...” the director was beaming now, seeing an end to his cast and budget problems.

Jonathon saw them back to the SUV. “Thank you for doing this, I’m advising and producing on this and you were the only people I could think of who wouldn’t think I was mad!”

“We’ll be back in a couple of hours...wait ‘till we tell Owen!” The three men laughed at the thought of the acerbic medic’s face...

Thirty minutes later they were in the boardroom, steaming mugs of Ianto’s coffee and plates of cakes beside them as they watched the film they’d brought back from the set.

“So, I told them we’d be their extras and...”

Owen spluttered into his coffee and his expression was pretty much exactly as they’d predicted. “You said what? I’m a doctor not a bloody cowboy! I’m not prancing about in leather chaps and...”

“Actually Owen, they want you to be the Sherriff...I think you get to sling us in jail...” Ianto cut across the incredulous and rising tones, seeing the indignation morphing into a grin at the thought of playing the lawman...

“Okay...it might be a laugh..!” he said grudgingly, attempting to hide the excitement that was charging adrenaline through his bloodstream and fooling nobody!

“Ladies? Do you fancy being in on this? Tosh will be waiting to greet Ianto from our long trek and Gwen, you’ll be in the Saloon, waiting for me...” Oh...Yan, is that okay...I never thought...

It’s a film Jack, and the green eyes are long since dealt with...

Oh yeah...what about last Christmas when she got me with the mistletoe..?

That was different..!

Right!

“Oi, stop chattering in your heads and talk out loud like the rest of us mere mortals!” Owen was back to his snarky best, “what about these ‘ghosts’ on set?”

Tosh took the remote and clicked to an image from the film. She zoomed in on one of the squid’s arms to focus on a thin band with unintelligible writing on. “That’s ‘Zarnott’s Adventure Holidays’ – it’s actually a really clever idea – an old disused film set is the ideal playground for visiting aliens who don’t want to interact with the locals, but do want to play here on earth...

Ianto and I found several recorded visits over the past seventy years in the archives... All we need to do is try and talk to one of the visitors, get them to contact the holiday rep and delay their trip until the film’s finished...then business as usual...everyone’s happy! And they didn’t show up on our systems because they’re beaming down from cloaked ships up in orbit...”

They talked animatedly about the coming evening, Gwen even managing to talk Rhys into playing the Saloon bartender...”It’ll be fun sweetheart...” she grinned over the phone...

Ninety minutes later they pulled up in the car park, Owen parking behind the SUV, before they all shook hands with the beaming director. They were taken through to wardrobe and sorted out with costumes, before going into rehearsals.

Jack looked at Ianto as he stood there in heavy cotton trousers that hugged his hips, leather chaps, a red check shirt and a red neckerchief under a wind battered worn brown leather waistcoat, a brown leather gun belt and holster with a Colt .45 Peacemaker and a beige cowboy hat that completed his ensemble... Wow, Yan you look h-o-t! Remind me to take this home with us later...

You don’t look half bad yourself... Jack’s outfit had a heavy blue cotton shirt, yellow neck tie and long blue overcoat, his cowboy hat was black and he had a Winchester rifle slung casually over his shoulder as a companion to his own Colt .45 Peacemaker slung low on his hip.

They grinned at each other and then at Owen who looked transformed in black, a shiny Sherriff’s badge pinned to his chest and a gleaming pair of spurs on his Black leather boots. He looked up from his script, “I’m going to enjoy this...”

He stuck his chest out as Tosh wandered over, her floor-length dress the classic period piece and perfect for the sweetheart waiting for her beau...

Owen’s loving the attention from Tosh...

There’s a wedding waiting to happen..! They’ve been together a while now...

Don’t you meddle Jack...

They turned to see Gwen and Rhys walking towards them, Rhys was decked out as a typical bartender with an apron tied around his waist and Gwen looked amazing as a Saloon girl with a low cut tight fitting dress and high leather boots. They grinned at the others.  

Jack strode over to talk to the director to explain what might happen with their visitors and then they got stuck into rehearsals, Jack and Ianto riding into town from the first signs of what was going to be a beautiful sunset...

They were on the second real take when the squid appeared at the piano and a second appeared on a barstool. Ianto had just ordered a shot ‘shaken not stirred..!”Rhys nearly dropped the bottle he was pouring from and filled the glass several times over as he gazed at the new arrival. Ianto grinned and grabbed the neck of the bottle, taking it from the bartender’s trembling hands, “that’s quite shaken enough, thank you!”

Rhys snorted, his eyes still fixed on the squid, his mouth dropping open when a long slim tentacle beckoned him over and pointed at the bottle on the bar.

Jack grinned and removed the hand he had creeping up the inside of Ianto’s thigh. He moved over to the squid and nodded, indicating to Rhys for a second glass. When the drinks – cold tea – were poured, Jack picked them up and offered one to the alien who took it with a bubbling noise.

Ianto reappeared with Tosh and a universal translator, Jack explaining to the Skerrit what was happening. The two Skerrits had a hasty bubbled conversation over by the piano before a shimmer of light announced the arrival of a third alien who introduced himself as Zarnott. Jack explained the film set was now being used and that visitors were spooking the locals. In an amiable discussion, Zarnott agreed to suspend the holidays until the site had been unoccupied for one earth month and then vanished with his customers.

The bar was suddenly filled with the sound of clapping and cheering from the film crew and the director ran in and flung himself on Jack who clapped him briefly on the back and wriggled out of his grasp.

“Take it from the top of the scene...” the director ordered and they moved to their places... It was with a huge sense of satisfaction that they heard the final “cut, print it!” to wrap for the night.

Their starring roles completed, Tosh, Owen, Gwen and Rhys made plans to go to the pub for a bite to eat and a few drinks. Jack had a quiet word with the director before shaking hands with a relieved Jonathon. One by one the film vehicles took their leave until it was just the SUV remaining.

Ianto came out of the Saloon where he’d retrieved the tiny monitoring devices they’d put in place earlier. Where’s everyone gone?

It’s just us...I thought we could ride off into the sunset...

Like the films..?

Yeah...wild west and all that..!

You’re daft!

Yeah, but you love me...

Got me on that one! Saddle up then?

Yeah...stables are not far and then we just need to bed the horses down for the night...

Jack?

Lots of straw and hay..!

They mounted their horses for the final time and headed down the main street of the film set...riding into the sunset...

Ianto sat up and glanced around his audience, smiling, “and that’s how Captain Coat and Coffee Man, and their team, became cowboys on a Wild West film set so they could solve the mystery of the strange ghosts... Thank you for listening and I hope you’ve enjoyed the story...”

He blushed at the outbreak of clapping and cheering, the pink deepening on his cheeks as Jack streamed their own final’ bedding down’ in the stables amongst the straw and hay into his head, with no-one but the horses to hear their cries as they toppled over the edge into ecstasy...

Karen thanked everyone for coming and announced the winner of the picture from last week’s story, presenting a delighted five year old with her book voucher. “There will be another competition this week, so bring your pictures of Captain Coat and Coffee Man and the Old West in with you...and we’ll see Mr Harkness-Jones again next Saturday...”

They made their way outside to be intercepted by Miss Martin. Brychan gripped Ianto’s hand supportively. “A fine tale young man and I must commend you for encouraging our youngsters to read and visit the library. I look forward to hearing more of their adventures.” She looked down at Bry, “...and thank you, Brychan, for telling me about your Tad’s story time...” Nodding and smiling she walked away, leaving a relieved Ianto behind her.

Jack looked at Bry, “she said you told her..?”

“In show and tell time...” Brychan grinned, “I didn’t tell her that the stories were all about you and Tad...she’d never believe that!”

Ruffling his son’s hair, Jack reached for Ianto’s hand and the family headed for home...

 

End

The Adventures of Captain Coat and Coffee Man will continue in the next prompt.

http://zazajb.livejournal.com/40627.html
zazajb: (captain coat & coffee man)

Title: Sit down, shut up and hang on!
Author: zazajb
Rating: R, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – none, set S2, AU
Summary: A visiting spaceship causes the team a few minor problems... Words 4950

Fic masterlist: http://zazajb.livejournal.com/6286.html

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters – anything you recognise belongs to RTD & BBC, I’m just playing with them...
Written for the longliveianto bingo prompt: Piloting a spaceship


X-posted Longliveianto, Jantolution, jackxianto & TW_classic & tw_proper, jantosparkle, ijs[apologies to those getting this multiple times]
A huge thank you to the talented [livejournal.com profile] ianto_love_jack for the wonderful banner and icon *hugs*


 

Sit down, shut up and hang on!

Ianto shifted Ammeline onto his hip and reached down to pick up her Dagga, the now rather battered Welsh Dragon soft toy she’d had since she was a baby, a gift from Tosh and Owen. He placed it in his daughter’s outstretched hand and she beamed happily at him, her startling blue eyes, so like his own, lighting up as she hugged the beloved plushie.

Breakfast’s ready...you coming down? Jack’s thoughts caressed his mind softly.

Yep, on our way...

Jack was dishing up the family’s favourite Saturday breakfast of pancakes as they joined him and Brychan, who was busily setting the table. Setting the pan back on the cooker, Jack leant in to press a light kiss on the end of his daughter’s cute button nose. She giggled and batted him away with her Dagga as he moved to capture his Welshman’s soft and sensual lips in a tender kiss that was never supposed to develop...but he just couldn’t kiss him without it building into a full blown tongue twirling event...

Ammerline watched fascinated, her blonde head tilted as she surveyed them from her ringside seat in Ianto’s arms. Brychan looked up from the table, making retching noises as he placed the final fork in place. “Oi, Dad, put Tad down...breakfast is getting cold!” sounding eerily like a certain acerbic medic...

Chuckling, Jack released a breathless and flushed Ianto, who turned to roll his eyes at their son, “you, young man are spending way too much time with Uncle Owen! You’re even starting to talk just like him!”

Brychan grinned and reached across for the maple syrup to go on his pancakes. Ianto’s heart melted as the six year old miniature version of Jack shook his unruly hair out of his eyes...each of their children were precious gifts and he adored them completely.

He set Ammerline down in her high chair and cut a pancake into pieces, adding strawberries and raspberries to her plate before putting it down in front of her with a beaker of juice. “Ta...tadda...” she smiled at him and began eating contentedly, her little fingers chasing the fruit pieces around the rim with a series of giggles.

With both children now focused on their breakfast, Ianto moved to the coffee machine to make himself and Jack a much needed caffeine infusion. Jack grabbed a pancake from the big plate and tore it in two, cramming one half in his mouth and feeding the other to Ianto a piece at a time. The Welshman grinned and opened his mouth obediently for each mouthful, finally sucking the older man’s fingers clean when they were presented after three pancakes had been shared in a similar fashion.

“Dad, that’s disgusting..!” Brychan frowned at them in an Owen-like manner as Jack stuck his tongue out at his son.

Laughing, Ianto smacked Jack lightly on the arm. “Don’t encourage him, he already sounds like a carbon copy of his Godfather...it’ll be like living with Owen on a permanent basis..!”

“Tad..?”

“Yes Bry...”

“Are we going to the library for story time again today?”

“Yep...that okay?”

“Yeah...” there was a pause before “...T-a-d..?

Ianto winced at the contemplative tone and braced himself for one of those impossible questions that only children can ask...and no-one can ever answer to their satisfaction. The last time this tone had surfaced he’d had the Devil’s own job trying to explain the how’s and why’s of human biology when Bry’s teacher had refused to believe him that Jack was pregnant, because “Dad’s a man and Miss Ellis says that men can’t have babies because they don’t have the right bits...but Dad is pregnant...I told her to came and see if she didn’t believe me...”

Jack, of course, heavily pregnant with their daughter had mumbled about feeling tired and sloped away to lie down, leaving Ianto to try and explain the impossible...and he still wasn’t sure he’d come out on the winning side! Inwardly groaning, he smiled, “...yes Bry..?”

“Is Dad Captain Coat? Y’know...in the stories?”

Jack preened and pushed his chest out as Ianto stifled a chuckle, keeping his face equally as serious as the six year old’s “Yes, Dad is Captain Coat...”

“So does that mean that you’re Coffee Man? Is that why you and Dad drink coffee all the time? Does it give you magic powers?” Brychan leant forward, his blue grey eyes wide, chin jutting out...so like Jack, Ianto mused fondly...

“Yes, that makes me Coffee Man...and...”

“Oh cool! My Dad and Tad are superheroes..! Can we go now? I’ve finished breakfast...”

Jack laughed at their son’s enthusiasm. “Go clean your teeth and find the books you need to take back...we’ll get Ammeline ready...”

“’K...thanks Dad...” he jumped off his chair and ran to the door, stopping as he opened it to look back, “...will you show me your magic powers later..?”

“Maybe...if you’re good...”

Ianto drained the last of his coffee and began gathering the plates as Jack lifted Ammeline out of her high chair after cleaning her face and fingers with a baby wipe. She snuggled against him, curling her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.

A pounding of footsteps thudding down the stairs announced the return of Brychan as Ianto dropped the last of the cutlery into the dishwasher, added the cleaning tab and closed the door. Pressing the start button he glanced over to where Jack was encouraging Ammeline into her coat, Dagga clutched firmly in her fingers.

Jack felt his gaze and looked up, smiling softly. Love you he sent, the thought filling Ianto with a delicious warmth that started in his toes and swept through him. He caressed the feeling and sent it back.  Jack...what magic powers are you going to show Bry? You know he won’t forget...my memory and your penchant for science...he won’t be easily impressed...

Well, how about I show him that I can get his Tad hard just by looking at him..!

Ianto spluttered and opened his mouth to protest aloud, the images of their rather enjoyable shower that morning flooding his brain, sending his blood supply south in a surge of heat...

See...magic!

You’re incorrigible..!

You’re irresistible...and so cute when you blush..!

Brychan burst noisily back into the room. “Can we go now? I want to tell Euan about your super powers... ”

Don’t you dare, Jack! Ianto sent fiercely as Jack opened his mouth before closing it again without speaking and twinkled lovingly at his partner as the family made their way outside. Ammeline was strapped into her pushchair with Bry pushing her proudly as they headed towards the library. Jack reached for Ianto’s hand and they strolled behind their children, enjoying the early morning sunshine, the reassuring warmth of hand in hand and the gentle swirling of entwined thoughts...

Arriving at the library, Brychan abandoned his sister and rushed off to find his best friend, leaving Jack to see to Ammeline and stow the buggy under the stairs alongside a surprising number of others. Ianto slipped an arm around Jack’s waist and tugged him close to brush their lips together lightly I’ll go set up...see you inside when you’ve got your hero cape out! His lips curved into a smile as Jack’s hand slid behind the back of his neck to prolong the kiss and he leant into the touch briefly before pulling back, straightening his already perfect tie as he headed towards the children’s section through the arch at the back of the main building.

The librarian, Karen, greeted him warmly. “Your audience is much bigger this week, “ she smiled at him, “so we’ve had to move things around a bit...” as she led him to the story corner. Ianto gaped – there were at least thirty children already sat down on the floor, some on the giant cushions and on the bean bags and numerous parents...

Jack..! Captain Coat’s got a fan club!

You mean Captain Coat and Coffee Man...we’ll be there in a moment – just getting Ammie’s crayons...

 Ianto made his way to his chair amid a smattering of applause and a distinct increase in the volume of chattering and settled himself. He grinned at Brychan who was excitedly talking to Euan with much hand waving and head bobbing. Euan’s eyes widened and he gazed at Ianto in awe. Ianto winked and began.

“Good morning everyone. Are we ready to hear some more adventures of Captain Coat and Coffee Man..?” The deafening cheer made him chuckle, meeting Jack’s eyes as he sat down on the floor at the back with their daughter on his lap...

“Then I’ll begin...” The crowd fell silent and leant forward to listen...

The rift siren blared as the team sat around the conference table listening to Owen’s explanation of the respiratory system of the Vuxx that they’d found dead on the shoreline in Penarth the previous day. It was a relief to all when the alarm sounded as they were all in danger of falling asleep – Owen always got a bit carried away when they discovered a new species...

Tosh pulled her hand held scanner towards her and tapped the controls “It’s big, whatever it is...looks to be at the end of Cathedral Road...”

Jack stood up, “Tosh, you coordinate from here, the rest of you with me...”

Ianto was already waiting by the door with Jack’s coat, smoothing it over his shoulders in that familiar and intimate way. They piled into the SUV as Gwen’s phone rang...

“Andy? Yeah, we’re on our way there now...yes, it sounds like one of our ‘spooky do’s’ We’ll be there soon...” She hung up. “Strange reports of RTCs coming in...road traffic collisions...” she explained to Owen’s questioning look. “Seems cars are crashing into something in the road but no-one can see what it is...”

They hung on as Jack put his foot down.

When they arrived, there were seven cars in various states of crumpled, two ambulances and two police cars. Members of the public wandered around somewhat dazed and Andy greeted the team with obvious relief. “There’s something right across the road...blocking it...”

Jack took control. “Gwen, help Andy...get everyone back...you might want to give everyone a drink...” he nodded imperceptibly, “Owen, see if you can help the paramedics, Ianto with me...let’s see what we’re dealing with...”

His team set to work as Ianto followed him towards what seemed to be a perfectly clear road... “Tosh...what you got for me?” as the pretty tech genius sounded in his ear.

“It’s a ship, cloaked obviously, the system doesn’t recognise the signature so it’s a new one on us for now – maybe something in the archives...?” she paused, “Where exactly are you?”

“Cathedral Road, just before the junction with Coweridge Road East...”

“That hedge running alongside the road...quite high, about eight feet..? There’s a field behind it...two life signs...unknown energy patterns...”

Ianto pressed his comm. unit “thanks Tosh, on it...” He strode briskly towards the hedge and crouched down to peer through into the field. “Jack...you need to see this...”

Jack joined him and they gazed at the two squat, almost triangular shaped, orange tinged aliens as they staggered around the field, pausing to scoop something from the grass and shove it into cavernous mouths. As they watched, one of the aliens quivered and fell over, flailing briefly before becoming still. The other made a rumbling sound and continued on its unsteady exploration of the field.

“Shit!” Jack and Ianto cursed simultaneously in their heads, a momentary flash of humour at their synchronised thoughts, before Ianto began to push carefully through the hedge, mindful of his much loved charcoal grey suit and maroon shirt ensemble...

Jack pressed his comm. unit. Gwen, Owen...we got two aliens on the loose in the field behind the hedge. Gwen, I need you to retcon everyone here ASAP...I don’t care how you do it, but we need them asleep now... Owen, I need you down here with us – one of them has collapsed and the other doesn’t look too good...no idea what they are yet...”

Without waiting for a response, Jack began to follow Ianto’s path through the hedge, grinning at the enjoyable sight of the Welshman’s perfect wool-clad rear moving enticingly in front of him. He flashed the image and several suggestions for ‘hidden behind the hedgerow’ activities into the young man’s head, chuckling at the conflicting responses of Ianto’s head and his body parts!

Finally through to the other side they watched as the second alien gave a final wobble and fell to the ground. Muttered curses from behind them announced the arrival of the acerbic medic who scrambled up from his knees pulling twigs from his hair before gazing at the prone aliens.

“Okay, they dead or what?” he snarked, looking from Jack to Ianto.

“No idea..! We haven’t gone any closer yet – that one there...” Ianto pointed to the body farthest from them, “has only just gone down...”

Striding out, his Webley drawn and his coat billowing out behind him, Jack led the way,  “...okay, kids, let’s go see what we got...”

They slowed as they got closer, Jack waving Ianto round to approach it from the other side, stun gun poised. Owen jumped as the alien suddenly turned its head – it didn’t appear to have a neck and close up it really did look like a triangle on stumpy little legs – and made a deep gurgling sound, its double-lidded eyes blinking blearily at them before it slumped to one side, apparently unconscious.

He ran the scanner over it and stared at the readings, holding them out to Jack for double checking. “They’re drunk?”

“Yup..!” Owen indicated the dandelions still clutched in the creature’s three-fingered hand, “...and these would appear to be the culprits... Tosh?” he hit his comm. unit, “sending you the readings now...”

“Got them...yes, their internal physiology seems to be very similar to ours so I’m guessing where they come from must have a much denser gravitational field which would account for their appearance... Their blood alcohol readings are off the scale – they’re going to have some wonderful hangovers after this...”

“Tosh..?”

“Ianto..?”

“I think there’s something in the archives about a species encountered by TW1 who were caught digging up entire fields back in the seventies...I remember reading about the speculation over what it was they were after as it was just an ordinary field of grass with nothing but dandelions and weeds... As far as I can recall they never found out as they just blew the ship out of the sky...as was their way back then...”

Jack scowled, the reminder of how ruthless and short-sighted TW1 was, grating against the very core of his being...

Owen was now on his knees, feeling for a pulse, or the equivalent of one, on the alien’s arm. He looked round at Jack. “I think they’ve overdone it – I’m seeing clear signs of alcohol poisoning here...we need to get them back onto their ship...”

“Jack...” Gwen’s voice came over the comm. “everyone’s asleep here, apart from Andy who’s just moving a couple of the cars so it looks like they were ‘head-on’s’...”

“Okay, thanks Gwen...”

Wouldn’t it be simpler to move their ship into this field..? Ianto streamed into his Captain’s head, the ship’s cloaked, the hedge is high enough to shield us from the road...

Good call... “Gwen, have Andy go stand by the Road Closed sign to turn back any other traffic, you get yourself over here with Owen and Ianto and I’ll try and move the ship... Tosh, any signs of screening or defences on that ship..?”

“Nothing I can see, Jack...I’m going to have a look down in the archives for that file now...”

“Gwen...” Ianto touched his comm. “In the back of the SUV is a small axe...can you bring it with you and I’ll meet you at the gap we made earlier – wait ‘till I come to you or this ruddy hedge’ll ruin your leather jacket...

This hedge is going to get a haircut so we can at least get through it without it ripping our clothes off...

Nah, that’s my job..!

Ianto rolled his eyes and headed for the tiny gap in the hedge where he carefully made his way through to the other side. His eyes lit up at the sight of the axe and he proceeded to hack at the offending branches until there was a narrow, but clear, path through the dense foliage and brambles. Wiping the sweat off his brow with his handkerchief, he grinned at his colleagues... “There, all done!”

You enjoyed that..?

Oh yeah! Very satisfying...

Don’t forget I’m going to get you all sweaty later when the kids have gone to bed...gotta keep my superhero powers well oiled...

Ianto turned a snort of laughter into a cough as Gwen looked inquiringly at him “Pollen!” he said as he turned away to hide the grin that spread over his face.

Jack smirked in his head and followed him to the marker they’d left to indicate the position of the cloaked ship. Jack felt his way carefully along the contours of the ship until his hand vanished into nothingness... Looks like we found the door...ready?

On your coat-tails..!

Jack’s answering grin was lost as he stepped through into the force-field, reaching out to take his Welshman by the hand as they were swallowed up and vanished from sight. The saucer shape spaceship was exactly the design of every childhood comic and Hollywood B movie, the obligatory ramp up to the open doorway completing the picture.

Ianto scanned the area, no other life signs...looks like it’s a crew of two...

“Jack, you need to hurry, they’re getting worse...” Owen’s urgent message stirred them from their light-hearted mood and they hurried up the gangplank into the craft, looking around them with interest. It was a simple design with what looked like a control panel with two seats on one side and two bunks on the other. A purple cross symbol, the universal symbol for ‘hospital’ on the locker at the side, marked another bunk as a med-bed.

“Owen..? Looks like there’s a medical bay on board...”

“Good! Bloody hurry up and get that thing shifted over here...out!” Owen was brusque and impatient...not a good sign for the condition of their patients.

Okay, let’s fly this thing...

Yep...

Jack surveyed the controls, running his hands over several levers and dials that looked promising...nothing...

Ianto watched as his Captain got progressively more irritated with his own lack of progress.

Yan, can you see anything that looks like it might make this heap of junk leave the ground...or turn on...or do something other that sit here doing sod all...

“Any time yesterday..!” Owen rasped acerbically in their ears...

“There aren’t any obvious controls...” Ianto kept his voice low and controlled, knowing that the two men were liable to explode with frustration any moment and he’d be in the firing line from both sides, “it might be a while until we figure it out. Can you and Gwen get them through the gap in the hedge and into the ship...at least you could use the med-bed while we work on moving this thing... It’s not ideal but...” his voice trailed away, leaving the other man to work out it was that or nothing for the time being!

“On our way...keep working at it...” Owen shut off his comm. unit and Ianto heaved a sigh of relief that the immediate danger of exploding medic had been avoided...for now! He turned back to survey the panel of unintelligible dials and switches, watching what Jack was doing before he began to mirror his movements on the other side of the panel.

Owen and Gwen were just heaving the first alien up the ramp when the craft gave an almighty shudder and pulsated into life, the jolt sending Owen stumbling into the doorway to smack his head hard against the bulkhead. Uttering a stream of words that turned the air blue, the dazed doctor glared in the general direction of the pseudo-pilots and moved back to help Gwen with the surprisingly heavy unconscious body of the alien and they heaved it painstakingly up onto the medical bunk where Owen immediately began rummaging in the locker for supplies.

Back at the control panel, Jack and Ianto were trying to work out what they’d done so they could repeat it. They ran their hands back over the array of dials and were rewarded with another violent shudder and this time the craft tilted up on Jack’s side, the sudden lurch sending both Ianto and Owen crashing to the floor to bang their heads against whatever hard surface was nearest.

“For fuck’s sake Jack, I thought you could pilot a spaceship..!” Owen rubbed numerous aching and damaged parts of his body. “We’re going to get the other one now, try not to kill this one while we’re gone!” He looked at Gwen who’d had a face full of alien belly when the ship had tilted, “...you okay?”

Too breathless to speak, Gwen just nodded and followed the grumpy medic back down the ramp to retrieve the other owner of the craft.

Ianto...you okay?

Bit shaken, but yeah I’m okay... What did we do?

No idea...let’s do it again and see if we can get it off the ground!

Ianto grinned Go for it!

They ran their hands over the panel once more and the craft pulsed into life with less violence than before. Ianto spread his fingers and the ship tilted again, this time lifting up on his side before crashing heavily to the ground again, shaking them roughly although they kept their feet.

A flash of something flew across the Welshman’s consciousness, remaining frustratingly out of reach as he groped in the darkest recesses of his mind to no avail.

What’s up?

There’s something about this...it was there...just for a second and now it’s gone... He screwed his face up in concentration in his efforts to find whatever it was before shaking his head regretfully, no, it’s gone...

They turned their attention back to the panel as Gwen and Owen staggered back into the craft with the second body and dumped him onto one of the sleeping bunks. “You two brain boxes figured out how to fly this thing yet? ‘Course you have, that’s why it’s still stuck on the ground!” Owen was at his sarcastic best with aches and pains all over his body...

Ianto’s face lit up with a beaming smile, rushing over to Owen to plant a wet kiss on his lips, surprising everyone else who looked at him like he’d gone mad and leaving a speechless Owen spluttering!

Ianto? Jack was confused and a teeny bit jealous – if there was something to celebrate it should he him on the receiving end of Ianto’s kisses...

Owen’s brilliant! He said ‘you two’ and that’s it – these aliens are D’eux – synchronous beings who do everything in pairs at the exact same time...remember in Golden Eye the keys had to be turned at exactly the same time to arm the weapon...that’s how we fly this thing...

Jack suddenly caught on –there was something to be said for having a partner who adored James Bond so he’d watched them all umpteen times and could actually understand the reference! “We have to do it together!” he said aloud, startling both Gwen and Owen, the latter scowling.

“We’ve got more things to worry about than who tea boy here kisses! Like getting this bucket off the ground and out of the road!”

“Owen, sit down, shut up and hold on! We know how to fly this thing...we have to synchronise our movements over the controls...” Ianto barked at the stunned man.

Nicely done! Ready..?

As I’ll ever be...together...three, two, one...now!

The spaceship shuddered and lifted slowly off the ground, the doorway vanishing as it began to move. Their thoughts linked, Jack and Ianto mirrored each other’s movements on the control panel. It wasn’t the smoothest of flights, but it was enough to get them over the hedge and into the field where they landed again with a bump, the door reappearing when they took their hands off the controls.

“Nice job boys...” Gwen was impressed.

“Not bad!” Owen conceded, still chaffing over Ianto’s kiss and his painful collisions with various parts of the ship. “Now we have to figure out how to stop these D’eux from dying of alcohol poisoning on us...

Jack grinned at Ianto as the same thought hit them both and they moved away from the pilots’ stations, linking hands and heading for the door. “We’ll be right back...”

Owen was talking to Tosh as they vanished down the ramp and they grinned at each other, hearing his voice rising as he attempted to get across his message that they’d all gone barmy.

I suppose we could’ve told him...

Yeah, but much more fun not to! You know I was jealous when you kissed him...

Um, yep, sorry, it was a spur of the moment thing...I was just so pleased to work it out!

Just you wait ‘till later...I’ll show you synchronised movements like you’ve never had before..!

Jack squeezed his hand and leered at him as Ianto blushed. They reached the SUV and opened the boot, Jack leaning in to retrieve the flask of coffee that Ianto had tucked in earlier when the rift alert had sounded. Ianto grabbed some packets of sugar from the side pocket and they closed the boot, lingering just long enough to share a soft and tender kiss before they once again entwined their hands and headed back to the ship.

Owen was mercifully quiet when they presented him with the flask and sugar and informed him that they were going take pictures and scans while he got the D’eux sobered up...

With Gwen helping Owen and Tosh directing Jack and Ianto as to the shots and readings she wanted all was peaceful, the background silence broken only by the low moans from the D’eux as they gradually sobered up with the help of generous helpings of Ianto’s coffee.

An hour later and both aliens were sober enough to explain that they were newly married and on their equivalent of a honeymoon. Their friends had told them they had to visit earth and to make sure they tried the dandelions as they were the best in the Milky Way but no-one had told them how potent they were...

After promising to be careful of how many ate, the D’eux were overcome with the bulging carrier bag of freshly picked dandelions that Jack presented to them. They bowed and gave thanks to Captain Coat for his generosity, to Coffee Man for his magic healing drink and then to the team for saving their spaceship, presenting Jack with a miniature model of the craft as a token of their gratitude. Farewells dispensed, the team retreated down the ramp for the final time, moving well away from the craft as it began to spin and lifted gracefully off the ground, gathering speed until it shot up into the sky and was instantly out of sight...

Ianto sat up slightly in his chair and looked out over his audience who were hung on his every word, the parents as well as the children, he was amused to note... “They went back to the Hub where Ianto made them all coffee and they had the Captain’s favourite chocolate brownie to go with it and that was the story of how Captain Coat and Coffee Man learnt how to pilot a spaceship so they and their team could save the day again...”

There was a thunderous round of applause during which Jack bombarded Ianto’s mind with their synchronised hand movements of later that evening and hand and hip even later still, drawing a deep blush over his partner’s face much to Jack’s wicked delight, chuckling loudly when Ianto streamed them back with a promise of a repeat performance...

Karen held her hands up for quiet before thanking Ianto once again and announcing a drawing competition for the children to create their pictures of Captain Coat and Coffee Man from today’s story. “The best ones will go on display an there’ll be book vouchers as prizes...so get drawing and bring your entries to next week’s story time when I hope Mr Harkness-Jones will be sharing more Superhero adventures with us...”

The floor gradually emptied as Jack and Ianto chatted to some of the other parents. Brychan bounced over with Euan in tow to ask if he could go to his friend’s house so they could do their pictures and stay for tea... As Ianto arranged with Euan’s mum, Jacqui that she would drop Bry back by 6:30, Jack was whispering to the two boys about some of the superhero powers that Captain Coat might have with much excitable laughter from all three!

It was lunchtime by the time they made it home, Ammeline so tired she was almost asleep in her highchair. Ianto tucked her up for her nap before Jack led him to their bedroom to remind him of the energetic delights of synchronous pairs until they fell asleep wound in each other’s arms...

 

The story of Captain Coat and Coffee Man continues in the next prompt...  http://zazajb.livejournal.com/39818.html

 

 
 


zazajb: (All the time we have stopwatch)

PDF files for the trilogy of stories in this series [so far!] Thank you for the suggestions on where to go from here. Bunnies have taken them away so we'll see what happens from here, although my focus has now shifted to my reel_torchwood fic as I've done...um....very little so far! Would be good if you could just let me know if you download any of these pdfs...
Thanks again for reading *big hugs* xxx

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx
 

 www.sendspace.com/file/iuumvd


Title: No place to hide
Author: zazajb
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – All series 1-3
Warnings - CoE canon character death
Summary: CoE fixit, sequel to All the time we have. Words 11,720

Fic masterlist: http://zazajb.livejournal.com/6286.html

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters - just like to dabble with them from time to time

A/N I couldn’t change CoE but I could put it right.

oops - mucked that up didn't I?!!! Try this one
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wett5s      and don't panic when the top title says In the blink of an eye - it is the right one - promise -I just forgot to change the header!!!

Title: Lost inside of you
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 [livejournal.com profile] wykling  for the awesome banner *hugs*

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ttz5vo


zazajb: (always)

Title: Lost inside of you 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 [livejournal.com profile] wykling  for the awesome banner *hugs*

A/N And so we reach the end. I’m going to miss this, my companion for so long...it’s been fun and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing!

 

Epilogue

They lay in a tangle of limbs, breathing slowing to normal, the blissful warmth of the afterglow radiating through their bodies... Jack propped himself up on his elbow to gaze down at the man he’d almost lost for a third time.

“I couldn’t bear it...I thought you’d stop loving me if you knew the things I’d done...all those terrible things...everything I’d shared with John...I just kept going over and over them, looking for a way to reach you without having to admit what I was...in case you thought I was still that person...I never wanted you to see who I used to be...before you made me complete...

Ianto’s eyes filled with tears as he felt the panic and loss as Jack had re-lived all the horrors of those memories. He reached up to cup his Captain’s face, brushing his thumb tenderly across his cheek. “I was lost...lost in a world that wasn’t mine – everywhere I looked I saw you and him, he was holding you, kissing you...laughing at me... I went to Nirvana to find us...” he choked back a sob, remembering, “...and he was there... he told me you’d gone and were never coming back...that I was only ever a part-time shag...a distraction...just like Owen always said...”

Jack leant down and crushed his mouth to the Welshman’s trembling lips, tears spilling down both their faces, hands raking over hot skin, desperation and hunger colliding with raw passion and need... Panting hard, they broke off for air, eyes boring into each other’s...

“Are you ready..?” Jack’s voice was thick with want

“Yes...” Ianto whispered, his heart beating fast, “always...I want to get lost inside of you...”

“You know I’ll always find you...timeless...”

“...and eternal, cariad...” sighing happily as his lips were claimed and he lost himself in the intoxicating sensation of everything that was Jack...


End 

Requested coda - the neighbours finally get to meet each other!
 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/29160.html

A/N Thank you for all your comments along the way and for the wonderful friends I've made as this story has grown...and grown from it's original planned 10 chapters!!! Guess that's what happens when you hand the plot over to your characters! I'm a little bereft now it's done so need something else to get my teeth into and I'm open to suggestions... *hugs* D xxx
zazajb: (DT kisses JB)

Title: Lost inside of you 37/37 + 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 37

 

In the TARDIS Jack and Ianto had finally come up for air and were stood wrapped around each other as the Doctor brought them up to date with events. Ianto shuddered as the memories came flooding back and the realisation that Hart had intended to drive him to suicide sent icy fear through his veins. He held on tighter to his Captain, breathing in the familiar and reassuring scent that was just Jack...

 

“What I don’t understand is why he’s suddenly decided to attack me now..? Jack...what is it..? I know there’s something...”

 

Jack turned to the Doctor, “...can we..?” as he tapped his head lightly with his finger. Returning his gaze to his Welshman he kissed him softly, “I love you, Ianto...with everything I am...always remember that...” his eyes filled with tears, “...don’t hate me...please...”

 

Jack...what is it cariad..?

 

Just come with me...like we did before...I love you...I will always love you...

 

Clutching Jack’s hand tightly, Ianto followed him into the Doctor’s mind space, the awe inspiring sense of all there was and everything that could be calming his mind as they joined the Doctor under the black velvet sky...

 

Jack turned to the Timelord, don’t think too badly of me...I’m not that person any more...I’m different...better...

 

Ianto’s mouth was dry and his heart hammered painfully in his chest as the stars were blotted out by the swirling dark mass of Jack’s memory...

 

John Hart staggered out of the bar, blood dripping from his split lip, his clothes ripped and soaked in Timo – a potent cocktail that was the favoured drink of the moment on their current planet. Panting hard, he spat the blood from his mouth and wiped his face across the sleeve of his jacket. Moments later Jack crashed through the same doors, his own face showing similar signs of battle and a bottle clutched in his hand. He was laughing, his clothes equally battered as he strode over to Hart and pulled him into his arms, kissing him fiercely, both men battling for dominance as they bit and pressed against each other. It was hard and dirty play and Ianto’s heart shattered as he watched the man he loved...he’s not your Captain here...this isn’t your Jack...this is a previous life...another time, long since buried...

 

Hart shoved Jack away and swung back for a punch, one that Jack avoided easily, flinging his arm around the tattered leather-clad shoulders as he led them away down the street, swigging from the bottle before passing across to share... The two men stumbled into an alleyway where Hart shoved Jack roughly up against the wall and crushed their mouths together, hands ripping at fastenings to dive his hand into the other man’s trousers...

 

Tears fell unchecked down Ianto’s face...Jack... The Doctor, now well aware what the memory would show, wrapped his mind around the young man’s, the support gratefully received as the scene played out in front of them...

 

Jack’s hands moved to mirror Hart’s and the sound of guttural moans echoed... Hart pulled away before either man had climaxed and gripped Jack’s throat, squeezing tightly so he choked for air... “I’ve got something special for you tonight...” the leer evident, lust-crazed control blazing from his eyes. He released Jack’s throat and kissed him hard before they staggered into a grimy building and Hart used his wrist strap to open the door to their current lodgings. Despite the grubby exterior, the inside was clean and surprisingly spacious, sparsely furnished with a couple of easy chairs, a low table and a double bed, two other doors led to a tiny kitchen area and an even tinier bathroom.

 

Jack laughed, the sound sending shivers down Ianto’s spine...he knew that sound, mischievous and a prelude to some of Jack’s most innovative lovemaking...he bit down hard on his lip as the silent tears continued to fall...

 

The two men had resumed their frantic and rough kissing, biting and pinching each other with wild abandon, clothes were ripped from bodies until they were both naked and, wrapped in a fierce embrace, they fell onto the bed, rolling over as they battled for supremacy, eventually settling for side by side as they continued their brutal foreplay... Hart twisted Jack round and plunged his fingers into him, preparing him roughly, drawing a hiss of pain from the other man, “...you like this...like it hard...don’t you Jack...” as he pulled out his fingers and slammed into him violently, a cry of agony wrenched from Jack’s lips as Hart pounded into him... Jack’s eyes rolled backwards and he teetered on the edge of consciousness until Hart slowed...replacing brutal with gentle...tender... “...you know I love you Jack...I love you like I’ve never loved anyone...I want to possess you...you drive me insane when I’m near you and we can’t touch...come with me...”

 

Ianto’s breath caught in his throat as he suddenly realised what he was seeing and he broke down in heart wrenching sobs as Hart took Jack to Nirvana...at last he understood... Jack had erased this from his inner core...he’d showed Ianto after that first time...their first time...timeless and eternal...now he knew why Hart had crossed the stars to destroy him and a tiny part of him could sympathise...

 

The Doctor watched as Ianto put the pieces together in his head and marvelled anew as the Welshman showed once again those breathtaking qualities that truly made him special – with his world crumbling around him he could still show empathy for a man who sought to destroy him so completely that he would take his own life...Ianto Jones was a rare and beautiful thing...encompassing that ‘eagle flying with a dove’ breathtaking love with the pureness of a silver unicorn in his heart...and his two hearts broke to see him so hurt... The tears blurred sight in all three faces as the scene faded away and they were returned to the black velvet sky.

 

Silence reigned, broken only by the muffled sobs from Jack and Ianto.

 

The darkness was suddenly engulfed by light, white light that shimmered with a mesmerising ethereal quality and a sound that filled their hearts with overwhelming joy and peace resonated through the Doctor’s mind space... It wasn’t Ood song, yet they felt it was familiar...it was fire and ice and love...pure, timeless and heartfelt love and it cleansed them, sweeping away the hurt and pain as it radiated with all there was...and all there ever could be...

 

The TARDIS poured her love into the three men she valued above all else... They had suffered so much and she had the power to save them...so she saved them...the Doctor and his love for Rose...that love would always be there, but as a fondness and foundation for future love, Jack and Ianto...such love was rare and precious and was now restored as it should be...Hart was an insignificance and would be dealt with...

 

The light vanished and the velvet black sky returned... The three gazed at each other, tear tracks shining brightly on their pale drawn faces as a gentle feeling of serenity warmed them and they fell into each other’s arms, hugging tightly, until with unspoken agreement, they returned to real time...

 

The Doctor sank onto his battered chair, raking his hands through his hair as he attempted to put the events of the last hour into some semblance of order...in over nine hundred years this was unparalleled...

 

Jack and Ianto were once again in each other’s arms, soft, tender kisses...blissful and loving kisses...Hart didn’t matter, nothing mattered...it was just them and would always be just them...timeless and eternal...for as long as they had...and their hearts sang...

 

The SUV swung into the underground car park and they leapt out, blood-stained clothing, wild dishevelled hair and hard, set faces. They hauled Hart out of the boot and dragged him towards the main hub... Jack, Ianto, Donna and the Doctor gazed at the state of the team and their prisoner, their expressions reflecting a multitude of different emotions, supportive messages exchanged back and forth drawing gentle smiles...reactions that perplexed the returning war party who were ready to tear Hart limb from limb..!

 

“How can you stand there and smile?” Gwen demanded harshly, “...this is the man who had you at each other’s throats a few short hours ago...” her eyes filled with tears as the recent events replayed in her head and the adrenalin ebbed away leaving her drained.

 

She’ll never understand, cariad...we need to play the game...for the team...

 

You sure...if that’s what you want...I love you Ianto Jones...

 

I know...now be the big bad boss they need you to be...

 

With a final squeeze of his Welshman’s hand Jack released him and strode across to pull Gwen into a tight hug, before turning to Ianto, “We need the restraints chair...” he said grimly, “...and the mind probe...” Ianto hurried off as Gwen peeled off her bloodstained jacket and dropped it by her workstation, dropping into her chair, her legs suddenly too weak to support her...they’d got him and now they’d deal with him...

 

Jack stepped over to Peter and Lois who were still supporting the unconscious Hart between them. He grabbed hold of the ex-Time Agent and gazed at him, a dozen different memories jumbling in his head, before dropping him roughly to the floor...big bad boss... Paying the prone figure no further attention he looked anxiously at the two precious people in front of him, “...are you hurt, either of you..?”

 

Peter wrapped an arm around Lois’ shoulder and squeezed gently, “...it was a bit rough but we’re fine...no worse than a weevil tussle...” they gasped as Jack dragged them both in for a fierce hug, “...thank you...for being there for us...for everything...”

 

Releasing them he looked back down at the unconscious man and jabbed him with his foot, “...how long before he comes round..?”

 

“...maybe an hour...possibly a bit longer...depends on how quickly his body fights off the effects of the sedative, it was a double dose...”

 

“Ok, we’ll keep watch, go get yourselves cleaned up and be back here in forty-five minutes...”

 

“I’ll get the coffee on...” the lilting Welsh tones brought a soft smile to the Captain’s lips as Ianto appeared, lugging the restraint chair behind him. They set it in the middle of the main workspace and Hart was manhandled into it, arms and ankles securely fastened and sonic screwdriver sealed... “...can never be too sure with him...” Jack muttered as Ianto removed the pile of weapons Hart had been concealing on various parts of his anatomy, along with his wrist strap...

 

One hour and ten minutes later John Hart moaned softly as he regained consciousness. He blinked as he tried to move and realised that he couldn’t... he was cuffed and secured to a chair and most definitely no longer in the old man’s house. Opening his eyes fully he started, “oh fuck!” before his usual arrogance reasserted itself and he drawled nonchalantly as he gazed round at the silent and set faces around him “...so you finally got me then...took your time...this lot aren’t really up to the job are they Jack...maybe I should’ve stopped your brother from breaking your old team...” he grinned cheerfully as Jack stepped forward and invaded his personal space.

 

“This is one time you’re gonna wish you’d stayed well away from me and the people I love... “ he hissed,

 

Hart looked pained, “...you used to love me...you hurt me Jack...when I asked you to come away with me you turned me down without even thinking about it...I couldn’t let that pass...”

 

“There was nothing to think about...I have everything I could ever want here...” his eyes met the Welshman’s, sending loving thoughts tumbling into his head. “Ianto...the mind probe please...”

 

“Hey, Eye Candy...shame you’re not dead yet, although I did have some interesting plans for the two of us...things that I saw in your head...you were interested...curious...that last time we met in the elevator...you wondered what it would be like...” he leered at the stony-faced Welshman, “...I’m all tied up here...you could take me here...now...you know you want to..!”

 

Ianto moved forward, a curious expression of suppressed amusement on his face as he leant in to stop with his mouth just millimetres from Hart’s lips...”...you’ll never have me and what you had with Jack is gone...erased from living memory...for ever...” his whispered words chasing a furious scowl across the other man’s face as Ianto’s clear blue eyes bore into him. Stepping away Ianto reached for Jack and wrapped his arms around him, capturing his lips gently...tenderly, as he caressed the loving thoughts and sent them back into his Captain’s head. ..

 

Jack responded eagerly, sliding his tongue into the Welshman’s mouth where it tangoed delightedly with his own, his hands moving to tangle one in Ianto’s hair and the other moving to caress his backside, pulling him in close as they gave themselves to the moment... The white light flickered in their heads, filling them again with the wondrous sense of all there was and all there ever could be, burning with a purity that was almost painful to see...the hub vanished and they were amongst the stars, floating on a plane of pure bliss, heartbeats synchronised, breathing totally in tune...two became one and never had Nirvana been so beautiful...

 

Jack gazed deeply into Ianto’s eyes, this man that he loved so very much, the man who had risked everything for him, showing him with gentle caresses and the softest of kisses just how totally loved he was... They pulled apart to watch a comet blazing a trail through the vastness of time and space, sharing the wonder with everything that they were before a light brush of lips and they were returned to real time, realising they were in the hub...in front of the team, Donna, the Doctor and their prisoner...

 

Exchanging a soft glance they stepped apart expecting to be called to task for indulging themselves when they should be dealing with other things, although Jack understood completely why Ianto had kissed him...it was far more effective than shouting at Hart to remind him just what he was never going to have...Nirvana had been an unexpected bonus...

 

The anticipated comments failed to materialise and looking round they realised that no-one was even looking at them – the team were gathered around Hart’s chair, Peter crouched down beside him running a scanner over him as he slumped limply in the restraints...the Doctor and Donna were nowhere to be seen...

 

“Hey, what’s going on?” Jack linked hands with Ianto and they joined the others.

 

“No idea..!” Peter looked puzzled. It’s nothing to do with the gunshot wound...one minute he was muttering under his breath, quite angrily it sounded like but it wasn’t in any language we recognised and was shaking his head...nice touch by the way, Ianto...kissing Jack pissed him off far more than any amount of shouting or torture...he was really wound up and I’m surprised you didn’t dissolve from the glares he was sending your way!

 

Anyway, you were lost in each other and he was shooting you these really evil looks then his eyes rolled and he was completely out of it...there’s nothing wrong with any of his vitals...

 

Ianto felt that same song they’d heard in the TARDIS flooding his head and suddenly understood...he squeezed Jack’s hand, “...it was the TARDIS...she removed his link to my head...he’s gone totally and I’m guessing she’s punishing him for what he did...” He reached out to stroke Jack’s cheek softly, “...when we were going through that memory and I saw him take you to Nirvana, I understood why he’d come after me...in his twisted mind I was the reason you’d deleted his memory and I actually felt sorry for him, just for a moment...”

 

Ianto gasped at the intensity of emotion that radiated from his Captain...it flooded his senses, filling every atom of his being with a warmth that left him tingling from head to toe, his knees weak...

 

They spun round as the Doctor came out of the TARDIS, in the middle of a sentence, talking at top speed as he grinned around at them, a confused Donna following in his wake, still fussing a purring His Nids. “...incredible connection and purity...I said it all along, a very special young man – and he looked bloody hot in that uniform...no wonder she loves you...a rare and precious thing...a bit like her...”  He stopped in front of Ianto and dragged him into a warm embrace, pulling back to plant a soft kiss on his mouth, much to the young man’s surprise and everyone else’s amusement – apart from Jack, who pouted, unsure of whether to be jealous or feel left out!

 

Ushering everyone up towards the sofa and the tiny stools around the coffee table, the Timelord continued to grin widely and rake his hands through his wild hair... Once they were all comfortably seated he slammed his hand down on the table, making everyone jump, “Ha! It’s all so simple...the TARDIS has removed the link Hart planted in Ianto’s head, along with some of his memories and has suggested that we drop him off on a planet a long way from here, I can disable his wrist strap...he’ll not bother anyone here again...she really loves you, Ianto...” He looked at Jack, “...you’re a very lucky man Harkness...”

 

“I know...” Jack’s voice shook with emotion as he reached for his partner’s hand, entwining their fingers together.

 

The young man blushed as everyone looked at him and he stood quickly, “...coffee? Yeah...I need to make coffee..!” he looked at Jack, desire smouldering in his eyes, “...you could help..?”

 

Catching the look, Jack’s voice came out as a quiet squawk and the pair hurried away, fond laughter following their rapid exit. Gwen’s phone rang, breaking into the light hearted chatter that ensued, “Rhys...yeah, been a bit of a tough day...” she moved towards her workstation and relaxed back in her chair as she chatted to her husband...the man she loved with all her heart, the man she depended on to keep her grounded...

 

Donna nudged the Doctor and looked at him meaningfully as he gazed at Lois and Peter, the medic gently stroking Lois’ hair, his touch tender as they stared into each other’s eyes... The Doctor jumped as his foot was kicked and Donna glared at him... “Oh, yeah!  Err, Peter, could I borrow you for a minute...I need to ask your advice about something ...”

 

“Huh? Oh, sure...” he pressed a soft kiss to Lois’ forehead and followed the Timelord down to the TARDIS and they vanished inside.

 

Donna moved from her tiny stool to the sofa and leant back, letting out a deep breath. “Been a bit of a day!” she grinned as Lois nodded vigorously.

 

“You can say that again! I thought COBRA and the 456 was tense, but this has been...has been...I don’t think I’ve got any words to describe it!” she smiled, “...I wouldn’t change what I do for the world though...”

 

“Nah, me neither...I’m going to travel with the Doctor for ever...and you’ve got your doctor...he’s a keeper, that one..!”

 

“Yeah, I know...” the gentle look said it all and the two women sank into companionable silence... a silence that was broken by a shout from the Timelord...

 

“...Donna.!.”

 

As she passed Peter on the stairs, Donna gave his arm a quick squeeze, “...good luck!” she whispered, grinning at him knowingly.

 

His mouth dropped open, but he couldn’t help grinning back, “...thanks..!”

 

Lois was taken by surprise when her boyfriend reappeared and sank down onto one knee, holding a ring out in front of him, “Lois, my darling Lois, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” his proposal formal yet endearing...

 

A beaming smile broke over his face as Lois nodded and whispered “...yes..!” leaning forward to kiss him sweetly. Peter slid the ring onto her finger and stood up, pulling his fiancée into his arms and twirling her round madly to applause from Gwen, Donna and the Doctor.

  

Landing her back on her feet, Peter released her and went to bang on the kitchen door...”Oi, Jack, put the tea boy down and come and meet my fiancée!”

 

Gwen chuckled, as she pulled her phone out again, “...he sounds more like Owen every day!” she said to herself, remembering her lost colleagues fondly. She missed Tosh and Owen but there was some comfort in knowing that they, and their sacrifice, would never be forgotten... “Hey sweetheart, me again...yeah, you wanna leave work and come to a party..?” Grinning happily she brought Rhys up to date with events as Jack and Ianto came out of the kitchen, hair mussed, clothes rumpled, lips pink and kiss swollen and glazed expressions of satisfaction on their faces...

 

Lois bounded up to them, her left hand extended, the ring sparkling brightly on her finger. “Wow! That’s some stone..!” Jack was stunned. He recognised that ring and he turned to look at the Doctor who was grinning broadly...

 

Peter was explaining to Ianto, “It’s a Tanzonnite diamond and it sparkles so brightly because it’s forged in the heart of their sun...rare and beautiful...just like Lois” He tugged his fiancée into his arms and kissed her passionately to loud cheers from their friends...

 

“Hey, Ianto, you made that coffee yet or were you too busy with Jack’s ‘help’..?” the Doctor smirked, knowing only too well that the coffee machine was untouched and that the coffee maker wasn’t! He’d blocked the steamy sensations the minute the kitchen door had closed! Taking pity on the blushing Welshman, he grinned. “...no need for coffee, I’ve got some wonderful honey champagne from a lovely planet a few light years from Rigel 3 so we can toast the newly engaged couple...we just need glasses...”

 

Ianto nodded and returned to the kitchen as the roller door opened and Gwen reappeared with a smiling Rhys...

 

Jack moved over to where the Doctor stood watching the happy group of people. “That’s Rose’s ring...” it wasn’t a question. “Why now...after all this time?”

 

“I realised I don’t need a ring I never gave her to remember her by...today, when we were in my head...that white light...the TARDIS showed me how I can love Rose without it hurting...and I’m just so happy...she’s happy and I know I will always love her...he’s part of me so in a way I’m always with her and knowing that she can spend the rest of her life with him, and him her...I know it doesn’t make sense, but it does to me...” He smiled. “Besides, I think Lois and Peter deserved it...you’ve got an amazing team Jack...”

 

“I know...” They stared at each other for a moment, unspoken thoughts passing back and forth until Jack pulled the Timelord to him and kissed him, a kiss full of fondness and understanding, of lasting friendship and acceptance of each other’s flaws...a kiss full of love...

 

Ianto grinned and wandered over to them, draping an arm around each of their shoulders. “What are going to do with Sleeping Beauty over there?” he nodded towards the slumped unconscious figure of John Hart.

 

“Good call, let’s see what accommodations the TARDIS has arranged for him...I think they’d be suitable to leave him in and I’m sure that she’s having way too much fun in his head to let him wake up yet...I wouldn’t like to think about the nightmares he’s having right now..!” 

 

Moving swiftly, they crossed the hub, the Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to release the locks and Jack and Ianto carried him between them, following the Timelord deep into the TARDIS to a small cell where they lay Hart down on the narrow bunk. Jack looked down at him, no anger in his expression, “...bye John...” he touched his face lightly, turned and left without looking back leaving Ianto and the Doctor gazing after him.

 

Jack...you ok cariad..?

 

Yeah, I’m good...now come join the party...

 

The champagne flowed and the friends laughed and relaxed, sharing stories and jokes... Naturally, the women drifted towards discussions about dresses and colour schemes... Rhys sipped from his glass before asking loudly, “...so does this mean another Torchwood wedding?” the memories of his own, rather unusual nuptials rattling through his slightly inebriated brain...

 

There was a stunned silence as those who were there remembered and those who weren’t recalled the stories...

 

Peter leant towards Lois, “...how do you fancy getting married in the Bahamas?” as the hub erupted into delighted laughter...

Epilogue http://zazajb.livejournal.com/26771.html

 

 

 


zazajb: (tw ep4 janto)

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
 

 


zazajb: (Ianto anxious)

Title: Lost inside of you Part 35/36+epilogue
Author: zazajb
Rating: NC-17 overall, adult concepts, occasional strong language, M/M
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Martha/Tom, The Doctor [10] Lois/Peter
Spoilers - TW anything is possible - via memories, inc DW
Summary: Sequel to No place to hide. 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

X-posted jackxianto, jantolution, TW_proper – apologies to those getting this numerous times!

A/N - please remember that I am a hopeless romantic and Janto rules...now forgive me...

 
Thank you to the awesome [livejournal.com profile] wykling for the wonderful banner


 

Chapter 35

 

Gwen and Lois rubbed their tired eyes and sighed heavily. They’d been working on the CCTV footage all night, aside from the hour just after midnight that they’d spent chasing a lone Weevil around Bute Park... Sifting through every feed frame by frame was incredibly tedious and even with Tosh’s enhanced programs there were still few shortcuts they could employ without risking missing what they were looking for...

 

“Another ten minutes and then we’ll stop? My eyes are so tired now I can barely focus! What I need is sleep and Ianto’s coffee on an intravenous drip..!”

 

Lois nodded in sympathetic agreement as she loaded the next timeframe and the two women bent their heads once more over the screen, concentration etched into their faces.

 

Down in autopsy, Peter had completed his examination of the two bodies. Both had the distinctive residual rift energy signature around their necks – both murdered by their elusive stranger. After writing up the report, Peter returned to his study of the printouts of Jack and Ianto’s brain waves, comparing and looking for any minute differences that might indicate what had caused the young Welshman to black out...like the girls’, it was slow and tedious work... He was startled by a loud yell from Gwen and he dropped the printout and sprinted up the stairs...

 

Fuck...oh my God...fuck...” Gwen’s hand flew to her mouth and her eyes were wide, an expression of combined horror and fear, “...we have to find Jack and Ianto...

 

Lois and Peter looked at the dark image on the screen...at the man with chiselled high cheekbones in a distinctive red and white jacket... “Who is it?” Lois leant against Peter as he put an arm round her shoulder and hugged her close.

 

“John Hart...” Gwen’s voice shook

 

“Oh shit!” Twin gasps from Lois and Peter who knew the infamous Captain Hart only by reputation, but knew enough to recognise that it was bad news...

 

Gwen was already calling Jack’s mobile, leaving him a short message to contact her urgently when it went into answer phone. She was dialling Ianto when the roller door opened and the Welshman appeared. He was alone and he looked tense... “Where’s Jack?”she asked the second the door closed behind him.

 

Ianto shrugged his shoulders, “...he’s not here?”

 

“No...we thought he was with you..?”

 

“Obviously...he’s not...I don’t know where he is...” he turned and walked calmly up the stairs towards the kitchen, his hands driven deep into his pockets so they wouldn’t see how badly they were shaking... where was Jack? Where had he been since 3.00am? He put the coffee on and tried calling Jack. It rang into answer phone. He tried twice more with the same result. Jack was either avoiding his calls or he was lying dead somewhere and right now he’d actually prefer it to be the latter...at least if he’s dead he’s not deliberately avoiding me...

 

He bit down hard on his trembling lip and blinked the tears away impatiently. He loved Jack more than life itself and he was going to fight for him...whatever it took...what had Scott said..? a life without risk is a life half-lived...come back to me Jack...

 

Pouring the coffees he dug out some of Gwen and Lois’ favourite double chocolate muffins and a couple of Florentines for Peter – they all looked totally done in so he could only assume they’d been here all night... He tried Jack again, to no avail, before taking the laden tray downstairs and handed out the mugs. Gwen looked at him and opened her mouth to speak, closing it again without a word – despite the suit and efficient manner Ianto looked completely broken...whatever had happened between him and Jack, it hadn’t been good... She sighed softly...how could she add to his burden..? and yet she knew she had no choice – he had to know...

 

Ianto looked at her and nodded briefly. “I know it’s bad news...tell me...” She handed him the print of the image, grimacing at the expression that crossed his face before the impassive and controlled exterior wall went up. John Hart...but then you already knew that he chided himself... “Does Jack know?”

 

Gwen hesitated and shook her head, “I’ve tried calling but he’s not answering...” She reached out towards the young Welshman, gasping as she saw the expression blazing in his eyes – it was fire and anger and love and devotion, all wrapped in an aura of steely determination... He looked much older than his tender years and she instinctively knew that he’d die before he gave up the fight to save the people he loved...his Jack...

 

“Ok, fill me in on what’s been happening here and then I’ll go and find him – I know all his hiding places...” Quickly, Gwen ran through the developments at the hub, while Ianto sipped his coffee, nodding now and again. Peter added the details of the cause of death for the two bodies – broken neck for both, plus an update from the hospital that the numbers of unexplained headaches had plummeted to almost zero...all since the riots...

 

“Yeah, I’m not that surprised about that...” Ianto gave Peter a rueful smile, “...our Captain Hart’s got himself a specific target now...” He turned to Gwen. “Right, I’m going to check all Jack’s known haunts, I’ll ring you in an hour...can you see if you can track where Hart went once he left number 34..?”

 

“I’m going to keep sifting through your brain waves readouts – there must be something in there to help us...” Peter patted him on the shoulder, “....good luck...”

 

 Ianto left, the roller door clunking back into place behind him as he headed for the roofs he knew Jack preferred...quite what he was going to say when he found him, he didn’t know...

 

Jack had returned to the house, staying out of sight until he’d seen Ianto drive away. He could see the determined look on his partner’s pale face and it took all his resolve not to run up and throw himself into his arms... As the car disappeared into the distance, he let himself in, and went into the living room. The time capsule still stood in the middle of the floor, the rug heaped up to one side... Jack stared at it, the memories washing over him once more, a sob catching in his throat as he relived the night he’d dug it up...

Six months had passed since that day...that horrific day when he’d revived on the floor in Thames House to find Gwen crying over their bodies...Ianto’s body... He was just lying there...in his suit, his perfectly knotted tie still in place...he looked asleep...please let this be a bad dream...a nightmare I can wake up from to find him warm in my arms...but he knew it wasn’t a dream... 

This planet was too small – everywhere he went there was something that reminded him of Ianto – whether it was the crystal blue of the sea by the coral reefs of Australia that was the exact same shade as Ianto’s eyes, or the crisp whiteness of the mountain snow that reminded him of Ianto’s favourite dress shirt...even trying to escape the memories by hiding out in the desert in the pyramids had failed because they’d watched that James Bond film together where Jaws had attacked Bond in the desert... No, he had to get off this tiny world because all these memories were killing him – oh, the bitter irony, seeing as how he couldn’t ever die...

Oh yes, Jack remembered it all, the tears rolling down his cheeks as he dug into the soil, finally scrabbling around on his hands and knees to pull out the tin box which he hugged to him as he rocked back and forth – a lonely figure on a dark hillside on a cold, crisp winter’s night...

He tugged off the lid and inhaled deeply, the scent of his beloved Welshman floating out around him. He wiped his fingers on his coat before reaching into the box hesitantly, hands shaking wildly. His heart broke anew as he pulled out the red silk tie that he’d bought the day before they’d buried the capsule...the memories of that day washing over him and he broke again... Holding the tie up to his face, he cried, huge heart-wrenching cries like a wounded animal...

Falling to his knees on the soft pile carpet, Jack tore off the lid of the capsule and raked through the contents, urgently...looking for... His breath hitched as he hugged the tear-stained battered card to his chest, stroking his fingers lovingly over the surface before opening it. Welsh vowels – captured, what seemed like centuries ago – floated around him, clarity enhanced by alien tech when the tiny earth batteries had failed... “Jack Harkness – I love you today, tomorrow and for all eternity...” played out clearly, the whispered, “...I love you...” after a minute pause brought the tears that had filled his eyes spilling down his cheeks, splashing onto the card to add yet another layer of broken emotional DNA to the precious artefact... He played the message again, rocking back and forth on his knees Ianto...IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou...I can’t lose you...not again...but I don’t know what to do...Ianto... He raked his hand aggressively through his hair, tugging painfully at his dark locks, I miss you in my head...I need you...love you...

How could he tell him about the things that he’d done while he was with Hart and the Time Agency? Those five years held some of the worst things he’d ever done...when he’d been with John Hart he’d been just like him and that was something Ianto would never understand...all those horrific memories he’d shared with his loyal, devoted and beloved Welshman paled into insignificance when you stood them alongside Hart and the Agency...they’d been depraved, violent, cruel and utterly ruthless...and it’d seemed like fun – running amok around the universe, chasing the criminals who abused time travel and dealing out their own brand of justice as judge, jury and executioner...I can’t let Ianto see this...the me I was then...it’ll break his heart...and that’ll break mine...

 

His phone rang again and he pulled it out of his pocket, watching Ianto’s name flashing on the caller id. It stopped when the answer phone cut in and the screen went dark. Moments later it rang again and he ran his thumb over the name on the screen until it went dark, only to light up with a message alert. Closing his eyes, Jack pressed his message service on speed dial and listened...you have seven new messages... The first one was from Gwen, asking him to call her urgently, the other six were from Ianto, some calm and businesslike, in others he was obviously distressed, his voice hitching as he pleaded with his Captain to make contact...the final one was a desperate whispered Jack...please...

 

Fresh tears fell and he headed for the bedroom, the bed was unmade – so unlike Ianto and a testament to the distress his Welshman was in – discarded jeans, t-shirt and hoody flung on the chair. Jack scooped up the t-shirt...recognising the Blue Gillespie logo, he hugged it to him and flung himself down onto the bed to bury his face into the fabric, the familiar scent of the man he loved filling his senses as he sobbed, the card clutched in his other hand... Eventually, he could cry no more and he lay there, numb...

 

Ianto had checked three roofs...each time hoping to see the familiar silhouette against the skyline, but each time his heart had sunk as his anxious gaze revealed nothing... Frantically he began searching the places that held special meaning for them...the coffee house that sold their favourite brioche was the first he tried, sighing with relief when he saw the back view of that distinctive coat...

 

“Jack..!” he gasped breathlessly, before icy fear and horror swept through him and he stared... unable to tear his eyes away as his Captain turned round, grinned widely and tugged John Hart in for a passionate kiss, their hands groping down their bodies...Jack...no...this isn’t real... he whimpered and blinked back the tears, closing his eyes and biting hard on his bottom lip. When he opened them again, Jack had vanished... Hart swaggered up to him, licking his lips, “...you should’ve been here five minutes ago, eye candy...you could’ve joined us...” his eyes ran down Ianto’s body suggestively, settling on his groin... “....maybe next time..? or not...why would Jack bother with you when he’s got me...” he smirked, thrusting his hips forward, “...after all, we both know that you don’t quite measure up..!”

 

Ianto leant forwards, his eyes glaring hatred into Hart’s, “...leave me alone...leave Jack alone...or I’ll kill you...” he snarled through gritted teeth.

 

“Oh feisty..! I could take you and snap you like that...” he snapped his fingers, “...or maybe I’ll just take you...hard...”

 

The threat was evident and Ianto clenched his fists, resisting the urge to step back as Hart invaded his personal space, his hot breath on Ianto’s face as fury merged with fear... ”...you touch me and I’ll...”  He jumped violently and instinctively swung his fist back as his arm was grabbed...

 

“...you ok mate? You were talking to yourself there...” a broad Australian twang filtered through his hazy consciousness and he shook his head, opening his eyes to find the entire shop staring at him... Jack and John were nowhere to be seen...

 

“Oh, yeah, sorry...I’m fine...thanks..!” Ianto unclenched his fist and dropped his arm limply to his side, “...sorry...” he mumbled, and nodding briefly at his kind Samaritan, he made a swift exit, breathing deeply in an effort to control the tumbling emotions raging through him. He leant back on the wall and rubbed his hands over his face...Jack...what’s happening...I can’t...” he choked back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm him, biting down hard on his lip, the pain sensation enough to jolt him back to the present...

 

Ianto pushed himself off the wall and straightened his shoulders. He had to keep looking for Jack...had to find him...I love you, Jack...a life without risk... As he strode down the road he realised that his quest was futile in its current form...Jack – and Hart – were everywhere he looked, locked in that passionate embrace, hands everywhere...breaking off to leer at him “...give it up, eye candy...he’s mine...you were only ever a part-time shag..!”

 

“Get. Out. Of. My.Head! “ Ianto spat the words out, cold fury crashing with devastating loss as the tears finally spilled out and he brushed them away impatiently, needing to focus. He turned and headed back to the hub, digging his phone out of his pocket to try Jack again, swearing in frustration when it rang once again into answer phone...

 

John Hart thrust his head back, his eyes closed and his breath a series of pants and gasps as his hand moved furiously...good...oh so good..! as his release sent waves of pleasure through his body. The devastation and loss crashing through the young Welshman was such a turn on...he shuddered again with delicious after-shocks as he replayed the scenes from eye candy’s head...it was even better than he’d hoped for – the two men were each broken and apart...perfect...just perfect...but he wasn’t quite finished yet...he’d been rather taken with Girl No 9...a refreshing surprise to find such an enlightened drama programme on this godforsaken backwater planet... He could see eye candy in the lead role...bit of a giveaway really, seeing as Jack didn’t actually stay dead...

 

The roller door siren blared and Ianto entered the hub, heading straight to Jack’s office. “did you find him?” Gwen called as he crossed the gantry.

 

“Does it look like it?” he snapped, sighing softly as her face crumpled. “Gwen, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you...” he leant on the railing, his shoulders slumped, despair and defeat evident in his every breath. “I don’t know where he is...don’t know where else to look, everywhere I go Hart’s in my head...I don’t know what’s real anymore...” 

 

He rubbed his eyes, willing the tears of frustration away... “No...don’t...” he forced a tiny smile as Gwen moved away from her workstation with the obvious intention of coming to comfort him... “...I just need a few minutes to get my head in order...”

 

Gwen nodded and watched him as he went into Jack’s office and shut the door. “D’you think they’re going to be ok?” Lois whispered the question.

 

“A week ago I’d have given you impossible odds that anything could ever come between them...now..?” Gwen’s voice trailed away and she looked anxiously at the other woman...

 

Peter joined them as they looked up towards the office. “How’s he looking?” He glanced at their faces, “...that bad, eh..? Maybe I should go up...”

 

“He said he needed a few minutes...”

 

“Right...if he’s not out in ten...” They huddled together around the workstation, despondency and exhaustion their only companion...

 

In the office, Ianto slumped in Jack’s chair, his head in his hands...I don’t know what to do Jack... He slid open the desk drawer and pulled out the well worn picture that Gwen had taken all those months ago...the picture that he’d given Jack as a holographic image for a wedding present... a life without risk is a life half lived... fuck John Hart... even if it means risking everything you have...I can’t live without you Jack...so it’s worth dying for...

 

He lowered his shields and reached out for Jack’s mind...making contact but unsurprised when the other man refused him entry. He remained on the perimeter for several minutes before withdrawing without saying anything...Jack wasn’t listening anyway, but just maybe the action itself would be enough...please Jack...please come back to me...

 

Taking a deep breath, he stood up and straightened his tie, tugged down his waistcoat and went back out into the hub. “I’ve done all I can to contact him...now we wait...” he said with as much confidence as he could muster to the upturned faces below...pale, tired faces he noted, guilt washing over him... “I’ll get the coffee on...” he managed a smile, before heading to the kitchen.

 

He was pouring the coffee when he heard the roller door and shot out of the door to look down as his Captain strode in, coat billowing impressively behind him. Anger and relief surged through him and he let it go...there was going to be fireworks and it could cost him everything...a life without risk...

 

Just where the fuck have you been Harkness?” he bellowed from the gantry, planting his hands on his hips as he glared down at the man below...I love you Jack...always...

 

I told you to keep your shields up...it’s too dangerous...Ha...he might really hurt you...”

 

“So seeing you and Hart shagging in my head is ok...? Oh, yeah, we know it’s Hart...guess you did too...” as Jack jumped guiltily at the name “...and just when were you going to tell me that it’s your psychotic ex-boyfriend stalking us..? How long have you known, Jack..?”

 

“...only today...”

 

“...bollocks, Jack...that’s crap and you know it..! You can’t even lie to me properly...”

 

“Don’t you talk to me like that..! I told you to keep your shields up...you’ve got...Hart in your head...fuck knows what he’ll have you doing if you let your defences down...now he’s got access to everything here...have you any idea what he could do with the stuff in your head..? Are you completely irresponsible..?”

 

“Me..? Irresponsible..! I’m not the one who vanished...refused all calls...I had to risk reaching you...we could all have been dead...you’re the irresponsible one...”

 

The two men yelled at each other, oblivious to the three other team members who wrapped their arms around each other for comfort, Lois hugged a frightened His Nids, both Gwen and Lois had tears streaming down their faces and Peter was fighting hard to maintain control as they watched the heartbreaking scenes in front of them...

 

A grating noise filled the air and cut into the fight, papers sent fluttering as the blue Police Box materialised in the middle of the floor.

 

There was sudden silence.

Chapter 36 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/26188.html

 

 


zazajb: (tw ep4 janto)

 

Title: Lost inside of you Part 34/36+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
Spoilers - TW anything is possible - via memories, inc DW
Summary: Sequel to No place to hide. 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

X-posted jackxianto, jantolution, TW_proper – apologies to those getting this numerous times!

A/N - please remember that I am a hopeless romantic and Janto rules...now forgive me...

 

Thanks to the awesome Wykling for the story banner *hugs*

 

 

 

Chapter 34

 

Ianto woke with a start, tears streaming down his face, his breath rasping in his throat as he thrashed wildly in the bed... Strong arms wrapped around him and a comforting warmth pulled him in close... “...ssshhh...you’re ok...it’s ok...”

 

“Jack..?” Ianto’s voice trembled.

 

“Who else would you be in bed with..?” Jack teased him gently, pressing a soft kiss to his damp forehead. “You had a bad dream, sweetheart...” as he cupped the Welshman’s face and his thumbs brushed the tears aside, his lips following the path of his hands to drop gentle kisses all over his skin...

 

“Yeah...bad dream...it was...” he reached out to grasp it as the images slipped away and Ianto was left bereft, knowing that something was off kilter, but having nothing left to tell him exactly what... “...bad...it was...us...I think...” He shook his head, “...doesn’t matter now anyway!”

 

Jack’s hands slid further down his Welshman’s body as he murmured gentle words of love, his fingertips trailing lower, drawing spirals on the soft smooth skin...his mouth pressing feather light kisses to Ianto’s face and neck... He smiled as the young man arched into the touch and arms snaked around his neck pulling him closer so their lips met in a tender kiss...a kiss that developed rapidly as tongues danced in first one mouth then the other, every contour mapped...

 

Ianto pulled away and attacked Jack’s neck, grazing the skin with his teeth before soothing it with his tongue, as he felt the shudders of desire running through the older man, nipping gently across his throat and back up the other side of his neck... He paused at the sensitive spot behind Jack’s ear to suck the soft skin into his mouth, hard enough to leave a bruise and drawing a low moan of combined pain and pleasure from the kiss-swollen lips of his writhing Captain .

 

He returned to those wonderfully responsive lips and kissed them hard, pressing their bodies together as twin arousals twitched sending delicious sparks of red hot desire raging through their heads... Jack wound his legs around Ianto’s and rolled them over, pinning his Welshman down as he mirrored his actions in his head to give him double the sensation...

Ianto’s breath was coming in short gasps and pants as his Captain returned to the exploration of his body, trailing his tongue down through the soft, downy hair on his chest to circle a nipple, teasing the nub of flesh with his teeth before sliding across to give the other side equal attention. Ianto writhed and moaned and thrust against the warm mouth, his head thrown back, eyes closed and lips parted...  In his head, Jack’s mouth nibbled his way down the smooth skin of his chest, an echo of his physical actions...

Ianto gasped as Jack’s hands moved lower, pressing against the hot swelling with the heel of his hand to tease a loud moan from those delicious lips...Jack’s sensual echo in his head continued as his tongue trailed down lower... Ianto’s eyes sprung open, horror replacing desire as he examined the seduction dance in his head...that wasn’t his chest...that was a smooth hairless chest...who was Jack seducing in his head..?

Ianto’s body froze, his libido doused in ice water as he pushed Jack away and scrambled out of bed, flashes of images flitting through his head from his nightmare earlier...

Jack sat up, confused... What’s wrong..?

Who, precisely, are you shagging in your head?

You! Who else would I be..? There’s only you...what’s the matter with you..? Jack reached out towards the young man, narrowing his eyes when he backed away, what’s going on Ianto..? What’s with all the questions..? Come back to bed...

Not until I know what’s going on in your head...you were kissing me...my body...my hair-covered chest...

...so..? I love your hairy chest...sexy and manly...

Ianto planted his hands on his hips and glared at his partner... so who’s the hair-free smooth chest in your head..? It certainly wasn’t me... who were you wishing it was..?

There is no-one else Yan...not for a very long time...it’s you and only you...come back to bed...please...

I can’t...not if you’ve got someone else in your head...I can’t go through that Jack...I can’t share...

For fuck’s sake Ianto...there isn’t anyone else...there’s only you...you must’ve imagined it...you’re stressed...come back to bed...I’ll make it better...I promise...

A battle was raging in Ianto’s head...he wanted to believe Jack...he did believe him...really he did...but who or what was the smooth chest he’d seen..? He frowned again, biting down hard on his lip...he hadn’t imagined it...something was wrong – but he had no idea what or how to convince Jack he wasn’t imagining it... He moved a step closer to the bed and Jack’s outstretched hand...

The look of relief that spread across the older man’s face was the clincher and he reached his own hand out to make contact, sliding back under the covers and into his Captain’s arms...

I don’t know what’s going on, Yan, but there is only you...now and for as long as we have...please believe me...I can’t lose you again...

I do believe you, really...and you know how much I love you...but these things in my head...they’re so real and I can’t stop them...

Then let me take your mind off them... Jack held him close and flooded his head with memories...of his proposal on the rooftop, their ceremony, of dancing...making love frantically on the floor in their suite on their wedding day...standing under the ood sky with the Doctor...

Ianto’s fears were swept away and he reached out a trembling hand to caress Jack’s face softly... “I love you, Jack Harkness...show me the stars...” he whispered, his gentle sigh lost against Jack’s mouth as his lips were claimed in a sweet and gentle kiss that had his stomach performing a series of back flips...Jack’s fingers trailing a feather light touch down his spine and he arched his body towards the touch... The kiss deepened as Jack’s tongue swept through Ianto’s mouth, mapping his territory possessively and the Welshman lost himself in the sensations that spread through his body, every nerve ending tingling, muscles taut, every cell super-charged with anticipation...

John Hart grunted his release as he thrust hard into his hand, his mind full of images of an angry and confused eye candy...nectar to his bitter heart... He’d followed the development of the seeds he’d planted in the young man’s subconscious, delighted that they’d shown so quickly...he had high hopes they’d bring him yet more fruit...he wouldn’t rest until he’d split them up and left both men broken and alone...then he’d have to decide which one he wanted to mend...that was shaping up to be a tough choice... Sated and good tempered, he fell asleep, his dreams sweet and full of broken eye candy...and the neighbourhood rested with him for the first time in many days...

Ianto arched his sweat-slicked body as wave after wave of pleasure swept through him, blissful sensations that left him trembling from head to toe. He felt Jack in his head, their consciousness entwined as one...

...come with me...

...always...

He reached out, anticipating that one perfect moment where heartbeats were synchronised, where every breath was shared and time stood still...the place for true soul mates and ultimate lovers...

...and hit the ground hard... Jack..? Jack...where are you..? J a c k . . . Ianto’s mind screamed out in despair and anguish as Nirvana was denied him and his connection with Jack was lost...cut off brutally and he was cast aside in the wilderness... He could see the shimmering lights of paradise in the distance and he ran towards them only to hit an invisible shield that flung him backwards to land sprawling in the dust. He scrambled up as a figure approached...a figure that he recognised from his nightmare...

You! What are you doing here..? Get out of my way...” His eyes narrowed, anger overpowering the initial fear response.

The man smiled – it wasn’t a nice smile... “So, he hasn’t told you...you don’t belong here – you don’t have the right...” He smirked as Ianto looked confused... “You need to ask your boyfriend...I mean your civil partner...” a scowl crossed his face as he spat the words out. “Oh, and I’ll be watching you...” he tapped his fingers to his temple and was gone.

Ianto blinked as he landed back in real time, shivering violently and momentarily disorientated. He opened his eyes to see Jack gazing down at him with tears pouring down his cheeks, a haunted look in his eyes and his body trembling...

“Jack, what happened? It wouldn’t let me in...” He shook his head, desperately trying to hold on to the images as they slid away... “There was someone else there...they said I didn’t have the right, I didn’t belong and that you should’ve told me... What should you’ve told me?” Screwing his face up, Ianto searched in his head for the elusive face, but it had gone...just a blank space remained...and a feeling of cold rage that he couldn’t quite explain...

Jack pulled Ianto to him and rocked him gently, “I’m sorry...so sorry...Yan, believe me...I love you so much...and I’m so sorry...”

“What is it Jack? Tell me...” talk to me, cariad...please...you’re scaring me...

“Talk aloud...we can’t risk thought sharing...this thing...person...has got inside our heads and I don’t know how to stop it...or even what’s real anymore...and I’m sorry I can’t explain...but it’s all my fault...”

“Jack...please, tell me...whatever it is...we can work it out...” He held on tightly as he felt his Captain attempting to move away, “...don’t go...please Jack...please...don’t leave me...” Ianto was sobbing now, his tears merging with Jack’s as he desperately tried to hold him close.

Jack’s strength won out and Ianto submitted, his hands dropping limply to his sides as silent floods slid down his face. He lay still as the love of his life climbed out of bed and pulled on his clothes. Jack paused at the door and looked round, his distress showing clearly on his handsome face, “I need to think...keep your shields up...I’ll be back as soon as I can...I do love you, Ianto...” Then he was gone and a moment later Ianto heard the front door close.

He dragged Jack’s pillow into his arms and curled into a ball around it as he sobbed his heart out, every doubt and fear let out to play and they danced joyously in the shadows... Eventually he could cry no more and he shoved the bedclothes aside, staggering into the en suite where he splashed cold water onto his red and blotchy face, gripping the edge of the sink as he stared at his reflection.

When had it all gone so wrong..? He attempted to replay the events in his head but they made no sense, snatches of conversations he didn’t recall having, images he didn’t quite recognise, yet were somehow familiar... Remembering Jack’s imploring look as he’d issued the instruction, Ianto put his shields up, instantly missing the warmth of Jack’s mind nestled against his – even if they weren’t speaking it was still comforting to have him there...a reminder of how it had been...how it could be again...I love you Jack...

Biting down hard on his lip, he sighed deeply and returned to the bedroom. He glanced at the clock...almost 5.00am... He dragged on a pair of jeans, and, blinking back fresh tears, pulled the time capsule Blue Gillespie t-shirt over his head. He smoothed it gently down his body and tucked it in, fighting back the sobs that threatened his fragile emotional control, before reaching for a hoody which he slid on over the top. Making his way to the kitchen he made a cup of coffee, noting sadly that this was the third time in as many days that he’d made coffee for one... He inhaled deeply and hugged Jack’s blue and white striped mug to him as the tears welled again...

He let himself out of the back door and walked down to the end of the garden. It was still quite dark and the air was still, the sound of the waves breaking on the shore distinctive and soothing. Ianto made his way out of the back gate and down on to the beach, settling himself down on the sand as he sipped his coffee. When the mug was empty he set it down by his side and wrapped his arms around his knees as he gazed out over the sea... unable for the moment to find a way to control the tumbling thoughts and emotions that tangled in his head and let the tears fall unchecked down his face.

It was some considerable time later, when the sun had crept above the horizon and Ianto’s backside, hands and feet had long since gone numb, that he was dragged out of his trance-like state by a cold wet nose nudging him inquisitively and a black furry tail whipping his legs...

“Harris..! Come back here..!”

Ianto looked up towards the voice to see the tall sandy-haired man of the couple he’d watched on the beach the day before walking towards him.

“Sorry...he’s very friendly!” a gentle smile spread across the man’s face as the black cocker spaniel danced around his feet, tail wagging madly, barking as it was joined by another spaniel, a golden one this time, and an excited Jack Russell. They rushed at Ianto who grinned and held his hand out towards them for inspection, patting them as they decided he was friend rather than foe.       

The man held his hand out “Scott, good to meet you, let me introduce the family...this is Harris, the golden spaniel is Charlie and that...” he indicated the Jack Russell who was excitedly digging down to Australia, showering them with sand, “...is Captain Jack...”

 

Ianto grinned, “Cool name! Ianto...” he shook the hand Scott held out and struggled to his feet, groaning a little at the stiffness in his limbs.  

 

Scott looked at him quizzically, “...are you ok? I have to admit I sent Harris down to find you – I’ve been watching you for a while and I was a bit worried you were gonna freeze to death out here!”

 

“I’m fine...really...” he gave Scott a rueful half-smile and scrubbed at his tear-stained face, aware that he looked anything but fine...

 

“You want to talk about it? I’m a good listener and you look like you could use a friendly ear...we could walk the dogs..?”

 

Ianto found himself warming to this quietly spoken man with his soft blue eyes and gentle smile. He nodded and stretched his shoulders, reaching down to pick up Jack’s empty mug. “I saw you yesterday...with your partner and the photographer – the dogs made me laugh...he looks nice...your partner...”

 

Scott’s eyes sparkled and a brilliant smile lit up his face. “John’s a force of nature...he’s larger than life and yeah...he’s very nice! He’d like you too...despite the obvious tear tracks and frozen extremities! It’s his fault I noticed you – he had to be up early as he’s filming in London today and we needed to be here yesterday for the magazine shoot...and if he’s awake – the whole world’s awake! So once he’d left I decided to take the dogs out – I’ve been peering down the beach for over an hour to make sure you were still alive..! So, tell Uncle Scott what’s got Ianto so upset...”

 

“It’s complicated...”

 

“It usually is...”

 

“Jack...my partner...he sounds a bit like John – always on the go, loud, boundless energy...life and soul of the party...but he’s gentle and caring too...especially when we’re on our own and he doesn’t have to be the great hero...”

 

“Ah, so he’s the one with the coat! John was enthusing about a hot bloke in a 1940s greatcoat yesterday when he came in...he was rather taken with him...as I recall great smile, cute arse and dancing blue eyes...

 

“Yeah, that’s him! I love that coat...if you know what I mean..!” Ianto grinned at Scott who raised his eyebrows and chuckled...

 

“I think I get the picture..! So, tell me all about Jack...”

 

They walked slowly down the beach and Ianto found himself chatting easily to this lovely man, giving nothing away about what they did but more exchanging stories about their men and the things they did to make them laugh or wind them up...it was nice to talk to someone outside Torchwood and an hour soon flew by...

 

They stopped at the path for the gate to Ianto’s back garden. The Welshman held out his hand, “Scott, thank you, you’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know...”

 

“Y’know, sometimes when I’m trying to keep up with John’s crazy life and I’m feeling just a little left behind, I think about what it was that made me fall in love with him in the first place...and I go to watch him perform...and when he comes off that stage I fall in love with him all over again... One thing he always says is ‘a life without risk is a life half lived’ and I don’t want a half life and I don’t think you do either... If you love Jack, then he’s worth fighting for – even if it means risking everything you have...”

 

Smiling softly, Scott took Ianto’s outstretched hand and pulled him in for a hug. “If you do want to talk about it, you know where I am...well at least for the rest of this week...I think – he gives me a copy of his schedule every week, but I never read the damn thing so I quite often have no idea where he’ll be or where I’m supposed to be! Take care Ianto...”

 

With a wave and a spring in his step Ianto went back up the path, into the kitchen where he made a fresh coffee and headed for the shower, turning it on to warm while he sorted out a clean suit and Jack’s favourite purple shirt and red tie...it was time to take a few risks if he was to get his man back...

 

Jack was stood on his favoured rooftop. He’d been there for hours, thinking and trying not to think... Everything he’d fought for hung in the balance now and he didn’t have a clue what to do...how did he fight this...this invisible enemy that was in his head...in Ianto’s head... Clenching his fists he cursed the day he’d ever laid eyes on John Hart...

 

John Hart yawned and stretched...everything was working out just as he’d planned ...time to twist the knife...

 

Chapter 35  http://zazajb.livejournal.com/25782.html
 

zazajb: (Ianto tears)

Title: Lost inside of you Part 33/36+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
Spoilers - TW anything is possible - via memories, inc DW
Summary: Sequel to No place to hide. 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

X-posted jackxianto, jantolution, TW_proper – apologies to those getting this numerous times!

A/N  1 - thanks to the wonderful badly_knitted for solving a hitch in procedings - you're wonderful!
A/N 2 -please remember that I am a hopeless romantic and Janto rules...now forgive me...

 

Thanks to the awesome Wykling for the story banner *hugs*

 

 

 

Chapter 33

 

Ianto took a deep breath and wiped his eyes. He didn’t know if he felt better or worse for the release of tension. Jack had obviously felt the same...he’d watched him from the top of the steps as he’d sobbed in Peter’s arms, his heart breaking for the man he loved completely despite the anger he still felt at those few careless words...

 

He dragged himself to his feet and bent to retrieve the spare keys from the floor, pushed through the letterbox by the workmen once they’d finished putting the wardrobes and other bedroom furniture together... He walked slowly through the house, checking the finish of each room, nodding with satisfaction at the end results. The beds needed making of course, curtains needed hanging, plus minor finishing touches like pictures and so on, but it was taking shape just as he’d imagined it would...

 

He went into the kitchen and sorted out some beans for his coffee...it was nice to have his choice for a change...although, this would be twice in a few days that he’d made coffee just for himself...not a habit he wanted to get into, he mused. It was incredibly girly, but he felt a teeny bit better as he poured his coffee, using Jack’s blue and white striped mug...

 

Shaking his head, he headed into the guest rooms to make up beds, hang the curtains and put up pictures, pausing every fifteen minutes to check in with Jack...nothing in depth or personal, a simple “I’m fine” before hanging up.

The guest rooms were soon completed and he headed into the master bedroom to make up their bed and hang the curtains, wondering when they’d actually be able to spend their first night in this room... After his next check-in call he headed out to the garden with a fresh mug of coffee and sat on the bench to look out over the sea... The sun’s reflection twinkled on the waves and he felt a rush of peace and serenity, reminding him just why he’d fallen in love with this house...their retreat from all things Torchwood...just them...

 

He almost dropped his...ok, Jack’s mug in his eagerness to pull his phone out of his pocket, pressing #1 on his speed dial... “Ianto...what’s wrong?” Jack’s voice was anxious, panicked even...

 

“Nothing...I just wanted to...to...” his voice trailed away, imagining Jack busy doing whatever he was doing to try and track down this stranger while he was here making up beds and drinking coffee in the fading sunlight...he suddenly felt very guilty...

 

“...to..?” Jack prompted him gently, sounding much more like his Jack than their heroic leader...

 

“...to tell you that I love you...and I’m sorry I’m being such a petulant brat...”

 

“Love you too...and you’re forgiven...if I am too...” the tone was soft, the words whispered so they caressed his ear and sent a wave of warmth through him, a huge smile breaking across his face...

 

“Always, cariad...”

 

“I’ll bring some dinner over later...you can show me what you’ve been doing. Remember, we’re timeless...

 

“...and eternal...” Ianto’s voice shook with emotion as he hung up and hugged the phone to him, still grinning from ear to ear. He replayed the brief conversation in his head until the sound of voices dragged him from his reverie and he stood up, looking down over the beach to see two men with their arms entwined around each other, three excited dogs, another man with a huge light and an umbrella and a photographer...

 

The photographer was shouting instructions at both the couple and the man with the light while the dogs ran up and down madly and generally got under everyone’s feet much to the delight of the dark haired man of the couple as he laughed – loudly and infectiously... Ianto found himself chuckling as he watched their antics... Guess our entertainer and his partner are home...

 

He looked closer, they were a handsome couple, both wore shorts, the dark haired one had what looked like ugg boots on, while the sandy haired, taller of the two, wore sandals...both were smiling broadly and it was obvious that these smiles were genuine...even at this distance Ianto could see the sparkle in their eyes as they looked at each other... They moved away up the beach in response to the photographer’s demands and were soon out of sight, although he could still hear the dogs barking...

 

He stood a while longer and finished his coffee before heading back inside to drop the mug into the sink and then went out to his car...he still had to thank Lois for collecting it for him when he’d been knocked out...and for doing the two items he was currently unpacking...

 

He carried the chequer-plate tin box into the living room and set it down on the floor, gazing at it with a mix of fondness and ambivalence...it certainly had some history... He thought back to the day before they’d buried it – it seemed so long ago now, but he remembered it like yesterday...

 

They’d had warm brioche for breakfast, fed the ducks by paddling in the pond, shopped in Sartoriani for new shirts and ties, danced on the Quay to the soulful sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and then made love with a tenderness and passion like it was their last ever time... Ianto closed his eyes, reliving the memory... 

 

Jack reached up to release Ianto’s hands from the ladder and turned him back round, the young man immediately sliding his still-tied wrists over his Captain’s head as they kissed tenderly. Finally breaking apart many long minutes later, Jack untied Ianto’s hands and kissed his wrists softly. Then he tugged the t-shirt over his head and climbed up the ladder to place both the t-shirt and the tie into the box, laying the t-shirt at the bottom as a lining and replacing the pictures, toys, memory sticks, card, coffee beans, post-its and the tie on top. He leant down and inhaled the unique scent that was his Welshman, closing his eyes as he closed the lid and sealed the box, before turning to meet the young man’s tear-filled eyes as he watched from half way up the ladder. That’s me...in a box...memories for when I’m dead...

 

Ianto blinked back the tears at the memory...just a few short days later the 456 had demanded millions of earth’s children and he’d died in Jack’s arms... He opened the box and reached in, pulling out the familiar Blue Gillespie t-shirt...this was the first of many t-shirts he owned with this particular band’s logo on – not only was the lead singer pretty hot, the band and logo had come to represent something very special in his life...Jack...

 

Ianto placed the t-shirt to one side and rummaged around in the box, looking for...ah, he gazed at the card he’d recorded a message in for his Captain...it was looking a bit battered and tear-stained now, but Jack had told him he’d opened it every day after he’d dug the box up...six months after defeating the 456 at such terrible cost...every day, no matter where he was as he’d travelled the world and then the cosmos, looking desperately for a place to hide...somewhere he could stop the pain...searching for an absolution that would never come...

 

He sighed heavily and put the card back without opening it...it was too raw, too painful... He stood abruptly and went out into the kitchen to pick up the bag of freshly printed pictures, soft toys, post-its and other sentimental items that he’d spirited away from the hub and his flat in the hope that Jack wouldn’t miss them before he’d had a chance to show him the updated time capsule...

 

Reaching into the bag he pulled out the final two items, his wedding present to Jack...two keys that looked like car remotes and two deep grey slate cubes. Pressing the first one, he watched as it shimmered and a perfect 3D image of them curled around each other fast asleep – Jack’s favourite picture of them- hovered above the surface... Perfect! He pressed the button twice and the image shut off. Checking the second one, he smiled at the image of Jack’s parents that he’d taken on his brief trip with the doctor, his mum’s baby bump very evident...the baby bump that would be Jack once he was born... Clicking the off button, Ianto placed the cubes and their keypads carefully into the box and closed the lid, covering the box with their picnic blanket...another battered item of sentimental value...

 

After another quick check-in call to Jack, he turned his attention to the various pictures and ornaments for the living room... A pair of shimmering red glass vases from the third planet in orbit around Orion [whose name he could never pronounce] went nicely either side of the fireplace, bringing out the colour of the sofas... He added cream scatter cushions, each with a tiny embroidered red Welsh dragon in one corner, to the sofas and chairs, plus some pictures of the teams, past and present...

 

Finally he picked out the model of a sailboat that Owen had left to him saying that it reminded him of the two lovers...Ianto recalled an evening in the pub after a particularly hard day when a semi-drunken Owen had talked about this model of a boat he had...

 

It’s the boss and the tea boy...it comes in two halves – the top bit rides the waves, here, there...going with the swell no matter which direction that might be, the bottom is the keel, the stability, the calm guidance that keeps the boat upright so it can go wherever it wants to safely... Don’t you see..? Jack’s the top and Ianto’s the bottom..!”

 

The team had dissolved into giggles, adding their own, slightly saucier, interpretation of the medic’s words...

 

After the tragic events at Turnmill, Ianto had been surprised to learn that Owen had bequeathed the boat to him, an emotional moment when he’d split the two halves to find a note in the acerbic medic’s scruffy handwriting... Take care of each other tea boy – the boss really does love you! Beneath that gruff exterior lay a heart of gold, whether it was beating or not... The memory nudged the tears again and he blinked rapidly, setting the boat down carefully on the shelf...   

 

The next hour flew past as he unpacked the bags of shopping that had been delivered the same day as the furniture – all non perishable items, cleaning materials, toiletries...all those things that are ‘just there’ in a home and never noticed unless you run out of them! He had his head in the cupboard under the sink when he heard the sound of a key in the lock and he jumped up hurriedly to complete his preparations for giving Jack his wedding gift...

 

“Ianto..?”

 

“In here...” as he added the large bow to his lapel and finished turning so his hands ended up pinned to his sides...

 

Jack came into the kitchen, swinging a carrier bag of food containers, “...I got us Chinese...” his voice dropping to a whisper as he took in the sight of his gorgeous Welshman wrapped in red ribbon from head to foot, a large matching bow on his left lapel and a tag pinned to his right... Jack dropped the carrier bag on the worktop and leapt towards the young man, his eyes lighting up at the smouldering look of desire blazing out of Ianto’s own blue eyes...

 

He reached for the tag, suddenly realising that his hand was trembling and he smiled...that you-know-me-better-than-anyone-so it’s-ok-to-drop-the-hero smile...intimate and full of love... The message was simple   Jack, all the time I have...I’m yours. Love you, I x Jack’s eyes filled with tears as he reached out to cup Ianto’s face tenderly before crushing their lips together for a passionate kiss that took the Welshman’s breath away...their shields dropped simultaneously and declarations of love merged with steamy images of desire as their minds entwined joyously...

 

“Jack...you need to unwrap me..!” Ianto gasped as they broke off for air, “I can’t move in this..!”

 

Laughing helplessly as he unwound the mass of ribbon, Jack pressed kisses to Ianto’s face, neck, hair...any part of him that came within reach... “How did you get yourself so wrapped up..? It’s very erotic...you know how I like you tied up...” he sent a stream of previous encounters into the young man’s head that had them both panting, arousal straining against the constraints of their clothing...

 

“Taped the end to the worktop and wound myself in it till the roll was empty...the cardboard tube’s over there on the floor somewhere...” Ianto’s voice was heavy with desire, “...you gonna talk or finish unwrapping your present..!” as his arms struggled free and he dragged Jack to him, claiming his mouth hungrily as his tongue explored with possessive intent and they melted into each other, the kiss hard and full of feral want...

 

...fuck Yan..! Jack’s senses swam as he was kissed into oblivion...

 

...that’s the general idea..! Ianto shuffled sideways, his legs still hampered by the trailing ribbon, and slammed Jack back against the door, hands fisting through hair and raking over bodies, their hips grinding together as waves of red hot passion swept them away ...the bed’s made...

 

Panting hard, Ianto pulled away regretfully from Jack’s amazing mouth and tugged at the remaining ribbon, shoving it down to mass at his ankles so he could step out of it before grabbing Jack’s hand and dragging him into the bedroom... They fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and lost themselves in a series of blissful kisses and mounting desire...no thoughts...just feelings and sensations...

 

Jack’s hands swept over Ianto’s body, pushing the jacket from his shoulders, then loosening the red silk at his throat, eyes locked on the Welshman’s blue depths, drowning in the intensity of the emotion that blazed within... His fingers trembled as they tugged the tie out from his collar and flung it away, moving to unbutton his shirt...his eyebrows arching in surprise to find another layer under the purple Swiss cotton...

 

Ianto lay very still as Jack finished unbuttoning his shirt and pushed it aside, gazing at the very familiar Blue Gillespie t-shirt... His mouth gaped open as his head was suddenly filled with the memories of that week...the week before...before the children stopped...

 

Neither moved for long moments and then they were holding each other tightly, tears streaming down their cheeks as the tension of the recent days broke... It was some time before either was able to speak, their heads spinning with tangled images and emotions...

 

Ianto sat up and wiped his eyes before turning to Jack and tenderly wiping away his tears too. Brushing his lips lightly against his Captain’s he entwined their hands and pulled him gently towards the living room, shushing the older man’s questions until he stopped in front of the picnic rug-covered capsule...

 

He felt Jack’s breath hitch as realisation set in and the older man dropped to his knees, dragging the blanket off to reveal the tin below. Jack hesitated before slipping the catches and cautiously opening the lid, peering inside, carefully lifting out the slate cubes and placing them on the coffee table before activating them. He sat back on his heels and gazed at the 3D images that hovered in the air before reaching his hand out tentatively to caress the shimmering figures...

 

...they’re beautiful...so beautiful...thank you... He held his arms out and Ianto fell into them, their lips meeting softly in a gentle kiss that said more than any words could ever say... Breaking their kiss just long enough to stand, Jack took his beloved Welshman back to the bedroom and made love to him, worshipping his body until he flew with angels and, panting and sated, they lay curled in each other’s arms kissing softly as sleep claimed them...

 

John Hart had endured their lovemaking through gritted teeth and some extreme distraction techniques, finding himself more and more attracted to the intense Welshman he was studying with the intention of smashing into tiny pieces... Now he was laying back, freshly released from imagining taking the young man hard and fast... Sated, he began sifting through all the new information he’d gathered from their thoughts...this was going to be easier than he thought... sweet dreams eye candy...

 

The roller door siren blared as he entered the hub. It was in darkness...he frowned...Jack was here...he’d said to meet him here... He squinted as his eyes adjusted to the gloom and ran lightly up the stairs towards Jack’s office...empty... He swung round as he heard smothered laughter...it was coming from the Hothouse...He’s playing hide and seek again...bloody Harkness! Grinning with delicious anticipation he slipped out of his jacket and hung it on the back of Jack’s chair before heading across the gantry and was unbuttoning his shirt as he pushed open the door...

 

His greeting froze in his throat as he took in the sight before him... Jack was semi naked – no top and his trousers were undone, the muted light in the Hothouse reflected the taut lines of his body...the body Ianto loved to run his hands over...to feel it quiver at his touch...to kiss and caress...to own...to possess...

 

“Who the fuck is that Jack?”

 

Jack turned towards him and grinned – a wanton lecherous grin – before his mouth was captured by the other man...the other man who was equally attired – or rather, not attired - semi naked... Jack’s hands pushed down inside the other man’s trousers drawing loud groans of appreciation from rosy pink lips, his hands then mirroring the Captain’s as they dived into his open flies to claim his prize...

 

The two men thrust hard into each other’s hands, desire-laden moans filled the air as they ground against each other, kissing hard...biting at necks, chests... Ianto took a step towards them, fury running white hot through his veins...”I said – Who. The. Fuck. Is. That?”

 

The other man turned, his face familiar...leering... “He’s mine...he’s always been mine...you were just a part-time shag to keep the bed warm...but I’m back now and I’m claiming what’s mine...”

 

Horror replaced fury...

 

 “Jack...no...No...Jack...NO...NO...Jack..!”

 

Chapter 34  http://zazajb.livejournal.com/25243.html


zazajb: (All the time we have)

 Title: Lost inside of you Part 32/36+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
Spoilers - TW anything is possible - via memories, inc DW
Summary: Sequel to No place to hide. 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

X-posted jackxianto, jantolution, TW_proper – apologies to those getting this numerous times!

A/N - sorry for the long delay – RL, challenges and needing to go over lots of details meant this took far longer than anticipated...

 

Thanks to the awesome Wykling for the story banner *hugs*

     

 


Chapter 32

 

Jack pulled back gently from Ianto’s soft and sensual lips, cupping his face as he brushed his thumbs tenderly over the young man’s pink flushed cheeks, “I love you...” he whispered, repeating it like a mantra in his head, “...and I was so scared that I’d lost you...” His breath caught in his throat as his thoughts replayed the scenes from earlier, I can’t lose him...not again...Ianto... the raw fear and helplessness washing over Ianto like a tidal wave as they held each other, minds entwining like a tapestry...locking consciousness together...don’t leave me...

 

Grasping the young man by the shoulders, Jack stared into his eyes, reassured by the intensity of the love that blazed out of them... “Before we...” he smiled softly at the images that fed into his head, raising an eyebrow, you’ve got that much energy..? “I want to check out your head as ordered by our good doctor...it might feel a bit strange...impersonal...ok..?” He brushed their lips together lightly, a barely there touch of reassurance as the young man nodded and closed his eyes, breathing deeply...

 

Closing his own eyes, Jack slid into Ianto’s head and began a deep scan, calling on long unused mind techniques from his Time Agent days... Ianto shivered involuntarily at the cold touch, so unlike the gentle caresses he was used to...sorry...just breathe... Jack worked methodically, looking for any signs of disturbance or tampering that would indicate the origins of the targeted attack on his beloved Welshman...this was personal, I’m sure of it...

 

There was nothing, no vapour trails, no trace footprint...nothing...whatever had been there did not appear to have lingered, but Jack was wary...anything or anyone who could come and go without leaving a trace was far more dangerous than something who rampaged through leaving a tangled mess in its wake...

 

With a final check of the state of Ianto’s shields, which he was pleased to see had increased in strength and complexity – he was a rapid learner – Jack switched back to intimate mode, grinning at the second involuntary shudder as warmth flooded the young man’s head and spread rapidly through his body, coming to rest in one area of his anatomy...

 

Ianto moaned softly as the images in his head sent his entire circulation south... He was vaguely aware of Jack’s hands entwining with his and tugging him off the autopsy table, blinking rapidly when his feet made contact with the floor and he was guided up the steps, across the hub and up again into Jack’s office where they sank onto the sofa...

 

Hands grabbed at clothing, yanking hard to release from waistbands, fumbling with buttons and belts and zips, hot breath shared as frantic kisses were exchanged, interspersed with nips of teeth and wanton moans... It was like nothing they had previously shared...deeply intimate, minds woven together through every level of consciousness, every sense heightened so physical touch had the intensity and power of a volcanic eruption, fire blistering every trail of fingertips across heated flesh... The only sounds were their pants and moans, everything else was felt...from deep within every cell, every fibre of their being and Ianto’s climax sent him into a billion pieces amongst the stars...his eyes closed, lips parted in silent exultation...he was Jack and Jack was him and it defied description in any language as he shuddered again and again through blissful waves of pleasure...

 

They collapsed in a panting tangle of limbs as their bodies trembled and a warm and reassuring glow spread through them, starting in their heads and ending in their toes... Jack ran his fingers lovingly through Ianto’s hair, “...you ok..?”

 

“...mnnnn..!” was the most coherent thought available to the Welshman, prompting a smirk from his Captain as he pressed their lips together, the kiss soft and tender...love you...

 

John Hart licked the blood off his lip where he’d bitten down so fiercely he’d broken the skin, his fingers were clenched so hard they’d locked and he was so angry he was physically trembling, his breath rapid and shallow as he fought to keep control... He’d felt the start of Jack’s deep level scan and had withdrawn briefly, erasing any minute signs of his presence...he’d always been better at this than Jack – not that he’d bothered with all this mind crap back then - before easing back in to feel the full force of their lovemaking...threesomes he could do...this was sheer torture and it was only the promise of knowing he was going to break the pretty Welshman, slowly and very very painfully that kept him from knocking his lights out as he’d done before... First though, he needed to get out of this house...it wouldn’t be long before the Earth Plod came knocking...

 

Jack and Ianto were wrapped in each other’s arms, sharing sweet and endless kisses, gentle sweeps of tongue and soft caresses of faces, neck and hair...time was of no consequence...it was just them, right here..right now... until the roller door blared and they sprang apart in a panic..! Jack grinned and gave Ianto a gentle push towards the cubby hole before he began gathering up their scattered clothing...

 

A very relieved Welshman stood at the bottom of the ladder, catching his trousers and underwear as they dropped down towards him... Moments later the rest of his garments joined him, followed by a grinning and still very naked Captain...

 

“Did anyone see you..?”

 

“Nah...they’ve gone straight down to autopsy with the bodies...” he pulled Ianto towards him and kissed him, feeling the young man melt into his touch... we ok..?

 

Yep...more than ok...

 

Reluctantly parting, they finished dressing and climbed back up the ladder. Ianto headed for the kitchen as Jack leant over the railing to look down into autopsy. Peter was unzipping the second body bag, a cold storage drawer open at his feet ready to receive the old man’s body, the table already occupied by the unknown young man...

“Mr X I presume..?” Jack indicated the broken body on the table as the rest of his team looked up at him.

 

“We think he might be a student...” Gwen wrinkled her nose at the smell of death as she leant over the body. “His face looks vaguely familiar from our trawl of the CCTV footage... Give us twenty minutes or so and I’m sure Lois and I can get you an ID...”

 

Jack nodded as the two women headed up the steps towards him and stopped hesitantly at the top... Correctly guessing their unasked question, he nodded again and smiled softly, “...he’s fine...we’re both fine...really...” Impulsively he pulled them both in for a hug, squeezing tightly before releasing them and skipping lightly down the steps to join the medic at the table.

 

“Looks nasty...”

 

“Yeah, whoever this kid was, he took one hell of a beating...most of it appears to be post-mortem - but that’s not the main issue here...” Peter ran the scanner over the body, Jack frowning as the device beeped when it passed over the neck area...

 

“...that’s the residual rift energy signature...shit, this kid was killed by our attacker...” He turned and sprinted back up the stairs, shouting for Gwen and Lois to meet him in the boardroom... Yan..? You ok..? He paused... sorry...I’m just worried... he smiled at the typical stoic response... ok, I’ll try not to! See you in the boardroom...

 

Ianto was handing the coffees round when Peter joined them and dropped into his chair, clutching at his mug and taking a long drink before looking expectantly at Jack as he waited for the cue to start...

 

Jack was in his usual boardroom position – feet up on the table, a gently purring His Nids in his lap replacing the typically steepled fingers...

 

“Ok...we ready to go?

 

Heads nodded round the table. “Ok, first...Ianto was attacked by whoever or whatever this is...it was a targeted attack as I felt nothing this time...they are going for the people I love...so you must all be on your guard...I’m not losing anyone to this and if anyone wants to back away from this that’s fine...” he looked specifically at Gwen before continuing, “...your families must come first...” He was met with determined looks and ghosts of smiles...I love my team...

 

“Ok, Ianto...”

 

“I’m fine...I blacked out, but no damage...other than slight loss of dignity...” he smiled ruefully and sipped his coffee... cariad...I’m fine...stop worrying...let’s concentrate on stopping this bastard or whatever...we still got that nice new bed to christen..!

 

Oh yea..! “Gwen..?”

“Lois and I were able to match most houses to faces, with just a few unknowns as you know... We struck gold with the Davies’ at number 49 who said they’d seen a strange man in the street a few weeks ago...they didn’t take too much notice as this street is full of students and they just assumed he was a mature student or a visitor... They couldn’t remember anything else about him, other than he seemed ‘creepy’...and he went into the house opposite Mr Llewellyn’s...that’ll be number 34...the one Ianto collapsed outside...

 

Yeah, Andy’s getting a team together to go and storm the place...” as Jack leapt to his feet, thrusting a startled His Nids at Ianto who was sat next to him... “...it’s under control Jack...” she turned to look at Ianto beseechingly, needing to calm the agitated Captain down before he went charging down there...

 

You can’t go in there all guns blazing, cariad...I’ll bet my best tie they won’t find anything...we need to be here...

 

But what if he’s still there...I want to kill him for what it did to you...

 

 I know...but we still don’t know enough...finish the briefing first...

 

Sighing heavily, Jack slumped back in his chair and dragged it closer to Ianto’s, reaching across to grab the Welshman’s hand and hold it tightly... Ianto raised his eyebrow but said nothing and just squeezed back, feeling the older man calming...

 

Gwen continued, “...then a couple of weeks ago when Dyllis was walking back up the road after dropping a birthday card into number 28 she saw – or thought she saw...it was dark she said – the stranger coming out of Ted’s place...no-one saw Mr Llewellyn after that...so it’s safe to assume that he was killed by whoever this stranger is... As for the other body...”

 

Lois took over, clicking the remote and filling the viewscreen with an image of the young man currently residing on their autopsy slab. He was very much alive in this image, his head thrown back as he laughed with a crowd of other young men crossing the road where Malvern Street joined the main road. “This was three weeks ago, so he was alive and well then...we don’t have a name yet...”

 

“We do actually!” Peter interrupted, an apologetic look at Lois for cutting in, “...it’s just come through...I scanned his prints before I came up...and his name is Jason Tighe, he was 19 and a student of Law and Psychology...he was arrested at New Year for taking a leak in some woman’s back garden after a no doubt very boozy student night out...the address he gave...34 Malvern Street...and he was reported missing by his parents yesterday...

 

He also has a residual rift energy signature trace around his neck...”

 

“Oh shit..!” the curse echoed around the table from every member of the team, whilst Ianto streamed a torrent of anxious Welsh into Jack’s head...

 

Jack steeled himself, fighting down the rising panic...crushing Ianto’s fingers with his grip of iron and causing the young man to slide His Nids carefully to the floor before physically loosening Jack’s grip with his other hand...

 

“Right, so we know that this stranger killed Jason, we can accept he also killed the old man...why? We have to assume that maybe Mr Llewellyn saw something he shouldn’t have and so had to be silenced... I’m inclined to agree that this is very like your ‘Star Trek’ scenario...but as there hasn’t been any more large scale random violence I’m inclined to think that now he’s got a definitive target...” he squeezed Ianto’s hand and sent a stream of love and reassurance to the Welshman’s head, “...he’s happy to control his anger or emotions and only use it for a specific purpose...”

 

Pausing for breath, Jack glanced round at his team, their faces reflecting determination and concentration... “Right, plan of action...Lois, Gwen...get down there and meet with Andy, see if you can pick up any trace of this mysterious man... Peter, you and I are going to go over Ianto’s brain wave responses to see if there’s any clues... Ok, team, let’s get to it...”

 

Chairs scraped back and they moved rapidly to follow their Captain’s orders... What about me? Don’t just leave me here, Jack...I need to be part of this...

 

I can’t risk sending you out there...it’s too dangerous...

 

My shields are stronger now, more complex...I can take care of myself...I might be able to pick up energy patterns or...

 

No way...you’re not going and that’s final..! We still don’t know enough about it...him...

 

For fuck’s sake Jack..! This is my life too...I get a say...

 

No you don’t...this is my team...my responsibility...I have to keep you safe...

 

You wouldn’t stop Gwen going...

 

You’re not Gwen...

 

Thanks Jack...now I know where I stand..!

 

Jack swore out loud in frustration as Ianto slammed his shields up and stomped off to the kitchen. He reached out softly, knowing he’d really upset the Welshman...he may have understood his Captain’s obsession with Gwen, but that didn’t mean he’d accepted it and that one thoughtless comment... Yan...please...I meant that I don’t love Gwen like I love you...I can’t lose you...not again...

 

Stony silence met his gentle press. He sighed heavily and made his way down to autopsy where Peter was watching the monitors with avid fascination...

 

“Did you two just have a row..?” he asked without taking his eyes off the screen. Jack pressed his lips together and didn’t answer. Peter looked round, catching the hurt in his Captain’s eyes before it was masked with the trademark Harkness grin and a shrug of his shoulders. “Sorry...not my place...but the brainwaves were amazing...here...look..!” He pressed a few buttons and a paper readout began spilling out of the two machines...

 

Jack slumped against the table, his back to the body of Jason Tighe as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. Peter’s excited explanation of the different brainwave patterns washed over him as he went back over his conversation with Ianto... You really fucked that one up, Harkness he told himself I just have to protect him...I can’t lose him...I love him... Despair and horror flooded his thoughts as he contemplated the reality of life without Ianto, especially now he’d been shown a promise of all those extra years, and tears welled in his eyes, a strangled sob escaping despite his efforts to contain it...

 

Peter swung round, pausing in his animated monologue as he realised just how anguished his boss was feeling. He held out his arms and Jack fell into them, sobbing on his shoulder, the pent up tension and worry of the past 24 hours overwhelming him... The medic let him cry, rubbing his back reassuringly, knowing that this was a necessary release before he’d get his Captain back to his impressive best – something they needed desperately if they were to see this thing through...

 

Jack’s sobs subsided and he hung limply in Peter’s arms for a moment before moving away and drying his eyes. “Thanks...” he looked up, meeting the doctor’s concerned gaze. “I’m fine now...really...I didn’t realise how much I needed that...”

 

They turned at the sound of quiet footfall on the steps. Ianto carried a tray with two mugs of coffee and a couple of slices of Jack’s favourite chocolate brownie. He set it down on the dresser, glancing from one man to the other, taking in the tear stained face of his beloved Captain...he knew exactly how he felt... Reaching out a hand, he squeezed Jack’s arm briefly, “I’ll be at the house...lots to do there...keep me busy...I’ve left you flasks for later... ”

 

He nodded at Peter, handed him the electrodes he’d removed from his head and retreated gracefully up the steps, stopping at the top as Jack called out...

 

“Every fifteen minutes...yeah..?”

 

“Yes, Jack..!” a ghost of a smile on his pale face before he turned away and the blaring of the roller door moments later confirmed his departure.

 

Jack and Peter took the printouts into the boardroom and spread them out, Peter resuming his explanations of the different patterns...Jack was amazed at how synchronised their two patterns were...grinning broadly when Peter’s face flushed as he tracked their frantic lovemaking across the page...

 

Ianto had driven to the bungalow and let himself in before he allowed his own tears to fall, sliding down the front door into a heap on the floor as his sobs shook his body...the cold empty space in his head where Jack’s mind would usually be, a stark reminder of the state they were in...

 

John Hart stood at his new upstairs window, number 33 – well, the plod had finished their examinations, the bodies had been removed and here was an empty house just begging for a new resident... He watched as Andy and the enforced entry team had forced the door and gone in... They were joined shortly after by the two Torchwood women...good luck to them – there was nothing to find...

 

He shrugged and stepped away from the window, throwing himself down onto the bed before closing his eyes and finding the link in eye candy’s head... He was rewarded with a blast of warmth and affection between the two men that made him clench his fists, followed by some intense disagreement and a flood of negative emotions...was that jealousy..? Oh, yes, now I’ve got something to work with... He dipped briefly and lightly into Jack’s head from the other end of their connection through their rings, sensing the frustration and fear in the Captain...good...he’s suffering...

 

He slid back into the Welshman’s head as the young man slammed his shields up and stalked away from his distraught lover... This was developing nicely... He stretched out and enjoyed the distress and anguish building in Ianto’s head, positively purring when he broke down sobbing, leaving his shields easy prey...he planted several thoughts deep in the Welshman’s subconscious and pulled back...

 

In another time or place he’d be quite attracted to this quiet and intense young man...for now though, he’d get off on taking eye candy apart...a tiny piece at a time... He smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile...

 

Chapter 33 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/24825.html


zazajb: (jb beam me up)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have - epilogue

Epilogue

Six months had passed since that day...that horrific day when he’d revived on the floor in Thames House to find Gwen crying over their bodies...Ianto’s body... He was just lying there...in his suit, his perfectly knotted tie still in place...he looked asleep...please let this be a bad dream...a nightmare I can wake up from to find him warm in my arms...but he knew it wasn’t a dream... 

This planet was too small – everywhere he went there was something that reminded him of Ianto – whether it was the crystal blue of the sea by the coral reefs of Australia that was the exact same shade as Ianto’s eyes, or the crisp whiteness of the mountain snow that reminded him of Ianto’s favourite dress shirt...even trying to escape the memories by hiding out in the desert in the pyramids had failed because they’d watched that James Bond film together where Jaws had attacked Bond in the desert... No, he had to get off this tiny world because all these memories were killing him – oh, the bitter irony, seeing as how he couldn’t ever die...

Oh yes, Jack remembered it all, the tears rolling down his cheeks as he dug into the soil, finally scrabbling around on his hands and knees to pull out the tin box which he hugged to him as he rocked back and forth – a lonely figure on a dark hillside on a cold, crisp winter’s night...

He tugged off the lid and inhaled deeply, the scent of his beloved Welshman floating out around him. He wiped his fingers on his coat before reaching into the box hesitantly, hands shaking wildly. His heart broke anew as he pulled out the red silk tie that he’d bought the day before they’d buried the capsule...the memories of that day washing over him and he broke again... Holding the tie up to his face, he cried, huge heart-wrenching cries like a wounded animal.

He cried for all those he’d let down and he cried for himself, for the loss of Ianto and for the overwhelming sense of hopelessness, the empty shell he’d become...a broken man desperate to reclaim all the time they’d had... He closed his eyes, picturing that gorgeous face wearing that special smile – his just-for-Jack-when-we’re-alone-smile, and he managed a tiny smile of his own through his tears. I’ll never forget you Ianto Jones...I promise, you’ll never be just a blip in time...not for me...

End


The story continues in No Place to Hide http://zazajb.livejournal.com/763.html


I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing... My thanks again to my wonderful beta - badly_knitted *squishes you* and the super-talented penny_sieve for the awesome artwork *hugs and champagne*
pdf if you prefer this format  http://www.sendspace.com/file/iuumvd
*waves* xxx

 


zazajb: (All the time we have stopwatch)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 8/8 + epilogue

Chapter 8

When Ianto woke two hours later it was with a huge smile on his face. He lay still, listening to Jack’s rhythmic breathing as it tickled the side of his neck, the heavy weight of the older man’s arm draped around his waist was warm and comforting. I love him...I want to stay with him for ever...here, in this bed...he closed his eyes again, comfortably drowsy... Somewhere, out of sight, his phone beeped a text message alert. His eyes opened and he frowned, wondering...he didn’t get many messages apart from those from Jack...

His curiosity piqued and he slid carefully out of bed, smiling down fondly at the sleeping man as he stirred and his arms closed around the pillow Ianto had moved in place of his own body. Satisfied that Jack was still sleeping, Ianto followed the trail of clothes in search of his trousers, which he found at the top of the ladder.

His message was from Rhi, reminding him of Mica’s birthday party to which he, plus one, was cordially invited...the sarcastic “it would be good to see you before next Christmas!” drawing a grunt and a roll of his eyes. He tapped out a reply, “...do my best – depends on work. Hope all well. I x” and pressed send, knowing the response that would prompt when it was received at the other end. He sighed, Rhi and he were just totally different people...and she’d ask way too many probing questions that he’d find impossible to answer...

His mind drifted and he imagined himself arriving with Jack, introducing him as his boyfriend... He bit his lip...was that what they were now? Were they a couple? Jack never really said anything like that...they just were...whatever it was, they were... He shrugged and slid quietly back down the ladder before going to the bathroom. After splashing his face and cleaning his teeth, he surveyed his reflection in the mirror. His hair was mussed, lips pink and swollen from all Jack’s delicious kisses, his neck was peppered with purple bruises and he had that ‘thoroughly well-shagged’ look that shone out of his eyes...I love him so much...

Remembering Mica’s card, he climbed back up the ladder. Jack was still asleep, a smile on his lips as he cuddled into the pillow... Ianto found his jacket by the invisible lift and pulled out the bag with the cards in it, heading to the kitchen where he planned to put some coffee on and record his message for Jack.

The coffee was soon brewing. He wrote in Mica’s card and put it in the envelope which he left unsealed so he could put some money in it. Then he studied the card for Jack. He’d chosen one that just said ‘A message for you...’ on the front with a picture of a puppy and an envelope. Following the printed instructions carefully, he recorded his message and then opened the card to check it. “Jack Harkness – I love you today, tomorrow and for all eternity...” played out clearly, his Welsh accent very evident, the whispered, “...I love you...” after a minute pause brought tears to his eyes as he remembered Jack would be listening to the message after Ianto had died. I don’t want to die...don’t want to leave him...

He shuddered and blinked back the tears. With any luck they could dig the capsule up in ten years time and update it...much better idea..! He picked up the pen and considered what to write, tapping the end of the pen thoughtfully against his lips... Something simple would be best... Jack, Yours...always... Ianto xxx He closed the card quickly and put it in the envelope, sliding the flap closed without sealing it.

Pouring the coffee, he picked up the mugs and the cards and headed back to the office. He propped Mica’s card up on the inkstand on Jack’s desk and slid the message card under the photos in the tin box, closing the lid quietly before climbing back down the ladder with their coffee, which he landed on the bedside cabinet. Jack was stirring, his sleepy eyes fluttering open to meet the radiant crystal blue gaze of his Welshman’s.

“Hey...sleep well?”

“Yeah...guess you wore me out!”

Ianto perched on the edge of the small bed and leant down to kiss his Captain lightly, tiny kisses that brushed lovingly against soft and sensual lips... Jack’s arms snaked around Ianto’s neck and pulled him closer as the kiss deepened and he opened his mouth to let Jack’s tongue in, where it explored the familiar territory possessively. Ianto let out a soft moan and moved his body to stretch out along the bed as their hands ran over each other’s warm flesh...

Ianto floated on the stars as Jack made love to him, tenderly, reverently...worshipping his body like it was the first time all over again until he was engulfed in wave after wave of glorious pleasure and he was powerless to stop the tears that spilled down his cheeks from the intensity of the emotions that coursed through him. Cupping his young lover’s cheeks, Jack brushed the tears away with his thumbs, pressing feather light kisses to his skin before holding him tightly as they buried their faces in each other’s hair...no words...just pure feelings...

They showered, washing each other tenderly, before dressing. Ianto pulled his Blue Gillespie t-shirt back on, stroking it gently over his torso as he tucked it into his jeans. It was strangely comforting to know that Jack would be able to hold this after he was gone...a little bit of him that would linger on...

They spent the next couple of hours printing out the pictures they’d taken, including an older one taken at Little Goat Farm in the hay loft, and some stills from the ‘Ianto files’ as Jack liked to call them... There were so many files – Ianto sat on Jack’s lap and they clicked on them at random...some were funny, some were downright hot and steamy and others were just him...doing what he did...handing out coffee, feeding Myfanwy, working on his computer...reassuring every day images...

“What’s this one?” Ianto pointed to a file called ‘Double Dare Bare”.

“Let’s have a look?” Jack chuckled, this was one of his favourites, showing a fun and carefree Ianto after a long and stressful day... He clicked ‘play’.

The recording jumped straight into a steamy clinch in Jack’s office with Jack’s hands clenched tightly by his sides... As they watched those hands suddenly moved to frame Ianto’s face as he was kissed passionately. When they pulled apart Ianto was grinning as he checked the stopwatch in his hand, Jack shaking his head before stripping his clothes off and heading to the invisible lift.

Once topside he stood and shivered as people walked past, oblivious to the naked man until a rather attractive brunette approached and Jack stepped off the slab, said “Good evening, you’re looking very lovely tonight!” and hopped back onto the slab to descend once more into the hub, where he was greeted with his clothes and a very amused Welshman. The brunette had giggled and then looked around bemused as the naked man had vanished. She’d glanced around her self-consciously before walking on...

Back in the hub, Jack had dressed and they’d sunk straight back into hot, wet kisses, only this time it was Ianto’s hands clenched by his sides, his slender fingers curling and uncurling as he resisted the urge to touch or respond while his Captain plundered his soft mouth...

Jack chuckled as the Ianto on his lap clenched his hands along with his screen self... ”...you know I’m going to win, don’t you..?” he purred seductively into his ear, pressing light kisses down the side of the young man’s neck as the on-screen Ianto folded and gave in to temptation, grabbing at his Jack and raking his hands wildly over his body and through his hair...

Ianto grinned ruefully, “...you know I can’t resist when you do that thing with your tongue...”

They watched as Ianto carefully removed his clothing and took the ‘Guide to Cardiff’ leaflet that Jack held out before ascending on the lift to take his turn shivering on the slab, finally stepping off to wish a middle aged couple a “very pleasant evening and how might I direct you tonight?” as he handed them the flyer and stepped back out of sight, his face pink, but grinning as he watched his Jack rolling around on the floor helpless with laughter as the lift brought him back down into the hub.

The clip ended with a very naked Welshman being thoroughly kissed and led off to the cubbyhole under the office.

Ianto buried his face in Jack’s chest, laughing. “I can’t believe I actually did that..! We must’ve had one hell of a day!”

“We have way too many of them sometimes...” agreed Jack, tipping Ianto’s chin up so he could kiss him. “Now, you hungry? We can get takeout and then put the rest of the capsule together while we wait for it..?”

They chose Chinese, Ianto ordered it and they added the pictures, a bag of favourite coffee beans, a model of a pteranodon that Jack had bought him some time previously and some leaflets from the Tourist Information to the tin. Jack rummaged in his office drawer and brought out a sheaf of post-it notes covered with Ianto’s neat writing, flicking through them fondly as the Welshman gazed at him. “You kept all my notes?” he asked, rather pointlessly, as that was pretty obvious, “...why?”

Jack shrugged, “...dunno really...I guess they’re part of you and I wanted to keep all of you around for as long as I could... I...” his words were cut off as Ianto’s mouth claimed his and he was kissed passionately and enjoyably for long minutes, breaking off briefly to draw breath before sinking back into more sweet and endless kisses. They pulled apart finally when the Tourist Information bell rang. Dinner had arrived. Ianto detached himself regretfully and headed upstairs.

Jack had a flick through the items in the tin whilst Ianto was gone, committing each to his memory... He stopped at the envelope with the card in...this was new... He hesitated, obviously it was something Ianto had put in without telling him, intending him to find it after he’d...after he’d died... The realisation of what this time capsule actually meant shot a bolt through his heart, his head immediately retreated... I can’t lose him...I need him...I love him...

He’d opened the envelope and pulled the card out before his brain had registered what his hands had done – after that it was pointless to resist... He opened it, those wonderful Welsh vowels filling his ears... “Jack Harkness – I love you today, tomorrow and for all eternity...” the whispered, “...I love you...” after a minute pause brought the sob that had stuck in his throat bursting out and he crumpled, clutching the card to him as tears flowed down his face.

Ianto came in balancing plates, two bottles of beer and the bag of Chinese food. Seeing his Captain sat on the floor sobbing, he dropped everything on the desk and sank down beside him, gathering the shaking man into his arms as he rocked them both gently. He threaded his fingers softly through Jack’s hair, dropping light kisses on his head as he whispered words of love and nonsense...

Gradually Jack’s sobs stopped and he clung on tightly, not wanting to let go for fear he’d wake up and Ianto would be gone... “Jack...” Ianto carefully peeled Jack’s fingers away from his arm and tipped his Captain’s head up from where it was buried in his chest, the t-shirt now wet with the older man’s tears...it will certainly smell of us both now... the random thought whizzing through his head.

“Jack...it’s ok...I’m here...”

Slowly Jack met the young man’s gaze, his eyes still shining with tears, his cheeks wet and lips trembling. Ianto pressed a tender kiss to those trembling lips as his hand brushed the tears away. He hugged his Captain tightly before gently removing the card from his hand and placing it back in the envelope. He dropped it back in the box.

“I guess we both know what this box really means...” he whispered as he tightened his hold once more, “ ...but I thought maybe we could plan to dig it up, together, in ten years time...to update it...”

“I’d like that...” Jack mumbled into Ianto’s chest, his breathing slowing as he regained control of his emotions. “I can handle that...better than...than...” I can’t lose him...

“Yeah, I know...” I don’t want to die...don’t want to leave him...

They held each other in silence, each absorbing the meaning of the capsule and vowing to make the absolute most of all the time they had...

It was some time before they moved, belatedly heating up their dinner which they ate sat on the raggedy sofa in the main hub, clinking their beer bottles in a toast “...to us...and long life...” both aware of the duel meaning of the words...

After clearing up the remains of their meal, they took their coffee outside, to the railings by the Tourist Information Office, Ianto leaning into Jack as his arm wrapped around the young man’s waist, keeping him close... Strains of music drifted down from Demiro’s Mediterranean Restaurant on the esplanade above them, the backdrop of happy evening chatter from the patrons floating on the early evening air. Ianto tilted his head, listening...as he recognised the sound of Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’. “Jack...dance with me...” adding a soft “...please...” as the older man hesitated. It’s like he’s saying goodbye...don’t...please don’t...

The expression on Jack’s face was unfathomable as he put their coffee mugs by the door and took Ianto into his arms and they swayed slowly to the heart-wrenchingly beautiful sound of Ms Fitzgerald. ‘Someone...’ was followed by ‘Ev’ry time We Say Goodbye’, ‘Black Coffee’ and by the time ‘Cry Me A River’ had finished they were locked together, kissing like it was the last time they would ever have...

Wordlessly, Jack pulled away and led Ianto back inside. He dumped their mugs on the counter and tugged the ties they’d bought earlier out of his pocket, selected one and shoved the others back. Gazing into the Welshman’s eyes, his unspoken question was answered by the blazing look of love and unconditional trust and the wrists that were offered. Reaching out, Jack slid Ianto’s jacket off his shoulders and folded it neatly on the counter next to the mugs before tying the young man’s hands together and leading him down into the hub, then down to his room.

As they landed from the climb down, Jack pressed Ianto’s arms over his head and tied them to the ladder before reclaiming his lips, his tongue diving into the welcoming mouth where it mapped every contour... He pulled away and attacked his neck, grazing the skin with his teeth before soothing it with his tongue, as he felt the shudders of desire running through the young man.

He continued across his throat and back up the other side of his neck, pausing at the juncture of neck and shoulder to suck the soft skin into his mouth, hard enough to leave a bruise and drawing a low moan of combined pain and pleasure from the pink, kiss-swollen lips of his captive Welshman. He returned to those wonderfully responsive lips and kissed them hard, pressing their bodies together as twin arousals strained against the woefully inadequate friction of their trousers. His hands slid down the young man’s body to tug his t-shirt out from his jeans, gathering the material in his fingers to push it up without removing it...

Ianto’s breath was coming in short gasps and pants as his Captain returned to the exploration of his body, trailing his tongue down through the soft, downy hair on his chest to circle a nipple, teasing the nub of flesh with his teeth before sliding across to give the other side equal attention. Ianto writhed and moaned and thrust against the warm mouth, his head thrown back, eyes closed and lips parted...

He gasped as Jack’s hands moved lower and undid his belt...then the button and finally inched his zip down, pressing against the swelling with the heel of his hand to tease a loud moan from those delicious lips... Jack’s hands explored the heated flesh just inside the waistband of the jeans, his fingers light and the touch sensual, before hooking his thumbs over the fabric on either side and pulling down trousers and boxers together...

Ianto’s groans increased in volume as Jack’s mouth followed his hands southwards and he was engulfed in the moist heat, tongue and teeth going to work on his sensitive flesh... Jack grinned to himself at the carnal sounds emanating from his quiet Welshman, reaching up to offer his fingers for sucking before dancing them back to press against the entrance to Ianto’s body... A mewl escaped the young man as one finger pushed in, followed by a second, brushing that magic spot to set him gasping with pleasure. Jack increased the pressure with his mouth, feeling the telltale signs, finally humming as Ianto exploded in his mouth, crying Jack’s name out as he shuddered through waves of blissful ecstasy...

Jack slid back up the young man’s body to crush their lips together, Ianto tasting himself on his Captain’s tongue. Pulling away, Jack swiftly undid his belt, button and zip, pushing his trousers and underwear down to pool around his ankles, turning his lover round to face the ladder as he groped in his coat pocket for the lube. He warmed it on his hand before coating himself and pushing in slowly, relishing the feel of the tight heat around him. He stilled for a moment, an impatient whimper falling from his Welshman’s lips, before he began moving...finding the familiar rhythm that had them both panting and thrusting together until Jack cried his release and slumped forward, his head resting on Ianto’s back.

As their breathing returned to normal, Jack reached up to release Ianto’s hands from the ladder and turned him back round, the young man immediately sliding his still-tied wrists over his Captain’s head as they kissed tenderly. Finally breaking apart many long minutes later, Jack untied Ianto’s hands and kissed his wrists softly. Then he tugged the t-shirt over his head and climbed up the ladder to place both the t-shirt and the tie into the box, laying the t-shirt at the bottom as a lining and replacing the pictures, toys, memory sticks, card, coffee beans, post-its and the tie on top. He leant down and inhaled the unique scent that was his Welshman, closing his eyes as he closed the lid and sealed the box, before turning to meet the young man’s tear-filled eyes as he watched from half way up the ladder. That’s me...in a box...memories for when I’m dead...

Neither spoke as Jack returned to his room and led them to the shower where they washed and dried each other gently before sliding under the covers to hold each other tightly until they were claimed by sleep.

They woke early the next morning, saying little, both content to hold and touch and kiss...this wasn’t about pleasure but it was about unspoken commitment...about promises...or as close to those things as they were able to go, given the unconventional nature of life...and death...at Torchwood...

At seven o’clock they got up and Ianto made a flask of coffee. He was wearing his favourite navy pinstripe, an aquamarine shirt and his new deep red tie. Somehow it was important for him to look his best today... They loaded the box into the SUV and set off, the radio playing the very appropriate Nat King Cole ‘Unforgettable’... Jack flicked a glance across at Ianto’s pale face, watching as the young man nibbled nervously at his bottom lip...

“We’ll be back...in ten years...” Jack’s voice was quiet...thoughtful...

“Ten years...yeah...” If I’m still alive...

“We’ll dig it up and go through everything and then we’ll add some more to it and bury it again...for another ten years...” I can’t lose him...I can’t live without him...

“Yeah...” The track ended, to be replaced with ‘We have all the time in the world”. Ianto couldn’t help but grin ruefully at the DJ’s choice of songs. He reached his hand over to rest it on Jack’s knee, his Captain covering it with his own and squeezing gently, understanding that for now this was enough...they’d keep doing what they did best – save the world, eat pizza...the usual...

The climb was punishing, the box cumbersome, although not heavy, and they were panting hard when they reached the top, leaning against the oak tree they’d sat under last time. Ianto took the pack off his back and pulled out the two collapsible shovels, unfolding and securing the handles before handing one to Jack. They dug in silence until the hole was big enough and about three feet deep before settling the box in its new resting place and covered it with the displaced earth, treading it down firmly.

When it was done, Jack pulled Ianto into his arms and kissed him tenderly. “We’ll be back in ten years...ok…?” Ianto nodded, unable to speak as he pressed himself against his Captain, the arms around him tightening instinctively as their lips met...softly...what they couldn’t put into words was shown in actions... It was long minutes until they broke apart...

Pouring the coffee, Ianto handed Jack a travel mug and picked up his own. They stood and gazed out over the city, sipping their drinks... Finally, cups emptied and shovels packed away, they headed slowly back down the hill hand in hand...   

Nearing the bottom, Jack’s wrist strap beeped... He looked at Ianto who rolled his eyes and arched an eyebrow... Bloody Torchwood!

Jack grinned, “Hoix in the bus station...you good to go?”

Ianto grinned back, “...always..!” as he broke into a run following Jack’s billowing coat tails. This was their life and it would never change - no matter what personal stuff was going on, it would always be business as usual...

                                                               *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A week later the children stopped...

 

 Epilogue http://zazajb.livejournal.com/23436.html

zazajb: (All the time we have)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 7/8 + epilogue

Chapter 7

The sun had begun its gentle climb into the sky when they made their way off the roof and back to the hub, heading straight to the shower to warm their chilled bones. Emerging warm and glowing, Ianto reached into the wardrobe to pull out the spare suit he kept there, laying it out on the bed whilst he selected a tie. He sighed softly.

“What’s up?” a naked Jack slid his arms round the young man’s waist and nuzzled into his damp hair.

“That weevil ruined my favourite red tie yesterday...” Ianto huffed, “I really liked that one...”

“We’ll buy you a new one...today...” he nibbled lightly on Ianto’s neck, causing a cascade of delicious shivers to run down the Welshman’s spine... “In fact...hang on...” releasing his hold and turning round to dig his mobile out of his trousers pocket from their place of abandonment on the floor. He tapped out a quick message and pressed ‘send’ before dropping the phone on the bed.

“Right, I’ve just given Gwen the day off so we can have the whole day together without any female... um... distractions..! We’re going out for breakfast, then shopping, then...no idea after that! Make it up as we go along!” He picked up Ianto’s suit and hung it back in the wardrobe. “Wear those jeans and that Blue Gilly-thing t-shirt again...please?”

“The same t-shirt as earlier? It’ll be dirty now...”

Jack tugged the young man back into his arms and mumbled into his shoulder, “I want to put that t-shirt in the time capsule so everything will smell of you when I open it...so you need to wear it...” he kissed his neck softly, a whispered “...please...” melting away any protest Ianto had been planning.

He moved his head to capture his Captain’s lips, his fingers sliding through his hair, knowing how much Jack loved him to do that...the kiss sweet and tender as he lost himself in the knee-melting sensations of Jack’s mouth warm and responsive against his...

They pulled apart to draw breath, smiling softly into each other’s eyes, Ianto stepping back regretfully to reach for his underwear and jeans. He would willingly stay and kiss Jack all day...and all night...but that wouldn’t get them breakfast and he was hungry!

Once they were dressed, Ianto pulled his battered denim jacket out of the wardrobe and followed Jack up the ladder. They took the scenic route out on the invisible lift because Jack wanted to recreate the CCTV clip they’d watched, Ianto melting quite happily into his arms to be completely and thoroughly kissed until his head spun and his knees were weak... Releasing him, Jack entwined their fingers and tugged him off the slab towards their favourite breakfast and coffee bar.

They chose warm brioche and a cinnamon roast coffee, laughing as they fed each other, taking random pictures on their phones, a smiling waitress taking several of the two of them... It was relaxed and intimate and Ianto found himself falling in love with his Captain all over again...he’d never been so open...so untroubled...so...

He jumped as Jack planted a kiss on his nose, “...you’re thinking too much, Mr Jones, I can tell when you furrow your brow and you get that far-away look in those big blue eyes...what’re you thinking about?”

“You..!”

“Oh! That’s ok then!” he grinned. “Drink up...we’ve got shopping to do!”

Ianto quickly finished his coffee and took Jack’s outstretched hand, grinning inanely as the older man carefully entwined their fingers before tugging him towards the door. They strolled around the shops, peering into windows and shoving each other good naturedly. They stopped outside Sartoriani.

“I love this place...it’s one of the few places I know where I can really spoil you...” Jack leant in for a soft kiss.

“We’re here to replace a tie...a red silk tie...no Pretty Woman scenes today...ok?” Ianto grinned as Jack pouted. “Ok, two ties – one to wear and one to play with...” He chuckled as Jack’s pout vanished to be replaced with a knowing smile and he was dragged into the shop.

They were greeted by Mr Ellis, the owner and master tailor. Ianto headed for the display of ties whilst Jack wandered around casually until he saw that Ianto was immersed in his mission, numerous different shades of red draped over his arm... Jack sought out Mr Ellis and a swift conversation resulted in six new shirts in the Swiss cotton Ianto favoured being piled up on the table, colours ranging from the cobalt blue of Ianto’s eyes to a deep purple that Jack just had to see Ianto in... Adding a new white dress shirt for himself – it was high time he took Ianto out for a fancy dinner at St David’s - Jack handed over his credit card and waited for his Welshman to complete his choice.

It was another ten minutes before Ianto joined Jack at the desk, three shades of red still over his arm, “this one definitely, and one of these two...” he gazed absently at the pile of shirts, his eyebrows rising as Jack gathered all three ties and handed them to Mr Ellis for scanning, “we’ll take these as well, please...”

“Jack..?” he rolled his eyes.

His Captain grinned, “...saw these and couldn’t resist...” he held the purple one up against the young man’s body, nodding his approval at his own choice, gorgeous...just gorgeous...I’m going to enjoy taking that off him... He took the ties back from Mr Ellis and slipped them into his pocket, smiling as he received his card and receipt.

“I’ll have these sent to the Tourist Office in the morning as requested...” Mr Ellis said, smiling at the two men in front of him. It was obvious the older man enjoyed the pleasure from surprising his companion and it was gratifying to know his fine tailoring was so appreciated...and worn so well... He shook hands with them both as they left, the young man’s eyes sparkling delightedly...

Outside the shop, Jack pulled the ties from his pocket and studied them. He held up a deep red one. “This’ll look wonderful with that purple shirt...” he murmured as he cupped Ianto’s face and captured those wonderfully soft lips, relishing the feel of them under his own. He pulled the young man closer, breaking away from the kiss to just hold him tightly.

Ianto smiled happily, his face buried in Jack’s hair...these times together were rare and precious and he treasured every moment...

“Right...what’s next?” Jack released him and reached for his hand again as they walked back towards the main shopping centre.

“I need a birthday card for Mica, my niece...” Ianto tugged Jack into a huge card shop. Jack amused himself with an endless array of ‘rude’ cards while Ianto went off to find the age section. He selected one and walked to the till to pay, standing in line behind an elderly lady whilst the shop assistant explained how a ‘record-your-own-message’ card worked to a young couple at the front of the queue. Ianto peered round the pensioner’s white, set curls to see what the card looked like. His face lit up, Jack wasn’t the only one who could spring a surprise. He left the queue and went in search of said card. He grinned happily as he paid for the two items, his mind drifting as he pondered on his message...

He pocketed his change and went in search of Jack who was still chuckling his way through the ‘funny’ section.

“Done?” he asked as Ianto slid a hand under his coat to squeeze his arse cheekily.

“Mnn...” Ianto nodded, holding up the paper bag with his purchases in.

Jack glanced at his watch. “Nearly eleven...coffee time...C’mon...”

Ianto shook his head, amused. He loved seeing Jack so carefree...so normal... He dismissed the word immediately – Jack was many things and that wasn’t one of them! His heart swelled as a rush of emotion shot through him I love him...I’ll always love him... Ok, that solved the problem of what message to record in his card...

Jack stopped outside the bakers. “You get the coffee, I’ll get the pastries...meet back in ten, ok?”

Ianto dug his hand into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his trusty stopwatch, grinning as he pressed the button on the top, “...that’s ten minutes and counting...” he said throatily, knowing that Jack was recalling exactly the same memory, the huge smile that spread across his Captain’s face confirming that fact.     

 Ianto spun on his heel and headed for the coffee shop, rubbing his thumb absently over the surface of the metal casing as his mind replayed those first forays into the many things one could do with a stopwatch and a bit of imagination...

They were both back in under ten minutes!

“This way...” Jack strode ahead, his coat billowing behind him. They found a bench down by the side of the duck pond and sat down. Jack dug into his carrier bag and handed Ianto a large sticky apple Danish before pulling out a second one for himself and then taking his coffee from the cardboard carry tray on the seat between them. The sound of mumbled appreciation of the sweet and sticky pastries floated on the air as they savoured the taste.

Ianto sighed happily, “...mmnn, that was lovely...did you pick up any napkins?”

“No, sorry...forgot!”

“Sticky fingers...” Ianto wiggled his fingers in the air, a startled gasp escaping his lips as Jack grabbed his hand and proceeded to suck his fingers clean one by one, becoming more and more provocative as each successive finger was released with a loud ‘pop’. By the time Jack was on the little finger of his second hand Ianto was wriggling on the seat, his body very attentive and craving far more than was decent in a public park in daylight!

He glanced at Jack’s face, then down at other parts, noting a similar reaction. He slid his finger out of the warmth of Jack’s mouth and pressed their lips together, pulling his Captain into a tight embrace as he kissed him hard. Jack’s arms slid around his Welshman’s neck as their tongues duelled for supremacy and shivers of desire ran through their bodies... 

They pulled apart when they ran out of air, hair dishevelled, faces flushed... Ianto straightened his t-shirt with trembling hands and breathed in deeply in an attempt to regain some control over his wayward body. Panting equally hard, Jack snapped a quick picture on his phone...Ianto looked edible and if they weren’t currently in the middle of the park...

With due deference to their surroundings, they sat and got their breath back before Jack delved into his carrier bag to bring out a loaf of bread, setting it on the bench. He leant down to untie his laces and slipped off his boots and socks, rolling his trousers up to his knees. Ianto watched these proceedings with his mouth slightly open, not daring to ask what inane act was to follow...well, that was until his shoes and socks were also removed and his trousers received the same treatment as Jack’s.

Tugging the Welshman to his feet, Jack opened the loaf and pulled out a dozen slices, handing half to the young man before stepping into the pond and wading out, the ducks scattering until he started breaking up the bread and throwing it all around him. Soon he was surrounded by ducks and a couple of elegant, but fierce-looking swans. “Come on...this is fun...bring the rest of the bread...”

Ianto grinned. Why the hell not! He stepped into the water gingerly. It was cold, but not that cold, although he didn’t want to even think about what he might be treading on..! The ducks paddled furiously out of his way, returning when he began throwing his bread. His face relaxed and he laughed with abandon when Jack broke a slice into small pieces and dropped it onto the swans’ backs, the ducks bravely darting in to peck the bread from the creatures’ backs before swimming away madly...

Seeing Ianto so free from worry or responsibility made Jack’s heart sing...he was doing this...putting that smile on his lover’s face...his lover...partner...yea...I want that...the couple thing...

Jack snuck his phone out of his pocket and took some more pictures, grabbing Ianto to him to take one of them nose-to-nose and then lips pressed together... They ran out of bread and waded back to the path, jumping up and down on the grass to both warm and dry their feet before collapsing in a giggling heap behind the bench.

“You’re mad, d’you know that?” Ianto gasped breathlessly, helpless with laughter.

“...yeah...about you...” Jack whispered as he gazed into his eyes and grabbed him, crushing their mouths together, his hands reaching to tug the t-shirt out from the young man’s jeans, needing to touch skin-to-skin...

Ianto melted into the embrace, kissing back hungrily, his heart pounding wildly in his chest and his stomach performing a series of back flips that would score straight tens in the Olympics! He shuddered as Jack’s hands roamed over his skin, bursts of fire erupting from every touch which all migrated straight to his groin. He moaned softly and pulled away... “Hub...now...” he rasped, reaching for his shoes and socks and scrabbling hurriedly at his still rolled-up trousers.

Jack did likewise before standing and holding out his hand. Ianto grabbed it and they walked purposefully towards the park gates, fingers entwining, stroking, squeezing...promises of sensual touches to come...

As soon as they were stood on the invisible lift ,which Jack activated with his wrist strap, they reached for each other, kissing hard and passionately as hands groped at clothing and they were partially undressed by the time the lift came to a stop. Staggering to Jack’s office they threw themselves down the ladder, shedding their clothes as they went to fall naked onto the bunk, each writhing against the other as desire raged through them. It was hard and fast and left them in a panting and tangled heap as their bodies trembled through the bliss of their release.

Jack lifted the covers and urged Ianto under them, reaching first for the Blue Gillespie t-shirt which the Welshman pulled over his head, before they snuggled up together, arms entwined, kissing softly until they drifted into a sated sleep...


Chapter 8 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/23212.html


zazajb: (All the time we have stopwatch)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 6/8 + epilogue

Chapter 6

Gwen was at her workstation sipping a cup of tea when they arrived back at the hub. She raised her eyebrows at their dishevelled appearance, “good lunch..?”

“It was ‘till the weevils...” Ianto snapped as he headed down to autopsy, Jack closely behind him. Ianto rummaged in the medicine store, opening a pot to tip a couple of Owen’s cure-all-ills industrial strength pain killers into his hand, swallowing them dry before shoving the pot back and slamming the door.

Jack surveyed him thoughtfully. “Sit!” he ordered, pushing the young man towards the autopsy table.

“I’m fine, Jack...stop fussing...”

“That wasn’t a request..!” as he picked him up and plonked him heavily on the table. “Now, don’t move...” he turned to the sink to fill a small bowl with warm water. Placing the bowl on the table, he eased Ianto’s jacket off, folding it neatly and placing it to one side. Next he loosened the torn and tattered tie and undid the top two buttons of the Welshman’s deep blue shirt this shirt brings out the colour of his eyes...

With a soft muslin cloth, Jack washed the blood and dirt off Ianto’s face and neck before replacing the water and moving to stand behind him so he could clean the wound to his head. It wasn’t serious, but bad enough that Owen would probably have stuck a couple of stitches in it...Miss you Owen...Tosh...I could’ve lost Ianto today...

He dabbed gently at the wound, frowning as the young man hissed in pain. “You ok..?”

“Yes, Jack...I told you – I’m fine...” he sighed wearily, the buoyant mood of lunch had long since evaporated. I could’ve died out there today...I don’t want to die from a fucking weevil bite...I don’t want to die...I don’t want to leave him...Jack...

“Hey...” Jack’s tone was softer. He moved back to face Ianto, wriggling into the gap between his knees and sliding his arms around the Welshman’s waist, tugging him closer. Ianto resisted briefly, before sinking into the reassuring warmth of the embrace, his arms winding round Jack’s neck as he buried his face in the older man’s hair.

“Sorry...” Ianto mumbled.

“Yeah...just be careful out there...you’re far too precious to lose to a bloody weevil...” I almost lost him...I can’t lose someone else...him...can’t...Ianto... “...how’s the pain now..?”

“...better...Owen’s wonder pills...”

“Yeah...”

They fell silent, each following their own train of thoughts as they remembered the acerbic medic, the near-miss of this latest encounter with a pair of particularly large and vicious weevils reminding them all too clearly how fragile human life was...how easy it would be to slip up...to die...Jack would always come back but Ianto was mortal...I can’t lose him...

Jack pulled back gently and moved to cup Ianto’s face, noting it was paler than usual, before capturing his lips... softly at first, until the realisation of how perilous the situation had been kicked in and he deepened the kiss, plundering the young man’s mouth hungrily, desperately... I can’t lose him...

They broke apart, gasping, when they ran out of air and rested their foreheads together, eyes closed, drawing comfort from their physical closeness without the need for words.

Long minutes passed and Ianto shivered, goose bumps creeping over his skin as a touch of delayed shock caught up with him. He grimaced - he should be used to all this by now – and forced himself to pull away from Jack’s embrace. He gave his Captain a tiny smile and brushed their lips together lightly, before sliding off the table.

“I’m going to take a shower...I need to get rid of the ‘eau-de-weevil’ and my clothes are filthy...” he touched Jack’s cheek in response to the quizzical eyebrow, “...and yes, really, I’m fine...” He kissed him softly and headed back up the steps towards the office.

Jack leant against the autopsy table and sighed, why is life so bloody complicated? He shook his head, knowing there was no answer to that and followed in Ianto’s wake. Shrugging out of his coat he hung it up and dropped into his chair, opening his Ianto files and clicking on a random recording...it was the one of them enjoying a steamy kissing session on the slab of the invisible lift up on the Plass. He remembered that day, a huge grin spread across his face and he leant back in his chair...

“Jack...you got a second..?” Gwen interrupted his delicious reminiscing...

“Er, not right now...give me fifteen minutes?” he turned his attention back to the screen without waiting to see if she’d complied.

Gwen had, returning moodily to her desk. It was all Ianto these days...she bit her lip, hearing those sounds again in her head. Angry at how easily it riled her, she attacked her keyboard and attempted to bury herself in Tosh’s rift program... However, she couldn’t stop herself from frequent glances up to the office...even from down here she could see his broad grin, gorgeous broad grin and hear him chuckle. She looked at her watch, was it fifteen minutes yet?

Deciding that it was, she got to her feet as Ianto appeared in the office. He was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt and was rubbing his head gingerly with a towel. As she watched, Jack got up, tugged the Welshman into his arms and kissed him...a soft and tender kiss... Releasing him, he sat back down, pulling Ianto onto his lap and they looked at something on the screen together, laughing with abandon...

Ianto looked down at his fingers interlaced with Jack’s, the warmth and feel of his hand stirring all sorts of thoughts he would usually associate with how giggling teenage girls discussed their latest boyfriends! He grinned, suffice to say, he liked it... He watched the two of them on the slab on the monitor, kissing passionately in full view of the world...except of course, no-one could see them! He remembered that day – Jack had taken him out to buy a new suit which had ended up being eight Bespoke, with shirts, ties and shoes and a couple of rather fun blow jobs in the fitting room after they’d taken some rather unconventional measurements...oh, yeah, measuring tapes never lie! They laughed loudly, recalling how close they’d come to being caught with their pants down – literally!

Ianto turned his head and his lips met Jack’s, softly and sweetly as they gave themselves to the moment. Breaking apart, Ianto stood and stretched carefully, his muscles stiff from rolling around on the ground with the weevil. “Coffee?”

“Please...I’ll find some more for us to look at...”

 “I thought you were transferring them...”

“Done that...in the tin already with the toy dragon and the photos so far...” He looked up as Ianto grinned fondly at him. “Nice t-shirt by the way – what’s Blue Gillespie?”

“Not ‘what’...who – Welsh rock band...they’re good...lead singer’s hot...lovely eyes...nice arse...you’d like him!” chuckling as Jack pouted.

“Thought you were making coffee..!”

Still smirking, Ianto headed for the kitchen, swinging his hips as he walked, knowing Jack’s eyes would be fixed on his rear until he was out of sight. He felt better now, his headache had gone and now he was in clean clothes again it was just another bump in the road that was life at Torchwood. He began sorting out beans...hazelnut roast for a change...

Gwen had seized her chance and had shot into Jack’s office as soon as Ianto was out of sight, losing no time in telling him about Tosh’s messages and the progress she was making with the program, as she leant against his desk rather than sitting in the chair.

“That’s good work, Gwen... Yea, Ianto told me about Tosh’s messages – that’s so like her to look out for us... God, I miss her...and Owen...we all do...I know Ianto’s found this all really hard...” he sighed heavily.

“I wanted to talk to you about Ianto...” Gwen found herself blurting out, telling herself this had nothing to do with any envy on her part – no, this was concern for a colleague...a friend...

“What about him?” Jack’s eyes immediately looked anxious...worried...panicked even...

“He’s been really, er...unstable since that business with the phones – moody, biting my head off one minute, crying the next...” she knew she was misrepresenting the circumstances of these rapid mood changes, but it was too late to back out now...she had his full attention... She put her hand over his and leant forward...as Ianto came out of the kitchen with the tray of coffee and a plate of fondant fancies.

He stopped dead as he watched Gwen’s hand stroke gently over Jack’s...His heart thudded heavily in his chest and he bit down hard on his bottom lip as he attempted to quash the green-eyed monster that burst out of captivity... What was she doing touching him? What were they talking about? Why wasn’t she sat in the chair instead of leaning on the desk – that was his place... His hands trembled as ‘rational Ianto’ squared up to ‘jealous Ianto’...

Rational thought dictated that there were many subjects on which to discourse, especially over recent months, where a gentle touch could demonstrate understanding and sympathy...the loss of their friends and colleagues still so raw and painful. Jack could have called Gwen in to discuss the programs she was working on and the conversation would naturally lead to mentions of Tosh and Owen – Jack had been so strong but he felt their loss acutely...see – all perfectly innocent... explainable...

On the other hand...Gwen had always wanted Jack and she’d been off with Ianto for days now, especially since hearing them in Jack’s office...she’d waited until Ianto was out of the way before going in to talk to him...no doubt those huge doe eyes were glistening with tears...she knew her weapons and used them to their utmost advantage...he’d always known she was ‘competition’ for Jack’s affections...what was it about her?

He bit his lip again, harder this time, and gripped the tray hard so his knuckles turned white, rational thought imploring him to remain calm...the rumbling uncertainty that was gnawing gleefully in his gut urging him to charge in there and grab his Captain’s hand away from hers... A compromise was required... His face set to ‘calm and controlled’, he walked briskly to the office and went in, his eyes immediately focused on Jack’s guilty look as he snatched his hand away from under Gwen’s...the knife in his belly twisted...

He looked away from those too beautiful blue grey eyes as Jack attempted a smile, leaning across Gwen to place the mug on Jack’s coaster, making sure his arm brushed against the older man’s, the warmth of the touch sending involuntary shivers through him... Jack... He turned to Gwen, his face impassive as he handed over her mug, before placing the plate of cakes between them.

He took his own mug and the tray to the corner of the office, turning his back on them. He opened the cupboard to get out the clothes brush, reaching for Jack’s coat and proceeded to brush it with precise, controlled strokes...on auto-pilot as his mind continued to wage war...the green-eyed army currently had the lead... 

Gwen sipped her coffee. She was satisfied she’d made her point and there was a definite atmosphere in the room. She touched Jack’s arm and leant forward, “...you know where I am...if you need me...” Picking up a strawberry Fondant Fancy from the plate, she returned to her workstation.

Jack was watching Ianto, noting the too-carefully controlled brush strokes. Ianto was not happy...

“Yan..? Leave that...come and sit with me...”

“Oh, sorry, did I interrupt your cosy tête-à-tête with Gwen..? You should’ve said...I could’ve done this later...” he knew he sounded petulant but was unable to stop himself. He blinked back the tears that invaded his eyes and continued to brush...slow...controlled...

Jack sighed imperceptibly. He knew what this was and he cursed Gwen and her ability to rile the young man with her deliberate use of womanly wiles. In some ways it was like sibling rivalry...in other, much more grown-up ways, it was far more complicated. Gwen was a way of keeping Jack grounded – in this place, this time – she reminded him why they did what they did...faced the dangers they faced... Ianto was precious to him...becoming more precious by the day and Jack was terrified that he would lose him… I almost lost him today... and sometimes he needed to focus on Gwen to stop him from locking his Welshman away...when his need to keep the young man safe from harm threatened to stop him doing his job properly… I can’t lose him...

“Ianto...please...”  

“Is there something you want...sir?” Fuck, Jack, you can’t just keep going from one to the other, I can’t do this...

“Talk to me, Ianto...please... Gwen’s worried about you... I’m worried about you... You’re upset...”

The tidal wave of emotions that had been building surged forward and overpowered the dam... “Upset? Just upset? Over the past year I’ve seen one of my friends die, get brought back to life again before battling with death itself, seen the city blown up by your revenge-obsessed brother, watched another very close friend die in your arms, discovered that the undead dead friend had been irradiated and is now really dead, seen my immortal lover, whom I love more than life itself - but please don’t tell him - fall into a trance after a phone call, met one of his past lovers who was special enough to keep all her memories, and who actually is a very lovely and special lady... and then today I was once again reminded how terribly mortal and weak I am when I almost died because a stinking weevil of all things tried to rip my throat out...so yes, Jack, I am a bit messed up at the moment...

He paused to draw in a shaky breath and then found he had nothing left to say, so he gazed at his shoes and waited for the exasperated shouts that would no doubt follow from his Captain...his boss...his Jack... 

Silence. He looked up. Jack was staring at him, tears coursing down his cheeks. He looked broken... Ianto gulped. “Jack...” he whispered, taking a step towards him...

“Ianto...” was all Jack managed to get out before they were in each other’s arms holding, kissing, grasping, nipping...pure and raw emotion...it wasn’t even about sexual desire – it went deeper than that – they needed to be as close as humanly possible...skin to skin...to touch...to feel...to feel alive...

Gwen had smiled quietly when the shouting started. When the quiet came and she looked up to see them in each other’s arms her eyes filled with tears and she wasn’t entirely sure if she was pleased for them or not...she hoped she was... Logging off her computer, she picked up her bag and left. Her husband would be waiting at home...

In Jack’s office the only sounds now were pants and gasps as they writhed frantically in each other’s arms. Ianto pulled his mouth away from Jack’s long enough to growl one word “...bed!” before they threw themselves down the ladder to the bunker below to continue where they’d left off. It was rough and primal and they howled their release before scrambling, panting hard, under the covers to press themselves together before falling into an exhausted sleep.

Jack woke in the early hours of the morning, propping himself up to gaze at the sleeping man beside him. He looked so young and vulnerable, his face pale with visible signs of his tussle with the weevil that had so nearly seen his demise. It made Jack’s heart ache to consider a time when he wouldn’t have Ianto with him and if he was honest with himself – not a good idea – it scared the fucking life out of him... I can’t lose him...

Very carefully, he slid out of the Welshman’s hold and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. He dressed swiftly and climbed up the ladder. He needed a rooftop...

When Ianto woke an hour later to find himself alone, he knew instinctively where he’d find his Captain. He dressed, made a flask of coffee and dragged the picnic blanket out from the bag. Ten minutes later he was walking tentatively towards the man he loved with his entire being… I don’t ever want to leave him...

Jack turned from his contemplation of his view over the city. “You found me..!”

“I know you..!”

“You do...too well!” he folded Ianto into his arms and kissed him tenderly, a soft, lingering kiss that asked for – and received – forgiveness on both sides...nothing about their lives, or relationship, would ever be simple or conventional...

The kiss deepened as their tongues duelled for supremacy, Jack urging them to the floor where they sank to their knees... “...wait..!” Ianto panted breathlessly, shrugging the pack off his back. He dug into it and pulled out the blanket, spreading it on the floor before tugging Jack down with him and they lost themselves in never-ending hot, wet kisses...hands raking over clothing and sliding beneath the fabric to explore the warm flesh below.

Their love making was slow and sensual, the chill of the night air contrasting starkly with the heat of their skin, every touch sparking new bursts of flame as they crept inexorably towards the bliss of climax. Ianto arched his body as wave after wave of pleasure washed over him and left him trembling, the welcome weight and warmth of Jack’s body as he slumped on top of him, breathless and tingling, only deepened his satisfaction...

It was too cold to linger in their semi-naked state – both had retained their t-shirts – so they dressed and cuddled up together in Jack’s coat with the blanket wrapped around them as they sipped their coffee. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east as Cardiff prepared for a new day. The two men sat and watched the sunrise, secure in the knowledge that another unforgettable memory had been forged. They leant against each other as the sky turned through breath-taking shades of orange and pink and gold, kissing softly, the city coming to life around them as life moved on...


Chapter 7 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/22849.html

zazajb: (All the time we have)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 5/8 + epilogue

Chapter 5

The roller door siren alerted them to the arrival of Gwen, although they were too far gone to actually do anything about it as Jack moaned and panted, his chest pressed into his desk as Ianto thrust wildly into him, his face flushed, head thrown back, eyes closed...

“Jack...Ianto..? Anyone home..? Gwen called out as she shrugged off her coat and dumped her bag by her workstation before taking the bag of pastries she’d picked up on the way in up to the kitchen. She put the kettle on to make herself a cup of tea, walking back along the top walkway towards Jack’s office as she pictured them curled up together, wondering if they were in a similar situation today...

Her mind was distracted enough not to recognise the sounds that met her ears at first, gasping loudly as she suddenly realised what she was hearing when Jack’s “oh God, Ianto...yes, there..!” echoed loudly around the hub, followed by some extremely expressive Welsh as Ianto followed him into ecstasy... She blushed scarlet, even though they couldn’t see her and she hadn’t actually seen them either, but there was no doubting the activities behind that closed door...

Turning swiftly on her heels to retreat, she recalled the last time she’d caught them in the hothouse... Ianto had looked so hot and ‘undone’...he really did love Jack... She bit her lip and pushed away the niggling jealousy that grumbled in her head...she had Rhys who adored her and she did love him...she did...it was just that Jack did something to her that she couldn’t explain... She shook her head and sat down at her computer, pulling up the programs she’d been working through. Ianto would be making coffee soon enough...

It was about fifteen minutes before the door to Jack’s office opened and Ianto headed out towards the kitchen, his hair mussed and a hint of pink on his cheekbones the only outward signs of his recent loving...well, maybe the huge grin on his face had something to do with it as well..! Gwen smiled to herself, her jealous goblin at peace for the moment seeing Ianto so obviously happy after he’d had such a rough ride recently...she giggled to herself at the unintentional double entendre, jumping as Jack leant over the railing to call to her.

“Hey! You ok down there? You were worlds away..?”

“You mean like you two were when I arrived this morning..!”

Jack grinned, “We were reviewing some archived files from 1947...”

“It sounded like it..!”

“Well...we were...to start with...and I guess we got a bit carried away...you could’ve come in and said hello..!”

Gwen giggled and didn’t answer, turning back to her keyboard and was soon engrossed in the intricate nuances of the rift predictor settings that Tosh had been perfecting... She jumped for the second time that morning when Ianto appeared at her shoulder with a mug of her favourite blend and the apple and cinnamon twist she’d chosen for herself.

“Sorry..! Didn’t mean to make you jump...” he put the mug down by the side of her computer and handed her the plate. She smiled her thanks, noting the kiss-swollen pink of his lips and subtle aroma of Jack that mingled with his own natural scent, and couldn’t stop the swift stab of envy when she imagined them together. Blushing, she turned back to her screen and began typing at top speed, complete and utter rubbish, but Ianto seemed to get the message and glided away, returning to Jack’s office with their mugs and pastries.

Jack accepted his mug, smiling softly when their fingers brushed together as the mug changed ownership. He sipped appreciatively and nodded, “...much better hot!”

Ianto grinned, “I’ll remind you of that next time you get distracted...sir!” He sipped his own drink – definitely better hot! They munched their pastries in companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Ianto got to his feet and put the plates and mugs back on the tray, leaning across to plant a light kiss on his Captain’s lips before heading for the door. “I’ll wash these and then I’ll do the report for this morning...unless you want me to do anything else..?”

Jack raised his eyebrows suggestively and was rewarded with a roll of the Welshman’s eyes; the young man was most definitely back in work mode now! “Ok, I’ll shout if I need you...” He watched as Ianto retreated gracefully out of the door before turning back to his computer to start transferring the Ianto files to the flash drives, watching several and marking some to share with Ianto once he’d finished his report.

Ianto had washed the mugs and prepared the beans ready for the next coffee run, and was now heading back to the main hub to start on the report of their meeting with the Corahcuts. He smiled as Gwen gave him a sidelong glance as he sat down; she had something on her mind and knowing Gwen it wouldn’t be long until she started talking...

They both concentrated on their work, an uneasy silence falling between them...Gwen trying to quell the jealousy that kept bubbling to the surface every time she thought of the two men together, those carnal sounds replaying over and over in her head...Ianto wondering what she’d seen or heard that morning and if that was why she was ‘off’ with him...

The silence continued until a choked sob from Gwen got Ianto’s attention. He leapt to his feet and went to her workstation to see her huge brown doe eyes full of tears as she gazed at a message on the screen. The message was from Tosh and obviously something she’d planted within the program some time previously, knowing that it would only be seen after her death, “Nice work guys – you’ve done really well to get this far...you might want to keep an eye on the inverse matrices as the neutrinos tend to drift...I’m sure I’m missing you all from this side of the rift...”

The tears spilled down Gwen’s cheeks as she tapped her screen and pulled up the requisite readings – the neutrinos had drifted so she reset them, “Tosh knew we’d have to go through her programs to make sure we knew how they worked...she left us messages to keep us safe...she’s still keeping us safe even now...” she whispered hoarsely.

Ianto squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, “...you need a hanky?” he offered, his eyes widening as she shook her head and pulled one out of her pocket, clocking it immediately as one of Jack’s... The rumblings of jealousy reared their head and he snapped without thinking, “...no, you’ve got one already...fine...” Gwen’s face crumpled at his harsh tone and she buried her face in the already mascara-smudged cotton...

Sighing deeply, Ianto put his arms around her awkwardly and patted her on the back, “...sorry...” his voice regretful, “...I just miss them...” which was true, even if that wasn’t the real reason he’d bitten her head off... 

They remained still, each remembering their lost friends, until Gwen’s sobs stopped and she pulled away, drying her eyes before ramming the damp hanky back in her pocket.

Ianto sat back down and gazed at his screen. He’d just finished the report from that morning. He shook his head minutely and glanced across at Gwen, whose face reddened as she caught his eye – she’d been staring at him again... He turned to face her...get this over with...”I’m sorry if we embarrassed you this morning...when we were...you know...” he blushed and looked down at his shoes.

Gwen smiled, “It brought back memories...y’know...from the hothouse...” Ianto’s blush deepened and she giggled, reaching for his hand, “...actually, it’s quite a turn on...I told Rhys and we had quite a session that night...”

Ianto groaned, “I can hear Owen in my head right now..!”

They fell silent again, both picturing the acerbic medic who always had plenty to say on the subject of his boss shagging the tea boy...

The silence was broken by Jack shouting down from the railings outside his office, “Ianto! Any chance of a coffee and then I need you to go over the firearms competencies with me...”

Ianto rolled his eyes, “...sounds like fun all the way..! Coffee?”

“Yeah...please...we friends again..?”

“Yep! Oh, I’ve just sent you a copy of the report from this morning...nice encounter with some really tall beings called Corahcuts...took a really nice photo for us..!” He chuckled as Gwen leapt at her keyboard to check it out as he headed for the kitchen.

Coffee made, Ianto entered Jack’s office to see him staring intently at his computer, his hands clenched on the desk. Peering over his shoulder he grinned, “...that doesn’t look like firearms competencies, sir...”

Jack growled in response, whipping his chair round to drag his Welshman into a bone crushing embrace as he claimed his lips hungrily, tongue diving into his mouth to duel hotly with his own, the young man’s gasps lost against the rising passions within them... Coming up for air, Jack grinned wolfishly at the man in his arms. “I’ve been watching you...us...God, we’re hot..! Remember this..?” He swung the chair back round and opened a file called ‘Strip shooter’, “These are the firearms competencies...”

They watched the opening scene on the range where Ianto helped Jack on with his coat, buttoning it up and fastening the belt... Ianto paused the playback, grinning at Jack’s sulky pout. He brushed their lips together as he wriggled off his lap, “...hold that thought, Captain...I’ll be right back..!” and vanished from the office.

Jack watched through the window as the young man skipped down the steps and spoke to Gwen, whispering in her ear; watched as the Welshwoman gave him a hug, picked up her bag and left the hub, grinning madly, a spring in her step as the roller door closed behind her.

Moments later Ianto was back, sliding onto his lap to wrap his arms around his Captain and kiss him hard. Jack raised his eyebrows as they pulled apart. “I told her we had a lot of files to go through, that it would take ages and she might as well take advantage of the quiet and grab another long lunch with Rhys...she won’t be back until three...” he left out the whispered, “...why don’t you tell him about this morning and take it from there..?” that had prompted a wicked giggle and the impulsive hug.

Jack beamed and clicked ‘resume’... and they watched some rather impressive shooting that got progressively less accurate as clothes were removed and some devious distraction techniques resulted in targets being missed altogether...well, paper targets anyway... “C’m here...” Jack grabbed Ianto’s hand and crushed their mouths together, soft moans of pleasure escaping the Welshman as he was kissed into oblivion before Jack led him down the ladder and proceeded to worship his body until they were both panting through the warmth of the afterglow...

After an enjoyable shower, Ianto returned to the kitchen where he made a flask of coffee and filled a backpack with the picnic items he’d bought, before returning to Jack’s office and holding out his hand... “Come on...”

“Where we going?”

“Picnic...we’re memory making, yeah?” He shoved aside the memory making for when I’m dead thoughts that rushed unbidden into his head, holding out Jack’s coat for him to slip into, smoothing the heavy fabric over his shoulders, “...I really love this coat...” he murmured against his Captain’s ear, sending trails of goosebumps over his flesh and a twitch to his groin...

They walked down to the SUV. Jack transferred the rift alert to his wrist strap and Ianto climbed into the driver’s seat, heading out of Cardiff towards the perfect spot he had in mind. They parked at the bottom of the hill and set out on foot, Ianto had the picnic blanket, Jack had the backpack as they panted their way up the incline. As they reached the top Ianto turned, “...what do you think?”

The view was magnificent, the city spread out below them... “Wow! That’s some view..!”

“Yeah...” Jack turned at the tone to see Ianto gazing at him with desire filled eyes and he pulled the young man into his arms, kissing him softly… how did I let him get so far under my skin? How am I ever gonna let him go..? He tightened his hold and deepened the kiss, plundering his mouth as Ianto surrendered his grip on reality and lost himself completely in the sensations of Jack’s lips against his..

Stumbling backwards, Jack pulled away, “...rug...floor...these...” he tugged at their clothing, “...off!”

Moving back under the shade of a giant Oak tree, Ianto spread the rug out on the ground as Jack attacked the buttons of the young man’s waistcoat and shirt, pulling them open so he could run his fingers through the soft downy hair on his chest. They sank to the floor as kiss followed kiss and each emotion-charged touch brought them closer to paradise...

They lay tangled and breathless, the breeze gusting over their heated skin. Jack dropped a light kiss to the tip of Ianto’s nose, “...you ok?”

“Mmnn...” was the most coherent thing that emerged from the young man’s mouth as he struggled to force air back into his lungs after some particularly innovative moves from his Captain. He shivered a little as the wind tugged at his hair.

“Cold..?” Jack was attentive, “...here...” he held his coat out for Ianto to slip into and folded it round him, tugging on his own t-shirt and shirt before sitting back down with his back to the tree trunk and pulling the young man back to the floor to lean back against him as he wrapped him into his arms.

Ianto sighed happily as he leant back, content in his Captain’s embrace...this would make a wonderful memory...he stretched his toes out to snag his trousers and inched them towards him, finally retrieving his phone from the pocket, where he opened the camera and took several shots of them before dropping the phone as his lips were claimed softly...tenderly...lovingly...how can I imagine leaving all this..?

The rumbling of Jack’s stomach reminded them of their picnic and Ianto pulled the food and drink out of the bag while Jack pulled the rest of his clothes back on. They sat and munched contentedly, Jack snapping several more pictures of his Welshman wrapped in the coat, plus some of them both with the view of the city in the background... Finally, full of ciabatta and Italian cheese and chewy chocolate brownie, they leant against each other as Jack told some more stories of his adventures with Stella during the winter of 1978, including the tale of a Yeti-type footprint mystery that turned out to be a local reporter trying to find out who or what they were...until he was retconned back to his teenage years! 

Jack’s wrist strap beeped as they were finishing their second cup of coffee. He flipped it open and checked the readings. “Looks like a couple of weevils...” he sighed wistfully, “...sorry, Yan, we gotta go back to work...” He tugged the young man to his feet and folded him into a hug, pressing their lips together lightly, “I’ve really enjoyed this...we’ve made some happy memories today...” how can I ever let him go? I love him...

Ianto smiled softly, “Thank you, cariad...” There’s no way I’m dying just yet...I need more days like this... He scrambled into his clothes as Jack threw the remnants of the picnic back into the pack and rolled up the rug. He held his hand out, entwining their fingers as Ianto took hold, and glanced around at the idyllic setting.

“This would be the perfect spot to bury the time capsule...”

They hurried back to the SUV and set off in pursuit of the weevils...it was all in a day’s work at Torchwood...


Chapter 6 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/22739.html

zazajb: (All the time we have stopwatch)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 4/8 + epilogue

Chapter 4

They were pulled out of bed at five am, the rift alerter proclaiming something relatively small, metallic and emitting bursts of energy had arrived uninvited in Butetown. They stumbled into their clothes and headed for the SUV, automatically checking their guns, ammo and location of the disturbance on the hand-held scanner.

“Looks like it’s in the middle of the school playing field...” Ianto yawned, peering at the tiny screen before rubbing his eyes sleepily.

Jack grinned at him – he loved the little-boy-lost look Ianto always wore when he was first awake. Impulsively he pulled out his phone and took a picture, chuckling at the Welshman’s indignant expression, “I’m collecting for our time capsule...” he murmured as they reached the SUV and he pressed the young man back against it as he kissed him, sweetly, without passion, before releasing him and climbing into the car.

They sped through the deserted streets, damp from overnight rainfall and were soon pulling onto the school playground. Jumping down, now far more awake – Jack’s enthusiastic driving had a way of bringing you to your senses rather abruptly – they strode towards the field.

The object was an orb, roughly the size of a football and was emitting tiny electro-magnetic pulses at regular intervals. Ianto crouched down and ran the scanner over it before standing again and glancing around them, frowning. “There’s something else nearby...” he said, swinging the scanner round in a gentle arc, “...much bigger and cloaked...a ship maybe..?”

Jack pressed a few buttons on his wrist strap and pointed to the far end of the field, “...down there...towards that electric pylon...”

They pulled their weapons and moved down towards the cloaked ship. Jack peered over Ianto’s shoulder as the scanner changed signature readings the further away they got from the orb. “Look – ion emissions...that’s different from earlier...” He tapped his head impatiently...”...Why is ion emissions familiar..?” He glanced at Ianto whose brow was crinkled in thought as he gazed absently down at his feet...

Ianto looked up, a grin on his face, “...tea dragon!” he said, this remarkable statement spreading a matching grin across his Captain’s face, who pulled him in for a deep, lip-melting kiss.

“Of course, your little brush with some alien LSD resulting in your temporary, but very impressive none-the-less, transformation into a magic tea dragon! I seem to recall having to drink a rather disgusting cup of tea made for you by none other than our own Dr Owen Harper...”

Ianto’s grin faded at the mention of Owen, his expression changing to one of sorrow as he remembered the fierce delight the acerbic doctor had taken in decorating the kitchen with stickers, flags and stuffed toy dragons he’d painstakingly tied teabags to with bits of red ribbon, even re-writing the words of a children’s song to fit Ianto’s high...all so he could tease him mercilessly...It seemed like such a long time ago now... He bit his lip, shoving aside the pangs of despair and grief that followed hot on the heels of uncertainty and self-doubt, glaring down at the scanner as unshed tears blurred his vision...

Noting the swift change of mood, Jack tugged him in for a hug and rubbed his back comfortingly in small circles, murmuring soft words of reassurance before redirecting their concentration back to the mystery of the cloaked ship...

 “So, the shell was left behind by the Corahcuts...they use ion emissions as fuel or energy...so by rights, we should get a warm welcome...” He reached out and pushed his hand through the cloaking shield, feeling along the side of the ship... “Ah ha..! Got it...back in a minute...” and he vanished, a minute shimmer the only indication he’d ever been there.

“Ja...bloody hell Jack!” Ianto swore some more in rather expressive Welsh as he found himself talking to thin air...

“Tut tut! Such language!” Jack reappeared almost immediately, clutching Ianto’s hand and dragging him through what felt like a wall of dry water, the young man scoffing mentally at his description of the sensation because water was anything but dry! He looked around him, eyes wide as he took in his new surroundings.

They were in some kind of entrance hallway, the walls shimmering with a kind of incandescent sheen, with enormously high ceilings and elegant curves that obviously led to different parts of the ship. Jack tugged him towards the other end of the passageway into a cathedral sized room with a transparent domed roof...everything was smooth and elegant...including the occupants... It was immediately clear why the ceilings were so high – the two Corahcuts were at least nine feet tall, had incredibly long limbs and necks and moved with a quiet grace that was somehow quite mesmerising... Their voices, when they spoke, were soft and their speech, precise...their huge almond shaped eyes were dark against the white of their skin as they blinked at him.

Jack made introductions and they inclined their elegant heads in greeting. Ianto listened as they conversed intelligently with his Captain, content to just observe whilst his brain attempted to comprehend the latest twist his day had taken – Stella would be proud of all those new explosions going off in his head!

They’d been there for about twenty-five minutes when the panels on the wall began to pulsate. The Corahcuts glided elegantly over to brush their long, slim fingers across the controls, explaining that their craft was now fully recharged from the pylon’s ion emissions and they would be leaving once they had fulfilled their promise of an image for the future... Jack tugged Ianto over to the central console and draped an arm around his shoulders as the aliens placed themselves on either side of the two men...” ...smile!” Jack whispered in the Welshman’s ear, “another one for the time capsule, plus we can put a copy in the alien database...”

As Ianto smiled into Jack’s eyes, they both felt a miniscule tremor in their bodies, like they were being scanned – it was highly likely they’d be going into the Corahcut’s own alien database! Moments later, both phones beeped advising a message had been received – their photo... Goodbyes were exchanged and they left swiftly, retreating back up the field, past the orb – apparently it was both anchor and early warning system...

They waited several minutes, expecting to feel the rush of displaced air as the craft moved away, but nothing happened...and then the signals on the scanner were gone. They glanced at each other, quietly impressed, and headed back to the SUV.

Back at the hub, Ianto made coffee and toast while Jack downloaded the photos and updated the alien database. He printed copies of the two pictures for their capsule, smiling softly at the mussed hair and adorably sleepy look of his first picture, before going back to gazing at the image Gwen had left them...

He logged into his messages, hoping...yes, she’d sent him the file. He printed another two smaller copies and pulled them off the printer, trimming them neatly to wallet sized...ok it was incredibly girly but he wanted this picture with him... He gazed at it on the screen, noting again the way his arm draped possessively over the young man’s body, the way their hands entwined and how their bodies fitted together so perfectly...pressed skin to skin...

A rush of emotion sent sudden tears to his eyes and he blinked them away, smiling as the object of his thoughts came into his office with two steaming mugs of divinely aromatic coffee and a large plate of hot buttered toast which he set down on the desk before peering over his Captain’s shoulder to see what he was so engrossed in. Ianto rested his chin on Jack’s shoulder and slid his arms around him, pressing a light kiss to the side of his neck... No words were needed, Jack turning his head to meet the Welshman’s soft mouth in a knee-melting encounter that left his lips tingling, his heart pounding and his body trembling...

He gasped as he was swept off his feet to land in Jack’s lap to be kissed into oblivion before Jack made love to him, his touches alternating wildly between raw passion, feral want, desperation and a tenderness that bordered on reverence... Ianto’s body writhed and arched, his nerve endings on fire as his senses flew and he lost himself in the feel of Jack’s hands, the warmth of his mouth...nothing else mattered...it was just him, just Jack, right here and they soared...

Panting heavily, limbs tangled, as they slumped on the sofa in the office, Jack traced his fingers tenderly over the contours of his Welshman’s face...across his forehead and down his cute button nose, following the outline of his exquisite mouth, those glorious lips...pink and swollen from his kisses...he couldn’t resist those lips...as he slid his hand round the back of the young man’s head and pulled him in for another kiss, followed by another and another until they ran out of air...

Still somewhat dazed from the combination of Jack’s dizzying lovemaking and mind blowing kisses, Ianto leant against him as he was led to the shower where his Captain washed him lovingly from head to foot before drying him with equal care, finally folding him into his arms to hold him tightly as he buried his face in the young man’s freshly washed hair, the scent of the lime and ginger shampoo mingling with the Welshman’s own unique aroma...

“Jack..?” This attention was lovely, but a little unusual, even for Jack’s levels of unpredictable behaviour... “Jack..!” he said a little more sharply, hearing what sounded like a smothered sob... He wriggled in the embrace, finally pulling back enough to meet the older man’s eyes and he gasped at the intensity of the emotion that blazed out of the blue grey depths... “Ja...”

“Sshh...I just want to remember this...always...” He kissed him lightly. “There’s so much I want to remember...”

Ianto smiled, cupping Jack’s face and brushing his thumbs over his cheeks. “If it’s quiet again today we’ll send Gwen for another long lunch and then we can have a picnic...I know the perfect spot - Rhi and I used to go to when we were kids...” he pressed their lips together gently, “...now, get dressed and let’s find a box to put this in...” reaching into his jacket pocket to drag out a Welsh red dragon beanie toy he’d picked up from the Tourist Information as they’d returned from their encounter with the Corahcuts.

Jack grabbed the toy from his hand and laughed, “...anything for my magic tea dragon..!” as he reached for his trousers.

Ianto dressed quickly and vanished into the kitchen to replace their long forgotten coffee and toast while Jack pondered on the container to use for their capsule... He made his choice and took it back up to his office, setting it on the desk before turning to his computer. He opened his private files, calling up all the Ianto clips from the CCTV he’d collected since the young man had first captivated him as they’d rolled around on the floor of that grubby warehouse as an unconscious Myfanwy had plummeted towards them... He couldn’t help but notice how attractive he was...that suit...those gorgeous Welsh vowels and the obvious mutual attraction that the swellings in their trousers did nothing to hide...before he knew it, he’d offered him a job...

The aroma of coffee and hot toast preceded the return of Ianto who almost dropped the tray when he saw the tin box...

Jack leapt up and took the tray from him, plonking it on top of the files, before taking both of Ianto’s hands in his. “I know...” he said softly, “...but it’s perfect for what we need – it’s waterproof, sturdy, stands the test of time...that’s why we use them...” he squeezed the young man’s hands, watching the kaleidoscope of different emotions that washed over his face, knowing he was replaying the heartbreaking images of them packing away Owen’s and Tosh’s personal belongings into identical boxes...

Ianto bit on his lip, feeling the whimper building from his gut...one day his belongings would be going into one of these boxes...someone would be doing his final log out...Jack would be alone again...not for long, he’ll replace you soon enough... His mind tortured him with images of Jack cuddling up to some faceless person as he lay in a drawer in the morgue...dead...forgotten...replaced...well that’s what you get when you have an immortal lover, the ruthless voice in his head hammered it home and he couldn’t stop the sob that burst from his lips, burying his face in Jack’s neck as the older man wrapped him into his arms and dropped loving kisses on any part of him he could reach, rocking them gently...

“You’ll forget me...” Ianto mumbled, his tears dripping down Jack’s neck to soak into his collar.

“Never could..!” the words whispered into his ear were a comfort, but he wasn’t convinced.

“In a thousand years time, you won’t remember me...”

“I will...” Jack’s own tears spilled hot down his face, “...I will...I promise...” They clung to each other, Jack tipping the young man’s face up to his, capturing his lips to kiss him hungrily, their tears merging as they poured their feelings into the kiss, both aware that the first thread of the complicated tangle of emotions that defined them had been tugged free...

Breaking apart, they dried each other’s tears and belatedly ate their cold toast and drank the rather lukewarm coffee, Ianto curled up in Jack’s lap, knowing it was needy, but not wanting to be apart from his Captain for a minute if he didn’t have to...

Breakfast dealt with, Jack turned his attention back to the files on his computer, reaching into his desk drawer for several empty memory sticks to copy the recordings onto. Ianto glanced at the monitor and his mouth dropped open...he gaped at the screen which had hundreds of files... “Are they all of me..?” his voice incredulous.

“Yeah, you...or us...you wanna watch a few..?” Jack purred seductively in his Welshman’s ear, his breath hot on his neck, sending trails of goosebumps over his skin and a spike of desire to his groin at the thought of watching themselves... “Remember this one...archived entry from 1947? I believe it was a really good year..!” He clicked on the icon and they watched themselves, the sights and sounds inspiring some rather impressive swellings in their trousers, Ianto wriggling in Jack’s lap as they reached for each other, crushing their mouths together as he moaned softly against his Captain’s lips... “...wanna give me a history lesson..?”

   

Chapter 5  http://zazajb.livejournal.com/22319.html

  
 

zazajb: (All the time we have)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

All the time we have 3/8 + epilogue

Chapter 3

Jack opened his eyes slowly, he was deliciously warm and cosy and wrapped around a gorgeous Welshman. He snuggled in, breathing in the familiar and reassuring scent that was Ianto. He had no idea what time it was, though no doubt it was way beyond the realms that could realistically be categorised under a ‘long lunch’! Dismissing the thought, he pressed a gentle kiss to the side of Ianto’s neck, nuzzling closer, a smile curving his lips as the young man stirred and mumbled his name...he adored being the first word out of that sensual mouth as he woke...

He added more soft kisses as the mumbling switched to murmurs of appreciation and he felt his body twitch in response to the wriggling of his Welshman’s hips... He reached out to turn the young man round to face him, capturing his lips in a tender kiss that grew in intensity...and then it was later still and they were pressed together under the shower as the warm spray cascaded down on them...

They emerged, sated and glowing, when the water was cooling and dried each other, no words...just emotions and soft brushes of lips... Ianto rummaged in Jack’s wardrobe, pulling out an old battered pair of jeans and one of Jack’s t-shirts and disappeared up the ladder to put on some coffee and order a pizza – it was late and he was hungry! He grinned as he saw their clothes piled up on Jack’s desk, his eyes widening as he picked up the photo and an unmistakable warm feeling crept through him as he absorbed the closeness of their bodies even in sleep...

“Our clothes are up here...Gwen must’ve found them...oh, and she left us this..!” He dropped the picture down to Jack and continued on his way to the kitchen without waiting to hear Jack’s response. Coffee made and pizza ordered, he headed back to Jack’s office to find his Captain still naked, gazing at the picture, one finger trailing gently over their still forms...

“Jack..?” he frowned at the lack of response, reaching out a hand to the older man’s shoulder, his breath catching in his throat as Jack turned and looked at him, tears rolling down his cheeks... “...this is what I’ll always remember...we’re so beautiful...” his voice trailed away as he grabbed a handful of t-shirt and pulled the young man towards him, crushing their lips together hungrily, desperately, as he tried to show in action the words he could never seem to say out loud...

The ring of the Tourist Information bell finally broke them apart as it announced the arrival of their belated lunch-dinner and Ianto regretfully disentangled himself from his Captain’s embrace, their fingers remaining entwined until the last moment and they were out of reach...

By the time Ianto had let in the delivery man and paid him, Jack had pulled on some clothes and was sat on the sofa in his office, sipping his cooling coffee, a thoughtful look on his face...

They munched their pizza in silence – a not unpleasant brooding kind of silence – that Jack broke by taking both of Ianto’s hands in his and entwining their fingers carefully before announcing, “I’ve loved hundreds of people in my lifetime, but I’ve been in love with very few...three, in fact...the first two were centuries ago...the third...is you...” he squeezed their joined hands and looked up to meet Ianto’s blue eyes, love blazing out of his own blue grey pools. “I don’t say it very often because I try not to love anyone, really love...it hurts so much when I have to lose them...” He leant forward to press their lips together gently, relishing the softness as they kissed tenderly.

“I tried so hard to resist you Jones, Ianto Jones...everything you did...we did...and I was getting by...it was...well, I don’t know what it was, but it just was...and then there was the Master and the one thought that kept me fighting was you – your face, your laugh...just you and I knew I had to keep going so I could tell you...only I never did...sshh,” he stilled Ianto’s predicted protest as he opened his mouth, “I never said those words properly...I love you...” he smiled, half shyly as he kissed his Welshman again, breaking off to say again, louder, “I love you...” and finally shouting it so it echoed around the empty hub, “I love you,” capturing the young man’s lips in a searing kiss as he melted against him.

They settled on the sofa, lips still tingling from their prolonged and enjoyable kisses, Ianto leant into Jack’s shoulder as the older man draped his arm around him, a warmth in his belly that had absolutely nothing to do with hot coffee or pizza... “Tell me some more about your time with Stella...” he said, wriggling closer as Jack’s embrace tightened.

“Right, well, after we’d met briefly in A & E, I bumped into her in the grocery store a few days later – hey, none of your giant supermarkets back then! I bought tea and sugar and milk and she punched me on the arm for ignoring her! Tell the truth, I was a little distracted as we’d been working flat out trying to track an unknown energy signature that seemed to have a taste for cats – night after night we were finding the stripped carcasses of someone’s beloved pet and it was really starting to grate - and it was costing a fortune in replacements...” he shrugged as Ianto raised an eyebrow, “I’m not totally without heart y’know...some of these kids were devastated so we bought new cats for them and gave them a gentle dose of retcon, just enough for the suggestion to be implanted...”

He grinned as Ianto reached for him, “I love you, you big soppy oaf...” and allowed himself to be thoroughly kissed before he continued with his tale.

“So, I met up with Stella for a coffee and we took up where we left off before she’d moved away...it was really nice to have someone to talk to about everything, especially the rough bits – don’t forget I wasn’t the boss so there were lots of things I did that I didn’t agree with...some were, well...no, you really don’t want to know, suffice to say, there’s no way on earth I’d do them by choice...

Stella was gorgeous, funny and darned clever with it. She helped me plot the attacks and narrow them down to an area to the west of the park and then came with me as my cover – we spent the evening snogging against a tree...” he squeezed Ianto tightly, “...not as romantic as it sounds – we both had one eye open for a cat-hungry alien and that tends to take the edge off anything else!

So there we were, draped over each other for three hours waiting and then we noticed this ginger cat stalking up on this little bird, only as soon as it was close enough this little bird turned into a bloody huge Diatryma – that’s a prehistoric bird of prey-type thing, eight feet tall, the T-Rex of birds if you like...and just sucked the cat into its beak before we had a chance to blink! There was no way I was letting it get its beak into Stella, so I shoved her behind the tree and threw myself at it...”

“...my big brave hero...” Ianto murmured, grinning.

“I managed to get the syringe into its neck, but that just made it mad and it spat the cat out - God, that was disgusting! - and tried to replace it with me as I tried to shove a second sedative into it. We danced a bit and then it knocked me over with one of its bloody wings, and it probably would’ve eaten me then if Stella hadn’t come out from behind the tree and distracted it so I had time to get up. I was just going for the syringe when it remembered I was there and side-swiped me with its beak...and broke my neck...”

Ianto sat up in horror, “It killed you?”

“Yeah...dead as the proverbial dodo!” he pulled the Welshman back into his embrace before continuing. “So, I’m dead on the floor and when I revive I’ve got my head in Stella’s lap and an unconscious giant bird next to us...incidentally, a giant bird that stank! The first thing Stella does is hit me! I can see her now – her face – she was so angry! ‘I thought you were bloody dead, Jack! Don’t do that to me!’ How little she knew then!

So, when I’d gone down she’d grabbed the syringe from the ground and jabbed it in its leg which, combined with the earlier shot, was enough to knock it out...”

“So, did you tell her that you were dead..?”

“Yeah, although she took some convincing! She was just about to try and find a pulse when I revived, so I didn’t have that little gem to help me. In the end I offered to shoot myself to prove it to her...which, of course, she declined...and hit me again...come to think of it...she used to hit me quite a lot back then!”

“I knew I liked her!” Ianto chuckled, tipping his head up to press for a kiss, which delayed the storytelling for some considerable time as they crawled progressively further inside each other’s mouths, hands raking over bodies and tangling in hair until they ran out of oxygen and pulled apart gasping.

“No, she didn’t believe me until she saw it...ironically, this particular death was nothing alien related at all...we were out walking...going on a picnic actually...I like picnics – there’s something about eating in the open air – and we were going along a narrow country road when a car came along and ploughed straight into us...I barely had time to shove her out the way before it hit me, crushed me totally and then careered off the road into a tree...

Stella said she saw immediately I was dead so went to help the driver. He was dead too – heart attack at the wheel she thought... Well, no mobile phones in those days, so she sat and waited to see if I’d come back...which of course I did! She took it well – hugged me, kissed me...and hit me all in the space of a minute, and that was it really, we never mentioned it after that!”

He tugged Ianto in closer and kissed him tenderly. “You had enough for tonight? Want to come back to bed..?”

Ianto sighed softly against Jack’s mouth, their tongues swirling lazily as they explored familiar territory until they broke for air. “Do you think you’ll tell our story like this one day..?” he asked, wistfully, blinking back the tears that sprang unbidden at the thought of being without Jack...the thought that for that to happen, he’d need to be dead...

Jack sat up and cupped the young man’s face with both hands, gazing into his eyes, “...like this? No...that would mean I’d be here with someone else...feeling how I feel now...with you, loving you...but I will share our story – with my team...whoever they are – they’ll all know about a man called Jones, Ianto Jones...” his eyes filled with tears... “C’m here...” he crushed their lips together, his arms wrapping round the Welshman he loved so much...needed...

Jack led him back down the ladder and undressed him slowly, worshipping his body, loving him completely until they lay tangled and trembling in the afterglow... Jack kissed him softly. “That picture...the one Gwen took...we’re going to use that to start our own memory collection... something we can build together...we’re going to do a time capsule of us...” He kissed him again and snuggled in as they drifted off to sleep...

 

Chapter 4  http://zazajb.livejournal.com/22078.html

 


zazajb: (All the time we have stopwatch)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 2/8 + epilogue

Chapter 2

The next few days were quiet, the rift worryingly docile and leaving the team with way too much time on their hands. Jack found that whilst he yearned for these quiet times when they were run ragged with weevils and all manner of rift activity, when they actually got them, no-one ever knew what to do with them! More than anything, it gave them too much time to think...and thinking was dangerous...dangerous and painful...

He shoved his files aside and glanced at his watch. It was coffee time...he heaved himself out of the chair and looked out over the hub, the all too empty hub...Tosh, Owen...I miss you... Gwen was tapping away on her keyboard, an intense expression on her face he recognised as one borne of grief - she’d been working on Tosh’s mainframe programmes in between the frantic bursts of activity so it stood to reason that as it was quiet...

He rested his head against the glass and closed his eyes, trying desperately to block the image of Tosh sprawled broken and bloody on the autopsy floor, that quiet look of acceptance in her eyes as she gazed at him...Tosh...I’m so sorry...

He sighed as warm arms wrapped around his waist and a chin nestled into his shoulder. No words were spoken, but he knew what they would’ve said...this was hard on them all... He turned in the embrace and pressed their lips together lightly before nuzzling into the Welshman’s neck. For one so young he certainly had a way of knowing exactly what Jack needed – usually before he knew himself...I do love this man... 

He breathed in deeply, the comforting scent of Ianto flooding his senses and he felt himself relaxing, the tension in his shoulders easing to be replaced with stirrings of desire as the young man ran feather-light kisses down the side of his neck, lingering on the soft skin behind his ear, before trailing across his throat and up the other side where he claimed his lips...softly at first, the kiss deepening as Jack slid his tongue into Ianto’s willing mouth where they duelled pleasurably...

Breaking apart, panting for breath, they rested their foreheads together, their eyes closed in comfortable silence. Ianto sighed gently, “I think Gwen might appreciate the chance of a long lunch with Rhys...” he murmured against Jack’s ear. “Then maybe we could...relax?” He nibbled on Jack’s earlobe, feeling the shudder of desire that eddied through him and the twitch in his groin as it pressed against him.

Jack slid reluctantly out of his Welshman’s arms and went down to stand behind Gwen’s workstation. As he’d suspected, she was working through one of Tosh’s many programmes and tears dripped down her cheeks to splash onto her jeans. He put one hand on her shoulder and offered her his hanky with the other. She took it with a muffled “thank you” and turned a watery smile on him.

“Take a break,” he said gently. “Go and find Rhys and have a long lunch – I don’t want to see you back before three at the earliest...and I promise I’ll call if anything happens...” he forestalled her protests with a smile. “Go...” He watched as she saved the programme and picked up her bag, dabbing her eyes and smearing mascara all over his hanky. She offered it back to him and he grinned, “...can you imagine what Ianto would do to me if he saw that?”

Gwen’s smile was genuine this time and she crumpled the offending hanky in her hand, planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and was gone, the roller door closing loudly behind her.

Ianto came out of the office, their mugs of now cold coffee in his hands, as he headed across to the kitchen. Jack followed him, watching as he rinsed the mugs and set them to dry. As the young man reached for the beans to make some fresh, he batted his hands away and tugged him into his arms, sliding one hand round to the small of his back and the other to the back of his neck, pulling him close before capturing his mouth with a passionate kiss that quickly became wild and messy as they writhed against each other.

Ianto moaned against Jack’s mouth as he ground their hips together, desire and feral want building rapidly. His hands groped at Jack’s clothes, pulling the braces from his shoulders and fumbling with the buttons of his shirt as Jack attacked the buttons of Ianto’s waistcoat. They came up for air, briefly, diving back in to more hot, wet kisses, teeth clashing as they continued to tear each other’s clothes off.

Jacket, waistcoat, shirts and undershirt piled up on the floor, hands scrabbling at belts, buckles, buttons and zips until the offending items pooled around their ankles to leave them almost naked. They toed off shoes, boots and socks, finally kicking their tangled undergarments and trousers away as they thrust and arched together, senses reeling, passions rising...

Jack pulled away and launched an assault on Ianto’s neck, nipping with his teeth and soothing with his tongue, Ianto’s moans rising in volume as his Captain moved down his body, pausing to leave vivid purple bruises at random intervals. Ianto’s breath was a mix of hard pants and load groans, his knees were weak and his body was trembling from head to foot, a hoarse cry escaping his gloriously pink, kiss-swollen lips as Jack’s mouth closed around him...

Ianto felt the waves of pleasure building, raging through his body, igniting fires in every nerve ending, muscles taut and straining, his focus narrowed to the feel of Jack’s hands and the heat of his mouth. He arched forward, crying out Jack’s name as he exploded...fireworks going off in his brain and he almost blacked out with the intensity of his climax, his body shuddering over and over until he slumped limply against the worktop.

Jack released him and slid up his body, crushing their lips together, his tongue diving into his Welshman’s mouth so he could taste himself as he was kissed to oblivion and back again. Parting long, breathless minutes later, Ianto gazed into Jack’s eyes, drowning himself in the intensity of emotion that reflected back at him. He loved Jack with all his being and he wanted to be with him forever...but that’s not going to happen, is it...you’re going to die - soon...Torchwood always die young... The brutal thought stomped across his head, crushing the fledgling buds of recovery that had begun to emerge over recent weeks and his feeling of contentment vanished. He shoved the destructive thought aside and clung on to his Captain, burying his face in the older man’s hair as tears filled his eyes.

Jack held him tightly, sensing the change as the young man’s body tensed. He had no idea what had prompted the swift change in mood, but he knew him well enough to know that he’d talk when he was ready. In the meantime he would just hold him...which wasn’t actually a hardship, especially as they were both naked...

He tipped the Welshman’s chin up and brushed his tears aside gently with his thumbs, pressing light kisses to every inch of his face, feeling him trembling in his arms. “Sshh, it’s ok...it’s going to be ok...” punctuating his words with more soft kisses. “C’mon...” Entwining their fingers, he led them to his office and down the ladder where he pulled back the covers and urged the now shivering Ianto into bed, climbing in after him and tugging him back into his arms, pressing their bodies together to feel the heat of his skin transfer to the chilled body beside him.

Ianto snuggled in close and lost himself in the feel of Jack’s reassuring warmth wrapped around him. He closed his eyes as Jack continued to pepper his skin with loving kisses, gradually relaxing under the gentle touch of his Captain’s lips. Jack stroked his hair and held him tightly, “...better?” he whispered, his breath soft and warm against Ianto’s ear.

“Mmnn,” he mumbled in reply, the soothing stroking of his hair and the lingering effects of his wild release making him quite sleepy. His breathing slowed and he drifted off, secure in the arms of the man he loved...

Jack continued to thread his fingers through the young man’s hair, loving the silky feel of it against his skin. He tucked himself in closer and closed his eyes, telling himself five minutes wouldn’t do any harm...

A couple of hours later his eyes fluttered open as he felt his gorgeous armful of Welshman stirring, shifting round to face him, a gentle smile on his lovely face. “Hey..!” Ianto leant in for a kiss, his lips soft and responsive against his Captain’s, their tongues entwining, dancing first in one mouth, then the other as the kiss intensified and delicious shivers of desire ran through them.

Ianto’s hands slid down Jack’s body, fingers dancing lightly over his warm flesh, closing over his prize possessively as it sprung to attention under his touch. Jack moaned against his mouth as the young man moved his hand slowly...tantalisingly...enough to be movement without allowing momentum to build...he had other plans... He broke off from their endless kisses to whisper huskily, “...make love to me Jack...” before reclaiming his lips once more, sighing happily as the older man rolled them over to finish on top and he gave himself completely to the wondrous sensations as Jack proceeded to take him to heaven and back, leaving them spent and panting in a tangle of limbs...

Lying on his back, watching idly as Ianto traced circles on his chest and stomach, Jack broke the comfortable silence, “...so...are you ok now..? Y’know...after...earlier..?” He flicked a glance at the younger man as the hand stilled and he felt the tension return...”...you wanna talk about it..? I’m a good listener...and I can kiss it better...whatever it is...I’m really good at kissing things better...”

He reached up and tugged the Welshman down for a steamy kiss to prove his point, releasing him only when they ran out of air... Ianto’s heart was pounding in his chest and his tired body showed renewed signs of interest despite itself... He had to admit it – Jack was very good at kissing...

He fixed his gaze on Jack’s smooth chest and took a deep breath, “Do you remember all the people you’ve ever loved..?” his voice was low and controlled.

Whatever he’d been expecting, it wasn’t that! Jack was momentarily thrown off-guard and he answered honestly, before stopping to think if that was the answer he should’ve given... “No...not all of them...”

Ianto’s hand clenched and he bit his lip, expressions of fear and uncertainty washing across his face. “How far back do you remember..? Tell me about them...”

“Ianto...” Jack reached for him, not at all sure he liked where this was headed.

“No..!” A hand pressed flat on his chest kept him on his back. “Tell me...please...” he bit down on his lip again, harder this time, wincing absently at the sudden pain, “...please Jack...I need to know...” A shadow crossed his face, “...tell me about your other blips in time...” he bit back a sob, slumping forward onto his Captain’s chest, his breath heaving as he fought for control...

A brief silence followed, “Why do we all have to die?” suddenly bursting from his lips, his voice harsh and bitter as the dam finally broke and he sobbed uncontrollably, Jack’s embrace closing around him, rocking him, murmuring words of love and nonsense as the distraught young man fell apart in his arms.

Finally lifting his tear-stained face, his red rimmed eyes meeting Jack’s saddened blue grey depths, he whispered a tiny, “...sorry...”

Jack raised an eyebrow in surprise, “...what for?”

“I ruined our long lunch...and we didn’t even have lunch...” he mumbled, brushing fresh tears away impatiently.

Jack pulled him close and kissed him, long and deep, his tongue sweeping through his mouth possessively. “You didn’t ruin anything...and we did have lunch...” he waggled his eyebrows suggestively, “...not the kind you’d get over the counter at Subway maybe, but we did have lunch!”

Ianto grinned despite himself and kissed his Captain passionately, thrusting his body towards him, feeling the response from the older man match his own. Tangling his hands in his hair, they ground their bodies together, the foreplay hard and rough on both sides as they fought for control of the game, Jack finally surrendering to his Welshman who proceeded to love him wildly, an edge of rawness to his touches that took Jack to new heights of pleasure until they collapsed breathless and satisfied in each other’s arms, exhausted sleep claiming them almost immediately as they curled up together in the tiny bunk.

When Gwen returned at half past three, glowing from a loving session of her own, she was surprised to find the hub apparently deserted, until, deciding to see if Ianto had left any coffee on, she made her way to the kitchen to find their clothes strewn all over the floor... She grinned widely and picked them up, folding them carefully before taking them down to Jack’s office where she set them in the middle of his desk, apart from Ianto’s jacket which she hung over the back of the chair...

About to leave, she was overcome with curiosity and crept towards the hole in the floor, kneeling down to peek into the room below, a fond smile curving her lips as her gaze fell on the two men wrapped around each other, sound asleep. Looking closer she could see how closely they were pressed together, Jack’s nose buried in Ianto’s hair, his arm draped possessively around Ianto’s waist, their hands clasped together with expressions of contentment on their faces...

Giving in to temptation, she fumbled in her pocket and pulled out her phone, capturing the picture below for posterity. Chuckling to herself, she retreated and went back to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea before spending a happy half hour downloading and printing the picture she’d just taken. Leaving a glossy postcard sized print on top of their clothes alongside a “Goodnight boys!” note, she took an executive decision to have an early night and hurried home to her husband.

Jack and Ianto slept on into the early evening, warm and content in each other’s arms...

 

Chapter 3 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/21902.html


zazajb: (All the time we have)

Title: All the time we have
Author: zazajb

Beta: The absolutely wonderful: [livejournal.com profile] badly_knitted 

Artwork by: the amazing [livejournal.com profile] penny_sieve 
Rating: NC-17, adult concepts, occasional language, M/M

Warnings: mentions of character death end s2 and day 4 CoE
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, team
Spoilers – possible all s1-3 TW, plus radio 4 play The Dead Line: set between TW s2 & s3, directly after Radio 4 play The Dead Line
Summary: Following Ianto’s speech to Jack in The Dead Line, Jack tries to show Ianto he’ll never be just a blip in time

Word count: 23100

Written for TW Big Bang Round 2

A/N Not done anything quite like this before and I have to say I loved every minute! I have to say a huge thank you to my wonderful beta badly_knitted who shared the highs and sent me cookies and hugs when I was doubting my sanity [that’s a lorry-load of cookies and even more hugs!] Thank you *hugs close* Also special thanks to the amazingly talented penny_sieve who took my words and gave them life with her awesome artwork – thank you so much *raises a glass to you*

A/N 2 Hope you enjoy...xxx

 

 

All the time we have 1/8 + epilogue

Chapter 1

They leant over the railings eating hot chips as they gazed out over the bay, watching as the sun dipped slowly into the sea, the sky radiating the dying warmth of the day with rich reds, purples and golds – it was beautiful.

Ianto shivered a little as the temperature dropped, wishing he’d bought a jacket.

“You ok?”

“Yeah...just a bit cold now.” He took another chip from the bag in Jack’s hand as his Captain stepped behind him to wrap his coat around them both.

“Better?” he murmured, nuzzling into the younger man’s neck.

“Mmnnn...much...” he hesitated, “Jack..?”

“How much do I really remember? Not that much! I remember you and that’s it! There were lots of sounds, but it was like white noise...the only thing I could actually hear was you and even that was hard to make out.“ He paused, trying to find the words to describe the sensation. “It was like we were opposite ends of a very long corridor and the comms were down – I could hear you but I had to concentrate to make out the words clearly. I do remember a very forceful ‘I’m not going anywhere!’ I think that kind of anchored me to your voice...”

He brushed his lips against the soft skin behind Ianto’s ear, feeling the shudder that rippled through his body in response. Crushing the now nearly empty bag of rapidly cooling chips, Jack steered them away from the railings and back towards the hub, dropping the bag in the litter bin as they passed.

He tugged on Ianto’s hand urging him to move faster until they burst through the entrance to the Tourist Information and he finally got to slam the Welshman up against the door they’d just come through and kiss him into oblivion, the strain and tensions of recent events boiling over into wild passion and feral want.

They arched and thrust against each other, their kisses hot, wet and open mouthed as hands raked over clothing, tugging shirts from trousers and sliding underneath, desperate to touch skin to skin... They made love roughly, hands tangled in hair, fingers digging into soft flesh, the need to possess and feel alive more important than finesse – that would come later – as they cried their release and slumped panting over the counter.

Ianto turned in his Captain’s arms and kissed him tenderly, fingers threading lovingly through his hair. He buried his face in his neck and inhaled the heady and intoxicating scent that was just Jack.

“You ok..?” he mumbled.

Jack’s response was to hold him tighter. “I am now...” He tipped the Welshman’s face up to his and brushed his thumb lightly over his cheek, the young man’s gentle sigh lost as he claimed his mouth, lips soft and responsive under his own as they surrendered to the moment...

Surfacing for air long, sweet minutes later, they broke apart reluctantly and restored their clothing enough to walk through the hidden door and down into the hub. Ianto headed for the kitchen to put some coffee on while Jack took the rest of their clothes down to his cubbyhole under his office and turned the shower on to warm.

Ianto clambered down the ladder with practiced ease, clasping two steaming mugs of coffee. Jack took one and sipped appreciatively before removing the rest of his own clothes and then helping Ianto with his! He stepped under the hot spray, tugging his Welshman in after him where he wrapped him in his arms and they kissed softly, each relishing the closeness. They stood pressed together for long, enjoyable minutes before washing each other, light, sensual touches reaffirming their unspoken commitment... Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t long before they were each showing renewed interest, Ianto pressing his Captain up against the wall as he kissed him into oblivion before making love to him, sweetly, tenderly, as the water cascaded down on them...

Dry and encased in casual clothes, they headed up into the main hub. Ianto made some fresh coffee while Jack checked the computers. It looked like staying calm for a few hours at least...

“I liked Stella...she had an amazing mind and a real zest for life...” Ianto was sat back on the raggedy sofa, Jack’s head in his lap as he stretched out with his feet up. One hand threaded through his Captain’s hair, the other entwined with one of Jack’s, their fingers sliding over each other, stroking softly, intimate and tender... “I can see why she attracted you...”

Jack nodded, “Oh yes, she always had a brilliant mind...inventive...resourceful...and she had one hell of an imagination for a boffin..!” His eyebrows arched suggestively.

Ianto rolled his eyes. “Don’t even think about sharing tales of your sexploits!” he said lightly, even as he bit on his bottom lip, quashing the spark of jealousy that flared at the unwelcome images shooting through his head.

“So, how did you meet her...and why has she still got her memories..?” He frowned, “...I mean, she knew you can’t die...knew all about Torchwood...why didn’t you retcon her? Why’s she so...” he couldn’t quite keep the slight catch out of his voice, “...special?”

Jack, about to tease his Welshman for getting wound up over an ex-lover, bit the comment back as he noted the hitch in his voice. He grimaced, realising he had his work cut out to convince Ianto he wasn’t just a blip in time...and he wasn’t, he was so much more...he made Jack complete... He sighed; losing Tosh and Owen had shaken them all, but it had especially affected Ianto, who’d suddenly realised his own frail mortality – understandable of course, under the circumstances, but couple that with an immortal lover and that left a tumble of tangled emotions that they’d so far just skirted around without attempting to examine... Where to start? He sighed again, jumping as Ianto tugged a little sharply on his hair.

“Just sighing doesn’t tell me anything...” a note of bitterness crept in, “...so are you gonna share your fond trip down memory lane?” The hand entwining with Ianto’s stilled and squeezed gently, before resuming the gentle stroking.

“Stella was a junior doctor back in the summer of 1975. She was gorgeous – you saw her zest for life and those wonderful eyes, they just sparkled like diamonds back then and I was hooked! We met under unusual circumstances to say the least... I wasn’t the boss, that was Patrick and he was a mean, ruthless son-of-a-bitch, sent from Torchwood London to restore control... Oh, it was complicated – and nothing about me, for a change...

Erik, the previous boss, got drunk one night and shot his mouth off about Torchwood, the rift, aliens...you know... Fortunately, no-one believed him of course and he was hauled off to the local institution and sectioned for his own good. He died three days later under dubious circumstances after a visit from Patrick – make what you will of that! But, that’s digressing... 

We’d had a hard summer of it with all sorts of crap coming through the rift and we’d struggled to cope with it, meaning some corners were cut and a few people escaped with their memories, so there were rumours flying around...it was actually thought we were some kind of peculiar religious cult... Anyway, Patrick took charge and anyone who’d even heard a whisper of Torchwood either got a severe case of amnesia or had a rather nasty fatal accident – as I said, he was a ruthless bastard...

That summer there was a strange case of vanishing hair...”

“Hair...like this hair..?” Ianto gave a gentle pull on Jack’s dark locks.

“Yeah, people were going to bed perfectly normal and waking up bald with a serious headache and no memory of what had happened. It was obvious there was something alien involved but nothing we could pin down. Obviously, those affected were dealt with and were either retconned as cancer patients or suffering severe stress, but it was a massive operation to make sure we covered families and so on – Patrick would’ve been happy to just shoot everyone, but we fought him on that...

Joe, my partner in crime - strictly professional...” he added hastily, seeing Ianto’s eyes roll, “...he hated Patrick as much as I did, so we worked round the clock between us – twelve hours each, trying to find this thing before Patrick did end up committing mass murder.

It was my night on and I was wandering round the hospital grounds – we tended to stay fairly close to the hospital so we’d hear about any new cases quickly – when I heard or felt something...I can’t quite describe it, but it was like a crack of static electricity and I knew there was something else there, so I scouted around a bit...ending up at the building that housed the nurse’s quarters...” he paused, waiting for a smirk or quip from the young man, but nothing came – Ianto was following every word, an intense look on his lovely face...

“There was a crash and a scream...the cue for your dashing Captain...” he grinned and stretched his other hand out towards the hub, “...I am dashing – you gotta give me that! So, I burst into this room by kicking the door down...”

“You didn’t try the handle first?” Ianto chuckled, shaking his head, “...you didn’t did you...just kicked it in..!”

Jack attempted a sheepish look that failed completely, overwhelmed by the animated ‘hero to the rescue’ beaming smile that lit up his face and melted Ianto’s heart. “So, there was Stella in her tiny short pyjamas struggling with this thing – it was about seven feet tall, looked a bit like Sully from Monsters Inc, only in grey, without the tail and its hands were webbed, with flat discs at the end of its fingers. It had her hair – she had long chestnut hair all the way down to her bum - in its mouth and it was trying to put its hands on her face...we found out later that the pads had an anaesthetising effect when they made contact with skin...she was batting it off with a hockey stick – and doing quite well by herself – but as this dashing hero had kicked her door in I thought I’d better give her a hand, so I emptied a can of weevil spray in its face and stuck a couple of syringes of sedative into it.. It hit the deck and she just stood there staring at me. I thought she’d be grateful, but no, she looked me up and down and demanded to know who the hell I was and what I was doing in her bedroom!”

He looked so affronted at the memory that Ianto laughed out loud and leant down to plant a tender kiss on his lips, the kiss deepening as Jack’s tongue slid into his mouth, his hand sliding behind the young man’s neck pulling him closer until they broke off for air, gasping.

“So, I sat down on her bed and told her exactly who I was, what I was doing...what I did...and she just took it! She even got on her knees and studied the thing – I’d never seen anything like it. Then she got me to cut her hair – it was ragged and chewed on one side so I cut it to just above her shoulders with her surgical scissors...then she kissed me...it was surreal! She helped me get the body out to the van we had then and I arranged to meet her for coffee later that day – obviously I was supposed to retcon her then...

We met and she asked me about the creature – it died, we figured it had a reaction to the spray or the sedative...either way, Patrick was pleased – case closed! Anyway, I liked her and I just couldn’t bring myself to actually give her the retcon...instead I told her more and more as the weeks went on and then she moved away to take up a trainee neuro-surgical post in Coventry and we lost touch for about a year.

We met again in Accident & Emergency when she was called in to assess the brain damage to a young boy who’d been attacked by a weevil – I was there to wipe the memories of all those involved and she helped me...after that we met regularly and we’d talk about Torchwood...it was nice to have someone outside that I could share things with...gradually she started getting involved in cases and after Patrick was killed and Joe took over, she would come to the hub and help out...

I think we might’ve gone on like this forever, but in the spring of 1980 she was offered the post to head up a new neurological research unit at Kings College hospital in London...and we lost touch again. I kept track of her career...checked in once in a while to make sure she was ok...and I guess that’s where we came in...” He looked up, meeting Ianto’s gaze anxiously, “...are we ok..?”

Ianto smiled, his special just-for-Jack-when-we’re-alone smile, “...yep! We’re good...and now I think it’s time for bed...” sighing happily as his lips were captured in a searing kiss before Jack led him to his office and down the ladder...

 

 Chapter 2 http://zazajb.livejournal.com/21745.html

 


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September 2012

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