Fic: Fix it Big Bang; Reign of Scars; 1/15 [PG-13] TW/HL/DW crossover
Title: Reign of Scars
Author: aeron_lanart
Beta: idontlikegravy
Artist: idontlikegravy - Art!.
Fandom(s): Highlander/Torchwood/Doctor Who (part of the Mystery Verse, my existing AU)
Characters/pairing: Gwen/Rhys, Siannon O'Niall (OFC) and Richie Ryan, with appearances from lots of other Torchwood and Doctor Who characters (both Classic and New Who).
Rating/Warnings: PG-13/teen. The only warnings are for language and angst, as it is a post Children of Earth story in the Torchwood scheme of things and the outcome of CoE is NOT the thing that's being fixed in this fic. Miracle Day is ignored in this verse, which is kind of what has been fixed, as is leaving Torchwood in Cardiff. This is the direct sequel to Shattered in Aspect and includes some dialogue from that fic as part of it takes place in the same time period.
Summary: The Torchwood Hub is a hole in the ground, Jack Harkness has fled with no-one any the wiser as to his whereabouts and Gwen is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. However, while she still stands, there's a chance Torchwood could rise from the ashes of its destruction even though the road ahead is hidden in the shadows. This is the story of what happened to Torchwood in this verse during the 6 months at the end of Children of Earth, after the 456 and the destruction of The Hub, while Jack and Methos were wandering the world.
Disclaimer: The BBC/RTD own the Torchwood/Who universe and its characters. Panzer/Davis Productions own the Highlander universe and its characters. I own the OCs.
No copyright infringement intended, no profit made. Title and quote from the song of the same name by Pro-Jekt.
A/N:
Written for Fix-it Big Bang fixitstory
Huge thanks to idontlikegravy for ninja beta and art skills and to all my flist for encouraging this beastie to get to a point were it can actually see the light of day. It's been a few years in coming, but it's here at last! The fic will be posted chapter by chapter on here and AO3 over the next month or so at the rate of about 3-5 chapters a week. There is a prologue, epilogue and 13 chapters.
Please go here to see the rest of the lovely art.
Can also be read at AO3.
The Prologue takes place at the end of the 6 months that Jack and Methos wandered the world, after Jack has left, as does the epilogue.
~*~
Reign of Scars
*
~ Prologue ~
The Neon sign outside Joe’s was like a beacon in the darkness, both in the dimness of the evening and that of her wounded heart.
"We’re here," she announced gently as she pulled the car over to park and was rewarded by the faintest suggestion of a genuine smile from Methos, the first she’d seen since the 456 had shattered his life six months before. "We’d better get inside, Joe will be worrying." Siannon was worried herself, she’d not had much chance to explain to Joe just why Methos needed a haven in Seacouver beyond the blunt information that he’d lost someone. He’d respected her insistence that this was where Methos needed to be, not on the other side of the Atlantic. She followed Methos into the bar, wondering just how the next few minutes would play out.
Siannon knew she had made the right decision as she watched Methos finally lose some of the tension that had been holding him together and sink into the one armed hug that Joe gave him. She was even more certain a few hours later when she watched her oldest friend sleeping peacefully on the squishy old couch in the office behind the bar; it was the only time he’d been relaxed and aware enough to sleep properly since she’d picked him up on that damp night in Cardiff when he finally allowed himself to succumb to his life falling apart. She gently closed the door over, wanting him to sleep undisturbed as long as possible; he needed it. She leaned against the wall for a moment and took a deep breath; right now she needed a very large, very stiff drink. Stepping around the bar she was glad to see Joe had provided just what she wanted and she grabbed the glass to take a generous mouthful of the whisky before she took the seat next to him.
"It’s like Alexa all over again," Joe mused.
"Worse," mumbled Siannon as she applied herself diligently to her whisky. "He wasn’t expecting it and he’s here six months later than he should have been."
"Six months ago? When the children were all possessed? What happened?"
"You knew about Ianto and Jack?" Siannon wasn’t sure just how much Methos had told Joe about his life and loves in the last couple of years. Joe was probably his oldest mortal friend living, but that didn’t necessarily mean he would tell him anything; she knew Methos too well to assume that.
Joe nodded. "I met Ianto once, in Cardiff, when I was trying to catch up with that elusive old S.O.B." Joe nodded toward his office and Siannon smiled at the obvious affection in his voice "He seemed to be totally unsurprised about immortals and watchers; I got the impression he’d seen a hell of a lot for a young guy." Siannon had to hide a smirk at that; Ianto had obviously neglected to tell Joe of his employment prior to Torchwood - not that she blamed him, he’d only known of Joe by hearsay - and had probably been pleased to get confirmation that he’d covered his tracks effectively from an organisation that was dedicated to gathering information. Joe continued, "And Jack? I only ever heard about him second hand - he wasn’t around when I was there and both Ianto and the old man were kind of reticent on the subject."
Siannon sighed. That would have been in the months Jack was away with the Doctor, a difficult time for them then but nothing compared to what Methos was dealing with now. It was typical of both Methos and Ianto that they’d said nothing and Siannon could only assume that Joe had gained his information from one of the others. At least Joe actually knew about them; having to explain from scratch would have been twice as complicated and she didn’t want to think about how she would feel if she’d had to do so. Never had she been more grateful for Joe Dawson’s persistent curiosity even though it didn’t make what she had to say any easier. She glanced at her hands, unable to look Joe in the face as she broke her news.
"Six months ago Ianto died, saving billions of children from a fate worse than death."
"Holy Shit." She didn’t need to be able to see him to hear the distress in Joe’s voice.
"Exactly." They both reached for their respective drinks simultaneously. Siannon would have thought it amusing if the reason hadn’t hurt so much. She raised her eyes from the table as the whisky slid down her throat.
"Then why…" Joe’s voice trailed off as he cast another worried glance toward his office.
"Just how much did Ianto tell you about his job?" Siannon could see Joe was puzzled at her apparent change of subject, but it didn’t switch off his brain.
"You mean Torchwood?" He asked.
"I mean Torchwood," she agreed.
"I don’t think we went much further than aliens in Cardiff. This old head couldn’t take it." Joe tapped his temple with a finger.
"That makes things easier."
"It does?" Joe sounded like he didn’t believe her and she couldn’t blame him for that. Easier had probably not been the right word; none of this was easy, but it had to be done.
"Sort of. Not only did they lose Ianto six months ago but Jack also had to make some very difficult choices. He fell apart. From what I’ve been able to gather, Methos kept him relatively sane but didn’t pay much attention to himself in the process."
"And now? What happened to Jack?"
"He… left."
"Left? The country?" To her ears Joe sounded unimpressed to say the least as if he was wondering why Methos hadn’t just upped and gone with him. She put her glass down as she shook her head then raised her eyes until she met Joe’s. He had to believe her or he wouldn’t have the complete picture, and to her mind that was essential.
"The planet," Siannon clarified, not taking her eyes off Joe, almost challenging him to disagree, to tell her she was spinning a tale. Joe being Joe just nodded, as she’d expected.
"Ah… Now that’s what I call running away. I guess Methos understands all about the need to do that, but it can’t be easy for him."
"It isn’t. And now…" She pressed her hands to her stinging eyes. "I can’t help him." She wanted to, but she was the wrong person. The best person to have dealt with Methos when he was shredded to pieces like he was right now was the one who was cold in his grave these last six months. She was of no use here and it hurt like hell.
"I’d say you already have." Joe’s voice was soft and his hand was warm on her arm, a touch of reality anchoring her to earth through the pain. "Don’t worry Siannon, we’ll look after him. And as for you…" She looked up at him with bleary eyes.
"What?"
"I have the rest of that bottle of whisky for you if you want it, and a place to sleep it off when you’ve finished. Interested?"
"You bet I am. I think you know me far too well, Joseph Dawson." Joe didn’t answer her, but squeezed her shoulder as he reached behind the bar for the bottle before limping away and leaving her alone to drown her pain in the familiarity of whisky, something she hadn’t done in over five long months. She was glad of the peace; it was just her, the thoughts whirling around her head and the comfort of the bottle. For this night, and this night alone, she could let someone else be the responsible one. Siannon raised her first glass to the perceptiveness and compassion of Joe, both she and Methos were lucky to be able to call him friend and their lives would poorer without him.
The next morning she saw precious little of either Joe or Methos. It was Mike, Joe's business partner and fellow Watcher, who provided her with coffee, breakfast and the wherewithal to freshen up. She was worrying that she might end up leaving without saying goodbye when they both turned up in the bar. Their goodbyes were of necessity brief, but they were heartfelt and she was pleased to receive a proper hug from Methos.
"If you need me..." she whispered into his ear as they held each other tight.
"I know where to find you," he agreed. "Keep Cardiff safe for me; you never know, I might want to visit some time."
"You'll always be welcome." They said nothing more - there wasn’t anything further that needed to be said. Siannon quietly left with Mike for the airport, to catch her flight back to Cardiff - and Torchwood.
*
Continued in Chapter One
Author: aeron_lanart
Beta: idontlikegravy
Artist: idontlikegravy - Art!.
Fandom(s): Highlander/Torchwood/Doctor Who (part of the Mystery Verse, my existing AU)
Characters/pairing: Gwen/Rhys, Siannon O'Niall (OFC) and Richie Ryan, with appearances from lots of other Torchwood and Doctor Who characters (both Classic and New Who).
Rating/Warnings: PG-13/teen. The only warnings are for language and angst, as it is a post Children of Earth story in the Torchwood scheme of things and the outcome of CoE is NOT the thing that's being fixed in this fic. Miracle Day is ignored in this verse, which is kind of what has been fixed, as is leaving Torchwood in Cardiff. This is the direct sequel to Shattered in Aspect and includes some dialogue from that fic as part of it takes place in the same time period.
Summary: The Torchwood Hub is a hole in the ground, Jack Harkness has fled with no-one any the wiser as to his whereabouts and Gwen is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. However, while she still stands, there's a chance Torchwood could rise from the ashes of its destruction even though the road ahead is hidden in the shadows. This is the story of what happened to Torchwood in this verse during the 6 months at the end of Children of Earth, after the 456 and the destruction of The Hub, while Jack and Methos were wandering the world.
Disclaimer: The BBC/RTD own the Torchwood/Who universe and its characters. Panzer/Davis Productions own the Highlander universe and its characters. I own the OCs.
No copyright infringement intended, no profit made. Title and quote from the song of the same name by Pro-Jekt.
A/N:
Written for Fix-it Big Bang fixitstory
Huge thanks to idontlikegravy for ninja beta and art skills and to all my flist for encouraging this beastie to get to a point were it can actually see the light of day. It's been a few years in coming, but it's here at last! The fic will be posted chapter by chapter on here and AO3 over the next month or so at the rate of about 3-5 chapters a week. There is a prologue, epilogue and 13 chapters.
Please go here to see the rest of the lovely art.
Can also be read at AO3.
The Prologue takes place at the end of the 6 months that Jack and Methos wandered the world, after Jack has left, as does the epilogue.
~*~
Reign of Scars
*
~ Prologue ~
The Neon sign outside Joe’s was like a beacon in the darkness, both in the dimness of the evening and that of her wounded heart.
"We’re here," she announced gently as she pulled the car over to park and was rewarded by the faintest suggestion of a genuine smile from Methos, the first she’d seen since the 456 had shattered his life six months before. "We’d better get inside, Joe will be worrying." Siannon was worried herself, she’d not had much chance to explain to Joe just why Methos needed a haven in Seacouver beyond the blunt information that he’d lost someone. He’d respected her insistence that this was where Methos needed to be, not on the other side of the Atlantic. She followed Methos into the bar, wondering just how the next few minutes would play out.
Siannon knew she had made the right decision as she watched Methos finally lose some of the tension that had been holding him together and sink into the one armed hug that Joe gave him. She was even more certain a few hours later when she watched her oldest friend sleeping peacefully on the squishy old couch in the office behind the bar; it was the only time he’d been relaxed and aware enough to sleep properly since she’d picked him up on that damp night in Cardiff when he finally allowed himself to succumb to his life falling apart. She gently closed the door over, wanting him to sleep undisturbed as long as possible; he needed it. She leaned against the wall for a moment and took a deep breath; right now she needed a very large, very stiff drink. Stepping around the bar she was glad to see Joe had provided just what she wanted and she grabbed the glass to take a generous mouthful of the whisky before she took the seat next to him.
"It’s like Alexa all over again," Joe mused.
"Worse," mumbled Siannon as she applied herself diligently to her whisky. "He wasn’t expecting it and he’s here six months later than he should have been."
"Six months ago? When the children were all possessed? What happened?"
"You knew about Ianto and Jack?" Siannon wasn’t sure just how much Methos had told Joe about his life and loves in the last couple of years. Joe was probably his oldest mortal friend living, but that didn’t necessarily mean he would tell him anything; she knew Methos too well to assume that.
Joe nodded. "I met Ianto once, in Cardiff, when I was trying to catch up with that elusive old S.O.B." Joe nodded toward his office and Siannon smiled at the obvious affection in his voice "He seemed to be totally unsurprised about immortals and watchers; I got the impression he’d seen a hell of a lot for a young guy." Siannon had to hide a smirk at that; Ianto had obviously neglected to tell Joe of his employment prior to Torchwood - not that she blamed him, he’d only known of Joe by hearsay - and had probably been pleased to get confirmation that he’d covered his tracks effectively from an organisation that was dedicated to gathering information. Joe continued, "And Jack? I only ever heard about him second hand - he wasn’t around when I was there and both Ianto and the old man were kind of reticent on the subject."
Siannon sighed. That would have been in the months Jack was away with the Doctor, a difficult time for them then but nothing compared to what Methos was dealing with now. It was typical of both Methos and Ianto that they’d said nothing and Siannon could only assume that Joe had gained his information from one of the others. At least Joe actually knew about them; having to explain from scratch would have been twice as complicated and she didn’t want to think about how she would feel if she’d had to do so. Never had she been more grateful for Joe Dawson’s persistent curiosity even though it didn’t make what she had to say any easier. She glanced at her hands, unable to look Joe in the face as she broke her news.
"Six months ago Ianto died, saving billions of children from a fate worse than death."
"Holy Shit." She didn’t need to be able to see him to hear the distress in Joe’s voice.
"Exactly." They both reached for their respective drinks simultaneously. Siannon would have thought it amusing if the reason hadn’t hurt so much. She raised her eyes from the table as the whisky slid down her throat.
"Then why…" Joe’s voice trailed off as he cast another worried glance toward his office.
"Just how much did Ianto tell you about his job?" Siannon could see Joe was puzzled at her apparent change of subject, but it didn’t switch off his brain.
"You mean Torchwood?" He asked.
"I mean Torchwood," she agreed.
"I don’t think we went much further than aliens in Cardiff. This old head couldn’t take it." Joe tapped his temple with a finger.
"That makes things easier."
"It does?" Joe sounded like he didn’t believe her and she couldn’t blame him for that. Easier had probably not been the right word; none of this was easy, but it had to be done.
"Sort of. Not only did they lose Ianto six months ago but Jack also had to make some very difficult choices. He fell apart. From what I’ve been able to gather, Methos kept him relatively sane but didn’t pay much attention to himself in the process."
"And now? What happened to Jack?"
"He… left."
"Left? The country?" To her ears Joe sounded unimpressed to say the least as if he was wondering why Methos hadn’t just upped and gone with him. She put her glass down as she shook her head then raised her eyes until she met Joe’s. He had to believe her or he wouldn’t have the complete picture, and to her mind that was essential.
"The planet," Siannon clarified, not taking her eyes off Joe, almost challenging him to disagree, to tell her she was spinning a tale. Joe being Joe just nodded, as she’d expected.
"Ah… Now that’s what I call running away. I guess Methos understands all about the need to do that, but it can’t be easy for him."
"It isn’t. And now…" She pressed her hands to her stinging eyes. "I can’t help him." She wanted to, but she was the wrong person. The best person to have dealt with Methos when he was shredded to pieces like he was right now was the one who was cold in his grave these last six months. She was of no use here and it hurt like hell.
"I’d say you already have." Joe’s voice was soft and his hand was warm on her arm, a touch of reality anchoring her to earth through the pain. "Don’t worry Siannon, we’ll look after him. And as for you…" She looked up at him with bleary eyes.
"What?"
"I have the rest of that bottle of whisky for you if you want it, and a place to sleep it off when you’ve finished. Interested?"
"You bet I am. I think you know me far too well, Joseph Dawson." Joe didn’t answer her, but squeezed her shoulder as he reached behind the bar for the bottle before limping away and leaving her alone to drown her pain in the familiarity of whisky, something she hadn’t done in over five long months. She was glad of the peace; it was just her, the thoughts whirling around her head and the comfort of the bottle. For this night, and this night alone, she could let someone else be the responsible one. Siannon raised her first glass to the perceptiveness and compassion of Joe, both she and Methos were lucky to be able to call him friend and their lives would poorer without him.
The next morning she saw precious little of either Joe or Methos. It was Mike, Joe's business partner and fellow Watcher, who provided her with coffee, breakfast and the wherewithal to freshen up. She was worrying that she might end up leaving without saying goodbye when they both turned up in the bar. Their goodbyes were of necessity brief, but they were heartfelt and she was pleased to receive a proper hug from Methos.
"If you need me..." she whispered into his ear as they held each other tight.
"I know where to find you," he agreed. "Keep Cardiff safe for me; you never know, I might want to visit some time."
"You'll always be welcome." They said nothing more - there wasn’t anything further that needed to be said. Siannon quietly left with Mike for the airport, to catch her flight back to Cardiff - and Torchwood.
*
Continued in Chapter One