Fic: Coming Home 1/1
*Feeling much better! So I've decided (during the insanity of a nasty cold) that I would attempt One-Shot month! From now until the 31st I'm going to attempt a one shot everyday for the rest of the month. (As well as the Journey story)...wish me luck!*
Coming Home
McRaider
Summary: Everyone was happy, everyone had seen their families-everyone except Jack, who sat in the corner feeling forgotten.
Author’s Note: This is what I’d like to see happen at the end of 4x13, it probably won’t happen…but wow would it be fun. That said there are spoilers in this for 4x12 so please don’t read unless you’ve either seen it or don’t mind being spoilers. I tried not to say anything too directly.
Rated: PG (look for the smutty aftermath later *wink wink*)
Disclaimer: Trust me I don’t own them, if I did…there would be a lot more Jack and Ianto and a whole lot less…everyone/everything else.
Jack, Sarah Jane, Mickey, Donna, Rose, Martha, Luke, Jackie and the Doctor had all managed to save the world yet again. The excitement was riveting, as the group clumped together to one side of the TARDIS, the younger women were talking rather fast as they retold their story animatedly of their travels with the Doctor. The Doctor, Mickey and Luke were half watching the women, half fawning over the beautiful Time Machine, as the Doctor showed Luke everything. Even the TARDIS was joining in on the fun, her lights flashing every now and then, and the console room had an unusual warm glow as the women let out a loud cackle. Everyone was happy-everyone except Jack, that was.
As Rose retold her story of how she got into the universe, Jack half listened as he sat by the entrance to the hallway, he felt tired, lonely and truly terrified. Everyone else had seen their families, Luke was with them now-reassuring Sarah Jane that he was safe and sound. Martha had bid her mother a brief goodbye, promising not to be gone too long, and Donna had kissed her mother and grandfather farewell as she continued her adventures. Jack was the only one remaining in limbo-forgotten as always.
His head was spinning as he contemplated the certain deaths his two remaining team-no, family members had no doubt suffered. They likely faced it like the brave soldiers they were. Gwen probably fought with every ounce of her defiant innocence until the end. Ianto, his beautiful Ianto, so very strong on the inside beneath the quiet, cool and calculated sarcasm was often braver than Jack felt.
He’d sworn he was coming back, his promise sounding excited but sincere. But what was he coming back to? More death, Jack didn’t think he could handle anymore. He hadn’t hugged Gwen goodbye, or thanked her for her damnable stubbornness that forced him to feel so human and act more humane. He hadn’t kissed Ianto goodbye, or thanked hi for a wonderfully quiet evening the night before. He hadn’t said the words Ianto was sure he’d never hear.
Jack spent almost two hundred years trying never to get attached. He walked away before he got too involved. Then there had been Mary, his wonderful angel. She was taken by consumption less than a year after their wedding. He’d sworn never again-never say never. Everyone thought he was incapable of monogamy, but that was not an issue. His issue was the gaping holes left in his soul after their passing. A Mary sized hole was slightly larger than the holes left by Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper, and only barely larger than the hole left by his sweet Estelle. It didn’t matter the size though, they were all too big. His body could regenerate and last forever, but his soul-his soul died every time someone he cared for died. He was already half gone. A Ianto-sized hole would mean the end of Jack for sure.
He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box he smiled sadly. Twin white gold rings were encased inside-he’d picked them out last week. After the deaths of Tosh and Owen, Jack had decided he’d rather spend however brief a time he had with Ianto, wrapped in the man’s arms. He felt the familiar burn of tears as he flipped the box open and gazed down at the engraving that had taken the week-Love is Eternal-. It was Jack’s way of saying no matter what and no matter whom, Ianto had left his mark on Jack’s heart. Jack’s head hit the wall, he’d hoped to have a ceremony in a few months if Ianto had agreed-he never thought their days would be this short.
“Should’ve known a handsome bloke like you would be taken,” Donna’s accent slipped through his thoughts. He glanced up just in time to watch her take a seat beside him.
He forced a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Sorry,” he whispered before snapping the box shut and sliding it back into his greatcoat.
“Tell me about her.”
“Him-actually, and he’s-“ Jack shook his head, suddenly unable to describe their relationship, it was so many things. The way Ianto always knew when Jack needed coffee, the way Jack could sneak a hug anytime he needed reassurance that Ianto was still here. The way Ianto supported Jack when no one else would, and how Jack supported Ianto equally.
“No worries, love-your eyes just described it perfectly. Did you tell him?”
Jack gave a half shrug. “He’s Torchwood; we didn’t exactly have a lot of time to spare. I left them both alone-who could survive the Daleks.” He whispered the last part.
She reached out, surprising him when she took his hand in hers. “Look around you, we all survived them. He sounds amazing-more amazing than this lot,” she joked cocking her head towards the other companions.
Jack chuckled and nodded. “More some days,” he added.
“Where are they, then? Time to get the good Captain home.”
“Cardiff.”
“Oi! Doctor, Cardiff, Wales 2008.”
The Doctor suddenly seemed to notice Jack for the first time and quickly nodded, throwing the TARDIS from the vortex and spiraling towards Jack’s home. Martha glanced over at the same moment as the Doctor and gave a half hearted smile, before moving towards Jack and Donna.
She took a seat and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
Jack smiled back, accepting the hug and kiss-just another hole to be had one day. “Tosh and Owen went out defending Earth.” He replied gently.
“Here we are-“ The Doctor called.
Jack stood and raced towards the doors, only to stop suddenly. He was a brave man in all sorts of ways, but being alone scared Jack, more than anything. He was beginning to develop a complex.
“Jack?” Martha questioned softly, noticing how pale he’d grown.
“What if they’re dead?” He hadn’t meant to sound so broken. He hated weakness, but before he could dwell on it further a hand was pressed to his shoulder. Jack found himself staring into Rose Tyler’s beautiful brown eyes.
“Then you can come with us. You aren’t alone, Jack, not anymore-never again.”
The three women pulled the doors open for Jack. The Cardiff sky was unusually bright and brilliant in the morning air. The city was quiet, no doubt healing from it’s most recent adventure. He stepped out hesitantly, all too aware of the various sets of eyes on him from the TARDIS.
“Jack?” A sweet female voice alerted him from the south, he glanced towards it and felt his frown grow into a smile. There stood Gwen, grinning from ear to ear with Rhys by her side. She instantly released her husband’s hand and ran towards Jack.
Jack let out a whoop of joy as he caught her in his arms, whirling her around. The hug was almost bone crushing, he pressed a kiss to her cheek as he placed her feet back on the ground and gazed into her eyes. “You’re okay?”
She nodded, her hands still on his biceps. “We will be. We just got back from the A&E.”
“Ianto?” He barely managed to keep the shutter from his voice.
She smiled before releasing his hand, her eyes on something that was steadily approaching from the direction of the Torchwood garage. Jack turned his face and felt his smile light up into a full blow grin. There he stood, six feet of Ianto Jones, his arm in a sling, dressed in jeans that hugged his hips in all the right places and a t-shirt that no doubt said something abnormally un-Ianto like.
“Hi Jack.”
Jack let a half sob out as he strode towards his lover. He stopped short, taking in every feature; bruise, scrape and wrinkle. He reached up, cupping Ianto’s cheek. Ianto instantly leaned into the gentle touch and smiled. A moment later the two men were clinging to one another. Jack’s face buried against Ianto’s neck.
“I’m here Jack, we both are.” Ianto murmured, glad no one else was joining their hug.
Jack pulled away just enough to gaze into the icy blue eyes. “I-I-“
Ianto chuckled and nodded. “I know, Jack. I love you too. So much.”
Their lips pressed together in a searing kiss, relief, passion and love poured into every moment as Jack continued to caress Ianto’s cheeks. Ianto slid his good arm around Jack’s waist, pulling them flush against each other. Jack moaned into Ianto’s open mouth as his tongue did glorious things and he felt the familiar hardness against his hip. Pulling away, gasping for air he let out a relieved sigh. “Tonight, just us.” He promised, looking Ianto over again. “Right now, there are some people I’d like you to meet.”
He turned and led Ianto towards the group hovering just outside the TARDIS. He waved Rhys and Gwen over before he smiled at his friends. “Ianto, Rhys, Gwen I’d like you to meet the Doctor. These are his various companions, Donna Noble, Mickey Smith, Sarah Jane Smith, her son Luke, you already know Martha, this is Jackie Tyler-“
“Let it be known that I never actually traveled with Jackie-“
“Oi!” Jackie protested as she smacked him playfully.
Jack grinned as he gripped Rose’s hand and pulled her closer. “And this, this is Rose Marion Tyler.” He explained like a little boy enamored by Santa Clause.
Ianto smirked as he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek-to which she gladly returned one. “Jack says he’s who he is because of you, thank you for bringing him to me even if it wasn’t intentional.”
She giggled and nodded. “You love him?”
“For some reason, yes.” Ianto replied.
She nodded. “Good, take care of my Captain then, Ianto Jones; or you’ll answer to me.”
Ianto beamed, glad someone was willing to protect Jack the way everyone protected him. “I will, I promise.” He replied.
Rose stepped forward again, cupping Jack’s face this time, and in a gesture all to familiar to him, the Doctor and only her, she grinned. “Jack, you are worth fighting for,” then pressed a chastising kiss to his lips.
“Right then, more stops to make. Captain, you know the number.”
Jack stood at attention, saluting the Doctor and the rest of his companions. “It’s been an honor.”
“Take care of your team.”
Jack nodded. “Take care of my girls. Martha, give me a call if you get tired of UNIT.”
“Will do.”
Jack stepped back, linking his arms around Ianto and Gwen’s waists. The four friends watched as the TARDIS disappeared. Jack glanced over at his family and smiled. “So kids, what did I miss?”
The End…