Fic: The Pirates of Boeshane Chapter 10/16
Title: The Pirates of Boeshane: The Curse of the Myfanwy
Fandoms: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tommy/Tosh, past John/Jack, one-sided John/Ianto, Owen, Kathy, Gwen, Mickey/Jake, Harold Saxon, Rhys/Andy, Martha, James Harper, Ross, Rory, brief mention of the Doctor/Rose, Donna
Author: backrose_17
Prompt: The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Summary: A Pirate Captain seeking to reclaim what was stolen from him joins forces with a young Blacksmith seeking to rescue his kidnapped best friend. Together they find more than just the adventures of their journey.
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who.
Beta: royalladyemma
Written for Reel_Torchwood Round 5
Chapter 10
In a cabin of the TARDIS, Tosh was trying to bandage the deep gash in her hand by herself; the task was made even more difficult by the fact that she was pacing angrily. Try as she might, Tosh just couldn’t come to grips with everything that Ianto had told her that had happened. “What sort of a man trades a man’s life for a ship?” she demanded of the empty room. She was so angry that she kicked the stool across the room in a very unladylike display of temper.
Ianto slipped through the door just in time to hear Tosh’s question. “Pirate,” he answered succinctly as he crossed over to his friend. He saw the mess she'd made of her hand and he smiled fondly. “Here, let me.” Ianto took the bandages from Tosh and led her over to sit on the bunk. He pulled the room’s only other seat, the rickety stool that Tosh had kicked, over next to her before taking her hand in his. He really wanted to get the conversation off Jack; it was just too painful to think about him. The thoughts he'd had of the life they could have had together were just too painful to contemplate.
“Thank you.” Tosh murmured softly as she watched her friend examined her cut before beginning to gently bandage and wrap her wound. She was still unable to believe how far Ianto had gone to rescue her; she was so very proud of the man she saw as a little brother.
“You said you gave Hart my name as yours. Why?” Ianto was curious as to why Tosh lied; 'she must have known she'd be found out sooner or later.'
“I don’t know. I guess because you’re my family.” Tosh winced as Ianto poked at a particularly painful spot on her palm and pulled her hand away.
“I’m sorry. Blacksmith’s hands - I know they’re rough,” Ianto apologised softly and reclaimed her hand so that he could finish his task.
“No, I mean yes, they are, but don’t stop. They’re a part of you, Ianto, and I love my little brother, rough hands and all.” Tosh smiled gently at Ianto.
“Thank you, Tosh,” Ianto smiled bashfully at her.
Biting down on her lower lip Tosh pulled out the medallion and smiled when she heard Ianto gasp. “It’s yours,” and she pressed the disk into his hand.
Ianto accepted the medallion and reverently traced his fingers over the gold coin. “I thought I’d lost it the day UNIT rescued me; I figured it was either stolen by one of them or it was at the bottom of the ocean. It was a gift from my father. He sent it to me. Why did you take it?” Hurt laced Ianto’s voice; he truly thought he’d lost the only thing he had left of his father’s.
Tears welled up in Tosh’s eyes as she saw the look of disappointment and betrayal on Ianto's face. She’d been worried this might happen and she forced herself to look him in the eye. “Because I was afraid that you were a pirate. That would have been awful.” She didn’t want Ianto angry at her; she couldn’t bear it if he hated her. 'Please try to understand, Ianto; I was doing what was best for you.'
With all the power of a thunderclap, it suddenly became crystal clear to Ianto exactly why Jack had agreed to help him. After Jack had learned his name and had figured out exactly how he could be used as leverage, he’d set out to seduce him. “It wasn’t your blood they needed, it was my father’s blood, my blood. The blood of a pirate.” Ianto wasn’t sure what hurt more, Tosh keeping his medallion from him all these years, or the fact that Jack had deliberately lied to him and used him. The weight of knowing that he was just a bargaining tool to Jack, and that the emotional connection he thought they'd forged was just a business deal to the pirate threatened to break Ianto.
“Ianto, I’m so sorry, please forgive me,” Tosh begged, tears filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. She wanted to hug her friend but she was afraid of the rejection.
Ianto wanted to forgive his best friend so badly but he was just so bloody tired of being used by the people he cared about the most. Pain and anger over-powered reason and ruled his emotions as he slammed the medallion on the table. Trembling with anger, he stared at the wall, doing nothing to stop Tosh from leaving; as the door closed behind her the sound of Toshiko's weeping rang in his ears.
‘Why does everyone I care about only want to hurt me or use me?’ Ianto fought the urge to cry himself.
*****
In the Captain’s cabin on the Black Myfanwy, John and Jack were negotiating the terms of their parley.
“So you expect to leave me standing on some beach with nothing but a name and your word it’s the one I need and then watch you sail away in my ship?” John repeated in disbelief, not sure if he heard Jack right. It was hands-down the worst offer he'd ever had.
Happily poking about his former cabin, Jack cringed at John's bad taste and he made mental notes of what he needed to change and get rid of before he brought Ianto there. He wanted to make it very clear to the younger man just how deeply he cared for him and just as importantly, how sorry he was for making Ianto believe that he would trade him to John. He couldn't do that in a room that looked like a trucker's bordello.
Turning his attention back to the matter at hand, Jack favoured John with a feral grin. “No. I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all. I expect you to watch me sail away on my ship and then I’ll shout the name back to you. Savvy?” There was no way in hell that Jack was giving John Ianto’s name until he was absolutely sure he could keep his Welshman safe.
“But that still leaves us with the problem of me standing on some beach with naught but a name and your word it’s the one I need.” John watched his ex-lover closely; he knew Jack was up to something, he just didn’t know what.
“Of the two of us, I am the only one who hasn’t committed mutiny, therefore, my word is the one we’ll be trusting.” Jack’s tone was mocking but final. “Although, I suppose I should be thanking you because, in fact, if you hadn’t betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse, same as you.” Jack cheerfully reminded John as his fingers danced over the apples in the bowl before selecting one and taking a bite. “Funny ol’ world, innit?” Jack smirked as juice ran down his chin; he offered John a bite of his apple.
Before John had a chance to react to the taunt, Adam entered the cabin. “Captain, we’re coming up on the TARDIS!” John gave Jack a victorious look before exiting the cabin with Adam and heading topside.
‘Damn it all to hell!’ Jack had a sinking feeling in his gut. He knew that if Hart and his crew caught up with the TARDIS and managed to take it, Ianto would most certainly do something stupid to keep everyone safe. Jack’s mind was reeling with the possibility of losing Ianto and he quickly chased after John. 'I have to keep my Welshman safe!'
It was rather easy to find the captain; he was standing at the bow and looking out across the sea. Jack moved in front of him so that he was blocking the man’s view of the TARDIS. “I’m having a thought here, John. What say we run up a flag of truce? I scurry over to the TARDIS, and I negotiate the return of your medallion, eh? What say you to that?” Jack desperately needed John to agree so he could hide Ianto, preferably with them both in a room with a big bed and a sturdy lock on the door.
“Now you see, Jack, that’s exactly the attitude that lost you the Myfanwy. People are easier to search when they’re dead,” John reminded Jack with a smugly condescending smile before he turned his attention to Adam. “Lock him in the brig.” John jerked his head in Jack’s direction.
Jack glared at John as Adam grabbed his arm in an iron grip, and in a moment of pure spite, Jack tossed his apple at John, who easily caught the partially eaten piece of fruit. With a look that was both angry and longing, John studied it for a moment before tossing it overboard. 'I want the first bite out of my first apple, thank you very much, Jack!'
*****
“Hands aloft to loose the gallants! With this wind at her stern, she’ll carry every sail we’ve got!” Owen was barking out orders when Tosh appeared on the deck.
Upon seeing the crew running around Tosh hurried over to Owen’s side; she knew such frantic activity couldn’t be good. “What’s happening?”
“The Black Myfanwy, she’s gaining on us.” Kathy, standing regally in her spot at the helm, calmly informed Tosh. Toshiko looked over her shoulder to see the black sails of the Myfanwy growing ever closer.
Tosh couldn’t believe that any ship could catch up with the TARDIS. “This is the fastest ship in Boeshane!” she protested in disbelief.
Kathy rolled her eyes and then glared at the other woman. “You can tell them that after they’ve caught us,” she snapped back at her.
Undaunted by the older woman’s brusque attitude, Tosh studied the water. She’d grown up around ships and she could feel the germ of an idea forming. “We’re shallow on the draft, right?” she asked Kathy.
Confused by the notion that a woman as gentile and elegant as Toshiko could be knowledgeable about ships and sailing, she wondered just what Tosh was getting at, Kathy answered with a hesitant, “Aye.”
“Well then, can’t we lose them amongst those shoals?” Tosh suggested as she pointed a few degrees to their left. She didn’t notice that Owen had come to stand beside her and had overheard her idea.
Owen’s face brightened as he mulled over her suggestion. “We don’t have to outrun them long, just long enough,” he nodded approvingly.
A grin graced Kathy’s face as she figured out the plan and immediately began setting in motion. “Lighten the ship, stem to stern!” she ordered the crew and she was pleased to see them all spring into action.
“Anything that we can afford to lose, see that it’s lost,” Owen added from his place amongst the crew. Within minutes the wake of the TARDIS was afloat with debris and she was sailing ever closer to the dangerous shoals.
All any of them could hope for was that Toshiko’s plan would work and bring them enough time to escape.
*****
After being pushed and prodded below decks, Jack found himself locked in a small cell in the brig, which was slowly filling with water. “Apparently there’s a leak,” Jack observed casually, trying to make conversation with Adam who merely grunted before walking off with a satisfied scowl on his face.
On the deck of the Black Myfanwy, John was busy giving orders to his crew. “Haul on the main brace! Make ready the guns! And run out the sweeps.” The gun ports opened and the Jolly Roger was hoisted up the main mast. As the most feared pirate ship on the Main, they were ready to take the TARDIS.
*****
Having gotten his tumultuous emotions under control, Ianto returned topside just in time to see the last few crates and barrels being tossed overboard. He turned his gaze to scan the seas and to his dismay, he saw that the Black Myfanwy had put her oars out. Acting quickly, he put his foot on the cannon that Rory was about to toss overboard. “We’re gonna need that,” he advised the bewildered sailor.
The moment Kathy saw the Myfanwy’s oars plying the waves, she knew they were out of luck. “It was a good plan up till now,” she sadly told Tosh.
‘We can’t give up this easily! What would Jack do?’ Ianto whirled around to face Owen. “Owen! We have to make a stand. We must fight! Load the guns!”
“With what?” Kathy demanded from her spot at the helm.
“Anything! Everything! Anything we have left,” Ianto declared passionately as he looked around for whatever was left of the ship.
“Load the guns! Take shot and fire! Nails and crushed glass! With a will!” Owen whirled on his heel and began barking out orders.
The crew leapt into action and began stuffing the cannons with cutlery and other assorted items. Owen stopped to take a drink from his flask only to discover that it never reached his lips; Rory had grabbed it out of his hands and Owen was just in time to see him stuff it into the cannon he was frantically loading.
After sending a murderous glare in Rory’s direction, Owen’s gaze flickered out to study the ship that was quickly gaining on them and quickly noticed something alarming. “The Myfanwy is going to luff up on our port quarter! She’ll take us without ever presenting a target!”
Tosh was struck by sudden inspiration and she shouted to Owen, “Lower the anchor on the right side. On the starboard side!”
Knowing instantly what Tosh was hoping to achieve, Ianto grinned. “It certainly has the element of surprise,” he agreed with a shrug of his shoulders; it was a desperate and crazy move but it was all they had. He had to admit that he was rather proud of her for thinking of it.
“You’re daft, lady! You both are!” There was a slightly shrill almost panicked tone to Kathy’s words; she had no problem in voicing her opinion and she looked at the two of them like they were crazy.
Owen grinned wildly. He was proud of Tosh; the plan sounded just like something Jack himself would have come up with and it was just crazy enough to buy them some time. “Daft like Jack! Lower the starboard anchor! Do it, ye dogs, or it’s you we’ll load into the cannons!” Owen ordered the crew gruffly.
While the anchor was being lowered into the water, Tosh turned her attention to Kathy. “Let go!” Kathy did as Tosh instructed and released her hold on the ship’s wheel. Exactly as Tosh predicted, the TARDIS swung about until she was facing the Black Myfanwy.
*****
As John watching his prey swing around on her anchor chain, he was clearly impressed by the crazy move the other ship pulled. ‘They’re Jack’s crew all right,’ he admired grudgingly. “They’re clubhauling! Hard to port! Rack the starboard oars!” John shut his eyes as he felt his blood begin to boil. He was itching for a good fight; it had been a long time since he'd faced a worthy opponent.
“Hard to port!” Adam ordered and the two ships came up side by side.
“Keep us steady now.” Ianto’s eyes stayed trained on the Black Myfanwy; he was waiting for the perfect time. “Now!”
“Fire!” John ordered as the TARDIS moved into view.
Turning to face the crew Tosh gave her own order, “Fire all!”
The ships exchanged their first round of cannon fire and Jack, stuck helplessly in the brig, was forced to watch as his friends and his ship were attacked. Despite the danger to his ship and crew, the person at the forefront of his mind was Ianto. ‘If anything happens to my Ianto, I will make damn sure that whoever harmed him has a first class trip to Hell!'
Jack was dragged out of his murderous mental rant when a hole was blown in the hull right next to him. “Stop blowing holes in my ship!” Jack yelled through the newly formed porthole. Something silver floating in the water caught his eye and he reached out, straining to pick it up. As luck would have it, it was Owen’s flask. ‘Well this day is finally starting to look up!’ Jack thought happily as uncapped the lid and prepared to take a sip.
When nothing came out, he closed one eye and squinted, peering into the flask only to discover the silver vessel was empty. With a loud ‘humph!’, Jack pocked the empty flask and flung himself down on his bunk to pout at the lack of alcohol.
As he glowered at everything he looked at, something new caught Jack’s eye and he moved quickly towards the door. A grin crossed his face when he saw that the lock to his cell door had been blown off. ‘Hang on, Ianto, I’m on my way!’ Jack vowed as he pushed open the door and began sloshing his way through the water and towards the hatch that led to the decks.
The TARDIS was taking massive damage and the Black Myfanwy hardly had a scratch on it. “We could use a few more ideas, lass,” Owen muttered to Tosh as they prepared another cannon.
“Your turn,” Tosh told him with a tired yet fond smile.
“We need us a devil’s dowry.” Owen tried his hardest not to glance at Ianto; he was the only leverage they had.
Suddenly appearing next to Tosh, Kathy grabbed her by the arm and pointed her cocked pistol at her. “We’ll give them her.”
Ianto stepped up and stood casually in front of the two women.“She’s not what they’re after,” he calmly informed Kathy, while keeping his eyes locked on Tosh’s. The air between them crackled with unspoken messages. 'No, Ianto! Please!' and 'I have no choice, Tosh.'
Not willing to risk Ianto, Tosh knew she had to give them their damned medallion. Her hand flew up to her throat, ready to rip it from her neck, only to touch bare skin. “The medallion!” she gasped and stared wide-eyed at Ianto; she’d completely forgotten that she’d given it to him earlier.
Understanding instantly, Ianto nodded his head and pushed past the assembled crew, hurrying below deck. All he could do was hope and pray that the medallion was still on the table where he’d left it before the battle started, that none of the crew had helped themselves to it in a five-finger discount.
“Raise yer colours, ya bloomin’ cockroaches! Hands, grappels, at the ready. Prepare to board!” John wanted his medallion back and he was tired of waiting. ‘It’s time to end this ridiculous charade!’
Grinning fiendishly, Andy and Rhys aimed their cannon at the ship’s main mast and their grins became cheers of victory as their well-aimed shot severed the mast dead centre. They gleefully watched it fall over, crushing one of Jack’s crewmen and trapping several more beneath the fallen sails. The crew of the Myfanwy wasted no time in bringing out the grappling hooks and soon they were ready to board the TARDIS.
“Blast all to carcasses, men! Forward clear to the powder magazine. And the rest of you, bring me the medallion!” John ordered and he watched his men as they swung their hooks across the gap between the ships and then boarded the TARDIS.
Below deck, Ianto found himself in a spot of trouble. He’d found the medallion, miraculously right where he’d left it and he snatched it up, securing it around his neck and tucking it beneath his shirt. Then he discovered that when the mast fell, it landed across the door, trapping him below decks and with several small breaches in the hull, the area was slowly filling with water. “Hey! Hey! Below!” Ianto yelled frantically, pounding his fists on the door, hoping someone could hear him over the fight.
Onboard the Black Myfanwy, Jack emerged from the hold just in time to steal a rope from one of his former crew and then, just for the fun of it, he kicked the man off his ship. “Thanks very much!” With a hard kick and a whoop of pure joy, Jack swung across the void onto the TARDIS, landing next to Owen with a thud and a grin.
“Jack!” Everyone could hear the relief in Owen’s voice as Jack arrived on deck.
Jack tossed Owen his flask. “Bloody empty,” he informed his old friend before taking note of the fact that Tosh was in a spot of trouble. He wondered where Ianto was and when a quick glance around showed him that the young man was nowhere in sight, a sharp stab of pain and worry lanced through his heart. 'Ianto, where are you, my boy?'
Tosh glared as a vengeful pirate pointed his sword at her and just as she was preparing a pithy retort for her captor, Jack was standing next to the pirate with a grin. “That’s not very nice,” Jack informed him and before she could say a word or the pirate could do anything, Jack had landed a solid punch on the man’s jaw, knocking the pirate out.
“Where’s the medallion?” Jack demanded from Tosh.
“Wretch!” Tosh’s fingers literally itched with the need to slap the smug look off his face and then slap him again for all the pain he'd put Ianto through and finally a third just for the hell of it.
Having been slapped more than enough by enraged women, Jack easily caught Tosh’s wrist before it could touch him and he saw her wince of pain just seconds before he noticed the bandage around her hand. Seeing her wounded hand reminded him of the danger they were facing. “Where’s Ianto?” Sheer desperation laced Jack’s voice; he knew his boy would never leave Tosh alone in the middle of a fight, which meant that Ianto was in danger.
“Ianto!” Tosh snatched her wrist from Jack's grasp and rushed across the deck towards the fallen mast. She could see Ianto through the grate and once she was standing in front of him, she could hear him crying out and pounding on the door. “Ianto!”
Relief filled Ianto as Tosh’s face came into view. “Tosh!” ‘Oh, thank the heavens she’s all right!’ he thought.
Jack was halfway to Tosh’s side when he suddenly caught sight of John’s monkey rushing past him. The wretched creature had the medallion in his paws and for a moment, Jack was torn. On the one hand, he needed to make sure that Ianto was okay and the only way he’d know that for sure was when his young Welshman was safely in his arms.
On the other hand however, the medallion was a powerful bargaining tool that could be used to get them out of the mess they were in. More importantly to him, though, he could use it to keep John’s greedy hands off his Ianto. ‘Please be okay, Ianto, please!’ Jack prayed before turning on his heel and headed for the monkey. “Monkey!” he bellowed.
Using all her strength Tosh was pushing against the mast in the futile hope that she could move it enough that Ianto could get out. Through the porthole, she could see that the water getting ever closer to Ianto. “I can’t move it,” she admitted in defeat and bitter, helpless tears filled her eyes. She met Ianto’s gaze through the glass and smiled reassuringly; it was entirely for his benefit. 'I can't help you, Ianto, I'm so sorry.'
“I’ll get help,” Tosh vowed as she began scanning the crew for anyone free enough to help her rescue her friend. She never noticed that Adam was creeping along, approaching her stealthily until it was too late. As he grabbed her roughly and dragged her away, Tosh screamed out one last time, “Ianto!” ‘Please, someone help him.’
“Tosh!” Ianto cried as he watched her being dragged away and he began pushing against the grate in a desperate hope that it would move.
Jack scrambled across the fallen mast, watching in horror as Adam pulled Tosh away from her rescue efforts. Filled with regret that he couldn’t help her, he chased John’s blasted monkey all the way back to Myfanwy, and he tried not to let his disappointment show when the monkey climbed up its master’s arm.
“Why, thank you, Jack.” John smiled brightly as he took the medallion from his devoted pet.
“You’re welcome.” With a flourish and a bow, Jack accepted John’s words graciously, all the while wishing he could shove that medallion straight down John’s throat. ‘I hope to hell you choke on the damned thing!!’
John grinned down at Jack. “Oh, not you, Harkness! We named the monkey, Jack. Gents, our hope is restored!” John happily turned to face his men, holding the gold medallion triumphantly over his head.
After placing the last of the powder kegs together, Eugene smiled as Rex ignited them. They had no way of knowing that their only hope for survival was trapped below decks in a cabin full of water. Their assigned task complete, the two men gathered the TARDIS’ crew together and herded them across to the Black Myfanwy.
Fandoms: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tommy/Tosh, past John/Jack, one-sided John/Ianto, Owen, Kathy, Gwen, Mickey/Jake, Harold Saxon, Rhys/Andy, Martha, James Harper, Ross, Rory, brief mention of the Doctor/Rose, Donna
Author: backrose_17
Prompt: The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Summary: A Pirate Captain seeking to reclaim what was stolen from him joins forces with a young Blacksmith seeking to rescue his kidnapped best friend. Together they find more than just the adventures of their journey.
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who.
Beta: royalladyemma
Written for Reel_Torchwood Round 5
Chapter 10
In a cabin of the TARDIS, Tosh was trying to bandage the deep gash in her hand by herself; the task was made even more difficult by the fact that she was pacing angrily. Try as she might, Tosh just couldn’t come to grips with everything that Ianto had told her that had happened. “What sort of a man trades a man’s life for a ship?” she demanded of the empty room. She was so angry that she kicked the stool across the room in a very unladylike display of temper.
Ianto slipped through the door just in time to hear Tosh’s question. “Pirate,” he answered succinctly as he crossed over to his friend. He saw the mess she'd made of her hand and he smiled fondly. “Here, let me.” Ianto took the bandages from Tosh and led her over to sit on the bunk. He pulled the room’s only other seat, the rickety stool that Tosh had kicked, over next to her before taking her hand in his. He really wanted to get the conversation off Jack; it was just too painful to think about him. The thoughts he'd had of the life they could have had together were just too painful to contemplate.
“Thank you.” Tosh murmured softly as she watched her friend examined her cut before beginning to gently bandage and wrap her wound. She was still unable to believe how far Ianto had gone to rescue her; she was so very proud of the man she saw as a little brother.
“You said you gave Hart my name as yours. Why?” Ianto was curious as to why Tosh lied; 'she must have known she'd be found out sooner or later.'
“I don’t know. I guess because you’re my family.” Tosh winced as Ianto poked at a particularly painful spot on her palm and pulled her hand away.
“I’m sorry. Blacksmith’s hands - I know they’re rough,” Ianto apologised softly and reclaimed her hand so that he could finish his task.
“No, I mean yes, they are, but don’t stop. They’re a part of you, Ianto, and I love my little brother, rough hands and all.” Tosh smiled gently at Ianto.
“Thank you, Tosh,” Ianto smiled bashfully at her.
Biting down on her lower lip Tosh pulled out the medallion and smiled when she heard Ianto gasp. “It’s yours,” and she pressed the disk into his hand.
Ianto accepted the medallion and reverently traced his fingers over the gold coin. “I thought I’d lost it the day UNIT rescued me; I figured it was either stolen by one of them or it was at the bottom of the ocean. It was a gift from my father. He sent it to me. Why did you take it?” Hurt laced Ianto’s voice; he truly thought he’d lost the only thing he had left of his father’s.
Tears welled up in Tosh’s eyes as she saw the look of disappointment and betrayal on Ianto's face. She’d been worried this might happen and she forced herself to look him in the eye. “Because I was afraid that you were a pirate. That would have been awful.” She didn’t want Ianto angry at her; she couldn’t bear it if he hated her. 'Please try to understand, Ianto; I was doing what was best for you.'
With all the power of a thunderclap, it suddenly became crystal clear to Ianto exactly why Jack had agreed to help him. After Jack had learned his name and had figured out exactly how he could be used as leverage, he’d set out to seduce him. “It wasn’t your blood they needed, it was my father’s blood, my blood. The blood of a pirate.” Ianto wasn’t sure what hurt more, Tosh keeping his medallion from him all these years, or the fact that Jack had deliberately lied to him and used him. The weight of knowing that he was just a bargaining tool to Jack, and that the emotional connection he thought they'd forged was just a business deal to the pirate threatened to break Ianto.
“Ianto, I’m so sorry, please forgive me,” Tosh begged, tears filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. She wanted to hug her friend but she was afraid of the rejection.
Ianto wanted to forgive his best friend so badly but he was just so bloody tired of being used by the people he cared about the most. Pain and anger over-powered reason and ruled his emotions as he slammed the medallion on the table. Trembling with anger, he stared at the wall, doing nothing to stop Tosh from leaving; as the door closed behind her the sound of Toshiko's weeping rang in his ears.
‘Why does everyone I care about only want to hurt me or use me?’ Ianto fought the urge to cry himself.
*****
In the Captain’s cabin on the Black Myfanwy, John and Jack were negotiating the terms of their parley.
“So you expect to leave me standing on some beach with nothing but a name and your word it’s the one I need and then watch you sail away in my ship?” John repeated in disbelief, not sure if he heard Jack right. It was hands-down the worst offer he'd ever had.
Happily poking about his former cabin, Jack cringed at John's bad taste and he made mental notes of what he needed to change and get rid of before he brought Ianto there. He wanted to make it very clear to the younger man just how deeply he cared for him and just as importantly, how sorry he was for making Ianto believe that he would trade him to John. He couldn't do that in a room that looked like a trucker's bordello.
Turning his attention back to the matter at hand, Jack favoured John with a feral grin. “No. I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all. I expect you to watch me sail away on my ship and then I’ll shout the name back to you. Savvy?” There was no way in hell that Jack was giving John Ianto’s name until he was absolutely sure he could keep his Welshman safe.
“But that still leaves us with the problem of me standing on some beach with naught but a name and your word it’s the one I need.” John watched his ex-lover closely; he knew Jack was up to something, he just didn’t know what.
“Of the two of us, I am the only one who hasn’t committed mutiny, therefore, my word is the one we’ll be trusting.” Jack’s tone was mocking but final. “Although, I suppose I should be thanking you because, in fact, if you hadn’t betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse, same as you.” Jack cheerfully reminded John as his fingers danced over the apples in the bowl before selecting one and taking a bite. “Funny ol’ world, innit?” Jack smirked as juice ran down his chin; he offered John a bite of his apple.
Before John had a chance to react to the taunt, Adam entered the cabin. “Captain, we’re coming up on the TARDIS!” John gave Jack a victorious look before exiting the cabin with Adam and heading topside.
‘Damn it all to hell!’ Jack had a sinking feeling in his gut. He knew that if Hart and his crew caught up with the TARDIS and managed to take it, Ianto would most certainly do something stupid to keep everyone safe. Jack’s mind was reeling with the possibility of losing Ianto and he quickly chased after John. 'I have to keep my Welshman safe!'
It was rather easy to find the captain; he was standing at the bow and looking out across the sea. Jack moved in front of him so that he was blocking the man’s view of the TARDIS. “I’m having a thought here, John. What say we run up a flag of truce? I scurry over to the TARDIS, and I negotiate the return of your medallion, eh? What say you to that?” Jack desperately needed John to agree so he could hide Ianto, preferably with them both in a room with a big bed and a sturdy lock on the door.
“Now you see, Jack, that’s exactly the attitude that lost you the Myfanwy. People are easier to search when they’re dead,” John reminded Jack with a smugly condescending smile before he turned his attention to Adam. “Lock him in the brig.” John jerked his head in Jack’s direction.
Jack glared at John as Adam grabbed his arm in an iron grip, and in a moment of pure spite, Jack tossed his apple at John, who easily caught the partially eaten piece of fruit. With a look that was both angry and longing, John studied it for a moment before tossing it overboard. 'I want the first bite out of my first apple, thank you very much, Jack!'
*****
“Hands aloft to loose the gallants! With this wind at her stern, she’ll carry every sail we’ve got!” Owen was barking out orders when Tosh appeared on the deck.
Upon seeing the crew running around Tosh hurried over to Owen’s side; she knew such frantic activity couldn’t be good. “What’s happening?”
“The Black Myfanwy, she’s gaining on us.” Kathy, standing regally in her spot at the helm, calmly informed Tosh. Toshiko looked over her shoulder to see the black sails of the Myfanwy growing ever closer.
Tosh couldn’t believe that any ship could catch up with the TARDIS. “This is the fastest ship in Boeshane!” she protested in disbelief.
Kathy rolled her eyes and then glared at the other woman. “You can tell them that after they’ve caught us,” she snapped back at her.
Undaunted by the older woman’s brusque attitude, Tosh studied the water. She’d grown up around ships and she could feel the germ of an idea forming. “We’re shallow on the draft, right?” she asked Kathy.
Confused by the notion that a woman as gentile and elegant as Toshiko could be knowledgeable about ships and sailing, she wondered just what Tosh was getting at, Kathy answered with a hesitant, “Aye.”
“Well then, can’t we lose them amongst those shoals?” Tosh suggested as she pointed a few degrees to their left. She didn’t notice that Owen had come to stand beside her and had overheard her idea.
Owen’s face brightened as he mulled over her suggestion. “We don’t have to outrun them long, just long enough,” he nodded approvingly.
A grin graced Kathy’s face as she figured out the plan and immediately began setting in motion. “Lighten the ship, stem to stern!” she ordered the crew and she was pleased to see them all spring into action.
“Anything that we can afford to lose, see that it’s lost,” Owen added from his place amongst the crew. Within minutes the wake of the TARDIS was afloat with debris and she was sailing ever closer to the dangerous shoals.
All any of them could hope for was that Toshiko’s plan would work and bring them enough time to escape.
*****
After being pushed and prodded below decks, Jack found himself locked in a small cell in the brig, which was slowly filling with water. “Apparently there’s a leak,” Jack observed casually, trying to make conversation with Adam who merely grunted before walking off with a satisfied scowl on his face.
On the deck of the Black Myfanwy, John was busy giving orders to his crew. “Haul on the main brace! Make ready the guns! And run out the sweeps.” The gun ports opened and the Jolly Roger was hoisted up the main mast. As the most feared pirate ship on the Main, they were ready to take the TARDIS.
*****
Having gotten his tumultuous emotions under control, Ianto returned topside just in time to see the last few crates and barrels being tossed overboard. He turned his gaze to scan the seas and to his dismay, he saw that the Black Myfanwy had put her oars out. Acting quickly, he put his foot on the cannon that Rory was about to toss overboard. “We’re gonna need that,” he advised the bewildered sailor.
The moment Kathy saw the Myfanwy’s oars plying the waves, she knew they were out of luck. “It was a good plan up till now,” she sadly told Tosh.
‘We can’t give up this easily! What would Jack do?’ Ianto whirled around to face Owen. “Owen! We have to make a stand. We must fight! Load the guns!”
“With what?” Kathy demanded from her spot at the helm.
“Anything! Everything! Anything we have left,” Ianto declared passionately as he looked around for whatever was left of the ship.
“Load the guns! Take shot and fire! Nails and crushed glass! With a will!” Owen whirled on his heel and began barking out orders.
The crew leapt into action and began stuffing the cannons with cutlery and other assorted items. Owen stopped to take a drink from his flask only to discover that it never reached his lips; Rory had grabbed it out of his hands and Owen was just in time to see him stuff it into the cannon he was frantically loading.
After sending a murderous glare in Rory’s direction, Owen’s gaze flickered out to study the ship that was quickly gaining on them and quickly noticed something alarming. “The Myfanwy is going to luff up on our port quarter! She’ll take us without ever presenting a target!”
Tosh was struck by sudden inspiration and she shouted to Owen, “Lower the anchor on the right side. On the starboard side!”
Knowing instantly what Tosh was hoping to achieve, Ianto grinned. “It certainly has the element of surprise,” he agreed with a shrug of his shoulders; it was a desperate and crazy move but it was all they had. He had to admit that he was rather proud of her for thinking of it.
“You’re daft, lady! You both are!” There was a slightly shrill almost panicked tone to Kathy’s words; she had no problem in voicing her opinion and she looked at the two of them like they were crazy.
Owen grinned wildly. He was proud of Tosh; the plan sounded just like something Jack himself would have come up with and it was just crazy enough to buy them some time. “Daft like Jack! Lower the starboard anchor! Do it, ye dogs, or it’s you we’ll load into the cannons!” Owen ordered the crew gruffly.
While the anchor was being lowered into the water, Tosh turned her attention to Kathy. “Let go!” Kathy did as Tosh instructed and released her hold on the ship’s wheel. Exactly as Tosh predicted, the TARDIS swung about until she was facing the Black Myfanwy.
*****
As John watching his prey swing around on her anchor chain, he was clearly impressed by the crazy move the other ship pulled. ‘They’re Jack’s crew all right,’ he admired grudgingly. “They’re clubhauling! Hard to port! Rack the starboard oars!” John shut his eyes as he felt his blood begin to boil. He was itching for a good fight; it had been a long time since he'd faced a worthy opponent.
“Hard to port!” Adam ordered and the two ships came up side by side.
“Keep us steady now.” Ianto’s eyes stayed trained on the Black Myfanwy; he was waiting for the perfect time. “Now!”
“Fire!” John ordered as the TARDIS moved into view.
Turning to face the crew Tosh gave her own order, “Fire all!”
The ships exchanged their first round of cannon fire and Jack, stuck helplessly in the brig, was forced to watch as his friends and his ship were attacked. Despite the danger to his ship and crew, the person at the forefront of his mind was Ianto. ‘If anything happens to my Ianto, I will make damn sure that whoever harmed him has a first class trip to Hell!'
Jack was dragged out of his murderous mental rant when a hole was blown in the hull right next to him. “Stop blowing holes in my ship!” Jack yelled through the newly formed porthole. Something silver floating in the water caught his eye and he reached out, straining to pick it up. As luck would have it, it was Owen’s flask. ‘Well this day is finally starting to look up!’ Jack thought happily as uncapped the lid and prepared to take a sip.
When nothing came out, he closed one eye and squinted, peering into the flask only to discover the silver vessel was empty. With a loud ‘humph!’, Jack pocked the empty flask and flung himself down on his bunk to pout at the lack of alcohol.
As he glowered at everything he looked at, something new caught Jack’s eye and he moved quickly towards the door. A grin crossed his face when he saw that the lock to his cell door had been blown off. ‘Hang on, Ianto, I’m on my way!’ Jack vowed as he pushed open the door and began sloshing his way through the water and towards the hatch that led to the decks.
The TARDIS was taking massive damage and the Black Myfanwy hardly had a scratch on it. “We could use a few more ideas, lass,” Owen muttered to Tosh as they prepared another cannon.
“Your turn,” Tosh told him with a tired yet fond smile.
“We need us a devil’s dowry.” Owen tried his hardest not to glance at Ianto; he was the only leverage they had.
Suddenly appearing next to Tosh, Kathy grabbed her by the arm and pointed her cocked pistol at her. “We’ll give them her.”
Ianto stepped up and stood casually in front of the two women.“She’s not what they’re after,” he calmly informed Kathy, while keeping his eyes locked on Tosh’s. The air between them crackled with unspoken messages. 'No, Ianto! Please!' and 'I have no choice, Tosh.'
Not willing to risk Ianto, Tosh knew she had to give them their damned medallion. Her hand flew up to her throat, ready to rip it from her neck, only to touch bare skin. “The medallion!” she gasped and stared wide-eyed at Ianto; she’d completely forgotten that she’d given it to him earlier.
Understanding instantly, Ianto nodded his head and pushed past the assembled crew, hurrying below deck. All he could do was hope and pray that the medallion was still on the table where he’d left it before the battle started, that none of the crew had helped themselves to it in a five-finger discount.
“Raise yer colours, ya bloomin’ cockroaches! Hands, grappels, at the ready. Prepare to board!” John wanted his medallion back and he was tired of waiting. ‘It’s time to end this ridiculous charade!’
Grinning fiendishly, Andy and Rhys aimed their cannon at the ship’s main mast and their grins became cheers of victory as their well-aimed shot severed the mast dead centre. They gleefully watched it fall over, crushing one of Jack’s crewmen and trapping several more beneath the fallen sails. The crew of the Myfanwy wasted no time in bringing out the grappling hooks and soon they were ready to board the TARDIS.
“Blast all to carcasses, men! Forward clear to the powder magazine. And the rest of you, bring me the medallion!” John ordered and he watched his men as they swung their hooks across the gap between the ships and then boarded the TARDIS.
Below deck, Ianto found himself in a spot of trouble. He’d found the medallion, miraculously right where he’d left it and he snatched it up, securing it around his neck and tucking it beneath his shirt. Then he discovered that when the mast fell, it landed across the door, trapping him below decks and with several small breaches in the hull, the area was slowly filling with water. “Hey! Hey! Below!” Ianto yelled frantically, pounding his fists on the door, hoping someone could hear him over the fight.
Onboard the Black Myfanwy, Jack emerged from the hold just in time to steal a rope from one of his former crew and then, just for the fun of it, he kicked the man off his ship. “Thanks very much!” With a hard kick and a whoop of pure joy, Jack swung across the void onto the TARDIS, landing next to Owen with a thud and a grin.
“Jack!” Everyone could hear the relief in Owen’s voice as Jack arrived on deck.
Jack tossed Owen his flask. “Bloody empty,” he informed his old friend before taking note of the fact that Tosh was in a spot of trouble. He wondered where Ianto was and when a quick glance around showed him that the young man was nowhere in sight, a sharp stab of pain and worry lanced through his heart. 'Ianto, where are you, my boy?'
Tosh glared as a vengeful pirate pointed his sword at her and just as she was preparing a pithy retort for her captor, Jack was standing next to the pirate with a grin. “That’s not very nice,” Jack informed him and before she could say a word or the pirate could do anything, Jack had landed a solid punch on the man’s jaw, knocking the pirate out.
“Where’s the medallion?” Jack demanded from Tosh.
“Wretch!” Tosh’s fingers literally itched with the need to slap the smug look off his face and then slap him again for all the pain he'd put Ianto through and finally a third just for the hell of it.
Having been slapped more than enough by enraged women, Jack easily caught Tosh’s wrist before it could touch him and he saw her wince of pain just seconds before he noticed the bandage around her hand. Seeing her wounded hand reminded him of the danger they were facing. “Where’s Ianto?” Sheer desperation laced Jack’s voice; he knew his boy would never leave Tosh alone in the middle of a fight, which meant that Ianto was in danger.
“Ianto!” Tosh snatched her wrist from Jack's grasp and rushed across the deck towards the fallen mast. She could see Ianto through the grate and once she was standing in front of him, she could hear him crying out and pounding on the door. “Ianto!”
Relief filled Ianto as Tosh’s face came into view. “Tosh!” ‘Oh, thank the heavens she’s all right!’ he thought.
Jack was halfway to Tosh’s side when he suddenly caught sight of John’s monkey rushing past him. The wretched creature had the medallion in his paws and for a moment, Jack was torn. On the one hand, he needed to make sure that Ianto was okay and the only way he’d know that for sure was when his young Welshman was safely in his arms.
On the other hand however, the medallion was a powerful bargaining tool that could be used to get them out of the mess they were in. More importantly to him, though, he could use it to keep John’s greedy hands off his Ianto. ‘Please be okay, Ianto, please!’ Jack prayed before turning on his heel and headed for the monkey. “Monkey!” he bellowed.
Using all her strength Tosh was pushing against the mast in the futile hope that she could move it enough that Ianto could get out. Through the porthole, she could see that the water getting ever closer to Ianto. “I can’t move it,” she admitted in defeat and bitter, helpless tears filled her eyes. She met Ianto’s gaze through the glass and smiled reassuringly; it was entirely for his benefit. 'I can't help you, Ianto, I'm so sorry.'
“I’ll get help,” Tosh vowed as she began scanning the crew for anyone free enough to help her rescue her friend. She never noticed that Adam was creeping along, approaching her stealthily until it was too late. As he grabbed her roughly and dragged her away, Tosh screamed out one last time, “Ianto!” ‘Please, someone help him.’
“Tosh!” Ianto cried as he watched her being dragged away and he began pushing against the grate in a desperate hope that it would move.
Jack scrambled across the fallen mast, watching in horror as Adam pulled Tosh away from her rescue efforts. Filled with regret that he couldn’t help her, he chased John’s blasted monkey all the way back to Myfanwy, and he tried not to let his disappointment show when the monkey climbed up its master’s arm.
“Why, thank you, Jack.” John smiled brightly as he took the medallion from his devoted pet.
“You’re welcome.” With a flourish and a bow, Jack accepted John’s words graciously, all the while wishing he could shove that medallion straight down John’s throat. ‘I hope to hell you choke on the damned thing!!’
John grinned down at Jack. “Oh, not you, Harkness! We named the monkey, Jack. Gents, our hope is restored!” John happily turned to face his men, holding the gold medallion triumphantly over his head.
After placing the last of the powder kegs together, Eugene smiled as Rex ignited them. They had no way of knowing that their only hope for survival was trapped below decks in a cabin full of water. Their assigned task complete, the two men gathered the TARDIS’ crew together and herded them across to the Black Myfanwy.