I Need You Safe - 12/??
Series: I need you safe
Part: Twelve
Word Count: 2582
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, OFC, OMC.
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst! AU!
Warning: Spoilers for Exit Wounds and the whole of the second series.
Disclaimer: Alas the Torchwood character's are not mine, they belong to other more fabulous people. Which makes me sad. The OC's are all my creations though, not that i wouldn't share them with RTD. 'Cause i so would ^_^
Un-beta'ed, sorry. Any and all mistakes are my own (i'm known as the typo queen around friends), and i apologize for them.
Author's Note: Wow it's been three months since my last post, talk about feeling like a schmuck. Well long story short, my internet was cut off and i couldn't get on to post. Oh the joys of being poor lol. But i now have the net back, although it's not as fast as my last connection *sighs* But beggars can't be choosers now can they. Now, onto the fic. I originally had planned on keeping this story somewhere around 10 chapters long and was only going to bring Ianto back. But as things progressed, i found i didn't like how i had originally planed to end it and decided to keep it going. So until i run out of steam, just keep expecting chapters ^_^
Summary: Jack takes desperate measures to assure his remaining staff is safe, which leaves him with a new team who are experiencing a VERY different side of Jack. Now it's up to one of his closest friends to try and straighten things out.
In the weeks following Martha’s departure, Jack did his best to try and mend the rift that had formed between him and his team. Which proved to be a somewhat awkward feat. The group was open to the new Jack, but all of them were still very wary. But it was to be expected after the way he had treated them for so long. It wasn’t until one afternoon when he regaled them with stories about a surprisingly inventive ex boyfriend with no mouth, did they finally begin to relax more around him. True there was still blame, quite a bit of blame on him for Collin. But that was to be expected, and Jack was fine with that. That was one of the things that went along with running Torchwood, he was always the one to blame when something when wrong. His fault or not. Blame was something that Jack could and would live with, no matter what.
In those weeks, he also took to popping into the coffee shop to see Ianto. Or as Ianto liked to put it; bothering him whilst trying to work.
Jack always shrugged off the little sarcastic comments, just enjoying getting the chance to hear them again.
Even though the two men were becoming more comfortable with each other with each visit, it was obvious to Jack that Ianto was still holding back. He knew it was his fault, he had damaged his relationship with the younger man wholly. And Jack had hoped that it wasn’t irrevocable, but with each passing day he was beginning to think that perhaps it was.
####
“Jack?” Nareesh said one afternoon as she walked into his office. “Here are the reports you wanted.”
“Thanks.” Jack said absentmindedly, reaching to take the reports from her and dropping them onto his desk.
“Something wrong?” Nareesh asked.
Jack looked up at the dark haired woman, smiling. It was still a little surprising for him to hear her ask something like that, but he knew her inquiry was genuine. “No, I was just....” He trailed off.
“Sulking?” She offered.
With a chuckle Jack nodded. “Maybe a little.”
“About Ianto.” Nareesh said simply, leaning against the edge of his desk.
“Okay, you’re too perceptive and it’s creepy.” He joked lightly.
Nareesh laughed softly. “No, it’s just now that you’re no longer walking around with your totalitarian face on. You can be a little obvious sometimes.”
“Thanks.” Jack said dryly.
“You’re welcome.” She smirked. “Jack, when are you going to ask him to come back? And not just to work.” She looked at him intently.
Jack knew that Nareesh knew all about his past with Ianto because of her helping Martha locate him, and because of everything else Jack had told her and the team. Talking about the past Torchwood team was one of the more difficult things he had done with them, but he felt they had a right to know why he been such a jackass. Not that it excused any off it, but it did put a bit of perspective on it.
“I don’t know.” He said with a sigh, rubbing his eyes. “I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?”
At the question, Jack just shot her a look that said; are you serious?
“Okay, so you fucked up a bit. Everyone does at one point or another.”
“I think I fucked up more than ‘ a bit’, I fucked up majorly. I just don’t know.”
“I think the fact that he’s even speaking to you, shows that he may be respective to the idea of taking you back into his life. Either personally, or professionally.”
“But not both?”
Nareesh shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Jack just shook his head, leaning back in chair.
“Listen Jack, every relationship has problems. And okay, admittedly, yours are more unique problems. But when you really love someone, you forgive their follies. Their accidents, their huge fuck ups.”
“I guess that leaves the question then, doesn’t it. Does he really love me? Enough to forgive me?”
“I think he does.”
“How would you know? You haven’t even met the man.”
At that, Nareesh looked away sheepishly.
“Nareesh?”
“Well I may have...” She began.
“What did you do?” Jack asked, leaning forward.
“I just went for a coffee.” She said quickly. “And then I may have, sorta, let slip who I work for.”
“Nareesh!” Jack groaned in an exasperated way.
“What!? I just wanted to meet him.” She said, sounding like a defensive teenager. “He’s nice, he’s fit.” She smiled.
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Jack chuckled.
“I’m not, he’s just younger than I would have expected. But then I guess everyone’s young compared to you now aren’t they.”
“He’s not that young.”
Nareesh just raised her eyebrows at Jack.
“Okay, so maybe he’s a little young. But he’s not like Emma young or anything.”
“True, what is he? About twenty-seven?”
Jack hummed in agreement, before looking at Nareesh oddly. “What?” He questioned.
“Nothing.” She said with feigned nonchalance, smirking. “Cradle robber.” She muttered teasingly.
Jack laughed. “Oh jeez, don’t you have work to do or something? Go, get.” He shooed her away.
Nareesh just chuckled as she got up and made her way to the door, only to stop once there to look back at Jack. “I think you should talk to him.”
Jack just rolled his eyes fondly. “Uh-huh, and now you’re starting to sound like Martha. Which is creepier than the perceptive thing.” He joked, which caused Nareesh to shake her head and smile before exiting.
####
As Jack walked down to the café that day at his usual time, he couldn’t help but think of the things Nareesh had said. It actually made him smile to think of how familiar she and the rest of the team were becoming with him, when a mere month before hand none of them would have ever considered sitting against the edge of his desk and teasing him.
It were those thoughts that had him all smiles when he walked in to the small coffee shop, leaning against the counter.
“Bothering me whilst working again Jack?” Ianto quipped, not looking up from where he was fiddling with something behind the counter.
“Yep, it’s my favorite hobby.” Jack smiled.
Ianto looked up at him momentarily, just long enough to roll his eyes. “Why are you so happy?”
“Am I?” Jack asked.
“You certainly look it.”
“I’m just in a good mood is all.”
“Uh-huh.” Ianto hummed dryly, placing a cup of coffee on the counter in front of Jack. The fact that he had been preparing it as the older man had walked in, just made Jack smile more.
“Thanks.”
“You always order the same thing.” Ianto shrugged, moving from around the counter and heading toward the door with another coffee in his own hand. Jack just followed, knowing all too well that he was going to stand out by the front window. That seemed to be where the two men always stood to talk, opposed to staying inside the usually crowded shop.
“I had one of your people come see me the other day.” Ianto said casually once they were outside.
“Yeah, I just found out about that today actually. I hope she wasn’t a bother.”
“No, she was perfectly nice. I just hope that wasn’t a recruiting mission she was on.” Ianto said, looking at Jack sternly.
“What!? Ianto, no. Do you actually think I would do that?” Send someone out here to recruit you?”
“Yeah actually, I do.” The Welshman nodded. “Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t asked me back yet. I thought I would have had to have turned you down at least five times by now.”
Jack sighed.” I haven’t asked you because I figured you would’ve turned me down, which apparently I was right.”
Ianto was quiet for a moment, staring down into his coffee cup. He was obviously struggling with something internally, and Jack wasn’t about to interrupt. He had lost his right to demand things of Ianto long ago, especially after all he had done. So Jack had be content with just waiting.
“I can’t trust you Jack.” Ianto said finally, not looking up from his cup. “After what you did. How can I come back if I don’t trust you? Not just as a boss, but as a friend, as a.....” He paused, looking off to the side with a shake of his head. “How can I?” He asked, finally looking at Jack again.
“I fucked up.” Jack stated.
“Oh, big time.” Ianto nodded.
“Yes, big time. Majorly, huge fuck up. I know this. And I know now that what I did was wrong, even though at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. I needed you safe, because the thought of losing you....” Jack shook his head softly before looking at the other man. “It hurt so much I could barely breath, it still does.”
“I know the feeling.” Ianto said. “And what’s worse is that you forced that onto me, that hurt. I didn’t want to lose you either, yet I did. And even though I didn’t remember the betrayal, for an entire year I felt completely amiss. I had no idea why, that wasn’t fair Jack.”
“I know.” Jack said. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve been horrible miserable for the past year as well.”
“Good.” Ianto replied stubbornly.
After a moment, Jack smirked a bit. “I thought you said you didn’t pine.”
“Shut up.” Ianto snapped, although it was obvious he didn’t mean anything by it.
Jack chuckled softly, looking at the younger man fondly. “Ianto, I can’t take back what I did, I know that. And I know I said I wasn’t going to apologize, but I am. I see now that I was wrong, and I’m sorry. So very, very sorry. If you would just come back, I could prove it too you. Actions speak louder than words right? Then let me show you, please, come back to work.” He paused. “And me, please.”
Ianto sighed heavily, shaking his head slightly. “No, Jack....”
“Oh, okay. Well...” Jack cut him off quickly and rather awkwardly, not wanting to prolong the impending rejection he was facing.
Ianto smirked, rolling his eyes. “Would let me finish please?” He asked, turning to lean his shoulder against the window so he was facing the other man fully.
“Oh, um, finish.”
“Thanks you. No, Jack, that’s not enough. You can’t just apologize and promise you’re going to change and then ask me back into your life, just like that. Your work place, fine. But not your life, not yet.”
“Oh.”
“Relationships are gradual, they take time. And I need that time, and I think you do too. You can’t fix things, fix us, with one big gesture. Even though that is your style.”
Ianto had a point, Jack knew it. And truth be told, he hadn’t been expecting Ianto to just forgive and forget. But he had to admit, it would have been nice, and so much quicker.
“I’m not saying no to you Jack, at least not completely. And I’m not saying that the damage you did to us is irreversible. All I’m saying is that I need more than a few weeks.” He paused momentarily, just long enough to catch Jack’s eye. “Okay?”
Jack smiled softly, giving a small nod. “Okay.”
“Thank you.”
The two stood in companionable silence for a few minutes before Jack finally spoke up again. “So what about coming back to work?” He asked, flashing one of his dazzling smiles.
Ianto couldn’t help but laugh as he rolled his eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I know.”
With a little sigh, Ianto looked in the window they were leaning against, watching the customers in the shop come and go. After a moment he smirked. “On one condition.” He said to Jack.
“Name it.”
Ianto simply pointed into the shop, causing Jack to look through the window toward where the younger man was pointing.
“Oh come on Ianto.” Jack said, sounding like a petulant child when he saw who Ianto was pointing at.
“I’m not going back without her.”
“How do you know she’ll even want to come back? She’s got a family now.”
“Because I know Gwen. Besides, what you did to her was just as wrong as what you did too me.”
Jack raised an eyebrow at that, causing Ianto to roll his eyes yet again.
“Okay, so maybe not on the same personal level as what you did to me. But she’s your friend, and it was still wrong.”
Jack watched through the window as Gwen gathered up her coffee and started toward the door. “But she’ll hit me.” He said, looking like he was about a second away from stomping his foot in frustration. He was really getting tired of being smacked around by everyone.
“Not my fault.”
Jack narrowed his eyes at the other man. “You just want to see her hit me.” He said, pointing a finger.
Ianto shrugged. “Little bit, yeah.”
“Sadist.”
“Little bit, yeah.” Ianto smirked.
Jack made a little annoyed growling noise in the back of his throat before he turned toward the entrance of the shop, watching as a blissfully unaware Gwen stepped out.
Now there were many ways Jack could have triggered the woman’s memories, but none of those had the flare of just abruptly sweeping her into a hug. One of his grand gestures as Ianto would later point out.
The Welshman snorted a laugh into his coffee cup as Jack exclaimed “GWEN!” and pulled her into an embrace, causing the very startled woman to drop her coffee.
Gwen, having no idea who Jack was, struggled against the hug. “What the hell are you doing!?” She yelped indignantly, looking up at Jack. At the sight of the man’s sky blue eyes and very familiar greatcoat, her breath caught in her throat. Gwen managed a small gasp, her bottom lip trembling slightly as her forgotten memories bore down on her, flooding her mind noisily.
“My god.” She breathed softly, pushing back out of Jack arms. Her large brown eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Gwen?” Jack said tentatively, the woman in question staring up at him in awe.
“You.....” Her face hardened suddenly. “Jack Harkness, you bastard!” She almost shouted before hauling back and punching him squarely across the jaw.
Jack head snapped roughly to the side as he made a pained noise, only to hear the sound of Ianto trying to stifle a chuckle.
“Oh shut up.” He told Ianto, holding his jaw. As Jack straightened up, he turned just in time to see Gwen walking away angrily. “Ah, I’ll deal with her tomorrow.” He said, waving her retreat off.
“Good idea, let her cool off a bit.”
Jack nodded, knowing she’d be more open to hearing him out once she had a bit of time to calm down. He then turned his attention to Ianto, staring for a moment before finally arching his eyebrows.
Ianto smirked, canting his head to the side in a small half shrug. “I’ll come back to work.”
“Good.” Jack smiled, still holding his jaw. “Ow.”
Ianto laughed softly, shaking his head. “You big baby, come on.” He nodded toward the shop’s door. “I’ll get you some ice.”
“Thanks.” Jack said, moving to hold the door open for the other man.
“Oh, and that hug. Very smooth.” Ianto said in a sarcastic manner as he entered.
“I thought so.” Jack said with a chuckled, following.
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11
*So Gwen's finally back, i couldn't leave her out. I may be a hardcore Janto fan, but i still love Gwen (i am so NOT a Gwen-Basher) and felt bad for not bringing her back.*
Love it? Hate it? Wanna take it home and cook it dinner? Let me know! Comments are love!
Part: Twelve
Word Count: 2582
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, OFC, OMC.
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Angst! AU!
Warning: Spoilers for Exit Wounds and the whole of the second series.
Disclaimer: Alas the Torchwood character's are not mine, they belong to other more fabulous people. Which makes me sad. The OC's are all my creations though, not that i wouldn't share them with RTD. 'Cause i so would ^_^
Un-beta'ed, sorry. Any and all mistakes are my own (i'm known as the typo queen around friends), and i apologize for them.
Author's Note: Wow it's been three months since my last post, talk about feeling like a schmuck. Well long story short, my internet was cut off and i couldn't get on to post. Oh the joys of being poor lol. But i now have the net back, although it's not as fast as my last connection *sighs* But beggars can't be choosers now can they. Now, onto the fic. I originally had planned on keeping this story somewhere around 10 chapters long and was only going to bring Ianto back. But as things progressed, i found i didn't like how i had originally planed to end it and decided to keep it going. So until i run out of steam, just keep expecting chapters ^_^
Summary: Jack takes desperate measures to assure his remaining staff is safe, which leaves him with a new team who are experiencing a VERY different side of Jack. Now it's up to one of his closest friends to try and straighten things out.
In the weeks following Martha’s departure, Jack did his best to try and mend the rift that had formed between him and his team. Which proved to be a somewhat awkward feat. The group was open to the new Jack, but all of them were still very wary. But it was to be expected after the way he had treated them for so long. It wasn’t until one afternoon when he regaled them with stories about a surprisingly inventive ex boyfriend with no mouth, did they finally begin to relax more around him. True there was still blame, quite a bit of blame on him for Collin. But that was to be expected, and Jack was fine with that. That was one of the things that went along with running Torchwood, he was always the one to blame when something when wrong. His fault or not. Blame was something that Jack could and would live with, no matter what.
In those weeks, he also took to popping into the coffee shop to see Ianto. Or as Ianto liked to put it; bothering him whilst trying to work.
Jack always shrugged off the little sarcastic comments, just enjoying getting the chance to hear them again.
Even though the two men were becoming more comfortable with each other with each visit, it was obvious to Jack that Ianto was still holding back. He knew it was his fault, he had damaged his relationship with the younger man wholly. And Jack had hoped that it wasn’t irrevocable, but with each passing day he was beginning to think that perhaps it was.
####
“Jack?” Nareesh said one afternoon as she walked into his office. “Here are the reports you wanted.”
“Thanks.” Jack said absentmindedly, reaching to take the reports from her and dropping them onto his desk.
“Something wrong?” Nareesh asked.
Jack looked up at the dark haired woman, smiling. It was still a little surprising for him to hear her ask something like that, but he knew her inquiry was genuine. “No, I was just....” He trailed off.
“Sulking?” She offered.
With a chuckle Jack nodded. “Maybe a little.”
“About Ianto.” Nareesh said simply, leaning against the edge of his desk.
“Okay, you’re too perceptive and it’s creepy.” He joked lightly.
Nareesh laughed softly. “No, it’s just now that you’re no longer walking around with your totalitarian face on. You can be a little obvious sometimes.”
“Thanks.” Jack said dryly.
“You’re welcome.” She smirked. “Jack, when are you going to ask him to come back? And not just to work.” She looked at him intently.
Jack knew that Nareesh knew all about his past with Ianto because of her helping Martha locate him, and because of everything else Jack had told her and the team. Talking about the past Torchwood team was one of the more difficult things he had done with them, but he felt they had a right to know why he been such a jackass. Not that it excused any off it, but it did put a bit of perspective on it.
“I don’t know.” He said with a sigh, rubbing his eyes. “I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?”
At the question, Jack just shot her a look that said; are you serious?
“Okay, so you fucked up a bit. Everyone does at one point or another.”
“I think I fucked up more than ‘ a bit’, I fucked up majorly. I just don’t know.”
“I think the fact that he’s even speaking to you, shows that he may be respective to the idea of taking you back into his life. Either personally, or professionally.”
“But not both?”
Nareesh shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Jack just shook his head, leaning back in chair.
“Listen Jack, every relationship has problems. And okay, admittedly, yours are more unique problems. But when you really love someone, you forgive their follies. Their accidents, their huge fuck ups.”
“I guess that leaves the question then, doesn’t it. Does he really love me? Enough to forgive me?”
“I think he does.”
“How would you know? You haven’t even met the man.”
At that, Nareesh looked away sheepishly.
“Nareesh?”
“Well I may have...” She began.
“What did you do?” Jack asked, leaning forward.
“I just went for a coffee.” She said quickly. “And then I may have, sorta, let slip who I work for.”
“Nareesh!” Jack groaned in an exasperated way.
“What!? I just wanted to meet him.” She said, sounding like a defensive teenager. “He’s nice, he’s fit.” She smiled.
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Jack chuckled.
“I’m not, he’s just younger than I would have expected. But then I guess everyone’s young compared to you now aren’t they.”
“He’s not that young.”
Nareesh just raised her eyebrows at Jack.
“Okay, so maybe he’s a little young. But he’s not like Emma young or anything.”
“True, what is he? About twenty-seven?”
Jack hummed in agreement, before looking at Nareesh oddly. “What?” He questioned.
“Nothing.” She said with feigned nonchalance, smirking. “Cradle robber.” She muttered teasingly.
Jack laughed. “Oh jeez, don’t you have work to do or something? Go, get.” He shooed her away.
Nareesh just chuckled as she got up and made her way to the door, only to stop once there to look back at Jack. “I think you should talk to him.”
Jack just rolled his eyes fondly. “Uh-huh, and now you’re starting to sound like Martha. Which is creepier than the perceptive thing.” He joked, which caused Nareesh to shake her head and smile before exiting.
####
As Jack walked down to the café that day at his usual time, he couldn’t help but think of the things Nareesh had said. It actually made him smile to think of how familiar she and the rest of the team were becoming with him, when a mere month before hand none of them would have ever considered sitting against the edge of his desk and teasing him.
It were those thoughts that had him all smiles when he walked in to the small coffee shop, leaning against the counter.
“Bothering me whilst working again Jack?” Ianto quipped, not looking up from where he was fiddling with something behind the counter.
“Yep, it’s my favorite hobby.” Jack smiled.
Ianto looked up at him momentarily, just long enough to roll his eyes. “Why are you so happy?”
“Am I?” Jack asked.
“You certainly look it.”
“I’m just in a good mood is all.”
“Uh-huh.” Ianto hummed dryly, placing a cup of coffee on the counter in front of Jack. The fact that he had been preparing it as the older man had walked in, just made Jack smile more.
“Thanks.”
“You always order the same thing.” Ianto shrugged, moving from around the counter and heading toward the door with another coffee in his own hand. Jack just followed, knowing all too well that he was going to stand out by the front window. That seemed to be where the two men always stood to talk, opposed to staying inside the usually crowded shop.
“I had one of your people come see me the other day.” Ianto said casually once they were outside.
“Yeah, I just found out about that today actually. I hope she wasn’t a bother.”
“No, she was perfectly nice. I just hope that wasn’t a recruiting mission she was on.” Ianto said, looking at Jack sternly.
“What!? Ianto, no. Do you actually think I would do that?” Send someone out here to recruit you?”
“Yeah actually, I do.” The Welshman nodded. “Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t asked me back yet. I thought I would have had to have turned you down at least five times by now.”
Jack sighed.” I haven’t asked you because I figured you would’ve turned me down, which apparently I was right.”
Ianto was quiet for a moment, staring down into his coffee cup. He was obviously struggling with something internally, and Jack wasn’t about to interrupt. He had lost his right to demand things of Ianto long ago, especially after all he had done. So Jack had be content with just waiting.
“I can’t trust you Jack.” Ianto said finally, not looking up from his cup. “After what you did. How can I come back if I don’t trust you? Not just as a boss, but as a friend, as a.....” He paused, looking off to the side with a shake of his head. “How can I?” He asked, finally looking at Jack again.
“I fucked up.” Jack stated.
“Oh, big time.” Ianto nodded.
“Yes, big time. Majorly, huge fuck up. I know this. And I know now that what I did was wrong, even though at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. I needed you safe, because the thought of losing you....” Jack shook his head softly before looking at the other man. “It hurt so much I could barely breath, it still does.”
“I know the feeling.” Ianto said. “And what’s worse is that you forced that onto me, that hurt. I didn’t want to lose you either, yet I did. And even though I didn’t remember the betrayal, for an entire year I felt completely amiss. I had no idea why, that wasn’t fair Jack.”
“I know.” Jack said. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve been horrible miserable for the past year as well.”
“Good.” Ianto replied stubbornly.
After a moment, Jack smirked a bit. “I thought you said you didn’t pine.”
“Shut up.” Ianto snapped, although it was obvious he didn’t mean anything by it.
Jack chuckled softly, looking at the younger man fondly. “Ianto, I can’t take back what I did, I know that. And I know I said I wasn’t going to apologize, but I am. I see now that I was wrong, and I’m sorry. So very, very sorry. If you would just come back, I could prove it too you. Actions speak louder than words right? Then let me show you, please, come back to work.” He paused. “And me, please.”
Ianto sighed heavily, shaking his head slightly. “No, Jack....”
“Oh, okay. Well...” Jack cut him off quickly and rather awkwardly, not wanting to prolong the impending rejection he was facing.
Ianto smirked, rolling his eyes. “Would let me finish please?” He asked, turning to lean his shoulder against the window so he was facing the other man fully.
“Oh, um, finish.”
“Thanks you. No, Jack, that’s not enough. You can’t just apologize and promise you’re going to change and then ask me back into your life, just like that. Your work place, fine. But not your life, not yet.”
“Oh.”
“Relationships are gradual, they take time. And I need that time, and I think you do too. You can’t fix things, fix us, with one big gesture. Even though that is your style.”
Ianto had a point, Jack knew it. And truth be told, he hadn’t been expecting Ianto to just forgive and forget. But he had to admit, it would have been nice, and so much quicker.
“I’m not saying no to you Jack, at least not completely. And I’m not saying that the damage you did to us is irreversible. All I’m saying is that I need more than a few weeks.” He paused momentarily, just long enough to catch Jack’s eye. “Okay?”
Jack smiled softly, giving a small nod. “Okay.”
“Thank you.”
The two stood in companionable silence for a few minutes before Jack finally spoke up again. “So what about coming back to work?” He asked, flashing one of his dazzling smiles.
Ianto couldn’t help but laugh as he rolled his eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I know.”
With a little sigh, Ianto looked in the window they were leaning against, watching the customers in the shop come and go. After a moment he smirked. “On one condition.” He said to Jack.
“Name it.”
Ianto simply pointed into the shop, causing Jack to look through the window toward where the younger man was pointing.
“Oh come on Ianto.” Jack said, sounding like a petulant child when he saw who Ianto was pointing at.
“I’m not going back without her.”
“How do you know she’ll even want to come back? She’s got a family now.”
“Because I know Gwen. Besides, what you did to her was just as wrong as what you did too me.”
Jack raised an eyebrow at that, causing Ianto to roll his eyes yet again.
“Okay, so maybe not on the same personal level as what you did to me. But she’s your friend, and it was still wrong.”
Jack watched through the window as Gwen gathered up her coffee and started toward the door. “But she’ll hit me.” He said, looking like he was about a second away from stomping his foot in frustration. He was really getting tired of being smacked around by everyone.
“Not my fault.”
Jack narrowed his eyes at the other man. “You just want to see her hit me.” He said, pointing a finger.
Ianto shrugged. “Little bit, yeah.”
“Sadist.”
“Little bit, yeah.” Ianto smirked.
Jack made a little annoyed growling noise in the back of his throat before he turned toward the entrance of the shop, watching as a blissfully unaware Gwen stepped out.
Now there were many ways Jack could have triggered the woman’s memories, but none of those had the flare of just abruptly sweeping her into a hug. One of his grand gestures as Ianto would later point out.
The Welshman snorted a laugh into his coffee cup as Jack exclaimed “GWEN!” and pulled her into an embrace, causing the very startled woman to drop her coffee.
Gwen, having no idea who Jack was, struggled against the hug. “What the hell are you doing!?” She yelped indignantly, looking up at Jack. At the sight of the man’s sky blue eyes and very familiar greatcoat, her breath caught in her throat. Gwen managed a small gasp, her bottom lip trembling slightly as her forgotten memories bore down on her, flooding her mind noisily.
“My god.” She breathed softly, pushing back out of Jack arms. Her large brown eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Gwen?” Jack said tentatively, the woman in question staring up at him in awe.
“You.....” Her face hardened suddenly. “Jack Harkness, you bastard!” She almost shouted before hauling back and punching him squarely across the jaw.
Jack head snapped roughly to the side as he made a pained noise, only to hear the sound of Ianto trying to stifle a chuckle.
“Oh shut up.” He told Ianto, holding his jaw. As Jack straightened up, he turned just in time to see Gwen walking away angrily. “Ah, I’ll deal with her tomorrow.” He said, waving her retreat off.
“Good idea, let her cool off a bit.”
Jack nodded, knowing she’d be more open to hearing him out once she had a bit of time to calm down. He then turned his attention to Ianto, staring for a moment before finally arching his eyebrows.
Ianto smirked, canting his head to the side in a small half shrug. “I’ll come back to work.”
“Good.” Jack smiled, still holding his jaw. “Ow.”
Ianto laughed softly, shaking his head. “You big baby, come on.” He nodded toward the shop’s door. “I’ll get you some ice.”
“Thanks.” Jack said, moving to hold the door open for the other man.
“Oh, and that hug. Very smooth.” Ianto said in a sarcastic manner as he entered.
“I thought so.” Jack said with a chuckled, following.
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11
*So Gwen's finally back, i couldn't leave her out. I may be a hardcore Janto fan, but i still love Gwen (i am so NOT a Gwen-Basher) and felt bad for not bringing her back.*
Love it? Hate it? Wanna take it home and cook it dinner? Let me know! Comments are love!