Fic: Never Say Never - Chapter 24
Banner created by cjharknessgirl
Series Rating: PG-NC17
Characters/Pairings: Jack; Ianto; Doctor (10); OC's; Gwen; Martha; Mickey - Jack/Ianto
Spoilers: Anything from Torchwood S1 & S2 and Doctor Who through S4 is fair game.
Length: 26 chapters, Prologue/Epilogue and various Interludes
Warnings: Slash; Mpreg; Angst; Violence; Mention of past miscarriage; Crossover with Dr. Who
Summary: Jack makes his decision....
A/N - So, I'm back from my weekend with the in-laws. Didn't get as much writing done as I wanted to, but I did get them hooked on Torchwood, so....
Beta'd by the talented
christine_twfan . Thank you to cjharknessgirl for another lovely banner (and keeping me sane late at night when I get stuck on this story!).
Previous chapters here
He was running through the darkness and the trees, following the sound of snarling and fighting. He broke through into the clearing. A weevil had a man pinned to the ground. Before he could find a weapon to try and help, the weevil growled and tore the man’s throat out. Then it turned and lunged towards him.
“No!” Ianto sat up in the bed shivering, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead. His breath came in short, harsh pants and his heart pounded in his chest.
“Shh, it’s okay, Ianto, it’s okay.” Strong arms wrapped around him as warm lips moved against the back of his neck.
“Jack,” Ianto gasped. Turning, he threw his arms around his lover and clung tightly.
“It was just a dream, love,” Jack whispered. He lay back down, bringing Ianto with him.
Ianto rested his head on his partner’s chest, letting his steady heartbeat chase away the remnants of his nightmare.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jack asked softly, running his hand up and down Ianto’s back in long, comforting strokes.
Shaking his head, Ianto trailed his fingers across the warm skin of Jack’s chest.
“It’s not important. Talk to me, give me something nice to dream about,” Ianto implored.
Chuckling softly, Jack started to talk. “You know, I was serious about a house. Maybe not the white picket fence, but a house would be nice. With a big tree in the back yard that we could put a swing in for Essie.”
“That sounds good,” Ianto said sleepily. “Tell me more.”
“We’ll come home from work and play with Essie while dinner is cooking. Then after she’s in bed, we’ll build a fire in the fireplace, put on some soft music and dance. Make out like teenagers on the couch and then move to the bedroom and make love until we fall asleep tangled up together.” Jack pressed a soft kiss to the top of Ianto’s head, smiling at the gentle snores emanating from his young lover.
Holding Ianto close as he slept, Jack pondered the differences in his life since meeting the remarkable man in his arms. He remembered Gwen’s first day on the job, telling her to go home to her boyfriend, to have a normal life - for him. And now a normal life of his own was within his grasp, if he just had the courage to reach for it.
He knew Ianto was worried about him taking Martha’s cure and becoming mortal again. Terrified, actually, that Jack would do something reckless and get himself killed. Jack was sure that’s what Ianto’s nightmare had been about, although he knew the younger man would never admit to it.
He also knew that Ianto’s fears weren’t completely irrational. Torchwood was dangerous and it had been a long time since Jack had had to worry about his own safety. He’d already started being more careful, just because he knew Ianto hated it when he died. And when he became mortal again, he’d be even more careful. He had two very special reasons to live a long, healthy life.
“So, Jack, have you made a decision?” Martha asked.
Jack had accompanied Ianto and Eswen to the hospital for their one week check up and they were now sitting in the examination room discussing Martha’s discovery.
Ianto could feel the tension radiating off his partner and took Jack’s hand in his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He felt Jack relax against him and knew that, by supporting Jack’s decision, he was doing the right thing. Even though the possibility of Jack dying permanently still scared him, it was a fear he was willing to live with. He loved Jack, and his captain deserved to have the normalcy he’d been craving for so long.
“Yes, I have,” Jack replied. “I want to be mortal again.”
Martha nodded, having expected this decision. That it had taken three days for him to come to a decision had surprised her. After witnessing his anguish at the thought of outliving both his partner and his daughter, she thought he would jump at the chance of a cure.
“How soon will you be able to give him the serum?” Ianto questioned.
“It’s ready now, we can do it whenever you want,” Martha replied.
“Are there any side effects I should be prepared for?” Jack asked quietly.
Ianto chuckled. “Yeah, like rapid aging? Jack may be prepared to become mortal again, but I don’t think he’s ready for grey hair yet.”
Jack shuddered theatrically. “We’re going to have to invest in hair dye when that happens.”
“Don’t you dare, Jack,” Ianto said. He leered at Jack as he continued, “I happen to think you’ll be sexy as hell with salt and pepper hair.”
Martha laughed at her friends’ antics. She could tell that Jack was nervous and Ianto was doing everything he could to help his lover relax.
“No, no rapid aging,” Martha stated. “From the simulations we’ve run on the TARDIS, once injected the serum will adhere to the Time Vortex in your system and eliminate it. It will not accelerate your aging, make you lose your hair, or make you impotent.” Martha grinned at the identical looks of shock and horror she received from the two men.
“That’s not even funny to joke about, Martha,” Jack admonished.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist.” Martha chuckled. She continued, a serious expression on her face. “The only side effect we’ve been able to determine is an increased strain on your heart during the process. We will monitor your vitals closely, but I don’t anticipate any problems. Afterwards, you will be mortal and begin aging at a normal rate from where you are now.”
Jack looked at Ianto, who nodded and squeezed the hand he was still holding. He then looked at their daughter sitting on Martha’s lap, tiny hands playing with the buttons on Martha’s lab coat. His blue eyes sparkling with excitement, Jack grinned his trademark, Harkness grin.
“I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Chapter 25