Fic- Forever Part Fourteen
Title: Forever
By Branwen Blaidd & Oncoming Scone
Part Fourteen of Thirty One
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: Adult - Dark Themes, Violence, Graphic sex, AU
Spoilers: Torchwood & Doctor Who all seasons to date.
Summary: Set after Exit Wounds and Journey’s End, no-one is coping with recent tragic events. In an attempt to bring the team back to unity and strength, Ianto makes a decision that will change the fate of Torchwood, and the world, Forever.
Disclaimers: Despite 5 months of creating this together, we own nothing and never will! The various songs, verses, etc do not belong to us either.
Notes: This is AU, though it begins in line with canon up to Exit Wounds. We hope to post one chapter each day at roughly the same time. Comments please!
He stretched out a cold and empty hand. It touched nothing. He tried again. Was he dead?
Darkness. He couldn’t remember anything. Where he was, why he was here? What had happened? He tried to breathe but there was pressure around his throat. The dusty air, the thick scent, was choking him. He kicked out in a panic and finally took a jerking breath.
At last his fingers touched something. Wet. Still dark. But in his mind’s eye he knew it was blood on his fingers. Blood on the dank earth. He clawed at the ground. Was he buried?
He grabbed at the ground but it crumbled beneath him. Breathless, he lay still, shivering. Then he heard it. A whisper. “If I could…” it said. “I’d do anything.”
“What have I done?” he said to himself, and heard his voice crack. “What have I done to you?”
He could taste the dirt. He felt so cold. But then a warm light fell on his face. He winced, squinting into it. A small opening. He tried to move towards it but his legs wouldn’t respond. He tried to drag himself along.
That whisper again. “Forever,” it said. “Be with me forever.”
“Yes,” he replied. “Forever. I won’t let you down.” Blood and dirt clung to his fingernails. Using all his strength, he scrabbled towards the light, his legs a deadweight behind him.
The light brightened. Where was he going? It was warm on his face. He was getting closer. To something. To him? He could save him. There was still time.
He clawed again and again, the earth giving way, the heat rising, the light blinding. Beads of sweat laced his forehead. He wiped his face with his hand. The sweat was red. He was sweating blood. He gasped in horror. Then he began to claw in earnest. He didn’t have much time. His body became heavier and heavier, the air around him denser. He was choking.
“I’m nearly there!” he cried out. “I won’t let you go. I’ll never let you go!”
But weakness overtook him. He needed something. He needed strength. He had such thirst. He lurched forwards but his arms wouldn’t respond. He couldn’t move. He lifted his head towards the light.
He could see a face. A pale face. A dead face.
“No!” he screamed. “We’re forever! Forever!”
And then the earth, the dirt, the blood, filled his mouth. Incense filled his nostrils. He coughed and spluttered.
The light was brighter than ever. Warmth surrounded him. But he could not move, nor speak, nor breathe. His eyelids began to fall. He was so close. He was nearly there.
“I will find you.” The words echoed around him. And then there was nothing.
* * *
Gwen hadn’t slept. She hadn’t even tried. She’d sat huddled up on the sofa, hugging her knees, all night long. Rhys had stayed with her at first but he kept nodding off and snoring in her ear so Gwen had sent him off to bed.
She kept imagining what was happening. Was Jack dead all ready? She knew it was possible. Or maybe Ianto was dead, never to return and she would find Jack crumpled over him, holding him and refusing to let him go.
Or perhaps Ianto would still be that dark creature and would be waiting for her to return so he could feed on her too, gloating over a bled-dry Jack.
She watched dawn approaching. It was nearly time to go into work. She shook her head to clear it and went for a shower.
The hub was silent and dark when she got there. She swallowed hard, gripped her gun and slowly, very slowly, made her way downstairs to the cells.
She breathed deeply and tried not to imagine what could await her.
The cell lights were on. On the floor was a heap.
Gwen slowly stepped closer. It was Jack and Ianto of course. Ianto was lying on his back with Jack’s arms around him, being held close.
Their eyes were closed and they were still, so still.
Gwen felt a sob rising up in her throat. Were they dead? They weren’t moving at all.
Gwen stepped right up to the glass and peered through it. Ianto was so pale. His eyes were closed and he looked so peaceful. He wasn’t breathing.
Gwen looked at Jack. Was he dead too? He held Ianto so close against him that Gwen couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not.
She stared into the cell. “Jack,” she breathed. “Can you hear me?”
Jack didn’t stir but Gwen could suddenly see that he was breathing. He wasn’t dead!
She knocked on the glass. “Jack, Jack!” she called.
Suddenly, Jack jerked. His eyes opened and he looked up at her. “Gwen! Is it morning?”
“Yes. Is he…”
Jack looked down at Ianto. “Ianto,” he breathed. “Ianto, can you hear me?”
“Jack!” called Gwen. “Is he safe?”
“What? Yes, of course. But he’s not…responding…he’s…”
Gwen tapped the door panel and flew into the cell, skidding to a halt by Ianto and dropping down onto her knees beside him.
She checked his pulse. Nothing.
“Jack, I think…”
Jack shook his head. “No, no!” He gathered Ianto up in his arms and held him in his lap, his head snug against his chest. Ianto was so pale.
“Ianto, Ianto,” Jack murmured. “Come on. Wake up. Please.”
Gwen didn’t say anything else. She shuffled closer to the two of them and put her arms around them. Ianto was cold.
She put her head on Jack’s shoulder and stroked Ianto’s cold forehead. Not another death. They couldn’t go on after this. They couldn’t. She couldn’t. Jack couldn’t, not after everything. This was the end.
“The end is where we start from,” she whispered. Would that work now?
Jack pulled away, taking Ianto with him. “Don’t be so fucking stupid,” he snapped. “Ianto’s dead! What the hell is there to start from?”
He pulled Ianto up closer, holding him up, holding him against him and kissing his brow. There was no hope in his eyes. There was only despair.
Gwen hunched up, hugging her knees and watched them. Jack was right. There was nowhere to go after this; nothing more in the world.
* * *
The sound of silence filled the cell. There was nothing. Only emptiness. And three figures still on the ground.
Jack hadn’t moved or spoken for a long time. He lay on the floor with his face buried in Ianto’s neck. Gwen thought he might be crying. He was shuddering but he wasn’t making any noise.
Gwen looked away. She didn’t want to see anymore. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be.
But she could feel Ianto lying there, still and lifeless.
She pressed her face into her arms, resting on the floor and listened to the soft sound of breathing. Jack’s breathing was ragged and Gwen could hear it hitch every so often. She kept her own breathing quiet. She was scared if she let go she’d burst into tears and never stop.
There was a sudden jerk of breath and a groan. That was it. Jack had given in and was sobbing.
“Jack,” hissed a voice, thick with pain. “Jack, help.”
Gwen jerked her head up and the first thing she saw was Ianto’s hand, clenching.
She was up in a second and sprawling over to Ianto’s side. “Ianto,” she gasped.
Jack sat up and stared down at Ianto. Ianto was awake, breathing, alive.
“Ianto, you’re alive, you’re okay!”
Ianto peered blearily up at Jack. “Jack, what happened? I feel weird.”
Jack gathered Ianto into his arms and supported his head on his lap. “You don’t remember?”
Ianto shook his head. “Have I…been shot or something?”
“No, you…you’re gonna be all right now.”
Ianto reached for Jack’s hand and wrapped his fingers around it tightly. “I remember your voice,” he whispered. Then he closed his eyes and went to sleep with a smile on his face.
* * *
His face was so white. Yet his hand was warm. Jack held that thin hand in his own, hoping that the touch alone would awaken his Ianto.
He sat poised at the bedside, watching Ianto’s chest rise and fall. He was alive. Alive. He squeezed that hand, hoping for a reaction. Any reaction. None came. Ianto’s chest continued to rise and fall beneath the sheets.
Jack became aware of a presence behind him.
“Jack,” said Gwen softly. “I can watch him for a bit if you like. You get some sleep.”
“No,” said Jack quietly.
“Jack,” said Gwen again. “You look awful. Please.”
“I said no, Gwen.” His voice was weak. He didn’t take his eyes off Ianto, still caressing that thin hand. “You should though. Go home or something.”
“No, Jack,” she said. “You’re not leaving him so I’m not leaving you.”
The night came and went. Mercifully, there were no dramas, no rift activity, not even any weevil sightings. It was as if the whole of Cardiff was lying low in wait. In wait with Jack and Gwen. For Ianto to wake up.
Two cold mugs of coffee stood on the tray. Ignored. Ianto had been talking and whimpering in his sleep. Gwen watched as Jack attempted to soothe the young man.
“Cold,” murmured Ianto. But he was sweating. “Cold night.”
“His fever’s breaking,” said Gwen. “He may wake up soon.”
Jack said nothing. He simply continued his tender ministrations. His eyes betrayed a pain that Gwen had never seen from Jack before.
“What will you tell him? When he wakes up?” she asked. Her voice was low, considered. She was handling him.
“I don’t know,” replied Jack through gritted teeth. “I just want him back. I’ll deal with the rest as it comes.”
“Someone has to think of the consequences, Jack. He’s taken an innocent life.”
“It wasn’t him!” hissed Jack, glaring furiously at Gwen. She flinched.
Ianto coughed. His eyes opened.
“Ianto?” whispered Jack, leaning into him.
“Jack? What…happened? ‘M tired.” He closed his eyes again, appearing to fall back into a deep sleep.
Gwen felt his forehead. “He’s cooling down. He just needs more rest. I’ll add more to his drip feed.”
“Quite the makeshift doctor,” said Jack, still watching Ianto. His eyes found Gwen’s. They were full of apology. “Thank you.”
“I watched Owen. A lot.” She smiled. Then her eyes flickered with concern. “He won’t be the same now, Jack. How will he live with himself?”
“He’s strong,” said Jack firmly, stroking Ianto’s face. “And so am I. We’ll get through it together.”
“Together.” It was Ianto. Eyes still closed. Barely a breath. “Forever.”