title: Whispered Word
ok. this is actually yet another distraction from completing the 2 stories I have mostly typed up...I don't think 'formal' writing is for me. I'm going to have to start typing things into this journal as soon as they come to me otherwise they could end up in limbo.
So, here it is....
Title: Whispered Word
Series: Enter the Big Bad Wolf
Characters: Jack, Ianto, some Gwen, Rhys, the London Jones Family and the Evans family (minus the kids)
Summary: just another day until....
Ianto was taking his time getting back to work, enjoying the rare "perfect" day, leisurely walking across the Plass. It was also rare that such a day coincided with a 'light" work day. He was only going into work to help Mrs. Leiderman plan activities for her family's trip to Wales. While he couldn't book anything for her, for the past 3 years he's been showing the Leiderman's the best that Wales could offer.
He was about to make the turn along the waterfront that'd take him to the Tourist Office when it happened.
There was gust of wind followed by..."IANTO! Rift activity on the Plass! Meet me at the Lift!"
With that Ianto was running back the way he'd come.
Several large objects appeared above the Plass, similar to each other by their slender cylindrical shapes. Each crashed to the ground, the impact shaking the area like an earthquake.
As Ianto got closer to Jack, who was now on the Plass and scanning the objects with his wrist strap, he noticed that they looked like they had been attacked.
As he approached the Captain he could hear Jack on the phone, "...Get Here Now!" He turned to Ianto. "Ianto, they're Time Lord ships! The Doctor's on his way and should be here soon - I hope. I'm turning Field Ops over to you. I'll be manning the Aux Center. I can't stay because...", he trailed off.
"Because they're 'allergic' to you. Understood. Where do you want me to start?"
"When you get enough people, get those ships upright." The invisible lift was already taking Jack down into the Hub.
* * * * * * * * *
It was a nightmare. Turns out most of the ships 'passengers' were school kids of all ages, nearly an entire planet's worth of school kids. Turned out that one ship had been flown by the equivalent of upper-classmen. It had been their first actual flight.
There was some levity in the horror though, not much but more than expected. Ianto found out that the Doctor -he'd arrived about 15 minutes after the Captain's call - had two older siblings. He was the runt-of-litter at that! Though even more surprising was watching 2 people, who looked to be in their 90s, suddenly look like they're in their late 50s. Fortunately, a dash a retcon and alteration of any recordings -Live feed, even! -courtesy of a few of the older Gallifreyan students, ensured that those humans with less noble intentions than those on-site won't take advantage of the tragedy.
Now the Plass was cordoned off by the a combination of UNIT and the local military and filled with survivors, medics, volunteers, and a few Police officers. The London Joneses had arrived. Martha had brought Tom, who was a hit with the young aliens. Everyone bringing the best Humanity had to offer to the aid of people from another planet.
Ianto, not able to bring himself to cross the threshold of any of the ships, had taken to helping anyone who needed it. Jack was the spider-in-the-web, bringing in relief shifts for everyone, coordinating - with Rhys's help - all available haulers on food and necessity runs. Ianto made sure that he had had a break as well, before taking one himself. Gwen...well, Gwen was trying...really trying, mainly his last nerve
* * * * * * * *
Gwen was silently seething. That bastard! That lazy ass bastard! ' The Great Captain Jack Harkness!' Aaargh! Where's he when we need him, huh? Where? Hiding. That's where! That BASTARD! Hasn't lifted a finger yet to help these people! Not ONE!!! Un-fucking-believable! These people need help and the great HERO's not here!
She looked around her at all the activity; medics helping the injured, volunteers distributing food, blankets, and clothing. She decided to look for one person - Ianto. He'd been working non-stop helping medics and volunteers or just sitting with some of the more shell-shocked victims. She had called Jack immediately upon arriving, only to be told that she'd be working with Ianto as he -Jack- was using the Hub computers to coordinate the all deliveries and personnel. Then he snaps at me! Snaps. At ME! All I did was ask why Ianto couldn't do the coordinating, since that's 90% of his fucking job already! Jack's the one with experience with this species, not Ianto.
The Captain had tried to explain but she'd have none of it. He was wrong this time. He'd gone too far. It wasn't just that Jack was doing Ianto's job. It was that this situation is a nightmare. How many times have I been reminded that Ianto has PTSD? How many? And Jack thinks he can justify putting Ianto throught this? Bastard!! Ianto and Martha had tried for some time after that to get her to either talk to Jack again or listen to them. Poor Ianto! he'd do anything Jack asked. Even this.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the screaming. She looked around and noticed people were looking up.
Daleks!
Several Daleks had appeared and then they started attacking.
* * * * * * * *
Ianto was talking with Jack just then. When he saw the Daleks, his mind went back to Canary Wharf. "Ja-ack! We're under attack."
"I know, Ianto! I see them! I'm coming up! Get everyone to cover!"
A few of the mobile adults had entered the uprighted ships, which then started to glow. A beam shot out from each ship. When a beam hit a Dalek, they disintegrated. but a few more Daleks appeared and the glow on the ships were dying.
* * * * * * * * *
Ianto couldn't move. He tried to. But he couldn't. Jack shouted in his ear. Run, Ianto! Get away from there! Run! Then he ran but quickly had to stop to avoid other people who were running. No. Wait. Not other people. Kids!
That snapped Ianto out of it. He picked up one of the youngest near him, grab the hand of another and told the rest to follow him. He moved as fast as he could towards the nearest part of the military cordon. Ianto looked around and noticed that there were kids who were as scared as he'd been...and just as unmoving.
Ianto handed the little girl to one of the older kids, told them to keep moving. Then he went back.
* * * * * * *
Time slowed down for Ianto. He could see the Dalek's energy beam heading for him and ...then Jack was there, facing him, not the Dalek. Standing between him and the beam. Which hit the Captain, who started to glow as the beam enveloped him. Ianto looked Jack in the eyes and found Jack looking back. How long they stood there was actually a few seconds but was nearly an eternity for Ianto.
Jack. Jack was disintegrating, disappearing like the Cheshire Cat, leaving only his eyes behind. But Ianto didn't notice. Jack was leaving. And Ianto wasn't sure he'd be back this time. From the look in Jack's eyes, the Captain was aware of that too. But then - he was gone.
* * * * * * * *
Time sped up again. But Ianto was too in shock to notice. Notice the London Jones family swarming around him. Notice the pile of items by his feet.
* * * * * *
Francine Jones picked up the pile. The Captain's coat, his Webley, and his wristband. Left at Ianto's feet. All that Jack could truly call his own, left for Ianto.
Francine handed the pile to Tish and with Clive's help strapped the wristband onto Ianto's wrist. That triggered Ianto's attention, not consciously, not yet at least. Ianto's other hand drifted over to the new object and started rubbing it.
The Joneses, except for Tish, drifted a bit away, giving Ianto time and space to recover.
* * * * * * *
Jack's gone. Jack's really gone....I _hope_ he's gone. I think I hope he's gone...Jack. Gone. Jack....Jack's? What? What is that? Ianto looked down at his wrist. Jack's wristband?!?
"He left it for you along with a few other items." It's Tish. She's standing there holding something folded -a blanket?!?- and...Jack's Webley! which means...that the blue "blanket" is really...his coat.
Ianto started at them. The rest of Tish's family arrived as did the Doctor.
Joe quietly asked, "What will you so with them?"
Ianto took a deep breath, briefly closed his eyes, and then looked around him. After a bit he realized he had been looking at the TARDIS for some time, although Time since both sped up and slowed down, Ianto couldn't tell how long he's been starring. So rather than figure it out, he looked back at the pile, and he knew.
He looked from the pile to the Doctor, hoping the Doctor can see the plea, no -the request, in his eyes. "Could you...?" He couldn't speak anymore. Why would he.
The Doctor, speaking softly, answered him. "I''ve never asked anyone who traveled with me to change their ways or their beliefs, Ianto. They make their own choices. I let them know what I disapprove of, like using guns. Jack?...Well, he's Jack. He's someone I trust." With that he took the pile. "I'll take them to Jack's room." He headed for the TARDIS.
* * * * * * * *
Turned out that Jack hadn't just saved Ianto's life. Apparently all the ships had been repaired - even the TARDIS! All the injured Time Lords were healed and, using the newly repaired ship computers, discovered that Gallifrey -an entire planet- had been reborn! All because of Jack.
* * * * * *
Ianto is in his office splitting his time between going through the Coffee shop bills and organizing the Tourist office's literature when the feeling hits him, the knowledge hits him. He grabs his coat, yells to Tish that he's has to run out and then he is out. Out and running, like he used to with Jack during a Weevil hunt.
He stopped when he got near Cardiff's center. Think. Where? has to be a high spot. Where? not _here_. Where? Has to have a good view. View of? not here...Of Course! The Millenium Center! Ianto made his way up the roof...and there he was.
Jack! "Jack!"
Again Ianto was in the middle of a one of those moments that went too fast and too slow at the same time.
Like lovers in an old movie, they ran to each other and pulled the other into a tight hug, reassuring themselves that the other existed.
Ianto's not sure if Jack would ever be aware of the word, the word that was exhaled unconsciously by the force of the impact. Maybe someday he'll tell him.
Tell him that the first word that he heard Jack say after three years was a whispered "Home."
- The end -
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I do have more of this story. The what happened next stuff...well, immediately after this, that is. Let me know.
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Comments very much welcomed! :D