Phela: The Beginning: CH 16
Title: Phela: The Beginning: Reconciliation
Author:
brose1001
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto/OFC
Rating: Teen (for now)
Spoilers: Seasons 1 and 2, and a bit of information learned in CoE
Summary: Jeannie was a lab-rat at the tender mercies of Torchwood London, but then the Battle of Canary Wharf happened, and she escaped to Cardiff. This is her story.
Disclaimer: RTD/BBC etc own anything recognizably Torchwood, everything else is mine.
Unbeknownst to Alice, Jack and Ianto observed her meeting through Jeannie’s eyes; they heard what was said, and saw the reactions themselves. Jack’s heart was warmed a bit, at having confirmation that his daughter might not truly hate him. He sent his feelings of gratitude and love down their link to Jeannie, and asked her to hurry home for a cuddle. While she flagged down a taxi, Ianto settled down on the Hub’s couch with Jack; no reason not to start the cuddling early, after all. Especially since Jack was a bit of a wreck; he ‘heard’ Jack’s thought that, as much as they had saved Jeannie, she and Ianto had saved him. Their love healed him in ways that he didn’t even know he was broken; it had made him a better man all around, and he was so very happy that he had allowed them into the Hub that day. Ianto’s embrace tightens, and he presses a soft kiss to Jack’s temple, “We will always love you, and we will never willingly leave you or hurt you.”
Standing just out of sight, Gwen’s eyes darken as she hears Ianto’s words. She is battling with herself; she has seen Jeannie do some wondrous things, but she cannot help but wonder if her ‘reading’ wasn’t given to her just so that Jeannie could lay claim to Jack for herself. They never talked much about what Jeannie can do, after all. Maybe it’s all just a ruse. The cog door rolls open with all of its usual pomp and ceremony to admit the woman she had been thinking of.
Jeannie strides in, catching sight of Gwen; she tilts her head to one side and raises an eyebrow at her in question, and Gwen just smiles and shakes her head. Shrugging, Jeannie continues to her mates, giving Gwen the bag containing lunch on her way past. Gwen’s expression darkens at this, but pulling her mask in place, she carries the bag to the boardroom, calling out over the comms that lunch has arrived. Jeannie continues on her way to her mates, who are happily cuddling on the couch. Settling herself in their laps, she nuzzles her face into Jack’s neck, sniffing deeply and sighing in pleasure. After a few minutes, Jeannie’s stomach rumbles its displeasure at being ignored, and they chuckle before untangling themselves and heading for the boardroom.
After lunch, the team gets back to work, and the three mates retreat to Jack’s office to talk, with a short detour to Tosh’s station to ascertain the next quiet period for the rift. Verifying that it will be three days hence, Jack agrees to meet Alice in the same park as the previous night, rift-willing. Jeannie shakes her head; “No, you’ll meet her unless the world is ending, rift trash the team can handle. This is more important.” Jack’s eyes glisten and he has a soft smile on his face in response to Jeannie’s pronouncement. He sees Ianto nodding his head in agreement, “She’s right. Your daughter is more important than rift trash; all family is. Hopefully, the whole team won’t have a family emergency at the same time.” Jack hugs his mates closely to him, basking in their love and acceptance.
3 Days Later
The rift cooperating thus far, Jack sits on a bench near the duck pond, idly tossing bread to the ducks as he waits for his daughter to show up. He snickers a bit at some pigeons that home in on the free meal, watching the ducks snap at them. His shoulders tense a bit when Alice takes a seat at the other end of the bench. “Stephen loves feeding the ducks here.” Keeping his eyes on the ducks, Jack says, “I think all children like it, and quite a few adults as well. It’s mindless pleasure, relaxing in a way.” Jack glances up at Alice from under his lashes briefly before returning his attention to the greedy ducks and birds. He hears his daughter let out a shaky breath before she begins to speak. “I have vague memories of you; you were always smiling; I always felt so safe in your arms. I remember being so upset that you were going to miss my birthday party; I didn’t understand why you had to go away. Obviously, now I know what Mum did. She was so bitter and angry at you for something you had no control over.” Alice looks at her father, noting the blank face, and places her hand on his knee, squeezing gently. His nostrils flare slightly, and she sees his gaze flick to her hand, and then up to her face. “I’m trying, Dad, I’m trying to overcome her conditioning, and think for myself. I really want to have you in my life.” Jack eyes well up, and he bites his lip before placing his hand over her own and lacing their fingers together. “I missed you, Angel. Your mother was right about some things, though. I am a dangerous man, and I have so many more enemies now that I’m the Director of Torchwood, and not just an operative.” “But Dad, I trust you, I’ve always trusted you to keep me safe. Even when I thought I hated you, I trusted you. Especially now, with Jeannie and Ianto as your mates, I trust you. She is an extraordinary woman, your Jeannie; appreciate her!” Jack chuckles, “Oh, believe me, not a single day goes by that I don’t thank whatever deities are out there for my mates. They saved me; Lucia hammered the final nail into the wall around my heart, but Jeannie and Ianto tore it down. I was in such a dark place after she took you away from me; that’s funny considering she conceived you without my knowledge beforehand. I love you so much baby!” Jack turns on the bench and wraps his arms tightly around his daughter, the lump in his throat making it difficult to breath or talk. Alice, her eyes closed in happiness, rests her head upon her Daddy’s shoulder for the first time since she was a little girl; his little angel. Both are crying when Jeannie and Ianto arrive and settle down on either side of them on the bench; they rub backs and shoulders, and eventually join the hug, the three mates projecting love and comfort like a blanket across the embrace.
Once Jack and Alice have control of their emotions, they pull away from each other enough to make eye contact. Biting her lip, she shyly invites them to Stephens birthday party the following day; seeing their slightly shocked expressions, she hastens to reassure them that the party will be a small affair held at her house, just some of his school mates, and them, if they come. She looks down at her lap, wringing her hands together when she feels a gentle finger under her chin, raising her gaze to meet her father’s blinding grin. “Yes. Yesyesyesyes!” Jack hugs her again in joy, his heart soaring while he looks at Jeannie in gratitude for making this happen. Smiling happily, Ianto calls Suzie to arrange for them to be absent the following day; gasping, she guesses that it’s because Jack and his daughter have reconciled, and sends her congratulations, along with assurances that they can have as much time off as they want/need, apocalypse-willing.
The remainder of the day is spent just talking amongst themselves before Alice invites them to dinner that evening; Stephen is beside himself and bouncing off the walls when he sees his beloved ‘Uncle Jack’ when he gets home. Alice calms him down, and has him sit in the living room while she explains that his uncle Jack is special; so special that he will never have to leave them alone like his Gran did. She tells him that Jack is actually his grandfather, and not his uncle, and that one day, she will have to pretend he is her son. Stephen is momentarily speechless; quite a rare occurrence for him, to be sure, but soon he is chattering away again, after promising to never tell anyone about just how ‘special’ his grandfather is. He’s introduced to Jeannie and Ianto, and immediately starts calling them Aunt and Uncle, much to their pleasure.
After dinner, the family retreats to the back yard to kick a ball around a bit, in hopes of running Stephen’s excess energy off. He is super-excited about his newest family members, and most especially that they will be at his party the following day. Eventually, his eyes start dropping, and he gets hustled off for a bath and bed, with Jack reading him a bedtime story. Once the boy is asleep, Jack gently closes the door, and then joins his family back on the porch. As they say their goodbyes for the evening, neither Jack nor Alice can stop smiling; they both know that a new chapter in their lives has just started.
With a final wave through the window, the mates return to the Hub, and head off for their own showers and bed.