Hidden Identity- Chapter 8
Title: Hidden Identity- Chapter 8/13 + Epilogue
Author: Iantojjackh
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack and Ianto have returned to Earth and brought the 456 with them. It's just another day in the adventures of Jack and Ianto and what happens when someone finds out their secret?
Characters: Jack Harkness, Alonso Frame, Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams, Rhiannon Davies, Ianto Jones, Tenth Doctor, Twelfth Doctor,
Spoilers: CoE compliant fix-it and The End of Time (DW)
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I just borrowed them for a short spell. I wish I owned them so there wouldn't be the need to write fix-its like this.
Word Count: ~26k
Beta: timelordshines, whose a saint for putting up with me through two big bangs now..
Notes: this originally started off as a prompt from jo02 from the torchwood-fest member created fest way back earlier this year. After several starts and stops, I finally finished this. Also written for longliveianto big bang round 2. I plan on posting through the holidays, hopefully. Please don't be mad if I miss a day or so. Cheers and don't forget to comment.
Chapter 8
Ianto and Jack knew it was not going to be an easy meal. They knew there would be questions regarding their relationship and what Jack had been doing since he left Earth.
What they were not prepared for was the almost frigid reception from Gwen and her acting like Alonso did not exist.
Rhys was forever caught in the middle and made small civilised conversation with Alonso while the two alphas in the room waged a silent battle of glares and growing hostility.
Gwen had kept her mouth shut throughout the meal which was difficult because she wanted to slap Jack silly. She wanted to knock sense into the immortal captain for moving on from Ianto so quickly, feeling that he was betraying her deceased friend's memory by parading his husband around the places he had started his life with Ianto. She found it difficult to believe that anyone could go from as despondent as Jack was to where he was now in a little over a year later. Then there was a part of Gwen that felt bad for Alonso, knowing that he was being strung along by Jack.
"He doesn't love you!" Gwen could not hold it in any longer and had to say something as she chased after the stranger who was on the way to the bathroom.
"Excuse me?" Ianto spun on his heel and waited for Gwen to elaborate.
"Jack. He doesn't love you, Alonso. I thought you should know that. You are just a substitute."
Ianto rolled his eyes and frowned, "I suppose this is where you tell me that you are the one he was meant to be with." He was surprised that Gwen was admitting this to him and wondered why Gwen never admitted this before.
"No," Gwen made a face. "Oh God, no. Has Jack ever mentioned someone named Ianto?"
Ianto's mouth hung open for a second, not expecting the conversation to go this way. "The name doesn't sound familiar." It was best to steer clear of his true self and part of Ianto was curious what Gwen would say about him.
"That doesn't sound like Jack. Ianto is someone who Jack loved very much...who he most definitely still loves and it nearly destroyed Jack when he died. Even if both of them were too dense to ever admit to each other how they felt before Ianto died. Whatever is going on between you and Jack, it's only temporary. I don't know what you did to Jack to get you to marry him. He always swore up and down that he would never get married again. I don't trust you. I don't like you. If you even think about hurting Jack it will be last thing you do. Hopefully, Jack will see you for the piece of space trash you are and realise how he is disgracing Ianto's memory with you." Gwen felt good to get that all off her chest as it had been building up since she had learned Jack had married a virtual stranger.
It really took everything in him for Ianto to not burst out laughing at the irony of the situation. She was angry at him and Jack because she thought Jack had moved on and Gwen had no clue that she was talking to her old friend, who the Doctor had brought back because Jack could not get over losing him and without him would destroy a part of the universe as the years of guilt and grief festered and boiled over. "Thank you for the friendly warning." he said, his voice dripping in sarcasm as there was nothing friendly about it. "But I should remind you that Jack is happy and that's all that matters. Besides, don’t you have more urgent things to worry about, like getting rid of these aliens that are seeking revenge?" Ianto added a silent thank you for defending his honour.
"Are you with them?” Gwen accused angrily, “The 456 took so much away from Jack last time..."
"Okay, hold it right there," Ianto had to put an end to this insanity. "Jack and I aren't any of your business." He knew he had to choose his next words very carefully or it could create more problems. "I'm not doing a disservice to your friend's memory. I doubt Ianto would want Jack to sit alone and be miserable. Jack is happier than he's been in a long time and I've always been the one to make him happy." Ianto cursed himself for saying too much. He was touched that Gwen was trying to defend his honour, but at the same time he hated that that she was mad at Jack because he could not tell her Jack was not doing anything wrong by being with him. Ianto slammed the bathroom door, signaling an end to the conversation.
Gwen stalked back toward the sitting room, where Rhys and Jack were making awkward conversation. "Why do you have to be such a jerk, Jack?"
"Excuse me?" Jack's eyebrows shot up.
"Why did you really get married? Are you pregnant? Did this Alonso get you pregnant and that's why you got married so quickly." Gwen was persistent so she could get to the bottom of this mystery. In her mind none of this made sense and it was as if she was missing a huge piece of the puzzle.
"So you don’t think marrying for love is a good enough reason?" Jack frowned.
"Christ, Jack. Did Ianto mean nothing to you? Was it all one sided?" Gwen accused.
"Don't even go there." Jack growled darkly, conflicted that he could not tell her how much Ianto means to him and that his relationship with Ianto was not any of her business.
"Why not? Do you even miss him? Because I sure do and you meant a lot more to him than I did." Gwen was not going to give this up until she got to the truth.
"I'm not going to even dignify that with a response." Jack refused to give an answer, knowing Gwen could tell when he was lying. The answer would have been no because he could not miss someone who was still a large part of his life and had only left to use the toilet.
"I think I figured out what you see in Alonso."
"I'm not going to play this game with you, Gwen."
Gwen ignored the warning tone in Jack’s voice, "He reminds you of Ianto." Gwen had seen some of Alonso's little quirks and they reminded her of her departed friend.
"They look nothing alike." Jack acted as if he were clueless.
"I know that," Gwen rolled her eyes, reminding Jack of Ianto herself.
"I was talking about his mannerisms. They remind me of Ianto." Gwen tried to get Jack to see what she saw.
"I haven't noticed." Jack shrugged. He can't help being himself, he added to himself.
"Bollocks," Gwen snapped, resisting the urge to slap Jack.
Jack shrugged, wishing he could tell her she was wrong about everything.
"You know you are wrong and that's why you are not saying anything."
Jack shrugged and smirked, "You know what? You're right, I don't love Alonso. I'm with him to fill the bottomless void that is my life. Is that what you wanted to hear? No one can ever replace Ianto. I will always love him. Are you happy now?" Jack was furious with his friend at the moment.
"So the truth comes out," Ianto said cooly from the doorway. "You really did marry me only because I got you pregnant? I should have seen this coming. I'm not the one your heart really wants? There is no way I can compete with the dead man whose name you've called out several times during sex." With a slam of the front door Ianto ran from the house.
Jack just stood there looking aghast watching the closed door, playing the part of stunned husband whose lack of commitment had just been uncovered wonderfully for Gwen, but in reality he was shocked and impressed by Ianto’s brilliance and the audacity of his plan. It was the perfect way to shut Gwen up and get them both away from her before she could learn the truth.
"Thank you so much, Gwen," Jack snapped. The yelling was purely for show and he was proud of his husband for his quick thinking and giving them a quick exit from her meddling.
"He needed to know the truth, Jack. It was only fair."
"You are so far off the truth, you have no idea. You have no idea how hard it is, having people always dying on me. How it's so painful to open up to people because one day they will be gone and each time it happens it fractures a part of my soul. Now I have someone who will always be there...someone I don't have to ever say goodbye to unless we chose to."
"This is all about not being lonely? That doesn't sound like you." Gwen was too involved in her anger to realise the implications of Jack's last statement. It did not register that Jack had all but said Alonso was immortal.
Jack bit the inside of his cheek, wanting to scream. "I'll stand my statement the other day. You don't really know me. I'm happy Gwen. Really, really happy. I never knew I could be as happy as I have been this past year. I didn't have to worry about anything. I got to heal and finally have a proper relationship. There is so much you don't know... You can't know. Now I have to see if you didn't ruin things." Jack took a deep breath. Everything he had said was true except for his last statement. Coming back to Earth and Cardiff had been a colossal mistake.
"Jack...wait. Don't leave like this." Gwen tried to grab Jack's arm but came up empty. "What about Ianto?"
"Don't you ever mention his name again." Jack raged. "I made my peace with everything that happened and you need to leave it be. I will handle the 456. There is no need for you to get involved in your delicate condition." Jack easily slipped into the jerk persona, to him protecting Ianto and his secret was his top concern and he would do anything to do that.
Jack exited the house with haste and saw the shadowy outline of his husband leaning against the car. He was shocked to see Ianto had deactivated the holographic chip while out in public, but it was what both men needed at the moment.
"I'm sorry," Ianto said softly, reaching out for Jack's coat and pulling him close. "It's my fault everyone is mad at you."
Jack shrugged it off, "They miss you. They got it in their head that you were the great love of my life and that's something I shouldn't have moved on from. If they only knew how right they were. I’d far rather them hate me than have you put into permanent stasis. History has already proven that you are the one I can't live without." Jack rolled his eyes at his sentimentality. "You don't have to say it...I know I'm going soft."
Ianto nodded and tenderly kissed Jack, agreeing with him. If the last year taught them anything it was that they should not be afraid to say what they really felt even it if was overly sappy. "When Gwen cornered me near the loo, she called me a substitute. I was waiting for her to say that she was the one you should be with, but she didn't. What's the point of everyone getting mad at you? It's not as if you moved on really that quickly. Why can't they mind their own business?" Ianto wanted to hit something but opted for balling his fists.
"Technically I didn't move on. Gwen saw how messed up I was six months after everything and I assume she's got it stuck that I would be like that forever." Jack looked down, feeling almost embarrassed to admit that. "I left Earth because I couldn't deal with it all. I didn't want to deal with it until I met a handsome sailor in a bar."
"And she's not wrong about not being able to get over me." Ianto said. He paused for a moment before his face brightened as he was struck with a genius idea. "Maybe I should pay her a visit as a ghost and let her know I approve of your marriage, that all that matters is that you are happy and she should not dwell on the past."
Jack laughed at the idea. It was crazy, evil and most importantly it might work if done just right and given the way their minds worked together, Jack was sure they could pull it off. "And your holographic chip can make this work. Make her think she's seeing a ghost and once you've got your point across you can turn into Alonso and pretend you are looking for me. You have a deliciously evil mind dear husband of mine." It never ceased to amaze Jack the way their minds easily came together and gave birth to brilliant ideas.
"Is that the only thing about me that you find delicious?" Ianto asked without thinking. He licked his lips, wetting the dry skin. It was as if a switch flipped inside him and Ianto did not care about what had just happened in Gwen's house. It was the adrenaline pumping through his veins that brought back memories of Weevil hunts and dodging danger and how exciting it was.
"I find everything about you delicious."
Someone's feeling a bit horny," Ianto looked at the deep rich blue hue of his ring.
"I'm not the only one." Jack held up his hand, displaying his ring which was the same colour.
"What's wrong with us?" Ianto chuckled. "With everything going on, why can I only think about wanting shag you senseless?" He let out a long breath that sounded almost like a moan.
"We're newlyweds. It's expected of us," Jack grinned his mega-watt smile before lowering his head and doing very naughty things to his husband's neck and ear.
"Hmm." Ianto threw back his head, the back of his head connecting with the door with a thud. He ignored the pain as whatever Jack was going with his teeth while alternating between biting and sucking felt infinitely better.
"You like that, don't you?" Jack teased as he kissed his way from Ianto's ear to his Adam's apple. It was obvious both men had become aroused and felt warm despite the cool evening.
Ianto's mind became clouded with desire and he could not string coherent thoughts together. He managed to babble a mix of English and Welsh words that did not make sense together, but gave the impression that he wanted to be taken by Jack right here and now.
Jack had just begun to unzip Ianto's trousers and slip his hand inside when he heard a scream. The two men jumped apart and Ianto quickly tucked himself back in.
"Fuck." Ianto muttered as his sister stared in shock at the amorous couple.
To be continued... Chapter 9
Previous Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Author: Iantojjackh
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack and Ianto have returned to Earth and brought the 456 with them. It's just another day in the adventures of Jack and Ianto and what happens when someone finds out their secret?
Characters: Jack Harkness, Alonso Frame, Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams, Rhiannon Davies, Ianto Jones, Tenth Doctor, Twelfth Doctor,
Spoilers: CoE compliant fix-it and The End of Time (DW)
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I just borrowed them for a short spell. I wish I owned them so there wouldn't be the need to write fix-its like this.
Word Count: ~26k
Beta: timelordshines, whose a saint for putting up with me through two big bangs now..
Notes: this originally started off as a prompt from jo02 from the torchwood-fest member created fest way back earlier this year. After several starts and stops, I finally finished this. Also written for longliveianto big bang round 2. I plan on posting through the holidays, hopefully. Please don't be mad if I miss a day or so. Cheers and don't forget to comment.
Chapter 8
Ianto and Jack knew it was not going to be an easy meal. They knew there would be questions regarding their relationship and what Jack had been doing since he left Earth.
What they were not prepared for was the almost frigid reception from Gwen and her acting like Alonso did not exist.
Rhys was forever caught in the middle and made small civilised conversation with Alonso while the two alphas in the room waged a silent battle of glares and growing hostility.
Gwen had kept her mouth shut throughout the meal which was difficult because she wanted to slap Jack silly. She wanted to knock sense into the immortal captain for moving on from Ianto so quickly, feeling that he was betraying her deceased friend's memory by parading his husband around the places he had started his life with Ianto. She found it difficult to believe that anyone could go from as despondent as Jack was to where he was now in a little over a year later. Then there was a part of Gwen that felt bad for Alonso, knowing that he was being strung along by Jack.
"He doesn't love you!" Gwen could not hold it in any longer and had to say something as she chased after the stranger who was on the way to the bathroom.
"Excuse me?" Ianto spun on his heel and waited for Gwen to elaborate.
"Jack. He doesn't love you, Alonso. I thought you should know that. You are just a substitute."
Ianto rolled his eyes and frowned, "I suppose this is where you tell me that you are the one he was meant to be with." He was surprised that Gwen was admitting this to him and wondered why Gwen never admitted this before.
"No," Gwen made a face. "Oh God, no. Has Jack ever mentioned someone named Ianto?"
Ianto's mouth hung open for a second, not expecting the conversation to go this way. "The name doesn't sound familiar." It was best to steer clear of his true self and part of Ianto was curious what Gwen would say about him.
"That doesn't sound like Jack. Ianto is someone who Jack loved very much...who he most definitely still loves and it nearly destroyed Jack when he died. Even if both of them were too dense to ever admit to each other how they felt before Ianto died. Whatever is going on between you and Jack, it's only temporary. I don't know what you did to Jack to get you to marry him. He always swore up and down that he would never get married again. I don't trust you. I don't like you. If you even think about hurting Jack it will be last thing you do. Hopefully, Jack will see you for the piece of space trash you are and realise how he is disgracing Ianto's memory with you." Gwen felt good to get that all off her chest as it had been building up since she had learned Jack had married a virtual stranger.
It really took everything in him for Ianto to not burst out laughing at the irony of the situation. She was angry at him and Jack because she thought Jack had moved on and Gwen had no clue that she was talking to her old friend, who the Doctor had brought back because Jack could not get over losing him and without him would destroy a part of the universe as the years of guilt and grief festered and boiled over. "Thank you for the friendly warning." he said, his voice dripping in sarcasm as there was nothing friendly about it. "But I should remind you that Jack is happy and that's all that matters. Besides, don’t you have more urgent things to worry about, like getting rid of these aliens that are seeking revenge?" Ianto added a silent thank you for defending his honour.
"Are you with them?” Gwen accused angrily, “The 456 took so much away from Jack last time..."
"Okay, hold it right there," Ianto had to put an end to this insanity. "Jack and I aren't any of your business." He knew he had to choose his next words very carefully or it could create more problems. "I'm not doing a disservice to your friend's memory. I doubt Ianto would want Jack to sit alone and be miserable. Jack is happier than he's been in a long time and I've always been the one to make him happy." Ianto cursed himself for saying too much. He was touched that Gwen was trying to defend his honour, but at the same time he hated that that she was mad at Jack because he could not tell her Jack was not doing anything wrong by being with him. Ianto slammed the bathroom door, signaling an end to the conversation.
Gwen stalked back toward the sitting room, where Rhys and Jack were making awkward conversation. "Why do you have to be such a jerk, Jack?"
"Excuse me?" Jack's eyebrows shot up.
"Why did you really get married? Are you pregnant? Did this Alonso get you pregnant and that's why you got married so quickly." Gwen was persistent so she could get to the bottom of this mystery. In her mind none of this made sense and it was as if she was missing a huge piece of the puzzle.
"So you don’t think marrying for love is a good enough reason?" Jack frowned.
"Christ, Jack. Did Ianto mean nothing to you? Was it all one sided?" Gwen accused.
"Don't even go there." Jack growled darkly, conflicted that he could not tell her how much Ianto means to him and that his relationship with Ianto was not any of her business.
"Why not? Do you even miss him? Because I sure do and you meant a lot more to him than I did." Gwen was not going to give this up until she got to the truth.
"I'm not going to even dignify that with a response." Jack refused to give an answer, knowing Gwen could tell when he was lying. The answer would have been no because he could not miss someone who was still a large part of his life and had only left to use the toilet.
"I think I figured out what you see in Alonso."
"I'm not going to play this game with you, Gwen."
Gwen ignored the warning tone in Jack’s voice, "He reminds you of Ianto." Gwen had seen some of Alonso's little quirks and they reminded her of her departed friend.
"They look nothing alike." Jack acted as if he were clueless.
"I know that," Gwen rolled her eyes, reminding Jack of Ianto herself.
"I was talking about his mannerisms. They remind me of Ianto." Gwen tried to get Jack to see what she saw.
"I haven't noticed." Jack shrugged. He can't help being himself, he added to himself.
"Bollocks," Gwen snapped, resisting the urge to slap Jack.
Jack shrugged, wishing he could tell her she was wrong about everything.
"You know you are wrong and that's why you are not saying anything."
Jack shrugged and smirked, "You know what? You're right, I don't love Alonso. I'm with him to fill the bottomless void that is my life. Is that what you wanted to hear? No one can ever replace Ianto. I will always love him. Are you happy now?" Jack was furious with his friend at the moment.
"So the truth comes out," Ianto said cooly from the doorway. "You really did marry me only because I got you pregnant? I should have seen this coming. I'm not the one your heart really wants? There is no way I can compete with the dead man whose name you've called out several times during sex." With a slam of the front door Ianto ran from the house.
Jack just stood there looking aghast watching the closed door, playing the part of stunned husband whose lack of commitment had just been uncovered wonderfully for Gwen, but in reality he was shocked and impressed by Ianto’s brilliance and the audacity of his plan. It was the perfect way to shut Gwen up and get them both away from her before she could learn the truth.
"Thank you so much, Gwen," Jack snapped. The yelling was purely for show and he was proud of his husband for his quick thinking and giving them a quick exit from her meddling.
"He needed to know the truth, Jack. It was only fair."
"You are so far off the truth, you have no idea. You have no idea how hard it is, having people always dying on me. How it's so painful to open up to people because one day they will be gone and each time it happens it fractures a part of my soul. Now I have someone who will always be there...someone I don't have to ever say goodbye to unless we chose to."
"This is all about not being lonely? That doesn't sound like you." Gwen was too involved in her anger to realise the implications of Jack's last statement. It did not register that Jack had all but said Alonso was immortal.
Jack bit the inside of his cheek, wanting to scream. "I'll stand my statement the other day. You don't really know me. I'm happy Gwen. Really, really happy. I never knew I could be as happy as I have been this past year. I didn't have to worry about anything. I got to heal and finally have a proper relationship. There is so much you don't know... You can't know. Now I have to see if you didn't ruin things." Jack took a deep breath. Everything he had said was true except for his last statement. Coming back to Earth and Cardiff had been a colossal mistake.
"Jack...wait. Don't leave like this." Gwen tried to grab Jack's arm but came up empty. "What about Ianto?"
"Don't you ever mention his name again." Jack raged. "I made my peace with everything that happened and you need to leave it be. I will handle the 456. There is no need for you to get involved in your delicate condition." Jack easily slipped into the jerk persona, to him protecting Ianto and his secret was his top concern and he would do anything to do that.
Jack exited the house with haste and saw the shadowy outline of his husband leaning against the car. He was shocked to see Ianto had deactivated the holographic chip while out in public, but it was what both men needed at the moment.
"I'm sorry," Ianto said softly, reaching out for Jack's coat and pulling him close. "It's my fault everyone is mad at you."
Jack shrugged it off, "They miss you. They got it in their head that you were the great love of my life and that's something I shouldn't have moved on from. If they only knew how right they were. I’d far rather them hate me than have you put into permanent stasis. History has already proven that you are the one I can't live without." Jack rolled his eyes at his sentimentality. "You don't have to say it...I know I'm going soft."
Ianto nodded and tenderly kissed Jack, agreeing with him. If the last year taught them anything it was that they should not be afraid to say what they really felt even it if was overly sappy. "When Gwen cornered me near the loo, she called me a substitute. I was waiting for her to say that she was the one you should be with, but she didn't. What's the point of everyone getting mad at you? It's not as if you moved on really that quickly. Why can't they mind their own business?" Ianto wanted to hit something but opted for balling his fists.
"Technically I didn't move on. Gwen saw how messed up I was six months after everything and I assume she's got it stuck that I would be like that forever." Jack looked down, feeling almost embarrassed to admit that. "I left Earth because I couldn't deal with it all. I didn't want to deal with it until I met a handsome sailor in a bar."
"And she's not wrong about not being able to get over me." Ianto said. He paused for a moment before his face brightened as he was struck with a genius idea. "Maybe I should pay her a visit as a ghost and let her know I approve of your marriage, that all that matters is that you are happy and she should not dwell on the past."
Jack laughed at the idea. It was crazy, evil and most importantly it might work if done just right and given the way their minds worked together, Jack was sure they could pull it off. "And your holographic chip can make this work. Make her think she's seeing a ghost and once you've got your point across you can turn into Alonso and pretend you are looking for me. You have a deliciously evil mind dear husband of mine." It never ceased to amaze Jack the way their minds easily came together and gave birth to brilliant ideas.
"Is that the only thing about me that you find delicious?" Ianto asked without thinking. He licked his lips, wetting the dry skin. It was as if a switch flipped inside him and Ianto did not care about what had just happened in Gwen's house. It was the adrenaline pumping through his veins that brought back memories of Weevil hunts and dodging danger and how exciting it was.
"I find everything about you delicious."
Someone's feeling a bit horny," Ianto looked at the deep rich blue hue of his ring.
"I'm not the only one." Jack held up his hand, displaying his ring which was the same colour.
"What's wrong with us?" Ianto chuckled. "With everything going on, why can I only think about wanting shag you senseless?" He let out a long breath that sounded almost like a moan.
"We're newlyweds. It's expected of us," Jack grinned his mega-watt smile before lowering his head and doing very naughty things to his husband's neck and ear.
"Hmm." Ianto threw back his head, the back of his head connecting with the door with a thud. He ignored the pain as whatever Jack was going with his teeth while alternating between biting and sucking felt infinitely better.
"You like that, don't you?" Jack teased as he kissed his way from Ianto's ear to his Adam's apple. It was obvious both men had become aroused and felt warm despite the cool evening.
Ianto's mind became clouded with desire and he could not string coherent thoughts together. He managed to babble a mix of English and Welsh words that did not make sense together, but gave the impression that he wanted to be taken by Jack right here and now.
Jack had just begun to unzip Ianto's trousers and slip his hand inside when he heard a scream. The two men jumped apart and Ianto quickly tucked himself back in.
"Fuck." Ianto muttered as his sister stared in shock at the amorous couple.
To be continued... Chapter 9
Previous Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7