A Brighter Day
Title: A brighter day
Rating: G
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Spoilers : Torchwood season 1 & 2 and Dr Who Season 3.
Comments: Set during season 2 of Torchwood, inspired by Ianto's speech in "The Dead Line". No beta and first fic, so please be gentle, but advice/criticism welcome.
Ianto was walking along, thinking life was pretty good. Jack had been called to meet the PM and insisted that Ianto go with him in case he had questions Jack couldn't answer.The meeting had gone very smoothly and they'd finished earlier than expected and Jack had surprised Ianto then telling him he'd arranged for them to stay overnight and return the following morning.
They were just walking towards Bond St when they heard their names and saw Martha and Tom across the street.
The four of them exchanged hugs and greetings, neither Tom nor Ianto even remotely bothered by the open flirtation and obvious affection between Jack and Martha, they both knew what had happened during 'the year that never was' and the bond that had created between them.
Martha beamed at them "So, what are you two doing in London?"
Jack replied "We were meeting the PM earlier and I want to bring Ianto shopping now... you know changing rooms, naked Ianto, mirrors, cramped spaces, fear of being discovered" his words drifted off as his eyes glazed over.
Ianto blushed furiously "Jack! Why would I be naked in a changing room?"
Jack grinned, "Well we hadn't decided what we were shopping for yet..."
Ianto rolled his eyes as Martha and Tom laughed at the interaction between the two men and Ianto rapidly changed the subject. "What are you two up to?"
Martha answered with excitement in her voice "Actually we're just going to my parents house for a family party, you have to come! Seriously, Jack, I won't take no for an answer. You know my Mum, if she ever found out I met you and didn't bring you..." Martha shivered theatrically. Jack paused, his eyes darting to Ianto. Martha picked up on the almost imperceptible gesture. She turned to him "Please Ianto, you have to come, since.. well, you know, my family regard Jack and therefore you as family."
Ianto saw the pleading in Martha's eyes and the conflict in Jack's, he obviously wanted to go, but not if Ianto didn't want to - and nodded his assent, he'd have time with Jack later. They set off and began chatting. As they crossed the road, the couples got split up and Martha took Ianto's arm as Tom and Jack strided ahead. "Thank you, Ianto, I'm sure you had other plans. It's just sometimes I wonder if my Mum is psychic, somehow she would sense it that I'd met you and if I didn't bring you then, she'd have us all out searching London till we found you!"
Ianto smiled "So how are you and Tom? How are the wedding plans coming?"
Martha started chatting about her dress, flowers etc, Ianto making polite suggestions. She finished up with "Not long now, I can't wait. So what about you and Jack, do you think you two will..."
Ianto looked at her "Will?"
"Will you two make it formal some day?"
Ianto laughed, "I don't think that's our style."
Martha looked surprised "Really? I guess having seen you together, I thought you would."
Ianto laughed again, more hollowly this time. "I know you know about Lisa..."
Martha's eyes took on a guarded look "That was your girl? The one in Canary Wharf?"
Ianto's voice was quiet as he replied "Yes, I loved her, I really did and not that we'd ever seriously talked about it, but I had thought we'd get married, have kids, the whole deal. When...when Lisa died, I gave up on my dreams of happily ever after and I'm happy with 'dabbling' with Jack."
He jerked as Martha swiftly pulled her arm from his and turned on him "So you're just using him? That's all he is to you? A warm body on a cold night, a fuck buddy, someone to scratch an itch? Jack is worth so much more than that."
Ianto stood, gobsmacked, as Martha strode off, then chased after her.
"Martha..." he called to her rapidly disappearing back "Martha!"
As he turned the next corner, Martha stood waiting, but he could almost see the steam of her temper coming off her "I guess I can't leave you here since Jack and Tom are probably already in my Mum's, but just please, don't talk to me".
They walked in silence, Ianto's mind racing until he couldn't bear it any longer. "Martha?"
All he got was a glare in return.
"Martha, I'm not using him. He's happy, we're happy" he pleaded, still confused by how events had gone.
"Think Ianto, what else is he going to say? He loves you, he's not going to risk losing you by asking for more, even if he should"
Ianto laughed, "Martha, Jack and I, it's a casual thing"
Martha's reply was sharp "Well maybe it is for you, but I know Jack...".
Ianto stopped suddenly, her words hitting him and the fragments of their earlier conversation slotting into place, "You... you... you mean.. you mean you think Jack does care for me?"
"I thought you were supposed to have brains, Ianto!" Martha stared at him "of course he does, why do you think my family will be so excited to meet you? He is crazy about you".
Ianto shook his head, "Martha, don't. I'm ok with knowing what I am to Jack. I just can't build up my hopes and have my heart broken again, I wouldn't survive this time."
Martha looked at the shaken man front of her and spoke gently "Ianto, he adores you. Seriously.... If you don't believe me, wait till we get to my Mum's and ask her or my Dad or Tish. Actually just wait till you met Tish, she nearly exploded with excitement when I came back to London after Owen died and mentioned that I'd met you. I was away a lot of that year and until I saw Tish's reaction, I didn't really know quite how much you meant to Jack, but Tish left me in no doubt. She told me then that he used to moan your name in his sleep and when he was awake, the only time his eyes would truly light up was when he spoke about you. His worst fear was the Master capturing you because Jack knew he would give him anything he wanted if it would save you. I presume he told you what happened to you all that year.."
Ianto nodded mutely, still in shock.
"Tish said when Jack heard you'd died, he just closed down and even Mum, Dad and Tish couldn't get through to him, he stopped eating, became indifferent to everything. Then when they brought Gwen in and she told Jack how you and Owen had died in the attempt to protect her and Tosh, she said he finally broke down and was heartbroken. But you know Jack, he hasn't the luxury of just giving up, he has no choice but to go on and so eventually he started fighting again and he told Tish it was in your memory, to make you proud of him."
Ianto gasped, although Jack had told him of the many cruelties of the Master, how the whole team had been killed by the Master and how glad he was that Ianto was still alive, he'd never gone into details.
His mind raced, he'd been trying to carefully to guard his emotions, fearing Jack would break his heart, never truly believing that Jack would care for him. He knew Jack would go on without him and that eventually he would forget him, but if he even believed Jack loved him now, that would be enough. He pondered Martha's words, knowing she spoke with truth in her voice and a warm glow came over him. As he turned his face towards Martha, her breath caught at the open look of pure joy on his face and she grabbed his hand as they ran to catch up with Jack and Tom and a brighter future for them all.
Rating: G
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Spoilers : Torchwood season 1 & 2 and Dr Who Season 3.
Comments: Set during season 2 of Torchwood, inspired by Ianto's speech in "The Dead Line". No beta and first fic, so please be gentle, but advice/criticism welcome.
Ianto was walking along, thinking life was pretty good. Jack had been called to meet the PM and insisted that Ianto go with him in case he had questions Jack couldn't answer.The meeting had gone very smoothly and they'd finished earlier than expected and Jack had surprised Ianto then telling him he'd arranged for them to stay overnight and return the following morning.
They were just walking towards Bond St when they heard their names and saw Martha and Tom across the street.
The four of them exchanged hugs and greetings, neither Tom nor Ianto even remotely bothered by the open flirtation and obvious affection between Jack and Martha, they both knew what had happened during 'the year that never was' and the bond that had created between them.
Martha beamed at them "So, what are you two doing in London?"
Jack replied "We were meeting the PM earlier and I want to bring Ianto shopping now... you know changing rooms, naked Ianto, mirrors, cramped spaces, fear of being discovered" his words drifted off as his eyes glazed over.
Ianto blushed furiously "Jack! Why would I be naked in a changing room?"
Jack grinned, "Well we hadn't decided what we were shopping for yet..."
Ianto rolled his eyes as Martha and Tom laughed at the interaction between the two men and Ianto rapidly changed the subject. "What are you two up to?"
Martha answered with excitement in her voice "Actually we're just going to my parents house for a family party, you have to come! Seriously, Jack, I won't take no for an answer. You know my Mum, if she ever found out I met you and didn't bring you..." Martha shivered theatrically. Jack paused, his eyes darting to Ianto. Martha picked up on the almost imperceptible gesture. She turned to him "Please Ianto, you have to come, since.. well, you know, my family regard Jack and therefore you as family."
Ianto saw the pleading in Martha's eyes and the conflict in Jack's, he obviously wanted to go, but not if Ianto didn't want to - and nodded his assent, he'd have time with Jack later. They set off and began chatting. As they crossed the road, the couples got split up and Martha took Ianto's arm as Tom and Jack strided ahead. "Thank you, Ianto, I'm sure you had other plans. It's just sometimes I wonder if my Mum is psychic, somehow she would sense it that I'd met you and if I didn't bring you then, she'd have us all out searching London till we found you!"
Ianto smiled "So how are you and Tom? How are the wedding plans coming?"
Martha started chatting about her dress, flowers etc, Ianto making polite suggestions. She finished up with "Not long now, I can't wait. So what about you and Jack, do you think you two will..."
Ianto looked at her "Will?"
"Will you two make it formal some day?"
Ianto laughed, "I don't think that's our style."
Martha looked surprised "Really? I guess having seen you together, I thought you would."
Ianto laughed again, more hollowly this time. "I know you know about Lisa..."
Martha's eyes took on a guarded look "That was your girl? The one in Canary Wharf?"
Ianto's voice was quiet as he replied "Yes, I loved her, I really did and not that we'd ever seriously talked about it, but I had thought we'd get married, have kids, the whole deal. When...when Lisa died, I gave up on my dreams of happily ever after and I'm happy with 'dabbling' with Jack."
He jerked as Martha swiftly pulled her arm from his and turned on him "So you're just using him? That's all he is to you? A warm body on a cold night, a fuck buddy, someone to scratch an itch? Jack is worth so much more than that."
Ianto stood, gobsmacked, as Martha strode off, then chased after her.
"Martha..." he called to her rapidly disappearing back "Martha!"
As he turned the next corner, Martha stood waiting, but he could almost see the steam of her temper coming off her "I guess I can't leave you here since Jack and Tom are probably already in my Mum's, but just please, don't talk to me".
They walked in silence, Ianto's mind racing until he couldn't bear it any longer. "Martha?"
All he got was a glare in return.
"Martha, I'm not using him. He's happy, we're happy" he pleaded, still confused by how events had gone.
"Think Ianto, what else is he going to say? He loves you, he's not going to risk losing you by asking for more, even if he should"
Ianto laughed, "Martha, Jack and I, it's a casual thing"
Martha's reply was sharp "Well maybe it is for you, but I know Jack...".
Ianto stopped suddenly, her words hitting him and the fragments of their earlier conversation slotting into place, "You... you... you mean.. you mean you think Jack does care for me?"
"I thought you were supposed to have brains, Ianto!" Martha stared at him "of course he does, why do you think my family will be so excited to meet you? He is crazy about you".
Ianto shook his head, "Martha, don't. I'm ok with knowing what I am to Jack. I just can't build up my hopes and have my heart broken again, I wouldn't survive this time."
Martha looked at the shaken man front of her and spoke gently "Ianto, he adores you. Seriously.... If you don't believe me, wait till we get to my Mum's and ask her or my Dad or Tish. Actually just wait till you met Tish, she nearly exploded with excitement when I came back to London after Owen died and mentioned that I'd met you. I was away a lot of that year and until I saw Tish's reaction, I didn't really know quite how much you meant to Jack, but Tish left me in no doubt. She told me then that he used to moan your name in his sleep and when he was awake, the only time his eyes would truly light up was when he spoke about you. His worst fear was the Master capturing you because Jack knew he would give him anything he wanted if it would save you. I presume he told you what happened to you all that year.."
Ianto nodded mutely, still in shock.
"Tish said when Jack heard you'd died, he just closed down and even Mum, Dad and Tish couldn't get through to him, he stopped eating, became indifferent to everything. Then when they brought Gwen in and she told Jack how you and Owen had died in the attempt to protect her and Tosh, she said he finally broke down and was heartbroken. But you know Jack, he hasn't the luxury of just giving up, he has no choice but to go on and so eventually he started fighting again and he told Tish it was in your memory, to make you proud of him."
Ianto gasped, although Jack had told him of the many cruelties of the Master, how the whole team had been killed by the Master and how glad he was that Ianto was still alive, he'd never gone into details.
His mind raced, he'd been trying to carefully to guard his emotions, fearing Jack would break his heart, never truly believing that Jack would care for him. He knew Jack would go on without him and that eventually he would forget him, but if he even believed Jack loved him now, that would be enough. He pondered Martha's words, knowing she spoke with truth in her voice and a warm glow came over him. As he turned his face towards Martha, her breath caught at the open look of pure joy on his face and she grabbed his hand as they ran to catch up with Jack and Tom and a brighter future for them all.