What About Us
What About Us - Chapter 17/22 by LilFerret
Fandom: Torchwood
Summary: Jack and Ianto have worked side by side through all types of challenges. Will this one tear them apart?
Rated: NC17/Adult
Categories: Angst, Romance
Characters/Ship: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Graphic Sex, MPreg
Completed: Yes
Word count: 50,700 (This chapter 2,392)
Published: 12/13/12
Author Notes: Written for NaNoWriMo 2012. I will post a chapter a day.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter List: ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR / FIVE / SIX / SEVEN / EIGHT / NINE / TEN / ELEVEN / TWELVE / THIRTEEN / FOURTEEN / FIFTEEN / SIXTEEN /SEVENTEEN
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What About Us - Chapter 17
Christmas Eve rolled around sooner than Ianto had expected it too. Yes, he knew the date. It hadn’t exactly changed much since he’d been born. But the team had been so busy the days had flown by.
Ianto stood looking at the tree he’d set up in the Hub. It was quite large, and he’d needed a ladder to reach the top. The girls had come in from a mission and panicked when they saw him up there, begging him to get down. Tosh and Gwen had then finished decorating the top so Ianto wouldn’t have to.
It was sweet how much they looked after him now that he was pregnant. He supposed it was motherly instinct. Owen and Jack certainly didn’t seem to have the same worries as the girls did. But then, they probably wouldn’t worry about a pregnant woman as much as another woman would, either.
Sighing as he realized he needed to use the restroom for the third time that morning, Ianto put down the last of the presents he’d brought in from home, positioning them under the tree. At five months pregnant Ianto constantly had to go to the bathroom. He dreaded going out anywhere because of it, but he knew he’d have to suffer that indignity just a bit longer. He and Jack had plans for New Years, and he’d be damned if he’d have to cancel them because of the baby.
When he returned to the main Hub he found Jack nosing around the presents. He folded his arms and watched as the Captain picked up one and shook it slightly, a frown forming on his forehead. He then picked up another, giving it the same treatment.
“If you’re naughty you won’t receive any gifts at all,” Ianto said, moving closer.
Jack visibly jumped, sticking a hand behind his back. “Who’s being naughty?”
“What do you have behind your back, sir?” Ianto asked, eyebrow raised.
“Nothing, Ianto.”
“Is that so? Stick out your hand.”
Jack grinned, putting his right hand out in front of him. “See? Nothing.”
“And your other hand?”
Jack pulled the right hand back and then stuck out the left. “Nothing there either.”
Ianto put his hands on his hips. “Both hands at the same time, Captain.”
Jack’s grin faltered, but after a quick shuffle he stuck both hands out in front of him. Ianto’s eyes narrowed and he walked towards the man, starting to move behind him. Jack turned so he was facing Ianto, and as Ianto continued to turn, so did Jack.
Before Jack could react, Ianto reached two arms around the captain’s middle and yanked the present out of the waistband of his trousers. He stepped away and held it up, mouth quirked into a smirk.
“Now where did that come from?” Jack asked, eyes wide.
“Very clever, sir,” Ianto stated, placing the present back where it belonged. “When the others arrive we’ll exchange gifts. Until then, paws off.”
Jack pouted. “You’re absolutely no fun, Ianto Jones.”
“That may very well be, but unless you want to stay here tonight and not sleep with me at the flat, you’ll behave.”
Jack seemed to be contemplating how best to respond to that. Luckily for him, thought Ianto, he said, “Well, that would be a terrible way to spend Christmas. I’ll behave. Promise.”
“Good.” Ianto gave the man a chaste kiss on the lips. “The others should be here soon.”
Sure enough, the alarms blared and Toshiko made her way into the Hub. She was carrying her purse as well as a shopping bag full of what had to be presents. She smiled at them as she came closer.
“It smells so good in here,” she said. “Is that cinnamon?”
Ianto smiled. “Yes. Tesco had an assortment of pine cone decorations. I thought they smelled brilliant.”
“Almost like fresh baked cinnamon apple pie,” she replied, stopping in front of the tree. She added the gifts in her bag to the assortment beneath the large tree and then straightened. “Jack? Have you been shaking gifts again?”
The captain’s eyes went wide. “Who, me?”
Tosh smacked his arm and shook her head. “One day there’s going to be something fragile that hasn’t been wrapped properly and you’re going to break it.”
“Nah,” he argued, winking. “I’m much too careful for that.”
“How are you feeling this morning, Ianto?” she asked, nodding towards his stomach.
“Pretty good, actually,” he replied, rubbing his stomach without thinking about it. “I think Owen wants to run some more blood work this afternoon, before he goes.”
Jack had decided the team would take a holiday this year, and the idea was met with varying levels of enthusiasm. Owen and Gwen would take a few days off for Christmas and Boxing Day, and Toshiko, Jack, and Ianto would take a few days off for New Years.
Owen had insisted he had nowhere to go, but was more than willing to get smashed with his university chums. Gwen would hear nothing of it and insisted he come home with her to have Christmas with Rhys and her family. He’d grumbled about it at first but when she’d confirmed there’d be plenty of booze he’d agreed.
Toshiko had plans to visit her family, and it was understood she would likely be gone a full week. No one begrudged her the time off as she rarely got away from a computer, much less had a chance to see her relatives. While a few still lived in the UK, the majority were back in Japan.
When given the choice between spending Christmas with his sister’s family and spending a few precious nights with Jack, Ianto had chosen the captain. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his family. He loved them, he did. But he’d have no way to hide his pregnancy from them. With strangers he could still get away with being overweight. With his sister, however, there would be hugs and then there’d be questions. Even Jack had agreed it was best he not see them until after the baby was born.
Instead, Ianto had arranged a lovely dinner to be catered for his family, so his sister wouldn’t have to cook. Their presents would be delivered on Christmas morning. Rhiannon had argued with him about having to work over the holidays, and as was usually the case when they fought, she grew so frustrated with him she started using guilt to reel him in.
“They work you much too hard, Ianto,” she’d told him, irritation evident in the tone of her voice. “You’re never here for the important things anymore. If Mam were alive…”
“If Mam were alive things would have likely turned out very differently, yes.”
“She wouldn’t want this for you, you know,” she continued. “She would have wanted you home with the family for Christmas.”
“I know, Rhi, I know.”
“And your little niece and nephew…well they barely know who you are anymore.”
Ianto had rubbed his face, sighing. “I’m sure you show them plenty of pictures.”
Rhiannon had huffed indignantly. “I shouldn’t have to, Ianto! Why can’t you just stand up to your boss? Tell him your sister demands he let you come see her and the kids for the holidays. Surely you put in enough time to ask for some of it off?”
“Look, I’m sorry, Rhiannon. It’s a very busy time of year.”
“You’re a civil servant! That doesn’t even make sense!”
Ianto had made excuses to end the conversation and not long after his sister had hung up angrily. He hated lying to her, but it was par for the course where Torchwood was concerned. There wasn’t anything he could do to make the situation change so he’d tried his best to make it better. He knew his sister would eventually forgive him.
The cog door rolled open again and Owen and Gwen came through, chatting amicably. Or what passed for amicably where the acerbic doctor was concerned. They made a beeline for the tree and dropped off their presents, begging Ianto for a cup of coffee.
The Welshman graciously nodded and headed up to the kitchen, preparing drinks for the team. When they were done he delivered them to the others with the pastries he’d picked up on his way in that morning.
“So who wants to open a gift first?” asked Jack, clapping his hands together.
“Oh really, Jack,” said Gwen, giving him a patronizing look. “We all know what happens if you don’t get to go first.”
“What?” Jack asked, pouting again.
“That,” said Tosh, giggling. “Go on, Jack. Pick out one of yours.”
They all took seats around the main Hub, Ianto doing so very carefully. Since he could no longer wear his suits he didn’t mind taking a seat on the steps, however sitting close to the floor was awkward at best.
The captain made his way back to the tree and bent down, making a great show of looking for something with his name on it. Ianto and Owen shared a look before Jack stood back up, holding a present up.
“Got one,” he said, smiling. “It’s from Owen.” Ripping into the wrapping foil Jack made quick work of the gift, pulling out a pair of leather gloves. “Wow, Owen, these are nice.”
Owen shrugged, sipping his coffee. “Thought they were just flashy enough for you, Harkness.”
There were a few snorts and then Jack pointed to Toshiko. “You’re up, Miss Sato.”
By the time they’d gotten to Ianto’s gift from Jack, he’d already received a lovely gray scarf from Toshiko, a pair of gloves similar to Jack’s from Owen, and a couple of gourmet bags of coffee beans from Gwen. He held up Jack’s gift and saw the captain smile.
“Open it,” Jack encouraged.
Carefully removing the wrapping paper, Ianto found a small, square box. Opening it up, Ianto’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God!”
“What is it, Tea Boy?”
Ianto placed the box on the steps, setting the gift itself in his palm. There were two gorgeous cufflinks, and by the looks of them they were white gold. “Are these sapphires?” he asked, stroking one carefully.
“The sales lady assured me they’re genuine,” Jack replied. “Do you like them?”
“I do, but…”
Jack’s face fell. “But?”
Ianto looked up at him, worry creasing his brow. “Jack, these are far too extravagant. I can’t…” He looked back down at the cufflinks and felt his chest tighten. He’d never received such an expensive and thoughtful gift.
Jack knelt at his side, placing a hand on his knee. “You deserve them, Ianto. I want you to have them.”
“They’re absolutely gorgeous,” Gwen breathed. She then looked down at the bracelet Jack had bought for her. “Jack, these stones, they’re not really…”
“Emeralds? Yes.”
Gwen’s eyes grew larger. “And Tosh’s necklace?”
“Real as well.”
Toshiko fingered the ruby pendant hanging from her neck. “Jack, you’re kidding. The gifts we got for you…they don’t even come close to what you’ve given us!”
Owen held up his wrist, adorned with a diamond-encrusted watch. “I’m not giving this back.”
“Alright now, calm down,” said Jack, getting to his feet and holding up his hands. “I wanted to get you all something really nice this year, but I didn’t break the bank. You know I have a lot of money I haven’t touched over the years.”
“But Jack,” argued Gwen, shaking her head.
“‘But Jack’ nothing,” said the captain, smiling. “If it makes you feel any better I got a really good discount.”
Ianto eyed the last package under the tree, knowing what it contained. His gift for Jack now seemed both miniscule and thoughtless. He wasn’t sure now that he wanted to give it to him.
“Only one left,” Jack said, as if reading his thoughts.
Ianto wanted to stop him from going to the tree, but any excuse he made would be childish and ultimately useless. Keeping Jack from a present was like keeping the man from coffee. He’d find a way, and wouldn’t be above pouting.
When Jack picked up the package Ianto cleared his throat. “It’s not…anything fancy,” he said, licking his lips.
“Whatever it is I’m sure I’ll love it,” Jack replied, pulling the ribbon loose. The box opened and a grin lit up the man’s face. “The Glenn Miller Orchestra! Ianto, this is the perfect gift!”
Ianto frowned, not sure whether or not Jack was being serious. He saw Owen disappear down to his med bay, and scooted far enough over for the girls to make their way up to the workstations. Jack took a seat beside him once they were alone.
“What’s wrong, Ianto?”
“I’m not sure my gift comes anywhere close to what you’ve given me, sir.”
Jack frowned, taking Ianto’s hand. It still held the cufflinks. “Ianto, you know how much I love Glenn Miller. And you remembered that I mentioned the Orchestra when we were out at the museum. That’s worth a lot more than some jewelry.”
Ianto swallowed the lump in his throat. “I won’t be able to wear these for quite some time.”
“I know. But they’re going to look fantastic once you can.”
“So, who will you be taking to the concert?” Ianto asked, looking at the ground beneath his feet.
Jack nudged his shoulder. “I do hope you had yourself in mind.”
Ianto met his eyes, feeling a smile tug at his lips. “Perhaps.”
Jack’s grin returned. “Good. Then we’ll get place to stay out in Birmingham for the weekend and make it our vacation. Sound good?”
Ianto nodded, letting the other man think it was all his idea. In fact, that had been his plan all along. He was just glad the captain was happy with his gift. He placed the cufflinks back in their box and then carefully got to his feet.
“I should put these somewhere safe for now,” he said.
Jack smiled, standing up and dusting himself off. He closed the box holding his tickets and waved them at Ianto. “I really do love the gift, Ianto. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, sir.”
Jack pressed a kiss to his temple and then winked, trotting up the stairs towards his office. Ianto headed up to reception to put his cufflinks with his other things, and then headed back down to use the toilet yet again.
Chapter 18
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