Someone to Watch Over Me - Chapter 16
Title: Someone to Watch Over Me (16/18)
Pairing(s)/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tosh/Owen and OCs.
Rating: NC17 (overall)
Warnings: smarm, sap and crack - of the mills & boon type (seriously), m/m pairing
Disclaimer: Torchwood and its associated characters, and events are property of the BBC and Russell T. Davies but shamelessly borrowed for some fun.
A/N: Manger's arrest is discussed with the family and Ianto comes to a realisation of his own.
A/N2: On another note, I am looking for someone with a fair knowledge of UK/European geography for another story I am working on. That, is I need advice on names and locations for parts of the story where the characters will be travelling. Some knowledge of Celtic myth or supernatural stuff would be good too. If you can help, just PM me. J
SIXTEEN
*~*
Ianto stopped in mid motion while reaching for his beer and swung to face Jack. ‘He’s been arrested?’
Jack nodded. ‘And my guess is he’ll be held without bail under the circumstances.’
Jack watched a variety of emotions cross Ianto’s face. ‘Why?’ he asked finally.
Rhiannon Jones looked over at them from the other side of the table. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Yeah,’ Geffin chimed in, ‘you look a little paler than usual, baby brother.’
Jack looked down the table and noticed that they’d got the rest of the family’s attention, too.
It was just as well. He could tell them all at once. ‘Billis Manger has been arrested in connection with the threats to Ianto.’
Tosh gasped while Owen uttered an expletive that Jack totally agreed with. Then everybody tried to talk at once.
‘How did they catch him?’ Mr Jones asked finally, making himself heard after the initial commotion had died down.
‘The police executed a warrant and searched his house and car,’ Jack said. ‘They found a gun there that matches the type of calibre weapon that was used in the shooting incident, based on the slugs they recovered.’
‘They executed a warrant?’ Based on what evidence?’ Ianto asked. He had been looking relieved since he’d told him the news, but now his tone was tinged with suspicion. ‘Were they able to trace the car that the gunman used back to Manger?’
Jack shook his head. ‘No. But the police concluded that the slugs most likely came from a gun that was manufactured some time ago, so I did some digging.’
‘Good one,’ Rhi said.
‘I had a couple of my guys check it out and it appears that Manger tried to sell some guns a while ago,’ Jack explained. ‘We had a report of a guy fitting Manger’s description trying to sell some guns. The shop owner recalled it well because the guns were collector’s items.’
Jack looked around the room. He had everyone’s undivided attention, it seemed.
‘None of the stuff I dug up on Manger revealed he was a gun collector or even into hunting, but for some reason, I just had a hunch and followed through on it. Turned out I was right. The fact that he kept the gun used in the shooting, rather than getting rid of it, there was a good chance that he was going to use it again.’
‘Oh my,’ Ianto’s mother gasped.
Jack looked at Ianto, who had a thoughtful look on his face, the last revelation seemingly not even bothering him. But then Manger was behind bars, which was a great relief for all of them.
‘What about the guy you saw sitting outside watching my house that first night?’ Ianto asked. ‘Do you think it was Manger who sped away that time?’
Jack nodded. ‘Probably. And, we suspected, Manger was throwing us off the scent by making it seem as if it was coming from a run-of-the-mill hood.’
‘The note in the mail with the bad English you mean?’ Ianto asked.
Jack nodded. ‘Among other things.’
‘We all owe you a debt of gratitude, Jack,’ Ianto’s father said. ‘You know you’re like family to us, but let us know if there is anything we can ever repay you.’
Jack noticed that next to him, Ianto stiffened slightly. ‘You mean besides his hefty fees?’ he asked.
Owen shook his head. ‘Actually, I offered to pay him-’ Owen either ignored or didn’t see the quelling look that Jack shot him ‘-but he refused. He insisted on volunteering his services.’
Ianto turned toward him and Jack met his look head-on. He could see what Ianto was thinking. He purposely misled him. And this time he had no excuse.
‘I’m relieved this whole episode is all over,’ Eleanor Jones said. ‘It’s been a painful and trying period for all of us.’
‘True,’ Rhi put in, ‘I guess we should all be prepared if Ianto runs into another nut willing to take matters into their own hands.’
‘Speaking of which, how long do you intend to keep his job, Ianto,’ Geffin asked.
Jack felt Ianto tense next to him and saw his parents exchange looks.
‘You know, Ianto,’ Eleanor said gently, as if knowing this was a sensitive subject, ‘you are at the point in your career when a lot of Prosecutors would be starting to think about their next job.’
Bryn Jones cast his son a sober look. ‘And under the circumstances, you might want to think carefully about that.’
‘What circumstances, Dad?’ Ianto asked. ‘This was an isolated incident from one disturbed individual attempting to intimidate me.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s not as if it hasn’t happened to other prosecutors.’
Owen cleared his throat and spoke up. ‘We were all worried sick about you.’
‘Anyway, it’s not as if my job is the only potentially dangerous one in the world,’ Ianto went on. ‘Mum is a Magistrate, but I don’t see anyone worried about one of the parties in her cases coming after her.’
‘That’s because it hasn’t happened, you silly git’ Owen replied. ‘But you, if you recall, had someone firing bullets at you a couple of weeks ago.’
Jack sensed Ianto was reigning in his temper with difficulty. ‘Maybe I want to rise through the ranks, have any of you thought about that? And would you all stop treating me as if I was some delicate flower in need of protection. I am a grown man for crying out loud. Let it go,’ Ianto demanded.
Jack wasn’t known for his diplomacy, but he nevertheless decided it was probably time that he stepped in. ‘Maybe we’re not giving Ianto the credit he’s due.’
Ianto looked at him, the expression his face saying he was wondering whether he’d heard him correctly.
Not glancing at him, Jack added, ‘I know I haven’t.’
‘Thanks,’ Ianto said from beside him, his tone surprised.
Jack addressed himself to all the Jones’, who were showing a range of emotions from quiet amusement to unmasked interest. ‘I’ve been with Ianto night and day for the past several weeks,’ he said, not really caring if the Jones’ took the ‘night and day’ part too literally. ‘I’ve seen how tough he can be when he needs to be.’
Geffin snorted. ‘I’ll say. And not just when the circumstances call for it either.’
‘Shut up, Gef!’ Ianto threw him an annoyed look.
‘I rest my case.’ Geffin grinned.
‘The truth is,’ Jack continued, ‘he refused to be intimidated by the threats and he’s certainly got the balls to be a prosecutor.’
He looked at Ianto, who was now regarding him with questions in his eyes. He took a deep breath. ‘So, if Ianto has set his sights on rising through the ranks, I say you should all support him.’
Maybe it was because he’d finally admitted to himself that he loved Ianto, but suddenly he was seeing the Jones’ through Ianto’s eyes. His family knew he’d been doing a tough job, but none of them, it seemed, could get past some protective instincts where he was concerned. Given he was the baby of the family by quite a few years, it was understandable.
And Jack had been the guiltiest of all. He’d unfairly been lumping him together with spoiled rich people he’d come to know through his business and as an eligible wealthy bachelor himself. It had been, he acknowledged, an easy way to keep him at bay and fight his attraction to him.
Ianto’s family looked thoughtful at his words.
Rhi was the first to speak. ‘Jack has a point. We’ve all been thinking of Ianto as the baby and someone we love and want to protect. Maybe it’s blinded us to how tough and resilient he really is.’
‘We just wanted to make sure you were safe, son,’ Bryn said. ‘Our intention was never to stifle you, but things may have gotten a little confused along the way.’
‘Yes,’ Eleanor agreed. ‘I’m sorry if we’ve come across a bit heavy-handed sometimes, sweetheart. It’s only because we love you.’
‘I guess we’re handing out apologies,’ Owen added. ‘So, ditto for me.’
‘If continuing to be a prosecutor is what you want to do, we’ll support you, of course,’ Eleanor said, looking at her husband for his concurring nod. ‘Naturally, the decision is yours. All we wanted was to make sure it was a well thought out decision.’
Ianto smiled at his mother. ‘Thanks Mum.’’
Jack caught the quick look Ianto sent his way before he added, ‘And try not to worry too much. Thanks to Jack, I’ve learned that maybe I should have been paying more attention to my personal safety.’
He’d learned that had he? Jack took some satisfaction in that. It would help when he was out of his house-and out of his life-again.
*~*
A bit later, Ianto was in the kitchen of his parents’ house packing up the leftover food. He looked up as Tosh came in.
‘Hi,’ she said, purse and nappy bag slung over her shoulder. ‘Owen and I are heading out.’ She stopped, giving Ianto a searching look. ‘You look miserable.’
‘Thanks,’ he said wryly. He opened the fridge door and put some plastic containers inside.
Tosh raised an eyebrow searchingly. ‘Which is surprising when you think about it. I mean, Manger has been caught. You should be happy.’
He should be, but he wasn’t. Jack had caught Manger, and defended him to his family. And now he was getting out of his life. He should be thrilled. Wasn’t that what he’d told Jack he wanted?
Yet, Tosh was right. He was miserable.
‘And because you look miserable, let me return the favour,’ Tosh continued.
‘What?’
‘Last year, you helped me realise that I shouldn’t give up on Owen, that Owen loved me and all I needed to do was push a little more.’ She smiled. ‘So, I’m trying to return the favour.’
Ianto shrugged. ‘Thank you for making the effort, but, much as I hate to tell you, this is a whole lot different.’
Tosh laughed. ‘No it’s not. You just think it is because you’re too deeply involved in it. You’re where I was last year. Don’t let your pride or past ruin something special, Ianto. Just take that leap and don’t be afraid to fall, sweetheart.’
Ianto stared at his friend for a second. Last year, after some prodding, Tosh has admitted that she was in live with Owen.
Tosh was right. But he wasn’t in danger of falling. He was already there.
Yet, Jack had announced that he’d be moving out of the house this weekend and Ianto had just nodded mutely. If he loved Ianto, would he be leaving?
Ianto had discovered that Jack had insisted on not being paid for his security services. And he’d stayed by his side despite his attempts to get rid of him and despite the fact that he had no obligation to do so. Ianto wanted to believe that meant something...but was he reading too much into it?
Owen walked into the kitchen. ‘There you are,’ he said, giving his wife a kiss on lips. ‘I’ve been looking for you. Are you ready to go?’
Tosh smiled. ‘Yes, sorry to keep you waiting. Ianto and I were just having a heart-to-heart.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Owen asked. ‘What about?’
‘Jack,’ she said simply.
‘Ah.’
‘What do you mean, ‘ah’?’ Ianto asked. ‘And why did Jack insist on volunteering?’
Owen looked amused. ‘That would be the million dollar question, wouldn’t it?’ He quipped. ‘Maybe he’s a glutton for punishment.’
Ianto looked at him nonplussed.
In response, Owen just looked at him. ‘Why don’t you just ask him?’ He suggested.
‘If I wanted to do that, I wouldn’t have asked you, you wanker.’
Owen grinned and flipped him the bird. ‘Chickenshit.’
‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’
‘Really?’ Owen replied as he headed toward the door. He turned back and considered Ianto intently. ‘Don’t wait too long, little brother, or you may screw it all up,’ he said knowingly. To Tosh he said, ‘I’ll be outside trying to pry the baby out of Mum’s arms so I can get her in the car seat.’
Soon after, Tosh and Owen left, but not before Tosh leaned in to whisper to him, ‘Everything will be okay. Just talk to him. You’ll see.’
On the drive back to London with Jack, Owen’s words sounded in his head. Don’t wait too long, little brother, or you may screw it all up.