The Ties That Bind (25/34 + epilogue)
Title: The Ties That Bind 25
Beta: Blackcat1000
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Donna, John Hart, Owen and James Harper, Mickey/Martha, Toshiko/Tommy, Claudia, Phillip, Suzie, Saxon, Rhiannon, OCs
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 75K+
Warnings/Contains: Explicit sex (does that need a warning?), witchcraft, horror, supernatural themes, minor character death.
Summary: Ianto is a powerful magical warrior, one which Jack Harkness has never been able to resist. Once enemies, then almost lovers, he broke his heart. Years later, Jack must return to his hometown and seek help before it is too late. Jack and Ianto must now put aside their past and work together to defeat an evil threatening to overwhelm and take control of Jack because of his unique bloodline. Secrets and foretold prophecies will plague them and in this paranormal battle, they will need more than magic to survive.
A/N: Back with the boys and the Guardians this chapter. And after John outs Ianto to the group Jack is not a happy camper. But John may just have a compromise of sorts.
Chapter Twenty Five
Jack was ready to kill John for what he’d done, Ianto realised. Literally. Owen and James, the werewolf brothers, were forced to hold him back, while he shouted and cursed, fighting against their hold. Ianto had never seen him so furious.
At least, not until he’d taken a deep breath and told them that he was willing to perform the ceremony. Then he got really mad. It took twenty minutes before his friends felt Jack no longer needed to be restrained. But he was still fuming, pacing the length of the room from one end to the other, his body coiled hard and tight with rage.
Ianto could have explained how he’d come to this decision. That the horrific discovery of that bride and groom had settled his mind about the ritual. He couldn’t stand by and do nothing when horrors like that were taking place. Something had happened to him that afternoon. Something life-changing and profound. And it had shaken those last remnants of anger from his heart, leaving it bleeding and open…and eager for a fresh start. He didn’t know what the future would hold. Didn’t know if Jack would ever love him the way that he loved him. But he wanted the chance to see what would happen. Ianto wanted the promise of what might be. He wanted to grab on to that hope with both hands and fight for it, but first he had to put an end to the war.
Ianto had the means. He just had to use them.
Ianto couldn’t explain any of that to him, though, because he couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
“I’m not going to let him do it,” Jack scraped out, a muscle ticking beneath his right eye. “We can wait to hear back from Martha’s team.”
Owen stood with his back braced against the door, as if he feared Jack might throw him over his shoulder and make a run for it. “Jack, we don’t have any time to waste,” he said, his expression tight with concern. “Tensions between the clans are already too high, not to mention the risk of exposure and the sheer loss of life.”
He wiped the back of his wrist over his mouth and glared at the Lycan. “Would you do it? If it was Katie?” Ianto knew, from what Jack had told him that Katie was a Guardian. She was also Owen’s fiancée.
Owen worked his jaw, and Jack grunted. “I didn’t think so.”
It was Phillip who spoke next. “Jack, there’s a strong chance that Martha won’t be able to find the woman we were told about. It could be days before they even locate her. And with every day that goes by, more people are dying.”
“I know that, damn it. But we have no idea what might happen to Ianto if he sets foot in that circle. Those bastards might rip him to pieces!”
Ianto cleared his throat, and said, “John thinks he can-”
He immediately cut him off. “John doesn’t know what’s going to happen out there.”
Trying again, Ianto said, “But he thinks he can protect-”
“I don’t care what he thinks!” His words punched with crunching force, making him flinch. “I’m not letting you take that risk.”
“But he-”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
“Damn it, are you ever going to let me say anything?” Ianto shouted, and the room went deathly quiet. They were all staring, wide-eyed and curious, and Ianto wondered if any of them were as surprised as he was when he picked up the flower arrangement sitting on one of the end tables. With a husky growl, he hurled the vase at the wall, needing the mindless act of destruction to vent his frustration.
“At least he threw it at the wall,” Suzie snorted from her spot by the window. “If I were him, I’d have aimed for Harkness’ head.”
Jack snarled, his hands fisted as he headed toward the shifter, but Ianto reached out and grabbed his arm. He put himself in front of him, so that he could hold his furious gaze. “Jack, please listen. I need to do this.”
“We don’t have to wait for Martha,” Jack said in a low voice, his chest rising and falling with his ragged breaths. “We can find someone closer. Damn it, there has to be another choice.”
“Come on. You know us adult virgins are in short supply.” The corner of Ianto’s mouth lifted with a wry smile. “I’m a rare breed.”
“There will be others,” he rasped, pacing away.
“Really?” Ianto asked, lifting his brows. “Most grown men and women aren’t exactly known for avoiding pleasure. Especially ones who are trained to fight.” He pinned him with a dark glare.
“You did.”
“Because of a special circumstance. And in case you don’t remember what we went through to get here, I’ll take a moment to remind you that we’re low on time. They have to be stopped, Jack.” Softly, he added, “I promise you I can do this.”
“Damn it, I will not lose you!” he roared. “That is not an acceptable option!”
His rage was like a physical force, slamming into the walls of the room. Stark, bleak. He was shaking, his eyes wet, and Ianto could only stare back at him in shock. He’d had no idea that Jack could ever experience this depth of emotion, and the fact that he was losing control because of him left him…stunned.
Then Jack’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, and Ianto braced himself for what was coming.
“Why are you doing this, Ianto? What’s the real reason?” His voice was harsh, edgy, each word striking against him with bruising force as he stalked toward him, his body moving with a sinuous, predatory grace. He looked like an animal on the prowl, and he flooded with heat.
“Is this all just some stunt to get me to admit that I want you?” he demanded. “If it is, then fine. I do. I always have. And I’m more than ready to deal with your damn virginity right this bloody second. But you are not putting yourself in the middle of those monsters.”
Ianto opened his mouth, and Jack slammed his hand against the wall at his back, denting the plaster. He hadn’t even realised he’d been retreating from him step for step, part of him trying to flee his anger, while the other part was ready for him to make good on the visceral promise of hunger burning in those ice-blue eyes.
John cleared his throat, and said, “Before Harkness puts any more holes in the wall I think there’s something I need to say.”
Jack slowly turned his head toward the demon and glared. “I think you’ve already said enough, Hart.”
“I’ve been thinking,” John rumbled, pushing a hand through his hair, “and I have an idea. A…compromise, of sorts.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Jack turned to face him. “What is it?”
“The more I think about the wording of the spell, the more I think that Ianto’s blood alone will do the trick. I don’t think he actually needs to be there in person.”
The shock of those words nearly buckled his knees, and Ianto found himself leaning more heavily against the wall. “God, John. Why didn’t you say something before?”
With a wince, he said, “I’m sorry, Ianto. I wanted to see what Harkness here would do. How far he was willing to go for you. And from the looks of things, I’d say pretty damn far.”
“That wasn’t your call to make!” Ianto snapped, tired of feeling like he was being tossed around on an emotional roller coaster. “Was this all just some kind of game to you? You were just trying to get Jack to admit to…” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. With a breathless laugh, he said, “God, I can’t even imagine what you were trying to do.”
The demon frowned. “I was just waiting for the guy to come clean, Eye Candy. Get him to stop stuffin’ around.”
“You had no right. I can’t bel-”
“You can yell at him later,” James cut in, his brusque tone sharp with command. “Right now, we need to take enough blood to try out John’s theory.”
“Take it fast,” Jack growled, cutting a dark look toward the Lycan. “Because we’re leaving.”
“And going where?” Ianto choked out, wondering what in God’s name he was thinking now.
He looked right at him, and said, “Somewhere with a bed.”
“Damn you,” Ianto whispered, his eyes suddenly burning with furious tears. “You’ve just gotten your way, Jack. There’s no reason for you to go and sacrifice yourself for the cause. I don’t want you touching me out of pity.”
“You gonna run scared now, Ianto?” The low words vibrated with challenge. “I didn’t take you for a coward.”
His nostrils flared. “That isn’t fair.”
“What isn’t fair is having to walk away from something you want so badly it never leaves you in peace. But I did it. For you.” He prowled closer. “I’m not doing it again.”
Ianto blinked, unable to believe he’d just said that. And in front of a roomful of his friends. “I’m not saying never,” he whispered, licking his lips. “I just… I don’t understand what the rush is.”
Jack put his hands against the wall on either side of Ianto’s head, caging him in with the hardness and heat of his body. Then he leaned forward, putting his face close to him, his eyes still burning like blue chips of fire. “I’ve waited twelve fucking years, and it’s been hell.” Each word was ground out, as if being torn from someplace deep inside him. “I’ve reached my limit, Ianto. You have twelve more minutes, and that’s it.”
If Ianto had reacted to his words alone, he might have punched him and told him to go to Hell. Or demand he give him more of a reason than lust. But Ianto could see the devastating emotions churning in his heavy-lidded eyes, and he knew this was more to him than just lustful desires. He didn’t know what he felt for him, or what would come later, but for now, it was enough. It had to be, because he wanted him too badly to react with pride.
Instead, Ianto reacted with his heart.
“Okay,” he whispered, reaching up and placing his hand against the side of Jack’s face. His skin was fever-warm to the touch, and he could feel the fine tremor of emotion rushing through him. “I’ll go with you.”
The heat in his eyes blazed, the look he gave him so scorching Ianto was surprised it didn’t burn his skin. He turned his face, and his breath curled hotly in his palm. “Give them the blood while I’m gone. I won’t be long.”
“You’re leaving?” Ianto asked, hating the panic in his voice that he couldn’t hide.
“I’m coming right back, I swear.”
Then he walked away and Ianto just stood there, feeling like an idiot. His throat shook, either with laughter or with tears that were trying to escape. Ianto didn’t know which it was, but he fought them back, moving in a daze as James led him to a chair, then drew his blade. John held his hand while James pierced his wrist with the tip of his knife, collecting the bright wash of blood in a series of small glass vials that Owen had taken from their field kit.
And then it was done.
With deft strokes, Owen bound his wrist, finishing just as Jack came back into the room. Ianto made a small sound, his relief nearly overwhelming. Until he’d walked back through that door, Ianto had been terrified he wouldn’t return.
John slipped the vials of blood into the bag of supplies he’d put together. Then he looked at Jack, who was putting his bag over his shoulder, and said, “It shouldn’t take me long to get things settled at the site, and then we’ll perform the ritual. When it’s over, I’ll call you. But until then, no sex.”
Jack scowled, but John didn’t back down.
“I mean it, Harkness. We’ll try it this way and call you if it works. But you wait until you get that call.”
“I heard you,” he rasped, grabbing Ianto’s hand and tugging him along behind him.
Ianto carefully avoided John’s gaze as they left the room, knowing the demon was going to be worried about him. But he didn’t want to think about that now. He just wanted to enjoy himself, and soak up every moment of the experience, his heart pounding with excitement as they followed a winding path lit with twinkling lights through the woods. The evening air was cool, and the soft breeze felt good against his warm skin as he asked, “Where are we going?”
He held up his free hand and jiggled a key. “We have our own cottage.”
“Is that where you went?”
He slid him a slow smile over his shoulder. “I thought you might like some privacy?”
Ianto took a deep breath, then shakily blew it out, his pulse rushing in his ears like a storm. “This seems so surreal, doesn’t it? I mean…I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s really going to happen.”
Jack stopped in his tracks and faced him, the smouldering look in his eyes daring his to back down. “You’re mine, Ianto. I know it. You know it. Don’t you think it’s about damn time we did something about it?”
“Yes.” Ianto licked his top lip, lowered his lashes and decided it was time he lay down a challenge of his own. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Jack. But you should know that I have some pretty high expectations.”
The sexy slant of his mouth as he grinned burned him with heat, and Ianto shivered. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint.”
“Me, too.”
His chest shook with a gritty laugh, his colour high. “Considering how everything you do turns me on, I don’t think we’re going to have any problems there.”
“I know this is crazy, but can you believe I’m nervous?”
The gentleness of his look made his breath catch. “You can trust me, Ianto.”
“I do,” he said, squeezing his hand. “But I’m just… I want this so badly, Jack. The wait for that bloody phone call is gonna kill me.”
He pulled him into his arms, nuzzling the sensitive spot beneath his ear, and Ianto could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “Then I guess I’ll just have to keep you busy.