[fic] Bloody Torchwood (13/18)
Title: Bloody Torchwood (13/18)
Author: noscrubs12345
sirius100 Prompt: Variations on Reality (original)
Pairings: Remus/Sirius, Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: Sirius Black knew there was something he didn't like about Cardiff. He just didn't expect it to be a rift in time and space. But, once taken, will he be able to make it back to the wizarding world? Or will he be stuck with bloody Torchwood if his friends don't find him first? And what does a mysterious blonde woman have to do with the strange blue box hidden inside the Department of Mysteries?
Warnings: spoilers through Torchwood series two and Doctor Who series four
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, Russell T Davies, the BBC, various publishers, including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No copyright or trademark infringement is intended and no money is being made.
Missed the beginning?: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV || Part V || Part VI || Part VII || Part VIII || Part IX || Part X || Part XI || Part XII
or
Bloody Torchwood @ AO3
“This is madness,” James said, running a hand through his messy hair. “Absolute, stark raving madness.”
Remus closed his eyes against the sun, letting the feeble rays warm his face as the lake lapped at his ankles. He thought of the task at hand, of the blonde woman and her cryptic riddles, of failing to find a way to get Sirius back. And worst of all, of not finding a way to Sirius if they failed.
“It’s the only way,” he said, opening his eyes and turning to look at James and Peter sitting by the old oak tree. The two men were nestled among its sprawling roots, Peter looking pale and drawn off to one side and James decidedly cross as he plucked at blades of grass.
“We don’t know that,” James said, meeting Remus’s eyes for a moment. “What about that woman? That device you mentioned? Couldn’t we use that?”
“And where do you suggest we get them? Just ask her nicely? ‘Pretty please with a cherry on top?’” Remus said, eyes narrowing.
“But would it hurt to try?” James said, gesticulating wildly and causing his glasses to slide down his nose. He quickly pushed them back up. “If this goes tits up, we’ll end up in Azkaban.”
“Or we’ll get the Kiss,” Peter said in a lifeless monotone. His eyes were hollow as he looked between James and Remus.
“Lily’s having a baby. I can’t take a risk that big. What would happen if I was convicted?”
“Lily’s strong,” Remus said and placed his hands on his hips. “She’d understand. Maybe not right away, but eventually. But this is Sirius we’re talking about, James. He’s your best mate. He’d stop at nothing if it was one of us that disappeared. And I won’t either.”
“But if we get caught, Moony, what happens then?” James said, glaring at him. “Don’t you care?”
Remus was quite for a long moment, gaze lingering on the grass between James and Peter. “What have I got left to lose, James?”
“Remus-“ James said warningly, starting to rise.
“Don’t!” Remus said and wrapped his arms around himself. “I have no job, no money, and now Sirius is gone. I have nothing. I’m going to do this, James. I’ll go with Dumbledore on my own if that’s what you want. I can afford the risk.”
“You’re a right twat sometimes, you know,” James said incredulously. “You’re not going in alone. He’s our friend too. I’d do anything for him. I just think we should consider the consequences our families will have to face if worst comes to worst.”
“I love him, James. You know that,” Remus said, standing up a little straighter and his chin jutting out in challenge. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“And you think I won’t? That I love him any less than you?” James countered, crossing to the lake and standing at the water’s edge, eyes burning into his. “I may not be his boyfriend, but I do love him. Just like I love you and Peter. You’re like my brothers. I’d do anything for you.”
“Then stop whinging and do it,” Remus pleaded, holding James’s gaze until the dark-haired man looked away.
“I have a wife to think about,” James said, frowning, “and a baby.”
“And who am I thinking about?” Remus countered, deflating. “We may not be married, but my feelings for him are the same as yours for Lily. What if it was her that was gone? What would you do then?”
“Stop it!” Peter shouted, wobbling to his feet. “Just stop it! Both of you!”
“Stay out of this, Wormtail,” James called back, eyes shifting momentarily to the darkening horizon as the wind started to pick up.
“Like hell I will,” Peter said and crossed over to them. He stood by the edge of the lake, one finger pointed accusingly at James. “He’d be beside himself if it was you that was gone. Hell, if any of us were. And don’t think you’re the only one who’ll lose someone if we fail. What about my mum? She’d be devastated. What about Remus’s? She’s already lost a husband. She doesn’t need any more grief.”
“But-“ James started.
“He’s right,” Remus said quietly. “There’s been enough loss. My tad is dead because of Voldemort. How many of our friends are for the same reason? How many more have to die? And Sirius...Sirius is gone because of situations out of our control. What if Voldemort learns how to harness the Rift? Or get his hands on this TARDIS thing? If things are bad now, wait until the whole universe or Time itself is at his mercy. Do we just sit around and wait or do we try to keep it from him? If we can get Sirius back while doing so, then so be it. As far as we know, he’s out there somewhere, alive and alone. I for one am not going to sit around when we have the chance to bring him home.”
“But how do we know this Rift even exists? That the TARDIS isn’t a trick?” James hissed. “This woman could be one of Voldemort's wolves. What then?”
“Because Cardiff has a high instance of unexplained events,” Remus said coldy. “Anyone who’s spent any sort of time there knows that. And it isn’t like Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Strange things happen there that can’t be explained by magic. As for the TARDIS, something in me trusts that woman as much as she makes my skin crawl.”
“That doesn’t even make any sense!” James countered. “Why trust someone we don’t know isn’t working for him?”
“Because we have no other choice,” Peter called. “Why can’t you see that? We need him back, James.”
“She’s a Muggle,” Remus said, pushing James slightly as he stepped out of the water. “I think. She was in Hogsmeade. She knew about werewolves. She bloody Apparated. Last I checked Muggles can't do that.”
“How did she get into Hogsmeade?” James asked, turning to follow Remus.
“I don’t know. There was a flash like lighting and she was just there,” Remus said, leaning against the tree as he slipped his boots on and rolled his trouser legs back down. “She knew about everything Dumbledore told us. She knew about the future.”
“How could she? Even seers can’t say for sure what the future holds.” James sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “That’s proof enough for me.”
“What if she’s a Time Lord?” Peter said excitedly. “It means they could help us.”
“Dumbledore said they were all dead.” James shook his head as thunder rumbled above them.
“He didn’t seem very sure,” Remus said, fiddling with the clasp on his cloak.
The trio fell into silence as the clouds continued to roll in. Overhead, birds cried as they flew towards the forest, seeking shelter from the impending storm. Remus would have found it poetic if his mind weren’t with Sirius and the strange blonde woman. If he just knew her name--knew more than the big, bad wolf seemed to be following them--maybe they could find a way to get Sirius back. Maybe use the time machine, if that’s what the TARDIS truly was, to go back to the exact moment he disappeared and stop it from happening or warn their past selves. But paradoxes were best avoided, right? Rewriting history surely was more serious than sneaking into the Department of Mysteries?
He was drawn from his thoughts as James sighed and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Look, Moony, I don’t want you to think I don’t want to help--”
“Then help us,” he whispered, looking into his friend’s eyes.
“I wasn’t finished,” James said quietly. “I’ll help as much as I can. I’ll do as Dumbledore says and watch for trouble from my office. If this does go to hell in a pretty little Polyjuiced hand basket, someone’s going to have to finish what was started.”
“What about Lily?”
“Like you said, she’s strong,” James said, smiling knowingly. “Besides, if I were in your shoes....Well, I’d rather not think about it.”
Remus nodded sagely, looking from James’s sympathetic face to Peter’s worried one. “It’s settled then.”
“We’re really doing this?” Peter asked, voice betraying the fear they were all feeling.
“Come hell or high water,” James said, and the grin on his face was reminiscent of all the times he and Sirius had come back from Zonko’s with bags upon bags stuffed full of dungbombs.
***
Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair before he crouched down in front of Jones and Harkness’s body. He let his eyes drift down the American’s pale face to the large gash on his neck. He reached out and laid a hand on top of Jones’s.
“What do you need me to do?” he asked quietly, letting go of the man’s hand when he pulled it away to take a handkerchief from his pocket. He looked away as the Welshman carefully dabbed at the wound and his gaze landed on the hooded weevil. “Can it breathe with that thing over its head?”
“Of course,” Jones said, quietly, absently. “Jack wouldn’t use them if they weren’t humane.”
“Mr Jones,” Sirius said gently and tried to take the handkerchief from his hand. He sighed when Jones resisted, his soft “don’t” cleaving his heart in two. “He’s dead. We need to take care of the body. Preferably before that other one wakes up.”
“No.” Sirius watched his ministrations for a moment and had to blink when the wound seemed to shrink before his eyes. “He’s coming back.”
“And you’re in shock,” Sirius said and rubbed at his temples. He felt sick when he remembered Harkness’s blood was on his hands. He swallowed a dry heave and hastily wiped them on his jeans. “We need to take you to hospital or something.”
“I’m not leaving him,” Jones said, voice gravelly with emotion. “I hate it when he comes back alone.”
“Should I call Cooper, then?” Sirius sighed when Jones shook his head.
“There’s nothing she could do. Besides, he’ll be back by the time she gets here.” Jones shifted, wrapping his arms around Harkness’s chest and pulled him further into his embrace.
Sirius winced as the American’s head lolled to the side. He could feel his hands shaking and a cold sweat beading on his forehead. He needed to phone someone. Did 999 exist in this world? Or was it something else nowadays with all the mobile phones?
Sirius looked back at the car. Jones’s mobile was still in the cup holder where he had left it. Maybe he could find Cooper’s number in it. He’d seen Jones use it earlier when he’d called someone called Rhiannon from the Top Shop. He hadn’t pressed enough buttons to dial a number but he had still been connected. So if the numbers were stored in the phone itself....
“Stay here,” Sirius said and stood. He looked between the weevils and the men on the ground. “I’ll be right back.”
He sighed when Jones didn’t even acknowledge him. He felt for the man. He really did. He knew it must be hard losing someone so young, someone who seemed to care deeply and be cared for in return if that little display before the attack had meant anything. He pushed thoughts of Remus away and got to his feet. He was the one that was lost. Not Remus. He was still safe. Or as safe as any of them were anymore.
He didn’t look back as he rushed to the car. He threw the door open and half-climbed inside. He lunged at the mobile, dropping it only once as he fumbled with it. He slid the display open like he’d seen Jones do. The screen lit up, displaying the time and a picture of a smiling Asian woman and Jones, smiles on their faces and two glasses with paper umbrellas sitting on the table in front of them. He didn’t give it any thought as he pressed at the button marked “Contacts.” He let out the breath he’d been holding when a screen with names popped up; gwen_home and gwen_mbl were fourth and fifth on the list. He pressed the down arrow until it highlighted her mobile number and pressed the green button as he’d seen Jones do. He watched it for a moment, letting the numbers count up to 00:04 before he brought the mobile to his ear.
“Ianto?” Cooper answered on the second ring. “What’s going on there?”
Sirius hesitated a moment before saying, “Ms Cooper?”
“It’s Gwen, sweetheart. What’s going on? I’ve lost the CCTV and Ianto and Jack aren’t answering. Did something knock out the comms? Are you all right?”
Sirius was quiet for a moment as he backed out of the car. “It’s about Harkness,” he said, looking back at the American and Jones. “He’s dead.”
He heard her sigh and smiled wanly as she swore under her breath in Welsh. He’d always thought it rather endearing when Remus did that...not that he'd ever admitted it to anyone. “ I’ve been dreading this since...well, since we lost Tosh and Owen. How’s Ianto holding up?”
“He’s in shock. He needs a doctor. He...he thinks Harkness is coming back.”
There was a pregnant silence down the line, the only sounds that of the city and Jones’s voice drifting over as he talked softly to Harkness’s corpse. He was beginning to think they’d been disconnected when Cooper’s determined voice came over the phone. “And what do you think about that?”
“I fucking saw that weevil thing rip his throat out! Jones is in shock. He needs medical attention!” Sirius ranted.
“Is he injured?” Cooper asked and he heard her heels clicking on the Hub floor in the background before the grinding of the invisible lift stopped them.
“Maybe some bruising,” Sirius said, giving Jones a quick once over. “Harkness pushed him out of the way. Emotionally, though-“
“Do me a favour?” Her tone was clipped. “Sit with him and call me back in about twenty minutes if the situation hasn’t changed? I’m on my way.”
“But he needs a doctor. Aren’t you concerned that-“
“Of course I am, but there are things you don’t know about Jack,” Cooper said, her accent thick and voice resigned. It sent a chill down Sirius’s spine. “Humour Ianto. I need to check in with the police if Jack’s out of commission and see how it’s going with the previous situation. I’ll be there if nothing pressing has come up. Is that clear?”
Sirius was silent and started to chew his lip. By the SUV, Jones was pressing kisses to Harkness’s forehead and slowly rocking him back and forth.
“Is that clear?” Gwen asked again, more tersely.
“He shot the second weevil. He ran out of bullets,” Sirius whispered, turning away from the couple. “He seemed upset before that, though. They were talking and...holding each other.”
“Cnychu,” Gwen swore with a sigh. “Give me ten minutes. I just wish....”
Sirius wondered what she was going to say as she sighed.
“Never mind. Wishing won’t bring them back. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Gwen said, and Sirius heard a car door slam and a male voice in the background. “Ring me if anything changes.”
She severed the connection before he could answer. Sirius pulled the phone away from his ear and stared down at the screen for a moment. He didn’t know what had happened. He contemplated dialling 999, but thought better of it. Cooper knew Jones and Harkness better than he did. And if Torchwood were as secretive as they seemed to be, wouldn’t it be best for their own people to take care of it?
He put the mobile back in the car, and turned to face Jones. The young man was watching Harkness, a serious expression on his face. Sirius sighed. He hadn’t known the young man for two days, but he felt sorry for him. He’d seen Order members lose their loved ones. Hell, he’d picked up the pieces when Remus found out about his dad, but his resolve broke as he saw Jones hastily wipe a tear away. He crossed over to him and knelt beside him.
“I’m sorry,” Sirius whispered, placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“Don’t,” Jones said, shrugging his hand away. “You don’t even know him.”
Sirius ducked his head. “But I am sorry for your loss.”
Jones just nodded, his blue eyes firmly fixed on Jack’s face.
“I called Cooper,” Sirius said quietly. “She’ll be here as soon as she can.”
“She needn’t bother. We’ll be all right. Jack’s always all right.”
“She’s worried about you.”
“We’re always worried about each nowadays,” Jones said, turning his head slightly towards Sirius.
“What happen? It was something bad, wasn't it?” Sirius asked, scooting closer and wrapping an arm around the Welshman’s broad shoulders.
“All you need to know is that little brothers are massive shits,” Jones said quietly, turning back to Harkness. Sirius saw him check a stopwatch in his hand. “C’mon, Jack. It’s been seven minutes. It’s just a weevil.”
“Don’t I know it,” Sirius said and let his eyes wander to Harkness’s neck. What he saw caused him to start back in shock. The wound was gone, the skin completely healed over with no evidence it had ever been rent.
“What the--” he said, disbelievingly, and pointed to Harkness’s neck. “I saw that thing bite him. I tried to stop the bleeding. His blood is still on my hands.”
“Just wait. You’ll see,” Jones said and Sirius didn’t know if wanted to laugh or scream. Why was everyone speaking in riddles about Jack bloody Harkness?
“Mr Jones, I think we should call Cooper-holy shit!” he exclaimed as Harkness gasped loudly and started to thrash.
“Easy, Jack,” Jones was saying, holding Harkness tight against his chest as the American panted and seemed to gather his bearings. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
“Always,” Sirius heard Harkness say between deep breaths, his voice like firewhiskey. “What happened?”
“There was another-“
“You fucking died, that’s what happened, you idiot!” Sirius shouted, scooting away from the pair and scrambling to his feet. “You were dead! I saw you die! That thing-“ he pointed to the bleeding weevil “-killed you!”
“So it did,” Harkness said, still leaning back into Jones.
“And you came back to life!” Sirius said, scuttling backwards towards Jones’s car. “How is that possible?”
“Long story,” Harkness said, finally sitting up with help from Jones.
“What are you?” Sirius accused, ignoring the sound of a car pulling up.
“An impossibility,” Harkness said, his voice taking on an edge as he sat up. He raised a hand to his throat, scrubbing at the place where the creature had ripped into him.
Behind him, he heard Cooper thank someone called Andy, a door slam, and the car speed away.
“What kind of magic is this?” Sirius asked, stepping backwards and into Copper. He half turned to apologise, and was taken aback to see Cooper scowling at him as if he’d just kicked her favourite puppies.
“There’s no such thing,” Harkness said and Sirius saw him help Jones to his feet as he felt a needle jabbed into his neck.
Everything went black.
Again.
Bastard Torchwood.
***
“Thanks for that,” Ianto said, giving Gwen a weak smile as she lowered Black to the ground.
“I think he took it well,” Jack said, with a curt nod. He rolled his shoulders, wincing as his neck popped.
“He was worried about Ianto,” Gwen said quietly, not looking up at them.
“Oh,” Jack breathed, turning in Ianto’s arms. “Are you okay?”
“I will be,” Ianto whispered and kissed the corner of Jack’s mouth. “This is the first time you’ve died since they--”
“I know,” Jack interrupted. He raised a hand to cup Ianto’s cheek. “I’m fine now.”
Ianto turned his head to press his lips to Jack’s palm. “I-”
“I know. Me too,” Jack said, shushing Ianto with a finger to his lips and smiled softly at him. “Me too.”
They fell into silence, Jack and Ianto offering and taking comfort while Gwen fussed over their guest, trying to give them a bit of privacy. After a moment she cleared her throat, breaking the moment.
“We should get the weevils back to the Hub,” she said quietly.
“Agreed,” Jack said, tracing Ianto’s cheekbone with his thumb once more before pulling away with a sigh. “That sedative should be wearing off soon.”
“Oh, god!” Ianto groaned, fingers curling into the fabric of Jack’s coat. “I killed the other one.”
“You did what you had to, sweetheart,” Gwen cooed, standing and dusting off her knees.
“But I killed it! I didn’t even think!” Ianto said, barely registering Jack’s soothing hands on top of his.
“There wasn’t time to subdue it,” Jack enunciated, trying to meet his eyes.
“I know,” Ianto said, looking between the dead weevil and Jack. “I know that. But I did it because--”
“Because of what we were talking about?” Jack asked, moving himself and Ianto aside as Gwen started to make room in the boot for the weevils.
Ianto nodded. “It pertains to it, yes.”
Jack smiled. “You’ve done worse for the same reason. And I’ve done far, far worse for lesser ones.”
Ianto was silent for a moment as he watched Gwen work. “I want to go home, Jack.”
Jack pulled Ianto into his embrace. “All right.” He pulled back enough to press a chaste kiss to his forehead, and Ianto sagged into him. He tightened his arms around him and started to rock him gently from side to side. “We’ll get the weevil settled and then we’ll go.”
“I can take care of it,” Gwen said quietly. She gave them a hesitant smile when they turned to her. “I should have been out here with you.”
“You’re just getting over an injury, Gwen,” Jack said firmly. “You need to be at your best in the field.”
“It’s no excuse,” she said, her voice rising. “You died, Jack. You died. It’s too soon.”
“And what if it had been you? Or Ianto?” Jack countered and moved to the sedated weevil. He crouched down, back to Gwen, and shouldered it with a grunt. “What then?”
“Don’t talk like that,” Gwen said, moving aside as he deposited the weevil into the back of the SUV.
“Gwen,” Jack said, rounding on her, “you were watching the CCTV when the second weevil appeared?”
Gwen nodded, her mouth set in a moue of displeasure and her eyes blazing with fury and a shine of tears. “Almost out of nowhere.”
“You saw it going for Ianto.”
She swallowed hard and nodded again.
“You saved him,” Jack said and looked at her over his shoulder. Out the corner of his eyes he saw Ianto walking over to his car, his hand hovering over his side. He sighed when Ianto opened the passenger door and all but collapsed in.
“But you died,” Gwen said, laying a hand on Jack’s forearm and looked up at him with wide eyes. “Doesn’t that mean anything?”
Jack turned around and leaned against the SUV's frame. He gave Gwen a hard, long look before glancing back at Ianto. “It means everything if he’s alive for another day. Besides, it kinda lost it’s novelty after the first hundred or so times.”
Gwen snorted and choked back a slightly hysterical giggle.
Jack crossed his arms and stared down at his boots. He smiled to himself and looked up. “Will you be all right taking care of the weevils and Black on your own?”
Gwen nodded. “I’ll manage,” she said and looked between the two men. “Just...take care of him, yeah?”
Jack said nothing as he pushed away from the SUV and crossed to the dead weevil, Gwen on his heels. As they crouched down to lift it, he met her eyes. “Don’t worry. Of course I will.”
“Okay,” Gwen said, a strained smile on her lips as they lifted the weevil. “What should I tell Black when he comes to?”
Jack waited until they had placed the weevil in the boot and closed it before answering. “Tell him what you think he can handle. Retcon him if you have to.” He glanced back at the unconscious man and sighed. “We really need to keep him awake more often.”
Gwen giggled again. “That’d probably be for the best.”
“Probably,” Jack echoed, grinning. “If you’ll get the door, I’ll get him settled.”
Gwen nodded and walked around the SUV to the passenger side door while Jack brushed off his hands and crossed to Black. He stared down at the young man for a moment before bending down.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he whispered and lifted him, groaning under his weight as he stood. This was getting to be a habit.
Gwen frowned at him as he approached. “You know, he was pretty good in a crisis,” she said, stepping aside for Jack to set Black in. She reached up to cradle the young man’s head when it came to close to the frame. “Easy.”
Jack grunted as he deposited Black and drew back. “Your point being?”
“What we were talking about this morning,” she added grudgingly. “I think maybe you have a point.”
To hide his smile, he leaned in to do up Black’s seat belt. “I knew you’d see it my way eventually.”
“It just feels like we’re replacing them,” Gwen said, sticking her hands in her pocket and absently kicking at one of the tyres, refusing to meet his eye.
“We’re only doing this to keep an eye on him, remember?” Jack said and closed the door as gently as possible. He turned to her and reached out, brushing her hair behind her ear. “They’ll never be able to be replaced.”
“I know,” Gwen said, taking a step back and holding out her hand palm up. “Keys please.”
Jack chuckled and reached into his trouser pocket. He placed them in her hand, a feeble smile tugging at his lips at her curt “thank you.”
“How did you get here anyway?” he asked, following her as she started around the SUV.
“Andy gave me a lift,” she said. “He picked me up on the Plass. We were on the way to the crime scene, but I though I’d be of better use here.”
“I understand,” Jack said, standing back as she opened the door. “If you need any help, just call us.”
Gwen gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”
He waved as she pulled away from the kerb and watched the SUV disappear down the deserted street. With a sigh, he slowly walked over to Ianto’s Audi. He climbed in and quickly did up his seat belt before laying a hand on Ianto’s thigh. He smiled when Ianto’s warm hand covered his own cooler one.
“Home?” Ianto asked, pulling his hand away long enough to hand Jack the keys.
“Home,” Jack said, smiling as he took them.
Part XIV
Author: noscrubs12345
sirius100 Prompt: Variations on Reality (original)
Pairings: Remus/Sirius, Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: Sirius Black knew there was something he didn't like about Cardiff. He just didn't expect it to be a rift in time and space. But, once taken, will he be able to make it back to the wizarding world? Or will he be stuck with bloody Torchwood if his friends don't find him first? And what does a mysterious blonde woman have to do with the strange blue box hidden inside the Department of Mysteries?
Warnings: spoilers through Torchwood series two and Doctor Who series four
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, Russell T Davies, the BBC, various publishers, including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No copyright or trademark infringement is intended and no money is being made.
Missed the beginning?: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV || Part V || Part VI || Part VII || Part VIII || Part IX || Part X || Part XI || Part XII
or
Bloody Torchwood @ AO3
“This is madness,” James said, running a hand through his messy hair. “Absolute, stark raving madness.”
Remus closed his eyes against the sun, letting the feeble rays warm his face as the lake lapped at his ankles. He thought of the task at hand, of the blonde woman and her cryptic riddles, of failing to find a way to get Sirius back. And worst of all, of not finding a way to Sirius if they failed.
“It’s the only way,” he said, opening his eyes and turning to look at James and Peter sitting by the old oak tree. The two men were nestled among its sprawling roots, Peter looking pale and drawn off to one side and James decidedly cross as he plucked at blades of grass.
“We don’t know that,” James said, meeting Remus’s eyes for a moment. “What about that woman? That device you mentioned? Couldn’t we use that?”
“And where do you suggest we get them? Just ask her nicely? ‘Pretty please with a cherry on top?’” Remus said, eyes narrowing.
“But would it hurt to try?” James said, gesticulating wildly and causing his glasses to slide down his nose. He quickly pushed them back up. “If this goes tits up, we’ll end up in Azkaban.”
“Or we’ll get the Kiss,” Peter said in a lifeless monotone. His eyes were hollow as he looked between James and Remus.
“Lily’s having a baby. I can’t take a risk that big. What would happen if I was convicted?”
“Lily’s strong,” Remus said and placed his hands on his hips. “She’d understand. Maybe not right away, but eventually. But this is Sirius we’re talking about, James. He’s your best mate. He’d stop at nothing if it was one of us that disappeared. And I won’t either.”
“But if we get caught, Moony, what happens then?” James said, glaring at him. “Don’t you care?”
Remus was quite for a long moment, gaze lingering on the grass between James and Peter. “What have I got left to lose, James?”
“Remus-“ James said warningly, starting to rise.
“Don’t!” Remus said and wrapped his arms around himself. “I have no job, no money, and now Sirius is gone. I have nothing. I’m going to do this, James. I’ll go with Dumbledore on my own if that’s what you want. I can afford the risk.”
“You’re a right twat sometimes, you know,” James said incredulously. “You’re not going in alone. He’s our friend too. I’d do anything for him. I just think we should consider the consequences our families will have to face if worst comes to worst.”
“I love him, James. You know that,” Remus said, standing up a little straighter and his chin jutting out in challenge. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“And you think I won’t? That I love him any less than you?” James countered, crossing to the lake and standing at the water’s edge, eyes burning into his. “I may not be his boyfriend, but I do love him. Just like I love you and Peter. You’re like my brothers. I’d do anything for you.”
“Then stop whinging and do it,” Remus pleaded, holding James’s gaze until the dark-haired man looked away.
“I have a wife to think about,” James said, frowning, “and a baby.”
“And who am I thinking about?” Remus countered, deflating. “We may not be married, but my feelings for him are the same as yours for Lily. What if it was her that was gone? What would you do then?”
“Stop it!” Peter shouted, wobbling to his feet. “Just stop it! Both of you!”
“Stay out of this, Wormtail,” James called back, eyes shifting momentarily to the darkening horizon as the wind started to pick up.
“Like hell I will,” Peter said and crossed over to them. He stood by the edge of the lake, one finger pointed accusingly at James. “He’d be beside himself if it was you that was gone. Hell, if any of us were. And don’t think you’re the only one who’ll lose someone if we fail. What about my mum? She’d be devastated. What about Remus’s? She’s already lost a husband. She doesn’t need any more grief.”
“But-“ James started.
“He’s right,” Remus said quietly. “There’s been enough loss. My tad is dead because of Voldemort. How many of our friends are for the same reason? How many more have to die? And Sirius...Sirius is gone because of situations out of our control. What if Voldemort learns how to harness the Rift? Or get his hands on this TARDIS thing? If things are bad now, wait until the whole universe or Time itself is at his mercy. Do we just sit around and wait or do we try to keep it from him? If we can get Sirius back while doing so, then so be it. As far as we know, he’s out there somewhere, alive and alone. I for one am not going to sit around when we have the chance to bring him home.”
“But how do we know this Rift even exists? That the TARDIS isn’t a trick?” James hissed. “This woman could be one of Voldemort's wolves. What then?”
“Because Cardiff has a high instance of unexplained events,” Remus said coldy. “Anyone who’s spent any sort of time there knows that. And it isn’t like Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Strange things happen there that can’t be explained by magic. As for the TARDIS, something in me trusts that woman as much as she makes my skin crawl.”
“That doesn’t even make any sense!” James countered. “Why trust someone we don’t know isn’t working for him?”
“Because we have no other choice,” Peter called. “Why can’t you see that? We need him back, James.”
“She’s a Muggle,” Remus said, pushing James slightly as he stepped out of the water. “I think. She was in Hogsmeade. She knew about werewolves. She bloody Apparated. Last I checked Muggles can't do that.”
“How did she get into Hogsmeade?” James asked, turning to follow Remus.
“I don’t know. There was a flash like lighting and she was just there,” Remus said, leaning against the tree as he slipped his boots on and rolled his trouser legs back down. “She knew about everything Dumbledore told us. She knew about the future.”
“How could she? Even seers can’t say for sure what the future holds.” James sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “That’s proof enough for me.”
“What if she’s a Time Lord?” Peter said excitedly. “It means they could help us.”
“Dumbledore said they were all dead.” James shook his head as thunder rumbled above them.
“He didn’t seem very sure,” Remus said, fiddling with the clasp on his cloak.
The trio fell into silence as the clouds continued to roll in. Overhead, birds cried as they flew towards the forest, seeking shelter from the impending storm. Remus would have found it poetic if his mind weren’t with Sirius and the strange blonde woman. If he just knew her name--knew more than the big, bad wolf seemed to be following them--maybe they could find a way to get Sirius back. Maybe use the time machine, if that’s what the TARDIS truly was, to go back to the exact moment he disappeared and stop it from happening or warn their past selves. But paradoxes were best avoided, right? Rewriting history surely was more serious than sneaking into the Department of Mysteries?
He was drawn from his thoughts as James sighed and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Look, Moony, I don’t want you to think I don’t want to help--”
“Then help us,” he whispered, looking into his friend’s eyes.
“I wasn’t finished,” James said quietly. “I’ll help as much as I can. I’ll do as Dumbledore says and watch for trouble from my office. If this does go to hell in a pretty little Polyjuiced hand basket, someone’s going to have to finish what was started.”
“What about Lily?”
“Like you said, she’s strong,” James said, smiling knowingly. “Besides, if I were in your shoes....Well, I’d rather not think about it.”
Remus nodded sagely, looking from James’s sympathetic face to Peter’s worried one. “It’s settled then.”
“We’re really doing this?” Peter asked, voice betraying the fear they were all feeling.
“Come hell or high water,” James said, and the grin on his face was reminiscent of all the times he and Sirius had come back from Zonko’s with bags upon bags stuffed full of dungbombs.
***
Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair before he crouched down in front of Jones and Harkness’s body. He let his eyes drift down the American’s pale face to the large gash on his neck. He reached out and laid a hand on top of Jones’s.
“What do you need me to do?” he asked quietly, letting go of the man’s hand when he pulled it away to take a handkerchief from his pocket. He looked away as the Welshman carefully dabbed at the wound and his gaze landed on the hooded weevil. “Can it breathe with that thing over its head?”
“Of course,” Jones said, quietly, absently. “Jack wouldn’t use them if they weren’t humane.”
“Mr Jones,” Sirius said gently and tried to take the handkerchief from his hand. He sighed when Jones resisted, his soft “don’t” cleaving his heart in two. “He’s dead. We need to take care of the body. Preferably before that other one wakes up.”
“No.” Sirius watched his ministrations for a moment and had to blink when the wound seemed to shrink before his eyes. “He’s coming back.”
“And you’re in shock,” Sirius said and rubbed at his temples. He felt sick when he remembered Harkness’s blood was on his hands. He swallowed a dry heave and hastily wiped them on his jeans. “We need to take you to hospital or something.”
“I’m not leaving him,” Jones said, voice gravelly with emotion. “I hate it when he comes back alone.”
“Should I call Cooper, then?” Sirius sighed when Jones shook his head.
“There’s nothing she could do. Besides, he’ll be back by the time she gets here.” Jones shifted, wrapping his arms around Harkness’s chest and pulled him further into his embrace.
Sirius winced as the American’s head lolled to the side. He could feel his hands shaking and a cold sweat beading on his forehead. He needed to phone someone. Did 999 exist in this world? Or was it something else nowadays with all the mobile phones?
Sirius looked back at the car. Jones’s mobile was still in the cup holder where he had left it. Maybe he could find Cooper’s number in it. He’d seen Jones use it earlier when he’d called someone called Rhiannon from the Top Shop. He hadn’t pressed enough buttons to dial a number but he had still been connected. So if the numbers were stored in the phone itself....
“Stay here,” Sirius said and stood. He looked between the weevils and the men on the ground. “I’ll be right back.”
He sighed when Jones didn’t even acknowledge him. He felt for the man. He really did. He knew it must be hard losing someone so young, someone who seemed to care deeply and be cared for in return if that little display before the attack had meant anything. He pushed thoughts of Remus away and got to his feet. He was the one that was lost. Not Remus. He was still safe. Or as safe as any of them were anymore.
He didn’t look back as he rushed to the car. He threw the door open and half-climbed inside. He lunged at the mobile, dropping it only once as he fumbled with it. He slid the display open like he’d seen Jones do. The screen lit up, displaying the time and a picture of a smiling Asian woman and Jones, smiles on their faces and two glasses with paper umbrellas sitting on the table in front of them. He didn’t give it any thought as he pressed at the button marked “Contacts.” He let out the breath he’d been holding when a screen with names popped up; gwen_home and gwen_mbl were fourth and fifth on the list. He pressed the down arrow until it highlighted her mobile number and pressed the green button as he’d seen Jones do. He watched it for a moment, letting the numbers count up to 00:04 before he brought the mobile to his ear.
“Ianto?” Cooper answered on the second ring. “What’s going on there?”
Sirius hesitated a moment before saying, “Ms Cooper?”
“It’s Gwen, sweetheart. What’s going on? I’ve lost the CCTV and Ianto and Jack aren’t answering. Did something knock out the comms? Are you all right?”
Sirius was quiet for a moment as he backed out of the car. “It’s about Harkness,” he said, looking back at the American and Jones. “He’s dead.”
He heard her sigh and smiled wanly as she swore under her breath in Welsh. He’d always thought it rather endearing when Remus did that...not that he'd ever admitted it to anyone. “ I’ve been dreading this since...well, since we lost Tosh and Owen. How’s Ianto holding up?”
“He’s in shock. He needs a doctor. He...he thinks Harkness is coming back.”
There was a pregnant silence down the line, the only sounds that of the city and Jones’s voice drifting over as he talked softly to Harkness’s corpse. He was beginning to think they’d been disconnected when Cooper’s determined voice came over the phone. “And what do you think about that?”
“I fucking saw that weevil thing rip his throat out! Jones is in shock. He needs medical attention!” Sirius ranted.
“Is he injured?” Cooper asked and he heard her heels clicking on the Hub floor in the background before the grinding of the invisible lift stopped them.
“Maybe some bruising,” Sirius said, giving Jones a quick once over. “Harkness pushed him out of the way. Emotionally, though-“
“Do me a favour?” Her tone was clipped. “Sit with him and call me back in about twenty minutes if the situation hasn’t changed? I’m on my way.”
“But he needs a doctor. Aren’t you concerned that-“
“Of course I am, but there are things you don’t know about Jack,” Cooper said, her accent thick and voice resigned. It sent a chill down Sirius’s spine. “Humour Ianto. I need to check in with the police if Jack’s out of commission and see how it’s going with the previous situation. I’ll be there if nothing pressing has come up. Is that clear?”
Sirius was silent and started to chew his lip. By the SUV, Jones was pressing kisses to Harkness’s forehead and slowly rocking him back and forth.
“Is that clear?” Gwen asked again, more tersely.
“He shot the second weevil. He ran out of bullets,” Sirius whispered, turning away from the couple. “He seemed upset before that, though. They were talking and...holding each other.”
“Cnychu,” Gwen swore with a sigh. “Give me ten minutes. I just wish....”
Sirius wondered what she was going to say as she sighed.
“Never mind. Wishing won’t bring them back. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Gwen said, and Sirius heard a car door slam and a male voice in the background. “Ring me if anything changes.”
She severed the connection before he could answer. Sirius pulled the phone away from his ear and stared down at the screen for a moment. He didn’t know what had happened. He contemplated dialling 999, but thought better of it. Cooper knew Jones and Harkness better than he did. And if Torchwood were as secretive as they seemed to be, wouldn’t it be best for their own people to take care of it?
He put the mobile back in the car, and turned to face Jones. The young man was watching Harkness, a serious expression on his face. Sirius sighed. He hadn’t known the young man for two days, but he felt sorry for him. He’d seen Order members lose their loved ones. Hell, he’d picked up the pieces when Remus found out about his dad, but his resolve broke as he saw Jones hastily wipe a tear away. He crossed over to him and knelt beside him.
“I’m sorry,” Sirius whispered, placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“Don’t,” Jones said, shrugging his hand away. “You don’t even know him.”
Sirius ducked his head. “But I am sorry for your loss.”
Jones just nodded, his blue eyes firmly fixed on Jack’s face.
“I called Cooper,” Sirius said quietly. “She’ll be here as soon as she can.”
“She needn’t bother. We’ll be all right. Jack’s always all right.”
“She’s worried about you.”
“We’re always worried about each nowadays,” Jones said, turning his head slightly towards Sirius.
“What happen? It was something bad, wasn't it?” Sirius asked, scooting closer and wrapping an arm around the Welshman’s broad shoulders.
“All you need to know is that little brothers are massive shits,” Jones said quietly, turning back to Harkness. Sirius saw him check a stopwatch in his hand. “C’mon, Jack. It’s been seven minutes. It’s just a weevil.”
“Don’t I know it,” Sirius said and let his eyes wander to Harkness’s neck. What he saw caused him to start back in shock. The wound was gone, the skin completely healed over with no evidence it had ever been rent.
“What the--” he said, disbelievingly, and pointed to Harkness’s neck. “I saw that thing bite him. I tried to stop the bleeding. His blood is still on my hands.”
“Just wait. You’ll see,” Jones said and Sirius didn’t know if wanted to laugh or scream. Why was everyone speaking in riddles about Jack bloody Harkness?
“Mr Jones, I think we should call Cooper-holy shit!” he exclaimed as Harkness gasped loudly and started to thrash.
“Easy, Jack,” Jones was saying, holding Harkness tight against his chest as the American panted and seemed to gather his bearings. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
“Always,” Sirius heard Harkness say between deep breaths, his voice like firewhiskey. “What happened?”
“There was another-“
“You fucking died, that’s what happened, you idiot!” Sirius shouted, scooting away from the pair and scrambling to his feet. “You were dead! I saw you die! That thing-“ he pointed to the bleeding weevil “-killed you!”
“So it did,” Harkness said, still leaning back into Jones.
“And you came back to life!” Sirius said, scuttling backwards towards Jones’s car. “How is that possible?”
“Long story,” Harkness said, finally sitting up with help from Jones.
“What are you?” Sirius accused, ignoring the sound of a car pulling up.
“An impossibility,” Harkness said, his voice taking on an edge as he sat up. He raised a hand to his throat, scrubbing at the place where the creature had ripped into him.
Behind him, he heard Cooper thank someone called Andy, a door slam, and the car speed away.
“What kind of magic is this?” Sirius asked, stepping backwards and into Copper. He half turned to apologise, and was taken aback to see Cooper scowling at him as if he’d just kicked her favourite puppies.
“There’s no such thing,” Harkness said and Sirius saw him help Jones to his feet as he felt a needle jabbed into his neck.
Everything went black.
Again.
Bastard Torchwood.
***
“Thanks for that,” Ianto said, giving Gwen a weak smile as she lowered Black to the ground.
“I think he took it well,” Jack said, with a curt nod. He rolled his shoulders, wincing as his neck popped.
“He was worried about Ianto,” Gwen said quietly, not looking up at them.
“Oh,” Jack breathed, turning in Ianto’s arms. “Are you okay?”
“I will be,” Ianto whispered and kissed the corner of Jack’s mouth. “This is the first time you’ve died since they--”
“I know,” Jack interrupted. He raised a hand to cup Ianto’s cheek. “I’m fine now.”
Ianto turned his head to press his lips to Jack’s palm. “I-”
“I know. Me too,” Jack said, shushing Ianto with a finger to his lips and smiled softly at him. “Me too.”
They fell into silence, Jack and Ianto offering and taking comfort while Gwen fussed over their guest, trying to give them a bit of privacy. After a moment she cleared her throat, breaking the moment.
“We should get the weevils back to the Hub,” she said quietly.
“Agreed,” Jack said, tracing Ianto’s cheekbone with his thumb once more before pulling away with a sigh. “That sedative should be wearing off soon.”
“Oh, god!” Ianto groaned, fingers curling into the fabric of Jack’s coat. “I killed the other one.”
“You did what you had to, sweetheart,” Gwen cooed, standing and dusting off her knees.
“But I killed it! I didn’t even think!” Ianto said, barely registering Jack’s soothing hands on top of his.
“There wasn’t time to subdue it,” Jack enunciated, trying to meet his eyes.
“I know,” Ianto said, looking between the dead weevil and Jack. “I know that. But I did it because--”
“Because of what we were talking about?” Jack asked, moving himself and Ianto aside as Gwen started to make room in the boot for the weevils.
Ianto nodded. “It pertains to it, yes.”
Jack smiled. “You’ve done worse for the same reason. And I’ve done far, far worse for lesser ones.”
Ianto was silent for a moment as he watched Gwen work. “I want to go home, Jack.”
Jack pulled Ianto into his embrace. “All right.” He pulled back enough to press a chaste kiss to his forehead, and Ianto sagged into him. He tightened his arms around him and started to rock him gently from side to side. “We’ll get the weevil settled and then we’ll go.”
“I can take care of it,” Gwen said quietly. She gave them a hesitant smile when they turned to her. “I should have been out here with you.”
“You’re just getting over an injury, Gwen,” Jack said firmly. “You need to be at your best in the field.”
“It’s no excuse,” she said, her voice rising. “You died, Jack. You died. It’s too soon.”
“And what if it had been you? Or Ianto?” Jack countered and moved to the sedated weevil. He crouched down, back to Gwen, and shouldered it with a grunt. “What then?”
“Don’t talk like that,” Gwen said, moving aside as he deposited the weevil into the back of the SUV.
“Gwen,” Jack said, rounding on her, “you were watching the CCTV when the second weevil appeared?”
Gwen nodded, her mouth set in a moue of displeasure and her eyes blazing with fury and a shine of tears. “Almost out of nowhere.”
“You saw it going for Ianto.”
She swallowed hard and nodded again.
“You saved him,” Jack said and looked at her over his shoulder. Out the corner of his eyes he saw Ianto walking over to his car, his hand hovering over his side. He sighed when Ianto opened the passenger door and all but collapsed in.
“But you died,” Gwen said, laying a hand on Jack’s forearm and looked up at him with wide eyes. “Doesn’t that mean anything?”
Jack turned around and leaned against the SUV's frame. He gave Gwen a hard, long look before glancing back at Ianto. “It means everything if he’s alive for another day. Besides, it kinda lost it’s novelty after the first hundred or so times.”
Gwen snorted and choked back a slightly hysterical giggle.
Jack crossed his arms and stared down at his boots. He smiled to himself and looked up. “Will you be all right taking care of the weevils and Black on your own?”
Gwen nodded. “I’ll manage,” she said and looked between the two men. “Just...take care of him, yeah?”
Jack said nothing as he pushed away from the SUV and crossed to the dead weevil, Gwen on his heels. As they crouched down to lift it, he met her eyes. “Don’t worry. Of course I will.”
“Okay,” Gwen said, a strained smile on her lips as they lifted the weevil. “What should I tell Black when he comes to?”
Jack waited until they had placed the weevil in the boot and closed it before answering. “Tell him what you think he can handle. Retcon him if you have to.” He glanced back at the unconscious man and sighed. “We really need to keep him awake more often.”
Gwen giggled again. “That’d probably be for the best.”
“Probably,” Jack echoed, grinning. “If you’ll get the door, I’ll get him settled.”
Gwen nodded and walked around the SUV to the passenger side door while Jack brushed off his hands and crossed to Black. He stared down at the young man for a moment before bending down.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he whispered and lifted him, groaning under his weight as he stood. This was getting to be a habit.
Gwen frowned at him as he approached. “You know, he was pretty good in a crisis,” she said, stepping aside for Jack to set Black in. She reached up to cradle the young man’s head when it came to close to the frame. “Easy.”
Jack grunted as he deposited Black and drew back. “Your point being?”
“What we were talking about this morning,” she added grudgingly. “I think maybe you have a point.”
To hide his smile, he leaned in to do up Black’s seat belt. “I knew you’d see it my way eventually.”
“It just feels like we’re replacing them,” Gwen said, sticking her hands in her pocket and absently kicking at one of the tyres, refusing to meet his eye.
“We’re only doing this to keep an eye on him, remember?” Jack said and closed the door as gently as possible. He turned to her and reached out, brushing her hair behind her ear. “They’ll never be able to be replaced.”
“I know,” Gwen said, taking a step back and holding out her hand palm up. “Keys please.”
Jack chuckled and reached into his trouser pocket. He placed them in her hand, a feeble smile tugging at his lips at her curt “thank you.”
“How did you get here anyway?” he asked, following her as she started around the SUV.
“Andy gave me a lift,” she said. “He picked me up on the Plass. We were on the way to the crime scene, but I though I’d be of better use here.”
“I understand,” Jack said, standing back as she opened the door. “If you need any help, just call us.”
Gwen gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”
He waved as she pulled away from the kerb and watched the SUV disappear down the deserted street. With a sigh, he slowly walked over to Ianto’s Audi. He climbed in and quickly did up his seat belt before laying a hand on Ianto’s thigh. He smiled when Ianto’s warm hand covered his own cooler one.
“Home?” Ianto asked, pulling his hand away long enough to hand Jack the keys.
“Home,” Jack said, smiling as he took them.
Part XIV