Howl ~4/?~
Title: Howl ~4/?~
Author: saar_fantasy
Pairing: Jack/Ianto (kind of...)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death + reincarnation
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in this fic. The words and plot of the story are mine. Completely fabricated for fun.
Summary: Ianto has died, but he comes back in another life form. The form of a wolf. How will Jack react when he finds out? A story about a man and his wolf.
A/N: Since I'm not religious, I'm using a lot of creative writing freedom. I do, kind of, believe in reincarnation. Don't flame me for it.
A/N 2: I know I'm bad at the responding to comments thing, but I do love receiving them very much! (who doesn't? :p)
Ianto's sitting on his chair, staring at the picture Jack had drawn of his face. It looks absolutely beautiful and for a moment, Ianto wishes he could be human again.
He hears footsteps coming up the stairs but he doesn't bother to turn around. He knows perfectly well who it is.
"You look good on that chair." Jack's footsteps come closer and Ianto leans into the touch when Jack's hand rests against the side of his head. "I knew you would fit in right away. Even as a wolf." A wistful sigh escapes his lips. "I couldn't bring you back, Yan." he finally says softly, barely over a whisper. "I didn't want to put you through that agony like what happened with Owen. I didn't want to hurt you anymore than I already did."
Ianto whines softly and turns his head so he can look at Jack, then he nuzzles at his arm and Jack crouches down, cupping both sides of his face in his hands.
"But I couldn't deal with the grieving. Watching you die was just too much. I wanted a part of you here so I pictured your face inside my head, your beautiful smile, and started drawing. Can you imagine me talking to a painting or an empty chair? This chair, the one you're sitting on right now. Well, I did. I would close my eyes and imagine you were sitting there, just listening and it always made me feel better. I'm glad you're here, even if we can't do the stuff we used to do -I think you know what I mean-. You're here. That's all that matters to me now."
A pause and a soft smile, then, " I missed you Jones, Ianto Jones. Especially your amazing coffee."
Ianto felt himself roll his eyes and Jack barked out a laugh, walking over to his own chair to sit down for a bit, but keeping his eyes on Ianto.
"At least I still get to see that. You were always good at rolling your eyes at me. And at Owen of course..."
Hearing the sadness in his Captain's voice, Ianto jumped off his chair and ran over to Jack, laying his head on his lap. Jack smiled and petted the wolf's head fondly.
"I still miss them, you know. At least I still have Gwen and now I have you back as well. Even though you can't talk, I still have you to listen to me. You were always good at that." Jack looked down into those loyal blue eyes, "I took you for granted, Yan. I'm sorry. I don't think you realize how much you really mean to me because I never showed you my real feelings."
Ianto burried his head even more into Jack's lap, silently telling him that he didn't have to, because he knew. He knew everything.
"You have a right to know, Yan." Jack whispered, "Let me show you how I feel."
Jack gently lifted Ianto's head up from his lap before he stood up. He was about to take his greatcoat when Ianto leapt up on his hindlegs in front of him, grabbed the coat from the stand with his mouth and held it out to Jack. Jack smiled, his just-for-Ianto-smile, and took the coat, pulling it on and smoothing it out like Ianto used to do for him.
They both walked out the office and down the stairs, Jack calling out to Gwen and Andy that he and Ianto would be out for a little bit and to call him if something big would come in.
Gwen looked curiously after them, already planning on asking Jack what they had done when they were back.
~~++~~
Ianto had no idea where they were going, so color him surprised when Jack parked his car outside his old appartment building and when they got out, Jack led him straight to his old appartment.
Luckily none of his former neighbors were outside their appartment or in the hallway, because they would freak out if they saw a big wolf in there. Of course Jack would tell them he was a big dog, but still. Ianto didn't like the fact that people feared him.
Even Jack had been afraid of him the first time he saw him in his new animal body, Ianto had seen it in his eyes, and that was just one day ago. They had slept in Jack's new bunker that night, Ianto's head on Jack's chest and one of his paws on his belly.
Jack had been sleeping, for once, without waking up because of nightmares. It really was a nice change.
"Don't freak out, ok?" Jack asked, almost begged, when they were standing in fronto of the door of Ianto's flat. Ianto thought back to when Gwen said the same thing to him before they entered Jack's office.
He didn't think anything could surprise him more than the painting and the desk in that office.
Boy, was he wrong...
Jack opened the door for him and let him walk in first. His eyes went up to the banner when he walked into his small living room, 'Welcome Home Ianto Jones', then his eyes took in everything else and he was frozen in place.
Everything still looked exactly the same, except that it wasn't...
When he looked into his book rack, not only his books were there, but Jack's were in there as well. Completely in alphabetical order and categorized per author. Next to a pair of his shoes, which were standing neatly in the corner, stood a pair of Jack's.
When he walked into the bedroom, the door stood open, there wasn't just one, but two pillows on the bed. His wardrobe stood open as well and next to his clothes were, just guess...Yep, Jack's clothes were hanging there or laying fold up on the shelves.
Walking into the kitchen, Jack's favorite blue-white striped cup was on the coffee table. Right next to it lay a stopwatch that Ianto faintly remembered he had forgotten to put away in it's place before he had died.
"I asked Martha to put up the banner." Ianto jumped a little at Jack's voice, who was suddenly standing right beside him. "I hope you don't mind. She demanded to see you soon, btw. For some reason she didn't sound so surprised when I told her you were reborn as a wolf. Well, we all have seen a lot of other miraculous things, haven't we?" Jack stopped his ramble when he saw the tears in Ianto's eyes and crouched down before him. "All a bit too much, is it?" Ianto dipped his head and licked Jack's hand, encouraging him to explain. Or at least try to. "I think it's obvious by now, but I've been living here while you were...away." Jack cleared his throat, blinking back his own tears. "I didn't have anywhere else to go. Well, I had...but I didn't want to be there. After you...you know...I was driving around, after we dealt with the 456, not knowing where the hell I was going until I ended up in front of your apartment building and I knew this is where I'm supposed to be, even if you weren't there anymore."
Jack sat down and Ianto laid down with him, his head on his lap, letting Jack stroke his fur.
"I know I never told you this before...I...I just couldn't." He looked down, straight into Ianto's eyes, a tear rolling down both of their cheeks. "You, not Gwen, were the heart and soul of Torchwood. Were... no, are, the very heart and soul of me. You kept me grounded. Made me more human. Made me fall in love." Another tear fell down. "I love you, Ianto Jones. Have been in love with you for a very, very long time now. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner..."
Ianto stood up and for a moment Jack was afraid that he would walk away. He was ready to protest when Ianto put his paws on his shoulders and pushed him backwards. Jack just let himself fall and pulled Ianto right on top of him.
Overcome by emotions, Ianto lifted his head and howled, but not so loud this time as he did when Gwen hugged him. Then he buried his head into Jack's neck. Jack pressed his fingers into fur and skin and whispered 'I'm so sorry', 'I love you', 'it's alright, sweetheart. It's alright' and other sweet nothings into the wolf's ear.
Both human and animal let their tears fall freely inside the safety net of Ianto's, or Ianto's and Jack's now, apartment.
As sad as it might look to outsiders,things had never felt more right before for both man and wolf then they did right at that moment.
Author: saar_fantasy
Pairing: Jack/Ianto (kind of...)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death + reincarnation
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in this fic. The words and plot of the story are mine. Completely fabricated for fun.
Summary: Ianto has died, but he comes back in another life form. The form of a wolf. How will Jack react when he finds out? A story about a man and his wolf.
A/N: Since I'm not religious, I'm using a lot of creative writing freedom. I do, kind of, believe in reincarnation. Don't flame me for it.
A/N 2: I know I'm bad at the responding to comments thing, but I do love receiving them very much! (who doesn't? :p)
Ianto's sitting on his chair, staring at the picture Jack had drawn of his face. It looks absolutely beautiful and for a moment, Ianto wishes he could be human again.
He hears footsteps coming up the stairs but he doesn't bother to turn around. He knows perfectly well who it is.
"You look good on that chair." Jack's footsteps come closer and Ianto leans into the touch when Jack's hand rests against the side of his head. "I knew you would fit in right away. Even as a wolf." A wistful sigh escapes his lips. "I couldn't bring you back, Yan." he finally says softly, barely over a whisper. "I didn't want to put you through that agony like what happened with Owen. I didn't want to hurt you anymore than I already did."
Ianto whines softly and turns his head so he can look at Jack, then he nuzzles at his arm and Jack crouches down, cupping both sides of his face in his hands.
"But I couldn't deal with the grieving. Watching you die was just too much. I wanted a part of you here so I pictured your face inside my head, your beautiful smile, and started drawing. Can you imagine me talking to a painting or an empty chair? This chair, the one you're sitting on right now. Well, I did. I would close my eyes and imagine you were sitting there, just listening and it always made me feel better. I'm glad you're here, even if we can't do the stuff we used to do -I think you know what I mean-. You're here. That's all that matters to me now."
A pause and a soft smile, then, " I missed you Jones, Ianto Jones. Especially your amazing coffee."
Ianto felt himself roll his eyes and Jack barked out a laugh, walking over to his own chair to sit down for a bit, but keeping his eyes on Ianto.
"At least I still get to see that. You were always good at rolling your eyes at me. And at Owen of course..."
Hearing the sadness in his Captain's voice, Ianto jumped off his chair and ran over to Jack, laying his head on his lap. Jack smiled and petted the wolf's head fondly.
"I still miss them, you know. At least I still have Gwen and now I have you back as well. Even though you can't talk, I still have you to listen to me. You were always good at that." Jack looked down into those loyal blue eyes, "I took you for granted, Yan. I'm sorry. I don't think you realize how much you really mean to me because I never showed you my real feelings."
Ianto burried his head even more into Jack's lap, silently telling him that he didn't have to, because he knew. He knew everything.
"You have a right to know, Yan." Jack whispered, "Let me show you how I feel."
Jack gently lifted Ianto's head up from his lap before he stood up. He was about to take his greatcoat when Ianto leapt up on his hindlegs in front of him, grabbed the coat from the stand with his mouth and held it out to Jack. Jack smiled, his just-for-Ianto-smile, and took the coat, pulling it on and smoothing it out like Ianto used to do for him.
They both walked out the office and down the stairs, Jack calling out to Gwen and Andy that he and Ianto would be out for a little bit and to call him if something big would come in.
Gwen looked curiously after them, already planning on asking Jack what they had done when they were back.
~~++~~
Ianto had no idea where they were going, so color him surprised when Jack parked his car outside his old appartment building and when they got out, Jack led him straight to his old appartment.
Luckily none of his former neighbors were outside their appartment or in the hallway, because they would freak out if they saw a big wolf in there. Of course Jack would tell them he was a big dog, but still. Ianto didn't like the fact that people feared him.
Even Jack had been afraid of him the first time he saw him in his new animal body, Ianto had seen it in his eyes, and that was just one day ago. They had slept in Jack's new bunker that night, Ianto's head on Jack's chest and one of his paws on his belly.
Jack had been sleeping, for once, without waking up because of nightmares. It really was a nice change.
"Don't freak out, ok?" Jack asked, almost begged, when they were standing in fronto of the door of Ianto's flat. Ianto thought back to when Gwen said the same thing to him before they entered Jack's office.
He didn't think anything could surprise him more than the painting and the desk in that office.
Boy, was he wrong...
Jack opened the door for him and let him walk in first. His eyes went up to the banner when he walked into his small living room, 'Welcome Home Ianto Jones', then his eyes took in everything else and he was frozen in place.
Everything still looked exactly the same, except that it wasn't...
When he looked into his book rack, not only his books were there, but Jack's were in there as well. Completely in alphabetical order and categorized per author. Next to a pair of his shoes, which were standing neatly in the corner, stood a pair of Jack's.
When he walked into the bedroom, the door stood open, there wasn't just one, but two pillows on the bed. His wardrobe stood open as well and next to his clothes were, just guess...Yep, Jack's clothes were hanging there or laying fold up on the shelves.
Walking into the kitchen, Jack's favorite blue-white striped cup was on the coffee table. Right next to it lay a stopwatch that Ianto faintly remembered he had forgotten to put away in it's place before he had died.
"I asked Martha to put up the banner." Ianto jumped a little at Jack's voice, who was suddenly standing right beside him. "I hope you don't mind. She demanded to see you soon, btw. For some reason she didn't sound so surprised when I told her you were reborn as a wolf. Well, we all have seen a lot of other miraculous things, haven't we?" Jack stopped his ramble when he saw the tears in Ianto's eyes and crouched down before him. "All a bit too much, is it?" Ianto dipped his head and licked Jack's hand, encouraging him to explain. Or at least try to. "I think it's obvious by now, but I've been living here while you were...away." Jack cleared his throat, blinking back his own tears. "I didn't have anywhere else to go. Well, I had...but I didn't want to be there. After you...you know...I was driving around, after we dealt with the 456, not knowing where the hell I was going until I ended up in front of your apartment building and I knew this is where I'm supposed to be, even if you weren't there anymore."
Jack sat down and Ianto laid down with him, his head on his lap, letting Jack stroke his fur.
"I know I never told you this before...I...I just couldn't." He looked down, straight into Ianto's eyes, a tear rolling down both of their cheeks. "You, not Gwen, were the heart and soul of Torchwood. Were... no, are, the very heart and soul of me. You kept me grounded. Made me more human. Made me fall in love." Another tear fell down. "I love you, Ianto Jones. Have been in love with you for a very, very long time now. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner..."
Ianto stood up and for a moment Jack was afraid that he would walk away. He was ready to protest when Ianto put his paws on his shoulders and pushed him backwards. Jack just let himself fall and pulled Ianto right on top of him.
Overcome by emotions, Ianto lifted his head and howled, but not so loud this time as he did when Gwen hugged him. Then he buried his head into Jack's neck. Jack pressed his fingers into fur and skin and whispered 'I'm so sorry', 'I love you', 'it's alright, sweetheart. It's alright' and other sweet nothings into the wolf's ear.
Both human and animal let their tears fall freely inside the safety net of Ianto's, or Ianto's and Jack's now, apartment.
As sad as it might look to outsiders,things had never felt more right before for both man and wolf then they did right at that moment.