Fic: Ruminations and Revelations (5/7)
Title: Ruminations and Revelations (5/7)
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, brief appearances by the rest of the team
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Author: space_monkey52
Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: First season up to "They Keep Killing Suzie" as well as minor ones for the audiobook "Hidden"
Disclaimer: The toys belong to the BBC, I'm just playing with them.
Summary: In the aftermath of the events of "Hidden", Jack sits by Ianto's bedside and reflects on how their relationship started.
Author's note: After many delays and much stalling, it's finally finished. I present my third Torchwood fic. Major thanks to the beta goddesses bookwrm89 and teleen_fiction who put up with my constant emails and questions as well as catching my mistakes. Also, thanks to aranellaurelote for Brit-picking. This is my longest fic yet, and I've decided to post it in chapters. I hope to start working on my fourth fic soon. :)
Chapter 5
Pacing in his office, Jack’s thoughts are centered on the information that Tosh had given him. He’d only just made it back to the Hub before his mobile rang, and he was surprised to see that it was Toshiko. She’d asked if it was still a betrayal to use what she’d heard, to say if someone was in pain; that something she’d heard was worrying her. Curiosity and protectiveness for his team getting the better of him, he told her that it wasn’t and then listened with growing apprehension. He knew that Ianto had still been distant recently, but he couldn’t understand why he was keeping agony of this level to himself. Jack thought he’d made it clear to Ianto that he could come to him if he ever needed to talk about anything, or even just didn’t want to be alone. He even thought they’d made some progress in the other man’s recovery.
Now he needed to come up with some kind of plan to handle this before it was too far beyond his control. He promised himself that he was going to help Ianto through this, and he’d been up all night trying to think of what he could possibly do.
He was distracted from his thoughts by the Rift alert alarm. Walking over to his door, Jack stuck his head out, looking at Tosh for information. He’d given her the day off to recover from the incident with Mary, but she insisted that keeping busy would help more.
Though Tosh’s eyes were still puffy and red from crying, she managed a small smile. “Spike near Leckwith Woods. Looks like something small came through.”
Small means he won’t need everybody for the retrieval, maybe just one of his team. He was about to call for Gwen when an idea struck him.
“Ianto!” His shout echoed through the main area of the Hub.
A head suddenly appeared over the railing next to the boardroom. “Sir?”
“Rift spike, you’re with me.” As he finished speaking, he turned back to his office to grab his coat. When he returned to the main area of the Hub he found Ianto still where he had been before, a confused expression on his face. Another thought struck him. “Oh, bring one of the cages just in case it’s something alive. I’d rather not have some critter tearing up the boot again.”
Ianto blinked at him before uttering a “Yes, sir” and quickly descending the stairs to fetch the item. He reappeared as Jack reached the SUV and placed the cage in the back before getting into the passenger seat. Sliding in behind the wheel, he could see Ianto out of the corner of his eye, back painfully straight and fists clenched nervously in his lap.
He knew this was the other man’s first time in the field since the cannibal incident, but hopefully being able to actually accomplish something outside of filing and cleaning would be good for him. He might even enjoy it. For now, Ianto just needed to relax. “Breath, Ianto.”
Ianto jumped slightly at being addressed, but quickly settled, clearing his throat. “Yes, sir.”
When they finally arrived at Leckwith Woods, Jack was relieved. The silent tension in the car was almost stifling. As he consulted his Vortex Manipulator for scans of the area, he could hear Ianto getting out of the SUV before retrieving the cage and moving to stand next to him. Whatever they were looking for was certainly nearby.
He looked up at Ianto. “Be careful. Tosh said that whatever came through was small, but keep your gun close just in case.”
Ianto nodded and followed him deeper into the woods, the cage held tightly in one hand.
Jack carefully scanned the surrounding area, looking for anything that didn’t quite belong. A rustling in the bushes ahead of them had him motioning for Ianto to quietly follow him, their guns at the ready. They came to the edge of a small clearing, the sound of something moving around just loud enough to be heard.
As they watched, something made its way out of the vegetation. The size of a small dog, it was covered in fur; two long ears turning like satellite dishes as it monitored the area around it. Hopping forward, it began to inspect the grass.
A smile spread across Jack’s face. He knew exactly what it was, though he hadn’t encountered one in a very long time. This was definitely the perfect mission to have brought Ianto for, minimal danger but still something that needed to be done. They certainly couldn’t let it wander out here forever. There was no way of telling what effect it might have on the local ecosystem.
“Sir, is that a…?” Ianto paused, his quiet tone incredulous as he was seemingly lost for words.
Jack’s smile grew as he whispered his response. “That, Ianto Jones, is a rabbit. Well, the closest galactic equivalent to one.”
“That’s a bit large for a rabbit.”
“Rabbits are naturally that large here on Earth, too. I once dated someone who had one. Think they were called Flemish Giants. I even watched the damned thing chase a cat once.” Reaching back for the cage, he carefully set it down on the ground facing upwards and unlatched the door, leaving it open. “Okay, these things are fast, but a bit slower than normal rabbits because of their bulk. You go in from the left side and I’ll go in from the right. Try to grab it by the back of the neck then get the back legs, it hurts like hell if those hit you. Oh, and watch out for the teeth.”
Ianto raised an eyebrow at the statement. “Teeth?” He asked skeptically.
“Yep. These things are omnivores so they have a nice set of sharp ones near the front. Ready?”
What followed quickly turned into chaos. Sensing their movement, the “rabbit” had sat up, freezing for a moment before taking off. The two gave chase, but the creature was constantly able to outmaneuver them. Not that that was incredibly hard, especially since the ground was still slippery from rain earlier in the day. This went on for over an hour before the two men finally had to call a brief break to rest.
As they stood catching their breath, their target wandered out of some nearby foliage right in front of Ianto. Finding some tasty treat in a small patch of grass, the animal seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Ianto was right behind it, not moving a single muscle lest he scare it away again.
Neither of them even inhaled deeply as they watched it. Jack could see that Ianto was gradually tensing, and he knew that he was planning something. Jack did the same, ready for whatever might happen next.
Ianto suddenly sprang from his position, diving towards the creature and just managing to grab a hind leg as he landed in a puddle of mud. He wasn’t able to maintain his hold on the startled animal, but he slowed it down just enough for Jack to rush in and grab it by the scruff of its neck, quickly pulling it into his arms and trapping its back legs.
After an unsuccessful attempt to kick its way free, as well as a barely avoided bite, the “rabbit” settled for going limp and making a disconcerting hissing sound. Jack merely rolled his eyes.
“Yes, you’re incredibly threatening, we get it. Calm down.”
Walking back to the cage, he lowered the creature in before promptly shutting and locking the door. Turning the cage to rest on its bottom, he was about to check on Ianto when the cage began to shake. His eyes narrowed at the animals bid for freedom by digging its way out.
“Oi!” Maybe it was the mixture of anger and annoyance in his voice, but the motion gradually settled and everything was still again. A glance at Ianto found he had rolled onto his back and was now watching him with a look of intense amusement. “What?”
Ianto simply laughed and shook his head before gazing down at his suit, grimacing over the state it was in.
“I'll get you a new one. Need some help?”
Ianto nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind, sir.”
Grabbing Ianto’s raised arm, he hauled him to his feet. Almost in slow motion, he saw one foot lose traction on the wet ground. Jack instinctively reached to catch the other man as Ianto fell forward into his arms.
Jack couldn’t hold back the smirk that spread across his face. “If you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask.”
Ianto’s head snapped up in surprise before he started to laugh again, whether it was at the comment or the absurdity of chasing an alien rabbit through mud in a tailored suit was anyone’s guess. Jack enjoyed the closeness while he had it, Ianto’s recent distance having cut off any kind of close contact they might have had. It was also nice to hear Ianto laugh. It was a sound Jack didn’t get to hear very often. Happiness suited him, if only he could be this way more often, so different from the dark cloud of melancholy that seemed to follow him now.
The laughter died down as their gazes locked and Ianto saw something in Jack’s expression that gave him pause. Before he truly realized what he was doing, Jack leaned his head down, gently capturing Ianto’s lips with his own.
At first Ianto was frozen with surprise, but after the first few seconds he relaxed into Jack’s arms, their kiss becoming more heated. Pulling Ianto closer, Jack slid a hand to the back of his neck, allowing him to deepen kiss.
As if coming out of a daze, Ianto tensed and pushed Jack away, gasping for air. Jack was just as breathless, only now starting to process what had just occurred. Despite the control he’d been keeping himself under to allow the man to finish grieving for his lost girlfriend, he’d just kissed Ianto Jones. Judging by the stunned and bewildered expression on Ianto’s face, he wasn’t the only one who enjoyed it. This was his chance.
“Tosh told me what she heard from you with the pendant.”
Ianto’s focus quickly snapped back to him, his shock clear.
“You don’t have to always hurt, Ianto. You don’t have to let it consume you. There’s more than just the pain.” Jack let as much of his sincerity; his desperate need to help, as he could to color his words. “I can show you something else if you let me.”
Ianto looked away, unable to maintain eye contact, his only response silence.
“Take some time to think about it. You don’t have to decide now. I’ll still be here when you decide you’re ready.”
Without answering, Ianto turned and walked slowly back towards the SUV.
Letting out a weary sigh, Jack gathered the cage and the alien creature before following. He placed it in the boot of the SUV before climbing into the driver’s seat. Ianto sat stiffly in the seat next to him and tried to keep his attention anywhere but on Jack.
The ride back to the Hub was mostly silent as the two were deep in thought, the animal moving in its cage the only sound.
**********************************************************************
After that, he’d patiently waited for Ianto to make a decision. Jack never put any real pressure on him, but he certainly turned up the flirting, as well as the casual touches. A hand resting on a shoulder or the small of Ianto’s back if they were standing together; brushing a bit closer than normal if they had to pass each other, fingers touching more than was necessary as he accepted his coffee, all just to show that the offer was still open.
To his disappointment, his advances rarely got a reaction from Ianto, and he began to think that maybe Ianto just wasn’t interested after all. They’d grown close by that time, but merely as friends. What they shared never seemed to be capable of crossing that boundary, and he had started to believe it never would. Ianto flirted back, but he was still never the one to say something first.
Looking back, Jack could clearly remember how hellish that period of waiting had been. He was never quite sure what exactly held Ianto back; he only wished that he would come to some sort of decision.
The return of Suzie had at least managed to distract him. He felt guilt eating away at him at the reminder of his failure, and Gwen’s accusations about it being his fault didn’t help matters. In the end he’d been practically blindsided by Ianto’s acceptance of his offer. It had even taken him a few seconds and another hint to process what the other man was saying. In his mind, he could still see the slightly nervous look Ianto had tried to hide as he had waited for his reaction. Jack had been only too willing to show his interest in the idea by giving him one of his blinding smiles with a hint of a leer. As he sat at Ianto’s bedside now, it was hard for him to suppress a similar grin as he remembered what had followed later that night.
TBC....
Comments? Only two chapters left. o_O
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, brief appearances by the rest of the team
Pairings: Jack/Ianto
Author: space_monkey52
Genre: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: First season up to "They Keep Killing Suzie" as well as minor ones for the audiobook "Hidden"
Disclaimer: The toys belong to the BBC, I'm just playing with them.
Summary: In the aftermath of the events of "Hidden", Jack sits by Ianto's bedside and reflects on how their relationship started.
Author's note: After many delays and much stalling, it's finally finished. I present my third Torchwood fic. Major thanks to the beta goddesses bookwrm89 and teleen_fiction who put up with my constant emails and questions as well as catching my mistakes. Also, thanks to aranellaurelote for Brit-picking. This is my longest fic yet, and I've decided to post it in chapters. I hope to start working on my fourth fic soon. :)
Chapter 5
Pacing in his office, Jack’s thoughts are centered on the information that Tosh had given him. He’d only just made it back to the Hub before his mobile rang, and he was surprised to see that it was Toshiko. She’d asked if it was still a betrayal to use what she’d heard, to say if someone was in pain; that something she’d heard was worrying her. Curiosity and protectiveness for his team getting the better of him, he told her that it wasn’t and then listened with growing apprehension. He knew that Ianto had still been distant recently, but he couldn’t understand why he was keeping agony of this level to himself. Jack thought he’d made it clear to Ianto that he could come to him if he ever needed to talk about anything, or even just didn’t want to be alone. He even thought they’d made some progress in the other man’s recovery.
Now he needed to come up with some kind of plan to handle this before it was too far beyond his control. He promised himself that he was going to help Ianto through this, and he’d been up all night trying to think of what he could possibly do.
He was distracted from his thoughts by the Rift alert alarm. Walking over to his door, Jack stuck his head out, looking at Tosh for information. He’d given her the day off to recover from the incident with Mary, but she insisted that keeping busy would help more.
Though Tosh’s eyes were still puffy and red from crying, she managed a small smile. “Spike near Leckwith Woods. Looks like something small came through.”
Small means he won’t need everybody for the retrieval, maybe just one of his team. He was about to call for Gwen when an idea struck him.
“Ianto!” His shout echoed through the main area of the Hub.
A head suddenly appeared over the railing next to the boardroom. “Sir?”
“Rift spike, you’re with me.” As he finished speaking, he turned back to his office to grab his coat. When he returned to the main area of the Hub he found Ianto still where he had been before, a confused expression on his face. Another thought struck him. “Oh, bring one of the cages just in case it’s something alive. I’d rather not have some critter tearing up the boot again.”
Ianto blinked at him before uttering a “Yes, sir” and quickly descending the stairs to fetch the item. He reappeared as Jack reached the SUV and placed the cage in the back before getting into the passenger seat. Sliding in behind the wheel, he could see Ianto out of the corner of his eye, back painfully straight and fists clenched nervously in his lap.
He knew this was the other man’s first time in the field since the cannibal incident, but hopefully being able to actually accomplish something outside of filing and cleaning would be good for him. He might even enjoy it. For now, Ianto just needed to relax. “Breath, Ianto.”
Ianto jumped slightly at being addressed, but quickly settled, clearing his throat. “Yes, sir.”
When they finally arrived at Leckwith Woods, Jack was relieved. The silent tension in the car was almost stifling. As he consulted his Vortex Manipulator for scans of the area, he could hear Ianto getting out of the SUV before retrieving the cage and moving to stand next to him. Whatever they were looking for was certainly nearby.
He looked up at Ianto. “Be careful. Tosh said that whatever came through was small, but keep your gun close just in case.”
Ianto nodded and followed him deeper into the woods, the cage held tightly in one hand.
Jack carefully scanned the surrounding area, looking for anything that didn’t quite belong. A rustling in the bushes ahead of them had him motioning for Ianto to quietly follow him, their guns at the ready. They came to the edge of a small clearing, the sound of something moving around just loud enough to be heard.
As they watched, something made its way out of the vegetation. The size of a small dog, it was covered in fur; two long ears turning like satellite dishes as it monitored the area around it. Hopping forward, it began to inspect the grass.
A smile spread across Jack’s face. He knew exactly what it was, though he hadn’t encountered one in a very long time. This was definitely the perfect mission to have brought Ianto for, minimal danger but still something that needed to be done. They certainly couldn’t let it wander out here forever. There was no way of telling what effect it might have on the local ecosystem.
“Sir, is that a…?” Ianto paused, his quiet tone incredulous as he was seemingly lost for words.
Jack’s smile grew as he whispered his response. “That, Ianto Jones, is a rabbit. Well, the closest galactic equivalent to one.”
“That’s a bit large for a rabbit.”
“Rabbits are naturally that large here on Earth, too. I once dated someone who had one. Think they were called Flemish Giants. I even watched the damned thing chase a cat once.” Reaching back for the cage, he carefully set it down on the ground facing upwards and unlatched the door, leaving it open. “Okay, these things are fast, but a bit slower than normal rabbits because of their bulk. You go in from the left side and I’ll go in from the right. Try to grab it by the back of the neck then get the back legs, it hurts like hell if those hit you. Oh, and watch out for the teeth.”
Ianto raised an eyebrow at the statement. “Teeth?” He asked skeptically.
“Yep. These things are omnivores so they have a nice set of sharp ones near the front. Ready?”
What followed quickly turned into chaos. Sensing their movement, the “rabbit” had sat up, freezing for a moment before taking off. The two gave chase, but the creature was constantly able to outmaneuver them. Not that that was incredibly hard, especially since the ground was still slippery from rain earlier in the day. This went on for over an hour before the two men finally had to call a brief break to rest.
As they stood catching their breath, their target wandered out of some nearby foliage right in front of Ianto. Finding some tasty treat in a small patch of grass, the animal seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Ianto was right behind it, not moving a single muscle lest he scare it away again.
Neither of them even inhaled deeply as they watched it. Jack could see that Ianto was gradually tensing, and he knew that he was planning something. Jack did the same, ready for whatever might happen next.
Ianto suddenly sprang from his position, diving towards the creature and just managing to grab a hind leg as he landed in a puddle of mud. He wasn’t able to maintain his hold on the startled animal, but he slowed it down just enough for Jack to rush in and grab it by the scruff of its neck, quickly pulling it into his arms and trapping its back legs.
After an unsuccessful attempt to kick its way free, as well as a barely avoided bite, the “rabbit” settled for going limp and making a disconcerting hissing sound. Jack merely rolled his eyes.
“Yes, you’re incredibly threatening, we get it. Calm down.”
Walking back to the cage, he lowered the creature in before promptly shutting and locking the door. Turning the cage to rest on its bottom, he was about to check on Ianto when the cage began to shake. His eyes narrowed at the animals bid for freedom by digging its way out.
“Oi!” Maybe it was the mixture of anger and annoyance in his voice, but the motion gradually settled and everything was still again. A glance at Ianto found he had rolled onto his back and was now watching him with a look of intense amusement. “What?”
Ianto simply laughed and shook his head before gazing down at his suit, grimacing over the state it was in.
“I'll get you a new one. Need some help?”
Ianto nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind, sir.”
Grabbing Ianto’s raised arm, he hauled him to his feet. Almost in slow motion, he saw one foot lose traction on the wet ground. Jack instinctively reached to catch the other man as Ianto fell forward into his arms.
Jack couldn’t hold back the smirk that spread across his face. “If you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask.”
Ianto’s head snapped up in surprise before he started to laugh again, whether it was at the comment or the absurdity of chasing an alien rabbit through mud in a tailored suit was anyone’s guess. Jack enjoyed the closeness while he had it, Ianto’s recent distance having cut off any kind of close contact they might have had. It was also nice to hear Ianto laugh. It was a sound Jack didn’t get to hear very often. Happiness suited him, if only he could be this way more often, so different from the dark cloud of melancholy that seemed to follow him now.
The laughter died down as their gazes locked and Ianto saw something in Jack’s expression that gave him pause. Before he truly realized what he was doing, Jack leaned his head down, gently capturing Ianto’s lips with his own.
At first Ianto was frozen with surprise, but after the first few seconds he relaxed into Jack’s arms, their kiss becoming more heated. Pulling Ianto closer, Jack slid a hand to the back of his neck, allowing him to deepen kiss.
As if coming out of a daze, Ianto tensed and pushed Jack away, gasping for air. Jack was just as breathless, only now starting to process what had just occurred. Despite the control he’d been keeping himself under to allow the man to finish grieving for his lost girlfriend, he’d just kissed Ianto Jones. Judging by the stunned and bewildered expression on Ianto’s face, he wasn’t the only one who enjoyed it. This was his chance.
“Tosh told me what she heard from you with the pendant.”
Ianto’s focus quickly snapped back to him, his shock clear.
“You don’t have to always hurt, Ianto. You don’t have to let it consume you. There’s more than just the pain.” Jack let as much of his sincerity; his desperate need to help, as he could to color his words. “I can show you something else if you let me.”
Ianto looked away, unable to maintain eye contact, his only response silence.
“Take some time to think about it. You don’t have to decide now. I’ll still be here when you decide you’re ready.”
Without answering, Ianto turned and walked slowly back towards the SUV.
Letting out a weary sigh, Jack gathered the cage and the alien creature before following. He placed it in the boot of the SUV before climbing into the driver’s seat. Ianto sat stiffly in the seat next to him and tried to keep his attention anywhere but on Jack.
The ride back to the Hub was mostly silent as the two were deep in thought, the animal moving in its cage the only sound.
**********************************************************************
After that, he’d patiently waited for Ianto to make a decision. Jack never put any real pressure on him, but he certainly turned up the flirting, as well as the casual touches. A hand resting on a shoulder or the small of Ianto’s back if they were standing together; brushing a bit closer than normal if they had to pass each other, fingers touching more than was necessary as he accepted his coffee, all just to show that the offer was still open.
To his disappointment, his advances rarely got a reaction from Ianto, and he began to think that maybe Ianto just wasn’t interested after all. They’d grown close by that time, but merely as friends. What they shared never seemed to be capable of crossing that boundary, and he had started to believe it never would. Ianto flirted back, but he was still never the one to say something first.
Looking back, Jack could clearly remember how hellish that period of waiting had been. He was never quite sure what exactly held Ianto back; he only wished that he would come to some sort of decision.
The return of Suzie had at least managed to distract him. He felt guilt eating away at him at the reminder of his failure, and Gwen’s accusations about it being his fault didn’t help matters. In the end he’d been practically blindsided by Ianto’s acceptance of his offer. It had even taken him a few seconds and another hint to process what the other man was saying. In his mind, he could still see the slightly nervous look Ianto had tried to hide as he had waited for his reaction. Jack had been only too willing to show his interest in the idea by giving him one of his blinding smiles with a hint of a leer. As he sat at Ianto’s bedside now, it was hard for him to suppress a similar grin as he remembered what had followed later that night.
TBC....
Comments? Only two chapters left. o_O