Fic: The Boy Is Gone 11/20
TITLE: The Boy Is Gone 11/20
AUTHOR: Erin Giles
DISCLAIMER: Torchwood and its characters are property of the BBC. The Family Jones is of my own creation.
RATING: PG-15
PAIRINGS/CHARACTERS: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, OC's
SUMMARY: The Rift has never been the most stable influence in Ianto Jones’ life but when children in Cardiff start disappearing all over the city, Ianto’s family life crashes rather dramatically with Torchwood.
AUTHOR NOTES: This is the sequel to my stories, “Family Matters” and “A Nostalgic Yearning” and is the finale in the series “Footprints in the Sand”. It will not make sense unless you have read these. Set post Exit Wounds.
The 15th is upon us at last. This is a long chapter because I wanted to get all Jack's research out the way before Ianto came back. Also poor Ria's been neglected in the hospital for quite some time now. I don't think the ending will put any of you at ease and for this I apologise, but also promise that the next chapter will be up by Monday!
Also I keep forgetting to post this - Cover for "The Boy Is Gone"
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 |
Thursday 14th August 5.00pm
Jack had watched Gwen and Rhys leave on the CCTV. He’d seen Gwen pluck Ianto’s coat from the back of his chair, inhaling deeply the smell of Ianto that no doubt still clung to it. When her and Rhys emerged from the tourist office Ianto’s coat was adorning Gwen’s frame like a protective shield against the outside world as Rhys led her away to his car.
Now Jack was looking at old CCTV footage from nearly a year previously, someone similarly inhaling the scent of Jack’s military coat. Jack watched as tears soaked into the collar of his coat, the young Welshman shaking with barely concealed sobs. He observed Ianto as he sunk to the ground of Jack’s office, wrapping himself up in the folds of the coat, hugging himself. Jack’s heart broke a little as he fast forwarded through several hours of footage in which Ianto barely moved before Toshiko was there, sitting down beside him, apparently without a word, just reaching out to him and pulling him into a gentle hug.
He paused it just as Ianto looked up, glancing towards the camera, his cheeks tear stained and his eyes still sparkling with more unshed tears. His phone was ringing again, demanding his attention and pulling him out of his reflective brooding.
“Hello?” His voice sounded hollow even to his own ears.
“Jack, it’s Ria.”
“Ria.” Jack straightened slightly in his chair. “Have they discharged you? Do you want me to come pick you up?” Jack asked, hoping that she would say yes so it would at least give him something to do.
“I’ve been discharged but-“ Ria hesitated.
“I know you’re trying to find Ianto and Finn and all those other children at the moment Jack, but-“ Ria paused again, finding it hard to put into words what she wanted to say.
“I’m being selfish I know, but can we talk?” Ria sounded like she regretted asking it.
“’Course. Where are you? I’ll pick you up.” Jack said without hesitation, already getting to his feet and making a grab for his coat.
“Still at the hospital. I didn’t want to go back to Ianto’s, I just don’t want to be alone right now.” Ria admitted. “Also I could do with a hug.” Ria sniffed and Jack had to smile at that as he fished the SUV keys off of the end of his desk.
“Well you called the right person then. I’ll get you at the main entrance in ten minutes.”
Thursday 14th August 6.24pm
“Here.”
Jack slid a mug of tea across the café table to Ria before sitting down opposite her and wrapping his hands round his own mug.
“Thanks.” Ria replied, staring into the depths of her mug. Jack watched her; she looked awful. She had cabin trunks under her eyes, her face gaunt and hollow looking, her eyes lost the life that used to be ever present.
“Chris not want to come and pick you up?” Jack asked conversationally.
“He said he would but I told him I’d be fine. I needed to talk to someone who understands, who won’t ask me how I’m feeling or how I’m doing because they already know.”
Jack felt emotion twisting in the depths of his stomach, realising Ria was talking about him. And he did know how she felt. He desperately wished he didn’t though.
“They’re not coming back are they Jack?” Ria asked, trying to keep the emotion out her voice as she looked up at him, her gaze piercing through his bravado.
“I wish I could say they were but,” Jack took a deep breath. “I’ve exhausted every avenue and now my hopes are riding on someone I don’t even know I can trust.”
Ria brought a hand to her face, leaning her chin against it and turning to look out the rain spattered window.
“I hate you sometimes.” Ria whispered, not turning to look at him. Jack’s stomach lurched. He hadn’t been expecting so blunt and callous words from Ria.
“I hate Torchwood and what it’s done to my family. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Ianto had never gone to London, had never joined Torchwood there. Mam would still be dead though, Finn would probably still be gone, Chris and I would probably still be divorced and Ianto,” She sighed, finally turned to look at Jack. “He’d probably still be in the same mess, still just as damaged, just without you to help him through it.”
Jack worried his lip, picking up his mug and holding it to his chest defensively.
“If I could change what happened in London I would, but it was out with my control, If I could undo all the horrible things that have happened I would certainly try, but it wouldn’t make Ianto the man he is today, and I love that man just the way he is.” Jack replied eventually. He could see tears in Ria’s eyes as she put her mug down, reaching out for Jack’s hand that was still resting on the café table and squeezing.
“That’s why I only hate you sometimes.” Ria gave a tense smile, which Jack returned.
Friday 15th August 7.58am
“Jack?” Gwen called hesitantly as she stepped into the Hub, Rhys trailing behind her stifling a yawn. She’d dragged him out of bed an hour ago, no longer able to feign sleep and asked him to come with her. He hadn’t needed much prompting after the initial shock of what time in the morning it was.
“Gwen?” Jack called back, emerging from his office with a pen in one hand, a couple of sheets of paper in the other.
“What time is it?” Jack frowned, looking down at his watch. It didn’t help. It was still frozen at 11.42am from the previous day’s time jumping.
“About eight.” Gwen answered, letting go of Rhys’ hand and crossing the Hub towards Jack’s office as he disappeared back inside. Jack didn’t realise the whole night had gotten away from him, he’d been so engrossed in his work after he’d left Ria that he’d barely taken the time to go to toilet.
“What are you doing?” Gwen asked as she took in the sight of Jack’s office. Every available surface was covered in printouts of rift readings and reports, post-it notes attached to some of them with scribbled words.
“Trying to get that boy home, that’s if he comes good on his half of the deal.” Jack said, frowning slightly. He’d been trying desperately to push that doubt to the back of his mind but it kept resurfacing, taunting Jack.
“He’s coming back Jack. They’re all coming back.” Gwen voiced with that same insufferable hope that had been present all week.
“But what if they don’t, what if-“
Jack was cut off by Gwen slapping him, hard.
“Stop it.” Gwen barked shrilly, finger pointing at him now as he brought a hand up to his stinging cheek, shocked at Gwen’s behaviour.
“Just stop it Jack. I’m fed up of having this argument. By all means have your doubts, I do, but I’d prefer if you kept them to yourself right now.” Gwen shot back at him. Jack blinked in surprise for a moment before he turned back to his piles of paper like he was a schoolboy chastised for his bad behaviour.
“I’ve managed to collate readings from when John Hart came through the rift, how he managed to manipulate it in order to travel from point to point. If I could use my wrist strap I could create a rift storm in order to get the boy back to where he came from.” Jack turned to Gwen, a hardness in her eyes at the mention of John Hart’s name.
“As long as you don’t call that bastard for help.” Gwen ground out through gritted teeth. For all he had tried to rectify things she still couldn’t shake the hate she had for him for allowing Grey through in the first place and for blowing up half her city, including her friends. Gwen didn’t want to think about that now though.
“No need. Just a few minor reconfigurations and I should be able to create a rift storm, only problem is I don’t know where I’m going.” Jack bounded over a couple of mounds of paperwork to pick up a pile that was perching precariously on the edge of his desk.
“I’ve been looking over the readings of when the boy came through and the implications of a large negative rift spike. I’ve cross-referenced them with other disappearances in the rift but nothing matches.” Jack frowned as he handed Gwen the papers. She flicked through them, frowning as she tried to think of any reason to explain the negative Rift spike.
“Does this Rift of yours just take people to other worlds or can it take them through time as well?” Rhys asked from the doorway of Jack’s office. Gwen and Jack hadn’t noticed his presence, swinging round to regard him. Gwen’s face broke into a smile.
“Rhys you’re a genius.” Gwen grinned, bounding over to him and kissing him firmly on the lips, before turning back to Jack
“All of the people at Flat Holm were taken through the Rift to other worlds yes?” Gwen asked, looking up at Jack for confirmation. He nodded.
“What if that boy didn’t come from another world. He looks human right? What if he came from our world, from that exact spot in Bute Park but in the future?” Gwen suggested, face beaming now.
“That would explain why we got a huge negative Rift spike because he was taken at the exact same time as Finn from the exact same place, two positives making a negative?”
Gwen watched as a smile broke out on Jack’s face too, the first one she had genuinely seen all week.
“Rhys Williams I could kiss you.” Jack grinned at him. Rhys looked terrified as he straightened himself slightly, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Save it for Ianto!” Gwen smirked, putting the files she was holding back down on Jack’s desk. They shared a look that dared either of them to question the fact Ianto was coming back.
“So that’s us sorted then? All we have to do is wait?” Rhys asked. This seemed to deflate Gwen and Jack somewhat.
“You finish reconfiguring your wrist strap. I’ll patch the rift alert through to the PDA then I think-“ Gwen didn’t finish her sentence before Jack’s phone was ringing. He crossed to it, picking it up. He hoped to god it wasn’t another missing child. There had thankfully been no more disappearances since Gwen and Jack’s encounter with the small boy the other day. It had been nearly 48 hours now though and still no sign of Ianto or the missing children.
“Weevil sighting off of Greyfriars Road.” Jack announced, pulling his jacket from the stand and leaping back over mounds of paper towards the exit. Gwen frowned, almost seeming confused for a moment that in the middle of a crisis something so mundane as a loose Weevil could happen.
“You get called in to deal with beetles? What the hell harm could beetles do?” Rhys asked as he followed Gwen and Jack towards the invisible lift. Gwen giggled before she was laughing heartily, setting Jack off as they clung to each other.
“Beetles would definitely be easier.” Jack confessed, watching the frown on Rhys’ face as they had a laugh at his expense.
Friday 15th August 10.59am
The PDA in Gwen’s hands beeped a couple of times as she frowned down at it, changing the screen to see what it was alerting her to now.
“Jack.” Gwen stated, eyes blinking slightly in disbelief as she stared at the PDA before her. There was no reply from Jack who was still talking to a distraught looking woman who had just seen her boyfriend mauled. Gwen’s eyes refused to move from the screen in front of her.
“Jack!” Gwen called again, sounding close to hysterical, afraid that she was hallucinating due to lack of sleep.
“What?” Jack called over his shoulder, turning towards her slightly, hands stuffed into his pockets as he crossed the street towards her at a leisurely pace, leaving Rhys to try and placate the still crying woman.
“Look.” Gwen said, pointing wildly at the screen as a gap-toothed grin broke on her washed out features.
Jack regarded the screen for a moment, noting the rift readings. But that wasn’t what was filling Gwen with joy. There was a signal for Ianto’s mobile again that had been absent for nearly a week now.
“Lets go.” Jack ordered, pulling his mobile out his pocket and pressing speed-dial two before he was grabbing Gwen by the hand and pulling her past the confused looking woman to the SUV.
“Hey!” Rhys called after them as Jack and Gwen legged it down the street towards the blacked out Range Rover. He apologised curtly to the woman before he was following them as fast as his legs would carry him.
“What’s going on?” Rhys called slightly breathlessly as he neared them.
“Come on Ianto, pick up.” Jack said to himself, loud enough for Gwen and Rhys to hear as he got into the driver’s seat of the SUV. It went to Ianto’s voicemail.
“Hello this is Ianto Jones’ phone, I’m not here right now, but if you leave a message I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Jack took a moment to savour those words and every Welsh vowel in them. All he’d had for the last week was an automated voice telling him the number was temporarily out of service. He never thought he’d be so grateful to hear Ianto’s voicemail message in his life.
“Is he back then?” Rhys asked, confused as he stood by the open passenger door.
“Just shut up Rhys and get in.” Gwen told him, slamming her own door.
“Keep trying.” Jack told Gwen, tossing her his phone before he was putting the SUV into neutral and starting her up. Tyres screeched as he swung out in front of a taxi who’s horn blared, causing Rhys to swear from the back seat while Gwen redialled Ianto’s number, bringing up the SatNav.
“Signal’s coming from Barry Island. There was a massive Rift spike out there the same time Ianto’s phone came back online.” Gwen explained as Jack sped off in the direction of Barry.
“Whoa!” Gwen exclaimed, as she hung up on Ianto’s voicemail, finger already on the redial button. Jack felt something rock the SUV slightly.
“What the bloody hell was that?” Rhys asked from the back seat, looking around to see what had hit them, glancing briefly at Gwen and her slack jaw, wide-eyed look.
“Did we just have an earthquake in Wales?”
“Another huge Rift spike in the same place. Big ripple effect felt all across the city I presume.” Gwen explained, her ear pressed to Jack’s phone again.
“And Ianto’s phone’s not available again.” Gwen admitted sheepishly.
“No.” Jack said in reply. No explanation to his one word statement as he floored the accelerator. Gwen didn’t need an explanation though - she knew what he meant. No, Ianto had not gone back through the rift. No, they had not lost him again. And No way in hell was he not alive.
Friday 15th August 11.00am
Ianto stumbled forward into the unknown, as there was a flash that blinded him momentarily. He panicked as he flailed around blindly, searching for something solid to hold onto until he got his bearings, the sensation of falling making him nauseous.
“Uncy Yan?”
Ianto held his breath for a moment, scared that he was hallucinating, or was he now back in his world where he was supposed to be? Had he finally found his nephew again?
“Uncy Yan?”
The voice came again as Ianto blinked in the now dim light, suddenly feeling cold concrete against his cheek. He could feel his mobile vibrating against his leg where it lay in his pocket, but he disregarded it.
“Finn?” His voice sounded parched to his own ears as his nephew swum before his vision. He could still see the Rift shimmering behind Finn like a halo as he painfully pulled himself to his feet. He felt the little boy round his torso instantly, hugging the life out of him as tears ran down his face.
“Hey, it’s ok.” Ianto soothed, actually smiling now, so happy he had found his nephew after everything.
“
It’s gonna be okay now.”
There was another flash of light that shook the foundations of the building they were in before children started appearing all around Ianto, confused and crying and scared, calling out for loved ones that were not there. It almost overwhelmed him, the sheer volume of children popping back into existence again.
“Come on.” Ianto encouraged, pulling himself to his feet and picking Finn up in his arms, trying to herd the other children with one arm in the direction he hoped was the exit.
“We need to get out of here.” Ianto called as the building seemed to lurch sideways. He felt the Rift swelling behind him, getting ready to explode as he shuffled terrified children through the doorway into the next room. He turned sharply as he heard a scream behind him. He turned back to see one last child standing in the middle of the room, wide blue eyes blinking back tears as the Rift crackled and fizzed, threatening to spill the whole of time and space into the warehouse they were now in. Ianto desperately hoped that Jack and Gwen were close by to fix this.
He made a split second decision, putting Finn down, pushing him slightly in the direction of the other children before going back for the last child.
“Uncy Yan!” Finn called, desperately, reaching out for him as the floor above them fell through. Ianto halted as timber fell before his eyes, calling out to the blue-eyed child. Ianto watched in horror though as the timber fell through the child that turned to look at him with terrifyingly familiar eyes, smiling now before there was another rumble from the building, the Rift bursting out on itself and throwing Ianto backwards into the only remaining wall standing. He felt himself crashing to the floor with the rest of the building, his cheek pressed against cold concrete as the smiling blue-eyed boy reached out a hand for him.
On to Part 12
AUTHOR: Erin Giles
DISCLAIMER: Torchwood and its characters are property of the BBC. The Family Jones is of my own creation.
RATING: PG-15
PAIRINGS/CHARACTERS: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, OC's
SUMMARY: The Rift has never been the most stable influence in Ianto Jones’ life but when children in Cardiff start disappearing all over the city, Ianto’s family life crashes rather dramatically with Torchwood.
AUTHOR NOTES: This is the sequel to my stories, “Family Matters” and “A Nostalgic Yearning” and is the finale in the series “Footprints in the Sand”. It will not make sense unless you have read these. Set post Exit Wounds.
The 15th is upon us at last. This is a long chapter because I wanted to get all Jack's research out the way before Ianto came back. Also poor Ria's been neglected in the hospital for quite some time now. I don't think the ending will put any of you at ease and for this I apologise, but also promise that the next chapter will be up by Monday!
Also I keep forgetting to post this - Cover for "The Boy Is Gone"
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 |
Thursday 14th August 5.00pm
Jack had watched Gwen and Rhys leave on the CCTV. He’d seen Gwen pluck Ianto’s coat from the back of his chair, inhaling deeply the smell of Ianto that no doubt still clung to it. When her and Rhys emerged from the tourist office Ianto’s coat was adorning Gwen’s frame like a protective shield against the outside world as Rhys led her away to his car.
Now Jack was looking at old CCTV footage from nearly a year previously, someone similarly inhaling the scent of Jack’s military coat. Jack watched as tears soaked into the collar of his coat, the young Welshman shaking with barely concealed sobs. He observed Ianto as he sunk to the ground of Jack’s office, wrapping himself up in the folds of the coat, hugging himself. Jack’s heart broke a little as he fast forwarded through several hours of footage in which Ianto barely moved before Toshiko was there, sitting down beside him, apparently without a word, just reaching out to him and pulling him into a gentle hug.
He paused it just as Ianto looked up, glancing towards the camera, his cheeks tear stained and his eyes still sparkling with more unshed tears. His phone was ringing again, demanding his attention and pulling him out of his reflective brooding.
“Hello?” His voice sounded hollow even to his own ears.
“Jack, it’s Ria.”
“Ria.” Jack straightened slightly in his chair. “Have they discharged you? Do you want me to come pick you up?” Jack asked, hoping that she would say yes so it would at least give him something to do.
“I’ve been discharged but-“ Ria hesitated.
“I know you’re trying to find Ianto and Finn and all those other children at the moment Jack, but-“ Ria paused again, finding it hard to put into words what she wanted to say.
“I’m being selfish I know, but can we talk?” Ria sounded like she regretted asking it.
“’Course. Where are you? I’ll pick you up.” Jack said without hesitation, already getting to his feet and making a grab for his coat.
“Still at the hospital. I didn’t want to go back to Ianto’s, I just don’t want to be alone right now.” Ria admitted. “Also I could do with a hug.” Ria sniffed and Jack had to smile at that as he fished the SUV keys off of the end of his desk.
“Well you called the right person then. I’ll get you at the main entrance in ten minutes.”
Thursday 14th August 6.24pm
“Here.”
Jack slid a mug of tea across the café table to Ria before sitting down opposite her and wrapping his hands round his own mug.
“Thanks.” Ria replied, staring into the depths of her mug. Jack watched her; she looked awful. She had cabin trunks under her eyes, her face gaunt and hollow looking, her eyes lost the life that used to be ever present.
“Chris not want to come and pick you up?” Jack asked conversationally.
“He said he would but I told him I’d be fine. I needed to talk to someone who understands, who won’t ask me how I’m feeling or how I’m doing because they already know.”
Jack felt emotion twisting in the depths of his stomach, realising Ria was talking about him. And he did know how she felt. He desperately wished he didn’t though.
“They’re not coming back are they Jack?” Ria asked, trying to keep the emotion out her voice as she looked up at him, her gaze piercing through his bravado.
“I wish I could say they were but,” Jack took a deep breath. “I’ve exhausted every avenue and now my hopes are riding on someone I don’t even know I can trust.”
Ria brought a hand to her face, leaning her chin against it and turning to look out the rain spattered window.
“I hate you sometimes.” Ria whispered, not turning to look at him. Jack’s stomach lurched. He hadn’t been expecting so blunt and callous words from Ria.
“I hate Torchwood and what it’s done to my family. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Ianto had never gone to London, had never joined Torchwood there. Mam would still be dead though, Finn would probably still be gone, Chris and I would probably still be divorced and Ianto,” She sighed, finally turned to look at Jack. “He’d probably still be in the same mess, still just as damaged, just without you to help him through it.”
Jack worried his lip, picking up his mug and holding it to his chest defensively.
“If I could change what happened in London I would, but it was out with my control, If I could undo all the horrible things that have happened I would certainly try, but it wouldn’t make Ianto the man he is today, and I love that man just the way he is.” Jack replied eventually. He could see tears in Ria’s eyes as she put her mug down, reaching out for Jack’s hand that was still resting on the café table and squeezing.
“That’s why I only hate you sometimes.” Ria gave a tense smile, which Jack returned.
Friday 15th August 7.58am
“Jack?” Gwen called hesitantly as she stepped into the Hub, Rhys trailing behind her stifling a yawn. She’d dragged him out of bed an hour ago, no longer able to feign sleep and asked him to come with her. He hadn’t needed much prompting after the initial shock of what time in the morning it was.
“Gwen?” Jack called back, emerging from his office with a pen in one hand, a couple of sheets of paper in the other.
“What time is it?” Jack frowned, looking down at his watch. It didn’t help. It was still frozen at 11.42am from the previous day’s time jumping.
“About eight.” Gwen answered, letting go of Rhys’ hand and crossing the Hub towards Jack’s office as he disappeared back inside. Jack didn’t realise the whole night had gotten away from him, he’d been so engrossed in his work after he’d left Ria that he’d barely taken the time to go to toilet.
“What are you doing?” Gwen asked as she took in the sight of Jack’s office. Every available surface was covered in printouts of rift readings and reports, post-it notes attached to some of them with scribbled words.
“Trying to get that boy home, that’s if he comes good on his half of the deal.” Jack said, frowning slightly. He’d been trying desperately to push that doubt to the back of his mind but it kept resurfacing, taunting Jack.
“He’s coming back Jack. They’re all coming back.” Gwen voiced with that same insufferable hope that had been present all week.
“But what if they don’t, what if-“
Jack was cut off by Gwen slapping him, hard.
“Stop it.” Gwen barked shrilly, finger pointing at him now as he brought a hand up to his stinging cheek, shocked at Gwen’s behaviour.
“Just stop it Jack. I’m fed up of having this argument. By all means have your doubts, I do, but I’d prefer if you kept them to yourself right now.” Gwen shot back at him. Jack blinked in surprise for a moment before he turned back to his piles of paper like he was a schoolboy chastised for his bad behaviour.
“I’ve managed to collate readings from when John Hart came through the rift, how he managed to manipulate it in order to travel from point to point. If I could use my wrist strap I could create a rift storm in order to get the boy back to where he came from.” Jack turned to Gwen, a hardness in her eyes at the mention of John Hart’s name.
“As long as you don’t call that bastard for help.” Gwen ground out through gritted teeth. For all he had tried to rectify things she still couldn’t shake the hate she had for him for allowing Grey through in the first place and for blowing up half her city, including her friends. Gwen didn’t want to think about that now though.
“No need. Just a few minor reconfigurations and I should be able to create a rift storm, only problem is I don’t know where I’m going.” Jack bounded over a couple of mounds of paperwork to pick up a pile that was perching precariously on the edge of his desk.
“I’ve been looking over the readings of when the boy came through and the implications of a large negative rift spike. I’ve cross-referenced them with other disappearances in the rift but nothing matches.” Jack frowned as he handed Gwen the papers. She flicked through them, frowning as she tried to think of any reason to explain the negative Rift spike.
“Does this Rift of yours just take people to other worlds or can it take them through time as well?” Rhys asked from the doorway of Jack’s office. Gwen and Jack hadn’t noticed his presence, swinging round to regard him. Gwen’s face broke into a smile.
“Rhys you’re a genius.” Gwen grinned, bounding over to him and kissing him firmly on the lips, before turning back to Jack
“All of the people at Flat Holm were taken through the Rift to other worlds yes?” Gwen asked, looking up at Jack for confirmation. He nodded.
“What if that boy didn’t come from another world. He looks human right? What if he came from our world, from that exact spot in Bute Park but in the future?” Gwen suggested, face beaming now.
“That would explain why we got a huge negative Rift spike because he was taken at the exact same time as Finn from the exact same place, two positives making a negative?”
Gwen watched as a smile broke out on Jack’s face too, the first one she had genuinely seen all week.
“Rhys Williams I could kiss you.” Jack grinned at him. Rhys looked terrified as he straightened himself slightly, suddenly feeling awkward.
“Save it for Ianto!” Gwen smirked, putting the files she was holding back down on Jack’s desk. They shared a look that dared either of them to question the fact Ianto was coming back.
“So that’s us sorted then? All we have to do is wait?” Rhys asked. This seemed to deflate Gwen and Jack somewhat.
“You finish reconfiguring your wrist strap. I’ll patch the rift alert through to the PDA then I think-“ Gwen didn’t finish her sentence before Jack’s phone was ringing. He crossed to it, picking it up. He hoped to god it wasn’t another missing child. There had thankfully been no more disappearances since Gwen and Jack’s encounter with the small boy the other day. It had been nearly 48 hours now though and still no sign of Ianto or the missing children.
“Weevil sighting off of Greyfriars Road.” Jack announced, pulling his jacket from the stand and leaping back over mounds of paper towards the exit. Gwen frowned, almost seeming confused for a moment that in the middle of a crisis something so mundane as a loose Weevil could happen.
“You get called in to deal with beetles? What the hell harm could beetles do?” Rhys asked as he followed Gwen and Jack towards the invisible lift. Gwen giggled before she was laughing heartily, setting Jack off as they clung to each other.
“Beetles would definitely be easier.” Jack confessed, watching the frown on Rhys’ face as they had a laugh at his expense.
Friday 15th August 10.59am
The PDA in Gwen’s hands beeped a couple of times as she frowned down at it, changing the screen to see what it was alerting her to now.
“Jack.” Gwen stated, eyes blinking slightly in disbelief as she stared at the PDA before her. There was no reply from Jack who was still talking to a distraught looking woman who had just seen her boyfriend mauled. Gwen’s eyes refused to move from the screen in front of her.
“Jack!” Gwen called again, sounding close to hysterical, afraid that she was hallucinating due to lack of sleep.
“What?” Jack called over his shoulder, turning towards her slightly, hands stuffed into his pockets as he crossed the street towards her at a leisurely pace, leaving Rhys to try and placate the still crying woman.
“Look.” Gwen said, pointing wildly at the screen as a gap-toothed grin broke on her washed out features.
Jack regarded the screen for a moment, noting the rift readings. But that wasn’t what was filling Gwen with joy. There was a signal for Ianto’s mobile again that had been absent for nearly a week now.
“Lets go.” Jack ordered, pulling his mobile out his pocket and pressing speed-dial two before he was grabbing Gwen by the hand and pulling her past the confused looking woman to the SUV.
“Hey!” Rhys called after them as Jack and Gwen legged it down the street towards the blacked out Range Rover. He apologised curtly to the woman before he was following them as fast as his legs would carry him.
“What’s going on?” Rhys called slightly breathlessly as he neared them.
“Come on Ianto, pick up.” Jack said to himself, loud enough for Gwen and Rhys to hear as he got into the driver’s seat of the SUV. It went to Ianto’s voicemail.
“Hello this is Ianto Jones’ phone, I’m not here right now, but if you leave a message I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Jack took a moment to savour those words and every Welsh vowel in them. All he’d had for the last week was an automated voice telling him the number was temporarily out of service. He never thought he’d be so grateful to hear Ianto’s voicemail message in his life.
“Is he back then?” Rhys asked, confused as he stood by the open passenger door.
“Just shut up Rhys and get in.” Gwen told him, slamming her own door.
“Keep trying.” Jack told Gwen, tossing her his phone before he was putting the SUV into neutral and starting her up. Tyres screeched as he swung out in front of a taxi who’s horn blared, causing Rhys to swear from the back seat while Gwen redialled Ianto’s number, bringing up the SatNav.
“Signal’s coming from Barry Island. There was a massive Rift spike out there the same time Ianto’s phone came back online.” Gwen explained as Jack sped off in the direction of Barry.
“Whoa!” Gwen exclaimed, as she hung up on Ianto’s voicemail, finger already on the redial button. Jack felt something rock the SUV slightly.
“What the bloody hell was that?” Rhys asked from the back seat, looking around to see what had hit them, glancing briefly at Gwen and her slack jaw, wide-eyed look.
“Did we just have an earthquake in Wales?”
“Another huge Rift spike in the same place. Big ripple effect felt all across the city I presume.” Gwen explained, her ear pressed to Jack’s phone again.
“And Ianto’s phone’s not available again.” Gwen admitted sheepishly.
“No.” Jack said in reply. No explanation to his one word statement as he floored the accelerator. Gwen didn’t need an explanation though - she knew what he meant. No, Ianto had not gone back through the rift. No, they had not lost him again. And No way in hell was he not alive.
Friday 15th August 11.00am
Ianto stumbled forward into the unknown, as there was a flash that blinded him momentarily. He panicked as he flailed around blindly, searching for something solid to hold onto until he got his bearings, the sensation of falling making him nauseous.
“Uncy Yan?”
Ianto held his breath for a moment, scared that he was hallucinating, or was he now back in his world where he was supposed to be? Had he finally found his nephew again?
“Uncy Yan?”
The voice came again as Ianto blinked in the now dim light, suddenly feeling cold concrete against his cheek. He could feel his mobile vibrating against his leg where it lay in his pocket, but he disregarded it.
“Finn?” His voice sounded parched to his own ears as his nephew swum before his vision. He could still see the Rift shimmering behind Finn like a halo as he painfully pulled himself to his feet. He felt the little boy round his torso instantly, hugging the life out of him as tears ran down his face.
“Hey, it’s ok.” Ianto soothed, actually smiling now, so happy he had found his nephew after everything.
“
It’s gonna be okay now.”
There was another flash of light that shook the foundations of the building they were in before children started appearing all around Ianto, confused and crying and scared, calling out for loved ones that were not there. It almost overwhelmed him, the sheer volume of children popping back into existence again.
“Come on.” Ianto encouraged, pulling himself to his feet and picking Finn up in his arms, trying to herd the other children with one arm in the direction he hoped was the exit.
“We need to get out of here.” Ianto called as the building seemed to lurch sideways. He felt the Rift swelling behind him, getting ready to explode as he shuffled terrified children through the doorway into the next room. He turned sharply as he heard a scream behind him. He turned back to see one last child standing in the middle of the room, wide blue eyes blinking back tears as the Rift crackled and fizzed, threatening to spill the whole of time and space into the warehouse they were now in. Ianto desperately hoped that Jack and Gwen were close by to fix this.
He made a split second decision, putting Finn down, pushing him slightly in the direction of the other children before going back for the last child.
“Uncy Yan!” Finn called, desperately, reaching out for him as the floor above them fell through. Ianto halted as timber fell before his eyes, calling out to the blue-eyed child. Ianto watched in horror though as the timber fell through the child that turned to look at him with terrifyingly familiar eyes, smiling now before there was another rumble from the building, the Rift bursting out on itself and throwing Ianto backwards into the only remaining wall standing. He felt himself crashing to the floor with the rest of the building, his cheek pressed against cold concrete as the smiling blue-eyed boy reached out a hand for him.
On to Part 12