'You Can't Be Here' (WIP) 8
Title: You Can't Be Here
Author: Time Phobia
Rating: PG
Characters: (this section: Jack, Ianto, Tenth Doctor)
Pairings: (series: Jack/Ianto)
Summary: Jack explains, and the three form a plan.
Timing: Post-CoE, Post-Waters of Mars
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or make a profit. They are owned, for the most part, by RTD and BBC.
Warning: Mentions of cannon character death. Don't worry. Death is only a beginning.
Author's Note (for series): I've got a long detailed spoiler-rific post here
“It’s December, 1940,” Jack began. “And the reason you can’t find the Archive is that I’ve got it under a Yeralique dampening field.”
“Wasn’t strong enough,” the Doctor told him.
“I didn’t know that,” Jack returned.
“Why did you have it under one anyway?” Ianto asked.
Jack lifted up his wrist-strap. “Because this, when it was fully operational, could pick up the distress beacon and I didn’t want the rightful owners coming along and snatching it from me.”
“Fully operational,” the Doctor repeated. “Please, Jack, don’t tell me you’re running the same scam with it.”
“It’s the fourth time I’m running it,” Jack replied.
“Do you have any idea the knowledge that could be destroyed because you thought it was a harmless box?” the Doctor snapped.
Ianto glanced back and forth between the two men. “Could someone possibly fill me in? Why is it in danger of being destroyed?”
The Doctor glared at Jack and Jack got the message. I get to tell him. Jack sighed and explained, “You already know that I used to be a conman. Well, I had this one con where I’d pick up something I thought was junk and put it somewhere that I knew something bad would happen. Pompeii. The explosion in Colony 775.”
“The 1940’s,” Ianto murmured. “You hid things in the blitzes?”
Jack nodded. “London was one of my favorites, though I had to be careful and put a lot more research into it. Anyway, a Time Agent would show up, normally because I baited them or I’d manage to be right where they could see my wrist-strap, and I’d tell them about the goods. Make them an offer. They’d pay me up front, but I’d drag it out. By the time we went to collect, the object would be destroyed. Most of the time it was useless space junk, I swear.”
“This is the second time it hasn’t been,” the Doctor replied. He turned towards Ianto. “When I met him, people were dying and he was convinced it wasn’t his fault. His harmless ‘space junk’ turned out to be a Chula ambulance and the nanogenes had started playing with human DNA. If I hadn’t been there, your whole race would have been changed.” The Doctor settled his gaze back on Jack. “Do you remember where you put it?”
With a frown, Jack shook his head. He’d been trying to think, but he had trouble reaching back that far. “It’s been almost two thousand years for me.”
“Two thousand?” the Doctor exclaimed.
Jack dismissively waved off the Doctor’s concern. “I was buried for most of it. Don’t ask. We don’t have the time to get into that.”
“Do you remember anything helpful?” Ianto asked.
“I was using the name Jamie Hunter. Posing as a reporter for some American newspaper. I don’t remember which one. I’d heard of an agent hanging around Big Ben, although I know it wasn’t John. That I would have remembered.”
“And there’s no way of finding this thing without his help?” Ianto said as he glanced at the Doctor.
“I could try scanning around town, though that’s going to be time-consuming. The fastest way would be getting the information from Jack,” the Doctor said. “You’re stuck here Jack, for obvious reasons. Come on, Ianto.”
Ianto glanced down at his clothes. “I think I should change first.”
“We can’t waste time,” the Doctor reprimanded.
“And we can’t stick out to this version of Jack, either,” Ianto countered. “Who knows what we could alter if we do?”
“We could have hours, maybe less than one,” the Doctor snapped.
“Or we could have days,” Ianto returned.
“Can I suggest something?” Jack asked. “Or are you two just going to keep going at it?”
Both men turned to glare at him, so Jack continued, “I’ve got sensors on this box. Even if you manage to figure out the location from me in time, I’m still going to know if you try and steal it. You’re not only going to have to get the information, you’re going to have to distract me while you get the box.”
“We don’t have the time for this,” the Doctor said.
“Is there a way to disable the dampening field?” Ianto suggested.
“If you had something that would let me remotely access his wrist-strap, I could disable it. He can’t notice what’s going on with it though.”
“I could rig something,” the Doctor replied. “Would take me about fifteen minutes. But it’d have to be in close range.”
“I can manage that,” Ianto told them.
“You’d have to distract him long enough so I can disable the program, and long enough for us to go grab it,” Jack said. “That could be hours.”
Ianto smiled, “Only a few hours? Simple. But I will have to change.”
“There’s a whole room full of clothes,” the Doctor said.
“I saw it on the way up,” Ianto replied. “I won’t take long.”
“Good.”
Jack watched Ianto head back down the stairs and farther into the TARDIS.
“Incredibly brave,” the Doctor murmured.
“He always has been,” Jack said.
“I meant you,” the Doctor told him. “You’re letting him run off and meet the old you.”
Jack wiped at his mouth again and frowned. “I think maybe I should go talk to him.” He hurried after Ianto.
*-*
The room wasn’t just full of clothes; it was packed with them. At first, Ianto had been amazed by the sheer amount, but after he realized it wasn’t at all organized, he became a bit disgusted. Finding what he would need might take him longer than a few minutes.
“Ianto?” Jack called out.
“Back here,” Ianto replied.
“I need to talk to you,” Jack said.
“Well, I’m here. In the flesh,” Ianto answered as he looked through a section of men’s jackets. Most were too small, or too far out of fashion. One of them he didn’t even know what it was made out of and he prided himself on at least knowing materials.
“It’s about past-me.”
“You’re a conman. I know,” Ianto said.
“I’m not exactly a good person,” Jack told him.
“Judging from the way John talked to you, I’d figured that part out.” Ianto dug a pair of wool pants out from among the rack and held them up. Should do. Tossing the pants at Jack, he kept going. “I’ve been in your memories for almost five months, Jack. I know what kind of man you were.”
“Just how far did you get into my head?” Jack asked, trying to sound amused.
Ianto glanced over his shoulder at the other man. “I’m not sure there’s anything I don’t know now, though I’ll admit, having my own headspace again is putting the distance back.”
Jack’s smile became uneasy, unsure.
Sighing, Ianto turned around to face him and reached out to gently touch his cheek. “I wouldn’t have kept on trying to convince you if I hadn’t thought you were worth the effort.”
“I thought I was the only ticket out.”
“I think I could have moved once I was out,” Ianto replied as he turned back to hunting clothes.
“So why didn’t you?”
“The thought didn’t really occur to me until just now. You’re a hero to me,” Ianto said. “Just because your past isn’t glamorous doesn’t mean you aren’t heroic. If you remember, my past hasn’t been snow white either.”
“You never stooped to the levels I have,” Jack countered.
Ianto could feel Jack’s presence close against his back, could smell him and feel the light breath on his neck. He’d taken physical sensations for granted in his last life. He had to close his eyes, concentrate on his words, before he looked at Jack again. “And you haven’t seen the things I have,” he replied. “The people I met out in the Void. Not everyone who is strong is a good person. Your ‘crimes’ Jack, they all link to your survival. Some minds are just sick. You aren’t one of them.”
“I don’t want you to make a mistake with past-me,” Jack told him desperately. “You have to be careful.”
“I know. I can’t give you cause to remember me.” Ianto started searching the clothes again.
“Not just that,” Jack said. “I can’t suspect you’re up to something. I might end up hurting you.”
“I’ll be careful. I should be able to read your mind, that’ll make it easy enough.”
“Damn it Ianto, I’m trying to warn you,” Jack growled. He grabbed Ianto’s arm and turned him around to face him. “Just because you’ve been in my head, you don’t know what I’m capable of doing. What you saw. My memories. That’s all been put through my interpretations. It’s not the truth.”
Ianto’s mouth felt dry. He could feel the waves of desperation coming off of Jack’s mind, and read the worry in his body language. “I know enough,” he said softly, “to realize that you don’t like yourself during this time. And I know you have hated what you had to do. When you run out of options. I saw you after Jasmine. I saw you after you realized who that old man was. I know you hated these actions before I died, Jack. I’ve only gotten a better understanding since then.”
Ianto took a deep breath and moved closer. Jack’s grip eased. “I also know,” Ianto continued, “that as much as you may consider yourself an evil man, you wouldn’t harm someone who doesn’t pose a threat. Someone who isn’t armed, and who you may be able to con into getting what you want.”
“Tell that to Steven,” Jack’s mind screamed, though Jack didn’t seem aware he’d broadcasted such a thought. Ianto let it slip, and let Jack pull on a mask of amusement.
Jack grabbed a wool cap from a nearby heap of clothing and put it on Ianto’s head. “Watch out for the bombs, too. Wouldn’t be any fun if your new body got blown to pieces before we had any fun with it.”
Ianto grinned at Jack. “What a disappointment that would be.”
Onto Part 9
Author: Time Phobia
Rating: PG
Characters: (this section: Jack, Ianto, Tenth Doctor)
Pairings: (series: Jack/Ianto)
Summary: Jack explains, and the three form a plan.
Timing: Post-CoE, Post-Waters of Mars
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or make a profit. They are owned, for the most part, by RTD and BBC.
Warning: Mentions of cannon character death. Don't worry. Death is only a beginning.
Author's Note (for series): I've got a long detailed spoiler-rific post here
“It’s December, 1940,” Jack began. “And the reason you can’t find the Archive is that I’ve got it under a Yeralique dampening field.”
“Wasn’t strong enough,” the Doctor told him.
“I didn’t know that,” Jack returned.
“Why did you have it under one anyway?” Ianto asked.
Jack lifted up his wrist-strap. “Because this, when it was fully operational, could pick up the distress beacon and I didn’t want the rightful owners coming along and snatching it from me.”
“Fully operational,” the Doctor repeated. “Please, Jack, don’t tell me you’re running the same scam with it.”
“It’s the fourth time I’m running it,” Jack replied.
“Do you have any idea the knowledge that could be destroyed because you thought it was a harmless box?” the Doctor snapped.
Ianto glanced back and forth between the two men. “Could someone possibly fill me in? Why is it in danger of being destroyed?”
The Doctor glared at Jack and Jack got the message. I get to tell him. Jack sighed and explained, “You already know that I used to be a conman. Well, I had this one con where I’d pick up something I thought was junk and put it somewhere that I knew something bad would happen. Pompeii. The explosion in Colony 775.”
“The 1940’s,” Ianto murmured. “You hid things in the blitzes?”
Jack nodded. “London was one of my favorites, though I had to be careful and put a lot more research into it. Anyway, a Time Agent would show up, normally because I baited them or I’d manage to be right where they could see my wrist-strap, and I’d tell them about the goods. Make them an offer. They’d pay me up front, but I’d drag it out. By the time we went to collect, the object would be destroyed. Most of the time it was useless space junk, I swear.”
“This is the second time it hasn’t been,” the Doctor replied. He turned towards Ianto. “When I met him, people were dying and he was convinced it wasn’t his fault. His harmless ‘space junk’ turned out to be a Chula ambulance and the nanogenes had started playing with human DNA. If I hadn’t been there, your whole race would have been changed.” The Doctor settled his gaze back on Jack. “Do you remember where you put it?”
With a frown, Jack shook his head. He’d been trying to think, but he had trouble reaching back that far. “It’s been almost two thousand years for me.”
“Two thousand?” the Doctor exclaimed.
Jack dismissively waved off the Doctor’s concern. “I was buried for most of it. Don’t ask. We don’t have the time to get into that.”
“Do you remember anything helpful?” Ianto asked.
“I was using the name Jamie Hunter. Posing as a reporter for some American newspaper. I don’t remember which one. I’d heard of an agent hanging around Big Ben, although I know it wasn’t John. That I would have remembered.”
“And there’s no way of finding this thing without his help?” Ianto said as he glanced at the Doctor.
“I could try scanning around town, though that’s going to be time-consuming. The fastest way would be getting the information from Jack,” the Doctor said. “You’re stuck here Jack, for obvious reasons. Come on, Ianto.”
Ianto glanced down at his clothes. “I think I should change first.”
“We can’t waste time,” the Doctor reprimanded.
“And we can’t stick out to this version of Jack, either,” Ianto countered. “Who knows what we could alter if we do?”
“We could have hours, maybe less than one,” the Doctor snapped.
“Or we could have days,” Ianto returned.
“Can I suggest something?” Jack asked. “Or are you two just going to keep going at it?”
Both men turned to glare at him, so Jack continued, “I’ve got sensors on this box. Even if you manage to figure out the location from me in time, I’m still going to know if you try and steal it. You’re not only going to have to get the information, you’re going to have to distract me while you get the box.”
“We don’t have the time for this,” the Doctor said.
“Is there a way to disable the dampening field?” Ianto suggested.
“If you had something that would let me remotely access his wrist-strap, I could disable it. He can’t notice what’s going on with it though.”
“I could rig something,” the Doctor replied. “Would take me about fifteen minutes. But it’d have to be in close range.”
“I can manage that,” Ianto told them.
“You’d have to distract him long enough so I can disable the program, and long enough for us to go grab it,” Jack said. “That could be hours.”
Ianto smiled, “Only a few hours? Simple. But I will have to change.”
“There’s a whole room full of clothes,” the Doctor said.
“I saw it on the way up,” Ianto replied. “I won’t take long.”
“Good.”
Jack watched Ianto head back down the stairs and farther into the TARDIS.
“Incredibly brave,” the Doctor murmured.
“He always has been,” Jack said.
“I meant you,” the Doctor told him. “You’re letting him run off and meet the old you.”
Jack wiped at his mouth again and frowned. “I think maybe I should go talk to him.” He hurried after Ianto.
*-*
The room wasn’t just full of clothes; it was packed with them. At first, Ianto had been amazed by the sheer amount, but after he realized it wasn’t at all organized, he became a bit disgusted. Finding what he would need might take him longer than a few minutes.
“Ianto?” Jack called out.
“Back here,” Ianto replied.
“I need to talk to you,” Jack said.
“Well, I’m here. In the flesh,” Ianto answered as he looked through a section of men’s jackets. Most were too small, or too far out of fashion. One of them he didn’t even know what it was made out of and he prided himself on at least knowing materials.
“It’s about past-me.”
“You’re a conman. I know,” Ianto said.
“I’m not exactly a good person,” Jack told him.
“Judging from the way John talked to you, I’d figured that part out.” Ianto dug a pair of wool pants out from among the rack and held them up. Should do. Tossing the pants at Jack, he kept going. “I’ve been in your memories for almost five months, Jack. I know what kind of man you were.”
“Just how far did you get into my head?” Jack asked, trying to sound amused.
Ianto glanced over his shoulder at the other man. “I’m not sure there’s anything I don’t know now, though I’ll admit, having my own headspace again is putting the distance back.”
Jack’s smile became uneasy, unsure.
Sighing, Ianto turned around to face him and reached out to gently touch his cheek. “I wouldn’t have kept on trying to convince you if I hadn’t thought you were worth the effort.”
“I thought I was the only ticket out.”
“I think I could have moved once I was out,” Ianto replied as he turned back to hunting clothes.
“So why didn’t you?”
“The thought didn’t really occur to me until just now. You’re a hero to me,” Ianto said. “Just because your past isn’t glamorous doesn’t mean you aren’t heroic. If you remember, my past hasn’t been snow white either.”
“You never stooped to the levels I have,” Jack countered.
Ianto could feel Jack’s presence close against his back, could smell him and feel the light breath on his neck. He’d taken physical sensations for granted in his last life. He had to close his eyes, concentrate on his words, before he looked at Jack again. “And you haven’t seen the things I have,” he replied. “The people I met out in the Void. Not everyone who is strong is a good person. Your ‘crimes’ Jack, they all link to your survival. Some minds are just sick. You aren’t one of them.”
“I don’t want you to make a mistake with past-me,” Jack told him desperately. “You have to be careful.”
“I know. I can’t give you cause to remember me.” Ianto started searching the clothes again.
“Not just that,” Jack said. “I can’t suspect you’re up to something. I might end up hurting you.”
“I’ll be careful. I should be able to read your mind, that’ll make it easy enough.”
“Damn it Ianto, I’m trying to warn you,” Jack growled. He grabbed Ianto’s arm and turned him around to face him. “Just because you’ve been in my head, you don’t know what I’m capable of doing. What you saw. My memories. That’s all been put through my interpretations. It’s not the truth.”
Ianto’s mouth felt dry. He could feel the waves of desperation coming off of Jack’s mind, and read the worry in his body language. “I know enough,” he said softly, “to realize that you don’t like yourself during this time. And I know you have hated what you had to do. When you run out of options. I saw you after Jasmine. I saw you after you realized who that old man was. I know you hated these actions before I died, Jack. I’ve only gotten a better understanding since then.”
Ianto took a deep breath and moved closer. Jack’s grip eased. “I also know,” Ianto continued, “that as much as you may consider yourself an evil man, you wouldn’t harm someone who doesn’t pose a threat. Someone who isn’t armed, and who you may be able to con into getting what you want.”
“Tell that to Steven,” Jack’s mind screamed, though Jack didn’t seem aware he’d broadcasted such a thought. Ianto let it slip, and let Jack pull on a mask of amusement.
Jack grabbed a wool cap from a nearby heap of clothing and put it on Ianto’s head. “Watch out for the bombs, too. Wouldn’t be any fun if your new body got blown to pieces before we had any fun with it.”
Ianto grinned at Jack. “What a disappointment that would be.”
Onto Part 9