In Sickness and in Health - End of Part One - (24/35ish)
Author’s note: Once again, thanks to royalladyemma for continous hand holding. If you’re new, start at chapter one, they’re all hyperlinked. And thus, we come to the end of part one which is really quite an achievement as I didn't know there were going to be two parts until a couple of weeks ago but still:P
"Diolch. Cara'ch' - "Thanks. Love you"
Also, welcome back Ianto!
Summary: Ianto looks after everyone, but who looks after him?
Pairing: Janto
Spoilers: None
Warning: Occasional language, references to child abuse
Rating: 15
Ianto woke feeling warm and content cocooned between the man he loved and Jack’s coat. Absent mindedly stroking the soft fabric between his fingers, he glanced over at the clock and saw it was a bit after half ten. Wow. Over fifteen hours peaceful sleep; no wonder he felt so calm.
He knew the main reason for this was currently moulded to his back, his breath ghosting softly over Ianto’s neck. As clichéd as it sounded, Ianto honestly didn’t know what he would’ve done without the Immortal these past few weeks. Without him, he’d probably still believe that what his Dad did was deserved. However, with Jack’s unwavering support and devotion, Ianto could finally see that everything that had happened in his past was not his fault. How could it be? He’d only been little.
Yet with this new found clarity came the realisation that this could not continue. He’d allowed it to go on for long enough as it was.
Sighing, Ianto carefully disentangled himself from Jack’s protective hold and turned to face his lover, propping himself up on his elbow and stroking his hair thoughtfully.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said quietly. “However, I also know that I don’t deserve this. The longer I allow this to go on, the more people are going to get hurt. Losing Rhi is bad enough but I can’t lose you just ‘cos I’m too scared to stand up for myself. It’s taken us too long to get his far and there’s no way I’m giving up the best thing that ever happened to me for some drunk. No way. I also know that you won’t do anything without my say so,” murmured Ianto as he lay back down to study Jack’s features.
“I don’t know why I haven’t done this sooner. I s’ppose I always...hoped that he’d change, y’know? But if he’s willing to use my own sister against me then there is no hope is there?” mused Ianto sadly as he lapsed into silence, his hand resting on Jack’s hip, stroking it idly.
“I think...I need to see him...just one more time. Just to reassure myself that I’m doing the right thing and then...well, we’ll see where we go from there, shall we?” said Ianto quietly, kissing Jack’s forehead lightly before carefully slipping out of bed and writing a quick note so Jack didn’t worry.
He then quickly dressed in loose fitting jeans and another long sleeved t-shirt, grimacing slightly at the clearly visible bruising on his neck. Still, couldn’t be helped, thought Ianto vaguely as he pocketed his keys and phone before leaning over the bed and kissing Jack softly.
“Diolch. Cara’ch,” he murmured before leaving.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” sneered Lloyd as Ianto walked into his hospital room.
Ianto raised an eyebrow but didn’t justify that with a comment. Somehow, seeing his Father alone and in a hospital bed made Ianto see him for the sad, pathetic, 59 year old he was rather than the dominating monster he pretended to be.
“Aw, no answer for your old man? That is a shame. That Yank hit you lately?” goaded Lloyd, hoping to force Ianto into a response.
Ianto remained silent as he regarded his Father with a look akin to curiosity. “Why did you do it?” he asked calmly, leaning on the railings at the end of the bed, hands clasped loosely together.
“No son of mine’s gonna-“
“Yes, yes, I know all that but why did you tell Rhi all those lies about Jack? What’s the point?”
Lloyd smirked. “You should be grateful; I was protecting you. If I hadn’t have spread those ‘lies’ as you call them, then you’d be banged up for attempted murder.”
Ianto raised an eyebrow. “As opposed to you being banged up for assault? Face it, the only person you were trying to protect is yourself.”
Lloyd smirked. “Who cares why I did it? I got you off the hook didn’t I? And if that Yank gets incarcerated in the process then even better.”
Ianto slowly walked over to Lloyd’s side. “Now you listen to me; you drove Mam away, you drove Rhi away, but you will not drive Jack away, do I make myself clear?” he hissed venomously, barely keeping his voice level.
“Ooh! Hit a nerve have I? Where is your Yanky boyfriend anyway? I doubt he’d be too happy if he knew where you were.”
“Jack respects my opinions which is a lot more than can be said for you. Now I suggest you stay away from me in future.”
“Or what? You’ll push me down the stairs again? Do you honestly think I’m going to listen to a pathetic, desperate slut like you who’ll let any passing fag fuck him as long as they say pretty words afterwards? Bollocks! You deserve every mark I’ve ever left on you and you know it!”
“Dad!” Both men turned to see Rhiannon standing in the doorway looking horrified.
“Princess, I-“
“How could you say those things, Dad? After everything Ianto’s been through?” demanded Rhiannon, indicating to Ianto who was standing with his back to them, gazing out the window, the slight inclination of his head showing he was listening to every word.
“I was just...err..relaying what Jack said to him the other day,” lied Lloyd, for once lost for words.
Rhiannon looked incredulous. “No you weren’t,” she said quietly as sudden realisation dawned. “You’re the one who’s been hitting Ianto all this time; not Jack!”
“Sweetheart, that wasn’t-“
“How could you, Dad? How could you put Ianto through that? Never mind another innocent man!”
“Oh come on, love! Ianto’s not gay, you said so yourself. Something must be up.”
Rhi shook her head as images from the previous day flooded back. “No. Jack cares for Ianto; I saw it myself and you made me believe...you’re sick, you know that?”
“Rhiannon, please-“
“No. Ianto was right about you; all those times he tried to tell me and I thought he was lying. You made me believe he was lying!”
“I didn’t mean-“
“You knew exactly what you were doing. He was just a little boy, Dad! Even now, he’s still smaller than you and you just treat him like dirt!”
“Please, I love you, Rhiannon.”
“You don’t know the meaning of the word. If you loved me, you wouldn’t have used me against my own brother!” shouted Rhi as she stormed out of the room.
Lloyd turned to face Ianto who was regarding him with a completely passive expression, arms folded across his chest. “You deserved that,” he understated before he too left.
“Ianto, wait!” called Rhiannon as she caught up with the younger man outside the building.
Ianto stopped and slowly turned to face her, his expression completely blank.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve believed you,” said Rhiannon quietly.
Ianto regarded her for a few moments. “Yes, you should’ve,” he murmured softly before making to leave but Rhi caught his elbow.
“It’s just...he’s my Dad.”
“And I’m your brother,” stated Ianto quietly, his voice laced with so much emotion that he would never share.
“I know...and I should’ve looked after you better. Especially after Mam left but I thought you’d be okay, y’know? I’d have Jonny and you’d have Dad and it’s all be fine.”
Ianto didn’t answer that, instead turning to leave but Rhi stood in front of him, blocking his way. “Please, Ianto. We can’t let Dad get between us!”
Ianto smiled sadly. “Don’t you see? He already has. Whilst you’re attached to him, I can’t move on with my life. I need...I need to leave my past in my past before it destroys me completely.”
“I’ll drop all contact with Dad. There’s no way I’m letting him near the kids now.”
“Rhi, he’ll just wheedle his way back in. He always does and if you’re in my life, he will be too. I’m sorry, I really am, but I’ve got to do what’s best for me. Maybe in five or ten years who knows? But for now, I can’t have you in my life, I’m sorry.”
“But David and Mischa...”murmured Rhi as tears trailed down her cheeks.
“They don’t even know who I am. Give it a couple of months and they’ll have forgotten all about me,” said Ianto softly as he wiped the tears away.
“But you’ll be all alone...”
“I have Jack and good friends who can give me what I need.”
“And I can’t?”
“No.”
Rhiannon nodded her acceptance. “”I failed you, didn’t I?” she asked quietly.
“No. You just...had you own life. The only one to blame is Lloyd, no one else,” said Ianto gently as he too felt tears trailing down his cheeks.
Rhiannon exhaled a shaky breath. “Five years is a long time. If you ever change you r mind...our door’s always open...even if yours isn’t.”
Ianto nodded. “Thank you.”
Rhiannon smiled as she cupped his cheek. “My baby brother’s all grown up,” she said sadly before pulling him into a hug.
Take care of yourself,” she whispered as she let him go.
“You too,” said Ianto quietly before walking away.
Sitting on the stone steps of the Plas, Ianto knew he’d made the right decision. Yes, it had been hard but he had to move on and the only way to do that was to severe all links with that man.
Ianto refused to think of Lloyd as his Father any longer. To be someone’s father implied that there was some positive feelings shared between the two people involved and it’d become blindingly obvious that that was not the case.
He hadn’ really known what to expect when he’d visited Lloyd earlier. Maybe some recognition that what he’d done was wrong and that he was sorry? Clearly, that was never gonna happen.
He hated that Rhiannon had found out in that way but maybe...in five years, they could rekindle their shattered relationship properly without the shadow of the past looming over them. Of course, the chances of him being alive in five years were practically non existent, but he could hope, couldn’t he?
“Hey. I come bearing chips,” said Jack as he sat down beside him.
Ianto couldn’t help smiling at that: trust Jack to know exactly what he needed.
“I take it you saw the note then,” he said casually as he stole a couple of chips.
“Yeah...how did it go?” asked Jack awkwardly.
anto shrugged as he watched various Dad playing with the children. “Badly...he’s not gonna change.”
“And you expected him to?” asked Jack gently.
Ianto shrugged again as he leant into Jack, for once not caring that they were in a public place. If people were gonna disapprove, let them; if he wanted to be near his boyfriend, then he bloody well would. “I don’t know. I just....wanted him to acknowledge what he’s done to me.”
Jack slipped an arm round his waist in silent empathy as he rested his chin on Ianto’s head. “What you gonna do?”
“I don’t know. Once he’s out of hospital, he’s gonna be more violent than ever. He knows where I live, he knows where I work and he knows who I work with. What if next time he goes after Tosh or Gwen or even Owen? I can’t let it get back to the way it was before; it’s too risky for all of us...Which is why I’m gonna make a formally complaint against him. Even before the trial, I can take out restraining orders so we’re safe and after the trial...well, we won’t need them, will we?”
Jack nodded. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I should’ve done this a long time ago.” It also occurred to Ianto that with Lloyd in prison, he wouldn’t have to wait five years to see Rhiannon again.
“Okay. When do you want to do it?”
“Now. Before I lose my nerve.”
Two hours later, Jack and Ianto walked hand in hand out of the police station.
“How do you feel?” asked Jack as he glanced over at the younger man.
“Better.”
http://welsh-scotsman.livejournal.com/19692.html chapter twenty five