Ghost?
Title: Ghost? (1/?)
Author: xLieselx
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Tosh/Owen, mentions of Gwen/Rhys, Ianto/Lisa, Owen/Suzie, Owen/Gwen, Tosh/Tommy and many others I can’t think of right now.
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Gwen, Owen, other minor characters, some OC’s integral to plot.
Warnings: Very light bad language, slight description of sexual acts.
Rating: PG? PG13? Nothing extreme anyways.
Summary: The team are forced out of their comfort zone when Jack discovers odd occurrences in a small rural village in Yorkshire, where a lost ghost from his own past has become stuck - attached involuntarily - to a disused mine. During their mission to return the ghost to its own time and smooth over the disruption caused by it in the local community the team begin to realise not all is as it may at first seem and some loyalties lie deeper than the surface.
Please note that this is essentially a Jack/Ianto Fic but it centres around a - almost episode like - plot, so give it time and enjoy the story.
Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters… if I did I’d be a hell of a lot richer. However I do own the plot and any OC’s.
Authors Note: Okay, so it’s not set in Cardiff, or anywhere in Wales for that matter. Not because I don’t like Wales but because I’ve only ever been once and even then that was to Llandudno. I thought it better to right about somewhere I knew so this is set in a little hamlet just down my road (but trust me there are no Sue’s). Hope the explanation of why the team (or Jack) think it’s their business suffices. Also please note that this is essentially a Jack/Ianto Fic but it centres around a - almost episode like - plot, so give it time and enjoy the story. (Also not beta’d but I did write it on Microsoft Word with a grammar and spell check…any other mistakes are just my own stupid fault).
‘ - And they called us why again, Jack?’ Owen sniped from the front passenger seat, his right hand twisting a local map around while his left clutched the door hand with white knuckles as Jack flung the SUV around yet another tight bend.
‘They didn’t, as such. I saw the case, thought it might be worth checking out… Torchwood one seemed reluctant to get involved, and frankly I’d rather not leave this for PC Plod to deal with.’ He glanced casually at the back seat in the rear-view mirror, picking out Gwen’s pale face amongst the three, nauseous looking passengers. ‘No offence Gwen.’
Gwen smiled, doe-eyed and gap toothed, Ianto could see Jack grinning, again he found himself trying to damper out the flame of jealousy that watching Jack and Gwen would immediately spark. Tosh, sat directly beside him, shifted uncomfortably - obviously sensing Ianto’s own discomfort.
Jack’s sudden swerve to avoid a pheasant slowly picking its way across the road distracted Ianto long enough that he forgot about Gwen making eyes at Jack and instead turned his attention to throwing up into the bag he’d been clutching in clammy hands for the majority of the journey.
‘Sorry Ianto!’ Jack laughed from the driver’s seat, throwing that charming, disarming smile over his shoulder once more, just as Ianto raised his head, eyes watering and vomit speckling his chin. ‘Didn’t want to mow down the local wildlife.’
‘No problem sir.’ Ianto dabbed at his chin with the tissue Tosh provided, feeling rather foolish, although much more level-headed.
The smell of vomit and Jack’s erratic driving resulted in Gwen also regurgitating her breakfast, although - and Ianto was sure it was intentional - on Ianto’s rucksack. He groaned internally, but showed no outward signs of wanting to slap her, instead he focused his mind on working out just what the hell they were doing here. Jack must think it was important to drag them all up here, halfway across England, to a tiny rural village in Yorkshire.
‘So Jack, why did Torchwood one want nothing to do with your ‘ghost’ if you’re so sure it’s worth following up?’ Ianto hearing mention of the ‘ghost’ snapped to attention, suddenly the whole team fell quiet as they listened to Jack explain their reason for being here.
‘As I said, it looked worth following up…and who’d refuse a trip to this beautiful part of England?’ Jack grinned, slamming his foot on the brakes and swinging the SUV round into a car park, claiming the trees had disguised the entrance and caused him to stop so abruptly.
‘I don’t know…I could have done without it. Beside, the bloody accents here are almost are ridiculous as those back in oh so rainy Wales.’
Gwen and Ianto united as they glared at Owen, who just shrugged and with a sarcastic grin and leapt out of the car.
‘Sometimes I could really gain a lot of satisfaction from shooting him you know.’ Gwen mused, extricating her legs from under Ianto’s vomit splattered rucksack.
‘There’s a lot to be said for its therapeutic properties. Although the amount of moaning he does and nursing he requires afterwards quite overshadow any initial enjoyment or satisfaction you may glean -‘ Ianto stated mater-of-factly.
‘- not to mention the fact I’m already dead. You’d be left with one hell of a mess and a wound that just would not heal… Oh and Ianto, love you too mate.’ Owen called cheerfully from the boot, his voice muffled as he dug around in the supplies that Ianto had so painstakingly packed, throwing the neat, organised piles into total disarray.
‘Now now, children, don’t bicker. We have a ghost to find.’ Jack appeared beside Owen, raising his eyebrows at the mess in the boot. Thinking it best not to let Ianto dwell on the state of his once so organised supplies Jack pulled open the car door and gestured for Ianto, Tosh and Gwen to clamber out.
‘Okay…so where are we again?’ Ianto looked around the rural setting with apprehension evident on his face. Tosh handed him a black umbrella and pulled her PDA out, tapping several times on the screen she looked up with a tiny smile.
‘Langsett, a rural hamlet jut outside Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Northern England.’ Ianto nodded, watching Owen unfold what looked like an ordnance survey map with red dots all over it, some in clusters, others just dotted randomly around the area.
‘Hang on…Jack?’ Gwen joined the group looking at the large map. ‘Surely this is not our problem, we deal with the rift, this is too far away from Cardiff for the rift to be responsible….isn’t it?’ Jack shook his head gravely, eyes checking the car park for anyone who might be listening in.
‘Technically yes, although this creature…spectre…whatever, did originate there. The reason I thought we should check this out is that…I’ve seen our ‘ghost’… in Cardiff.’ The captain paused, most likely for dramatic affect Ianto thought, a small smile playing across his lips. ‘My guess is that it’s travelled, done a little tour of Cardiff, got bored and moved on, and for some reason it’s decided to stay here.’
‘You think it’s got attached to the area?’ Tosh questioned, tapping away furiously at her PDA. Jack shrugged, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes resting steadily on Ianto, waiting for what he knew was about to be said.
‘Or it got stuck…lost maybe…’ Ianto frowned, lost in his own thoughts. Tosh looked at him quizzically, Jack smirked.
‘Ah, Ianto, knew I could rely on you for an alternative explanation. And it just so happens that that is exactly what I think might have happened here.’ Jack clapped him on the back a look of pride and....something else…something deeper mixing in his eyes, eyes that glittered gray under the Yorkshire rain clouds.
‘Yeah, yeah, great minds think alike and all that bollocks… but what I want to know is why should we care?’ Owen folded the map up roughly and gestured with it at the car park. ‘In case you haven’t noticed, this is a tourists car park…nothing unusual, nothing supernatural at all.’ He grabbed Tosh’s PDA ignoring her indignant squeak and pushed it in Jack’s face. ‘See, nothing what-so-ever.’ Jack glared at him and returned the PDA to Tosh.
The atmosphere had changed drastically, the clouds seemingly darkening in anticipation of the fight. Ianto adjusted his position, ready to restrain Jack should things get out of control. Not that he’d have been able to hold the older man back, or that he wanted to protect Owen, but he was sure Jack would appreciate Ianto’s attempt to diffuse the situation, or at least him saving Jack the bruised knuckles and the indignity of loosing it - yet again. Jack seemed to visibly shake it off, the anger leaving his eyes, replaced by a cold, warning glare.
‘Thanks Owen. But for now, I’ll be in charge, and you’ll do as I say. Got it?’ Jack towered over Owen, using his size and presence to intimidate the younger man. Owen swallowed audibly and took a tiny step backwards - admitting defeat.
The other three watched on, ultimately powerless to do anything and all too used to the continuous power oppositions from Owen. The moment had passed and Owen turned, leaving the group to root in his bag, Ianto presumed he just didn’t want to witness the odd looks the rest of the team kept throwing at him.
Jack had disappeared around the other side of the SUV, and while Ianto was sure the captain would still be fuming under that calm exterior, he decided to go and speak to him. After all, Gwen Cooper wasn’t the only one allowed to be a bit nosy.
While he was sure Gwen and Tosh were busy gossiping and Owen was still refusing to look up from the red dotted map Ianto slipped away from the group in search of Jack. He found him within seconds, mainly because he knew exactly where to look. The Captain was stood, leant against a dry stone wall, facing over the reservoir. His eyes were focused on something in the far distance, occasionally flickering to a family of moor hens gliding across the surface, heading for their nest on the bank.
Ianto stopped, a few paces away from Jack, watching him carefully, it wouldn’t do for him to surprise him and end up with a bullet through his chest. He’d been on the wrong end of Jack’s old Webley far too many times during his Torchwood career, he had no desire to repeat the experience.
‘Ianto.’ As it happened Jack had known he was there all along, so much for stealth Ianto thought, glad that he hadn’t really being trying to sneak up on Jack and flattered that Jack could recognise his presence without even turning around.
‘Sir -‘ Jack tutted, almost before the word left Ianto’s mouth.
‘- How many times Ianto? It’s Jack…after everything we’ve done I think we’re well past calling each other Sir and Mr Jones.’ Ianto smiled, feeling slight daft and knowing Jack was right. When you’d seen someone writhing, in the throes of passion, body partially covered in chocolate sauce, their eyes rolled back, and your name on their lips as they came into your mouth, there really was no need to call them sir again. Unless of course Jack found that a turn on… no, Ianto shook his head, that train of thought could not possibly be followed productively at the present time. He made a mental note to bring it up later though.
‘Okay, Jack…’ Ianto rolled the name around in his mouth, laughing when Jack’s eyes fluttered shut, Jack seemingly steadying himself.
‘Hey, Ianto, play fair…’ Ianto shrugged and stepped closer; leaving just enough space so they weren’t touching. Yet. ‘You are such a tease…’ Jack whispered, lips brushing Ianto’s own. Ianto laughed again, pulling Jack closer, closing that minuscule distance, pressing their two bodies together, seamlessly. They kissed, slowly, gently, Ianto trying to cool the hot anger inside Jack, Jack trying to show Ianto what he couldn’t yet find the words to say.
When the pair separated Jack seemed to be genuinely more relaxed the hard edge gone from his eyes, his jaw line softer against his neck.
‘Don’t let him wind you up Jack. We all know what he’s like and recently…well, I don’t think his joining the un-dead has helped his control issues much. Besides…’ a long pause stretched between them ‘…he only said what we were all thinking.’ Jack’s eyes snapped up to Ianto’s as he finished speaking, his eyebrows furrowed to a concerned frown.
‘You all agree with him?’ Ianto mentally kicked himself, that hadn’t been what he’d meant…not really. Jack tone was calm, inquisitive to someone who didn’t know him, but to Ianto he could hear the harsh undertones, the feeling he’d been betrayed.
‘No…well, kind of. We don’t understand why we’re here Jack. We don’t understand what we might be risking our lives for, everyone’s fed up of you keeping us in the dark…we need to know…just this once, you have to explain. And not just what you want to tell us, you have to explain everything.’ Ianto breathed deeply, aware he might have crossed the line… he steeled himself for the blow or harsh brush off. The command that would put him right back in his place.
But it never came, instead Jack smiled. A wide grin, lighting up his face. Again he clapped Ianto on the back, followed by a kiss on the cheek.
‘Now that is what I want to see! That anger…the power. I know you have it in you… Why do I always have to act like an arse or threaten to kill you to bring it out?’ Ianto was too taken aback to reply, just gaped like fish out of water. ‘Ianto Jones, you curious creature. That might be handy while we’re here.’ Jack kissed him once more, so tender that it was hardly as kiss at all. Jack pulled away slightly, whispering against Ianto’s cheek ‘And it’s quite the turn on.’ And with that Jack was off, disappearing into the forest on his way back to the others, leaving Ianto to chase after him.
‘Why ruin the habit of a lifetime?’ Ianto murmured to himself, and picking up Jack’s wallet which had obviously fallen from his pocket Ianto Jones followed his Captain back into the forest.
Okay so I don’t know how people will respond to this, there is definitely enough material for a second chapter (and more) if you like it. So let me know.
Part 2