Fic: Getting By 4/12
Series: Journey
Title: Getting By
Author: McRaider
Summary: Sometimes it’s all you can do after a tragedy is hold on for your life and pray that nothing else goes wrong. This is the aftermath of Lost Souls and how our fair weathered friends survive the loss of their two team mates and the destruction of pieces of their city.
Author’s Note: Originally, I had not real intentions of touching this point of the story, I was going to fast forward a handful of months-but then I realized so much is going to change and so much is going to hurt for so long. So realistically this is a piece that focuses on the survivors story and how much it can ache to slowly move on.
Rated: PG-13 for now
Disclaimer: I own nothing, no really as of right now the only thing I own is the tiny life in Jack’s womb but even that hasn’t come into existence yet, so I can’t claim her. I own the psychiatrist but as I never name the psychiatrist I can’t really claim such. Torchwood/Doctor Who is not my creation-now if you’d like to see my creation, come back in three or four years!
Thanks: To my lovely betas
teachwriteslash and
senry
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Four-Interlude
Ianto was thankful that in the past few weeks, since the temporary shut down of Torchwood Three, that the rift had been abnormally inactive. Though, they’d been keeping a vague eye on activity, truth was none of them were in much of a mood to fix or watch anything. However, shortly before leaving, the Doctor had promised that any and all emergencies on planet Earth would be taken care of immediately by himself personally all they had to do was call.
Everyone continued to come in, standard policy naturally, but Tosh never stayed long after lunch, most of the time she’d wind up whimpering as she left. Ianto did the best that he could, no matter what, but he was terrified that when he did break down, he’d never be able to get himself back up. Initially, Jack had given everyone a few days off-realizing that his “we start from the end” speech wasn’t going to do anyone any good if they all off-ed themselves. Ianto, against his better judgment had spent the first few days after everyone had returned, with his parents-where he got his first opportunity to really mourn.
The hub had been all but shut down-Ianto, curious where his lover had gone made his way down to the shower in Jack’s private quarters. Jack had gotten into a tussle with a weevil and had gotten a little bloodied. Ianto had been furious at Jack for even putting his life in danger like that, especially with their daughter on the way.
But it had indeed been, just a scratch, a bad cut to Jack’s face and like all head wounds it had gotten blood everywhere. But Jack had been fine, so he’d gone down to take a shower. Ianto made his way through the hole in the floor-a little concerned when he saw that none of the lights were on. “Jack?” He called lightly. Since everything he’d suffered, Jack had developed a horrible fear of the dark-they still kept the closet light on when they went to sleep.
He could still hear the shower running behind the closed door of the bathroom. He felt his heart pounding in his chest as he slowly made his way to the door. Grasping the doorknob he opened it. A chill hit him as he heard a sobbing, breathy sound over the sound of the spraying water-the room was cold and the room was completely dark.
“Jack!?” Ianto called as he moved forward. He was just able to make out the sight of Jack curled up in a fetal position on the floor, sobbing and gasping for air. “Jesus Jack!” Ianto reached out to turn off the water, some of it splashing against his sleeve and he was stunned at the fierce chill of the water. Reaching out Ianto made a grab for Jack, only to have him scream and try to pull away. “Jack-Jack, Cariad, it’s me.” He whispered.
The light bulb had blown. He’d have to get Jack out of the room, move him some where they could have light. Hurrying back into Jack’s bedroom, he grabbed the heavy blanket from Jack’s bed. Moving back towards the bathroom he flicked on the weak light in Jack’s main bedroom-it wasn’t much, but it’d be something. He stepped into the bathroom, moving towards Jack’s body, and he gently draped the blanket around Jack’s freezing body. He wasn’t even shivering-the body’s main defense of warming itself and Jack’s body had stopped. How long had he been like this? How long had he been alone in the dark, sobbing to himself-like a frightened little boy?
He managed to get his arms under Jack’s arms, pulling him up just enough so that he could uncurl Jack and slowly drag him out of the room. Jack fought all the way-he didn’t have a clue where he was anymore. Ianto was terrified of Jack’s breathing as it was quick and forced under his hands. Ianto groaned as he tried to get Jack on the bed.
“It’s me Jack, it’s me, Ianto. I’ve got you.” He cursed silently as Jack instantly tried to curl back around himself. “This isn’t working!” Afraid to leave him, Ianto reached into his pocket and grabbed his cell phone, dialing quickly. He looked upstairs, trying to gauge how hard it would be to get Jack in a place where there was more light.
“Hello?” Martha’s exhausted voice was hint enough to tell Mickey she’d been sleeping.
Ianto sighed. “It’s Ianto, I’ve got a problem-“
“What’s wrong? Is it Jack? Do you need me to come in?”
“I-I don’t know for sure-the bulb blew in the bathroom-he’s in a fit. I think he’s hypothermic. He isn’t even shivering.”
“Try to calm him down, start warming him up, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
As a Torchwood member, Ianto had the basic training skills, but he’d never had to use them on Jack, not like this. He looked back upstairs, and then back down at his lover. “I’m sorry Jack-I’ve got to help you-I’ve got to leave for a few minutes.” Pressing a kiss to Jack’s clammy cold forehead he hurried back up the ladder.
Ianto returned with several lamps, two more blankets and a back of warmed IV saline. He could recall Owen once showing him in depth how to insert an IV as well as where all the needed things were. Ianto hoped he’d picked up the information well, because he hated to hurt Jack more than he already had to. Placing it under a blanket to keep it warm, Ianto wrapped Jack up in another blanket and gently began to rub his body in soothing circles. He’d turned on all the lights he could, lighting the room up a lot more than it had been.
“Jack, wake up Jack, come on babe, look at me-open your beautiful blue eyes.” He reached out, gently massaging the hands, trying to get Jack to unclench them. He was so cold. Ianto had once heard the best way to warm someone up was to get under something warm and share body heat. Stripping off most of his clothes, Ianto slid under the blanket, curling his body around Jack’s. “I’m here Jack, right here, you’re safe now. No one is every going to hurt I promise.”
He gently began to trace his hands over Jack’s torso, frightened by the chill he could feel radiating from Jack’s body. God he hoped the baby was okay-the baby. Suddenly something in his mind clicked and he continued to run his hands over Jack’s body again. “Hush little bab’ don’ say a word, papa’s gonna bye you a mockin’ bird, an’ if that mockin’ bird don’t sing, papa’s gonna by you a diamond ring.” He smiled as he pressed a kiss to Jack’s cheek. “That’s what we’re gonna sing to our baby girl Jack, come on. Open your eyes Caraid.”
Jack’s breathing had begun return to a normal pace. The big blue eyes finally opened, and with some slight recognition, Jack looked back at Ianto. “Yan?”
“Hi.” He whispered pressing another kiss to Jack’s cheek. “I’m here, sweetheart.”
“I’m cold.”
“I know-Martha’s on her way, we’re going to try and get you warmed up. Jack, do you remember what happened?”
“Bulb-it got dark an’,” Ianto shushed him when he noticed Jack’s breathing begin to hitch and speed up again.
“It’s okay, you’re okay. I’ve got you Cariad, I’ve got you.”
“I’m sorry.” Whimpered Jack.
Ianto pressed a kiss to Jack’s forehead this time. “Don’t-don’t you ever be sorry for being frightened Jack Harkness, it’s what makes you human. I’ve got you now. You take care of me so often; let me take care of you once in awhile too.”
o0o
Martha arrived twenty minutes later, Jack’s temperature was still low, but getting better every minute. Ianto warned her of Jack’s naked state, to which she replied it was nothing she hadn’t seen before.
“Just ‘emember I’m cold.” He mumbled, shivering had returned.
She chuckled as she moved to him and checked his pupils. “How are you sweethear’?” She asked gently as she popped a thermometer in his mouth.
“He’s gotten warmer than when I pulled him out, his heart rate still seems high.” Ianto offered.
“Right, Ianto can you him upstairs for me.”
“Dressed?” Ianto questioned.
“Maybe a pair of loose boxers, I want to check on the baby.”
With help from Martha and Ianto, Jack made his way shakily to the autopsy bay. Ianto hurried back down stairs to get Jack more clothes while Martha prepared to do an ultrasound. When Ianto returned to Jack’s side, Martha smiled and rubbed some jelly on Jack’s belly, causing him to shiver again.
Ianto leaned over and pressed a kiss to Jack’s forehead. Before he could speak, however they heard the distinct thumping sound of a heart beat. Looking at the screen three sets of eyes grew wide at the sight of a tiny little figure moving around. “She appears to be fine. We’ll have to be careful; the hypothermia could have stressed out her heart. But she looks and is registering healthy.”
Ianto grinned softly as he reached out, touching the screen gently. “So beautiful.”
“Still cold,” whispered Jack, causing both Martha and Ianto to smile.
“You’re also showing a more normal temperature. Let’s get you dressed drive you two home. And I want you two to take tomorrow off.”
TBC
Chapter Three
Title: Getting By
Author: McRaider
Summary: Sometimes it’s all you can do after a tragedy is hold on for your life and pray that nothing else goes wrong. This is the aftermath of Lost Souls and how our fair weathered friends survive the loss of their two team mates and the destruction of pieces of their city.
Author’s Note: Originally, I had not real intentions of touching this point of the story, I was going to fast forward a handful of months-but then I realized so much is going to change and so much is going to hurt for so long. So realistically this is a piece that focuses on the survivors story and how much it can ache to slowly move on.
Rated: PG-13 for now
Disclaimer: I own nothing, no really as of right now the only thing I own is the tiny life in Jack’s womb but even that hasn’t come into existence yet, so I can’t claim her. I own the psychiatrist but as I never name the psychiatrist I can’t really claim such. Torchwood/Doctor Who is not my creation-now if you’d like to see my creation, come back in three or four years!
Thanks: To my lovely betas
teachwriteslash and
senry
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Four-Interlude
Ianto was thankful that in the past few weeks, since the temporary shut down of Torchwood Three, that the rift had been abnormally inactive. Though, they’d been keeping a vague eye on activity, truth was none of them were in much of a mood to fix or watch anything. However, shortly before leaving, the Doctor had promised that any and all emergencies on planet Earth would be taken care of immediately by himself personally all they had to do was call.
Everyone continued to come in, standard policy naturally, but Tosh never stayed long after lunch, most of the time she’d wind up whimpering as she left. Ianto did the best that he could, no matter what, but he was terrified that when he did break down, he’d never be able to get himself back up. Initially, Jack had given everyone a few days off-realizing that his “we start from the end” speech wasn’t going to do anyone any good if they all off-ed themselves. Ianto, against his better judgment had spent the first few days after everyone had returned, with his parents-where he got his first opportunity to really mourn.
The hub had been all but shut down-Ianto, curious where his lover had gone made his way down to the shower in Jack’s private quarters. Jack had gotten into a tussle with a weevil and had gotten a little bloodied. Ianto had been furious at Jack for even putting his life in danger like that, especially with their daughter on the way.
But it had indeed been, just a scratch, a bad cut to Jack’s face and like all head wounds it had gotten blood everywhere. But Jack had been fine, so he’d gone down to take a shower. Ianto made his way through the hole in the floor-a little concerned when he saw that none of the lights were on. “Jack?” He called lightly. Since everything he’d suffered, Jack had developed a horrible fear of the dark-they still kept the closet light on when they went to sleep.
He could still hear the shower running behind the closed door of the bathroom. He felt his heart pounding in his chest as he slowly made his way to the door. Grasping the doorknob he opened it. A chill hit him as he heard a sobbing, breathy sound over the sound of the spraying water-the room was cold and the room was completely dark.
“Jack!?” Ianto called as he moved forward. He was just able to make out the sight of Jack curled up in a fetal position on the floor, sobbing and gasping for air. “Jesus Jack!” Ianto reached out to turn off the water, some of it splashing against his sleeve and he was stunned at the fierce chill of the water. Reaching out Ianto made a grab for Jack, only to have him scream and try to pull away. “Jack-Jack, Cariad, it’s me.” He whispered.
The light bulb had blown. He’d have to get Jack out of the room, move him some where they could have light. Hurrying back into Jack’s bedroom, he grabbed the heavy blanket from Jack’s bed. Moving back towards the bathroom he flicked on the weak light in Jack’s main bedroom-it wasn’t much, but it’d be something. He stepped into the bathroom, moving towards Jack’s body, and he gently draped the blanket around Jack’s freezing body. He wasn’t even shivering-the body’s main defense of warming itself and Jack’s body had stopped. How long had he been like this? How long had he been alone in the dark, sobbing to himself-like a frightened little boy?
He managed to get his arms under Jack’s arms, pulling him up just enough so that he could uncurl Jack and slowly drag him out of the room. Jack fought all the way-he didn’t have a clue where he was anymore. Ianto was terrified of Jack’s breathing as it was quick and forced under his hands. Ianto groaned as he tried to get Jack on the bed.
“It’s me Jack, it’s me, Ianto. I’ve got you.” He cursed silently as Jack instantly tried to curl back around himself. “This isn’t working!” Afraid to leave him, Ianto reached into his pocket and grabbed his cell phone, dialing quickly. He looked upstairs, trying to gauge how hard it would be to get Jack in a place where there was more light.
“Hello?” Martha’s exhausted voice was hint enough to tell Mickey she’d been sleeping.
Ianto sighed. “It’s Ianto, I’ve got a problem-“
“What’s wrong? Is it Jack? Do you need me to come in?”
“I-I don’t know for sure-the bulb blew in the bathroom-he’s in a fit. I think he’s hypothermic. He isn’t even shivering.”
“Try to calm him down, start warming him up, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
As a Torchwood member, Ianto had the basic training skills, but he’d never had to use them on Jack, not like this. He looked back upstairs, and then back down at his lover. “I’m sorry Jack-I’ve got to help you-I’ve got to leave for a few minutes.” Pressing a kiss to Jack’s clammy cold forehead he hurried back up the ladder.
Ianto returned with several lamps, two more blankets and a back of warmed IV saline. He could recall Owen once showing him in depth how to insert an IV as well as where all the needed things were. Ianto hoped he’d picked up the information well, because he hated to hurt Jack more than he already had to. Placing it under a blanket to keep it warm, Ianto wrapped Jack up in another blanket and gently began to rub his body in soothing circles. He’d turned on all the lights he could, lighting the room up a lot more than it had been.
“Jack, wake up Jack, come on babe, look at me-open your beautiful blue eyes.” He reached out, gently massaging the hands, trying to get Jack to unclench them. He was so cold. Ianto had once heard the best way to warm someone up was to get under something warm and share body heat. Stripping off most of his clothes, Ianto slid under the blanket, curling his body around Jack’s. “I’m here Jack, right here, you’re safe now. No one is every going to hurt I promise.”
He gently began to trace his hands over Jack’s torso, frightened by the chill he could feel radiating from Jack’s body. God he hoped the baby was okay-the baby. Suddenly something in his mind clicked and he continued to run his hands over Jack’s body again. “Hush little bab’ don’ say a word, papa’s gonna bye you a mockin’ bird, an’ if that mockin’ bird don’t sing, papa’s gonna by you a diamond ring.” He smiled as he pressed a kiss to Jack’s cheek. “That’s what we’re gonna sing to our baby girl Jack, come on. Open your eyes Caraid.”
Jack’s breathing had begun return to a normal pace. The big blue eyes finally opened, and with some slight recognition, Jack looked back at Ianto. “Yan?”
“Hi.” He whispered pressing another kiss to Jack’s cheek. “I’m here, sweetheart.”
“I’m cold.”
“I know-Martha’s on her way, we’re going to try and get you warmed up. Jack, do you remember what happened?”
“Bulb-it got dark an’,” Ianto shushed him when he noticed Jack’s breathing begin to hitch and speed up again.
“It’s okay, you’re okay. I’ve got you Cariad, I’ve got you.”
“I’m sorry.” Whimpered Jack.
Ianto pressed a kiss to Jack’s forehead this time. “Don’t-don’t you ever be sorry for being frightened Jack Harkness, it’s what makes you human. I’ve got you now. You take care of me so often; let me take care of you once in awhile too.”
o0o
Martha arrived twenty minutes later, Jack’s temperature was still low, but getting better every minute. Ianto warned her of Jack’s naked state, to which she replied it was nothing she hadn’t seen before.
“Just ‘emember I’m cold.” He mumbled, shivering had returned.
She chuckled as she moved to him and checked his pupils. “How are you sweethear’?” She asked gently as she popped a thermometer in his mouth.
“He’s gotten warmer than when I pulled him out, his heart rate still seems high.” Ianto offered.
“Right, Ianto can you him upstairs for me.”
“Dressed?” Ianto questioned.
“Maybe a pair of loose boxers, I want to check on the baby.”
With help from Martha and Ianto, Jack made his way shakily to the autopsy bay. Ianto hurried back down stairs to get Jack more clothes while Martha prepared to do an ultrasound. When Ianto returned to Jack’s side, Martha smiled and rubbed some jelly on Jack’s belly, causing him to shiver again.
Ianto leaned over and pressed a kiss to Jack’s forehead. Before he could speak, however they heard the distinct thumping sound of a heart beat. Looking at the screen three sets of eyes grew wide at the sight of a tiny little figure moving around. “She appears to be fine. We’ll have to be careful; the hypothermia could have stressed out her heart. But she looks and is registering healthy.”
Ianto grinned softly as he reached out, touching the screen gently. “So beautiful.”
“Still cold,” whispered Jack, causing both Martha and Ianto to smile.
“You’re also showing a more normal temperature. Let’s get you dressed drive you two home. And I want you two to take tomorrow off.”
TBC
Chapter Three