Forever Autumn 2/21
Title: Forever Autumn 2/21
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, John/Nick,
Characters: Jack, Ianto, John Hart, Nick Jones, and a cast of (probably!) thousands.
Spoilers: Set after Exit Wounds. Sequel to 'We Could Be Heroes'
Rating: Adult - it's going to get very dark in some places.
Warnings: Slash, language, angst, dark themes.
Summary: John has a question for Nick...a very important question.
Disclaimer: I'm a student. I don't own Torchwood.
The Master List is here: anduria-trianys.livejournal.com/27610.html
Chapter 2
5th December, 2012...
John grinned madly as he lapped up the applause from the audience, before fixing his eyes on Nick, who was apparently still trying to decide whether he should be embarrassed, amused, flattered or turned on.
Personally, I'll settle for a combination of all of the above - but with emphasis on being turned on, ideally!
He tipped his lover an enormous wink and a grin before he spoke out again. “So, Dr. Jones,” he said, lying down across the front of the stage, parading his bare chest for everyone to see. “If you wouldn't mind coming up here...I believe myself to be in need of an examination.”
“Oh, baby!” shouted a man in the audience, who then grabbed Nick's hand and pulled him to his feet. “That I just have to see!” A chorus of agreement went up from everyone else.
John burst out laughing. “Well, I certainly have no objections! However, I think that gorgeous man on your arm might have some objections at the moment.”
Slowly, and amid several groans of disappointment at the loss of a potentially very interesting show, he pulled himself onto a high stool that someone had brought out for him and picked up the microphone.
“Nick,” he said, his voice much quieter now, “come here a second.”
He waited until his lover was standing beside him before reaching out and clasping his hand. “We've been through a lot together and I wanted to show you just...just how much you mean to me.” His voice cracked slightly on the last words. “I hope you'll like this...and I hope it'll mean that you'll be changing your mind about me not getting any after serenading you with Doctor Jones!”
With a last squeeze of the younger man's hand, he turned his head slightly and signalled to a young woman sat at the piano at the back of the stage. As soon as she started playing, the lights dimmed so that John and Nick were both bathed in a single spotlight the colour of the palest purple iris.
“This is for you, Nick,” John said in a slightly husky voice, before he began to sing.
“I don't know, but I believe
That some things are meant to be.
And that you'll make a better me.
Everyday I love you.”
In reality, John knew, Nick had already made him a better man. It was thanks to the beautiful man beside him that he was able to stop being the hard nut he once was and to let the real John show through; the vulnerable and scared young man he had been before he left his home. At the Time Agency, as a soldier, he had been forced to hide those feelings and put on the façade of the tough warrior who took pleasure in fighting wars that others would consider pointless excuses for murder.
It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the adventure, or the rush of adrenaline that filled his veins every time he took to the field with his sword at his belt and his guns in his hand. And it certainly wasn’t that a certain side effect of being at the Time Agency - namely, men, women, aliens of any species and, in several cases, even animals, falling at his feet with lust at the sight of him in his uniform - was unwelcome either.
But this time it was different. Nick knew his past, both with the Time Agency and before. And, unlike with his other lovers, even Jack to a degree, John had been entirely willing to let him know his past, because he knew that Nick wouldn't judge him.
“I never thought that dreams came true.
But you showed me that they do.
You know that I learn something new.
Every day I love you.
'Cos I believe that destiny
Is out of our control.
And you'll never live until you love,
With all your heart and soul.”
The closest John had ever come to feeling this happy had been when he had been involved with Jack. Unlike many of his then colleagues, Jack had been much more willing to look beyond the warrior facade that John had projected and to see him for who he was. In return, John himself had tried to not only be himself around Jack, but to allow Jack to be himself around him. He had thought that they understood each other perfectly; that they had each finally found someone who they could be completely open and honest with.
But when he had come to Cardiff that first time and seen Jack again, he had realised that he had been wrong. Jack had found someone who he could share his past with without being judged. But that person hadn't been him. Instead, John's place had been taken by a sexy young Welshman who wore carefully tailored suits and who had a lethal aim with a stun gun.
He had been excruciatingly jealous of Ianto, he didn't mind admitting it. Even after the deaths of Owen and Toshiko, when he had let Jack go, even though he had wanted him to be happy, and even though they had remained close friends and colleagues, he had still felt that proverbial green-eyed monster rearing its head in his chest and roaring in agony, wanting to be the one who Jack turned to in his times of need.
“It's a touch when I feel bad.
It's a smile when I get mad.
All the little things I am.
Every day I love you.
Every day I love you more,
Every day, I love you...”
But then Nick had arrived and, as clichéd as it sounded, he had turned John's world upside down. From the moment they had met, he had felt Ianto's cousin had cast a powerful spell over him that made him want to run to him and hold him, to kiss him senseless and ravish him against the water tower - or whatever it was that happened to be nearest.
Then came the trip to Flat Holm when John had gone against Jack's orders and taken Nick out there because the younger man had almost pleaded with him that he needed to know the truth. In those moments, when he had held a despairing Nick in his arms, John had somehow known that he wanted so much more with Nick than what he had first thought he wanted. Far from just wanting to pin him to the wall and, well, shag him senseless, he wanted to care for him and protect him. He wanted to laugh with him and even cry with him. But, most of all, he wanted to open his heart to him, to tell him things that he would never tell anyone else, not even Jack.
In fact, he quickly realised that he wanted a relationship with Nick like the one that Jack had with Ianto. A relationship where something as simple as just looking at Nick over the conference room table could set a warm glow in his heart and put a smile on his face.
That was something he had been waiting for for a very long time - and now, he wouldn't have to wait any longer. He had found it in the beautiful red-haired man standing by his side.
“'Cos I believe that destiny
Is out of our control.
And you'll never live until you love,
With all your heart and soul.”
As the short piano solo echoed through the room, John took a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment he had been anticipating for...well, he supposed technically it was only about a month, but in reality, it was far longer than that - almost three years, in fact, even if he had spent two of those years with no memories of this man. This funny, tender, beautiful man who saw the world that little bit differently to the rest - and who had, almost without him realising it, captured his heart as easily as a spider captures a fly.
Here goes. Be still, my beating heart, your sound will give me away…
Very slowly, and as the piano faded away, he reached into the pocket of his trousers and drew out the small green velvet box. Then, bending down on one knee, he clasped Nick's hand in his own and placed the box in it (accompanied by several gasps and cheers from the crowd) and then looked up into his partner's bright hazel eyes as he started to sing again, his voice trembling with hope and anxiety.
“If I asked would you say yes?
Together we're the very best.”
“I am asking you now, Nick Jones,” he said and his voice trembled even more as he watched as the younger man's eyes widen with shock as he looked inside the box. “Will you marry me?”
In the silence that followed, he could almost hear the collective heartbeat of the audience as they sat, watching rapt with attention. But he didn't dare look up at Nick; he was far too scared of what he might see if he looked into his eyes.
But when the pianist paused in her playing and the crowds started shifting uneasily in the silence that echoed through the room, he felt something cold clutch at his heart. Too soon, he thought to himself. We might have been away for two and a half years according to this time, but for him, it’s probably only been a few months. He won’t be ready for something like this yet - and he’s probably still remembering how his last marriage ended. Of course, he won’t want to make the same mistake again.
Silently, John cursed himself for pushing Nick too far too fast. But before he could speak, if only to say that it didn’t matter, the pianist started playing again and, a moment later, someone started singing.
John froze as he recognised the voice beside him. He’s not…is he? Slowly, hardly daring to hope, he turned around and found himself looking straight into Nick’s smiling face, his brown eyes alight with joy.
“I know that I am truly blessed
Every day I love you.”
It was true that Nick wasn’t the most gifted singer by any stretch of the imagination, but, in that moment, John thought that he was listening to an angel sent down from Heaven to serenade him.
“In case you hadn’t guessed what that means, let me say it now,” said Nick into the microphone as he held up his hand, on which the ring sat, multitudes of colours shining in the light. “Yes.”
Okay, John thought to himself, I may need to reassess that last idea. Not even an angel could make words sound as sweet as he just did. “You mean…?”
“I’m wearing the ring, aren’t I?” Nick sounded amused. “But since it clearly needs to be spelled out, here’s what I’m saying.” He took John’s hand back in his own. “Yes, John, I’ll marry you.”
“And I'll give you my best
Every day I love you...”
John barely heard himself singing over the combination of the cheering in the crowd and the rushing sound in his ears. He said yes…oh my God, he said yes! He’s wearing the ring - he’s going to marry me!
“John.” Nick's amused voice cut through his thoughts and a moment later, he was facing him. “Stop dancing around and just do what you've been wanting to do for the last ten minutes - kiss me senseless.”
The crowd whooped and cheered. John grinned. “With pleasure, sweetheart,” he gushed and, with his heart pounding faster and faster, he cupped Nick's face in his hands and did exactly as he had been instructed - he held his new fiancé close to his wildly beating heart and kissed him senseless.
Nick melted against him so that his heart was beating violently against John's shirt - but then he pulled back rather abruptly with a smirk. “But you were right about one thing,” he said.
John frowned. “I was?”
“Yes, you were,” said Nick, his voice growing even more amused. “You're not getting any...not at this point, anyway.” He smirked as the crowd groaned in disappointment. “Sorry, folks, but this one here has a couple of friends he needs to call so he can spread our news around!”
John took a moment to collect himself before he nodded. “Right, yes, of course!” he said and bounded off the stage (amid rapturous applause from the crowd) to ring his two closest friends. His heart was thumping so hard and his fingers were shaking so violently from excitement, he could barely dial the number for Jack and Ianto's flat. I can't believe it...he actually said yes! We're...oh, my God, we're actually getting married!
“Hello!” Jack's jovial voice echoed down the line. “You're through to the landline for Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones. Our phones are working, but, as you may have guessed, we're not answering it, either because we've been called away or because we're shagging on the sofa - oh, come on, Ianto, everyone knows that we're together - and just don't want to get up! So, please leave a message after the beep! Beeep! Ouch, Ianto...okay, okay, leave a message after the - no, I won't do it again, Ianto - real beep!”
There was a short pause before John heard the familiar beep inviting him to leave his message. “Hey, guys!” he shouted down the phone. “I've obviously caught you at a bad time, given that you're not answering your phone, so I'll just drop the message in that...Nick said yes!”
He let out a joyful laugh, not even pausing to be surprised when he jumped in the air, clicking his heels together. “We're just heading back to the Hub to spread the joy, but we wanted you and Eye Candy to know first. But anyway, I'll get off the phone and leave you to do whatever it is you're doing - or maybe that should be whoever it is you're doing!”
With another laugh, he hung up and turned around - just in time to see Nick tapping something on his mobile with a cheeky grin on his face. He frowned and leaned over to look at what he was doing. His jaw dropped open. No way...
“Nick, are you doing what -“
“Oh, yes,” said Nick, without looking up. “I've just announced our engagement on Twitter! Now, I think we should get home and celebrate!” He chuckled as John squeaked and sputtered incoherently at him. “What? You didn't really think I was going to shag you on that stage, did you?”
“No,” muttered John in a very small voice.
“Ha,” said Nick. “Well, sorry to hold out on you but, as you know, the best things come to those who wait. And, believe me, the best is going to come.”
John was about to reply, but before he could, Nick's phone trilled loudly at him. Watching him, he saw that whatever the message said wasn't good, because the smile on his partner's face quickly melted into a frown.
“What is it?”
“It's from Declan.” Nick looked up at him. “There's been an incident at work.” He scanned the rest of the message. “Shit. He said that they've had to call Dan and Rupesh in to help out.”
“But they're not -“
“I know. John, it's a Code Black alert.”
John swore softly. When they had been high up in the ranks at the Time Agency, he and Jack had come up with a new method of coding potential incidents, ranging from Clear Code - meaning something one or two people could take care of easily - to Code Black, which was the sort of situation which could cause widespread destruction if it wasn't countered with extreme speed.
“John?” Nick had instantly shed the last of his off-duty persona and the expression on his face was grim - he had what John called his 'Torchwood operative' face on; focused and determined and with hints of steel flashing in his usually soft brown eyes.
Slowly, he nodded. “Let's go.”
~*~
The door leading into the tourist office was wide open when John and Nick arrived. They exchanged grim looks and trained their guns on the inside before entering.
“No one and nothing here,” said Nick, who was conducting a thorough examination of the office. “Your wrist strap picking up anything?” he asked, glancing up from where he was crouched underneath Ianto's desk.
“Not even a piece of poodle fluff,” said John. “Although, Ianto is going to be madder than the hounds of Hell when he sees the mess in here.”
“No kidding,” said Nick. “I bet even after he...” he stopped and seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, “well, you know - Ianto will come back somehow and make sure this place is kept in perfect working order.”
“Oh, don't say things like that!” John pouted. “I won't be able to shag you over the table if I know that your cousin's watching us!” Suddenly, he grinned and looked around. “Although,” he said, helping Nick to his feet, “he doesn't seem to be here to watch us - and we do have an engagement to celebrate...”
“John!” Nick's mouth twitched slightly, briefly breaking his professional façade. “For goodness sake...now is not the time!” He slapped John's hands away from his shirt. “Let's sort out whatever's happened here and then I'll take you home and shag you into the mattress.”
“Okay.” Logically, John knew that Nick was right - they had to deal with whatever had been thrown at them this time - but his libido was putting up quite the argument. With a sigh, he straightened up and gave Nick a quick kiss. “Come on, then.”
They made their way through the tourist office and through the long tunnel - John noticing that, despite his focused expression, Nick's eyes were occasionally flickering with fear, though not with fear for himself.
He's worried, he realised. He's not scared of what could happen to him, but...he's scared that something's going to happen to his friends...and his family.
He knew he couldn't say anything - the last thing they would want would be to alert anything that shouldn't be there to their presence - but he did reach over and gently clasp Nick's hand, stroking his fingers to reassure him that everything would be fine.
They reached the cog door a few moments later and exchanged grim looks when they saw that it wasn't fully closed, readying their guns. John took a deep breath and nodded. Then he made a hand signal at Nick, one that he and Jack had devised at the Time Agency and had brought to Torchwood.
It meant 'Shoot to kill.'
Nick looked shocked, but he nodded and then made a signal indicating that he understood as John pushed the door open properly, revealing the Hub in darkness. They exchanged one last look, and stepped inside.
And they were instantly assaulted by an explosion of sound and light.
“Congratulations, and celebrations,
When I tell everyone that you're in love with me!
Congratulations, and jubilations,
I want the world to know I'm as happy as can be!”
John blinked several times. “What?” he whispered. “That doesn't sound like...” but then he trailed off when he realised exactly what it was he was looking at.
Now that the lights had come up, he could see that the Hub had been decorated with not only the usual Christmas decorations - which were lavish enough in themselves - but also with a huge and colourful banner reading 'Congratulations, Nick and John' which hung underneath the basketball hoop. There was a large table underneath it and Jack was standing on it, belting out 'Congratulations' while doing an impression of Cliff Richard that was almost terrifyingly accurate. Meanwhile, the rest of the team, unsurprisingly with Declan grinning wildly at the head, were dancing around the room blowing streamers over them and singing raucously along with Jack.
John and Nick simply stood in silence for several moments before John pulled Nick back behind the cog door. “Did you just see what I saw?”
“If what you just saw was the team acting like lunatics while Jack was singing ‘Congratulations’ with a really bad quiff on his head, then yes, I did see what you just saw,” answered Nick. “I think we might have been lured here under false pretences, you know.”
“Oh, really?” John raised his eyebrows.
“Yes. For one thing, while the tourist office was a mess, it was in a very organised mess, the sort of mess only Ianto could make. For another thing, there was no sign of any Rift activity at this spot since we left.”
“Excellent points, Holmes,” said John in his best ‘Dr. Watson’ voice.
“Indeed, Watson,” said Nick, playing along as they made their way back to the team, who had thankfully now stopped singing. “Although, there is one final clue remaining.”
“And what would that be?” asked Jack.
“Well, Captain,” said Nick, “it is simply that, if a Code Black incident had actually happened, I doubt that the Hub would still have been standing.”
Jack shrugged elaborately. “You got me.”
John walked over to his friend and punched him hard on the shoulder. “Prat,” he said affectionately. “Fancy faking an incident just to get us here to hear you murdering Cliff Richard!”
“Well, we could hardly say ‘Come to the Hub, we’ve organised an engagement party for you’, could we?” asked Ianto, bounding up to them with a half-empty glass of champagne in his hand. “Although, I’m very impressed that you figured out that it was a ruse, Nicky.”
“Of course I did!” answered Nick as he poured himself a drink. “I’m a Jones, after all.”
“Very true,” answered Dan, who had apparently been half-hiding behind the table that Jack had been standing on a few moments before. He shook both their hands. “Congratulations, both of you. I hope you’ll be very happy.”
“Thank you, Dan,” answered Nick, smiling.
John watched them, feeling a mild sense of unease. He knew that Dan wasn’t really a threat and that Nick had, at the end of the day, chosen him, even accepted his proposal barely an hour ago! But at the same time, he had seen something in Dan’s eyes as he’d congratulated them that had unnerved him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
It wasn’t even that he didn’t like Dan; the man was friendly and polite, though most of the team knew that he had a hell of a temper underneath his angelic face. It was more that there was a small part of him that was worried that the young doctor might try and steal Nick away from him and no matter how many times he told himself that what was in the past stayed in the past, he just couldn’t quite squash the feeling. It didn’t help that he’d caught a flicker of shock in Dan’s eyes when he’d actually seen the ring on Nick’s finger; almost as if the other man hadn’t actually believed that Nick had accepted the proposal before he’d actually seen the proof of it for himself.
“Put it out of your head, John,” said a voice and he turned around to see Rupesh standing beside him.
“What?” he asked.
“You know what.” Rupesh turned and looked him squarely in the eye. “The thought that running to the opposite side of the world once you and Nick are married is a good idea so that you don’t have to worry about Dan stealing him away.”
“I’m not -” John started to protest, but when the other man raised an eyebrow, he sighed. “Am I that transparent?”
“Yep.” Rupesh took a sip of his drink. “Look, John, I’ve known Dan for a long time and I know that he won’t get in the way of Nick’s happiness. And I know Nick well enough to know that when he commits to someone, he commits completely.” He paused. “Yes, Nick and Dan have history - a lot of history - and I know that they were happy when they were together. But now they’re just good friends.”
“But -”
“Come on,” interrupted Rupesh, “you know that it’s possible for ex-lovers to be friends. Look at you and Jack. You've been lovers, but, ultimately, that hasn't stopped you being friends has it, even though you've had some rough patches in between?”
“No, it hasn't,” said John. “I'm being stupid, aren't I?” he said with a rueful laugh.
“Just a little bit, yes,” said an amused voice and John turned around to where Nick was leaning on his shoulder and grinning.
“Look at this,” he said, waggling his hand in front of John's face so that he could see the ring shining on his finger. “Would I be wearing this if I wasn't planning on committing to you?”
John turned around so he could wrap Nick in his arms. “Should I repeat what I just said?”
“What, that you're being stupid?” Nick laughed softly. “Nope, there's no need for that. Instead, you can get up here and have a dance with me.”
“With pleasure,” said John and, as the couple were surrounded by yet more streamers, he twirled Nick around in the middle of the Hub with new exuberance as Jack, who had taken his place back on the dance table, belted out the song's chorus.
“My boot scootin' baby is drivin' me crazy!
My obsession from a western - my dance floor date!
My rodeo romeo, a cowboy god from head to toe;
Wanna make you mine better get in line -
5-6-7-8!”
***
Next Time: John comes up with a surprise for his husband-to-be and he and Nick plan their upcoming wedding and meet the rest of the Jones family, not all of whom react well to their news. But then Ianto springs another surprise on the couple…
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, John/Nick,
Characters: Jack, Ianto, John Hart, Nick Jones, and a cast of (probably!) thousands.
Spoilers: Set after Exit Wounds. Sequel to 'We Could Be Heroes'
Rating: Adult - it's going to get very dark in some places.
Warnings: Slash, language, angst, dark themes.
Summary: John has a question for Nick...a very important question.
Disclaimer: I'm a student. I don't own Torchwood.
The Master List is here: anduria-trianys.livejournal.com/27610.html
Chapter 2
5th December, 2012...
John grinned madly as he lapped up the applause from the audience, before fixing his eyes on Nick, who was apparently still trying to decide whether he should be embarrassed, amused, flattered or turned on.
Personally, I'll settle for a combination of all of the above - but with emphasis on being turned on, ideally!
He tipped his lover an enormous wink and a grin before he spoke out again. “So, Dr. Jones,” he said, lying down across the front of the stage, parading his bare chest for everyone to see. “If you wouldn't mind coming up here...I believe myself to be in need of an examination.”
“Oh, baby!” shouted a man in the audience, who then grabbed Nick's hand and pulled him to his feet. “That I just have to see!” A chorus of agreement went up from everyone else.
John burst out laughing. “Well, I certainly have no objections! However, I think that gorgeous man on your arm might have some objections at the moment.”
Slowly, and amid several groans of disappointment at the loss of a potentially very interesting show, he pulled himself onto a high stool that someone had brought out for him and picked up the microphone.
“Nick,” he said, his voice much quieter now, “come here a second.”
He waited until his lover was standing beside him before reaching out and clasping his hand. “We've been through a lot together and I wanted to show you just...just how much you mean to me.” His voice cracked slightly on the last words. “I hope you'll like this...and I hope it'll mean that you'll be changing your mind about me not getting any after serenading you with Doctor Jones!”
With a last squeeze of the younger man's hand, he turned his head slightly and signalled to a young woman sat at the piano at the back of the stage. As soon as she started playing, the lights dimmed so that John and Nick were both bathed in a single spotlight the colour of the palest purple iris.
“This is for you, Nick,” John said in a slightly husky voice, before he began to sing.
“I don't know, but I believe
That some things are meant to be.
And that you'll make a better me.
Everyday I love you.”
In reality, John knew, Nick had already made him a better man. It was thanks to the beautiful man beside him that he was able to stop being the hard nut he once was and to let the real John show through; the vulnerable and scared young man he had been before he left his home. At the Time Agency, as a soldier, he had been forced to hide those feelings and put on the façade of the tough warrior who took pleasure in fighting wars that others would consider pointless excuses for murder.
It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the adventure, or the rush of adrenaline that filled his veins every time he took to the field with his sword at his belt and his guns in his hand. And it certainly wasn’t that a certain side effect of being at the Time Agency - namely, men, women, aliens of any species and, in several cases, even animals, falling at his feet with lust at the sight of him in his uniform - was unwelcome either.
But this time it was different. Nick knew his past, both with the Time Agency and before. And, unlike with his other lovers, even Jack to a degree, John had been entirely willing to let him know his past, because he knew that Nick wouldn't judge him.
“I never thought that dreams came true.
But you showed me that they do.
You know that I learn something new.
Every day I love you.
'Cos I believe that destiny
Is out of our control.
And you'll never live until you love,
With all your heart and soul.”
The closest John had ever come to feeling this happy had been when he had been involved with Jack. Unlike many of his then colleagues, Jack had been much more willing to look beyond the warrior facade that John had projected and to see him for who he was. In return, John himself had tried to not only be himself around Jack, but to allow Jack to be himself around him. He had thought that they understood each other perfectly; that they had each finally found someone who they could be completely open and honest with.
But when he had come to Cardiff that first time and seen Jack again, he had realised that he had been wrong. Jack had found someone who he could share his past with without being judged. But that person hadn't been him. Instead, John's place had been taken by a sexy young Welshman who wore carefully tailored suits and who had a lethal aim with a stun gun.
He had been excruciatingly jealous of Ianto, he didn't mind admitting it. Even after the deaths of Owen and Toshiko, when he had let Jack go, even though he had wanted him to be happy, and even though they had remained close friends and colleagues, he had still felt that proverbial green-eyed monster rearing its head in his chest and roaring in agony, wanting to be the one who Jack turned to in his times of need.
“It's a touch when I feel bad.
It's a smile when I get mad.
All the little things I am.
Every day I love you.
Every day I love you more,
Every day, I love you...”
But then Nick had arrived and, as clichéd as it sounded, he had turned John's world upside down. From the moment they had met, he had felt Ianto's cousin had cast a powerful spell over him that made him want to run to him and hold him, to kiss him senseless and ravish him against the water tower - or whatever it was that happened to be nearest.
Then came the trip to Flat Holm when John had gone against Jack's orders and taken Nick out there because the younger man had almost pleaded with him that he needed to know the truth. In those moments, when he had held a despairing Nick in his arms, John had somehow known that he wanted so much more with Nick than what he had first thought he wanted. Far from just wanting to pin him to the wall and, well, shag him senseless, he wanted to care for him and protect him. He wanted to laugh with him and even cry with him. But, most of all, he wanted to open his heart to him, to tell him things that he would never tell anyone else, not even Jack.
In fact, he quickly realised that he wanted a relationship with Nick like the one that Jack had with Ianto. A relationship where something as simple as just looking at Nick over the conference room table could set a warm glow in his heart and put a smile on his face.
That was something he had been waiting for for a very long time - and now, he wouldn't have to wait any longer. He had found it in the beautiful red-haired man standing by his side.
“'Cos I believe that destiny
Is out of our control.
And you'll never live until you love,
With all your heart and soul.”
As the short piano solo echoed through the room, John took a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment he had been anticipating for...well, he supposed technically it was only about a month, but in reality, it was far longer than that - almost three years, in fact, even if he had spent two of those years with no memories of this man. This funny, tender, beautiful man who saw the world that little bit differently to the rest - and who had, almost without him realising it, captured his heart as easily as a spider captures a fly.
Here goes. Be still, my beating heart, your sound will give me away…
Very slowly, and as the piano faded away, he reached into the pocket of his trousers and drew out the small green velvet box. Then, bending down on one knee, he clasped Nick's hand in his own and placed the box in it (accompanied by several gasps and cheers from the crowd) and then looked up into his partner's bright hazel eyes as he started to sing again, his voice trembling with hope and anxiety.
“If I asked would you say yes?
Together we're the very best.”
“I am asking you now, Nick Jones,” he said and his voice trembled even more as he watched as the younger man's eyes widen with shock as he looked inside the box. “Will you marry me?”
In the silence that followed, he could almost hear the collective heartbeat of the audience as they sat, watching rapt with attention. But he didn't dare look up at Nick; he was far too scared of what he might see if he looked into his eyes.
But when the pianist paused in her playing and the crowds started shifting uneasily in the silence that echoed through the room, he felt something cold clutch at his heart. Too soon, he thought to himself. We might have been away for two and a half years according to this time, but for him, it’s probably only been a few months. He won’t be ready for something like this yet - and he’s probably still remembering how his last marriage ended. Of course, he won’t want to make the same mistake again.
Silently, John cursed himself for pushing Nick too far too fast. But before he could speak, if only to say that it didn’t matter, the pianist started playing again and, a moment later, someone started singing.
John froze as he recognised the voice beside him. He’s not…is he? Slowly, hardly daring to hope, he turned around and found himself looking straight into Nick’s smiling face, his brown eyes alight with joy.
“I know that I am truly blessed
Every day I love you.”
It was true that Nick wasn’t the most gifted singer by any stretch of the imagination, but, in that moment, John thought that he was listening to an angel sent down from Heaven to serenade him.
“In case you hadn’t guessed what that means, let me say it now,” said Nick into the microphone as he held up his hand, on which the ring sat, multitudes of colours shining in the light. “Yes.”
Okay, John thought to himself, I may need to reassess that last idea. Not even an angel could make words sound as sweet as he just did. “You mean…?”
“I’m wearing the ring, aren’t I?” Nick sounded amused. “But since it clearly needs to be spelled out, here’s what I’m saying.” He took John’s hand back in his own. “Yes, John, I’ll marry you.”
“And I'll give you my best
Every day I love you...”
John barely heard himself singing over the combination of the cheering in the crowd and the rushing sound in his ears. He said yes…oh my God, he said yes! He’s wearing the ring - he’s going to marry me!
“John.” Nick's amused voice cut through his thoughts and a moment later, he was facing him. “Stop dancing around and just do what you've been wanting to do for the last ten minutes - kiss me senseless.”
The crowd whooped and cheered. John grinned. “With pleasure, sweetheart,” he gushed and, with his heart pounding faster and faster, he cupped Nick's face in his hands and did exactly as he had been instructed - he held his new fiancé close to his wildly beating heart and kissed him senseless.
Nick melted against him so that his heart was beating violently against John's shirt - but then he pulled back rather abruptly with a smirk. “But you were right about one thing,” he said.
John frowned. “I was?”
“Yes, you were,” said Nick, his voice growing even more amused. “You're not getting any...not at this point, anyway.” He smirked as the crowd groaned in disappointment. “Sorry, folks, but this one here has a couple of friends he needs to call so he can spread our news around!”
John took a moment to collect himself before he nodded. “Right, yes, of course!” he said and bounded off the stage (amid rapturous applause from the crowd) to ring his two closest friends. His heart was thumping so hard and his fingers were shaking so violently from excitement, he could barely dial the number for Jack and Ianto's flat. I can't believe it...he actually said yes! We're...oh, my God, we're actually getting married!
“Hello!” Jack's jovial voice echoed down the line. “You're through to the landline for Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones. Our phones are working, but, as you may have guessed, we're not answering it, either because we've been called away or because we're shagging on the sofa - oh, come on, Ianto, everyone knows that we're together - and just don't want to get up! So, please leave a message after the beep! Beeep! Ouch, Ianto...okay, okay, leave a message after the - no, I won't do it again, Ianto - real beep!”
There was a short pause before John heard the familiar beep inviting him to leave his message. “Hey, guys!” he shouted down the phone. “I've obviously caught you at a bad time, given that you're not answering your phone, so I'll just drop the message in that...Nick said yes!”
He let out a joyful laugh, not even pausing to be surprised when he jumped in the air, clicking his heels together. “We're just heading back to the Hub to spread the joy, but we wanted you and Eye Candy to know first. But anyway, I'll get off the phone and leave you to do whatever it is you're doing - or maybe that should be whoever it is you're doing!”
With another laugh, he hung up and turned around - just in time to see Nick tapping something on his mobile with a cheeky grin on his face. He frowned and leaned over to look at what he was doing. His jaw dropped open. No way...
“Nick, are you doing what -“
“Oh, yes,” said Nick, without looking up. “I've just announced our engagement on Twitter! Now, I think we should get home and celebrate!” He chuckled as John squeaked and sputtered incoherently at him. “What? You didn't really think I was going to shag you on that stage, did you?”
“No,” muttered John in a very small voice.
“Ha,” said Nick. “Well, sorry to hold out on you but, as you know, the best things come to those who wait. And, believe me, the best is going to come.”
John was about to reply, but before he could, Nick's phone trilled loudly at him. Watching him, he saw that whatever the message said wasn't good, because the smile on his partner's face quickly melted into a frown.
“What is it?”
“It's from Declan.” Nick looked up at him. “There's been an incident at work.” He scanned the rest of the message. “Shit. He said that they've had to call Dan and Rupesh in to help out.”
“But they're not -“
“I know. John, it's a Code Black alert.”
John swore softly. When they had been high up in the ranks at the Time Agency, he and Jack had come up with a new method of coding potential incidents, ranging from Clear Code - meaning something one or two people could take care of easily - to Code Black, which was the sort of situation which could cause widespread destruction if it wasn't countered with extreme speed.
“John?” Nick had instantly shed the last of his off-duty persona and the expression on his face was grim - he had what John called his 'Torchwood operative' face on; focused and determined and with hints of steel flashing in his usually soft brown eyes.
Slowly, he nodded. “Let's go.”
~*~
The door leading into the tourist office was wide open when John and Nick arrived. They exchanged grim looks and trained their guns on the inside before entering.
“No one and nothing here,” said Nick, who was conducting a thorough examination of the office. “Your wrist strap picking up anything?” he asked, glancing up from where he was crouched underneath Ianto's desk.
“Not even a piece of poodle fluff,” said John. “Although, Ianto is going to be madder than the hounds of Hell when he sees the mess in here.”
“No kidding,” said Nick. “I bet even after he...” he stopped and seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, “well, you know - Ianto will come back somehow and make sure this place is kept in perfect working order.”
“Oh, don't say things like that!” John pouted. “I won't be able to shag you over the table if I know that your cousin's watching us!” Suddenly, he grinned and looked around. “Although,” he said, helping Nick to his feet, “he doesn't seem to be here to watch us - and we do have an engagement to celebrate...”
“John!” Nick's mouth twitched slightly, briefly breaking his professional façade. “For goodness sake...now is not the time!” He slapped John's hands away from his shirt. “Let's sort out whatever's happened here and then I'll take you home and shag you into the mattress.”
“Okay.” Logically, John knew that Nick was right - they had to deal with whatever had been thrown at them this time - but his libido was putting up quite the argument. With a sigh, he straightened up and gave Nick a quick kiss. “Come on, then.”
They made their way through the tourist office and through the long tunnel - John noticing that, despite his focused expression, Nick's eyes were occasionally flickering with fear, though not with fear for himself.
He's worried, he realised. He's not scared of what could happen to him, but...he's scared that something's going to happen to his friends...and his family.
He knew he couldn't say anything - the last thing they would want would be to alert anything that shouldn't be there to their presence - but he did reach over and gently clasp Nick's hand, stroking his fingers to reassure him that everything would be fine.
They reached the cog door a few moments later and exchanged grim looks when they saw that it wasn't fully closed, readying their guns. John took a deep breath and nodded. Then he made a hand signal at Nick, one that he and Jack had devised at the Time Agency and had brought to Torchwood.
It meant 'Shoot to kill.'
Nick looked shocked, but he nodded and then made a signal indicating that he understood as John pushed the door open properly, revealing the Hub in darkness. They exchanged one last look, and stepped inside.
And they were instantly assaulted by an explosion of sound and light.
“Congratulations, and celebrations,
When I tell everyone that you're in love with me!
Congratulations, and jubilations,
I want the world to know I'm as happy as can be!”
John blinked several times. “What?” he whispered. “That doesn't sound like...” but then he trailed off when he realised exactly what it was he was looking at.
Now that the lights had come up, he could see that the Hub had been decorated with not only the usual Christmas decorations - which were lavish enough in themselves - but also with a huge and colourful banner reading 'Congratulations, Nick and John' which hung underneath the basketball hoop. There was a large table underneath it and Jack was standing on it, belting out 'Congratulations' while doing an impression of Cliff Richard that was almost terrifyingly accurate. Meanwhile, the rest of the team, unsurprisingly with Declan grinning wildly at the head, were dancing around the room blowing streamers over them and singing raucously along with Jack.
John and Nick simply stood in silence for several moments before John pulled Nick back behind the cog door. “Did you just see what I saw?”
“If what you just saw was the team acting like lunatics while Jack was singing ‘Congratulations’ with a really bad quiff on his head, then yes, I did see what you just saw,” answered Nick. “I think we might have been lured here under false pretences, you know.”
“Oh, really?” John raised his eyebrows.
“Yes. For one thing, while the tourist office was a mess, it was in a very organised mess, the sort of mess only Ianto could make. For another thing, there was no sign of any Rift activity at this spot since we left.”
“Excellent points, Holmes,” said John in his best ‘Dr. Watson’ voice.
“Indeed, Watson,” said Nick, playing along as they made their way back to the team, who had thankfully now stopped singing. “Although, there is one final clue remaining.”
“And what would that be?” asked Jack.
“Well, Captain,” said Nick, “it is simply that, if a Code Black incident had actually happened, I doubt that the Hub would still have been standing.”
Jack shrugged elaborately. “You got me.”
John walked over to his friend and punched him hard on the shoulder. “Prat,” he said affectionately. “Fancy faking an incident just to get us here to hear you murdering Cliff Richard!”
“Well, we could hardly say ‘Come to the Hub, we’ve organised an engagement party for you’, could we?” asked Ianto, bounding up to them with a half-empty glass of champagne in his hand. “Although, I’m very impressed that you figured out that it was a ruse, Nicky.”
“Of course I did!” answered Nick as he poured himself a drink. “I’m a Jones, after all.”
“Very true,” answered Dan, who had apparently been half-hiding behind the table that Jack had been standing on a few moments before. He shook both their hands. “Congratulations, both of you. I hope you’ll be very happy.”
“Thank you, Dan,” answered Nick, smiling.
John watched them, feeling a mild sense of unease. He knew that Dan wasn’t really a threat and that Nick had, at the end of the day, chosen him, even accepted his proposal barely an hour ago! But at the same time, he had seen something in Dan’s eyes as he’d congratulated them that had unnerved him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
It wasn’t even that he didn’t like Dan; the man was friendly and polite, though most of the team knew that he had a hell of a temper underneath his angelic face. It was more that there was a small part of him that was worried that the young doctor might try and steal Nick away from him and no matter how many times he told himself that what was in the past stayed in the past, he just couldn’t quite squash the feeling. It didn’t help that he’d caught a flicker of shock in Dan’s eyes when he’d actually seen the ring on Nick’s finger; almost as if the other man hadn’t actually believed that Nick had accepted the proposal before he’d actually seen the proof of it for himself.
“Put it out of your head, John,” said a voice and he turned around to see Rupesh standing beside him.
“What?” he asked.
“You know what.” Rupesh turned and looked him squarely in the eye. “The thought that running to the opposite side of the world once you and Nick are married is a good idea so that you don’t have to worry about Dan stealing him away.”
“I’m not -” John started to protest, but when the other man raised an eyebrow, he sighed. “Am I that transparent?”
“Yep.” Rupesh took a sip of his drink. “Look, John, I’ve known Dan for a long time and I know that he won’t get in the way of Nick’s happiness. And I know Nick well enough to know that when he commits to someone, he commits completely.” He paused. “Yes, Nick and Dan have history - a lot of history - and I know that they were happy when they were together. But now they’re just good friends.”
“But -”
“Come on,” interrupted Rupesh, “you know that it’s possible for ex-lovers to be friends. Look at you and Jack. You've been lovers, but, ultimately, that hasn't stopped you being friends has it, even though you've had some rough patches in between?”
“No, it hasn't,” said John. “I'm being stupid, aren't I?” he said with a rueful laugh.
“Just a little bit, yes,” said an amused voice and John turned around to where Nick was leaning on his shoulder and grinning.
“Look at this,” he said, waggling his hand in front of John's face so that he could see the ring shining on his finger. “Would I be wearing this if I wasn't planning on committing to you?”
John turned around so he could wrap Nick in his arms. “Should I repeat what I just said?”
“What, that you're being stupid?” Nick laughed softly. “Nope, there's no need for that. Instead, you can get up here and have a dance with me.”
“With pleasure,” said John and, as the couple were surrounded by yet more streamers, he twirled Nick around in the middle of the Hub with new exuberance as Jack, who had taken his place back on the dance table, belted out the song's chorus.
“My boot scootin' baby is drivin' me crazy!
My obsession from a western - my dance floor date!
My rodeo romeo, a cowboy god from head to toe;
Wanna make you mine better get in line -
5-6-7-8!”
***
Next Time: John comes up with a surprise for his husband-to-be and he and Nick plan their upcoming wedding and meet the rest of the Jones family, not all of whom react well to their news. But then Ianto springs another surprise on the couple…