FIC: Dr. Harkness & Nurse Jones: India (Prologue -- Ghana)
Title: Dr. Harkness & Nurse Jones: India (Prologue -- Ghana)
Author: blue_fjords
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Harriet, Andy, Mickey, Beth, Alex, Tosh, OFC
Word count: ~5,000 (prologue only)
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Dudes. I started this puppy almost a year ago. So much has happened since then! Am still finishing the actual story, but since I will have almost no internet access around the holidays, I am posting the prologue now in case I can't physically get the rest up (and beta-ed!) before the 25th. Anyhow. This is the continuing AU romance novel featuring Jack as Dr. Harkness and Ianto as Nurse Jones for the Tyler Foundation. They're still in Ghana, but as you can see from the title, that's about to change. Thank you so much to everyone who's shared their enthusiasm for this story over the past year. It means a lot to me! And extra thanks to adjovi for shining her beta light of wisdom on this thing. You're a peach! And all mistakes are mine, natch.
Dr. Harkness & Nurse Jones: Kenya
Dr. Harkness & Nurse Jones: Ghana
Ianto's left leg hurt abominably. Ever since the Incident a year ago, it took to twinging whenever he was still for too long. It twinged whenever it felt like it, actually, but Ianto felt the need to exert some control over the situation and declared that it twinged when he was still. He shifted minutely in his seat. Harriet shot him a mildly concerned look, and he shook his head slightly. She was engrossed in the presentation going on in front of them. He didn't want to break her concentration. She smiled and focused back on the speaker.
"In conclusion, the government of Ghana has found that the past year's activities of the Tyler Foundation, as detailed in their Annual Report, have far exceeded our expectations. We intend to keep supporting the Clinic and Orphanage here in Accra, and look forward to many more years of harmonious collaboration."
The government official sat down to a smattering of applause. Next to him, Harriet was glowing. There were more words of congratulation, verbal pats on the back and a handful of handshakes and a hug or three. Ianto bore it all with good grace.
It was Jack's job to be here, but Jack had studiously ignored anyone involved with either Church or State in Ghana for the last year, and was not about to break his streak now. Ianto knew that he felt like a hypocrite for relying on the support of people and organizations he felt had dismally failed him. Ianto felt like a hypocrite himself sometimes around them, but Harriet had just shaken her head and said that their hypocrisy was one hundred times worse than his, and besides, they literally could not function without them so "we may as well make them celebrate us with bells and whistles and a ticker-tape parade." Harriet was the only person he knew who would use the expression "ticker-tape parade," but he appreciated the sentiment. Still, he couldn’t help glancing longingly out the window. There was a breeze off the water and for once, it would be pleasant to be outside. Jack was outside, probably, as it was his turn to go to the market, a task he had done more and more frequently over the past year. Ianto daydreamed he was with Jack as an official pulled him and Harriet into a photo op full of fake smiles and hunched shoulders.
***
Jack sat back on his heels, heedless of the dust, and surveyed the corpse in front of him. The sightless eyes of the old man were very familiar. Just a year ago, he had tracked this man down by himself. It had been so easy. Even now, Jack wasn't sure what he had planned to do once he had him. Use him as a link to his son, and through his son, find the men who had beaten Ianto and left him for dead. That part was a given. Jack wasn’t sure how to punish the old man for his role in all of this. Jack had almost been surprised when, after following him from the market to his shack about three days after the Attack, his fist had closed around the scrawny little neck and squeezed. The old man had kicked uselessly at the hard-packed earth of his home and made little wheezing noises. Jack had released him when his lips had started to turn blue, and then had proceeded to smash every piece of rough-hewn furniture in the shack. They were both panting when he was done.
"Why?" Jack had asked finally in his passable Akan. "He’s my … You don’t have the right … not him..."
The old man had sneered at him and spit in his face. "You're wrong. Get out of my house."
Jack had stood there, rooted to the spot, spittle dripping down his cheek. Finally he had lifted a hand, flicked off the spittle, and punched the old man squarely in the jaw. He knew what the sound he made meant: the old man had now lost all his remaining teeth. Jack had turned and walked out of the shack. He had started to run and hadn’t stopped until he got to the harbor. The sight of the water soothed him like nothing else could. It called to mind Ianto's blue eyes, and Ianto's promise to go with him.
Jack was far from the water now, in both time and space. He hadn’t seen the old man in months. The continued passage of time had left its mark on them both, though it had failed in any attempts to obliterate Jack.
“Too bad for you,” Jack murmured to the corpse, passing his palm over the weathered face and closing the eyes. He straightened to his feet and nodded at the young policeman who’d found the corpse. “Natural causes,” he said. It was even true.
Jack brushed his hands off on his khaki trousers. The body would be claimed by the old man’s family. But not his son. Good riddance to them both.
He glanced unseeing around at the market. He had a list in one of his pockets, but he no longer wanted to be around so many people. Maybe Mickey would go in his place. He directed his steps back to the clinic. Ianto and Harriet would be back soon, and his fingers itched to touch Ianto and reassure himself that he was alright.
Ianto and Harriet got back about an hour after he did, and thankfully Harriet was jabbering away, too excited about their meeting to make any remarks about the strangeness of Jack sitting in the guardroom in Mickey’s place. Ianto shot him a questioning look, but Jack let Harriet keep the conversation ball rolling.
Jack was unusually quiet during dinner. The clinic and orphanage staff had expanded in the past year to include Nehemiah’s mother, Grace. Andy had just regaled them all with story about his youngest patient and the long search to find the perfect pair of glasses when Harriet asked Grace about her family.
“Nehemiah has been following his uncle around. ‘Little Shadow,’ we call him.”
Jack smiled at the mental picture. “What does your brother do, Grace?” he asked, reaching for the bowl of stew.
“My brother is a policeman, Dr. Harkness,” she replied. Her eyes were sharp on his face. “He has been looking into the deaths of gang members. Vicious men, robbers and bullies. Someone more vicious has killed several this past year.”
Jack willed himself to continue scooping his stew calmly. “Is that so?” There was just the slightest tremor in his voice. Ianto would be the only one who could pick up on it and, sure enough, Jack could feel Ianto’s eyes on him.
“It is so, yes, Dr. Harkness.” She cleared her throat. “My brother says they have no leads. He says this murderer is doing God’s own work, and he will not try to stop him. I say that murder is murder. ‘Vengeance is mine,’ sayeth the Lord.”
Jack’s fingers tightened on the spoon and his blood began a slow boil. He didn’t trust himself to speak.
“Hear, hear,” Harriet chimed in. She, Andy and Alex were not following the undercurrent of the conversation, but next to her, Beth shot Jack a sympathetic look and Mickey frowned into his stew bowl. Jack couldn’t raise his head to gauge Ianto’s reaction. He dared not.
“Just today, the father of one of these gangsters died in the street,” Grace continued.
“That was natural causes,” Jack answered quickly. Everyone was looking at him now. “I was in the marketplace; I saw him,” he muttered.
“Natural causes is God’s vengeance,” Grace declared.
Ianto abruptly pushed his chair back from the table. “Pardon me. I need to go check on … something.”
Jack risked a glance up at him and felt his previously boiling blood run cold at the look in Ianto’s eyes. His mouth went dry and all appetite left him as Ianto turned awkwardly on his heel and limped out of the kitchen. Beth caught his eye and gestured at him to follow Ianto. He swallowed.
“Fascinating as this discussion is, Grace, I need to go help Ianto with the something. Everyone.” He inclined his head to the table and hurried away. The sound of Grace and Harriet agreeing with each other followed him out into the hallway. He caught up with Ianto outside the door to their room.
“Ianto, I -” he started.
“I’m just going to change my uniform and switch with Beth for the nightshift.” Ianto shuffled into the room and over to the wardrobe. Jack followed him inside, closing the door behind them.
“I don’t want to fight about this, either,” Jack tried to keep his voice low.
“About what, Jack?” Ianto’s voice had a slightly hysterical edge to it, and Jack glanced nervously at the door. “About what you may have done to every man who was in that crowd? Or were you never going to tell me? How did you even know who they were? I was there, and I didn’t even know who they were!”
“I found them, okay?” Jack was starting to fray. He had tried so hard to prevent Ianto from ever knowing what he’d done, and then Grace threw it in everyone’s faces.
“You found them? That’s it?” Ianto shut the wardrobe door as if forgetting why he’d opened it, padded once around the tiny room, and then collapsed into one of the folding chairs, head in his hands.
Jack took a deep breath, and knelt down at Ianto’s feet. “Ianto, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let them get away with hurting you. I went out and found them.”
Ianto interrupted him. “I found them, too,” he whispered.
Jack’s hand tightened on Ianto’s good knee. “What?”
Ianto raised his head from his hands. “I found them,” he repeated, louder now. “Did you think I’d let them get away with it?”
Jack shook his head, watching Ianto’s face. “I knew the women who manned the stalls there. Two or three of them were willing to tell me what they’d seen, for a price. Or to ease their consciences, I don’t know which and I wasn’t picky about finding out why.” Ianto paused, and took a breath, looking him in the eye. Jack could see the pigeons coming home to roost, and he swallowed, preparing himself. “You must have found them first, Jack. Do you recall two brothers who had a little fishing boat? They got tangled in their own nets during a storm and drowned. It looked very natural.”
“Ianto…” Jack started. “I…” Ianto said nothing in response, and Jack frowned, trying to gather his equilibrium. “It was natural! With maybe a little impetus. But what were you planning to do to them, then?”
Jack stood and dragged another folding chair over. He was ceding too much ground by being on the floor.
“I didn’t have a plan,” Ianto said quietly.
Jack snorted. “You didn’t have a plan? Seriously, you?”
“No!” Ianto raised his own voice in response. “Sometimes I have no clue what I’m doing! Why is that hard to believe? I just… I just … I wanted to know who they were. I wanted to stop them.” His voice died out on the last line.
Jack sighed and sat back in his chair. “Well, I stopped them.”
Ianto looked down at his hands. “How many?”
Jack closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Six. So many more watched it happen. But six did it.”
Ianto’s shoulders shook as tears fell thickly down his face. Jack was on his feet in an instant, knocking over his folding chair and kneeling again at Ianto’s feet. He held his breath as Ianto reached out and took his face in his hands. “Jack,” he said hoarsely, “sometimes you scare me, love.”
“I didn’t - I didn’t - I just - the storm came out of nowhere -” He was babbling, he knew, but he had to explain. He couldn’t bear for Ianto to look at him like that. “I didn’t touch any of them! Grace has it wrong; I’m not a vicious killer, you have to believe me! I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he kept babbling incoherently, and Ianto kissed his forehead, stroked his cheeks, ran his fingers through his hair. Jack shifted on his knees, still murmuring apologies, and pulled Ianto closer. His hands circled Ianto’s waist, moving up his back, fingers digging into the soft cotton of his t-shirt. He showered Ianto’s neck and face with kisses, the salt of tears on his tongue. Finally Ianto pulled away and took Jack’s chin in his hand. “I love you. You know that, right?”
Jack nodded, and Ianto sighed. “But I can’t … look, I need you to tell me now, straight out, what happened with the other four.”
Jack swallowed. “I … I just added fuel to the fire. They killed each other. They were looking to kill! I didn’t touch them.”
Ianto’s hand tightened around his neck. “And?”
Jack closed his eyes. “I checked to make sure they were dead.”
Ianto nodded slowly. Jack waited for him to ask if he’d watched the last one bleed out, if he had forsaken his oaths as a doctor, but no more questions were forthcoming. “I want a shower and bed,” Ianto said instead.
Jack stood up again and offered his hand. Ianto took it, and stretched, his back creaking as he stood up. He didn’t let go of Jack’s hand as he walked into the bathroom, and for the first time that evening, Jack felt like they would survive this. Thank God.
Jack climbed into the shower with him, sluicing hot water over Ianto’s scars and gently wiping them clean. Jack didn’t trust himself to speak, and had to make each touch do the talking, telling Ianto that he would always protect him, always love him. Ianto’s eyes were closed in the stream of hot water, but Jack could tell it wasn’t just the shower trailing down his cheeks. When Jack shut off the water, Ianto wordlessly climbed out, toweled off, and reached for pajama bottoms. Jack stayed in the shower, his relief dripping away like the droplets swirling the drain.
But when he stepped out into their room, the sheets were turned back on his side of the bed, too. He scrambled under the covers and laid a tentative hand on Ianto’s arm. He felt rather than heard Ianto sigh.
“I can’t talk anymore about it tonight, Jack.”
Jack swallowed around the lump in his throat. “Yeah. Sure, I understand.” He laid on his side, staring at the pattern of scars on Ianto’s back. A thrill suffused his body when Ianto rolled over to face him and slide his hands around him as usual, resting on the small of his back. It was not something he admitted to often, but he loved falling asleep in the protective cocoon of Ianto’s arms, the safest place in the world. He leaned in closer to Ianto and whispered “I love you” in his ear. He brought his own arms around Ianto’s upper back. He hadn’t lost him. And surely they’d get through it now. He fell into an uneasy sleep, his head pillowed on Ianto’s chest.
***
Ianto woke before Jack the next morning, and lay quietly in bed, watching the sunlight filter through the curtains and crawl across the bed. Jack never quite managed to look innocent in sleep, but he could pull off peaceful well enough. The sunlight bronzed his bare shoulders, and Ianto bent his neck to press his lips against the warm flesh. Jack smiled in his sleep, and as it did each time that happened, Ianto marveled to himself that he was the cause of such a reaction. If he was waxing romantic, he’d say that Jack tore through the world with the force of a hurricane, and Ianto himself was the port in that storm.
He could wish it wasn’t true. Six men. Six men Jack had, well, not killed, but he’d had a hand in their deaths. Ianto clung desperately to the distinction. There was a distinction, he thought, but Jack had decided they should die for what they’d done, and die they did. For the thousandth time since the attack, Ianto wondered what he would have done had he found any of his attackers alive. He rubbed his thumb along Jack’s spine. He might have done precisely what Jack did. He’d fought before to protect Jack. Was this so very much different? When Jack was so close to him, their breaths mingling, their hearts beating out a counter-rhythm, he knew with absolute certainty that he would go to any lengths to keep Jack safe. It scared him, the depth of his devotion, but at the same time, as he watched the sun creep up Jack’s neck, he knew he didn’t want to change.
The sun reached Jack’s eyes, and he opened them, squinting around the bed. Ianto had to smile at the blurry look of confusion, and he shifted, moving over Jack to block the sun. “That better, sunshine?” he asked, attempting for a light and airy tone.
Jack look startled, before breaking into a wide smile. He reached up and kissed Ianto’s lips. “Mmmm, morning breath!” Jack smacked his lips in mock admiration.
“You have a very high opinion of yourself if you think you’re exempt,” Ianto grumbled, slipping into their easy banter.
Jack huffed a laugh. Ianto watched the laugh lines around his eyes. Jack’s hand trailed up his arm, across his shoulder, cupped his chin. Ianto wanted to tell him not to worry, but the words died on his lips. He closed his eyes and kissed the palm of Jack’s hand.
“Ianto?” Jack asked.
“We’re okay,” he answered the unspoken question. With enough time, it could even be true. He opened his eyes and looked back down at Jack. Jack’s usual battlements of bravado and good cheer were swamped with anxiety, and Ianto’s heart ached to see it. He stretched out fully on Jack’s body and buried his face in Jack’s neck. “I don’t know how, but we’ll be okay,” he murmured. If it were up to him, they’d stay in bed all day, and not ever face the ghosts of the six men, or the moral dilemma, or the stares of their colleagues, accusing or sympathetic or both. But the clinic was right outside their door, and duty called.
Everyone walked on eggshells over the next week. Harriet, Andy and Alex had cottoned on to the general meaning of Grace’s announcements, and were torn on how to proceed. Well, Alex shrugged his shoulders and carried on, but Andy was extremely nervous. He had finally finagled a real date with Harriet, and didn’t want to put her off by looking to agree with what Jack had done, but at the same time, Ianto was his best friend and he felt he should support him. Harriet tried to gently figure out Ianto’s opinion on the matter, but he held his own counsel.
Ianto wasn’t completely sure how he felt. He could feel the deaths of his attackers as a stain on his own soul. He watched Jack carefully to see if he was as affected, but after their initial blow-up, Jack seemed determined to act like nothing had happened. Each time Ianto tried to bring up the topic, Jack changed the subject with soft kisses and pleading eyes. Ianto began to have nightmares, like he’d had after the attack, except this time they were of Jack, chained to a wheel in the underworld, walking continual circles as he pushed the cog to open the gates of Hell. He woke up crying the first time he had it, and embarrassed himself by sniveling into Jack’s shoulder while Jack patted his back.
Jack’s only change was in bed, where he was even more tender than usual. Ianto found himself growing more and more aggressive in response. When he fucked Jack now, the bed shook off its cinder blocks. They’d always been loud in bed, but now the grunts and moans and squeaky mattress were loud enough to wake the dead. He pounded into Jack, as deep and as fast as he could go, and Jack moaned into the mattress, taking him in and coming hard. Ianto worried about hurting him, but Jack held him fast, after Ianto came and pulled out, panting uncontrollably, sometimes crying.
They needed a change, Ianto thought. He knew he loved Jack. But they needed to leave Ghana, its memories and ghosts, before the past turned into something bitter in his heart and he could no longer look Jack in the eye. He never wanted to change into a shell of his former self, unable to hold Jack’s gaze. Jack was on his knees now, lips around the head of Ianto’s cock, tongue flicking out to lap down its length. Ianto bucked forward slightly, and Jack sucked more of him into his mouth towards his throat. He kept his eyes on Ianto’s, and Ianto felt his heart stutter. That look hadn’t changed. Jack’s hands tightened on his arse, and Ianto rocked forward even more, going deep into Jack’s throat. “Coming,” he moaned, and Jack nodded slightly, swallowing. Ianto came with a cry, his fingers tightening in Jack’s hair as Jack sucked his cum down then lapped his cock clean from head to base.
“Jack,” Ianto said when he got his breath back. “We have to leave Ghana. I can’t stay here.”
Jack was silent, still on his knees. He slid his hands down from Ianto’s arse to rest lightly over Ianto’s bad leg, the lower part of the left leg that still ached. “You mean ‘us,’ right?” he asked softly.
“Yes. If you, if you … I mean together. We have to leave … do you agree?” he held his breath. He’d promised to come here with Jack. What if Jack viewed it as some form of betrayal that he wanted to leave now?
Jack rose to his feet and kissed him. “You’re right. You’re right. Come on, let’s go to bed. We’ll think of something in the morning.”
For the first time that week, Ianto did not have a nightmare.
***
Jack was relieved. They should have left Ghana months ago, maybe even a year ago, but they were both too stubborn to do it. Now that the decision had been made, though, he felt a huge weight lift from his chest. He pulled Harriet aside the next morning to break the news to her. She pulled his head down and kissed his forehead. “I’ll pray for you,” she said breathlessly. “Jack, you know I don’t … I mean it’s not my place either way, but I don’t … what I mean is, I don’t think you’re a vicious killer. I hope you find peace.”
“Thanks, Harriet. I appreciate your support.” He broke the solemn mood with a sudden grin. “This will mean a lot more work for you, too, you know,” he warned her, and tugged one of her curls.
“Well, maybe Andy will step up,” she said, eyes twinkling.
He had to laugh at that. “Maybe he will.”
Alex had nodded like he’d been expecting it, Beth had told him they were doing the right thing, and Mickey had clapped him on the shoulder in a rare hug. Grace had given him a self-satisfied nod. Jack wouldn’t miss her. She’d saved Ianto’s life. It didn’t give her a right to pass judgment, in his opinion. Still, he would be forever grateful for her quick actions in the market a year ago.
He left Ianto to tell Andy the news. Andy toasted to their safe travels at lunch, which only Jack and Mickey had the time to attend, but Jack appreciated it all the same.
He got on the phone to call Dr. Toshiko Sato later that afternoon. Tosh had just transferred to Mumbai, India, to run the Tyler Foundation clinics in Asia. She’d know if a branch could use a new doctor and nurse matched set.
“Jack! I was just about to call you!” Tosh’s voice echoed a bit over the wire, but he could make out a breathless note of excitement. “We may be opening a new clinic in Kerala, India - outside of Kochin. I’d love it if you could give me your opinion of the facilities.”
He blinked down at the phone. It seemed almost too good to be true. Kochin was located on the water, in a very pretty area of India, if he remembered his geography lessons. “Wow, that’s serendipitous,” he said hesitatingly. “What’s the catch?”
“We may not have enough funding to open it,” Tosh responded promptly. “But in the meantime, couldn’t you do with a little vacation in India?”
Jack laughed. “We could indeed. Okay, when do you want us?”
“I’d like to do the inspection in a week. In the meantime, I’ll keep asking around for a transfer for you both, just in case. Is a week too soon?”
Jack shook his head. He could see into the kitchen from where he stood. Ianto was at the counter, hands on hips, surveying the potatoes for that night’s meal. “No a week is good. Send me the details; we’ll be there.”
They hung up soon after, and Jack went into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Ianto. “So … how do you feel about India?”
***
Ianto pursed his lips and shook his head angrily. The duffel bag just wasn’t going to zip, and that’s all there was to it. He pulled out a few vintage rock t-shirts, Jack’s idea of vacation wear. If they stayed in India or not, they were still getting a vacation together. First vacation as a … couple. He’d been smiling over that for the past week. Not even a last minute change in plans could knock his mood, especially since the change consisted of his sister Gwen coming for a visit, with her priest boyfriend in tow. He’d join up with Jack in Kochin five days after Jack got there. Hopefully he’d miss all of the work part of the trip and just get to enjoy the vacation.
He pulled all of the t-shirts out of the duffel, rolled them up, and then everything fit. With Jack’s constant suitcase lifestyle, he should be bloody brilliant at packing these things.
“Ianto!” Jack came into their room and shut the door. “How’s it - hey, did you get everything to fit?”
“Yes, no thanks to you,” Ianto grumped at him. Jack grinned at him.
“I’m blaming it on my post-bon voyage party buzz,” he articulated carefully. Ianto raised an eyebrow and nodded to the bottle of Pimms in Jack’s hand.
“Bringing the party with you, I see.”
“It’s always a party with you.”
“Gag me.”
“I’ll try.”
Ianto snorted a laugh despite himself. “Give me that bottle. You need a shower,” he said, and slapped Jack’s arse.
Jack took a swig from the bottle before handing it over. “You joining me?”
“Maybe,” Ianto replied. He knew full well he would. Jack grinned again and sauntered into the bathroom, whistling. Ianto watched him go, admiring the view, and reveling in their renewed easy back-and-forth. Deciding to leave Ghana, putting physical distance between themselves and their memories, was truly the best thing for them.
They’d had a nice evening, in spite of the new tensions among the staff. Jack was a good leader, and he’d personally recruited this staff, except for Andy. He’d be missed, as would Ianto. Ianto knew they would all see each other again someday, but it was the end of a chapter in their lives, and it left him a little melancholy. Jack started the water in the shower, and Ianto kicked off his shoes and socks, hurriedly stripping.
Water dripped through Jack’s hair and ran down his body, chasing soap suds from shoulder to ankle. Ianto climbed into the shower behind him. Jack craned his neck back, and Ianto kissed his cheek and chin and the corner of his mouth as he worked two soap-slick fingers into him. Jack opened his eyes in the shower stream, water droplets catching in his eyelashes as he grinned back at Ianto. The sight made Ianto get even harder, and he withdrew his fingers and carefully slid inside him. Ianto leaned forward and placed a kiss between Jack’s shoulder blades before thrusting harder into him. They rutted against the shower tiles, warm water sliding over them and providing a tinkling counterpoint to their grunts and moans. Ianto pumped Jack’s cock with one hand and clung hard to Jack’s hip with his other. “I love you, Jack,” he whispered fiercely as he came inside Jack. He caught his breath against Jack’s neck as he gradually softened inside him. “Jack?” he murmured. “Do you want - ?” He felt Jack nod under his lips, and he smiled, sliding gradually out before getting on his knees. Jack turned to face him, his cock heavy and leaky and aching to come. Ianto sucked the head gently, and Jack had to reach forward and tangle his fingers in wet hair to stay upright. Ianto smiled around his mouthful, and ran his tongue up and under the foreskin. Jack moaned, and Ianto stared up at him as he leaned forward and took Jack fully into his mouth in one quick motion. Jack let out a startled gasp as Ianto swallowed convulsively, his fingers reaching out to rub a thumb over Jack’s balls. Jack came with a shout, and Ianto pulled slightly back, cum dripping down his chin.
Ianto didn’t sleep well, anxious as he was about their impending separation. Five days wasn’t much, but it was the first time they’d be separated since becoming partners. He spent most of the night propped on an elbow watching Jack sleep. Jack woke early in the morning, and picked up immediately on Ianto’s strange mood. They fucked almost entirely without words, Jack thrusting into Ianto at a slow and steady rate. Ianto entwined his fingers around Jack’s around his cock. He clamped down all around Jack as he came over their hands. He could feel Jack inside him, filling him up, coming and spilling into him. He brought Jack’s hand up to his lips and kissed it.
“I’ll miss you,” he whispered, hating the pleading note in his voice.
Jack kissed his neck. “I’ll see you in five days. I’ll meet you at the airport and we’ll cause a scandal by making out in front of everyone.” Ianto cracked a smile as Jack continued. “And I’ll bring you flowers! And go down on you in the cab - don’t worry, I’ll get one with tinted windows.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m yours.”
Ianto smiled wider. “You’re mine.”
Five days. It wouldn’t be so bad.
Onward to India! Onward to lunch!
Author: blue_fjords
Pairings/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Harriet, Andy, Mickey, Beth, Alex, Tosh, OFC
Word count: ~5,000 (prologue only)
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Dudes. I started this puppy almost a year ago. So much has happened since then! Am still finishing the actual story, but since I will have almost no internet access around the holidays, I am posting the prologue now in case I can't physically get the rest up (and beta-ed!) before the 25th. Anyhow. This is the continuing AU romance novel featuring Jack as Dr. Harkness and Ianto as Nurse Jones for the Tyler Foundation. They're still in Ghana, but as you can see from the title, that's about to change. Thank you so much to everyone who's shared their enthusiasm for this story over the past year. It means a lot to me! And extra thanks to adjovi for shining her beta light of wisdom on this thing. You're a peach! And all mistakes are mine, natch.
Dr. Harkness & Nurse Jones: Kenya
Dr. Harkness & Nurse Jones: Ghana
Ianto's left leg hurt abominably. Ever since the Incident a year ago, it took to twinging whenever he was still for too long. It twinged whenever it felt like it, actually, but Ianto felt the need to exert some control over the situation and declared that it twinged when he was still. He shifted minutely in his seat. Harriet shot him a mildly concerned look, and he shook his head slightly. She was engrossed in the presentation going on in front of them. He didn't want to break her concentration. She smiled and focused back on the speaker.
"In conclusion, the government of Ghana has found that the past year's activities of the Tyler Foundation, as detailed in their Annual Report, have far exceeded our expectations. We intend to keep supporting the Clinic and Orphanage here in Accra, and look forward to many more years of harmonious collaboration."
The government official sat down to a smattering of applause. Next to him, Harriet was glowing. There were more words of congratulation, verbal pats on the back and a handful of handshakes and a hug or three. Ianto bore it all with good grace.
It was Jack's job to be here, but Jack had studiously ignored anyone involved with either Church or State in Ghana for the last year, and was not about to break his streak now. Ianto knew that he felt like a hypocrite for relying on the support of people and organizations he felt had dismally failed him. Ianto felt like a hypocrite himself sometimes around them, but Harriet had just shaken her head and said that their hypocrisy was one hundred times worse than his, and besides, they literally could not function without them so "we may as well make them celebrate us with bells and whistles and a ticker-tape parade." Harriet was the only person he knew who would use the expression "ticker-tape parade," but he appreciated the sentiment. Still, he couldn’t help glancing longingly out the window. There was a breeze off the water and for once, it would be pleasant to be outside. Jack was outside, probably, as it was his turn to go to the market, a task he had done more and more frequently over the past year. Ianto daydreamed he was with Jack as an official pulled him and Harriet into a photo op full of fake smiles and hunched shoulders.
***
Jack sat back on his heels, heedless of the dust, and surveyed the corpse in front of him. The sightless eyes of the old man were very familiar. Just a year ago, he had tracked this man down by himself. It had been so easy. Even now, Jack wasn't sure what he had planned to do once he had him. Use him as a link to his son, and through his son, find the men who had beaten Ianto and left him for dead. That part was a given. Jack wasn’t sure how to punish the old man for his role in all of this. Jack had almost been surprised when, after following him from the market to his shack about three days after the Attack, his fist had closed around the scrawny little neck and squeezed. The old man had kicked uselessly at the hard-packed earth of his home and made little wheezing noises. Jack had released him when his lips had started to turn blue, and then had proceeded to smash every piece of rough-hewn furniture in the shack. They were both panting when he was done.
"Why?" Jack had asked finally in his passable Akan. "He’s my … You don’t have the right … not him..."
The old man had sneered at him and spit in his face. "You're wrong. Get out of my house."
Jack had stood there, rooted to the spot, spittle dripping down his cheek. Finally he had lifted a hand, flicked off the spittle, and punched the old man squarely in the jaw. He knew what the sound he made meant: the old man had now lost all his remaining teeth. Jack had turned and walked out of the shack. He had started to run and hadn’t stopped until he got to the harbor. The sight of the water soothed him like nothing else could. It called to mind Ianto's blue eyes, and Ianto's promise to go with him.
Jack was far from the water now, in both time and space. He hadn’t seen the old man in months. The continued passage of time had left its mark on them both, though it had failed in any attempts to obliterate Jack.
“Too bad for you,” Jack murmured to the corpse, passing his palm over the weathered face and closing the eyes. He straightened to his feet and nodded at the young policeman who’d found the corpse. “Natural causes,” he said. It was even true.
Jack brushed his hands off on his khaki trousers. The body would be claimed by the old man’s family. But not his son. Good riddance to them both.
He glanced unseeing around at the market. He had a list in one of his pockets, but he no longer wanted to be around so many people. Maybe Mickey would go in his place. He directed his steps back to the clinic. Ianto and Harriet would be back soon, and his fingers itched to touch Ianto and reassure himself that he was alright.
Ianto and Harriet got back about an hour after he did, and thankfully Harriet was jabbering away, too excited about their meeting to make any remarks about the strangeness of Jack sitting in the guardroom in Mickey’s place. Ianto shot him a questioning look, but Jack let Harriet keep the conversation ball rolling.
Jack was unusually quiet during dinner. The clinic and orphanage staff had expanded in the past year to include Nehemiah’s mother, Grace. Andy had just regaled them all with story about his youngest patient and the long search to find the perfect pair of glasses when Harriet asked Grace about her family.
“Nehemiah has been following his uncle around. ‘Little Shadow,’ we call him.”
Jack smiled at the mental picture. “What does your brother do, Grace?” he asked, reaching for the bowl of stew.
“My brother is a policeman, Dr. Harkness,” she replied. Her eyes were sharp on his face. “He has been looking into the deaths of gang members. Vicious men, robbers and bullies. Someone more vicious has killed several this past year.”
Jack willed himself to continue scooping his stew calmly. “Is that so?” There was just the slightest tremor in his voice. Ianto would be the only one who could pick up on it and, sure enough, Jack could feel Ianto’s eyes on him.
“It is so, yes, Dr. Harkness.” She cleared her throat. “My brother says they have no leads. He says this murderer is doing God’s own work, and he will not try to stop him. I say that murder is murder. ‘Vengeance is mine,’ sayeth the Lord.”
Jack’s fingers tightened on the spoon and his blood began a slow boil. He didn’t trust himself to speak.
“Hear, hear,” Harriet chimed in. She, Andy and Alex were not following the undercurrent of the conversation, but next to her, Beth shot Jack a sympathetic look and Mickey frowned into his stew bowl. Jack couldn’t raise his head to gauge Ianto’s reaction. He dared not.
“Just today, the father of one of these gangsters died in the street,” Grace continued.
“That was natural causes,” Jack answered quickly. Everyone was looking at him now. “I was in the marketplace; I saw him,” he muttered.
“Natural causes is God’s vengeance,” Grace declared.
Ianto abruptly pushed his chair back from the table. “Pardon me. I need to go check on … something.”
Jack risked a glance up at him and felt his previously boiling blood run cold at the look in Ianto’s eyes. His mouth went dry and all appetite left him as Ianto turned awkwardly on his heel and limped out of the kitchen. Beth caught his eye and gestured at him to follow Ianto. He swallowed.
“Fascinating as this discussion is, Grace, I need to go help Ianto with the something. Everyone.” He inclined his head to the table and hurried away. The sound of Grace and Harriet agreeing with each other followed him out into the hallway. He caught up with Ianto outside the door to their room.
“Ianto, I -” he started.
“I’m just going to change my uniform and switch with Beth for the nightshift.” Ianto shuffled into the room and over to the wardrobe. Jack followed him inside, closing the door behind them.
“I don’t want to fight about this, either,” Jack tried to keep his voice low.
“About what, Jack?” Ianto’s voice had a slightly hysterical edge to it, and Jack glanced nervously at the door. “About what you may have done to every man who was in that crowd? Or were you never going to tell me? How did you even know who they were? I was there, and I didn’t even know who they were!”
“I found them, okay?” Jack was starting to fray. He had tried so hard to prevent Ianto from ever knowing what he’d done, and then Grace threw it in everyone’s faces.
“You found them? That’s it?” Ianto shut the wardrobe door as if forgetting why he’d opened it, padded once around the tiny room, and then collapsed into one of the folding chairs, head in his hands.
Jack took a deep breath, and knelt down at Ianto’s feet. “Ianto, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let them get away with hurting you. I went out and found them.”
Ianto interrupted him. “I found them, too,” he whispered.
Jack’s hand tightened on Ianto’s good knee. “What?”
Ianto raised his head from his hands. “I found them,” he repeated, louder now. “Did you think I’d let them get away with it?”
Jack shook his head, watching Ianto’s face. “I knew the women who manned the stalls there. Two or three of them were willing to tell me what they’d seen, for a price. Or to ease their consciences, I don’t know which and I wasn’t picky about finding out why.” Ianto paused, and took a breath, looking him in the eye. Jack could see the pigeons coming home to roost, and he swallowed, preparing himself. “You must have found them first, Jack. Do you recall two brothers who had a little fishing boat? They got tangled in their own nets during a storm and drowned. It looked very natural.”
“Ianto…” Jack started. “I…” Ianto said nothing in response, and Jack frowned, trying to gather his equilibrium. “It was natural! With maybe a little impetus. But what were you planning to do to them, then?”
Jack stood and dragged another folding chair over. He was ceding too much ground by being on the floor.
“I didn’t have a plan,” Ianto said quietly.
Jack snorted. “You didn’t have a plan? Seriously, you?”
“No!” Ianto raised his own voice in response. “Sometimes I have no clue what I’m doing! Why is that hard to believe? I just… I just … I wanted to know who they were. I wanted to stop them.” His voice died out on the last line.
Jack sighed and sat back in his chair. “Well, I stopped them.”
Ianto looked down at his hands. “How many?”
Jack closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Six. So many more watched it happen. But six did it.”
Ianto’s shoulders shook as tears fell thickly down his face. Jack was on his feet in an instant, knocking over his folding chair and kneeling again at Ianto’s feet. He held his breath as Ianto reached out and took his face in his hands. “Jack,” he said hoarsely, “sometimes you scare me, love.”
“I didn’t - I didn’t - I just - the storm came out of nowhere -” He was babbling, he knew, but he had to explain. He couldn’t bear for Ianto to look at him like that. “I didn’t touch any of them! Grace has it wrong; I’m not a vicious killer, you have to believe me! I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he kept babbling incoherently, and Ianto kissed his forehead, stroked his cheeks, ran his fingers through his hair. Jack shifted on his knees, still murmuring apologies, and pulled Ianto closer. His hands circled Ianto’s waist, moving up his back, fingers digging into the soft cotton of his t-shirt. He showered Ianto’s neck and face with kisses, the salt of tears on his tongue. Finally Ianto pulled away and took Jack’s chin in his hand. “I love you. You know that, right?”
Jack nodded, and Ianto sighed. “But I can’t … look, I need you to tell me now, straight out, what happened with the other four.”
Jack swallowed. “I … I just added fuel to the fire. They killed each other. They were looking to kill! I didn’t touch them.”
Ianto’s hand tightened around his neck. “And?”
Jack closed his eyes. “I checked to make sure they were dead.”
Ianto nodded slowly. Jack waited for him to ask if he’d watched the last one bleed out, if he had forsaken his oaths as a doctor, but no more questions were forthcoming. “I want a shower and bed,” Ianto said instead.
Jack stood up again and offered his hand. Ianto took it, and stretched, his back creaking as he stood up. He didn’t let go of Jack’s hand as he walked into the bathroom, and for the first time that evening, Jack felt like they would survive this. Thank God.
Jack climbed into the shower with him, sluicing hot water over Ianto’s scars and gently wiping them clean. Jack didn’t trust himself to speak, and had to make each touch do the talking, telling Ianto that he would always protect him, always love him. Ianto’s eyes were closed in the stream of hot water, but Jack could tell it wasn’t just the shower trailing down his cheeks. When Jack shut off the water, Ianto wordlessly climbed out, toweled off, and reached for pajama bottoms. Jack stayed in the shower, his relief dripping away like the droplets swirling the drain.
But when he stepped out into their room, the sheets were turned back on his side of the bed, too. He scrambled under the covers and laid a tentative hand on Ianto’s arm. He felt rather than heard Ianto sigh.
“I can’t talk anymore about it tonight, Jack.”
Jack swallowed around the lump in his throat. “Yeah. Sure, I understand.” He laid on his side, staring at the pattern of scars on Ianto’s back. A thrill suffused his body when Ianto rolled over to face him and slide his hands around him as usual, resting on the small of his back. It was not something he admitted to often, but he loved falling asleep in the protective cocoon of Ianto’s arms, the safest place in the world. He leaned in closer to Ianto and whispered “I love you” in his ear. He brought his own arms around Ianto’s upper back. He hadn’t lost him. And surely they’d get through it now. He fell into an uneasy sleep, his head pillowed on Ianto’s chest.
***
Ianto woke before Jack the next morning, and lay quietly in bed, watching the sunlight filter through the curtains and crawl across the bed. Jack never quite managed to look innocent in sleep, but he could pull off peaceful well enough. The sunlight bronzed his bare shoulders, and Ianto bent his neck to press his lips against the warm flesh. Jack smiled in his sleep, and as it did each time that happened, Ianto marveled to himself that he was the cause of such a reaction. If he was waxing romantic, he’d say that Jack tore through the world with the force of a hurricane, and Ianto himself was the port in that storm.
He could wish it wasn’t true. Six men. Six men Jack had, well, not killed, but he’d had a hand in their deaths. Ianto clung desperately to the distinction. There was a distinction, he thought, but Jack had decided they should die for what they’d done, and die they did. For the thousandth time since the attack, Ianto wondered what he would have done had he found any of his attackers alive. He rubbed his thumb along Jack’s spine. He might have done precisely what Jack did. He’d fought before to protect Jack. Was this so very much different? When Jack was so close to him, their breaths mingling, their hearts beating out a counter-rhythm, he knew with absolute certainty that he would go to any lengths to keep Jack safe. It scared him, the depth of his devotion, but at the same time, as he watched the sun creep up Jack’s neck, he knew he didn’t want to change.
The sun reached Jack’s eyes, and he opened them, squinting around the bed. Ianto had to smile at the blurry look of confusion, and he shifted, moving over Jack to block the sun. “That better, sunshine?” he asked, attempting for a light and airy tone.
Jack look startled, before breaking into a wide smile. He reached up and kissed Ianto’s lips. “Mmmm, morning breath!” Jack smacked his lips in mock admiration.
“You have a very high opinion of yourself if you think you’re exempt,” Ianto grumbled, slipping into their easy banter.
Jack huffed a laugh. Ianto watched the laugh lines around his eyes. Jack’s hand trailed up his arm, across his shoulder, cupped his chin. Ianto wanted to tell him not to worry, but the words died on his lips. He closed his eyes and kissed the palm of Jack’s hand.
“Ianto?” Jack asked.
“We’re okay,” he answered the unspoken question. With enough time, it could even be true. He opened his eyes and looked back down at Jack. Jack’s usual battlements of bravado and good cheer were swamped with anxiety, and Ianto’s heart ached to see it. He stretched out fully on Jack’s body and buried his face in Jack’s neck. “I don’t know how, but we’ll be okay,” he murmured. If it were up to him, they’d stay in bed all day, and not ever face the ghosts of the six men, or the moral dilemma, or the stares of their colleagues, accusing or sympathetic or both. But the clinic was right outside their door, and duty called.
Everyone walked on eggshells over the next week. Harriet, Andy and Alex had cottoned on to the general meaning of Grace’s announcements, and were torn on how to proceed. Well, Alex shrugged his shoulders and carried on, but Andy was extremely nervous. He had finally finagled a real date with Harriet, and didn’t want to put her off by looking to agree with what Jack had done, but at the same time, Ianto was his best friend and he felt he should support him. Harriet tried to gently figure out Ianto’s opinion on the matter, but he held his own counsel.
Ianto wasn’t completely sure how he felt. He could feel the deaths of his attackers as a stain on his own soul. He watched Jack carefully to see if he was as affected, but after their initial blow-up, Jack seemed determined to act like nothing had happened. Each time Ianto tried to bring up the topic, Jack changed the subject with soft kisses and pleading eyes. Ianto began to have nightmares, like he’d had after the attack, except this time they were of Jack, chained to a wheel in the underworld, walking continual circles as he pushed the cog to open the gates of Hell. He woke up crying the first time he had it, and embarrassed himself by sniveling into Jack’s shoulder while Jack patted his back.
Jack’s only change was in bed, where he was even more tender than usual. Ianto found himself growing more and more aggressive in response. When he fucked Jack now, the bed shook off its cinder blocks. They’d always been loud in bed, but now the grunts and moans and squeaky mattress were loud enough to wake the dead. He pounded into Jack, as deep and as fast as he could go, and Jack moaned into the mattress, taking him in and coming hard. Ianto worried about hurting him, but Jack held him fast, after Ianto came and pulled out, panting uncontrollably, sometimes crying.
They needed a change, Ianto thought. He knew he loved Jack. But they needed to leave Ghana, its memories and ghosts, before the past turned into something bitter in his heart and he could no longer look Jack in the eye. He never wanted to change into a shell of his former self, unable to hold Jack’s gaze. Jack was on his knees now, lips around the head of Ianto’s cock, tongue flicking out to lap down its length. Ianto bucked forward slightly, and Jack sucked more of him into his mouth towards his throat. He kept his eyes on Ianto’s, and Ianto felt his heart stutter. That look hadn’t changed. Jack’s hands tightened on his arse, and Ianto rocked forward even more, going deep into Jack’s throat. “Coming,” he moaned, and Jack nodded slightly, swallowing. Ianto came with a cry, his fingers tightening in Jack’s hair as Jack sucked his cum down then lapped his cock clean from head to base.
“Jack,” Ianto said when he got his breath back. “We have to leave Ghana. I can’t stay here.”
Jack was silent, still on his knees. He slid his hands down from Ianto’s arse to rest lightly over Ianto’s bad leg, the lower part of the left leg that still ached. “You mean ‘us,’ right?” he asked softly.
“Yes. If you, if you … I mean together. We have to leave … do you agree?” he held his breath. He’d promised to come here with Jack. What if Jack viewed it as some form of betrayal that he wanted to leave now?
Jack rose to his feet and kissed him. “You’re right. You’re right. Come on, let’s go to bed. We’ll think of something in the morning.”
For the first time that week, Ianto did not have a nightmare.
***
Jack was relieved. They should have left Ghana months ago, maybe even a year ago, but they were both too stubborn to do it. Now that the decision had been made, though, he felt a huge weight lift from his chest. He pulled Harriet aside the next morning to break the news to her. She pulled his head down and kissed his forehead. “I’ll pray for you,” she said breathlessly. “Jack, you know I don’t … I mean it’s not my place either way, but I don’t … what I mean is, I don’t think you’re a vicious killer. I hope you find peace.”
“Thanks, Harriet. I appreciate your support.” He broke the solemn mood with a sudden grin. “This will mean a lot more work for you, too, you know,” he warned her, and tugged one of her curls.
“Well, maybe Andy will step up,” she said, eyes twinkling.
He had to laugh at that. “Maybe he will.”
Alex had nodded like he’d been expecting it, Beth had told him they were doing the right thing, and Mickey had clapped him on the shoulder in a rare hug. Grace had given him a self-satisfied nod. Jack wouldn’t miss her. She’d saved Ianto’s life. It didn’t give her a right to pass judgment, in his opinion. Still, he would be forever grateful for her quick actions in the market a year ago.
He left Ianto to tell Andy the news. Andy toasted to their safe travels at lunch, which only Jack and Mickey had the time to attend, but Jack appreciated it all the same.
He got on the phone to call Dr. Toshiko Sato later that afternoon. Tosh had just transferred to Mumbai, India, to run the Tyler Foundation clinics in Asia. She’d know if a branch could use a new doctor and nurse matched set.
“Jack! I was just about to call you!” Tosh’s voice echoed a bit over the wire, but he could make out a breathless note of excitement. “We may be opening a new clinic in Kerala, India - outside of Kochin. I’d love it if you could give me your opinion of the facilities.”
He blinked down at the phone. It seemed almost too good to be true. Kochin was located on the water, in a very pretty area of India, if he remembered his geography lessons. “Wow, that’s serendipitous,” he said hesitatingly. “What’s the catch?”
“We may not have enough funding to open it,” Tosh responded promptly. “But in the meantime, couldn’t you do with a little vacation in India?”
Jack laughed. “We could indeed. Okay, when do you want us?”
“I’d like to do the inspection in a week. In the meantime, I’ll keep asking around for a transfer for you both, just in case. Is a week too soon?”
Jack shook his head. He could see into the kitchen from where he stood. Ianto was at the counter, hands on hips, surveying the potatoes for that night’s meal. “No a week is good. Send me the details; we’ll be there.”
They hung up soon after, and Jack went into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Ianto. “So … how do you feel about India?”
***
Ianto pursed his lips and shook his head angrily. The duffel bag just wasn’t going to zip, and that’s all there was to it. He pulled out a few vintage rock t-shirts, Jack’s idea of vacation wear. If they stayed in India or not, they were still getting a vacation together. First vacation as a … couple. He’d been smiling over that for the past week. Not even a last minute change in plans could knock his mood, especially since the change consisted of his sister Gwen coming for a visit, with her priest boyfriend in tow. He’d join up with Jack in Kochin five days after Jack got there. Hopefully he’d miss all of the work part of the trip and just get to enjoy the vacation.
He pulled all of the t-shirts out of the duffel, rolled them up, and then everything fit. With Jack’s constant suitcase lifestyle, he should be bloody brilliant at packing these things.
“Ianto!” Jack came into their room and shut the door. “How’s it - hey, did you get everything to fit?”
“Yes, no thanks to you,” Ianto grumped at him. Jack grinned at him.
“I’m blaming it on my post-bon voyage party buzz,” he articulated carefully. Ianto raised an eyebrow and nodded to the bottle of Pimms in Jack’s hand.
“Bringing the party with you, I see.”
“It’s always a party with you.”
“Gag me.”
“I’ll try.”
Ianto snorted a laugh despite himself. “Give me that bottle. You need a shower,” he said, and slapped Jack’s arse.
Jack took a swig from the bottle before handing it over. “You joining me?”
“Maybe,” Ianto replied. He knew full well he would. Jack grinned again and sauntered into the bathroom, whistling. Ianto watched him go, admiring the view, and reveling in their renewed easy back-and-forth. Deciding to leave Ghana, putting physical distance between themselves and their memories, was truly the best thing for them.
They’d had a nice evening, in spite of the new tensions among the staff. Jack was a good leader, and he’d personally recruited this staff, except for Andy. He’d be missed, as would Ianto. Ianto knew they would all see each other again someday, but it was the end of a chapter in their lives, and it left him a little melancholy. Jack started the water in the shower, and Ianto kicked off his shoes and socks, hurriedly stripping.
Water dripped through Jack’s hair and ran down his body, chasing soap suds from shoulder to ankle. Ianto climbed into the shower behind him. Jack craned his neck back, and Ianto kissed his cheek and chin and the corner of his mouth as he worked two soap-slick fingers into him. Jack opened his eyes in the shower stream, water droplets catching in his eyelashes as he grinned back at Ianto. The sight made Ianto get even harder, and he withdrew his fingers and carefully slid inside him. Ianto leaned forward and placed a kiss between Jack’s shoulder blades before thrusting harder into him. They rutted against the shower tiles, warm water sliding over them and providing a tinkling counterpoint to their grunts and moans. Ianto pumped Jack’s cock with one hand and clung hard to Jack’s hip with his other. “I love you, Jack,” he whispered fiercely as he came inside Jack. He caught his breath against Jack’s neck as he gradually softened inside him. “Jack?” he murmured. “Do you want - ?” He felt Jack nod under his lips, and he smiled, sliding gradually out before getting on his knees. Jack turned to face him, his cock heavy and leaky and aching to come. Ianto sucked the head gently, and Jack had to reach forward and tangle his fingers in wet hair to stay upright. Ianto smiled around his mouthful, and ran his tongue up and under the foreskin. Jack moaned, and Ianto stared up at him as he leaned forward and took Jack fully into his mouth in one quick motion. Jack let out a startled gasp as Ianto swallowed convulsively, his fingers reaching out to rub a thumb over Jack’s balls. Jack came with a shout, and Ianto pulled slightly back, cum dripping down his chin.
Ianto didn’t sleep well, anxious as he was about their impending separation. Five days wasn’t much, but it was the first time they’d be separated since becoming partners. He spent most of the night propped on an elbow watching Jack sleep. Jack woke early in the morning, and picked up immediately on Ianto’s strange mood. They fucked almost entirely without words, Jack thrusting into Ianto at a slow and steady rate. Ianto entwined his fingers around Jack’s around his cock. He clamped down all around Jack as he came over their hands. He could feel Jack inside him, filling him up, coming and spilling into him. He brought Jack’s hand up to his lips and kissed it.
“I’ll miss you,” he whispered, hating the pleading note in his voice.
Jack kissed his neck. “I’ll see you in five days. I’ll meet you at the airport and we’ll cause a scandal by making out in front of everyone.” Ianto cracked a smile as Jack continued. “And I’ll bring you flowers! And go down on you in the cab - don’t worry, I’ll get one with tinted windows.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m yours.”
Ianto smiled wider. “You’re mine.”
Five days. It wouldn’t be so bad.
Onward to India! Onward to lunch!