Fic: The Oncoming Storm (Slash, AU, Janto 17/40 Part 1)
Author: d8rkmessngr
Pairing: Jack/OMC, Jack/?, Jack/Ianto eventually, het and slash
Rating: NC-17 (betaed)
Summary: He left Jack on the game station. Abandoned. But then…he came back…different. An AU look on what happens if things happened differently. Doctor Who 'verse with Torchwood later on. Be sure to read the warnings.
Warnings: Please read each chapter's individual warnings. Some parts down the road may briefly mention non-con, abuse, and/or violence. Dark in the beginning. Please note there are some dark thoughts as my boys are broken…for now. Each chapter will be labeled for your convenience.
Author's Notes: Please note this is an AU that will cross over DW to TW season one. I'm probably spoiling my own story, but it will eventually be Janto. There's a bit of a journey first. I hope you enjoy. I'm working on this and intend to post regularly every other day. And again, I always believe in happy endings. So without further ado…
Disclaimer: RTD and BBC owns them. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
Warning For This Chapter: none
Notes For This Chapter: it's not necessary, but please note there are parallels to DW's "Doomsday", "Army of Ghosts", and TW's "Fragments". No spoilers, but history and ages are based and parallel the episodes.
Prologue + Ch , Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 10, Ch 11, Ch 12, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 15, Ch 16
Master Fic List: here
Chapter 17
"…there they are!"
"Just where the poor bastard said he left them…"
Somewhere in the long chain of vibrations and sirens, hot and cold, Ianto had slid down and sat against the defunct mainframes and the unconscious captain, his shoulder was pounding, his heart was aching. Propped up against Harkness, Ianto felt the world turn into a haze and there was a moment when he thought he might die in the suffocating smoke, under the shattered reign of Torchwood, with man and machine screaming around him. The arrogance of man was the culprit of its own downfall, he thought dimly as he sat there, staring at Lisa's hand dangling off the raised platform. They were tipped in steel and as he faded, Ianto realized he couldn't remember the last time they had kissed.
At some point, everything simply…stopped.
Heartbeats, breaths later, the noise began again. This time it sounded more purposeful, more controlled, yet Ianto cringed all the same when he felt hands upon him.
"…found two males…alive and looks like-shit! Back up! Back up! There's one of them in here!"
"At ease! She was incomplete, too-Christ, I think she's still-it's another live one! Poor girl…Get a medic in here!"
He'd left Lisa. He'd left behind the woman he loved; the one he swore to take care of as he held her every night. He…there was no excuse for what he did. Yet, his heart could not find any fault in his action to go back for Harkness. He should have…should have…What should he have done?
"Sir? Sir? Can you hear me?"
A hand tapped his cheek. Ianto raised his head and saw a round, circular glass for an eye.
"Calm down! It's alright! You're safe! I'm with UNIT!"
Hands captured his wrists and the eye piece, which turned out to be part of his goggles, was pulled back, revealing a scarred yet comforting countenance. He looked like someone's favorite old uncle.
"You with me now?" the man asked as he shed his night goggles, revealing his muddy brown eyes.
"Y-yes," Ianto muttered, his fists lowering as he got up on shaky knees. He turned towards the dais.
Too many people with red caps, goggles, masks and rifles streamed through in a very precise manner that reminded him of their security force. Ianto swallowed. He had seen many uniformed bodies as he had climbed the stairs to the tenth floor.
"Aye. Aye. I need to know what part of Torchwood are you?"
Ianto replied without thinking, "Archives, junior researcher. Jones, I-Ianto Jones." No, wait, he was part of Sciences now, wasn’t he? Part of this monstrous mess.
"Major Stark," the other returned. He lifted up a penlight and shone it on Harkness and then Lisa. Ianto realized then there were no lights. Oh. It wasn't just him then.
"Was she a researcher, too?"
The past tense burned in his ears. "No," Ianto grated out. "She isn't. She wa-is with the science teams, with Dr. Singh. Singh! Is he…is he still a-"
"No," Stark said flatly in a voice that invited no questions, but Ianto asked anyway.
"W-what happened to those Cybermen and those…those Dall-I don't know their names? What happened? Are they gone? How-"
Starks showed his hand. He seemed to be the leader as others reported to him that a medic was on his way.
"Those Cybermen and Daleks are gone. They got sucked up into Torchwood Tower, Jones."
Ianto stared at him. "Wait…sucked up? All of them?"
"We hope so." Stark frowned over his shoulder at Lisa.
"She's not one of them," Ianto tried to push past him but Stark merely took a step, blocking him. "Lisa's a victim!"
"Is that the girl's name?" The older man tipped back his red cap and surveyed Harkness still on the ground.
"Is he one of the Doctor's companions? The one the others were talking about?"
It was automatic. Ianto tensed. "This wasn't his fault or…or the Doctor's." He wished he sounded more convincing because the major frowned to himself.
"Didn't say it was, young man. In fact, way I hear it, the Doctor and the other one saved you all."
Ianto stared. "Wha-Wait, he was here?"
Stark nodded. He crouched down, tipped the captain's head up and considered him. "From what one of the survivors could tell us, the Doctor created some sort of…black hole that pulled all those bastards into some void. Weren't for him and his companion, we'd all probably still be in a piss pot of trouble."
"Companion? No, that can't be him then." Ianto staggered back against the dais. He fumbled behind him and found Lisa's cold, stiff hand. He tried to thread his fingers with hers, but found he couldn't. The steel tipped fingers were too stiff. Ianto's eyes burned.
"It couldn't possibly be him. He…" Ianto gestured towards the unaware captain. "He's…he's the Doctor's…" He couldn't say it without becoming ill. "Captain Harkness travels with him."
"Blue police box?"
Ianto's head was spinning too fast. He squeezed Lisa's fingers, desperate for a response. There was none. "Y-yes…but…"
"He was with a woman."
"A woman?" The director, perhaps?
"Or a girl." Stark shrugged and stood. "People tell us it was an older woman when he showed up this morning."
"He was here?" Ianto felt a rush of heat rising up his chest. "He was already here?" Why didn't he stop this?
Stark gave him a funny look, as if agreeing. "Yea, he was, apparently. But we can't be sure. Some say he was on this floor, others reported seeing him in the unfinished Tower, others reported seeing that bloody police box of his hovering just above that rift of yours." Stark looked annoyed. "Then they said he was with a woman, then someone said he was alone, then it wasn't just the woman but an entire group, then just a girl."
"A girl?" Stark had an uncomfortable look on his face when he mentioned the girl. "What sort of girl?"
"Young, pretty, some said. Blonde, I think."
"Rose."
Ianto started at the hoarse voice. Stark tensed, jumping back with his rifle aimed. It started a chain reaction; the rest of his men leapt into attention as well.
"Wait!" Ianto stood in front of the captain. "H-he's no danger to us! Please!"
Harkness didn't seem to notice as he raised his head. Ianto dropped to his knees by him.
"He was talking about Rose," Harkness rasped. He looked pale, unsteady. He made no move to get up. "He…The Doctor went back for Rose after all."
"Rose…you mean the girl?"
The captain nodded. With his hand gripping Ianto's shoulder, he got up, only finally noticing all the guns aimed at him. Pale, shaking, he still managed to pull a questioning eyebrow at Stark.
"Isn't this kind of overkill?" Harkness elbowed Ianto to stand behind him. The captain shot him an exasperated look when Ianto wouldn't budge.
Stark cleared his throat and waved for the others to lower their weapons.
Harkness leveled a look at him. "The Doctor. Rose. Where are they?"
The UNIT leader appeared uncomfortable at the eagerness in Harkness' tone.
"Sorry, son. He's gone."
The light that was in Harkness' eyes dimmed. "Gone? You mean he left?"
"Right after that void or black hole he created had sucked up…" Stark averted his gaze to Ianto.
"What is it?" Ianto didn't like the look on Stark's face.
Stark took a deep breath and matched Harkness' gaze.
"The void took everything in its path, took every beast. Nearly took the Doctor too, I hear. It…took the girl who was with him."
"What?" Harkness staggered towards Stark, his eyes wide. The others tensed until Stark raised a hand.
"I'm sorry, son. It seems she tried to hold on. But couldn't. The Doctor couldn't save her. He left right after that."
Ianto felt a fury in him but when he looked over, it wasn't anger the captain displayed. Harkness sagged back, looking stunned. The color on his face bled out so rapidly, Stark jumped forward to offer a hand.
"She's…" Harkness dropped his head and let out a shuddering breath. "Oh no. Rose…Rose…"
Ianto looked over to Stark. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly, his hand on the captain's elbow.
Stark nodded soberly. He looked a little uncomfortable. "I'm sorry to do this, but we have questions, Captain."
"Now?" Ianto tightened his grip on Harkness' elbow.
Stark's eyes held regret but his mouth was set. "We need to know what happened here. We're asking all the survivors."
"But we don't know anything. He most of all-"
"It's fine." Harkness shrugged away Ianto's hand. "It's fine," he just repeated.
"I…" Ianto looked over to Lisa and the newly arrived medic.
Harkness glanced over as well. Something indescribable flitted over his face. "Stay with her," Harkness said, his voice firming, like it was an order. "I don't think they're dissecting me." The captain gave Stark a wary glance.
Stark didn't even blink. "We usually leave that to Torchwood."
Ianto smiled wearily. "I'm too knackered to even be offended." He stayed back, watching Harkness shuffle behind Stark. Then, something occurred to him. "Major?" Ianto called out, stopping the procession. "How did you know where to find us?"
Stark sighed. "Some bloke from your Cardiff branch. Alex Hopkins."
Harkness looked over his shoulder. "Is he…"
Stark shook his head. Harkness closed his eyes and turned his head.
"He drugged me. I said I would help and he drugged me," the captain whispered.
"It was a slaughter out there. Hopkins reportedly took out six before they finally got him. Lasted long enough to tell us where he hid all the survivors. He may have saved your life."
A bitter laugh escaped past the captain's slumped shoulders. "God damn bastard. He was a fool," Harkness choked out.
Stark gave Ianto a perplexed look before he and Harkness were gone.
Ianto stared at the spot where Harkness had been, suddenly feeling very alone and very, very small amidst the soldiers darting in and out of the room. He wandered back to Lisa, took her hand between both of his. He looked up at the medic to ask him. But when the medic sighed and avoided his eyes, Ianto's question died on his lips.
Chapter 17 Part 2
Additional Notes: Many thanks to soullessminion for betaing this chapter.
Pairing: Jack/OMC, Jack/?, Jack/Ianto eventually, het and slash
Rating: NC-17 (betaed)
Summary: He left Jack on the game station. Abandoned. But then…he came back…different. An AU look on what happens if things happened differently. Doctor Who 'verse with Torchwood later on. Be sure to read the warnings.
Warnings: Please read each chapter's individual warnings. Some parts down the road may briefly mention non-con, abuse, and/or violence. Dark in the beginning. Please note there are some dark thoughts as my boys are broken…for now. Each chapter will be labeled for your convenience.
Author's Notes: Please note this is an AU that will cross over DW to TW season one. I'm probably spoiling my own story, but it will eventually be Janto. There's a bit of a journey first. I hope you enjoy. I'm working on this and intend to post regularly every other day. And again, I always believe in happy endings. So without further ado…
Disclaimer: RTD and BBC owns them. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
Warning For This Chapter: none
Notes For This Chapter: it's not necessary, but please note there are parallels to DW's "Doomsday", "Army of Ghosts", and TW's "Fragments". No spoilers, but history and ages are based and parallel the episodes.
Prologue + Ch , Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 10, Ch 11, Ch 12, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 15, Ch 16
Master Fic List: here
Chapter 17
"…there they are!"
"Just where the poor bastard said he left them…"
Somewhere in the long chain of vibrations and sirens, hot and cold, Ianto had slid down and sat against the defunct mainframes and the unconscious captain, his shoulder was pounding, his heart was aching. Propped up against Harkness, Ianto felt the world turn into a haze and there was a moment when he thought he might die in the suffocating smoke, under the shattered reign of Torchwood, with man and machine screaming around him. The arrogance of man was the culprit of its own downfall, he thought dimly as he sat there, staring at Lisa's hand dangling off the raised platform. They were tipped in steel and as he faded, Ianto realized he couldn't remember the last time they had kissed.
At some point, everything simply…stopped.
Heartbeats, breaths later, the noise began again. This time it sounded more purposeful, more controlled, yet Ianto cringed all the same when he felt hands upon him.
"…found two males…alive and looks like-shit! Back up! Back up! There's one of them in here!"
"At ease! She was incomplete, too-Christ, I think she's still-it's another live one! Poor girl…Get a medic in here!"
He'd left Lisa. He'd left behind the woman he loved; the one he swore to take care of as he held her every night. He…there was no excuse for what he did. Yet, his heart could not find any fault in his action to go back for Harkness. He should have…should have…What should he have done?
"Sir? Sir? Can you hear me?"
A hand tapped his cheek. Ianto raised his head and saw a round, circular glass for an eye.
"Calm down! It's alright! You're safe! I'm with UNIT!"
Hands captured his wrists and the eye piece, which turned out to be part of his goggles, was pulled back, revealing a scarred yet comforting countenance. He looked like someone's favorite old uncle.
"You with me now?" the man asked as he shed his night goggles, revealing his muddy brown eyes.
"Y-yes," Ianto muttered, his fists lowering as he got up on shaky knees. He turned towards the dais.
Too many people with red caps, goggles, masks and rifles streamed through in a very precise manner that reminded him of their security force. Ianto swallowed. He had seen many uniformed bodies as he had climbed the stairs to the tenth floor.
"Aye. Aye. I need to know what part of Torchwood are you?"
Ianto replied without thinking, "Archives, junior researcher. Jones, I-Ianto Jones." No, wait, he was part of Sciences now, wasn’t he? Part of this monstrous mess.
"Major Stark," the other returned. He lifted up a penlight and shone it on Harkness and then Lisa. Ianto realized then there were no lights. Oh. It wasn't just him then.
"Was she a researcher, too?"
The past tense burned in his ears. "No," Ianto grated out. "She isn't. She wa-is with the science teams, with Dr. Singh. Singh! Is he…is he still a-"
"No," Stark said flatly in a voice that invited no questions, but Ianto asked anyway.
"W-what happened to those Cybermen and those…those Dall-I don't know their names? What happened? Are they gone? How-"
Starks showed his hand. He seemed to be the leader as others reported to him that a medic was on his way.
"Those Cybermen and Daleks are gone. They got sucked up into Torchwood Tower, Jones."
Ianto stared at him. "Wait…sucked up? All of them?"
"We hope so." Stark frowned over his shoulder at Lisa.
"She's not one of them," Ianto tried to push past him but Stark merely took a step, blocking him. "Lisa's a victim!"
"Is that the girl's name?" The older man tipped back his red cap and surveyed Harkness still on the ground.
"Is he one of the Doctor's companions? The one the others were talking about?"
It was automatic. Ianto tensed. "This wasn't his fault or…or the Doctor's." He wished he sounded more convincing because the major frowned to himself.
"Didn't say it was, young man. In fact, way I hear it, the Doctor and the other one saved you all."
Ianto stared. "Wha-Wait, he was here?"
Stark nodded. He crouched down, tipped the captain's head up and considered him. "From what one of the survivors could tell us, the Doctor created some sort of…black hole that pulled all those bastards into some void. Weren't for him and his companion, we'd all probably still be in a piss pot of trouble."
"Companion? No, that can't be him then." Ianto staggered back against the dais. He fumbled behind him and found Lisa's cold, stiff hand. He tried to thread his fingers with hers, but found he couldn't. The steel tipped fingers were too stiff. Ianto's eyes burned.
"It couldn't possibly be him. He…" Ianto gestured towards the unaware captain. "He's…he's the Doctor's…" He couldn't say it without becoming ill. "Captain Harkness travels with him."
"Blue police box?"
Ianto's head was spinning too fast. He squeezed Lisa's fingers, desperate for a response. There was none. "Y-yes…but…"
"He was with a woman."
"A woman?" The director, perhaps?
"Or a girl." Stark shrugged and stood. "People tell us it was an older woman when he showed up this morning."
"He was here?" Ianto felt a rush of heat rising up his chest. "He was already here?" Why didn't he stop this?
Stark gave him a funny look, as if agreeing. "Yea, he was, apparently. But we can't be sure. Some say he was on this floor, others reported seeing him in the unfinished Tower, others reported seeing that bloody police box of his hovering just above that rift of yours." Stark looked annoyed. "Then they said he was with a woman, then someone said he was alone, then it wasn't just the woman but an entire group, then just a girl."
"A girl?" Stark had an uncomfortable look on his face when he mentioned the girl. "What sort of girl?"
"Young, pretty, some said. Blonde, I think."
"Rose."
Ianto started at the hoarse voice. Stark tensed, jumping back with his rifle aimed. It started a chain reaction; the rest of his men leapt into attention as well.
"Wait!" Ianto stood in front of the captain. "H-he's no danger to us! Please!"
Harkness didn't seem to notice as he raised his head. Ianto dropped to his knees by him.
"He was talking about Rose," Harkness rasped. He looked pale, unsteady. He made no move to get up. "He…The Doctor went back for Rose after all."
"Rose…you mean the girl?"
The captain nodded. With his hand gripping Ianto's shoulder, he got up, only finally noticing all the guns aimed at him. Pale, shaking, he still managed to pull a questioning eyebrow at Stark.
"Isn't this kind of overkill?" Harkness elbowed Ianto to stand behind him. The captain shot him an exasperated look when Ianto wouldn't budge.
Stark cleared his throat and waved for the others to lower their weapons.
Harkness leveled a look at him. "The Doctor. Rose. Where are they?"
The UNIT leader appeared uncomfortable at the eagerness in Harkness' tone.
"Sorry, son. He's gone."
The light that was in Harkness' eyes dimmed. "Gone? You mean he left?"
"Right after that void or black hole he created had sucked up…" Stark averted his gaze to Ianto.
"What is it?" Ianto didn't like the look on Stark's face.
Stark took a deep breath and matched Harkness' gaze.
"The void took everything in its path, took every beast. Nearly took the Doctor too, I hear. It…took the girl who was with him."
"What?" Harkness staggered towards Stark, his eyes wide. The others tensed until Stark raised a hand.
"I'm sorry, son. It seems she tried to hold on. But couldn't. The Doctor couldn't save her. He left right after that."
Ianto felt a fury in him but when he looked over, it wasn't anger the captain displayed. Harkness sagged back, looking stunned. The color on his face bled out so rapidly, Stark jumped forward to offer a hand.
"She's…" Harkness dropped his head and let out a shuddering breath. "Oh no. Rose…Rose…"
Ianto looked over to Stark. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly, his hand on the captain's elbow.
Stark nodded soberly. He looked a little uncomfortable. "I'm sorry to do this, but we have questions, Captain."
"Now?" Ianto tightened his grip on Harkness' elbow.
Stark's eyes held regret but his mouth was set. "We need to know what happened here. We're asking all the survivors."
"But we don't know anything. He most of all-"
"It's fine." Harkness shrugged away Ianto's hand. "It's fine," he just repeated.
"I…" Ianto looked over to Lisa and the newly arrived medic.
Harkness glanced over as well. Something indescribable flitted over his face. "Stay with her," Harkness said, his voice firming, like it was an order. "I don't think they're dissecting me." The captain gave Stark a wary glance.
Stark didn't even blink. "We usually leave that to Torchwood."
Ianto smiled wearily. "I'm too knackered to even be offended." He stayed back, watching Harkness shuffle behind Stark. Then, something occurred to him. "Major?" Ianto called out, stopping the procession. "How did you know where to find us?"
Stark sighed. "Some bloke from your Cardiff branch. Alex Hopkins."
Harkness looked over his shoulder. "Is he…"
Stark shook his head. Harkness closed his eyes and turned his head.
"He drugged me. I said I would help and he drugged me," the captain whispered.
"It was a slaughter out there. Hopkins reportedly took out six before they finally got him. Lasted long enough to tell us where he hid all the survivors. He may have saved your life."
A bitter laugh escaped past the captain's slumped shoulders. "God damn bastard. He was a fool," Harkness choked out.
Stark gave Ianto a perplexed look before he and Harkness were gone.
Ianto stared at the spot where Harkness had been, suddenly feeling very alone and very, very small amidst the soldiers darting in and out of the room. He wandered back to Lisa, took her hand between both of his. He looked up at the medic to ask him. But when the medic sighed and avoided his eyes, Ianto's question died on his lips.
Chapter 17 Part 2
Additional Notes: Many thanks to soullessminion for betaing this chapter.