Shattered
Title: Shattered
Series: Something that starts with "S", part twenty
Characters: Jack & Ianto, Gwen, Martha, OFC, PC Andy
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Ianto is crumbling under the possiblities as he rushes back to the hub.
A/N: for horizonssing day 30. This chapter contains graphic details of a non-violent/non-sexual nature. Be warned.
Martha pressed the scalpel into Jack's abdomen. In the back of her mind she processed that she was passing through the epidermis, the dermis, then the subcutaneous fat layer; then a hard press to puncture the abdominal muscle wall and a tiny pop before stopping the pressure as she reached the connective tissue. She tried to ignore the very slow pooling of blood around the incision as she made the long longitudinal cut from the base of Jack's sternum to the tip of his hipbones. In her mind, she'd never consider doing this style of c-section because of the dangers, but Jack was already dead; the baby needed to get out fast and this gave Martha the most room to maneuver. She made a transverse cut across the muscle to open the space a bit so she could reach the uterine walls and let out a gasp when she saw a small bump push up towards her- the baby was still alive.
"Hold on there hell spawn, I'm coming." Martha shoved her hand into Jack's stomach and carefully pressed around to make sure she could make the incision without hitting the baby. With a last lungful of air for courage, she punctured the uterine wall and watched the amniotic fluid pour out. Martha dropped the scalpel to the side and slowly slid her hands inside to pull the baby from its protective womb and into the cold air of Plas Roald Dahl. With gentle hands, Martha turned the baby upside-down to quickly drain any fluid from her lungs and almost wept as she was greeted by a howling complaint from the newborn. Martha turned the child over and carefully clipped the umbilical with a hemostat from her small kit before cutting it on the anterior side and wiping the newborn with some sterile gauze from her tiny medical kit. Unfocused blue eyes of a newborn darted around and powerful tiny lungs continued to announce their displeasure at the day's events as Martha wrapped the child in her leather jacket.
Martha wasn't sure what to do about Jack, so she carefully nestled the newborn next to her legs as she massaged the placenta from its attachment and removed it. She didn't think stitches were a good idea, since they'd remain after Jack healed, so she carefully began pressing the incisions back together. She nearly fainted as Jack's chest inflated and he began to scream as blood pumped wildly from the surgical site.
"No! Oh my god! Stop!" Jack was screaming at the top of his lungs as blood poured from the wounds and his mouth. His flaying arms nearly hit the swaddled newborn and Martha quickly dug through her medical kit. She threw herself on top of Jack and with tears pouring down her face she looked into his panic-stricken eyes.
"I'm sorry Jack, I'm sorry." She plunged the hypodermic into his chest, aiming for his heart. With a roar torn from his throat, he arched from the ground in a single jolt and fell back to the ground dead. Martha rolled herself away from him and the baby and brought up the bile from her stomach at what she had done. "Though shalt not kill."
---
"This is just bollocks. Why isn't anyone answering!" Gwen threw her mobile into the back of the SUV. "No answer from Andy or Rhys. Either the network is knackered or our phones are- still nothing on the comms either. I'm going to try the police band- where's the CB you put in here?" Gwen was rummaging through the glove box and the storage tray underneath the seat before she looked at him for an answer. "Ianto?" He looked pale and clammy, "Ianto pull over this instant." He nodded and made for the roadside.
As soon as he pulled over, Ianto was out of the driver's seat and on all fours dry heaving. Gwen climbed out and pulled the emergency kit from the boot. She activated a cool pack and brought it with a water bottle to Ianto's side. Gwen watched for a moment as Ianto sobbed silently, it was like intruding on a great secret, witnessing him finally crumble under the strain. As his breathing returned to normal, Gwen held the cool pack to his neck. "Here, you need to drink a little." She handed him the water, "I'm going to dig out the CB and give it a try; will you be okay?" Ianto nodded. Gwen gave him a small smile and went back to the SUV.
Ianto pushed himself onto his knees, trying to take deep breaths hoping to stop the ringing in his ears. He left Jack dead on the Plass, he left him there with a baby dying inside him. Ianto shuddered and mumbled, "duw, its all starting to sound like some Mills and Boon novel."
Gwen poked her head around from the boot of the SUV, "what was that Ianto? I got Andy, it looks like we blew out the cellular network; he's heading to the hub now." Ianto stood and walked back to the SUV. "Ianto, love, do you want me drive?"
"No. I'll get us back faster. Let's get going." Ianto climbed in the driver's seat and started the SUV, waiting for Gwen. "Thank you." He gave her a weak smile before pulling away and getting up to speed far too quickly.
Gwen patted his arm, "its alright. Jack will be fine, he always comes back." Gwen was trying to sound reassuring.
Ianto felt his stomach clench. He tried to push the thought out of his head, but Gwen decided to keep pushing as he turned onto the road that will take them to the Plass.
"Ianto. What's wrong?" Gwen really was missing it.
He said quietly, "when he died, the baby could have died too."
"But we saw her with the older Jack back there, so she must have survived, right?" Gwen hated trying to keep all of the time paradox stuff right in her mind.
Ianto shook his head as he turned into the garage, "she might not have ended up back in her time; she could have winked out of existence right after we saw her." Ianto jumped from the SUV and ran for the hub. Gwen was close behind. He was nearly vibrating while waiting for the blast door to roll back so he could enter.
"Jack! Martha!" Ianto burst into the hub yelling at the top of his lungs. He was running for the medical bay while looking to Jack's office. "Where are you?"
"Oi! Where've you lot been?" Andy Davidson came up from the kitchenette. "Why was it so important for me to rush over here when there's nobody around? Or was I supposed to sit up in that bloody potemkin village upstairs?" Andy began sipping his tea but grunted as Ianto slammed him bodily into the nearest wall.
"Where are they?" Ianto's eyes were starting to bulge and it took every bit of strength Gwen had to pull him off a stunned Andy. "Didn't you listen to what Gwen told you to do you bloody twll tin!" Ianto shook Gwen's grip and marched over to the closest computer, did you even bother to do the one thing even a twpsyn like you should be able to remember!" Ianto connected to the emergency services system and input Jack and Martha's i.d. numbers. "Gwen, get on the line to the police station, see if they ended up there; I'm in the hospital system now." Ianto glared at Andy, "if it wouldn't be too much bother PC Davidson, do you think you might actually be able to do your job and check the area surrounding the Plass." Ianto dismissed Andy's existence from his mind.
Andy slammed the mug down on the nearest surface, "of course, thanks much Andy for buggering over here with no explanation or reason, sitting about waiting for no one to show up only to get my bollocks tied in a knot by an overly dramatic git in a bloody suit!" Andy pounded out of the hub while Gwen looked on with an apology- he shrugged back at her as the door closed.
Ianto pounded a fist on the table, "nothing. They're not at any of the hospitals; one of them would have logged an emergency i.d. for us to find. Gwen, anything at the station?" Gwen shook her head. "Damn! Where the hell are they?" Ianto ran into Jack's office and pulled the manhole cover open, "Jack?" There was no answer, but it was the last place he could think of.
"Ianto, you're wrung out, I'll stay here and wait for services to restore. You go home, maybe they went there." Ianto looked at Gwen in defeat, "and you might want to apologize to Andy- he didn't know what to do. Go."
Ianto just turned and made for the car park. He was having an even harder time holding back the emotions that wanted to overrun him. He had to get home quickly- if he didn't there soon, he'd fall into a thousand tiny pieces and never put himself back together. By the time he pulled into the drive of the house, he could hardly see through his tear filled eyes. All he wanted to do was drink then throw up, then drink some more because no matter how he processed it, the result came back that bad. He nearly jumped out of his skin and pulled his gun when he heard pounding on his window.
"Ianto! Thank god you're all right. I've been calling and getting nothing." Martha's hair was a bit worse for the wear, and she looked exhausted. "Ianto, you think you could get out of the car now?"
He jumped from the car and hugged her tightly, "were is he? Is he all right? Is?" He stumbled over his words, unable to go on.
Martha rested her hand on his cheek, then wiped away some tears, "yes and so is she. He's asleep, he died twice today." Ianto looked at her, and she put her hand over his mouth. "I'm sorry, I had to; he doesn't heal from post-mortem wounds and I couldn't let him." She shuddered and Ianto grabbed her tightly, "I couldn't let him suffer." Martha let the tears she'd been holding fall, the horror of having to kill Jack to spare him the pain of his trauma nearly undid her. If she hadn't been able to call Tom, they'd probably still be sitting on the Plass.
"I'm sorry for making you do that. Can I. Can I see them?" Ianto was frightened that if he didn't see them, it wasn't real.
"Maybe you should clean up a bit first, I put some clothes in the front bathroom for you. Tom and I are upstairs if you need us." Martha turned to make her way up the staircase, "Oh, Ianto? She's beautiful."
Ianto smiled, the smile that reminded everyone just how young he really was. "Can you call Gwen at the hub. The cellular network is out so call on a direct line. Let her know about them- you don't need to go into details." Martha let him know she'd take care of it and continued upstairs.
He stood looking at the door- it all changes the minute he walks through it. He didn't feel any different when he crossed the threshold; except maybe a bit relieved. His suit fell to the floor in a path behind him as he made it to the bathroom. He let the wracking sobs and fears pour out of him and down the drain with the hot water. He felt some of the tension leave his shoulders, and slowly put himself back together. He turned the taps off and pulled a towel to dry off. Ianto was surprised to notice that his breath was normal by the time he was dressed and looking at himself in the mirror. "Right, work to do."
Ianto carefully entered the master bedroom, trying not to wake Jack. He saw Jack lying on his side very much asleep, but small arms and legs were kicking and punching the air from behind his protecting arm. He couldn't move- he could hardly force himself to breath- as if any sound of movement would make it all vanish. He just stared from the doorway, seeing the tiny fists pump in the air or hit Jack's arm, or a foot suddenly rise and fall. The first mewling nearly had him falling to the floor.
"You can come closer you know, she won't bite you- well, she might, but she hasn't any teeth." Jack opened one eye and gave him a tired smile. "Don't think you can try that hiding in the shadows with me; I am not taking all nappy duties." Ianto walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, just looking at his daughter. The bright blue eyes and the shock of wild dark hair- he even let a little laugh escape when she decided to give a miniature pout that wouldn't be out of place on Jack's face. Jack rested his arm around Ianto's waist, "Mister Jones, you have a lovely daughter," Jack teased.
Ianto turned to look at him with a grin, "so do you Captain Harkness," he looked back to the now quietly fussing baby, "hello Branwen Harkness, you're going to be a heart breaker when you grow up." Ianto placed his hand on her belly, and she grabbed onto a finger with a small squeak.
"Branwen Jones you mean." Jack said pointedly, "you know my name's not really Harkness."
"It's been your name for longer than the one you were born with. I think you have every right to claim it. Unless you want her to have your real name?" Ianto was curious, he'd never heard Jack's real name.
Jack shook his head, "no; you're right. I don't want to burden her with my real name. There's too many secrets attached to that. But she deserves a strong name, one that is real and not wrapped up in lies or tainted. Besides, as we've seen, she's going to be more than up to the name of Jones. But." Jack stopped for a moment. He wanted her to have something from his family, something real to carry with her. "Can her middle name be Lucy?"
Ianto just looked at him, he had expected Jack to say Rose after all the stories of how Rose and the Doctor had made him the man he was today; or maybe Estelle or even Toshiko; but Lucy must mean something. "Of course, who was she that our daughter will carry her name?"
Jack sat up and lifted the now very awake and becoming cranky baby into his arms, "Hello Branwen Lucy Jones. You will knock them dead and after today, I'm not surprised that you'll leave a wake of destruction. You'll surely grow up to have the sharpest mind and deadliest aim of anyone considering your Tad here. But if you could, please be happy and try to forgive me for anything I do wrong like your grandmother." Jack kissed the little girl on the forehead and was rewarded with a right hook to the nose. Both he and Ianto started to laugh.
"Well, apparently she's decided to take my side on this one. Jack, you died. You didn't need to be the damn hero, you." Ianto had to stop as his voice cracked. He rested a hand on Branwen's tiny head. "We could have done it some other way." He crawled onto the bed beside Jack, resting his head on Jack's shoulder while keeping contact with the fussing baby. "I watched you and her walk into the rift. I didn't know if you evaporated from existence at that moment."
Jack nestled the baby between them and wrapped an arm around Ianto, "I'm sorry."
Ianto looked at Jack with an evil glint, "oh; you will be."
The story concludes with Sunrise
Series: Something that starts with "S", part twenty
Characters: Jack & Ianto, Gwen, Martha, OFC, PC Andy
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Ianto is crumbling under the possiblities as he rushes back to the hub.
A/N: for horizonssing day 30. This chapter contains graphic details of a non-violent/non-sexual nature. Be warned.
Martha pressed the scalpel into Jack's abdomen. In the back of her mind she processed that she was passing through the epidermis, the dermis, then the subcutaneous fat layer; then a hard press to puncture the abdominal muscle wall and a tiny pop before stopping the pressure as she reached the connective tissue. She tried to ignore the very slow pooling of blood around the incision as she made the long longitudinal cut from the base of Jack's sternum to the tip of his hipbones. In her mind, she'd never consider doing this style of c-section because of the dangers, but Jack was already dead; the baby needed to get out fast and this gave Martha the most room to maneuver. She made a transverse cut across the muscle to open the space a bit so she could reach the uterine walls and let out a gasp when she saw a small bump push up towards her- the baby was still alive.
"Hold on there hell spawn, I'm coming." Martha shoved her hand into Jack's stomach and carefully pressed around to make sure she could make the incision without hitting the baby. With a last lungful of air for courage, she punctured the uterine wall and watched the amniotic fluid pour out. Martha dropped the scalpel to the side and slowly slid her hands inside to pull the baby from its protective womb and into the cold air of Plas Roald Dahl. With gentle hands, Martha turned the baby upside-down to quickly drain any fluid from her lungs and almost wept as she was greeted by a howling complaint from the newborn. Martha turned the child over and carefully clipped the umbilical with a hemostat from her small kit before cutting it on the anterior side and wiping the newborn with some sterile gauze from her tiny medical kit. Unfocused blue eyes of a newborn darted around and powerful tiny lungs continued to announce their displeasure at the day's events as Martha wrapped the child in her leather jacket.
Martha wasn't sure what to do about Jack, so she carefully nestled the newborn next to her legs as she massaged the placenta from its attachment and removed it. She didn't think stitches were a good idea, since they'd remain after Jack healed, so she carefully began pressing the incisions back together. She nearly fainted as Jack's chest inflated and he began to scream as blood pumped wildly from the surgical site.
"No! Oh my god! Stop!" Jack was screaming at the top of his lungs as blood poured from the wounds and his mouth. His flaying arms nearly hit the swaddled newborn and Martha quickly dug through her medical kit. She threw herself on top of Jack and with tears pouring down her face she looked into his panic-stricken eyes.
"I'm sorry Jack, I'm sorry." She plunged the hypodermic into his chest, aiming for his heart. With a roar torn from his throat, he arched from the ground in a single jolt and fell back to the ground dead. Martha rolled herself away from him and the baby and brought up the bile from her stomach at what she had done. "Though shalt not kill."
---
"This is just bollocks. Why isn't anyone answering!" Gwen threw her mobile into the back of the SUV. "No answer from Andy or Rhys. Either the network is knackered or our phones are- still nothing on the comms either. I'm going to try the police band- where's the CB you put in here?" Gwen was rummaging through the glove box and the storage tray underneath the seat before she looked at him for an answer. "Ianto?" He looked pale and clammy, "Ianto pull over this instant." He nodded and made for the roadside.
As soon as he pulled over, Ianto was out of the driver's seat and on all fours dry heaving. Gwen climbed out and pulled the emergency kit from the boot. She activated a cool pack and brought it with a water bottle to Ianto's side. Gwen watched for a moment as Ianto sobbed silently, it was like intruding on a great secret, witnessing him finally crumble under the strain. As his breathing returned to normal, Gwen held the cool pack to his neck. "Here, you need to drink a little." She handed him the water, "I'm going to dig out the CB and give it a try; will you be okay?" Ianto nodded. Gwen gave him a small smile and went back to the SUV.
Ianto pushed himself onto his knees, trying to take deep breaths hoping to stop the ringing in his ears. He left Jack dead on the Plass, he left him there with a baby dying inside him. Ianto shuddered and mumbled, "duw, its all starting to sound like some Mills and Boon novel."
Gwen poked her head around from the boot of the SUV, "what was that Ianto? I got Andy, it looks like we blew out the cellular network; he's heading to the hub now." Ianto stood and walked back to the SUV. "Ianto, love, do you want me drive?"
"No. I'll get us back faster. Let's get going." Ianto climbed in the driver's seat and started the SUV, waiting for Gwen. "Thank you." He gave her a weak smile before pulling away and getting up to speed far too quickly.
Gwen patted his arm, "its alright. Jack will be fine, he always comes back." Gwen was trying to sound reassuring.
Ianto felt his stomach clench. He tried to push the thought out of his head, but Gwen decided to keep pushing as he turned onto the road that will take them to the Plass.
"Ianto. What's wrong?" Gwen really was missing it.
He said quietly, "when he died, the baby could have died too."
"But we saw her with the older Jack back there, so she must have survived, right?" Gwen hated trying to keep all of the time paradox stuff right in her mind.
Ianto shook his head as he turned into the garage, "she might not have ended up back in her time; she could have winked out of existence right after we saw her." Ianto jumped from the SUV and ran for the hub. Gwen was close behind. He was nearly vibrating while waiting for the blast door to roll back so he could enter.
"Jack! Martha!" Ianto burst into the hub yelling at the top of his lungs. He was running for the medical bay while looking to Jack's office. "Where are you?"
"Oi! Where've you lot been?" Andy Davidson came up from the kitchenette. "Why was it so important for me to rush over here when there's nobody around? Or was I supposed to sit up in that bloody potemkin village upstairs?" Andy began sipping his tea but grunted as Ianto slammed him bodily into the nearest wall.
"Where are they?" Ianto's eyes were starting to bulge and it took every bit of strength Gwen had to pull him off a stunned Andy. "Didn't you listen to what Gwen told you to do you bloody twll tin!" Ianto shook Gwen's grip and marched over to the closest computer, did you even bother to do the one thing even a twpsyn like you should be able to remember!" Ianto connected to the emergency services system and input Jack and Martha's i.d. numbers. "Gwen, get on the line to the police station, see if they ended up there; I'm in the hospital system now." Ianto glared at Andy, "if it wouldn't be too much bother PC Davidson, do you think you might actually be able to do your job and check the area surrounding the Plass." Ianto dismissed Andy's existence from his mind.
Andy slammed the mug down on the nearest surface, "of course, thanks much Andy for buggering over here with no explanation or reason, sitting about waiting for no one to show up only to get my bollocks tied in a knot by an overly dramatic git in a bloody suit!" Andy pounded out of the hub while Gwen looked on with an apology- he shrugged back at her as the door closed.
Ianto pounded a fist on the table, "nothing. They're not at any of the hospitals; one of them would have logged an emergency i.d. for us to find. Gwen, anything at the station?" Gwen shook her head. "Damn! Where the hell are they?" Ianto ran into Jack's office and pulled the manhole cover open, "Jack?" There was no answer, but it was the last place he could think of.
"Ianto, you're wrung out, I'll stay here and wait for services to restore. You go home, maybe they went there." Ianto looked at Gwen in defeat, "and you might want to apologize to Andy- he didn't know what to do. Go."
Ianto just turned and made for the car park. He was having an even harder time holding back the emotions that wanted to overrun him. He had to get home quickly- if he didn't there soon, he'd fall into a thousand tiny pieces and never put himself back together. By the time he pulled into the drive of the house, he could hardly see through his tear filled eyes. All he wanted to do was drink then throw up, then drink some more because no matter how he processed it, the result came back that bad. He nearly jumped out of his skin and pulled his gun when he heard pounding on his window.
"Ianto! Thank god you're all right. I've been calling and getting nothing." Martha's hair was a bit worse for the wear, and she looked exhausted. "Ianto, you think you could get out of the car now?"
He jumped from the car and hugged her tightly, "were is he? Is he all right? Is?" He stumbled over his words, unable to go on.
Martha rested her hand on his cheek, then wiped away some tears, "yes and so is she. He's asleep, he died twice today." Ianto looked at her, and she put her hand over his mouth. "I'm sorry, I had to; he doesn't heal from post-mortem wounds and I couldn't let him." She shuddered and Ianto grabbed her tightly, "I couldn't let him suffer." Martha let the tears she'd been holding fall, the horror of having to kill Jack to spare him the pain of his trauma nearly undid her. If she hadn't been able to call Tom, they'd probably still be sitting on the Plass.
"I'm sorry for making you do that. Can I. Can I see them?" Ianto was frightened that if he didn't see them, it wasn't real.
"Maybe you should clean up a bit first, I put some clothes in the front bathroom for you. Tom and I are upstairs if you need us." Martha turned to make her way up the staircase, "Oh, Ianto? She's beautiful."
Ianto smiled, the smile that reminded everyone just how young he really was. "Can you call Gwen at the hub. The cellular network is out so call on a direct line. Let her know about them- you don't need to go into details." Martha let him know she'd take care of it and continued upstairs.
He stood looking at the door- it all changes the minute he walks through it. He didn't feel any different when he crossed the threshold; except maybe a bit relieved. His suit fell to the floor in a path behind him as he made it to the bathroom. He let the wracking sobs and fears pour out of him and down the drain with the hot water. He felt some of the tension leave his shoulders, and slowly put himself back together. He turned the taps off and pulled a towel to dry off. Ianto was surprised to notice that his breath was normal by the time he was dressed and looking at himself in the mirror. "Right, work to do."
Ianto carefully entered the master bedroom, trying not to wake Jack. He saw Jack lying on his side very much asleep, but small arms and legs were kicking and punching the air from behind his protecting arm. He couldn't move- he could hardly force himself to breath- as if any sound of movement would make it all vanish. He just stared from the doorway, seeing the tiny fists pump in the air or hit Jack's arm, or a foot suddenly rise and fall. The first mewling nearly had him falling to the floor.
"You can come closer you know, she won't bite you- well, she might, but she hasn't any teeth." Jack opened one eye and gave him a tired smile. "Don't think you can try that hiding in the shadows with me; I am not taking all nappy duties." Ianto walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, just looking at his daughter. The bright blue eyes and the shock of wild dark hair- he even let a little laugh escape when she decided to give a miniature pout that wouldn't be out of place on Jack's face. Jack rested his arm around Ianto's waist, "Mister Jones, you have a lovely daughter," Jack teased.
Ianto turned to look at him with a grin, "so do you Captain Harkness," he looked back to the now quietly fussing baby, "hello Branwen Harkness, you're going to be a heart breaker when you grow up." Ianto placed his hand on her belly, and she grabbed onto a finger with a small squeak.
"Branwen Jones you mean." Jack said pointedly, "you know my name's not really Harkness."
"It's been your name for longer than the one you were born with. I think you have every right to claim it. Unless you want her to have your real name?" Ianto was curious, he'd never heard Jack's real name.
Jack shook his head, "no; you're right. I don't want to burden her with my real name. There's too many secrets attached to that. But she deserves a strong name, one that is real and not wrapped up in lies or tainted. Besides, as we've seen, she's going to be more than up to the name of Jones. But." Jack stopped for a moment. He wanted her to have something from his family, something real to carry with her. "Can her middle name be Lucy?"
Ianto just looked at him, he had expected Jack to say Rose after all the stories of how Rose and the Doctor had made him the man he was today; or maybe Estelle or even Toshiko; but Lucy must mean something. "Of course, who was she that our daughter will carry her name?"
Jack sat up and lifted the now very awake and becoming cranky baby into his arms, "Hello Branwen Lucy Jones. You will knock them dead and after today, I'm not surprised that you'll leave a wake of destruction. You'll surely grow up to have the sharpest mind and deadliest aim of anyone considering your Tad here. But if you could, please be happy and try to forgive me for anything I do wrong like your grandmother." Jack kissed the little girl on the forehead and was rewarded with a right hook to the nose. Both he and Ianto started to laugh.
"Well, apparently she's decided to take my side on this one. Jack, you died. You didn't need to be the damn hero, you." Ianto had to stop as his voice cracked. He rested a hand on Branwen's tiny head. "We could have done it some other way." He crawled onto the bed beside Jack, resting his head on Jack's shoulder while keeping contact with the fussing baby. "I watched you and her walk into the rift. I didn't know if you evaporated from existence at that moment."
Jack nestled the baby between them and wrapped an arm around Ianto, "I'm sorry."
Ianto looked at Jack with an evil glint, "oh; you will be."
The story concludes with Sunrise