Tales Of A Time Agency - 17/?

May 19, 2009 22:56

Title: Tales of A Time Agency - 17/?

Rating: 15

Pairings: Jack/Ianto but it’s the Time Agency so expect Jack/John, Tosh/Owen, Ianto/John, Tosh/Mary, John/ OFC, John/the consenting population of the universe……

Spoilers: Anything Torchwood could be hinted at.

Summary: Ianto Jones is thrown into the world of excess of the Time Agency Academy, but will he sink or swim? Especially when the enigmatic Jack Harkness starts looking his way…. In this chapter, the darker side of Jack’s personality is haunting Ianto, whilst John let’s his barriers down just for one night…

Disclaimer: Regrettably I own nothing, none of the characters, zip. Wish I did though. I will take the credit for Telmaya though; I’m quite fond of her.

Author’s Notes: Well, it takes a while for me to write these long chapters of TOATA, but I hope they are worth it! And I will just quickly apologise in advance for the next few chapters being a bit slow, as unfortunately its approaching exam time over here and I must revise. *wibbles* But hey, if you’re liking TOATA, then do not hesitate to let me know! :)






Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five A
Chapter Five B
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight A
Chapter Eight B
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven A
Chapter Eleven B
Janto Interlude
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen

So many dedications and so little time. To the wonderful naddypants , who is always honest, and who gives me so much bloody confidence it is untrue sometimes. She’s damn good at winning arguments too. To my amazing pally thehubsitter , who supports me, entertains me and basically just manages to put up with me most of the time!! She’s damn good at making me laugh too. And to the lovely morgia , who is so great about my writing, and always wants to see more TOATA. I owe you all so much!

In an alleyway, two men were stood, the midnight air twisting and vortexing around them. Glimmering flickers of light were cast out into the alley from the club, dancing across their features. They were both out of breath and panting, their chests moving in a steady rhythm. One of them was leaning back against a wall, frantically sucking on a cigarette as if it was his sole concern, his features drawn. The other man was simply watching him carefully, his expression confused and his manner well and truly lost.

“What did you think you were doing back there?!” It felt to Ianto as if an age had passed before he dared speak, his hands moving up and rubbing at his arms in a futile attempt for warmth. He didn’t mean for his tone to come across so bitter, but what he had just seen…the way Jack’s personality had just snapped like that. The way he had laid into John and had not even heard Ianto yelling at him to stop. It had been a chilling sight, and the images simply replayed over and over through his head, taunting and tormenting him. After all, violence was something Ianto Jones was used to, but this was Jack. His Jack. The man he had always felt so safe around. Except now, for the first time Ianto actually felt scared of Jack, in case his features would suddenly darken and he would turn on him too without a second thought. And Ianto hated himself for feeling like that….

“You shouldn’t have gotten involved.” Jack muttered, taking another deep drag from his cigarette and resting his head back against the wall. He breathed out a soft ring of smoke, watching it momentarily fly up into the atmosphere, its particles dispersing from all recognition in seconds.

“But I did didn’t I?” Ianto sighed, rolling his eyes. “What else could I have done?”

“Stayed out of the way.” The other cadet replied bluntly. “It wasn’t your fight.”

“It wasn’t yours either.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You know perfectly well what it meant.”

“Do I?” Jack scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Enlighten me.”

“Why did you do it Jack? What happened in the ten minutes that I was gone? What changed?”

“Nothing happened. Nothing changed.”

“Oh…yeah, that makes sense.” Ianto laughed darkly, resting one hand on his hip. “So you just felt like beating him within an inch of his life?”

“Don’t be so fucking naïve. I wasn’t going to kill him.”

“Did you try telling yourself that?”

“Is that the kind of man you think I am Ianto?!” Jack’s voice was loud, angry and yet hurt at the same time as it resonated out into the air around them, throwing Ianto off balance. Jack took a step forward, tossing his cigarette into the alleyway and looking Ianto in the eye, his eyes almost burning. “Do you actually think I could do that?”

“I didn’t…” Ianto’s reply was quiet, yet he kept still, ignoring the urge to step away from him. “But what I saw-”

“What you saw was the old me, alright?” Jack sighed; shaking his head, his posture quickly softening as an air of vulnerability suddenly began to shine through him. “I don’t want to be like that anymore.”

“So why did you do it?”

“Because he’s a reminder of my past, and I want him gone.”

“That’s no reason to do what you did.”

“You didn’t hear what he said to me.” Jack breathed, biting his lip. “You don’t know what he can be like.”

“No matter what he said….he never deserved any of what you gave him.”

“And how can you be sure?”

“Because no one deserves that Jack. Never mind someone you used to call your friend…”

“Why are you so quick to defend him Yan? You don’t know him like I do for fuck's sake.”

“I think we both know that isn’t true Jack.” Ianto turned away slightly, not quite able to look him in the eye as he continued. “I can guess what he told you.”

“You can?”

“Of course I can….” Ianto sighed, glancing over his shoulder at Jack. “He told you about me and him. About what happened between us.”

“So he was telling the truth….” Jack rubbed at the back of his neck for a moment, clearly unsure. “Why did it happen?”

“I don’t know.” Ianto shrugged. “I never meant to…but I didn’t know what to think anymore and-”

“Were you trying to forget me?”

“What?”

“Just answer the question Yan.”

“Jack….-”

“Answer me.”

“I ….. I was trying to distance myself from you yes…maybe forget how I felt.” Ianto sighed, closing his eyes and smiling slightly. “Can’t help but think it’s impossible to actually forget you.”

“And John….you’re done with him?”

“Of course I am.”

“You’re sure?”

“Jack….” Ianto span round again, looking him in the eye. He reached out and rested an unsure hand on his arm. “He’s a bad habit I’m glad to have broken, believe me.”

“That’s the thing about bad habits though, they die hard.” Jack sighed, his hand running up through his hair. “I just wish we’d never seen him.”

“But it happened…..there’s nothing you can do about it now, you just have to forget.” Ianto nodded weakly. “We both have to forget.”

“That doesn’t stop me remembering what he said though does it? He knew just what to say to make me like that… it’s almost as if he wanted me to do it.”

“What did he say?” Ianto’s grip on Jack’s arm became tighter. “Tell me.”

“I’m not sure I should.”

“Why?”

“Because it was all wrong.” Quickly, Jack shook his head, stepping back from Ianto slightly, his voice becoming angry again. “I didn’t care about what he said about you and him, I’d always known about that. Doesn’t mean that I liked it but-”

“You knew?” Ianto was unable to hide the shock in his voice.

“Yeah. I saw you together, on the firing range.” Jack nodded with a weak swallow, trying to push back the rage and the jealousy that had boiled through his body at the time as it resurfaced. “Was inevitable when you think about it.”

“Inevitable?”

“Credit me with some intelligence Yan… I know what he’s capable of.” Jack sighed, forcing a weak smile. “But anyway, it wasn’t that that made me so angry. It was when he said that you were just like us……that was what made me lose it.”

“I don’t understand Jack…”

“He made out that all three of us, we’re all the same. That you are just like me and him. And you’re not.” He shrugged, biting his lip. “You’re better than that. You’re better than us.”

“I’m not…”

“You are. You changed me, for the better. Made me think about values I’d forgotten. For fuck’s sake Ianto, you offered me friendship when all I wanted was sex.”

“But then I screwed everything up. I slept with John, I slept with you… I hardly stood by my morals did I?” Ianto sighed, rolling his eyes. “I don’t see how you can put me on such a pedestal sometimes.”

“Maybe I know you better than you think I do.” Jack smiled, pointing down to his wrist strap. “Do you think I’d be risking my neck with this if I didn’t think you were something?”

“No….”

“Then quiet Jones.” Jack laughed softly, leaning forward and kissing him softly, his lips needy and rushed. Ianto returned the kiss, yet his manner was reluctant, his arms still hanging loosely by his sides. Pulling away, Jack looked at him quizzically. “Ianto? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…I just…” Ianto bit his lip quickly, looking at Jack with thoughtful eyes. “I just keep thinking about what you did. How out of control you were in there.”

“But I’m ok now.”

“Are you?” Ianto shook his head. “That’s my point Jack…What happens when you turn on me like that? When I do something wrong and it’s me you’re pummelling into the ground?”

“I’d never do that to you!”

“Wouldn’t you? How can you be so sure?” He paused, taking a deep breath in. “John used to be like me remember? And now I’ve replaced him. But for how long?”

“It’s different with you.”

“And I bet at sometime it was different with John. Wasn’t it?”

“No! Ianto…for fuck’s sake, will you stop this?” Jack reached forward, gripping Ianto’s shoulders in his hands and shaking him gently. “I would never hurt you…never. I swear. You mean more to me than anyone I’ve ever known….I couldn’t….”

“Jack-”

“You have to believe me Yan. I promise you…I want you safe, I’d never-”

“Jack!” Ianto interrupted again, louder this time. He looked up into Jack’s blue eyes, seeing all that lost emotion swirl around his pupils. He knew that he shouldn’t be so forgiving, but there was something there, shining out of Jack’s soul. Like a lost little boy who doesn’t know his own strength, Jack was both shocked and mortified by what he had done. Deep down, the changeability of Jack’s personality still lingered on as a bitter taste in the back of Ianto’s throat, but the urge to comfort him was so strong that it easily overpowered it. “I believe you.”

“You do?”

“Yes.” Ianto smiled softly, leaning forwards and rewarding him with a fleeting kiss. “For my sins.” He looked carefully at Jack’s face, his right hand stroking down his cheek for a moment as their eyes continued to meet, the confusion and fear in Jack’s features dissipating with every movement of Ianto’s hand. For a while Ianto lost himself in comforting Jack, lost himself somewhere outside Poseidon and instead his head was allowed to merely drift, to be content that some how he had managed to accomplish something positive. But the feeling was short lived, and as Ianto’s thoughts crashed back to reality he realised that the action was probably far too intimate between them, quickly withdrawing his hand and clearing his throat quickly. “Shall we get back?”

“Get back where?”

“You could always come home with me…” Ianto nodded softly, already walking towards the entrance of the alley, turning back to look at Jack. “Unless you have any real desire to go home?”

“Not really.” Jack laughed, stepping forward and taking Ianto’s hand, pulling him behind him as he set off at his usual fast paced stride. “Any offer of being able to combine you and a bed is something I am never going to turn down.”

Grinning, Ianto let himself be pulled along, secretly enjoying the warm feeling that came from Jack’s hand holding his. He’d never done it before then, and even though Ianto knew that it was nothing like the gesture he was imagining it to be like, it still meant something. After all, the smile on Jack’s face was the smile he was used to, the tone of his voice that same light hearted arrogance that Ianto had fallen in love with. It was as if in an instant, his Jack was back, and the events of the club felt as if they had almost involved someone else. After all, how could this Jack ever really hurt anyone at all?

But with this realisation came another. Ianto wanted to believe Jack, wanted to believe his promise that he would never hurt him. After all, he had sounded so broken and sincere, it would be easy to believe him and pretend that he had never seen the other side of Jack Harkness. But Ianto still couldn’t do that. He knew, deep down, that he and Jack would argue at some point in the future, and with that they would raise their voices and tempers would flair. The exact moment when Ianto was the most likely to say something that he shouldn’t. And somehow he just couldn’t seem to shake the fear in the pit of his stomach that when he did, Jack Harkness might not be able to keep his promise after all……

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the world has blurred into one, it takes a long while to refocus.

For John Hart, the world never really had a focus to begin with….

“What’s the damage?”

“Well….if I’m honest he’s not in the best of shape. Two cracked ribs, broken nose, fracture to the ulna of the wrist…” The doctor’s voice echoed above him, clear and clinical. Around him there was the occasional blip of machinery, a pulsing sound near his ear. “How did you say this happened again?”

“Bar fight.” The other voice was soft, almost concerned and most definitely female, even in his concussed state John could appreciate the sultry tones of the fairer sex. “He’s going to be ok though right?” John registered a gentle yet profound squeeze on his uninjured hand.

“I don’t see why not.” The doctor sighed, a sharp tingle in John’s right arm telling him that he had just been injected with some chemical or other. “The ribs will be healed within a week due to the internal retrobinders I’ve fitted him with. His nose will be sore and bruised, but there’s little we need to do about that. His wrist however is going to have to remain strapped up the old fashioned way, its too large a fracture for any other form of bindings.” The clipped medical tone paused for a second, reaching down to John’s face and opening up John’s eyes quickly with his thumbs. “Back with us cadet?”

“Guh…” Flinching from the sudden light, John clamped his eyes shut again, his good hand reaching up and rubbing at his eyes. He groaned, the grip on his hand suddenly disappearing as he opened his eyes again, glancing round disorientated for a moment. “Tel?”

“Hey there.” Telmaya smiled quickly, sweeping a strand of hair back behind her ear almost subconsciously before continuing. “How are you feeling?”

“Like you’re stood on my head…”

“It’ll pass.”

“Doesn’t feel like it.”

“The disorientation will pass. Just sit still ok?” The medic beside him quickly said, rolling his eyes. He was dressed in casual clothes, a black shirt hanging slightly open at his neck, complimenting his pale skin softly. His brown hair was gelled up into soft spikes, his mouth hanging open as he concentrated on John. “Do you feel nauseous at all?”

“No.”

“Remember who you are?”

“Please…” John sighed, giving him a disgusted look, his vision clearing and he laughed to himself softly. “John Hart, senior cadet, 1st division.”

“Good.” The medic nodded quickly, shining a light into John’s eyes and watching the reactions of his pupils before continuing. “Light concussion. Do you remember hitting your head?”

“Not particularly.” John smiled weakly. “You sure you know what you’re doing? You don’t look like much of a doctor…”

“Watch it cadet.” The medic sighed, easing a hand under John’s back and encouraging him to sit up wards. He quickly showed him his wrist strap, reading out the words engraved on the casing. “Dr. Owen Harper, medical officer, 1st class. Think that makes me adequate enough to take care of you somehow.”

“What happened to your bedside manner?” John laughed breathlessly, wincing at the pain in his ribs as he glanced and the doctor’s infuriated expression. “Seem to be missing that.”

“I lost it when my evening was disrupted by the likes of you. Medi bay emergency calls are supposed to be for unexpected illness only.”

“Well…does this look expected to you Doc?” John replied bluntly, glancing down to admire the black cast bound tight around his right wrist. He lifted his arm, raising an eyebrow as he rotated it in a slow motion. “Did I interrupt something?”

“None of your business is it?”

“Ahhhhh….. quick shag then?”

“Girlfriend actually.” Owen shook his head, quickly typing something into the computer beside John, which in turn began to print out a piece of blue microfilm.

“Bit traditionalistic isn’t it?”

“Like I said, none of your business.” The medic sighed, handing John the piece of microfilm. “That’s for your medical records.” He quickly glanced at Telmaya. “You look sensible, make sure he doesn’t lose it alright?”

“I’ll make sure.”

“Good.” Owen shook his head, yawning as one hand reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “You’re free to go. Try and stay out of trouble so I don’t have to patch you up again ok?”

The cold night air clung like a thin film to his skin as John made his way back to his room, Telmaya following him in silence. Neither had said a word since they left the medi bay, and although the tension around them was broken by the occasional quick glance or smile of her part, John had never really felt more awkward. Being in pain was something he was used to, as was being injured and having to drag himself down into the medi bay when his own cocktail of painkillers wore off. But this….Telmaya following him, the concern that he could see she was so desperate to hide, that was something he wasn’t used to. Even his own mother had never shown the kind of care that he could see in Tel’s eyes, and that alien quality made John feel uncomfortable. So uncomfortable and on edge that it made him want to go and drown his sorrows somewhere just so the buzz of painkillers and alcohol would kill all the thoughts in his brain. All the thoughts of Jack, of himself, of Telmaya. It wasn’t the first time in his life that he had wanted to forget, but walking home that night, John had never really wanted to forget so much. Was he feeling remorse? Wanting to punish himself for how he had angered Jack purposely, but at the same time being too much of a coward to let himself dwell on in his self loathing? And what was this other feeling, this feeling of regret and a strange screwed up loyalty pushed to the back of his thoughts regarding Telmaya? It was sickening, dragging along the base of his stomach and stirring up a cocktail of emotions that he was by no means prepared for. Why did he feel as if he didn’t deserve to have her follow him home that night?

“You should go.” John nodded quickly, almost dismissive as he opened up the door leading to his room, pausing to turn around and look Telmaya in the eye. “It’s late.”

“And since when have you ever cared about that?” She rolled her eyes, taking a step forward further into the doorway as if to highlight her persistence to him.

“Tel….I just want to be on my own. Lick my wounds in peace, you know?” He softened slightly when he saw her face fall. “Not that I don’t appreciate it….you know, you helping me. Getting me to the medi bay…staying with me. You didn’t have to do any of that.”

“You were in no fit state to do it yourself.”

“Like I told the good doctor, I didn’t exactly plan all this did I?”

“No….” Telmaya paused, sighing heavily, her hands on her hips, the same gold dress still hugging her body, although there was a smear of John’s blood from where he assumed his nose had wiped against her as she had helped him to stand earlier that night. “But sometimes I swear you go asking for it.”

“What I do is my choice.”

“But what you do affects everyone around you too.” She laughed darkly, her purple eyes firmly on his. “You think I was planning on spending the rest of my night standing in the medi bay and trying to find a doctor?”

“No. But like I said, you didn’t have to do any of that. I’d have come round, sorted myself out. I didn’t need-”

“Would it kill you to rely on someone for once John?!” Telmaya’s voice cut sharply through his, silencing him in seconds. “Really? I know that you and Jack used to pride yourself on that whole ‘we don’t need anyone’ routine, but can’t you see where that’s got you?” She bit her lip, the emotion in her voice breaking it, causing her words to shake in her throat. “Start giving a damn about yourself for fuck’s sake.”

“Why? Give me one reason Tel, one reason why I should ever care about myself? One reason why I should ever rely on anyone? I’ve done that before, and they always leave you. In the end, there’s nothing, and it doesn’t matter how much you try and dress it up, it’s still the truth.”

“It’s not like that….”

“It is. It always has been.” John shook his head quickly, bitterness enveloping his tone and twisting it beyond all recognition. “Don’t you get it? I’ve never known anything different.”

“And you never will. Not if you keep pushing people away.” Telmaya’s voice was barely a whisper as she watched John with half broken eyes. “You’re so blind….why can’t you see what is in front of you?”

“And what’s that?”

“Me John, I’ve always been there. Ever since we first met, I always looked out for you. Friend’s to the end remember? And now….now I really…..I….” She stopped, running a hand through her hair as she desperately searched for the words that she knew she had to say. But it was all too soon, John’s stare too piercing, the emotions inside her so unsteady. “…I just care about you ok? Just let me look after you.”

“I don’t need looking after…”

“You have concussion; you need someone to keep you awake, someone to give you your next course of meds in case you need them.”

“Yeah…..well…..” John rolled his eyes, unable to not feel a little sheepish. “I can do all that.”

“Not tonight. If it’s only going to be one night only, let me look after you alright?” She gave him a weak smile.

“Just tonight?”

“Just tonight. It’s all I ask.”

“And it’ll stop you yelling on my doorstep?”

“Yes.”

“Fine…” John rolled his eyes, stepping aside and letting her inside his room. It went against everything he believed in, every little rule that he had in his head concerning his relationships, how far they should go and what things should be said. But then again, Telmaya had already broken many of those rules. She had already seen his vulnerability, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. And unlike the others before her, she hadn’t left him yet…

Three hours later, in a darkened room, silence echoed in between the four walls. Lying on his bed, shirt open and eyes wide awake, John glanced around, blinking hard when his wrist sent a shockwave of pain up through his forearm as he moved. One hour ago he had been due another shot of painkillers, but the body pressed close beside him had made him reconsider. Telmaya had tried to stay awake, but over the course of the night he had watched her eyes become heavy beside him and her small frame slumping as it was lulled into a deep sleep. Now, the only noise that rang out into room was the sound of her heavy breaths inwards, the occasional groan escaping her lips as she shifted position on the bed. He wasn’t quite sure how she had managed it, but over the course of the following hours, Telmaya had become pressed into his side, her head resting ever so slightly on his chest, her ruffled mane of hair tickling at his skin with every deep breath she took. It had felt so lonely there, a lone insomniac surrounded by a world fast asleep that John had found himself reaching out with his left arm and pulling her closer, his thumb idly stroking out an irregular pattern across the soft supple skin of her arm. It felt comforting, to feel her breathing alongside his, to feel the warmth of her body mingle with his own, to remind him that in his life there was at least another constant presence with which to console himself. Of course, as soon as morning came he would move his arm away, already have some witty remark ready and waiting concerning her snoring and Telmaya would be none the wiser. But for now, John was content to let her vulnerability win, let it subdue his pride and simply let himself be comforted.

After all, John Hart didn’t need anyone. But for one night only, he was prepared to drop that persona and finally admit to the fact that maybe he did…

Well, another chapter of TOATA done, and one which I hope as ever that you have enjoyed! As always, TOATA is your story, and I am writing it for all of you, so if you have enjoyed it in anyway, I would love to hear/read your comments. That being said, you’ve read this far, and for that I have to thank you!! :)

Just Being Me a.k.a Sisi

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click here for chapter eighteen!!




jack harkness, john hart, tales of a time agency, torchwood, ianto jones, fanfic

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