What About Us
What About Us - Chapter 3/22 by LilFerret
Fandom: Torchwood
Summary: Jack and Ianto have worked side by side through all types of challenges. Will this one tear them apart?
Rated: NC17/Adult
Categories: Angst, Romance
Characters/Ship: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Graphic Sex, MPreg
Completed: Yes
Word count: 50,700 (This chapter 1,438)
Published: 12/1/12
Author Notes: Written for NaNoWriMo 2012. I will post a chapter a day.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter List: ONE / TWO /THREE
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What About Us
“So, what you’re saying is, Jack and the Tea Boy can’t shag for a while.”
“Owen!” Gwen chastised, shaking her head.
“Actually, he’s right. I really wouldn’t advise it,” said Tosh, giving Jack and Ianto an apologetic smile. “Until Owen can create an antidote, that is.”
“Thank the bloody heavens,” Owen exclaimed. “Maybe then I won’t walk in on them in the act. Nearly had to wash my eyes with acid last time.”
Ianto blushed, remembering that moment all too well. The team was gone for the night, or so they’d thought, and he and Jack had been discussing the budget in the captain’s office. For some reason Ianto going over facts and figures had made Jack hot. The next thing he knew Jack had stripped and was bent over his desk, pleading with Ianto to take him. Who was he to argue with the boss?
“Just admit it, Owen,” Jack countered. “You loved it.”
“Like I love a Weevil attack,” Owen retorted.
“How long will it take you to make the antidote?” Gwen asked Owen, effectively changing the course of the conversation.
“Hopefully not long.” Owen looked down at his file. “Tosh, are there any notes in here about One’s work on an anti-toxin?”
“Very few,” she replied, frowning. “Which surprised me. They weren’t able to come up with a viable formula, but it doesn’t seem they worked on it very long.”
“Too many projects on the go at one time,” advised Ianto. “Until close to the end they didn’t spend many resources focused on any one project. I don’t suppose an antidote to a poison would be any different.”
“The field agents who were first infected were Chloe Meyer and Phillip Downey. They suffered from what appeared to be mild symptoms; nausea and vomiting, a bit of a fever. Nothing that a simple stomach virus couldn’t account for.” Tosh flipped a page in her file. “I can understand that there’d be no real need for worry after the symptoms disappeared. But with Mr. Smith, the Raspotahn completely changed his body chemistry. He was able to not only conceive, but also to carry his baby to term. It was put up for adoption after the birth.”
“But we don’t know what symptoms Ianto will show,” said Gwen. “Maybe he’ll be fine.”
“We can assume based on One’s records that any changes or symptoms will begin to surface within the next few days,” Tosh told them, closing her file. “Until then we wait.”
“And study the blood samples I took from both Ianto and our guest,” said Owen, getting to his feet. “If we’re done here I’d like to get back to it.”
Jack nodded. “Please do. Gwen, if you could continue to monitor the police chatter. I want to make sure no one encountered the alien that we’re not aware of. The last thing we need is an influx of male pregnancies all over Cardiff.”
“Will do, Jack.”
“And Tosh, thank you for doing all this research. You never fail to amaze me with your thoroughness.”
Tosh blushed. “Thank you, Jack.”
The others filed out of the room one by one and Ianto began clearing the table. Jack touched his arm and Ianto paused, mug in one hand and the tray in the other.
“I was hoping we could talk for a minute,” Jack told him, a look of concern on his face.
Ianto nodded, placing the tray back on the table and setting the mug on top of it. He took his seat again and Jack did the same. He waited for Jack to speak.
“I think it’s a given we’re going to have to change things for a while,” Jack said after a moment. “While male pregnancies are all the rage starting in the 47th century, I don’t think this time and place is quite ready yet.”
Ianto smiled. “Understood, sir. One Jack Harkness is almost more than this city can handle as it is.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Absolutely. I’ll add condoms with spermicidal cream to my next Tesco run.” He stood and started to reach for another mug when Jack cleared his throat. He glanced at Jack with a raised eyebrow.
“Actually, I was thinking it would probably be best if we refrained from sex altogether,” Jack explained, looking determined. “We can’t risk even the smallest possibility that you could get pregnant.”
“Jack,” he said, foregoing formality, “there’s also the possibility that I won’t have the same reaction to the Raspotahn’s saliva as Ronald Smith. I may just become ill, or perhaps have no reaction whatsoever.”
“Maybe, but I’m not going to willfully put you in danger. Male pregnancies aren’t easy.”
“And what about me being on top?” Ianto asked, folding his arms. “I couldn’t possibly get pregnant like that, though I don’t claim to be an expert.”
Jack sighed. “Ianto, I just don’t want to tempt fate.”
“So you would rather be abstinent than have safe sex.” Jack was silent for a moment and Ianto sighed, picking up a mug and examining it. “Oh. I see. You just wouldn’t be having sex with me.”
He felt his gut clench at the thought, but he had to acknowledge that Jack had never promised him fidelity. After all, wasn’t Jack from a time without quaint little categories? Why had he assumed that he could tame the man? There was no way of knowing whether or not Jack had been sleeping with other people the entire time they’d been involved, and he’d never had the nerve to ask.
Jack moved quickly and pulled him into his arms, yanking the mug out of his hand and lowering it to the table with a thump. “Ianto, stop.”
“I’m just doing my job, sir.”
“I mean stop this. Stop jumping to conclusions.”
“Was I?” Ianto asked.
“Yes.” Jack tilted his chin up, forcing Ianto to look him in the eye. “I’m not planning on sleeping with anyone else. What do you take me for?”
“A man with needs.”
Jack scowled. “And therefore I’m going to cheat on you?”
“It’s not cheating if we’ve never committed to being monogamous.”
The look that crossed Jack’s face was a mixture of hurt and disbelief, followed by stubborn defiance. He let go of Ianto and backed away a step, lifting his chin. “Does this mean you’ve slept with other people since we’ve been together?”
Ianto adapted a similar look of insolence. “Are we? Together?”
“Answer the question.”
“You first.”
“Yes!” Jack said loudly, just shy of shouting. “Yes, we are. Now have you cheated on me or not?”
“Of course not!” Ianto exclaimed, huffing in frustration. “I was just trying to give you an out if you’d been with other people. I don’t have any interest in sleeping around, Jack!”
The captain’s face softened, his brow furrowing in what Ianto could only describe as relief. When Jack’s arms once more wound around him Ianto went willingly, burying his face in the crook of Jack’s neck.
“I’ve haven’t slept with anyone but you since we started this whole thing,” Jack murmured, holding him tight. “And I meant what I said. I have no plans to do so.”
Ianto hugged him a few moments longer and then pulled away. He smiled and kissed the captain softly. “Good. Why don’t we plan for you to come to mine tonight, then?”
“Ianto…”
“Just to spend time together. We haven’t had a night away in quite a while. I think it’s put us both on edge.”
“I’m not so sure it’s a good idea,” Jack argued. “We might be far too tempted to take things further.”
“I think ‘might’ is an understatement,” Ianto said, chuckling. “But I’d still like to have you there. What happens if I sprout a second head in the middle of the night? I’ll need you for moral support.”
Jack laughed, kissing him on the forehead. “Alright. But just to spend time together.”
“As that’s settled, I need to clean this mess before stains set in.”
Jack snorted, holding his hands up in defeat. “Don’t mind me. I’ll just go read some reports.”
“You do that, sir.”
He watched Jack leave the room, and when he was out sight, Ianto slumped back into the chair. He’d never admitted to himself how much Jack sleeping around would have broken him. But he had no reason to doubt the man’s conviction, and now that he knew Jack had been faithful a weight he wasn’t even aware existed before lifted from his heart.
After a couple minutes of deep introspection Ianto once more got to his feet and started cleaning up the boardroom.
Chapter 4
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