tw_bigbang Strange Days Part I
Title: Strange Days
Author: meshell_mybell a.k.a. Blue
Beta(s): snakeling, aranellaurelote, and my best friend MartiniGirl. You were all so helpful and amazing and any other mistakes are mine because I’m stubborn.
Artist/: The amazing a_silver_story
Character/Pairing(s): Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: R for bad words and violence.
Word Count: 33,915
Warnings: Violence, mentions of triads, vivisections.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Please don’t sue. RTD and the BBC own Torchwood and everything that entails.
Author's Note(s): This was a work of love. I love the story and everyone who helped me, poked me, threatened and guided me throughout the process. I also want to thank my fiancé for the use of Gethin, as he was his brain-child. (I should probably be afraid.) Thanks guys!
Summary:
If you love something, set it free. If you return to him and he is involved with another man, make their lives difficult until you get your way. Just don’t let the boogeyman catch you.
Links to Art by a_silver_story:
Book Cover Two
Leolina Jones
Gethin Maddox
Strange Days by meshell_mybell a.k.a. Blue
1912
“It’s freezing out here,” complained Jack Harkness. It really wasn’t. Not for Jack, warmly wrapped in his thick wool cloak. He just enjoyed the looks of exasperation that Harriet Derbyshire would shoot at him every single time he whined or complained.
“Buck up, Harkness. You, at least, are wearing trousers,” Harriet chided, her eyes never leaving the piece of Victorian equipment in her hands. It looked like a cross between Wilson’s cloud chamber and a steam-punk scanner. Jack knew it was mostly made of alien tech that was being used to ’sniff’ out Rift energy. “We’re close now.”
Jack stuffed his hands into his pockets and followed after Harriet. He wasn’t even supposed to be here. He was only visiting, passing through as they say. He had been happy in London. Happy away from Cardiff for a piece. He’d been helping the Suffragettes. Well, not so much helping as instigating. He might have inadvertently started the window smashing incident back in March. Those ladies just needed to make a statement.
Of course, he had been sleeping with some of the more liberal ladies of the movement.
Now it was June; unseasonably cold and so damned rainy and he wished he was back in London.
Harriet suddenly reached back behind her and grabbed his arm, pulling him unceremoniously into an alley.
“What the…?”
“Shhh, Harkness. There is something behind those crates.” Harriet pointed and pushed Jack forward. Jack smirked thinking of how the ladies in London had nothing on Miss Derbyshire.
Jack walked closer and placed a hand on the Webley MK1 he carried. He was about to draw it when the soft sound of crying came to his ears. He waved a hand at Harriet, telling her to remain back as Jack carefully rounded the crates. On the ground, folded in on herself, was a thin young woman. Her cornflower blue dress was wet and clung to her body, her dark hair stuck to her face in long tendrils. She had apparently been in the rain for a long while. She looked human. Jack prayed she was human. Human and not broken. If so, then he could help her. If she was damaged or alien…well, he would just pray for her.
Jack carefully knelt beside her. The girl seemed to notice him and looked up, her eyes red rimmed and wild. “Shhhh, it’s all right,” he soothed.
The girl cocked her head to the side. “Ta ku?”
Jack closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them he noticed how the girl looked so human. He hoped that he could convince them to not hurt her. Jack forced a smile and held out a hand. “Esh, pa. Earth.”
The young girl’s face crumpled as the reality of Jack’s words hit her. She knew of Earth, that much was good. Jack recognized her language. That would definitely be helpful. “C’vet et ku?”
Tears mixed with the rain that fell onto her upturned face. “Lortei.”
Jack grimaced. Not only was she alien, she was from the past. Her world was long ago destroyed based on human linear time. He held his hand out to her. “Jack,” he said, smiling again.
She glanced at his open hand and carefully took it with both of her own. “Kealeason,” she said, before casting a glance over Jack’s shoulder and giving a low, guttural growl. Jack glanced over his shoulder to see Harriet coming near.
Present
The Hub was quiet and dimly lit. The soft whirring of the mainframe and the random pings and pops of old, decaying Victorian machinery were the only sounds to be heard. Not even Myfanwy was around to make a noise. It was peaceful in the early hours of morning and Ianto Jones was the only person around to appreciate it, and appreciate it he did. He sat on the sofa writing in his journal as he waited for Jack and Gwen to return. It had been his turn on comms while the pair went after a couple of Weevils in Butetown. They’d bagged the Weevils and were on their way back so Ianto knew the silence wouldn’t last.
He was making some notes on a few local doctors he had been looking into for the medic position that they desperately needed filling. Jack was being reticent and Ianto understood his reasons, unfortunately, he couldn’t keep bandaging them up and none of them were qualified to do much more than that. He was willing to learn anything he had to for his team but he was far from being a doctor and Gwen would always be a copper at the end of the day. Jack knew field triage, handy, yes, but not useful for autopsies and investigative purposes. They needed Owen and, since that was impossible, they needed another doctor. Not to take his place, never to take his place, only to fulfil their needs.
They also needed a tech but Ianto knew to fight one battle at a time. That said, however, he had been toying with the idea of calling Martha Jones and asking her if she knew of someone in UNIT that might be interested. He had already asked Martha about the medic position but she turned him down stating that she was very happy with her work and didn’t really wish to move to Cardiff. Ianto had made her promise to not tell Jack that he had called and she agreed knowing exactly what kind of a child Jack could be if an idea wasn’t fully his.
The silence of the Hub was suddenly shattered by the proximity alerts causing Ianto to cringe at the cog door rolling back.
“We can’t keep doing this, Jack,” Gwen moaned as she trudged into the Hub, throwing her jacket onto her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. She looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, even her hair didn’t have the same lustre it normally held. “We’re spread too thin.” She smiled at Ianto as he stood and put his journal on his desk. “Tell him, Ianto. We need more help.”
Jack was pointedly ignoring her but turned to look at Ianto, eyebrows raised expectantly, arms crossed over his chest.
Ianto sighed softly. They were all exhausted, this much was true, but Gwen was going about it the wrong way. “Yes, we do need more help,” he began, Gwen’s face went smug and Jack’s stony. “However, we need to make sure that we hire the right person and not the first one that falls into our lap. Coffee, anyone?” Ianto was proud to note the quirk in Jack’s lip as he fought a smile.
Gwen, however, threw herself into her chair and said, “Meanwhile, we’re sleep deprived and dangerous and living on coffee. Jack, I barely got to see Rhys before, now I see him when he’s asleep or when I’m running out the bloody door. You told me not to let it drift. Drift? It’s hard to keep it from drifting when it barely exists.” She nodded at Ianto’s question and returned her scowl toward Jack.
“Please, Ianto,” Jack replied with a smile as the young man disappeared into the kitchenette. “Gwen, I understand. Trust me, I really do.” Jack cast another quick glance at the kitchenette and then focused his attention on Gwen. “Unfortunately we need someone who can not only understand what we do and what our needs are but can actually cope. We aren’t exactly living a stress free existence down here below Cardiff.”
Gwen rubbed her hands over her face. She really was tired. She glanced at her watched and felt her exhaustion crash over her like a wave. “Jack, it’s almost morning. I need to go home. At least to shower and change.” She grabbed her purse and jacket and paused, reaching out to touch Jack’s arm. “I believe in this, Jack. No matter what. I’m just tired.”
Jack reached a hand out to touch her face. She was pale and drawn. She was right but he couldn’t bring himself to hire just anyone. “Go sleep. I’ll see you later. Bring dinner.” He gave her a strained smile and watched as she nodded and turned, quickly disappearing behind the cog door.
“What did you do with the Weevils?” Ianto’s soft voice spoke from behind Jack.
Jack’s smile grew a bit and he turned to see Ianto with only two cups in his hands. He didn’t even question if he had one for Gwen. Ianto just had a sense of when he was and was not needed. Jack pulled off his coat, draping it over the chair at Toshiko’s old workstation as Ianto handed Jack his stripy mug and sat on the edge of the sofa, looking expectantly up at Jack.
“Oh, well, that’s actually really interesting. We caught one in an alley and one by the school. The one in the alley was bound with clamps and sedated but by the time we got back to it there was nothing there. It must have got away and slunk back to the sewer. It won’t last long with the clamps and hood on,” Jack said as he lifted the mug and inhaled the dark brew. “We scanned the area but there was nothing there.”
“Why didn’t you contact me? I could have helped you locate it.” Ianto looked up at him, his eyes furrowed in confusion.
Jack shrugged. “We’re too full as it is. I didn’t see any harm in one Weevil getting away,” he said and Ianto knew that was the end of the subject. This didn’t settle right with Ianto. They had never had a Weevil escape, especially after being sedated. Jack also hadn’t answered his question, there was still another Weevil. Knowing Jack it was still in the boot of the SUV. Ianto filed the information away as it seemed Jack didn’t seem to be in the mood to discuss the situation.
Jack sat down beside Ianto, his own weariness showing. Ianto took a sip of his coffee and seemed to be contemplating something. Jack could tell by the way he held his shoulders and the slight tilt to his head. “Penny for them?”
Ianto turned to look at Jack and decided to change the subject, though his choice of topic was another of Jack’s least favourites. “Gwen’s right. We need someone, Jack.”
Rubbing his free hand over his face, Jack leaned his head onto the back of the sofa. “I know, I know. It just isn’t as simple as scouting the hospitals and hiring the one that may or may not fit the bill. I found Owen, yes, but his circumstances weren’t normal. Even when I found Tosh it wasn’t normal.”
“I found you,” Ianto said, his voice just above a whisper.
Jack smiled and placed his hand on Ianto’s back, rubbing slow circles. “Yes, you were quite persistent. But I don’t see anyone else banging on the door and offering me coffee.”
Ianto looked at him again. “I should hope not. I might have to quit if you found another like me. I’d feel useless, having someone take my…thing.”
Jack smiled. “You know you’re more than just a pretty face who makes amazing coffee?”
Ianto raised an eyebrow and sighed. “I supposed. No one else has mastered keeping that coat of yours clean. Besides, I wouldn’t trust any of you trained monkeys anywhere near my archives.”
“Your archives? Well, don’t let Gwen hear you call her a monkey, trained or otherwise,” Jack laughed, pulling Ianto back so he could lean on his shoulder.
“I wouldn’t. I’d like to keep my bits. I’ve grown attached to them,” Ianto deadpanned, relaxing into Jack’s hold.
Jack was feeling sleepy himself. “Mmmmm, me too,” Jack said, wrapping his arm around Ianto. Ianto snatched the coffee mug from that hand before Jack could spill it on his suit.
“Good to know,” Ianto replied, allowing Jack to settle in closer. He could feel his head growing heavier on his shoulder until he was positive Jack had fallen asleep. Balancing the two coffee mugs on his knees, Ianto just sat there and let Jack sleep. The man rarely did these days, if he ever did before. Ianto tried to allow him his few minutes respite before all Hell inevitably broke loose.
Ianto could feel his own eyes sliding close when the phone in Jack’s office began to ring.
“Fuck,” he silently mouthed as Jack startled awake.
Jack looked up at his office with distaste. “Let the machine get it,” he said, turning back to Ianto’s shoulder.
“No, Jack. This early in the morning, it can’t be anything good that can wait till tomorrow,” Ianto said. Jack groaned as Ianto leaned forward to place the mugs on the table. “I’ll get it,” he said, untangling himself from Jack.
“No, I’ll get it,” Jack said with a yawn.
Ianto, already standing, looked down on the sleepy man and raised a challenging eyebrow. Turning his back on Jack, he headed up to the man’s office before the call went to voice mail.
Jack took advantage of the warm spot on the sofa that Ianto had left behind and spread himself across the cushions, stretching his legs and yawning again. He glanced up to see Ianto answering the call and writing something down. If it was an emergency he would have already called him up to his office. Closing his eyes he felt his mind drift into sleep. It didn’t last for long before Ianto was next to him, rubbing his shoulder until he opened his eyes.
“Jack, that was a Leo Jones asking for you,” Ianto said, reading off his post-it note.
Jack frowned, thinking. “Leo Jones? Martha’s brother?”
Ianto looked at him and blinked. “No, this was a woman. She sounded young and very familiar with you.”
Jack rolled onto his back and placed his arm over his face and groaned. “Not now.”
“Not now, what?” Ianto asked, shifting to sit on the edge of the sofa by Jack’s legs.
“Not now, Leo,” he sighed, moving his arm to look at Ianto. “It’s…complicated.”
Ianto sighed. “Isn’t it always?”
Jack sat up and pulled his feet off the couch. Ignoring Ianto’s response, he held his hand out for the post-it. “She leave a number to call?”
“No, this is a list of things I need to take care of in your office. This Leo Jones is waiting for you out on the Plass.” Ianto tucked the note into his pocket.
Jack cursed under his breath and stood up. He grabbed his coat and headed to the lift. He jumped on it and turned to face Ianto. “Go home. Get some sleep.”
Ianto stood up and shook his head. “I’ll sleep when I die,” he said and turned his back on Jack, scooping up the discarded mugs and headed off to clean up. Jack sighed and hit his vortex manipulator, so the lift began to rise.
~*~
As the lift brought him to the surface, Jack felt so torn. The last time he had seen Leo was in 1964. They had just had a huge row over a very demanding proposition she had offered him and he had refused. Leo was heartbroken and felt she couldn’t work with him anymore, knowing how he truly felt. The thing was he didn’t even know how he felt. Her proposition had come at a bad time for him and besides, he wasn’t really ready for such a huge commitment.
He thought of the first time he met her in 1912. She was so lost, so frightened and Jack felt his heart break at the sight of her. The Rift had pulled her from her world, in the past, and dropped her in the middle of Cardiff. Jack had been to her planet, Lortei, back when he was a Time Agent. He remembered thinking that it was a lovely place and the people were beautiful but he was there for a peace conference and didn’t think on it beyond that. Lortei was destroyed shortly after his visit. He knew it was going to happen, it was a point in history, a fact that couldn’t be changed. One of the factions that were there negotiating peace did not fully agree with their end of the bargaining and blamed the Lorteens. They invaded the peaceful world, full of healers and negotiators, and massacred the lot.
When Jack and Harriet Derbyshire had found Leo she was soaking wet and almost completely frozen. She didn’t speak English but Jack translated Lortei to English for Harriet and later for Gerald Carter. Normally, Torchwood would have executed an alien. With Jack’s encouragement, Flat Holm was only just being developed. Jack was influential on the way they took care of those returned by the Rift. He had worked to convince his superiors to at least take care of the humans that fell through even if they were reluctant to take care of the aliens. They thought it best to place Leo in Flat Holm. Jack believed that her beauty and humanoid appearance are what helped to keep her alive. For two years she lived at the facility, learning English and how to be human. Jack would visit her every chance he could.
Her real name was Kealeason but Gerald thought she looked like a Leolina, the Welsh name meaning lioness, with her mane of hair and the fact that when she first saw Harriet she growled, which made Jack laugh. Gerald gave her the last name of Jones for its Welsh commonality and had official papers drawn up. After a time, Jack managed to convince Gerald to also hire her as a freelancer. Jack knew she couldn’t stay in Flat Holm forever. Leo was too smart and was adapting quickly. He feared she would escape and he would lose her to the world. Gerald, having a soft spot for Leo to begin with, easily agreed and they gave her a room, secured and guarded, within the Hub. She had to stay within the Hub for a period and when she was finally allowed out she was to always be chaperoned. Jack grew attached but he was gone so often that Leo had become a treat when he returned.
He remembered returning, many years later, to find Leo missing. Jack was afraid she had been killed but his friend, Greg Bishop, had informed him that Leo had left of her own accord. Greg said it had something to do with Tilda Brennan, then current leader of Torchwood Three, and Leo’s lack of aging. It was something that made others uncomfortable and reminded them that she wasn’t from their world. Lorteens could be killed but left alone they lived for centuries and aged so very little. Tilda had been acting oddly and was overly cruel toward the young alien. Leo had sent him a letter stating her feelings on the subject of Tilda’s behaviour that Jack never received. He was travelling and rarely stayed in the same place twice so mail was often left behind or lost. It was for the best that she left, though, as Tilda’s association with Bilis Manger would probably have got Leo killed. It turned out she had found an album called ‘From the Bottom of My Heart’ by a little known musician and decided she needed to meet this Frank Sinatra. Good excuse as any to disappear for a bit.
More times than not it was Leo’s love of music that kept her out of trouble or pulled her in deeper.
Leo would come and go throughout the years, same as Jack. He and the others would teach her what she needed to know to survive and she even turned out to be a decent field agent which was so very unlike her species. If she had stayed on her world she would have had a family and would have been a healer like her mother. Leo was still a healer, her amazing ability to heal the injured still put Jack in awe but she was also so much more.
She was also a major thorn in his side.
Leo’s physiology meant that she was compatible with humans. However, genetically, she carried double the chromosomes as a human and needed two sets of male chromosomes to procreate. That was how it worked on her world and her people lived in peaceful triads. When Leo spoke of her two fathers, Jack didn’t even think anything of it. It was not until she had asked him to be a part of a triad in 1964 Jack realized her intent. Jack was not ready to have another child, not at that point of his life so he had turned her down. Leo had apparently placed all her hopes on Jack and was hurt by his answer. That was the last time he had seen her.
Now Leo was back and that was great. The timing was perfect. She would fit into the position of medic, being a healer and having worked for Torchwood in the past. Unfortunately, he had a feeling she hadn’t changed much in the last fifty years. If that was the case they were all in for some interesting times. He wondered if Ianto would ever forgive him for bringing her in.
As the lift reached the surface, Jack felt a small thrill run through his body. There she was, walking around the Plass, looking at everything with wonder on her forever youthful face. She hadn’t changed at all in all these years. The same dark hair, styled in a modern fashion and not the bouffant with the bow she wore in the sixties. Still the same slight frame and he knew that the closer he got to her that her eyes would still be just as blue. No one would ever guess her heritage by looking at her. She looked just as human as the next person. It was her genetic makeup that made her alien-ness stand out. Her back was to him as she stared up at the Millennium Centre. Jack came up behind her and smiled. “Leolina Jones,” he said, quickly followed by all the air being knocked out of him as the small woman spun around and punched him in the stomach.
“Don’t call me that,” she growled “My name is Leo!” Her face was contorted in anger which quickly dissipated as she got a proper look at Jack. “Oh my Goddess, I’ve missed you!” Leo exclaimed, launching herself at Jack and hugging him tightly.
Jack staggered back a step as she tackled him with affection. “I always forget that left hook,” he noted with a smile and pulled her close. “Missed you too, love,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“We shouldn’t fight,” she whispered against his chest. She nuzzled the heavy wool and pulled back to look at it. “You’re still wearing this old thing,” she stated, running her hands over the lapels. “Wow, it looks great.” She suddenly pulled away from Jack and looked up at him. Raising an eyebrow she asked, “Who is she? You must be pretty in love to let her clean your coat. I was the only person allowed to touch it, once upon a time.” Leo smiled, grabbing the duffel bag off the ground by her feet.
Jack took it from her, being the ever-gentleman, and slung it over his shoulder. He chose to ignore her and opted for a different topic. “So, what do you think of the Plass?” he asked with a flourish of his arm.
Leo scrutinized him with a critical eye. “Yeah, I see, subject change. Well, it’s odd. I mean, when I left it was all mud flats and docks. Well,” she pointed behind her towards the Pierhead Building, “that’s still here. But now everything else is all posh and cultural. Does that mean Torchwood is all posh and cultural as well?”
Jack couldn’t help but smile. “Well, not so much posh but I like to think that I’ve made it pretty well rounded.”
Leo’s eyes grew wide. “They put you in charge? Oh boy, that’s brilliant!” She clapped her hands together and hopped a bit. “I bet Tilda is rolling over in her drawer. She never would have approved of it.”
Jack wanted to share her delight but he couldn’t. “The last guy in charge killed everyone then took his own life. He would have killed me but he knew it was fruitless. Something about the future scared him and he saw it as saving them by taking their lives.” He looked down at his boots and kicked at a small pebble. “I won by default.”
Standing up on her toes, she kissed his cheek. “You should have been in charge since day one, Jack. Look at how you took care of me.” She glanced past him at the sun rising out on the bay. Pointing over toward it, she said, “I’ve missed that.”
Jack turned to see what she was pointing at and smiled.
The water of the bay was dark, silhouetted by the peaches, pinks and reds of an early spring morning. Clouds were dotting the horizon and Jack had to wonder if they would actually have a rain free day. He looked down at Leo. Her eyes were wide as she took in the beautiful morning. She looked so innocent, considering all that she had seen in her lifetime. Her innocence was part of her charm. It softened her cutting edges; at least it did where Jack was concerned.
“Are you staying?” he asked again, reaching out and brushing dark strands of hair out of her face. Part of him wanted to hear her say yes while another part wished she hadn’t come back at all.
Blinking, Leo looked up at Jack. “Do you want me to?”
“I never wanted you to leave,” he said, looking back at the sunset. That was the truth; back in 1964 he had not wanted her to leave. Her return, though it would be helpful, definitely complicated everything.
Leo smacked him on the arm. “Yes you did. That’s how you work, Jack. Someone tells you something you don’t want to hear and you freak.”
Jack stood there, silent, not wanting to discuss this at all.
Leo sighed. “I’ll stay.”
“Has time changed your mind?” he asked, stuffing his hands inside the pockets of his coat after shifting the duffel on his shoulder.
“Nope. But I’ll just have to live with that. Remember, I can live a long time. Eventually, I hope, you’ll agree to it.” Leo smiled sadly as she looped her arm through Jack’s and leaned against him.
Jack closed his eyes knowing she was right. Perhaps, one day, if Ianto… No, he couldn’t even entertain such thoughts.
“Let’s go in. There’s someone you need to meet,” Jack said, motioning toward the invisible lift.
Leo followed Jack, unsure of where they were going. With all the new changes to Tiger Bay she no longer knew where the entrance to the Hub was located. “Does the Pierhead Building still open in the Archives?“ she asked.
Jack thought for a moment and said, “Probably. I’ll have to check it out. It’s been so long since I’ve used it I’d completely forgotten about that door.”
Jack paused on a paving stone and Leo looked at him quizzically. “Are we, what, teleporting?”
Jack snorted as he pulled her onto the stone and held her close. “I wish. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Stand here and be like, ‘Beam me down, Scotty.’”
It was Leo’s turn to snort. “Oh, don’t lie. Anyone could beam you down and you’d be happy. Oh, oh, beam me again!” she joked, moaning obscenely before starting as the paving stone began to descend. “This is…wow!” She looked up at the hole they were leaving behind, smiling as a replacement shifted into place. “Don’t people notice you disappearing slowly into Hades?”
“That’s the best part; it’s invisible,” Jack said, smugly.
“That’s…woah,” Leo replied and began searching the Hub with her eyes. “The dragon is new,” she said, pointing at the painting. She glanced up at Jack and noticed his tight jawed expression. She thought better of pushing the subject. Instead, she looked around and noted all the changes since she’d been here last. A thought occurred to Leo. “Hey, is my room still here?”
This time Jack smiled. “Of course! I never let anyone touch it. I remember everyone acting like I was crazy when this one archivist thought it would be smart to try to dismantle it. She thought it would be better utilized as a storage room and not a monument to childhood through the century.” Jack smirked at Leo. “There were guns involved, it was quite funny.”
Leo smiled up at him, fondly. “You went postal just for me? I always knew you cared.”
Jack sobered. “More then you realize,” he said, softly.
“Company, Jack? I do wish you would let me know these things, I could have prepared,” Ianto spoke from below.
Jack smiled down at him and Leo caught the look. It was full of endearment and Leo followed his gaze down to the handsome man that stood below them. Oh…oh no, Leo thought, as reality dawned on her.
The Lift came to a stop and Jack hopped off, grabbing Leo by the waist and helping her to the ground. He turned and said, “Ianto, this is Leo Jones. Leo, this is Ianto Jones.”
“My pleasure, I’m sure,” Ianto said, holding his hand out to the dark haired woman.
Leo looked at it then up to Ianto’s face and smiled before turning to Jack. “Jones? I dare say you have issues.” She gave Jack a glare before walking past the two men.
“Jack?” Ianto said, not quite asking a question.
Jack sighed. This was almost exactly what he had feared. “Agent Leolina Jones, freelancer for Torchwood. Her files are under my pass-codes. I give you permission to investigate,” Jack said, his voice lowered.
“I didn’t need permission, Jack, but thank you,” Ianto replied, his eyes trained on the young woman who was now rummaging through papers on Gwen’s desk. “Does this mean she’ll be staying?”
“That’s exactly what this means. Remember Room 42 in Level 5? She’ll need it opened,” he said and pulled a large ring of keys out of his coat pocket and tossed them to Ianto as he pulled the duffel bag off his shoulder and held it out to the younger man.
Silently, Ianto caught the keys and took the duffel bag from Jack and disappeared down the hall to the Archives. Jack watched him go, a sick feeling gnawed at his gut. Leo was a complication he really was not in the mood for. Taking a deep breath, Jack walked over to Leo.
“Listen, we need to talk,” he began.
Leo turned to look at him and smiled beatifically. “Yes Jack?”
Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth she looked so innocent. Jack knew better. “Two words, Leo. Don’t. Start.”
Leo’s eyebrows raised and she looked as if he had hurt her deeply. “Are you kidding me, Jack?” They stared at one another and Leo’s façade crumbled. She placed her hands on her hips and took a step closer to him. “You forget how well I know you. You’ll either get bored or he’ll die-”
“Don’t you dare!” Jack growled, leaning into her face. “Don’t you even think it!”
This time when Leo’s eyebrows shot up it was out of shock. “You really care about him. Oh, that does complicate things,” she said, turning her back on Jack. She saw the Autopsy Bay and headed toward it. “Wow, this place has changed a bit.”
Jack followed her. “Don’t change the subject, Leo.”
She spun on him, her finger pointed in his face. “No Jack, I will change the subject. You know what I want and you know how stubborn I can be. I’ll help you out because I’m sure your little butler isn’t up to par to helping you keep this place going.”
“I have another. She’ll be here tonight.” His voice was still angry only now it sounded more petulant.
“Lovely. So it’s just the four of us,” she turned back to look at the circular room below her. “Why did I come back?” she asked herself.
Jack stiffened and turned away. “Exactly, Leo. Why did you?” he asked and stormed off to his office, not waiting for a reply.
~*~
1925
“Where are we going?” Leo asked, bouncing up and down, her knee length dress swished around as she did so.
Jack looked at her reflection in the mirror that he stood before as he primped for the evening. “You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
Leo pouted, crossing her arms over her chest and throwing herself onto her bed. “I hate surprises,” she complained.
Spinning on his heel, Jack turned with an impish smile on his lips. “I know.” He winked and walked over to her, offering her a hand. She glared at him before her resolve broke and she took his hand with both of her own. He pulled her to her feet and she couldn’t help but smile at him.
“You’re walking on dangerous territory, Jack Harkness,” she purred, moving closer into his personal space. Jack smiled at her as they moved close, their noses brushing as Leo closed the space between their lips. Just as they were about to kiss she unceremoniously pulled back to lick the tip of Jack’s nose and pushed him away.
The pair burst into laughter.
Thirteen years the pair had known one another and though the rest of the people they worked with believed they were at it like rabbits, Leo and Jack had always just remained really good friends. They were happier this way and it worked well. It also kept that bit of mystery between the two, never knowing if the other really wanted a closer relationship and yet neither willing to push it. Though, at times, the boundaries came so close to being pushed over.
Leo walked past Jack and ran her fingers through her bobbed hair before topping her head with a hat. “Really, Jack, where are you taking me? Somewhere nice, I hope. With loads of famous faces and music with dancing.”
Jack came to stand behind her. “It’s a surprise.”
“Can you at least give me a hint?” she asked, turning around to face him. She reached up to smooth the lapels on his suit.
Jack sighed, dramatically. “If I must. We’re taking the train to London.”
Leo’s blue eyes grew as did her smile. “London? Really? Are we going to a Bright Young Things party?” Leo had followed the antics of the young elite in the newspaper with great envy. She longed to be apart of the fun but she also knew it took connections to be allowed in. Leo knew Jack had those connections.
Jack only lifted an eyebrow and smiled. Leo squeaked and hugged him. “C’mon. Let’s go.”
Fifteen minutes later, hand in hand, the pair made their way to the train station. It wasn’t near dark yet but it would be by the time they got into London. Leo, the proper young woman she really wasn’t, had her hand on Jack’s arm as he they passed by buildings and business alike. There were other people walking about as the day was drawing to a close.
Leo looked at the world around her as they walked but suddenly drew to a stop. Jack looked at her, questioningly. “What’s wrong?”
As much as Leo tried to pretend she was human, it was moments like this when she knew she couldn’t pretend. Too many real humans would suffer if she did. Her eyes were very keen. She couldn’t see through walls or anything like that but she could most definitely see in the dark. Namely, she could see the Weevil that was wending its way through the garbage at the dead end of the dark alley they just passed. “Down there, Jack. It’s big.”
Jack glanced past her. He couldn’t see it but he knew she could. Kissing her on the top of her head, he said, “This won’t take long. We’ll just take the next train.”
Leo smiled at him, moving her arm to reach for the knife she had strapped to her thigh. Jack steadied her arm. “No, you wait here. I’ll get it and we’ll be on our way.”
“No, Jack. You know the rules. No one goes alone,” she protested. Torchwood policy. He knew that. They would kill the Weevil. Jack hated it. So did Leo. If it could be helped, they would much rather try to contain it and possibly return it to…anywhere. Unfortunately, another Torchwood policy didn’t allow it and neither one of them were in a position to fight for Weevil rights.
“This won’t take long and I don’t want you to muss up that pretty dress.” He caressed her face and smiled. Leo rolled her eyes and stepped aside.
“Be careful,” she called and Jack saluted her.
Leo stood with her back to the alley as Jack disappeared into the darkness. She waited as people passed, noticing a smartly dressed young woman un-chaperoned at this time of the day in this particular neighbourhood. She stood out and it was beginning to grate on Leo’s nerves.
The sky was beginning to dim and still Jack hadn’t emerged from the alley. She could hear the scraping and scuffling of the Weevil and the occasional grunt from Jack so she knew he was all right. That was until she heard him scream.
Leo turned to face the alley and ran. The Weevil was hunched over Jack. Leo could hear the wet ripping sound of Jack’s throat being torn out as the Weevil pulled back, jerking it’s head. She watched as Jack’s body flopped backwards toward the ground, limp.
Leo felt the world still around her. She lifted her skirt and pulled the knife free. In a display of yet another of her alien abilities, she charged the Weevil, jumping onto it’s back and sliced its throat in a swift and agile movement. She landed on her feet, pushing the creature to the side. She absently wiped her knife onto the skirt of her dress and fell to her knees beside Jack.
“Idiot!” she exclaimed. She was grateful for the darkened sky. No one would be able to see them at the end of the alley. That was assuming no one had heard Jack’s cries. She pulled on Jack’s lifeless form until his head rested on her lap. More blood spilled everywhere but Leo didn’t care. Jack was dead, again. She hated it when that happened. She felt helpless and useless and all she wanted to do was make it better.
Leo brushed the longish hair from Jack’s face that had fallen free from it’s slicked back style there during the fight. She wished she had gone with him but she also knew it should have been a simple kill. Looking around she tried to figure out what had gone wrong. Jack’s gun lay on the ground near the wall but she couldn’t figure out what had happened. “No more, Jack. We can’t keep ignoring the rules because you don’t agree.”
After thirteen years she thought she would be used to this but she never could. It broke her heart every time and she knew that one day it would be the death of her.
“Come back soon, Jack. We’ll go home and I’ll smuggle you into my room. Impropriety be damned,” she joked, knowing that they never cared what the others thought. “I’ve got some chocolate and I’m sure we could find a bottle of wine somewhere. We can get drunk and laugh. Or maybe we should get a room at a fancy hotel and spend the night soaking in a tub. That sounds delicious.“ She spoke to him. She didn’t think he even heard her. Jack never mentioned anything she said to him so she assumed he couldn’t. Leo couldn’t just sit here silently waiting. She needed these moments to purge. “I love you, you idiot. Just come back to me soon.”
Leo sighed, and settled herself into a more comfortable position. His throat would take a while to heal and she knew they wouldn’t be making it to London tonight.
Present
It had been a week since Leo’s arrival and the stress levels in he Hub had only gotten worse instead of better. He had debriefed his team in full of Leo’s background and of what she really was. Ianto didn’t seem to care though at first Gwen did. She seemed uncomfortable with the idea of working with an alien, not because of who she was but because of the conflict of interest. However, after Jack explained how long Leo has worked for Torchwood and how a conflict of interest had been dealt with a long time ago, Gwen seemed mollified. Soon after the meeting, Gwen and Leo seemed to hit it off, especially after Gwen complimented Leo’s shoes. They made plans to go shopping and could be found sitting on the sofa giggling over mugs of coffee as they shared ‘Jack’ stories. Unfortunately, they were the only ones who seemed to be enjoying themselves. Jack was still angry with Leo and Leo went out of her way to cause Ianto nothing but trouble. Leo worked hard, did her job and was a useful member of the team. However, that didn’t change her behaviour.
Gwen was working on a report she received from the police about the recent breakout in Weevil attacks. Leo had claimed Owen’s old desk as her own and was working on her own report. Apparently, some of the Weevils they had been bringing in seemed to have scarring that seemed to come from some form of surgery. None of them could even begin to fathom that someone was stitching up injured Weevils so Leo was trying to figure out what was actually going on.
Jack was sitting at his own desk and had been pretending to work on reports so he didn’t have to actually go down and interact with the lot of them. Every time he was in the room with both Ianto and Leo, inevitably, Leo would have some snide comment and he just couldn’t deal with it any longer.
At the moment, though, Ianto was nowhere to be seen so he stood up and stretched, yawning hugely before heading down to the main Hub. He stopped by Gwen first. “Got anything for me?” he asked.
Gwen looked up and shook her head. “Nothing that we need to address. Typical Weevil attacks. Honestly, if you’re bloody stupid enough to be in a dark alley in the wee hours of dawn you may deserve to be mauled by a Weevil.” She was exhausted and short tempered toward the situation as a whole.
“That’s the tired talking,” Jack said, patting her back.
Gwen swiped a hand over her face. “It is. That or I’m channelling Owen. I just wish I knew what was upsetting the Weevils.” She shuffled a few more pages before producing one for Jack. “Look at this. The Weevils aren’t the only ones having issues. The Blowfish are apparently organizing.”
“Organizing?” Jack took the page, his eyebrows furrowing as he read. “Hell!”
“Problem?” Ianto asked, approaching them from the Archive levels.
Jack handed him the page and waited as the young man scanned the page.
Oh, Hell,” Ianto sighed handing the page back to Jack.
“Exactly,” Jack said.
“Oi! Jones! Mocha me!” Leo exclaimed, her face still staring at the monitor, her hand above her head, clutching her empty mug.
“Leo! Can’t you even pretend to be nice?” Jack gave Ianto an apologetic look and Ianto only shook his head.
Leo looked up at Jack and said, “I am pretending to be nice.” She then turned her attention back to her work.
Gwen’s phone began to vibrate across her desk and she grabbed it quickly, scanning the name and cursed. “Gotta take this,” she said and stood, quickly walking to the other side of the Hub.
“What’s that about?” Jack asked.
Ianto shrugged. “Perhaps she has a secret lover and she’s afraid we’ll tell Rhys.”
“Damn straight I’d tell Rhys. That’s a waste of a good man.”
Ianto rolled his eyes and walked over to take Leo’s mug from her still outstretched hand. “Do you want some coffee, Jack?”
“Always,” Jack replied as he mentally praised Ianto’s ability to take care of Leo while still ignoring her.
Gwen returned and grabbed her jacket and purse. “I’ve got to…do something.” She glanced nervously at Jack and then averted her eyes. “I may not be back for a few hours.”
Jack grabbed her arm, causing her to look into his face. “Am I going to be upset, Gwen?”
“Probably, but there’s nothing for it now,” she replied, pulling her arm from his grasp.
“Don’t take too long,” Jack said with a sigh.
She gave him a weak smile before disappearing behind the cog door. Jack watched the cog for a long moment. He knew she had been sleeping with Owen, they all knew. She wasn’t married then and he felt he had no right to say anything. He really hoped she wasn’t screwing around behind Rhys’ back because he genuinely liked the guy and he was so good for Gwen. It was moments like this that he almost missed his boiler room and chains on the Valiant. Almost. At least he knew where he stood there. Torture, plot ways to get free, most likely die, eat mush, die again and plot some more. It was a hell existence but at least it wasn’t complicated.
“Jack, you should see this,” Leo said, pulling him out of his thoughts.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets he turned and walked over to Leo’s desk. “What’s up?”
She pointed to the monitor. A 3D image of a Weevils insides was turning slowly on the screen. Leo hit a key and said, “There. See that line?”
“Yeah,” he said, leaning in to get a better look.
“I scanned that Weevil before it woke up and unless it dies I won’t actually lay a finger on it but someone else has. Someone is operating on Weevils and somehow aren’t losing any limbs in doing so.”
“Why would anyone operate on a Weevil?” he asked, his hands no longer in his pockets as he leaned on the desk.
Leo pushed her chair back so he could get closer. “I’ve no clue. I’m sure it isn’t to patch them up because, why would anyone other than Torchwood? Who would have that technology or compassion or, well, the balls.”
“U.N.I.T.?” Jack supplied.
“Honestly, Jack? You and I both know better than that. They have about as much use for a healthy Weevil as we do. The only difference is that you and I are aren’t from around these parts and look at aliens a touch differently.” She looked up to see Ianto carrying a tray of coffees. “Ah, looky here…a human all full of compassion.”
“Leo, stop it,” Jack growled.
Leo opened her mouth to retort but one glance at Jack and she shut her mouth, stood up and stormed off to the autopsy bay.
“She doesn’t mean what she says,” Jack said as he watched her retreating back.
Ianto raised an eyebrow at Jack.
“Okay. She does. Just trust me, she’ll stop. She’s just mad at me and so she’s taking it out on you.” He reached out and took Ianto’s arm sliding his hand down and taking his hand. “She thinks,“ he sighed before trying again, “she thinks I’m opening myself up to heartache.”
“Are you, Jack?” Ianto asked, his fingers curling around Jacks hand.
Jack lifted their hands to his lips and he kissed Ianto’s knuckles. “Every waking moment.” He gave Ianto a sad smile before letting go and turning to the tray of coffees. He took the blue striped mug and downed half of the cup. He normally savoured Ianto’s coffee but he had a feeling he would need all the stamina he could get.
Suddenly, he felt Ianto very close to him and he turned to face the younger man as he gave Jack a wry smile. “I’ll try not to hurt you too much.”
Jack smiled and leaned in to claim Ianto’s lips when Leo’s voice interrupted their moment.
“Get a bloody room,” she said, walking back to her desk and throwing herself into the chair.
Jack snorted. “I have one, just below that manhole cover in my office. You’re always welcome to it,” Jack smiled. Leo blinked. Ianto did as well, staring at Jack with open confusion.
Leo looked up at Ianto and then back to Jack, one eyebrow raised. “With him?” She closed her eyes shook her head. “Granted, he’s pretty, he looks amazing in a suit and he makes a mad cup of coffee.”
“He’s standing right here,” Ianto interjected.
“He’s also very snarky and not your usual type,” she spat, pointedly ignoring Ianto. She waved her hand at Ianto and said, “Bit muffin-y for your tastes.”
“I’ll have you know I used to be very wiry until Jack kept insisting I didn’t eat enough,” Ianto interrupted, scowling at Jack as the older man laughed loudly.
Moving a chair closer to Leo’s desk, Jack sat beside her, practically pulling Ianto into his lap. The Welshman fought for and won his dignity and ended up perched on the edge of Gwen‘s desk. Jack steepled his fingers below his chin and leaned forward. “What, pray tell, is my type?”
“Breathing,” Ianto provided from behind them.
Leo paused and looked up at Ianto for a moment before shaking herself and replying to Jack, “You used to like them a bit wild. Adventurous. Not so domestic.”
“I’ve grown up,” Jack replied as he sat up and rolled the chair away from Leo to settle beside Ianto, placing a hand on Ianto’s thigh.
Leo smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Hardly.”
Ianto placed his hand on top of Jack’s, their fingers entwining. The movement was a statement that Leo noted. “Is that why you hate me?”
Leo sighed and said, “I don’t hate you. It’s just that- argh! So many bloody years, Jack.” Her attention went back to the immortal man. She stood up and began to pace. “Ninety plus years, Jack, I’ve waited. I did as you asked. I saw the world. I heard the music. I lived and now…” she paused, biting her lip. She took a deep breath. “Conta’neo de unsted,” she finished in her native tongue.
Jack only offered her a sad smile. “I know, love. I know.” He lifted Ianto’s hand, kissing the back of it. “Plwe vas conta’neo da?” he replied in return.
Leo looked at Ianto, scrutinized him.
Ianto squirmed a bit, not enjoying the look on Leo’s face. They were speaking about him in a language he had never heard and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like what they spoke of. He held up his free hand and waved. “Um, hallo,” he said, blushing slightly. “Yes, still sitting here.”
Leo sighed, “I’ll think about it.”
“Well, it isn’t just your decision. Remember how long it’s taken me to agree,” Jack said, smiling at her.
Leo blinked. “You agree?”
“Well, not unless,” he gave a slight nod toward Ianto.
Leo’s face fell. “Oh, yeah. Well, do you hold any hope?”
Jack stood up and crossed to her, reaching out to touch her face. “There is always hope.” He turned to look at Ianto and smiled.
Ianto sighed. “Apparently it is none of my business and this was all lovely, being spoken about as if I weren’t here, but could we end the cryptics?”
Jack laughed. “Of course.” He grabbed Leo by the shoulders and spun her around to sit in the seat he had abandoned, forcing her to sit beside Ianto. He pointed a finger at the pair. “All right, now the two of you, learn to get along,” Jack began. Ianto and Leo opened their mouths to protest when Jack held up his hand to stop them. “Right now. I need a cohesive team. I’m not asking you to be best friends, but Leo, Ianto isn’t your slave.”
“I thought he was the tea-boy?” Leo snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I thought you were human,” Ianto countered, his arms crossed firmly over his own chest.
Leo turned to look up at Ianto and the pair glared at one another. It was Jack who broke the silence. His hand wiped over his face in frustration as he said, “You two are so alike I could cry.”
“Are not!” Ianto blurted. “I am nothing like this spoiled child.”
“I’ll have you know I’m almost as old as Jack!” Leo yelled back.
“Nope. Buried for two millennia. Makes me way older than you,” Jack interjected but the pair didn’t seem to hear.
“Oh, so that makes your behaviour that much more acceptable? I’m older so I can act like a complete bitch!” Ianto shouted, standing. Jack moved to Tosh’s old desk and leaned on it. He thought that perhaps they really needed to just get this out of their systems.
Leo stood and got in Ianto‘s face. “I’ve seen more in my life than you could even begin to imagine. I’ve been at Jack’s side since 1912, do you think that a few short years is enough to make him love you when after all this time he’s never once loved me,” she cried, clasping her hand over her mouth after the words had already escaped.
Ianto stood, silent. Leo’s eyes were as large as saucers and only stared at Ianto. Ianto looked into those eyes as they filled with unshed tears and he knew that Jack was right, but in a different way. They were alike. Both in love with a man that had shown them affection but never committed. The man in question was behind them, watching, hearing the pain that spewed from Leo’s mouth. Ianto couldn’t say anything to comfort her because he didn’t know how to comfort himself.
The moment seemed to last forever. Ianto knew he had to say something, something profound like, ‘yes, but that’s why we cling to him. Even all his small affections are enough. To bask in his shadow and know that, right now, you are all that matters. Someday he will move on and you’ll be forgotten but until then, just enjoy it.’ He never got the chance.
The Rift alert went off and Jack turned around to pull the information up on the monitor. Ianto and Leo stared for another moment, a single tear rolled down her cheek and Ianto reached out to wipe it away. Leo wasn’t sure what to think. She shouldn’t have said that, but it was how she felt. Perhaps Jones did understand her. Perhaps he wasn’t just another passing fancy. Perhaps.
“Damnit!” Jack exclaimed behind them.
Ianto and Leo remained locked in a pleading, staring contest. “What’s wrong, sir?” Ianto asked over his shoulder, not losing eye contact with Leo.
“Weevils. Three of them. Butetown.” Jack tapped his keyboard. “Looks like one apiece.”
“I’ll go ready the SUV,” Ianto said, turning around, finally breaking his contact with Leo. He went for Jack’s greatcoat first, as per usual. Jack stood up and turned to find Ianto already there with the coat ready to slide it on. Leo watched, almost impressed to see the younger man go from lover to butler in no time flat. Jack walked over to Gwen’s desk and pulled open a drawer. He knew Gwen kept an extra gun there. He handed it to Leo. “You’ll need this.”
Leo absently wiped at her face and took the gun with disdain. “You know I hate these things.” She tucked it into her waistband as she went and took her knife and thigh holster from her own desk.
“I know, but this is more efficient. Remember how to use it?” Jack asked, leading her through the Hub to the garage.
Leo snorted. “Remember how to fuck?”
“Touché” Jack replied, coat swishing behind him as they entered the garage. Jack got behind the wheel. Ianto was already in the passenger seat. Leo got into the back with some under the breath grumblings. “All set?” Jack asked Ianto.
“Yes, sir,” the Welshman replied.
“Let’s go Weevil Hunting,” Jack said, as he backed up the SUV and pulled out of the garage.
Part II