Fic: A Song as Old as Time. (15/16)
Apr. 29th, 2012 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silver_sunTitle: A Song as Old as Time (15 of 16)
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto (eventually), alien OCs.
Word count: this part 2325 of total 37,000.
Rating: PG13
Summary: A chance visit to a bar and the unexpected arrival of an old acquaintance raises a lot questions for Jack and creates a dangerous situation for Ianto.
Notes: This is set during the first series after 1x06 Countrycide, but before 1x08 They Keep Killing Suzie. Yes, it has got one part longer, but the next part really will be the last one.
Updated weekly on a Sunday night.
part one part two part three part four part five part six part seven part eight
part nine part ten part eleven part twelve part thirteen part fourteen
Sitting down on the bench next to Ianto, Jack says, “Whatever happens, I'll get us home. I promise.”
He knows that for himself there are plenty of options. Not all of them are legal and they certainly aren't all fun, but then quick money rarely is in his experience. The problem lies in the fact that they would place Ianto at a level of risk that he finds unacceptable. Getting separated from him, leaving him alone and unable to speak any of the languages around him to ask for help and without any money for even the most basic essentials isn't an option. They have to stick together no matter what.
A working passage on a ship is a possibility, but ships travelling from Aphelion on a path close enough for them to teleport down to Earth are going to be few and far between. One could turn up tomorrow or they could wait for months and then find the ship isn't hiring.
Cold, tired and miserable, Jack sighs and closes his eyes. It's likely to be weeks before they're back in Cardiff, and knowing how his luck has been recently, Jack thinks bitterly, it would be in the time they are away that the Doctor would finally put in an appearance. And then what? Decades, centuries more of waiting, wondering if whatever the hell it is that's keeping him alive is just going to stop.
Beside him, Jack feels Ianto start to shiver again, and he shakes his head trying to clear away the negative thoughts, aware that Ianto must be picking up on his mood.
Realising that Ianto hasn't acknowledged what he said about getting them home, Jack says, “Hey, you okay?”
There's still no response, and Jack takes hold of his hand. It's cold, but thin sheen of sweat clings to the back of it.
“Oh hell,” Jack says under his breath. Ianto has been borderline for psychic shock since catching Vron hours before, and looking at him now Jack can see he's barely holding on. The cumulative effect of everything that has happened in the last couple of days on top of the terrible year before it finally catching up with him.
“Come on, you stay with me,” Jack says rubbing Ianto's hands, trying to warm them and make his realise he's not alone and that he's safe.
Ianto nods, the movement jerky like it's taking all his concentration, the street lights reflecting off the tears that are starting to roll down his cheeks. “I...sorry.”
“There's nothing to be sorry for,” Jack says trying to stop himself from worrying. His own fears are the last thing Ianto needs to be exposed to right now.
Quickly, he runs through their options. He can try to get Ianto somewhere quiet and hope that not having other peoples' feelings intruding on his own will help. Only if that was going to work being here in the gardens should already be working.
The other option is to take him somewhere that's full of life, and happy or at least neutral thoughts.
He remembers what Ianto had said about playing in the Red Dragon pub back in Cardiff, how the good mood of the people around him really did help.
Finding anywhere like that here at that's still open around dawn is unlikely, even in a place as busy as Aphelion. A cafe close to the space port is probably their best bet.
Trying to project a air of calm, Jack says, “Come on, let's get some breakfast. My treat.” He smiles at Ianto. “What do you say?”
He doesn't answer, although he squeezes his hand.
“You're going to have to get up,” Jack says trying to jolly him along. “I don't think they'll deliver it out here. ”
Ianto mumbles something indistinct, then gets unsteadily to his feet, nearly falling into Jack as he does.
Putting an arm about his waist, Jack guides Ianto who seems almost completely oblivious to their surroundings, through the nearly empty streets.
It isn't that far to the spaceport, but Jack is starting to consider whether picking his up and carrying him is viable when he sees the lit up windows of a cafe, the neon sign over door proclaiming it to be 'Plox's all world eatery'
Despite the early hour it's packed, although fortunately as they arrive a couple of the customers leave. The mood in the place is good as far as Jack can tell, as he pushes his way through the press of customers surrounding the counter, almost dragging Ianto with him, until they get to the empty seat.
“I'm going to get us something to eat, okay?” Jack makes sure he's got eye contact before he continues. “You're going to alright, and I'll back soon.”
Ianto nods again, hands gripping the edge of the table.
Behind the counter a short, blue, vaguely humanoid figure sits on a floating metal disk. He takes orders, while the ten mechanical arms that radiate out from the disk take money, cook, serve food, make drinks, and load the the dishwasher.
“Looks like you wore your man out,” Plox says with a laugh, glancing past Jack to where Ianto looks like he about to fall asleep across the table.
“We were up all night,” Jack says with a grin, deciding to let him make whatever of that he wants. “So what you got that's hot and sweet?”
Plox laughs again. “If you're angling for a discount you're out of luck.” He quickly serves up a plate of fried pastries filled with a thick fruit paste and two mugs of what Jack can only really describe as tea with added mint and caramel.
Handing one of the mechanical arms a couple of credit chips he's kept pushed into a small gap in the leather of his vortex manipulator for just such an occasion, Jack heads back over to Ianto.
He puts one mug in front of him, then sits down.
Ianto's hands move slowly, like it's taking a conscious effort to control them, as grips the mug.
“It's even better if you actually drink it,” Jack says encouragingly, after Ianto has made no move to do anything other than use it as a hand warmer. He drinks some of his own, then adds, “Not as good as your coffee, but it's still good.”
Ianto blinks, and then stares down at it, an almost puzzled expression on his face, as if he's only just realised it's still there.
“Ianto, please.” Jack leans in closer to him. “You've got to try.”
Closing his eyes, Ianto hangs his head, and for a moment Jack thinks that he's about to cry or maybe even pass out. Then with shaking hands he carefully lifts the mug and drinks.
It's hard waiting and trying not to let any of his own fears take hold as time crawls slowly by, the pre-dawn gloom outside gradually brightening into early morning sunlight. Slowly though, Jack can see Ianto become more aware of his surroundings, his eyes following what's going on rather than appearing to be fixed on some distant thing only he can see.
Once Ianto has drunk half his drink, Jack pushes the plate towards him. “You want to try and eat something?”
He nods, and picks up one of the pastries.
Only once Ianto has finished it and started on a second does Jack ask, “How you doing?”
Ianto voice sounds rough when he finally speaks, “Not about to run away screaming. So a little better, I think.”
Jack feels himself relax slightly, glad that Ianto is at least coherent and talking again. Although he doesn't want to push him too much there's one thing that he needs to know. “Is this the first time this has happened?”
“No,” Ianto admits quietly. “There's been a few other times. The last was after Lisa. After I went home, after you let me go home. I don't remember anything much about the next two days.”
“We did call you, and you answered. We thought you sounded drunk, and...” Jack stops, suddenly feeling ashamed of what they'd done, or rather hadn't done, next. “You were alive and we were busy, so we just left you to it.”
“At least you called.” He smiles wanly. “I didn't think you had.”
“We should have done more.” Jack looks away, feeling too guilty to accept the fact that Ianto is actually grateful that they'd even thought to see how he was.
“Given what had just happened it was more than you needed to.”
Jack's not sure he's ever going to be able to believe that even if Ianto does, and silence stretches out between them.
Uncertain of what to say to him without making things worse, Jack eventually opts for, “How about I get us another drink?”
Looking relieved that he's not going to be asked any more questions, Ianto replies, “That sounds good.”
“It's pretty busy in here,” Jack says to Plox once he's back at the counter. The cafe is still as packed as when he and Ianto had first arrived, which gives him an idea, and he asks, “I don't suppose you'd up for hiring any new staff?”
“No can do.”
“Any reason why not?” Jack persists. Cafe work might not be the best paid, but there are worse jobs, and there was always the chance of overhearing something that might be to their advantage here.
“Because this place'll be deader than once they've fixed the problem at the spaceport.”
And this, thinks Jack, is just the sort of information that he's been waiting to hear. “And what problem is that?”
“Some fool freighter pilot out on strip three tried to take off before he'd finished transmitting the disembarkation codes. Whole flaming system went caput, they've had to reboot the entire exit grid.” Plox puts half a dozen more burgers onto a hot plate. “Best day's trading I've had weeks.”
“They'll give any one who can pick up a form a pilots license to anyone these days,” grumbles a Hath, sitting on one of the stools by the counter. “In my day we had to...”
Strip three was where they'd put in, and Jack feels a flare of hope that perhaps Jubel has got caught up in this, that's he's not had the chance leave them behind yet.
Leaving them talking about the good old days, he hurries back over to Ianto. “Change of plan. Looks like Jubel could still be at the spaceport...”
“What are we waiting for?” Ianto says standing up. “Let's go.”
The movement is a little too fast, and Jack can see him sway for a moment before, before he manages to steady himself, hands pressed flat against the table top.
“Steady.” Jack puts a hand on his shoulder. “If you're not up to walking we'll think of something else.”
“I am.” Ianto takes a couple of deep breathes then straightens up. “I'm just tired.”
“You're allowed not to be okay,” Jack says, frustration creeping into his voice.
“I know. I'm not lying to you,” he says wearily, shoulders slumping. “Being like that, afterwards I'm always tired. It feels like I've not slept for a week.”
A few of the other cafe patrons are looking at them now, and Jack says, “Okay, I believe you. But if you feel like you're going to zone out again tell me.”
Ianto just nods and give him a half hearted smile.
They walk through the streets as quickly as Ianto's exhausted state will permit, the city busy now that the morning rush has started. They are on the edge of the spaceport, when they hear the roar overhead of a ship taking off.
The ship is clear against the early morning sunlight, as it wobbles as it climbs steeply, the stabilisation thrusters firing more on one side than the other.
Jack stops, staring up at it, his eyes widening as his heart sinks. It's Jubel's ship. They're too late.
It brings back too many uncomfortable memories of seeing a different ship, so very long ago now, fading and leaving him behind.
“Jack?” Ianto catches hold of his arm. “What about the teleport? Is he out of range?”
“Not yet.” He's got about five to ten minutes tops before the ship breaks atmosphere and their chances of a successful teleport drop.
Looking at the bracelet, Jack sees the interface immediately. It's a simple numerical coordinate dial, all he needs to do is input in the ship's unique ID number they'll be on their way.
Relieve that he actually knows it, it had been something that he'd had to input several times during the course of repairing Jubel's ships, Jack twists the bevel around the base of the large gem first one way and then the other.
Inside the red stone a string of numbers starts to appear. Once it's complete Jack reads it through a couple of times, needing to be certain it's right before he activates it.
As sure as he can be that it's right, he says to Ianto, “Hold on tight, this could be a bit rough.”
Stepping in close, so that his chest is again Jack's, Ianto wraps his arms about him.
“Here goes nothing.” Jack presses the smaller green gem, and the by now familiar blue light and crackle of energy surrounds them.
Rough doesn't really cover the landing, as they are thrown onto the deck with bruising force. But lying on the floor with Ianto safe and on top of him, and Jubel staring at them in amazement, Jack laughs until he cries. They are going home.
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Ianto (eventually), alien OCs.
Word count: this part 2325 of total 37,000.
Rating: PG13
Summary: A chance visit to a bar and the unexpected arrival of an old acquaintance raises a lot questions for Jack and creates a dangerous situation for Ianto.
Notes: This is set during the first series after 1x06 Countrycide, but before 1x08 They Keep Killing Suzie. Yes, it has got one part longer, but the next part really will be the last one.
Updated weekly on a Sunday night.
part one part two part three part four part five part six part seven part eight
part nine part ten part eleven part twelve part thirteen part fourteen
Sitting down on the bench next to Ianto, Jack says, “Whatever happens, I'll get us home. I promise.”
He knows that for himself there are plenty of options. Not all of them are legal and they certainly aren't all fun, but then quick money rarely is in his experience. The problem lies in the fact that they would place Ianto at a level of risk that he finds unacceptable. Getting separated from him, leaving him alone and unable to speak any of the languages around him to ask for help and without any money for even the most basic essentials isn't an option. They have to stick together no matter what.
A working passage on a ship is a possibility, but ships travelling from Aphelion on a path close enough for them to teleport down to Earth are going to be few and far between. One could turn up tomorrow or they could wait for months and then find the ship isn't hiring.
Cold, tired and miserable, Jack sighs and closes his eyes. It's likely to be weeks before they're back in Cardiff, and knowing how his luck has been recently, Jack thinks bitterly, it would be in the time they are away that the Doctor would finally put in an appearance. And then what? Decades, centuries more of waiting, wondering if whatever the hell it is that's keeping him alive is just going to stop.
Beside him, Jack feels Ianto start to shiver again, and he shakes his head trying to clear away the negative thoughts, aware that Ianto must be picking up on his mood.
Realising that Ianto hasn't acknowledged what he said about getting them home, Jack says, “Hey, you okay?”
There's still no response, and Jack takes hold of his hand. It's cold, but thin sheen of sweat clings to the back of it.
“Oh hell,” Jack says under his breath. Ianto has been borderline for psychic shock since catching Vron hours before, and looking at him now Jack can see he's barely holding on. The cumulative effect of everything that has happened in the last couple of days on top of the terrible year before it finally catching up with him.
“Come on, you stay with me,” Jack says rubbing Ianto's hands, trying to warm them and make his realise he's not alone and that he's safe.
Ianto nods, the movement jerky like it's taking all his concentration, the street lights reflecting off the tears that are starting to roll down his cheeks. “I...sorry.”
“There's nothing to be sorry for,” Jack says trying to stop himself from worrying. His own fears are the last thing Ianto needs to be exposed to right now.
Quickly, he runs through their options. He can try to get Ianto somewhere quiet and hope that not having other peoples' feelings intruding on his own will help. Only if that was going to work being here in the gardens should already be working.
The other option is to take him somewhere that's full of life, and happy or at least neutral thoughts.
He remembers what Ianto had said about playing in the Red Dragon pub back in Cardiff, how the good mood of the people around him really did help.
Finding anywhere like that here at that's still open around dawn is unlikely, even in a place as busy as Aphelion. A cafe close to the space port is probably their best bet.
Trying to project a air of calm, Jack says, “Come on, let's get some breakfast. My treat.” He smiles at Ianto. “What do you say?”
He doesn't answer, although he squeezes his hand.
“You're going to have to get up,” Jack says trying to jolly him along. “I don't think they'll deliver it out here. ”
Ianto mumbles something indistinct, then gets unsteadily to his feet, nearly falling into Jack as he does.
Putting an arm about his waist, Jack guides Ianto who seems almost completely oblivious to their surroundings, through the nearly empty streets.
It isn't that far to the spaceport, but Jack is starting to consider whether picking his up and carrying him is viable when he sees the lit up windows of a cafe, the neon sign over door proclaiming it to be 'Plox's all world eatery'
Despite the early hour it's packed, although fortunately as they arrive a couple of the customers leave. The mood in the place is good as far as Jack can tell, as he pushes his way through the press of customers surrounding the counter, almost dragging Ianto with him, until they get to the empty seat.
“I'm going to get us something to eat, okay?” Jack makes sure he's got eye contact before he continues. “You're going to alright, and I'll back soon.”
Ianto nods again, hands gripping the edge of the table.
Behind the counter a short, blue, vaguely humanoid figure sits on a floating metal disk. He takes orders, while the ten mechanical arms that radiate out from the disk take money, cook, serve food, make drinks, and load the the dishwasher.
“Looks like you wore your man out,” Plox says with a laugh, glancing past Jack to where Ianto looks like he about to fall asleep across the table.
“We were up all night,” Jack says with a grin, deciding to let him make whatever of that he wants. “So what you got that's hot and sweet?”
Plox laughs again. “If you're angling for a discount you're out of luck.” He quickly serves up a plate of fried pastries filled with a thick fruit paste and two mugs of what Jack can only really describe as tea with added mint and caramel.
Handing one of the mechanical arms a couple of credit chips he's kept pushed into a small gap in the leather of his vortex manipulator for just such an occasion, Jack heads back over to Ianto.
He puts one mug in front of him, then sits down.
Ianto's hands move slowly, like it's taking a conscious effort to control them, as grips the mug.
“It's even better if you actually drink it,” Jack says encouragingly, after Ianto has made no move to do anything other than use it as a hand warmer. He drinks some of his own, then adds, “Not as good as your coffee, but it's still good.”
Ianto blinks, and then stares down at it, an almost puzzled expression on his face, as if he's only just realised it's still there.
“Ianto, please.” Jack leans in closer to him. “You've got to try.”
Closing his eyes, Ianto hangs his head, and for a moment Jack thinks that he's about to cry or maybe even pass out. Then with shaking hands he carefully lifts the mug and drinks.
It's hard waiting and trying not to let any of his own fears take hold as time crawls slowly by, the pre-dawn gloom outside gradually brightening into early morning sunlight. Slowly though, Jack can see Ianto become more aware of his surroundings, his eyes following what's going on rather than appearing to be fixed on some distant thing only he can see.
Once Ianto has drunk half his drink, Jack pushes the plate towards him. “You want to try and eat something?”
He nods, and picks up one of the pastries.
Only once Ianto has finished it and started on a second does Jack ask, “How you doing?”
Ianto voice sounds rough when he finally speaks, “Not about to run away screaming. So a little better, I think.”
Jack feels himself relax slightly, glad that Ianto is at least coherent and talking again. Although he doesn't want to push him too much there's one thing that he needs to know. “Is this the first time this has happened?”
“No,” Ianto admits quietly. “There's been a few other times. The last was after Lisa. After I went home, after you let me go home. I don't remember anything much about the next two days.”
“We did call you, and you answered. We thought you sounded drunk, and...” Jack stops, suddenly feeling ashamed of what they'd done, or rather hadn't done, next. “You were alive and we were busy, so we just left you to it.”
“At least you called.” He smiles wanly. “I didn't think you had.”
“We should have done more.” Jack looks away, feeling too guilty to accept the fact that Ianto is actually grateful that they'd even thought to see how he was.
“Given what had just happened it was more than you needed to.”
Jack's not sure he's ever going to be able to believe that even if Ianto does, and silence stretches out between them.
Uncertain of what to say to him without making things worse, Jack eventually opts for, “How about I get us another drink?”
Looking relieved that he's not going to be asked any more questions, Ianto replies, “That sounds good.”
“It's pretty busy in here,” Jack says to Plox once he's back at the counter. The cafe is still as packed as when he and Ianto had first arrived, which gives him an idea, and he asks, “I don't suppose you'd up for hiring any new staff?”
“No can do.”
“Any reason why not?” Jack persists. Cafe work might not be the best paid, but there are worse jobs, and there was always the chance of overhearing something that might be to their advantage here.
“Because this place'll be deader than once they've fixed the problem at the spaceport.”
And this, thinks Jack, is just the sort of information that he's been waiting to hear. “And what problem is that?”
“Some fool freighter pilot out on strip three tried to take off before he'd finished transmitting the disembarkation codes. Whole flaming system went caput, they've had to reboot the entire exit grid.” Plox puts half a dozen more burgers onto a hot plate. “Best day's trading I've had weeks.”
“They'll give any one who can pick up a form a pilots license to anyone these days,” grumbles a Hath, sitting on one of the stools by the counter. “In my day we had to...”
Strip three was where they'd put in, and Jack feels a flare of hope that perhaps Jubel has got caught up in this, that's he's not had the chance leave them behind yet.
Leaving them talking about the good old days, he hurries back over to Ianto. “Change of plan. Looks like Jubel could still be at the spaceport...”
“What are we waiting for?” Ianto says standing up. “Let's go.”
The movement is a little too fast, and Jack can see him sway for a moment before, before he manages to steady himself, hands pressed flat against the table top.
“Steady.” Jack puts a hand on his shoulder. “If you're not up to walking we'll think of something else.”
“I am.” Ianto takes a couple of deep breathes then straightens up. “I'm just tired.”
“You're allowed not to be okay,” Jack says, frustration creeping into his voice.
“I know. I'm not lying to you,” he says wearily, shoulders slumping. “Being like that, afterwards I'm always tired. It feels like I've not slept for a week.”
A few of the other cafe patrons are looking at them now, and Jack says, “Okay, I believe you. But if you feel like you're going to zone out again tell me.”
Ianto just nods and give him a half hearted smile.
They walk through the streets as quickly as Ianto's exhausted state will permit, the city busy now that the morning rush has started. They are on the edge of the spaceport, when they hear the roar overhead of a ship taking off.
The ship is clear against the early morning sunlight, as it wobbles as it climbs steeply, the stabilisation thrusters firing more on one side than the other.
Jack stops, staring up at it, his eyes widening as his heart sinks. It's Jubel's ship. They're too late.
It brings back too many uncomfortable memories of seeing a different ship, so very long ago now, fading and leaving him behind.
“Jack?” Ianto catches hold of his arm. “What about the teleport? Is he out of range?”
“Not yet.” He's got about five to ten minutes tops before the ship breaks atmosphere and their chances of a successful teleport drop.
Looking at the bracelet, Jack sees the interface immediately. It's a simple numerical coordinate dial, all he needs to do is input in the ship's unique ID number they'll be on their way.
Relieve that he actually knows it, it had been something that he'd had to input several times during the course of repairing Jubel's ships, Jack twists the bevel around the base of the large gem first one way and then the other.
Inside the red stone a string of numbers starts to appear. Once it's complete Jack reads it through a couple of times, needing to be certain it's right before he activates it.
As sure as he can be that it's right, he says to Ianto, “Hold on tight, this could be a bit rough.”
Stepping in close, so that his chest is again Jack's, Ianto wraps his arms about him.
“Here goes nothing.” Jack presses the smaller green gem, and the by now familiar blue light and crackle of energy surrounds them.
Rough doesn't really cover the landing, as they are thrown onto the deck with bruising force. But lying on the floor with Ianto safe and on top of him, and Jubel staring at them in amazement, Jack laughs until he cries. They are going home.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-04-30 01:15 am (UTC)Ianto having to deal with his abilities on his own through everything that's happened to him recently has to have been agonizing for him. If Jack had known he may have been able to help him more, but I guess that wouldn't be something Ianto would be too eager to share, especially having witnessed the trouble it can get him into.
It had to be pretty overwhelming to think they were stuck on Aphelion with no money or contacts and no way to get home. Jack would've been okay, of course, but Ianto would be another story. Jack had to have been thrilled to learn that Jubel might still be there and so thankful for the gift of the teleport bracelet. Hopefully Jubel's old ship will get them home without developing any major problems on the way.
Weekend Edition, 27-30 April 2012
Date: 2012-04-30 10:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-30 07:42 pm (UTC)