Myfanwy Fic

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:14:36 GMT

Earthbound
Jack/Ianto, rated PG-13
Spoilers for Journey's End

(written spur of the moment and unbeta'd)

thank you for saving the world and I missed you and I love you and thank you for coming back</i> hug. But it's okay because Jack hugs him back just as tightly.

"Ianto," Jack says. "Where's Gwen?"

"She went home-"

"Right, Rhys, of course."

"Shall I call her back?"

"No, she's - let her be. For now." Jack says. He keeps one hand around Ianto's back and gestures to his other companion. Old friends, by the look of Jack's smirk, but who isn't a friend of Jack's these days? "Ianto, this is Ricky-"

"Mickey,"

"-and he's gonna be working with us."

"Is that so?" Ianto says, keeping his voice neutral. He shouldn't be surprised, because Jack never does things the orthodox way, so why wouldn't he hire people on a whim? And because he's Jack, and because Torchwood is in shambles still, he probably won't have to pull many strings to make it official.

*

Ianto makes a curry at his flat and they eat sitting cross-legged on the floor. Their backs are against the couch, knees touching. Jack is ravenous and buzzing with leftover adrenaline as he reinacts the skirmishes, describes how it felt to sneak around the Dalek ship, the human Doctor and Sarah Jane and all of these people that Ianto feels by now like he knows himself.

"It was..." Jack can't seem to find a word to finish his sentence, so he eats another forkfull instead. "I wish you could have been there."

"Maybe next time," Ianto smiles at him. "Next time you dash away to save the world in a little blue box. Maybe then, you'll ask me to come with you."

"I couldn't," Jack pushes his plate away and rests his hand on Ianto's knee. "And I hope there isn't a next time."

"There will be," Ianto says, and puts down his fork. "There always is."

And you won't bring me along then, either, Ianto thinks.

*

"Stop thinking," Jack says, and gives Ianto a fond kiss on the cheek. "It's Wednseday, we don't allow heavy thinking on Wednesdays unless the world is about to end."

"What if it is?" Ianto shrugs. "And since when do we have that rule?"

"Since now, and it isn't." Jack leans against the wall and holds out his arms. "Does someone need a hug?"

Ianto rolls his eyes. "Sometimes I think-"

"Ah-ah! There you go again! No thinking! That's it, come on." Jack lets his arms drop and turns around. "Hey, everyone?"

Mickey, Martha and Gwen look up from their respective stations.

"We're going out. Pub time, and I'm not taking no for an answer. Pizza and beer, my treat. Gwen, you might as well call Rhys and tell him to come along."

It's half three and everyone looks at Jack like he's their new best friend. Mickey hops to his feet and rubs his hands together. "This is my kinda job, all right."

Jack grins and turns around. "See? Come on, now. "

"What's the purpose in this, then?" Ianto says, crossing his arms. "Are you up to something?"

Jack shrugs. "I can't just want to see you happy?"

"Drunk and happy aren't the same thing."

"No, but it is easier to make you happy when you're drunk."

"Happy and naked aren't the same thing either."

"Will you come along if I promise not to infringe upon your virtue? I won't lay a finger on you."

"Hey," Ianto protests. His face draws into a little frown. "That's not what I said."

"Okay," Jack slides his arms around Ianto, pulling him close despite Ianto's tense posture. "I just want to see my boyfriend happy."

Ianto makes a face, just like he does every time he hears that word coming from Jack's mouth. It's almost unnatural and while Ianto appreciates the gesture he likes it best when they don't venture into territory too domestic. They're more the actions than words type of couple, anyway. But there is good intention behind that and Ianto lets Jack hug him. "Fine. But you're buying. And I don't just mean the first round, you're buying every round."

Jack touches his cheek and then kisses him on the mouth, softly pressing their lips together. "Whatever it takes."

*

Ianto tells himself that his life is exciting enough as it is. He encounters aliens and threats upon his life and gets regularly shagged by a bloke either ten or three-thousand years older than him and of whose genetic makeup Ianto cannot be entirely certain of. (Human, mostly, he thinks, but there's something else mixed in there that makes their readings about him always just a little bit off.) He's got plenty of excitement to keep him on his toes, he tells himself, and he's not missing out on all that much by being earthbound.

Fic: Dirty Little Secret (DW/XF crossover)

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:28:51 GMT

Dirty Little Secret (DW/X-Files crossover)
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Martha Jones/Alex Krycek, suggested Krycek/Mulder

Warnings: PWP. Violence and a tiny bit of gunplay. The things I do for maverick0324. ;)

Martha Jones was panting, out of breath from running around a damp and dirty parking garage, and gingerly holding her scraped and bruised arm against her body. She could feel blood dripping down her skin and wondered if he was animal enough to be able to smell it.

Apparently so. Krycek's footsteps were feather light and she didn't know he was behind her until she felt the cold press of a gun against the back of her neck.

"You've been spending too much time with Mulder," he whispered, breath warm in her ear. "You're reminding me of him."

She started to speak, a sarcastic reply quick on her tongue, but the gun pressed in harder. Warmth twisted through her but she ignored it.

"It wasn't a compliment," he said roughly.

"Then why are you so happy to see me?" She said, pressing back against him. She ran one hand up his side, shoving up his shirt until she could feel flesh to distract him while her other hand make a sneaky grab for the gun.

He growled and held the gun away while he twisted around until he had her shoved hard against a square concrete pillar. "Don't think so, bitch."

He tapped the gun to her temple. They were both out of breath, chilled but sticky with sweat.

"But you're still happy to see me." She rocked her hips forward. He was hard and thick, an obvious outline in his dark trousers.

"Bet you're happy to see me, too." He took both of her wrists in one hand and held the over her head, the backs of her hands rubbing raw against the rough concrete, while he shoved his gun into his pocket.

She could have easily escaped at that moment if she'd wanted to, but she didn't.

He reached between them and unsnapped the button on her low riding jeans. His thumb rubbed a light circle around her belly button and a tremor went through her. The zipper was next, inching down painfully slowly until he could see the pale pink cotton of her panties. He dipped his head, nose brushing her cheek. "So what is it, Martha Jones? Happy to see me or not?"

She refused to say anything, just leaned against the pillar and tilted her hips toward him. He pressed his palm flat against her stomach and slid his hand downward, underneath the layers of denim and cotton until he found feel coarse curls and then searing dampness between her legs. He rubbed a finger across her slit, press inward until he could feel her pulsing around him.

"Oh yeah," he said smugly. "You're happy to see me all right."

"Not like I'm the only one," Martha muttered, pressing her thigh against his hard on. "So let's just say we cut the foreplay and you fuck me now?"

Krycek groaned and dropped his grasp on her hands in order to undo his trousers. He lifted her up, biceps straining until her legs locked around his waist, and pushed inside of her with one firm thrust. Her head dropped back, skull thunking against the wall as he wrapped his arms around her back and started to fuck her at a fast, greedy clip. Her mouth dropped to his neck and she bit down hard on the exposed skin.

She knew she'd be sore the next day, but it was worth it. She hung on for dear life as he pressed into her, unable to let go or say a word. This was how it worked with them; gritty and violent and brilliant. When she came, she saw stars. When he came, she saw him - mouth open, face red, eyes closed. She felt him throbbing inside of her and when he pulled out she could feel him still, sticky and dripping between her legs.

When he was done he zipped off his pants and sneered at her. "You're such a little slut for my cock. What did I tell you? More and more like Mulder every day."

Fic: Three Songs of Shattering

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:32:00 GMT

Title: Three Songs of Shattering
Author: dizzydame
Rating: R
Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Martha/Ianto, Rose
Spoilers: AU, but Torchwood spoilers through series 2 finale, Doctor Who spoilers through series 3.

Note: I love Rose. No, really, I love Rose. Just keep that in mind.

Jack tells him that once upon a time, Rose had the power of a god. That Rose is why he lives forever. That Rose saved the universe and the Doctor. That Rose is the most spectacular human being he's ever met.

Ianto looks at her and sees a sweet girl of average intelligence who dresses like a twenty year old and puts cheap blonde dye in her hair every few weeks.

Ianto thinks that Rose is a perfectly lovely girl. She's got a sweet disposition and she tries to be helpful, she really does. He's got nothing against her. Jack obviously enjoys having her around. He's more protective of her than he is of any else in the team. Rose is sacred, she's precious, she's not expendable. Ianto's just not sure that Rose is worth all of the fuss. She doesn't - can't - actually do much of anything besides blather on about things like the Slitheen and the Shadow Proclamation once in a while, and even that experience is rarely helpful.

Sometimes, Ianto thinks, it's like Jack is keeping her in a class case. Waiting for the Doctor to show up so he can go, "Look. Look what I've found for you. I found her and I kept her safe. Do you love me now?"

And Ianto just can't see why. Not after meeting Martha - now there was a woman worth prizing. Martha's a functioning member of the team. She carries herself with dignity and professionalism. She does her job more efficiently than Owen ever did and she's a sight better to look at, too.

(Not that Ianto doesn't miss the smug bastard more than he'd ever soberly admit. Him and Tosh, too - thinking of them is still like an open wound, but this is Torchwood and life goes on.)

Life is stranger now. The team dynamic is fractured. Everyone has secret histories. Gwen, if anyone, feels the most like an outsider now. She's not in Jack's heart or his past or his bed. She's never spent a year lost in time with him, never traveled the galaxies with him, never warmed his bed. She'll be gone soon, and Ianto as much as he likes her, he is more afraid of losing his last tie with what the old Torchwood represented than losing the woman that Gwen is. Without Gwen, he thinks, Torchwood will be a mockery of itself. A group of people counting the days until someone comes to collect them and lead them on to a better life.

In his darker moments, Ianto really fucking hates the Doctor. Because Ianto loves Jack and he adores Martha and he likes Rose, but none of these connections would withstand the whirling, twirling little blue box fluttering back into his life.

*

"Ianto," Rose says, smiling her big smile and batting her lashes up at him. "Do you have some more of that delicious coffee made? Jack's about out of his mind trying to decrypt those documents."

"It's probably gone cold by now." Ianto says, "But I'll make another pot."

"You're fabulous. Don't ever let anyone tell you different." She kisses him on the cheek and bounds off, blond ponytail swaying. It's hard for him to imagine that this schoolgirl playing grown up has lived so much more than him. He's heard her stories but somehow the tales of heroism don't match the big eyes.

*

"The way he talked about her," Martha tells him. She's half gone on drinks that Ianto's buying her. The closer to drunk she gets, Ianto notices, the more she uses her hands. Big sweeping gestures. Her face is more expressive, too. "The way he talked about her, you'd think she was like, this amazing goddess or something. Rose always knew what to say, Rose always knew what to do, Rose saved the universe the Dalek emperor, Rose saved me. I saved him, too."

The last bit is pure pout, her head tipped back as tears gather in her eyes. He's brought her here on purpose to let her unwind after weeks of watching the tension build within her every time Rose walks into a room.

"Of course you did," Ianto says, reaching across the table to cover her hand with his own.

Her hand turns and their fingers lace together. "Too bad Jack got you first, Ianto." She sighs. "Because I reckon you're about as close to the perfect man as I'll ever bloody get."

He smiles back at her and thinks just for a moment that he's sorry that Jack got him first, too.

*

They're stretched out on Ianto's sofa watching television. Well, the television set is on, but they've abandoned watching in favor of necking. Jack's hand is on the small of Ianto's back underneath his t-shirt, Ianto's hand fisted in Jack's hair as he rhythmically rocks their hips together.

"Ianto," Jack says, and kisses him hard and messy and wet, like Jack gets when he's really horny. "Remind me why I insisted on working through the night every night for the past week?"

"Alien invasion," Ianto supplies, kissing his way down Jack's neck and tugging his bracers down. "Saving the planet. That sort of thing."

"Right," Jack groans, his hands sliding down Ianto's back and cupping his arse. "Still, a week without your gorgeous cock... don't know what I was thinking."

"All yours now," Ianto finished on a gasp when Jack's hips push up suddenly. "Bedroom?"

"Bedroom," Jack says, and pulls Ianto back up for one more kiss.

*

One day the Doctor will come back. Maybe he'll just take Rose. Maybe he'll take Rose and Jack. Maybe he'll take all three of them. Maybe Ianto will be left to run the hub and feed the pterodactyl and make sure Gwen's sincerity and humanity doesn't get the best of her in times of crisis. Maybe he'll train new people and he'll be the one that sleeps in the hub and never leaves and keeps his past a mystery from his crew.

The thought induces panic. Shortness of breath and sweaty palms and his stomach twisted into knots.

"Hey," Jack says, coming out of nowhere. Ianto is sitting at his desk at the tourist center, his elbows on the counter and his face buried in his hands. Jack wraps his arms around Ianto from behind, resting his chin on the top of Ianto's head. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ianto tries to say. It comes out muffled. He lifts his head and leans back against Jack. "Nothing."

"Something," Jack argues. Ianto feels the gentle press of a kiss to the top of his head.

"Jack," Ianto lets some of the worry that he feels constantly not slip into his voice. "What's going to happen to me?"

Jack's arms tighten around Ianto. "I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen to any of us."

It's honesty, which is all Ianto's ever asked from Jack. Only right now, he wishes desperately that the honest answer were something a little nicer.

Grief of grief has drained me clean;
Still it seems a pity
No one saw, -- it must have been
Very pretty.

- Edna St. Vincent Millay

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:31:56 GMT

On the Subject of a Second Date
NC-17
Jack/Ianto

Post-KKBB.

"There'll be a mess to clean up," Ianto mutters, but his head is thrown back and his legs are sprawled open.

He is nothing like the normal picture he presents: carefully poised, putting forth a demeanor that is professional and unflappable. Now he's sweaty and mussed and deliciously wanton. Jack likes that word. It makes him think of romance novels and porn that takes itself too seriously.

Ianto isn't taking himself very seriously. He's laughing when he isn't moaning, or panting, or begging. The begging is a particular favorite of Jack's. Ianto does it so well, all throaty and rushed like he can't believe what is coming out of his mouth. It thrills Jack in a way that little else can. He truly didn't expect it to be like this. He expected Ianto to be quiet and reserved, to reign in every little reaction, to keep himself reserved. He expected to have to pry his name from Ianto's mouth after so long away. He'd been up to the challenge, of course, but this is so much better.

He rubs at the ache between his legs and licks a wet line up the side of Ianto's shaft to tongue at the leaking head. "I don't care about the mess. We have someone that takes care of that."

Ianto's head jerks up. It takes a moment for him to remember what he said, even that he had said anything at all.

"Oh." He chokes on a laugh. "Sir. Fuck you- ah, Christ."

Jack quirks an eyebrow, and Ianto's tune changes. The fuck you becomes a desperately chanted fuck me.

He wraps his fingers around Ianto's cock just to feel it twitch and pulse under his grasp. Ianto's heels dig into the floor and he strains to get his cock closer to Jack's mouth. His eyes are half closed and his mouth is open as he breathes noisily.

"Something you want?" Jack purses his lips and rubs them against the taut head. They come back sticky and when he pulls away, a silvery strand of precome connects them. He licks it away, knowing that Ianto's eyes are on him.

Jack lets go. Ianto mumbles something incoherent and thrusts himself against Jack. His cock hits Jack's cheek, and Jack playfully rubs against it. It isn't enough, not hardly enough, but Jack isn't going to let Ianto come until he can feel it from the inside out. His cock throbs again at the thought, and he needs to distract himself so he leans up and splays his hands flat on the desk beside Ianto and kisses him. It's slow and deliberate, playful in technique, all nipping and licking, but all to serious in the intensity that Jack infuses it with.

Ianto is not merely an object of seduction. He struggles into a more upright position and when he's stable, his hands start to move. He pushes down Jack's suspenders and slides his hands underneath the t-shirt. He's fascinated by the smooth skin of Jack's back, and rubs the heel of his palm against the notches of his spine. Each little caress stokes the fire and he lets Ianto pull them together, the bulge of his erection grinding against Ianto's hard on.

"Take them off," Ianto says, his hands already fumbling with the button of Jack's trousers. "Please take them off."

"Ask nicely," Jack smirks, covering Ianto's hands with his own. "And I may."

Ianto plays at being coy very well, but makes it obvious that he is just that: playing. He dips his head and licks his lips. His hands retreat back a few inches. "Please, sir, may I?"

Jack laughs; it's too cheesy to take serious, and Ianto joins him... but undoes Jack's trousers while he's at it. Jack lets him, encourages him, luxuriates in the feel of Ianto's warm fingers tugging at his cock. "I'm going to fuck you," he says, just in case Ianto hadn't realized yet.

"I know you are," Ianto smiles. He seems so calm and satisfied that Jack wonders for a moment if this situation isn't all backwards after all... if maybe he's walked right into some sort of plan that Ianto's been working at all along. The idea is so strange and so confusing that he dismisses it right away. This is still his game, and Ianto is still the prize he gets for being so patient and for learning how to care about someone before he woos them into bed. (All right, so maybe he's had Ianto in bed before, but damnit it's different this time, it really is.)

"Thank you," Jack mutters, eyes squeezing shut as his cock throbs. "Thank you for letting me... for tonight."

"Why," Ianto says, pausing to suck on the head of Jack's cock. "Why are you thanking me?"

"Dunno," Jack gasps and laughs. "Just seems like the thing to do. Manners, and all."

"You don't have any manners."

"Fuck me," Jack's hand fists in Ianto's hair. "Hey - yeah - I do. Sometimes."

"Right." Ianto says, and that's the end of the discussion because he wants to get on with the blowjob. The fact that Jack does not interrupt has less to do with manners than it does his desire to come.

And then the deliciously hot mouth is gone and there's cold air on him and that just won't do at all. He hauls Ianto up with a firm grasp on his shoulders and kisses him wetly on the mouth before shoving him around. Hands grope down Ianto's front, grabbing his cock and pressing it against Ianto's stomach with his hand, trapping it there. He can feel the shudder run through Ianto's body. "So," he whispers in Ianto's ear. "I take it there will be a second date."

Ianto leans his head back against Jack's shoulder, jutting his hips and pushing himself harder against Jack's palm. He whispers right into Jack's ear, "Yes."

Silken Ties

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:34:27 GMT

Title: Silken Tie
Rating: R
Warnings: A rather dommy!Ianto and perhaps flimsy characters... for. Certain reasons.
A/N: This was written in response to a challenge issued by clarity_lore who challenged me to write this in 30 minutes. So, this is what I have and it might be a bit weak on characterization. I apologize.

Ianto tapped his pen cap against the counter in the tourist office as he let his mind wander back to his plan. Really, the Captain was taking things too far lately, with all the flirting and teasing and the way that Ianto knew Jack was watching him every time he had to bend over to pick up something else Owen had dropped on the floor.

But the worst part of it all was, despite the innuendo, Jack seemed hesitant to actually do anything about it. Leaving Ianto flustered, frustrated and very, very horny.

He was sure that he could have had the Captain making a move earlier, if there hadn't been Lisa to contend with. Then of course, there was the obligatory walking on eggshells part of the job and then the slow meandering trip back to what constituted as normality for the Hub.

But even having the normality back (only at Torchwood would this mean back to harassment) Ianto could tell something in the Captain's eyes had receded and frankly, that just wouldn't do. It wouldn't do at all.

Calling up CCTV, Ianto rifled through some of the images, trying to gauge at what stage of "getting ready to leave as early as possible" Owen was into yet and how far behind the others were from following.

He had a plan. If Jack was going to insist on hitting on Ianto he was soon going to realise that this came with a few consequences. Namely, it required Jack to back everything up.

Slowly the clock ticked on, Owen throwing paper ball basket after paper ball basket until Jack had made some offhanded comment to Owen to just go ahead and leave already.

Ianto smirked and slowly shut down his own station in the tourists office, palming his keys and checking his reflection in the mirror of the computer monitor before heading to the lift.

Gwen wouldn't be much further behind Owen, under the pretext of rushing home to see Rhys, but Ianto had seen far too many CCTV feeds of the two of them sneaking off in the middle of the day to think that had any amount of truth to it.

Of course, Tosh would be a bit more difficult to get out of the Hub, which was something Ianto normally didn't mind, having a bit of conversation as he cleaned up, but now he was all nerves and he wanted to do this before he lose them.

Gwen and Owen had left by the pavement lift by the time Ianto had reached the main Hub area, leaving just him and Tosh and Jack. Smiling to himself, Ianto readjusted his tie and set about to cleaning up from the day, gathering trash and left over chinese cartons along with the stray mug of coffee.

Jack could be seen up in his office, on the phone and gesticulating wildly as he paced back and forth, obviously displeased with whoever was on the other end.

"How is the translation program coming along Tosh?" Ianto turned to her and smiled, rearranging some of the files and folders Owen had managed to upset.

Tosh sighed and took off her glassed before turning to Ianto, "Slowly. It says it's checking all known databases, but it's said that for hours now. I don't know... I just," Ianto made soothing noises and went to stand behind her.

"Why don't you go and get something to eat? Maybe let your eyes take a bit of a break?" Ianto offered the suggestion in as innocent a manner as he could. "I'll keep an eye on the program while I finish up here. I can even give you a ring if it starts getting up to something."

Tosh smiled, looking exhausted but thankful, "Would you? I mean, I hate to leave it just running and in the middle of something but I'm just--" She trailed off as they both heard Jack slam the door to his office and jog angrily down the steps towards the weevil containment cells.

"I understand. It looks like I'll be having a long night anyways," ianto smiled and made sure to see her off, double checking the CCTV as he took a deep breath and ran everything through his head one more time.

Jack had returned from the weevil cages, no less agitated then when he had left and Ianto had almost given up his plan right then, not feeling that now would be the right time to attempt this sort of a stunt.

But then, Ianto had always been a proponent of angry sex can sometimes make the best sex.

Climbing the stairs to Jack's office, Ianto loosened his tie, giving himself a bit more room to breath as he knocked on the door and let himself in.

Jack was at his desk, sitting in his large leather chair and twirling a glassful of scotch in one hand.

"You shouldn't drink alone Sir," Ianto pointed out, feeling things click into place as he just stood by Jack's side.

"Are you offering to drink with me Ianto Jones?" Jack looked a bit worn around the edges but Ianto could tell that there was truth and sincerity behind his statement.

"I think you would find me quite willing to do a great many things if you were only to actually ask," Ianto said softly. His voice had gone deeper, huskier and Ianto was pleased to note the affect it was currently having on Jack.

The man had stopped swirling his drink and had slowly looked up to Ianto with a slow spreading smile on his face. "Oh, you don't say, Ianto?"

"Oh, but I do." Smirking Ianto slid into Jack's lap, straddling him and moving so that he was able to press and feel Jack beneath him, just as Jack could feel him. Jack moved to speak but Ianto cut him off.

"No. This is my turn now. You've had far too much to say I think," as he spoke, Ianto slowly undid his maroon silk tie, letting the knots slowly slip undone. "Always have a remark don't you, Captain Harkness?" Ianto undid the top few button of his shirt before sliding the necktie around the back of Jack's neck, holding on to it so he could tug Jack closer when he wanted to.

"Always some little remark about the suits, or the vowels or the coffee... Or even that one about my arse," ianto moved in close, almost letting his lips brush against Jack's but stopping just short. "Is that what you want Jack? because I haven't quite been able to figure it out yet... You see, as far as I can tell you're all talk and no play-- always making some comment about how good I look in a suit, but never doing anything about seeing how much better I might look out of it."

Ianto ghosted his breath across Jack's lips, smirking at how dialated Jack's eyes were, from Ianto's words and from the way he was grinding away in his lap.

"Well Jack, do you have anything to say now?" Jack blinked and shook his head. "Good." Jerking on the tie, Ianto brought Jack close to him, letting his fingers tangle in his hair as he kissed him hard and deep, moaning into the kiss as it was everything Ianto had come to expect from the Captain.

Jack, while having the disadvantage at having been surprised and thrown off course, was compensating splendidly and already had undone the buttons on Ianto's shirt.

Smiling again, Ianto slipped off of Jack's lap and grabbed him by the braces and began to pull him towards Jack's room.

Jack went willingly, thumbing off the light to his office as he followed Ianto below into his room and then onto the bed. "You're uncharacteristically quiet Sir," Ianto purred, pushing Jack down onto the bed as he began to undo his trousers.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage jumping me like this, it's left me a bit speechless."

"Well that's a shame Sir, for a plan on having you screaming many things later on," Jack gasped as Ianto slipped lower, already knowing, it was going to be a long night.

Hrm.

Mon, 28 May 2007 17:08:14 GMT

I srsly need to think about a writing journal. *grins* Anyways, I am cross-posting this here as I stil have quite a few numbers available.

So, please click here if you like having fic written for you involving Jack Harkness. *grins*

Cause yanno, that would be a terrible thing right?

Welcome to Torchwood, Martha Jones (2/3)

Tue, 08 May 2007 18:13:25 GMT

Title: Welcome to Torchwood, Martha Jones (2/3)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Martha. (Slight Jack/Martha, Jack/Doctor, Doctor/Martha, implied Doctor/Rose, one-sided Martha/Owen.)
Notes: No beta, just a quick proof-read by moi, so if you spot something let me know. Point of views kind of sway back and forth because it was just easier to tell the story like that. Part 3 will be up tomorrow.
Dedicated entirely to maverick0324. This is really her OT3, I just borrowed them.

Her first field mission as an official employee of Torchwood Three involving two renegade weevils. They split into pairs; Jack with Ianto, Tosh with Owen, Gwen with Martha.

Martha and Gwen were the first to spot it. Gwen took off in one direction, and Martha ran around a building to try and cut it off. She found herself closed facing a brick wall, a dead end alleyway.

The weevil found itself in the same situation.

They noticed each other at the exact same moment. Martha repressed the urge to scream and tried desperately to find somewhere to hide. Gwen had the tranquilizer gun, and Martha hadn't had nearly enough weapons practice to feel comfortable firing any kind of weapon.

The weevil was inching in toward her, baring its teeth and preparing for the kill. She was dangerously close to wetting herself when she heard the most beautiful sound in the world - a gorgeous Welsh accent shouting at her, "RUN!"

She sucked in a breath and pushed past the weevil. One deadly claw ripped into her side but she was running on adrenaline and barely even felt it. Ianto's arm grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him while he nearly fired three times. The weevil stumbled and then dropped to the ground.

"I could kiss you!" Martha said. She was two seconds away from, at the very least, hugging him when the pain hit her. Her hand flew to her stomach, where blood was already seeping through her shirt.

"There's another one." Ianto said, still keeping her close. "Jack was following it. We need to find- what?"

Martha was still feeling the wound in her side, trying to gauge how serious it was. Pain radiated outward from it. She grabbed the arm of his jacket with a bloody hand. "I'm hurt!"

"What? Shit. Shit." Ianto's expression turned from concerned to panicked when he saw the second Weevil coming toward them. He pushed her suddenly out of the way.. He'd found an alcove to protect them from the weevil's direct line of view.

His body pressed tightly against hers. "I don't think it spotted us."

"Why can't you just shoot it?" Martha hissed.

"I'm out of tranquilizers." He activated his headset. "Jack, it's-"

Before he could manage a full sentence, they heard the sound of another tranquilizer gun being fired. The second weevil went down like a bag of bricks.

Jack was panting and out of breath, but laughing as he approached them. "Now that's what I call getting back into the swing of things. Chasing down weevils at 2 am in the heart of Cardiff. How did I live without this? "

"You seemed to manage," Ianto said. The words may have been harsh, but for once, he was smiling.

Jack realized it at the same time Martha did, and he looked as joyous as Martha had ever seen him. Like a kid on Christmas day, really. He reached out and pressed a hand to Ianto's cheek.

Ianto's demeanor changed in an instant. "She's hurt," he said.

If his intention was to distract Jack, that did it. She had already come to the conclusion that it was just a surface wound, but he still insisted on helping her back to the car and forced her to undergo a full examination from Owen when they got back to the hub.

*

"I'm fine," Martha said, for the third time in five minutes.

Jack was hovering uncharacteristically, and it was beginning to grate on her nerves. He tried to make it a point not to worry too much about his people. They knew what they were signing up for with Torchwood, and all of the dangers that came with the job. But Martha was new, she was still finding her feet. He already regretted sending her out with only two days of weapons practice under her belt. This wasn't the Tardis; there wasn't always some nice non-violent way to wrap things up. Sometimes people got shot or beaten or cornered by pissed off aliens that had nothing to lose. "Sure you are. Now go lay down."

"Jack! I didn't even hardly need stitches." Martha complained.

"How many was it, Owen? Half a dozen?" Jack said.

"Eight." Owen said, just as he finished taping up the wound. He patted Martha on the side, letting his hand linger a bit more than was strictly appropriate. Martha made a face at him, and he grinned back. He was a bit of a prick sometimes, but they still got along well .

"I didn't even think about shooting it." Martha said, staring at the gun that sat on a nearby table, along with her jacket and head set. "I bet I wouldn't have even hit it."

"We'll get firing like a pro in no time."

"Yes, I'm sure more of your private lessons are exactly what's called for," Ianto said, all but snarling at them.

Everyone looked at him. He seemed embarrassed at his own boldness right away, and rather looked like he wanted to disappear. He did not apologize, though.

"Okay, that's enough. Come on." Jack grabbed Ianto roughly and pushed him toward the door. "You and me, right now."

*

Ianto stood sullenly, almost daring Jack to try and pry the words from his mouth.

Jack was never one to back down from a challenge. He stood close, well into Ianto's personal space, and stared at him. "What the hell is going on?"

Ianto's shoulders stiffened.

"I get you being mad at me. I left. It was a shitty thing to do. Be mad at me, fine, but why the hell are you picking on Martha? She's new here, she's trying to fit in."

"And doing a wonderful job of it," Ianto agreed. "Everyone loves her."

"Except you."

Ianto shrugged. "What does that matter?"

"It matters." Jack said firmly. "It matters because you're the glue that keeps us all together, and if you don't like her she's going to end up feeling alienated."

"I think you place too much importance on my position."

"Tosh told me how you were while I was gone. She said you took control while Owen was still figuring things out. She said you were the one that stopped him from going too far. You were practically a puppet master, weren't you? Because they all listen to you. Is that it? Are you mad I came back and took change."

"Sir," Ianto's temper began to show. "If you think this is about me wanting command, then you really are thick."

"I don't know what this is about, because you won't fucking tell me."

"It's about her!" Ianto said, his voice raising.

"What about her?"

"I expected you to come back. I knew you wouldn't be gone forever. But I didn't expect you to come back with a girlfriend." Ianto ground out. "I see now that it was foolish of me to think that I meant anything to you, and you'll have to forgive my wounded dignity."

"What?" Jack was astounded. "She's - Ianto, Ianto." He put his hands on Ianto's shoulders. "Martha is not my girlfriend."

"I'm not an idiot."

"Yes," Jack said, almost laughing until he thought better. "You are, if you think it's like that with me and her. Even if it was, we never had anything more than a casual agreement for sex. You never gave me any indication that you wanted more. How was I supposed to know?"

Ianto's anger began to dissipate as it sank in that Jack was telling the truth. "I'm not in love with you, sir," he said stubbornly.

"All right. Fine. Never said you were. But you just admitted that you were hurt and putting walls up between us because you thought that Martha and I were lovers. And I'm just telling you that you're wrong, it isn't true."

"Fine." Ianto swallowed. "Fine, sir."

"Jack." Jack insisted, gently.

"Jack." Ianto said.

"I'm going to kiss you now, 'kay?"

"I thought you might."

Jack kissed him. It was nice and familiar to begin with, and then it was something more for just a moment before it was over. Jack put one hand on Ianto's cheek and felt him smile. "She's not bad, Yan. You'll like her once you give her a chance."

"If you say so, sir." Ianto still looked reserved.

"I do say so." Jack said. "Are you staying tonight?"

"Do you want me to?"

"I'd enjoy it very much. I've missed you." Jack said.

Ianto envied Jack the ease that Jack had with his emotions. He gave a little nod and that was all it took to satisfy Jack.

"I should go back downstairs." Ianto said.

"You could." Jack smiled and kissed him again, tongue pushing into Ianto's mouth and getting nice and reacquainted. Ianto's hands were on Jack's shoulder and his mouth was open, responsive but letting Jack keep control. It felt good, after this long, to not fight... just to let Jack do what Jack was so very good at.

*

"You shouldn't have any problem with Ianto from now on." Jack said.

He had a goofy grin that just begged for her to ask for details, so she obliged. "Got it sorted then, did you?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorted and then some. He was just jealous. He thought me and you were-" Jack made a hand gesture back and forth between them. "He thought we were 'involved'. Poor kid was making himself miserable."

Martha made a sympathetic gesture. "Well, after what you did."

"What?" Jack frowned. "Leaving?"

"Yeah, and. Bringing me back. I'm just saying, I mean. I can see where he'd get that idea."

Jack shrugged, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, I guess."

"You should do something to make it up to him." She suggested.

"What?"

"Take him out, or something."

"Oh... we don't really do that kind of thing."

"Date?"

"Go on dates." Jack clarified. "We just..."

"Have sex?" Martha said, rolling her eyes. "You're such a bloke."

"What?" Jack got defensive. "Believe me, I make sure he's satisfied every time."

"In bed, maybe. But people have other needs. There's more to being with someone than orgasms."

"But we aren't together. I mean, we're together, but not like that. I don't send him flowers and candy, and we don't go out on dates."

"But you talked about missing him when we were with the Doctor. And you moped around here for the past few weeks when he was mad at you, and then you find out he's actually mad at you because he thought you were with someone else."

Jack made a yeah, and? gesture.

"You're over the moon for each other and you're just too... too bloke-ish to admit it."

"We are blokes." Jack pointed out.

"Yeah, but if Ianto were a girl and you'd hurt her feelings, you'd make it up to her." Martha said, recalling one instance when Jack's mouth got the best of him and he'd gone to great lengths to later make it up to her.

Jack blinked at her. "...I hate it when you're right."

*

"Okay, so how does this sound." Jack said, leaning over the front of Martha's desk later that day. He dropped three pamphlets in front of her. "I can ask him to go away with me for a weekend."

"That sounds fantastic," Martha said, smiling. She fanned out the pages and looked them over, a frown slowly showing on her face. "But aren't these all a bit dull?"

"What?" Jack looked at them, upside down from where he stood.

"The shore? Surely he's been there a hundred times before."

"So? I didn't figure we'd d much sight-seeing, to be honest."

Martha rolled her eyes. "You're being a bloke again."

"Well, it kind of comes with the territory." Jack said, and made a rude gesture. Then, just in case she didn't get it, he added, "Penis."

She made an 'ew' face and pushed the pamphlets back at him. "I really think you ought to make more of an effort."

"This is too hard," Jack said, almost whining.

"So you're saying Ianto isn't worth it? You'd rather him just keep on feeling like you don't want him?"

"Well, I didn't say that," Jack protested. "Of course he's worth it. Fine, I'll think some more, okay?"

*

Ianto arrived at the hub the same time that next morning that he had every morning before, but the difference in his attitude was still obvious. He actually brought Martha's tea to her desk, instead of leaving it on the tray and letting her serve herself. There was even a pastry on a small, neatly folded napkin. She didn't particularly care for sugary creme filling, but she ate half of it just so he wouldn't think she was shunning the gesture.

Twice that day he spoke directly to her, and once she even thought he might have smiled. She was secretly thrilled.

She went to see Jack midway through the day, and found Ianto in his office. She stopped in the doorway. Jack could see her, but Ianto's back was to her.

Jack nodded in his direction, and Ianto glanced over her shoulder. He said something to Jack. She could hear Ianto's laughter, but his words were too low for her ears to pick up. Whatever it was, it made Jack laugh. "Did you need something, Martha?"

Ianto offered her a polite smile.

"I just wanted to speak with you for a minute. I can come back...?" She asked.

"I was just leaving. Sir," Ianto said, and walked past her.

Martha waited until he was out of earshot and then sat down in front of Jack's desk. "So what was that all about?"

Jack was still watching the door, though Ianto was well out of view. He had a silly little smile on his face. "Nothing. I mean, not really anything. I just harassed him a little and he... let me."

"So, I was thinking," Martha started. She was excited. "Ianto's jealous of me and you because we've been placed together, right? So why don't you take him traveling with you?"

She expected a more positive reaction than the one she received. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Ring up the Doctor and tell him you want to go on another trip, a short one. Take Ianto to the stars. There's nothing more romantic than that."

"Gwen and Owen would have a heart attack if I left again. If I took Ianto with me they'd probably hunt me down and kill me after three days of instant coffee."

"Hey, I can make a decent cup." Martha said.

"Right, sorry, no. No one does coffee like Ianto." Jack said, in a very that's-the-end-of-the-story kind of way.

"Anyway, I don't mean take off for a year. Just a week or two, surely we can handle this place ourselves for that long? And if you get the Doctor to work some of his magic with your mobile,"

"Jiggery-pokery," Jack grinned.

"Right, that, whatever. Get him to do that and we'll have a way of contacting you if we need you. But only if we really, really need you. Like, end of the world or monsters eating people's faces or alien takeover."

"You know you've just described every Tuesday here, right?"

She grinned back. "But we can handle it. You trusted them enough to leave them alone, and now I'm here. So nothing to worry about. Go, have fun."

"Fine, fine," Jack gave in, seeing that it was a losing battle from the start. Not that he even wanted to protest all that much.

This thing with Ianto, it was maybe in over his head. He hadn't done the boyfriend gig in a long time. But once in a while there was someone that just made it worth it, and he already knew in the back of his mind that Ianto was that kind of person.

Title: Welcome to Torchwood, Martha Jones (1/3)

Mon, 07 May 2007 21:55:39 GMT

Title: Welcome to Torchwood, Martha Jones (1/3)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Martha. (Slight Jack/Martha, Jack/Doctor, Doctor/Martha, implied Doctor/Rose, one-sided Martha/Owen.)
Notes: No beta, just a quick proof-read by moi, so if you spot something let me know. Point of views kind of sway back and forth because it was just easier to tell the story like that. Part 2 will be up tomorrow, and part 3 on Wednesday.
Dedicated entirely to maverick0324. This is really her OT3, I just borrowed them.

"I'm not staying here," Martha says. She walked into Jack's room and sat on his bed, chewing on a nail that was, until moments ago, neatly manicured. "I can't stay here. I'm going off my nut, Jack. I really am."

She gave him a plaintive look, and then tossed a pillow when Jack laughed at her.

"Look, I'm sorry." He sat down on the bed beside her and rubbed her calf, smiling. "You could always come with me, you know."

"What?" Martha sat up and started to shake her head. She grabbed his arm and held onto it. "Oh, no, no you don't - you are not telling me - you're leaving? You're what keeps me sane here, Jack, you can't go!"

"Stop whining," He said, pulling her into a one-armed hug. "I said you can come with me."

She laid her head on his shoulder, sighing. "I don't know. I just don't know. I can't go back to my normal life. Work in a hospital, poking at blisters and wrapping sprained ankles for the rest of my life. I can't do it."

"So," he said, again. "Come back. With me. Torchwood, Cardiff. It's not quite this, but I can guarantee you it won't be dull."

*

Telling the Doctor, Jack thought, would be the hardest part. He waited in the engine room of the Tardis. He wasn't sure where the Doctor was. He'd taken to disappearing for hours at a time. This was his ship, and when he decided that he wanted a bit of private time, no amount of searching could uncover his hiding places.

He wouldn't try to stop them, Jack was sure. He wouldn't try and talk them out of it. He probably wouldn't even seem to care, not until they were gone. He'd just wave them off with a hug and a promise to visit soon, and then he'd be on his own again.

He'd travel some more, save a few worlds, bring up civilizations and bring down evil doers, and he'd do it all with a joke and a grin.

He'd be alone in space and time, and Jack knew better than anyone what a horrible feeling that as. But Martha was growing restless and they both knew she would be gone soon either way. Jack had grown to like her, and he'd decided that he'd rather her have a safe haven with him than just try and make it on her own in a world that she's outgrown.

She'd be an asset to Torchwood. Her medical knowledge made her a perfect assistant to Owen, and her general knowledge of alien life would certainly come in handy. She was brilliant and feisty and she'd be able to hold her own against anything.

"Jack," The Doctor said, poking his head around the corner. "What are you doing here, then? Where's Martha?"

"Now, Doc. What does a girl normally do when you give her free reign of an alien planet for twenty-four hours?"

"Ohhh." The Doctor nodded, tapping his temple. "Right, right. Shopping, is it?"

"Yep. I wanted to talk to you, though."

"Right." The Doctor said, and turned his back to Jack. He started pushing buttons on a console, humming over the panel. "What about?"

"Me and Martha." Jack said. He watched the back of the Doctor's head. "We. We're ready to go home."

The Doctor turned around. He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, looking right at Jack. "Thought so. Surprised it took you so long."

"Look, we both love it here, we love traveling, but-"

"You've got lives!" The Doctor said, with a grand hand gesture. "You've got people back home. You've got people, Jack. You should be with them. Live your life, live the..." He looked, for a very brief moment, pained. "The one adventure that I can't have."

"You could," Jack said quietly. "You could come with us."

"Torchwood-" The Doctor said, immediately. "They'd-"

"I am Torchwood." Jack said firmly. "London is just a shell now. We can make sure no one finds you, as long as you keep your head down."

"Me? Keep my head down? Oh, that's rich, oh, it is." He laughed. "Don't know if you've noticed, but trouble seems to have a way of following me around."

"Okay, you got me there. But, still. You don't have to be alone."

"Yes, I do. For now, anyway." The Doctor said. He looked thoughtful, and serious. "But. Do you want to know a secret, Jack?"

Jack nodded.

"I won't be alone for long. It's risky, it's dangerous, but I think I've found a way to get her back." There was no need for him to explain who he meant. "It's too dangerous for me to try with you and Martha on board. I was going to drop you off in London in a few weeks, anyway. Just... I just. Was going to go on a few more adventures first. A few more... but, never mind it, anyway. It's good, it really is. As soon as Martha gets back, we'll be off."

Jack felt a surge of panic. He was ready to be home, but at the same time... the idea of leaving the Tardis voluntarily went against his nature. He lunged forward and wrapped the Doctor in a tight hug, ignoring his grunt of surprise. "God damnit, I'm going to miss you."

The Doctor laughed, and hugged Jack back just as tightly. "I'll be back. I'll be back to see you. I'm not leaving you, not this time, not like before."

Jack took the Doctor's face in his hands and kissed him on the mouth. "You better mean that, because I'll hunt your alien ass down this time."

The door to the Tardis swung open. "Whoa," Martha said, stepping in carrying an armful of bags."Did I interrupt something here? Need me to go back out and wait a few minutes to come back in?"

Jack let go of the Doctor, who was turning a nice shade of red. "Nah, you know the Doc. He's just a tease, anyway."

The Doctor, once he'd recovered from the brief embarrassment, regarded Martha with a more serious look on his face. "I'm taking you home."

Martha looked at Jack, who nodded. She looked at the Doctor again, stricken. "I... I'm so sorry."

"No, no," The Doctor waved a hand. "You need to go home. It'll be good for you."

"I made him promise to come visit," Jack said, smiling.

Martha started to cry a little anyway, wiping at the tears before they really had a chance to fall. It would be a hard goodbye for all three of them, but they still knew that the time had come.

*

"This may not be pretty," Jack warned her. They stood in front of the Millennium Centre with their bags in hand.

"What do you mean?" Martha said.

"I didn't exactly tell them before I left. They may not be expecting me back. "I don't think Tosh or Gwen will really be a problem, but Owen..."

"What about Ianto?" She said softly, turning to watch his reaction.

He'd only mentioned the name a handful of times, but it was with such fondness and longing that she'd decided there had to be a deeper story going on than he was willing to admit.

Jack shrugged. "I really don't know." He grabbed the bag from her and looped it over his shoulder, taking her hand with his. "No time like the present. Come on, let's go."

"What? Where?" She said, taking quick steps to keep up with him. "Jack, where are we- ohmygod!"

She jumped back when the block of cement underneath her feet started to move. He put an arm around her shoulder to keep her in place. "Be still. It's fine. Just a side-effect of the Tardis once parking here to get a charge. Sort of like a footprint. Not really enough residual energy to do anything impressive... except make an invisible lift."

"You're daft." She said, smiling and looking around in wonder as they descended into the hub.

"Shit." He said under his breath, nodding down. Four figures stood in a semi-circle around the spot where the lift would come to rest. "Well, here goes nothing."

He kept a bright smile firmly in place as they were lowered down. Gwen was crying, a hand over her mouth. Tosh and Owen looked stone-faced. Ianto was neutral; completely devoid of any emotion, negative or positive.

"Well," Jack said after a few beats of silence. "Come on, I'm back! Where's the party? "

"Right, because you leave us arse over tit after the world nearly comes to an end and we're supposed to throw you a fucking party because you deign to come back?" Owen said, voice dripping with righteous fury.

"Owen-" Gwen held out a hand and put it on his arm.

"No," Owen turned to glare at her. "I'm not fucking well going to let this just go two seconds after he walks into the door."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Jack reassured him as he stepped off of the lock of cement. His next words were spoken firmly, with no room for anyone to argue. "You can be as angry with me as I want, but I'm still back and I'm not going anywhere."

"Jack," Gwen sobbed, and threw her arms around him. He hugged her hard, smoothing her hair down and kissing the top of her head.

"I'm back." He looked down at her and wiped away a few years with the pads of his thumbs. "I was always going to come back."

"We didn't know," Tosh said softly. Jack let go of Gwen and hugged her, feeling her body tremble with restrained emotion. "We thought you'd just left us."

"Never." Jack said. He opened his arms to Owen, who hugged him stiffly even as he continued to glare. "I know I'll have to earn your trust again, but I'm back for the long haul this time. And I even brought company. This is Martha."

He turned to Martha, who had been waiting still on the lift, growing more and more uncomfortable. She smiled awkwardly and gave them a little wave. "Hi."

"Martha's going to be with us from now on. She's got medical experience, so she'll be working under Owen." He said. Owen looked instantly intrigued. Jack made a mental note to keep an eye on them. He knew about Owen's dalliances with Suzie and Gwen, and he had no intentions of letting Martha become another notch on Owen's belt.

He realized that there was one person he'd yet to hear a single word from, and turned to where Ianto had been standing. The spot as empty... Ianto had already walked away.

*

Martha sat in Jack's office. There wasn't much for her to do, not yet. Gwen was catching Jack up on the different cases they'd had in his absence. The Doctor had originally told them that he was dropping them off two weeks from the date they'd left. He was slightly off. It was more like two months, and a lot of back log had accumulated. It wasn't that the rest of his people weren't competent, Jack had tried to reassure her, looking worried. It was just that none of them had the experience he did. They were all experts in their fields, but none of them had real leadership abilities.

She gathered that Owen had been in command while Jack was gone. He was sulking now at his desk. She could see him on the monitors that Jack had left up. The office was untouched, Jack told her. He'd seemed almost surprised. They said they hadn't expected him back, but still they'd left everything of his exactly where it had been the last time he'd graced it with his presence.

When Ianto appeared in the doorway, Martha was startled. "I didn't hear you," she said, looking up at him.

He cut a surprisingly imposing figure, just standing there with a teacup in his hand. "Jack wanted me to bring you this."

He put the cup down on the desk in front of her. It was plain, and she usually took it with sugar and milk but she wasn't about to complain.

"Ow," she said, jerking her fingers back after she reached for it.

Ianto paused. "It's hot."

She left it sitting there, blowing lightly on the top of the cup. The steam wafting upwards from the liquid surface went curling about into the air at the disturbance of her breath. "Right. Thanks for that."

He left her then, just like that.

Part of her wanted to call out to him, to draw him into conversation. She wanted to know what it was about him that made Jack act so very un-Jack-like at the very mention of his name. But this wasn't the place for boldness, though, not yet. If this was to be her life for the next however many years, she had a feeling she didn't want to start it off with Ianto Jones pissed off at her.

*

It was late when people finally began to leave. Martha found herself relieved. This was a strange new place and she needed a few minutes to herself to take it all in.

Or a few minutes alone with Jack. Yes, she decided, she'd like that just as much. She had questions that she wanted to ask him. Things about how Torchwood was ran, and what they'd expect from her. Jack had made it a point to reassure her that no one would expect her to jump in with both feet right away. She'd have an adjustment period, time to learn the ropes.

She wasn't sure she even really wanted that, though. What would she do all day, if not go right to work? She couldn't quite imagine spending an entire day in Cardiff just wandering around the city. She needed purpose. She needed to feel useful and to feel like a member of the team.

"There you are," Jack said. "You know, you didn't have to stay in here all day."

He stood behind her chair and started to rub her shoulders. She signed, and stretched back. "I didn't know what else to do. You were off busy, being all... big boss man."

"Well," Jack grinned. "I am the boss."

She spun around in the chair. "How is it? I mean, how are they? You were so worried."

"They'll be fine." Jack said. He puffed up a bit with pride. "They did good while I was away. They had everything under control."

"You've taught them well," She said, with a knowing smile.

Jack shrugged. "Owen'll pout for a few weeks, but he's already started to come around. Gwen and Tosh are fine."

"Ianto?" Martha said, biting the tip of her tongue as soon as the name left her mouth.

"I dont' know." Jack's face darkened. "I really don't know."

"Well," Martha said, a bit desperate to turn the conversation. She may have had questions and she may have been curious, but right now what she needed was a touch of the familiar. Or a familiar touch. She said to Jack, "You know what I want? Right now, what I really want?"

"What?" He asked, looking down at her.

"Ice cream. Like, remember that stuff, we had on that - that one planet, the one that sold little green plants in the marketplace?" The plants, of course, hadn't been plants at all. They were really tiny genetically engineered beings, with rudimentary coherence and range of emotions. The Doctor had helped to free them and then transport them to a planet where they could begin to build a society unto themselves, and he'd done it with Jack and Martha right by his side.

"How could I forget! You want to name the little one Mikey and keep it as a pet.." Jack laughed.

"Doctor wasn't too crazy about that idea, was he?" Martha said guiltily. "But remember, though, they had the ice cream stuff?"

"I'm pretty sure that contained neither ice, nor cream. But I know exactly what you mean, and you know? I could go for some ice cream myself, I think. Why don't we go raid the fridge? If I know Ianto, there's at least a pint in there."

*

She set the alarm on her mobile phone for six in the morning. Jack had already told her that there was no point in being ready until half eight, because most of the time they didn't get in gear until theyd' had a good cup of coffee and Gwen and Owen got in their morning sniping. She wanted to get to know the layout herself, though, without having to bother Jack.

It only took about fifteen minutes for her to get lost. She was starting to panic, wishing she hadn't left her mobile laying on the small bedside table. She was about to start panicking when she heard footsteps. "Jack-" She spun around, and then stopped when she saw that it was Ianto.

"Jack should have warned you about the lower levels," he said. "Follow me."

She walked a few steps behind him, staring at his suit-clad backside. Not a bad backside, all told, but it was a bit early in the game to be making observations like that. Besides, she had a feeling that Ianto was off limits. Jack may be from the fifty-first century (yes, she'd gotten the "he's a little more flexible" speech from the Doctor early on) but some things never change. "Why are you here? Jack said no one would be in for another until half seven."

"The others like to have coffee ready when they get here." Ianto said. He stopped at the end of the hallway and touched his headset. "Jack?"

"Yeah?" Martha could hear Jack respond distantly.

"Your friend," The words are spoken with just enough disdain to truly turn Martha's stomach. "She got herself lost."

"My... Martha, you mean." There's a touch of reprimand in Jack's voice. "Show her the way back, then."

"I'm not paid to be a tour guide." Ianto said, and tapped his headset before Jack could answer. He started walking again. "This way."

Jack was waiting for them when they got back to the main hub. He and Ianto stared at each other. Martha found herself wanting to back away and let them have their privacy, but Jack turned to look at her. He offered her a smile. "I'll show yo u around the lower levels this afternoon, okay? Until then, don't go exploring. You don't have a head set yet, and trust me, you can get lost down there pretty easily."

"Yeah," Martha said sheepishly. "I realized that."

"Ianto." Jack's voice turned chilly again. "We need to talk."

"I need to make the coffee," Ianto said, and actually started to walk away. Jack's hand shot out and grabbed at his arm before he could get very far away.

"No, you need to come t my office."

Ianto jerked his arm back. "Sir." He said. "I need to make the coffee."

"For fuck's sake, Yan." Jack shouted. "Just talk to me for two minutes."

"Order me, and I'll have no choice."

"I'm not going to order you to have a conversation with me. You're going to do it because you know it needs to be done."

"Order me, sir." Ianto challenged him.

When Jack didn't say anything, Ianto left.

*

She spent a week following Owen around. Four days in, he felt comfortable enough to make sexual innuendo. Six days in, she was ready to throttle him.

Gwen tried to engage her in conversation. Though Martha was eager enough to talk about alien worlds they'd visited and all of the wonder things they'd seen, it didn't take her long to realize that Gwen was more interested in knowing about Jack than anything else.

"He's immortal," Gwen said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

When Martha said that she knew, Gwen's face fell.

She wondered if Jack had made it out to be some sort of big secret here. She did know more about Jack's past, of course. They'd spend hours on the Tardis just talking. Jack was a fascinating man, with at least a dozen lifetimes worth of experience. Not anywhere near the Doctor's life-span, but still impressive. Granted, Martha had no dramatic story but Jack had still been eager enough to listen to what she did have to say. Jack was more eager to share, too. He made everything into a joke, but there were times when he just wanted to relive a memory and he wanted someone else to be there when he did it. She knew about the missing two years of his life, she knew about the dark times after the Doctor and Rose left him on the Game Station. She knew about the woman he'd once thought he would marry, and the real Jack Harkness. Six months of keeping each other company when the Doctor wanted his time alone meant a lot of secrets had been spilled.

Martha kept his secrets for him, too. She made out like she didn't know very much. When Gwen realized that Martha was not going to be a source of insight in to their dear Captain, the friendliness dropped down a notch or two.

She spent a lot of time going through old medical case files that Owen gave her. She became an expert in the anatomy of a Weevil, and started studying the behavior of the two that were kept captive in cells. Jack approved of the hobby, saying that some fresh perspective might do them all good. They still weren't exactly sure how intelligent the aliens were, or exactly how strong their telepathic connection was.

She was pretty sure that her notes weren't anything groundbreaking, but it did give her a chance to interact with Ianto twice a day, when he came to feed them. She made a point to be there when he brought the food buckets around.

The man was like a shadow around the hub. He slipped in when it was time to bring around coffee or tea, or make the lunch orders, but unless someone specifically called for him, the rest of the time he was nowhere to be seen.

Part Two

Fri, 04 May 2007 19:40:19 GMT

Random ficlet time.

Doctor/Sarah Jane, Doctor/Rose, Martha.
G-rated

"I'm an old woman now," Sarah says, with a sigh. "Just a sad, lonely old woman."

She clearly means for him to contradict her. See, the Doctor thinks, I've learned something after all.

"You're not old, you're not old at all. Middle-aged, really, is more like. Just middle aged, that's all. Still got half your life left!" He beams at her. "And you aren't lonely, you've got K-9, and you've got me."

In a small chair beside him, Martha coughs. They're outside on Sarah Jane's porch, with soft drinks.

"Oh! And you've got Martha, right, of course!" The Doctor turns around to give her a little wave of the hand. "Didn't forget you, see?"

"Right." Martha rolls her eyes. "Why are we here, again?"

The Doctor and Sarah Jane sit side by side on a small futon. It's white metal with a flowery-patterned cushioned. "We're here to see my Sarah Jane!" The Doctor puts his arm around Sarah Jane's shoulder and gives her a squeezes. She laughs, and looks at him with adoration.

I could be sick now, Martha thinks, jealousy making her stomach roll. Bad enough to always be in second place to a dead girl (good as dead, has to be, no matter what the Doctor hints at) but to someone old enough to be her mother? It's just too much. She's not the sort to think her body's going to get her anything she wants, but she knows she's fit and the Doctor, alien or no, is still a man. A man who is also very fit and trim and, really, just how long ago was it that he and this Sarah Jane woman were together? Had to have been years and years.

"I promised her I'd visit." The Doctor says, and presses a kiss to the top of her head. Sarah Jane's surprise is obvious when she turns a light shade of pink. She's happy and he's happy and they're both so bleeding happy that Martha wants to go bang her head against a very solid wall to make all the happy disappear.

untitled ficlet

Wed, 02 May 2007 15:25:08 GMT

Doctor/Rose, Doctor/Sarah Jane
G-rated

When Rose is gone, when she's really and truly gone, never to be seen again - the Doctor goes to see Sarah Jane.

He's careless with the timing. He shows up at 2 am and she answers the door in a bath robe. Her eyes go wide and her mouth makes a little soundless 'oh' at the sight of him. His hair is mussed and his eyes are red and his cheeks are wet.

"I lost her," he says, his chin trembling. "I lost Rose."

"Oh..." Sarah Jane sighs, and takes his hand. It is not the tight young flesh of a barely-grown girl, but the softness of a woman. She would have been a smashing mother, he thinks with sorrow, as she pulls him in her doorway. "Oh, my Doctor, won't you ever learn?"

He just shakes his head. He wraps his arms around her and crushes her to him in a fierce hug. She feels familiar, smells familiar, everything about her is seeped in memories and love.

He remembers the jealousy in Rose's voice and it prickles. He feels Sarah Jane's fingers running through his hair. She's sighing, her breath warming his ear. His nose pushes into her neck and he doesn't move until it starts to ache.

She's crying now, looking at him and crying. "My poor Doctor, what have you done?"

"I lost her." He says again. "I wasn't going to, she though. She thought I was going to let her go, but I couldn't. I couldn't have, don't you see?"

Emotions more than words are tumbling forth. It's all too bright and vibrant and raw. It's an open wound and by the time it starts to scab over he'll be ready to fix on a smile and save a world or two.

"Shh, now." Sarah pats his cheeks and smiles at him. "You'll tell me everything, but first let me make you a cup of tea."

He nods and when he lets go of her, he feels awkward. He's standing here, standing and staring and waiting and wanting her to make things better for him.

"Sarah-" He says, and starts forward.

He grabs her by the arms and kisses her on the mouth. It's a good one, a proper snog, damp and just slightly off centre. There's a faint smack when he pulls away. "I loved you. I loved you so much."

Sarah Jane starts to cry again, and covers her mouth with her fingers. He lets go of her and she shakes her head. He worries and worries and wants to run away, but then her hand is gone and she's smiling so beautifully and so sadly. "And I loved you, so very much. And you love Rose so very much, don't you?"

She understands. Oh, blessed day, she does understand. Such a wonder, his Sarah Jane. He nods his head and looks at the ground.

She makes the tea and they drink. He tells her a story in stops and starts, threads of conversation weaving themselves in and out until she knows it all.

They stand in front of the Tardis in the misty early morning sunlight. She holds his hand and he grips it tightly. "You'll be fine." She says, after a pause. "You really will."

"I'm getting old, Sarah." He tips his head up and looks at the sky. Overcast, threatening rain. "I'm getting very old."

"And very lonely," she agrees. The Tardis looms in front of them. She steals a glance, and then dares to hope. "You could stay, you know. Just for a bit."

He gives her a sidelong look. "You could come with me. Just for a bit."

He won't stay and she won't go. He is the Doctor and she will never love anyone but the Doctor, not until the day she dies. But he is not her Doctor and she is not Rose and they cannot be each other's replacements.

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:25:29 GMT

Updated.

Read at your own risk. I still refuse to do a proper fic post, since this hasn't been beta'd or even looked over by me since I wrote it.

Game time.

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 02:08:04 GMT

Let's play a game. You leave comments with what Jack/Ianto scene you'd like to see and I'll give it my best shot. Mmk? Let's go.