Torchwood Fic: Lynchpin (4/7)
Mar. 28th, 2008 05:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hel_beeTitle: Lynchpin (4/7)
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: R/NC17
Warning: None
Spoilers: 1.04: Cyberwoman. Set after 2.09 but before series finale. Passing references to events throughout both series but nothing really that spoilery.
Summary: Torchwood Four want their lynchpin back. Just what has that got to do with Ianto Jones?
Beta:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rakina
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em – unfortunately
Links previous parts:
Chapter 1 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/21730.html#cutid1
Chapter 2 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/21983.html
Chapter 3 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/22206.html
Chapter Four
Snippet: “And you have always been as subtle as a brick. You and Jack should get on famously,” said Ianto, nodding in Jack’s direction.
The sound of the invisible lift operating without warning had Jack running out of his office. He joined the other members of his team staring up as the platform descended. Owen, Gwen and Tosh already had their guns drawn, but Ianto just stood there, his eyes firmly fixed on their visitors.
Jack was in no doubt that Torchwood Four had arrived. His brow furrowed as he realised there were only three people on the lift, and from what Ianto had said there should have been a further three. He couldn’t help his top lip curling in anger at the presumptuous nature of their so-called guests’ arrival. With a satisfying clunk the lift halted and Jack stepped forward to stand face-to-face with a tall, handsome man. His features were rugged, weather beaten to a degree, with steel grey eyes that were hardened with experience. His hair, once dark all over, now showed signs of grey at the temples and, like Ianto, he was dressed impeccably in a three piece suit.
“Captain Harkness, I presume?” he said, offering his hand. “Philip Henshaw.”
Jack shook his hand and stepped to one side to let Henshaw off the lift. Only then did he spare the time to examine his two colleagues. The woman to his left was built like Tosh, but she was blonde and much younger, in her earlier twenties at most. The third was another woman. She had an average build, looked to be in her mid-thirties, and Jack would describe her as handsome rather than beautiful, with mousey hair that couldn’t make up its mind if it wanted to be straight or curly. “These are Rosaline,” Henshaw said pointing to the younger of the two woman, “and Siobhan.”
“I prefer visitors to use the front door,” said Jack with a brief nod in the direction of the women – all the welcome they were to receive for now.
Henshaw didn’t look the slightest bit chastised. “There are three others waiting in the tourist office; if you’d be so good as to get someone to bring them down.”
Jack nodded in Owen’s direction and he immediately set off upstairs. Henshaw’s gaze had come to rest on Ianto and Jack had the feeling the rest of Torchwood Thee had become superfluous in Henshaw’s eyes.
“Ianto Jones!” Henshaw called out, his arms open wide in greeting.
Ianto stepped into Henshaw’s embrace. “It feels like an age, Philip.”
Jack watched the scene carefully. Henshaw had drawn Ianto close, and although he was not a jealous man by nature, Jack resented the easy manner in which Ianto had responded to the outsider. Henshaw buried his nose in Ianto’s hair and breathed deeply.
Ianto gently pushed Henshaw away. “Enough of that,” he said with a chuckle. “No extras for you just because you’re my favourite.”
“You never could resist the draw of telekinesis,” replied Henshaw, a dirty grin plastered all over his face.
“And you have always been as subtle as a brick. You and Jack should get on famously,” said Ianto, nodding in Jack’s direction.
“Come on, Philip, leave Ianto alone.” It was Siobhan who had spoken, and she too had been drawn towards Ianto, gathering the young man up in her arms and squeezing tightly. At least, thought Jack sourly, she let go at Ianto’s undignified squawk.
“We’ve brought someone to meet you.” Philip turned and beckoned the other woman to come forward. “This is Rosaline. Lisa’s replacement.”
Jack winced internally at the words Henshaw had chosen. Ianto flinched slightly but Jack doubted that anyone else had seen it.
“Hello,” Ianto said quietly to Rosaline who looked apprehensive. “Take my hands, I don’t bite.”
Rosaline was clearly nowhere near as hesitant as she pretended to be. The moment her hands were in Ianto’s, she gasped, her eyes went wide and she flung herself at him. Ianto staggered backwards, landing heavily on the floor of the Hub, Rosaline sprawled across him. “Fucking hell!” she exclaimed coarsely. “You really are something, aren’t you?”
Henshaw and Siobhan laughed and pulled Rosaline to her feet, much to the visible relief of Ianto.
“I told you, Rosaline, he’s not someone you’ll forget in a hurry,” said Henshaw, a little too friendly for Jack’s liking.
As Ianto got to his feet the main door of the Hub rolled away to reveal two men and a woman being escorted by Owen, who still had his gun drawn. Jack did a double take when he realised the two blond men were twins, not perfectly identical but enough to make identification between them difficult if one didn’t have Jack’s eye for detail when it came to attractive men. They were built more like Owen than himself, and he didn’t think for a minute that they were troubled by the weapon focused on them. The woman, whose appearance screamed 'average', looked just as unconcerned.
Jack looked away, but something made him turn back quickly. He could have sworn that the woman’s hair was light brown, but now it was most definitely black. Perhaps not so Little Miss Average after all, he thought.
Like Henshaw they focused their attention on Ianto, and soon his lover was caught up in a mass of arms and greetings that he appeared to be tolerating, at least to a point. From their chatter Jack was able to establish the twins were called Michael and Shaun.
“Okay, that’s enough,” said Ianto, extraditing himself.
Jack motioned to Gwen, Owen and Tosh to lower their weapons, and they did so, but by the look of surprise on their faces at how the newcomers were interacting with Ianto Jack doubted any of them would have been able to fire an accurate shot if the need had arisen. It was time to re-establish that he was in control of the situation, to remind Henshaw that he was in Torchwood Three now – and this was Jack’s territory.
Henshaw turned to him immediately, as if he’d read his mind, and to some degree Jack thought that was highly probable. “Captain, I feel we owe you, if not an apology, then at least an explanation.”
“That’s the very least you can you do. I don’t take kindly to people turning up uninvited and manhandling my staff.”
Henshaw’s dark chuckle annoyed Jack even more. “Believe me, Ianto doesn’t mind a little ‘manhandling’.”
Before Jack could answer Ianto was at his side. “Maybe it would be best to taking this pissing contest to your office, Jack. I’m sure Gwen will be happy to look after our guests.”
Ianto’s firm hand on his bicep was the only reason Jack moved. His glare still hostile, he unwillingly led Henshaw into his office and slammed the door loudly behind them. Jack saw Henshaw look between him and Ianto and a look of understanding flittered across his face. “So it’s not just Torchwood Three you're protecting, eh, Captain? Rest assured my interest in Ianto is purely professional.”
Jack threw himself heavily into his chair, not trusting himself to speak. Ianto offered Henshaw the other chair and chose to perch on the end of Jack’s desk rather than stand. “Rosaline feels ready,” stated Ianto calmly.
“She is,” agreed Henshaw. “And even if she wasn’t we need to key her in. We’ve left things too long already... we should have replaced Lisa a long time ago.”
Jack couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Look, Ianto’s explained the whole circle business, I get it... you need him to complete your little party. So let’s not hang around pretending to play nicely. How long is this going to take? Because quite frankly the sooner you and your little gang are gone, the better.”
“If Ianto is up for it then we can get out of your hair in a matter of hours.”
“I’m up for it. This is what I’m here for,” said Ianto. “But I want to know what has happened recently to bring this forward? It’s more than Rosaline being ready. And, Philip, whatever is happening, I’m sure Torchwood Three would be more than happy to help.”
“This is Torchwood Four’s concern,” snapped Henshaw.
Ianto shook his head. “I mean it, Philip. I want answers – before I link Rosaline. This isn’t Torchwood One, Jack isn’t Yvonne Hartman – you can trust him.”
“I’ve no love for Torchwood One,” Jack assured Henshaw. “Yvonne...”
“Was a scheming manipulative bitch; she nearly destroyed the planet, and was responsible for the death of over seven hundred people,” Henshaw added, his voice full of disdain.
“At least we can agree on something,” said Jack light-heartedly. He needed to move the conservation on; wallowing in the past would not save the future. He should know – he’d done it countless times himself. “So what’s wrong?”
Henshaw looked to Ianto who smiled encouragingly. “Can I use your computer? This will be so much easier to explain with pictures.”
Jack moved out of the way and handed Henshaw his wireless keyboard. A few precision strokes later and Henshaw brought up a web interface that Jack hadn’t seen before. The screen filled with a map that he did recognise: it was the rift. And at various points all over Cardiff were little annotated dots. “Something’s coming through. There’s an offshoot to the rift, they’re coming through there. We’ve been tracking them for a while, but their numbers are increasing.”
Ianto glowered at the screen. “How come we haven’t seen them?” he demanded.
“They can shield themselves very effectively. It was only once we started catching the odd individual that we were able to track them back to the rift. At first we weren’t worried, they didn’t appear hostile and their obvious psychic abilities were unremarkable. But the more that come through the stronger they are. In our current state we won’t be able to stop them.”
“Who are they?” asked Jack.
“No idea.” Henshaw shrugged. “Their corporal image is humanoid, but that means nothing, could just be another ruse.”
Ianto bit the inside of his cheek. “Are they dangerous?”
“We didn’t think so at first, but we’ve since seen evidence that they are now developing substantial mind control abilities. It’s beginning to look like a silent invasion.”
Jack let out a long whistle. “And we all know what that could mean.”
“What we don’t what is another Canary Wharf,” agreed Henshaw.
“What’s your plan, Philip?” asked Ianto. “I assume you have one.”
“Once Rosaline is linked we should be strong enough to fix the crack and psychically seal it. That would at least prevent the others from coming through, and then we can spend our time chasing down those that are left.”
“Will it work?” Jack was no expert, but it struck him that this sort of operation was not exactly easy.
Ianto stood up. “You’ll need me there.”
“No!” both men exclaimed together.
“You’re too valuable to be put at risk,” insisted Henshaw. “What if something happens to you? We can’t lose our lynchpin.”
“And I have no intention of trying to figure out how that coffee machine works!”
Ianto laughed at Jack. “At least I know where your priorities lie,” he replied, smirking.
“But seriously, Philip, I know you and your team. I felt Rosaline and you will need me there. You’ll need the boost I can give you, especially this close to keying in a new circle member.”
Jack sensed that they had lost the argument even before it had really begun. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
Henshaw looked less convinced, but he must have known how stubborn Ianto could be as he didn’t argue further. “Right, best get things started. Captain, do you have a medical facility here?”
“Why?” asked Jack, suspicious.
“There’s no need to for that,” interrupted Ianto.
Philip raised an eyebrow. “I disagree.”
“Would someone like to let me in on the secret?” prompted Jack, as the two other men were trying to stare each other down.
“The link can be very tiring for Ianto. I would prefer him to be monitored and have proper medical care.”
“Oh, please!” snorted Ianto. “This is ridiculous.”
“Last time your heart stopped. We nearly lost you!” snarled Henshaw.
Jack placed his hand on Ianto’s shoulder and squeezed lightly. “Nothing wrong with taking precautions, Ianto. We’ll get Owen to set up the autopsy bay.”
TBC
Chapter 5 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/22782.html
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: R/NC17
Warning: None
Spoilers: 1.04: Cyberwoman. Set after 2.09 but before series finale. Passing references to events throughout both series but nothing really that spoilery.
Summary: Torchwood Four want their lynchpin back. Just what has that got to do with Ianto Jones?
Beta:
rakinaDisclaimer: Don't own 'em – unfortunately
Links previous parts:
Chapter 1 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/21730.html#cutid1
Chapter 2 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/21983.html
Chapter 3 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/22206.html
Chapter Four
Snippet: “And you have always been as subtle as a brick. You and Jack should get on famously,” said Ianto, nodding in Jack’s direction.
The sound of the invisible lift operating without warning had Jack running out of his office. He joined the other members of his team staring up as the platform descended. Owen, Gwen and Tosh already had their guns drawn, but Ianto just stood there, his eyes firmly fixed on their visitors.
Jack was in no doubt that Torchwood Four had arrived. His brow furrowed as he realised there were only three people on the lift, and from what Ianto had said there should have been a further three. He couldn’t help his top lip curling in anger at the presumptuous nature of their so-called guests’ arrival. With a satisfying clunk the lift halted and Jack stepped forward to stand face-to-face with a tall, handsome man. His features were rugged, weather beaten to a degree, with steel grey eyes that were hardened with experience. His hair, once dark all over, now showed signs of grey at the temples and, like Ianto, he was dressed impeccably in a three piece suit.
“Captain Harkness, I presume?” he said, offering his hand. “Philip Henshaw.”
Jack shook his hand and stepped to one side to let Henshaw off the lift. Only then did he spare the time to examine his two colleagues. The woman to his left was built like Tosh, but she was blonde and much younger, in her earlier twenties at most. The third was another woman. She had an average build, looked to be in her mid-thirties, and Jack would describe her as handsome rather than beautiful, with mousey hair that couldn’t make up its mind if it wanted to be straight or curly. “These are Rosaline,” Henshaw said pointing to the younger of the two woman, “and Siobhan.”
“I prefer visitors to use the front door,” said Jack with a brief nod in the direction of the women – all the welcome they were to receive for now.
Henshaw didn’t look the slightest bit chastised. “There are three others waiting in the tourist office; if you’d be so good as to get someone to bring them down.”
Jack nodded in Owen’s direction and he immediately set off upstairs. Henshaw’s gaze had come to rest on Ianto and Jack had the feeling the rest of Torchwood Thee had become superfluous in Henshaw’s eyes.
“Ianto Jones!” Henshaw called out, his arms open wide in greeting.
Ianto stepped into Henshaw’s embrace. “It feels like an age, Philip.”
Jack watched the scene carefully. Henshaw had drawn Ianto close, and although he was not a jealous man by nature, Jack resented the easy manner in which Ianto had responded to the outsider. Henshaw buried his nose in Ianto’s hair and breathed deeply.
Ianto gently pushed Henshaw away. “Enough of that,” he said with a chuckle. “No extras for you just because you’re my favourite.”
“You never could resist the draw of telekinesis,” replied Henshaw, a dirty grin plastered all over his face.
“And you have always been as subtle as a brick. You and Jack should get on famously,” said Ianto, nodding in Jack’s direction.
“Come on, Philip, leave Ianto alone.” It was Siobhan who had spoken, and she too had been drawn towards Ianto, gathering the young man up in her arms and squeezing tightly. At least, thought Jack sourly, she let go at Ianto’s undignified squawk.
“We’ve brought someone to meet you.” Philip turned and beckoned the other woman to come forward. “This is Rosaline. Lisa’s replacement.”
Jack winced internally at the words Henshaw had chosen. Ianto flinched slightly but Jack doubted that anyone else had seen it.
“Hello,” Ianto said quietly to Rosaline who looked apprehensive. “Take my hands, I don’t bite.”
Rosaline was clearly nowhere near as hesitant as she pretended to be. The moment her hands were in Ianto’s, she gasped, her eyes went wide and she flung herself at him. Ianto staggered backwards, landing heavily on the floor of the Hub, Rosaline sprawled across him. “Fucking hell!” she exclaimed coarsely. “You really are something, aren’t you?”
Henshaw and Siobhan laughed and pulled Rosaline to her feet, much to the visible relief of Ianto.
“I told you, Rosaline, he’s not someone you’ll forget in a hurry,” said Henshaw, a little too friendly for Jack’s liking.
As Ianto got to his feet the main door of the Hub rolled away to reveal two men and a woman being escorted by Owen, who still had his gun drawn. Jack did a double take when he realised the two blond men were twins, not perfectly identical but enough to make identification between them difficult if one didn’t have Jack’s eye for detail when it came to attractive men. They were built more like Owen than himself, and he didn’t think for a minute that they were troubled by the weapon focused on them. The woman, whose appearance screamed 'average', looked just as unconcerned.
Jack looked away, but something made him turn back quickly. He could have sworn that the woman’s hair was light brown, but now it was most definitely black. Perhaps not so Little Miss Average after all, he thought.
Like Henshaw they focused their attention on Ianto, and soon his lover was caught up in a mass of arms and greetings that he appeared to be tolerating, at least to a point. From their chatter Jack was able to establish the twins were called Michael and Shaun.
“Okay, that’s enough,” said Ianto, extraditing himself.
Jack motioned to Gwen, Owen and Tosh to lower their weapons, and they did so, but by the look of surprise on their faces at how the newcomers were interacting with Ianto Jack doubted any of them would have been able to fire an accurate shot if the need had arisen. It was time to re-establish that he was in control of the situation, to remind Henshaw that he was in Torchwood Three now – and this was Jack’s territory.
Henshaw turned to him immediately, as if he’d read his mind, and to some degree Jack thought that was highly probable. “Captain, I feel we owe you, if not an apology, then at least an explanation.”
“That’s the very least you can you do. I don’t take kindly to people turning up uninvited and manhandling my staff.”
Henshaw’s dark chuckle annoyed Jack even more. “Believe me, Ianto doesn’t mind a little ‘manhandling’.”
Before Jack could answer Ianto was at his side. “Maybe it would be best to taking this pissing contest to your office, Jack. I’m sure Gwen will be happy to look after our guests.”
Ianto’s firm hand on his bicep was the only reason Jack moved. His glare still hostile, he unwillingly led Henshaw into his office and slammed the door loudly behind them. Jack saw Henshaw look between him and Ianto and a look of understanding flittered across his face. “So it’s not just Torchwood Three you're protecting, eh, Captain? Rest assured my interest in Ianto is purely professional.”
Jack threw himself heavily into his chair, not trusting himself to speak. Ianto offered Henshaw the other chair and chose to perch on the end of Jack’s desk rather than stand. “Rosaline feels ready,” stated Ianto calmly.
“She is,” agreed Henshaw. “And even if she wasn’t we need to key her in. We’ve left things too long already... we should have replaced Lisa a long time ago.”
Jack couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Look, Ianto’s explained the whole circle business, I get it... you need him to complete your little party. So let’s not hang around pretending to play nicely. How long is this going to take? Because quite frankly the sooner you and your little gang are gone, the better.”
“If Ianto is up for it then we can get out of your hair in a matter of hours.”
“I’m up for it. This is what I’m here for,” said Ianto. “But I want to know what has happened recently to bring this forward? It’s more than Rosaline being ready. And, Philip, whatever is happening, I’m sure Torchwood Three would be more than happy to help.”
“This is Torchwood Four’s concern,” snapped Henshaw.
Ianto shook his head. “I mean it, Philip. I want answers – before I link Rosaline. This isn’t Torchwood One, Jack isn’t Yvonne Hartman – you can trust him.”
“I’ve no love for Torchwood One,” Jack assured Henshaw. “Yvonne...”
“Was a scheming manipulative bitch; she nearly destroyed the planet, and was responsible for the death of over seven hundred people,” Henshaw added, his voice full of disdain.
“At least we can agree on something,” said Jack light-heartedly. He needed to move the conservation on; wallowing in the past would not save the future. He should know – he’d done it countless times himself. “So what’s wrong?”
Henshaw looked to Ianto who smiled encouragingly. “Can I use your computer? This will be so much easier to explain with pictures.”
Jack moved out of the way and handed Henshaw his wireless keyboard. A few precision strokes later and Henshaw brought up a web interface that Jack hadn’t seen before. The screen filled with a map that he did recognise: it was the rift. And at various points all over Cardiff were little annotated dots. “Something’s coming through. There’s an offshoot to the rift, they’re coming through there. We’ve been tracking them for a while, but their numbers are increasing.”
Ianto glowered at the screen. “How come we haven’t seen them?” he demanded.
“They can shield themselves very effectively. It was only once we started catching the odd individual that we were able to track them back to the rift. At first we weren’t worried, they didn’t appear hostile and their obvious psychic abilities were unremarkable. But the more that come through the stronger they are. In our current state we won’t be able to stop them.”
“Who are they?” asked Jack.
“No idea.” Henshaw shrugged. “Their corporal image is humanoid, but that means nothing, could just be another ruse.”
Ianto bit the inside of his cheek. “Are they dangerous?”
“We didn’t think so at first, but we’ve since seen evidence that they are now developing substantial mind control abilities. It’s beginning to look like a silent invasion.”
Jack let out a long whistle. “And we all know what that could mean.”
“What we don’t what is another Canary Wharf,” agreed Henshaw.
“What’s your plan, Philip?” asked Ianto. “I assume you have one.”
“Once Rosaline is linked we should be strong enough to fix the crack and psychically seal it. That would at least prevent the others from coming through, and then we can spend our time chasing down those that are left.”
“Will it work?” Jack was no expert, but it struck him that this sort of operation was not exactly easy.
Ianto stood up. “You’ll need me there.”
“No!” both men exclaimed together.
“You’re too valuable to be put at risk,” insisted Henshaw. “What if something happens to you? We can’t lose our lynchpin.”
“And I have no intention of trying to figure out how that coffee machine works!”
Ianto laughed at Jack. “At least I know where your priorities lie,” he replied, smirking.
“But seriously, Philip, I know you and your team. I felt Rosaline and you will need me there. You’ll need the boost I can give you, especially this close to keying in a new circle member.”
Jack sensed that they had lost the argument even before it had really begun. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
Henshaw looked less convinced, but he must have known how stubborn Ianto could be as he didn’t argue further. “Right, best get things started. Captain, do you have a medical facility here?”
“Why?” asked Jack, suspicious.
“There’s no need to for that,” interrupted Ianto.
Philip raised an eyebrow. “I disagree.”
“Would someone like to let me in on the secret?” prompted Jack, as the two other men were trying to stare each other down.
“The link can be very tiring for Ianto. I would prefer him to be monitored and have proper medical care.”
“Oh, please!” snorted Ianto. “This is ridiculous.”
“Last time your heart stopped. We nearly lost you!” snarled Henshaw.
Jack placed his hand on Ianto’s shoulder and squeezed lightly. “Nothing wrong with taking precautions, Ianto. We’ll get Owen to set up the autopsy bay.”
TBC
Chapter 5 - http://hel-bee.livejournal.com/22782.html
