FIC: WHAT WILL BE.
Title: What Will Be.
Author: zorell
Chapter: 34/?
Rating: PG
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, Martha, Gwen, the Doctor, Donna.
Pairings: Jack/Ianto.
Summary: Jack has words with the Doctor.
Disclaimer: Torchwood belongs to BBC and RTD.
A/N: Usual apologies for mistakes, bad grammar, dodgy plot etc.
Story starts here:
http://jackxianto.livejournal.com/5294840.html#cutid1
previous chapter:
http://jackxianto.livejournal.com/5755380.html#cutid1
Chapter 34.
Donna smiled when she spotted Jack and Ianto as she emerged from the TARDIS. The couple had their arms wrapped around each other, and were sharing an intimate few minutes before the start of the working day.
‘ They look so HOT !’ thought Donna as she shamelessly watched the pair kiss before they parted, both going their separate ways, Ianto heading for the kitchen, while Jack turned and began moving down towards the workstations.
“ Morning Donna.” The Captain called cheerfully as he saw the redhead.
“ Morning Captain,” she replied smiling as Jack approached, then turned to look up as a Welsh voice also greeted her.
“ Good morning, Miss Noble. Care for some breakfast ?” Ianto asked, looking down towards their visitor having heard Jack’s voice.
“ I wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee, and it’s Donna..Miss Noble makes me feel like a sixty year old spinster !”
“ You could never be mistaken for that !” Jack remarked, thinking what a breath of fresh air she was.
“ Of course...Donna...and perhaps you’d like that coffee making lesson now, before the others get in ?”
“ The chance to get hot and steamy in the kitchen with you Gorgeous, how could I refuse!” Donna grinned, winking at the Captain as she moved towards the slightly blushing Welshman.
“ Just remember he’s very taken !” Jack reminded her with a laugh, before his tone changed when asking their guest, “ I presume he’s still in the TARDIS ?”
“ Yep. He’s fiddling around with something on the console,” Donna replied over her shoulder as she continued on her way up to the kitchen.
When the Doctor and Donna had retired for the evening things between the Time Lord and the immortals had still been awkward. The Gallifreyan seemed to accept the explanation for Ianto’s immortality, but seemingly couldn’t accept his existence. The Doctor still saw both men as wrong, but had been told in no uncertain terms, by Owen of all people, to ‘get over it’. Jack knew from bitter experience it wasn’t that easy for the Time Lord, but he hoped that the open hostility that had been coming from The Doctor would have eased after having some time to consider everything overnight. Jack knew the TARDIS would have done her best to influence her Time Lord and make him see sense, but the immortal also knew how stubborn and obstinate the Doctor could be, and if truth be known Jack didn’t hold out much hope for any change from him. Reaching the TARDIS the Captain rested his hand on her. A wave of love and reassurance once again washed over him, and a smile came to his lips as she inquired about the new immortal.
“ I see it’s not just Donna who’s taken a shine to my Welshman !” he commented before confirming to the sentient ship that his lover was fine. Jack hesitated for a moment, debating with himself whether or not to enter the ship and speak to the Doctor, or wait for the Gallifreyan to emerge in his own time. Deciding to wait,- after all why should he be the one to make all the effort when they had done nothing wrong,- Jack moved over to the workstations and began going through the rift activity for the previous night, and checking what was predicted for that day.
“ That’s quite a programme you have there.” The Doctor commented a few minutes later, as he came to stand behind Jack who was seated at Tosh’s workstation.
“ Tosh’s brainchild.” Jack informed him as he scanned a set of readings.
“ She’s quite good,” The Doctor remarked putting on his glasses as he looked closer at what Jack was doing.
“ She’s more than good, she’s brilliant,” Jack corrected, bringing up the predictor programme and running a check. “ Don’t go getting any ideas about poaching her,” he added.
“ Wouldn’t dream of it.” The Time Lord responded. As much as he was intrigued by the abilities of Torchwood’s technical genius, the thought of ‘poaching’ her as a companion hadn’t crossed his mind; - after all he had his hands full at the moment with Donna. Just as the Doctor was about to ask the whereabouts of his companion Jack spoke.
“ I’m surprised you’re still here.”
“ I didn’t fancy facing Donna’s wrath...” The Doctor began. A smile tugged at the corners of Jack’s lips as he thought of the conversation between Ianto and himself during the early hours. “...After the brief look at the hothouse yesterday, she is determined to ‘pick’ Owen’s brain for gardening tips she can pass on to Wilf...”
Jack glanced up with a questioning look wondering who Wilf was.
“...Donna’s Grandfather...he has an allotment...” the Doctor said by way of explanation, “...then of course she has the promise of a coffee making lesson...”
“ Ah, yes.” Jack smiled, as the Doctor looked around the Hub.
“ You haven’t seen Donna this morning have you ?” The Time Lord asked as his gaze returned to where Jack was seated just in front of him.
“ She is collecting on the coffee lesson promise.” Jack informed the Gallifreyan as he completed checking the rift data, making a note of a spike predicted for mid-morning, before turning to face the Doctor, who was still obviously uneasy in the immortals presence.
The strained silence seemed to last forever, although in fact it was only a matter of moments before the Doctor spoke.
“ You know I’m always going to see you both as wr...”
“ I know.” Jack interrupted not needing to hear them being called that again by the Doctor.
“ I can’t help it. I’m a Time Lord and...”
“ and we shouldn’t exist...Doc we’ve been through this and I get it, but you’ve got to understand as well. Whatever your Laws of Time say, whatever you as a Time Lord feel about us, you have to accept that Ianto and I do exist, and we are going to exist for a hell of a long time to come. I’d like to continue to think of you as a friend, and that we’ll be there for each other if and when needed, but the truth is if you can’t accept Ianto, if you can’t accept the man I love, then this friendship is over.”
“ You can’t be serious Jack ?” The Doctor said slightly startled at the turn the conversation had taken.
“ Can’t I ?” Jack stared at the Doctor. “ I can live without you in my life Doctor...I have done for over a hundred years, but I know I can’t live without Ianto, and I won’t. Oh, I know without him I would still go on, but it would merely be existing, going through the motions. It certainly wouldn’t be a life, it wouldn’t be living...If you make me choose, if anyone ever makes me choose, I can promise you it will always be Ianto.”
“ You really...you actually love him.” The Doctor sounded stunned at the possibility.
“ Don’t sound so shocked.” Jack stated, annoyed that the Doctor could find it so hard to believe what he felt for Ianto.
“ Why not ? I am shocked...You’re Jack Harkness, you’ve turned flirting into an art form, and you are from a time where monogamy is the exception not the rule. The thought of you committing to someone...totally...exclusively...” The Doctor shook his head in disbelief at the thought.
“ You’re right, I am Jack Harkness, I am from a time where monogamy is rare, and I can flirt with the best of them in the galaxy. But I am also a man who is very much in love, a man who wants commitment, a man who wants exclusivity...”
“ But that isn’t you...that is not the man I know.” The Time Lord stated confidently.
“ That’s just it. You don’t know me, you never really did. You only ever saw what was on the surface; you didn’t bother to look beneath it, didn’t try to see who I really was.” Jack replied.
“And he sees what’s beneath ? He knows who you really are ?” The Doctor asked sceptically.
“ Yes Ianto does, and do you know what ? He doesn’t judge, doesn’t condemn, doesn’t belittle, doesn’t laugh at what he ‘sees’, he understands and accepts it. He knows me, better than anyone ever has or ever will, and he still loves me regardless.”
Jack looked intently at the Doctor, waiting for what would undoubtedly be a disparaging response, but he didn’t get one as first the sound of Donna and Ianto approaching with the results of the redheads lesson, and then a weevil alert sounding drew the two men’s attention.
“ Sir ?” Ianto looked to Jack as he placed the tray he was carrying down onto Gwen’s workstation, to the left of where Jack was seated at Tosh’s.
“ Two weevils. Bute Park.” Jack answered succinctly, bringing up the coordinates and programming them into his wriststrap, as Ianto slipped quietly away to retrieve his Captain’s greatcoat.
“ Weevils ?” Donna asked looking at Jack for an explanation.
“ Alien creatures, came through the rift and live in the sewers. They venture out from time to time and we capture them.” Jack answered, wondering if perhaps he should have mentioned about the creatures, and specifically Janet, before now.
“ And do what with them ?” The Doctor asked accusingly, already mentally condemning Jack and his team for what he envisaged their treatment of the creatures would be.
“ Keep them in the cells for a time while Owen runs some checks and collects data, then tag and release them back into the sewers.” Jack replied, pleased to note the obvious surprise on the Doctor’s face. ‘ Clearly not the answer he was expecting,’ thought the Captain.
“ Sir.” Ianto had returned. He handed Jack his Webley and then held up his greatcoat ready for the Captain to put on.
“ Thank you.” Jack smiled as he eased into his coat, but the smile faded as he turned to face his lover and realised that Ianto was now wearing his suit jacket and was apparently ready to leave with the Captain.
“ Going somewhere Ianto ?” Jack asked raising an eyebrow.
“ You need help Sir. You can’t deal with two weevils easily on your own.”
“ Maybe, but you haven’t been cleared yet and until you are you’re still restricted to the Hub...” Jack knew that Ianto wanted to get back to normal, but rules were rules and for once Jack wasn’t about to bend them, and if he was honest with himself he was more than alittle concerned at the thought of Ianto going back into the field – immortal or not. “...There’s also our guests to consider...” Jack added looking towards where Donna and the Doctor were currently standing at Gwen’s workstation helping themselves to the drinks. Jack knew that Ianto wouldn’t condone leaving them unattended in the Hub. “...Give Owen a call, and have him meet me at the coordinates...” Jack turned towards the Doctor and Donna, “...While I’m out Doctor try not to fiddle with anything...and you...” he pointed at Donna and smiled, “...keep your hands off my Welshman !”
“ Spoilsport !” Donna pouted, before grinning at the retreating form of the Captain as he headed down to the garage.
next chapter: http://jackxianto.livejournal.com/5772786.html#cutid1
Author: zorell
Chapter: 34/?
Rating: PG
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Tosh, Owen, Martha, Gwen, the Doctor, Donna.
Pairings: Jack/Ianto.
Summary: Jack has words with the Doctor.
Disclaimer: Torchwood belongs to BBC and RTD.
A/N: Usual apologies for mistakes, bad grammar, dodgy plot etc.
Story starts here:
http://jackxianto.livejournal.com/5294840.html#cutid1
previous chapter:
http://jackxianto.livejournal.com/5755380.html#cutid1
Chapter 34.
Donna smiled when she spotted Jack and Ianto as she emerged from the TARDIS. The couple had their arms wrapped around each other, and were sharing an intimate few minutes before the start of the working day.
‘ They look so HOT !’ thought Donna as she shamelessly watched the pair kiss before they parted, both going their separate ways, Ianto heading for the kitchen, while Jack turned and began moving down towards the workstations.
“ Morning Donna.” The Captain called cheerfully as he saw the redhead.
“ Morning Captain,” she replied smiling as Jack approached, then turned to look up as a Welsh voice also greeted her.
“ Good morning, Miss Noble. Care for some breakfast ?” Ianto asked, looking down towards their visitor having heard Jack’s voice.
“ I wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee, and it’s Donna..Miss Noble makes me feel like a sixty year old spinster !”
“ You could never be mistaken for that !” Jack remarked, thinking what a breath of fresh air she was.
“ Of course...Donna...and perhaps you’d like that coffee making lesson now, before the others get in ?”
“ The chance to get hot and steamy in the kitchen with you Gorgeous, how could I refuse!” Donna grinned, winking at the Captain as she moved towards the slightly blushing Welshman.
“ Just remember he’s very taken !” Jack reminded her with a laugh, before his tone changed when asking their guest, “ I presume he’s still in the TARDIS ?”
“ Yep. He’s fiddling around with something on the console,” Donna replied over her shoulder as she continued on her way up to the kitchen.
When the Doctor and Donna had retired for the evening things between the Time Lord and the immortals had still been awkward. The Gallifreyan seemed to accept the explanation for Ianto’s immortality, but seemingly couldn’t accept his existence. The Doctor still saw both men as wrong, but had been told in no uncertain terms, by Owen of all people, to ‘get over it’. Jack knew from bitter experience it wasn’t that easy for the Time Lord, but he hoped that the open hostility that had been coming from The Doctor would have eased after having some time to consider everything overnight. Jack knew the TARDIS would have done her best to influence her Time Lord and make him see sense, but the immortal also knew how stubborn and obstinate the Doctor could be, and if truth be known Jack didn’t hold out much hope for any change from him. Reaching the TARDIS the Captain rested his hand on her. A wave of love and reassurance once again washed over him, and a smile came to his lips as she inquired about the new immortal.
“ I see it’s not just Donna who’s taken a shine to my Welshman !” he commented before confirming to the sentient ship that his lover was fine. Jack hesitated for a moment, debating with himself whether or not to enter the ship and speak to the Doctor, or wait for the Gallifreyan to emerge in his own time. Deciding to wait,- after all why should he be the one to make all the effort when they had done nothing wrong,- Jack moved over to the workstations and began going through the rift activity for the previous night, and checking what was predicted for that day.
“ That’s quite a programme you have there.” The Doctor commented a few minutes later, as he came to stand behind Jack who was seated at Tosh’s workstation.
“ Tosh’s brainchild.” Jack informed him as he scanned a set of readings.
“ She’s quite good,” The Doctor remarked putting on his glasses as he looked closer at what Jack was doing.
“ She’s more than good, she’s brilliant,” Jack corrected, bringing up the predictor programme and running a check. “ Don’t go getting any ideas about poaching her,” he added.
“ Wouldn’t dream of it.” The Time Lord responded. As much as he was intrigued by the abilities of Torchwood’s technical genius, the thought of ‘poaching’ her as a companion hadn’t crossed his mind; - after all he had his hands full at the moment with Donna. Just as the Doctor was about to ask the whereabouts of his companion Jack spoke.
“ I’m surprised you’re still here.”
“ I didn’t fancy facing Donna’s wrath...” The Doctor began. A smile tugged at the corners of Jack’s lips as he thought of the conversation between Ianto and himself during the early hours. “...After the brief look at the hothouse yesterday, she is determined to ‘pick’ Owen’s brain for gardening tips she can pass on to Wilf...”
Jack glanced up with a questioning look wondering who Wilf was.
“...Donna’s Grandfather...he has an allotment...” the Doctor said by way of explanation, “...then of course she has the promise of a coffee making lesson...”
“ Ah, yes.” Jack smiled, as the Doctor looked around the Hub.
“ You haven’t seen Donna this morning have you ?” The Time Lord asked as his gaze returned to where Jack was seated just in front of him.
“ She is collecting on the coffee lesson promise.” Jack informed the Gallifreyan as he completed checking the rift data, making a note of a spike predicted for mid-morning, before turning to face the Doctor, who was still obviously uneasy in the immortals presence.
The strained silence seemed to last forever, although in fact it was only a matter of moments before the Doctor spoke.
“ You know I’m always going to see you both as wr...”
“ I know.” Jack interrupted not needing to hear them being called that again by the Doctor.
“ I can’t help it. I’m a Time Lord and...”
“ and we shouldn’t exist...Doc we’ve been through this and I get it, but you’ve got to understand as well. Whatever your Laws of Time say, whatever you as a Time Lord feel about us, you have to accept that Ianto and I do exist, and we are going to exist for a hell of a long time to come. I’d like to continue to think of you as a friend, and that we’ll be there for each other if and when needed, but the truth is if you can’t accept Ianto, if you can’t accept the man I love, then this friendship is over.”
“ You can’t be serious Jack ?” The Doctor said slightly startled at the turn the conversation had taken.
“ Can’t I ?” Jack stared at the Doctor. “ I can live without you in my life Doctor...I have done for over a hundred years, but I know I can’t live without Ianto, and I won’t. Oh, I know without him I would still go on, but it would merely be existing, going through the motions. It certainly wouldn’t be a life, it wouldn’t be living...If you make me choose, if anyone ever makes me choose, I can promise you it will always be Ianto.”
“ You really...you actually love him.” The Doctor sounded stunned at the possibility.
“ Don’t sound so shocked.” Jack stated, annoyed that the Doctor could find it so hard to believe what he felt for Ianto.
“ Why not ? I am shocked...You’re Jack Harkness, you’ve turned flirting into an art form, and you are from a time where monogamy is the exception not the rule. The thought of you committing to someone...totally...exclusively...” The Doctor shook his head in disbelief at the thought.
“ You’re right, I am Jack Harkness, I am from a time where monogamy is rare, and I can flirt with the best of them in the galaxy. But I am also a man who is very much in love, a man who wants commitment, a man who wants exclusivity...”
“ But that isn’t you...that is not the man I know.” The Time Lord stated confidently.
“ That’s just it. You don’t know me, you never really did. You only ever saw what was on the surface; you didn’t bother to look beneath it, didn’t try to see who I really was.” Jack replied.
“And he sees what’s beneath ? He knows who you really are ?” The Doctor asked sceptically.
“ Yes Ianto does, and do you know what ? He doesn’t judge, doesn’t condemn, doesn’t belittle, doesn’t laugh at what he ‘sees’, he understands and accepts it. He knows me, better than anyone ever has or ever will, and he still loves me regardless.”
Jack looked intently at the Doctor, waiting for what would undoubtedly be a disparaging response, but he didn’t get one as first the sound of Donna and Ianto approaching with the results of the redheads lesson, and then a weevil alert sounding drew the two men’s attention.
“ Sir ?” Ianto looked to Jack as he placed the tray he was carrying down onto Gwen’s workstation, to the left of where Jack was seated at Tosh’s.
“ Two weevils. Bute Park.” Jack answered succinctly, bringing up the coordinates and programming them into his wriststrap, as Ianto slipped quietly away to retrieve his Captain’s greatcoat.
“ Weevils ?” Donna asked looking at Jack for an explanation.
“ Alien creatures, came through the rift and live in the sewers. They venture out from time to time and we capture them.” Jack answered, wondering if perhaps he should have mentioned about the creatures, and specifically Janet, before now.
“ And do what with them ?” The Doctor asked accusingly, already mentally condemning Jack and his team for what he envisaged their treatment of the creatures would be.
“ Keep them in the cells for a time while Owen runs some checks and collects data, then tag and release them back into the sewers.” Jack replied, pleased to note the obvious surprise on the Doctor’s face. ‘ Clearly not the answer he was expecting,’ thought the Captain.
“ Sir.” Ianto had returned. He handed Jack his Webley and then held up his greatcoat ready for the Captain to put on.
“ Thank you.” Jack smiled as he eased into his coat, but the smile faded as he turned to face his lover and realised that Ianto was now wearing his suit jacket and was apparently ready to leave with the Captain.
“ Going somewhere Ianto ?” Jack asked raising an eyebrow.
“ You need help Sir. You can’t deal with two weevils easily on your own.”
“ Maybe, but you haven’t been cleared yet and until you are you’re still restricted to the Hub...” Jack knew that Ianto wanted to get back to normal, but rules were rules and for once Jack wasn’t about to bend them, and if he was honest with himself he was more than alittle concerned at the thought of Ianto going back into the field – immortal or not. “...There’s also our guests to consider...” Jack added looking towards where Donna and the Doctor were currently standing at Gwen’s workstation helping themselves to the drinks. Jack knew that Ianto wouldn’t condone leaving them unattended in the Hub. “...Give Owen a call, and have him meet me at the coordinates...” Jack turned towards the Doctor and Donna, “...While I’m out Doctor try not to fiddle with anything...and you...” he pointed at Donna and smiled, “...keep your hands off my Welshman !”
“ Spoilsport !” Donna pouted, before grinning at the retreating form of the Captain as he headed down to the garage.
next chapter: http://jackxianto.livejournal.com/5772786.html#cutid1