Fic: Time Lord 2/5
Title: Time Lord Author: Lopaka Tanu Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who. Characters: Jack, Doctor (10), Ianto Words: 1819 Prompt: 5 Professions Ianto Never Had Fandom: Torchwood Pairing: Jack/Ianto - Doctor/Unnamed Rating: General Warnings: Language Summary: If you travel far enough, you will eventually catch up with your past. Author's Note: Crossover with Doctor Who, 3x13 - LotTL Theme Music: New Soul - Yael Naim ______________________________________
"I want to, boy, do I want to." Glancing about the TARDIS, Jack sighed with longing. For a while, his gaze lingered on the central column. When a throat beside him cleared, he smiled. "Sorry, it's just..."
"Not the same?" There were times when the Doctor wished he couldn't read humans so easily. Now was no exception. The man across from him screamed uncomfortable. "It would be different, but we could make it work."
"See, that's another thing." Jack scratched at his ear while he looked away. "I'm not so certain I want to try either. It's just, there's so much for me waiting back home." His grin grew immensely. "Back home, there's an actual home to go back to this time, Doctor."
Holding up his hand, the Doctor forestalled anything else Jack might have to say. Drawing a calming breath, he walked over to the controls. Pressing the activator, he twirled a handle and the TARDIS began to screech. While he waited for their voyage to end, he kept clearing his throat and glancing Jack's way.
For his part, Jack couldn't make himself acknowledge the Time Lord's looks. It would be too painful for him, for both of them, if he let anything else happen between them. Finding and losing both him and Rose in an instant had pretty much ended any chances they might have had. The Doctor was a different man, how different didn't mean a thing.
As the TARDIS' screeching slowed to a halt, the Doctor flipped a couple more switches before turning to face Jack. Pushing up his glasses, he puffed up his cheeks for something to do. When that didn't ease his nervous energy, he bounced on the balls of his feet a couple times. "Well, it looks like you've made it home. Three months since you left, give or take a week."
"Already?" Jack winced at how eager he sounded. He was essentially abandoning the Doctor, doing no better than the alien had done him so long ago. No matter how much of a thrill he might get from that bit of pettiness, it still felt like ripping a part of himself out. So, to distract himself, while confirming the Doctor's words, he glanced over to the monitor on the console.
According to the screen, they were parked in front of the visitor's center.
Suddenly happier than he had felt in a long time, Jack latched on to the Doctor's elbow. Squeezing, he started to chuckle. "I never realized how good it would feel coming back or how much I would miss it."
"Yes, it is a wonderful thing having a place to belong." An itching began at the back of the Doctor's head, making him scratch there. While not aware he was doing it, he crossed the deck to the ramp. "Come along then, Jack, let's meet these what you gave up being my companion for. They'd better be really special or I'm going to be extremely dejected. I don't do dejection well, Jack, fair warning." Still scratching, he placed his other hand in the pocket of his pants, pushing his jacket back. "Take the lead, you can survive being shot."
"Gee, thanks." Still, his grin was so big it hurt. Slipping passed the Doctor, Jack pushed the doors open.
The moment they split apart, a piercing ache shot through his head and the Doctor cried out. Confused, he ran his fingers over the source before bringing them around so he could examine them. Despite the pain, he wasn't bleeding. It was little comfort, but it was some.
Jack paused only a moment in consideration of the Doctor's pain, but quickly dismissed it. His excitement at seeing his team once more was not to be contained. Striding confidently through the doors, he crossed the six paces to the visitor's center door. Pulling it open, he let his eyes do a slow scan of the contents.
Unfortunately, this was interrupted by a throat clearing. Jack's gaze quickly settled on the most beautiful sight he ever had chance to witness. There was nothing more earth stopping than Ianto in his suit. It wasn't until he was taking a shuddering breath that he realized he had stopped breathing. Moving as if possessed, Jack rounded the information desk and wrapped Ianto up in his arms.
Ianto tried to protest having his face pushed in to Jack's neck, but the constricting arms drove the breath from his body. When spots started to cloud his vision, he was forced to hit Jack's back. "Sir!"
"Yes." The word came out with a whimpered laugh. Breathless, Jack pulled back enough to grab Ianto's head between his hands. Bringing their faces together, he pressed several small kisses to Ianto's lips.
Closing his eyes, Ianto fought the urge to break free. He knew how emotional Jack could be, and this once, he was prepared to allow him some leeway. Returning the last kiss, Ianto grasped Jack's hands in his own. Ianto pried Jack's hands from his head and slipped back a step. "Welcome home, sir."
Chuckling, Jack nodded. "It's good to be home, Ianto." Draping an arm over his subordinate's shoulder, Jack resumed his scan of the visitor's center. It wasn't much changed, and damn, did that not feel good? "Oh, this is just so great."
"I am gratified, sir." Of what he couldn't be certain, Jack was ever a mystery when in one of his 'love the world' moods. Since it was a first in many months, he decided to just go with it for now. The others would be less forgiving, he knew, but for now they could just be Jack and Ianto. Before he could speak again, the door opened again.
Still scratching at the back of his head, the Doctor couldn't figure out what was bothering him so. That left him a little worried, but since there was no helping it, he decided to ignore it. Jack walking off was a nuisance he could at least do something about. Pushing open the door to the strange building Jack had entered, the pain intensified until he was blinded.
Ianto slipped from Jack's hold and moved instantly to the Doctor's side when the Time Lord swayed. Wrapping an arm round the man's waist, he helped him to stand tall again. "There we go. Can you tell me what's the matter?" Ianto glanced over to Jack to ask if he'd fetch Owen when he caught the man watching him. "Whatever's the matter?"
Shaking his head as the pain abated, the Doctor leaned on Ianto a moment more before he could stand on his own. As he started to untangle himself from the human, he turned his head and smiled. "Thank..." The smile fell from his face. Jerking free, he backed away until he was flush with the information desk. "This can't be. It's some game. Jack, are you having one over on me?" Tilting his head so he could see said man from the corner of his eye, the Doctor gasped. "Please, tell me you are."
"No." Jack shook his head. Puzzled by the Time Lord's reaction, he looked to Ianto seeking answer. The expression on the other man's face didn't make him feel any better. "At the risk of sounding redundant, what's the matter, Doctor?"
Pointing a hand at Ianto, the Doctor trembled. "That's not right. You're a cruel bastard."
"Doctor!" His good mood completely gone, Jack scowled at his old friend. He moved to step between the Time Lord and Ianto, but the younger man refused to let him.
Placing a hand upon Jack's arm, Ianto guided him to stand off to the side. He took a hesitant step towards the alien, but stopped short of a second when the Time Lord jerked back again. "Whatever it is you think I've done, I'm sure I can explain."
Scoffing, the Doctor shook his head. The movement made the itch flare up again. Reaching up to scratch it, he paused mid motion. Looking from his hand to Ianto in horror, he shook his head again. "That's not possible. It can't be."
Ianto sighed. Reaching up to scratch the back of his head, he glanced over at Jack. Meeting the other man's eyes, he gave a slight shrug. "You seem to know him, sir, perhaps if I left you two alone."
"Yeah, I think that would be best." Jack squeezed Ianto's hand as he passed, sharing a brilliant smile between them.
When Ianto made his way behind the information desk, the Doctor shot away from it for the opposite wall. Slowly, he pressed the button to open the entrance to Torchwood. Smiling, he indicated the door with his head. "That's where I'm going." Looking back to Jack, he gave another tight smile. "Welcome home again, sir."
The Doctor waited until Ianto had disappeared through the door before turning on Jack with a vicious snap. "Sir? Are you telling me that...thing! That thing wearing his face works for you?"
"That thing is Ianto Jones, my assistant." At his words, Jack watched the already pale Time Lord fade in color further. Fearing the alien might collapse, Jack reached out for him. He frowned when he was rebuffed. "All right, enough of this. Doctor, why don't you tell me what the hell is going on?"
"Ianto Jones." The Doctor whispered the name. Feeling faint, he shook his head once before switching his view towards the doorway. Straightening up, he pushed down his jacket in an attempt to right it. "I've made a horrible mistake."
"Doctor?" This time, it was gently prying. Jack had a feeling this was only going to get worse as time went along. If he wanted answers, he was going to have to try for them now before the Doctor sprang for it. "Is he someone important?"
The Doctor gave a sobbing laugh as he finally met Jack's questioning gaze. "You could say that." Feeling utterly drained, he shook his head. "Let's just say you weren't the first one to leave me because I changed."
A terrible realization came to Jack. Casting a quick look to the entrance, he nodded in thought. "Look, I don't know how this will play out, but, would you like to come down? May be, we can take things slow, talk them through. We can see how it works out."
Shaking his head, the Doctor made for the visitor's center's entrance. Reaching for the handle, he took one final look around. "No, it's too late on this one. I made a mistake a long time ago and now it's my burden." He gave a wistful smile as he pushed the door open. "Take care of him, Jack. And, if you find an old pocket watch, put it some where safe, he'll want it again some day."
Jack watched the Doctor walk away from him again. This time, he felt no pull to tag along.