InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I step out of the ordinary."

Captain Jack Harkness (cannot_die) wrote in mirage_rpg,
@ 2009-01-18 11:08:00

Entry tags:

andy gallagher, complete, day 29, gray harkness, jack harkness

WHO: Jack, Gray and Andy
WHAT: A reunion of brothers... with a friend
WHEN: Day 29, morning
WHERE: Jack and Ianto's room, F207
RATING: PG
STATUS: Incomplete

Jack paced the room he shared with Ianto obsessively as he waited for Andy and Gray to arrive. He'd done a quick run around, making the bed and cleaning up a few things but frankly with Ianto living here with him, it was more make-work than anything that actually needed to be done. Ianto wasn't one to leave things messy for too long, despite Jack's preference for a more 'lived in' look.

He did feel a hint of trepidation about this meeting, not so much because of what had happened the last time he had met Gray. That had been an older, broken Gray. This one was young, if what Andy had said was correct, and still recognisably his brother. No, his trepidation came from what Andy said had been done to Gray and the fear that Gray wouldn't recognise him as an adult. He knew he'd changed a little from when he was a boy but he thought there was enough left of the boy in his face for Gray to recognise.

He did another turn and paced back, glancing over at the door and wondering how long it would take them to get here.

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	brain_ninja 2009-01-17 07:30 pm UTC (link)
	Andy grinned. "Breakfast of champions," he joked and led Gray down the hall a little ways, looking at the numbers on the doors. "Pretty sure he said F207. So...this is it. Hope you're ready," he said to Gray, giving the little boy's hand a gentle squeeze before knocking on Jack's bedroom door. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-17 07:39 pm UTC (link)

Jack leapt for the door when the knock came and caught himself just in time so that he didn't yank it open but instead opened it in a normal, ordinary fashion. He barely noticed Andy standing there, his gaze went instantly to the young boy standing next to him.

"Gray," he murmured as he dropped to one knee. He had a pleading look on his face as he hoped like hell that his brother would recognise him. "Gray... it's me. Jackson."

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	notbrokenyet 2009-01-17 07:45 pm UTC (link)
	Gray looked surprised not really expecting a full adult but he studied Jack's face closely. He slow pulled his hand for Andy's and touched Jack's face. "Big brother..." He stepped closer, cautiously, looking for something only he can see and when he found it he hugged Jack. "Jackson." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-17 07:53 pm UTC (link)

Jack waited, trembling a little as Gray touched his face then seemed to search for something that he subsequently found. He let out a small sobbing breath when Gray hugged him and almost hugged him back tightly before remembering what Andy had said about injuries. As such, his hug was gentle and careful but still very much real and fervent.

"Gray," he said quietly, pleadingly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to let go of your hand. I promise. It was an accident. I never meant to let go. I searched for so long. Everywhere I could think of. I really tried to find you."

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brain_ninja
2009-01-17 07:58 pm UTC (link)

Andy stood awkwardly behind Gray and for lack of anything else to do, took a sip of his coffee. He felt like an intruder, but he'd promised and he intended to stay until Gray or both of them told him to leave. He was happy to see that Jack had heeded his advice about the gentle hugging, though.

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he looked down at his coffee cup, frowning that it was nearly empty and studying it as if he suddenly found it very interesting. Anything to keep from intruding on their reunion.

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notbrokenyet
2009-01-17 08:11 pm UTC (link)

Gray shook his head. "Not your fault...It wasn't your fault." He buried his face against Jack's shoulder for a moment. "I've missed you big brother and waited patiently. I knew you'd come...I just did expect it to be like this."

He pulled away, wiping tears away from his eyes with his good hand. "Andy helped me when I got here." Gray smiles soggily. "I got to try a soda too."

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	cannot_die 2009-01-17 08:35 pm UTC (link)
	Jack pressed a kiss against Gray's temple. "I've missed you too, squirt." He gave a small laugh. "Neither did I but I'll take it." He let Gray pull away and smiled. He transferred that smile to Andy. "So I heard. Thank you, Andy." He rose and offered his hand. "Shall we go inside?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	brain_ninja 2009-01-17 08:38 pm UTC (link)
	Andy nodded, giving back a small smile. "Don't mention it," he replied, taking Jack's hand to shake it. Hesitating at Jack's offer, Andy looked down at Gray and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you know, buddy, I can go back to my room, if you want," he offered. "Give you a little while to catch up with your brother. Your call." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notbrokenyet 2009-01-17 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	Gray looked a little unsure, wanting Andy to stay but seeing the man was uncomfortable. "Come back after a while?" He glanced up at Jack, after all it was his room and ultimately his choice if the man stayed or went. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-17 09:58 pm UTC (link)

Jack smiled at both of them, not his normal wattage of smile but perhaps a more genuine one for that. "Whatever you're both comfortable with. I don't mind."

He wanted his brother for himself but he was also grateful to Andy for the obvious care and concern he felt for Gray. He stepped back and headed into the room, letting them follow or not as they wished. A quick request of the planet had a small couch and a couple of comfortable chairs appear in one corner of the room and he dropped down on the couch to wait.

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brain_ninja
2009-01-17 11:04 pm UTC (link)

Andy crouched down and looked back at Gray. "I'll tell you what. I'm gonna go out and play in the snow, because I heard there's a massive snowball fight. So, you catch up with your brother...and if you want to later, come out and join me. I'll keep you safe and it'll be fun," he replied with a smile.

He was more than happy to give them a little while to get to know one another. He only felt like he was in the way, now.

Andy stood again. "It was really nice to meet you, Jack...you can tell me that story another time, all right? I'll let you guys reacquaint yourselves." He gave Jack a small smile.

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	notbrokenyet 2009-01-17 11:12 pm UTC (link)
	Gray hugged Andy and stepped away. "I'd like to play in the snow so I'll see you later. Thank you Andy." He walked over to where Jack was sitting and sat down, pulling his knees up under his chin. Gray was in awe of being able to see his brother after so long but at lost at what to say. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-17 11:22 pm UTC (link)

Jack smiled when Gray sat down next to him and gently ran his hand down the back of his brother's head in a caress. It seemed so strange to have Gray back and so young. In some ways it reminded him of all the mistakes he'd made both on that horrible day and afterwards but it was also such a better reunion than the last one he'd had with Gray... the one he had no intention of talking about.

For a moment he didn't know what to say then he snatched up something that Andy had said. "I hear you've met Rose. Did you know she's a friend of mine too? We travelled together for a while with another friend, the Doctor."

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brain_ninja
2009-01-17 11:30 pm UTC (link)

Andy nodded at Gray. "No problem, buddy. You know where to find me if you need me," he said with a smile.

His eyes then moved to Jack. "Yeah, you said. That's cool. I like them both; good people."

He hesitated. "All right, well, I'm gonna head out. I'll be out at the snow forts if you need me, Gray, and Jack...again, good to meet ya. Take good care of him. I mean, I know you will, but...you know." He shrugged and gave Jack a sheepish smile. "See ya, guys."

After a moment, Andy nodded once to himself and turned, heading back outside. He'd head back to his room, shoot Sam a private in his journal to see if he wanted to come along, and then bundle up and head out.

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	notbrokenyet 2009-01-18 12:07 am UTC (link)
	Gray watched Andy leave, smiling lightly at Jack's caress. After the man that had helped him left Gray looked up at Jack, curiosity clear in his pale grey eyes. "I...I wasn't expecting an adult..." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-18 12:20 am UTC (link)

Jack gave Andy a smile and a nod. "I will." He made a mental note to tell Andy that story. Andy deserved to know why he, Ianto and Gwen had all jumped on him in such a fashion.

"Yeah," he said with a sigh. "This place has grabbed us from very different points in our timelines." He hesitated for a moment the decided he should probably tell Gray. It was possible someone else might make a reference and although the planet said there was no killing that didn't mean it wouldn't happen. "I'm, uh... actually a lot older than I look."

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	notbrokenyet 2009-01-18 12:35 am UTC (link)
	Gray noticed the hesitation and tensed slightly before relaxing somewhat. "What do you mean?" He reached out and touched Jack's cheek curiously, a light frown touching his lips as if he was trying to figure it out on his own. After a moment he pulled away, rubbing his arm just above the cast. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-18 12:45 am UTC (link)

Jack smiled when Gray touched his face and returned that gesture, still marvelling a little at the oh-so-familiar face. "It's kind of a long story but a while back I... was killed. But Rose... you met Rose... she had been temporarily given great power and she... brought me back from the dead. Brought me back to life. Because she cared for me so much that she didn't want me to die."

He grimaced. "Unfortunately she couldn't control that power and when she brought me back, she did so... sort of permanently. I can still die but I always come back. Always. With everything that's happened since then, I'm... a little over two thousand years old."

He brushed his fingers over Gray's hair again. "I'm telling you this because there are a few of my friends here and if you meet them, well, they know about this. I didn't want you getting worried about it if they made some comment that you didn't understand."

And given that most of those two thousand years was because of Gray, the chance of comments from Gwen or Ianto were reasonably high. He just hoped they could see that this Gray was just a little boy and not the Gray they had met... the Gray who had killed Tosh and Owen.

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notbrokenyet
2009-01-18 12:54 am UTC (link)

Gray studied Jack's face as he explained and he nodded in understanding, smiling slightly when Jack caressed his head. When Jack pulled back Gray frowned faintly.

"You...said you were from later in our time line...Do I. Do I do something bad in the future? Is that why the other two asked Andy about me?" He couldn't help to feel that he did something bad. Every time Jack spoke about his time he seemed pained. It couldn't be just from him being taken.

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cannot_die
2009-01-18 01:11 am UTC (link)

Jack ducked his head. He'd forgotten that his brother had generally been able to pick up when he was hiding something and now he was caught between telling the truth and likely horrifying his brother or lying and risking something just as bad if Gray ever found out the truth.

"I..." he began but then stopped and scrubbed his face with one hand. "Yes... but it wasn't your fault. Not really. The people who'd taken you... they hurt you. They turned you into... it's their fault." He placed his hand on Gray's head again. "I stopped from doing anything else and I... I'm looking after you until I can find someone to help you."

He carefully wrapped his arm around Gray's shoulders, keeping it gentle so that he didn't hurt him. "Look... you can't dwell on that. It's in the future and... maybe something will happen here to allow that to change."

He knew it wasn't likely but he'd also learned along time ago not to deal in absolutes when it came to time. He'd seen so many strange things on that score after all.

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	notbrokenyet 2009-01-18 01:27 am UTC (link)
	Gray frowned and looked away, snuggling against Jack needing the comfort. "I'm sorry...I know it hasn't happened but...I'm sorry." He sighed. "Maybe I really should hide in my room. I don't want to upset people." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-18 01:35 am UTC (link)

Jack held Gray as tightly as he dared. "It's okay. It's not your fault. Not really."

He shook his head. "No, it's alright. They're smart people. They'll be able to see that you're not... that person." He left off the not yet that should perhaps have gone there. He then smiled. "Besides I want you to meet them, especially one of them... Ianto Jones. He's my partner. I think you'll like him."

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	notbrokenyet 2009-01-18 01:48 am UTC (link)
	Gray gave Jack a look that he clearly disagreed on the first part. He smiled faintly. "I'm glad you found someone Big Brother. And I hope you're right." He pushed back his hair, face thoughtful. "How was...How was Mom and Dad after I was taken? Were they okay?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cannot_die 2009-01-18 01:58 am UTC (link)
	Jack smiled. "I know I am. Ianto's intelligent... and gorgeous but yeah, he's smart. He'll be able to see you and not the... other you." He grimaced and rested his chin on Gray's head. "Dad... died during the attack. Mum survived. She and I found each other again afterwards." Not that either of them had been the same after the attack. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notbrokenyet 2009-01-18 02:08 am UTC (link)
	Gray frowned. "Oh." He reached up and wiped away the tears that started running down his cheeks and swallows hard. "...Oh..." A soft hitching sob escaped him despite his wishes. Confused to why it hurt so much he buries his face against Jack's chest, his uninjured hand gripping the man's top. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

cannot_die
2009-01-18 02:16 am UTC (link)

Jack gathered his little brother close and gently rocked him back and forth, making a low crooning sound as he tried to comfort him.

"It's okay, Gray, it's okay," he said, kissing the top of Gray's head. He remembered this, remembered he and Mum just holding onto each other and crying at random times of the day after the attack when the reality of no Dad and no Gray hit home yet again.

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