marita_c | Torchwood Fic: Out of Reach (Jack/Ianto, Pre-slash) (Reply)

Title: Out of Reach
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Cyberwoman
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit.
Summary: Jack and Ianto picking up the pieces.
Notes: This is a missing scene fic - takes place immediately after the team shoots and kills Lisa in "Cyberwoman".

Out of Reach by Marita C
*Revised March 26, 2008

Jack motions for them to leave the vault. Ianto is left kneeling on the floor, his sobbing now replaced by nearly silent weeping. In the hub the team is quiet, surveying the mess and destruction around and saying nothing.

"You guys should go." Jack says. "I can handle it from here."

Gwen looks up, worried. "What are you going to do to him?" She asks quietly.

"Nothing." Jack answers. "Not today."

Tosh and Owen don't stick around any longer than they have to; both pick up their things and disappear through the heavy metal door. Gwen hesitates, and Jack tries to reassure her again.

"It's ok, Gwen, really. Go home." She holds his gaze for a few seconds more, and finally nods and leaves too.

Jacks closes his eyes, takes a deep breath.

***

Ianto has stopped crying. He moved away from Lisa's body at some point, and was sitting on the floor, leaning against the nearest wall and staring vacantly into space. Jack takes a few steps towards him.

There are three folded body bags in Jack's hand, and they land on the floor with a thud next to Ianto's thigh. "It's your own shit you'll be clearing up today". Jack can't quite get the bitterness out of his voice. He goes back to the hub.

***

In his office, Jack sits down heavily in his chair and sighs. He feels like a fool. His years spent as a con man turned Jack into a very good liar, but they also allowed him to easily recognize when someone was being dishonest. Or so he thought, until today. Is it really possible that he's been so blind? That with a few flirting comments, Ianto has managed to win his trust and convince Jack to let him into Torchwood?

Jack distinctly remembers that tingling he felt when he first met Ianto, that instinct that told him the younger man was hiding something. He remembers how he dismissed him at first, but then later saw something in Ianto's eyes that made him reconsider. There was pain there, mixed with desperation that was entirely genuine, and it made Jack act against his initial instinct and hire him.

Of course, that all made sense now. Ianto's desperation at the time had nothing to do with Jack, or Torchwood. He was trying to save the woman he loved and was willing to stop at nothing. Despite himself, Jack's feels his anger at Ianto's betrayal overcome by sympathy for the younger man.

***

Eventually, Jack pulls on his coat and leaves. On his way out he passes through the vaults. The three bodies are gone. Ianto is on his hands and knees on the floor, scrubbing out the blood stains, tear tracks on his face. He doesn't look up at Jack.

***

It couldn’t have been more than three hours since he left, but when Jack comes back to the hub, he finds the place spotless. No evidence is left from the day's occurrences. If anything, everything is cleaner than it was that morning. Ianto is sitting on the small sofa in the corner. Like the rest of the place, he looks scrubbed clean. He's wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, which make him look ridiculously young. His hair is wet, his fingers seem like they were scrubbed raw with a nail brush. He looks tired, drained.

Ianto looks up briefly as he hears Jack come in, then looks away again, and Jack's eyes fall on a small box sitting on the coffee table in front of him. The Retcon box. Jack swallows, takes a step closer.

"Did you take it?" He asks.

"I was waiting for you." Ianto's voice is hoarse. Jack winces at his tone. Empty, defeated. He takes the seat next to him.

Several minutes of silence go by, broken finally by Jack. "I’m sorry about Lisa." He says, not quite able to look at the man sitting next to him. "I know how much it hurts to lose someone you love."

When Ianto doesn't respond, he goes on. "The pain you're feeling now… It may never go away completely, but it will get better, easier… in time."

Ianto takes a ragged breath. "I don't think I can do this." He says quietly.

Jack leans forward, takes out a single pill from the box on the table, and hands it to Ianto. Ianto's hand shakes as his fingers close around the pill. "The choice is yours." Jack says simply. "You can take the pill, wake up tomorrow not remembering Lisa, not remembering Torchwood. Start over."

A part of Jack expects Ianto to eagerly accept the easy way out, but if anything, the younger man seems terrified at the though of forgetting.

Jack can't help feeling somewhat relieved. "If you choose to stay," he stops, searching for the right words. "This place… It can give your life meaning. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but you can be happy again."

Ianto looks up at Jack, his expression unreadable. Jack reaches towards him, brushes his cheek gently. "Take the pill home with you. Think it over. If I don't see you at work on Monday, I'll know your decision."

Ianto moves his face away from Jack's reach. Jack doesn't try to touch him again.

Eventually, Ianto gets up. Jack lets him go.