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The Rift (Eternity-verse 18)
http://amythest-n-ice.livejournal.com/10894.html
Link to Prt 19 Not so Tame
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Jack hurried into the console room, the tolling of the cloister bell urging him on. The Doctor was running around the console, checking monitors and flicking switches.
“What’s going on?” Jack yelled over the bell, which was almost deafening in here.
“We’re being pulled off course,” The Doctor yelled back, swinging around the console again.
“By what?”
“It looks like the rift in
“Ianto and Terrell are in the nursery with the children. They were both upset by the bell, so they’re trying to keep them amused. What’s going on with the rift? Can we break away from the pull?”
“Not sure why it’s tearing. We probably could break away, but I don’t think we should. If it isn’t sealed, then the whole of
“That’s what Torchwood is meant to be there for,” Jack sniped.
“Yeah, ‘cos last time I was called there by the rift opening, you hadn’t just died to close it after Torchwood opened it,” the time lord argued back. Jack sighed, conceding the point.
“All right, maybe not break away completely then, but avoid getting pulled right into the center of
“That I can do. Will you go and let Ianto and Terrell know what’s happening, and have Ianto call his mother on his mobile. She’s going to need to convince her family that they need to be in here, that it’s safer.”
“Right,” Jack said, darting out again.
Angharad was startled when the TARDIS landed right in her back garden this time. Every other time they had come here, the amazing ship had been landed out of sight.
“Mam, where are the others?” Ianto asked as soon as he got the door open, seeing her standing in the kitchen doorway.
“Your Da went to get Bron, David and the kids. Carys and her brood are away, in
“It’s really that serious. But if they really can’t deal with it, then I think Jack still has some amnesia pills around.”
“Right.”
“How long has Da been gone?”
“He left as soon as you phoned. He called about twenty minutes ago, he has them and is on his way back.”
“Do you think you can cope with looking after Kalen and Bobby? I need to go with the others.”
“Why? Stay and look after the children, be safe.”
“I can’t Mam. Terrell is going with them, and I’m not going to stay safe while he risks his life for a planet that isn’t his.”
She frowned slightly, but there was no way she was going to persuade him to go against his principles.
“All right, I will watch over the children. Do I need to bring supplies or anything?”
“No, the TARDIS has a fully stocked kitchen.” Ianto grinned.
They heard the car horn sound to let them know that Huw was back, and then Bronwyn’s voice, sounding annoyed.
“I don’t see why we have to be pulled away from what we were doing to come out here and play games with Ianto’s friends. What the hell is the problem, just because town is a little windy, there’s nothing to panic about.”
“Bron, stop complaining, and get inside,” Ianto told his older sister.
“Don’t you take that tone with me…” She started to snap at him, but Angharad batted her round the back of the head.
“This is not the time to be messing about, get your family through that door young lady, now.”
“We are not all going to fit inside that wardrobe.”
“In.”
Bronwyn looked mutinous, but rolled her eyes and ushered the children toward the door, closely followed by her husband. The little group stopped inside the doorway, jaws dropping at the sight of the console room, and Ianto had to push them inside so that Angharad and Huw could get in.
“Ianto, you have half an hour to show them everything you think they will need to know while we’re gone. As soon as I get the flight controls locked so that ape fingers can’t send the ship hurtling into the vortex, we’re heading out.” The Doctor said distractedly.
“Right.” Ianto said, shooing the still stunned family members out through the other doors.
The TARDIS had shifted some of the rooms for him so that they were all along the same corridor, kitchen, a few bedrooms, a sitting room, the nursery.
“Don’t go wandering. There are miles of corridors here, and even the Doctor doesn’t know all of them, you could be lost forever.” Ianto warned them.
Bronwyn snorted, and seemed to be about to say something, but a warning glare from her mother stopped her.
Jack and Terrell walked into the kitchen, both dressed simply in Jeans and T-shirts. Jack was carrying both children easily, and both were holding onto him tightly.
“Mam said she’ll look after them,” Ianto said as Jack looked at him.
“Thanks Angharad.”
“It’s nothing. You thought keeping us safe while all this was going on, the least I can do is watch your babies,” she said firmly.
“Thank you all the same.” He grinned slightly, transferring Kalen into her arms, and hugging Bobby tightly for a long moment.
“You look after your little sister, and the others, Ok Bobby?”
“Yes Mama.” Bobby held his head up high as Jack set him on his seat and kissed the top of his head.
“Here, Ianto, take the car. You’ll get need it to get into
“Thanks Da.” Ianto took the keys and his father squeezed his hand.
“Be safe.” The older man told his son quietly.
“We’ll try.”
They headed out, Jack picking up a pack that Terrell had left outside the kitchen door, and went to the console room.
“Last chance to back out.” The Doctor looked at the three of them from where he stood by the door. Jack snorted and walked over to him, raising an eyebrow.
“As if.”
“Seconded.” Ianto joined them.
“What they said.” Terrell shrugged, not sure what they had said exactly, but getting the meaning.
“Right, lets get going then,” The Doctor said, opening the doors and leading the way out.
The streets of
“Bloody hell, there’s Tosh.” Ianto pointed.
Sure enough, the slight woman was huddled a doorway of the millennium center, trying to take readings with a small scanner and stay out of the battering wind at the same time. Ianto pulled the car to a halt as close to where she was as he could, and Jack opened the passenger door, diving out into the meager shelter offered by her doorway.
“Jack, I am so glad to see you.” She yelled over the wind.
“What the hell happened Tosh?”
“We’re not sure. The rift monitor started to give high readings this morning, but we couldn’t pinpoint any reason for it. There doesn’t seem to be anything coming through, except apparently this wind.”
“What are you doing up here alone Tosh, where are the others?”
“Owen and Gwen were injured when the wind really started picking up. They were coming back in the SUV, and the winds just turned it over. He’s unconscious, and she has her arm broken in three places. They’re both in the hospital.”
“Good. Could you use a hand Tosh?”
“Could I ever.”
“Great. We should probably get inside, and maybe use the tourist office entrance.” Jack looked down at her. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He pushed her ahead of him into the back of the car, and Ianto headed in the direction of the tourist information office.
Inside the hub, the only sounds were the running of water splashing onto the concrete floor where the tower was at an odd angle, and the shrill alarm of the rift monitor.
“Where’s Mfanwy?” Ianto asked.
“Hiding up there somewhere, has been since the wind started.”
“Come on people, let’s focus here. Tosh, can you show the Doctor everything you have recorded since this morning? Ianto, Terrell and I will start doing a sweep, make sure there isn’t anyone here who isn’t meant to be,” Jack said, pulling weapons out of his pack and handing them to the others.
Tosh obeyed without question, despite the fact that Jack was no longer technically her boss, and he had joined the Doctor on Torchwood One’s most wanted list.
Tosh and the Doctor went through everything, and his frown deepened.
“What is it?” She asked him finally.
“I don’t think this is an accident, or freak occurrence. Someone has opened the rift deliberately, to a world with a denser atmosphere, and very bad wind patterns. Someone, I think, who wanted Torchwood occupied.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, reaching for his mate’s mind, checking they were all right. He felt puzzlement, and concentrated harder, needing to send a proper message.
*There may be danger. Be very cautious, get back here as fast as possible*
*Nearly finished the sweep. There are scents down here, but they are all old, nothing fresh*
*OK, just be careful, my Jack*
*Always* The Doctor smiled slightly, sure he could feel an answering smile from Jack at the other end of the link, then the contact faded, both of them needing to focus on their immediate surroundings.
“They’re nearly done, they should be back soon. Who do you think would have the ability to open the rift, anyone you have encountered before?”
“I don’t think so, and I don’t know where they would get the technology from either. After the Abbedon incident, after you took Jack, Ianto took key components from the rift manipulator, and either hid them, or maybe destroyed them, not sure which.”
“Not destroyed, I hope. I think we’ll need them to wrestle back control from whoever currently has it.”
He started to scan with his sonic screwdriver, trying to locate any stray signals that could be controlling the rift manipulator that was supposed to be keeping the rift under control.
“Nothing.” He hissed through his teeth in frustration.
“There is nothing out of place, that we know about, further in. What do you have?”
“Not much, someone seems to be using your rift manipulator to open the rift to an alien planet. Probably for a distraction while they do something else.”
“Yes, and it was working so well, until you turned up.” A light, cultured voice made them all jump.
“Bilis.” Jack snarled, turning to face the evil little man who had already tried to end the world once.
He stood on the gantry above them, dressed in yet another cravat and long coat, a nasty looking little blaster aimed down in their direction.
“Now, if you will just behave while my associates come and restrain you, then there will be no need for bloodshed, just yet anyway. One or two of you might come in handy for a little bloodshed later, but we’ll see.”
They looked and could see a half dozen squat, powerful looking aliens with leathery dark grey skin, and glowing red eyes closing in on them.
“I’m going after Manger, kill them,” Jack whispered to the others, pressing his spare blaster into the Doctor’s hand with a pleading look. He knew the Doctor wouldn’t shoot them unless he had to, but he wanted his lover to be able to defend himself. The Doctor tried to catch his wrist, but he had already darted into the shadows, letting his feral side out to play.
Bilis was watching his aliens being shot down by the others, and splitting his attention between that and a control unit he was holding. Jack thought he wasn’t even aware of him stepping onto the gantry until he turned, smoothly lifting the blaster to point at Jack.
“I would suggest you stop there, I would hate to have to shoot you just now,” he said dismissively, not really looking at him. Not until he growled, anyway.
Bilis looked up, startled at the sound.
“Well, you’ve changed, Captain.” He said with an oily smirk. Jack growled again, his golden eyes flitting constantly between the weapon and the control unit. He knew his mate would want the control unit, so he needed to get it undamaged. He rapidly calculated the distance between them, and sprang.
On the floor below, the aliens were all fallen in pools of vile looking green blood, and they were rolling them carefully out of the way when they heard the sound of a blaster firing above them. The Doctor looked up sharply, in time to see his lover cannon into the oily little man who had been threatening them, carrying them both over the railing. Jack managed to turn Bilis underneath him, and pry the control unit out of his hand before they hit the floor.
Bilis died moments after they hit the concrete floor, Jack’s weight splintering fragile bones and driving the shards through his lungs and vital organs. Jack lay still on top of the body, moaning quietly in pain, and the Doctor hurried over, carefully turning Jack onto his back, resting in the Doctor’s arms.
The front of his T-shirt was drenched in blood, which was quickly pooling on the floor under him. His eyes were hazed with pain as they shifted slowly back to their usual blue color, and his breathing was coming in quick, sharp gasps. He pressed a hand gently to the side of the Doctor’s face, leaving a slight smear of red, then pressed the control unit into his hand.
“Ianto, can you take him, please. I have to look at this thing, and I don’t want him to die alone.”
Jack whimpered in pain as he was gently shifted over into Ianto’s arms, his eyes closing as blackness swallowed him for a heartbeat. Terrell knelt across from Ianto, shock and horror clear in his chocolate eyes. Ianto cradled Jack as his breathing stuttered, and stopped, then looked up into his own lover’s grief marred gaze.
“It’s all right Terrell, he WILL be all right.”
“He is dead.” Terrell pointed out, stunned.
“Yes, long story, but he doesn’t tend to stay dead for very long. I promise, he will be all right.”
The Doctor heard Jack’s last breath, but he had to focus. He had to figure out this control unit and shut off the tear that the late and unlamented Bilis had opened in the rift.
“Keep an eye on your readings, please Toshiko,” The Doctor said quietly as he figured out the controls.
All the children were asleep in the bedrooms along the corridor, and Bobby and Kalen were in their nursery when Angharad heard heavy footsteps in the corridor. She looked at the other Huw, David and Bronwyn, then she stood up and looked out into the corridor. She cried out softly, her hand to her mouth, at the sight of the somber, blood soaked procession.
Jack was limp in the Doctor’s arms, obviously dead, and the other two were following quietly. The Doctor opened a door that hadn’t been there a second ago, and carried Jack into medical.
“What happened?” She asked, catching Ianto’s arm.
“He was shot, by the man who had caused the problems in
“Ianto, he’s dead.”
“I know, but it will be all right, I promise.”
“He can bring people back from the dead?”
“Jack will bring himself back. Go on, we’ll be back as soon as we wash this blood off,” Ianto said tiredly, leading Terrell to the showers.
Angharad hesitated for a moment, then waving the others to stay where they were, she slipped through the door the Doctor had carried Jack through.
Inside, the Doctor had stripped Jack, and was carefully washing the blood off him, gently stroking the warm, soapy cloth over long limbs.
“Can I help?” She asked quietly. He didn’t jump, he had heard her come in.
“No, thank you. I just have to wash the blood off, then I can leave him to recover on his own. He hates waking up covered in blood.”
“I thought he was human?”
“So did I. The human DNA was dominant, once, and that is what he has passed onto the children, as far as we can tell, but he isn’t precisely human anymore.”
“What is he then?”
“Unique.” The Doctor said, brushing hair off Jack’s forehead with a tender smile.
“I’ll join you all in the kitchen as soon as he’s resting and I’ve had a chance to change, then we’ll establish if your family need to have their memories altered.”
“They don’t. It took them a little while, but they’ve accepted that this is really a space ship, and if they tell anyone, they’ll think they’re insane.” Angharad smiled, then she took the hint, and went back to the kitchen, leaving the Doctor alone with his lover.
After a good nights sleep, Angharad got up to see if she could whip breakfast up, and was startled to find Jack in the kitchen. He was still very pale, and looked exhausted, but he was obviously alive.
“I’m sorry you had to see that last night,” He said softly as she chased him into a chair and took over the breakfast he had been cooking. She squeezed his arm lightly.
“I only had to see it, you had to go through it. You look awfully tired, you should eat breakfast and go back to bed. We’ll all get out of your hair, and you can get back to wherever you were heading for.” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“Oh, I think we can stay until tomorrow. After all, you need to get to know Ianto’s new partner properly.” Jack said with a sly grin, scenting the two just outside the kitchen door. Ianto glared lightly at Jack as they came in, but wasn’t really too annoyed, he was glad of any chance to see his family.
“That would be lovely, if the Doctor agrees.” Ianto finally grinned.
“Oh, he will. I plan to keep him busy.” Jack smirked.
“You need to rest.” Angharad scolded.
“Oh, I will.”
When they took off the next day, there was a new basket full of baked goods in the kitchen, and Ianto’s whole family were there to see them off.
Meanwhile, in the hub, Tosh hid a smirk as Owen ranted that Jack had been right there, along with the Doctor, and he had missed out on his chance to catch them.
End.
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One small typo, I think you meant "principles," not "principals."
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Thank you, that's what happens when you rely on spell check, lol. The word is spelled right, but is the wrong word in the first place.
Glad you're still enjoying these little peeks into our boys lives.
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I don't know, maybe Ianto does have a thing about authoritarian men with canes. *hmmm, vague idea starts to form*, wanders off to see where it leads.
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I adore Tosh helping.
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What do you think, should I pop her into the fight with the aliens?
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It definitely won't be tonight, the phones won't STOP!!!!, but there is an idea starting to germinate for a Myfanwy chapter.
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