125Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who
Beta: The amazing royalladyemma
Written for the Long Live Ianto Big Bang Round 1
Please R&R
Chapter 2
In the world of man…
Hidden beneath the feet of those they swore to protect, and under the leadership of Captain Jack Harkness, was the mysterious Torchwood Three. Standing in front of his office window Jack took the chance to survey his team. His second-in-command, Suzie, was bent over whispering something in Tosh's ear and from the way the tech genius was blushing it was something very naughty. Jack was very pleased to see they were still going strong; after nearly losing Suzie to the addiction of the resurrection glove, it had been Tosh's love that helped pull Suzie back from the edge. Jack had made very sure that the glove was locked away in the Secure Archives, something that only he had access to. He was not willing to put any of his team in danger like that ever again.
Jack's gaze flickered over to their newest team member and he fought back a sigh at the look Gwen was casting at the lovers; it was a look of pain, hurt and anger. It was hard to watch Suzie and Tosh sometimes because they had something no one else did, each other. Jack was pretty sure that it was harder for Gwen than it was for him and Owen to watch Suzie and Tosh. Their relationship was stronger than ever while Gwen's relationship with her boyfriend, Rhys was crumbling before her very eyes and there was nothing she could do to put it back together.
Jack's gaze left Gwen and flickered over to his medic; he was not at all surprised to see Owen playing video games instead of doing his paperwork. 'Sometimes I think Tosh is the only one who does any real work around here.' Jack thought with a sigh, he knew for sure that his lovely tech genius was the only one who ever completed her paperwork without having to be threatened; in fact it was usually Tosh who made sure he did his own paperwork. Jack shivered as he thought of the last time he earned Tosh's wrath; it was an experience that he never wanted to go through again.
'Speaking of paperwork.' Jack turned away from his window and stared at his desk which was over flowing with papers and files that needed to get done and soon. Pouting, Jack resigned himself to his fate and trudged back to his desk; his shoulders slumped as fell gracefully into his chair. 'It's days like this I wish I had my own PA. Oh, yeah, I can just picture him now, lush rich Welsh vowels that just send shivers down my spine as the word 'Sir' rolls off his talented tongue. I believe a suit is a definite must, with well-tailored trousers that show off his oh-so-perfect arse every time he bends over.'
Jack's blue eyes glazed over with lust as he imagined his perfect Personal Assistant. 'Oh and he'd have to be a Personal Assistant in every sense of the word.' But then reality crashed back into Jack's imagination; since he didn't have said assistant, he would have no choice but to do his own paperwork.
"I hate paperwork! Come on, Rift, just a small spike? Please?" Jack pleaded looking up at the ceiling. "Nothing too big, just something big enough that I can put off this horror know as paperwork until I find my perfect Welsh personal assistant?" Jack continued his pleading with the universe not knowing that his wish was to be granted in the most unusual way.
Rhiannon watched her brother scowl and pace around the courtyard, his anger clearly visible. With her Elf hearing she was able to his mutterings easily and she winced in sympathy as she realised that once again, her fathers had denied him his freedom from his arranged marriage. "Oh Ianto, I wish there was something I could do to help you," Rhiannon whispered softly. As children, they'd often been at odds, but as adults, they'd become good friends and she hated to see her brother in such pain.
"Do not fear, young one, there are events set in motion that will forever shape the future of Ianto, our people and even yourself." Rhiannon will forever deny that she jumped at the when she heard the words of the woman who came to stand right beside her.
Clutching her chest with exaggerated fear Rhiannon glared at the silver-haired elderly female Elf at her side. "Don't do that to me, Calathiel! You're almost as bad as Idhrenniel!"
Calathiel just smiled sweetly at the aggravated princess as she patted her on the arm, "I take that as a compliment my dear." It was a well-known fact that for a royal adviser, Idhrenniel had quite the mischievous streak. There were some in the place who saw Idhrenniel as a troublemaker, something she'd taught Ianto to be at a very young age.
Rhiannon's eyes narrowed as what Calathiel said finally registered with her. "What do you know?" she demanded.
Calathiel favoured her princess with a mysterious smile. "That will be revealed when the time is right," she said annoyingly and then her tone changed. "Just remember to have faith in yourself and your brother's lifemate when all hope seems lost." Warning laced her voice and shivers ran down Rhiannon's spine. It was not often that Calathiel issued such a truly dire warning and when she did, Elves always listened and heeded her words.
"I know you can't tell me much, but please, just tell me, is Ianto going to be okay?" Rhiannon was not surprised to hear the tremor in her voice; she loved her little brother and would destroy anyone who dared to harm Ianto.
"Ianto will be just fine; his lifemate will rip apart the heavens to keep Ianto safe." An out-of-place, oddly fond tone had entered the elderly Elf's voice.
"Calathiel? Do you know who Ianto's lifemate is?" Rhiannon question was asked softly in hopes that Ianto or Andy, who tracked down his charge, would not overhear them.
A single tear rolled down Calathiel's cheek as she answered in a ragged whisper, "In another life, I loved him. But his heart was not mine to keep. He does not yet know it but the key to ending his lonely life will soon find its way to him."
Rhiannon had no words to offer the obviously broken hearted woman; the only comfort she could offer was to wrap her arms around Calathiel's shoulders in a sympathetic embrace. Grateful for the gesture, Calathiel patted the younger Elf's arm even as she sent out a silent plea. 'Love Ianto like you couldn't love me, Jack, that's all I ask of you.'
"Are you sure of what you heard?" A dark voice rumbled from the shadows, sending shudders of pure fear through the Elf kneeling before him.
"Yes, Lord Ortherion, I am sure. The Royal Adviser herself, Idhrenniel, confirmed it; Prince Ianto is the Elf mentioned in Saeldur prophecy." The young female's voice trembled; she knew full well what the punishment was for angering her Lord and master.
"Prince Ianto, that's very interesting." A note of curiosity was clear in Ortherion's voice as he leaned out of the shadows. An unholy gleam of lust shone in his dark green eyes and his lips curled up into a predatorily smile, one that had everyone present trembling in fear. "You did good work, Eriathwen, you have pleased me greatly." He waved his hand at the shocked Elf, "You are dismissed."
Eraithwen was no fool; giving her Lord a quick bow she forced her legs to go as fast as they could without making her look like she was running scared.
Ortherion waited until his throne doors were shut before turning his gaze to the man at his right. "Suiauthon, I want Prince Ianto under constant watch. If he is able to find a way into man's world, I want to know immediately," he ordered. "I would hate for anything to happen to my future mate."
"As you wish, my Lord." Suiauthon bowed once to his master before taking his leave to do as his Lord wanted. With a wave of his hand, Suiauthon motioned everyone else from the room as well.
Alone at last, Ortherion relaxed into his throne. "I will have you, Prince Ianto, and once I do, I will make sure that this silly prophecy of Elves walking with man again becomes nothing more than a legend, the dream of a senile old man." With a horrible grin, he sat back and indulged in his favourite pastime, imagining all the things he was going to do to Ianto once he was under his power.
Somewhere in space and time
Every day the TARDIS' heart grew sadder as she watched her lonely one try and hide behind his mask, not realising that it could never fool her. She was not blind; the TARDIS knew full well that her Doctor was heartbroken and just the tiniest bit bored. It was never a good combination; in the past, it had only led to trouble. The TARDIS' heart felt heavy as she felt how much pain her dear lonely angel was in.
And it just wasn't her Doctor; no, she could feel the loneliness her dear Captain was in as well. It hurt her to know that they were both hurting and that was not something she ever wanted. She had used the power of the time vortex to peek into their futures and it had filled her with joy when she saw they destined to find the special loves meant just for them. No, that was what she wanted for Jack and the Doctor .She had just checked again and she knew that the time was quickly approaching when both the Doctor's and Jack's hearts would sing with love and joy when they found the other halves of their souls.
The only problem the TARDIS saw was getting the Doctor to go to Earth to visit Jack. She knew it would be difficult for the Doctor to not be so blinded by the loss of Rose that he would miss his true mate when she stood right before him. The TARDIS loved and adored her lonely angel, but really, the man could be quite daft when it came to matters of the heart.
Not that she had anything against Rose, oh no, she still adored Rose; she had been the key in helping her lonely angel regain sight of his humanity. The TARDIS also knew that her beloved Doctor's path did not lie with Rose and it was her fervent wish that she could have spared them both the hurt they were going through at this very moment.
It was all out of her hands; the Universe had determined the plan that said the Doctor had to meet Rose, and then they had to meet Jack, and finally, Rose had to bring Jack back. It all had to happen, in that order, no allowances for the pain it all caused, no deviations, no matter what.
'Still, this does not give him the right to ignore me! I want to visit Jack which means we will visit Jack.' If the Doctor wasn't going to play nicely and listen to her, then it was about time he remembered who was truly in charge. After all, she had a friend to visit and a captain to flirt with and it was high time they got underway.
TBC…