Torchwood: Fanfic: L'hotel de SUV

[m_findlow]

Title: L'hotel de SUV
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,345 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Any, any, sleeping rough" at fic_promptly
Summary: The accommodations weren't to their liking, then things got worse. A sequel to Staying inn for the night

Ow. The cramp in the back of his neck was throbbing something awful. Sleeping in the car was definitely not one of his favourite things to do.

Last night had descended very quickly into a frightening chaos that had resulted in him ignoring the fact that he was dressed in nothing but his underwear, running like the clappers across a murky motel car park in the pitch black of night, supposedly being pursued by ghosts or monsters, or something else entirely.

For five whole minutes he'd put aside the depravity of the dosshouse masquerading as a motel in the middle of nowhere. They'd been wet and cold, lost and in need of somewhere to stay until it was light enough to get their bearings. Snuggled up underneath the blankets next to Jack, he could almost forget the astringent smell of peppermint, the thoughts of the wallpaper peeling off the walls and the bed being full of fleas and other undesirables. It was just one night after all.

Then it had started. The dripping tap, the thumping on the walls, the rattling windows, and a shrieking on the wind that sent a chill down his spine. Jack had laughed at him earlier when he'd said he felt like there was something watching them, but now it was Jack who was shoving him out the door, telling him to run for the car and to not stop until he got there, no matter what.

And run he did. The gravel cut his tender feet and the branches of some of the shrubbery whipped past his unprotected skin, but he didn't care. He just ran and prayed that he didn't hear Jack yell from behind him, cut down by whatever it was that was after them.

The hazard lights gave a single flash into the night, like a beacon of safety as the SUV unlocked, and he lunged at the passenger door, throwing it open, and hauling himself inside, slamming it quickly behind him. Two seconds later the door on the opposite side flew open and for a second he feared it was their pursuer, but Jack's nearly naked body was clear under the tiny overhead light. He slammed it shut and the gravel squealed underneath the tyres as Jack turned the car speedily out onto the road, accelerating hard.

They were several miles up the road before Jack thought to slow down any, and several miles more before he finally pulled off the road into a small area that was surrounded by spindly bracken and trees, a makeshift lay by.

'What on earth was that?' Ianto said, finally catching his breath back.

'No idea,' Jack replied, equally breathless, 'but I wasn't hanging around to find out.'

Ianto flipped open the glove box, fishing out their guns and passing Jack his own. At least if whatever it was decided to come after them, they'd be armed this time, if nothing else.

After two hours of sitting in the car in the pitch black, it became apparent that whatever had been assaulting their motel room, hadn't found them here, or had simply wanted to scare them off altogether.

'It's freezing out here,' Jack said, rubbing his hands up and down his arms.

'Well, we've go no clothes, and the blankets from the SUV are now also back in our motel room.'

'Looks like we'll just have to keep each other warm.'

They cranked up the heating as high as it would go and let it stay that way for twenty minutes until the inside of the car was toasty, before turning the engine off and locking all the doors. It might have been warm now, but it wouldn't stay that way. The unforgiving Welsh weather would make sure of that.

Jack crawled into the back seat and indicated for Ianto to join him. There wasn't room for lying down, so they made do with leaning uncomfortably against one another, Jack wrapping his arms around Ianto to try and keep him warm. Whether it was the physical proximity of Jack, exhaustion, or just the relative safety of the SUV after the events back at the motel, Ianto found himself drifting into sleep easily.

Now, in the harsh light of morning, he was cold, sore, and feeling very sorry for himself. Part of him wanted to go straight home, assuming they could figure out which direction that even was, but all of their clothes and other belongings were still at the motel. Like it or not, they'd have to go back and collect them.

Jack turned the car around and followed the road back until he spotted the derelict sandwich board offering rooms for the night that they'd seen last night. Pulling into the car park, they peered out of the front window of the SUV. Everything outside was quiet and looked perfectly normal. Reluctantly, they made their walk of shame back across the car park, the bitterly cold air pricking their skin as they tottered toward the motel room door, praying no one else spied them cavorting basically naked across the yard. Jack jiggled the key in the lock before giving Ianto a quick glance and slowly pushing the door open.

Inside it was just as they'd left it: clothes hanging from the curtain rail to dry, phones and wallets on the bedside table, blankets thrown to the ground in their haste to escape. It still looked dank and mouldy, and the smell hadn't faded, but there seemed to be no ghosts or serial killers lurking within.

'Looks okay,' Jack said, taking a tentative look around.

'All the same, let's just get our things and go.'

They dressed quickly, pocketing their belongings, and folding up the blankets, marching back to the car with them.

'Better just go return the keys,' Jack said.

'Oh yes,' Ianto agreed. 'We wouldn't want them to have to change the locks for the next set of people they plan on murdering. I'm staying right here.'

Leaving Ianto tucked up inside the car, Jack stalked across the car park and back toward the small reception area. The old man from last night greeted him with a toothy grin.

'Sleep alright?' he asked.

Jack squirmed. 'Er, not exactly.'

'Anything in particular keep you up?'

'Not sure,' Jack lied. 'Probably just some squirrels running across the roof in the night.'

'Aye. And did the windows rattle as well?'

'Yeah. Kind of.'

'Argh,' the old man grumbled. 'Maisey!' he yelled. 'Wretched woman. Missus sleep walks, you see. Apparently she likes to terrorise guests when she's having one of her episodes. Third time this month. Hope she didn't give you too much of a fright.'

'What's that, love?' yelled an elderly woman who shuffled out to reception, spotting Jack standing there.

'Oh hello, you must be one of those nice young men I saw wandering around the car park with no clothes on.'

Jack felt himself blushing, though it was probably more from embarrassment at being scared by a little old lady, than of streaking around the complex.

'Did you have a nice stay?' she asked.

'They'd have had a bloody better one if you hadn't been sleep walking again. Going to chain you to the bed next time. Otherwise I'm going to start advertising this place as the most haunted hotel in Wales.'

At that moment, Ianto entered the reception area. Jack had been taking too long and he'd gotten worried. Jack could see the bulge in the small of his back where he'd tucked his gun. Bless him for being worried.

Maisey spotted him first, before Jack could speak.

'You have a very lovely arse, young man.'

'Er, thank you,' he said, confused. 'Are we going?'

'Yep,' Jack said, thrusting back the keys, and making a quick goodbye.

Walking back to the car, Ianto couldn't help but ask him what that was all about.

'Let's find somewhere that will do us breakfast first. I think I'm going to need coffee and a lot of greasy bacon before I can tell you. Still not quite sure I believe it myself.'

Comments

[dailys92.livejournal.com]

LOL beware of the sleep walking senior!

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

The boys certainly feel a little foolish, but they'd genuinely thought there wee ghosties coming after them. From now on, they're sticking to fancy hotels.

[bk_forever]

Wheeeeee! Sequel! I was wondering if they ever got their clothes back after that night!

Terrorised by a senior citizen sleepwalking prankster... Well, better than cannibals, ghosts, or cannibalistic ghosts!

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

Very true, however I don't think they'll be making mention of any of this when they get back to Cardiff.

[bk_forever]

I'm sure you're right, Owen would never let them forget it! It will never be spoken of again, I think they'll both agree it never happened.