Fffc May Special Daily Challenge (May 11th) - In it together

[m_findlow]

Title: In it together
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Ianto, Jack
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 891 words
Content notes: Spoilers for DW The Stolen Earth & Journey's End
Author notes: Written for fffc May Special Daily Challenge - May 11th - Hell is living without you (Alice Cooper)
Summary: Jack is back in Cardiff with a promise to keep.

Ianto was absently tapping the mouse with a fingernail, staring at the news feeds on his screen. The world was in a state of confusion. He could hardly blame them. It was going to be very hard to explain firstly how the planet have been dragged halfway across the universe, and even harder to explain how it had gotten back. Torchwood were used to covering up strange happenings and feeding fake news across the internet and social media, but even this was too big to hide, let alone figure out a cover story. It seemed easier to leave it a complete mystery. All he had to clean up were the bits of exploded Dalek, making sure they were completely destroyed.

He was alone now, having sent Gwen home to be with Rhys. At least she had someone to go home to so they could thank their lucky stars they were all still alive. His someone was somewhere far away, and he might not even be coming home.

The hub ticked and whirred in the silence. It was a comforting sound most often, but tonight it felt lonely. Just when he thought he couldn't taken the silence anymore, the sound of footsteps caught his attention.

'What happened to the door?' Jack asked, standing there large as life. Ianto couldn't remember ever feeling happier to see someone.

'We got dragged across the universe. Be grateful that's all that ended up broken.'

Jack jogged up the steps and came to stand right in front of him, that charming smile plastered all over his face. 'Sorry I took so long,' he apologised. 'Couldn't very well head home without stopping for one drink with Martha and Mickey. I hitched a ride back to Cardiff with some guys from UNIT. They're not nearly as boring as I thought.'

Ianto gave him a weak smile. 'Of course not.' He was just immensely grateful Martha had survived.

Jack caught the hesitancy in his voice. 'I told you I was coming back.'

'I know.'

'You didn't believe me though, did you?'

He paused. 'I wanted to, but... You could have gone off travelling with that Doctor of yours. We wouldn't have been any the wiser if you'd returned to the same time once you were done. You could have been gone months, or years.' He didn't expect Jack would even want to come back after that.

Jack let out a long breath and took Ianto's hands in his own, pulling him to his feet. 'You're right. I could have, but then I'd have known, even if you didn't.'

Ianto quirked an eyebrow. 'Guilty conscience?'

Jack shook his head. 'It's not that. I did all of that before once and look how it turned out.' He'd suffered so much during that year that never was, and he'd had to do it all without his most loyal companions and friends. 'I went through hell, Ianto, but the worst hell of all was living without you. I don't want to do that again, not for any reason. If that means giving up travelling the universe then that's what I'm prepared to sacrifice.'

Ianto squeezed Jack's hands. 'You don't have to give up everything for me, Jack.'

'Why not? Aren't you important enough? And it's not giving up anything. Giving up you isn't worth it.'

'Such a flatterer,' Ianto tried to joke, though he appreciated the sentiment more than he could say.

'I'm serious. I was so afraid for you. I didn't want to think about those Daleks coming for you.' They terrified Jack in a way he could never fully explain.

'They never got close,' Ianto lied. He only hoped Jack didn't look too closely at the broken door and see the burn marks of Dalek fire and their own bullets.

Jack wrapped him up in a huge hug. Twice now he'd come so close to losing everything, both times on account of the Doctor, and on both occasions it was the Doctor who's saved them whilst Jack had been powerless to do anything. One day their luck was going to run out, though he prayed it wouldn't be for a long while yet. He didn't know how'd he'd be able to go on. He pulled back slightly, grabbing Ianto's face in his hands. 'If I go travelling, then you're coming with me, you understand that? You and me, together.'

'That doesn't sound so bad,' Ianto replied. He didn't think it would ever happen, but it was a nice thought.

Jack smiled. 'Good. Now, what should we do? The universe is safe again, and we have nothing else that needs doing.'

'I could think of a few things,' Ianto mused, a cheeky little smile creeping across his face.

Jack chuckled. 'Oh, I bet you could.'

'Well, I just figured you had time for a drink with Martha. Maybe we could keep going in that same vein and see where the night takes us.'

'Ianto, the pubs and clubs will be packed with people celebrating.'

'Oh, and we're not allowed to celebrate? I think if anyone deserves a drink tonight, it's us.' He could probably go the whole bottle, give half a chance.

'Okay,' Jack agreed. 'A night on the town it is, then. Just like the normal folk.' He didn't really care what they did, just so long as they did it together.