Fic: The Oncoming Storm (Slash, AU, Janto 29/40 Conclusion 2/2)

[d8rkmessngr]

Author: d8rkmessngr
Pairing: Jack/OMC, Jack/?, Jack/Ianto eventually, het and slash
Rating: NC-17 (betaed)
Summary: He left Jack on the game station. Abandoned. But then…he came back…different. An AU look on what happens if things happened differently. Doctor Who 'verse with Torchwood later on. Be sure to read the warnings.


Warnings: Please read each chapter's individual warnings. Some parts down the road may briefly mention non-con, abuse, and/or violence. Dark in the beginning. Please note there are some dark thoughts as my boys are broken…for now. Each chapter will be labeled for your convenience.
Author's Notes: Please note this is an AU that will cross over DW to TW season one. I'm probably spoiling my own story, but it will eventually be Janto. There's a bit of a journey first. I hope you enjoy. I'm working on this and intend to post regularly every other day. And again, I always believe in happy endings. So without further ado…
Disclaimer: RTD and BBC owns them. I'm just borrowing them for a while.

Warning For This Chapter: Very dark, suicide/ self harm themes.

Notes For This Chapter: Note there are parallels to TW's "Out of Time"


Prologue + Ch , Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 10, Ch 11, Ch 12, Ch 13,Ch 14, Ch 15, Ch 16, Ch 17, Ch 18. Ch 19, Ch 20, Ch 21, Ch 22, Ch 23, Ch 24, Ch 25, Ch 26, Ch 27, Ch 28, Ch 29 Act 1/6, Ch 29 Act 2/6, Ch 29 Act 3/6 & 4/6, Ch 29 Act 5/6, Ch 29 Conclusion 1/2




Master Fic List: here


Chapter 29 "Out of Time"
Conclusion 2/2: "John's witnessing the end of his world, the end of his line. And we can't help."
December 22

Jack ignored Ianto, veering away from the hand he saw Ianto about to reach out and stood by the gurney.

"Paperwork's done?" Jack asked briskly.

He could hear Ianto's confusion. "Uh…yes. I'll just move him—"

"I'll do it." Smoothly, Jack lowered the gurney to line up the body with chamber two. As the body slid into the compartment, Jack paused crouching by the door before he shut it. He didn't turn around.

"Sorry about your car."

Ianto's sigh held a little frustration. "Sod the car. Jack—"

"I called a rental agency for you," Jack cut him off. "The one outside Ramsey's pub. By the garage where you usually park. There's a car reserved."

Ianto sounded taken aback. "You didn't have to do that…"

Jack now turned around as he rose back to his feet.

"Everyone's off tomorrow," Jack reminded him. "You have family for Christmas?"

Ianto seemed to deflate. "Actually," he confessed, "I still haven't decided. The last time I was there, I was with Lisa."

His stomach seemed to harden; the lump that resided there sharpened and dug into his belly. His guts knotted.

"They don't know?" Jack kept his voice steady.

"No, they know, but I…" Ianto shrugged, his eyes downcast. "Just wasn't sure if I was ready to see them yet without her."

"One thing I learned from this," Jack said, approaching Ianto. He dropped an arm over Ianto's shoulders, "is time is very fleeting for you people. And family …" Jack stopped at the top of the stairs and dropped his arm.

"Enjoy them while they're still here."

Ianto exhaled and nodded reluctantly. He gave Jack a sideways glance.

"What about you?"

Him? Startled, Jack blinked. "I'll be here."

The answer didn't seem to agree with Ianto. He pursed his lips.

"Would you…ah…like to come with me?"

Jack didn't expect that question and he stared at Ianto for a beat before he laughed, his throat aching.

"'Hi, meet my boss, oh, by the way, I shag him every so often while the coffee's brewing.'" Jack chuckled, shaking his head and stepping back. "I don't think so. Besides, can't leave Torchwood alone."

He could feel Ianto's gaze on his back.

"Is that what you think?" Ianto sounded a little hurt. "You really think this is just about sex? Still?"

What else can it be? Jack stared at the stasis jar in the distance, blue frothing liquid that gleamed under the Hub's lighting.

Jack set his jaw and didn't answer.

"Look, why don't you just come with me—"

"Someone needs to be here," Jack barked, not meaning to.

Stubbornly, Ianto huffed. "Fine. We can stay her—"

"Did that not teach you anything?" Jack spun around, his arm wildly waving towards the infirmary. He barely missed Ianto. Wide-eyed, Jack stared at Ianto. Slowly, his arm lowered.

"Go home, Ianto. You have family. Be with them. That's what life is." Jack gestured around him. "Not this."

Ianto leaned back against the railing that led down to the medical bay. He sighed.

Jack smiled wanly "See you on Boxing Day, okay?"

Ianto nodded towards the tree. "Everyone has decided on that restaurant at the end of the wharf for dinner."

They had all sat there: Mickey, Rose, Jack and the Doctor. Jack couldn't even remember what they were laughing about. All he remembered was that he was happy. So happy with life finally, so glad to sit there and have absolutely nothing to do but to laugh, and God, that was so long ago, but barely months to Ianto…

"Jack?"

Jack's face hurt when he smiled again. "Sounds fine. Hear their fish and chips is good."

The smile didn't assure Ianto and a pinched, anxious look was still on his face. Ianto stared at Jack, his eyes glued to him.

"I could stay if you want," Ianto blurted out. He blinked as if that wasn't what he originally wanted to say.

Jack chuckled. It felt like glass in his throat. "Stay?" He approached Ianto and settled his hands on Ianto's shoulders.

"Why would I want you to stay?" Jack smirked; it felt like his face would crack. "Torchwood doesn't pay for overtime." He gave those tense shoulders a pat and stepped back.

"Go. Be a favorite uncle. I'll see you in two days." Jack nudged and prodded Ianto, who didn't really have a chance to protest as Jack walked him to the invisible lift.

"I'll have my mobile," Ianto hedged. He raised a foot to the lift, then lowered it. He spun around. "Jack, I really don't thin—mmpf…"

The moment Jack saw Ianto tense, his back straightening, he knew. He walked up and as soon as Ianto turned around, Jack kissed him.

There was a muffled protest from Ianto before he relaxed into the kiss, his hands dangling at his sides as Jack thoroughly explored his mouth. He stood there blinking when Jack pulled away.

"Mistletoe," Jack murmured against his jaw. He gave Ianto's chin a stroke with a knuckle.

Ianto blinked and peered up at the opening on the surface. The water sculpture sprinkled above them.

"Mistletoe?" Ianto said in a bit of a daze. "Where?"

Jack guided him up the lift, made sure he was sure-footed, then activated the lift. Ianto started as it began to move, but thankfully he righted himself.

"It was in my pocket," Jack shouted out to him through cupped hands.

"That's cheating!" Ianto yelped half-heartedly before whatever else he was going to say was swallowed up above.

The grin on Jack's face vanished as soon as the lift was out of sight. He remained there, his hands in his pockets, the pterodactyl cawing inside its elevated cave above him.

When his back began to ache from standing too long, Jack climbed down the short steps to the central main area. He flipped a salute to the tree before he headed back to his office. And he sat there, not really looking at the files he meant to work on, for how long, he didn't know. But his knees began to grow numb and his back began to bow so he pushed off from his desk and headed over to the one thing that had made sense before.

There was no post-it this time telling him to go to bed. Jack settled down on the floor in front of it, his greatcoat fanned out under him.

He sat there for what felt like hours, staring at the hand in the jar. He wondered why the rhythm thumping in his head sounded different. It was steady. A single one-two beat that held no message, no taunt. It sounded like…

It sounded like a heartbeat.

Jack settled his hand against his own chest. No. That wasn't it. Jack checked again. His own heart beat sluggishly. Not surprising. Over a hundred years of beating and stopping, no wonder it sounded lethargic. How will it sound like after a hundred more? A thousand? A—

Jack choked. He was afraid to count beyond that. There was no point. The years will accumulate, his damn heart will keep beating, and Jack has no choice in the matter.

A sound, a cross between a sob and choke, escaped despite him pressing his fist into his mouth. Jack sucked in his breath, held it for as long as he could, until he saw spots, until his lungs burned and then…a gasp. His body, unwilling to cooperate, forced him to draw a breath.

It was a natural instinct to draw a breath, to beat a heart, to live. Why did Ellis have to go against nature and interrupt it?

Jack tried again. He snarled when once more his body rebelled and jerked his body until his chest filled with air. He rested his face on drawn up knees, coughing as his lungs fought for the air he tried to deny it. His body didn't care if it was around ten, seventy or a thousand years, it wanted to live.

"Don't I have a choice?" Jack screamed to the air above. The pterodactyl squawked in surprise. It was the only response.

Jack dropped his head into his arms, pulled his knees in and fought to keep that lump in his stomach at bay. It had been honed into a sharp stone, gouging and digging from the inside. It struggled to travel out through his throat, out his mouth into a scream Jack knew would never stop, would never be answered. The only one who could had left him in London, possibly to grieve, possibly never to return.

In the back of his mind, Jack could hear it. Creeping, crawling, eating the edges of his mind as it clawed its way back to his conscious.

…thrum…

Jack didn't know why it left him in the first place. He even despaired that it sounded muted now; as if it had been silenced before.

…thrum-thrum…tap-tap…

Please, please drown out whatever he was feeling inside. Jack bit his lower lip and swallowed the whimper that wanted to come forth. There were longings and John's words, and Ianto's hands on his body that were warring against the four beat drumming in his head.

John found his choice. He didn't want a bearable life. He didn't see the strength to continue. He said he wasn't as strong as Jack. But Jack didn't feel strong. The option was taken from him.

…tap-tap…

Yes. God, yes, come forth. Jack wanted it to fill his mind, block everything else out. He was so tired. He was so fucking tired of trying to stay above whatever was collecting in his gut, the abject loneliness and the feelings he had long forgotten brewing in his chest, demanding to be felt each time he woke up besides Ianto. He wanted to be able to rest. So tired.

It seemed like the room shrank around him. Jack's ears roared. He breathed harshly as he stared hard at the jar, at the hand waving, gesturing, its blue liquid glowing like the remnants of his Vortex being torn away. Calm came over him, as close to death as Jack ever tasted. Jack thought he could feel his body grow numb limb by limb, the Webley attached to his hip holster burned hot like a poker. Gritty eyes stared at the jar. The cold floor didn't register in his mind. Just the drumming. It seemed to chant to him. Maybe this time now…maybe this time…

When the beating in his head filled every sense, every thought, Jack smiled and pulled out his gun.

…thrum-thrum-tap-tap…



Chapter 30 "Out of Time 2.0"

Additional Notes: Many thanks to soullessminion for betaing this chapter. And trtmx for her magic trick that saved my sanity! LOL.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_miss_daisy_/]

That was beautiful! I loved the part about the post-it notes. I don't want this story to ever end! I love it! <3

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

-sigh- I'm kinda sad about it, too, although goodness, it went from the originally planned 18 to 28 to??

:)

[bakaknight.livejournal.com]

-shiver-
Scary. So, so scary.
No not this time. No not this time....

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

No, no, not to worry...much, I mean.

-snicker-

Oh, I can be such a rotten kidder sometimes,,,

[shane-mayhem.livejournal.com]

*pets Jack* Poor thing!!

Love it; look forward to more. :)

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

-sigh- It is tempting to pet our boys, huh?

[itoshii-chan.livejournal.com]

*wibbles and clutches*

*sniffles as she looks at the day of next update*

... evil cliffie... *sniffles* Jack's in too much pain... Ianto, help him... *starts crying*

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Awww. -hugs itoshii_chan- Not to worry. It'll be okay.

[kaimu.livejournal.com]

Poor Jack, he just can't catch a break can he. This is going to sound really odd, but I -liked- that his suicide was treated as a suicide, and we really got into his head to understand his mentality for it, and what pushed him over the edge at the end.

I look forward to seeing how the rest of the episodes play out in this verse!

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It bothered me that on screen, they had treated John only slightly higher than a Rift victim. I was guilty at that at first, until I started writing and thinking back how Jack and John clicked. There was too much parallel I thought to dismiss. Yes, Owen/Diane sad, but the platonic bond I think was more tragic.

Gwen and Emma? -meh-

-lol-

[naimu.livejournal.com]

TT_______________TT DAMN U JACK HARKNESS FOR NOT SEEING WHAT IS BLOODY INFRONT OF YOU!!!

>______________

[naimu.livejournal.com]

AH! the face didnt come out!
>_____________<

SO HAPPY U UPDATED!

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Invasion of Normandy might have been a picnic!-lol- They're 6, soon to be 7 in Oct.

[rhianona]

i really like how Ianto is wooing jack. And while this bit was dark, it's also warranted, given the rather severe trauma Jack is going through.

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Whew, I'm glad because this went alot darker than I had planned. I edited pages out. I wrote it on the road. Hmmm....road trip tramua? -lol-

[taynna.livejournal.com]

i've been lurking here for awhile (i'm evil like that, i'm afraid) but i have to say that i LOVE this story. my favorite fics have always been well-executed alternate timelines, and this one is very well executed. i love the subtle little differences that come from Jack having 'skipped over' the last half of the 20th century - like not getting Star Trek references :)

i have to say that i'm very worried about this jack come episode 12. i don't think your version of jack will handle it very well. in the canon timeline jack seemed sort of enchanted with the WWII-era, while i think this one will associate it too much with meeting the Doctor (and the 'Doctor') and being subsequently abandoned. which is, of course, to really say: i can't wait. my inner angst-fiend is really looking forward to it!

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

All I have to say about episode 12 is:

-hee-

[nomdeplume13.livejournal.com]

So sad. Really it is. Just as you're thinking that Jack is going to do better, with the little post it notes, he lets himself be swallowed whole by his grief.
Really, though, well done. You'll keep me waiting for Monday.

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

-sheepish grin- Yeah, me rotten person doing all this to Jack. I like his character, I do...

[indusnm.livejournal.com]

With a chapter this good, a week makes sense! Go hug the kids, and my cat sends a virtual hug to you!

Thanks for posting!

Also- not going to the Himalayas? I'm fascinated to see how this turns out.

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

It's getting me nervous b/c yeah, changes the whole utopia arc, not just AU-ing it!

[ivymcallister.livejournal.com]

Yay for Christmas!Fic! :) Lost child bit worked really well, too--can definitely see this Jack taking it that far. Loving it. :)

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Every series needs a Christmas episode, although "Out of Time" seemed less about St. Nick. :)

[missthingsplace.livejournal.com]

Oh this fic is so great, i love it when a new part appears, it's never going to end, right?

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

-sputter- Season 1? Uh, I'm afraid so!

As for Season 2...-eg-

[seres-mimosa.livejournal.com]

You write too well. Empathizing with John damn near made me suicidal, let alone a fragile Jack :) I work in healthcare and the holidays especially christmas are well recognized as a particularly vulnerable time for the socially isolated. And you've left him for 2 days? Please Ianto come back, before this evol author breaks my heart.

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

When I originally wrote this, I think I empathized with John too much and left Janto behind. Maybe because I'm a parent, maybe because the show itself was too focused o Owen/Diane.

I thought the bond bet. John and Jack was a brilliant move by the writers but they never explored it further than that one episode! Gr...

[becky-da-wolf.livejournal.com]

*mouth hangs open* Wow! I was going to say that's the best reward to come back from an exam to but...it's too dark to say that. Amazing.

However, I am going to say (and I seem to spend half my life in this fandom saying this): Jack step away from the [insert appropriate character/alien/piece of tech here] and hug your Ianto!

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Hm, yes, Jack and alien tech, particularly stuff in jars, don't sit well with him, huh?

Exams over? Is a Huzzah in order?

[cherry-soup888.livejournal.com]

Wow this was all brilliantly done thank you so much!
So glad your back! :)

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad to be back. I missed my bed! -lol-

[zions.livejournal.com]

You are doing an incredible job of writing here.
Thought I eventually had to tell you that, after devouring chapter for chapter,hour after hour until my eyes burned... Wonderful!
My heart was very close to breaking several times so far, oh those poor men! When you had Jack in the clutches of the "Doctor" I was so desperate for somebody to save him, immediately. Well, took a bit longer until Jack was free (in a rather physical sense, i.e. the "Doctor" swanning off) - but by then he got Ianto, so that was all right and well.
I can't wait for the "ultimate" conclusion: what happen's when Jack finds out who the "Doctor" who picked him up in the fourties really is (I really enjoyed all those casual little inserts about the upcoming elections and the minister of defense and how both Jack and Ianto never manage to notice. Very clever and very amusing. Well, sort of. For me.), what Ianto's reaction might be if (?) he ever finds out where poor Jack's nightmares stem from and what "real" Doctor might say when he finds out what has happened to Jack (I must admit I've never been happy with the way the Doctor treated Jack and explained his actions in "Utopia"... So this is me hoping that the Doctor in this story might be a little more sensitive...less of a prick...?) - though I'm rather convinced of one thing: Ianto will get his Jack *smiles brightly* Your Ianto is so determined... and I'm so happy for that. I also liked your potrayal of Owen, snide and snarky as we know and love him, but also so protective of his Captain.
To cutit short: you rock. And now I really have to do my dishes.
Z.

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Z,

Thank you for the wonderful (wow, and long) comment. I'm glad you're enjoying this story (and at the expense of your dishes no less, lol). Yes, I'm determined Ianto will get his Jack, more importantly, Jack will 'let' him. :)

[ivy-b.livejournal.com]

Awwww I gotta wait till Monday? *pouts* Jack angst=love, but noy does that guy angst! Especially in this episode. Loved the chapter and I'm waiting for Ianto to knock some sense into Jack.

[eawen-penallion.livejournal.com]

Still here, and still loving this story. I am going to echo one of the other commentators -a sequel would be lovely... but I do know how it is trying to juggle writing and family.

Yep, Ianto really has to work hard on Jack to bring him out of this depressive phase and I love how he is 'courting' his Captain.

I am really looking forward to seeing how the reunion of Jack, the Doctor and 'The Doctor' goes. Inflammatory, to say the least!

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Welcome back!

Inflammatory?

That would be putting it mildly. -lol-

[zeraparker.livejournal.com]

Very nice, sad chapter. I loved Ianto's post-its on the jar.
Really looking forward to next monday <3

[mesalline.livejournal.com]

Damn you, monday!? WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL MONDAY!?

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

-eep- I need more time to write! Sorry! :)

[timelordcons.livejournal.com]

I love the way this is progressing.
Nice way to break up my revision as well!
And if I have to wait until Monday I won't be distracted from my exams.

But seriously, I really love this :)
Especially the post-it notes, they were really cute.

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Yes, because I would never want to be in the way of exams!

[anwamane13.livejournal.com]

I loved the idea of Ianto courting Jack because Jack needs someone to take care of him.
So sad to see Jack suffering because of John's death...I hope Ianto arrives and stops him from killing himself(*sigh*)
I'm more than a little worried here because in the end of season 1 we all know what happens: Jack leaves. What will happen then? As good as the Doctor is, he's not nearly as good for Jack as Ianto is.
Just 6 to 9 chapters to go...that's sad, because a good story like this should never end!
I hope you seriously think about season 2...?

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Well, this story won't technically end on EOD, but at Doctor Who's LOTTL. Sort of come ful circle as we started with Doctor Who...:)

[izzy-harknes.livejournal.com]

I seriously sat up all last night reading this series. I love it im so happy you updated!

I love your writing.

Just to let you know!

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[seether-79.livejournal.com]

Just read this from the start and all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great story and I can't wait for the rest :)

[d8rkmessngr.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading and welcome!