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d8rkmessngrAuthor: 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: strong language, dark, angsty, disturbing imagery (a matter of reader's interpretation, though)
Notes For This Chapter: Note there are parallels to DW's "The Sound of Drums"
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, Ch 30, Ch 31, Ch 32, Ch 33, Ch 34, Ch 35, Ch 36, Ch 37 Act 1/9, Ch 37 Act 2/9, Ch 37 Act 3/
Master Fic List: here
Chapter 37 "The Sound of Drums"
Act IV: "I was gonna vote for him."
Ministry of Defense
Whitehall St., London
Present day…
The Doctor immediately leaned over Jack, his eyes intense on his face as Jack stirred. "Captain," he murmured, his mouth close to Jack's ear. "Steady there, you're all right."
Jack's eyes flew open and before anyone could react, his fist flew out.
"Doctor!" Martha yelped as Jack's fist glanced off the Doctor's jaw. Startled more than hurt, the Doctor fell back with a grunt.
"Jack!" Ianto scrambled over. He braced Jack's shoulders before he rolled off the platform.
"Blimey," the Doctor grumbled from the floor, a hand to his jaw. "This century doesn't like me very much."
"Jack, Jack, it's okay," Ianto hastened to say as Jack bucked under his hands. Martha, seeing the Doctor was all right, hurried over to pin down his legs.
The reaction was a violent one.
Jack lashed out, nearly kicking Martha in the head as his legs twisted. His head banged against the platform as he tried to throw Ianto off him.
"What's wrong?" Ianto cried out. He staggered back and avoided getting his chin knocked by Jack's head. "Jack!" He caught Jack's shoulders between his hands and stared into his face. "It's me," he pleaded. "You're okay! We're getting you out of here!"
Jack's only response was a hand whipping out towards Ianto's head. He missed.
"Wait!" the Doctor hissed as he hurried back to the dais. "Hold on! Get those binds back on him."
"What?" both Ianto and Martha exclaimed.
"Just do it unless you want him to kick you again!"
The Doctor pulled Jack's wrists into the straps again, all the while muttering, "Sorry, so sorry."
Jack growled. He thrashed, frenzied, nearly dislocating his shoulder as he tried to sit up despite the restraints.
"What's happening?" Ianto stammered. Jack bucked underneath him. The straps must have registered because Jack renewed his struggles to the point Ianto was afraid bones would break.
The Doctor held up a hand, telling Ianto to wait. He leaned over Jack again and in front of him, snapped his fingers.
Jack didn't react. Exhausted, he lay there, his chest heaving. He didn't flinch when the Doctor muttered something long-syllable and alien that sounded like raisins or something.
"He's blind."
Ianto's head shot up. "What?"
The Doctor demonstrated with another finger snap centimeters from Jack's face, then his ear. Jack never reacted. "Deaf, too."
Ianto stared down at Jack. He carefully settled his hand on Jack's shoulder and Jack flinched again.
"He doesn't know we're here to help him," Ianto murmured, dismayed.
"I think that's why this was done to him."
Martha sounded stunned. "If he doesn't know who we are, he'll fight us all the way out of here."
The Doctor studied Jack, his lips pursed. "I can think of one way…"
"Me, too," Ianto muttered. He dipped his head and sealed his mouth over Jack's.
Jack at first tensed, his mouth rigid when Ianto tentatively swiped his lower lip with his tongue but after gentle prodding and a nip, Jack relaxed, his lips parting and oh God, he missed this. Jack's moist mouth surrounded his tongue, his exhales caressed him from the inside. Ianto felt Jack make a sound into his mouth as Ianto slipped his hands up and cradled Jack's face.
Someone cleared his or her throat.
Ianto and Jack parted with a wet gasp.
"Ianto?" Jack panted, his eyes blank and tilted towards Ianto's direction.
Relieved, Ianto sagged. He stroked a knuckle against Jack's jaw. Jack closed his eyes in relief before they flew open again.
"What are you doing here? Are you here alone? They said you were with—"
Ianto settled his fingers against Jack's mouth. Jack understood and quieted.
"Well," Martha commented breathlessly. "That worked."
Ianto's smile dropped and he glanced up. The Doctor arched an eyebrow. He wagged his sonic screwdriver at him.
"I was thinking of letting the captain feel this, but I suppose the direct approach works too," the Doctor drawled.
God. Ianto flushed as he went to undo Jack's binds. He ducked his head. "Sorry," he stammered.
"Oh, it was quite all right," Martha chirped, forgaving him a little too enthusiastically.
"Martha," the Doctor groaned.
"Are the others with you?" Jack said, his voice too low for anyone but Ianto to hear now. Ianto threaded his arm around Jack's shoulders to ease him off the platform. "Gwen and the others?"
Ianto shot the Doctor a panicked look. He bit his lower lip. Ianto grimaced as he tried to bear Jack's weight as Jack shakily climbed off the dais, but days possibly bound to the thing left Jack with shaky balance. Jack stumbled.
Martha hurried over to help. They both yelped when Jack's hands grabbed at her chest when his knees buckled. Martha jumped back the same time Jack did. He lifted his hands and shook them slightly.
"That wasn't Tosh or Gwen," Jack said in a thin voice. "Ianto?" Jack staggered, trying to stay upright until Ianto grabbed his arm.
"Martha?" The Doctor frowned.
"I'm fine," Martha squeaked, her arms folded protectively in front of herself.
"I'm not going to ask how you knew that, Jack," Ianto murmured, his mouth twitching at the corners. He schooled a more appropriate face towards Martha.
"Where are the others? Who's with you?" Jack paused. His shoulders slumped. "I guess you can't tell me…" Jack laughed strangely and gestured towards his own face. "Whoever these people are…they didn't like that I tried to escape." Jack shrugged, but Ianto could tell Jack was struggling to stay upright.
Ianto rested his head against Jack. Jack awkwardly gave his general direction a pat, landing on his ear.
"I saw Owen and the others before," Jack murmured urgently. "They were arrested as terrorists…for opening the Rift."
Ianto stiffened. Jack could feel it against him.
"You don't know where they are?" Jack guessed. Ianto shook his head against his cheek and Jack muttered a curse. Jack straightened or at least tried to and starting falling away from Ianto. When the Doctor caught him, Jack reared back with a violent lurch.
"Ianto?" Jack hissed tersely, his arms out to ward the Doctor off.
Ianto ducked under one arm and gave Jack's left hand over his shoulder a squeeze.
Jack relaxed. "Wish I can hear you," Jack sighed.
"Me, too," Ianto murmured. His hands curl around Jack's arms.
"We need a system." Jack brightened and his eyes, despite seeing nothing, crinkled.
"One kiss for yes, two for no?" Jack suggested, his eyebrows waggling.
"He hasn't changed one bit," the Doctor grumbled. Martha snickered.
Ianto was reveling in the feel of Jack too much to even pretend he was angry. He gave Jack's hand two brief squeezes.
Jack pretended to sigh tragically. "I guess that could work, too."
"Spoilsport," Martha joked lightly.
Ianto flushed furiously.
"Blimey, even his ears!" the Doctor marveled.
"Not helping!" Ianto bristled.
"Oh. Did you need our help? You looked like you were doing fine on your own, Torchwood."
Ianto growled and for some reason, Jack tensed. He edged closer to Ianto, standing halfway in front of him.
"Okay?" Jack rumbled. He stared in the Doctor's general direction with a frown.
Ianto smiled sadly at Jack and squeezed his hand once.
"You got outside help?" Jack guessed.
Ianto pressed his fingers around Jack's once for yes.
"You trust them?" Jack murmured.
Ianto ignored the Doctor's sputter and tightened his hand around Jack's hand.
Jack sighed. He nodded reluctantly.
"Alright," he muttered. Jack was resigned. Ianto could feel Jack's grip tighten over his. "Then lead the way, Mr. Jones."
The Doctor triggered a fire alarm that evacuated everyone out of the building and they simply went with the crowd like fish swimming up a current. It took a few breaths before Martha's knees stopped knocking and a few tries before she could get her fingers to turn on the ignition. She resisted speeding away when she drove past the guards gathering in front of the building. She couldn't believe it. They had just walked out of MOD!
Jack Harkness was exhausted by the time they had reached her Corsa. The Doctor and Ianto gave each other worried frowns over his slumped head that Martha couldn't understand. The poor fellow had to be exhausted from his ordeal. Even Martha couldn't help checking constantly if he was okay. She wasn't sure why the Doctor's former companion was the Master's prisoner, why he was rendered deaf and blind, but they got him out. He was safe now, yes?
The roads back to her flat were thankfully clear. The Doctor was checking her laptop again for anything on the whereabouts of Ianto's teammates. Martha checked her mirror again. Jack Harkness, his vintage coat draped over him, dozed against Ianto's shoulder.
Harkness or Captain as she heard the Doctor call him was a striking man from what she could tell. Tall like Ianto, dark hair and broad shoulders, the captain stood, even currently blind and deaf, like a mountain yet he didn't physically loomed over her. Rather, he filled the room.
And wouldn't you know it, Martha sighed. Taken as well. It was seriously feeling like a conspiracy.
Martha glanced up at her mirror again. She stifled a giggle. They did look brilliant together though.
"There's something on the back of his head," Ianto spoke up after a moment.
The Doctor twisted around in his seat. He hissed. "That must be what's causing his blindness."
Martha could see in her rearview mirror that Ianto had tilted Harkness' head onto his shoulder, one hand cupped at the back of his skull, his other hand parting the dark strands of short hair.
"What is that?" Martha blurted out, aghast. From here, she could see a small square of crystal embedded at the base of Harkness' skull. Ouch!
The Doctor was practically kneeling on his seat now to get a better look. Martha had to slow down. The last thing they needed was to be stopped in a traffic accident.
"Looks like a crystal from Arcateen," the Doctor murmured.
"A what?" Martha asked as she watched for the ramp to her street.
"We came across these before," Ianto explained, tensely. "It lets one read people's thoughts."
The Doctor scoffed. "Among other things." He leaned in, nearly spilling into the backseat. "Hm, looks like it's receiving a signal from somewhere. I think if we just remove it, he'll be fine." The Doctor twisted back into the passenger seat. "We could do this at Martha's place."
The car swerved a little and the two men yelped.
"What?" Martha exclaimed. "We can't…that thing looks like it's wired…this requires surgery! My flat's not an A&E!"
"He can't walk around like this," the Doctor argued. "Once we remove it—"
"It will kill him!" Martha interrupted. "No! We can't do this! Ianto, tell him!"
On the mirror, she could see Ianto absently stroking Harkness' head. The other mumbled something before quieting back to sleep.
"Ianto?" Martha said, sharper.
"You really think by removing it, his vision will come back? His hearing?" Ianto asked, subdued.
"Yes!" Martha snapped before the Doctor could answer. "They probably will seconds before he dies!"
"Martha," the Doctor called out, his voice low but firm. "It's all right."
Martha squeezed her steering wheel. "No, it's not! W-we should be taking him to the hospital or find a doctor!" She caught the Doctor's look out of the corner of her eye. "A real doctor!" Martha snapped. "Of medicine! Not a medical student! Not a—"
"Okay, okay," Ianto interrupted. He sounded strained. "Can we talk about this later?"
Martha dropped into a sullen silence. She hunched over her steering.
"How is he?" the Doctor asked finally.
"Still asleep," Ianto said in a low voice, which Martha thought was odd considering Harkness was deaf. "It's never taken him this long before."
Before? Martha saw the Doctor giving her a warning look. Martha bit her lower lip and kept her eyes on the road.
"How is all of this possible?" Ianto asked brokenly. "How can people vote for him?"
"The Master had the TARDIS," Martha pointed out. "He could have gone back, lived as Saxon."
"When he was stealing the TARDIS, I tried to fuse the coordinates," the Doctor muttered. His face darkened as he remembered. "But whatever program infected my ship, it wouldn't read my commands, all I managed to do was block out one hundred trillion from her navigations."
"But there wasn't enough time to do all this," Ianto insisted. "He went back, convinced Jack to come with him, then he was in my time. If he had stayed afterwards, that's barely more than a year and a half on Earth! That couldn't be enough time to fool everyone!"
"The Master was always sort of hypnotic," the Doctor mused, "but this is on a massive scale."
"I was gonna vote for him," Martha spoke up.
Martha felt the Doctor start next to her. "Really?"
Martha fidgeted. "Well, it was before I met you," she defended. "And I liked him."
"Why do you say that? What was his policy? What did he stand for?"
"I don't know, he always sounded good." Martha drummed her steering wheel as she fought to recall. She remembered seeing him on the telly. "Like you could trust him." Martha smiled to herself. "Just nice. He spoke about…" Martha's brow furrowed. "I can't remember, but it was really good. Just the sound of his voice."
"What's that?" the Doctor blurt out.
Martha nearly stepped on the brake. "What?"
The Doctor pointed at her hands on the wheel. "That! That tapping, that rhythm!"
Martha nearly pulled her hands back until she remembered. "I don't know!" Martha exclaimed. She hadn't realized she was doing it. "It's nothing! I don't know!"
"When he came, nearly everyone in Torchwood was doing that," Ianto said tersely. "Sometimes I caught Jack doing that."
"The sound of drums," the Doctor muttered.
Martha darted a look over to him. "What?"
"Professor Yana, before he regenerated, said something about hearing drums in his head."
"So?" Ianto bit out. "What does that mean?"
The Doctor scowled. "I'm not sure."
Just then, Martha's computer began beeping on the Doctor's lap.
The Doctor scoffed. "Our Lord and Master is speaking to his kingdom. Martha, turn on your radio."
Saxon's voice came on after a newscaster announced a special broadcast across all channels.
"Britain, Britain, Britain. What extraordinary times we've had. Just a few years ago, the world was so small. And then they came. Out of the unknown. Falling from the skies."
Martha clenched her jaw. She was relieved as she sighted her street.
"You've seen it happen. Big Ben destroyed. A spaceship over London. All those ghosts and metal men, the Christmas Star that came to kill."
The Doctor muttered about pig-headed astronauts and swordfights. Ianto shifted in his seat.
"Time and time again and the government told you nothing. Well not me. Not Harold Saxon. Because my purpose here today is to tell you this." Saxon paused dramatically. He sounded almost triumphant when he continued. "Citizens of Great Britain, I have been contacted. A message for humanity from beyond the stars."
The broadcast crackled and a high-pitched voice took Saxon's place.
"People of the Earth. We come in peace. We bring you great gifts. We bring technology and wisdom and protection. And all we ask in return is your friendship."
Martha felt a chill rippling down her arms. She parked her car in front of her flat and twisted around in her seat to listen.
"Oh, sweet." Saxon sounded gleeful after the declaration. "And the species has identified itself. They're called the Toclafane."
"What?" the Doctor exploded. He nearly hit his head on the roof of her car when he straightened.
"Tomorrow morning they will appear, not in secret, but to all of you. Diplomatic relations with a new species will begin."
"I don't believe this," Martha muttered as she climbed out of her car. She took out her front door key. "Come on, let's get your friend sorted and—"
"Tomorrow, we take our place in the universe. Every man, woman, and child, every teacher and chemist and lorry driver and farmer and, oh, I don't know, every medical student?"
"Martha, wait!"
There was a rush of heat that zipped over her head. It sounded like a lion's roar. It felt like a sun's fury drawing near. Martha shrieked as she felt Ianto tackle her. Martha lay there, Ianto on top of her and felt the world explode above her.
Act V
Additional Notes: Many thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
soullessminion for betaing this chapter. And trtmx for her magic trick that saved my sanity! LOL.
PS: To Walker and all you lot mining LJ, I have nothing here that would ever interest you. This is just a boring little LJ of a newbie TW writer wannabe. Nevertheless, the words are mine, meant lovingly for my friends out there, so BACK OFF! Please. :)
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: strong language, dark, angsty, disturbing imagery (a matter of reader's interpretation, though)
Notes For This Chapter: Note there are parallels to DW's "The Sound of Drums"
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, Ch 30, Ch 31, Ch 32, Ch 33, Ch 34, Ch 35, Ch 36, Ch 37 Act 1/9, Ch 37 Act 2/9, Ch 37 Act 3/
Master Fic List: here
Chapter 37 "The Sound of Drums"
Act IV: "I was gonna vote for him."
Ministry of Defense
Whitehall St., London
Present day…
The Doctor immediately leaned over Jack, his eyes intense on his face as Jack stirred. "Captain," he murmured, his mouth close to Jack's ear. "Steady there, you're all right."
Jack's eyes flew open and before anyone could react, his fist flew out.
"Doctor!" Martha yelped as Jack's fist glanced off the Doctor's jaw. Startled more than hurt, the Doctor fell back with a grunt.
"Jack!" Ianto scrambled over. He braced Jack's shoulders before he rolled off the platform.
"Blimey," the Doctor grumbled from the floor, a hand to his jaw. "This century doesn't like me very much."
"Jack, Jack, it's okay," Ianto hastened to say as Jack bucked under his hands. Martha, seeing the Doctor was all right, hurried over to pin down his legs.
The reaction was a violent one.
Jack lashed out, nearly kicking Martha in the head as his legs twisted. His head banged against the platform as he tried to throw Ianto off him.
"What's wrong?" Ianto cried out. He staggered back and avoided getting his chin knocked by Jack's head. "Jack!" He caught Jack's shoulders between his hands and stared into his face. "It's me," he pleaded. "You're okay! We're getting you out of here!"
Jack's only response was a hand whipping out towards Ianto's head. He missed.
"Wait!" the Doctor hissed as he hurried back to the dais. "Hold on! Get those binds back on him."
"What?" both Ianto and Martha exclaimed.
"Just do it unless you want him to kick you again!"
The Doctor pulled Jack's wrists into the straps again, all the while muttering, "Sorry, so sorry."
Jack growled. He thrashed, frenzied, nearly dislocating his shoulder as he tried to sit up despite the restraints.
"What's happening?" Ianto stammered. Jack bucked underneath him. The straps must have registered because Jack renewed his struggles to the point Ianto was afraid bones would break.
The Doctor held up a hand, telling Ianto to wait. He leaned over Jack again and in front of him, snapped his fingers.
Jack didn't react. Exhausted, he lay there, his chest heaving. He didn't flinch when the Doctor muttered something long-syllable and alien that sounded like raisins or something.
"He's blind."
Ianto's head shot up. "What?"
The Doctor demonstrated with another finger snap centimeters from Jack's face, then his ear. Jack never reacted. "Deaf, too."
Ianto stared down at Jack. He carefully settled his hand on Jack's shoulder and Jack flinched again.
"He doesn't know we're here to help him," Ianto murmured, dismayed.
"I think that's why this was done to him."
Martha sounded stunned. "If he doesn't know who we are, he'll fight us all the way out of here."
The Doctor studied Jack, his lips pursed. "I can think of one way…"
"Me, too," Ianto muttered. He dipped his head and sealed his mouth over Jack's.
Jack at first tensed, his mouth rigid when Ianto tentatively swiped his lower lip with his tongue but after gentle prodding and a nip, Jack relaxed, his lips parting and oh God, he missed this. Jack's moist mouth surrounded his tongue, his exhales caressed him from the inside. Ianto felt Jack make a sound into his mouth as Ianto slipped his hands up and cradled Jack's face.
Someone cleared his or her throat.
Ianto and Jack parted with a wet gasp.
"Ianto?" Jack panted, his eyes blank and tilted towards Ianto's direction.
Relieved, Ianto sagged. He stroked a knuckle against Jack's jaw. Jack closed his eyes in relief before they flew open again.
"What are you doing here? Are you here alone? They said you were with—"
Ianto settled his fingers against Jack's mouth. Jack understood and quieted.
"Well," Martha commented breathlessly. "That worked."
Ianto's smile dropped and he glanced up. The Doctor arched an eyebrow. He wagged his sonic screwdriver at him.
"I was thinking of letting the captain feel this, but I suppose the direct approach works too," the Doctor drawled.
God. Ianto flushed as he went to undo Jack's binds. He ducked his head. "Sorry," he stammered.
"Oh, it was quite all right," Martha chirped, forgaving him a little too enthusiastically.
"Martha," the Doctor groaned.
"Are the others with you?" Jack said, his voice too low for anyone but Ianto to hear now. Ianto threaded his arm around Jack's shoulders to ease him off the platform. "Gwen and the others?"
Ianto shot the Doctor a panicked look. He bit his lower lip. Ianto grimaced as he tried to bear Jack's weight as Jack shakily climbed off the dais, but days possibly bound to the thing left Jack with shaky balance. Jack stumbled.
Martha hurried over to help. They both yelped when Jack's hands grabbed at her chest when his knees buckled. Martha jumped back the same time Jack did. He lifted his hands and shook them slightly.
"That wasn't Tosh or Gwen," Jack said in a thin voice. "Ianto?" Jack staggered, trying to stay upright until Ianto grabbed his arm.
"Martha?" The Doctor frowned.
"I'm fine," Martha squeaked, her arms folded protectively in front of herself.
"I'm not going to ask how you knew that, Jack," Ianto murmured, his mouth twitching at the corners. He schooled a more appropriate face towards Martha.
"Where are the others? Who's with you?" Jack paused. His shoulders slumped. "I guess you can't tell me…" Jack laughed strangely and gestured towards his own face. "Whoever these people are…they didn't like that I tried to escape." Jack shrugged, but Ianto could tell Jack was struggling to stay upright.
Ianto rested his head against Jack. Jack awkwardly gave his general direction a pat, landing on his ear.
"I saw Owen and the others before," Jack murmured urgently. "They were arrested as terrorists…for opening the Rift."
Ianto stiffened. Jack could feel it against him.
"You don't know where they are?" Jack guessed. Ianto shook his head against his cheek and Jack muttered a curse. Jack straightened or at least tried to and starting falling away from Ianto. When the Doctor caught him, Jack reared back with a violent lurch.
"Ianto?" Jack hissed tersely, his arms out to ward the Doctor off.
Ianto ducked under one arm and gave Jack's left hand over his shoulder a squeeze.
Jack relaxed. "Wish I can hear you," Jack sighed.
"Me, too," Ianto murmured. His hands curl around Jack's arms.
"We need a system." Jack brightened and his eyes, despite seeing nothing, crinkled.
"One kiss for yes, two for no?" Jack suggested, his eyebrows waggling.
"He hasn't changed one bit," the Doctor grumbled. Martha snickered.
Ianto was reveling in the feel of Jack too much to even pretend he was angry. He gave Jack's hand two brief squeezes.
Jack pretended to sigh tragically. "I guess that could work, too."
"Spoilsport," Martha joked lightly.
Ianto flushed furiously.
"Blimey, even his ears!" the Doctor marveled.
"Not helping!" Ianto bristled.
"Oh. Did you need our help? You looked like you were doing fine on your own, Torchwood."
Ianto growled and for some reason, Jack tensed. He edged closer to Ianto, standing halfway in front of him.
"Okay?" Jack rumbled. He stared in the Doctor's general direction with a frown.
Ianto smiled sadly at Jack and squeezed his hand once.
"You got outside help?" Jack guessed.
Ianto pressed his fingers around Jack's once for yes.
"You trust them?" Jack murmured.
Ianto ignored the Doctor's sputter and tightened his hand around Jack's hand.
Jack sighed. He nodded reluctantly.
"Alright," he muttered. Jack was resigned. Ianto could feel Jack's grip tighten over his. "Then lead the way, Mr. Jones."
The Doctor triggered a fire alarm that evacuated everyone out of the building and they simply went with the crowd like fish swimming up a current. It took a few breaths before Martha's knees stopped knocking and a few tries before she could get her fingers to turn on the ignition. She resisted speeding away when she drove past the guards gathering in front of the building. She couldn't believe it. They had just walked out of MOD!
Jack Harkness was exhausted by the time they had reached her Corsa. The Doctor and Ianto gave each other worried frowns over his slumped head that Martha couldn't understand. The poor fellow had to be exhausted from his ordeal. Even Martha couldn't help checking constantly if he was okay. She wasn't sure why the Doctor's former companion was the Master's prisoner, why he was rendered deaf and blind, but they got him out. He was safe now, yes?
The roads back to her flat were thankfully clear. The Doctor was checking her laptop again for anything on the whereabouts of Ianto's teammates. Martha checked her mirror again. Jack Harkness, his vintage coat draped over him, dozed against Ianto's shoulder.
Harkness or Captain as she heard the Doctor call him was a striking man from what she could tell. Tall like Ianto, dark hair and broad shoulders, the captain stood, even currently blind and deaf, like a mountain yet he didn't physically loomed over her. Rather, he filled the room.
And wouldn't you know it, Martha sighed. Taken as well. It was seriously feeling like a conspiracy.
Martha glanced up at her mirror again. She stifled a giggle. They did look brilliant together though.
"There's something on the back of his head," Ianto spoke up after a moment.
The Doctor twisted around in his seat. He hissed. "That must be what's causing his blindness."
Martha could see in her rearview mirror that Ianto had tilted Harkness' head onto his shoulder, one hand cupped at the back of his skull, his other hand parting the dark strands of short hair.
"What is that?" Martha blurted out, aghast. From here, she could see a small square of crystal embedded at the base of Harkness' skull. Ouch!
The Doctor was practically kneeling on his seat now to get a better look. Martha had to slow down. The last thing they needed was to be stopped in a traffic accident.
"Looks like a crystal from Arcateen," the Doctor murmured.
"A what?" Martha asked as she watched for the ramp to her street.
"We came across these before," Ianto explained, tensely. "It lets one read people's thoughts."
The Doctor scoffed. "Among other things." He leaned in, nearly spilling into the backseat. "Hm, looks like it's receiving a signal from somewhere. I think if we just remove it, he'll be fine." The Doctor twisted back into the passenger seat. "We could do this at Martha's place."
The car swerved a little and the two men yelped.
"What?" Martha exclaimed. "We can't…that thing looks like it's wired…this requires surgery! My flat's not an A&E!"
"He can't walk around like this," the Doctor argued. "Once we remove it—"
"It will kill him!" Martha interrupted. "No! We can't do this! Ianto, tell him!"
On the mirror, she could see Ianto absently stroking Harkness' head. The other mumbled something before quieting back to sleep.
"Ianto?" Martha said, sharper.
"You really think by removing it, his vision will come back? His hearing?" Ianto asked, subdued.
"Yes!" Martha snapped before the Doctor could answer. "They probably will seconds before he dies!"
"Martha," the Doctor called out, his voice low but firm. "It's all right."
Martha squeezed her steering wheel. "No, it's not! W-we should be taking him to the hospital or find a doctor!" She caught the Doctor's look out of the corner of her eye. "A real doctor!" Martha snapped. "Of medicine! Not a medical student! Not a—"
"Okay, okay," Ianto interrupted. He sounded strained. "Can we talk about this later?"
Martha dropped into a sullen silence. She hunched over her steering.
"How is he?" the Doctor asked finally.
"Still asleep," Ianto said in a low voice, which Martha thought was odd considering Harkness was deaf. "It's never taken him this long before."
Before? Martha saw the Doctor giving her a warning look. Martha bit her lower lip and kept her eyes on the road.
"How is all of this possible?" Ianto asked brokenly. "How can people vote for him?"
"The Master had the TARDIS," Martha pointed out. "He could have gone back, lived as Saxon."
"When he was stealing the TARDIS, I tried to fuse the coordinates," the Doctor muttered. His face darkened as he remembered. "But whatever program infected my ship, it wouldn't read my commands, all I managed to do was block out one hundred trillion from her navigations."
"But there wasn't enough time to do all this," Ianto insisted. "He went back, convinced Jack to come with him, then he was in my time. If he had stayed afterwards, that's barely more than a year and a half on Earth! That couldn't be enough time to fool everyone!"
"The Master was always sort of hypnotic," the Doctor mused, "but this is on a massive scale."
"I was gonna vote for him," Martha spoke up.
Martha felt the Doctor start next to her. "Really?"
Martha fidgeted. "Well, it was before I met you," she defended. "And I liked him."
"Why do you say that? What was his policy? What did he stand for?"
"I don't know, he always sounded good." Martha drummed her steering wheel as she fought to recall. She remembered seeing him on the telly. "Like you could trust him." Martha smiled to herself. "Just nice. He spoke about…" Martha's brow furrowed. "I can't remember, but it was really good. Just the sound of his voice."
"What's that?" the Doctor blurt out.
Martha nearly stepped on the brake. "What?"
The Doctor pointed at her hands on the wheel. "That! That tapping, that rhythm!"
Martha nearly pulled her hands back until she remembered. "I don't know!" Martha exclaimed. She hadn't realized she was doing it. "It's nothing! I don't know!"
"When he came, nearly everyone in Torchwood was doing that," Ianto said tersely. "Sometimes I caught Jack doing that."
"The sound of drums," the Doctor muttered.
Martha darted a look over to him. "What?"
"Professor Yana, before he regenerated, said something about hearing drums in his head."
"So?" Ianto bit out. "What does that mean?"
The Doctor scowled. "I'm not sure."
Just then, Martha's computer began beeping on the Doctor's lap.
The Doctor scoffed. "Our Lord and Master is speaking to his kingdom. Martha, turn on your radio."
Saxon's voice came on after a newscaster announced a special broadcast across all channels.
"Britain, Britain, Britain. What extraordinary times we've had. Just a few years ago, the world was so small. And then they came. Out of the unknown. Falling from the skies."
Martha clenched her jaw. She was relieved as she sighted her street.
"You've seen it happen. Big Ben destroyed. A spaceship over London. All those ghosts and metal men, the Christmas Star that came to kill."
The Doctor muttered about pig-headed astronauts and swordfights. Ianto shifted in his seat.
"Time and time again and the government told you nothing. Well not me. Not Harold Saxon. Because my purpose here today is to tell you this." Saxon paused dramatically. He sounded almost triumphant when he continued. "Citizens of Great Britain, I have been contacted. A message for humanity from beyond the stars."
The broadcast crackled and a high-pitched voice took Saxon's place.
"People of the Earth. We come in peace. We bring you great gifts. We bring technology and wisdom and protection. And all we ask in return is your friendship."
Martha felt a chill rippling down her arms. She parked her car in front of her flat and twisted around in her seat to listen.
"Oh, sweet." Saxon sounded gleeful after the declaration. "And the species has identified itself. They're called the Toclafane."
"What?" the Doctor exploded. He nearly hit his head on the roof of her car when he straightened.
"Tomorrow morning they will appear, not in secret, but to all of you. Diplomatic relations with a new species will begin."
"I don't believe this," Martha muttered as she climbed out of her car. She took out her front door key. "Come on, let's get your friend sorted and—"
"Tomorrow, we take our place in the universe. Every man, woman, and child, every teacher and chemist and lorry driver and farmer and, oh, I don't know, every medical student?"
"Martha, wait!"
There was a rush of heat that zipped over her head. It sounded like a lion's roar. It felt like a sun's fury drawing near. Martha shrieked as she felt Ianto tackle her. Martha lay there, Ianto on top of her and felt the world explode above her.
Act V
Additional Notes: Many thanks to
soullessminion for betaing this chapter. And trtmx for her magic trick that saved my sanity! LOL.PS: To Walker and all you lot mining LJ, I have nothing here that would ever interest you. This is just a boring little LJ of a newbie TW writer wannabe. Nevertheless, the words are mine, meant lovingly for my friends out there, so BACK OFF! Please. :)
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no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:23 pm (UTC)Weeeell, I needed Jack for the rest of "Sound of Drums" :) Plus, me missed Janto.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:24 pm (UTC)Find me an easier way to post on LJ so I don't go Ahhhh! LOL
no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 04:17 am (UTC)Thanks for the wonderful chapters.
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Date: 2008-09-13 03:26 pm (UTC)Hey, I was happy to write Janto. I missed them too! It was fun to write Ianto with the Doctor, but yeah, I missed them together desperately! :)
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Date: 2008-09-13 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:26 pm (UTC)I want Janto plushies too!
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Date: 2008-09-13 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 07:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:28 pm (UTC)Well, I guess that's accurate because they will live happily ever after. :)
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Date: 2008-09-13 11:09 am (UTC)Of course I'm now on tenterhooks for the rest of the weekend, but in a good way!
And Ianto and Jack are back together again, yay!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 03:29 pm (UTC)Thank you for despite the delays, you've all been so overwhelmingly supportive of this story!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 11:41 am (UTC)So glad to see them reunited!
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Date: 2008-09-13 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 11:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 01:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 02:43 pm (UTC)And that kiss was great!
I can't wait for more!
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Date: 2008-09-13 04:24 pm (UTC)Thanks! That banana scene had to come back somewhere! :)
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Date: 2008-09-13 03:22 pm (UTC)This was just absolutely perfect. And don't let's not think for a single INSTANT that the Master doesn't know EXACTLY what just happened to his little pet.
So then, does this mean we're gonna need four TARDIS keys, or did the Doctor happen to grab one while he was looking for Ianto earlier?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 04:19 pm (UTC):) -whistling-
Feel better, my dear.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2008-09-13 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-14 02:45 am (UTC)Again, your skills at tying everything together are phenomenal, thanks for posting!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-14 04:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-14 10:42 am (UTC)Someone needs to explain the Jack situation to Martha, methinks.
And finally O.O you left it THERE? That's an evil cliffie if I ever saw one.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 12:23 am (UTC)Sooo, Martha is a closet slash reader. *grin*
Great line and a great section to come back to.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 10:21 pm (UTC)Well, what's a girl to do? All those men in a tiny TARDIS. -snicker-
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 07:14 am (UTC)and... I found the larger pic of my icon. ♥
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b16/CelestinaStar/random/cutebabypenguin.jpg
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Date: 2008-09-25 10:24 pm (UTC)Well....this is Jack we're talking about here. :D
Thank you for the link! I'll have hubby print it out and make it into a fridge magnet for the twins. Our downfall was showing them 'March of the Penguins'. LOL.
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Date: 2008-09-15 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 10:25 pm (UTC)Welcome back! Don't worry. I was away myself, too!
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Date: 2008-09-15 11:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 10:27 pm (UTC)Lucy's been the flint that started the firestorm. As for the Master...:D
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Date: 2008-09-18 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 10:27 pm (UTC)There needed to be some sort of reunion. :)
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Date: 2008-09-18 03:51 pm (UTC)This is almost a fairy tale! sealed with a kiss!
I hope everything in RL is going alright, can't wait till you update.
C
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Date: 2008-09-25 10:28 pm (UTC)Ooh, I hadn't thought of it that way!