What Time Cannot Mend Chapter 1
WHAT TIME CANNOT MEND Title: WHAT TIME CANNOT MEND Author: Cassiel_Jones Rating: MA for violence, language and sexually explicit scenes Summary: Two months ago Tosh began to develop the technology to close the Rift once and for all. No more saving the world from random things falling out of it. Once it’s finally done it takes the whole team to battle some of the fiercest aliens to come from the Rift so Captain Jack can finally close it. But when push comes to shove one of them will die, one will fall and the rest will be left to pick up the pieces. Pairing(s): Captain Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones, Captain Jack Harkness/10th Doctor Chapters: 2/??? Word count: ????? A/N: It’s been a long, and I’m talking long, time since I’ve written anything and even longer since I’ve written fanfiction. Anyway after watching Torchwood and Doctor Who for so long I couldn’t help myself when I thought of this idea in the shower one day. I’m not even through season 1 of Torchwood so there are no spoilers in this fiction and I’m not looking for any spoilers either. Beta: Ember_Cole Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who or any of the characters. All other characters and ideas are mine and cannot be reproduced without my consent. Part 1 Crystalline Tears Therastrains…. They were having supposed to have died out in the 40th century, at least according to all of the history classes in the 51st century. Jack always found them to be a beautiful race of creatures. Slender bodies that oddly resembled humans, well accept the fact that their skin was a deep shade of teal with pink swirls tattooed all over their bodies that glowed when they telecommunicated with each other and any other creature they encountered. But no matter how beautiful they were, it was their love of violence that concerned Torchwood. After three unexplained deaths where the victims had their spines torn from their bodies did Jack realize who they were. It took a couple of weeks to track one down but eventually they did and what they learned shook them all to the core. Once again the earth was in danger of being wiped out. “You see the Therasrains have this really creative way of surviving. When their population is nearly destroyed the remaining creatures become A-sexual, all they need is a host,” Jack explained to his command. “Once they find a viable host they transfer their fertilized egg to the host using bodily fluids. The host doesn’t even realize that they are pregnant until it starts feeding on its spinal cord. Once the host is dead then they hatch and keep going until there is a population large enough to sustain them.” “You’re telling me that they fuck you, instant pregnancy then they eat you from the inside out like a sexy spider wasp? “ Owen asked the disgust growing on this face. “Never thought of it like that but yes,” Jack replied with his usual charming grin. “Bodily fluids don’t just mean sex does it?” Ianto asked. His brilliance never ceased to amaze Jack. That was one of the things that Jack loved about him. Always brilliant, always thinking outside the box and even more charming than himself. Mostly because he didn’t know that he was charming. “Ianto as always you are right, it’s not just sex. In fact they rarely ever have sex with someone not of their race. It’s usually just a simple kiss. They don’t discriminate on genders either. Both men and women can be hosts. “Oh that’s just lovely,” Owen groaned. But wouldn’t someone find it strange to be kissing someone who is blue and pink outside of one of those comic book conventions?” “Probably, but they are telepathic remember. They can project whatever image that they want you to see into your mind. To us they look human when in truth they are completely unchanged.” “Then how do we track them,” Gwen asked the concern growing with every word that Jack spoke. Jack waived his hand towards Tosh as he sat down. “Tosh this is where you take over.” Tosh let out a small cough as she stood and picked up her PDA. “Thanks to Owen we managed to get a bit of DNA off of the Therasrain…” “Yeah walk in the fucking park,” Owen groaned still nursing the bruise on his cheek where the creature punched him. “Right then,” Tosh smiled. “After analyzing the DNA I’ve created an incapacitating vapor specifically to designed to kill them.” “What?” Gwen shot up out of her chair with a speed that the team had never seen before. “We can’t just kill them. They are living breathing creatures.” “Who rip out humans spines to reproduce? Do you really want that running around Cardiff?” Jack asked with his usual diplomacy. “No, but there has to another way. Can’t we just knock them out and shove them back through the Rift?” Jack’s blue eyes lit up with a gleam that matched the smile on his face. “Tosh, I think it’s time that we tell them.” Everyone’s eyes instantly went to Tosh. Shyly she looked back down at her PDA and began tapping on the screen looking for a file, when she found it she began smiling just as wide as Jack. I’ve been working on this for about a year now and I think I’m finally ready to test it.” “Well what is it?” Owen asked, not really enjoying the anticipation that his leader and the tech geek had built up. “It’s called the Transadential Alteration Device or T.A.D. for short.” “What exactly does it do?” Gwen asked. “Well if it works then we plan on firing it in the Rift and…” “It will close the Rift.” Ianto stated in a hushed voice. A heavy silence filled the room as Torchwood took in the gravity of what Jack and Tosh were trying to do. Jack scanned the room trying to pick out exactly what they were all thinking. He figured that Gwen and Owen were thinking about their jobs and how much of their lives were going to come to a screeching halt if the Rift closed. Which wasn’t true, they still had to defend the Earth from all of the other races and creatures out there that would love to have this planet. And he would lead them just as he always had. But Ianto, he still couldn’t read Ianto. After all that they had been through together not just in the field but as well….a couple. He always kept his expression so neutral. His eyes gave him away though every time. Jack let out a small sigh. Oh Ianto. His precious Ianto. Jack was so lost in thought that he didn’t even hear Tosh continuing the meeting. She was waist deep in explaining how she created the device and how it worked. “Will it work?” Ianto asked. “In theory it will work,” Tosh said with a weary smile. “But what about the vapor? Can’t we create a vapor that will stun them and we can throw them back into the Rift right before we close it?” Gwen pleaded. “Always the humanitarian,” Jack snarked. “Yes, Tosh, you and Owen begin drawing up plans to dilute the vapor so it will just knock them out rather than killing them.” “Okay” “Yeah sure.” Suddenly Gwen’s phone began to ring and from the look on her face it was Rhys wondering when she would be home. Jack looked at his watch and saw that was fairly late. Eight at night to be exact. “Ianto, Gwen and I will work on how to lure them all together to get them through the Rift. But right now it’s late and we can do this tomorrow. Everyone go home.” Gwen smiled appreciatively and said a quick good bye before heading out to her desk. Tosh and Owen followed her out, leaving their little good byes behind as well. Jack and Ianto were the only ones left. Ianto began cleaning up as per the norm while Jack went into his office to try and decided how to handle Ianto. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a couple of hours, Jack could no longer hear Ianto picking up the base so he decided to go down from his office to see what he was up to. What he found tore at his heart. Ianto was sitting at their make shift coffee bar with his back to Jack. His shoulders were slightly hunched over with an open bottle of scotch sitting just to the right of him. “Ianto?” Jack asked quietly. Immediately Ianto sat up straight and pulled to bottle in front of him in hopes of concealing what he had been doing. He knew that Jack didn’t care that he drank, or any of them drank. He just never really did it. “Sir?” He asked as soon as the bottle was back in its usual spot. “Ianto, what’s wrong?” “Nothing sir why do you ask?” “Well considering that I’ve seen you have only 2 drinks since we met and this was the second, I think there is something wrong.” Ianto looked down trying to gather his thoughts. Deep down he knew that him and Jack wouldn’t last forever. Jack has lived a thousand life times and knowing him been with a thousand more. But to have it all come crashing down was almost too much. He lost Lisa when the world was nearly over and now he was going to lose Jack. He wasn’t ready to lose him, not yet. “Please tell me what is going on?” Jack asked taking a few steps closer. ‘Tell him! How can I tell him what I’m thinking? What I’m feeling? Oh yes I know that you are a great time traveler and the only reason that you are here is because things keep falling through the Rift now that the Rift is closing I bet you are already making plans to run off and start some new adventure while the rest of us just stay here waiting for old age and death to take us. You’re leaving us…..leaving me,’ Ianto thinks. Ianto doesn’t say a word of what he’s thinking. How can he tell Jack he wants him to stay? Even if he does, what good would it do? Ianto will grow old and die, while Jack never changes. He always knew that it would end. But why did it have to be so soon? Sensing what Ianto was thinking, Jack grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into the tightest embrace he could manage. Ianto’s arms stayed at his side. He just couldn’t bring himself to hug the man he loved back. Not when he knew that he was leaving. “Please Jack,” Ianto whispered. Jack pulled back just enough so he could look into Ianto’s eyes. “Please what?” “I can’t. Just stop okay? Just stop?” Jack’s eyes filled with surprise and anger. “Stop what? This?” he asked as he stood back and waved his hand at the two of them. “Why? After everything why?” “Because I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be with you anymore.” Oh God this hurt, Ianto thought. This is worse than Lisa. “Give me a reason Ianto,” Jack ordered. “Why should I give you a reason. I just can’t do this anymore.” “That’s crap Ianto and you know it! I want to know what happened between yesterday and today that now you suddenly want nothing to do with me.” Jack was infuriated. He knew that Ianto might be upset about the Rift closing, but he thought if he gave him time he would come to love the idea. Less work to do around the Hub and more time doing what he wants. What they want. And now all of the sudden he’s done. Jack had no idea what the hell just happened. “Do you ever stop to realize what is going on around you Jack? Ever? I’m not stupid and I’m not just some play thing to keep you entertained while you find some new adventure!” Ianto yelled at him, his hurt and anger finally boiling to the surface. Jack kept silent. Now he understands. He would do the same thing if he thought that the one person he cares about most was getting ready to abandon him…again. Jack moved in closer to try and comfort him, but Ianto wasn’t having it. The more Jack tried to embrace him the harder Ianto fought. They managed to fight their way over to the bottom of the stairs. Ianto wasn’t looking where he was going and backed right into the edge of the bottom stair causing him to fall flat on his ass. Jack took the opportunity and straddled his lap. Before Ianto could react he snatched up both his wrists and held them behind his back, successfully subduing him. That’s when he noticed Ianto’s eyes. Those beautiful grey blue eyes that were welling up with tears. “Oh Ianto,” Jack whispered. “I know I’m just a blip in time for you,” he whispered back. “But I’m not ready.” His tears then began stream down his cheeks. There was such pain in his eyes that was scared to touch him. Gently he released Ianto’s hands and placed them on each side of his face. With his thumb he wiped away a few of his lovers tears only to be replaced by more. “Ianto… you will never be a blip in time. Not for me,” he whispered. Ianto closed his eyes and felt Jack’s rough lips softly brush his own. It was tentative, like a true first kiss where both are worried that they won’t do it right. But here Ianto could tell that Jack was trying to tell him he meant the world to him. That he would never be just a blip in time. Ianto wrapped his arms around Jack’s torso, gently pressing on the tight muscles in his back as he pulled him closer. Ianto opened his mouth just slightly, just enough to invite Jack in to deepen the kiss. Jack’s rough lips were so familiar and sweet. Although each kiss he received, he never thought of passion first he always thought that he was home. Jack tenderly ran the tip of his tongue against Ianto’s. His taste always drove him wild, a delicious mix of coffee and strawberries, and tonight a hint of scotch. Jack finally pulled away after a few moments, feeling slightly light headed from the lack of oxygen. Ianto was still crying as Jack pulled him into another tight yet short embrace. “You know where I come from there are these rare crystals that wash up on the beach where I used to live. They were made of the salt from the sea. There was this fish, it looked like a lion fish but it was silver and blue that made it nearly impossible to see against the coral. Anyway the fish would eat the salt crystals. But the crystals were dangerous to the fish. Once it was eaten it would begin to grow in the fish until it ultimately killed them. When they would wash up on shore you could take the crystal out. They were tear drop shape and harder than a diamond. They were so rare that with one gem you would never work a day in your life. We called them Crystalline Tears.” Ianto gave him a weak smile. “That’s so sad. Why are you telling me this?” “Because you cry those same tears. What starts off as sadness will ultimately become your inspiration,” Jack smiled as he kissed away his lovers tears.