Title: Never Did Run Smooth – Chapter 17 (of 22)
Rating: R
Words: Each chapter ~1000 words
Characters: Jack/Ianto
Genre: AU, angst, H/C
Spoilers: TW S1 & S2 (some references to Jack’s time with the Doctor)
Disclaimer: All the wishing in the world won’t make Torchwood mine.
Summary: AU which explores what could have happened if Jack had refused to hire Ianto even after capturing Myfanwy. Years later, while conducting an inspection of UNIT, Jack spots a prisoner being transferred who catches his eye…
Beta: My dearest friend,quaintheart.
A/N: This story is complete and beta’d. I will be posting regularly. Feel free to friend me.
Previous chapters at my Master List 

Chapter 17

The more time that passed, the more concerned Jack grew. They’d heard six shots in total, including the one that had woken them. Finally Jack heard voices approaching and the muffled sound of a discussion coming from just outside the room. He disengaged himself from Ianto, resisting the urge to kiss him as Ianto looked back with trusting eyes. He gently laid him back and went to the door, hand tightly gripping his borrowed weapon. 

He reached for the door knob just as a soft knocking echoed through the dark room. He opened it cautiously, breathing an audible sigh of relief to see Baker standing there. He opened the door further and light from the hallway streamed into the room. Six of the eight squad members were there, whispering in hushed tones.

“What hap…” he began, but stopped when he saw what Baker held clasped tightly in his trembling hands. It was his Webley, and it was splattered with blood.

Baker held it out, and as Jack took it, Baker clasped his hand tightly for a moment.

“You were right Jack; he came for me. If you hadn’t assigned those guards… Anyways, he panicked when he saw them and fired off a few shots. They had no choice but to take him down. He’s dead Jack.” Baker looked relieved, but Jack looked over at the six huddled men, down by two. Baker understood. “Carter got clipped in the arm. He’ll be fine. One of the others escorted him to the medical bay.

Jack was grateful that no one died because he let Harris get away. “Thanks Baker. I’m glad you’re ok.”

“How’s Ianto?” Jack was pleased that Baker seemed genuinely concerned. It was a comfort to know that Jack could trust him to help keep Ianto safe.

“He’s in pain, but considering what he’s been through… well, he’s fine Baker. Thanks.”

They parted hoping for at least another hour of sleep before morning. Jack set the squad up on two man rotations to stand guard by his door. Ianto was still a prisoner and Jack didn’t want any further misunderstandings, on either side.

Returning to Ianto, he could see that the other man had been listening intently.

“Heard all that?” Ianto nodded.

It was only when Jack was lying down again did it occur to him that Ianto had never once asked why Harris had tried to kill him. There was no way for him to know what had happened between Jack and Harris. He was about to ask Ianto about it when it suddenly occurred to him that Ianto didn’t think there needed to be a reason. He’d accepted the beating, not questioning the reasoning behind it. It was Harris’ right to beat him and Ianto’s responsibility to endure it. Jack’s hands balled into fists. He wished they still had that resurrection glove. He’d bring Harris back just to kill him again. But the resurrection days were over. The glove had been destroyed. Jack growled unconsciously.

“What’s wrong Jack?”

“Nothing Ianto… I was just wishing… you see, we had this glove back at Torchwood. Neat alien tech. It could bring back the dead for a minute or two so that you could ask them questions, like how they died and who they were. We called it the Resurrection Gauntlet.”

Ianto snorted, “That’s a lame name for a cool super secret device.”

“You have a better idea?” Jack asked grinning.

Ianto seemed lost in thought for a moment, “What about… the Risen Mitten?”

It was Jack’s turn to laugh.  Ianto mumbled under his breath with mock offence, “I think it’s catchy.”

“Well, I was wishing I had it so that I could bring Harris back and then kill him again.” He ignored Ianto’s frown. “No chance of that, the glove was destroyed. The resurrection days are over.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure.” Jack looked over curiously. “That’s the thing about gloves Sir; they come in pairs.” Jack looked intently at the other man, impressed by his insight and a little disturbed at the implication he hadn’t considered before.

Ianto closed his eyes and drifted off again, but this time Jack lay awake and studied what he knew of the other man.

Ianto was an archivist, with Torchwood training. He’d proven himself strong, determined and more than a little intelligent. He was exactly what they needed at Torchwood; all of them broken misfits like him… well, except Gwen perhaps, but she was the exception. If Jack could somehow twist a few arms, call in a few favors, perhaps even offer up a piece of alien junk as incentive, maybe he could get Ianto. He’d unexpectedly grown attached to the young man sleeping next to him. Jack couldn’t see leaving him behind in the hands of UNIT. Jack owed him. He was responsible for Ianto now and he’d be damned if he left him to rot alone here.

At 7am Baker returned to collect Jack for his final day of inspections. Tonight would be his last night here and in the morning he was scheduled to leave. Unfortunately he was no closer to solving the mystery of Ianto Jones. Tosh still hadn’t called back, although he was confident she was trying her best, and the Brigadier evaded all questions concerning Ianto’s crime. Jack wanted to focus of the task at hand but knew his mind would keep coming back to Ianto as the day dragged on. As he left the room, he looked back at Ianto, imprinting the sight of him asleep in his mind.  For the first time in a very, very long time, Jack felt blessed. For so long he’d felt as though the universe had done nothing but take, take, take… maybe now it was giving something in return; a second chance to make a difference in Ianto Jones’ life. It was a chance he wanted to take, and this time he was going to do things right!

Chapter 18