Isn't Worth Living: Chapter 8

[galadriel1010]

Disclaimer: Torchwood and its component parts belong to the BBC

Ianto had never been more relieved to see Jack than when he appeared in the doorway of the conference room. To be fair, nothing had gone wrong yet, but there was only so much you could talk about in a language that wasn’t fully formed and was designed for a world without the internal combustion engine, computers or pizza; their guest was starting to get tetchy, and Ianto didn’t like the look of the swords slung across his back.

He had been able to say, “You have very large swords,” at least, although it hadn’t added much to the conversation. Now he and Tosh smiled tensely at their leader and wondered what his next move would be, but it was the Watulan who moved first.

He had been staring from Tosh, to Ianto, to Jack in the doorway and now sank back into the seat he had risen from, “My wife, she is dead?” he asked hollowly.

To their astonishment, when Jack replied it was in English, but the alien appeared to understand every word, and when he replied in what appeared to be his native tongue, Jack understood him,

“I’m sorry.”

“I can make myself understood in most languages.”

"Yes, Captain Jack Harkness, at your service"

“I'm sorry, we don't really know.”

“Of course, I will arrange it for you. Ianto, will you lay her out, please?” The young man just nodded and practically fled the room; the atmosphere in there was tense, and using that language again, to talk about a dead woman so soon after Lisa…

About quarter of an hour later, when he’d got her laid out neatly and respectably with the armour she’d been wearing close by, he heard footsteps in the corridor and stood back to let them enter. Guron, the Watulah, entered first and acknowledge him with a slight incline of his head before moving swiftly and silently to Frione’s side. Jack was the only other who came down, and he came straight to Ianto and rested a hand on his shoulder, studying him carefully. He gave his friend a weak smile to reassure him and felt a slight warmth spread through him when Jack returned it. They retreated down the corridor a little to give Guron some space and Ianto was surprised but gladdened when Jack pulled him into a hug.

“I’m sorry.” The Captain whispered against his hair, causing Ianto to pull away slightly in order to frown at him

“What for?”

“For leaving the two of you here, that you had to do that, generally sorry…”

“Stop it.” He rested his head on Jack’s shoulder and smiled, “Stop apologising, you have nothing to apologise for.”

He felt Jack’s chuckle run through them both, it was a strange but thoroughly pleasant sensation, “You can have one in credit then, I’m sure I’ll need it at some point.” His voice was sad and far-away but Ianto couldn’t make a move to pull him back, he was having enough trouble not going there himself.

A cough interrupted them and they turned and looked at Gwen who was watching them from the corner, “Not interrupting anything, am I?” she blushed and Ianto chuckled

“No, come on, group hug.” He beckoned them over and the three of them stood there, drawing on each other for comfort and solidarity.

Jack went alone into the side room that Ianto had prepared and stood a good way back from Guron, just waiting for a signal. Everntually, the Watulah raised his head, “Captain Harkness,” he advanced a few steps to stand closer, “how is it that I can understand you, and your team can understand you yet they do not understand me?”

Jack glanced at him cautiously, treading the usual dilemma of exactly how much to divulge, “What do you know about Time-Lords?” he asked

Grudon shrugged, “A little, why?”

“What would you say if I told you I’d travelled with one?”

Now the Watulah turned to him in shock, “I would call you a liar, were it not for the fact that I met one not long ago, the last survivor.”

“The Doctor?” his breath caught

Guron nodded curiously, “He made quite an impact on my homeworld.”

Jack gave a half laugh, “Yes, I can imagine he could. He’s something of an aggressive pacifist. You know the weapons factory at Villengard?”

“I know of it, there’s a banana grove there now.”

“Yes, he likes bananas; they’re a good source of potassium.”

“He is a remarkable man, Watah will never be the same.” He laughed in response to Jack’s shocked look, “Oh, it is a better place Captain. It is peaceful, serene, as it should be. Lots of bananas.”

Jack nodded, understanding completely, “He filled my life with bananas. When I was with him it was nuts, but since then it’s been bananas.”

There was silence between them until his friend smiled, “I think that joke works better in your language than mine. Such is life.” He turned back to his wife and gazed at her sadly, “I want to take her home. Her knife, where is it?”

Jack sighed sadly, “We’re still trying to locate it. Your craft is ready for flight, is it hasn’t been found by the time you need to leave I will have Him bring it to you.”

“Strange, without Him I would probably have killed you all in my grief. But your friends, they put such faith in you, especially the young man. I had to see the man who inspired such faith, and when I saw you I saw why. You carry that look, you have been touched by the one who touches even those he never meets.”

Jack couldn’t find the words to respond, more grateful than ever to the strange alien who had not only saved him from death, but had saved him from the pain of losing his family, his whole being today. He felt a great wave of sympathy for the alien and his loss. “You can stay here as long as you like, as long as you need.”

“Thank you, but I don’t wish to overstay my welcome, and your team don’t really know how to deal with my presence.”

“As long as you need, I mean it, it’s a pleasure having you here. I only wish it had been under happier circumstances.”

Jack found Ianto making coffee in the kitchen and was glad that he’d got him alone, “Ianto, are you OK?”

“I’m fine, just making some coffee, do you want some?”

“Thanks. Look, I was wondering, I don’t think Guron’s ready to leave just yet, and I’m going to need to clear it through UNIT, which is going to be Hell, he needs somewhere to stay in the meantime, and the Hub’s not suitable. Could he go back to yours? I’ll stay here, he can have the other room.” He was tentative, not really knowing where they stood, not wanting Ianto to have to deal with it on his own but not really having any other choice.

Ianto, however, smiled at him, “Your room, Jack. It’s yours as long as you want it, that is assuming you still do?” Jack’s grateful smile said it all, but Ianto found he couldn’t look at his friend as he struggled to piece the next sentence together, “And, I mean, you don’t have to stay here, if you want to come back you could always…” he cleared his throat and turned back to Jack, who looked bemused and slightly amused, “What are the chances that either of us will stay in our own beds for the whole night anyway?”

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

“That depends entirely on what you think I’m suggesting. It’s not like we’ve never shared a bed before.”

Jack grinned, “You know, Owen would be so surprised if he ever found out how often you try to get me into bed.”

“You know I didn’t mean like that.” He hid a smirk behind a mock glare

“Shucks”

“But was that a yes?”

“Yes.”

“OK, coffee’s done.” And he left Jack staring after him in some puzzlement as he went to hand out the coffees and a mug of fruit tea for Guron.