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aviv_b_artworkIANTO'S JOURNEY, PART V- REDEMPTION
AUTHOR: Aviv_b
RATING: Chapter 55 - PG for language
CHARACTERS: Ianto, Jack, Tosh, Owen, Aaron
DISCLAIMER: Not mine; Aunty B's and RTD's
WORDS: ~ 1410
SUMMARY: Ianto reacts (badly) to the news that Jack has returned. Jack contacts Ianto. Things do not go as Jack had hoped.
Title is from: You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance. Ray Bradbury
Ianto took the news of Jack’s better than expected. At least Owen thought that was the case.
“He seemed very calm about it,” he told Tosh when he joined her in bed. “Just said that he was glad I called him and he hoped something could be worked out for Jack in Cardiff.”
Tosh had a feeling that Owen has missed some of the undercurrents of the conversation. “Did you ask him if he wanted to talk to Jack?”
“Not in that way. I did ask if Jack could call him and he said he wasn’t ready to talk to Jack.”
“That’s sounds like a ‘no’ to me. And surely you didn’t miss what he was really saying when he remarked that he hoped Jack would stay in Cardiff.”
Owen’s eyes widened as he realized that he had not caught on at all. “So basically, he’s saying he doesn’t want to see Jack and he doesn’t want Jack to come looking for him in London.”
Tosh nodded. “I think that about sums it up and just my opinion, I think that’s exactly what you should tell Jack. If and when Ianto wants to talk to Jack, he’s perfectly capable of contacting him. I really wouldn’t give Jack an opening to think that Ianto has any interest in him.”
“I thought you were the one who said we could all work things out,” Owen said.
“I meant the team, at the Hub. That’s a totally separate issue from Ianto.”
Owen sighed and stretched his tightened neck muscles. “I have a feeling that we’re in for a couple of very stressful weeks.”
Tosh smiled and pulled Owen close to her, “Come here and we’ll see what we can do to loosen those neck muscles…and maybe tighten some other ones up.”
“Who would have thought you were such a vixen,” Owen laughed.
“Shhh, let’s just keep this our secret, shall we?”
***
Ianto had sounded perfectly calm on the phone with Owen. In reality his mind was spinning. Aaron was trying to get a handle on what Ianto was feeling but Ianto’s brain was processing memories so quickly that it was like watching a movie sped up to several times its normal speed.
“Ianto, please calm down. You’re working yourself into a frenzy.”
Ianto stared at Aaron like he was nuts. ‘I’m not upset, well that upset. As long as he’s in Cardiff everything will be fine. Oh gods, I hope he doesn’t come to London, but if he comes, then I’ll have to…’
“STOP!” Aaron yelled so loudly that Ianto was stunned into silence.
“Come here,” Aaron said softly, motioning Ianto closer to him. Gently taking him into his arms, Aaron projected soothing thoughts to Ianto. “Why are you so worried? He can’t hurt you; he can’t touch us, what’s the matter?”
A frightening thought occurred to Aaron but he wasn’t one to back away from the truth. “Ianto, do you want to be with him now that he’s back? Is that what this is all about?”
Ianto gripped Aaron tightly. ‘That’s exactly what this isn’t about. I don’t trust him Aaron, he smiles that dazzling smile but inside he’s a cold manipulative bastard. So yeah, I’m frightened for my safety, for your safety, our relationship, our careers, and everything in between. I’m frightened that if he disrupts our life enough that you will get so angry that you won’t want to stay with me.’
Aaron felt an actual physical pain in his heart as he listened to Ianto. “Don’t you know how much I love you? Don’t you understand why I wanted to have a civil union and for us to wear rings? I don’t care what happens Ianto, we’re partners, bonded partners and I’m not leaving you unless you tell me to go.”
As Aaron held Ianto he kept projecting calming thoughts and he gradually felt Ianto relax a bit. “Ianto, have faith in me, in yourself, in us together. As long as we’re a team, nothing can touch us.”
Ianto took a deep breath. 'Ok, you’re right. But promise me Aaron, that you’ll let me handle it. Please don’t undercut me. I need him to understand that I’m not coming back to him, and I need to tell him myself.''
“That’s fine Ianto, but I want you to promise me that you let me know if he threatens my safety in any way. I won’t have you manipulated due to fear about my well-being.”
Ianto was not going to contact Jack, but they both agreed that it would only be a matter of time before Jack tried to talk or see Ianto. Just how persistent he would be in this regard, neither of them could guess.
“What do you want me to do if he contacts me directly,” Aaron asked. He really wanted to respect Ianto’s wishes but he also didn’t want to find himself at the mercy of Jack Harkness.
'It seems only fair that if he contacts you that you do what you think is right. And if you could avoid making look like I can’t take care of myself, I think that will discourage him more than if he sees you as my protector.'
*******
It didn’t take long for Ianto to hear from Jack. Less than a week later, Ianto received a call on his cell not long after arriving home from work. He immediately recognized the number as belonging to Jack own cell phone. He hesitated only a moment before picking up the phone.
‘What do you want Jack,’ Ianto texted to him.
“Hey, is that any way to greet an old friend after two years away?”
‘Perhaps not, but it’s certainly the way I greet a former lover who deserted me.’
“Ouch! Come on Ianto, are you going to stay angry with me forever?”
‘Probably, and I’m not going to apologize for it. You’ve got a lot of nerve calling me up like nothing has happened, like you didn’t treat me like shite before you ran out on me to be with your precious Doctor.’
“Ianto, some bad things happened to me while I was away. In fact…”
Ianto interrupted. ‘Jack, I’m not really interested. I’m sorry if you didn’t have a wonderful time while you were away, but truly, I don’t give a flying fuck. You made a choice to leave, so what ever happened to you from that point on, isn’t my problem or my concern.’
Jack’s voice sounded a lot more somber when he spoke again. “Ianto, I made a terrible mistake. I know I treated you badly. I’m sorry. I wish I could make it up to you somehow.”
Ianto thought he just might lose control entirely if he listened to much more from Jack. ‘Listen carefully Jack,’ Ianto typed. ‘You want to make it up to me? Fine. Stay the hell away from me and Aaron. Do not call me, text me, write to me or contact me in any way, shape or form. I have a wonderful partner who I adore, and the only thing you can do for me now, is to leave me alone.’
“But Ianto…” Jack started to say.
‘What part of leave me alone didn’t you understand Jack? There is nothing you can say or do that will make me want to be with you rather than Aaron. And the sooner you understand that, the better off everyone is going to be. Go visit some of your rough trade friends, go pick up someone in a bar. In a couple of months, you won’t even remember my name.’
Jack didn’t answer back. ‘That’s all I have to say Jack. I won’t accept any further calls from you, so don’t bother trying. And I’m warning you, stay away from Aaron.’ And with that, Ianto ended the call.
After the call had ended Jack sat in stunned silence. Despite what Gwen and Owen had told him, he hadn’t believed that Ianto would be so adamant in his refusal to see him. What the hell was going on? Wasn’t he the one that Ianto wanted a few months (OK years, he corrected himself) earlier. And just who was Aaron and why was Ianto so obsessed with him? Jack didn’t know if it was Aaron’s looks or brains or money or sexual prowess that Ianto found so attractive, but by gods he was going to find out and once he did he had no doubts that he would win Ianto back.
Chapter 56 here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/29435.html
