aviv_b_artwork | Discovery: Chapter 39

Discovery: Chapter 39 - Intrusion
AUTHOR: Aviv_b
RATING: Chapter 39 - PG for language and sexual references
CHARACTERS: Ianto, OCs - Aaron, UNIT PR staff
DISCLAIMER: Not mine; Aunty B's and RTD's
WORDS: ~ 1970
SUMMARY: Ianto gets a little training in handling the press from the UNIT PR staff and says his final good-byes to his friends in London.

The story title is from the following quote: The things most people want to know about are usually none of their business. George Bernard Shaw.

Ianto spent his last few weeks in London finishing his physical therapy, packing and getting prepared for his final relocation to Cardiff. With Stephen in inpatient rehab, it was a bit lonely being at his flat by himself. He and Owen had done a pretty good job tossing Stephen’s flat, so Ianto thoroughly cleaned and reorganized everything for Stephen. He also conducted another search of the flat and found a water pipe and some rolling papers that had somehow been missed the first time around. He threw them in a bag with some wet garbage and put them in the dumpster behind the building.

Ianto sighed. He really liked Stephen but would be glad to put all the drama behind him. His only hope was that Stephen would take his rehab seriously and not return to what was a much more serious drug problem than Ianto had imagined. Even Bryan had been shocked when he was told about the pot, hash, meth, PCP, and amnyl nitrates found in the flat.

Stephen was only allowed two visitors a week and that was limited to immediate family members and Martha. Bryan had gone once, Martha twice, and the rest of the visits were made by The Brigadier and Aaron. They reported that Stephen was making progress but that it was very slow and he was destined to be in the inpatient facility for at least another month.

As Owen had speculated, The Brigadier had arranged for Ianto to meet with some UNIT PR staff to review how to handle press inquiries. The three staffers were impressed with how well he was able to deal with the scenarios they spun for him, usually with some candor and humor. He didn’t seem to get ruffled, maybe a little emotional when he spoke about some things, but that just made him seem vulnerable and human.

“What are you going to say if someone asks you about your personal relationships?”

‘I’m going to say I’m dating a bit and if pressed that I don’t kiss and tell.’

“OK, but what if they specifically bring up Jack Harkness?”

Ianto admitted to himself that he shouldn’t have been surprised that they knew about Jack, but somehow he was. He was about to get huffy, when he realized that if they knew, chances were some snooping reporter would find out as well.

‘I think I’m just going to repeat myself and then just say nothing more. Most people are very uncomfortable with silence and I think the reporter will look like a git if he/she keeps repeating the question.’

The PR staff seemed pleased with that approach. One staffer pointed out that she noticed Ianto getting indignant but liked the way he controlled himself. “You know, that’s not a bad strategy. Look a little put out, don’t hide it, and then answer very politely. That will really get the sympathy on your side.”

‘Why wouldn’t the sympathy be on my side?’

They explained that a lot of people were suspicious of what Torchwood’s real purpose was or just didn’t like government (or quasi-government) agencies or employees. “So don’t let them bait you or get you to lose your temper. Have you done that at all since the time with the evaluator at the London hospital?”

Ianto couldn’t believe they knew about that incident. ‘Yeah, I was sometimes very cranky and disagreeable when the pain reved up but not what I’d call anything out of the norm. I can’t exactly yell at anyone. So now I do a bit of eye-rolling sometimes just to let others know that I’m exasperated.’ Ianto demonstrated his eye-rolling technique.

“Actually, that’s quite endearing, consider doing that if things start to get to you. And if anyone asks you anything that’s covered under the Secrets’ Acts or just feels intrusive about Torchwood, just let them know you can’t answer due to confidentiality concerns.” Ianto nodded.

“We’ve already briefed your family and they’re sticking with the ‘we’re so glad he’s home, we don’t have a clue about his work/personal life’ answer.’”

‘You spoke to my family? You think the press is going to bother my family?’ Ianto somehow found this revelation highly disturbing.

“We think it’s unlikely, but we didn’t want them to be caught off-guard.”

‘You know, Torchwood should really hire you guys to do their threat assessment analysis. You’ve really thought about everything, haven’t you?’

“Well that brings up one more item. It’s too early to do any detailed planning, but there will certainly be some sort of memorial for Torchwood One next summer. We’ll be working with you before that as we anticipate that there will be interest from the International as well as the National press.”

‘Oh joy! Something to look forward to,’ Ianto snarked. ‘Are the other survivors being prepared as well?’

Ianto didn’t miss the uncomfortable looks between the staff. ‘Ianto, you’re just about the only one left who can do this. Obviously, the only survivors we could consider having as a spokesperson are those who came to work with UNIT or the government or Joe McGregor who is working for Torchwood Two. Most of those who are working for UNIT were employees who weren’t seriously injured on the day of the attack, and Joe McGregor, while an amiable and intelligent fellow has such a heavy Scottish accent that he can actually be difficult to understand. And he didn’t receive any injuries of note. You know a lot of survivors took retcon, and some who didn’t are too physically or emotionally disabled to be able to speak about what happened.”

‘I see, I’m the gimp whose damaged enough to make everyone feel sorry about Canary Wharf, but not so damaged that people are frightened of me. Lovely.’

“Now that’s exactly how we don’t want you to act. Petulance is not attractive.”

‘Excuse me; I think I have to roll my eyes now and then go stick a finger down my throat.’

“Ianto, we picked you because you’re smart, you can think on your feet, and yes, because you were injured. What point would there be to having someone who was on vacation or sick leave speak for the survivors? And frankly, since UNIT will be handling much of the memorial activities, they are more comfortable with being able to manage your press than a survivor they don’t know very well.”

Ianto was puzzled. ‘What does that mean?’

“Sorry, should have told you that The Brigadier or someone else, probably Dr. Harper if it’s in Cardiff, will be at any interviews you have. We’re not just going to throw you to the wolves. So if someone is really obnoxious, they will step in and be the bad guys, you won’t have to deal with it.”

‘So if someone asks me if I’m able to have sex, can I have them answer for me? Don’t look at me like that, I’ve been asked that several times by strangers!’

“I’m afraid to ask, but how do you answer them?”

Ianto looked at his hand and then his crotch as he said ‘I thought it was my hand that was damaged. Or if they’re real pushy…I would hope my sex life would involve more than just my hands.’

“Very funny. The first line is fine, but let’s avoid the cock watching and the second line shall we?”

‘You are no fun at all.’

The UNIT staff decided to wrap things up at that point. They thought Ianto had done very well, but were still concerned that their might be some lingering resentments on Ianto’s part. “We know it’s a lot to ask, but remember you are speaking not only for the survivors but for those who didn’t make it out alive and for their families. It’s easy to lose sight that every one of the thousands that died that day had a life and people who cared about them. So we want to humanize and personalize the story so that no one forgets that Torchwood One was made up of people like you, just regular people. The public knows nothing about what really happened and assumes that this was a premeditated terrorist attack."

Ianto had to admit that he hadn’t thought about his role as survivor in those terms. He realized that the families would be watching his appearances and perhaps projecting his answers as those their own loved ones would have given if they had survived.

He nodded his understanding. ‘When you put it that way, I guess I see what you’re after. I wouldn’t want to do or say anything that would pain the families of the casualties.’

The PR staff smiled in relief. The Brigadier had told them that Ianto was exceptionally smart and empathic; they just had to find the right way to tap into his abilities.

****

A few days before his departure, Ianto went to the UNIT rehab center for his last appointment. They had already transitioned his records to a facility within walking distance from his new flat and since he would only be going twice a week, he was sure that he could easily fit that in with his schedule at Torchwood. It seemed very quiet at the physical therapy center; just a few people were in the weight room. He felt mixed emotions as he looked around. He was, of course, thrilled to be done with intensive therapy, but he would miss his therapists and Kelly and Jonathan, as well as the other patients and staff that he had grown close to over the preceding months.

Once he finished up his last session with his therapist she motioned him over to a conference room. Much to his surprise, The Brigadier, Kelly, Jonathan, Martha as well as Aaron were there along with several other staff members and patients. They had a small cake for his going away which read:

Ianto smiled. He knew Martha had told some of the staff about his experience with the evaluator at the hospital but didn’t realize that others knew as well. ‘Seems like the entire world knows about that. I’d better have an appropriate answer if any questions come up over that incident.’

Aaron offered to drive Ianto back to Stephen’s as he needed to pick up some clothes to take to the hospital where Stephen was undergoing treatment. As Aaron packed a suitcase for Stephen, he let Ianto know he was going to miss him. “I know we’ve only just met, but I feel such a strong connection with you. The type of empathic ability we both have is very rare and once you get used to that type of communication, regular speech or text messaging just doesn’t cut it.”

Ianto was pretty sure he knew the answer to his question, even before he asked it. And he heard his answer without asking. “Yeah, Geoffrey was empathic. Not as strong as you, but pretty close.”

Ianto felt so sorry for Aaron, but there really wasn’t anything he could do. ‘I’ll email you once I’m settled in Cardiff and we can work some more on the software ideas, OK?’

Aaron smiled as he realized that Ianto was trying to avoid any emotional entanglements as he was leaving London. And really, Aaron couldn’t blame him. Ianto obviously had something going already in Cardiff and why shouldn’t he pursue it. Ianto didn’t really know anything about Aaron, so it wasn’t really fair to expect Ianto to consider him seriously.

‘Timing is everything,’ Aaron thought, ‘and as usual, mine sucks.’

Ianto looked at Aaron and shrugged, having heard everything that Aaron was thinking. They hugged goodbye and Aaron turned to leave the flat. ‘Take care of yourself and that git brother of yours, will ya.’ Aaron didn’t turn back but nodded as he walked out the door.

This is the final chapter of Part III - Discovery of Ianto's Journey.
Part IV - Renewal, Chapter 40 is here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/14744.html