Recovery: Chapter 10 - Caution

RATING:  PG-13 for language, sexual references
CHARACTERS: Ianto, Owen,
WORDS: ~ 1160
SUMMARY:  Owen explains the fact of life (with Jack) to Ianto


Caution is the eldest child of Wisdom - Victor Hugo

Two weeks after Ianto, Owen and Martha met, Ianto was well enough to go with Owen to his flat. Ianto could walk slowly with just a cane by now, his leg had healed well but he had lost a lot of muscle tone, tired easily and his balance seemed a little off at times. His right hand was in a soft cast and was still useless and painful. 

 

With great flourish, Owen handed Ianto a box after they entered the apartment. Ianto sat down on the worn sofa and pulled open the box with his good hand. It was a new Blackberry Curve. Ianto grinned up at Owen; this was going to make life a lot easier. 

 

“Hey, I took the liberty of setting it up for you – I’ve put me and Martha on speed dial. I figured you could add other numbers as you liked. It's a model that's not on the market yet. It’s got Wi-Fi, GPS, music and video downloading, I don’t know what else. I just figured I’d get you the one with everything and that way I couldn’t go wrong.”    He handed the phone over to Ianto.

 

Ianto frowned as he realized that he really didn’t have any other phone numbers to add. He could see Owen watching him with concern and realized that Owen thought he didn’t like the phone.

 

 He turned the phone on and typed, ‘Its fantastic, Owen. I’m a little overwhelmed. Thank you!’

 

Owen smiled back, “You’re a git, why shouldn’t you have the best, it’s not like I’m paying for it.” They both laughed.  

 

They quickly sorted Ianto’s possessions into three categories: keep, store or give away. Ianto didn’t want to get rid of anything, but Owen convinced him that it was time to move on from second-hand student furniture, milk crate bookcases and plastic cups.

 

“Look, you don’t want this rubbish in your new flat. Trust me; milk crate bookcases do not impress the ladies. We’ll get you set up somewhere decent, and get you some new stuff. Nothing too fancy, but just right for a professional starting out. And don’t start on about who is going to pay for it. Torchwood can afford it.” 

 

So Ianto agreed that the old college furniture could go to charity along with some of the kitchenware and some text books he no longer needed. Owen packed up a two boxes of old comfortable clothes for Ianto to take to UNIT and put the rest aside for storage. Ianto’s books, DVDs and other personal items were also put aside for storage. 

 

As Ianto watched Owen finish packing up, he realized that he had hardly gotten to enjoy living in the flat. Six months at Torchwood, three months in the hospital, probably another three months at UNIT; by the time he was ready to return to Cardiff, a whole year would have gone by since he joined Torchwood. 

 

Ianto typed some more and passed the phone over to Owen. ‘How many of us are left? Survivors I mean.’

 

“Just a handful, really. There were twenty-seven people including you who were rescued. Three died before reaching hospital, so that would be twenty-four. Three have gone to work for UNIT, two to other government positions, eight asked to be retconned that leaves eleven. You and three others are still undergoing rehabilitation. Three have ended their own lives. The other four….they’re in psychiatric facilities.”

 

Ianto took a moment to digest this information. ‘What are my choices? Am I going to be retconned or locked away?’

 

“No, your situation is a bit unique. You had the least service and the least exposure to classified information. You have seen alien artifacts, but hell half of the UK believes we’ve been visited by little green men. No ones being retconned against their wishes and I think that would be a unrealistic choice for you since you are going to need continuing care for quite some time.”

 

‘What about working for UNIT or Torchwood Three?’ 

 

“UNIT is a possibility but I want you to come back to Cardiff first and finish your recovery before you make any decision. And I won’t lie to you, that could take as much as another year.”

 

‘And Torchwood Three?’

 

“That’s not going to happen, Ianto. We’re a very small operation and we just don’t have a suitable position for you.”

 

‘I can tell that you are not telling me the whole story.’

 

Owen snorted. “You got me. OK, there are two reasons why Three is not an option. First, Captain Harkness doesn’t want anything to do with anyone from Torchwood One. I know that seems unfair, but why would you want to go work for someone who is just going to give you a hard time?  Second reason, is a bit more personal. I don’t want you working there…” 

 

Ianto couldn’t believe Owen was saying this to him. He could understand Captain Harkness…well actually he couldn’t, but he could understand why Owen would feel that he couldn’t do anything about it. But Owen didn’t want him there…what the fuck!

 

“Listen, you don’t know Captain Harkness. You probably heard something about him at Torchwood One, right?”

 

Ianto nodded.

 

“He’s not crazy, that part isn’t true. But he can be a bastard, a right bastard when he wants to be. Which is a fair amount of the time. He and I don’t get along all that well and you’d become a pawn between us. You don’t need that kind of shite in your life.”

 

‘There’s something else Owen.’

 

Owen shook his head ‘No’. 

 

‘Owen, you know I have a little empathic ability. You’re broadcasting anxiety.’

 

“Fuck, Ianto he’s dangerous. Yeah, I can see you’ve heard that one before. And he’s physically and emotionally manipulative as well as incredibly sexually aggressive. There are times he actually scares the crap out of me. And you are just the type he likes to mess around with. I’m keeping you as far away from him as possible.”

 

‘What? So you don’t think I can take care of myself? Or are you afraid I like men? Or you’d like to shag him so you don’t want competition?’

 

“That’s enough! I don’t care who you mess around with, I really don’t. I’ve seen guys look at you as well as women. That’s your business. And Captain Gigolo Harkness is the last person, woman or man, I’d be interested in. But he’s dangerous, particularly for someone who is recovering from trauma. He has almost no boundary control. A refusal to him is just a challenge to be overcome. I want you to be able to have a happy life when you return to Cardiff. And I don’t want to have to get involved in your private life. So please, please do me this one stinking favor – go have sex with anyone you like who’s of age, with the exception of Jack Harkness! Is that so much to ask?”

 

‘No, I guess not. But if he’s such a bastard then why do you work for him?’

 

“It’s complicated.”

 

‘I’ll bet.’

Chapter 11 is here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/4957.html

Recovery: Chapter 10 - Caution

RATING:  PG-13 for language, sexual references
CHARACTERS: Ianto, Owen,
WORDS: ~ 1160
SUMMARY:  Owen explains the fact of life (with Jack) to Ianto


Caution is the eldest child of Wisdom - Victor Hugo

Two weeks after Ianto, Owen and Martha met, Ianto was well enough to go with Owen to his flat. Ianto could walk slowly with just a cane by now, his leg had healed well but he had lost a lot of muscle tone, tired easily and his balance seemed a little off at times. His right hand was in a soft cast and was still useless and painful. 

 

With great flourish, Owen handed Ianto a box after they entered the apartment. Ianto sat down on the worn sofa and pulled open the box with his good hand. It was a new Blackberry Curve. Ianto grinned up at Owen; this was going to make life a lot easier. 

 

“Hey, I took the liberty of setting it up for you – I’ve put me and Martha on speed dial. I figured you could add other numbers as you liked. It's a model that's not on the market yet. It’s got Wi-Fi, GPS, music and video downloading, I don’t know what else. I just figured I’d get you the one with everything and that way I couldn’t go wrong.”    He handed the phone over to Ianto.

 

Ianto frowned as he realized that he really didn’t have any other phone numbers to add. He could see Owen watching him with concern and realized that Owen thought he didn’t like the phone.

 

 He turned the phone on and typed, ‘Its fantastic, Owen. I’m a little overwhelmed. Thank you!’

 

Owen smiled back, “You’re a git, why shouldn’t you have the best, it’s not like I’m paying for it.” They both laughed.  

 

They quickly sorted Ianto’s possessions into three categories: keep, store or give away. Ianto didn’t want to get rid of anything, but Owen convinced him that it was time to move on from second-hand student furniture, milk crate bookcases and plastic cups.

 

“Look, you don’t want this rubbish in your new flat. Trust me; milk crate bookcases do not impress the ladies. We’ll get you set up somewhere decent, and get you some new stuff. Nothing too fancy, but just right for a professional starting out. And don’t start on about who is going to pay for it. Torchwood can afford it.” 

 

So Ianto agreed that the old college furniture could go to charity along with some of the kitchenware and some text books he no longer needed. Owen packed up a two boxes of old comfortable clothes for Ianto to take to UNIT and put the rest aside for storage. Ianto’s books, DVDs and other personal items were also put aside for storage. 

 

As Ianto watched Owen finish packing up, he realized that he had hardly gotten to enjoy living in the flat. Six months at Torchwood, three months in the hospital, probably another three months at UNIT; by the time he was ready to return to Cardiff, a whole year would have gone by since he joined Torchwood. 

 

Ianto typed some more and passed the phone over to Owen. ‘How many of us are left? Survivors I mean.’

 

“Just a handful, really. There were twenty-seven people including you who were rescued. Three died before reaching hospital, so that would be twenty-four. Three have gone to work for UNIT, two to other government positions, eight asked to be retconned that leaves eleven. You and three others are still undergoing rehabilitation. Three have ended their own lives. The other four….they’re in psychiatric facilities.”

 

Ianto took a moment to digest this information. ‘What are my choices? Am I going to be retconned or locked away?’

 

“No, your situation is a bit unique. You had the least service and the least exposure to classified information. You have seen alien artifacts, but hell half of the UK believes we’ve been visited by little green men. No ones being retconned against their wishes and I think that would be a unrealistic choice for you since you are going to need continuing care for quite some time.”

 

‘What about working for UNIT or Torchwood Three?’ 

 

“UNIT is a possibility but I want you to come back to Cardiff first and finish your recovery before you make any decision. And I won’t lie to you, that could take as much as another year.”

 

‘And Torchwood Three?’

 

“That’s not going to happen, Ianto. We’re a very small operation and we just don’t have a suitable position for you.”

 

‘I can tell that you are not telling me the whole story.’

 

Owen snorted. “You got me. OK, there are two reasons why Three is not an option. First, Captain Harkness doesn’t want anything to do with anyone from Torchwood One. I know that seems unfair, but why would you want to go work for someone who is just going to give you a hard time?  Second reason, is a bit more personal. I don’t want you working there…” 

 

Ianto couldn’t believe Owen was saying this to him. He could understand Captain Harkness…well actually he couldn’t, but he could understand why Owen would feel that he couldn’t do anything about it. But Owen didn’t want him there…what the fuck!

 

“Listen, you don’t know Captain Harkness. You probably heard something about him at Torchwood One, right?”

 

Ianto nodded.

 

“He’s not crazy, that part isn’t true. But he can be a bastard, a right bastard when he wants to be. Which is a fair amount of the time. He and I don’t get along all that well and you’d become a pawn between us. You don’t need that kind of shite in your life.”

 

‘There’s something else Owen.’

 

Owen shook his head ‘No’. 

 

‘Owen, you know I have a little empathic ability. You’re broadcasting anxiety.’

 

“Fuck, Ianto he’s dangerous. Yeah, I can see you’ve heard that one before. And he’s physically and emotionally manipulative as well as incredibly sexually aggressive. There are times he actually scares the crap out of me. And you are just the type he likes to mess around with. I’m keeping you as far away from him as possible.”

 

‘What? So you don’t think I can take care of myself? Or are you afraid I like men? Or you’d like to shag him so you don’t want competition?’

 

“That’s enough! I don’t care who you mess around with, I really don’t. I’ve seen guys look at you as well as women. That’s your business. And Captain Gigolo Harkness is the last person, woman or man, I’d be interested in. But he’s dangerous, particularly for someone who is recovering from trauma. He has almost no boundary control. A refusal to him is just a challenge to be overcome. I want you to be able to have a happy life when you return to Cardiff. And I don’t want to have to get involved in your private life. So please, please do me this one stinking favor – go have sex with anyone you like who’s of age, with the exception of Jack Harkness! Is that so much to ask?”

 

‘No, I guess not. But if he’s such a bastard then why do you work for him?’

 

“It’s complicated.”

 

‘I’ll bet.’

Chapter 11 is here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/4957.html