Title: Providence Park
By: cameragirl
Pairing: Jack/Ianto
Rating: PG
Summary: An episode tag to 2x10, an explanation of why Ianto knows everything.***
"I'm just saying it would have been lovely if Owen could have given fair warning that he was visiting family." Gwen told Jack. She definitely didn't want to be here on her day off but Owen had an emergency, something about a cousin.
"Owen's undead and still talking for who knows how long. If he has friends or a bit of old family to speak with then he's entitled to a day off." Jack responded. He was over near Tosh's desk, checking out what he had missed over night.
"Ianto's not here either?" Gwen asked. He wasn't in the tourist office and the coffee machine wasn't even on. No one else knew how to work it so Ianto definitely wasn't in hub vicinity.
"It's his day off." Tosh answered.
"Day off?" She looked at Jack, who had stiffened. "I didn't know Ianto took days off. What does he do?" She asked.
"It's none of our business." Jack said steelily. Gwen almost took a step back in response to his cold tone.
"Ianto asks for one day off a month and that's his time." Jack said protectively. Gwen didn't say anything, just bobbed her head respectfully and went to her desk. It definitely wasn't a good day to talk to Jack.
When he went to his office, Tosh came over to Gwen. "Don't worry about it, he's cranky everytime Ianto's off. It's Jack's time of the month." She reassured Gwen.
"Where does he go?" Gwen asked.
"Sometimes Jack leaves midday and comes back with him. He just looks lost. And Jack puts him to bed. He lives with Jack in the hub." Tosh added, noting the look of confusion.
"Maybe visiting Lisa's? A cemetery somewhere? There must be a headstone." Gwen suggested.
"Her headstone's in London." Tosh shook her head. "And he did this before Lisa's death." She informed Gwen.
"Jack won't say…" Gwen thought out loud. "I don't know if he won't or not. Maybe he doesn't know." Tosh offered.
Another month went by and Gwen made sure that she worked on the day that Ianto didn't. Sure enough, Jack was pissy all day. Owen and Tosh shot each other knowing glances while Gwen tried to figure out Jack.
"You alright? Need any coffee?" She asked kindly. Jack looked up form his paperwork.
"No, I'm good, thanks." Jack muttered. He hadn't had coffee all day. Then his phone began to ring. Jack briefly touched his earpiece.
"Hello…Are you done? Yea? No, No it's ok. No stay, I'll come pick you up. No, yes I'm sure. I'll be right there." Jack touched his earpiece again.
Jack went right by Gwen and out the door. He stopped by Owen's desk for a mere second, saying something quickly before exiting the hub entirely.
Suddenly, the rift alarm went off and the three left in a hurry on another Weevil chase. When they got back to the hub, Jack was there, seemingly happy. He gave a quick nod to Owen and no one talked about it.
The next month the exact same thing occurred. Gwen saw Jack receive a call and then Owen called a Weevil run.
On the way back, Gwen decided it was time to ask questions. "So, are you going to tell me what's going on?" She asked cockily, almost expecting a response.
"No." Owen said simply.
"No?"
"You heard me, leave it alone Cooper. This is between Jack and Ianto. None of our business." He said, finality in his tone.
"So you don't know?" Gwen asked in surprise.
"Nope, nor do I care. I've been doing this for a while." Owen said.
Jack saw his team pull into the SUV place. He had just told Ianto to get some sleep. Owen had perfect timing. Jack thought as he got lost in his memories.
Before Lisa, Jack never questioned where Ianto went on his one day off a month. After Lisa, Jack decided it was time to find out, but never went through with his stake-out, too many things happened right after another.
When Jack finally got around to it, he failed to remember that Ianto Jones wasn't an idiot. Far from idiocy and he had an extremely sharp mind. Sharp enough to notice that three cars behind him was the Torchwood SUV.
Ianto sighed and knew he wasn't going on his usual trip and went to visit his Nan instead. Jack Harkness had a pleasant afternoon spying and watching Ianto play airplane with his younger cousins.
It wasn't until the Night Travelers that Jack actually found out where Ianto was on his day off.
"Providence Park, the psyiactric hospital." The nurse told them.
"I know it." Ianto said automatically. Jack shot him a questioning look that he ignored.
"Good afternoon Ianto." The receptionist at the front desk of Providence Park said. "You're early this month. Will you be visiting all the usual patients?" She asked sweetly.
"Yes," Jack answered for him, this time it was his turn to ignore the almost angry look Ianto gave him. "And my mind seems to have slipped…" Jack asked for Christina, the woman the nurse had mentioned. He even went into detail, mentioning the nurse's name and saying they were good friends.
The young receptionist gave the room number to Jack, no problem, and Jack & Ianto headed up the nearest flight of steps.
"So, this is where you go." Jack broke the silence. It didn't work, Ianto refused to answer him. "Ianto, I'll find out eventually but I'd like it very much if you told me voluntarily before that happens." Jack said quietly. "Our old lady is just waking up, plenty of time for a story." He took hold of Ianto's hand and led him to sit on a bench in the middle of the hallway.
"I thought this was over when you tried to follow me." Ianto admitted out loud. If it weren't for the current circumstances, he would have enjoyed the surprised look on Jack's face.
"Twenty-seven survivors originally came from Canary Wharf. Twenty-seven listed survivors." Ianto corrected himself. "Three have passed away, old age. Eleven committed suicide. Two there's been no contact with for over a year. There is another, like myself, who it fine. Well, as fine as we're able to be. The rest of them are here. Top mental institute in the country." Ianto said quietly, raising his eyes to gather his surroundings.
"And you visit them?" Jack asked.
"Every month." Ianto affirmed. "Almost every month." He corrected himself. "It…it wasn't anything personal Jack, just my own time with them. To visit, to try and help them." Ianto shrugged, he looked conflicted and obviously never expected to be having this conversation. Ianto started to talk again but a middle-aged woman came barreling towards him.
"Ianto? You're here!" She had a childish grin. Jack had seen this before; she had reverted back to a child-like state. She hugged around Ianto's middle and he rubbed her back gently. "Davey's having a bad day." She said, suddenly serious, her eyes wide.
"Jack if you'll excuse-"
"No." Jack said. He stood up to follow Ianto. "I'm coming."
Ianto grimaced but didn't say anything else. Jack followed him into a nearby room that had an open door. The room was mostly bare, its scarce possessions were blankets and pillows and a TV. left on mute.
The woman went over to a man that was huddled on the floor, twitchy and not paying attention to the TV. in front of him.
"Ianto?" His head jerked upwards. "How did you get in?" He grabbed hold of Ianto's jacket, practically pulling him onto the floor. Ianto knelt down in front of him and held up a hand to Jack, who had moved forward when "Davey" had grabbed hold of Ianto. Jack stopped in his tracks as "Davey" continued talking.
"They're everywhere. We need to get out." Ianto sighed.
"They aren't here David. You're safe. Its fine, you're ok." Ianto rubbed his back too, the same way he did with the young woman. David continued staring at the wall. He seemed young, not much older than Ianto.
Someone knocked on the door frame. Ianto and Jack turned their heads and saw a young man in a nurse's outfit.
"Hello Ianto!" He grinned. "You here for Christina?" He asked.
"Yes Gareth." Ianto gave him a warm smile and Jack tried hard to quell his jealousy.
"Her wheelchair's outside her room. 127- across the hall. I'll take over here." He sat down next to David and squeezed Ianto's shoulder. Another display of friendliness, but Jack almost growled out loud.
He was by Ianto's side in an instant, helping him off the ground. Steadying Ianto, he refused to take his hand off Ianto's shoulder until they knocked on the door to room 127.
They didn't speak of this again until after the Night Travelers were gone.
"Can I come with you from now on?" Jack asked quietly. He had just put the flask in the vault and Ianto came in with his suit jacket draped over his arm.
"Jack, I believe you're needed here to save the world." Ianto grinned.
"Ianto, I've seen you come back from those Saturdays. You're tired, drained, and depressed, let me help." Jack insisted.
Ianto gave a tired smile and said he would think about it.
So Jack went with Ianto when he could, even if he couldn't, Jack made sure he was there for Ianto, picking him up or at least bringing him lunch. He had met those left behind by Torchwood One, and he thanked the stars that Ianto was still living and that he had the opportunity to rebuild Torchwood Three. None of his team would end up like that if Jack has anything to say about it.
END
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