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jadesfireApparently leaving this til today was cruel and unusual punishment... So here you go, nice and early in the morning :)
Title: Las Vegas (or: Viva!) Part 2
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jadesfire2808
Rating: PG/Adult (for themes)
Word Count: ~6,350 (this part)
Warnings: Nothing worse than you'd see in an episode.
Betas:crystalshard and miss_zedem
Summary: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…
The Wandering Years 1: New York (or: Wonderful Town)
The Wandering Years 2: San Francisco (or: Where I Left My Heart)
The Wandering Years 3: Las Vegas (or: Viva!) Part 1
6pm, Monday 17th April
The café was useful. Quiet, out of the way and with a very uninquisitive waitress. The ludicrously big tips probably helped.
Jack slid the piece of paper over the table this time. With any luck, he'd be out of this town in twenty-four hours and his cover was probably in tatters anyway.
"You're good to go," he told Brian with a grim smile. "Take 'em out whenever you want."
"Thanks." Brian glanced at his watch. "It'll take me an hour or so to throw something together and probably another hour to actually get moving."
"That's going to make it half-eight, more or less, when you hit the place. I'll give you another hour, just to be sure, then we're on the next plane out of here."
"What about the girl?"
Jack shrugged. "I think she'll have to come. She knows too much about us, about everything, at this point."
"She's going to make it out alive?" Brian raised an eyebrow. "I thought you spooks considered people like her disposable."
"I'm not a spook," Jack said, ignoring the other man's scepticism, "and no-one's disposable."
"Whatever you say." Brian put the piece of paper away in a pocket, drained his coffee and got to his feet. "See you when you're next in town."
Feeling some of the tension lift from his shoulders, Jack grinned. "Only if I want you to."
10.15pm, Monday 17th April
Back at the hotel, he finished throwing the last of his clothes into the suitcase and picked up the phone to call Hywel. There was no answer.
Jack glanced at his watch. The FBI would be well on their way by now and Hywel should have been in his room, packing up. Concern crept into the back of his mind as he hung up and dialled Vanessa's number instead. Hywel might have gone to check on her. There was no answer there, either
He put the phone down, thinking fast. Maybe they were down in the casino, playing one last game as an attempt to ward off suspicion. Shedding the leather jacket, he retrieved his suit and a white shirt. At least he'd blend in a bit better in black tie. Changing quickly, he was just about ready to go when the phone rang. Relief flooded through him as he picked it up.
"Hywel?"
"Jack?"
"Brian?" Jack sat down on the bed. "What is it?"
"The address you gave us? It's empty."
"What?"
"One of our guys went to do some advance surveillance. Looks like they were there but cleared out in a hurry, probably earlier today."
Jack swore. "They knew we were coming."
"How?" Even down the phone, Jack could hear Brian's frustration. He closed his eyes.
"I don't know where Hywel is."
This time, Brian swore. "Do you think-"
"Yes." Reaching into a pocket, Jack pulled out a pen. "Give me a number I can reach you on. I'll call you when I know something. Be ready to go when I tell you."
"We'll be going in blind," Brian protested.
"I don't care. Wherever it is, they've probably got Hywel there too. Now give me the damn number."
Brian did so and Jack scribbled it on the back of his hand then cut the call without saying goodbye. Dialling Reception, he asked for room service and placed an order. There was no time to think, not now. He'd waited long enough.
Pulling his suitcase towards him, he tipped it over, emptying the contents onto the bed and groping around inside it for a moment. His fingers finally found the catch and he lifted the false bottom up, smiling grimly as he surveyed the contents. Maybe he was more of a spook than he thought.
The Webley fitted easily into its holster under his left arm and the small canister went into the right pocket of his jacket. After a moment's consideration, he also took what looked like a tiny screwdriver, slipping into his breast pocket. Finally, he pulled a bow tie from the pile of clothes and nodded to himself. It wasn't great, but it would have to do.
Apparently the bar staff had told room service about the generous tipping from the guy in room 274, because his order arrived in double quick time. He lived up to his reputation, handing the waiter a couple of notes and taking the bottle of whisky into the bathroom. Unscrewing the cap, he caught sight of himself in the mirror and grinned. It was an old trick, but a good one.
Five minutes later, Jack Harkness staggered along one of the hotel corridors, a half-empty bottle of whisky in his hand, apparently having poured the rest of it down his throat. He was a happy drunk, giving other guests a big smile as they passed and singing snatches of songs in a loud, tuneless voice.
He eventually came to a wobbly stop at room 128, grinning up at the man standing in front of the door. Despite the suit and tie, he might as well have been wearing a sign saying 'Guard Dog'.
"I'm goin' in there." Jack gestured with the whisky bottle.
Guard Dog shook his head. "Not tonight you're not."
"Yessiam," Jack said with blurry indignation. "Gotta booking."
"Not tonight," Guard Dog repeated.
"Awwww, please?" Coming closer, Jack put a friendly hand on the man's lapel, still waving the bottle with the other. "Jus' this once?" He batted his eyelashes.
"Why don't you go back to your room and sleep it off?" Guard Dog brought a hand up to lift Jack's off of him, making Jack stumble and flail for balance. The hand with the whisky bottle came round, landing on the man's shoulder as Jack tried to hold himself up. As the guard's other hand reached out to support him, Jack shifted, releasing his grip on the bottle and letting it drop to the thick carpet. His hands closed on the man's throat, thumbs pressing into the arteries. Jack pushed hard, pressing them both into the wall to stifle the struggling. It took some force to knock someone out like that and Jack held on long enough that his victim wouldn't wake up the minute he let go.
Lowering the unconscious man to the floor, Jack retrieved the whisky bottle and used it to thump at the door. He had to act quickly if he was going to avoid witnesses.
Another man in a suit opened the door, obviously puzzled at who would be knocking. He was at least a head taller than Guard Dog and Jack instantly labelled him Bruiser.
"I'm here to see Vanessa," he said, still wearing the smile of the pleasantly inebriated.
Bruiser's eyes travelled down from Jack's unfocussed eyes to the dangling bottle then on to his fallen colleague.
"What-" The next thing he saw was a miniature aerosol which seemed to have appeared by magic in Jack's free hand.
"Goodnight," Jack said, holding his breath as he pressed the trigger. He made no attempt to catch the man this time, turning back and hauling Guard Dog's body into the room, kicking the door shut behind him.
Vanessa was lying on the bed, still in her day clothes of black trousers and a white shirt. It was strange, Jack realised as he went across to her, to see her out of evening dress. Her hands had been bound behind her and a blindfold covered her eyes.
She shrank away as Jack touched her shoulder.
"It's alright," he soothed. "It's me."
"Jack?" She was almost sobbing as he freed her hands and undid the blindfold, helping her to sit up.
"It's alright," he said again, taking hold of her shoulders and turning her so he could see her face. "Are you okay?"
She shrugged shakily. "They didn't hurt me. Oh, Jack!" She broke down again. "They took Hywel!"
"I know." He let her fall against him, feeling her trembling in his arms. When the worst had subsided, he sat back again and cupped her face in his hands. "Vanessa, I need to know where they took him."
"I don't know. The first thing they did was blindfold us. Even with the drug, I need a line of sight to get more than just vague feelings."
"That's fine," Jack said, moving one hand to stroke her hair. "But you've got line of sight now. And I'm betting one of those guys knows where they've gone." He tipped his head towards the unconscious bodies lying by the door.
"I can't." She tried to pull away, but Jack didn't let go, forcing her to look at him.
"You have to. Because I don't have time for anything else." Despite the gentleness of his tone, she must have seen something in his eyes because she bit her lip, looking away. "We have to find Hywel," Jack went on. "I need you to do this for me."
At last, she nodded and he released her, going over and pulling Guard Dog into something resembling a sitting position.
"Do you need him awake?" Jack asked and Vanessa nodded. "Come over here then. Bring the rope."
Once the man's wrists were securely tied together, Jack sat back on his heels, watching Vanessa. She hadn't spoken and her face was a mask of fear. "Ready?" Jack asked, not waiting for an answer before reaching out and slapping Guard Dog's face a few times.
"Come on," he murmured, patting and pinching the man's cheek. "You're tougher than that."
Guard Dog flinched suddenly, drawing in a deep breath. Vanessa reached out, replacing Jack's hand with hers. "Where's Hywel?" she asked, narrowing her eyes in concentration. "Where did they take him? Tell me!" The man jumped, trying to bring his bound hands up to ward her off but Jack grabbed the rope, yanking them back down.
"Not yet," he growled. "Where did they take the kid? Where?"
"He's fighting me," Vanessa said, her voice strained. "He's too strong."
"Give me your hand," Jack said, holding his out. "Let me help you."
"How?"
"Give me your hand." Bracing himself, Jack let her tentative touch pass through his shields as he followed the connection back. She gasped.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting what we need." Eyes closed, Jack gritted his teeth. "Work with me or you're going to get hurt."
He pushed all the way into her mind, ignoring her yelp of protest. With barely a pause, he forced his way onwards, using her mind as a bridge. The grip on his hand tightened as he stripped away any defences he encountered. It was hard work and Guard Dog – Hal, as Jack now knew – was breathing hard, grunting with pain and the effort of fighting back. But he was no match for Jack's determination or experience.
Not caring about damage limitation for any of them, Jack reached deep into himself, focussing on what he wanted to know, visualising it and shaping it so that he could see it almost as a physical object. He realised that, unconsciously, he'd formed it into the mental image of a bullet. Time to pull the trigger.
There was an audible thud which Jack guessed was Hal's head hitting the wall. Right now, he didn't care. The concentrated attack had given him what he needed and more. Opening his eyes, he gently untangled his fingers from Vanessa's, letting the new information settle into his mind. The girl was leaning against the wall, her head on Hal's shoulder and her eyes closed. There was blood running from Hal's nose and, Jack realised as something warm touched his lips, his own. He staunched it with his bowtie then lifted Vanessa's chin to check she was still there. Apart from the extreme whiteness of her face, she seemed fine, just exhausted.
He left her sitting there, staggering a little as he got to his feet and made his way over to the phone. Brian answered on the second ring.
"I've got the address," Jack said, without preamble. "Got a pen?"
He recited it, listening to Brian confer with someone then say, "Okay, we're all set to go."
"Send someone via the hotel. Back entrance."
"You're coming?" Brian's voice was sceptical. "You sound pretty out of it."
"They've got Hywel," Jack said, his tone allowing no argument. "Send a car."
Dropping the receiver, Jack headed into the bathroom, splashing water on his face and dropping the wreckage of his tie into the bin. When he came out, Vanessa was sitting up, her face still pale but her eyes open. She shrank away as he came towards her.
"You used me," she said.
"I had to. Can you stand?" Not waiting for her to answer, Jack reached down and pulled her to her feet. She leant heavily on him but didn't fall.
"Will they live?" she asked as Jack helped her over the recumbent bodies.
"The knockout gas was meant for Weevils, but it shouldn't kill him."
"And the other? Will he be alright?"
"Probably." Finally getting the door open, Jack pulled her out behind him. "We have to get out of here. Now."
He half-carried her down the stairs, glad he'd taken the time to plan the escape routes when he'd first arrived in Vegas two weeks ago. It took barely ten minutes to get through the staff wing to the back door and the car was already waiting for them. Jack pushed Vanessa into the back and climbed in behind her, pulling the door shut.
"How long?" he asked the driver.
"Twenty minutes. It's downtown."
"Right."
Jack sat back in his seat, aware of Vanessa's eyes on him. They drove in silence for a long time, Jack staring out of the window as the neon signs passed in a blur.
As the lights of the strip faded away, Vanessa stirred herself.
"What did you do?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the engine. Jack didn't turn to her.
"Something I was taught," he said. "When you need something and there's no other way."
"You hurt him."
"Better him than Hywel." Turning at last, he met her gaze. "And don't tell me that he means nothing to you." She coloured, the first sign of life since they'd made their escape. Despite himself, despite the knot in his stomach and the buzzing in his head, Jack smiled. "It's like that, is it?"
"I don't…" She looked away, cheeks flushed. But there was something in her face, something in the way her eyes had flashed.
"He came to you last night, didn't he?" Jack said softly. "He was upset, hurting. He needed someone to comfort him, someone to understand without words being used. And so he came to you."
"Yes." There was a challenge in the word, which Jack ignored. Instead, he nodded to himself.
"Explains why he avoided me all day."
"That's not why," Vanessa said quickly. "He told me, showed me what happened." Finally turning to face him, she went on, "He adores you. You know that. He was so guilty, so ashamed."
Jack closed his eyes. "You know," he said in a conversational tone, "ménages á trois are rarely easy, but this is messy even by my standards."
Before Vanessa could reply, the car came to a sudden stop.
"We're here," the driver announced.
As Jack was getting out of the car, Vanessa put a hand on his arm. "I'm coming with you. You might need me."
Jack hesitated for a moment, then nodded, taking her hand and helping her out. "Stay close to somebody," he said, "preferably somebody with a gun." He pulled his own from his pocket as they made their way towards the gaggle of FBI agents.
Brian came over to meet them. "They're in there," he said, pointing to the building. "We've got a perimeter set up so nothing gets out."
"Tell them to blindfold anyone they arrest," Jack said, with a glance at Vanessa. "The mind reading works on line of sight."
"Got it." Brian gestured to another agent, passing on the order then turning back to Jack. "We're ready."
The building, long since abandoned, looked as thought it had once been an apartment block. Which meant, Jack thought as they made their way round the side, long corridors, lots of locked doors and lots of rooms in which to hide. Perfect.
He joined the group gathered at the side door.
"Looks pretty solid. We're going to need the ram round here," one of them said and Jack smiled.
"Allow me." He pulled the tiny screwdriver from his pocket, pushing it into the lock. "It's intelligent metal," he explained. "It takes the shape of the lock and- ah." With a flourish, he turned the handle and swung the door open.
Everyone hit the deck as gun fire rang out, shattering the quiet. Jack crawled to the cover of the wall, making sure Vanessa was still with him and lifting his head to check on the others. As he helped Vanessa to her feet, he caught Brian's eye. The agent was hugging the wall on the opposite side of the doorway to Jack. Seeing Jack's nod, he returned it.
There was a momentary break in the gun fire and Jack used it to throw himself round the corner, still staying close to the wall inside. He was in a corridor leading to a t-junction and the shots had come from both directions. Brian gave cover as Jack made his way forwards, deciding to take the right hand turn first. He was running now, knowing that the defenders would pull themselves together quickly and he was a sitting duck without something to hide behind.
Barrelling round the corner, he barely had time to register the surprise on the faces of the men there. He took two of them down with him, rolling over and using one of the limp bodies as a shield as more shots echoed in the narrow space. They'd be hard to hit down here, he knew, but he didn't need to take any more chances. His eyes were more or less adjusted to the gloom now and the body on top of him wasn't fighting back. He pushed it off, rising to his feet and catching the next man in the face with the handle of his gun.
More shots rang out and he grabbed the dazed man by the shoulders, another human shield as he fired back down the corridor. There was shouting, then the rest of the agents came flooding into the building, making the defenders retreat, still firing the occasional shot.
Jack ignored them, twisting the man in his arms, slamming him against the wall and pressing the barrel of the Webley under his chin.
"Where's the kid? Where did they take him?"
His eyes rolling back in his head, the man lifted a shaking hand, pointing down the corridor to Jack's left.
"Downstairs," he whispered, whimpering as Jack let him go.
Brian reached them as the terrified man slid down the wall to the floor.
"Where?"
"Basement."
Yelling over his shoulder, Brian followed Jack along the corridor. Jack's heart was racing but he forced himself to concentrate. He held the gun in front of him, pausing and checking round each corner before bringing the weapon up again. The familiar, ingrained routine helped to settle him, giving him something to think about other than the hundred scenarios running through his mind.
The door to the basement was at the far end of the building and by the time Jack got there, most of the other agents had caught up with him and Brian. He put a finger to his lips and carefully pulled it open.
There was no immediate reaction, so Jack took a few cautious steps, gesturing for the others to wait at the top. It was even dingier down here, with long fluorescent strips providing garish yellow light. The floor was damp, water running down the walls and along the pipes above Jack's head. At the bottom of the stairs, he checked the corridor in each direction before giving the all clear.
He and Brian went left, following the narrow corridor. Despite the obvious water leakage, Jack noticed that the place was otherwise in good repair. Most of the pipes were intact and all the lights were working. This was somewhere they used regularly.
Jack was becoming sure they'd been lied to and that they were going to have to search the whole building. Turning the corner, his doubts were put to rest and he reacted instinctively, throwing himself backwards and knocking Brian over so that the bullets passed over their heads.
"I think we found them," he said, as they disentangled themselves.
"What makes you say that?" Brian replied, picking up his gun and grinning.
"I'm sensitive that way." They exchanged the same nod as before, waiting for the noise of the shots to die away before taking the corner at a run. Brian stopped after a few steps to give better cover, while Jack kept going. The first of the shooters was so startled that he fell over his own feet, sprawling on the floor. Jack ignored him, lifting his gun as the second man tried to take aim.
"Don't do it!" he yelled, hoping that the sound would be enough. Apparently it wasn't and Jack fired reflexively, catching the man in the throat more by fluke than intention. He knelt over the man's body as Brian raced past, checking doors and rooms as he went.
Further away, Jack could hear shouts as the others closed in on them. His victim (his attacker? It was all a bit blurred now) was clutching his neck, blood running between his fingers. Knowing there was nothing he could do, Jack turned his attention to the other fallen man, who'd made no attempt to get away.
"Where'd they go?" Jack asked, pulling him to his feet. "They've cleared out, I'll bet. All the bosses will be long gone by now. Where did they go? Did they take the kid?"
The man shook his head, fear in his eyes. Shifting his grip, Jack pushed him hard against the wall, holding him in place.
"Vanessa!" he yelled, loud enough to make his prisoner flinch. Jack stepped in closer, pressing the man between his body and the wall. "Either you tell me or I will take it from you," he said, his voice low, "and believe me, it will hurt."
"Jack!" The shout came from further down the corridor in the direction Brian had taken. Then there was another voice, one he didn't recognise, with words that made his blood run cold.
"Get an ambulance."
Turning back, Jack saw Vanessa hurrying down the corridor towards him and he knew her panic was mirrored on his own face. He nodded to her.
"Get in there," he said, waiting until someone relieved him of his prisoner to follow. Shoving his gun into a pocket, he walked slowly to the corner, pausing when he saw the open door. He could hear voices, shouting and muttering; someone was counting to five, pausing, then counting again.
Time stopped. Jack's feet dragged as he tried to move forwards, fear making them almost too heavy to lift. The air felt thick and humid and his face was suddenly drenched in sweat. After an unbearable age, he reached the doorway, wrapping a hand around the frame and pulling himself into the room.
Time came rushing back as Vanessa began to scream.
Now
Jack had no idea how much of the drug would be too much. However human he was, he wasn't a human from this place and Time Agency training had altered his mind along with the rest of him. Just to be sure, he filled the syringe completely, barely pausing to check for air bubbles before ramming the needle into his arm.
The world didn't explode, although his skin burned at the site of the injection, a cold heat that was spreading through his veins. While he still could, Jack turned and went back to Hywel, sitting on the floor and pulling the younger man into his arms. He felt numb in mind and body, unable to do anything but focus on the single, crucial word: live.
The world exploded.
Whenever he returned, whenever he sucked air back into his empty lungs and felt his heart start to beat again, Jack always found it difficult to remember what it had been like. This place, somewhere between life and death, held him and surrounded him, filling his mind and soul with golden light. Normally, he came here unwillingly and violently, resting in the soothing peace until the darkness claimed him again. This time though, he was here through his own choice.
He was still aware of his body, its heavy weight tying him to his purpose. Then he realised it wasn't his own weight he could feel but Hywel's. He wasn't seeking healing and relief; he'd come here to make a demand.
"Send him back!" he shouted, his words muffled and deadened by the cocoon of light. "Use me! Do whatever the hell it is you do and send him back."
He tightened his grip on the body in his arms as he felt the darkness pulling at the edges of his awareness. If it was taking him, it would take Hywel as well. Something plucked at him, trying to draw him away and he shook his head, pressing his face into Hywel's hair. He had no idea if this was happening at the physical level as well as the psychic one, but right now it felt so real that he didn't care.
"If you're taking one of us, you're taking both of us," he said, feeling the impatience grow in the light-mind around him. He was inside its awareness, just as it was inside his, so it had to know that he wouldn't give up Hywel without a fight. He wouldn't give Hywel up at all.
There was a definite edge to the light now, a frustration that Jack wouldn't co-operate as he usually did, that the drug he'd injected himself with was giving him the strength to fight back. It didn't matter that whatever it was that had hold of him probably had enough power to blast both him and Hywel out of existence without noticing. He'd gone back time and time again, sacrificing the peace that he found here to humour whatever whim this higher power had for him. This time, he wasn't going back alone.
As though sensing this, Jack felt the light seeping around him, trying to break his connection to Hywel. He clung on harder, but couldn't pull the limp body any closer than it already was. The light-mind was being gentle, trying to save Jack without letting him risk himself further. It wanted him to let go, to release the dead body and return to where he should be. He had to make it understand. It had to know what this meant to him.
As a last, desperate attempt, he focussed on reaching out with his mind, wrapping it around Hywel's and letting their consciousnesses blend together. He dropped all his defences, not holding back any part of himself as he felt Hywel's mind touch his. The tiny, almost imperceptible stir of awareness was all the encouragement he needed and he pushed on.
There was a sense of hesitation, fleeting enough that Jack was sure he'd imagined it, then he felt the light wrap around them both, binding them even more closely until he no longer knew which thought was his and which was Hywel's. It didn't matter. As the light burst into greater brightness around him, replaced by the familiar darkness, he finally surrendered to it, letting it carry them both away.
Later
Jack ached. He was lying flat on his back on something cold and hard. A heavy weight was bearing down on his chest and something hard was pressed into his shoulder, right on the nerve. Then the weight began to move. He gripped it tightly, knowing that this was what he needed to do. He mustn't let go.
"Jack. Jack, it's alright." Someone was pulling at his arm, gripping his other shoulder. "You can let go now. You're both safe. It's going to be alright."
Foggily, Jack recognised Brian's voice, remembered where he was. The weight in his arms was Hywel, warm against Jack's chest and shifting in his embrace he breathed steadily in and out. He was breathing. Jack carefully released his grip, feeling the weight lifted from him.
"Jack!" Someone – Brian, he assumed – patted his cheek, shook him by the shoulder. "Stay with me Jack." But Jack was already gone, slipping back into the darkness.
When he woke up again, he was still lying on his back, but this time the surface beneath him was soft and warm. He shifted a little, hearing bed springs squeak and feeling something scratchy against his bare arms, probably a blanket. Someone must have taken his shirt off and, he realised as he wiggled his toes, his shoes as well.
"Back in the land of the living, are we?"
Jack blinked his eyes open, managing to focus on the source of the voice. Brian was sitting on an upright chair in the corner of the room. It was daytime, judging by the light streaming through the thin curtains, and the room was sparsely furnished. The agent watched as Jack gradually struggled upright, swinging his legs off the bed and waiting for the dizziness to pass.
"You're in one of our safe houses," he said in answer to Jack's questioning look. "Hywel's next door, sleeping. He's going to be fine." Brian shook his head. "I don't know how the hell you did it, but he's going to be fine. He asks about you every time he wakes up."
"How long?" Jack asked, coughing as his voice cracked.
"There's water on the table," Brian said before answering. "About twelve hours. You were well away. Let's see, what else do you need to know?" He sat back in his chair, smiling a little. "We caught some of the couriers and retrieved enough of the drug to make the lab boys extremely excited. Most of the big guys got away though. They'll be safely back in their casinos and offices, acting like the whole thing's got nothing to do with them."
"We'll get them," Jack promised and Brian nodded.
"I'm sure you will. We've got two guys in hospital with gunshot wounds and two more with really nasty headaches, but nothing more serious than that."
"Good work." Carefully, Jack got to his feet, looking around for his shirt. "I'm going to see Hywel."
"Like I said, he's next door." The shirt was on the back of Brian's chair and he passed it over. "He's still pretty groggy. I'm not sure how much sense you'll get out of him."
"Doesn't matter."
"I guess not." Brian watched him critically as he sat down to put his shoes on. "Jack, what happened in there? He was dead."
"You're sure about that?" Stalling the other man's protests, Jack went on, "No, seriously. It can be deceptive sometimes, just how far gone a person is. Sure, he was out of it-"
"He was dead, Jack," Brian said flatly. "I'm no doctor, but even I know that if a person's got no pulse, they're pretty much dead. And then you did something that damn near killed you too. What happened?"
Jack hesitated. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I did what I had to, to get him back. I can't tell you more than that, I swear."
"Right." There was nothing in Brian's tone to indicate that he believed a word Jack had said, but he didn't get up as Jack headed for the door.
Hywel's room was similar to Jack's, reflecting the classic FBI safehouse design. The carpet was thin and worn, the bed narrow and the frame battered, and the only other furniture was a large, fraying armchair that had been dragged over to the window. Hywel was sitting in it, apparently fascinated by the view. He didn't look round as Jack came in.
Jack coughed, looking round. "I love what they've done with the place."
"Well, we can't all have your exquisite taste." Turning in the chair, Hywel gave Jack a weak smile. "Welcome back."
"Same to you." Jack made his way over to the bed, sitting so that he could see Hywel's face better. "How are you feeling?"
"I have no idea." Before Jack could reply, Hywel went on, "I can't seem to think at all. Can't seem to feel anything."
"It's shock," Jack said, as though he knew what he was talking about. "It'll pass."
"I've been remembering things," Hywel said. "I've been remembering things that I've never seen. And I've got this song stuck in my head. I can't stop singing it and I don't even understand the words."
"Happens to me all the time. Sometimes I've got no idea what they're talking about. There's this one about-"
"No, I mean, they're not in English. Or Welsh. Or any other language that I've ever heard." He frowned, then hummed a few notes. Jack's breath caught in his throat as Hywel sang a couple of bars, forehead creased in concentration. "What is it?" he asked.
Jack swallowed hard before answering. "It's a Venusian lullaby."
"Venusian?"
"As in Venus. The planet?"
Hywel's eyes widened. "You've been to Venus?"
"Not personally. It was taught to me." Jack faltered for a moment. "It was taught to me by an old friend."
"How does it go? All the way through, I mean."
Closing his eyes, Jack tried to remember. Of all the things to stick in Hywel's mind, it would have to be something like this. He hummed the notes, just as Hywel had, trying to remember all the words. The Doctor had sung it to him, trying to illustrate some point or other, and Jack had been intrigued enough to look the rest of it up for himself. The mixture of comfort and humour in the short song had stayed with him. Uncertainly at first, then with growing confidence, he began to sing.
Halfway through the second chorus, he broke off, startled. The memory that had floated to the top of his mind hadn't been the Doctor or Rose or even his own family, such a long way away now. Instead, it had been of Marion and Hugh, looking down and smiling at him. The memory wasn't his.
Seeing the concern on Hywel's face, Jack forced himself to smile.
"I think we're both going to be a bit confused for a few days."
"It'll wear off, then?"
Jack couldn't tell whether the question was hopeful or disappointed.
"It's bound to," he said, hoping he was right. "Anything that shouldn't be in there will gradually fade away."
"Oh."
Definitely disappointed, Jack decided. "Look on the bright side," he said, "it'll be a lot less confusing."
"No," Hywel replied, his voice flat, "it won't."
"Hywel..."
"I know, Jack. I know everything." There was no triumph in the statement, only the weariness that Jack recognised as his own. "I know everything," Hywel repeated. "What you think, what you felt, what you did. Everything."
"I know, Hywel."
"And you're still treating me like I'm a child!" Anger and frustration crept into Hywel's voice. "When I know-" he broke off, shaking his head. "You don't have to protect me, Jack. I knew what I was getting into."
"That's more than I did," Jack said. "Hywel, what we do is dangerous. It's scary, it's exciting and it's overwhelming sometimes. You know that. Torchwood isn't something you do, it's what you are. And it's confusing too. If you've got it all sorted, then great, I'm happy for you. I'll be confused enough for both of us."
Hywel laughed, suddenly, and Jack could hear Hugh, laughing at him down the phone from thousands of miles away. His heart lurched.
"You know, this isn't all about you, Jack," Hywel said when he'd got his breath back. "Some of it might actually be about me, believe it or not."
Even Jack had to smile at that. "You did well. You should be proud of yourself."
"I nearly got myself killed. Vanessa too. Have you seen her?"
"Not yet." Jack realised with a pang of guilt that he hadn't even asked.
"She came to see me earlier," Hywel said. "I said I'd take her back to Cardiff with me, if she wanted. Vegas isn't exactly going to be safe for her anymore."
"And it's a new recruit for Torchwood," Jack said thoughtfully. "Your dad will be delighted."
"Can we leave my father out of this, just for now?" Hywel asked, wincing. "There's still some stuff..."
"Sorry." Jack got to his feet. "I should let you rest."
"No, Jack, it's alright. I didn't mean-" Hywel broke off, shaking his head. "You don't have to go."
"It's not going to get any less confusing if I stay," Jack said softly. "I'll come by later on, if that's alright." When there was no reply, he smiled sadly and put a hand on Hywel's shoulder. "It'll be alright, I promise. Just…let it go."
"And if I don't want to?" Hywel looked up at him, eyes wide and shining. Momentarily thrown, Jack squeezed his shoulder, forcing himself to keep the smile in place as Hywel brought a hand up to cover his.
"These things pass, Hywel. I'll be back later."
He left Hywel slumped in the chair, still staring out of the window as he made his way to the door. Just leave, he kept telling himself. Just walk through the door and leave. He actually had his hand on the handle when Hywel called his name, barely loud enough to be heard. Jack turned.
Hywel was standing, one hand on the back of the chair for support. With his back to the light, it was hard to make out any expression on his face but his free hand was held out towards Jack. Waiting for him.
"Stay."
Title: Las Vegas (or: Viva!) Part 2
Author:
jadesfire2808Rating: PG/Adult (for themes)
Word Count: ~6,350 (this part)
Warnings: Nothing worse than you'd see in an episode.
Betas:
crystalshard and miss_zedemSummary: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…
The Wandering Years 1: New York (or: Wonderful Town)
The Wandering Years 2: San Francisco (or: Where I Left My Heart)
The Wandering Years 3: Las Vegas (or: Viva!) Part 1
6pm, Monday 17th April
The café was useful. Quiet, out of the way and with a very uninquisitive waitress. The ludicrously big tips probably helped.
Jack slid the piece of paper over the table this time. With any luck, he'd be out of this town in twenty-four hours and his cover was probably in tatters anyway.
"You're good to go," he told Brian with a grim smile. "Take 'em out whenever you want."
"Thanks." Brian glanced at his watch. "It'll take me an hour or so to throw something together and probably another hour to actually get moving."
"That's going to make it half-eight, more or less, when you hit the place. I'll give you another hour, just to be sure, then we're on the next plane out of here."
"What about the girl?"
Jack shrugged. "I think she'll have to come. She knows too much about us, about everything, at this point."
"She's going to make it out alive?" Brian raised an eyebrow. "I thought you spooks considered people like her disposable."
"I'm not a spook," Jack said, ignoring the other man's scepticism, "and no-one's disposable."
"Whatever you say." Brian put the piece of paper away in a pocket, drained his coffee and got to his feet. "See you when you're next in town."
Feeling some of the tension lift from his shoulders, Jack grinned. "Only if I want you to."
10.15pm, Monday 17th April
Back at the hotel, he finished throwing the last of his clothes into the suitcase and picked up the phone to call Hywel. There was no answer.
Jack glanced at his watch. The FBI would be well on their way by now and Hywel should have been in his room, packing up. Concern crept into the back of his mind as he hung up and dialled Vanessa's number instead. Hywel might have gone to check on her. There was no answer there, either
He put the phone down, thinking fast. Maybe they were down in the casino, playing one last game as an attempt to ward off suspicion. Shedding the leather jacket, he retrieved his suit and a white shirt. At least he'd blend in a bit better in black tie. Changing quickly, he was just about ready to go when the phone rang. Relief flooded through him as he picked it up.
"Hywel?"
"Jack?"
"Brian?" Jack sat down on the bed. "What is it?"
"The address you gave us? It's empty."
"What?"
"One of our guys went to do some advance surveillance. Looks like they were there but cleared out in a hurry, probably earlier today."
Jack swore. "They knew we were coming."
"How?" Even down the phone, Jack could hear Brian's frustration. He closed his eyes.
"I don't know where Hywel is."
This time, Brian swore. "Do you think-"
"Yes." Reaching into a pocket, Jack pulled out a pen. "Give me a number I can reach you on. I'll call you when I know something. Be ready to go when I tell you."
"We'll be going in blind," Brian protested.
"I don't care. Wherever it is, they've probably got Hywel there too. Now give me the damn number."
Brian did so and Jack scribbled it on the back of his hand then cut the call without saying goodbye. Dialling Reception, he asked for room service and placed an order. There was no time to think, not now. He'd waited long enough.
Pulling his suitcase towards him, he tipped it over, emptying the contents onto the bed and groping around inside it for a moment. His fingers finally found the catch and he lifted the false bottom up, smiling grimly as he surveyed the contents. Maybe he was more of a spook than he thought.
The Webley fitted easily into its holster under his left arm and the small canister went into the right pocket of his jacket. After a moment's consideration, he also took what looked like a tiny screwdriver, slipping into his breast pocket. Finally, he pulled a bow tie from the pile of clothes and nodded to himself. It wasn't great, but it would have to do.
Apparently the bar staff had told room service about the generous tipping from the guy in room 274, because his order arrived in double quick time. He lived up to his reputation, handing the waiter a couple of notes and taking the bottle of whisky into the bathroom. Unscrewing the cap, he caught sight of himself in the mirror and grinned. It was an old trick, but a good one.
Five minutes later, Jack Harkness staggered along one of the hotel corridors, a half-empty bottle of whisky in his hand, apparently having poured the rest of it down his throat. He was a happy drunk, giving other guests a big smile as they passed and singing snatches of songs in a loud, tuneless voice.
He eventually came to a wobbly stop at room 128, grinning up at the man standing in front of the door. Despite the suit and tie, he might as well have been wearing a sign saying 'Guard Dog'.
"I'm goin' in there." Jack gestured with the whisky bottle.
Guard Dog shook his head. "Not tonight you're not."
"Yessiam," Jack said with blurry indignation. "Gotta booking."
"Not tonight," Guard Dog repeated.
"Awwww, please?" Coming closer, Jack put a friendly hand on the man's lapel, still waving the bottle with the other. "Jus' this once?" He batted his eyelashes.
"Why don't you go back to your room and sleep it off?" Guard Dog brought a hand up to lift Jack's off of him, making Jack stumble and flail for balance. The hand with the whisky bottle came round, landing on the man's shoulder as Jack tried to hold himself up. As the guard's other hand reached out to support him, Jack shifted, releasing his grip on the bottle and letting it drop to the thick carpet. His hands closed on the man's throat, thumbs pressing into the arteries. Jack pushed hard, pressing them both into the wall to stifle the struggling. It took some force to knock someone out like that and Jack held on long enough that his victim wouldn't wake up the minute he let go.
Lowering the unconscious man to the floor, Jack retrieved the whisky bottle and used it to thump at the door. He had to act quickly if he was going to avoid witnesses.
Another man in a suit opened the door, obviously puzzled at who would be knocking. He was at least a head taller than Guard Dog and Jack instantly labelled him Bruiser.
"I'm here to see Vanessa," he said, still wearing the smile of the pleasantly inebriated.
Bruiser's eyes travelled down from Jack's unfocussed eyes to the dangling bottle then on to his fallen colleague.
"What-" The next thing he saw was a miniature aerosol which seemed to have appeared by magic in Jack's free hand.
"Goodnight," Jack said, holding his breath as he pressed the trigger. He made no attempt to catch the man this time, turning back and hauling Guard Dog's body into the room, kicking the door shut behind him.
Vanessa was lying on the bed, still in her day clothes of black trousers and a white shirt. It was strange, Jack realised as he went across to her, to see her out of evening dress. Her hands had been bound behind her and a blindfold covered her eyes.
She shrank away as Jack touched her shoulder.
"It's alright," he soothed. "It's me."
"Jack?" She was almost sobbing as he freed her hands and undid the blindfold, helping her to sit up.
"It's alright," he said again, taking hold of her shoulders and turning her so he could see her face. "Are you okay?"
She shrugged shakily. "They didn't hurt me. Oh, Jack!" She broke down again. "They took Hywel!"
"I know." He let her fall against him, feeling her trembling in his arms. When the worst had subsided, he sat back again and cupped her face in his hands. "Vanessa, I need to know where they took him."
"I don't know. The first thing they did was blindfold us. Even with the drug, I need a line of sight to get more than just vague feelings."
"That's fine," Jack said, moving one hand to stroke her hair. "But you've got line of sight now. And I'm betting one of those guys knows where they've gone." He tipped his head towards the unconscious bodies lying by the door.
"I can't." She tried to pull away, but Jack didn't let go, forcing her to look at him.
"You have to. Because I don't have time for anything else." Despite the gentleness of his tone, she must have seen something in his eyes because she bit her lip, looking away. "We have to find Hywel," Jack went on. "I need you to do this for me."
At last, she nodded and he released her, going over and pulling Guard Dog into something resembling a sitting position.
"Do you need him awake?" Jack asked and Vanessa nodded. "Come over here then. Bring the rope."
Once the man's wrists were securely tied together, Jack sat back on his heels, watching Vanessa. She hadn't spoken and her face was a mask of fear. "Ready?" Jack asked, not waiting for an answer before reaching out and slapping Guard Dog's face a few times.
"Come on," he murmured, patting and pinching the man's cheek. "You're tougher than that."
Guard Dog flinched suddenly, drawing in a deep breath. Vanessa reached out, replacing Jack's hand with hers. "Where's Hywel?" she asked, narrowing her eyes in concentration. "Where did they take him? Tell me!" The man jumped, trying to bring his bound hands up to ward her off but Jack grabbed the rope, yanking them back down.
"Not yet," he growled. "Where did they take the kid? Where?"
"He's fighting me," Vanessa said, her voice strained. "He's too strong."
"Give me your hand," Jack said, holding his out. "Let me help you."
"How?"
"Give me your hand." Bracing himself, Jack let her tentative touch pass through his shields as he followed the connection back. She gasped.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting what we need." Eyes closed, Jack gritted his teeth. "Work with me or you're going to get hurt."
He pushed all the way into her mind, ignoring her yelp of protest. With barely a pause, he forced his way onwards, using her mind as a bridge. The grip on his hand tightened as he stripped away any defences he encountered. It was hard work and Guard Dog – Hal, as Jack now knew – was breathing hard, grunting with pain and the effort of fighting back. But he was no match for Jack's determination or experience.
Not caring about damage limitation for any of them, Jack reached deep into himself, focussing on what he wanted to know, visualising it and shaping it so that he could see it almost as a physical object. He realised that, unconsciously, he'd formed it into the mental image of a bullet. Time to pull the trigger.
There was an audible thud which Jack guessed was Hal's head hitting the wall. Right now, he didn't care. The concentrated attack had given him what he needed and more. Opening his eyes, he gently untangled his fingers from Vanessa's, letting the new information settle into his mind. The girl was leaning against the wall, her head on Hal's shoulder and her eyes closed. There was blood running from Hal's nose and, Jack realised as something warm touched his lips, his own. He staunched it with his bowtie then lifted Vanessa's chin to check she was still there. Apart from the extreme whiteness of her face, she seemed fine, just exhausted.
He left her sitting there, staggering a little as he got to his feet and made his way over to the phone. Brian answered on the second ring.
"I've got the address," Jack said, without preamble. "Got a pen?"
He recited it, listening to Brian confer with someone then say, "Okay, we're all set to go."
"Send someone via the hotel. Back entrance."
"You're coming?" Brian's voice was sceptical. "You sound pretty out of it."
"They've got Hywel," Jack said, his tone allowing no argument. "Send a car."
Dropping the receiver, Jack headed into the bathroom, splashing water on his face and dropping the wreckage of his tie into the bin. When he came out, Vanessa was sitting up, her face still pale but her eyes open. She shrank away as he came towards her.
"You used me," she said.
"I had to. Can you stand?" Not waiting for her to answer, Jack reached down and pulled her to her feet. She leant heavily on him but didn't fall.
"Will they live?" she asked as Jack helped her over the recumbent bodies.
"The knockout gas was meant for Weevils, but it shouldn't kill him."
"And the other? Will he be alright?"
"Probably." Finally getting the door open, Jack pulled her out behind him. "We have to get out of here. Now."
He half-carried her down the stairs, glad he'd taken the time to plan the escape routes when he'd first arrived in Vegas two weeks ago. It took barely ten minutes to get through the staff wing to the back door and the car was already waiting for them. Jack pushed Vanessa into the back and climbed in behind her, pulling the door shut.
"How long?" he asked the driver.
"Twenty minutes. It's downtown."
"Right."
Jack sat back in his seat, aware of Vanessa's eyes on him. They drove in silence for a long time, Jack staring out of the window as the neon signs passed in a blur.
As the lights of the strip faded away, Vanessa stirred herself.
"What did you do?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the engine. Jack didn't turn to her.
"Something I was taught," he said. "When you need something and there's no other way."
"You hurt him."
"Better him than Hywel." Turning at last, he met her gaze. "And don't tell me that he means nothing to you." She coloured, the first sign of life since they'd made their escape. Despite himself, despite the knot in his stomach and the buzzing in his head, Jack smiled. "It's like that, is it?"
"I don't…" She looked away, cheeks flushed. But there was something in her face, something in the way her eyes had flashed.
"He came to you last night, didn't he?" Jack said softly. "He was upset, hurting. He needed someone to comfort him, someone to understand without words being used. And so he came to you."
"Yes." There was a challenge in the word, which Jack ignored. Instead, he nodded to himself.
"Explains why he avoided me all day."
"That's not why," Vanessa said quickly. "He told me, showed me what happened." Finally turning to face him, she went on, "He adores you. You know that. He was so guilty, so ashamed."
Jack closed his eyes. "You know," he said in a conversational tone, "ménages á trois are rarely easy, but this is messy even by my standards."
Before Vanessa could reply, the car came to a sudden stop.
"We're here," the driver announced.
As Jack was getting out of the car, Vanessa put a hand on his arm. "I'm coming with you. You might need me."
Jack hesitated for a moment, then nodded, taking her hand and helping her out. "Stay close to somebody," he said, "preferably somebody with a gun." He pulled his own from his pocket as they made their way towards the gaggle of FBI agents.
Brian came over to meet them. "They're in there," he said, pointing to the building. "We've got a perimeter set up so nothing gets out."
"Tell them to blindfold anyone they arrest," Jack said, with a glance at Vanessa. "The mind reading works on line of sight."
"Got it." Brian gestured to another agent, passing on the order then turning back to Jack. "We're ready."
The building, long since abandoned, looked as thought it had once been an apartment block. Which meant, Jack thought as they made their way round the side, long corridors, lots of locked doors and lots of rooms in which to hide. Perfect.
He joined the group gathered at the side door.
"Looks pretty solid. We're going to need the ram round here," one of them said and Jack smiled.
"Allow me." He pulled the tiny screwdriver from his pocket, pushing it into the lock. "It's intelligent metal," he explained. "It takes the shape of the lock and- ah." With a flourish, he turned the handle and swung the door open.
Everyone hit the deck as gun fire rang out, shattering the quiet. Jack crawled to the cover of the wall, making sure Vanessa was still with him and lifting his head to check on the others. As he helped Vanessa to her feet, he caught Brian's eye. The agent was hugging the wall on the opposite side of the doorway to Jack. Seeing Jack's nod, he returned it.
There was a momentary break in the gun fire and Jack used it to throw himself round the corner, still staying close to the wall inside. He was in a corridor leading to a t-junction and the shots had come from both directions. Brian gave cover as Jack made his way forwards, deciding to take the right hand turn first. He was running now, knowing that the defenders would pull themselves together quickly and he was a sitting duck without something to hide behind.
Barrelling round the corner, he barely had time to register the surprise on the faces of the men there. He took two of them down with him, rolling over and using one of the limp bodies as a shield as more shots echoed in the narrow space. They'd be hard to hit down here, he knew, but he didn't need to take any more chances. His eyes were more or less adjusted to the gloom now and the body on top of him wasn't fighting back. He pushed it off, rising to his feet and catching the next man in the face with the handle of his gun.
More shots rang out and he grabbed the dazed man by the shoulders, another human shield as he fired back down the corridor. There was shouting, then the rest of the agents came flooding into the building, making the defenders retreat, still firing the occasional shot.
Jack ignored them, twisting the man in his arms, slamming him against the wall and pressing the barrel of the Webley under his chin.
"Where's the kid? Where did they take him?"
His eyes rolling back in his head, the man lifted a shaking hand, pointing down the corridor to Jack's left.
"Downstairs," he whispered, whimpering as Jack let him go.
Brian reached them as the terrified man slid down the wall to the floor.
"Where?"
"Basement."
Yelling over his shoulder, Brian followed Jack along the corridor. Jack's heart was racing but he forced himself to concentrate. He held the gun in front of him, pausing and checking round each corner before bringing the weapon up again. The familiar, ingrained routine helped to settle him, giving him something to think about other than the hundred scenarios running through his mind.
The door to the basement was at the far end of the building and by the time Jack got there, most of the other agents had caught up with him and Brian. He put a finger to his lips and carefully pulled it open.
There was no immediate reaction, so Jack took a few cautious steps, gesturing for the others to wait at the top. It was even dingier down here, with long fluorescent strips providing garish yellow light. The floor was damp, water running down the walls and along the pipes above Jack's head. At the bottom of the stairs, he checked the corridor in each direction before giving the all clear.
He and Brian went left, following the narrow corridor. Despite the obvious water leakage, Jack noticed that the place was otherwise in good repair. Most of the pipes were intact and all the lights were working. This was somewhere they used regularly.
Jack was becoming sure they'd been lied to and that they were going to have to search the whole building. Turning the corner, his doubts were put to rest and he reacted instinctively, throwing himself backwards and knocking Brian over so that the bullets passed over their heads.
"I think we found them," he said, as they disentangled themselves.
"What makes you say that?" Brian replied, picking up his gun and grinning.
"I'm sensitive that way." They exchanged the same nod as before, waiting for the noise of the shots to die away before taking the corner at a run. Brian stopped after a few steps to give better cover, while Jack kept going. The first of the shooters was so startled that he fell over his own feet, sprawling on the floor. Jack ignored him, lifting his gun as the second man tried to take aim.
"Don't do it!" he yelled, hoping that the sound would be enough. Apparently it wasn't and Jack fired reflexively, catching the man in the throat more by fluke than intention. He knelt over the man's body as Brian raced past, checking doors and rooms as he went.
Further away, Jack could hear shouts as the others closed in on them. His victim (his attacker? It was all a bit blurred now) was clutching his neck, blood running between his fingers. Knowing there was nothing he could do, Jack turned his attention to the other fallen man, who'd made no attempt to get away.
"Where'd they go?" Jack asked, pulling him to his feet. "They've cleared out, I'll bet. All the bosses will be long gone by now. Where did they go? Did they take the kid?"
The man shook his head, fear in his eyes. Shifting his grip, Jack pushed him hard against the wall, holding him in place.
"Vanessa!" he yelled, loud enough to make his prisoner flinch. Jack stepped in closer, pressing the man between his body and the wall. "Either you tell me or I will take it from you," he said, his voice low, "and believe me, it will hurt."
"Jack!" The shout came from further down the corridor in the direction Brian had taken. Then there was another voice, one he didn't recognise, with words that made his blood run cold.
"Get an ambulance."
Turning back, Jack saw Vanessa hurrying down the corridor towards him and he knew her panic was mirrored on his own face. He nodded to her.
"Get in there," he said, waiting until someone relieved him of his prisoner to follow. Shoving his gun into a pocket, he walked slowly to the corner, pausing when he saw the open door. He could hear voices, shouting and muttering; someone was counting to five, pausing, then counting again.
Time stopped. Jack's feet dragged as he tried to move forwards, fear making them almost too heavy to lift. The air felt thick and humid and his face was suddenly drenched in sweat. After an unbearable age, he reached the doorway, wrapping a hand around the frame and pulling himself into the room.
Time came rushing back as Vanessa began to scream.
Now
Jack had no idea how much of the drug would be too much. However human he was, he wasn't a human from this place and Time Agency training had altered his mind along with the rest of him. Just to be sure, he filled the syringe completely, barely pausing to check for air bubbles before ramming the needle into his arm.
The world didn't explode, although his skin burned at the site of the injection, a cold heat that was spreading through his veins. While he still could, Jack turned and went back to Hywel, sitting on the floor and pulling the younger man into his arms. He felt numb in mind and body, unable to do anything but focus on the single, crucial word: live.
The world exploded.
Whenever he returned, whenever he sucked air back into his empty lungs and felt his heart start to beat again, Jack always found it difficult to remember what it had been like. This place, somewhere between life and death, held him and surrounded him, filling his mind and soul with golden light. Normally, he came here unwillingly and violently, resting in the soothing peace until the darkness claimed him again. This time though, he was here through his own choice.
He was still aware of his body, its heavy weight tying him to his purpose. Then he realised it wasn't his own weight he could feel but Hywel's. He wasn't seeking healing and relief; he'd come here to make a demand.
"Send him back!" he shouted, his words muffled and deadened by the cocoon of light. "Use me! Do whatever the hell it is you do and send him back."
He tightened his grip on the body in his arms as he felt the darkness pulling at the edges of his awareness. If it was taking him, it would take Hywel as well. Something plucked at him, trying to draw him away and he shook his head, pressing his face into Hywel's hair. He had no idea if this was happening at the physical level as well as the psychic one, but right now it felt so real that he didn't care.
"If you're taking one of us, you're taking both of us," he said, feeling the impatience grow in the light-mind around him. He was inside its awareness, just as it was inside his, so it had to know that he wouldn't give up Hywel without a fight. He wouldn't give Hywel up at all.
There was a definite edge to the light now, a frustration that Jack wouldn't co-operate as he usually did, that the drug he'd injected himself with was giving him the strength to fight back. It didn't matter that whatever it was that had hold of him probably had enough power to blast both him and Hywel out of existence without noticing. He'd gone back time and time again, sacrificing the peace that he found here to humour whatever whim this higher power had for him. This time, he wasn't going back alone.
As though sensing this, Jack felt the light seeping around him, trying to break his connection to Hywel. He clung on harder, but couldn't pull the limp body any closer than it already was. The light-mind was being gentle, trying to save Jack without letting him risk himself further. It wanted him to let go, to release the dead body and return to where he should be. He had to make it understand. It had to know what this meant to him.
As a last, desperate attempt, he focussed on reaching out with his mind, wrapping it around Hywel's and letting their consciousnesses blend together. He dropped all his defences, not holding back any part of himself as he felt Hywel's mind touch his. The tiny, almost imperceptible stir of awareness was all the encouragement he needed and he pushed on.
There was a sense of hesitation, fleeting enough that Jack was sure he'd imagined it, then he felt the light wrap around them both, binding them even more closely until he no longer knew which thought was his and which was Hywel's. It didn't matter. As the light burst into greater brightness around him, replaced by the familiar darkness, he finally surrendered to it, letting it carry them both away.
Later
Jack ached. He was lying flat on his back on something cold and hard. A heavy weight was bearing down on his chest and something hard was pressed into his shoulder, right on the nerve. Then the weight began to move. He gripped it tightly, knowing that this was what he needed to do. He mustn't let go.
"Jack. Jack, it's alright." Someone was pulling at his arm, gripping his other shoulder. "You can let go now. You're both safe. It's going to be alright."
Foggily, Jack recognised Brian's voice, remembered where he was. The weight in his arms was Hywel, warm against Jack's chest and shifting in his embrace he breathed steadily in and out. He was breathing. Jack carefully released his grip, feeling the weight lifted from him.
"Jack!" Someone – Brian, he assumed – patted his cheek, shook him by the shoulder. "Stay with me Jack." But Jack was already gone, slipping back into the darkness.
When he woke up again, he was still lying on his back, but this time the surface beneath him was soft and warm. He shifted a little, hearing bed springs squeak and feeling something scratchy against his bare arms, probably a blanket. Someone must have taken his shirt off and, he realised as he wiggled his toes, his shoes as well.
"Back in the land of the living, are we?"
Jack blinked his eyes open, managing to focus on the source of the voice. Brian was sitting on an upright chair in the corner of the room. It was daytime, judging by the light streaming through the thin curtains, and the room was sparsely furnished. The agent watched as Jack gradually struggled upright, swinging his legs off the bed and waiting for the dizziness to pass.
"You're in one of our safe houses," he said in answer to Jack's questioning look. "Hywel's next door, sleeping. He's going to be fine." Brian shook his head. "I don't know how the hell you did it, but he's going to be fine. He asks about you every time he wakes up."
"How long?" Jack asked, coughing as his voice cracked.
"There's water on the table," Brian said before answering. "About twelve hours. You were well away. Let's see, what else do you need to know?" He sat back in his chair, smiling a little. "We caught some of the couriers and retrieved enough of the drug to make the lab boys extremely excited. Most of the big guys got away though. They'll be safely back in their casinos and offices, acting like the whole thing's got nothing to do with them."
"We'll get them," Jack promised and Brian nodded.
"I'm sure you will. We've got two guys in hospital with gunshot wounds and two more with really nasty headaches, but nothing more serious than that."
"Good work." Carefully, Jack got to his feet, looking around for his shirt. "I'm going to see Hywel."
"Like I said, he's next door." The shirt was on the back of Brian's chair and he passed it over. "He's still pretty groggy. I'm not sure how much sense you'll get out of him."
"Doesn't matter."
"I guess not." Brian watched him critically as he sat down to put his shoes on. "Jack, what happened in there? He was dead."
"You're sure about that?" Stalling the other man's protests, Jack went on, "No, seriously. It can be deceptive sometimes, just how far gone a person is. Sure, he was out of it-"
"He was dead, Jack," Brian said flatly. "I'm no doctor, but even I know that if a person's got no pulse, they're pretty much dead. And then you did something that damn near killed you too. What happened?"
Jack hesitated. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I did what I had to, to get him back. I can't tell you more than that, I swear."
"Right." There was nothing in Brian's tone to indicate that he believed a word Jack had said, but he didn't get up as Jack headed for the door.
Hywel's room was similar to Jack's, reflecting the classic FBI safehouse design. The carpet was thin and worn, the bed narrow and the frame battered, and the only other furniture was a large, fraying armchair that had been dragged over to the window. Hywel was sitting in it, apparently fascinated by the view. He didn't look round as Jack came in.
Jack coughed, looking round. "I love what they've done with the place."
"Well, we can't all have your exquisite taste." Turning in the chair, Hywel gave Jack a weak smile. "Welcome back."
"Same to you." Jack made his way over to the bed, sitting so that he could see Hywel's face better. "How are you feeling?"
"I have no idea." Before Jack could reply, Hywel went on, "I can't seem to think at all. Can't seem to feel anything."
"It's shock," Jack said, as though he knew what he was talking about. "It'll pass."
"I've been remembering things," Hywel said. "I've been remembering things that I've never seen. And I've got this song stuck in my head. I can't stop singing it and I don't even understand the words."
"Happens to me all the time. Sometimes I've got no idea what they're talking about. There's this one about-"
"No, I mean, they're not in English. Or Welsh. Or any other language that I've ever heard." He frowned, then hummed a few notes. Jack's breath caught in his throat as Hywel sang a couple of bars, forehead creased in concentration. "What is it?" he asked.
Jack swallowed hard before answering. "It's a Venusian lullaby."
"Venusian?"
"As in Venus. The planet?"
Hywel's eyes widened. "You've been to Venus?"
"Not personally. It was taught to me." Jack faltered for a moment. "It was taught to me by an old friend."
"How does it go? All the way through, I mean."
Closing his eyes, Jack tried to remember. Of all the things to stick in Hywel's mind, it would have to be something like this. He hummed the notes, just as Hywel had, trying to remember all the words. The Doctor had sung it to him, trying to illustrate some point or other, and Jack had been intrigued enough to look the rest of it up for himself. The mixture of comfort and humour in the short song had stayed with him. Uncertainly at first, then with growing confidence, he began to sing.
Halfway through the second chorus, he broke off, startled. The memory that had floated to the top of his mind hadn't been the Doctor or Rose or even his own family, such a long way away now. Instead, it had been of Marion and Hugh, looking down and smiling at him. The memory wasn't his.
Seeing the concern on Hywel's face, Jack forced himself to smile.
"I think we're both going to be a bit confused for a few days."
"It'll wear off, then?"
Jack couldn't tell whether the question was hopeful or disappointed.
"It's bound to," he said, hoping he was right. "Anything that shouldn't be in there will gradually fade away."
"Oh."
Definitely disappointed, Jack decided. "Look on the bright side," he said, "it'll be a lot less confusing."
"No," Hywel replied, his voice flat, "it won't."
"Hywel..."
"I know, Jack. I know everything." There was no triumph in the statement, only the weariness that Jack recognised as his own. "I know everything," Hywel repeated. "What you think, what you felt, what you did. Everything."
"I know, Hywel."
"And you're still treating me like I'm a child!" Anger and frustration crept into Hywel's voice. "When I know-" he broke off, shaking his head. "You don't have to protect me, Jack. I knew what I was getting into."
"That's more than I did," Jack said. "Hywel, what we do is dangerous. It's scary, it's exciting and it's overwhelming sometimes. You know that. Torchwood isn't something you do, it's what you are. And it's confusing too. If you've got it all sorted, then great, I'm happy for you. I'll be confused enough for both of us."
Hywel laughed, suddenly, and Jack could hear Hugh, laughing at him down the phone from thousands of miles away. His heart lurched.
"You know, this isn't all about you, Jack," Hywel said when he'd got his breath back. "Some of it might actually be about me, believe it or not."
Even Jack had to smile at that. "You did well. You should be proud of yourself."
"I nearly got myself killed. Vanessa too. Have you seen her?"
"Not yet." Jack realised with a pang of guilt that he hadn't even asked.
"She came to see me earlier," Hywel said. "I said I'd take her back to Cardiff with me, if she wanted. Vegas isn't exactly going to be safe for her anymore."
"And it's a new recruit for Torchwood," Jack said thoughtfully. "Your dad will be delighted."
"Can we leave my father out of this, just for now?" Hywel asked, wincing. "There's still some stuff..."
"Sorry." Jack got to his feet. "I should let you rest."
"No, Jack, it's alright. I didn't mean-" Hywel broke off, shaking his head. "You don't have to go."
"It's not going to get any less confusing if I stay," Jack said softly. "I'll come by later on, if that's alright." When there was no reply, he smiled sadly and put a hand on Hywel's shoulder. "It'll be alright, I promise. Just…let it go."
"And if I don't want to?" Hywel looked up at him, eyes wide and shining. Momentarily thrown, Jack squeezed his shoulder, forcing himself to keep the smile in place as Hywel brought a hand up to cover his.
"These things pass, Hywel. I'll be back later."
He left Hywel slumped in the chair, still staring out of the window as he made his way to the door. Just leave, he kept telling himself. Just walk through the door and leave. He actually had his hand on the handle when Hywel called his name, barely loud enough to be heard. Jack turned.
Hywel was standing, one hand on the back of the chair for support. With his back to the light, it was hard to make out any expression on his face but his free hand was held out towards Jack. Waiting for him.
"Stay."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
this series WINS AT LIFE!
Date: 2007-05-04 05:54 am (UTC)Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I'm loving this.
jack's super cool skills
Date: 2007-05-04 05:58 am (UTC)Re: jack's super cool skills
From:(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 06:32 am (UTC)Looks like I made the right decision, to force myself to wait until you posted both parts. :)
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Date: 2007-05-04 07:46 am (UTC)Your OCs are, as ever, gorgeously vivid and don't come off as plot devices at all. Vanessa's antipathy to Jack feels very real as well. And the imagining of what it's like for Jack going into the darkness is lovely.
"I think we found them," he said, as they disentangled themselves.
"What makes you say that?" Brian replied, picking up his gun and grinning.
"I'm sensitive that way." *giggles* So many bits I love, but this little exchange stands out cos it's just so Jack.
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Date: 2007-05-04 09:10 am (UTC)Thank you! :D
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Date: 2007-05-04 08:44 am (UTC)"Whatever you say." Brian put the piece of paper away in a pocket, drained his coffee and got to his feet. "See you when you're next in town."
Feeling some of the tension lift from his shoulders, Jack grinned. "Only if I want you to."
I bet this would hurt Jack, if he's anything like JB at singing:
Five minutes later, Jack Harkness staggered along one of the hotel corridors, a half-empty bottle of whisky in his hand, apparently having poured the rest of it down his throat. He was a happy drunk, giving other guests a big smile as they passed and singing snatches of songs in a loud, tuneless voice.
I absolutely love Jack's drunk act with Guard Dog, and how he dealt so efficiently with him, and then Bruiser.
Jack using Vanessa, to get through to Guard Dog, aka Hal, reminds me of Jack with Gwen in the bar in "Everything Changes", does whatever he thinks he has to, and to hell with anyone else.
"ménages á trois are rarely easy, <-- my high school French is really pathetic, but you don't add an 's' to make it plural, I think it'd be okay as ménage á trois. If you want a slightly different phrasing, without the headache of how to make it plural, how about: "You know," he said in a conversational tone, "rarely is a ménage á trois easy, but this is messy even by my standards."
This makes me wonder:
As Jack was getting out of the car, Vanessa put a hand on his arm. "I'm coming with you. You might need me."
Jack hesitated for a moment, then nodded, taking her hand and helping her out. "Stay close to somebody," he said, "preferably somebody with a gun." He pulled his own from his pocket as they made their way towards the gaggle of FBI agents.
if Jack wanted to keep her with him, or with one of the agents. If one of the agents, then I think he should pull his gun after delivering her to Brian or someone else, although his statement could be kept in.
The building, long since abandoned, looked as thought <-- as though
Hee! Also love this:
Turning the corner, his doubts were put to rest and he reacted instinctively, throwing himself backwards and knocking Brian over so that the bullets passed over their heads.
"I think we found them," he said, as they disentangled themselves.
"What makes you say that?" Brian replied, picking up his gun and grinning.
"I'm sensitive that way." They exchanged the same nod as before, waiting for the noise of the shots to die away before taking the corner at a run. Brian stopped after a few steps to give better cover, while Jack kept going. The first of the shooters was so startled that he fell over his own feet, sprawling on the floor. Jack ignored him, lifting his gun as the second man tried to take aim.
Love the banter and the description.
Also love the reference to the Doctor and Venusian Lullaby.
Love the scene with Hywel and Jack at the end, and I'd love to know what else was going through Jack's mind, to get Hywel to come to Vegas to give him a hand, if it was only what Jack said (which I doubt), and what other motives (which he may have decided not to act on) Jack had.
If it'll work again, *grin* I'd love to read a missing scene set after this story, with Hywel and Jack talking, while Hywel still has some of Jack's memories/thoughts, and see how Hywel reconciles Time Agent!Jack, Conman!Jack, Hero!Jack, and now Muddling Through Life!Jack, along with Hywel's (still hero worship?) feelings for Jack, whatever feelings they are. So, consider this as me down on my hands and knees, begging you to write it. :)
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Date: 2007-05-04 09:09 am (UTC)I double checked the French and I'm pretty sure it's right but thanks for the typo catch.
You know, sometimes I'm not sure that even Jack knows why he does things, but yes, I'm sure he had more reasons for calling Hywel than he said. Missing scene? Hmmm...I quite like where I left this one...*ponders*
Thanks again! :D
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Date: 2007-05-04 11:32 am (UTC)Brava!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 11:51 am (UTC)I like the mixture of ruthlessness and compassion that Jack has - it's not that he doesn't care, just that he can put the feelings to one side in order to get the job done. It's the whole "Do the job that's in front of you" attitude that both he and the Doctor have.
Glad you still enjoyed :D
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Date: 2007-05-04 03:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 03:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 04:46 pm (UTC)I think at this point some professional intervention is going to be necessary.
Aw, you have harshed on Jack's singing skillz. How could you?
The banter is great, the scene with Jack bringing Hywel back is great...it's all good, there's nothing not to like. I really like the description of the golden light, and how it's frustrated but gentle. Rose/TARDIS/Time Vortex loves Jack. Awww!
In my head, Vanessa is already pregnant from that one visit that Hywel made, and Jack just imprinted himself on fetus!Ianto by going through Vanessa's mind. My head is a weird place. :)
I really like how you left the end, because I like Hywel more and more as the series goes (to be honest, I didn't like him too much when you first introduced him, just because I am partial to Hugh and didn't want a replacement for him just yet). I want Jack to have somebody, even temporarily, who can understand him in a way that no one else can.
But I also think that if I'm right and Hywel does turn out to be Ianto's father (have you made that your-canon, or is that just my assumption? I can't remember) then it's going to be REALLY odd for Jack to have slept with Ianto's father (and possibly his mother as well, given the "menage a trois" remark.)
Is this the end of this series, or will there be more?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 04:56 pm (UTC)Gah!
It was really important to me that Hugh was different to Hywel who's different to Ianto, so I'm almost pleased that you didn't like him at first. He was the trickiest of the three to get a grip on (metaphorically speaking ;)) so I'm glad he's working out.
You'll also note that I've never *actually* said who's slept with who - although I didn't mean to imply Jack had slept with Vanessa. Am thinking "love triangle" might have saved me some French discussion...*sigh*
There's, hang on *counts* five more stories in this series. Then there's another series of (I think) eight stories. And then I shall retire, a shadow of my former self...
So glad you've enjoyed and thanks for commenting - much, much appreciated :D
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 04:59 pm (UTC)Seems to be standard procedure for him if you interpret that bit in 'Jack, the Weevil and Me (http://jadesfire2808.livejournal.com/25333.html)' ("The last thing I heard before I fell asleep was three sets of feet coming up the stairs and the sound of a door closing.") to mean that Hugh and Marion took Jack to bed with them. That would be three generations of Jones. ;)
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Date: 2007-05-04 04:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 04:57 pm (UTC);)
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 04:52 pm (UTC)So, getting on with it, involving plot, great action, good pacing, emotional to boot. As expected. *wink*
The psi-inducing drugs are a very interesting device. Love your handling of it, and the exploration of Jack's own abilities is also very nice. Him hating Vegas because it's so gaudy, because that's exactly how I imagine his reaction. And I think I've been around long enough that I don't have to say exactly how much I enjoyed Hywel's near-seduction of Jack. Sensuous and steamy without getting smutty (darn it). ;D You could feel the glorious tension! And Jack's pulling Hywel back from death! Beautiful, and the things that he has inadvertently shown Hywel, no doubt putting to rest a host of questions for the young man and creating a whole slew of new and more difficult ones. Whew, I'm out of breath!
But my, my. He does make a hobby of collecting Joneses, doesn't he? I wonder if it would make any difference to Hywel to know that (in my perverted little interpretation, at least) Jack's been with his parents. It gives the whole affair a rather incestuous feeling. Of course, assuming Hywel's future son is who we're guessing he is... What's the saying? Vice is nice, incest is best. *grin*
Despite that, very interested in what evolves for Vanessa and Hywel.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 05:02 pm (UTC)I wasn't sure how to go about the telepathy without repeating GBG, so am glad the route I settled on worked.
Sensuous and steamy without getting smutty (darn it)
*grin* It's probably the closest I'm ever going to get - for my writing, it deserved the Adult rating, although I'm not sure it would have done for a lot of people... ;)
I wanted it to feel a bit uncomfortable, for Jack and the reader, with Jack's *cough*relationship*cough* with Hywel's parents hovering in the background. Although, I've never actually said what happened, quite on purpose. Smut is in the mind of the beholder ;)
Vanessa and Hywel are going to pop up again soon. So glad you enjoyed and thank for commenting - Much appreciated! :D
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From:(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 05:34 pm (UTC)thanks for this - do love Hywel... and poor Jack...
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-04 05:42 pm (UTC)Thanks for commenting! :D
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Date: 2007-05-09 08:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-09 09:08 am (UTC)Glad you're enjoying - thanks for commenting :)