Fic: Through Time And Space: Chapter 1 - In The Dark

[bk_forever]

Title: Through Time And Space: Chapter 1 - In The Dark

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Ianto, OFC, mentions Jack

Rating: PG-13 for some swearing.

Word Count: 842

Spoilers: CoE, House of the Dead

Summary: The House of the Dead is destroyed, the Rift closed. What of Ianto? Fix-it.

Written For: Challenge #93: Amnesty at fan_flashworks using Challenge #80: Shinies – "Nothing So Simple As Darkness, My Dear"

Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.

A/N: This is a fix-it set in the same universe as my drabble ‘Living Paradox’. It’s the start of the story. I have no idea where I will go from here; it may well be dependent on inspiration from future challenges.

He’d done what had to be done; the House of the Dead was destroyed, the Rift closed for good. He should be dead. Again. That he’d been alive again, however briefly, had been unexpected but he’d been grateful, nonetheless. It had given him the opportunity to see Jack again, one last time. To kiss him and say goodbye properly, something he hadn’t really been able to do lying on the floor of Thames House, unable to see and barely able to speak.

It had given Jack a chance too; to finally say the words Ianto had longed to hear from him. He’d already been pretty sure Jack loved him, but still, it was nice to hear him say it.

He didn’t feel dead, which was odd. If he were dead, he shouldn’t really be able to feel anything, should he? Well, he wasn’t sure about that. It rather depended on whether there was anything after death. He wanted to believe there was, but everything Suzie had said that time she’d been brought back to life seemed to indicate that there really wasn’t. Owen had agreed.

Cautiously, Ianto opened his eyes; not that it did any good. It was dark. Such a heavy, thick darkness it was like being smothered in black velvet. He shuddered and closed his eyes again. That idea was either deeply disturbing or seriously kinky, and he wasn’t sure which bothered him more. On top of that, he could almost feel the darkness moving around him.

“Oh, it’s nothing so simple as darkness, my dear,” a sultry woman’s voice whispered. There was no sound, the silence that surrounded him was deafening; the voice had been inside his head. “Darkness is merely the absence of light, but this place has never known light, or sound, touch, scent or taste. Technically, it isn’t even a place. There has only ever been nothingness here, the absence of everything.”

“What is this place that isn’t a place then?” Ianto asked, the words taking form in his head, “and who are you?”

“It is nowhere; it doesn’t exist in any dimension, it is the void in between, half a step to the left of everywhere. Things sometimes get lost and pass through, disturbing the nothing for an instant, but they never stay. There is no time here either and time, as much as space, is required for things to exist.”

That jolted Ianto.

“I’m in the Rift!”

“No. The Rift was merely a doorway, one of many. You are in the nothing that exists between Rifts. The doorway you entered by no longer exists. Another doorway will pull you through instantly.”

“Instantly? Then why hasn’t it happened yet?”

“There is no time here. Everything happens in one single instant. You leave at the same moment you enter, but your brain must process everything in a linear fashion, as is its nature.”

“Like dreaming. Dreams happen in a moment but seem to last a long time.”

“Yes, like that, in a way.”

“You never said who you are.”

“I am… unsure. There was an explosion at the nexus of the Rift. I was close by and was caught. I was immature, but now I am grown. Such things can happen when time isn’t a factor. You are within me, it would seem that I have grown around you; we are one, yet separate. I do not understand; perhaps I will when time becomes a factor once more.”

Ianto tried to get his head around what he’d been told, though he understood little of it. He was jolted out of his musings when he hit a very solid floor. Hard. The fact that there was a floor came as a surprise; the brilliant light that filled his vision came as more of a screaming agony along his optic nerves.

“Fuck! Too bright!” He shut his eyes tightly and buried his face in his arms, still blinded by afterimages.

“Apologies,” the voice in his head murmured. “I will lower the lights to a more acceptable level.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that,” Ianto muttered, voice somewhat muffled. “Still in my head then, are you?”

“Where else would I be? You are within me, as I am within you.”

Opening his eyes again, more cautiously this time, Ianto risked peering carefully between his lashes. His vision was still a bit blurry from being dazzled, but the light was soothingly on the dim side of comfortable and he was able to make out his surroundings. He was lying on a waxed wooden floor in a large octagonal room with a high, vaulted ceiling. Comfortable sofas and chairs were arranged around the wall, with a variety of low tables arrayed in front of them. The air smelled of excellent coffee.

In the middle of the room stood a large and complicated looking bank of machinery, full of levers, buttons, dials, computer screens and flashing lights, along with a number of less identifiable attachments and doohickeys. He stared, dimly aware that his mouth was hanging open.

“Bloody hell! I’m in a TARDIS!”

TBC...

Comments

[asia27.livejournal.com]

If the new series were to 'right' some of the things the Doctor says he got wrong, this would be my number one "fix-it" to do. Unless I miss my reading (and i will go back to read that again), Ianto fell thru the Rift when the House blew up; it would not be too surprising for a Tardis to be there in the Void, waiting for its next 'partner' and I still think that the intimacies Ianto shared with Jack imparted some bits of the Vortex to him, leaving him in a netherworld of sorts. (I don't doubt that UNIT scientists would have thought so, too, for experimental purposes.)

This is off to a very interesting start! :D I don't think Ianto was meant to die just yet... :|

[bk_forever]

Well, you're part right, but that's all I'm saying. While I don't know exactly where this will go, I do know a few things. There are clues abut the TARDIS in the chapter, but they might not be clear yet to anyone who isn't in my brain, lol!

I'm about to start writing the next chapter, because the new fan_flashworks prompt is just the right fit.

Thank you, I hope I can live up to expectations.

[asia27.livejournal.com]

You worry needlessly; you've never written anything I didn't enjoy. I look forward to the next installment.

[bk_forever]

What's bothering me is that I'm posting as I write. Not only is this fic not finished (and I've never posted anything before that's unfinished except with drabble series), but I don't even have clear ideas of what will happen next. I just hope I don't end up contradicting earlier chapters by the time I'm halfway through.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

That bothers me, too. I put it in my WIP folder. Some of the items there have not been updated in a couple of years. Maybe it's time to clean it out. It's always disappointing to start a good story which never gets finished, which is why I no longer read anything (with rare exceptions) that isn't finished. Looking forward to reading it, though. Good to have things to look forward to.

[bk_forever]

I'll finish it - it just might take a while. The community I'm using the challenges from, you have to wait until each challenge ends before posting to your own journal, so that might slow things down, and the next challenge might not work... I'm about halfway through writing chapter 2, but I don't know how many chapters I'll write. I need to email my friend and start getting some idea-bouncing done so I have a better idea of where I'm going. I hope it'll be worth the wait for you.

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

It truly amazes me that someone can see a challenge word, phrase, whatever, and come up with a story. Or fill a story request. Just make something up from so little to begin with. I do not have that kind of imagination, which is why I'm a reader, not a writer, of fan fiction. Ever so grateful that there are people who do write it. Thank you.

[bk_forever]

I've done it some more today =)

I joined some more prompt communities and wrote a short Doctor Who piece for someone. It'll get posted on my journal eventually. The more I write, the easier it is to see a prompt and think, "Oh, I could write that!" I'm amazed at how much I'm writing.

Chapter 2 is at 1400 words so far!

[excentric397.livejournal.com]

You seem to be on a roll. Yay, you. :)

[bk_forever]

I'm trying! Just got to keep it rolling now.

[mamaduck46.livejournal.com]

This line 'There was an explosion at the nexus of the Rift. I was close by and was caught. I was immature, but now I am grown. Such things can happen when time isn’t a factor. You are within me, it would seem that I have grown around you; we are one, yet separate. I do not understand; perhaps I will when time becomes a factor once more' and 'Where else would I be? You are within me, as I am within you' tipped me off that the baby TARDIS is involved. She was involved when Jack was blown up. And Ianto always cleaned and dusted her, so she knew him.

Keep this story going. I'm loving it.

And I'm gonna love it when Jack finds out his TARDIS has grown up and has a passenger with her.

[bk_forever]

*grins* Thank you! I was starting to think the clues I'd put in were too obscure!

There's a lot still to find out of course, but you're thinking in the right direction. I'm still working out the details as I write.

Chapter 2 is underway, but I'll have to post it to fan_flashworks before posting it here. Looks like it'll be a longer chapter though.

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, now that is awesome! I love the idea of Ianto having a TARDIS. He'd be an awesome time traveler.

I cannot wait for more of this!

[bk_forever]

I just started writing Chapter 2. It'll take me a while, but I'll get there. Like chapter 1, I'm writing it for fan_flashworks, so it will be posted there first, when it's done. Still got some way to go though, looks like it will be a longer chapter anyway.

Thank you! =D

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[bk_forever]

Well, we'll see if it's Yay-worthy when it's done. So far, it's a long conversation between Ianto and the TARDIS... I haven't even got to the bit that fits the new prompt o_O

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Great beginning cant wait for more.

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

I'm working in chapter 2.

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

Wow!
I love this!!
Fix it's are always welcome, but this is just brilliant. I love the way you have got right inside his head with just the right amount of curiosity, understanding, bewilderment and humour.
Where's the next installment? I can't believe I am asking you to hurry up and post after moaning for months that you are writing too quickly for me to keep up with, but I really want to know what happens next!

[bk_forever]

I want to know what happens next too... I'm working on chapter 2, but for the first time ever I'm posting a fic that isn't finished. I don't even really know what's going to happen! So far I'm taking my cue from fan_flashworks prompts.

This is a fic I always intended to write, but I meant to plan it out first. Then a prompt triggered a clear idea for the opening chapter and I just had to write it, so now I'm scrambling to catch up. o_O

Thank you, I hope I can keep the quality up!

[reddevilpoes.livejournal.com]

Hurray! he's alive-ish..now get him to jack!

[bk_forever]

That part could take a while, because this is going to be basically Ianto trying to get to Jack. It's a big universe, finding one person won't be easy but at least he has transport. I don't know how many chapters there will be though.

Than you!

[jedi-harkness.livejournal.com]

Whoa, holy crap! Looking forward to Part 2! :D

[bk_forever]

*laughs* Thank you! I'm writing Chapter 2, don't know how long it will take though. I'm feeling my way with this one since I don't have it planned out or ANYthing!

[jedi-harkness.livejournal.com]

Eeep, I know how scary that can be. Muses can be like TARDISes, sometimes they just need time to mature. ;)

[bk_forever]

And this one hasn't really had that time, it's being forced into the world prematurely!

Still, I'm doing my best with it. Hopefully it will turn out to be what I want it to be.

[lilyrose225.livejournal.com]

Ooh, will there be messing-with-time in this fic? I can practically smell it!

This is so exciting! I can't wait to read the next bit--I'll definitely have to keep checking in now! XD

[bk_forever]

I don't really know yet - what I do know is that Ianto will set out eventually in search of Jack, somewhere out in space, but it won't be an entirely straightforward search... I don't have anything planned out yet, I'm relying on the upcoming challenges to give me some direction. Have to see whether that's going to work or not.

The next two chapters are up at fan_flashworks as Explorations Part 1 and Explorations Part 2, but they are much longer than this little prologue, 2000+ words and 4000+ words respectively. I don't know when I'll get them posted here as the challenge hasn't officially ended yet.

Thank you, glad you like the start!

[lilyrose225.livejournal.com]

But, when is anything ever straightforward in Torchwood? XD (there's a straight joke in there somewhere... only I'm too tired to make it. x.x)

I'll probably wait until you post to your journal; if I go over there, I'll never get tomorrow's homework done! ^///^

[bk_forever]

*grins*

I'll try to get chapter 2 up this week. Chapter 3 I think I'll have to post in two sections, so it'll have to wait until I'm not so busy as it's do damned fiddly!

[bluelilacs.livejournal.com]

Ooh, such an intriguing start! Ianto in a TARDIS. His TARDIS? His and Jack's TARDIS? The interior sounds like a wonderful blend between Jack and Ianto's tastes, and of course there would be coffee. Not just any coffee either, but excellent coffee, as per Ianto Jones. This is going to be so interesting.

I can't wait to see where this takes you/us.

[bk_forever]

I'm intrigued to find out too! No Jack for a while, I know that. Ianto will have to find him first!

Hopefully chapter 2 sometime in the next week...

Thank you!

[black59.livejournal.com]

a Tardis?
then, there is hope that Ianto so.

[bk_forever]

A TARDIS indeed! Ianto is rather surprised about that, and also about being alive.

Thank you!

[m-findlow.livejournal.com]

Hurrah, finally getting around to reading this. Great first chapter!

[bk_forever]

Thank you! It was all the fault of that darn prompt, I wasn't planning to start writing this fic so soon, and until I saw that prompt, I had no idea there was going to be a TARDIS involved. But I took one look, my brain went *PING* and that was that. Now I just finished chapter 21...

Glad you're enjoying it so far!

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

I saw you posted a new chapter of this lately, so I've come back for a refresher :-)
I dont know when I'm going to get around to reading all your millions of fics but I really do want to finish this one.

[bk_forever]

I have three chapters left to post so it won't be much longer before it's done! Hope you'll enjoy all the chapters!

Thank you!