Ficlet: Day Four

[bk_forever]

Title: Day Four

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Jack, mentions Ianto

Rating: G

Spoilers: CoE

Summary: Jack’s lost so many lovers, but this time he’s to blame.

Word Count: 250

Written For: aoifes_isle’s prompt ‘Author's Choice; Canonical Temporary Character Death’ at fic_promptly.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters. They belong to the BBC.

A/N: Apologies for this, it’s not what I wanted to write for the prompt, but it’s what came out. Take heart though, this is the Through Space and Time universe, so Jack will get his Ianto back, even though he doesn’t know that yet.

Jack knows he’s come back from far worse deaths before, it’s only been a few days since he came back from being blown apart, reviving even as his body was regenerating. Physically, that had been the most excruciatingly painful experience he’d ever lived through. He’d spent the entire time screaming, wishing he could die again to be free from the never-ending pain, even if just for a few minutes.

Right now though, he can’t remember ever feeling so numb on his return. He revives for once without his customary gasp, instead there’s only a reluctant, shallow indrawn breath. He knows he has nothing to return for this time except grief and emptiness. Never again will strong arms hold him as he revives, a quiet Welsh voice soothing and calming him. He’s lost too many lovers over the years and it always breaks his heart, but somehow this time it hurts more than usual.

The worst of it is that he knows he’s to blame for Ianto’s death. There was no good reason to bring his lover to Thames House; he should have ordered him to stay at the warehouse, working on a backup plan. Pride comes before a fall; that saying has never seemed so apt. He wishes he could trade places, give Ianto his life and take his lover’s place in death, but he can’t. The burden of immortality is for him alone to carry.

All he can do now is make sure that Ianto didn’t die in vain.

The End

Comments

[cjulina.livejournal.com]

You finally managed to do it - I've got tears flowing from reading this. So poignant and sad. Excellent job, as always.

[bk_forever]

Thank you, and I'm sorry! *hands tissues* I didn't want to write this, the bunnies made me do it!

(Jack will get Ianto back again. I refuse to allow CoE to win!)

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

So heart-breaking.

[bk_forever]

I know, I'm sorry =(

The plot bunnies were being mean, they made me do it ='(

Thank you.

[black59.livejournal.com]

too sad!
I can not digest this third day. I prefer fics where they are alive

[bk_forever]

So do I. I didn't want to write this, but the plot bunnies wouldn't let me write something else.

Ianto will live again, I wouldn't have it any other way. Jack will be happy again when Ianto and his TARDIS catch up to him.

Thank you.

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

This is truly heartbreaking, but really do you think Ianto would have stayed behind. I do feel for Jack tho *hugs him*

great ficlet

[bk_forever]

Yes, I think he would have if there was a task that needed doing that would have given them a better chance of defeating the 456. It doesn't make tactical sense to march two thirds of your fighting force into what is essentially enemy territory. Ianto would have understood that what Jack was doing was creating a distraction and taking a calculated risk - they would both have known confronting the 456 didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of working, but it might have brought them some time. Ianto should have been doing Tosh's job, working out a way to send the signal back to the 456. That entire part of the 'plot' made no sense.

Thank you!

[asia27.livejournal.com]

Wow...! I'm numb...you 'paint' with words so beautifully in all your stories but this one conveys blackness and ice... Very unusual; it was so right in Jack's reasoning but the team really didn't have much time to think their plans through. And Ianto would not have allowed Jack to leave him behind... I think his heart's loss is why this regeneration is even more painful.

Poor Jack... and poor Ianto...

[bk_forever]

Yes, that must have been the most agonising of regenerations.

I think Ianto would willingly have stayed behind if there had been something Jack needed him to do like working on how to defeat the 456 while Jack was distracting them. The whole confrontation scene made no sense whatsoever, they were practically surrendering to the people who'd been trying to kill them, leaving only Gwen free. It was completely ridiculous.

Thank you. I didn't want to write it, but the bunniews insisted =(

[asia27.livejournal.com]

The bunnies knew you would handle this horrific situation best. :) And they apparently have something else in mind for you to write! :D

[bk_forever]

The bunnies always have things for me to write. Unfortunately, I have less time to write than usual at the moment, which sucks.

I was writing for Contest Week, so I had to get each piece written and posted as fast as I could. I wanted to do one of Jack's other canon deaths, but I couldn't get past this one so I had to write it. Glad you think I did a good job with it =)

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

ohhhh so heartbreaking!

[bk_forever]

I know! *wibble* I didn't want to write it, the bunnies made me do it!

Thank you. Sorry =(

[jedi-harkness.livejournal.com]

*sniffle* Beautiful and heart-breaking.

[bk_forever]

I think I broke myself writing this. The only consolation I could find was to tell my self that it's in the same 'verse as Through Time and Space so Jack will get his Ianto back eventually.

Thank you!

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

*Sobs*
Make it better! (please?)

[bk_forever]

I'm working on it! This is Jack before Through Time and Space. He'll have his Ianto again eventually, I promise! (Just not yet - I finished Chapter 13 yesterday and Ianto still hasn't found Jack...)

Thank you.