The wrong decision part one, I

[anastasisrick]

Title: the Wrong Decision

Rate: PG

Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who (because I’m borrowing characters)

Genre: AU totally, no aliens, romance, drama

Pairings: Jack/omc, Jack/Ianto, Ianto/Lisa, others as well

Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who, BBC does and we all saw what they did to them.
Summary: They both took the wrong decision. Will they ever be able to find real love?

Prologue at: anastasisrick.dreamwidth.org/892.html

 

Part one

I

1979

Jack Harkness liked Wales; he hadn’t come here with great expectations just more relaxation than he would like, but apparently the odds were by his side. The place was beautiful; people were kind and some of them really beautiful too. The night was a big success as far as he was concerned, he thought as he took off his shoes and lied down on the bed. It was a big bed to sleep alone. And he had found the best candidate for a partner. Dark hair, blue eyes, pale complexion, tall, slim and Welsh; vowels were indeed sounding different in Wales.

He was planning to get to know Iorwerth Jones much better in the near future.

*

It was the day after that he found himself in the Jones’ place after an evening out. Jack was starting to feel his thirty five years even though he wasn’t going to admit it to anyone, especially after long nights spent out. He wanted to settle down, find a person to care for and live peacefully. If anyone had told him he’d be feeling like that, he’d have laughed at their faces. Now, he was just looking for peace and quiet. His near death experience had something to do with the feeling. Obviously.

He saw Werth coming near him holding two glasses in the hands. The younger man handed him one glass and smiled.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“And here I thought they were seen as more expensive.”

“A whole kingdom perhaps?”

“Smooth talker.” Jack said raising his glass in salute. “So I hear there’s another Jones as well that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet.” Werth looked around and then his eyes settled on Jack.

“He wasn’t feeling very well tonight so he went to bed early.”

That moment exactly, Ianto came in drenched from the sudden rain. Jack took in the black trousers, white shirt and awful v-neck pullover and the startled eyes.

“I didn’t know we had guests Werth…” Ianto said embarrassed while Jack thought that the other Jones was just a kid compared to his brother. A cute kid but a kid nonetheless.

“So here is the elusive Ianto Jones who was sick so he decided to stay in his room…”

“And you must be Captain Jack Harkness.” Ianto said coming closer to his brother and Jack, just as Owen grabbed Tosh to dance with him ignoring his friends.

“The one and only.” Jack replied.

Ianto didn’t want to stay and chat. He had just broken up his relationship with Lisa and he was tired and angry. Captain Harkness attitude was a bit too bright and colourful for his exhausted body and mind.

“Yes, pleased to meet you, Sir. I’m sure we’ll be able to talk in the future. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go to change and sleep. I’ve been sick, you know.” He said a pointed look was given to his brother.

Jack smiled at the boy’s behaviour and followed Owen’s example taking Werth to the dance floor.

“And now you met both Joneses.” Werth said laughing. “Ianto’s not always like this. There must…” He was worried about his brother. Something had seemed off and he wanted to go to his bedroom to ask and comfort him, but Jack’s body was warm, his voice was mesmerising and he could talk with his brother the next morning.

*

Ianto closed the door firmly behind him and turned the key locking it for the first time ever. Not even in his mid teens had he locked his bedroom door; however Lisa had made him lose his composure. How could she have done that to him? How could she stand him up for another man? His rare night out resulted in returning home to find it not empty as he had wished but occupied with people; foreign people at that! Annoying, strange people, he thought while having a warm shower and getting under his blankets. It didn’t occur to him that he should have been thinking of his ex girlfriend rather than obnoxious Americans.

The next morning Ianto found Werth waiting for him in the kitchen. He attempted to scowl at him, but it was a lost cause.

“I have coffee already made.” Werth offered, but Ianto shook his head.

“If you don’t mind I’d rather make my own coffee.”

“Can you do some for me too then?” The older twin asked smiling. He then turned serious. “What did it happen yesterday, Ianto?”

Ianto kept his hands busy thinking how to phrase his next words as to show the event hadn’t hurt him as much as it really had.

“Apparently Lisa had a date with someone else and forgot ours. It happens…” He finally said shrugging his shoulder, only to find his brother embracing him tightly.

“Then she’s an idiot and she doesn’t deserve you.”

“Yea, well we already knew that.” Ianto joked to hide his hurt. “So what exactly did I miss yesterday?”

“Nothing important… I invited everyone here because it was getting too loud in the club.”

“And some of your guests were too old to stand for that?” Ianto raised an eyebrow waiting for his brother’s answer.

“You’re younger than me and you always hated loud music.”

“I have eclectic taste.” The pianist replied.

Werth sat down and Ianto took the chair opposite his brother.

“So…”

“So? Do you want to tell me anything?”

“What did you think of Jack?”

“Jack? As Captain Harkness?” Werth nodded and Ianto sighed. “I didn’t see him or talk to him enough as to have an opinion, Werth. And I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to make new acquaintances.”

Werth had found the perfect opening to voice his next question.

“Jack invited us to go for the weekend to his new house. He just bought it in Penarth. You will come right? Please Ianto, come. For me! I want you to get to know, Jack…”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I think you two can be good friends.”

“OK. But I’m doing it for you, Werth. Just for you!”

Ianto was willing to admit Jack had a great taste. His newly bought house was resided close to the coast, the dark waves bringing the smell of the sea while the seagulls made their appearance noticeable with their loud noise which he didn’t really mind. Around the house was a big garden with trees and flower. The inside of it though was the evidence of Jack’s good taste.

“Did you take a decorator, Jack?” He heard his brother ask Harkness.

“Nope, I bought this beauty two years ago and every time I visit I add something more. It will be my place of retirement.”

“Oi, don’t you think you’re a bit young for thoughts like that?” Werth said while Ianto watched carefully the two men joking. Tosh and Owen had already gone to their room while Gwen and Rhys were walking by the sea. Their wedding was to take place the next month and their happiness was palpable.

Ianto went for a walk leaving his brother alone with Jack and his other guests. He didn’t feel comfortable being among many people. Werth was a better with people than him.

Later the evening, Werth knocked on his door and entered before hearing Ianto call. Seeing his brother putting on his suit jacket he whistled with admiration.

“Vain much, are we?” Ianto asked.

“You look great.” Ianto looked at his black pinstriped black suit, red silk dress shirt and matching tie and then at his brother’s pinstriped dark grey suit, dark blue shirt and matching tie.

“My point exactly.”

“Oh shut up. You never dress up. I always see you dressed like you’re a school kid.”

‘You do realise that I am that!”

“Come on, let’s see how many will guess who’s who.”

Jack’s eyes widened when he saw the brothers descending the stairs. It seemed as one wet dream coming true. They stopped in front of him and Jack looked one admiringly and then the other who was standing closer to him.

“And pray tell who are you?”

“Ianto Jones.” Was the verbal reply and Jack would have bought it if there wasn’t the mischievous eyes saying something else entirely different. He had come to know that Ianto’s eyes had a sadder look than Werth’s.

“Good one, Werth.” He turned to Ianto. “Really dashing tonight.”

“And here I thought I was rather dashing always!” Jack laughed at Ianto’s response but it was Werth he took with him to dance as the first tune of music was heard.

“How did you realise I was… well me?” Werth asked as he settled his hand on Jack’s shoulder.

“Not to diminish Ianto’s natural beauty but you look better to me.” He lied. Ianto’s eyes would always give him away, he though instead.

“Not even Dad can say which one is who. Only Cefin can do that. And now you!”

“And now I.”

Another song later Werth noticed Tosh and Owen were sitting on a sofa next to the window, and while the young woman was staring at the dancers longingly Owen was watching something out of the window. He nudged Jack.

“I’ll go take Tosh for a dance. I wonder what’s gotten into Owen…” Jack went to Werth and stood behind Owen. Following the student’s gaze he saw a tall, black clad figure walking in his garden.

“I don’t think Ianto will stay with us much longer.”

“Your accent shows you’re a London kid and you study there, so you’re not here most of the time either.” Jack said raising an eyebrow.

“This is my home though. I met Robert Jones, Ianto’s father eight years ago. He’s helping me with my studies you know. Ianto was often in hospitals when he was a kid, not any more though…” Owen said not giving anything else away. “I met him in one of their visits in London. If not for them, I wouldn’t be here. It’s where I and Tosh will live from now on. I even applied for a job in a couple of local hospitals. And I see a strange passion in his eyes lately; something that screams to me he’ll leave us back and he’ll move away.”

Jack patted the doctor’s shoulder, his eyes followed Werth as he danced a Gary Moore’s song with Tosh. “If I was you I’d go take my girl from that heartbreaker.” He said and went to see Ianto in the garden.

Ianto went out after he saw his brother dancing. The music of the night, and songs of nature called to him, the fresh, cold air moved leaves and brunches while owls and other nightly birds were calling to their mates. He loved it. He liked the darkness and the loneliness. Suddenly he felt a presence behind him, heavy steps coming close to him and he sighed.

“Someone’s planning to break his friends’ hearts. Or so I was just told.” Jack knew very well he was physically attracted, because who wouldn’t? However there was something to Ianto that called to him, that twisted him around, even though he had spent less time with the younger Jones. There was a different kind of attraction that pulled him close to Ianto’s self appointed isolation.

“Have you been talking to Owen, Mr Harkness?” Ianto turned to look at him not in the least surprised by his presence.

“Yes, and it is Jack.”

Ianto nodded. “OK, Jack.” He stared back in the trees around them. “It’s beautiful out here. It’s a nice place to live.”

“A nice place to settle down, make a family.”

“Are these your plans? That’s why you bought it?”

“Maybe. How about your plans?”

“I don’t know… not yet. Wales is my where I belong. I love it here. I don’t want to leave. But, at the same time I’m looking for something more. Something I haven’t been able to find it here.”

“Ah.. a true artist!” Jack said with fake admiration.

“What do you mean?” Ianto asked a bit harsher than he intended.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to sound sarcastic. I haven’t heard you play yet. I think we ought to change that. You know, I envy you… and I pity you at the same time.”

“Why?”

“Because of your art and the love you have for it. If it’s what you want, you’ll be famous, you’ll make people happy when you play the piano, you’ll make them feel, you’ll never be as happy. There will always be something missing; there will always be something more, something beyond your reach. I once, dated the sister of a musician, a pianist like you. They both still are good friends of mine but I always saw John as a big child, always seeking for more, never settling down, and never being in peace with what he has. I don’t think he’ll ever be happy. Not really! We’ve talked many times about him with Rose…”

“Rose you said? And John? John Smith?” Ianto asked putting the pieces together.

“Yes. You know them?”

“John’s used to be my Professor.” He kept for himself the fact they were having the conversation because of John’s proposal. “He’s here in Wales. With Rose.”

“Now?”

“Yes, we were together yesterday.”

“I’ll call John and invite them over. I’d love to see them. Let me tell you something Ianto; follow you dream and you may find your paradise. I’m still looking mine.”

“How about flying?” Ianto asked not wanting Jack to leave yet. Jack smiled at him; his eyes became softer and for a moment all the lines of his face disappeared. Ianto looked transfixed.

“Flying makes me feel alive. It’s the closer I have found to what I described earlier as happiness. And now I need to go. Guests to entertain. See you later, Ianto.” The younger man stood there watching Jack walking towards the house, embracing his loneliness again.