[#041] The Return Of Ianto Jones (Torchwood)

[badly_knitted]

Theme Prompt: #041 – Resurrection
Title: The Return Of Ianto Jones
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating/Warnings: PG
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 999
Summary: When the 456 came for earth’s children, Ianto Jones gave his life in a vain attempt at stopping them. That should have been the end of his story. It wasn’t.



Ianto Jones, twenty-six years old, died on the floor of a room in Thames House, London, as a result of an unfeasibly fast-acting alien virus, or more likely some kind of poison or toxin released into the air.

He was sort of okay with it, the majority of Torchwood agents led short but interesting lives, and his had certainly been crammed full of excitement, but he would have preferred a more meaningful end. Sacrificing your life to save the world was a far nobler fate than snuffing it while failing to save anyone.

Then there was Jack; Ianto hated the thought of leaving the man he loved to carry on alone. Who would be there for him when he came back to life this time? Because Ianto knew he would; death had no hold on the immortal Captain, but that didn’t mean his many deaths were without suffering, and his resurrections tended to be just as painful.

Ianto couldn’t say he was enjoying the dying part either; it bloody well hurt, but at least for him it would soon be over.

“It was good, yeah?”

It really had been. He would have liked more time, but he supposed most dying people felt the same. At least he got one last kiss from Jack, even if he couldn’t really feel it. His lips were sort of numb, and so was the rest of him.

‘Bye, Jack,’ he thought to himself. ‘Sorry about this.’

Then everything went black and…

…he woke up.

Now that was something he hadn’t been expecting. Jack had always told him there was nothing after death, only black nothingness; Owen and Suzie had said the same. But Ianto knew he’d died, so perhaps they’d never been dead long enough to find out what was beyond all of the nothing.

It was quite bright, and comfortably warm without being too hot, so apparently he hadn’t been consigned to the fiery pits of Hell, as he might have expected. Perhaps the good he’d done in his short life had outweighed the bad; he could hope that was the case. Or he might be in some sort of limbo in between, waiting to be judged and sent wherever he was to spend the rest of eternity. That was a less pleasant thought.

“Ah, good, you’re awake!” a cheerful voice said.

Ianto couldn’t see anyone.

“Um, hello? Am I in Heaven?”

Well really, what was he supposed to ask?

“Heaven? Oh, no no no, this isn’t Heaven. Although, I suppose it depends on your perspective. You’re in my TARDIS.”

“TARDIS?” That word was familiar. Ianto dragged a few more errant brain cells together, just enough for a bit of deductive reasoning. He used to be good at that when he was alive. “You’re the Doctor.”

“Yes! You’ve heard of me? Wait, stupid question, of course you have. We’ve met! Well, sort of. Back when the earth was moved. Not face to face of course, and not this face anyway, that was the me before.”

“You’ve regenerated.”

“Yes!” The Doctor stepped into Ianto’s fields of vision, all tweed jacket and bowtie, beaming with delight. “Jack told me you were clever. Oh, hold on, you are Ianto Jones, aren’t you? Wouldn’t do if I got the wrong one. There were a lot to choose from but you looked familiar--”

“Yes, I’m Ianto Jones,” Ianto cut in to shut him up. Jack had never mentioned how much the Doctor rambled on. Speaking of whom… “Jack? Is he here?”

“No, sorry, he’s still on earth. He’s got things to do. That whole awful business with the children…”

“About that, why weren’t you there to help us? Isn’t that what you do? Protect the earth from aliens?”

“Yes, when I can, but this time… It’s a fixed point, it all had to happen just the way it did. I’m sorry. I was there though, watching, making sure things happened the way they must. I couldn’t interfere. It was important that the people of earth understand they’re not alone in the universe. The threat to the children was the first step towards humanity banding together as one people, united in defence of their world.”

Agitated, Ianto sat up, realising he was on the floor. “But they didn’t unite! The governments were going to give up the children!”

“Exactly! The governments were, but the people, the parents… they’re the ones who’ll make the changes. A lot of governments are set to be overthrown in the coming months. Change is coming, thanks to you and Jack taking a stand.”

“We failed though.”

“Well, yes and no. The direct approach didn’t work but the 456 were still defeated in the end. Jack found a way, but the cost was…” The Doctor smiled sadly. “That’s why I rescued you, switched your body for a duplicate. Jack’s going to need someone and you seemed like the best choice. Was I wrong?”

“No, you were right. I’ll do whatever I can to help Jack.”

“That’s what I thought. He thinks a lot of you, does Jack.”

“So what do I do? How do I find him?”

“First I have to put you on a spaceship; it’s going to be picking Jack up a few months from now. When he comes aboard you’ll be waiting for him. Don’t worry I’ve already transmitted a message to his vortex manipulator set to activate when the two of you meet; it’ll explain everything. There’s just one thing; you can never return to earth.”

Ianto shrugged. “Without Jack there’s not much there for me anyway. I imagine everyone thinks I’m dead. Besides, Jack always promised one day he’d show me the universe.”

“You’re taking this very well.”

“I am, aren’t I? Dying changes your perspective.”

“Excellent! Let’s be off; we have a rendezvous to make with a cold fusion cruiser.” The Doctor started pressing buttons and pulling levers. Ianto, who’d been just getting up, fell over again.

Maybe he’d best remain seated until they reached their destination.


The End