Then & Now - Chapter 15a

[madbottoms]

Title: Then & Now

Author: Madbottoms

Prompt: 17 Again

Pairing(s)/Characters: Jack/Ianto, Owen/Tosh, Gwen/John Hart, Stephen, OMC’s, OFC’s.

Rating: NC17

A/N: See chapter 1 for notes and disclaimer.

 

Chapter 15a

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Owen knocked and knocked on Jack’s bedroom door. “Come on. It’s been two days. Open up.” Owen heard dragging feet then the click of the lock. He opened the door and entered Jack’s room.

 

It was dark and dank inside the room and Jack climbed back into bed.

 

Owen waved at the air. “Jesus. It smells like shit in here.” He pulled up the blinds and opened the windows.

 

A dishevelled Jack groaned and rolled away from the light. Owen sat on the bed. “Are you alright?”

 

“I really messed up. I’ve lost my family.”

 

“That’s not true. Nothing’s ever truly lost.”

 

“What about you and Tosh?”

 

“Oh, that? Pretty sure that’s lost.” Owen shook his head.

 

“Sorry about the party. I’ll pay for any damages.”

 

“Don’t worry about it. My spa guy got the last of the vomit out of the pool so we’re good.” Owen’s house was back normal, as if the party had never happened. “I don’t mean to rub salt in your wounds but...” Owen held up the manila envelope of divorce papers. “...you’re due in court in an hour.”

 

Jack groaned but then jumped out of bed, a look of determination on his face.

 

Ten minutes later, a BMW roared out of the garage with Owen driving and tearing down the driveway, fishtailing onto the street, losing control and ripping across a neighbour’s lawn then back onto the road and off.

 

*~*

 

In a downtown courtroom, Ianto stood before the Judge, his right hand raised as he was sworn in.

 

“...the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?”

 

“I do.” Ianto sat beside his Attorney as they began the separation proceedings.

 

The Judge eyed the papers before her. “You’ve requested a separation order citing irreconcilable differences. Is this correct?”

 

“Yes, your Honour.”

 

“Is Jack Harkness-Jones or his representative present?

Ianto shakes his head sadly. “No, your Honour.”

 

“Then I take his absence as agreement to the orders. Let’s proceed. You’re not asking for alimony or child support?”

 

“No, your Honour.” Ianto didn’t want or need any money from Jack. He’d never needed that kind of support.

 

Outside, Owen’s BMW skidded to a stop in front of the building. Jack and Owen bounded out and raced up the court steps.

 

“What exactly are we doing?”

 

“I don’t know, Owen. We just need to stop him from going through with it!”

 

“A well thought out plan. Good job.”

 

“Mr Harkness-Jones, you will have full custody of the children. Mr Hark... the other Mr Harkness-Jones will have visitation rights of one weekend a month...”

 

BOOM. The courtroom doors burst open and everyone turned to see Jack and Owen storming down the aisle.

 

“I declare a mistrial on the grounds of insufficient evidence and Sacco and Vanzetti!” Owen blurted out, making no sense whatsoever.

 

Ianto could only shake his head.

 

“Sacco and... what are you... who are you!?” the Judge demanded.

 

“I am legal counsel for Jack Harkness-Jones and I demand a stay of execution for this marriage, your Majesty.

 

“He’s my husband’s best friend,” Ianto offered.

 

“Are you a lawyer, best friend?”

 

“No but I have been a defendant in numerous lawsuits so...”

 

“Bailiff! Get these two out of my courtroom.”

 

The Bailiff grabbed Jack and a yelling Owen, and dragged them toward the exit. Jack wiggled free, running back to the front.

 

“Your Honour! I have a letter from Jack Harkness-Jones. Just let me read it. Please.

 

“I’m sorry, but...”

 

Ianto looked at the Judge. “If it’s okay, your Honour. I’d like to hear it.”

 

“Make it quick.”

 

Jack dug into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “Thank you, your Honour.” He held out the paper in his shaking hands and began to read, “July 3, 1989 was the first time I saw you. You were reading ‘Landscaping Today’... well pretending too. You’d fallen asleep on the beach, baking your sensitive Welsh skin in the hot California sun. I’d never seen anything so perfect. And then you spoke to me and I think I fell in love with you then and there and I knew I had to keep hearing those beautiful Welsh vowels. I remember thinking I had to have you or I’d die... not in a psycho kinda way but in that beautiful unaffected way that only a 18 year-old kid can have.” Jack smiled wistfully at the memories.

 

“I remember when you told me you loved me for the first time. You whispered it to me and I felt so peaceful and safe because I knew no matter what happened from that night on nothing could ever be that bad because I had you.” Tears welled in Jack’s eyes but he continued, “And then I grew up, I lost my way and blamed you for my failures. But I was never really lost Yan. I’d just forgotten the way life makes you forget as you grow older. And I never failed at anything because on that July day you said ‘yes’ to me. And then later you said you loved me.

 

“And as I stand here... um... as I write this, I want you to know that I still love you so much and if I don’t have you I’ll die... not in a psycho way but in that beautiful, unaffected way... oh and... P.S... I still need to hear those beautiful Welsh vowels.”

 

Tears fell unabashedly down Jack’s face and he placed the paper on the table and looked over to Ianto, almost pleadingly. Ianto just stared at him, tears streaming down his cheeks... in sadness... in recognition?

 

A sombre Judge coughed, “Alright, son, you have to go now.”

 

Jack nodded with finality and walked down the aisle and out the door, not daring to look back or he’d completely fall apart.

 

The Judge continued, “Let’s proceed.”

 

“Your Honour, Ma’am. I’m sorry. I’m in no shape... I need to postpone... I’m sorry.” A tearful Ianto started to leave but stopped and picked up Jack’s ‘letter’... and in his hands were directions to the courthouse. Ianto was more than a little confused.

 

A solemn Jack stared out the window as they drove away from the courthouse. It was over and it hurt. His heart was breaking again and there was nothing he could do about it. And the worst part about it was that if he stayed like this he didn’t think he would ever be able to salvage his friendship with his son. He was pretty sure getting busted kissing Stephen’s dad was unforgivable in his eyes.

 

Owen turned the radio off. “Maybe it wasn’t a spell of enlightenment.”

 

Jack looked to Owen. “What are you talking about?”

 

“According to the website once you’ve learned your lesson you’d turn back. That speech should’ve broken the spell.”

 

“Enough with the magic crap, Owen.”

 

“You know what this means? You need to let them go. You need to let them get on with their lives and you need to get on with yours.”

 

Jack choked back tears... because he knew Owen was right.

 

*~*

 

A couple of days later, Jack sat on his bed working on his laptop. He plugged his iPhone into it and downloaded some pictures. As they downloaded, he moved to the dresser and packed his uniform into a duffel bag. A beep announced the download was complete and he unplugged his phone and sorted though the pictures.

 

He composed an email to Ianto, ‘I think this will help your business. Best of luck, James’. Jack hit send, grabbed his bag and left the house.

 

It was dusk as Jack stepped outside and he threw his duffel into the Aston and turned as Owen exited the house.

 

“Where you going?”

 

“I’m moving on. See you at the game.” Jack climbed into the car and pulled out of the driveway.

 

Across town, Ianto sat at the kitchen table working on his laptop and the little icon in the corner told him he had new mail. He clicked over it... James Harper. Ianto read the email then clicked on the link. A web site popped up... ‘Ianto’s Sanctuaries’... and Ianto smiled.

Chapter 15b

Comments

[megans-writing.livejournal.com]

i am crying.
that is all.

[madbottoms.livejournal.com]

The courtroom was one of my favourite scenes, I even got teary-eyed myself.