Torchwood Is My Home (A Janto Fanfic)

Chapter 49 - September

John’s POV

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An incoming call?? 

It's been a loooong time since I've had one of those. My face breaks into a grin as I realize that it must be Jack. I wonder what he’s about to ask for my help with. That’s the only time he ever calls me, when he needs something.

I press the button on my vortex manipulator, and I stare at it quizzically as all I hear is crackling.

Only it takes a few seconds for my mind to process that it's not crackle.

Jack is full on sobbing.

"Jack, baby?" I ask quietly "What's wrong? What's happened? My VM is busted, but as soon as there is a rift storm I will be on my way." I tug on my boots as me struggles to control his breathing. If only I hadn’t played that drinking game, my vortex manipulator would still be fully functioning.

"It's my fault!" he wails "Ianto might be dead and it is all my fault. He’s in a coma, and there’s nothing I can do." 

I stop in my tracks. If Ianto dies, we will have travelled all this way for nothing.

I make shushing noises at Jack, trying in vain to soothe him.

His sobs are still racking. I hope Ianto's all right, if only for Jack's sake. I am first to admit that I'm jealous of Jackie-Boy's Eye Candy.

I wonder if Gwen will be there... And if she’ll still call me Vera. My words echo in my head. With eyes like that, you can call me Vera if you want to.

No. My mind mustn't wander. I must focus on Jack. I was a good wife...

No! I mentally slap myself. He's getting married in 2 months. No time for me. Jack and I are history, buried long in his past. So long ago that it was before he met the Doctor, before he became a fixed point in time. When he was still at the Agency, hadn’t become a con artist yet. He’s probably forgotten all about us.

I don't notice the tears streaming down my face until I'm sobbing. I reach out, blind, and grab the nearest bottle to me. The vodka burns slightly as it glides down my throat.

Drink. Drink, John. Drinking makes it better.

No. No. I can't do that to Jack. He needs me. My vortex manipulator pings, telling me that there's enough rift energy floating around for me to get there. I punch in the Hub coordinates and pray that I remembered them correctly - teleporting into a wall is always painful.

I see Jack curled up on the Hub sofa, still weeping. I walk over to him, dumping all my weapons on Gwen's desk before enveloping him in a crushing hug.

"It's okay, my darling. He will be fine." I smile through my pain. If only Jack could see how much I still care. I gently kiss his forehead before scurrying into the Hub kitchen to raid it of ice-cream. But I don’t think even comfort food will distract Jack right now.