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Ianto was both happy and nauseated about what was going to happen today. A fellow soldier was going to be taken out of cryogenic storage for the day and he knew that Tosh was going be excited. Ianto didn’t know if he was excited to see a fellow soldier who knew what it was like to fight in the Great War, or if he should mourn for the poor kid who had to be drafted into the damn thing. So, Ianto just readied the equipment for Owen and hoped for the best. And watched Gwen swan in with her doe eyes and wondered what was going on.
“You’re not the center of attention today?” Ianto muttered under his breath as he helped prepare the medical bay.
“You say something?” Owen asked as he checked his medication list. Ianto knew he wanted to make sure he had everything when they brought Tommy Brockless up from Cryo.
“No, just musing under my breath.”
Owen nodded his head and looked over at Captain Harkness and the “Heart of Torchwood”. “Muttering implications about our dear Gwennie again?”
Ianto looked over at his co-worker. “Not in the least,” he said with an innocent look. “I was just saying that she wasn’t going to be the center of attention today.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t care,” Ianto shrugged. “Today is for Tosh and Tommy. If they can get through another year without an incident, then we are good for another year.”
“And if it happens this year?” Owen asked. Ianto felt that he was a bit concerned for Tosh.
“Then I’ll be over with a couple tubs of ice cream and whatever movies she wants to watch. Rom-coms might be out.”
“Good plan,” Owen nodded.
“I thought so. We’ve had to do it a few times over the years with other family members; only it wasn’t ice cream.”
“Do I even want to know?”
Ianto thought about it for a quick minute while he watched Jack and Tosh go down to the Cryo Storage. “Not really. We should probably get ready for Jack’s call. They are on their way to get Tommy.”
Gwen floated around the Hub, looking a bit lost as Jack wasn’t there to give her directions. Ianto watched as she watched him ready clothes for a man who lived for only a day and Owen readied his instruments for an examination.
“So, what’s his story?” she asked with big eyes.
“Didn’t Harkness give you the run down?” Ianto asked as he started helping Owen with readying the Med Bay.
“Still a bit mad at Harkness?” Owen muttered.
“Aren’t you?” Ianto muttered back.
Owen smirked. “Point.”
“Well?” asked Gwen.
“Tommy comes out of Cryo and has a day of it. If he is needed to do an unknown duty, then we will help him get ready for it,” Ianto said. And help him go to his death, he added silently, remembering all the young men who were killed for suffering shell shock and called cowards due to the order of Field Marshal Haig.
“Did you serve with Private Brockless?” asked Owen.
Ianto shook his head. “His Majesty had me serving elsewhere.”
“I’m sure,” Gwen muttered under her breath.
Ianto continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “I was a very good sniper. They thought that my services were best put elsewhere.”
“And I’m sure they were very well used,” Captain Harkness said as he and Tosh brought Private Brockless’ body up for revival.
Owen went to give the medication and monitoring Private Brockless’ heart rate. When it didn’t start up right away, Owen started CPR and Ianto handed him the epinephrine. Private Brockless woke from his comatose state fighting. Ianto and Owen tried to keep Private Brockless from harming himself or them, but poor Owen received a left hook into the jaw.
“Is it that time again?” Private Tommy Brockless asked when he calmed down. Then he noticed Ianto. “It’s good to see you again, sir.”
Ianto smiled at the young man. “And it’s nice to see you as well, Private Brockless. Ready for Owen to stab you for blood again?”
Tommy held out his arms. “I could murder a cup of tea first,” he said with a grin.
Tosh had taken Tommy out of the Hub as soon as Owen was finished with his yearly tests after Ianto fed the poor boy. Gwen had asked about where she could find herself a frozen boyfriend and Harkness told her that Tommy was Tosh’s. Ianto thought it was about time he stood up to the tart, but he kept that thought to himself. It wouldn’t do for the fool, either one of them, to know about that opinion right now. May be later when he was good and tired of their idiocy. Besides, Wales was feeling off and the Land was letting him know. Even the Mara was giving him warning signs of trouble. At least it wasn’t TROUBLE. He would have gone spare if that was in the works.
“Are you still upset at me?” asked Harkness.
“Yes,” Ianto said as he started one of Tosh’s monitoring programs. “You are still giving her too much latitude. And letting her lord it over us.” He gave Harkness a gimlet eye. “Maybe I should have my brother come for a visit.”
“I love family reunions,” Harkness said with a flirtatious smile.
“Harmon would not be in the mood to be pleasant,” Ianto said. "In fact, he would be here to make sure a few things were noted. And then, he would be going to the Queen with his assessment. I don’t think it would matter if you bounced Queen Elizabeth on your knee when she was a child. We have been in and out of the palace since King George III.” He gave Harkness a grim smile. “We have longevity. And they know we don’t play favorites or coy.”
Harkness winced. “Can we talk about this?” he asked. “May be over dinner?”
Ianto narrowed his eyes. “You mean that dinner you asked me about when you first returned from that year from hell? That one you have yet to take me out to. That one? How about a hard pass.”
Harkness winced again. As Ianto’s American siblings would say, strike two.
He was saved from totally striking out when Gwen called in.
“What do you have Gwen?” Harkness asked.
“Something just happened at St. Teilo’s,” she reported. “After that, I spoke with some workmen, and they said that it’s slated for demolition.”
“I’ll be right over,” Harkness said before hanging up. “Ianto?” He gave Ianto a puppy-dog look. “Can you watch the instructions please?”
Ianto rolled his eyes. “Of course, because her highness has called after swanning off. Be sure to remind her that the residents are hungry when she gets back too.” Ianto grabbed the time-locked instructions and left Captain Harkness to his insubordinate subordinate.
“His Nibs going off to see what Herself has found out?” Owen asked as he studied the computer he took over.
“Yes,” Ianto said as he studied the computer over his shoulder. “They’ll probably ask about any spikes in the last hour.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Owen grumbled as he started to look for the information. “How come I’m doing this and you’re not?”
“Because Captain Harkess is awful at delegating jobs right now.”
Owen sighed as he finally found what he was looking for and looked to Ianto on how to keep the information up while doing other work. Ianto showed him the proper techniques, to Owen’s relief. Then Ianto left the area. He needed to get to the Archives and there was an oppressive feeling starting to creep in.
“You are taking a great chance coming here to speak with me, Mara,” Ianto said to the fairy-like creature.
“You are tied to the Land we both LIVE on,” it said. “You know what is going on.”
“I do. And we must wait until the right time for the fix to be applied. Too soon and it won’t work.”
“Then you are doing something about it?” The fairy had moved into its larger, fiercer state.
Ianto wasn’t intimidated; some of his own Guardian state started to peak through the human-like shroud he wore. “Yes,” he hissed back to the snarling Mara. “And I am aware that if TIME breaks, it will strand you and yours wherever and whenever you lot are.”
“Make sure that TIME doesn’t break,” it threatened, “or we will come after all you hold dear.”
“And I will come after you,” promised Ianto. “To fix TIME is a heavy job and to worry about my family because you are acting like the petulant children you came from will cause me and mine to make mistakes. Those mistakes could do harm later that we cannot fix.” Ianto narrowed his eyes. “Take my promises back to the rest of your kind. Make sure they are ALL aware. Or the LAND will be the last thing you will be worried about.”
The Mara hissed back at Ianto. “And what should we be worried about?”
“A judgement from the High Judge with the backing from the Universe. Your powers will not protect you from the Aspect of Death that will come after you then. She will bring Retribution from the Judgement.”
“We will abide,” the Mara snarled. “For now.” It disappeared in a flutter of wings and took the oppressive feeling with it. Ianto took a deep breath and continued to the Archives. He had to get the clothes Private Brockless had been wearing out of storage.
Ianto took the clothes out of the box to show them to Tommy while Tosh spoke with Captain Harkness. He could tell that it was a serious and terrible conversation, but he tried to ignore that and keep light with the poor boy that was next to him. Ianto could tell it wasn’t working.
“It’s a good thing the moths didn’t get to them,” Tommy said.
Ianto was almost offended at that, but then he was only in charge of the Archives here for a little bit. Who only knew what went on before and what they did to care for some the items he still hasn’t cataloged yet.
“You do have a point,” Ianto conceded. “I would have at least put something in there to keep vermin out.”
“What would you have put in?”
“Lavendar. St. Teilo’s wouldn’t have made too much of a fuss, I should think.”
“Why would you say that?” Tommy asked.
“My sister says that lavender is good for calming people. A nurse might have slipped you a small sprig or dropped it nearby while she was working.” Ianto shrugged. “It might have faded if it had been put in right away.” He didn’t think so, though. It never did when his Mam used it when he was a child.
“Well, this feels like the night before going over the top,” Private Brockless said.
“What would you do the night before?” asked Gwen.
“Well, we would play cards, drink tea, sing songs,” Private Brockless said.
“We can do that with you,” Owen offered.
“But you aren’t going over the top, are you?”
“But I did,” Ianto said quietly. “Several times.” He looked over at the boy. “And I came back to find out that my sister was missing, and I couldn’t get to her.” He gave Private Brockless a tight smile. “We all have bad stories. And we all have stories that show this world is worth saving. You just need to look for them.” He looked over as Tosh came up to the group. “She is one of them.”
“Tommy is coming home with me,” she announced as she approached the group.
Ianto bowed his head. He was already figuring out what movies to start listing for Tosh for the next night. He glanced over to Owen. The doctor was looking concerned but said nothing.
Tosh and Tommy left with Gwen and Owen leaving soon after. Ianto straightened up the Hub and went up to Captain Harkness’ office with the instructions. “Would you go back to your time if you were able?” he asked.
“No,” Captain Harkness said. “I’ve changed too much. I’ve seen too much. I’ve met too many people that I would miss.”
“Let me guess: Gwen, the Doctor, and uhhh, Captain Smarmy.”
“John still getting to you?”
Ianto gave Captain Harkness a look. “No. And the only thing he will get is a round of buckshot that my sister kindly left for me if he ever shows that greasy smile again.”
“So violent,” Captain Harkness said with a smirk. “It’s almost a turn on.”
Ianto smiled right back. “And I’m sure Rosey and her five sisters will help you. Good night, Captain Harkness.” Ianto left the office without even giving the man a kiss on the cheek. Forgiveness was earned and Captain Harkness was far from earning Ianto’s forgiveness for how he was treating Gwen, let alone the fiasco that was the unexpected trip with the Gallifrean. [AN: Sorry Ianto/Jack fans. Jack is in the doghouse right now. No make up kisses.]
Tosh was a bundle of exposed nerves and Private Brockless was starting to show the shell shock that had him in St Teilo’s in the first place. On top of that, both had a healthy dose of fear for the future, but Ianto thought that Tosh knew what was in store for Tommy. Too bad there wasn’t a way to change it. The walk through the broken-down hospital was bittersweet as they readied Private Brockless for his task.
Then they saw the nurse from 1918. Tommy went running after her and it broke him a bit more. The fear and anxiety brought the shell shock more to the forefront of his mind and the person that had been joking with the Torchwood crew the day before was fading away. Ianto could see the 1918 Private Brockless coming more and more back into being.
When Private Brockless broke away from the group and ran away followed by Tosh and Captain Harkness, Ianto started to pray in Welsh. Owen raised an eyebrow, but Gwen just scoffed. “Do you think that will help?”
“Any help would be appreciated,” Ianto said. “And He IS in the miracle department.”
Jack came back alone with a determined look on his face. “Tosh is dealing with Tommy,” he said. “Let’s get the rest of the equipment set up.”
Owen and Ianto had been working while Gwen had been kind of working. Ianto had to go back and make sure that the settings were correct. Owen just rolled his eyes and checked Captain Harkness’ work while they waited for Tosh and Private Brockless to return. Only Tosh was the one to return ten minutes later.
“Tommy stepped into the Rift between 1918 and our time,” she reported. “He should be back in 1918.”
“Let’s get back to the Hub,” Captain Harkness ordered.
Owen and Ianto packed the rest of the equipment and joined the others in the car. They had to hope that Private Brockless was going to use the Rift Key as he was supposed to.
When they arrived at the Hub to check the progress of the Time Anomalies, Private Brockless had not used the Key yet.
“Maybe I should go back there,” Captain Harkness said.
“You would be stuck in 1918,” Owen said. “Besides, I have an idea. I still have some of his blood and we know where he is. We can project your consciousness to him and tell him to use the Key.”
“That would work.” Ianto could tell that the captain was thrilled to be the big hero again. That was until-
“I’ll do it; Tommy trusts me.” Tosh threw her hat into the ring.
“I vote for Tosh on this one. Tommy will more likely listen to her than to a commanding officer at the time anyway. He may hold off due to fear, while Tosh can persuade.” Ianto decided to add his opinion to the matter. And it would give her a sense of closure.
Ianto could have sworn that Captain Harkness was pouting a bit when he traded places with Tosh in the chair. Owen placed the headset on Tosh, injected Private Brockless’ blood into Tosh, and turned the machine on. The conversation of almost heartbreaking. Ianto could tell that it was breaking Tosh’s heart as she asked Tommy to turn the key and close the Time Rift, calling him her brave hero. When it was done, Tosh couldn’t get out of the chair fast enough. Ianto wanted to follow her, but he decided to let Owen manage this one until she had calmed down a bit. Ianto was willing to clean up the left-over memorabilia of one Private First Class Tommy Brockless. Hero of Torchwood. Killed for cowardness due to shell shock.
“You never talk about your past.”
“Neither do you.”
“It hardly seems relevant.”
“And mine does?”
“You were willing to throw how long you have been in and out of the royal palace in my face.”
“And you are still looking at Gwen as if she will show you what you are missing.” Ianto turned to look at Captain Harkness. “She is not Rose Tyler. Yes, she is about as stupid as that English twit, but she is not her. Both look for trouble and are surprised when they find trouble, or it finds them. Gwen calls herself the “Heart of Torchwood”. Well, that heart is going to harden very quickly because she doesn’t know pain and suffering. Tosh, Owen, and I do know pain and suffering. We also know how to deal with it. So do you if you would start acting like it? Staring at her like she is the Second Coming is not the way.”
Ianto put the clothes Tommy Brockless had worn on his day trip outside with Tosh on the table to be taken down to the Archives. He would file it later with his report. The man deserved to be remembered as more than a coward.
“I think that trouble found the Doctor more than it found Rose,” Captain Harkness tried to protest.
“I was at Torchwood Manor when they were visiting. I was appalled by their attitude. It was no wonder that Queen Victoria made the Doctor an Enemy of the Crown. We had to talk her down from the kill on sight order.”
“What?” Captain Harkness choked.
Ianto looked over at his boss. “Yes,” he nodded. “She was seriously considering a Kill on Sight order for the Doctor. We had to explain that it would have done no good and that sometimes he was good for something other than trouble.” Ianto put his workstation to sleep and picked up his coat. “Gwen is to feed the residents tomorrow. Don’t let her get out of it again. Or you will be getting your own coffee for the foreseeable future.”
Ianto enjoyed the shocked look on Captain Harkness’ face as he left the Hub. It was time to lower the boom on both his problem children. Now to find out what Tosh wanted for ice cream and what kind of trashy movie she wanted to watch.