emeraldsnakes | The Storms of Change: Chapter Fifteen

Summary: There comes a time in every Sentinel’s life when their immortality is revealed. When 21st Century Earth is the epicenter of the change that will decide the survival of the human race, what kind of consequences affect those who are preparing for the change as this immortality is revealed amongst one of their own? Is Torchwood really ready?

Words: 1,079
Tittle: Worth It

Ianto pulled into his mother's driveway and turned off the engine. He was completely exhausted after their battle with the rogue fraction of the Tuatha that had imprisoned Danu and kidnapped children to expand their numbers. Many of the rogues had died in the fight and the others were executed by Danu. The missing children had been found, all of them safe and not turning into fairies - however that happened - so after being checked by Owen they were sent home.

Ianto owed it to Rhiannon to return Dylan himself. Though he had lost all contact with her he still felt a small twist of family ties with her. At least Dylan was being returned. Ianto didn't want to know what it was like to lose a child, losing a lover had been painful enough.

Since Dylan was asleep in the back seat he carefully picked him up and walked to the front door. It was nearing one in the morning but he was pretty sure someone would be awake, especially if his mother had told them about what UNIT did and The Doctor. No one could really sleep after learning something like that. Ianto hadn't been able to when his father had first told him.

Dafydd was the one to open the door. He glared at Ianto for a moment before seeing Dylan and allowing them to enter. Rhiannon burst into fresh tears at seeing him, hugged him tightly and took her son upstairs to settle him, and herself. He wouldn't be out of her sight for quite some time.

"Will he be alright?" Matthew asked.

"In time." Ianto answered honestly. "He's younger than the other children so this should be easier for him. I can't say it will be easy though."

Matthew chuckled humorlessly, "Of course it won't. Nothing ever is and now we have to worry about aliens on top of everything else."

"That's what we're here for," Ianto said. "We worry about them so you don't have to."

"You should go," Dafydd said, "and take all your alien shit with you."

Ianto glared at him, "If mum had never been a companion of The Doctor you would never have known me. She's the one who brought the alien shit down on you."

Ianto turned and left. He was already to his vehicle when Matthew called his name. "Keep in touch will you. I know we never got along but I've always regretted being such an ass to you."

Ianto nodded, "See you later then."

X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.

When he was in the past Ianto had influenced the actions of many different people. He was the reason Joanne Grant joined UNIT, convincing her of the opportunities that UNIT offered after she'd originally turned it down. He'd been part of the crew of the Achilles for only one Voyage as it was captained by David Mitchell and transporting the Stargate to the US. During the Second World War he'd been forced to investigate the strange happenings in London around Albion Hospital. He'd gone, under a disguise and mostly just stayed out of the way knowing The Doctor would handle it. Then he'd lied about it so Torchwood wouldn't know.

He used to know how things would turn out, if he was making the right decision or not. He'd relied so much on his knowledge of the past to make sure things turned out the way they were supposed to. How was he suppose to know, now that he was back in his own time, that the decision he made would lead to the world in which Jack was born in? No one could know that and somehow he could do something that eventually changed the time of their entire universe. It bothered him that he had to second guess himself all the time.

Should all those Tuatha have been killed like that? They were friends of the Ancients and yes, a few had gone rogue but was killing them really the right choice? Ianto wasn't so sure anymore but he knew he couldn't do anything about it now.

"You still haven't told me everything," Jack said.

They were lying together on the bed in Jack's bunker, too worn out to make the trip to Ianto's at such a late time. They were resting but sleep wouldn't claim them, not yet.

"Neither have you," Ianto pointed out. "This has to go both ways for it to work Jack."

"I know, but sometimes I feel as if you know more about me than I know about you. The things I say just don't faze you."

Ianto shrugged, "I understand you. There's nothing you can say that I haven't experienced in some way on my own. I'm older than you now."

Jack was silent for a moment before he smirked and said, "You've never been pregnant."

Ianto laughed. No, he'd never experienced that and he never wanted to though he wouldn't be opposed to having kids in the future. "Ok, one thing."

Jack peered at him, "You don't ask about it."

Ianto propped himself up so that he was looking down at Jack and gently caressed his face, "You may have cracked jokes about it but I can tell that it is a painful memory. Something happened and you'll tell me about it when you're ready to."

"Like you'll tell m e about Carys Parker?" Ianto flinched and Jack ran a soothing hand up his back. "Was she your daughter?"

Ianto shook his head, "I never knew her, but I knew her brother. He was a doctor in WWI, patched me up after I got shot and we ended up becoming friends, then lovers. He's the one who brought me out of the darkness that Hart sent me into. I was such a difficult person then, I don’t know why he loved me enough to put up with me."

"You said it yourself," Jack replied. "He loved you."

Ianto nodded and settled down beside Jack again, "I love him too, once I got over myself but I made him miserable sometimes. He deserved so much better."

Jack kissed his forehead, "I think he saw the goodness in you Ianto, saw the man I know and knew that he could bring that out in you and make that you again. He may not have deserved everything you dealt him but in the end he healed you and I'm sure he thought everything was worth it. You're worth it."

Chapter Sixteen