Redisourcolour Challenge 'Flowers'
Mar. 3rd, 2011 12:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silkendreammaidTitle: The Season Between
Rating: G
Characters/pairings: Ianto/Lisa, Jack
Summary: AU after Cyberwoman. What if Ianto had succeeded.
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or the characters within.
Notes: Not sure how well this works but the muse wanted it this way... (And i know, i am so bad at titles)
Written for the redisourcolour challenge... prompts Flowers, Wipe, route, clear and the phrase “Thank you so much”
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Every second day Ianto Jones would buy a flower from the old woman who had a small stand just outside the village post office. He always overpaid her and he always smilingly refused to accept the change, urging her instead to indulge herself with a new spring hat or a trip into town. She always made sure he got the best and brightest flower each time. One especially picked and set aside just for him. Sometimes she could even persuade him to take an extra one and would slot it into his jacket buttonhole with a wide smile.
“Your wife will adore it, Mr Jones,” she’d always say. “She appreciates the beauty of a well-turned out young man so don’t you be letting her down now, you hear?”
He’d always laugh and bend down so she wouldn’t have to reach awkwardly. And he always brushed a gentle kiss to her wrinkled cheek that no longer made her blush but always made her feel a lot younger.
“Thank you, Mrs Campbell,” he’d say in that lovely soft accent of his and she’d lightly box his ears.
“Call me Ma! I’ve told you enough times already,” she’d retort.
“When you stop calling me Mr Jones,” he’d reply with a twinkle in his blue eyes and then he would walk away with a wave of his hand that held the flower.
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“I think old Mrs Campbell loves you,” Lisa told him as he entered the small cottage and she spied the flower in his jacket. “Should I be worried?” she teased and he laughed. He walked over to her chair by the window and offered her the single flower.
“She says you appreciate a well turned out young man and that I mustn’t let you down,” he said as he kissed her gently.
“She obviously hasn’t seen you first thing in the morning,” Lisa laughed as she kissed him back.
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Every other night when Lisa was asleep Ianto Jones would run. Across the old bridge and out into the wild country he would go. For an hour he followed a defined route of overgrown paths and derelict fence lines before turning and running all the way back home.
He missed running with Lisa. They’d run together every day in London. They’d run to work as neither had a car and the tube was always so crowded. They’d run because Lisa said they needed the exercise but Ianto had known the real reason. They ran together because Lisa loved to run and Ianto loved Lisa.
After Canary Wharf, running together – like everything else - had been no longer possible and Ianto had done the running for both of them. Running from London to Cardiff, running from Cardiff to this small barely there village somewhere in the north of Scotland. After finally freeing his Lisa from the metal cradle, he was still running for both of them.
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Every second evening Ianto Jones would take Lisa along the river path that circled the small village. They’d stop and chat to the few regular fishermen they usually saw. Most times Lisa would end up with a roughly wrapped fish in her lap for their supper and it would be Ianto’s turn to tease her.
“Jimmy Cartwright thinks he might be in with a chance,” he’d say and she would smile.
“You’ve got more of a chance and you know it,” she’d retort with a gleam in her dark eyes. “Although that could well change depending on how well you cook it.”
“For you my love, I’ll even poach it,” he’d reply grandiosely and she would laugh knowing how much he detested poached fish.
By the time they returned to the cottage Lisa’s lap would be filled with wildflowers to cover the smell of the fish. Which he would clean and poach because although he hated it, she loved it.
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Every Friday the district nurse would visit. She thought Lisa’s terrible injuries were the result of a dreadful car accident. She would bring in new and different creams for Ianto to massage into the scars, and she would bring new exercises to help combat any atrophying in Lisa’s muscles.
She was always amazed by the devotion and care that Ianto Jones lavished on his wife. He was always gentle and firm, following her directions and encouraging his Lisa all the time. On the days when the exercises were too much, he would wipe the tears from her cheeks. She always remembered the day when one cream had proven to have too strong a scent and they’d all smelt of jasmine for hours afterwards as well as discovering that it gave Ianto a headache.
“She’s doing very well,” the nurse would always say as Ianto escorted her to her car at the end of the visit.
“Thank you for coming out here,” Ianto would always reply. “We appreciate all your help and I know Lisa likes having a different face to talk to,” he’d add with a depreciating smile.
“You look after her so well. All credit for her care and condition must go to you. If it wasn’t for you she wouldn’t be doing as well as she is.” The words always brought a guilty shadow to the young man’s face and the nurse always put it down to survivor’s guilt.
“I couldn’t do it half as well without you,” he’d demur in response. He would never share just what he had done and what he was still doing for his Lisa to ensure she was as happy as he could make her.
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Once a week Lisa had nightmares. Ianto would awaken to her muffled crying and would hold her for the rest of the night. He would whisper “I love you” over and over again. He would sing softly. Lullabies, soft rock and folk songs and - during one extra-long night - rugby chants.
He knew she didn’t remember the Battle of Canary Wharf. Retcon had taken care of that. As soon as he’d managed to get her disconnected from the cyber-frame, they’d left Cardiff and he had dosed her carefully. But he hadn’t been able to totally eradicate the memories and they would appear in the night, wandering out of her sub-conscious to remind him that the monsters were never completely defeated.
When Lisa settled back into a calmer sleep Ianto would keep her close and stare at the wardrobe. Tucked away at the back, up high where Lisa would never be able to reach, was a small package. He had Retcon there as well as other more deadly pills, just in case.
For Ianto Jones was well aware of the possible dangers and he had a plan for all eventualities because the consequences were all too clear to him.
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The tall man in the heavy greatcoat grinned winningly at old Mrs Campbell as she pointed up the road towards a small cottage. He’d bought several of her flowers and she’d been more than happy to discuss poor Mr Jones and his tragic circumstances. His poor wife bound to a wheelchair and so terribly scarred. Her memories and even her wedding ring lost in such a dreadful accident and the young man so much in love and so devoted to her.
The tall handsome man bent over her hand with a courtly flourish and smiled. She found herself blushing at the gratitude in his eyes. His American accent barely registered as he spoke.
“Thank you so much.”
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Continued in The First Day Of Spring
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-02 06:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-03 01:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-02 06:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-03 01:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-02 07:19 pm (UTC)Can we persuade you to write on??????
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-03 01:31 am (UTC)i have a few ideas for the befores and afters of this, so depending on the future challenges i will probably revisit this little world... :)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-02 08:59 pm (UTC)Very powerful writing:)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-03 01:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-03 12:31 am (UTC)I think we need to see the "visit", don't you?
*puppy dog eyes*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-03 01:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-04 10:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-11 09:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-05 04:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-11 09:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-03-27 06:06 am (UTC)Nicely done.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-10 04:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-12 12:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-10 04:05 pm (UTC)Ianto seems to be keeping himself moving forward by following a set routine. I suppose routine helps Lisa too, it must be comforting given that she doesn't remember certain things. Ianto is organised though, he's planned for all eventualities and I can see him doing that, just in case. As attentive and caring as he is though, I can't help wondering if he'd still be so committed to Lisa if she didn't need his constant care.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-06-12 12:23 pm (UTC)