Adventfic Day 5 - Ice

[silkendreammaid]

 

Title:  Ice
Author: silkendreammaid  

Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Torchwood or the characters within.
Rating: PG13 
Warning: Language
Characters:  Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness

Note: Written for the 2011 Advent Challenge. Prompt #5 taken from the 2010 prompt list. 

Author’s Note:  Fifth in the series that started in Cold
just a quick chapter tonight as there’s thunder and lightening outside at the moment. … given the heat of the last few days I wish there was more rain involved tho’ … 

Summary:   December is starting off unseasonably cold. Torchwood has one dead alien and another one missing. There’s also the sudden disappearance of Cardiff’s rats.  

In this chapter Ianto’s headache is getting worse, Tosh discovers something and Ianto collapses

 

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Ice

 

The headache was not getting any better and Ianto Jones began to give serious thought to approaching Owen. The throbbing at his left temple was slowly spreading and he was almost certain that the Archives were getting steadily colder. He tossed down the file and rubbed his hands over his face. He shivered. 

“Headache still bothering you?” 

Ianto jumped and turned. He hadn’t heard Jack approach. For a usually boisterous man he could be unnaturally stealthy at times Ianto mused. 

“What headache?” Ianto answered Jack with a question of his own.  

“The headache you’ve had since the alley this morning and not bothered to mention yet.” Jack came closer and looked at Ianto consideringly. “Have you taken anything for it?” 

“I had something earlier,” Ianto sighed. “And Owen has offered me something stronger if I need it,” he added to forestall Jack dragging him off to Owen. 

“That’s good. Make sure you do.” Jack nodded. 

“Did you want some coffee?” Ianto asked, wanting to change the subject and wondering why Jack had sought him out rather than using the coms. 

“Coffee’d be good, but Tosh found something so Gwen and I are going to check it out.” Jack reached out and ran a gentle finger across Ianto’s forehead. “I was going to ask you to come upstairs and help Tosh with the rift logs but maybe you should have a lie down or something.” 

“I’m fine, Jack,” Ianto reassured him. “I think it’s just the cold making it take a bit longer to go.” 

Jack frowned slightly. “It’s not that cold down here, Ianto. Maybe you should come upstairs for a while.” There was no hint of suggestion in Jack’s voice. 

Ianto let his breath out. “Fine,” he said knowing Jack was not going to accept any other response. “As long as you don’t drag me straight off to Owen.” 

“You’re pale and you have a headache…” Jack began. 

“And you’ll be on decaf if you make this out to be something it’s not,” Ianto threatened. “What did Tosh find?” Ianto abruptly changed the subject. 

“She found an unexplained hotspot just west of Cardiff. It showed up on the satellite thermal imaging.”

“Which is strange indeed given how cold it’s been lately,” Ianto noted. 

“Exactly. So Gwen and I will be gone for a couple of hours checking it out.” He stared at Ianto. “Make sure you get some rest before I get back otherwise I will hand you over to Owen’s tender mercies.” 

“Okay. If you insist,” Ianto smiled.   

“Oh, I insist. And I’ll be back in time to wake you up,” Jack promised with a leer and Ianto shook his head. 

“Go find Cardiff’s hotspot and then we can discuss mine,” Ianto teased with a smile that had Jack leaning it to kiss him.  

“I’m looking forward to that, Mr Jones,” Jack grinned. 

“So am I,” Ianto replied. 

“No headache excuses,” Jack said and waved an admonitory finger at the Welshman before he left. 

The Archives felt a lot colder after Jack had gone and after fifteen minutes Ianto gave up and put the files away.  

He made it halfway up to the Hub before he suddenly felt as if he’d been covered in ice and he stumbled. His head throbbed and he began to shiver. Another step, another stumble. He could suddenly see his exhaled breath and chilled air seemed to flow deep into his lungs with his next inhalation. He stumbled a third time and this time he slipped to the floor and gave in to the dark silence of the ice.

 

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