A Hand in Need
Ianto removed the glove quickly, returning it to the case and slamming the lid
closed. With the box secured and returned to Suzie's workstation, he stumbled to
the sofa and dropped onto it, breathing hard. His right hand was too warm and
felt like it was covered in ants.
"Idiot," he chided himself. He knew the glove was dangerous – it was wrong to
resurrect the dead – and yet… Lisa.
He didn't have to close his eyes to see her – covered in blood and metal –
although his dreams replayed the images anyway. Sometimes he wondered if he'd
ever be able to remember her without visions of that last day.
He rubbed at his hand, thankful that the crawling sensation was fading. It was
too late or too early or too something for this nonsense. He should be in bed,
resting, even if he couldn't sleep. Instead, he'd kept himself busy, skulking
around the Hub waiting for Suzie to leave. Jack was out, probably on a roof
somewhere, and this was the first chance he'd had to examine the glove alone.
It was a bad idea from the moment it entered his head, and he knew it. Still,
the thought of bringing someone back, even for a few minutes. Of being able to
say those last words – not stupid things about plans for the evening or buying
more toothpaste.
A chance to say goodbye.
A vision overtook him – Lisa on the autopsy table, eyes wide, screaming as he
held the glove against her head. She'd beg him to help and then die again in
pain and terror. And he'd be just as helpless, just as useless as he'd been the
first time.
Ianto got up slowly, nauseated and exhausted, his heart pounding. His damaged
leg faltered and he almost fell, just managing to catch himself on the edge of
Tosh's desk. Pain flared through him and tears blurred his vision.
Dammit, dammit, dammit.
He couldn't do this; couldn't give in to this ridiculous weakness. Lisa was
dead. He was crippled. That was how things were. The glove was evil – a
seductive bit of cruelty that would do only harm.
He could see what it was doing to Suzie – making her possessive and more
secretive. He'd felt a bit like that himself the last few days – desiring the
damned glove until it was all he could think of. He'd barely been able to wait
to get his hands on the thing, his fingers curling with pure want. He'd even
made excuses to pass Suzie's desk just to be a little closer to it.
Ianto leaned against the railing, overcome with disgust at himself. How could he
have let that thing become important enough that it sent him sneaking around in
the middle of the night? What would he have done with the thing anyway? Lisa was
gone, buried. He was far away, trying to get on with his life.
He glanced back at the box, unable to suppress a shudder. Death was nothing to
play with; hadn't he seen that for himself in Torchwood Tower?
A thunk from overhead startled him and he looked up, watching as the invisible
lift descended, carrying a somewhat bedraggled Jack. Apparently it was raining.
"Playing in the rain again?" Ianto didn't have to force the smile he wore for
his captain. He hurried over as quickly as his leg would allow and took Jack's
coat as he stepped off the lift.
"Can't resist puddles," Jack countered, his voice rough, with the weather or
fatigue – possibly both. "What are you doing up?"
"Insomnia. It's all the rage. Shall I fix you a coffee?"
"I'll get it. You should go back to bed. Tomorrow will be a long one."
"They're all long. Come on, we'll split a cup and then we can both get some
sleep." Ianto took a few towels out of the supply cabinet tucked into a corner.
He'd stocked it with an array of items that were handy to keep close at hand. It
saved him some extra steps, an effort that was especially appreciated at the end
of a long day.
"Dry off a bit and then go get changed. I'll have the coffee ready by the time
you get back."
Jack obeyed, amused by how often Ianto gave him orders, but he hesitated as he
set the towels on the hook Ianto had installed for that purpose.
"Are you alright?" He brushed a hand against Ianto's forehead. "You're pale."
"Long night," Ianto assured him, managing a smile. "Go on or you'll be the one
who's ill."
Jack grinned, heading off to do as he'd been told while Ianto fixed coffee. As
predicted, it was ready by the time Jack returned wearing a t-shirt and old
pants with fraying cuffs. Ianto made a mental note to mend them.
"It's not just insomnia, is it?" Jack asked as they settled onto the comfortable
old sofa. Ianto leaned into him, hesitating only a moment before resting against
Jack, allowing the man to put an arm around him.
"It's the glove…" Ianto started slowly, trying to put some order to his chaotic
thoughts.
"You tried it on." Jack tightened his hold on Ianto and offered him the cup of
coffee they were sharing, just as he'd done several times when they were sharing
a hotel room in London. "Is it out of your system now? Or do you want to
experiment with it like Suzie?"
"Once was enough," Ianto assured him, taking a sip of the coffee to steady
himself. There was a long comfortable silence while he worked out what to say
next and Ianto was grateful for Jack's understanding. There were no comfortable
silences at Torchwood One, no patient waiting while you struggled to find words
to explain the unexplainable.
"I think you should destroy it," he said at last. "Or at least lock it in the
secure vault."
"Suzie's determined to study it, to learn how to use it."
"I don't think the glove can be controlled. Not the way she thinks it can."
Ianto turned haunted eyes towards Jack. “Can you imagine if Torchwood One had
gotten their hands on it?" He pulled away slightly, his expression deadly
serious. "It's not my place to decide, but I think it's dangerous." Ianto turned
to look at the case. "It could disappear tonight. Into the vaults."
"It probably should," Jack agreed, resting a hand on Ianto's shoulder. "But I
promised Suzie that she could study it for two weeks. She's been… distant
lately, not like herself. The glove has her interested again. I'll give her the
time I promised, and then I'll lock it away."
Ianto nodded, accepting Jack's decision. He was still unsettled and couldn't
help but glance towards Suzie's desk. Jack pulled his attention back with a warm
hand on his leg.
"I'll watch her," Jack promised. He stood up and offered a hand to help Ianto
up. "Join me? I've got some massage oil I want to try on that leg of yours."
Ianto nodded once, allowing Jack to lead him towards his bed. As they passed
Suzie's desk, Ianto made his own vow to keep an eye on her. Jack took care of
him, took care of his team. It was up to Ianto to take care of Jack.
::end::