Just Imagine...

Send Them Back Into The Rain

Sam wanted to go home. She really wanted to go home. But she could tell this was important to Ianto, so she stayed, slowly working her way through a french vanilla cappuccino to keep her awake and knowing it would be impossible to fall asleep when she got home. At least she'd have plenty of energy for sex - which a part of her felt she deserved after being out so late - if Jay just so happened to be in the mood.
Old newspapers and files were scattered haphazardly across the boardroom table, and Ianto was leaning over them with a frown so intense Sam was surprised his eyebrows hadn't popped off his face by now.
"What exactly are we looking for?" She asked, trying to cover a yawn.
"There might be a way to bring them back." Ianto muttered, sounding more like he was talking to himself.
"Who?" Sam asked.
"The people who got their breath stolen by the Night Travellers!" Ianto exclaimed as if it should've been obvious. Sam blinked.
"Hold up, that's what this is about?"
"Yes."
"Ianto... I dunno what to tell ya, but I don't think-"
"You think it's pointless."
"I never said that. More information on these creeps would be good, but can we maybe do it in the morning, after we've slept?"
"I'm not tired."
"Fine. Want some candy?"
"I'm not hungry either."
"Ianto, c'mon man. You're gonna lose your mind."
"Well I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING! A CHILD HAS LOST THEIR WHOLE FAMILY!"
Ianto turned on her when he said it, and Sam realized there were tears rolling down his face. She'd had no idea Ianto was so passionate about this.
"Hey," she murmured gently, reaching out to touch his shoulder, "it's okay, hun. Calm down."
"I know it's not important-" Ianto began, averting his eyes.
"No. No, it is," Sam argued, "it's important to me if it's important to you. Read me that file you were studying so intensely."
She and Ianto both sat down, Ianto wiping his tears away with the backs of his sleeves, sniffling. Sam didn't take her hand off his shoulder and instead rubbed it comfortingly.
"This is an old newspaper article about a man who claimed his wife and daughter could be saved if a vial containing their breaths was recovered," Ianto said, "it says here he even brought it up on his deathbed; right before he passed, he allegedly said to his second wife, they came from out of the rain, and the town could've stopped it."
Sam, who had been taking a sip from her cappuccino, wheezed in her throat and slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from spitting coffee everywhere.
"What?" Ianto demanded as she started laughing.
"I was just imagining that scenario," Sam chuckled, putting on a raspy voice, "come closer, closer! Those assfucks could've saved the people who came before you!"
Ianto started laughing too, throwing his head back.
"I never thought about that!" He exclaimed.
"Man, that poor second wife," Sam went on, "I bet she did not see that one coming! She probably thought he was gonna confess to sleepin' around or killin' somebody! Instead she got they came out of the rain!" She gasped like she was breathing her last breath and rolled her eyes back in her head. Ianto doubled over with laughter, snorting loudly.
"Stop it! Oh my God, stop!" He gasped, "you'll make me piss!"
"Also, what's so scary about coming out of the rain?" Sam added. She had tapped into that part of her brain that had gotten Ianto laughing and now wasn't going to stop until he couldn't breathe, it was just how she was wired. Ever the comedian, she lived to cheer sad people up. "I mean, just send 'em back into the rain? They're ghosts! And what if you only catch part of them on the film? Does half of them disappear? They're just walkin' around and then one guy's legs disappear?"
"Sam-!" Ianto gasped pleadingly.
"A little field mouse runs up to him," Sam went on, causing another burst of uncontrollable laughter from Ianto, "he's like get outta here! Kill me!!" She made another horrid gurgling sound in her throat and at that point Ianto practically fell into her, sobbing from laughing so hard.
"Stop!" He exclaimed again, "can't... breathe!"
Sam laughed as well, finally relenting and wrapping Ianto in a hug. This was the part of Ianto she loved so much; the real part of him, when he shed his stoicism and let himself show emotions. She and the team were the only people who could bring that out in him.
"Feel better?" She asked when Ianto finally got his breath back. He nodded, still giggling a little and wiping his eyes.
"Yeah," he said, "I... think I can let this wait a little while."
"You sure?"
"Jack's waiting for me, I can sense him skulking around here somewhere. Plus, I'm exhausted and bloody starving. I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow. It'll be my... special project."
"Want me to work with you? Make it our special project?"
"I'd love that. Thank you, Sam."
They were walking out of the boardroom now, arms around each other's shoulders. Sam could tell Ianto still felt a bit sad about all that had happened - she didn't exactly understand why, but she wasn't going to press him. As they left the hub with Jack, Sam let Ianto go ahead, grabbing Jack's arm.
"What?" He asked.
"When you get home with Ianto," Sam murmured quietly, "you need to do one thing; make him laugh."
"Ianto?"
"Of course, Ianto!"
"Why?"
"He's mopey. And you and I both know that Ianto needs to laugh to get out of a state like this. Make it right, son."
Jack nodded and she patted him on the shoulder.
"That's my boy." She said, grinning.