A/N: Well…okay – now you can shoot me. This is a CoE fix-it…of a sort. Honestly, I think all of my stories are sort-of fix-its, thanks to RTD. Man, how can one brilliant man seriously screw over the people that put the bread on his table? All right…rant over. Now…I've decided two things…1st: this story is going to have a nautical theme in homage to Cardiff Bay where our dear Hub was buried recently (damn you, RTD!). And second…well, come to think of it, that would be just telling. Oh! I've also decided to include Alonso in this because I think the Lost Puppy Dog Look the actor does is wonderful! Anyone know his name, by the way? Please Pm/Email to me? Thanks! WAIT! Once again – RTD and BBC own everything – and I make NO MONEY off of these stories. So…and away we go…
Torchwood: Time And Tide
Chapter One: Prologue – Waiting for the Tide…
Eight years and two children before, Gwen Williams thought her world had ended. In the space of eighteen months all the operatives save herself and Captain Jack Harkness were killed in the line of duty. Then six months later Jack fled to the stars because he could no longer stand the guilt of killing his grandson to save the rest of Earth's children. He couldn't fill the yawning hole left behind by Ianto's death. So in a flash of blue light and in the blink of an eye…he was gone.
Three months after the birth of Gwen's son, Edward Ianto, another cataclysm affected the human race – changing them all into the visage of former Prime Minister Harold Saxon. It was reversed – and the Inner Government decided it was time to bring Torchwood back.
Gwen was initially contacted by suited officiates of The Crown – and in their first three attempts they were roundly tossed out into the street by Rhys. The fourth time, after a shouting match ensued, the suited gentleman pulled out a gun – at which point Gwen brandished a Torchwood Issue firearm and shot the man in the leg. Before having Rhys toss him out on his ear, she berated him for taking a gun out in the presence of her child, then for making her shoot him! She went on to say that it would be a cold day in hell before she'd believe a syllable any government official uttered. After all, they were the reason Torchwood Cardiff no longer existed! They were the reason Jack Harkness lost everything! Sacrificed his own flesh and blood to save everyone else's – his own heart! They were the reason he left Earth to its own devices – and to hell with the lot of them!
She spent the rest of the day ensconced in Rhys's arms, crying her heart out.
The fifth contact with The Crown came from an unlikely quarter – Lois Habiba. As a black Humvee sat waiting outside of Gwen's house for a half hour while she and Lois had a long talk and a bit of tea. Then it was another ten minutes – fitting a child safety seat in the back – but finally they were on their way…to Buckingham Palace…and a private audience with the Queen.
After another lengthy discussion, a new Torchwood Charter was drawn up – and Torchwood Cardiff rose from its ashes. Gwen began looking up possible recruits as the Hub was rebuilt on its original site. She cried on the day the Tourist Information Centre was reopened. The whole day all she could think about was superb coffee and a well dressed Welshman…
Although she could feel both Ianto and Clem turning in their graves at the thought – Agent Johnson was brought onboard. Lois Habiba was a given – although The Crown was reluctant to let her go. Gwen was happy she would have a ready connection to true higher authorities should another incident present itself.
Gwen was also adamant that UNIT be made secondary to Torchwood, especially since they had proven time and again in recent situations that they were as useful as a broken umbrella during the spring in Bath…
After a nasty meeting with the heads of UNIT, Gwen put them in their place with written accounts of the Jones family and The Year That Never Was. Then there were affidavits of civilians that were tortured and witnesses of atrocities committed by UNIT commanders onboard The Valiant to 'enemies of the state' – including one Captain Jack Harkness in particular.
Gwen's voice and eyes took on the hardness of steel as she told UNIT that they were on extremely thin ice as far as The Crown was concerned. One more slip-up – and UNIT would find themselves expelled permanently from the United Kingdom.
The outcry that followed her statement was immediately silenced after photocopies of a letter (on Crown letterhead) were passed to all present. UNIT was ordered to assist Torchwood in all ways. PERIOD. Gwen declared the meeting a success when a platoon of UNIT commandoes answered her call for help during a weevil hunt two weeks later.
At Gwen's request, Martha Milligan and Mickey Smith joined Torchwood next. Martha was getting over the sudden death of her husband, Tom. Married barely a year, he was involved in an altercation in the waiting area of the A&E he was working a late shit rotation at. He got in between two men fighting – and one of them had a knife that ended up in Tom's spleen. He had bled out long before he made it to the operating theatre. Martha was told her name was the last word he uttered.
Mickey bounced from IT position to IT post until Gwen dialed his digits. They had never met personally, but Jack and Martha had spoken quite highly of Gwen in the past. Mickey figured that was recommendation enough for him. When he told her the story behind why he called Jack "Captain Cheesecake", Gwen smiled enough though her eyes were sad.
PC Andrew Davison was the next on Gwen's list. He had been on suspension after the 456 Incident, then had been relegated to desk duty. He took the punishment in stride during the day – and drank himself into a practical coma every night. It was a rescue by Rhys of all people that finally brought him back from the brink. He accepted Gwen's offer, packed up his desk at the station house – and never looked back.
When Gwen was four months pregnant with her daughter, John Hart appeared out of the blue asking for a job. He told her he knew better than to expect her to trust him' but after The Saxon Incident, he had wanted to help.
Gwen accepted his offer – and assigned Johnson to be his minder. If he so much as blinked out of line, Johnson was authorized to deadly force. Hart accepted this as an addendum to his contract – and the staffing of Torchwood Cardiff was complete.
So now, eight years and two children later, Torchwood Cardiff had officially been in business for six years. There had been a few incidents, but at the very least Earth had remained in its own Solar System…and everyone's faces stayed as different as they should be.
Although there were no bodies in the plots under the headstones, Gwen made sure Steven and Ianto's graves always were well cared for and potted flowers put on the plots. Rhiannon always sent a thank-you note. From Alice, there was nothing.
And just when she given up all hope of ever seeing him within her lifetime, Captain Jack was back. Only this time, he didn't come alone….
A/N: Okay – 1st chapter DONE! I hope you guys enjoy wild rides, because this one is so going to be it! Reviews are manna from digital heaven…so please, feed my Muse Bunnies…or else Sleeping Baby Kitties may be on the menu…