Disclaimer: Torchwood not mine
AN: A continuation of "Last Lie". Owen was awfully quiet last time.
It is two months later, hard on the heels of Doctor Martha Jones waltzing into the Hub, when the Doctor shows up.
Jack's first reaction is a stunned "why?" followed almost immediately by hugs and reunions and one big happy family. Tosh thinks it's sweet. Ianto smiles and looks just a little bit worried Jack isn't going to keep his promise. Gwen is curious.
And Owen is not amused.
He is on the verge of hoping that Jack is going to go swaning off again for good, and take Martha with him, when the Doctor corners him in the autopsy room (which should really have an exit that doesn't involve climbing into the storage unit).
"What?" He snaps, because he figures he has no reason to be friendly. And really, this figure in front of him is nothing at all like he pictured. Big puppy dog rather than Earth's protector more like.
The Doctor looks at him hard, and Owen reevaluates the puppy dog persona.
"So, you're the one that likes messing around with the Rift?"
Owen immediately adopts an affronted air, because that was months ago, and he's been forgiven and what right does this…whatever he is, have to say anything?
"What's it to you? It's closed now and everything's fine. Besides, what do you care?"
"I care, Doctor Owen Harper," and Owen winces because that tone of voice never means anything good, "because it is my responsibility to care. That Rift could fracture the world, and since I can't be here watching it twenty-four-seven, and either can Jack, I have to make sure that one of his underlings doesn't do something typically stupid. Rule Number One, he tells me: don't mess with the Rift. Why can you stupid apes never follow the first rule?"
"Alright! Look, it was stupid, I won't pretend otherwise, but I was coerced! It's not like I make a habit of it." And why exactly does he need to defend himself?
The Doctor looks at him searchingly. "Well, alright then. Glad we had this chat. You can go back to…doing whatever it was you were doing," he glances down at the table in some disgust. "Need to talk to Jack," he says and promptly leaves.
Owen is even less amused now then he was ten minutes ago.
It is hours later and the Doctor and Martha have both disappeared into the Doctor's little blue box and the box has disappeared and The Hub has returned to mostly normal. Owen is just grabbing his coat to head home when Jack corners him too.
"So, you had a talk?" He asks, like he's wondering about the weather.
"Yeah, we talked," he stresses the word as if he can convey all his frustration over the matter into it alone.
"Look Owen, he has every reason to be worried. An open Rift would be catastrophic, already was in fact, and he knows that next time he's probably going to end up cleaning up the mess. We got lucky this time." Owen wonders how Jack dying for three days can be construed as lucky. "He just wanted to be sure one of us wasn't going to be the next cause."
Owen stops to contemplate this. "Well, I've fucked up once; I'm not likely to do it again, am I? Rule Number One, Jack. I won't forget."
"No, I don't suppose you will."
"Provided you don't forget Rule Number Two."
Jack stops from turning away to look back at Owen. "Maybe I'm getting forgetful in my old age, but I don't seem to remember a number two.
"Don't travel with the Doctor."
Jack stares at him. And then he smiles. "Well, alright then. That's a deal. Have a goodnight, Owen."
Owen is left staring after him in shock, jacket halfway on.