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Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood: Miracle Day. If I did, Esther would totally have lived!

Story Summary: They have to take it where they can these days or they might just fall apart.

Chapter Summary: Esther could do with the floor getting a clue and swallowing her whole.

Includes: swearing, sexual innuendo/suggestions/reference,

TorCHwooD:M.D.

These Days
I: Curves, Brains, and Blond Hair

Esther felt refreshed. Or as refreshed as a former CIA analyst framed traitor on the run in a world turned on its side with the entire population still able to get injured but unable to die, but for one man not from this century, working with a clandestine shadow government named Torchwood—could get with a hot cup from Starbucks, a shower, change of wardrobe, and the L.A. sun shinning down on her could (she had to say, she was glad to get out of the skirt suit; this definitely wasn't sweater-weather). Sleep would come later, much later. Just after she helped save the world, was all.

She returned from their first milk-run, her arms loaded with bags as she turned into the kitchen and started fill the cupboards and fridge. The apartment Jack had gotten them was much more than she had been expecting for a safe-house/HQ. She got her own room, which was very pleasing, despite the door being a curtain of beads. She couldn't complain. There was one bathroom amongst the four of them, which they somehow managed, but it was the living room that was the star of their operation. It was a large open-space that housed all their equipment. It was where Torchwood spent most of their time while in the apartment. Especially her, she was the analyst after all. Patterns were her game, and the patterns that would lead to the bastards who were intent on destroying civilization as they knew, well, those patterns would become her bitch.

"Alright, we are officially stocked-up." Esther declared as she came into the Ops. "Let's—"

"Whoa, Esther!" Gwen exclaimed upon looking up and seeing the blond woman in the doorway. "Where in the bloody hell have you been hiding those?"

Jack and Rex were definitely as startled and confused as Esther at the Welshwoman's outburst.

"W-what?" Esther stopped short, looking down at herself. Nothing seemed out of place though, and her hands were free. She looked to the other woman. "What're you talking about, Gwen?"

"Those!" Gwen started towards her and Esther took a small step back in trepidation. Jack cocked his head lightly as he looked at the blond analyst, taking her in. He saw instantly what appeared to have Gwen so worked up and jealous. He expression didn't change as he watched them with mild curiosity, though his eyes got a little brighter. Rex was as oblivious next to him as Esther; but they wouldn't be for long. "These, Esther!" —and the dark-haired woman stopped just short of honking the other's breasts.

Esther let out a startled squeak and stared at the woman wide-eyed. This was the last thing she expected in the world. Her face flushed red.

Rex made a huffing groan beside him. "Great, now there's two of you." He shot an accusing glare at Jack, laying the blame straight. But oh no, this was all the former police officer.

Jack looked at him with a face of complete innocence just for fun, before focusing on the two woman, with that sparkle in his eyes. "Well, Gwen—I must say," Jack called over, "Rhys is a luckier man than he first appeared. And we missed out on what could have been some very fun and outrageously sexy times. The fun we could have now... think about it."

"Oh, come off it!" Gwen rolled her eyes at him. But then she flashed him a grin over her shoulder, "But I would have rocked your world."

Jack smirked and whispered huskily, "Not before I rocked yours."

Esther laughed at their corny back and forth despite herself. Did this count as sexual-harassment in a workplace? But before she could think of running away to her room (for all the good a curtain of beads would do), Gwen's attention was back on her. Esther sighed internally. She wasn't as bold as the woman in front of her, though her determination more than made up for it, but she was just too wary and polite to walk out, despite how utterly embarrassed she was.

"Anyway, I'm jealous, if anything." Gwen waved him away. "I mean... look at them! Jack, look!"

"Oh, my God, Gwen!" Esther exclaimed, horrified and absolutely mortified.

Jack chuckled lightly and Esther couldn't dare herself to look over at the only Mortal Man left on Earth.

"Even pregnant with Anwen, mine didn't get this big." Gwen continued on, clearly oblivious to the American woman's discomfort, or not caring, "And they're not something to dismiss in the first place, if you know what I mean." She winked.

"Oh, I think we do." Jack mused. Rex huffed irritably next to him. Jack had no idea how Rex could just blatantly ignore and dismiss someone as beautiful and smart as Esther, but then, the C.I.A. Agent's type seemed to be bean-stalks like Vera, as opposed to women with a little more volume.

Gwen ignored him. "Where have you been hiding, woman?"

Esther took a deep breath and said, as evenly as she could, "I had a proper job, Gwen—which I am sorely missing right about now—it wasn't exactly dress-casual."

"Then you're in like company, Esther." Jack grinned. "Work-a-holics, the lot of us."

The corner of Esther's mouth twitched, though she still couldn't seem to quite look at him, despite him trying to put her at ease.

"Not at the moment you're not." Rex said.

Jack rolled his eyes and made a face at him, before he stage-whispered to the women, "Sure signs of someone who hasn't had a roll 'round in the old hay for while."

"I'm right here." Rex growled.

"Oh!" Jack looked at him in mock surprise. "I didn't notice the Ex-C.I.A. Agent beside me, I must be losing my touch."

Rex glared even harder. "Can please get back to work? It's not as if the world is at the fuck-end of fucked-up right now."

Jack smiled at him and stood, slowly approaching the pair. "Curves, brains, and blond hair. Our beautiful Esther Drummond." He whispered and she blushed, her gaze flickering away. "Lucky to have you on our side—for more reasons than one." The innuendo and flirtatious suggestion was clear.

Esther knew that he was just playing around, but she had to admit, it was kind of nice. People tended to over-look her (i.e. Rex Mattheson). She always wondered what it would be like to have this kind of camaraderie. Esther bit the inside of her cheek. She was just going to do it. After the floor not getting a clue and swallowing her from this entire mess, what else did she had to loose?

Esther finally met the man's eyes. "I thought's that's why you were around, Jack."

Jack smiled and leaned towards her lightly, his eyes dancing at the exchange. "We can do that together, huh?"

"Sure, of course." She nodded thoughtfully (heart secretly pounding in her chest; she stole herself), and then gave him a wicked grin as she said, "But you're package is probably more worthwhile."

"Ha!" Gwen barked in laughter and surprise. Well then, Esther could be a right cheeky one, couldn't she.

Jack grinned at her and laughed delightfully, giving the blond a wink. "Careful handling, please."

"Alright. Alright." Rex groused, standing and clapping his hands to get their attention. "Let's get to it. This is starting to turn into a very bad porn-cliché."

"So, you watch porn, then." Gwen crossed her arms over her chest and raised a brow at him.

Rex looked at her and deadpanned, "Don't we all?"

Esther, Jack, and Gwen all look at him for a second before they burst out laughing. And hey, Rex may have even cracked a smile. They would take it, where they could get it, these days.

[tbc]

TorCHwooD:M.D.

My bad attempted at people flirting with each other. :[]

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