FYI
The time frame for this Torchwood story occurs after Torchwood Series 2, Episode 1 (Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang) and before Series 2, Episode 6 (Reset).
Each section begins with a title in bold uppercase letters.
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THE CAFE
Jack for once wasn't waiting and watching for a Weevil while sitting at the Casa Celi café. He and Ianto were having a late lunch just the two of them alone. Talking about past events and laughing even at some of the not so pleasant ones. Jack was able to find humor in almost everything now and he enjoyed making Ianto smile and laugh. Ianto was gorgeous when he laughed.
Life was better for Jack since he returned to the team. The time he spent with the Doctor and Martha (Jack thought of it as the year that wasn't) had provided answers and insights. The Doctor explained why Jack can't die and why he had abandoned Jack on Satellite 5. It wasn't what he expected, but he could cope with the answer.
Even the time spent as the Master's captive wasn't wasted as far as Jack was concerned. He had plenty of time (in the intervals between him getting killed over and over again) to think about everything – his past as a time agent, a con man, a rogue. Jack had learned so much from the Doctor, Martha and Rose. Things that aren't taught in most books: Compassion, patience, responsibility, perseverance, love, and sacrifice. One person, even one with a very tarnished past, can make a huge difference and, as part of a team, can in fact save the world.
After The Doctor, Martha and he had saved the world from the Master, the Doctor had invited Jack to travel with him again. Tempting, but Jack knew what he needed most was to return to his team; to Torchwood. They needed him and more importantly, he needed them and missed them.
So, he said his goodbyes to the Doctor and Martha and went home. Home; Jack hadn't had a home to go to for so long and it felt right. No, it felt terrific! OK, the team had been pretty pissed that Jack had left without a word. But they eventually took him back into the fold. Still, Jack knew he had to rebuild bridges of trust with each member of the team.
Today Jack was rebuilding his bridge to Ianto. Judging by Ianto's laughter, the rebuilding was going very nicely indeed.
Lunch finished, Ianto was enjoying a coffee and Jack was drinking his usual glass of water. Out of habit, Jack was watching the crowd (you never know when a Weevil might appear) when he noticed a woman watching him. Not staring, just watching.
She was standing near a shop down the street alternating between looking at the window display and looking at Jack and Ianto. She appeared to be in her early 50s, 5 foot 4 inches tall, around 135 pounds and held a walking cane in her right hand. Her hair was salt and pepper cut in a short boyish style and her clothes were casual. Black slacks, teal pull over cotton top, Reebok trainers and a sweat jacket. Jack knew her from somewhere, but where? She was too far away to see the intricate details of her face. He knew she wasn't a threat, but he couldn't have said why he knew that as a fact.
Ianto had noticed her too. "She seems to be looking at you Jack. Do you know her?" Jack turned back to face Ianto. "I'm not sure, but there's something familiar about her." When Jack looked back she was gone. "Should we pursue her?" Ianto asked.
"No, but if I see her again, I'll talk to her. Anyway, we should head back to the Hub," replied Jack. He was certain that they would see her again and soon.
The daily meeting in the Hub boardroom was a bit boring. No new Weevil sightings, no unusual crimes or events and the rift activity was minimal. "Great," said Jack "gives us a chance to catch up on paperwork." The moaning from the team wasn't as bad as Jack expected. Owen, Tosh, Gwen, and Ianto went off to their respective desks to start plowing through unfinished reports.
Jack was reading through the reports the team had already completed and was updating his captain's log, when a signal came through to his computer display built into his desk. The brief text message was from Ianto. He was at the front desk of the tourist information office (a front for the main entrance to the Hub). The message simply said, "She's approaching the office. Look at the monitor."
Turning around to face the bank of monitors in his office, Jack activated the front office monitor using the remote control built into his time agent wrist band. The monitor blinked on and Jack could see the front office from Ianto's point of view. She was just entering the office and smiled at Ianto.
"May I help you madam?" asked Ianto.
"Hi. I liked to speak to Captain Jack Harkness," she replied (she spoke with an American accent.
"I'm sorry, but no Captain Jack Harkness works here. This is just a local tourist office," Ianto said while giving her his best smile.
Her smile didn't waver at this response. Leaning on the front desk, she looked at Ianto with gray eyes with splashes of green ringed with blue. "Look," she said without anger, "I saw you having lunch with Capt. Jack Harkness at the cafe this afternoon and you both entered this office. It's important that I speak with him. Tell him it's Annie." Then, she looked directly at the camera as if she could see Jack through its lens. "Uncle Jack, it's me, Annie Halliday. I know I'm not the little girl you remember, but look at my eyes. You know who I am."
Jack was already heading towards the front office.
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THE TOURIST OFFICE
Annie and Ianto both turned to look at Jack as he walked through the hidden doorway. She didn't seem surprised by the hidden entrance. Her smile broadened and her eyes sparkled when she saw Jack.
Jack walked over to her and stood there gazing at her face. He towered over her. Annie started to reach out to Jack, hesitated, and put her hand down by her side. She just stood there quietly looking up at him and waiting. The last time Jack had seen those eyes, she was just 17 years old.
"Annie," Jack whispered. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her gently.
"I guess I shouldn't call you Uncle Jack anymore," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "People will think I'm weird, but that's nothing new is it?" Jack chuckled and replied, "You're not weird," and then in unison they said, "You're just a special, delicate flower," and they both laughed.
"Jack, we need to talk," Annie said in a serious voice. Ianto, who had watched this scene between Jack and Annie, asked Jack if he wanted his coat.
"No," Jack replied, "I'll just take Annie up to my office." Jack took Annie by the hand and together they walked into the Torchwood Hub, leaving a very surprised Ianto at the front desk.
As Jack walked slowly through the Hub, matching his pace to Annie's, he saw the puzzled looks on the faces of Gwen, Tosh and Owen. "This is Annie. We're old friends. I'm taking her up to my office for a chat," he said, raising his eyebrows at them sending a silent message that he wouldn't answer any questions right now.
Annie was looking at the vastness of the Hub when she heard the screech of the pterodactyl. Most people would have been terrified, but she just smiled and asked Jack if it was the group's mascot. "Not really. He's just a stray that showed up on our doorstep and kind of adopted us," he replied with a grin.
After Jack and Annie were settled in his office, Ianto came into the Hub and walked towards the others. "Who the hell is that?" asked Owen, without looking at Ianto. "The last person Jack introduced us to damn near killed us all." He was referring to Capt. John Hart, a time agent who used to be Jack's partner. Hart turned out to be a nasty fellow who shot Owen, poisoned Gwen, beat up Tosh, and threw Jack off the roof of a building, all in one night. Fortunately, the team outsmarted him and sent him packing via the rift.
Ianto stepped up to one of the computers and started punching keys. "She's American and her name is Annie Halliday. Jack knows her and was apparently very close to her when she was a child."
"How do you know that?" asked Tosh perplexed. Ianto looked at her and said, "She called him 'Uncle Jack'." Returning his attention to the computer screen, Ianto rattled off additional information.
"Annie Halliday, exact date of birth unknown, but presumed to be 1956. Her parents, or least they assume it was her parents, died in a car accident in Nevada 1956. She was also in the accident, but was rescued from the burning car before it exploded," Ianto continued as he scrolled through the official reports displayed on the screen. "Her rescuer was identified as one Capt. Jack Harkness, a RAF pilot on loan to the US Air Force."
The team looked up at Jack and Annie talking quietly with their heads close together. Jack was holding Annie's hand and gently rubbing his thumb over the top of her hand in a comforting gesture. "I guess the uncle title is honorary," Gwen said to no one in particular.
"What other information do we have on her?" Gwen asked.
Ianto was accessing another database and said, "Jack asked for and was granted temporary guardianship over Annie and personally screened potential couples who wanted to adopt her."
He continued in a quiet voice, "It seems Annie was terribly injured in the crash and it was a miracle she survived. The doctors said it would take years and multiple surgeries before Annie would be able to walk. Jack wanted to make sure that anyone who adopted her would be willing to take on the tremendous task and raise her in a loving, caring environment." He finally chose Ed and Mary Halliday. Ed was a doctor and Mary was a teacher. Mary quit her job to take care of Annie full time."
Owen looked at the medical reports of her injuries, several medical tests and surgeries for a few minutes while the rest of the team waited. Finally he said, "The cost alone of all the necessary surgeries would have strapped them financially."
"It appears Jack helped out financially, setting up a trust fund that paid for all the surgeries and for her education," murmured Ianto. "Ed and Mary Halliday let Jack visit Annie anytime he wanted and he was around often enough that Annie started calling him 'Uncle Jack'."
They all looked at each other. Gwen and Tosh had tears in their eyes. Ianto looked at Owen and then back up at Jack and Annie. Jack must have said something funny because Annie was laughing. Owen started to say, "Just when you think you've figured Jack out. . ." and then he just stopped in mid sentence. "Never boring with Jack around," Ianto agreed.
The silence of the moment became awkward for all of them. "Well, I think I'll make some fresh coffee," commented Ianto as he closed the various reports and files he still had displayed on the screen. The others murmured something about having tasks they still needed to complete and they slowly moved back to their desks.
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HOW I MET YOUR DOCTOR
"What do you think?" asked Jack as he gazed at his team through his office window.
"Oh, I'm sure they've already pulled up all the background information on me by now," Annie replied, as another smile played across her face. "Looks like you've put together a great team Jack."
"Yes I have," Jack responded. Making direct eye contact with Annie Jack said, "But you're not here just to talk to your old Uncle Jack about your childhood or my team, Annie. Why are you really here?"
Annie sifted around in her chair, leaned back and looked at Jack thoughtfully. Jack knew that look all too well. Annie had something important on her mind and she was trying to figure out the best way to say it. He waited and gave her as much time as she needed.
Finally, she said, "There are a few things I need to tell you Jack. First, I met your Doctor."
Jack was surprised; he was not expecting that statement from her. He had told Annie all about himself and the Doctor when she was little and hadn't tried to disguise the details as fairy tales. For some reason not quite clear to him, he knew that Annie would understand the truth and would not share it with anyone else. "Are you sure it was my Doctor?" he asked.
"Well, he didn't have his hair short or wear a black jacket like you had mentioned to me. His hair was long and kind of mussed up and he wore a pinstripe suite, long overcoat and athletic shoes. I think they call them trainers over here. He did have the blue sonic screwdriver and the old-fashioned British Police Box you told me was his TARDIS. Your description of his personality and quirks was dead on. The Doctor was arrogant, funny, quick-witted, talked a mile a minute, happy, sad, angry, and his mind went in several different directions at any given moment. He had this red-headed woman with him. Her name was Donna. Anyway, she was British and not afraid to speak her mind. I kind of liked her."
"Hmm, must be a new companion. I wonder if Martha went back home to London?" mused Jack. "But that's definitely my Doctor," he grinned. "Where did you meet him?"
"I met him in Hollywood, California. Seems some aliens had taken up residence in some of the unfinished portions of the subway system out there," Annie said this casually, as if it were an everyday occurrence not even worthy as a small news article in the back section of the Los Angles Times.
"What were the aliens after?" asked Jack.
"I'm not sure, but whatever they wanted involved activating the San Andreas Fault," she replied. "So there I was riding the subway when the Doctor swings down from the roof and into the car I was riding in. He put on his glasses and told everyone, 'Hello,' and promptly activated the emergency brakes. Then he told us all to run for our lives and I just stood there looking at him. I asked him if it looked like I could run and who the hell was he?" Annie said.
Jack couldn't help but grin. He could picture Annie standing there leaning on her cane giving the Doctor what for. He shook his head and asked Annie to continue.
"Well, he says to me, 'Look, I'm the Doctor and I need you to get out of here,' I told him I knew about the Doctor, but that didn't change the fact that I couldn't run. He looked at me as if I was a Slitheen and asked me who I was and how did I know his name?
All of a sudden it was more important to him to find out how I knew about him rather than me running for my life. So I told him my name and that I knew about him because of you. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him about you and me.
Anyway, at that point this red-head comes in the back door yelling, 'They're coming this way!' and stops dead in her tracks. Looks at me and then looks at the Doctor and says, 'Oi, Space boy, who's this then?'
The Doctor says, 'Donna, this is Annie Halliday, Annie, Donna Noble. Annie's a friend of a friend.' Donna shakes my hand and spots my cane. 'Let me guess, he told you to run for your life, right?' I nodded and Donna smacks the Doctor's arm. 'I can't believe you said that to someone holding a cane. What did you think it was for, a decoration?'
'Ow, stop hitting me,' the Doctor complained. 'Sorry, I was a bit preoccupied alright?'
'That's better,' Donna said 'Annie, why don't you and I hide behind the bench over there alright?'
'Sounds like a plan to me,' the Doctor agreed. 'Annie, let's hope you live to tell your Uncle Jack all about this.'
So Donna and I hid behind the bench while the Doctor stood in the aisle staring at the back door and we waited. I heard this shuffling outside the back door and then this squeaky kind of voice told the Doctor to surrender. 'No, sorry, but I couldn't possibly surrender today. How about next Thursday at, say, ten-ish?' The Doctor had his sonic screw driver out by this point and gave me a wink and a smile and said 'Jack would love this!'" Annie paused to catch her breath.
Jack again held Annie's hand and asked, "Are you OK?" Annie nodded her head. "So, tell me what happened," he asked encouraging her to continue.
Annie smiled weakly at Jack and said, "I'm not quite sure Jack. The lights dimmed and the back door blew in and there was noise and smoke and Donna and I screamed. The Doctor was in front of us and the next thing I knew, he was down on the floor." Annie was looking through Jack, not seeing him, but seeing the scene replay in her mind.
"I don't know what they were, Jack. Couldn't really see them clearly, but they were coming for us. Donna was kneeling on the floor shaking the Doctor trying to wake him up. The Doctor started to sit up, but the creatures were getting too close. The next thing I knew I was standing in front of the Doctor. I must have dropped my cane somewhere, because it wasn't in my hand anymore. I raised my hands palms out toward the creatures, and I remembering yelling 'No,' and then there was this blast of energy from somewhere nearby and I was knocked to the floor."
Annie's eyes refocused on Jack. "Jack," she whispered, "when I opened my eyes, the creatures were gone and the Doctor was bending over me calling my name."
Jack handed her a glass of water. "Here. Drink this." Annie took a sip or two of water and put it shakily down on the table, spilling some of the water. "Sorry. I'm a bit clumsy at the moment," she said apologetically.
"Don't worry about that," Jack said as he wiped up the spill with his handkerchief. "What happened after you woke up?" He asked.
"The Doctor was saying my name and when I looked at his face, I saw he was really concerned and maybe a little scared too. He said, 'Annie, it's OK. It's all over. I've got you.' He got me up on my feet and we left the train. 'Best not to be around when the police arrive,' he told me, 'way too much paperwork.'
The Doctor and Donna took me back to the TARDIS and the Doctor gave me a quick once over. He asked a lot of questions, about me, the car accident, your involvement, my adoptive parents, how many surgeries I had, and whether I had any major illnesses after I recovered from the accident. Anyway, after I answered all of his questions, he didn't answer mine. Wouldn't tell me who the creatures were or what they wanted. All he said was that I had helped prevent a major catastrophe. Then he smiles and says, 'Who wants Mexican food? I have a craving for Mexican food. Let's go, shall we?'
After we had dinner we returned to the TARDIS and the Doctor chatted with me while he wrote a letter. When he was done, he put the letter in an envelope, sealed it and handed the envelope to me. He held both my hands, and told me, 'Annie, you're a fantastic person; very special, indeed.
Look, I want you to do something for me. I need you to take this letter to Captain Jack. He's working at the Torchwood Institute in Cardiff, Wales. It's for his eyes only.' I told him he was scaring me. The Doctor smiled and told me, 'There's no need to be frightened Annie. Everything will be fine. I just need you to travel to Cardiff and tell Jack everything you've seen and done today and then give him this letter. Jack will know what to do.' As I started to leave the Tardis Donna gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear, 'I don't know who this Jack is luv, but if the Doctor trusts him to help you then you're going to be OK. Just give Jack the letter like the Doctor told you.' So, here I am Jack. And here's the letter."
Annie pulled the letter out of her tote bag and placed it on the table in front of Jack. She rose from the table and went to the window that overlooks the entire main floor of the Hub. She stood with her back to Jack to give him time to read the letter without her watching him.
Jack opened the envelope, hesitated a moment, then pulled out the letter.
"Dear Jack,
Leave it to you to find someone as special as Annie. She saved my life today plus most of the western United States. By now she's told you all she remembers about the incident.
Here's the part she doesn't remember. When I regained consciousness, Annie was standing between me and my little friends. What species they were is irrelevant at this point. Her cane had dropped to the floor and she was holding her hands in front of her, palms pointing out toward the back door. She screamed, "No!" and then an energy pulse shot out from her palms, blowing the little fellers out of the car and about 40 yards down the track. Annie didn't kill any of them. Oh, hurt some of them yes, but they all ran away under their own power and then left the planet.
After she discharged the energy pulse she collapsed to the floor and was out for about five minutes. We got her back to the TARDIS and I ran some quick scans. She's OK and based on her answers to my questions, she is completely unaware of what she did or is capable of doing. I understand that she has no recollection of her biological parents and the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. Based on what I've seen and the data I picked up from my scans, Annie is half human and half some other species. Which species I'm not completely certain (yeah, surprised me too), but I am certain that she is not a threat to anyone unless she feels she or others around her are in danger.
I could have taken Annie with me to several hospitals in the future where they would probably be able to quickly tell us what her non-human half is, but she's too delicate, medically speaking and I don't want to take the chance of hurting her by taking her anywhere in the TARDIS.
Annie told me when you pulled her out of that burning car years ago she knew instantly she was safe and felt connected to you. Somehow Annie and you bonded in an extraordinary way Jack. I suspect if you look back on the event now, you'll realize you've always trusted her and felt connected to her as well. Otherwise, you'd have never told her about yourself or me.
It's up to you and your Torchwood team to solve this mystery and to help Annie understand who she is and what's going on with her body and how she can control it.
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being Volcano Day I'd say Annie's condition is about a 6. Good luck Jack.
Best regards,
The Doctor"
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THE EXPLANATION
Jack read the letter twice, then folded it up, slipped it back into the envelope and locked it up in his desk.
Annie, still standing at the window, spoke to Jack without turning around. "The Doctor did answer one of my questions Jack. I asked him if he had seen you since Satellite 5."
'Yes, I saw Jack not too long ago. He helped Martha and I solve a slight problem. Why do you ask?' said the Doctor.
"He's been waiting a long time to see you again. Jack wanted to know why he can't die. Did you give him an explanation?"
'Oh, yes, I told Jack how it all happened. But I think he should tell you the details if he wants to,' replied the Doctor.
Annie turned around and studied Jack's face for a moment. "You don't have to tell me anything unless you want to. I'm just glad the Doctor explained it to you."
Jack rose from the chair and joined Annie by the window. "You remember me telling you how I died fighting the Daleks on Satellite 5?" he asked. Annie nodded her head. "From what the Doctor told me, his companion, my friend Rose, somehow accessed the heart of the TARDIS and absorbed the power of the Time Vortex. With that power she destroyed the Daleks and brought me back to life. Being a human, Rose couldn't completely control this process and as a result, she brought me back permanently. I can never die."
"You're OK with that?" Annie asked.
"Pretty much," he replied.
She laid her hand on Jack's arm for a moment. "And Rose; is she alright?"
Jack nodded. "She's fine and living with her family." (He felt there was no need to tell Annie that Rose was stuck on a parallel Earth with no way back.)
"I'm glad you have your answer, Jack. It was the one thing that kept gnawing at you the whole time I've known you. When I first saw you at the café with Ianto today, you seemed so relaxed and happy. I figured you must have found your answer, or was it the pleasure of Ianto's company?" She said this last part with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Jack smiled and almost blushed. "Let's say it was a little of both and leave it at that, OK?"
"Fair enough," replied Annie. "Well, I guess I can't put it off any longer. The Doctor's letter was about me, wasn't it Jack?"
"It was. Let's sit back down at the table and I'll tell you everything the Doctor told me." Jack led Annie back to her chair and then took her step by step through the incident as the Doctor had described it.
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MEET THE TEAM
It was like seeing a choreographed performance. Ianto walked into the Hub heading towards the boardroom and was joined in his walk by Owen, Tosh and Gwen in rapid succession. "I guess it's time for the grand introduction followed by a quick 'the world's not going to end today boys and girls' speech," Owen quipped.
"Stop it Owen," Tosh said. "It's obvious that Annie is very important to Jack and he wouldn't have asked us to join them if he didn't need our help. So let's hear what he has to say."
"All right, but I better not get shot this time," huffed Owen as they climb the stairs. When the team entered the boardroom, Jack was standing at the head of the table and Annie was sitting to his left. He introduced each one to Annie. "This is Owen, Toshiko, Gwen and you already met Ianto." Annie shook each person's hand in turn as they all got seated. Ianto and Gwen sat to Annie's left and Tosh and Owen sat to Jack's right.
Jack told them about the incident, but left out the details regarding the Doctor and his TARDIS (he wanted them focused on helping Annie; not wondering about the Doctor). "OK, anyone have any ideas or questions?" Jack inquired.
Owen leaned forward resting his arms on the table, already in his doctor mode. He asked, "So there's been no previous hint about this power you have. Nothing unusual in any of the medical tests you've had over the years?"
"None at all," replied Annie.
"What about feelings?" Gwen inquired. "Did you ever have a sense that you were different from other people?"
"I've always felt I was different from other people, but I thought it was the result of losing my parents, having to go through all those surgeries and not being able to do the things that normal children can do."
Ianto asked, "What do you think Jack? Do you think your level of effort to help Annie was just because you cared about her or did you sense there was more to it than that?"
Jack didn't answer right away. He mulled it over before saying, "When I rescued Annie from the car, she was badly injured, but I knew she was alive because she was crying. As I carried her away from the car, it exploded throwing me and Annie to the ground. After I stood back up with her in my arms she had stopped crying. I thought she was dead," Jack said. He stopped for a moment to clear his throat and then continued.
"Annie then took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She didn't cry anymore, but just place her hand on my chest and looked at me." That was when I felt it," he said.
"Felt what?" asked Tosh.
"Connected to her somehow," Jack replied. He briefly closed his eyes trying to remember that first moment. "It's hard to explain. As she looked at me I could hear her heartbeat and felt my heartbeat change its rhythm until it matched hers."
"Hang on half a mo'," Owen said. He left the boardroom for a moment and returned with some wireless monitors. "Just out of curiosity," he said as he placed one monitor on Jack's right wrist, "let's check it out." As he approached Annie he asked, "May I?" Annie held out her right wrist without hesitation. After he placed the monitor on her wrist Owen continued around the room and placed monitors on the others and him as well.
Taking his seat again, Owen punched a few keys on his laptop and the results appeared on the boardroom's main monitor. "As you can see, the readings on Tosh, Gwen, Ianto, and me show our heartbeats are steady, but not in synch with one another. Let's add Jack's reading to the mix," he said as he pressed another key. Jack's heartbeat joined the heartbeats of the rest of his team on the monitor and again a steady heartbeat, but not matching any of the others.
"Last, but not least, Annie." Her heartbeat appeared on the monitor beneath Jack's and everyone in the room watched as her heart beat in exact synch with Jack's heart. Owen removed the rest of the team's heart monitor readings from the main monitor leaving only Jack and Annie's readings. The sound of their heartbeats filled the silence of the room for a moment.
"Is there any difference in our heartbeats at all?" asked Jack unable to take his eyes off the monitor.
"If there is, it's so small that I can't detect it with my instruments," replied Owen.
"What does it mean?" Annie asked as she turned her focus away from the monitor and on to Owen.
"Honestly I have no idea," he said. "At this point it merely confirms what Jack felt when he rescued you from the car."
Jack turned away from the monitor and placed his hand reassuringly on Annie's hand. He looked at his team and said, "Obviously I can't be very objective about this situation, so I'm relying on all of you to figure out what tests and procedures need to be done so we can figure out what's happening and how Annie can learn to control her abilities."
"Abilities; does she have additional ones we haven't been told about, Jack?" Gwen asked with concern.
"You know everything we know, Gwen," Jack responded in a gentle tone. "The thing is we can't assume that our matching heartbeats and the energy pulse Annie generated are the only things she can do. There may be other abilities that haven't appeared yet. That's why," he continued, "I want every precaution taken to protect the team and Annie." Jack looked at each member of his team as he made this announcement.
He looked at Annie and said, "Annie, I know you're scared, but if anyone can figure this out it's my team. I trust them and I need you to trust them too. Plus I need your promise that you'll cooperate with them. Will you do that?"
Annie looked at Jack, "I promise Jack," she replied and looking at the others sitting as the table Annie said, "I promise all of you."
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MOVING IN
It was decided that Annie would move into the Hub and stay in one of the spare rooms in the infirmary. This would allow 24/7 observation and also provide a layer of security to protect her and those around her. Jack felt guilty about keeping her under constant surveillance, but the team insisted it was the safest approach to the situation. Annie was in total agreement and told Jack to "get over it," using one of his favorite sayings against him.
Gwen went with Annie to her lodgings (a bed and breakfast near the Millennium Centre) and retrieved her belongings. Her belongings didn't amount to much: One wheeled luggage case for clothes, a small bag of toiletries and a traveling case for her laptop, its accessories and her digital camera. Add the tote and shoulder bag she'd left at the Hub and one realized she traveled light by most women's standards.
When they returned to the Hub with her belongings, Gwen showed her which room she would use while she stayed with them. "Sorry, it's not as nice as the place you were staying. I'm sure it will just be for a short time."
"Actually it's better than most of the hospitals I've stayed at Gwen," Annie joked. "Besides, I have my work to keep me busy when you lot aren't putting me through my paces."
"What is your line of work?" Gwen inquired as she helped Annie hang up her clothes.
"I'm a writer," Annie responded. "Really," Gwen asked, "what kind of writing do you do?"
"Oh I've done everything from freelance articles to writing fiction. Mainly I've written a series of historical romances for the past few years."
"I like historical romances. Maybe I've read some of yours. What are some of the titles?" Gwen asked with genuine interest.
"Well my two best selling series have been the Scottish Highlander series and the RAF Lover series set during World War II," Annie said as she sat down on the bed to rest for a moment.
"I read the Highlander series when I was a teenager. Those stories were great," Gwen said with enthusiasm. "Haven't read the RAF Lover series, though," she admitted. "Did you write that series because of Jack?"
"Well, I thought that would sell better than a rogue time agent lover in a Sci-fi series. Besides, that would have been a little too close to home for me," Annie replied with a smile and mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Yeah, well I suppose that's true," agreed Gwen.
There was a knock on the door. "Everyone decent?" inquired Owen. He and Ianto entered after the girls told them to come in.
"Do we start the tests today, Owen?" Gwen asked.
"No, we'll start in the morning, but I would like you, Annie, to wear this monitor," he said as he showed her the bracelet-style monitor. "It's similar to the one we used earlier today, but it monitors all your vital signs without you having to be tethered to a machine."
Annie agreed to wear it. "What are all the vital signs that it monitors?" she asked as he put it on her right wrist.
"It monitors heartbeat and respiratory rate like the other one, but also monitors brain waves, REM, blood pressure, blood gases, and adrenaline levels.
As you can feel, it's lightweight and won't interfere with your movements and being waterproof, you can shower with it on, OK?"
"OK," Annie said. She looked at Owen for a moment and then asked him if they knew what procedures and tests they would start with tomorrow.
"Well, we've discussed it at length and think it's best we start with the routine medical tests. Once we have the test results we'll decide what to do next all right?" Owen asked.
Annie nodded her agreement and then looked at Ianto, who seemed a little uncomfortable. "Why do I get the feeling," she said to Ianto, "that you've drawn the short straw on some task that you'd really rather not do?"
Ianto reluctantly responded, "I don't know how else to say this, but in order to keep everyone safe, we decided that I should examine your belongings to make sure that you haven't. . ." Ianto struggled for words that would not come to him.
"Make sure I haven't brought any weapons of mass destruction with me?" Annie guessed.
Ianto looked relieved and said, "Yes I'm afraid so."
Annie stood up from the bed and smiled at Ianto. "You go right ahead and do what you've got to do Ianto," she said. "Just be sure to refold my underwear nicely when you're done, OK?" She walked out of the room with Gwen and did not see Ianto blush a deep red over this last remark.
Owen patted Ianto on the back and said, "Be brave my good man. I'll leave you alone with your task," and ambled out of the room.
As Annie walked with Gwen onto the main floor of the Hub she looked up at Jack who was sitting in his office going over reports. "I feel bad about putting Jack through all this. Is he OK?" Annie asked Gwen.
Gwen also looked at Jack and said, "He'll be fine. I'm certain that he's worried about you and wants to help you," she replied.
"Yeah, but he's also worried about all of you, because he doesn't know what's happening to me. He's probably wondering just like I am if I'm going to become some kind of monster and hurt one or all of you," Annie said quietly.
"Annie, we won't let that happen. That's why we're taking all these precautions." Gwen responded.
********************************************************************
THE UPDATE
Owen, Ianto and Tosh entered Jack's office a short time later. Jack looked at them and asked them for an update on everything.
"She's wearing the monitor. She didn't even hesitate about putting it on," Owen said.
"Does she know all of its functions?" Jack asked.
"She knows all about the monitor functions, but she's not aware that the monitor also has a GPS locator." Owen replied.
Ianto reported next. "I checked all her belongings including her cane. Nothing detected. Tosh checked out her laptop and electronics."
"All of which were fine. No viruses, no spyware, no hidden instruments or illegal transmitters within the electronics," Tosh said.
Jack nodded his head. "Thanks guys. I really appreciate the way you're handling this situation." He looked out his office window at Gwen and Annie chatting at Gwen's desk. "How's she doing so far?"
"She's handling this entire thing quite well Jack," Ianto said.
Owen added, "Annie's worried obviously, but she's a real trooper."
"I think she's more worried about you Jack," Tosh responded.
"She's always been that way, even when she was little and in tremendous pain. Always worried about everyone else," Jack said. "Does she have to stay inside the Hub the whole time?" he asked.
Ianto, Owen and Tosh looked at each other and shrugged. "No, we think it's OK for her to go out as long as she wears the monitor and one of us accompanies her," Tosh replied.
Jack looked at them and said, "Does 'one of us' include me?"
"Don't see why not," replied Ianto. "Besides we thought it would be good to see if any of her readings change dramatically when she's with you."
"Works for me," Jack said as he stood up from his desk and started to put on his coat.
"Jack," Owen said, "Would you mind wearing the regular heart monitor bracelet for awhile? I just want to see if yours and Annie's heartbeats are always in synch or if it's just when you're near each other."
Jack had already partially pulled his coat on, but stopped and turned to look at Owen. "Why?" Jack asked. "Do you think that might be important?"
Owen replied, "Possibly. Think about it Jack; if you and Annie are always in synch, how strong is your link to each other? Is it strong enough to hurt her if you're killed?"
Jack stared at Owen for a moment. Finally he said, "I hadn't even considered that possibility Owen. Of course I'll wear the monitor."
Owen attached the regular monitor to Jack's right arm. Jack finished pulling on his coat.
"It might be a good idea to be a little less gung ho too," Tosh suggested. "At least until we know more anyway."
"Right," Jack said as he nodded in agreement.
"Other than that no worries then," Ianto added trying to lighten the mood.
Jack realized what Ianto was trying to do. He smiled and said, "Yeah. No worries."
So, where are you planning to take Annie tonight?" Ianto asked.
"I'll take her to the café for dinner and maybe for a walk down to the bay. Don't worry; we'll be home before midnight."
"I'll leave the light on," responded Ianto. "I'm on duty all night, so see you when you get back."
Jack smiled at Ianto, nodded at the others and went down the stairs two at a time. "Hey Annie," Jack said as he walked towards Gwen and Annie. "My old man said I could have the car tonight; how about a date?"
*********************************************************************
A DINNER AND A STROLL
Jack and Annie had a quiet dinner at the café, which was unusual for them. Normally Jack would tell her some adventure he had had since he last talked to her or tell her naughty jokes, but not tonight.
Afterwards, Jack took her on a long walk down to the bay. The night was cold, but the clear night sky was awash with thousands of stars. Annie walked with her left arm looped through Jack's right and held her cane in her right hand. They didn't say much of anything until they got down to the bay. They were leaning against a rail gazing out over the bay, when Jack looked over at Annie and realized that she was growing old. He felt the familiar pain and anger that always happened whenever someone he had allowed himself to love grew old and would one day die and he'd feel another part of his heart torn away.
Sensing his mood change Annie said, "This is the part of the story when Wendy says to Peter Pan, and I'm paraphrasing here, 'I am old, Peter. I am ever so much more than twenty. I grew up long ago and I've forgotten how to fly.'"
Jack smiled (not too convincingly) and replied, "Oh, so now you're comparing me to a little boy who wears tights and flies around women's bedrooms?"
"No, of course not; although you'd look fantastic in tights," Annie said as she turned to look at him. "I'm just saying I'm not dead yet, Jack. But I think I've learned the hard way a little bit about what you must have gone through over the years."
"Do you mean when your adoptive parents, Ed and Mary died a few years ago?" asked Jack.
"Yes, but there's more to it than just losing Ed and Mary," responded Annie. "You and I have only spoken a few times since you went away to find the Doctor and although I've told you about most of my life, I haven't told you everything."
"Annie, you don't have to tell me every little detail about your life," Jack said.
"I know, but tomorrow when Owen starts running the medical tests, he will report the test results and might tell you something that I think you should hear from me," she replied. "Just like Wendy in Peter Pan, I was married once and had a child," Annie began, "My husband was a wonderful man I met in Scotland after I graduated from college. I was doing research for one of my books. His name was Andrew MacMillan and he loved me very much. You would have liked him.
I tried to dissuade him from marrying me, because he was such a healthy, active man and there was no way I could have gone off and done all the activities he loved to do. But he was almost as stubborn as you and eventually wore me down and I agreed to marry him."
"How long were you married?" Jack inquired.
"We were married for eight years. He'd go hiking and fishing while I stayed home working on my books. Every time he came home he'd bring me flowers or some lovely trinket. I was very much in love.
Andrew never asked for children, but I knew he'd make a wonderful father. I didn't do anything to get or not get pregnant. If it was going to happen it would. We'd been married for three years when I found out I was pregnant. Andrew was thrilled and frightened at the same time when I told him," Annie smiled at the memory.
"My pregnancy went surprisingly well and I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. He had all his parts in all the right places. We named him Michael Andrew MacMillan."
Jack just smiled, but didn't say anything, because he had a feeling of foreboding. He waited for Annie to continue.
"We were a very happy family, Jack. I felt complete. Then, when Michael was almost four years old, he and my husband Andrew were killed by a drunk driver." Silent tears rolled down Annie's face. "I never told you before because you've already known too much loss and pain."
"I'm so sorry Annie," Jack said. He drew Annie into his arms and held her while she cried quietly. He felt warm tears rolling down his own face. Slowly, her tears subsided. Jack took his handkerchief out and dried Annie's tears. His mobile started ringing.
"Shit," he said as he took his mobile out. Ianto was calling him. "Yeah," Jack gruffly said.
"Are you OK Jack?" Ianto asked. Jack hugged Annie with his right arm as he said, "I'm fine. Annie's fine," Jack responded. "Why?"
"Both of your heart rates went up and there was a bit of an energy surge recorded at your location. Are you positive you're both OK?" Ianto repeated himself. He sounded worried.
"I'm certain we're both OK," Jack assured him. "We're heading back to the Hub. See you in a few minutes."
"Right, see you soon." Ianto said as he rang off.
Jack put his mobile away and asked Annie if she was OK.
"No, but I will be," she answered. "Let's head back. And Jack,"
"Yeah?" he said.
"Thanks for listening and understanding," Annie said.
Jack gave her a brief smile and said, "Hey, that's what uncles are for, remember?"
They headed back to the car arm in arm.
**********************************************************
THE USUAL MEDICAL TESTS
Annie spent most of the next day with Owen and Gwen. Owen ran the usual medical tests as well as using the Bekaran device to scan Annie's body without any invasive procedures. Gwen helped Owen with some of the tests, but mainly she was there to provide moral support for Annie.
Tosh, Ianto and Jack were working on another assignment. Jack and Ianto were out of the office checking on a Weevil sighting and Tosh was assisting in their search using the link to the police communications system and the CCTV cameras spread throughout Cardiff.
By mid-afternoon Owen had run all his tests on Annie and now they simply had to wait for the results. Annie had given Owen information on the death of her family (not knowing that Jack had already told him) and the names and addresses of all the hospitals that she had been a patient in over the years. Owen would access the older hospital test reports on Annie and use them as a baseline comparison against the tests he ran that morning.
"We're almost done now. Just a few more of questions to go; your current medications are limited to the medicine for allergies and the pain, correct?" asked Owen. Annie nodded her head. "Do you always need your cane to help you walk or is it for bad days?"
"It's for bad days; I always try to have my cane with me, but I don't always need it," Annie explained.
"So are these 'bad days' having to do with pain or the functioning of your legs?" Gwen asked. "If you don't mind me asking," she added.
Annie replied, "Some days the pain is intense, other days it's the stiffness of the legs and sometimes it's a combination of both."
"Thank you Nurse Gwen," Owen said as he wrote on the chart.
Gwen replied, "Sorry Dr. Owen," trying to look chastened.
Looking at Annie Owen asked, "Do you use a pain intensity scale?"
"Yes, in fact, Jack introduced the idea to me and my adoptive parents when I was a child. We use the 'on of scale of 1 to 10, 10 being call 911 or rather 999 here in the UK' measurement."
"Good, we'll use your method to measure pain levels then," Owen replied as he finished writing on the chart.
"OK Annie," Owen said. "Now that I've made you feel like a pin cushion all we have to do is wait for the test results and then we'll figure out what's next."
"Look at the time," remarked Gwen. "It's half past 2:00 o'clock. You must be starving Annie. I know I am."
"Yes I am hungry," admitted Annie. "Do you have any Chinese restaurants nearby?"
"There's one not too far from here. Shall I drive or do you feel like walking?" asked Gwen.
"I'd rather walk," Annie responded. She looked over at Owen. "Owen, do you want to come along with us or could we bring something back for you?"
"I have to access those hospital reports and wait for the test results, so I better stay here," Owen absentmindedly responded without looking up from his computer screen. "Some Kung Pao chicken with spring rolls would be lovely, thanks."
"And how about you Tosh?" asked Gwen as she and Annie were walking past Tosh's station.
"Sounds great," Tosh replied. "You might want to get extra food, because Ianto and Jack have caught a Weevil and will be returning to the Hub soon. I'm sure they'll be hungry."
"OK, I'll get our usual choices, so there's something for everyone. We'll be back in two shakes," Gwen yelled back over her shoulder as she and Annie headed out through the front office.
********************************************
ANNIE MEETS A WEEVIL
Jack and Ianto arrived back at the Hub a short time later with another Weevil.
"Where's Annie?" asked Jack as he and Ianto wrestled with the Weevil.
"She and Gwen went out to get some Chinese food for all of us," Tosh responded. "They'll be back any moment. Do you need some extra help?" she asked.
"No, we've got him, but he's one pissed off Weevil, because we didn't let him have his fun. Course his idea of fun was to try and rip out a little old lady's throat," Jack replied.
Ianto and Jack were semi-dragging the Weevil down the stairs to the holding cells, when Annie and Gwen came in through the cogwheel door carrying the Chinese food.
The Weevil saw his chance and decided to make a break for the open door. He knocked Jack and Ianto off their feet and started lumbering toward the door.
Gwen saw the Weevil coming towards them and she dropped the bags of food she was carrying and started to pull her gun out. Jack and Ianto had recovered and were chasing the Weevil.
"Annie, get out of the way!" yelled Gwen, but Annie appeared not to hear Gwen. Instead she dropped her bags and cane where she was, took a defensive stance and put out her hands as if she was holding an imaginary basketball. Gwen, Jack and Ianto could see a small ball of energy form in between her hands. Apparently, the Weevil could see the ball of energy too, because he stopped about three feet away from Annie. She was looking curiously at the ball of energy and back to the Weevil. It appeared Annie was waiting to see if the Weevil would make a move.
The Weevil didn't cower, but he didn't move; he was simply staring at Annie. Jack and Ianto grabbed the Weevil from behind and stunned him. The Weevil crumpled to the floor.
Jack approached Annie and said, "It's OK now Annie. The Weevil's been neutralized. Try to turn off the energy ball in front of you."
Tosh and Owen arrived on the scene as Annie said, "I'm not sure how to turn it off, Jack."
Owen said softly, "Annie, try closing your eyes and relaxing. Think to yourself, 'I'm OK, no one's been hurt, and I don't have to defend myself. Give it a try."
Annie followed Owen's instructions. She closed her eyes, and visibly relaxed. Slowly, the ball of energy dissipated. She opened her eyes again and said, "I did it. It worked," and then her face went pale and she started to sway. Owen and Jack reached her at the same time. They both steadied her so she didn't fall. Tosh brought over a chair and they helped her sit down.
Owen crouched down beside Annie and told her, "Take some nice slow, deep breaths Annie. That's good. You're doing great." He took out a pen light and shined it in both of Annie's eyes. Next he pulled out a specialized PDA and read the signals he was receiving from the wireless monitor on her wrist. He nodded in satisfaction and said to Jack and the others, "Her vital signs are fine. Tosh and I can get her down to the infirmary Jack, so why don't you and Ianto get Mr. Potato Head down to a holding cell?"
Jack didn't move he just kept gazing at Annie. Ianto came up behind him and said, "Come on Jack; let Owen do what he does best. You can go and see her after we put the Weevil in a cell."
He looked from Ianto to Owen and asked, "You're sure she's OK?"
Owen nodded again. "Yes Jack I'm sure," he confirmed as he looked Jack directly in the eye. Jack nodded his thanks and turned to help Ianto take the Weevil downstairs.
Gwen had put her gun away and was retrieving the bags containing their lunch of Chinese food from the floor. "I'll take these up to the boardroom and see you there shortly."
"Thanks Gwen," Tosh said as she and Owen helped Annie to the infirmary.
********************************************
A LATE LUNCH
Jack and Ianto arrived in the boardroom after they had locked the Weevil up. Gwen and Tosh were putting the Chinese food out and plates, chopsticks, forks, serving spoons, and napkins.
Before Jack could ask how Annie was doing, Tosh smiled at him and said, "Annie's fine Jack. Owen's with her. Why don't you sit down and eat something?"
"I'll have something to eat after I check on Annie," he said and turned to walk out the door, only to find Owen walking into the room with Annie.
"Right now what Annie needs is something to eat and a nice cup of tea. Doctor's orders," Owen said as he helped Annie into her chair.
"Shouldn't she be resting in bed?" asked Jack.
"I am in the room, Jack," Annie said smiling at him. "Owen's right; what I need right now is something to eat. I'm starving. Thankfully the food seems to have survived the incident just fine."
"Jack, sit down and stop acting like a mother hen," Gwen quipped. "I think what everyone needs is some food."
After a few minutes, everyone was sitting down eating Chinese food and Annie was also drinking a nice cup of tea that Ianto had thoughtfully provided.
"See Jack; Annie's already perking up and getting the color back into her face," Owen said while crunching on a spring roll.
"Thank you, Dr. Owen, I can see that she's feeling better," replied Jack finally relaxing and smiling at Annie.
"Do you feel up to talking about what happened?" Jack asked Annie. Annie nodded her head as she finished munching on a cream cheese wonton.
"Great," said Gwen, "Because I've got a question for you Annie. Why the hell didn't you get out of the way when I told you to?" It was obvious Gwen had wanted to ask that question for the last hour. Annie looked embarrassed.
Annie apologized. "I'm sorry Gwen. I heard you, but it was as if I was on autopilot. Didn't even realize what I was doing at first and by then it was too late. Are we OK?" she asked Gwen.
Gwen gave Annie a quick smile. "Yeah we're OK. You just scared the hell out of me that's all."
Ianto asked, "Why didn't you fire that energy bolt at the Weevil like you did on that subway in California?"
"I'm not sure; possibly I didn't because it was different this time." She looked at Jack and the others as she explained. "There weren't any explosions or smoke, it wasn't the first time I had created the energy ball or whatever you want to call it, the lights were on and I knew you, Jack and Gwen were there with me.
"That's as plausible an explanation as any," admitted Jack. "Tosh, did our security cameras catch the event?" he inquired.
Tosh pushed her plate away and tapped some commands on her laptop. "Yes they did. Here's the best shot."
Everyone looked at the monitor as the digital feed replayed the scene. Annie entered first followed by Gwen. Both women carried bags of food. The commotion caused by the Weevil startled them. Gwen dropped her bags, drew her gun and yelled for Annie to move. Annie instead dropped her bags and cane, planted her feet apart and put her hands in front of her. The energy ball formed and the Weevil abruptly stopped in front of her. Jack and Ianto appeared and subdued the Weevil.
"Stop it right there Tosh," Owen said. "Leave that up on one side of the screen and let me put up some data next to it." He punched his laptop and the data appeared on the screen.
"Now remember we were getting this constant flow of readings from the wrist monitor. Tosh, synchronize the video feed with the readings from the wrist monitor and then back both of them up until right before Annie dropped her cane."
It took Tosh less than a minute to perform the task.
"OK, now play both of them forward, but slowly. Watch what happens to Annie's readings after she dropped her cane," said Owen.
Everyone watched the screen as Owen talked them through the scene. "Now watch her brain waves as she put her hands out. See? Right there," he hit the pause button. "There's a surge of electrical activity in her brain right before the energy ball appears." Owen hit the play button and said, "The electrical activity continues until Annie closes her eyes and starts to relax. Then the energy ball dissipates, and the electrical activity in her brain bottoms out, which is probably why she almost fainted."
"Does all the energy come from me or am I drawing energy from some other source?" Annie asked.
Tosh answered, "I found no drain on any of our equipment and no increase in rift activity. It appears you used your own body to create the energy ball."
"Explains why she passed out after the incident on the subway and almost fainted today," commented Owen.
"Did you get the test results back?" asked Jack.
"I've gotten some of the test results. A few aren't finished yet," replied Owen. "Plus I'm still extracting the old test results and various reports from the previous hospitals. I should have all of my results in by morning and have all the old information to compare against it."
"Anything significant in the test results you've gotten so far?"
"Nothing unusual; everything's within normal ranges," reported Owen.
"OK, thanks Owen, Tosh. Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions?" Jack asked as he looked at the rest of the team.
"Actually, I was wondering if it would be possible to run some mental acuity tests," Tosh responded.
"You mean like IQ tests? Whatever for?" inquired Annie with a puzzled expression.
Tosh explained, "The kind of tests I'm suggesting actually measure IQ and much more. They cover the gambit from memory recall, perception, ESP, to telekinesis."
"Wow, I get a headache, just thinking about those tests," Annie said. "Do you really think those tests might give us some useful information?"
"Oh yes definitely," Tosh nodded her head enthusiastically at Annie.
"Oh, alright, I'll do the tests," agreed Annie. "However, you must pay my usual fee."
"Fee?" responded Tosh. "I'm sorry; I don't know what you mean." Tosh looked to Jack for help.
Jack smiled at Tosh and said, "I can explain Tosh. You see when Annie was little and had to have any surgery, physical therapy,"
"Or anything involving a needle," Annie reminded him.
"Or anything involving a needle," Jack repeated as he gave Annie one of his dazzling smiles and a quick squeeze of her hand, "Her adoptive parents and I always promised she could have all the chocolate she wanted and could choose the brand of chocolate."
"Oh, OK; I agree to your fee then," Tosh said to Annie.
Owen commented, "You didn't mention a fee to me this morning Annie; why not?"
"Because you remind me of a boy I had a crush on in the fifth grade," Annie said as she put her right elbow on the table and propped her head on her right hand. "I cut you some slack this morning, but anymore tests and you'll have to pay the fee too."
Jack looked at Owen thoughtfully and then said to Annie, "He does kind of resemble Duane, only Duane had bigger ears."
Owen ignored Jack and said to Annie, "I'll take that as a compliment Annie. Thank you."
Annie smiled at Owen as she stood up. "That's the way I meant it." She stretched and yawned. "Excuse me, but I think a nap sounds like a good idea right now, unless there's something else you want me to do right now."
Jack spoke for the team, "Nope, I think you've had enough excitement for one day. Do you need help getting to your room?"
"I'll be fine thanks. See you guys later." Annie took her time going down the stairs using both the handrail and her cane to steady her as she went.
"You still getting steady readings from the wrist monitor?" Jack asked Owen.
Owen tapped the laptop before replying, "Signal from the monitor is working fine. She's tired, obviously, but her vital signs are good. I'll check her vitals every hour just to be sure, Jack. I'm on the nightshift duty tonight and I'll let you know if anything changes."
"Good. So, business as usual until tomorrow morning at least," responded Jack.
The meeting broke up and the team went back to normal activities; at least normal by Torchwood standards.
******************************************************
CRISPS ANYONE?
Owen, as promised, checked on Annie at regular intervals by using the wrist monitor and occasionally using the small camera in her room. The camera was set to infrared so Owen could see heat patterns and also to maintain some privacy for Annie.
By the time Annie woke up from her nap it was 6:00 PM. Tosh and Gwen had gone home for the evening, Owen was at his work station and Jack was in his office. Annie walked around the Hub stretching her legs and then took her laptop up to the boardroom to do some work on her latest novel.
Around 8:30 PM Ianto walked into the boardroom bearing a tray.
"Ianto, I thought you'd gone home," Annie said.
"I did actually," Ianto replied as he put the tray down on the boardroom table. "But I realized that you've only had breakfast and lunch and I thought I should at least bring some sandwiches by in case you might be hungry."
"Thank you Ianto," Annie said. "You're such a thoughtful person. I am hungry."
"Used to be you'd bring me sandwiches Ianto," Jack mockingly said from behind Ianto.
"Not to worry, Jack," Ianto replied, "I've brought enough for all of us, including Owen."
That's why we love you," Jack replied as he sat down next to Annie. As they started to reach for the sandwiches, Owen wandered in. "Saw Ianto come in earlier and figured, hoped actually, that he was bringing food. Great! Plenty for everyone," he sat down and they helped themselves to the sandwiches and crisps.
While they ate Jack regaled them with stories from the Prohibition era in America.
********************************************************
CAN'T SLEEP
Around 2:00 AM, Jack stopped by Owen's station. "How's Annie doing?" he asked Owen.
Owen, yawned slightly before he said, "Gwen was right; you really are such a mother hen you're practically clucking, but her readings are fine in spite of the insomnia. Annie told me that she has bouts of it from time to time."
"You mean she's still up? Where is she?" Jack asked.
"Back up in the boardroom trying to work on her novel," replied Owen.
Jack looked up toward the boardroom and saw Annie pacing around the room. "I think I'll just go and chat with her," he responded and walked away from Owen without looking back.
Annie had stopped pacing and was standing at the table staring at the words on her laptop.
"Creative juices not flowing?" Jack quipped as he entered the room.
"Not one damn drop," Annie said as she continued to stare at the screen. She let out a sigh and closed the laptop. "I give up; my brain has gone on vacation to the Bahamas without me." She walked over to the couch and sat down placing her cane at the end of the couch.
Jack sat down beside her. "Is that all that's keeping you awake at this hour?" he said as he put his right arm around Annie's shoulders.
"No, it's just one of a thousand thoughts and questions that are buzzing around inside my head. I wish I could just shush them all so I can go to sleep."
"Here, lean your head against my shoulder and just try to relax," Jack said.
Annie did as he suggested, sighed and closed her eyes. "This is what you use to do the night before any of my surgeries. The night duty nurse didn't approve of you lying on my bed," she said. "Somehow you always sweet talked her into letting you stay with me. I remember you'd tell me stories and I'd listen to your voice and heartbeat. It always did the trick."
Jack leaned his head against Annie's. "Let's see if I still have the touch," he said quietly. They sat there on the couch and Jack told her how he recruited, Owen, Tosh, Ianto and Gwen for his Torchwood team. Annie placed her right hand on the center of Jack's chest as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Eventually Jack's eyes closed and he too fell asleep.