Here it is! The next in the saga of Jess's life, which is getting more and more complicated all the time. This story is slightly less humorous than the last one, because of slightly sadder, darker themes. But I will still try to throw in some humour now and again, like they do in the real show. Anyway, I could ramble on all day but I'm sure you would much rather read the story.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you haven't read 'Resonance' and 'Vengeance' yet, I would advise you to so you don't miss any subtle references, but if you don't want to just accept that there is a new doctor at Torchwood called Jess, with a connection to the rift.
Disclaimer: Torchwood belongs to the BBC, Russell T Davies, and the actors and actresses.
Back to Haunt
Bad Day
Hot, white sand, shimmering in the heat haze. So this is where it took me this time, thinks the woman, isolated in the barren landscape. It wasn't hot, but it looked like it should be. Then the voice started, same as the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that… Except it wasn't a voice to start with, just a noise. A child, crying. The woman turns around, and there the child is. A little girl. The last time they saw each other in the real world she was only a baby, but she has grown. She's seven now, the age she should be. She's crying, heart-wrenching sobs that tear into the soul of the woman watching. But she can't comfort the girl. She knows, she's tried before. And now the girl starts speaking. Whispering at first, then getting louder. The same word, over and over. It hurts the woman standing there, it always does. The little girl, whispering that word every year. She'd almost forgotten it was that time, what with her new job – only it wasn't that new, after two months. But now it had started and she couldn't ignore it anymore. As the girl starts to fade away, the woman can feel the real world, pulling her back. No! she tries to call, let me stay! But she can't stay, and the desert plain dissolves around her…
… Jess woke up, tears on her cheeks. The dream was back. Tormenting her, haunting her. Next to her, the man curled around her stirred slightly. She quickly swiped away the tears. They can't know, none of them can find out. By the time John had woken up properly there was no sign of what had happened while she was asleep. Of course, John being John he'd noticed her tears, but if she wanted to hide them he wouldn't ask. One thing he'd learnt about sleeping with colleagues: don't let it get personal. That only caused trouble. Still, he wondered what was wrong with Jess. Then her phone rang and she answered it with a groan.
"Jack? Will you tell the rift to let me lie in one day?"
"Maybe one day. I need you to come in, and we can't reach John. Any idea where he is?"
Right next to me. "No idea. Have you tried his wrist strap?"
"Not yet. Well, see you soon."
"Will do."
She flipped the phone closed and rolled over.
"Switch your phone on. Jack's trying to reach you."
"Oh, is he?"
"Not like that, idiot. I've got to go get dressed. You talk to him."
He watched her walk away. Very good body. Then his wrist strap beeped.
"Jack."
"Why aren't you answering your phone?"
"It's switched off." And under a pile of clothes on the floor.
"We've got rift activity. Get over here."
"Alright, see you soon honey."
"Don't try that."
John started looking for his clothes as well. The rift was a real pain in the arse sometimes.
……………
When everyone got back to the hub, soaked from a brief-but-heavy rain shower, it was daylight. Jess had been quiet while they were checking out the rift spike – which had turned out to be a false alarm – and everyone could tell something was wrong. She went and hid herself in the med bay, saying she had paperwork to do. Curious, Jack brought up the CCTV, and Ianto opened her personnel file to see if they could find anything. She had her back to the camera, and there was nothing in her file. Well, there was, but it was marked as highly confidential and Ianto wouldn't let anyone look at it, because he said that was a gross invasion of privacy. So then they started speculating about what could be wrong.
"Stress," was Gwen's suggestion.
"Nah, it's worse than just stress. PMS?" Jack went for the stock answer men use when they don't understand women.
"Then why wasn't she like this last month? I think she's been dumped by someone." Ianto's contribution.
"Maybe something happened to her in the past and today's the day she remembers?" John only said this because he knew she didn't have PMS and she hadn't been dumped. It was a total guess, but he had actually got the closest of all of them.
"Eye candy, can't we just look at her damn file? I really want to know now!"
"No! You wouldn't like it if everyone snooped around in your file all the time."
"I don't have a file, Eye Candy. I'm from the 51st century."
"We know. Do you have to tell us that every week?"
"Yes, actually. Jack has a bet with me I can't last a whole year of mentioning at least once a week."
"Jack? Are you responsible for this?"
"I gotta go…"
"You're staying here, Jack Harkness!"
John watching with an amused expression, pleased with the trouble he'd started. Nothing like ratting on your ex to liven up your day, he mused. Then he glanced back at the CCTV and noticed Jess had gone.
"Damn. She's good."
………………
Jess had spent her free time at Torchwood learning the tunnels, and because of this she knew how to get out without going through the main hub. She used the knowledge now, and left quietly. They knew something was wrong. She just hoped they didn't read her file. She didn't want them to know. When people found out what had happened to her they always tried to be kind and understanding, but no one could understand how badly this hurt. She was out of Torchwood by now, and she headed for the bay. She found a railing to lean against and went to where she felt safe. The rift. It always sounded like singing, and now its song was one of mourning. It filled her up with sorrow, but it helped a little. She was so caught up in the music that she didn't hear the footsteps approaching until someone grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face them. She knew she'd been crying again, but this time she didn't try to hide it.
"What is up with you? You've been acting weird all day and I know you had bad dreams last night."
"You wouldn't understand, John. No one understands." He was surprised at the bitterness in her voice.
"Try me."
"No. You can't understand, none of you can."
"Why not?"
That made her angry. "Because you have no idea what I went through! Seven years ago, look at the date in my file. Look at it and maybe you'll understand why! Maybe you'll understand what's wrong with me, maybe you'll find a shred of humanity somewhere inside that 51st century stone you call a heart and leave me alone!"
She turned and ran away. She didn't even know where she was going. The voice of the little girl from her dream still haunted her, calling to her over and over. Mummy! Mummy!
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