Hey there guys! Just Dustfinger here writing this one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood. ): Unfortunately, the BBC does. I do, however, own the plot and the OC. :33
"How close, Ianto?"
"75 yards. Still moving."
"How stable?"
"Not in a good way. He'll probably need treatment as soon as we get him clear."
A small snort from the backseats notified him that Owen was in fact paying every ounce of attention to their conversation.
"You have something to say, Owen?"
"No Jack, not really. I have a question though."
"Go on…" Jack turned in the passenger seat so he had a clear view of the talker.
"I was gonna ask Ianto who the hell he thinks he is. I'm the doctor, I dish treatment." He folded his arms, ending the conversation abruptly.
This time it was Gwen's turn to butt into the conversation. "Shut your face, Owen! Ianto knows what he's doing."
"I expect he knows full well what he's doing, but, if he could keep his nose in his own line of work, we'd all be happy. Besides, how many coffee-boys know about medicine?"
"Owen!"
"What? I just asked a question!"
"I agree with Gwen, that was rude."
"Don't you get involved, Tosh!"
"Jack, tell Owen to shut his face!"
"I'm not telling anyone anything! Sort it out yourselves!"
"Owen, shut your face!"
"QUIET! All of you!" The other passengers looked at Ianto in silent shock. They'd never heard him shout like that before. "You're all acting like a bunch of amateurs!" A blanket of silence covered the interior of the car. Ianto's face was that of grim determination: set jaws, glazed eyes, lips slightly parted as his breathing hitched. He tugged on the gearstick so fiercely that it almost came off in his hand.
"Err… Ianto?" Jack was the unlucky one to have to break the silence.
"What?" He growled, gripping the steering wheel until his fingers turned white.
"You went past the turning…"
Ianto turned the SUV in a fierce, two-wheeled u-turn and sped off back the way he had come.
"He's gone completely mad!" A jab in the ribs from Gwen made Owen suddenly stop his muttering.
*****
The SUV came to a sudden halt, jerking the passengers a few inches forward in their seats. No-one said anything as they piled out of the car.
"I'll be driving around the block. I'm on the com." Jack nodded and followed the rest of his team. Sparing a glance over his shoulder, he sighed as he could just make out the back of the SUV around the corner.
The rest of the team seemed oblivious to Jack's down-cast sigh as they followed the tracking dot on Tosh's PDA.
"Well, that was nicely handled." Heads shot round to look at Jack.
"Next time, Owen, keep your mouth shut." Owen's mouth in question dropped open as he struggled to come up with some kind of witty response.
"Close your mouth, it's not attractive." Gwen and Tosh watched on, feeling ever more awkward. It was always awkward when Jack disciplined the team. It wasn't often that he shouted, he never threatened, he just looked and sounded disappointed. And that was possibly the worst.
"If you're all feeling grown up, follow the tracker." Without another word he strode off down the alleyway, not even glancing back at his team. Normally, Gwen would've said something to bite at Jack's conscience. But now seemed like a bad time. Jack was miffed, the situation tense. Every person present felt like now was one of those times that just getting the job done was the best option.
*****
"What are we even looking for?"
"A human hybrid, pretty much."
Gwen frowned, and was quickly mirrored by Tosh and Owen.
"Well, is he dangerous?"
"Gwen, you're a member of Torchwood. Of course he's dangerous." At the look on their faces, he quickly added, "But we have the upper-hand. He's only a kid. And he can't choose when to change form."
"Change form? What's his other form?" Tosh's voice rose slightly. Whether it was because of the sudden pick up in wind, or the fear of the situation, it was hard to tell.
"Wolf." His answer was followed by silence. Only to be broken again by the tapping, clicking and breathing of his team as they changed the cartridges of their guns. The silence had always had to be broken. Never kept or treasured. Just broken as quickly as swiftly as it settled. Humans were always in such a rush, Jack thought, always determined to get where they needed to be. Never even think to admire the situation.
"Don't shoot to kill."
"But, Jack, what if he tries to kill us?" Owen scoffed, rolling his shoulders, stretching his muscles.
"Shoot to disarm, not to kill."
"But-"
"No!" Jack snapped, quickly shooting Owen a glare over his shoulder.
"This is ridiculous. What if he kills one of us?"
"Owen, he's a kid. 16 tops. How guilty would you feel if you shot him?"
"I'm still not convinced."
"Suit yourself."
*****
A crash around the corner stopped the team in their tracks. Guns at the ready. Torches held down. Breathing hitched a notch. Jack glanced back at his team, gave a slight nod and gracefully jumped around the corner.
The torch above his pistol was weak, not giving off much light. But from what it did give off, he could see a dark, hunched figure. Not too old, he could tell that. Maybe mid-twenties. Was this what they were looking for, or their monster's victim? Disturbing noises interrupted his thoughts.
Coughing, rasping.
Silence.
Shuffle shuffle.
Jack took a step closer, his breathing steady.
The figure looked up and the sight made Jack take an involuntary step back. A strong feeling of disgust built up in the back of his throat. He had to fight not to vomit. This was the victim, not doubt about that.
He appeared to be missing most of his left arm, his abdomen was torn open, so just a fleshy mass of blood, muscle and organs was left. Jack swallowed heavily. A hand was clutching at the open wound. His tongue lolled out towards what was left of his chin. The jaw looked broken. It seemed the attacker had been interrupted in his feast.
He could've sworn the poor sod was trying to say something. But he couldn't be sure. It was all too much. He looked away, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. The stench was foul. And that was when he noticed the creature stalking towards him from the shadows. They'd found the victim…
And here was their monster.