Chapter 2! Here we get to see how the team first found Absentia

Thanks for reading :)

-Star


15 Years Ago

"Okay everyone, be on guard." Jack commanded as he and the team moved into the crash site, weapons at the ready. "Until we know what crashed here, take defensive measures."

The team had picked up something falling through the Earth's atmosphere, which eventually crashed in the outskirts of Cardiff. It looked like a small spacecraft, but they had to investigate to be sure.

"Jack I found it!" Gwen called from up ahead as the others ran to meet her. The fallen object was indeed a small spacecraft, badly damaged and burned.

"Owen, cut through the shell, get us inside." The Captain ordered. Owen obeyed and cut away a section of the shell, allowing entry. The inside of the ship was nothing fancy, basic alien tech that could be found on lower lifeform ships, but the two bodies found on-board proved there was more to it than meets the eye. Tosh examined the victims and confirmed that they died when the ship crashed.

"Check for any other passengers" Jack said as he began to search the ship, turning when he heard Gwen call his name, and was surprised to say the least by what he saw. She was cradling a little baby, whimpering and scared. The rest of the group joined them at this point, and were speechless when they saw the infant.

"She's the only survivor Jack, everyone else is dead." Tosh said solemnly, bowing her head in respect.

"She's got a few cuts that will need taking care of." Gwen added, pointing to the bleeding wounds on the baby's face, tears soaking into the blood. But before anyone could take any action, a golden glow appeared from nowhere and engulfed the child's wounds, and moments later they were completely healed. Jack was frozen I shock, he knew what that was, he'd seen it before: Regeneration Energy.

When the energy had faded Jack quickly took the baby from Gwen and looked her over, finding no injuries. The baby stared up at him curiously with big brown eyes, and she stopped crying.

"We're taking her with us, Gwen you drive." Jack commanded as he exited the spacecraft and got into the passenger seat of their Jeep, with the baby sat on his knee, holding her securely.

He stayed silent for the entire drive back to base.


"The scan says she has 2 hearts." Tosh said in surprise, with Jack looking unimpressed, still holding the baby.

"I know that, I already told you, she's a Time Lord." Jack said, irritated. He must have explained it at least 10 times. "There's no point scanning her, there's nothing wrong with her because she regenerated!"

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure." Tosh replied. "Can I just hold her?"

"Fine, but no more tests." The Captain said sternly as he passed the child over. She looked back at Jack longingly, then started to cry when he didn't take her back.

"Right, I'm off for the night." Owen called as he left the base, Ianto following, but not before saying goodbye to the baby.

"I'm gonna go too" Tosh said after, grabbing her coat with her free hand. "I can take her with me if you want."

"Thanks Tosh, but I think it would be better if she stayed here." Jack said as he took the child from Tosh, who looked disappointed, than concerned.

"Do you even know how to look after a baby?" Tosh asked, to which Jack replied with a scoff.

"Okay then, if you're sure. See you tomorrow." She added as she left, leaving Jack and the child alone in the base.

"Well then, little Time Lord- or Lady, it's just you and me now." Jack said soothingly as the baby gazed up at him, smiling sweetly. Out of everyone, she seemed to like Jack the most. She only stopped crying if he was holding her.

Suddenly smiling with a look of brilliance, he asked to the infant (even though he knew she wouldn't understand) "Hey, you wanna see something cool?"


"Look at that, beautiful isn't it?" Jack stated as he sat with the baby on his knee, both staring at the star-filled sky. The child was looking at the stars in awe, giggling with happiness, which in turn made her guardian smile too.

"You came from somewhere up there, and hopefully one day a man I know, called the Doctor, will be able to get you back up there, among the stars." Jack spoke quietly, with his charge seemingly paying close attention.

"But until then, it looks like you're stuck with us." He added, a hint of happiness lurking in his tone. "So I guess you're gonna need a name, eh? What about… Star?" He asked, the baby just stared at him blankly.

"Nah." He realised. "Nova? Luna? Selena?"

Okay, nothing to do with space. He thought.

"Wonder what you're parents named you, that would have made things easier." Jack admitted in defeat. "But everyone who knew you before is absent so we can't-" He added, but stopped abruptly and looked down at the infant, smiling.

"I know exactly what to call you."


"Jack, where are you?" Gwen called as she, Tosh, Ianto and Owen came into work the next morning. She looked around but her boss and the baby were nowhere to be seen.

"Morning team!" Jack greeted cheerfully from behind them, making them jump. He was unusually happy, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and the baby in the other.

"Morning Jack, has she been okay?" Tosh asked as she cooed at the child.

"No problems, Absentia was fine. In fact I'm taking her out to get her some proper clothes, she can't keep wearing my t-shirts." Jack replied as he finished his coffee, grabbed his coat and wrapped another shirt around the baby for warmth.

"Sorry, did you just call the baby 'Absentia'?" Owen asked in confusion.

"Yes, I decided to call her Absentia. We can't keep calling her 'the baby'." Jack said, with Ianto nodding in approval, but Gwen looking worried.

"Jack, don't go getting attached. We can't keep her, it's too dangerous here." Gwen said in a serious tone, making Jack scowl.

"We have to keep her Gwen, she's a Time Lord! We can't just give her to an orphanage, if anyone we'd give her to the Doctor. But he's not here, so she's staying with us!" Jack declared fiercely, showing dominance and authority over the others. It was his base, and if he said Absentia was going to stay, than she would stay.

Gwen didn't say another word against him, neither did the others. Satisfied, Jack and his charge began to head out, but not before Ianto called after them:

"Jack, why did you call her 'Absentia'?"

"Because of the overwhelming amount of absence in her life." Jack replied solemnly as he and Absentia left for the shops.


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