Hi just wanted to say thanks for the first reviews for the story bbmcowgirl, FlowerFairy30, Dawn M Duval, Skly, Ob5idian, Section8grl, Gossipgirl17, and medusa85. I apologize for the length. It's long, but because I don't update too quickly I think it should satisfy. However R/R might inspire get me to update more quickly ;).
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood characters(if I did…well best not go into that)
Nine Months Later
November 11, Wednesday
"11:13. Right on cue," Martha yelled into the comm typing on the computer in the Hub.
"Every day at exactly 11:13 that rift alarm has been going off and every time we've found nothing," Andy stated from the back of the SUV.
"Creepy isn't it. It's like waking up in the middle of the night at the exact same time for a reason you've yet to encounter" Jack said as he drove.
"Only the time is 666 or 333 because it has to do with the devil or something like that," Ianto answered back in his usual droll manner.
"All right turn left up the next street. The energy seems to be exerting from a warehouse," Martha said.
"Always a warehouse. Why can't the aliens go to a bar or strip joint or something? Somewhere fun!" Owen asked.
"Because they know you'd be there, Owen," Gwen quipped.
Jack smiled looking at her through the mirror. That was his Gwen.
The car came to a stop as the Torchwood team loaded their guns and prepared for any possible attacks. Jack kicked the door open and entered first, his gun held out as he looked around. Gwen entered behind him followed by Ianto, Andy and Owen. They took in their surroundings, looking, watching and alert.
"Fan bloody tastic," Owen commented on the size.
"I thought the dead were supposed to be quiet," Gwen shot back.
"I thought a women's place was in the kitchen," Owen retorted.
Gwen immediately turned around, cocked her gun and pointed it at Owen's face with anger coursing through her at this comment.
Owen changed the moment he found out about Tosh. He refused to let her go. Her image seemed to haunt him wherever he went and he let everyone know it. While Ianto, Gwen and Jack were trying to move on Owen had been making it very difficult for them.
"Hey, hey, hey," Jack tsked as he put his hand on Gwen's arm steadying her, "Owen, not another word unless it's important. Gwen, let it go."
She reluctantly lowered her gun and returned to the task at hand ignoring the tingling feeling she felt where Jack's hand was seconds before.
"And here I thought we were actually going to get some entertainment," Ianto quipped.
"All right. Split up and watch for anything suspicious. Ianto take to the left. Owen, right. Andy straight on. Gwen and I will take the upstairs," Jack said.
"Big shocker there," Ianto muttered, but it didn't miss Jack's ears.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Ianto and Jack were full of tension since they had broken it off. Neither had dated anyone since, although Gwen and Jack were too painfully obvious for Ianto. Ianto didn't mind that he and Jack had broken it off, honestly. He wanted to have a normal life too even though he did love Jack. He wanted to maybe have kids one day or start a family, have someone to grow old with and Jack couldn't do those things. He knew Jack knew it was unfair to string him along. That was the main reason Jack had not started a relationship with Gwen even though it was clear how they both felt about each other.
Lately though it was just getting annoying. They were like two little puppies constantly following each other around. He had been staying closer to her more especially since Rhys was finally out of the way (Lord rest his soul), talking with her more, gradual buildup of sexual tension when an argument between the both of them arose. Hell, he even caught them playing footsie under the conference room table once!
"Well Fred, you and Daphne here always go together while Shaggy, Scooby and I split up," Ianto sarcastically answered calm as ever.
"That's not true," Jack replied defensively.
"Actually, yeah it is," Andy answered scratching the back of his head.
Jack glared at him. All right so maybe he preferred to keep Gwen by his side. Technically it was where she belonged, but she didn't know that he felt like that. And he worried about her just that bit more.
"Only because Gwen's just as danger prone as Daphne," Jack defended himself.
"Whoa, what's that supposed to mean?" Gwen argued.
"Gwen, this doesn't involve you," Jack said.
"I think it bloody well does Jack when my name is mentioned. And I am not danger prone."
"Guys alien threat. Remember?" Andy started.
"Whoa, did Jack just pull a "men are just that bit stronger than women which is why I prefer to keep Gwen closer" attitude, "Martha asked into the comm.
"Martha, not now," Andy snapped, "Get them to focus! We have a job to do."
"Jack, get off your high horse and face it. You always have to be with Gwen. Why don't you just admit-," Ianto retorted each ignoring Andy and Martha, Jack cutting him off.
"-Ianto, this isn't the time or place and that's not it at all," Jack stated.
"Aren't you going to try and stop them," Andy turned to Owen who was watching the scene with crossed arms and a careless expression.
"Jack, I can handle myself. I don't need you protecting me all the time," Gwen yelled at Jack.
"Sorry, I'm not allowed to say anything unless it's important," Owen answered calmly to Andy who growled in frustration.
"Gwen, why do you always pick the worst times to argue with me?"Jack turned to her.
"You make me out to sound like the weakest of the team. Ianto has a point," she stared him in the face.
"Going on three wasted minutes," Owen pretended to look at an invisible watch.
"Just admit it Jack," Ianto said.
"Jack! Alien! Remember?" Martha finally yelled on his comm..
"Alright! Alright! That's enough!" Jack's voice rang out over all of them and they all stopped mid banter, "Daphne take left. Scooby, straight. Shaggy go right. Velma, you and I upstairs. Any other questions?!"
"Yeah, just to be clear. I'm Shaggy right?" Owen asked.
Jack's grinded his teeth, "Just go."
They went in their separate directions. Jack and Ianto upstairs. Owen right. Andy straight and Gwen left.
Andy walked into the room pointing his gun. Small rays of light crept in through newspaper covered windows from overhead. There was not much except for a few abandoned boxes and waste products. It reeked. The warehouse must have exported garbage or something, Andy thought. He turned and watched as he thought he heard something, but…never mind, just the wind.
"What is your problem lately," Jack asked as they searched the upstairs kicking over desks, stepping on scattered papers and watching their heads as a few loose items hung from the ceiling.
"Problem, sir?" Ianto asked.
"Goddamn it. Look I know I ended things-"
"-Excuse me sir, but I believe I ended things," Ianto corrected, a fact he knew Jack still couldn't get over it, "And this has nothing to do with that."
"Well whatever you're implying has nothing to do with the job at hand," Jack stated in seriousness.
This conversation wasn't over, but Jack was clearly avoiding it and Ianto realized he'd have to catch Jack in a more vulnerable mood, when he would actually give him straight answers and might actually admit to being head over heels crazy for Gwen.
Speaking of which, downstairs and to the left, Gwen's gun appeared from behind a curtain pushing it back. She stepped down two small steps entering the messy room. Empty boxes inhabited the place. Some were stacked together in perfection while others lay on the floor. Nothing out of the ordinary.
She stepped cautiously looking around. She overturned a few boxes checking to see if anything stuck out, but no.
There was a wind that caught Gwen's attention and she turned and pointed her gun.
Nothing. But that was never the case was it?
She took a few steps forward, her ears and eyes alert. There was no sound. One step and the floor creaked beneath her. Something wasn't right. In fact the atmosphere felt-
"Get down!" someone jumped on her back and she yelped, her gun falling from her grasp skidding to the other side of the room.
A bomb exploded from behind as the person on top of her covered her and their head.
"You alri-well hello darling!" he smiled breathing heavily as he lifted his head to recognize her.
"John Hart, get the bloody hell off of me," she yelled as she tried to push him off.
"First time anyone's complained," he muttered and then rolled them over as another bomb exploded.
"What the-?" Ianto started from upstairs, but Jack was already down the stairs.
Meanwhile back in the other room Gwen lay on top of John as he held her tight.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face around here," she yelled.
"Well you know what they say, third time's a charm," he smirked and looked down her shirt, "Did you get a boob job, by the way? They look fantastic."
"Oi!"
Another bomb and he rolled them over once more just barely avoiding it. He lay on top of her holding her arms in place. After that last comment he wasn't going to risk her getting in another punch like their first encounter.
"John, what the hell is going on?" she ground out as she struggled for control of her arms.
"Well you see love-"
But before he could begin to explain there was the sound of rift energy and a man carrying eight very advanced machine guns walked through. Gwen and John looked up at the new arrival. He was big, blue and armed. That was a good enough reason to want to get far, far away.
"John Hart!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, apparently not noticing Gwen and John who were just a few feet away.
"-Sorry, freckles, explanations are overrated. Right now it's just me or you and frankly I'm prettier. See ya!" John said quickly.
John rolled off of her. He crawled behind the closest, highest stack of boxes and she followed also on her hands and knees. They hid together listening very carefully.
"Come out to play Johnnie boy! If you could make time for my wife you can make time for me," the big, blue guy yelled firing the machine guns at the ceiling.
"You didn't?" Gwen mouthed.
John only grinned and shrugged.
"Jack," Gwen whispered into the comm.
John was waving his hands and was mouthing, "No, do not get Jack involved. Whatever you do, do not get Jack involved!"
Gwen ignored him as she listened for a reply.
"Jack?"
"Gwen, care to explain what's going on?" Jack whispered into the comm.
"Two words. John. Hart."
"Dammit, Gwen!" John realized his mistake of saying it just a bit too loud and covered his mouth immediately, but it was too late as big and blue yelled out in rage.
Gwen moved out of the way just in times as a big hole was blown right through the stack of boxes she was leaning on.
The big, blue alien laughed manically and began to shoot randomly around the room. Gwen and John ducked and covered.
"Aren't you armed?" she yelled at John.
"Well actually, those guns he's using were mine originally. I think he thought they would make him a better man, if you catch my drift" he said in his usual sarcastic tone.
There was a loud bang as Jack walked into the room firing his webbly once as a warning. He had ordered Ianto, Owen and Andy to stay behind in case. He noticed Gwen's gun lying on the floor and looked for her, but his search was cut off as the alien advanced on his presence.
"Now what seems to be the problem, blue?"Jack asked.
"Where is John Hart?" the alien said in an almighty and demanding tone.
"Now why go for second class when you can ride first," Jack answered in his usual 'we're in danger, but what the hell with it' flirty tone.
The alien launched at him, yelling out, firing twenty shots into Jack's stomach alone. Jack looked down as the blood seeped through and on to his great coat. He sighed.
"Do you know what a pain it's going to be to wash that out," Jack said and then took out the stun gun, "My turn."
Jack jumped forward and pointed the gun at his head. The alien shook and then dropped to the ground in a deep sleep.
The room was still smoky from where the bombs fell. Jack could just barely make out a few things, but before he could confirm that Gwen was alright pain shot through him from where he was originally shot and droplets of blood began to make a puddle on the ground.
"Here we go again," he grumbled as he fell to the ground with a thud.
"Jack? Jack! Come on darling, wake up."
Jack's head lay in Gwen's lap as she and John waited for him to come back.
"You'd think that he would at least try to hurry up. With all the time he waste being dead something terrible can happen," John said.
"John, another word from you and I swear I'll lump you one."
"You're bluffing."
"Try me," she turned her face towards him.
"Alright," he held his hands up in defense, "I remember the last time you said that."
Gwen went to answer, but was interrupted as Jack gasped for air as life was thrown back into him. He grabbed her hand for leverage and she squeezed his tight. She let out a breath of relief. Just because the man couldn't die didn't mean she didn't worry that one day his luck just might run out.
"Are you alright?" he asked checking her arms for bruises and such.
"Fine. Everything's fine. Calm down," she said as she ran her free hand through his hair to still him.
Jack relaxed into her touch and closed his eyes. He like the way Gwen's fingers felt in his hair. Jack's tensed nerves seemed to be relieved by just her touch. John didn't fail to miss this and it was making him nauseous as he rolled his eyes. The minute Jack had heard the bombs his heart leapt out of his chest. The thought of Gwen being hurt was the first thought that crossed his mind.
"Where are the others?" Jack asked.
"Ianto and Andy are loading big and blue into the back. They said Owen's checking out the rest of the place just in case," Gwen answered.
Jack sat up and finally acknowledged John's appearance, "So, it was you that was causing all those rift spikes?"
John shrugged, "I just showed up today. Wasn't anywhere near Cardiff any earlier."
"Yeah, right," Jack said sarcastically as Gwen helped him to his feet, "What are you doing here?"
"What no hello kiss? I'm insulted," John said folding his arms, Jack just ignored him as he leaned on Gwen, his energy slowly returning.
"Gwen, the coast is-"
Owen had poked his head around his eyes landing on Captain John Hart. When Owen heard the bombs, Jack had told him on the comms to search the rest of the place for any other mysterious things while he, Ianto and Andy helped Gwen. Owen was never told that John Hart was here though.
"-You! You're responsible for Tosh's death!"
Gwen let a small yelp escape her as Owen jumped on him. John put up a good fight to as both attempted to beat up the other.
"Owen! Owen, get off of him," Gwen yelled.
"Owen, stop it!" Jack commanded.
Both tried to pry the two off of each other as they clawed, kicked and punched at the other. Jack managed to lift Owen off of John who was kicking and yelling like a child.
"You brought all that chaos! You killed Tosh! I'm going to kill you Hart. Jack, let me go. He is responsible and he's got me to answer for it!"
"I couldn't have saved her even if I tried," John told Owen in seriousness as Gwen held his arms back.
"Owen, calm down," Jack grunted as he tried to still the other man.
Owen struggled a little, but finally succumbed to Jack's demand. He growled and released himself from Jack's grasp. He gave one last glare at John before stomping out of the room angry and ready to shoot the next person that so much turned their head in his direction.
"So, why are you here?" Gwen asked as soon as Owen was out of the room.
"I'll let you know when you release me from those soft hands of yours. No offense doll, but now's not the time for groping," he winked.
Jack's expression darkened. Gwen failed to notice this and just rolled her eyes while simultaneously releasing him. John lifted himself from the floor and pretended to dust himself off.
"Jack, someone nearby called the police," Ianto spoke on the comm. as he closed the SUV trunk, "They're on their way."
"And we haven't exactly been on Swanson's good side since the Monkey incident, have we?" Jack added looking at Gwen.
"Not our finest moment," Gwen mumbled and blushed in remembrance of when Detective Swanson, Jack, Andy and several policemen walked in to see Martha, Ianto, herself and a purple alien monkey in a rather peculiar position in a hotel room.
"More like an entangled, entwined, wrapped around each other, disheveled, might as well have been having an orgy with it position. God knows what was going through Swanson's mind after seeing that and I myself, the man who has seen it all, am still trying to figure it out," Jack had lectured his team at the Hub at the time before Owen's reappearance.
"We were just-"
"-The monkey was-"
"-We traced it to the hotel-"
"-It scared the cleaning lady-"
"-Bloody monkey-"
"- A bad coincidence-"
"-And the thing-" they were all speaking at once trying to explain.
"-Save it. I don't even want to know," Jack stated.
"Great. Now, not only do the police think Torchwood is a pain in the arse, but we're also a bunch of sick monkey fuckers," Andy put in
"Well, that just completes the pack, doesn't it," Ianto put in, "Captain Jack Harkness, defender of the earth, shagging his way through Cardiff, leading his team that he calls Torchwood, a bunch of sick monkey fuckers."
"Ianto!" Martha and Gwen cried and then blushed.
Jack only hit his head with his hand trying not to smile. Well, that was just one description of his team.
Meanwhile back to the present time, John watched the silent memory pass between Jack and Gwen. He raised an eyebrow and then continued smiling, "Well then to the Hub!"
Gwen looked at Jack who stared at John questioning. He then caught her eye and nodded, the move alone communicating all the same thoughts she herself was experiencing. This was not going to be good.
To be continued...?
