Author's Note: Here is the second of three chapters. I will warn you right now, this is my weakest chapter, particularly the rescue. I was afraid if I tinkered with it any more, it would make it worse. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, whichever one you celebrate. I'm hoping and praying that 2012 will be far better than 2011 was.
Chapter Two
Diversionary Tactics
Just outside the Families' hospital
New Mexico
2:30 am
Lucas Martinelli stood at his brother's side as two men approached them. It wasn't a bright night, thank God. . .their grandfather monitored the phases of the moon, but Lucas had a feeling the mission would have gone ahead, given Natalie's report that Esther Drummond was thinking more clearly. The longer she remained in the hands of the Families, the better chance the Families had of successfully brainwashing her. Their grandfather didn't explain why that was important, but he rarely made explanations beforehand. The necessary explanations came afterward. And nine times out of ten, their grandfather's reasoning was, at the very least, acceptable. Maybe they didn't like it, but they could accept it.
He wasn't so sure that would be the case this time. Like his older brother, Lucas had a hard time believing that this Captain Jack Harkness was nearly as special or extraordinary as his mother, aunt, and grandfather seemed to think. However, unlike Jason, Lucas didn't really care. Their grandfather felt responsible for this man, for some reason. Their mother knew why, but she refused to tell them, saying only that his actions saved their aunt. Whatever he did, it was big time, and if Aunt Priscilla felt strongly enough about him not to chastise Grandfather when he spoke of vengeance against the Families, that was all Lucas needed to know.
People often made the mistake of thinking that because he was the medic, he was the gentle one. He wasn't. Lucas was far more ruthless, and Jason was, at heart, the gentle brother. Or, as his grandfather put it on more than one occasion, Jason was their father's son, while Lucas was more their mother's son. David Martinelli was a big-hearted, soft-spoken man, and his widow could be as mean as an alley cat and as vicious as a piranha. That was her description, not his. And it was really funny, because for all her avowed pacifism, his aunt was even more ruthless than Lucas and Jason's mother.
He remembered one time. . .he was about fourteen or so. . .when Natalie was caught in the crossfire of two neighbors' feud that spun out of control. The Tregarths stayed out of it up until then, considering it none of their business, though it affected all of them in some way. Best as he could remember, Natalie was in her middle twenties, no longer a child, but she could have died. Once Aunt Priscilla could leave her side without fearing Natalie would die, she completely destroyed the neighbor who was actually responsible for Nat's injury. It went unsaid, but her actions were an object lesson to the community as a whole: don't drag us into your mess. Not surprisingly, the guilty party ended up leaving town by the end of the year.
Mom later told him and Jason that if something like that happened to either of them, she would have beaten the ever-living shit of the person who caused the injury. Jason made the quiet observation that they came from a family of extremes. That was definitely true of their mother, grandfather, and aunt. He, Jason, and Adriane were more temperate, and Natalie. . .Natalie just wanted to be left alone, allowed to raise her daughter in peace. However, she came to terms with that impossibility years earlier, and now met each task with a grim determination. That was why she was now inside the hospital which they would be infiltrating with the two men approaching.
Jason nodded to the two men, saying, "Agent Rex Matheson, formerly of the CIA, and Captain Jack Harkness, once the director of Torchwood Cardiff. I'm Jason Martinelli, the grandson of Carlyon and Sophia Tregarth. This is my younger brother, Lucas." Torchwood? Lucas looked at his brother. What the hell was Torchwood? And while they were on the subject, how was it possible that this was Harkness? He couldn't be more than forty or so! Out of the corner of his mouth, Jason whispered, "I'll tell you later." Yeah, he would! Jason continued, this time to the two men, "We figured you would be here early. I've already gotten the charges set. The first group will be our distraction to get inside. The second set of charges will go off once the girls are safely outside, to cause as much confusion as possible."
"I'll check those out, make sure we avoid them on the way out. You gonna be okay, World War II, or do I need to babysit you?" the CIA agent asked. Harkness simply smirked and Matheson backed off, muttering, "No, not opening myself for any more comments. Stay outta trouble while I'm gone, will you? And try to avoid kissing these boys." He moved away then, carefully circling the perimeter. The two Martinelli brothers were still reeling from the dark-skinned man's last comment. Kissing them? Lucas would like to see him try. Sure, he was attractive enough, but Lucas would still lay him out if he tried. However, the dark-haired man made no move forward. Instead, he was studying the hospital with cool eyes, an expression Lucas often saw on his grandfather's face when the patriarch was strategizing.
"Any idea how many guards?" the remaining man asked and Jason nodded, pulling the maps which he made over the last two months, ever since Natalie was hired to clean the floors. With the already-wobbly economy still recovering, the Families never questioned why a woman with a college degree was applying for menial work. Then again, they didn't really care about the peons. For the next few minutes, the brothers briefed Jack Harkness on everything they knew about the hospital. . .it, and the town, was abandoned within a week of the start of the Miracle. There really were no good places to be during the Miracle. No good place, no safe place.
According to the information which the Martinelli brothers and Natalie gathered between the three of them, there were guards at each entrance except one. The confirmed number of personnel was twenty-five. Lucas could almost literally see the wheels turning in as Harkness listened to their reports. His eyes kept returning to that one door, the delivery door. He murmured, "We can't use that door, it's a trap. That should have more guards than just about any place. No one should know that hospital exists any more, much less that it's being used." Lucas rocked back on his heels, just a little. Shit. He was right. He was absolutely right!
"And it's in a part of the hospital that Natalie wouldn't be able to see, so she wouldn't be able to tell us about those guards," Jason observed, nodding. Harkness nodded, his eyes narrowing, and Jason continued, "So we have to either lure the guards away with those explosives I planted or we go in really hard and really fast." That produced a cold, feral smile from this rather strange friend of their grandfather, and Lucas felt his heart rate speed up. Only a fool made the mistake of dismissing this man as a pretty boy.
"We go in hard and fast, which is my favorite way to go in," Harkness replied, eyes twinkling. Lucas blinked. He didn't mean what he thought he meant. . .did he? Before he could clarify things, the other man was saying, "Contact your Natalie, let her know that when the first blasts go off, get to Esther's room. You have a secure way of contacting her?" Jason nodded with a feral smile of his own. It wasn't nearly as dangerous as their new ally, but Lucas knew better than to tell his brother that. Jason would likely take it as a challenge. Harkness went on, "Good. Then there's one last piece of business. Your grandfather mentioned weaponry that would be sent along. Do you have that or will that be here later?"
"That will be here at zero five hundred. My grandfather wants us on the road as soon as we get the girls out of there, while the Families are still chasing their tails. While we're doing this, he's trying to figure out where next to strike at the Families. I don't know what they did, aside from the obvious, but he's pissed as hell," Lucas spoke up. Harkness offered a smile that never completely reached his eyes, but no explanation. Damn. Well, it was worth a shot. He continued, "I'll send the message to Nat. She hasn't been sleeping much since she's been undercover, which means our asses will be grass if we wake her up once we get her out of there." Which made a helluva lot more sense in his head, but Harkness seemed to understand.
"Where is Esther's room?" he asked and Jason indicated the most heavily guarded area of the hospital, which was strangely enough, relatively close to the main entrance. He nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Also feels like a trap, but we have no other choice on that one. All right, we hit them two ways. Rex and I will take one entrance, you two will take the other. They go down, and they don't get a chance to call in. You wait until after they've radioed before you take them out. Either of you have a problem with killing?" Both Jason and Lucas shook their heads. Lucas was a medic, but those guards were in the employ of the Families, and worse than that, they stood between him and someone he loved. He already promised that if any harm came to Natalie, he'd bust some heads. . .and then, he'd bust some balls as well.
TWTWTWTWTW
5:00 am
"There they are! I swear to God, Pris, one of these days, I'm going to spank those boys for my gray hairs!" her younger sister fretted as Priscilla Tregarth eased the van alongside her nephews' pick-up truck in the otherwise empty hospital parking lot. Priscilla spared her sister a rueful smile, glanced briefly at the mostly-abandoned hospital, and then focused on the tall, dark-haired man staring at what looked like a map. God. He hadn't changed a bit. Priscilla thought maybe her memories of Jack Harkness were exaggerated, especially since she was in her early teens when she last saw Jack. . .but no. No, he was just as beautiful as she remembered.
She wasn't the only one who noticed. Octavia breathed, "Oh. He looks just as I remember him. Dad wasn't pulling our legs when he said that Jack didn't die and aged very slowly, if at all." Priscilla nodded. She really couldn't blame her sister for believing that Jack's existence was just a story. There was a time when she felt the same way. The two sisters exchanged a long look, and then Priscilla turned off the engine and they left the van together. Jack lifted his head, hand hovering near his gun, and the wariness in his eyes nearly broke Priscilla's heart. Octavia said softly, compassionately, "Of course, there's a part of you that still expects to see little girls. Jack, it's us. . .Octavia and Priscilla."
He shook his head ruefully as he put away his gun and said, "Of course you are. Forgive me for not recognizing you?" Well, that was a silly question for him to ask! Priscilla didn't bother waiting for her sister to answer. She strode up to him and threw her arms around him in a fierce hug, and then pulled his head down to kiss him breathless. While he was still recovering from that shock, she punched him in the ribs. He stumbled back, one hand pressed to his side, and blurted out, "What was that for?" Priscilla was already regretting that bit of impulsiveness, but when she thought about Adriane's report from DC. . . It could be worse, she knew. Her daughter could have taped the encounter. She shuddered at the thought.
"That was for being so stupid in DC, confronting Oswald Danes! Did any thought go into that whole business, Jack Harkness, or was it one of those rare but always disastrous spur of the moment actions? And then you compounded your stupidity by letting those two thugs beat you up! You could have easily taken them!" Priscilla stormed at him. He opened his mouth, but Priscilla wasn't finished. She continued, her voice rising, "And before you ask, I know because my daughter Adriane was tailing you. She saw your confrontation with Danes. . .and I repeat myself, that was quite possibly the dumbest thing you've ever done on a personal level. . .and what followed. You let them hurt you, Jack!"
"And you just hurt him, big sis," Octavia said, before Priscilla could start ranting again. She was brought up short, by the observation and the endearment used. She was right. She hated it when Tavia was right! Her sister continued, "Mind you, Jack, I'm just as furious with you, but since she's decided to be the violent sister, I suppose I have to be the pacifist. I don't know if you were letting them punish you for being stupid or for what you had to do in the past, but that's not important. I still love you, because neither of us have any room to talk when it comes to mind-bogglingly stupidity. Do we, Priscilla Jeanne?"
This was said with a gimlet stare. Priscilla had no choice but to nod her acknowledgment of that particular truth, and she could only watch in amusement as her younger sister swooped in to hug the breath out of their father's best friend for so many years. Much to her amusement, Jack couldn't quite hold back a squeak, but to his credit, he returned the hug with interest, cradling the back of her sister's skull with the palm of his hand. Just as he always did when they were children, and Priscilla blinked back tears.
"Okay, this is really sweet and all, but Nat and Esther are waiting. We've sent the message, and Nat has acknowledged. We just need the captain's signal, and then we light up the night sky. Okay, so in this case, it's early morning," Lucas said, shifting his feet as Octavia released Jack and Priscilla took (another) turn. Priscilla realized as Jack pulled her in close that a) Jack probably made an innuendo of some kind, thoroughly embarrassing her younger nephew and b) her father's old friend smelled just as wonderful as her mother always said he did.
Jack gave a low chuckle that sent shivers up and down Priscilla's spine (to say nothing of tingles in other parts of her body) as he replied, "Believe me, boys, when I send that signal, there won't be any mistaking it." Not surprisingly, Lucas blushed and Jason rolled his eyes. She had no idea how long Jack had been here, but in that short amount of time, it was enough to exasperate her older nephew and embarrass the younger. Typical of Jack. But would she have him any other way? Not a chance in hell! Jack continued, "And what will you ladies be doing?"
"Driving the getaway van. The boys will leave first, as soon as the first set of charges go off, and then once we signal them that we're clear, they'll blow the second set of charges. In the meantime, Dad is cleaning out the rest of the ranch house where we were staying, with some help from Natalie's daughter Ailsa. They'll meet us about an hour after we send the message that we're clear," Octavia observed as she leaned back against their van. She continued thoughtfully, "We might want to split up, though. . .one of us drives the getaway van, while the other one rides with whoever is driving your car."
"That would be me, and I'd welcome company other than him," observed a dark-skinned man standing behind the boys. He stepped forward, muttering about having to look at Jack Harkness for eight hours straight would make anyone blind. The sisters looked at each other, Octavia's lips trembling with barely suppressed laughter, Jack rolled his eyes, and the man added, "Sorry, suppose the polite thing to do would be to introduce myself. I'm Agent Rex Matheson. . .former CIA agent, and possible Torchwood operative, if Harkness here will cooperate. I understand that your daughter is inside, looking after Esther?"
"My daughter Natalie. . .yes, when our father discovered that your friend Esther was a prisoner of the Families, Nat volunteered to go in as a maid to keep an eye on her. She's been on the inside for two months, mopping the floors and trying to keep Esther as safe as possible, and we will be so glad to have her home. . .her daughter most of all," Priscilla replied. Octavia nodded emphatically, and so did the boys. There was a lost look in Jack's eyes for just a moment, reminding Priscilla of Jack's own lost families over the years. She added, "However, for now, we have a gift for you. Octavia, if you please?"
"All over it," Tavia replied and opened the doors of the van, drawing out the rather large box which was loaded into their van months earlier, when it was confirmed that the Families were holding Esther prisoner. Jack whistled softly, and Tavia threw a smile over her shoulder at him, saying, "Recognize it, huh? Dad said this was one of your favorite weapons. It was why he took it with him when he left with Mom's body. He was worried about what you might do with it. I remember when Dad first set up a meeting with Angelo Colasanto, he showed him that gun. I still don't know if it was confirmation that we did know you or a warning of what we're capable of doing. Could go either way with Dad."
"Angelo?" Jack gasped, jerking his hand back from the weapons case as if burned. Priscilla was on the verge of answering, but he shook his head, murmuring, "Never mind. Rescue Esther and Natalie now, talk about old friends later." He opened the case, running his hand gently along the gun, and murmured, "Hey, beautiful." The man who couldn't stay dead (except, apparently, during Miracle Day) turned and kissed Octavia just as Priscilla kissed him only a few minutes earlier. When they parted, Tavia was wearing a silly grin, Rex looked annoyed, and the two boys were staring at Jack and their mother in utter shock. Jack grinned broadly, that smile which Priscilla missed so much, and said, "We have two damsels in distress to rescue. Let's get to it."
"Can I be there when you tell Nat that he called her a damsel?" Jason whispered to his mother, before trotting after the Torchwood operative and the CIA agent, the latter of whom was chewing out the former for being stupid. Well, this could get interesting. Priscilla didn't know what his idea of 'stupid' was, but she was pretty sure that it wasn't the same as hers. Or her father's, for that matter. Behind the four men, the two sisters watched as whatever plan the quartet made was executed. And if Octavia slid her hand into Priscilla's, just as she had when they were children, then no one would ever know about it. There were some things best kept between sisters.
TWTWTWTWTW
5:30 am
A few doors down from Esther Drummond's room
The first blast woke Natalie at a quarter after five. She never meant to fall asleep. . .just rest her eyes after she received the final text from her cousins. But once the first blast went off, Natalie jolted awake, muttering curses under her breath as she rubbed at her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she got a good night's sleep or the last time her shoulders weren't tight with tension. She reminded herself that this was her choice. But when this was all over, she was going to take a long nap, and the only person she wanted near her was her little girl. Once it was all over, and right now, she still had a job to do. Natalie forced herself to focus, and after the rush of personnel began, she made her way to Esther's room. It was still very early, and nearly everyone was groggy and stumbling around like zombies. Sloppy on the part of the Families, but there was no activity for three months. Natalie was always taught to worry when there was no activity. The Families should know that, they flew under the radar and hid in plain sight for eighty years. Then again, from what she could tell, they were so damn smug, it would never occur to them that Jack Harkness would come for his lost friend. Or, it could be a trap.
She found Esther sitting up in bed, looking tired and confused, but not scared. No, if anything, the girl looked determined and just a little mulish. Good. That was very good. Nat smiled at her reassuringly, moving to remove the IV from Esther's arm, and said, "It's okay, Esther. . .unless I miss my guess, that's my cousins and two of your friends: Captain Jack Harkness and Agent Rex Matheson." Esther's eyes lit up and Natalie continued as she began to disassemble the machinery that monitored Esther and kept her prisoner, "By the way, my real name is Natalie."
Esther started to speak, but then her eyes widened. Trouble. And Natalie simply reacted. She grabbed the IV stand and whirled around, smacking one of the doctors in the side. There was no hesitation, no time to fret about if it was the right thing to do. . .she dropped the stand, drew the sidearm she kept in a holster at her shoulder and fired once. The woman didn't move again. Natalie didn't bother with clever quips, simply holstered the weapon and continued to unhook Esther from the machinery. She asked only, "Can you walk?"
"I'm not sure," the other girl admitted, "but I'm sure gonna try. Jack and Rex are really here?" Natalie shrugged a little, positioning herself to help the blonde girl out of the bed. She hadn't seen them, but her cousins told her that the men were there. Esther was silent for a few minutes, and then observed, "They wanted to turn me against Jack. I don't know why. . .what sort of skills they think that I could have used against him, but that was what they wanted." Natalie bobbed her head. Yeah, that was the impression she got as well.
"I think the plan was to turn you against your friend first, successfully brainwash you while you were still vulnerable, and then work on your mad skillz later. It's how my grandfather would have done it, and he's been plotting against the Families for forty years, ever since he first met Angelo Colasanto," Natalie answered. Esther gasped and she offered the blonde girl a rueful smile, adding, "He and my grandfather were frenemies. There were times when my grandfather regarded him as an older brother or uncle. . .there were other times, when I swore that if they ever met again, they'd kill each other."
"I only know of him as the old man who died as Jack sat with him in the Colasanto compound. Jack still saw him as the young man he knew," Esther said quietly. Natalie just smiled at her gently. She could understand the girl's reaction. But to her, Angelo Colasanto was the kindly old man who beamed at her as she hid behind her grandfather's leg when she was a very little girl. He was the man who visited her in the hospital after the accident that nearly claimed her life nearly ten years earlier. The boy who accidently set Miracle Day into motion and the man whom her grandfather first met. . .he didn't truly exist for her.
"Well, Angelo and my grandfather both loved Jack Harkness. Sometimes they liked each other. . .and sometimes they hated each other. But Angelo Colasanto always said that he knew if something happened to him, my grandfather would take over for him. That's why recordings made at the Colasanto compound were relayed automatically to us. They both loved Jack Harkness, they both hated the Families, and that took precedence over all else," Natalie replied. Esther nodded slowly. She seemed on the point of asking something else, but the door exploded inward. Natalie shifted her body, just enough to shield Esther. But it wasn't necessary.
Two men swept into the room, holding guns. The blonde girl blurted out, "Jack!" She started forward, but her legs gave way, and Natalie caught her around the waist. Too much, too fast. And then, there was a man beside them both, scooping Esther into his arms. She wept, wrapping her own arms around his neck, "Jack. They wanted to turn me against you, Jack, they wanted to use me to hurt you!" Natalie released Esther, allowing the man to take her full weight, and rose slowly to her feet, turning to the other man with a tired smile.
"I'm Natalie Tregarth. . .I'm guessing you're Rex Matheson?" she inquired, offering her hand. The man tucked his gun back in its holster and accepted her hand warily. He looked to be about her own age, maybe a few years older; dark-skinned, with dark eyes that kept sweeping across the room. He looked wary and tired and more than a little worried. Feeling uncomfortable with the strange tension between the three and with staying here much longer, Nat suggested, "I think we should hold off on the reunion until we're all out of this safely. I doubt Esther can walk right now. . .she's been bedridden for three months. I suggest that you and I clear the path, while Captain Harkness carries Esther."
"Probably the best idea, World War II. Esther, you got anything you wanna take with us?" the man asked and Esther shook her head, clinging to the man who held her. Nat hadn't gotten a good look at him yet, but right now, it didn't matter. Freedom was a very short distance away. Matheson said softly, "You lead the way. But I'll tell you now, you betray us and I'll put a bullet in you myself." Natalie smiled at him thinly as she withdrew her own pistol and fired a bullet through the brain of a guard who barreled into the room. Asshole. If he weren't Esther's friend, she'd probably put a bullet in him herself, just for being annoying and an asshole. That wasn't entirely true. . .her grandfather wanted to talk to him, as well as Harkness.
"If I betray you, my life won't be worth anything in my family, forget what you'll do to me. My grandfather is almost ninety years old, and he's got some very creative punishments when it comes to betrayal. So, if you're done issuing threats to people who are helping you, I strongly suggest that we get a goddamn move-on! Esther, you hang on, hon. We're almost home and I am determined to hold my daughter before the end of the night," Natalie answered coldly. She double-checked her ammo. . .best make her remaining shots count. Dammit. Well, there wasn't anything for it. She wouldn't be the only one firing. A sound behind her had her turning defensively, but only found Esther on her feet, clinging to Harkness with both arms around his waist. Huh? Her question was answered a moment later when the man reached behind his back and offered a second pistol to her, handle first.
"I won't be needing this in the immediate future. . .just make sure you give it back to me when this is all over," the man observed. For the first time, Natalie looked at him. . .and wished she hadn't. Guh. She was pretty sure her brain just melted. She shook herself, accepted the gun, conducted a brief inspection, and then tucked it into her secondary holster at her hip. Right. She had a job to do and a daughter who was waiting for her. Disappointing Ailsa wasn't even an option for her. And if Matheson threatened her again, she'd kick him in the balls once they were clear of this hellhole. She did not go through three months of hell, averaging three hours of sleep a night, being spoken to as if she was a particularly slow child, to be threatened by some puffed up CIA agent with delusions of grandeur. In the back of her mind, she knew that she was being unfair to him, but she was tired, she ached, and she wanted to return to her family.
"Thanks. Let's go, then. I'll go first, check the corridor. There are maybe twenty people who work here, so we shouldn't meet much resistance. Even so, I think getting Esther out should be our top priority, so you should come next, Captain. . .and Agent Big-Mouth there should bring up the rear," Natalie replied. The dark-haired man currently shifting Esther back into his arms and against his chest nodded his agreement, his lips twitching. Nat slipped to the door, pistol held at the ready, and peeked outside. So far, the coast was clear. She motioned the middle two forward, murmuring, "We need to move fast. . .don't know how long my cousins' distractions will work. Will you be okay, carrying her?" The man nodded, his arms tightening around Esther protectively, and Nat bit back a smile. Okay, that worked. She whispered, "Let's go."
She swept through the halls, just as her aunt Octavia taught her, and wondered if her aunt and mother met up with Harkness yet. She hoped so. She knew that her aunt and mom thought a great deal of him, but someone needed to explain to her how a man whom her mother and aunt remembered from when they were children could possibly be barely forty. Later. She had to stay focused on the mission. If she got distracted, then she or one of the others would die. And after they all went through, that simply wasn't acceptable!
TWTWTWTWTW
She buried her face against the warm skin of Jack's neck, clinging to him with all of her strength. He was here, he was real, he came for her. He smelled so good, so like Jack. She whispered, "They wanted to turn me against you. Nat says they wanted to get me while I was still vulnerable. I might have done it, too, if it weren't for her. She kept me sane, Jack, she reminded me of who I was. She never talked to the guards, she always kept her head down, but she would smile and talk to me if it was just us."
She felt Jack's arms tighten around her. He didn't say anything. . .was too focused on following Natalie and making sure they got out safely. Esther continued, "I was thinking about you, just before I lost consciousness. There were so many things I wanted to tell you, things I should have said before I left for Buenos Aires and you left for Shanghai with Gwen. You need to know, I'm so glad that I met you. . .even if you did make me forget for a while." She felt, rather than heard, Jack laugh, and Esther added, "I'm so glad I met you, Captain Jack Harkness, and I wouldn't give that up for anything, no matter what happens."
"I'm glad I met you, too, Esther Drummond. But no more talk like that, we are getting out of here. I won't allow for any other outcome," Jack replied. She hugged him tightly. He didn't understand, but that was all right. It didn't matter. She told him what she wanted to say when she thought she was dying. She had that out of the way, and could focus on the future. She lifted her head to smile at Rex, who just scowled. Esther rolled her eyes. Still the same Rex. She would deal with him later. Right now, she would keep silent, conserve her strength, and let Jack, Nat, and Rex do their jobs.
"Hold up. . .something isn't right. . ." Nat hissed over her shoulder, and then gave a small squeak. Jack was already in motion, swinging Esther around so that she was faced away from whatever was happening. It wasn't necessary. There was a second squeak, the sound of flesh landing on flesh, and then Nat hissed, "You little brat! What if I shot you?" Jack turned back, allowing Esther to see an obviously-irate Natalie thoroughly scolding a young man about Esther's own age. The immortal and the girl in his arms exchanged a smile, and it felt so familiar, so comfortable, so right. Nat was winding down her rant, adding, "Just for that, you and Lucas can flank Captain Harkness and Esther. I'm just hours from seeing my Ailsa again, and you two dingbats are not getting in the way. No one is!"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" the young man retorted, winking at Esther. He stared at Jack, asking as he took up position alongside Jack and Esther, "Do I need to worry about you keeping your hands to yourself, Captain?" Natalie snarled something in a language that Esther didn't recognize, and the young man blanched, hands going automatically to his privates. He squeaked, "Yes, ma'am. . .no more comments from the peanut gallery. And just to let you know, we shouldn't encounter any resistance." And then he mouthed, nodding to his cousin, 'she's scary!' Funny. Esther thought while the transformation from the drab, pleasant maid to this woman was a little alarming, it was also reassuring. . .reassuring that she was on Esther's side, that is.
"Not to worry, Corporal Martinelli. . .I tend to avoid mixing business and pleasure these days. And I already have my hands full. . .speaking metaphorically and literally," Jack retorted. Esther buried her face against his jacket, stifling her laughter. Oh, she missed him! There was a snort of laughter from the young man on the other side. Natalie again spoke in that language that Esther couldn't identify, and this time, Jack laughed softly, murmuring, "Haven't heard that one in a while. I'm not sure if you're old enough for me to translate, Esther. Hell, I'm not sure if I'm old enough to translate it!" That drew a huff of laughter from the woman in front of them, who continued her sweep through the otherwise-abandoned corridors.
"I'll tell her later," Natalie promised, "we're almost to the. . .aw hell, BACK!" The command was hissed, rather than barked, but it lost none of its power. The entire group back-pedaled or moved nearer to the wall. Jack and Esther were in the second group. In fact, Esther was sandwiched between the wall and Jack, wishing she had the strength to walk. If she could walk, then Jack would have his hands free to fight back or flirt or whatever he. . . Natalie's voice overrode her thoughts, though she had competition with Jack's warm breath tickling Esther's skin. She shivered a little and Jack held her tighter. Natalie said next, "Why are you doing this?" It didn't sound like she was worried. . .more like curious. Esther hoped that was a good sign.
"Because this isn't right. None of this is right, and I'm so tired of pretending it is. I'm tired of it all," came another voice. Esther frowned. . .did that voice sound familiar? It was a young man, very young. There was a brief silence, and then the boy said, "Get out of here, now. Please. These are evil people, Tal, so evil. You know this. I don't know why the blonde is so important, or if she's just a link to someone else. It doesn't matter. I can't be a part of this anymore. I just can't." Jack pulled away from the wall, ever so slightly, and Esther could now see a young man talking earnestly to Natalie. She could also see one of Natalie's cousins shifting ever slightly. Then his arm moved and the boy slumped over, but he never hit the ground.
"And you don't have to be. Good work, Lucas, he's going with us," Natalie ordered. Rex must have made a face, because Natalie snapped, "Do you have a problem with that, Agent Matheson? Take it up with my grandfather. I will not leave that boy here at the tender mercies of the Families! They do not treat failures or perceived betrayals kindly. Call me weird, call me crazy, but I refuse to punish him for doing the right thing. Lucas, you got him okay? Is it gonna be a problem for you to carry him?" Evidently, Lucas shook his head, for Natalie continued, "Good. Move double-time. . .shut up, Jason, I do pay attention to your stories."
"I don't want the kid to be hurt, either, but that takes another gun out of the equation. Slows us down, too," Esther heard Rex murmur. Again, she felt guilty for her inability to walk. They were already slowed down by her still-wobbly legs. Jack's arms again tightened around her, as if he knew what she was thinking. Rex continued as they started forward, "And maybe I'm being an ass, Miss Tregarth, but I don't know you or your family, and I've got no reason to trust any of you. Even World War II isn't entirely sure of you."
"Perhaps. But Captain Harkness didn't threaten me. From what I hear, he has every reason to distrust my family, but he's here because Esther's life and freedom is far more important to him than his misgivings. Now, maybe I'm being a bitch. I probably am. However, I haven't slept properly in months, my only contact with my family has been by way of texts during that time, and quite frankly, I don't have the energy or patience to deal with you. I was warned that Captain Harkness could be difficult, but you define that term. So shut up and haul ass!" Natalie snapped. She rather effectively ended the conversation by turning her back and stalking away.
Jack, showing admirable restraint, said nothing, but followed her with an appreciative glance at her body. He glanced at Esther almost sheepishly, but she grinned at him. That was just how Jack was. Her reward was one of his more devastating smiles. She buried her face against his coat again, hugging him tightly. She heard Jason saying softly, "Nat, I think that our unconscious friend has been helping us for a while. Even my diversions aren't that good. I need to investigate further, but it's almost as if he knew this was coming. What, exactly, did he do?"
"He was an orderly. What, are you thinking that he hacked into our systems?" Natalie asked, sounding worried. Well, Esther thought, that's another argument in Natalie's favor. If he knew they were rescuing me today, that would lead the Families back to her family, and to us. Judging from Rex's expression, he knew that as well. Natalie shook her head and muttered, "Jason, call ahead to your mom, let her know there might be a security breach. She probably already knows, but I really prefer to give her as much advanced warning as possible."
"Mom says she loves you, too," Jason retorted and Nat released her bracing hand around her wrist to tuck one hand behind her back and flip off her cousin. Jason snorted with laughter and continued, "But yeah, she's already relayed the message to Grandfather. And asks that you remember that's why we have disposable cell phones. His suggestion is that we have a huge-ass party in which we totally annihilate the damn things. Her words, not his." Esther blinked. It sounded like Esther, Jason, and Lucas came from an interesting family. Interesting in a good way, not in a bad way.
"Actually, if I know Carlyon at all, his exact words were something like this," Jack said, and then said in a very elegant English accent, "Kindly remind Natalie that we purchased disposable mobiles for a reason. However, if it reassures her, we will thoroughly destroy them once the mission is complete." Now Esther could feel the cool night air on her face and on her bare feet, and it felt so good. The entire journey through the hospital took no more than five minutes. So strange, that freedom was so close all this time. But she really had no idea where she was in the hospital. Jack asked, switching back to his normal accent, "How close was I?" Natalie didn't turn around, but this time, the hand gesture she made behind her back was far more complimentary: a thumb's up. Jack murmured, "Good to know some things haven't changed."
"Damn, that was good! How in the hell do you know our grandfather? Our mother and aunt talk as if they knew you when they were little girls, but you're not much older than Natalie is," Lucas said admiringly. Rex huffed a little as they slowly and cautiously descended the steps out of the hospital. Lucas added after a moment, "Hey, Jase. . .what was that super secret bonus feature that you mentioned, the one that was going to keep the entire hospital staff focused away from Miss Drummond's room? 'Cause I'm really curious about that rather cryptic remark about the lack of resistance." So was Esther, who was seeing the rising sun for the first time in months.
"Oh, that? My diversionary tactics? Nothing big, really. Just locked as many staff members in one of the rooms as I could. And, uhm, during the last few weeks, Grandfather has been gleefully creating several viruses to create headaches for our world-conquering friends. Once the staff members were secure, I planted those viruses. Should buy us enough time, assuming there aren't more levels that we didn't know about. . .which Grandfather acknowledged was possible, but we couldn't lose any more time. And you did the rest, little brother," Jason replied, sounding very pleased with himself. He paused, and then added, "Lucas, you and I are heading back in the pickup. . .put the kid in the back, under the tarp. Not real comfortable, but safe for the moment."
"Go, we should be able to handle it from here. We've got two guns, four if you count Mom and Aunt Octavia. Be careful, I love you, and be safe!" Natalie instructed her two younger cousins. Lucas and Jason both nodded, and raced across the parking lot to their pick-up, Lucas slowed a little by the young man he was carrying across his shoulders. Esther only hoped the rest of the rescue went this easily. Of course, they couldn't get that lucky.
TWTWTWTW
Jack was painfully aware that things were going too easily. Even taking into account that it was an operation planned by Carlyon Tregarth, things were going too easily. Which meant that Esther wasn't the target at all, but the bait. Oh, Esther would be allowed to get away, just like the rest of the Tregarth family would be allowed to get away. For now. But Jack was whom they wanted. He couldn't regret his actions, though, even if they did get caught. Esther was still young, she didn't deserve whatever fate they planned for her. And he hadn't seen Carlyon in forty years, so he couldn't be sure if his old friend had a contingency plan in place.
"I can hear those wheels turning, Captain. If you're thinking of giving yourself up, you put those thoughts right out of your pretty little head," Natalie Tregarth said. Esther gave a startled little gasp and Jack did a double take. She was stalking toward the van where her mother and aunt awaited. Never bothering to look over her shoulder, she added, "It was mentioned to me that you might suggest sacrificing yourself so the rest of us can get away, if this turned out to be a trap. He told me to remind you of a particular operation in 1945, in which you did sacrifice yourself. I was further instructed to remind you that he's almost ninety years old, and not strong enough to endure something like that a second time. So. No sacrificing yourself."
"Amen to that, baby doll. Agent Matheson, my sister is in your car. Yes, she moved it, and don't bother complaining. She has the directions to the rendezvous point, in case we get separated. Go," Priscilla said, opening the van doors. Rex nodded, biting back whatever he was about to say, and took off toward the car they drove from Colorado. He mouthed, 'take care of her' and Jack nodded. He would do that, with pleasure. With a mischievous grin at Esther, he reflected that it might be her pleasure as well, if she was inclined in that direction.
There was the sound of a car door slamming and an engine revving up. Tavia and Rex peeled out of the parking lot, and Jack rolled his eyes. He should have expected that. The oldest Tregarth daughter lay out a blanket, while Natalie grabbed the keys and raced around to the driver's seat. Starting the car. Good. After a moment, the girl returned and her mother shooed her forward, saying, "Get in. Nat, help Jack get Esther ins. . .SHIT!" Jack was settling Esther on her feet, when he froze at Priscilla's expletive. Careful to shield Esther with his own body, he straightened up and turned to see three of the Families' operatives standing a few yards away, holding a gun on the three of them. Priscilla growled, "Where did these idiots come from and why didn't Matheson see them?"
"From under the ground," came the proud response, "an old storm cellar that is now used for. . . well, it doesn't matter now. We waited. . .monitored the situation. . .and when the time was right, we left our shelter and here you are. Torchwood isn't the only ones who have cloaking technology, you know. Typical of the Tregarths. . .oh yes, we know whom you are. Carlyon Tregarth, former director of Torchwood Three until 1965. We know about your mother as well, Priscilla Tregarth. You can take the bimbo with you. . .she's not the one we wanted, she never was. I just want him." The woman nodded to Jack, who eased Esther into the van, shielding her all the while. Not surprisingly, Priscilla and Natalie took up flanking positions alongside him, both pointing their guns at the Families members. For a moment, Jack was reminded of another incident, in which he was flanked by Carlyon and his wife Sophia.
"Not gonna happen, girlfriend, never gonna happen. Now, the odds are about even. Can the three of you take us out? Possibly. Because that's what has to happen. . .we are not letting you have Jack. Not now, not ever," Priscilla answered firmly. In answer, the three women aimed their pistols at Jack, and Priscilla snorted, "Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Nat, sweetheart, pick your target. On three. . ." There were six shots, and Jack felt the entirely too familiar sensation of a bullet tearing through his gut. Behind them, Esther gave a wordless cry of distress. But all of the opposing trio were all dead, and as Jack fell to his knees, Priscilla growled, "Help me get him into the van, Nat. If those three bimbos found us, others will. Dammit, I warned Dad about this possibility!"
Jack felt himself being pulled up between the mother and daughter, and then eased into the back of the van, where Esther immediately pulled him into her arms protectively. Poor girl. This had to be bringing back memories of their flight from the Colasanto compound and the harrowing days that followed. He heard Natalie's questioning, 'mom?' as well as Priscilla's response, "Get in back with Jack and Esther, honey, and I promise I'll explain everything later. I promise. I just need you to get in back, so we can get on our way. There's a little girl who is looking very much to seeing you." Oh. Emotional blackmail. That always worked well. Still, if it meant getting away from this place, Jack was all in favor of it.
There was the thump of feet on the floor (Natalie jumping inside the van, no doubt), and a shadow fell briefly in the van, visible even with Jack's graying vision. Seconds later, there was another thump as Priscilla slammed the van doors closed behind her older daughter, the sound of a hand smacking the side of the van, before the driver's side door opened and closed Jack allowed his eyes to drift shut. Oh God, he hurt so badly. Gut-wounds were bad enough, but all three of 'em fired at the same time, and Jack wasn't sure if he was shot once or three times. He tried to find the strength to tell Esther that he would be back as soon as he could, but found he didn't have the strength.
The last thing he felt was Esther's fingers stroking through his hair. . .the last thing he heard was Natalie's ragged breathing, in and out in time with the rumbling of the engine. And then oblivion sucked him in once more. When he sucked air back into his lungs a short time later, he found himself looking down the barrel of Natalie Tregarth's gun as the obviously-spooked young woman half-stood and half-crouched over him, shouting, "Mom, what the hell is going on here! I saw him die and now he's alive again!" Jack closed his eyes and sank back into Esther's arms. It wasn't just reassuring Natalie that he was no threat to her, his head was pounding from the resurrection headache. One thing he didn't miss while he was mortal.
"Natalie Sophia, put the gun down!" Priscilla cried out, actually sounding more worried and frightened than angry. Someone was drawing breath raggedly, and his bet was on Natalie, rather than on her mother. The woman pleaded, softening her voice ever so slightly, "Please, baby, I know I promised to explain, but you have got to put that gun down. I know you're exhausted and I know we've asked a lot of you. I have to ask you to trust me now. Jack is not a threat to you, he won't hurt you. He would never hurt you, baby doll, I promise." For the first time, Jack realized they were no longer moving. Well, that would make sense, given that Natalie was half-standing and half-crouching. He opened his eyes when a second gunshot didn't come. Natalie looked terrified and exhausted and at the end of her tether. He remembered what she said in the hospital about how long she was inside hostile territory on her own.
She slowly lowered the gun, rasping out, "That's why they wanted him. He. . .he dies, but he comes back. And people didn't die during those two godawful months. They did something to him, and now they want him back." Several half-truths sewn together, but Jack didn't have the energy to explain the truth to her right now. The safety was clicked on, and she whispered, "My God. . .how many times have you died and come back? That's why you look so young, but my mom and Aunt 'Tavia remember you from when they were little girls."
Natalie raised weary eyes to her mother, adding, "That's why you swore they wouldn't get their hands on him. It wasn't just about not leaving a man behind, but you knew that they would try again. Plans within plans within plans. If they couldn't turn Esther against him, then they could lure him back in." The gun was now tucked in the holster behind her back once more, and she sagged against the side of the van, tears rolling down her cheeks. Jack watched her warily as she whispered, "God, I almost got the whole mess started again. I'd never even seen those three bitches, and I. . .I should have realized there had to be more to the compound than what I saw. I know this part of the country, I know about the tornadoes and the storm shelters, I should have realized that there was something like that here."
"It wasn't your fault," Jack said hoarsely as Esther eased him upright. She smiled at him, giving him a nudge toward the woman who cared for her during all this time. The trembling woman looked up at him, blinking back tears that continued to roll down her cheeks, and Jack continued, "It wasn't your fault. There was no way of knowing about the storm shelters. . .there were no other buildings, no reason to suspect that there would be a storm shelter around here. You provided all the information you had, and you kept Esther safe, risking your own life in the process. I know what the Families would have done to you if they caught you, and it would have been ugly. You said it yourself when that boy helped us. You did your job, Natalie Sophia Tregarth, and everyone got out."
"He's right, princess," Priscilla soothed, crawling up from the driver's seat. Her daughter looked at her with wet eyes, and Priscilla continued, "You provided us with the information you had, the information you could access. Remember, sweetheart? You asked early on if we wanted you to access the computers, and your grandfather said no because it was too risky. You carried out your mission. You got Esther out of that place, and the only fatality was Jack. And the three bitch Cousins, but those three twits don't count." That provoked a weak smile and Priscilla added, "Rest now, baby doll. Rest and relax. Everything is gonna be all right. Just rest." She eased her daughter so that Natalie was lying on her side, and then asked Esther softly, "You feel up to watching over these two for me until we get to the rendezvous point?"
"Of course. I have plenty of practice in taking care of Jack, and Natalie looked after me for so long, it's only right that I return the favor now. We'll be fine," Esther promised. Jack shifted his weight, allowing Esther to move to her former caretaker's side. Priscilla smiled at her gratefully and scampered back to the driver's seat. Jack leaned against the side of the van as it started up once more, closing his eyes wearily. He heard Natalie's tearful apology and Esther's gentle reassurance that it was understandable. It wasn't every day that you saw a man come back to life, after all. Jack smiled at that.
"How many times have you died?" Natalie asked again. Jack opened his eyes, to find the brunette resting against Esther's shoulder. He gave his young friend an apologetic smile, but she shook her head with a reassuring look. Natalie continued, "It's just. . .you died. And you came back, and. . .I mean. . .I should expect strange things, between the kids speaking in unison, and the Earth literally moving, and people not dying regardless of what happens to them. Things have been really strange over the last few years, so I should expect strange things, and you're not a thing, you're a person, but. . ."
"I don't know," Jack admitted honestly, "many times. I lost count after. . .after two of my friends, my teammates, died while protecting Cardiff." There was considerably more to the story than that, but Jack wasn't ready to tell this girl (because even at thirty-five, to him, she was a girl) about how a mistake he made when he was a child was responsible for Cardiff in specific and the UK in general nearly being wiped from the map. Nor was he ready to tell her about the nearly two thousand years he spent buried alive for that same mistake. He came to terms with that mistake, and learned to live with himself. . .just as he learned to live with himself, eventually, after Steven. Natalie stared at him for a few minutes, before nodding slightly. Meaning, Jack reflected ruefully, she'll accept that, but only for now. Definitely belongs to Carlyon and Sophia.
"Does it hurt? I mean, I would imagine that dying can hurt. . .I've never met anyone who dies and comes back to life, so I can only use my imagination. . .but doesn't coming back to life have to hurt, too? It's like when we sit in the same place too long, and our arms or legs go to sleep. It hurts when feeling returns to that limb. . .it's the same thing?" Natalie asked. It seemed she wasn't done asking questions, but under the circumstances, he really couldn't blame her. Jack blinked at her. He never even considered that take on it, but he couldn't deny that she had a point. A very good point, really.
"It does hurt. . .the best way I can describe is being dragged across broken glass," he admitted. Natalie cringed, and he hoped that she had no idea what that actually felt like. Jack, unfortunately, did. Thanks to the Master, who had some very creative ways to kill Jack during that year on the Valiant. Esther, he noted, was listening intently as well. Though he told her about Torchwood and his deaths during those two months after he was shot, she never saw him die and come back to life. He asked her softly, "Are you okay, Esther Drummond?"
"I'm fine," she reassured him, "I knew what to expect, even if I never saw it before. I'm sorry, Natalie, I should have explained it to you myself, but I really wasn't sure what to expect, if that makes any sense whatsoever." Jack shook his head. He couldn't blame either one of them. And he really didn't blame Natalie for her reaction. Maybe if she was at her best when she saw him die, she wouldn't have pulled a gun on him. But she didn't actually shoot him, and that was important. Esther continued softly, "Why don't you go to sleep, Natalie? Jack and I can watch over you." Natalie nodded sluggishly, body relaxing against Esther's, and the blonde girl tightened her arms around her caretaker. She smiled at Jack over Natalie's head, observing, "I guess we don't need to Retcon her." Jack shook his head and smiled back ruefully. No. No, there was no need to Retcon her. She was already Torchwood, even if she didn't know it yet. It was her birthright, her legacy. . .and Jack suspected that she would accept that.
TBC
