Chapter 3

Owen was already in the room and motioned for Corsen to sit down. He started shuffling his papers around and pulling up some data spreads on the monitor on the wall. He looked up when Ianto entered, bearing a tray with 3 coffees and water. Jack followed a couple seconds later with an old rusted tin in one hand. Jack took his seat at the head of the table, Ianto at his right, Owen his left, and Corsen in Tosh's seat next to Owen. Jack nodded towards Owen as he took a sip of coffee, indicating Owen should start. Owen nodded a bit in return and turned to Corsen.

"Right, so, we should probably start off with basics because you look a little worried right now." Owen smiled reassuringly and Corsen nodded, a bit timid. "Okay, well, I ran your blood sample through the bio-scan and you're clear. No infections or anything. But the scanner did do a match up of your DNA when it was scanning for abnormalities. Now, Captain Harkness here is who you're DNA got matched up with and his DNA is pretty damn weird for a couple reasons but I'm gonna let him tell you why." Jack leaned forward resting his arms on the table.

"Corsen," Jack's smile was soft, but his eyes were wary. "You've seen what we do here, we catch aliens. So you have to know there is a ton of unbelievable things that are out there in the universe. I've seen a fair few. One of the reasons my DNA is distinguishable from someone like Owen, a normal 21st century human being, is because I'm from the future. By the time the 51st century rolls around evolution has taken place and there are certain differentiations in molecular structure and physical traits and stuff like that. That's the simpler reason why I stand out, though." Jack studied Corsen's reaction to this fairly extraordinary piece of evidence.

"Okay, one question then." Corsen looked between the adults seated in front of her. "If you're from the 51st century why are you dressed like a 1940's RAF pilot?" Jack laughed.

"Simple explanation?" Ianto, answered. "He likes to. Plus, it suits him." Ianto shot Jack a small smile and Jack felt a foot nudge his own. Jack smirked at Ianto and then turned back to Corsen.

"There's one more thing. And I'm gonna ask you to try and keep an open mind and let me finish and then I promise to answer your questions." Corsen nodded, eager to know more about the Captain. "Alright, a long time ago I was traveling with some friends and we got mixed up in a fight. A race called the Daleks was trying to invade Earth. The Doctor, one of my friends, was brilliant and came up with a way to stop it. But he needed more time than he had.

"I had to buy him that time. I was the last line of defense and I was shot and killed." Corsen gasped, thoroughly confused, but held her tongue. "Rose, our other friend, ended up absorbing some kind of power and completely wiped out the Daleks. And then, she brought me back to life. Only she wasn't completely in control and she accidently brought me back forever. My DNA was recoded that day, so I can never die," he paused, letting it sink in. Corsen gaped at him. Completely staring, open mouthed, jaw to the table. Ianto chuckled at her reaction.

"You can't die." Corsen stated, incredulously, but rather calmly.

"It's more I can't stay dead. I can die, I just keep coming back." Corsen rested her elbows on the table and started rubbing her temples.

"Okay, what do either of those things have to do with me? I'm not from the future, and though I haven't tested it, I'm pretty sure I can still die. From what you told me it doesn't sound like you can be born immortal."

"Thought you might get to that eventually." Owen stood and moved to the monitor displaying the DNA models. "When I ran your bio-scan and it checked for abnormalities, your blood sample corresponded with Jack's. I double-checked the scans and they are right. Now assuming you aren't originally from the 51st century there's really only one explanation for all this." Owen broke off and his eyes jumped to Jack, wondering whether to continue or let Jack tell her. Jack nodded his head and turned to face the confused teenage girl in front of him.

"Corsen," Jack began but then thought better of it, opening his tin first and pulling out a glossy photograph. He pushed it across the table and Corsen reached out for it. She gasped when she saw what it was.

"That's my mom! But how . . .?" She trailed off as she looked up from the photo of Jack and Terri, smiling up at her from a street corner in New York City.

"I met your mother in September, 1992. I was in New York for a week for a conference. We met my first night there and I spent all the rest of my free time with her. We lost contact though, when I came back to Cardiff."

"September, but that would make you. . . Dad?" Corsen whispered the last word as she double-checked her mental math. Jack nodded his head, his expression soft but blank, waiting for Corsen to come out of shock. "Did you know?" Corsen's voice was hoarse with emotion. Owen put a hand on her shoulder and held the glass of water up for her. She took it and shot him a grateful glance.

"No, your mother never told me. But Corsen, believe me, if I had known I would have been there for you. I would have found you."

"I . . . I just can't think . . . I've never known anything . . . not one single detail . . . not a name or a photograph . . . and now you're here . . ." Corsen's eyes began to leak little tears and her voice grew weaker. Jack stood up and walked around the table as Corsen pushed her chair out. Jack enveloped her in his arms and she held onto him as tight as she could, crying into his shoulder. Ianto and Owen quietly got up and left the room. When Ianto glanced back they were still wrapped around each other, and he could see Jack was crying too. Ianto smiled a little as his own vision got blurry, before he moved to the little kitchenette to get coffee for the girls.