A small moment of calm followed by a crisis ..


Emily Louise Perkins

Chapter 4

It was lunchtime and the team gathered to eat the take away Chinese that Ianto had ordered. Conversation was sparse at first but gradually they began to talk about normal things. Jack learnt that Owen and Toshiko had both moved home and joined in the slightly forced laughter when told of Owen's chaotic attempts at packing.

Gwen excused herself early and went back to Emily's side. The child was sleeping normally. As she sat watching the little girl's chest rise and fall, Gwen let her mind wander. Idly, she fingered her engagement ring and smiled at the memory of Rhys' proposal; so typical of the man to make a hash of it. She also recalled Jack's reaction when she had told him. He had been surprised, certainly, but had there been some disappointment too? It worried her that she wanted him to be disappointed and in a moment of clarity understood that her challenges to his authority were partly a result of her attraction to him. An attraction that was not strong enough for her to abandon Rhys, whom she loved, nor, on his side, for him to try and win her. A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

"You all right?" asked Owen, coming into the room.

"Yes. Just thinking." Gwen wiped away the tear and smiled at him.

He stood irresolute for a moment then spoke. "Don't beat yourself up over this. We both made mistakes, me more than most. We've just got to put it behind us and get on with the job."

"I know. But knowing doesn't make it any easier to do."

"No. Look, I'm going home to get some kip." He nodded towards the bed, "She'll need me more later on so best if I go now. Jack said he'll keep an eye on things."

"Okay." He checked the sleeping child and then turned to go. "Owen, before you go. About what Jack said earlier, do you trust him?"

"About as far as I can throw him," he replied and grinned. "But I think he means it, about not leaving again." When she did not respond, he continued, "Right, I'm off."

Half an hour later, Jack came into the rest room carrying coffee for both of them. "Don't worry, Ianto made it," he said, handing her one of the mugs.

"Thanks."

She wrapped her hands round the warm mug and watched as Jack went to the other side of the bed. He put his own mug down and then bent to look at the child, lifting the covers on his side to check her legs. The fusing was continuing and now stretched from her hips to her knees and the grey, scaly skin covered the whole area. There had been some extension of the skin mutation across her stomach but not much. He replaced the covers carefully and then stroked the girl's hair gently. After a moment, he picked up his coffee and pulled up a chair and sat down, across the bed from Gwen.

"How's she doing?" asked Gwen who had made a point of not looking under the covers.

He shrugged. "The mutation's continuing but if anything I'd say it was slower than I expected. Her hands and arms are unaffected so far and that's good." He reached a hand and held one of Emily's, stroking the back of it with his thumb.

"She's very quiet, when she's awake. Just lies there stroking the doll and listens as I read to her."

"That's one of the side effects. The alien needs a compliant host." He sipped his coffee. "How are you doing, Gwen?"

"I'm fine." He looked at her steadily and she held the gaze as long as she could before breaking the contact. "All right, I'm not fine! This is all my fault, I'm to blame."

"Don't take on more than your due. We're all to blame; me, you, Owen and even Tosh and Ianto a little. You four wanted to save her and I didn't spell out the consequences."

"Don't try to make me feel better, Jack, please! I know I fucked up."

"Yes, you did. There's no need to beat yourself up about it though. Just remember that if we'd left Emily alone the Javockolia would have grown and then burst out, killing her and running amok in the hospital." He watched her carefully, glad she was taking responsibility but not wanting her to drown under the weight of it.

Gwen thought about this for a while, drinking her coffee and staring at nothing. She had forgotten that. "We should have ended it when you said. It would have been better for Emily." She looked at the child's sleeping face and was overcome with pity for her.

"That's what I thought with Maggie. Seeing her go through this … transformation was among the worst things I've ever had to do. But she insisted, said it was important that we recorded the effects so we could learn from it, could work out a way to stop it." He smiled ruefully, "I guess we didn't learn very much."

The two sat in companionable silence, content to be in one another's company for perhaps the first time since Jack had returned.

-ooOoo-

Preparations for that evening's computer upgrade were complete and Toshiko sat back in her chair and sighed. It had been a long hard slog getting it done but now she found she had time to spare. She checked her watch, only six o'clock. She wondered how best to fill in the next four hours. She would be in the Hub all night, in case anything went wrong, and decided to take a shower and change. It would freshen her up and use up some time. She saw Ianto come up from the vaults and watched as he crossed the lower level and climbed the steps beside her.

"Did anyone ever help you with the Weevils?" she asked, remembering the briefing meeting of the day before. So much had happened since then it seemed more like a week ago.

"Jack helped yesterday. Everyone's been busy today so I did it myself."

"Sorry I couldn't help. Remind me tomorrow." She paused. "How are you getting on with Jack?"

Ianto shrugged. "Okay, I suppose."

"It must be hard for you. Look, if you'd rather not talk about it, just say and I'll shut up but if you want to talk ..." She let the offer hang in the air, smiling at him. They had chatted occasionally when Jack had been absent and she had an idea of the conflict he was dealing with now their boss was back.

"Actually," he began, hesitantly, "we're supposed to be going on a date tonight." Her face lit up with pleasure. "Don't get carried away," he warned. "I don't know if it's still on or not given …" he nodded towards the rest room not needing to say any more.

"I hope it is, for your sake. For both your sakes. Time away from here may be just what you need. As for Emily … Not much we can do right now." She had dropped in to check on Gwen and the girl during the afternoon but not stayed long.

"No." There were silent for a couple of minutes, thinking of the little girl and what was happening to her. "I was going to make some coffee."

"Not for me thanks. I'm going to shower and change then chill for a bit." She stood up and put a hand on his arm. "Jack's in the Boardroom. Go and find out about your date." She smiled and walked off.

Having made some coffee, Ianto took some to Gwen along with a boxed fruit drink for Emily. The child seemed to need liquids but not food, although she had been tempted with some small, pink wafer biscuits earlier. He chatted with Emily for a few minutes then went off to the Boardroom. Jack was standing in front of the plasma screen, flicking through some images.

"Coffee," said Ianto brandishing the blue and white striped mug.

"Thanks." Jack smiled and took the proffered beverage. "About tonight -" he began.

"It's okay, I understand. With all this going on, of course we'll cancel."

"Cancel? I don't want to cancel. Do you want to cancel?" Jack regarded him anxiously.

"No, I just thought –"

"Good. What I was going to say was, if it's okay with you, we'll just have a meal. I wanted to do the movie thing as well but I'd like to be back here before the upgrade starts and to check on the child."

"That would be fine." Ianto swallowed, still unsure of his own feelings. "What time?"

"Table's booked for seven thirty. Shall I pick you up at seven?" Jack sipped his coffee, watching the confusion on Ianto's face and loving it. He looked even younger when he was flustered.

"Okay. I'll get going then, if that's all right?"

"No problem. Owen's on his way in and as soon as he gets here, I'll be free to leave." A shadow passed over his face. "I was hoping to persuade Gwen to go home but she won't go."

"She feels responsible for Emily."

"I know." Jack sighed. "Anyway, don't let me hold you up. You've got go make yourself even more handsome." To his great delight, he saw Ianto blush before he fled the room.

-ooOoo-

The Hub at night was a strange place. The dimmed lights cast shadows in unexpected places and gave it an eerie feel which was further enhanced by the sounds of machinery ticking over. Tonight there was the additional noise of water flowing through the overflow basin caused by an unusually high tide. Owen hated the Hub at night and made a point of staying in the Medical Bay or work area when he pulled an all nighter. Both were well-lit and reassuring when the place got to him. He was currently sitting at his desk with a bottle of beer in his hand eating a sandwich prepared by Toshiko who had her chair pulled up next to his sharing the impromptu meal.

"Africa," he mumbled, swallowing his mouthful of food, "I'd like to go Africa."

"Anywhere in particular? It's a big place."

"That's the problem. I guess my ideal would be to buy a car and drive from one end to the other. Cairo to Johannesburg, that would be some trip."

They were trying to decide on their ideal holiday if money and time were no object. In the early hours of the morning it was conversations like these that kept them awake. The upgrade was well underway and Owen and Gwen had come up to join Toshiko for this midnight feast. However, Gwen was currently asleep on the sofa so it was just the two of them. Jack had come in shortly before ten and disappeared into his living quarters and was still there. Toshiko had been unable to tell from his expression how the evening with Ianto had gone; she hoped it had helped them sort out their feelings for one another.

"I want to go to Antarctica," announced Toshiko.

"What!? It's bloody freezing down there!"

"I know that, Owen. I want to travel on an ice-breaker and see it carve its way through the ice fields. And to see the penguins."

"Go to a zoo, mate, it would be a lot warmer. You want the last sandwich?"

"No, you can have it." She watched as he ate it hungrily. "And a zoo wouldn't be the same."

"How about a favourite city to visit. Say, you've just got a long weekend, where would you go?"

"Florence."

"Why?"

"It's beautiful. I went there once with my mother, years ago. We walked for miles and round every corner there was something wonderful to discover." She recalled the holiday with pleasure. "What about you?"

"Las Vegas. Beautiful girls, casinos and free booze in most of them. Good climate too." He washed down the last of his sandwich with some beer. "What's not to like?"

"How goes it?" asked Jack, walking out of his office to join them.

"The upgrade's on track. No problems so far." Toshiko had her fingers crossed beneath the desk, just in case.

"Emily's sleeping. Her legs are fully fused now and she doesn't seem able to use her arms as much as earlier." Owen was serious again, the few minutes relaxation forgotten. He glanced at the stand alone PC which showed Emily in her bed. "Guess that's the next stage."

"Yeah." Jack looked over at Gwen who was sleeping peacefully, her face untroubled. "How's Gwen holding up?"

"Okay. She's been with the kid all night. Why?"

"It's not easy, watching someone mutate like this and I … Well, I wonder if she's strong enough." Jack ran a hand through his hair.

"She's stronger than she looks," replied Owen, finishing his beer. "I was talking to Laura Hughes earlier, the doctor at the hospital. I told her that Emily's not going to make it. She asked about telling the parents; we're going to have to do it soon."

"I know. Is it better to tell them now or wait until she actually dies?" asked Jack, folding his arms across his chest.

"I think we should do it now."

"What if they ask to see her? Or want to make funeral arrangements?" put in Toshiko. "She isn't dead yet; we should wait."

"Tosh has a point. Prepare the parents, Owen, but they can't have the body. If they agree a closed casket, Ianto can fix something up."

"You're probably right. I'll talk to Laura in the morning but now I'll get back to Emily. Let Gwen sleep for a while longer." He rose and went off.

"How was your evening?" Toshiko asked Jack.

"Good, thanks." He looked at her curiously. "Why?"

"Ianto told me you were going out. I just wondered ..."

"It was fine, thanks, Tosh. We had a pleasant meal before I took him home and left him at his door." He was grinning now, amused at her interest in his love life. "Okay?"

"I'm not prying, Jack. It's just, well, when you were away Ianto was a bit of a mess and I don't want to see him hurt any more. That's all." She would not look at her boss, busying herself with clearing up the plates and drinks.

Jack took her arm as she passed him on her way to the kitchen. "I know. I'm pleased he has someone to look out for him." They exchanged an understanding smile and she went on her way.

-ooOoo-

When Gwen woke it took her a few minutes to remember what she was doing in the Hub. Then it hit her; she was caring for Emily. Swinging her feet down to the floor, she looked around but no one was in sight. She checked her watch: 3.17. Stretching and working the kinks out of her neck, she noticed the screen and saw her colleagues gathered round the child's bed. She ran to join them, bursting into the room.

"What's happened?" she asked, moving to the side of the bed next to Owen. Jack and Toshiko were stood on the other side, holding Emily still while Owen injected her. The child was thrashing about, her body arching above the bed. "What's that you're giving her?"

"She's having a seizure. Had a number actually. Owen's giving her something to help." Toshiko was holding onto the child's legs, or what they had become, glad they were covered by a blanket.

"Oh my God. Why didn't you wake me?" Gwen stood, not knowing how best to help.

"There was nothing you could have done, Gwen," soothed Jack. "Besides, we didn't have time." The drug took effect and the child's erratic movements slowed and then stopped. Jack and Toshiko moved back.

"I've given her diazepam, that'll help for a while," said Owen, putting the syringe down.

"What was it? What caused it?" asked Gwen, sitting on the bed and stroking the child's arm.

"Epileptic seizure, pretty text-book stuff. The brain's obviously being affected now." He looked at Jack. "The old case file doesn't say anything about this."

"It didn't happen. I was with Maggie all the time and she didn't react this way, she was calm throughout. Could be the Javockolia inside Emily is getting more aggressive. If so, matters are progressing quicker now."

"What do we do?" asked Gwen.

"I can keep her dosed up but the treatment's pretty toxic in itself." Owen was always reluctant to give strong drugs, especially to children.

"I don't think that matters, Owen," said Jack. The two men exchanged a look and they understood each other. The child was going to die, the cause didn't matter.

The four Torchwood team members were silent. There was nothing they needed to say. Toshiko excused herself and went back to her desk to check on the upgrade, anxious to be away from the dying girl. Owen went to the Medical Bay to run some tests on tissue samples he had taken from the girl earlier. He was determined that some good would come from this death, that no one else would have to suffer in this way. He had more and better equipment than had been available to his predecessors in the 1950s, surely he could find a way to counter the Javockolia. Gwen and Jack stayed with Emily.

Gwen sat in a chair by the bedside. The brief respite gained from her sleep had dissipated and she was again in the middle of a waking nightmare. The alien's insidious advance on Emily's body left Gwen silently screaming with frustration. She wanted to fight it, to find a weapon and beat it into submission. She understood that kind of fight and over the past year had proved she was good at it. This current battle – if she could call it that – was more like the loss of Jasmine Pierce to the faeries when Torchwood had had to submit to a power so alien and strong that it couldn't be fought by normal methods, couldn't be fought at all. Gwen hated feeling so helpless in the face of such power and wondered if she would ever be able to accept that there were beings in the Universe beyond the human capacity to overcome.

She looked across at Jack, sitting in the chair opposite. He was leaning over Emily, brushing her hair and washing her face murmuring to her even though she was unconscious. With a sudden insight, Gwen recognised his great compassion for all beings that were hurt or damaged. She had sat here for hours, reading and talking to the child when she was awake, but had not once thought to wash her face or brush her hair. She who had thought herself the conscience of Torchwood, its heart and caring soul, had not touched the child except to stroke her arm or hold her hand - the still human part of her. Gwen had not even properly looked at what was happening to Emily, shying away from the truth, hiding it under the blankets.

"Jack, I want to see Emily."

"She's right here, Gwen."

"No, I mean see her. I've not looked … at what she's becoming." Gwen stared at Jack. "I need to."

Jack regarded her solemnly and then nodded. He didn't think she'd be able to cope with the full extent of the child's appearance but she was right, she did need to see; she needed to test herself. He gently raised the covers and rolled them back until the child's body was fully exposed. Below the waist, Emily was totally alien in appearance. Her legs had lost their definition and in their place was a thick scaly tail that, to Gwen's horror, twitched rhythmically. The skin on the 'tail' was grey and hard, almost cracked, and extended over her groin to her abdomen. Emily's fingers were fused together and her hands and lower arms were beginning to take on the same appearance as the tail. Only her upper body, shoulders and head retained their human characteristics. It was horrible.

"Gwen?" said Jack gently, seeing her distress, "have you seen enough?" When she nodded, he replaced the covers, tucking them in gently.

"I can't do this," she said in a whisper. She was weeping silently.

"That's all right. I understand." He stood and walked round the bed, taking her in his arms; she clung to him. "You go home and get some rest." He walked her to the work area, holding her as she continued to weep. "Tosh, could you take Gwen home please? I'll keep an eye on the update for you."

Tosh was about to refuse but saw Gwen's distress and even she knew that a computer upgrade was not as important as her friend. "Of course. I'll get her bag. Her jacket's behind you."

Jack helped Gwen into the short leather jacket and watched the two women walk out of the cog door. Gwen was still weeping when the door closed behind her. He turned when he heard footsteps.

"What happened?" asked Owen.

"Gwen couldn't take any more," said Jack with a sigh.

"I can leave this if you want me to be with the kid," Owen offered.

"It's okay. I'll stay with her. I'm still hoping you'll come up with a cure." Jack smiled sadly; both men knew that anything Owen discovered would be too late for this child. "When Tosh gets back, tell her I stayed here until five minutes before she appeared or she'll have my guts for garters!"

Owen returned his boss's smile, both had been on the receiving end of a tirade from Toshiko when they had ignored her instructions. He watched Jack head back through the tunnels to the rest room and, after a moment, returned to the Medical Bay. Who knew, maybe he would find a cure, he was going to try.


Next time, the pressure gets to Owen and Jack takes action ..