Disclaimer: Do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who- only original characters Alexandria and Tom
SIX
It had been a few months since Lexi had left and the group were barely functioning as a team. Jack and Ianto had taken to sleeping in Lexi's apartment, the smell of her perfume slowly fading away. They were currently working on a case that involved small children. A primary school had been experiencing unusual behaviour with it's kids. The team had narrowed it down to some kind of gas but hadn't got any further. All their previous 'mysteries' had been solved rather suspiciously; a well-placed phone call, camera footage, a mysterious letter appearing in the hub. Tosh liked to think Lexi was behind these things as it gave her hope that she would return.
'Right team, what do we know about this gas?' asked Jack during team meeting.
'It's gas, it's invisible, it's infiltrating the minds of young children and we have no idea of the purpose' said Owen sarcastically.
'Thanks Owen' replied Jack angrily.
Suddenly the hub was filled with the unmistakable noise of a Tardis. Jack shot up from his chair and bolted down the stairs to the main section of the hub, the others followed.
The man that walked from the Tardis was unmistakably the Doctor yet he had a face they hadn't met before – save for the holographic image that Lexi had shown Jack before.
'Ok, not the reaction I was looking for, you all look very shocked to see me' he said, 'ahh yes, new face. Not ginger yet! But isn't this bow tie cool!'
He was met with silence.
'Tough crowd' he said rubbing his hands together, 'where's my Lexi then?' he added missing the growl that came from Jack's mouth upon hearing the Doctor call her 'my Lexi'.
The group shuffled nervously.
'Come on! Where is she? You haven't locked her in the kitchen have you? She's a great baker' he said.
'Well you see, she's urh' said Tosh.
'She's gone' finished Owen.
'What do you mean gone?' asked the Doctor seriously.
'Well you see she was inappropriate, sloppy, and untrustworthy. No one wanted her here so she left' said Gwen maliciously.
'What!' shouted the Doctor with enough thunder in his voice that even made Gwen cowered back in fear.
'You shouldn't listen to her, she's a bitch' said Owen.
'I like Lexi she is a great friend, she's Owen's friend as well. I though Ianto liked her but apparently I was wrong. Gwen's a bitch so she doesn't count and the whole thing is Jack's fault' replied Tosh seriously.
'You sent her away!?' bellowed the Doctor, 'do you have any idea what you've done? I sent her here for a reason Jack. She was safe here, you were supposed to fix her but what? You turn her away because you're scared of your own emotions' the Doctor heaved a sigh.
(Jack wasn't even sure how people kept guessing the correct reason for him sending Lexi away).
'I don't care what case you're working on, you can be sure it's solved already. You best go out and look for Lexi or you'll find yourself on the receiving end of a Timelord's anger!'
The team didn't need telling twice, they scattered before his eyes, desperate to avoid his anger. The Doctor sighed before returning to the Tardis. If they couldn't find her, he would.
'You shouldn't have shouted at them'.
He jumped, turning around he came face to face with Lexi.
'Where have you been?' he asked.
'About' she replied quietly.
'What happened?' he asked, looking into the eyes of a girl more broken than the last time he'd seen her.
'They didn't want me' she mumbled, 'there was a night I thought otherwise but I was wrong and Jack told me to leave because of it' she added while her eyes cried.
'My darling Lexi they are men without heads. They would not still be moping if they did not feel a thing for you. Jack is stubborn, he's loved and lost too many times and Ianto is shy and used to being underappreciated. Do not give up on them you three will be well suited when you are finally together'.
'But it hurts' said Lexi brokenly.
'Well you'll be happy to know Tosh has been giving them hell since you left. You really gave her the confidence to be herself' he paused, 'where have you really been?' he asked seriously.
'The streets for a while. I didn't feel I deserved a hotel. I helped some children get off the street, I tried to stay away from trouble but there were som nay people to help' she said.
'It's like being Santa Claus is it not?' he said.
'Exactly' she smiled tiredly.
'Go get some rest, the Tardis kept your room for you. She's missed you, I'll wake you when they return' he said.
She nodded in thanks before walking up the stairs and out of sight.
FOUR HOURS LATER
The Doctor knew as he saw the Torchwood team return that it was time to tell them the secret truth. Not that Lexi was in the Tardis but something else. It wasn't that Lexi meant to lie, it was just easier than the truth that she preferred to think of as a nightmare.
The team walked in looking dejected – except for Gwen – who would meet a sticky end if she wasn't careful.
'We couldn't find her' said a tearful Tosh.
The Doctor nodded, 'I have two things to tell you, though the first can only be told to those that Lexi trusted', he paused, 'I am sorry Gwen but you need to leave'.
Gwen stomped her foot and tried to pout, 'where can I go?'
'Go to the upstairs conference room, its soundproof' said Jack.
She went but not quietly. It didn't really matter as the Doctor led them into the Tardis and asked them to sit down. The monitor showed Lexi to still be asleep. The Tardis watching over her. The only notion that the Tardis was unhappy about the sudden new arrivals was the low groaning noise she made, the Doctor tried to calm her by stroking the dashboard.
'I wanted to briefly tell you the truth about Lexi. Her being the last from a planet as old as Gallifrey is a lie she's been using for years. It's affective, it makes people stop asking questions and also makes them afraid'.
'Why would she want people to be afraid of her?' asked Tosh.
'Because it's less painful for her. It's true she was born immortal. The woman who fell pregnant with Lexi was captured and experimented on. When Lexi was born the woman was killed. For the first five years of her life Lexi was put through serious torture and experiments. The point of it all was never understood for the man behind it was mad. Who knows if he meant to create a superhero, an assassin or a template for a future army? Lexi is one of a kind, there is no one like her and she has gifts and talents like you would not believe' he said pausing.
'How the pain and death works I am unsure of as she refuses to tell me. A lot of people are after her, especially a sinister man called Tom who tricked her heart once before'.
'He was here months ago' said Ianto.
'She stood alone before him, he shot her three times' said Owen.
'It was the day Jack told her to leave' sobbed Tosh.
'You fools' replied the Doctor shaking his head.
'How did she get away from the mad man?'
'I saved her. I pulled her out of that place and then made sure no one else would find themselves there. I did not know what would happen to her in the state I found her in. She does not like talking of her past as it makes her panic so do not ask her of it. Also do not act as if you know her past, she will not thank you for your pity or your sympathy'.
'You act like you know where she is' said Owen.
The Doctor said nothing and simply stepped away from them. The monitor showed Lexi to be awake.
'Doctor' she called, standing in the doorway rubbing sleep from her eyes. It was a childlike action that make her seem younger than she was.
'Lexi!' shouted Tosh.
The girl in question jumped, her eyes wide as she saw who was there. She glared at the Doctor accusingly and he had the grace to look away guiltily. Lexi braced herself as Tosh launched a tight hug on her. Lexi stroked Tosh's hair soothingly as she sobbed onto Lexi's shoulder.
'It's alright Tosh', she murmured, 'I never went far'.
After Tosh had let go, Lexi briefly hugged Own before facing the other two men. Trying to hide the hurt she felt, she crossed her arms over her chest. Tension filled the room. The silence stretched and Lexi wanted nothing more than to run and hide.
'I'm sorry' mumbled Ianto, 'I should have spoken up. I didn't want you to leave. I was, am scared of the way I feel, please forgive me' he finished.
Lexi nodded, not quite ready to forgive him but ready enough to listen. She turned to Jack and waited.
'I want you on the team, please come back' was all he said and for now that would have to do.