The Rebuild
Chapter 7
Usually Jack's meetings were casual, even when he tried to make them formal his attitude doomed his attempts to failure, but this time he was determined to keep the meeting on track. Their new 'board-room' was very modern and minimalist, and he summoned all the staff and Rhys there one Sunday morning.
Lois came in with a tray of coffee, and a tea for Luke. Jack and Gwen had trained her in the use of the top-of-the-range coffee machine they had insisted on, but since they did not know how Ianto had achieved his own level of perfection the coffee was good, but not as they had been used to.
She sat, and Jack called the meeting to order, looking grave, with a little bit of embarrassment mixed in. Sensing this, Gwen refrained from her usual teasing, and listened to what he had to say.
After a minutes lip-biting, as he tried to decide how to break this gently, Jack decided to go straight into his announcement.
'I am going to change my identity.'
He looked at the open mouths around the table and continued,
'Some of you know that there is another Captain Jack Harkness on Earth at the moment. If I continue to run Torchwood, somewhere along the line there is going to be confusion, not to mention security problems if there are two Captain Jack's around. I am going to be away for a week or two, organising this. I am sure you can manage without me. When I come back we can start using the Torchwood organisation as it should be used.'
He cleared his throat, and looked at Gwen.
'That is why I have insisted on everything being in your name, Gwen. You are going to run Torchwood, I will be a member of your team'
Gwen looked at him in shock, her alarm increasing as she remembered his return after leaving Torchwood before, when he had immediately taken back control of the group.
Jack looked at them all, then turned and left the room. Before any of them had recovered from their shock, Jack's car was out of the drive and on his way.
Much later, thinking it over, Gwen could see a little of why Jack had come to that decision, but she resented the fact that she had not discussed it, but had thrown her in charge so suddenly. It was only after a long chat with Rhys, who had decided that since she was now in charge they could afford to go out for a meal, that she realised that Jack had only helped her do what she had been intending to do anyway. She was hurt that she had no idea when he was coming back – or even IF he was coming back, then realised, that as once before, when he had gone off to find the Doctor, she would just have to get on with running Torchwood on her own.
