I'm baaaccck. So I've had a lovely time out today with a very close friend of mine sitting and writing our respective fics which gave me a sort of kick up the bum to upload because I have technically left you hanging for a good few months! This was mostly due to a play I was in but it's all finished now (it was great, i had a lot of fun and everyone was lovely to work with. 10/10 would probs do it again) and I can get back to uploading properly again! Thanks as always for the support and I hope you enjoy the chapter! And as always cheers to Emily because she is one of the actual best.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these shows, just using the characters for a bit like Dark Helmet did in Spaceballs. I'll put them back soon...maybe. All rights go to RTD for Torchwood and Shane Brennan for L.A.
Oh and Happy Easter!
"So, care to fill us in?" Jack had grabbed Eric's chair sitting smugly in it arms folded above his head and acting if he didn't have a care in the world. As if he now owned the building. Torchwood had ended - by the end of Jack's constant antics - setting themselves up on NCIS's desks with their gadgets and laptops. Some which L.A hadn't even wanted to question - especially when they saw their own teammate flinch at one while one of the girls - Tosh if they remembered correctly who had started to get the giggles at this motion. Eric just gave her a well trained glare, she bloody well knew he hated those things.
Sam really did not like these guys and he absolutely felt like being inclined too by the young man always up in Ops. But then Eric also happened to be one of them or at least used to be, so did that mean he had to hate Eric? As far as he knew the boy - which he admitted wasn't much - a little weird and geeky but otherwise...he was an all round okay guy. Knew what he was doing, good at this job even if he goofed off sometimes - but when didn't Sam himself? - seen too much at such a young age already, sure but then hadn't they all? Besides Eric wanted his team now to like his team then and they were working together, maybe they might learn something from each other, who knew?
Okay, for Eric's sake, and for his sake only, he'd try and play nice. He'd be able to get the others to play ball alongside, he was certain. Plus this meant that they could get closer to who and what this team did, accomplished and hid. Moreover it would be a way to figure out who Eric was as well. Just maybe.
Deeks had come round to sit beside Eric for the briefing noting the tech was now getting more than a little jumpy with his old team there. That and his sudden readiness to follow Torchwood and do whatever they said without questions - the guilt of having lied this far and continuing it by the sounds of things. If anything his face showed it. You could always tell how the techie was doing by his expressions... or at least the OSP version of him. He just had to hope there were no skeletons in any of their closets they had to dust off.
Not for the first time did he admit to wondering what his life would be like without having joined NCIS and staying as a straight laced LAPD cop. At least he knew what went on in those walls. Here though...
Just for once in this job, he'd like the truth.
Owen edged towards Jack, and further if he dared say it, away from Hetty Lange. Talk about not fueling any extra fires and besides he finally admitted - and would forever say to so to anyone ever - she was downright scary and he was terrified plus he had the extra bonus of not having to see googly eyes from the two men - well four -if he could help it. Owen decided he'd start it off with the medical analysis and then they could be filled in on the rest of the details.
"So far the latest test results from your dead petty officer show to be one of drug use but I think there's something else burrowed deep in there which we just can't get at just yet. Something else might be alongside it wedged in there hidden by all the narcotics he was pumped full of but as I said I can't be sure what or if anyone forced it into 'im or he did himself. I think if I'm able to get the body, I can perform an examination on him Jack and pull the things outta there. I think it's going to be one message for us and one for you lot. Right that's me out the way, who's next?"
"Me, I think. I can work with the police here back like we do in Cardiff. I'm assuming your police here might be wanting to aid us? Either way, I'll get Andy on the phone to make sure Cardiff won't fall while we're gone right now Jack, and I'll phone Rhys, he might know what to do if anything does happen Torchwood like" Gwen then stepped out of the room not having bothered to ask permission to exit or who the two men she mentioned where.
Neither team were quite sure what to do after that until Eric stepped up towards the board.
"Victim's name is Danny Devirro, 32 and married. His wife is Linda Foster-Jane. She didn't take his last name and honestly who's forcing her too? She used to have Danny on her books seeing as he suffers from PTSD but apparently 3 months ago he stopped going and no one could say why. Some people thought he was cured, others not. Some thought he had even run away from the centre he was being looked after in. My theory is maybe someone or something took his eye and he went off the grid only to find out that it wasn't such a good idea then two weeks ago was found washed up on shore.
It hasn't been said that Linda did or didn't know where he was going or why but what we do know is that the centre has said she hasn't checked in for about 2 days now and all her patients are starting to get antsy without her there to help calm them down. Do you think the same people could have taken her as well, Jack?"
"Maybe. Or maybe she's running" Eric rolled his eyes at Jack's blatant use of over-dramatics and carried on walking back to his seat ready for instructions from both teams.
After a few hacks into Danny's system and finding nothing that would help further to which Callen and Sam had shrugged as this was fairly normal while Jack had told them Eric had yet to go deeper, they'd called a break from the case to talk to their Tech Operator properly with it just being NCIS - to which Jack had grumbled about having his old team separated again to no extent - and were now all sat in the main bullpen;
Callen and Sam sat in their usual chairs to try and psyche the answers out of him by just staring and glaring. They only had one shot at this, after Eric would confess on his own. They were both ready to make it count.
Kensi had been content just to sit in her normal seat and let the action unfold and just let the man come to his own conclusion about what side he eventually wanted to be on with Nell sitting beside her pitiful for her friend;they shared everything - Oreos anyone? She thought - and both had been in agreement that secrets were not a good thing to have or at least Kensi thought they had. This must have been quite a shock, maybe a bigger one for Nell.
Nate stood to the side watchful with a folder in his hand ready for the off with Hetty by the other side of him ready to break up a fight if there was one.
And Deeks was standing. Nervously. He stood by the other computers that the two techs used when they wanted to show them something they'd found but Ops was busy. It seemed to calm him a little. More than it should have. He'd really have to figure out what his head and heart were telling him here. None of them needed this extra thought/feeling/whatever this was piled on right now. He didn't need a hurt heart as extra.
All seven watched as Eric came hurtling down the stairs with Tosh in tow with Owen and Gwen behind them all talking about something. It looked fairly serious and all their faces betrayed the fact that they wanted to work moreover looking like they could sleep for a full few months and then some.
It was a fairly warm July and almost everyone was in shorts and a t-shirt letting the air con wash over them as they regarded their friend, they watched him receive two tight hugs from the girls and an awkward pat on the back from Owen as they went their separate ways for the night. Jack came next with Ianto who Eric pulled into another hug, and handshake with a nod to his old boss before they exited the building as well. Then the younger man looked towards his right where his current team were sat. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, he made his way over towards them slowly. Looking them over, he closed his eyes feeling the nerves of every single one of them including his own. He might not be able to stand long, feeling shaky with every step he took until he came to a stop. Why could that job never grant anyone some peace once they'd left?He'd have to keep a few things to himself as well, cats could not be let out of the bag anytime soon even if he felt like this was his third family second to Cardiff itself. Bloody Torchwood; a thousand times over.
A few more deep breaths and he'd be be ready to face them. Just a few more. Was anyone ever prepared for this? They never included it in a manual or helpful guide, and with that thought in mind, Eric chuckled lightly. By thinking that thought his worries lessened and his chuckle became more of a light laughter. Worryingly the agents looked on as their normally quiet, focused friend become a mess of nerves and almost going into hysteric laughter.
"Eric, you okay man? You've gone through a lot in the past couple hours. You feeling up to working on this case with us? How many fingers am I holding up?"
"I-i'm fine Callen. It's just, can you imagine if Torchwood came with an instruction manual? You'd have to include everything about the current team and who they were and how they came to be working in something so weird, pasts and everything. And then you'd have to have a whole separate chapter for Jack and everything he did and does, who he is and was. You'd include where One, Two, Four and Five where and what happened to each one of them. How there's a guy who helps save the world with a new-found friend of his from Earth's total destruction. What actually happens when working there. And my favourite - who gets to ask for coffee when everyone already knows that Ianto's makes them and woe betide anyone who doesn't drink it. Just popped into my mind but I'm okay now"
"Right, funny, we're laughing all the way into our seats. Eric, what even is Torchwood? What do they do? Why did you start working for them?" Sam started. Eric sobered up considerably at that and all humour had been erased. Gone was their fun loving techie put in it's place a man with a hard edge to his voice with a glint in his eyes.
"Because they saved me"
"Saved you?"
"Yes Deeks"
"Saved you how? Eric, you've been acting odd all day and I speak for all of us when I say that I'd appreciate it if you could explain what exactly you mean by all this?" Callen folded his arms waiting for him to start explaining fully even though he knew he wouldn't get the full story properly for now, Eric was hiding more than his fair share of secrets.
"In 2007, some bad things happened. Ianto was actually a part of it and I don't think he's ever been the same. Job changes you. For the best sometimes. Anyways Canary Wharf was where it happened, biggest change in Torchwood history"
"Hang on, I read about that. A part of London fell. Eric, were you also in that?" Kensi had almost grabbed his arm to make sure he had no battle scars instead opting for tilting of head. This made up for his jumpy behaviour most days, thank God for that final conclusion, she didn't like to think what else could have made him like that.
"Not as such. I was in the aftermath of it. Nobody thought much of the building really. It almost killed me, with what had happened to me but Jack and his team were there to help me. I have a past I don't want to talk about right now and I don't think I ever will unless having to on pain of torture or death, I only ever mentioned it to Jack. Jack said I had a lot of good in me and thought I could help people. So I went to work for him. I enjoyed the job but after a while you realise how much it saps from you, how much it takes. How much I took. The lives I've seen come and go. Before any of you carry on from that point just know..I did good as well. As I said I've seen things you couldn't possibly imagine, done things I never thought I could.I love Torchwood. I love what they do and how they protect us. I love the people. I loved how there was always something round the corner and I always felt appreciated.."
"But. There's a but there, am I right. Tell me I'm right. What's the but?"
"Deeks"
"The warning's back in your voice. What on Earth are you afraid of telling us?" That voice of genuine concern came from Callen himself feeling concerned for Eric's well being and mental state.
"Nothing. I tell you guys a lot of things already, y'know. Can't I keep this one to myself?"A pleading undertone gave way instantly falling through his hardened shell, he kind of regretted that, he was not as weak as everyone seemed to think he was outside these walls in this big, big world. He without thought put them straight back up as someone spoke - Nell? He was blocking them out so he could speak keeping this appearance up. He would not crack therefore when Nell's voice did, he gave in.
"Fraid not. I'd like to know as well. I work with you closely up in Ops and I've never heard a word of any of this much like the others. I thought we were close?"
"So what's the but, Eric? Give a cop liason some appreciation here"
"I loved the job and I still do. The thing is it never leaves you. It follows you round like something out of a zombie film. No matter how much you run away, it's always going to come back and make you remember it's there. That's my 'but'. I love that job but I'm halfway terrified of it. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. I didn't like doing any of that in the first place and even then Jack conned me into gun training, so what if it helped me live? I just wanted to help people in sticky situations and I guess I did...I am grateful. I saw so much, you really have to try to explain and I can't. I just loved it"
"If you loved it so much, why'd you stay for so long then?" Kensi blurted out.
"I wanted to live past the age of 30"
