A/N: Hi guys, this a continuation from 'In The Depths' it deals with the after affects of the mission and how the team deals with it Enjoy! Anja .x
From Out of The Darkness 1
Jack walked around the empty hub. He hated it when it was empty like this. It wasn't so much that no one was there. It happened most nights, everyone went home to their own lives, but he knew they wouldn't be in tomorrow. The case had been bad, he wouldn't deny that. Ianto had been seriously injured. Jack stopped pacing as he spotted Ianto's empty desk. He closed his eyes and sighed. He needed company. He couldn't help but see their bodies scattering the hub, but Taye was at UNIT with Martha, taking care of Ianto, Gwen was with Rhys... That left only one person he could turn to. He probably would've gone to her anyway. She understood better then most what his life was like. He almost ran to his office and grabbed his coat. He put it on as he headed to the invisible lift.
-T-O-R-C-H-W-O-O-D-
The hot water on her skin felt like a little slice of heaven in a very big cake of hell. Sighing wearily, as her legs wobbled, Astra turned the water off and grabbed a towel. Drying herself off she made her way to her bedroom where she slipped into grey track pants and a pink t-shirt. She tied her wet hair back in a messy pony tail and went in search of her sneakers. She slipped them on, did the laces. She grabbed her keys from the bench by the door and her hand hesitated over her phone. What if someone needed her? Then she'd already know, she decided. She left it there and headed out the door.
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Gwen held Rhys as they sat on the couch. The television was on, but neither were watching it. Gwen had her head rested on Rhys's leg and he was stroking her hair. She was talking to him in a barely audible voice about what had happened. It was never anything easy with them. He could feel his pants getting wet and he pulled her up to him. He hugged her close to him as she continued to cry.
A news article caught their attention, "Police and Marine experts are looking into the explosion in the bay this afternoon. As of yet, no official statement has been released by either authority. Some unofficial sources have stated that the source of the explosion could have been an underwater mine..."
Gwen sat up and looked at the article, but Rhys spoke first, "Jack is the unofficial source?"
"I think it was Astra this time," She replied, "She can pull off the smart official sound on the phone, better then Jack can, though in person it's usually Jack because Astra looks too young."
Rhys gave a small laugh, "How old are they?"
"Old."
Gwen settled down against Rhys again and he wrapped his arms around her.
-T-O-R-C-H-W-O-O-D-
Jack looked up at the apartment building. It was a nice place, had quite a good view of the bay really. He headed in, half expecting to be stopped by the door man, but it was too late for him to be on duty he guessed. He made his way to the fourth floor of the apartment building and knocked on the door of one of the apartments facing the bay.
He waited, there was no response. He glanced at his watch, it was just past midnight. He suddenly realised that she might be asleep. He shook his head, not possible. Time Lords don't sleep. She was more like him then he realised.
He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out a key. He paused for a moment, before sticking it in the lock. She might not appreciate him entering her apartment like this, but he needed to see her. The door opened silently and he looked around. Everything was dark, except for the moonlight coming in from the large window that overlooked the bay and lead out to the balcony. He switched the light on and moved around. He noticed her phone on the bench, but no keys.
He sighed, she wasn't home. Where on Earth could she be? Sighing he took his coat off and draped it over the couch. He went and opened the glass doors which lead out to the balcony. The night air was cool and a soft wind blew through the main room, making the curtains flutter around him. He stared out for a while, he could see the Millennium centre from here. Even the water tower. Not a view he really wanted to see right now.
He wandered back inside and found the liquor cabinet. She really wouldn't mind that much, would she? Sighing he decided he didn't care. He grabbed a bottle and headed out to the balcony again.
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Taye sat in the uncomfortable chair by Ianto's bed. Martha was nearby, he could feel her watching. He knew there was nothing he could do for the Welshman tonight, but he couldn't bring himself to leave. He wanted to be there if there was any improvement. He wanted to be able to tell Jack that Ianto would be alright. He crooked his neck around and spotted Martha in the door.
"Any change?" She asked.
Taye shook his head, "Nothing..."
She came over to stand beside the bed and looked at Taye, "You should get some sleep."
"Later."
"Now," Martha insisted as she pointed to a bed next to Ianto's. The ward was empty besides for the three of them, "I'll wait with him."
Taye nodded wearily, he knew he was tired. He hadn't even showered after it all. His clothes were a mess and he knew he smelled.
"There's a bathroom through there," Martha said pointing to a door off the ward, "There's some clean scrubs in there if you're interested."
Taye nodded, then shook his head, "Later," He got up from the chair and made his way to the bed Martha had pointed out. As soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep overcame him...
-T-O-R-C-H-W-O-O-D-
Taye sat in the uncomfortable chair by Ianto's bed. Martha was nearby, he could feel her watching. He knew there was nothing he could do for the Welshman tonight, but he couldn't bring himself to leave. He wanted to be there if there was any improvement. He wanted to be able to tell Jack that Ianto would be alright. He crooked his neck around and spotted Martha in the door.
"Any change?" She asked.
Taye shook his head, "Nothing..."
She came over to stand beside the bed and looked at Taye, "You should get some sleep."
"Later."
"Now," Martha insisted as she pointed to a bed next to Ianto's. The ward was empty besides for the three of them, "I'll wait with him."
Taye nodded wearily, he knew he was tired. He hadn't even showered after it all. His clothes were a mess and he knew he smelled.
"There's a bathroom through there," Martha said pointing to a door off the ward, "There's some clean scrubs in there if you're interested."
Taye nodded, then shook his head, "Later," He got up from the chair and made his way to the bed Martha had pointed out. As soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep overcame him...
-T-O-R-C-H-W-O-O-D-
The first thing Astra noticed as she made her way into her apartment building was the fact that her lights were on. She was certain she'd turned them off before she left. She paused and watched her apartment for a moment. There was someone moving around inside. She reached to her side for her weapon as she made her way into the lobby. She stopped when she couldn't find the holster.
"Shit..." She mumbled under breath. She made her way to the elevator and kept pressing the button for the fourth floor as it went. She stepped out and held her keys tentatively in her hand as she opened the door, ready to attack who ever she found in her apartment.
The room was empty by the time she walked in, but she noticed some differences immediately. A large military great coat was draped over her couch and her kitchen table was scattered with empty bottles from the liquor cabinet. Sighing she spotted the balcony door open. She slipped her shoes off and made her way out. It wasn't hard to spot her late night intruder. He was sitting on the floor looking out over the bay. The latest bottle in his hand. She watched as he raised it to his lips and gulped some down, ignoring the burning sensation that went with his current choice.
She slid down beside him and held her hand out for the bottle. He looked at her. She didn't look upset. Sighing he handed her the bottle. To his surprise she didn't take it and leave, instead she drank some and handed it back to him. He accepted the bottle and took another gulp.
"What are you doing here?" She finally asked.
"The hub was too empty," Jack said then took another swig from the bottle. He offered it back to her.
Astra shook her head, "He'll be ok," She said.
Jack nodded wearily, "I know," He stood up, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come here."
Astra quickly scrambled to her feet and blocked his way to the door, leading into her apartment, "Jack..."
"Don't," He said.
She searched his face for any sign of the happy-go-lucky guy she'd known years before, but didn't see any sign of him, "What are you really doing here?"
Suddenly, Jack wasn't quite sure what he was doing, or why. He stepped closer to her, pinning her small body between his own larger body and the frame of the door. He used the hand not holding the bottle to hold himself against the wall and kissed her. But unlike last time, she didn't kiss back, instead he felt her small hands on his chest, pushing him away from her.
"Jack!" She said hoarsely, "No, this isn't right. You're with Ianto."
Jack shook his head and tried again, but she pushed him away, "JACK! What is going on?"
He looked at her, her blue eyes were swimming with confusion, "He won't be back..."
Then it struck her. He knew Ianto would be fine, both Taye and Martha had confirmed it, he was scared Ianto would leave. She looked at him, "Jack, he won't leave!"
"Wouldn't you after that?" He asked, "Hell, you did leave!"
She sighed, "We're not talking about me Jack, we're talking about Ianto and I know for a fact Ianto would never leave..." She paused, a thought occurred to her, "You're afraid he'll quit and you'll have to retcon him..." Jack stared at her, how was it that she could always tell what he was thinking? He looked away from her. She reached up and took his chin in her hand, forcing him to look at her, "Jack Harkness you are a fool."
He stared at her, surprised, "What..." The hand holding his chin moved and a finger covered his mouth, making it hard for him to speak.
"Shh," She said, "Ianto knows very well what leaving Torchwood means and believe me, when I say Ianto will never willingly leave you. No matter how many times you break his heart." Jack stared at her. Of course he knew that, why was he being so stupid? She didn't allow him to answer though, instead, she ducked under his arm and walked into the apartment.
