ABOMINATION
NINE
Wil walked into Jack's office, sat down in the chair at the front of his desk and, as usual, picked up the piece of coral that he kept along with all the other bric-a-brac.
Funny, she thought. The coral felt different. It felt somehow heavier. And it seemed to have a slightly different shape… How could that be? She closed her eyes and rolled it around in her hands for several moments before putting it back down. She must be mistaken…
She looked up to see Jack watching her, a bemused look on his face.
"You really like that thing, don't you?" he remarked.
Slightly embarrassed, Wil shrugged. "I don't know; there's something about it that makes me want to touch it. Has been ever since I first knew this place, knew you…"
Jack laughed. "I know. I remember taking it from you the first time you picked it up; I thought you might drop it." (1)
He glanced down at it and then looked back up at her, "But it's nothing special, just an old piece of coral."
She raised an eyebrow over a sparkling green eye, "Yeah, I know, nothing special. Just like a lot of the stuff in your office is nothing special. Or at least that's what you keep telling us. What you want us to believe."
"It's true." He stood up and walked around his desk. "Well, not quite true. There is one very special thing in my office." As she rose from her seat he took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. When she responded hungrily he kissed her harder, moving his hands unhurriedly down her back until they reached her hips. Once there, his strong fingers pulled her into him. They were of a similar height, Jack and Wil, and it was thrilling to feel her pressing against him. With a surge he felt himself stiffen…
Reluctantly Jack broke off the kiss, inhaled deeply and leaned back, examining her face, his hands still resting on her waist.
"I noticed Gwen, you know," he said. "Don't think I didn't. She's a mess. We all are, and no matter how difficult it might be, perhaps it is time to go back to business as usual at Torchwood?"
Wil realized it was not merely a rhetorical question. Jack was asking her if they should break off the search for Ianto. He was asking her if they should give up. If they should quit. If they should leave a man behind. It was, to be sure, a loaded question. But she had always been honest with him and wasn't about to stop now.
"You told me once that you knew how sad change can be." (2) She paused, carefully considering her next words. "I know you were talking about something… someone else at the time, but I believe the statement applies here as well. We've given it our best shot and although it's going to be hard, I agree it may be time to put the past behind us and move forward. Otherwise…"
"Otherwise," he interrupted her, "worse things are going to happen."
She shrugged, "Yeah, something like that."
Jack released her and looked away. She suspected there were tears in his eyes. It was going to be very difficult for him to let go of his fixation. She watched as he picked up the piece of coral she'd just been holding. He moved it back and forth, from hand to hand, as he stared down at it like it was a Magic 8 Ball: Yes. No. Reply hazy, try again… Then he pressed it to his heart.
Wil knew at that moment he had decided. She held her breath without realizing it. The choice he made would have far-reaching effects, of that she was certain: profound effects on Torchwood and maybe even on the nature of their relationship. But whatever his decision and its consequences, she'd support him. She always did. Always would.
Jack looked up at her. His face was tear-streaked but his eyes were clear and resolute. "Then that's it," he said determinedly. "Ianto is history and we'll keep an eye out for an eventual replacement. In the meantime, the staff deserves a short sabbatical. I like what you told Gwen. I'm going to call Mickey and tell him that they should wrap up the Guatemala stuff as quickly as possible and head somewhere pleasant, like maybe the Virgin Islands, for some R and R. They can stay at the safe house on Tortola."
Still holding the coral close to his breast, Jack reached out with is other hand and touched Wil's face. "And what would you like to do?"
Wil smiled and raised her hand up to his, moved it to her lips and kissed it. "I'm open to suggestions."
"Well, I know what I'd like to do right now," he winked at her, "but I think you should go home. Maybe pick up some stuff for a curry tonight. I'll call Mickey, feed the Pterodactyl, and then close the office up nice and tight. How does that sound?"
Wil was still pressing his hand against her face. She briefly took his little finger into her mouth and nibbled on its tip before replying. "Well, you are a tease Jack Harkness, and I'm a bit disappointed, but I can wait. I'll make you a nice dinner and then perhaps we'll recommence what you've started here." She kissed his hand one more time before releasing it and making ready to leave.
He watched her appreciatively as she smoothed her hair and adjusted her clothing. And she knew he was watching her… And he knew that she knew that he was watching her…
"Hurry home, okay?" she said huskily before walking out the door.
"You bet! Oh, and maybe you should pick up some croissants for breakfast? Something tells me that we're not going to be wanting to go out tomorrow morning."
He smiled wickedly at her as she blew him a kiss and left.
(1) "Revelations" Chapter 30.
(2) "Prodigals" Epilogue.
