Chapter ten: The decisions we make

It was a set of strong hands lifting her up against a broad chest that woke her. She flailed briefly but settled when she realized it was Jack holding her and he was moving upstairs. He looked down at her with an arched brow. "You fell asleep scrubbing the floor. You need to rest." She began shaking her head. "No, you need to get some rest."

I am not tired. You should have left me where I was if you wanted me to sleep.

"Well, you're all wet," she glanced down at herself and realized that her white shirt was soaked through. She crossed her arms over her chest and glowered up at Jack. However, he was looking where he was going, fortunately. "so I told Gwen to bring you a fresh change of clothes when she comes in later today. But for now, I think the next best thing would be to get you dry before you get sick. I don't think it's recommended that you sleep in soap and water over night."

Thanks. She kept her hands close to her chest as she asked the next question. What about Ianto? What is going to happen to him?

Jack exhaled and moved towards the hot house. "We'll see. It all depends on if he comes back or not today. If he does, then in time, things will go back to normal." She patted his chest and he set her down as he opened the door. It was very warm in there and she shivered as she rubbed her arms vigorously. Jack crossed his arms as he studied her. "And it also depends on how he reacts towards you."

She stopped and looked up towards him. You don't need to worry about me. Ianto, has been on the team longer than I, I will be the one to leave, not him.

Jack immediately began shaking his head. "No. We all are on the same team. We need to work together." She shook her head slightly. "And as to you shooting Lisa yesterday, you need to know that-

I had a long talk with God and my pastor last night. Jack exhaled and shifted. I know, I didn't explain the details. I told him it was from a book, which was a slight lie. But life is like a story, so I told him a page from the story of my life. In his opinion, I did what I had to do. Would have been right of me to stand by and watch another person-

"Cyberman." Jack corrected her. "She wasn't human anymore."

I couldn't allow a person be tortured like that when there was definitely no possible to save her. He also told me this story of a Jewish woman, a holocaust survivor, who told a story of this woman, Stella, who'd stolen morphine to kill her four-year-old twins. The doctor, though I don't think any animal who acts like this deserves to have that title of doctor, her hands shook as tears filled her eyes. had sewn them together, back to back. The wounds were infected, oozing pus and they were screaming in pain. He asks me, was it wrong of her to end their suffering?

Jack shifted. "It's a different situation."

She shook her head. No, it's not, the Bible states very clearly not to kill. But it also says not to stand by while the innocent suffer. We both made our decisions not to allow the suffering and I'm certain, I made the right decision.

Jack shook his head. "Sorry, you're not converting me and believe me, I know it for a fact, He doesn't exist."

She smiled. I'm not going to convert you Jack. If, you chose to come to God, it must be your decision and it will be because of His influence, not mine. I will live my life for Him and you will observe how I walk in His life by my actions.

Jack shifted. "Well, you're not like other Christian's I've met. I'll give you that."

I'm a new brand of Christian. Not all are the same. She smiled at him and inhaled deeply. The nearness of Jack caused her to realize the scent of Jack's aftershave. It was almost an ocean-like scent; however, it was somehow deeper and richer. She shifted slightly away from him. I've been meaning to ask about your aftershave.

He shrugged carelessly. "I never wear any."

You smell like that naturally?

"Fifty first century pheromones!" At her skeptical look, he added. "You people have no idea!"

She rolled her eyes. I don't know wether or not to take you seriously or not.

"You spelled whether wrong." She shook her head as she grinned broadly back at him. He laughed. "I've been waiting for you to spell a word incorrectly a long time now and you finally did."

Happy to please.

At that moment, time seemed to still or slow down around them. For a moment, the air almost had a romantic tension to it and she licked her lower lip slightly. Jack's gaze flickered down to her lip and he slipped closer towards her. She wasn't certain he was going to kiss her or not, frankly, she was certain she was imagining the whole situation was unfolding in her mind.

"Jack?" Gwen's voice caused them both to jump. "Jackie? Where are you two?"

Jack exhaled and headed out of the hothouse and moved towards his office, she followed him. "Up here Gwen."

She looked up and smiled. "Morning. The place looks great. How'd it get so clean this fast?"

Jack rubbed her shoulder and she let out a hiss as he touched a tense spot on her neck. He frowned. "Your sister spent a good part of the morning here." He moved to rub her shoulders and she cringed at the tension that refused to relax under his hands. If anything, his touch made it worse. "Relax! Your back is like concrete."

I can't!

Gwen trotted up the stairs holding a grocery bag with an outfit inside it. "Here you go Jackie." Her eyes narrowed. "You are drenched. And you look tired. Did you fall asleep here or something?"

Or something. She took the bag from her and peered inside. Gwen had brought a pair of blue jeans that she knew Jackie hated and a white blouse with blue spots on it. She was too tired to argue with Gwen so she simply thanked her before going back downstairs to change her clothes in the bathroom. Then, she'd make some coffee and finished the last bit of cleaning. A yawn crept out of her mouth and she mentally decided to try to sneak a nap in sometime, if the day permitted it.

She came out of the bathroom and headed straight to the main room, to pause when she realized Ianto was there. She stood there and glanced up to see Gwen and Jack surveying them from his office. Ianto turned towards her and her hands trembled slightly as he looked at her. There was no anger, he appeared calm and reserved, but she could still see the pain in his eyes. She didn't know what to do.

Ianto turned towards her and they just stood there for a moment. Slowly, she signed. I'm so sorry. I didn't want her to suffer.

Ianto nodded and stepped towards her. He squeezed her shoulder and said quietly. "I know."

She stepped towards him and gave him a hug around the shoulder. It wasn't a long hug, it was a short comforting one and he actually returned it. He gave her a weak smile before turning to walk away. Things were going to be hard for a while, but they would return to the way things used to be.

And I'm working on the next chapter now. Expect and update in a few days.