Man! I love that you guys are questioning me, lol. So this next chapter is a flashback chapter, Just for funsies.
Jack- October 7th 2013
Jack was sitting down in a pub in North London, ignoring the world around him as he sipped on his water. There was a game on, a football match between two English teams. Men and the occasional woman were rooting and cheering around him. It was a loud, raucous sound but not an unwelcome one. He even grinned at it. It was why he was there. What gave him meaning, when all else was gone. That these people, these humans, were still alive and around to root for their favorite team. It's why he did what he did.
But what was that now?
Torchwood was gone. Gwen and Rhys had moved again, Ianto was dead for 4 years and the rift was closed. What was the point of him sitting around Earth when there were other planets that needed an immortal soldier who had nothing left to live for but the people whom he fought for.
Ah, that's right. He thought. He loved these people, with all their faults. He loved Earth. It was his home now. Not Boeshane, though he did miss it. No. However tragic it might be, Earth was his home. And he loved it, and it's inhabitants.
Smiling, he tipped the bartender as he got up and headed out the front doors. It was raining, typical London, and he pulled his coat tighter around his body as he stepped out into the rain. He made his way down the streets, and turned into an alley that would lead him to his shamble of a home. Oh, if only Ianto could see him now.
He smiled wider at the thought, and was so caught up in what he would say to the deceased Welshman, that he didn't hear the gun cock behind him. But he certainly felt the bullet pass through his skull.
Ow.
Was the first thing that came to mind as Jack gasped back to life, grasping the chair he was handcuffed to and taking in deep gulps of the stale, office air. Blinking, he looked around. In front of him was an older woman, blonde hair.
"Hello there Captain Jack Harkness." The woman said, smiling at him. "Sorry for the er.. Inconvenience. My men are still so militaristic. But it was easier than you struggling against us."
"Who are you?" Jack demanded, tugging at his handcuffs. The woman tutted. "You won't get out of those so easily." She said. "My name is Kate. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart."
"And why am I here, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart?" Jack asked flatly, raising an eyebrow.
"We've been trying to find you since late 2009." She threw a file full of papers at him. The papers spread out and showed pictures of him, Rex, Esther, Vera, Oswald, Gwen.. "You've gotten yourself into quite a couple mishaps."
Jack shrugged, giving her his winning grin. "You know me. Can't stay out of trouble for too long." She laughed. "So it seems." She smiled. "You really have no idea why you're here, do you?"
"No clue."
"We rebuilt your hub for you."
"How?"
"The damage was centralized to the first five floors. The cells and archives were relatively untouched. We just built off of the blueprints we had. It's yours now, if you so wish. We even put in your bunk." She grinned. "As a present from us to you."
"I don't get what I'm supposed to do with it."
"Rebuild Torchwood."
"...Why."
"The rift has been reopened. Alien junk and humanoids have been drifting in. UNIT can only do so much, but you, you could do more. So we got permission to reinstate Torchwood. Especially after what has happened. Miracle Day? The women going crazy? Oh yes, the world still needs you."Kate said, looking across at him. "Will you do it, Captain Harkness? Put together a new team? Rebuild the Torchwood Institute."
"It won't be easy.."
"Oh we realize this.."
"But I'll do it."
Kate grinned. "Excellent."
Vi - 2034
"Viooooooollllaaaa!" Slurred Maddie Harris, Viola's (currently) drunk best friend. "You gotta live a lil, gurl. Have some fun. Find a cute guy." She giggled, then hic'd. Viola rolled her eyes, brushing off Maddie.
"I am not getting drunk and having sex with someone. I'm only here in Cardiff for the World Health Organization meeting. Not for drinking and sex." She sniffed, looking away and wondering how her friend could have dragged her out when she was supposed to be in her hotel room, going over her notes from that days lecture.
Maddie Harris gave her friend a dirty look, the huffed and said "Fine. I'm going to go find me a pretty lil Welsh boy. You can go back to your hotel and do whatever the fuck you want, prude." And with that, she stomped off.
Sighing and rubbing her temple, Viola leaned against the bar. She really wished Maddie didn't mean what she had just said, but her instincts spoke differently. Maddie had always been this way, happiness and fun until you denied her of something. Then she turned into a rude bitch.
Viola turned and walked out of the bar, not seeing much need to stay and subject herself to more sexual harassment than needed. Walking down the cold streets of Cardiff, she pulled her coat tightly around her as she made her way back to the hotel she was staying at. God, did she miss Portland. It was the same climate as Cardiff, but somehow.. Safer. There was something about Cardiff that made her feel strange. Unsafe. Constantly looking over her shoulder, as if her worst fear would lurch out of the darkness and kill her then and there.
But that was childs play, fantasy. A dream she might have after eating too much ice cream before bed. (She had to stop doing that).
But a part of her longed so desperately for that fantasy to become a reality. Just to prove to everyone that she was right. Aliens did exist.
And one was following her.
Had been for a few minutes.
Maybe it wasn't an alien, maybe it was just a man.
But that didn't make it any less comforting when it picked up speed, heading right for her. Gasping, she moved out of it's way but it grabbed her wrist, pulling her around in almost comical ballerina twirl. Her purse was flung off of her into the deserted streets, and her coat fell down to her elbows.
Spinning around, Viola caught a glimpse of the humanoid that had been following her. It was tall, dressed in a suit. And looked like a blowfish. Reeked of one too.
Yanking back her hand, Viola did what she thought was only natural. She brought her leg straight into the guys crotch. He yelped in pain, but still held onto her wrist, even tightened his grip as he pulled her close to him, then turned her around.
"Let her go!" Shouted a man right in front of them as he ran up close to them, drawing a gun that looked like it was used to fight the Nazi's.
"And why should I, hm?" The humanoid replied, licking Viola's neck and causing her to involuntarily shiver. "What does she mean to you?" His voice was almost reptilian, definitely not human, and sounded almost silky. Like a poisonous mushroom would.
"Does there have to be a reason?" Asked the man in front of them. Looking closer, Viola could tell he was dressed in old, very old, fashioned clothes. Great. That made her feel better.
"I like to know why I should have to give up such a pretty lady to such a terrible person such as yourself."
"Cause I gotta gun."
"And I have a shield."
"Pinpoint aim."
"Pretty little thing."
Viola growled, not liking that she wasn't included in the discussion. "Don't I get a say in this?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"No." The other two said in unison, which pissed her off even more. Annoyed, Viola stepped on the humanoids foot, causing him to yelp again, before she threw her arm forward, causing him to start to fall forward. Using the momentum and weight against him,she pulled him back, causing him to finally let go and fall to the ground.
"Equality for all, assholes. "She said, spitting in his face. He growled back at her, but before he could say anything, the other man had shot him dead, showering Viola in algae and guts that smelled of the sea. She gasped, then promptly threw up.
"So who are you, again?" The man, Jack Harkness asked her for what seemed like the billionth time. Taking the mug of hot cocoa he had offered her, she sipped it before she responded.
"Viola Casey. 26 years old. Graduate at Oregon Health and Science University." She looked down at the steaming mug as Jack pondered this.
"Where'd ya learn how to fight?" He asked, and she shrugged, downing the mug. "My Dad." She finally replied, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. "Was kinda a freak on self-protection. Never thought it'd come in handy."
"Huh." He said, crossing his arms. Viola had to admit, he looked kinda nice. Retro, but nice.
"Is there something on my face?" She asked, noticing that he was staring at her.
"Feeling sleepy?"
"Not a bit."
"Not at all."
"Nope."
"Oh."
"Yep."
"Strange."
"Why?"
"Well that hot cocoa.."
"What about it?"
"I drugged it."
"You what!?" Viola screamed, throwing the mug at him. "How dare you!" She shrieked. "I should call the cops on you, you know!"
"Whoa, whoa whoa!" Jack said, holding up his arms. "It's for your own good! So you forget what happened!?"
"So I forget what happened!? How does that work, huh? I fall asleep and then you rape me!?" She cried, falling down to the ground.
"It should've taken effect by now.." He whispered, looking down at her in shock. Blinking back tears, she glared up at him.
"And if it doesn't? Will you shoot me!?" She demanded, and Jack took a step back.
"No. You can.. Could.. Join us. Join me."
"What's you? Who's us?"
"Torchwood."
"And that is?"
"This." He gestured around him, "All of this, is Torchwood. And you could be a part of it. Save lives. Help people."
"Torchwood.." She whispered, then stood up wobbly.
"Why should I?"
"You're a doctor."
"Not technically."
"Close enough. We need one."
"Why?"
"Autopsies."
"How much do I get paid?"
"More than you'd make at a hospital."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Oh yes."
"Aliens?"
"Mhm."
"Jack?"
"Yes?"
"I'm in."
Gavin - 2036
"He still looking standing out there?" Jack asked Chelsea as he walked down the metal steps leading to his office. She turned and grinned at him.
"What d'you think?" She said in response, glancing at Vi. "He sees a pretty lady walking down the street and just can't 'elp eemself!" She said the last part in a faux English accent, and Vi shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Well why don't you go up there and tell him to quit it, huh?" She asked, and Chelsea snickered.
"Oh no, you got yourself into this mess." Jack said, teasingly. "You get yourself out of it."
Vi leaned back and groaned, not looking forward to the prospect of going up to the surface to break some Englishman who had it permanently embedded in his brain that he was meant to be with her's heart.
"Must I?" She asked, and the two of them nodded.
Bastards, she thought to herself as she got up and walked over to the lift. Pressing a button on her watch, the lift began to gradually bring her up to the surface. She blinked once or twice in the harsh light, then looked around and spotted Gavin right in front of her. Sighing, she stepped off the lift.
"Gavin." She said, softly, but loud enough to startle him. He turned around, and grinned immediately when he saw her.
"Vi!" He exclaimed, pulling her in a tight embrace. "Where'd you come from? I coulda sworn I didn't see you!"
Smiling awkwardly, she pulled away and brushed back a strand of brunette hair from her face.
"Yeah, well. That's us."
"Torchwood, y'mean."
"No."
"Oh, come off it. I already know about all that stuff. Don't lie to me."
"Okay."
"You still will, won't you?"
Vi sighed, looking away. "Listen, Gavin.." She said. "Torchwood.. Is hard. It's not like a normal job."
"I kinda got that." Gavin said, then suddenly, in a pleading voice. "Listen, Vi. I've heard the stories and rumors okay? But I'm not daft. I saw what happened. And I can't forget it. But I.. I want to help. I want to do something. Like you, and that blonde chick, and the bloke with the coat. I know I'm supposed to be something different. And it's not like I'm a complete idiot, I can be really very smart. Just, give me a chance. Please."
Vi looked into his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and hope, and need as well. The need to do something right, to help, to know you saved someone. It was exactly what had made her want to be a doctor, and why she had joined Torchwood. Sighing, she deflated slightly.
"Listen, it's not me you have to talk to all right?" She said, looking at him. He grinned wildly, and she shook her head. "Talk to the boss, first."
"That won't be a problem." Said a voice from right behind them, and they both jumped, shocked as Jack step off the lift.
"Jack.." Vi said, straightening up. Gavin looked clearly frightened. Jack grinned at him.
"So." He said, looking between the two of them. "You want to help people, huh?" He asked, and Gavin nodded.
"Yes sir." He said, and Jack nodded.
"Well, coincidentally, we have an open spot."
"You do!?" Gavin exclaimed, his face lighting up.
"But it's a dangerous job."
"I'm fine with that."
"There is no retiring from Torchwood."
"I just want to help people."
Jack smiled, then winked at her. Vi suddenly realized why he was doing this. She rolled her eyes, but said nothing. Besides, Gavin was good looking...
"Well then, Gavin, welcome to Torchwood."
Present Day- October 2038
The monitor was bleeping. Chelsea's breathing was getting fainter. Jack and Ianto stood around her, while Vi frantically ran tests to try and figure something out, but it was too late. Gavin could tell. There was something, a deep, nagging feeling within him that said she was too far gone. He looked down at Ianto who was desperately clinging to her hand.
The beeping stopped.
The sound of a broken man replaced it.