Chapter 14

Jack woke up first, sucking air into his dry lungs rapidly. His eyes were wild, and he went to kneel next to me. The immortal man stroked my pale and lifeless cheek, and ran a finger along my red curls. He was whispering something to me, urging me to awake.

"Doctor," Jack said plainly. "We need to go home."

"Jack, I know, I'm sorry." The Timelord said as he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm so sorry this happened."

"Why isn't she awake yet?" Jack asked, mostly to himself.

The TARDIS landed abruptly in the hub, and The Doctor instructed Rose to go have Owen set everything up for me. My limp form was smoothly lifted into the strong arms of the Captain, and I was carried from the box.

"HARKNESS!" boomed an angry Owen. He looked at me, dead in the arms of his leader, and appeared to swear under his breath. He took me from Jack, and carried me to the med by. "Pray she lives." It was a simple, yet deadly three words.

Ianto walked into the hub at this point, carrying a tray of coffees. He frantically tossed them aside upon seeing Jack, causing a large splash of brown to hit the ground. He rushed up to the man, who had his back to him, but stopped a foot or two behind him, and smoothed his spiky hair.

"Jack?" The word was almost inaudible, but the captain heard it, spinning on his heel to find the tea boy.

Jack didn't even hesitate, but threw his arms around the mortal. Ianto wrapped his arms around his Captain as well, but had a look of confusion at first.

"I'm sorry, I am so, so sorry," Jack said into his hair. "I never should have thought of leaving without telling you. I won't ever again, I swear to it." The Captain had a hand in the hair of the other man, still embracing him tightly. "Are you ok?" He asked, placing a hand on his stomach, where he had been shot hours before our leaving.

"I'm fine," he said, an obvious lie, and Jack realized it. He wasn't quick enough to respond, as Ianto spotted me behind his boss. "Jessica! What happened to her?"

"It appears as though she was electrocuted. A severe and almost impossible shock. There are no vital signs. Care to explain anything, Jack?" Owen spat his name in anger.

The Doctor had walked up behind the immortal man as he spoke. "I couldn't stop her; she is quicker than I am. I was behind her, and absorbed the shock too. I don't know why she is not waking up."

"If it weren't for Jack and Jessica, I would be dead," The Doctor said in a soft tone.

"Who are you?" questioned Ianto in his thick Welsh accent. The way he spoke could have been quite intimidating, even though it was in no way hostile.

"I'm the Doctor!" He smiled and held out his hand. "I think we meet up in a few months again as well."

The Welshman was completely confused, but took his hand anyway, as he was taught in a well mannered way. "Ianto Jones."

"I know. Jack has talked about you. All of you." The Timelord smiled once more, but turned his focus, once again, to me. "Jessica was unnecessarily brave, and I feel properly awful about what has happened."

"I'll look after her," said Owen.

"No, I got her into this mess. Let me sit with her body," Jack responded.

"I'll stay with you," whispered Ianto, and Jack nodded, trotting down the steps to the table.

The two men stood parallel each other over my body, and looked at my face. Ianto placed a hand soothingly on my cool cheek.

"Do you know what it was, sir? The thing that killed her?" Ianto avoided eye contact with his recently absent boss.

"It was a Dalek, a creature from the planet Skaro. I would have stopped her, but I was caught in it too. And again, Ianto, please drop the sir." Jack had a hand in his hair, upset by the new seemingly distrusting nature of his employee.

"Did it kill you too?" The mortal man now looked Jack directly in the eye.

Jack nodded, and Ianto looked worried. He wasn't sure whether to hug him, yell at him, or just remain silent.

"Hey Jack!" The immortal was confused for a minute, but then remembered the younger him who had still been in the TARDIS. "The Doctor won't say anything about it, what were those things?"

"Those were Daleks, the Doctor doesn't like them, I'm sure that's why he doesn't want to talk about it." The captain half caught the boy, who was small for his age of 12 (Jack had been off by two years before. He had lived for centuries, so it was understandable.), as he jumped over the railing. Caleb raised an eyebrow at him.

"Who is this?" Ianto asked, smiling.

Caleb left Jack's side, and walked to the other man. "Caleb Landon and you are?" He winked and flashed his premature Captain Jack Harkness grin.

The mortal rolled his eyes, but still took the boy's hand. "Jones, Ianto Jones."

"Nice to meet you Jones, Ianto Jones." He flirtatiously added at the end.

"Sounds familiar," Ianto quipped. "Are you teaching him?" Ianto had not yet figured it out that Caleb was Jack.

I woke up. Gasping loudly, I heaved my chest up and down. The three trotted over to me, each sputtering some "Are you ok?" from his mouth.

I looked up at the three faces, and started laughing hard. They all gave me a questioning expression.

"I just… I missed seeing Jack introduce Caleb to Ianto!" I was somewhat upset, to be honest. I'm sure it would have been hilarious.

Chapter 14 is done!

I like this one a little better, let me know what you think, please. Your reviews mean so much to me! Ok, well Bye for now! ~Lexi!