Chapter 25

The shot hit Cy right between the eyes and the screaming stopped immediately. Her body tensed and then slowly slumped down. But her tentacles kept moving. The largest were the first to come to rest, while two of the smallest ones continued to wave feebly in the direction where Eliza and her parents had disappeared. They were still wriggling weakly as Ianto reached her. He knelt down and placed a hand on her chest. Then he looked up at Jack, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Why?" he screamed. "You heartless bastard."
Sherlock sighed and laid an arm round John's shoulders. John was just staring in shock, hardly noticing Sherlock's embrace.

"It was the best thing to do," Jack said quietly.

"The hell it was," Ianto spat at him before turning to gently release Cy from the handcuffs. When she was free, he eased her to the floor and closed her eyes. "Why did she have to die? You heard Eliza. She was coming back for her."
Sherlock gave John a quick squeeze before letting go and stepping forward. "No, she wasn't," he said. "At least not in the foreseeable future. It could be decades before she gets another shot at adulthood. Maybe even centuries, judging from her parents' attitude. And Cy would not have lived that long. In fact, she was probably already dying."

"But she could as well have come back soon. And if she returns now, she won't find Cy, or she will find her dead. How is it safer for the planet if Eliza has a damn good reason for wanting revenge?" John asked.

Jack shook his head. "Sherlock is right. You saw what pain Cy was in. This was a better option than letting her suffer and taking her rage out on us. I'm sorry."

Sherlock walked over and looked down at Cy. "She was a parasite," he said. "And I suspect she bonded for life. She would literally have wasted away within a matter of days. Not physically. But she drew her emotions from Eliza. Once the agony of the separation had dulled, she'd have been an empty shell."
Ianto didn't hear him properly. He was completely focused on Cy, gently stroking her cheek. "You poor poor thing," he muttered.

Jack ignored them and went to Gwen. He checked her pulse for a moment, then picked her up and brought her to the sofa.

"A parasite?" John asked. "Loving Eliza didn't make her a parasite, Sherlock."

"Her love for Eliza was a projection, maybe even a magnification of the love Eliza had for her. Without being loved, Cy could not love. That does not make it any less real," Sherlock explained. "I don't think Cy's species, the Titaniars, were built for a love so strong. I think something broke inside Cy when she latched onto Eliza. Like an addict to a drug so powerful there is no withdrawal. Only death."
Ianto cradled Cy's head in his lap. "Are you saying that loving Eliza ruined her?" he muttered bitterly.

"Basically, that's what it means. Is it so surprising that love can do that?" Jack mumbled, stroking Gwen's cheek before he got up again.

Ianto shrugged. "I suppose not. In fact, in a way, it makes perfect sense." He glanced once at Jack, then looked down again.

John looked from one to the other. "Still, if Eliza finds a way to come back soon..."

"Are you going to tell her how it happened? Well, I'm not," Jack said. "Not knowing this, she will have no reason to declare war to earth. It was the kindest I could do, and anyway, it's done now."

"Cy was too dangerous," Sherlock said. "And too damaged. That's the truth and all Eliza will need to know. Surely she would not have wanted Cy to suffer."
Ianto got to his feet, attempting to carry Cy. But the lifeless tentacles made it an almost impossible job.

Jack turned to him. "I'll help you store the body away."

"Don't you touch her," Ianto snapped. "Don't you fucking touch her."

Jack looked at him, opening his mouth to say something, but then he turned around and walked out of the Hub.

Ianto barely noticed him leaving as he tried to gather the tentacles. But they kept slipping away.

John looked up at Sherlock. "Please go and help him. I wish I could walk properly so I could do it." He directed his gaze sadly at Ianto. If this took any longer and became a cause of frustration to him, he had the feeling that Ianto would fall apart.

Sherlock nodded, understanding John's concern. He went to Ianto and together they managed to move Cy onto the examination table.
"We should dissect her. But that would have been Eliza's job. Or..." Ianto bit his lip. "Excuse me," he muttered and then left, rushing up the stairs to Jack's office.
Sherlock frowned and then found a sheet to cover Cy with.
Then he went back to John and laid an arm around him. "Quite a mess, isn't it?"

"I'm still not sure he should have shot her," John said quietly. "If only for Ianto."

Sherlock shrugged. "He'll get over it. Cy wouldn't have."

John turned his eyes down and sighed. "I'm afraid that the fact that it will pass doesn't lessen his pain now. He's having a hard time."

Sherlock nodded. "His emotional investment in the girls' plight is clearly affected by his likening it to his own situation. Understandable if not sensible."

John sighed and carefully got up. "I should go check on Gwen. Who knows how they've treated her in the days she was gone."

Sherlock nodded. "Yes. Good idea. I think I'll go examine Cy. It's hardly every day I get a chance like this."

John gave him a look, but said nothing and limped towards the sofa.

Sherlock went to the med bay, located the proper tools and set to work.

John kneeled by the sofa with a wince. "She's been heavily sedated, but they didn't harm her," he mumbled to himself when he had examined Gwen.

Ianto had come back down the stairs and walked towards them. "Finally some good news," he said softly as he kneeled beside John. "Is there anything we can do for her?"

"No. She'll be fine, maybe just a bad headache when she wakes up. Are you okay?" John asked.

Ianto nodded. "I should be used to it by now. It's not the first time we've had to put down a dangerous alien. I guess I'm still just a bit raw after... the others."

John gave him a questioning look.

Ianto sighed. "We recently lost two of our... colleagues. It really got to Jack. That is why he was so anxious about Gwen. Even more than before, I mean..."

John nodded and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Ianto shrugged. "It comes with the job."

Gwen's eyelids flickered and she tensed her hand.

"She's waking up," John said reassuringly.

Ianto let out a shaky breath and stroked her hair gently. "Gwen?" he said. "You're back, girl. You're safe."

Gwen opened her eyes and immediately pressed her hand against her forehead. "Bloody hell, what happened?"

"Congratulations, Gwen," Ianto teased, his eyes only slightly misty. "You've survived your first Torchwood abduction."

She groaned. "Abduction? Last I know, I was in my car."

Ianto snorted. "That's actually what most abductees say."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't trying to win a bleedin' prize for originality here, was I? Who abducted me? Where's Jack?" Gwen asked.

Ianto's smile faltered. "That can wait. The important thing now is to get you home to Rhys. He's been beside himself with worry."

"Oh god. How long have I been gone?" Gwen asked.

"Three days," John answered.

Ianto helped her to her feet. "I'll take you home. We still haven't found the car."

"Thank you, Ianto," Gwen said, leaning heavily on his arm. "God, I'm dizzy."

John shifted so he was out of the way.

As Ianto led her towards the underground garage, he looked back at John. "Can you two handle it here?" he asked.

"Yes, Sherlock and I will be fine," John nodded.

"Sherlock?" Gwen mumbled. "You'll have to tell me everything in the car, Ianto."

"I will," Ianto promised.

Once Ianto and Gwen had left, John used the sofa to push himself up on his feet. He looked down at where Sherlock was working. "Gwen's alright," he said.

Sherlock put down the scalpel. "Gwen?" Then he caught up. "Oh... Yes, of course. Good."

John wrinkled his nose at the cut-open body. "You're enjoying yourself, I see."

Sherlock frowned. "I'm learning..."

"Hmm. Any idea where Jack can have gone?"

Sherlock thought for a moment. "If his earpiece is active we can track him."

"Maybe we should," John said.

Sherlock nodded, took off his nitrile gloves and went to one of the computers. After a couple of minutes he had located him. "He's not far," he said, bringing up the map.

John nodded, standing close to him. "We should find him and see if he's alright."

Sherlock nodded and then glanced at John's leg. "You better stay here. I'll find him."

"What am I supposed to do here?" John sighed.

"Keep an eye on things," Sherlock winked as he put on his coat. "Maybe there'll be an alarm or something."

"Yes, great. Then I can limp about and frown at it." John sighed and found himself a chair.

"Or you could call me." Sherlock chuckled as he left.

"Try to be nice to Jack. Tell him Gwen is fine," John called after him.