Author's Notes: And now, we are heading into the home stretch as there will be at most two chapters after this one (but probably only one). I really can't believe this is almost done, as I've been working on it for more than ten months. There will be some time jumps, not something I like to do, but it's kinda necessary here. I have no idea when Master of the Game will be up, because everyone is being quiet about that. I might have a better idea after I re-watch Avengers: Age of Ultron, since most of the Avengers will be in that story. In this chapter, Lucas North struggles to find the difference between himself and Gwen Cooper; Dite visits Rhys; while Alice learns some painful truths from Sophia (thus setting up her eventual confrontation with Carlyon).
Chapter Twenty-Four
Who I Choose to Be
St. Mary's Anglican Church, Shropshire, England
One week after the ambush
Over the next several days, the Tregarths and Torchwood as a whole recuperated. Not just the two injured members, but the entire family and the entire team. With both her son and sister out of danger, Octavia Tregarth Martinelli turned her attention to her relationship with Rex Matheson … and much to her surprise, found him waiting for her. What was an even bigger surprise (at least to her) was the revelation that he knew about her contacting her brother-in-law Daniel and asked him to watch over her boys and Natalie, and had in fact known from the beginning. She shouldn't have been surprised … he was in the intelligence business, after all, before Miracle Day. With Lucas and Natalie out of immediate danger, Octavia set to work on repairing her relationship with Rex. He wasn't angry with her for asking Daniel to watch over them … he was, however, somewhat annoyed that she thought that he wouldn't figure it out.
Meanwhile, Carlyon Tregarth set out for Cardiff … there was something he needed to do, he told his wife, and pretended not to see the worry in her eyes. He couldn't tell her not to worry if he noticed, and therefore, he couldn't lie. But he'd been hearing whispers, whispers that he could no longer ignore (come away, human child). He'd never told his wife, parents, or even his best friend, that he was one of the Chosen Ones as a child, and chose to stay with his parents. Even now, he could still hear them, beckoning him to join them. He was far too old now … but now, they offered information, rather than belonging. Information that would help him finally put some wrongs to rights. There would be a cost … there was always a cost … but so long as he was the only one who paid that price, he was willing to accept it.
For his own part, Jack Harkness was unusually quiet during those days as he came to terms with what he learned. His eyes were haunted, and when he wasn't with Natalie and Lucas Martinelli, he was with his daughter and Esther. Owen Harper was never far from his boss and friend's side, not fretting over him (okay, he was, but Owen would never admit it), and at his side was Adriane Tregarth. The two sisters seemed to share a glance that said they would look after their men, because they weren't doing a very good job of it themselves. They also agreed (with words) not to speak of the recent events until they were back on American soil and actually had some privacy. Though she was on the outskirts of events, Esther was still affected by them, and Adriane was determined to be there for her older sister.
As for Lucas North, who quietly vanished after Dite took her new host? Lucas made contact with Harry Pearse and Malcolm Wynn-Jones, to inform them of the recent events (that was, after all, what a liaison did). However, both men realized his old fears were resurfacing, and Harry suggested a meeting. He knew that Lucas would struggle with his guilt and self-doubt for some time. That couldn't be helped. But Harry could make sure that he wasn't alone. At the moment, Lucas and Harry were seated in the very same Redundant Church where Mary Winchester and Owen Harper met Gwen Cooper Williams nearly a week earlier, St. Mary's. Both men were silent, and Lucas seemed to find the silence and the atmosphere of the church curiously soothing. Or perhaps not so curiously. He was the son of a minister, after all.
And Harry sat at his side, never saying a word … just waited for Lucas to speak. At last, the former protégé did just that. He told Harry about the events in the warehouse, and the plot to entrap Gwen Cooper, about the confrontation with the traitor. Although, he never used that word to describe her, no. There were people who would have used that word to describe him, and they would have been right to do so. He told his former mentor about her excuses, about her lies, about the ugliness she spewed toward someone she claimed to care about. Finally, he told him about her punishment, which seemed like a slap on the wrist at first, until he actually thought about it, and even now, he wasn't sure how to take it.
Eventually, he fell silent, and Harry said softly into that silence, "What's really troubling you, Lucas?" He actually had a pretty good idea, but he wanted Lucas to tell him. He wanted his young friend to purge the poison in his soul before it destroyed him. After the struggle they fought for Lucas' soul (fine, the struggle Malcolm fought … Harry was too busy trying to deal with the hole left in him with Ruth's death), Harry was unwilling to see that happen again. And so, he said again, "What's troubling you, Lucas … and please, don't say nothing. That's an insult to my intelligence." The corners of Lucas' mouth quirked, because really, it was funny … insulting the intelligence of a man who headed up domestic intelligence? But all too quickly, even that faint smile faded from the younger man's face.
"What's … I'm … how am I different from her?" Lucas finally blurted out after several moments. Harry drew in a breath and released it. There were so many ways to answer that, and they all would have been true. He could have told Lucas that his memories had been played with, while hers had not. That was true. He could have told Lucas that he paid for his treachery with his life. Also true. And he could have told Lucas that in his career with MI5, whether he was in the field or in that Russian hell, he'd probably saved far more lives than Gwen Cooper ever had, and it would have probably been true (he honestly didn't know how much she contributed to Torchwood, but to him, it seemed like she was a gloryhound … all talk and no action, unwilling to make the sacrifices that came with such glory).
But that wasn't what Lucas needed to hear. Instead, Harry asked softly, "What have you been doing, in the days since the ambush at the warehouse?" Lucas blinked at the question, and Harry repeated, careful to keep his voice low in the church, "What have you been doing since the ambush at the warehouse, since these revelations were made? I know you, Lucas. You haven't been idle in the last few days, so what have you been doing?" Lucas still looked puzzled, but Harry could see the wheels turning as he marshaled his thoughts. After a few minutes, Lucas turned a little to better face him and began to speak.
"After I left Alicia Yates' house, I debriefed her father … more to let him know that his daughter is okay, and reassure her kids than anything else. I helped with the clean-up at the warehouse, did some repairs around Alicia's house, nothing big. I also checked with the hospital to retrieve the bullet fragments from our two injured Cousins and to see if that man I took there would be okay. He's holding his own, but they're still not sure about his recovery," was the answer, and one Harry expected.
"And that's the difference, Lucas. I told you on the roof, I asked you if you were John Bateman, a murderer, or Lucas North, who helped so many people. You told me that you were nothing. You were wrong then, and you're wrong now. Aside from grabbing a shower and eating the meal she made, maybe grabbing a few hours of sleep, I heard nothing in there about things you did for yourself. It was entirely you looking after people. You ask what the difference is between you and Gwen Cooper? You will never stop trying to redeem yourself for the past. It doesn't matter to you how many lives you save, you'll always be haunted, if only in the back of your mind, by the ones you couldn't. That's the difference. You can't change the past, Lucas. Neither of us can. But the future … that's where you make the difference." Lucas nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Harry's face, and the older man squeezed his shoulder, saying softly, "You move forward, Lucas … you move forward, and that's how you honor Ruth and Ros, that's how you atone for your mistakes."
Lucas nodded slowly, and then his lips once more curled into a smile as he observed, "Did I mention that Mickey and Martha Smith named their daughter after Ruth?" The head of Section D felt his heart skip a beat, and Lucas explained, "Her full, legal name is Natalie Luka Smith. I initially balked about her being named after me, until I was informed that Luka is also Hawaiian for Ruth." Harry swallowed hard, because he had feared that Ruth Evershed would be forgotten by all but him. It would appear that he was wrong about that, and he had never been more delighted to be wrong about something. However, since this child was named in part after the woman he had loved, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to purchase a gift of some kind? He would look into that, perhaps even watch over the child herself. For now, he would enjoy the serene atmosphere of this beautiful church, and the company of a man he'd greatly missed.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Tregarth Vacation Home,
Two weeks after the ambush
Slowly, oh so slowly, she was starting to relax … she was starting to reach the point where she could believe that the Families would never get their filthy paws on her again. She was still sick, she was still dying, but she wouldn't die while under their control. Sometimes, small victories were the most important. During the last several days, while she rested, she started to get to know the Tregarth family. She had formally met Octavia Tregarth Martinelli, the second daughter and the mother of the young man who was shot during Jilly's 'diversion' on her first day with her father. She informally met Octavia's mother Sophia a few hours later when Sophia came in to check on Alice and her dad (and, she learned, Sophia wasn't like Dad … she was desperately ill and placed in suspended animation for several years).
A few days after Alice and Angel arrived, the patriarch of the family departed for Cardiff. He'd looked at her rather strangely, but said nothing. He was an old friend of her father's, and Alice recognized the name. Carlyon Tregarth was the director of Torchwood Three when her mother was recruited, although he wasn't the one who recruited her. That was … Alice couldn't remember her name, but her mother did once let it slip that the woman helped her when Lucia left her father. And the moment she realized that she was thinking of her mother by her given name, rather than 'Mum,' Alice began to also accept that her feelings toward her mother were changing. What they were changing into, she wasn't sure yet.
One by one, she met the rest of the family … Esther's younger sister Adriane; both of Octavia's sons, Lucas and Jason; Esther and Adriane's mother, Priscilla; the youngest Tregarth daughter, Natalie (once she was a hundred percent coherent, which Alice was a bit sorry for … she heard about some of Natalie's pain-medication-inspired babblings). The matriarch was always kind and friendly, but her eyes were sad when she looked at Alice. The mortal daughter of the man who couldn't stay dead wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but she was sure it wasn't simply because of what the Families did to her.
She didn't find out just how right she was until two weeks after their escape from the Families. Though they weren't formally introduced, Sophia and Alice switched off taking care of Angel, as much for Sophia's sake as for Alice's. The little girl was bonding with all of the Tregarths, something that warmed Alice's heart. She would be in the child's life for a matter of months. If there was any justice in the world whatsoever, the Tregarths would be in her life forever. Especially after what she learned from Priscilla, about the sacrifice Sophia made for her youngest daughter Natalie … she was robbed of years with her baby. It seemed only right to Alice that she would receive a second chance, hopefully with Angel.
On this particular day, Esther had dragged Alice's father here to the vacation home, demanding that he take a shower and sleep in a real bed. Much to Alice's astonishment, Dad actually agreed (which told all three women just how exhausted he was). His shower was already done, and the last Alice saw, he was curled up in bed, his head resting on Esther's chest as she stroked his hair. Alice exchanged a smile with the blonde girl before heading to the room designated as the nursery, where Angel was napping.
At least, she was supposed to be napping. However, as Alice cautiously pushed the door open, she found Sophia Tregarth walking the floor with the whimpering toddler, murmuring soothing nonsense to the little girl. Sophia half-turned as Alice entered, offered her a small smile, and observed in a quiet voice, "She had a bad dream." Alice winced and Sophia murmured something to Angel before sitting down in the rocking chair which Owen Harper apparently found in town. Alice sat down on a chest, as Sophia added, "By the way, we've not been formally introduced, but I'm Sophia Tregarth … and you are Alice Carter, or more properly, Melissa Moretti."
It shouldn't have surprised her, to hear her birth name from this woman, but it did. Alice wasn't yet sure what to do with her own reaction, and so she said, "I really need to thank you for taking care of my dad. Things are still … difficult … between us, but I'm glad he has you." And by 'difficult,' she meant that they hadn't acknowledged the huge elephant in the room … namely, Steven. Sophia looked down at the toddler even now quieting in her arms, lightly kissing the top of the child's head. After a moment, the other woman raised her head to look at Alice, who was stunned breathless by the sadness in the ginger's eyes.
"He's taken care of us for years. Really, from the moment he met my husband, he's been taking care of us, and unfortunately, we've been rotten at returning the favor," Sophia answered quietly. Alice couldn't think of anything to say to that, and so she said nothing. However, the other woman wasn't ready to let it go, adding, "Most of the story is my husband's so I'll let him tell you in his own time. He's already agreed … already promised … that he won't let you find out the whole story about your son's death the same way our youngest daughter found out that she's our daughter, rather than our granddaughter."
"Why can't you tell me? I mean, now that you've told me that there's more I don't know, why can't you tell me the whole story?" Alice inquired. She tried to keep herself from thinking about what that could mean … what did she not know about Steven's death that she didn't already know? A part of her resented the woman now holding Angel for even bringing this up if she didn't intend to continue. But a larger part of her was curious. Random comments from Owen Harper and Rex Matheson raised flags in her mind … comments about her dad blaming himself for the ambush that nearly killed Natalie Tregarth and her younger nephew.
"Because you'll have questions that I can't answer, because I was already deathly ill … and seven months pregnant to boot. Remember, those aliens were here in 1965, when my husband was the director of Torchwood Three," Sophia pointed out and Alice nodded. Yes, she remembered hearing that. Sophia continued, "Now, if they were here in 1965, why was that man, Dekker, still studying them … unless he, or someone over him, realized that they would be back?" Alice never allowed herself to think about that … the memories surrounding her little boy's death were just too painful. But now she did … and she remembered Dekker's words about routing the signal back through a child. That child would burn, and her child did burn. For a moment, Alice's hatred and resentment of her father flared, but she pushed it down ruthlessly, just as ruthlessly as her mother had taken her from that same father. Funny, she never thought of her mother as being ruthless … her father, absolutely, but her mother was too.
And the answer registered immediately, as she murmured, "Someone realized that they would be back. Someone … someone who …" Alice's voice trailed off, and she looked at Sophia, whose smile had changed from sad to pained. Things were starting to make sense, but that frightened her. She swallowed hard, but forced herself to say, "Someone who realized that they would be back, because they got what they wanted the first time. Are you … are you telling me that your husband was that someone?" But no, that didn't make any sense. And Sophia was shaking her head almost immediately.
"No, Melissa … I'm saying that your father realized that they would be back. And once he stopped and thought about it, so did my husband. Before he resigned as director, Carlyon sent a missive to the queen, asking her to have someone study the signal, hoping that Torchwood would have more of a warning in the future. Instead … instead, that debacle happened," Sophia responded, disgust obvious in her voice. She shook her head and eased the now-sleeping Angel back into her cot, murmuring, "It should have ended in 1965, rather than 2009."
Something was occurring to Alice, something that made her dizzy. But around the roaring in her ears, she forced herself to say, "They knew in 1965, didn't they? They knew how to drive those bastards off, but instead, they sacrificed those children and my father …" Alice stopped, her inability to breathe having nothing to do with the disease that was taking away her life. Her father … Sophia said that Alice's dad realized they would be back. She choked out, "Dad knew. He knew they would be back, and he didn't want to turn the children over. Did he?" Sophia shook her head slowly, and Alice pressed the back of her hand to her lips, feeling sick.
"No. He didn't. He knew that it was a mistake. And until he was threatened with the one thing he couldn't say 'no' to, Jack refused to take those children," Sophia answered quietly. The one thing he couldn't …? Sophia went on, "When the time came and Jack realized the only way to drive off the 456 was to use a child … he didn't want to do it. I know this is hurting you, Alice, but you need to know. He didn't want to do it, but he didn't see any alternatives. Maybe if he'd had more time, maybe if he hadn't been blown up and people didn't stop him from doing his job, he could have found another way. But in that moment, there was no other way … he didn't want to lose you and Steven. But what would have happened if he hadn't?"
Alice knew what would have happened … either the world would have burned or ten percent of the children would be turned over to the 456. And she didn't put it past the bastards in control to have turned Steven over to the 456, just to punish Jack. She said hoarsely, "Something worse would have happened. That was the way your husband got my dad to do it in 1965, by threatening him with something worse. Something that my father couldn't live with. My God, and you say that your husband is my father's best friend?"
"Jack is our best friend. I don't know if we deserve to be called his best friends. But yes. That's what happened. Jack … he parroted the line about him not caring, but the truth is, he's always cared entirely too much. Melissa, I can't change the past. You can't change your mother's choices or your father's choices. But you can choose who you want to be. Will you be your mother's daughter … bitter and angry … or will you be your father's daughter?" Sophia Tregarth challenged. And that was the question, wasn't it? Who was she most like?
Sophia bent over and kissed Angel, before turning back to Alice. She held out a hand to her, saying softly, "I fixed the baby monitor. C'mon. Let's go back to my room, and I'll tell you some stories about your dad … if she has another bad dream, we'll hear her." Alice hesitated only briefly before taking the other woman's hand, allowing Sophia to help her to her feet. What she just heard didn't make her forgive Jack … it made her even more confused, and forced her to realize that there was even more she didn't know. But Sophia was right. She had to choose who she wanted to be. And she had to make that choice now.
TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW
Royal Shropshire Hospital
One month after the ambush
This was the last visit, before she left the United Kingdom, quite possibly for good, and in some ways, this would be the most difficult. Although, truth be told, her encounter with Mary Cooper wasn't particularly pleasant. In a way, she felt sorry for the woman … within a matter of months, she'd lost her husband, her granddaughter, the son-in-law she adored, and now her daughter. Mary tried to blame Jack, saying that he clearly turned Gwen's head, but Dite was having none of that. Gwen made her own damn decisions, starting with the one when she was sixteen to request Dite's Favor. Selling out Jack was on her head, as was her failure to keep her promise to Dite, as was her decision not to properly investigate the Families' shell company. Dite didn't tell Mary that it was her own fault for Gwen turning out badly, as she wasn't sure that was the truth. She knew far too many times when good kids came from bad families, and just as many bad kids who came from good parents.
So yes, that was a rough encounter, but this one… this would be far worse. She'd deliberately put this meeting for last, because she wanted to give the man time to recover. If only she could give him the time he needed to properly recover, but even now her Chosen One was in danger. So was her father. This was Dite's best chance to protect both Anwen and Rhys. Gwen, of course, argued with her from the moment she realized that Dite meant to go to Rhys' hospital room. It was originally Dite's intention to let Gwen talk to her (ex) husband, but since she decided to be a brat about things, the former Torchwood operative got shoved back in the recesses of her own mind, able to see what was going on but unable to do anything about it.
Since it worked so well the previous time, Dite opted to play a member of the staff (although if Gwen didn't stop whining, she'd pretend to be a custodian … without question, the most important job at a hospital. Not especially glamorous, but extremely important) in order to access Rhys Williams' room. He was on a separate floor from the Tregarths, up until Natalie and Lucas were released from the hospital … probably for the best. Dite liked the Tregarth family, and they made every effort to be respectful of others, but that many people together in one place? It could get loud. No doubt that was why a separate floor was arranged for them.
Rhys' room was alarmingly easy to find, and Dite considered having a word with someone in the Tregarth family about arranging protection for him. They were all staying in the vacation home until Natalie and Lucas were well enough to fly home. That wouldn't work, she realized quickly … pretty much the entire family would shoot her on sight, and she wouldn't blame them a bit. No, her best bet would be contacting Rassilon or someone in Bulwark … maybe even Lucas North, to have protection arranged for Rhys. He was a good man. And she hated the choice she had to put before him, but she made the choices that led up to that moment, and no matter how much she hated hurting people, she had to ensure that her Chosen One was protected.
Rhys was sleeping when she found his room, or so she thought at first. His head was thoroughly bandaged and positioned in such a way to keep pressure off the wound at the back of his head. But as Dite checked the room for possible threats (the Families could find him here, after all), he said quietly, "I don't know if I should be pleased to see you, or disgusted that you would come here, Gwen." Dite whirled around, and found the man staring at her. His eyes were clear, but distrustful … scornful, even. Gwen immediately began to clamor for a chance to talk to her husband. Dite, however, told her to shut her mouth.
She answered softly, "I don't expect you to believe me, Rhys Williams, but I'm not your wife. Well … a part of me is Gwen Elizabeth Cooper Williams. That is true. But a significant part of me is … well, it doesn't matter. What matters is the choice before you." She winced, because that sounded incredibly arrogant. On the other hand, his former wife was the very definition of arrogant in some respects. Rhys was staring at her as if she lost her mind. Well, a case could definitely be made for that. Sighing, Dite threw caution to the wind and said, "When Gwen was sixteen, she made a deal with me, so the boy she liked at the time would notice her. The bill came due, and she didn't make good on the promise she made to me."
Rhys stared at her, before breathing, "The Widow." Dite blinked … what? Rhys repeated, his voice growing stronger, "The Widow … we heard tales about her from our parents and from other kids. The Widow, who can make your dreams come true, but for a price. What was the price for Gwen?" There was more than a touch of bitterness in his voice, and Dite wished she could reach out to him. But she never had that right, and Gwen had thrown hers away. But Rhys' next words nearly sent her to her knees as he asked plaintively, "And what's happened to me? I've heard that head injuries can cause personality changes, but that doesn't explain what's happened to me. It isn't just that my emotions are all over the place, although they are. But I remember resenting Jack Harkness, and being jealous of him, and now … I'm not. Why?" Dite could have said because Gwen wasn't there to make him jealous or to play him against Jack. Instead, she told him another truth.
"Because you never had a need to be jealous of him. He was never a threat to you. In truth, Rhys Williams, the two of you should have been friends. You are far more alike than you are different. Unfortunately, neither of you ever realized that … and that's a pity. In Torchwood or out of it, you and Jack could have made an extraordinary team," Dite answered honestly. Rhys looked thoughtful (and tired), which led Dite to ask her next question, "Apart from feeling as you do, as if things have changed and you're not sure how or why, how do you feel? Your head … how is it feeling?" He'd alluded to the possible changes in his personality, due to his head injury, but Dite wanted to know more.
"Angry. Tired. Frightened. Worried … I'm worried about my little girl. They took my Anwen from me while I was captive. You say that you're the Widow, and that Gwen made a deal with you when she was sixteen, but you never answered my question. What was the price she had to pay for the deal she made?" Rhys asked. Dite pursed her lips. She hesitated not because she didn't plan to answer (because she did), but because she was trying to decide the best way to answer his question. She already told him what Gwen was seeking after all.
"I have Chosen Ones. Special humans who are destined to do incredible things. Lynchpins, if you will. When Gwen was sixteen, I realized that she had some part to place in the life of my next Chosen One. I agreed to grant her my Favor; in exchange, she agreed to remain true to my Chosen One. She not only failed to live up to that promise, she betrayed my Chosen One twice," Dite answered. Rhys closed his eyes, his face taking on roughly the same hue as the bandage around his head. Oh, she wished she could delay this, if only by a few months, long enough for him to heal! This was so bloody unfair to him! She went on, trying to keep her voice steady, "That Chosen One is your daughter, Anwen. You know about the most recent betrayal … but she also betrayed Anwen when she sold out the one person who could end Miracle Day." It didn't matter that Olivia Colasanto was a minor evil … what mattered was that Gwen did it.
Rhys uttered a choked back sound that might have been a laugh. Dite watched him worriedly, and after a moment, Rhys snorted, "Oh, there's no need to worry about me … I'll be fine. So, my baby girl is your Chosen One. I'm actually … relieved. That means my Anwen will have someone looking after her when I can't. And … that's going to be a while. Isn't it? Jilly Kitzinger meant it when she said I had to be ready to sacrifice my life to save my daughter. Being Chosen means it comes at a price, and that my little girl is still in danger … doesn't it?"
"Yes," Dite choked out. She wiped at dry cheeks, repeating, "Yes, she is. I'm sorry, Rhys, so terribly sorry. You, and Anwen, you don't deserve any of this. The Families … they're going to be aware that she's a lynchpin now, that she's important. She broke through the wall around Jilly Kitzinger's heart, one of their most loyal minions, and that makes her dangerous. The Families will either want her under their control … or dead." Rhys closed his eyes tightly, fingers curling into fists at his side, wrinkling the sheets in his hands. Dite would have told him again that she was sorry, but it wouldn't have done a damn bit of good.
"And I'm in no condition to protect her … between my head injury and … everything else, I can't protect my own child," Rhys finally said. She wouldn't have put it that way … Rhys would have gone down fighting, and he would have put up one helluva fight, but in the end, he just didn't have the training needed to protect Anwen from what was coming for her. There was a long silence, and then Rhys opened his eyes. There was resignation, yes … but there was also a fierce determination. He said quietly, "If I can't protect her, then you find her someone who can. You make sure they won't just die protecting her, but they'll live to protect her as well."
"The people she's with … they will. I swear, Rhys, they'll protect her 'til they're all dead," she answered. Dite kept it to herself that one of them was immortal. Rhys didn't need to know that. It wasn't about bringing his resentment of Jack to the fore again … he just didn't need to know about it. She knew about Rassilon's decision to lie to Jack about Anwen's face, knew why he chose to lie. Normally, she didn't approve of lying to one's children (it tended to blow up in one's face … as she had reason to know), but in this case, she agreed with Rassilon. Jack made too many choices he shouldn't have had to make. This one didn't have to be among them.
"Good. That's good. I only care about Anwen's safety. That's all that matters. I don't matter, Gwen doesn't matter. Only Anwen matters. And they'll take care of her properly? Not just protect her and feed her and clothe her, they'll take proper care of her?" Rhys asked. Now, there were tears rolling down Dite's face as she nodded. Rhys sighed softly, relaxing a little against the pillows, and murmured, "Good. That's good. Then there's only one thing left. Gwen. She never really loved me, did she?"
Dite froze, because she honestly didn't know how to answer that. Gwen swore that she loved Rhys, but Dite didn't recognize that as love. Rhys exhaled slowly and observed, "You don't have to say anything … your lack of answer is answer enough." Gwen was screaming and crying in the back of her head, pleading with Dite to tell Rhys that of course she loved him, didn't her betrayals of Jack prove that he was more important to her than Jack was? However, Dite ignored her. She had her chance … Dite wasn't about to let her make things worse for Rhys or anyone else. The man sighed again, "What happens now? You already said that the Families will go after Anwen again, and that means that they'll come after me. Do I need to die? Because if I do, if my death ensures my daughter's safety, I'll do it."
"There's another way, but it's nearly as cruel as dying. You … you're aware of Retcon, yes? The amnesia drug that Jack used at your wedding?" Dite asked, knowing that Gwen used Retcon on Rhys when she 'confessed' her affair with Owen Harper. Rhys' mouth tightened, and Dite realized with a jolt that he remembered … he broke the Retcon? Or was it broken by his injury? Something she needed to ask Jack about at some point. However, that acknowledgment was enough for her, and she continued, "I have no need of Retcon. What I can do is remove your memories of this conversation. If you don't know that Anwen is alive, much less where she is and who she is with, that will protect both of you."
"And what about Gwen? You said that she's … that you're … will she be allowed to see Anwen?" Rhys asked, and before he finished the question, Dite was shaking her head. She explained to him that they would be leaving the UK soon for Third World countries, to assist people there. She did not, however, tell him that the next time Gwen would see Anwen, their little girl would be a grown woman, and a mother herself. That was because that was a promise Dite had made to herself. Secure in the knowledge that he did have, Rhys inclined his head, ever so slightly. He asked hoarsely, "And … will I ever remember that Anwen is alive, that she's okay and with people who will take care of her?" Now, tears were flowing down Dite's face freely, but she nodded fiercely.
"Yes. There will come a time, in just a few years, when those memories will be unblocked. Yes, you'll remember that your baby girl is safe, and being cared for, and even more importantly, that she's loved. And Rhys, regardless of who raises her, you will always be her father, you will always be her tad," Dite answered. A myriad of expressions flitted across Rhys' face … grief, determination, love, joy. And then his eyes hardened. Gwen wailed inside their shared mind, screaming imprecations at both Dite and Jack, cursing the handsome immortal for forcing her to join Torchwood. Dite ignored her.
"Then do it," Rhys ground out harshly, even as tears rolled down his cheeks. Dite touched his forehead, smoothing out the furrows and keeping her word. She was the only one who could have done this … Rassilon, while he had the capacity to do it, was still too angry with Gwen. No. This was her responsibility, just as Gwen and Anwen were her responsibility. As Dite drew her fingers back, Rhys slumped against the pillows, asleep … asleep, not unconscious. While his memories of the conversation were gone, the relief of knowing his child was safe remained, even if he didn't realize he knew that truth. Dite bowed her head, curling her fingers around Rhys'.
Once his head wound healed, Rhys would returned to Harwood Haulage, but only for a time. He would be pushed by the memories of what was done to his family, his country, his world, by aliens and by demons parading in human flesh, and he would leave. Eventually, his travels would take him to a safe haven, where he would meet a woman who never believed she would find a man such as him. But that was in the future, and for now, he had to heal. He had to heal, and it was time for Dite to leave. Time for a new chapter to begin.
To be Concluded.
Additional Author's Notes: Okay, I need to say this up front … I hated having to write this last section. Thirty years ago, my nephew was removed from my brother's life, and from ours. He eventually returned to us, and as mentioned before, he is about to become a father himself. But those twenty years are gone forever. I hated that Rhys lost Anwen, even briefly, but with his head injury and the Families now after her, it was going to happen. However, Dite pointed out that he didn't have to lose her forever, and he won't. Remember what she said … regardless of who raises her, Rhys will always be her father, will always be her tad. However … the next time Gwen sees Anwen, her daughter will be in her thirties or forties, and a mother herself (my mental image for the grown Anwen is Catherine Bell, of JAG, Army Wives, and now The Good Witch). I believe there will only be one more chapter, rather than a final chapter, followed by an epilogue. I'm still planning that confrontation between Alice and Carlyon (she threw me a curveball while I was writing this … she and Sophia were supposed to be talking about Anwen/Angel, rather than the past). So … one more chapter. Hope you've enjoyed this one.