any 36
Gwen was staring. It was four in the morning and she was wide awake staring at Rhys.
She couldn't sleep. It wasn't that she wasn't tired. It was just that when she closed her eyes the images came back.
Rhys bleeding as he clutched his stomach. The shocked betrayed look on his face when he died.
Gwen honestly hated lying to him but what choice did she have. She'd already tried coming clean with him.
A laughable attempt at best that only served to get her in trouble with jack.
Gwen's mouth turned down in a frown. Jack, Jack was gone. he left us.
Just walked away from all of us like he was shaking dirt off his heels.
Even those he supposedly had feelings for made very little difference to Jack.
Not Ianto or even Lexi could hold him here. Gwen inched closer to Rhys.
He shifted and draped his arm around her waist. Gwen stared at him for a moment.
Just breathing in the sights and scents that made Rhys who he was.
She never knew how much just his presence in her life meant until it was almost gone.
Gwen turned her head into her pillow and used it to wipe her eyes clean of the gathering moisture.
She moved closer to him and all she could think of was somewhere out there two of her friends were sleeping alone.
One of which was responsible for Rhys being here now.
A twinge of guilt threaded its way through her heart. Just before Gwen drifted off to sleep.
She vowed to never again show less than a hundred percent support in Lexi's decisions.
She was the boss now and it was obvious she cared about the team more than Jack ever did.
Gwen grimaced to think all this time she thought the young time lady hated her.
Gwen's gaze drifted back to Rhys and Gwen bit back the sob that threatened to break out of her throat.
She wiped at her eyes angrily. She couldn't believe how seriously she had misjudged her.
That beeping was really quite annoying.
She rolled over to throw something at the alarm clock and promptly landed in a swearing heap on the floor.
Growling in irritation. She attempted to extricate herself from her sheets.
She hit the alarm clock hard enough to crack the face and bloody her hand.
More swear words followed. She stomped out of the now thoroughly irritating sheets.
She shoved her hair out of her eyes and stomped towards the en-suite.
She splashed water on her face and stared at her reflection. She would never get over looking younger than she was.
Groaning Lexi finished her morning routine. Dressed applied her make up.
When she was finally satisfied with her appearance she headed for the door.
Another day another whole set of problems awaited her attention. She paused at the door wishing one more time that Jack was still here.
She walked out only to be greeted by the sound of humming.
It wasn't a cheerful tune. In fact it was called, don't fear the reaper if memory served her correctly.
She watched Ianto for a few minutes. He seemed numbed like he was going through the motions.
Outwardly he appeared fine but Lexi knew Ianto a little better than the others.
He had been the only one to really befriend the young time lord when she started at Torchwood one.
So she knew when he was faking it better than most. He was still a difficult bloke to read mind but some picture was better than none.
She moved and the floor gave away her presence with a crunching sound. Ianto visibly jumped.
"Oh sorry ma'am didn't know you were up already. I trust I haven't disturbed your slumber" said Ianto
Lexi looked him over quickly taking in every detail about the man before her. He was pretending cheerful when he clearly was not.
"No Ianto it was that damn alarm clock again and don't call me ma'am it makes me feel old" said Lexi
A faint smirk tugged at his mouth.
"I take it I must replace this model again" said Ianto
He handed her a cup of coffee and Lexi gratefully took a sip. Since Jack left the tea-boy had been taking on more and more support roles.
Lexi was gradually bringing him into the fold as a fully fledged team member.
Something Jack never did. Of course Jack had a habit of trying to protect certain members of his team by excluding them.
Personally Lexi liked her team to be informed. Knowledge was power after all and trust was something that must be shown to be received back.
"Thank you Ianto inform me when the others get here" said Lexi
Drinking her coffee as she walked Lexi vanished into the med bay. For some reason she stopped in front of Suzy's drawer.
It was dated two days, after the doctor had departed the plass with Rose and her aboard.
When Jack had been human and they only thought the ship was bonding with her.
"Not much conversation there even when she was alive" said Owen
Lexi chuckled Owens dislike of Suzy was well known just not it's source.
"Thought you weren't into conversations" said Lexi
She smirked at Owen
"Ha, ha a right lark that is, but seriously she was a bit dull" said Owen
Lexi raised an eyebrow
"Dull?, In Torchwood really? Just the job alone should have made her marginally interesting don't you think?" said Lexi
"You would though but no dull as beans on toast she was" said Owen
Lexi shook her head and tried not to laugh too much. Disrespecting the dead still felt wrong to her.
No matter how many times Torchwood had to substitute a corpse for another killed by questionable means.
"So speaking of the dead why are you down here?" said Owen
"I've managed to appropriate the body of Mr Saxon's maid from last night" said Lexi "And?" said Owen
"I don't know call it a hunch but something didn't feel right last night" said Lexi
"What do you mean?" said Ianto
He walked in holding a cup of coffee in his hands. Owen promptly snagged it and frowned
"What no biscuits?" said Owen
"No were out, but I can" said Ianto
"Get it on the way to retrieve the body" said Lexi
"What on an empty stomach and first thing in the morning?" said Owen
"Yes preferably before they cover up whatever it is that were looking for" said Lexi
"And just what are we looking for?" said Ianto
"Don't know yet" said Lexi
Ianto frowned and Owen groaned
"Oh bullocks not another one of those" said Owen
He was still muttering as he headed for the car park. Lexi took a drink of her coffee and frowned at Suzy's crypt door
"Beans and toast, humph. go figure" said Lexi
She retraced her steps back to the hub proper buts she still couldn't shake the feeling something just wasn't right with the world.
The door alarm sounded and Lexi looked towards it in time to see Gwen walk in followed by Toshiko. Gwen gave her a strange look
"Where are the guys?" said Gwen
"I sent them to retrieve the maid's body from last night" said Lexi
Tosh yawned and dropped her laptop case on her desk.
"Did you at least let Ianto make coffee first?" said Tosh
Lexi held up her cup and gestured towards the kitchenette. Tosh groaned and headed for it.
Gwen reached down and turned on her computer, before making her way towards the pot.
"So how did it go last night?" said Gwen
Lexi raised her eyebrow slightly. Usually Gwen didn't ask about her day. So it shocked Lexi just a little
"Great if you call running for our lives like idiots and being hit on by old men afterward" said Lexi
Gwen made a face
"Yuck, aren't politicians the worst?" said Tosh
Lexi nodded yes and Tosh sat down at her station. She turned on her system and drank some of her coffee as the system fired up
"Speak of the devil" said Gwen
Lexi turned towards her
"Pardon?" said Lexi"
"You've got four messages from a Mr Saxon, I think the old man is in love"teased Gwen
Lexi picked up a Nerf basketball off of Owen's desk and chucked it at the back of Gwen's head. It bounced off but it still got Gwen to turn around.
"Any real business for the day?" said Lexi
"Nope not yet but we can always hope" said Tosh
Lexi groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Fine what does he want?" said Lexi
"Ah three and it looks like he wants to talk, the last was an invite for lunch" said Gwen
Groaning in irritation Lexi rolled her eyes again.
"Reply that it would be ill advised, if the press catch me dining with him" said Lexi
Chuckling Gwen did so. When she didn't receive an immediate response they moved on to their usual routine.
She still couldn't shake that feeling all day. Even when Owen didn't find anything on the corpse at all.
She used the computer in Jack's ,now hers office to look up Mr Saxon. She retrieved information that sounded just a bit like a made up story.
Frowning she dug deeper and was still digging when Gwen knocked on her door. To ask her what she wanted for lunch.
"Ah just a salad" said Lexi
Gwen was still paused by the door and Lexi glanced up from her fruitless search.
"Yes?" said Lexi
"Saxon text-ed back he wants to know if he should send a car?" said Gwen
Lexi sighed her search was proving pointless. If there was anything there she would have found it by now.
Not that she wanted to dine with the man but perhaps it was the only way. She rested her elbows on the desk, folded her hands in front of her and thought
"Yes but tell him to give me half an hour" said Lexi
Gwen frowned
"What about the salad?" said Gwen
"Get it anyways. If this proves to be a waste of my time I'll still be hungry" said Lexi
Gwen was still hesitating in the door
"Gwen, do you need something more?" said Lexi
"I ah actually yeah I just wanted to say.. Thank you" said Gwen
Lexi stopped mid-type and met Gwen gaze.
"I mean it, Jack wouldn't have.. so .. I just wanted you to know.. you know" said Gwen Gwen ended the statement by biting her bottom lip.
"Your welcome Gwen Cooper" said Lexi
The welsh woman smiled at her and scurried away before she could say anymore.
Oddly touched Lexi rose from her chair and headed for her Tardis. She would try her Tardis' memory banks.
If nothing else it would have Saxon's time-line. She walked in and immediately set it to search.
It was still searching when Tosh poked her head in the door and told her there was a car waiting for her near the plas.
Lexi took a deep breath and exited her Tardis. She would just simply check it when she returned.
She grabbed her coat as she headed for the door .
"Well wish me luck" said Lexi
"Good luck" said Owen in his usual sarcastic tone.
Lexi exited through the lift and walked across the plas. A man in a chauffeurs uniform was waiting for her beside a Mercedes Benz.
He held the door open as she approached and Lexi climbed inside the vehicle.
"So glad you decided to join me Ms Vega, I trust you don't mind that I choose the venue for our repast" said Saxon
The old man was impeccably dressed, in one of the most expensive suits she had ever seen.
Which given her mother's occupation that was saying a lot. Odd it felt as if he was trying to impress her for some reason.
"That's fine with me" said Lexi
He smiled at her and for some reason Lexi was unnerved by it. She still couldn't place why.
They rode in almost mutual silence for most the ride. He asked vague questions about her day off and on.
Interspersing small pointless questions about her interests.
A strange sinking sensation accompanied these questions. As if he was somehow making her state the truth.
They were driving along the coastline now and Lexi was perplexed. They were approaching a lighthouse on the left hand side of the road.
The driver reached a driveway and turned down it.
"I hope you don't mind this private of a venue, the press can be so troublesome now days." said Saxon
She eyed the small restaurant suspiciously. Should she worried there were no other cars in the parking lot?
The driver pulled up to the front doors and parked. Got out of the car walked around to Mr Saxon's side and held open the door.
Saxon climbed out and straightened his tie. The driver closed the door and walked around to her side.
He opened the door for her too. If Saxon thought she'd be impressed by a few held doors he was sadly mistaken.
The old man smiled at her and she stamped down the urge to groan. Damn it Gwen why'd you have to be right on this?
The chauffeur opened the restaurant door and Saxon actually let her go first.
Privately she wondered if he was just being a gentleman or just waiting to see if the building collapsed on her first?
Lexi glanced around the room. Taking in every detail in the room in a glance.
Other than the staff they were the only ones here. She carefully schooled her expression into something pleasant.
The last thing Torchwood needed was a politician with a personal vendetta against them.
A nervous looking hostess guided them to the table with the best view of the bay.
Left them menus and scurried away. Almost as if she was afraid of the old man seated across from her.
Interesting she thought ,perhaps this bears watching closer.
"I must admit your a much more appealing companion than your boss" said Saxon
She raised an eyebrow in query. Jack was usually quite pleasant company. Provided he cared for who he was with.
"Oh how so?" said Lexi
Mr Saxon chuckled and took a sip of his water.
"Isn't it obvious?" said Saxon
She frowned at him.
"I see" said Lexi
Mr Saxon put his water glass down.
"No I don't think you do see at least not yet" said Saxon
"No worries ,you will shortly" said Saxon
She gave him a confused look.
"Ms Vega may I be frank with you?" said Saxon
She nodded yes and Saxon was about to say something more. When the waitress interrupted him.
He gave the woman a scowl and ordered for both of them. Without even asking if she liked seafood at all.
She let it go she could always pick around what she didn't like. He waited until the waitress left before going on.
"I feel your talents are wasted on Torchwood" said Saxon
"The year a hundred trillion? that's impossible" said the doctor
"Why what happens then?" said Martha
"We're going to the end of the universe" said the doctor
Martha opened her mouth to say something more but the worried note in his tone stopped her cold.
"I intend to run for prime minister in the next election" said Saxon
Lexi looked shocked because quite frankly she was.
"What does that have to do with me and Torchwood?" said Lexi
Saxon smiled and for some reason she was unnerved not reassured.
"I need someone I can trust by my side, someone who knows about the real threats out there" said Saxon.
He gave her a knowing look and the weevil attack at his house suddenly made perfect sense.
"It was a test" said Lexi
He smirked at her. The waitress was approaching their table. She hesitated until Saxon nodded his assent.
The woman hastily set their orders down. Deposited all the condiments she was supposed to provide. Then quickly scurried away.
"Very good most would take awhile to piece it together" said Saxon
He cut into his steak and took a bite. She shoved some of the vegetables to the side and took a bite of the fish.
"So what exactly are you proposing?" said Lexi
He smiled certain he had her intrigued at least. inside Lexi was cringing.
It made her sick to think that poor woman died, just so he could test her and the team.
"Why an alliance of course, beneficial to both parties I assure you" said Saxon
She honestly wasn't sure she wanted to know what he considered beneficial.
Just the idea of him being in charge of her country was terrifying enough.
Why did she feel like she was being offered a deal with the devil? Her apprehension must have shown on her face somewhat.
"It is nothing unpleasant you have my word" said Saxon
He gave her a wicked smirk and continued to eat. Lexi tried to do the same but the food tasted like sand and it was turning to lead in her stomach.
"My campaign managers have simply informed me that a certain percentage of voters are.. how shall I say, uncomfortable with a single head of state" he said.
She dropped her fork in shock. He laughed at her reaction.
"Please don't look so surprised this would be a business arrangement after all" said Saxon
She swallowed nervously
"And what exactly would I get out of this arrangement?" said Lexi
She wanted to run right about now. To head back to the hub screaming get in her Tardis and just flee.
Unfortunately that would be hard to explain. Then of course there was the more mundane consideration that she had come in his car.
He smiled and Lexi was unnerved by the grin. He looked for all the world like a cat eying a baby bird.
"Why besides the obvious funding, recognition of course" said Saxon
He sat back picking up his wine glass and taking a casual sip of the contents. Lexi bit back her first retort and instead attacked the obvious flaw in his offer.
"Torchwood is supposed to be a secret organization" she said
He chuckled.
"Oh really then why do you have the company logo emblazoned on the sides of your vehicles?" said Saxon
She winced at his teasing tone.
"It was Jack's idea, hide in plain sight and all that" said Lexi
"Ah I see" said Saxon
She wondered just what he did see in that statement. Saxon's eyes flickered over the room.
His lips curling in disdain when he noticed the waitress bending over to pick something up off the floor.
"Don't you ever get tired of it?" said Saxon
She gave him a confused look. He nodded towards the wait staff
"Saving their pathetic lives day after day. When you should be ruling them" said Saxon
"Pathetic aren't they, too stupid to realize they're in danger and too blind to follow the one that could save them" he said
Her mouth practically dropped open in shock. She swallowed nervously. The man was scaring her quite frankly.
Just the contempt in his tone when he said that spoke volumes as to what kind of man he was. He sighed and looked vaguely disappointed.
"I can see my words are wasted on you, enjoy your mediocrity, it won't last long thankfully" said Saxon
He waved the waitress over and she swiftly deposited the check next to him.
He signed it without looking at it and shoved it away from him as if offended by its presence.
For one horrifying thought she was worried he would just dismantle Torchwood.
Jack would have a cow if he did come back and she had single -handedly ruined Torchwood.
He stood and Lexi did the same reaching for her coat as she stood.
"Can I think about it?" she said
The idea made her nauseous in the extreme but she didn't want to risk this mans anger.
Especially if he aimed at her friends. He paused and stared at her for half a second as if considering something.
Then he smiled again and his sour mood was gone.
She almost sighed in relief. The ride back to the city was quiet and Lexi had no intention of breaking it if he didn't.
The driver pulled up to the plas in almost the exact position as before. It took every ounce of her self control to wait for the driver to get the door.
She gave him a half- hearted promise to call him and watched with growing relief as the tail lights faded from view.
Scowling she stomped back to the entrance of the hub. The next few months were going to take some careful planning.
If she hoped for Torchwood to survive Mr Saxon's new world order. The team was waiting for her.
"Well?" said Ianto
She poured herself into a chair.
"We've got trouble " said Lexi
"That bad huh?" said Owen
"Yeah Ianto start packing some of the essentials we may have to move base quickly" said Lexi
Lexi climbed back to her feet. Her Tardis was practically smacking her in the head to get her attention.
"I'm going to check on a few things" said Lexi
She walked towards her Tardis and vanished inside
"Well what did you find?" said Lexi
The screen immediately lit up and Gallifreyian text sped over the screen.
"Hold" said Lexi
She reread something and her heart sank
"Holy craptastic" said Lexi
The passage was a detailed accounting of a Gallifreyian criminal known simply as The Master.
"Are you sure?" said Lexi
The Tardis displayed a pic of him in his most recent incarnation.
"Why in the hell would they even think about bringing someone like that back?" she said out loud.
Someone knocked on her Tardis door. Lexi opened it
"Well?" said Ianto
He was hovering in the doorway.
"I have to make a short trip, keep packing" said Lexi
Ianto nodded and Lexi closed the door. She locked it and went to the controls. After a quick check to make sure no one was near her ship.
She dematerialized it and reappeared in the mountains of Tibet two years previously.
She exited and found the nearest real estate office. Bought what used to be an old monastery in the mountains and moved the Tardis there briefly to assess it.
Then she went back to her current time period. They spent the rest of the evening setting up an emergency base.
They all slept on her Tardis that night and Lexi took them back to the proper time period the next day.
Now that she knew who Saxon was. There was no way she could leave him loose to wreck havoc on the unsuspecting people of earth.
So she set up a trap. After sending her team to the Tibet location including a very confused Rhys.
Lexi used Tosh's flat to set up her little trap. There was no way she was going to let the master into the hub.
There was no telling the damage he would do.
She paced nervously her finger briefly toying with the injector ring she wore.
It was filled with a powerful nerve toxin that would work on a time lord. Lexi had Owen test it on her just to be certain.
It would disable him long enough to get him into the chameleon arc. The settings would do the rest.
after wards all she had to do was dump him on some backwater and hope no one ever found him.
She told him to come alone and hinted she wanted to do more than talk. She had to curb her natural revulsion and try not to lay it on too thick.
Of course with what she was wearing. Hopefully he wouldn't notice much else.
Owen certainly hadn't noticed that wall before he collided with it, the bell rang and she took a deep breath.
Ianto and Owen were waiting on her Tardis in case things went wrong.
She opened the door and almost sighed in relief when she saw he was alone. Once again he was dressed impeccably nice.
He smiled and held out some flowers. He had concealed behind his back.
"I thought we should do this properly, when in Rome and all that" said Saxon
She nervously took the flowers and walked them into the kitchen. She pulled down a glass because she had no idea where the vases were.
She nervously arranged the roses in the makeshift vase. If her choice in vases bothered him he didn't show it.
She watched him wander around the flat and was secretly glad. She had wisely chosen Tosh's obviously feminine flat over Owens more spacious one.
She walked back into the lounge area and waited for him to say something. Man this was awkward ,it was like watching two virgins muddle through a first date.
"So would you prefer some sort of preamble or just to move forward with it?" he said She inched closer to him.
"Whatever you feel most comfortable with" she said
He turned and she watched him undo a cuff link. Stuff the link in his pocket and release the other one.
He took off his suit jacket and moved closer to her.
"Have you?" he asked
She nodded, guessing what he was asking without needing to let him finish.
" Good" he said
Then he suddenly grabbed both her upper arms and pulled her forward.
Closing his mouth on hers in a demanding and possessive kiss. He was walking them backwards towards the room.
His hands were still locked on her arms. So she couldn't stab him with the poison.
They reached the beds edge and suddenly he pushed her back on the bed.
He climbed on next to her and literally crawled up her body. She swallowed nervously this was almost going too far.
She yelped in shock when she felt his hands up under her skirt. She was seriously rethinking this dress right now.
"So soft" he whispered in Gallifreyian
Shocked she stared at him.
"Yes I know what you are, so am I, relax now and enjoy" he said
He closed his mouth on hers and released her arms. She wrapped them around his neck. Slid the safety off the ring with one finger.
The second he slid his fingers under her underwear. She bit his shoulder and stabbed his neck with the toxin at the same time.
He moaned into her mouth and kept right on violating her person. So she injected him again. He chuckled and pulled back a little.
"Ooh you are a bad little girl aren't you" he said
Panic was setting in. Why wasn't the toxin working?
He leaned forward and bit her back on the shoulder. She yelped the code word she arranged with the boys.
Owen and Ianto both came out . Both boys wielding stunners.
They fired before Saxon knew they were there or maybe he did but didn't really care.
They helped pulled her out from under his unconscious body.
"Help me carry him" said Lexi
"Huh, don't you want me to check you first?" said Owen
"No I'm fine. Grab a limb that won't keep him out for long" said Lexi
"I don't understand that toxin kept Lexi out for an hour at least, why didn't it work?" said Ianto
"No time Ianto grab hold" said Owen
Together they maneuvered Saxon into the arc and Lexi fired it up. It was on the last firing cycle warm up. When Saxon blinked his eyes open
"What are you?" said Saxon
Lexi threw the switch and Saxon screamed.
He was yelling obscenities and promising her all kinds of torture, until he finally passed out.
The machine slowly powered down.
"Well?" said Ianto
Owen picked up a scanner
"Well he shows as human, you sure you want to do this last part alone?" said Owen
Lexi nodded and they helped her put him in a holding cell. She dropped them off in Tibet then headed to the ends of the universe.
Stretching her young Tardis as far as it could go. When they finally stopped it was just before the year one hundred trillion.
She left him on a ridge and wished him the best of luck sarcastically.
As the Tardis vanished from view a young blue skinned woman cautiously approached his unconscious form.