Chapter 34
The detailed report on the findings from the UNIT prison, where Jack Harkness had been held, was rushed through to the Palace within a week of the raid on the prison. The Queen and her legal advisor, Sir Richard Featherstone, read through it together in the Queen's office. They were both shocked by the findings.
"This is appalling," the Queen stated, with horror in her voice. "There are a dozen people in this prison who have never had a trial, several more who were given a sham trial and half of the prisoners have been physically abused. And that is just those whose stories have so far been corroborated."
"Indeed, Ma'am," agreed Sir Richard. "This does seem to be an endemic problem at this facility. And it is unlikely that it is confined to this particular prison. UNIT have six other secure facilities in Britain."
The Queen was incensed. "I will not have any organisation running roughshod over the rights of British citizens, or indeed any person, in this way."
"What do you want to do about it Ma'am?" asked Sir Richard.
The Queen thought for several moments. "First, we need to check if this is indeed standard practice for UNIT, or if this prison is an isolated case. If it turns out to be a consistent practice, then UNIT will no longer be welcome in the United Kingdom, nor will I allow British soldiers to enlist with them. And, if I have my way, neither will any Commonwealth country."
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Having got out of the Hub, Jack was determined to stay out of it as much as possible. Though he had fully reconciled with the Torchwood team, and felt no animosity towards any of them for the events of the past, he had no wish to be part of Torchwood's activities any more. He wanted a job, like any normal person. And that meant a normal job. No risking his, or anyone else's, life or limb.
After a frenetic few days of shopping, Jack decided to start his search for a job. He went down to the newsagent and picked up all the local and national papers. He then headed back home to start working his way through the job ads. He had no idea in mind what he wanted to do, he was hoping for inspiration from the papers.
After several hours he had a shortlist. They were all relatively low level jobs. Those at higher levels always required evidence of qualifications and experience. He was highly qualified, and probably more experienced than anyone else, but he had no evidence for any of it. At least, none that he could use. With Torchwood resources he would be able to fake such evidence, but he didn't want to go down that route. At least not yet. For the moment he wanted a simple life, a simple job would be perfect.
His list included taxi driver, labourer, shop assistant, waiter, trainee chef and barman. On reflection he concluded that his style of driving was not quite right for a taxi driver, so crossed that one off. Thinking about the remaining ones, he came to the conclusion that he'd like to be a chef. He had also eaten at The Lobster Pot in the past and knew it was good quality food. It would be a good place to work. And with 150 years of cooking experience he should be able to make a good impression. Hopefully they would hire him.
Jack phoned the restaurant and made an appointment for an interview. It was for the following day. He'd leave the other applications until he'd seen how that went. He found that he was quite excited.
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Jack turned up ten minutes before his interview time, and was asked to wait in the restaurant until the manager could see him. The restaurant was not open for customers, as it was mid-morning. After only five minutes Jack was asked through into the manager's office.
"Hello Mr Harkness, I'm Mr Lloyd, the manager."
Jack shook the offered hand.
"I must say you're older than I expected," commented Mr Lloyd. "We usually get younger people for the entry level, commis chef position."
"I am a late starter," agreed Jack, "but that means that I have had a lot more experience than the people you would normally employ. I was made redundant so I'm starting a new career, and becoming a chef is something I'm really keen to do."
"Do you know what the position includes?" the manager asked, wanting to check that Jack was not mistaking it for a more senior position.
"Oh yes," Jack smiled. He had done his research the previous evening. "Commis chef is the lowest rank of chef in the kitchen," he quoted. "It includes food preparation and basic cooking, plus maintaining hygiene standards, which I assume includes lots of cleaning, and dealing with deliveries and stock. I'm quite prepared to heft boxes around, and do anything else that's required."
The manager was impressed. Many of the youngsters they got applying assumed that all they would do was cook. "Do you have any formal qualifications?" he asked.
Disappointment flooded through Jack. "No," he admitted. "The advert didn't say any were required."
"It's not required, but many people we get applying have something, like an NVQ or BTEC."
Jack shook his head, "sorry, no."
"Never mind," the manager continued. "Tell me what you were doing before."
After another half hour the interview ended. Jack had run through his carefully prepared previous employment story, which would be backed up by Owen with a reference. It was as close to the truth as it could be, without getting into official secrets territory. Other than the lack of a qualification, Jack felt that the interview had gone well. At least with a lowly chef job there would be no security checks, so his conviction, and subsequent pardon, for treason and murder would not show up. He could not imagine any employer who found out about that offering him a job.
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Now that he had left the Hub, Jack continued his sessions with Charlotte at his house. Tosh would visit at the same time in case Jack needed her. They had reduced the number of sessions to twice a week and Charlotte was willing to work around any job that Jack was offered. She had decided to relocate back to London and commute to Cardiff for the sessions.
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It was a week before Jack heard back from the restaurant, by which time he had made appointments to be interviewed as a barman and as a building worker.
Mr Lloyd offered Jack the job. He was ecstatic, and phoned Tosh immediately to tell her. They decided to go out for a celebratory drink.
"I've never been to The Lobster Pot, what is it like?" Tosh asked.
"It's quite posh," Jack explained. "It specialises in seafood dishes. I've only been once, and what I had was great. I always intended to go back, but I never got the chance." It hadn't been long after he went there that Saxon had been elected Prime Minister, and everything went to hell.
"We should go there," Tosh suggested.
"Not for a while though," Jack replied. "As a new employee, I don't want to turn up as a customer."
"OK," laughed Tosh, "I can see that that would be uncomfortable."
"I can try out what I learn there on you at home, though," suggested Jack.
"That would be wonderful," Tosh smiled.
"How are you going to manage with the heroin?" Tosh asked seriously. "Will you be able to get enough time every three days to take it?"
Every third evening Jack was due to take his heroin. Although it was no longer strictly necessary for him to be monitored by a doctor, Jack's paranoia would not let him be alone in the house while he was stoned. And his fear was not really paranoia, but based in reality. He needed someone he trusted implicitly to be there. As the team's doctors, Owen and Joanne had volunteered to alternate in supervising him overnight on those nights. If they were unavailable Tosh, Gwen or Ianto would take over. And any job that Jack took would have to fit in round his drug schedule.
"As long as the restaurant don't ask me to do a double shift, just at the wrong time, I should be fine. And if they do ask, I would just have to say no. So I think it will be OK."
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"Guess what?" Tosh announced at the Hub the next day.
Gwen and Ianto looked up from their computers. "What?" Gwen asked.
"Jack got a job."
Ianto grinned. "That's great. What is it?"
"A chef at The Lobster Pot."
Gwen squealed. "Really! That's where Rhys took me when he proposed. It's really swish."
"It's quite a change from Torchwood," Ianto commented. "I suppose that's the point."
They broke off as the rift alarm sounded. Gwen got up. "Do you want to take this one with me Ianto? And I'll fetch one of the new guys. It'll be good training."
"I'll check out the readings while you're on the way," Tosh volunteered. "I'll contact you on the comms."
As Gwen and Ianto headed out, Gwen called. "We'll have to go to Jack's restaurant when he's been there a while."
"Of course," smiled Tosh. "I'm sure he'd be happy if we did."
AN: Updates might be a bit slower for a while as I've reached a part that is not very complete.