Resurgence - Chapter Thirty-Eight

Author: Milady Dragon

30 January 5193 (Earth Standard Date)

Gliese 581g

Hubworld

Suzie stepped off the transmat, breathing in the slightly dry air of Hubworld, a weight off her chest for the first time in a very long time.

It actually went beyond what had happened last year. She'd never dreamed she'd be stepping foot on Hubworld for the first time, let alone the second now. She'd been afraid of her reception, when she really should have listened to Rima and Peter – Diane and Owen – when they tried to convince her that her past wouldn't be held against her, that she would be welcome.

She really wished she'd trusted them.

Now, though, there she was, and it was of her own free will, and not because of some plot she'd ended up involved in just because of who she'd been in a previous life.

And her wife was with her.

Diane glanced around as they stepped from the transmat terminal. "Not a thing like Proxima Prime," she commented, squinting slightly in the reddish glare of the planet's primary.

She was right, of course. Proxima Prime had been an industrial world, a scientific hub for all sorts of research facilities. It had originally been a desert planet, until it had been built up and terraformed just enough for life to be comfortable on it.

Hubworld had also been terraformed; from what Suzie had researched – and yes, she'd checked into Torchwood's past even though she hadn't considered coming back – it had been one of the first planets to be so, and it had taken centuries. Now, it only took decades with the most up-to-date equipment, and new planets were being made habitable all over the Empire.

But Hubworld was mountainous and oh-so very red. It had been a gift to Torchwood back then, and while the Institute had grown up all over the Twelve Galaxies, Hubworld would always be its heart. In a strange way, it felt as if she was coming home.

"If you ladies would follow us?" Rhys Williams invited. He was a little worse for wear after his incarceration, but he was kind, and Suzie loved him already.

Diane had known him already and loved him fiercely, but then she remembered him from the team they'd been on and had lost him before his time. Suzie had wished she could have been a part of that team; however, darkness and insanity had corroded her soul until there had only been death left.

Her wife had confided in her that she felt it weird that Rhys was actually married to Jack's mother, who had also accompanied them, along with the baby dragon that belonged to Clint and Phillip, as well as Nicole and Nathan, who'd been introduced as Clint's twins. Nicole had taken custody of the Master's ring and of the crystal that Morgause had been using to find reincarnated souls, and her brother had decided to act as bodyguard for her…not that she couldn't take care of herself, but it was obvious that Nicole appreciated Nathan's presence.

Diane had also told her that it felt strange even thinking that the Clint Barton she'd known had reincarnated into a dragon, of all things, and was Jack and Ianto's son now. Suzie knew her wife was amazed at the changes in the people she'd known way back when. But then, so was Suzie.

Everyone else had either gone on to Ddraig Llyn or had been involved with cleaning up after HYDRA's infestation of Avalon. Jack and Ianto had gone on to Throneworld, in order to meet with the Empress and the Grand Master of Shieldsmen, while Phillip and Clint, accompanied by Arthur and Merlin, had gotten a ride with the Doctor, who had been more than happy to transport the prisoners to Stormcage, where they would await trial. There would also be some questioning involved, and she knew they were hoping to get a lead on the elusive John Garrett.

Garrett had left Avalon about an hour before the Jones clan had attacked. Phillip was almost desperate to find him, which Suzie could understand; apparently, Phillip and Garrett had been friends back in the 21st century, before HYDRA had come out of the woodwork in the immortal's SHIELD days. Garrett had betrayed Phillip and his team back then, which was more than enough motivation to locate the bastard.

She and Diane followed him and Samara across the Harkness Plass – and Suzie really needed to ask Jack how he felt about that – toward the gleaming building that was Torchwood Tower. Suzie was seeing it for the second time, but she could now appreciate it, and not view it with well-concealed dread. It was very different from the Old Cardiff Hub, but that wasn't a bad thing at all, as Torchwood was just as changed.

Now, she was practically skipping, knowing who was awaiting them in that tower.

They were greeted by a handsome man in a Torchwood tunic, with a sword at his waist. He had curly hair and a well-trimmed beard, and friendly eyes that lit up when he saw them enter the building. He greeted Rhys and Samara gladly, but respectfully, and then completely broke whatever professionalism he might have had by tickling baby Daisy's foot, making the little dragon squeal and laugh.

Just with that little gesture, Suzie found herself trusting him.

"This is Leon DeGrance," Rhys introduced, "he's the Commander of the Knights of Torchwood. Bloody crazy, if you ask me. Knights in Torchwood. Honestly."

Sir Leon smirked, not seeming to take any sort of offense at Rhys' comments. "We've both seen a lot crazier."

"You're not wrong there!" the Welshman snorted.

Suzie had run across the Torchwood Knights during her research. They were the reincarnations of the original Knights of the Round Table, and had followed Arthur when they regained their own memories of their past lives in Camelot, swearing their fealty to Arthur and Torchwood. Some of them had chosen to stay with the Institute after Arthur had retired, to work with Phillip, and she had to wonder how many there were now and if they supplemented their number with new recruits. Apparently, Anwyn's mate, Gwaine, had once been one of their number, but had left to travel with Anwyn when they'd committed to each other.

"Come on," Leon ushered them along. "Medical is awaiting you, Rhys…"

"Bloody hell," he grumbled. "I hate Medical…"

"I know, dear," Samara said sweetly, "but you were just kidnapped and subjected to a strange magical crystal. It won't hurt to get checked out."

"Oh, alright…for you, love." Rhys leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek, his smile just a little bit sappy.

It was sweet to see, and Suzie could tell her wife wanted to make some sort of cooing noises. It made her wish she'd known Rhys the way Diane had, but at least she could get to know him now.

"Nathan and Nicole," Leon turned to the twins – who, while different, still managed to look alike, "Jemma and Fitz are waiting for you in the lab. I understand you have two artefacts they're looking forward to getting their hands on."

Nicole laughed at that. "And I'm looking forward to them taking them out of my hands. There's just something about walking around with two potentially dangerous objects that makes me antsy. I have no idea why." Her voice was laden with sarcasm, and the knight shook his head at her, amused.

He then glanced at Suzie and Diane. "Doctor Costello…Doctor Anaxi – "

"Actually," Diane interrupted, "it's Holmes."

Suzie wasn't surprised that her wife was going back to her old name. After all, they were taking up the reins of that old life, leaving behind the one they'd lived on Proxima.

It was way past time.

Leon nodded graciously. "Then I stand corrected. Doctor Costello…Doctor Holmes…Doctor Harper is also in the lab." He grinned impishly. "No one told him you were on your way here. We thought a surprise would be nice."

Suzie hated to say that Owen really hated surprises, but in this case she was touched by the gesture. Her heart began to race as she thought about Owen, of seeing him again and knowing that he'd been worried about them, and was waiting for them now.

They had the lift to themselves. It stopped once, at what was obviously the Medical level, and Rhys and Samara got off, Rhys giving Diane a hug goodbye…and then hugged Suzie as well, and she decided then and there that Rhys Williams gave the best hugs ever.

Then the doors slid shut, and the lift moved upward a few more storeys to the labs.

Suzie vividly recalled the last time she'd been up there, when she'd been carrying a secret and Ianto had trusted her to help out, and instead she'd stolen the Master's ring because she'd been HYDRA's back-up plan in case Agravaine and Garrett had failed in their task. She wondered what they would have demanded of her if they'd succeeded. It would have left Suzie as a mole within Torchwood, and there was no telling what they would have forced her to do.

She couldn't even communicate how relieved she was that they'd understood, that Jack and Ianto had realised that she hadn't been acting of her own free will, and that they'd forgiven her for what she'd had to do to keep her wife alive.

Doctor Simmons noticed them the moment they stepped into the lab. Her face split into a welcoming grin, and she elbowed Dr Fitz in the side, gesturing with her antennae in their direction. He glanced up, and then his eyes darted to the third person in the lab, and even though he was standing with his back to the door, Suzie would have recognised that red hair anywhere.

To say that she'd been shocked that Owen Harper, or all people, had been reborn as a Polarian would have been an understatement. The inhabitants of Polaris Four were known to be peace-loving and quiet, and Owen was anything but. Owen had often bitched about karma, until it had become a joke between the three of them.

Owen must have noticed something was up, because he spun on his heel, his mouth opening to say something that Suzie would have bet good credits was going to be snarky.

Nothing came out.

Owen Harper had been struck speechless. A part of her wanted to make a comment about marking the calendar, but the larger part was so very happy to see him again, when Suzie had begun to despair of it.

Instead, his brilliant green eyes widened, and before Suzie could even react he was across the room and scooping them both up into a hug at the same time. Suzie clung onto him and Diane, not ashamed of the tears she was shedding, so very grateful that they were all back together again.

Time lost meaning as the three of them stood there, holding each other. Suzie never wanted to leave, but knew they'd have to eventually. HYDRA was still out there, and the three of them really needed to talk about what they were going to do next.

Suzie knew what she wanted, and she thought they'd want the same thing, but they really did need to discuss things before making any sort of long-term decision.

Eventually, the three of them parted. Even Owen was wiping the tears away…not that he would ever admit to crying, of course. "You two just had to get into trouble without me, didn't you?" he complained, without any of his usual fire.

"Well," Diane said, equally sniffling, "you know how it goes…the women get to have all the fun."

"Goddess, I was so scared for you both," he admitted breathlessly. "I wanted to hunt down the ones who'd taken you, but I didn't know how…"

"Our team found us," Diane murmured. "We're safe now."

"I'm sorry," the deferential voice of Jemma Simmons broke into their tiny bubble of peace, "but if you wanted to go somewhere more private, we can arrange something for you…"

As much as Suzie wanted to say yes, there were things that needed to be done first. "Not yet," she answered. "Diane and I have information, I'm sure there's going to be a debrief – "

She ignored the start Owen gave at her using the name 'Diane'. It was a subject they could address later.

"That can certainly wait," the young woman asserted. "You've both been through a terrible ordeal, and we know that Owen's been terribly worried about you. I'm quite certain Sir Leon can get you lodgings at the Torchwood housing facility close by."

"It's already taken care of, Dr Simmons," the Knight said warmly.

"Thank you." She made shooing motions with her hands. "Go on. You don't need to stay here, and you should go and reassure each other. We all know what that's like." She smiled indulgently, and suddenly Suzie felt like she was being sent off by a parent, even though it was obvious that the Lorelan was younger than she was. "We can get to all that tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm quite sure Nicole and Nathan can share what they know with us."

"Absolutely," Nathan answered.

"And you can have the presents I've brought you," Nicole added.

That had both Fitz and Simmons looked extremely excited.

Suzie wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth, as it were, and she really wanted to cuddle with the two people who were more important to her than anyone else.

Taking them both by the hand, Suzie pulled them from the lab, following a smiling Sir Leon back to the lift, and out of the tower.

The living quarters that Torchwood had for employees and visitors was just down the Plass from the tower, and the rooms they were given was more like a small flat than an impersonal space. It consisted of a lounge, kitchen, and a single bedroom with an en-suite, and it was perfect for their current needs.

Someone had stocked the kitchen with plenty to eat, changed the sheets on the rather large bed, and put clean towels in the bath. There was also a supply of clothes that Suzie was certain would fit each of them. Plus, a thoughtfully full drawer of various sexual aids and supplies was in the bedside table, and although Jack wasn't there Suzie had to believe that was something he'd ordered, because that would have been just like him.

The shower was also huge, and it offered both water and sonic cleansing. After the months she'd had, Suzie wanted a water shower almost more than anything.

But Owen wasn't about to let her do that at the moment.

No, instead he had them both on the expansive sofa, curled around them like a Polarian octopus, as if he was afraid to let them go.

And, maybe he was.

"Don't ever do that to me again," he scowled. "I just about had a heart attack when I realised you were both missing." He kissed them both, the tenderness of it belying the tartness of his words.

Suzie was more than happy to snuggle down with the two people she loved, even though she was feeling a bit grimy. It had been far too long since they'd been able to do this, and she'd missed it like anything.

"And don't think I didn't notice you calling me Owen, back there at the Tower." His words were aimed right at her.

Suzie sighed. "I do know you hate the name Peter, and was only keeping it because of me."

"Well, yeah…but I was willing to."

"You were right, you know."

"Now that's something I don't get to hear enough!"

Suzie smacked him on the arm. "Shut it." She sighed again. "You were right about Jack and Ianto. They did nothing but welcome me with open arms, and then I had to betray them again."

"But they understand why," Diane reassured her. "It's not like something like this hasn't happened before, and they will always forgive if it's a good enough reason…like for love."

"I know that…now. But…I've been rethinking things, and I think it's time for us to come back. Ianto pointed out to me that we're family…that I'm family." She could remember standing in the kitchen at Jack and Ianto's home, and talking to Ianto. That was something he'd told her, and she'd wanted to believe him…but, at the same time, she'd known if Garrett and Agravaine didn't succeed in what they were planning then it would be up to her to get the ring.

She hadn't wanted to betray them, but had been forced into it. That apparently counted for a lot with Jack and Ianto, and she should have known that from what had happened before, with Toshiko and her mother.

"And it only took this to convince you." Owen had tried to go for joking, but it fell horribly flat.

Still, she didn't tell him that. Or did she admit that he was right, again. Once was enough.

"I'm only sorry I didn't figure it out sooner," she did admit.

"So…we're coming back to Torchwood then?" Diane asked. "Even though Jack and Ianto aren't running it any longer?"

"I've been talking to Simmons and Fitz," Owen admitted, "and they tell me that Torchwood's changed, but that we'd still be welcomed. She told me that Coulson is still a good bloke. And it's not like we wouldn't see either Harkness or Dragon Boy hanging around, either. I think we can do some good here, and honestly…I wanna see how this all turns out. HYDRA killed one of their kids. That can't stand, and I didn't even swear vengeance against 'em. Besides…HYDRA took the two of you away from me. I can't let that go."

They were all valid points, and things that Suzie had considered. Her own family had tried to do their best, but it would be nice to belong to one that truly understood what it meant to be a reincarnated soul with memories of a previous life that, in a lot of ways, seemed far more real than this existence did.

"My vote is," Diane said, "is that we do it. We come back to Torchwood, even though it is different and we'd never be field agents anymore. All three of us are trained scientists, and I liked the look of the labs they have here…from what I saw walking through. They're certainly a lot more high-tech than what we were working with back on Proxima."

She was right. Torchwood did seem to have better resources, but then Torchwood was a galactic superpower in its own right.

"And don't forget the people," Owen added. "Yeah, I act like an opinionated arse a lot of the time, but these people know that about me. They accept it. In the last several months I've been hanging out with FitzSimmons and the other techies, I've come to realise I've missed being understood. Maybe that makes me a shallow person…"

"No, it doesn't," Suzie said. One of the reasons the three of them got along so well was because they were familiar with each other's foibles and were willing to accept them. The people they'd worked with back on Proxima didn't, and probably still hadn't even noticed that they'd gone missing.

"But we all do this together," Diane said. "It's all, or none. And Chas…Suzie…I know it's putting all the pressure on you, but it really is up to you. Owen and I have been ready to come back for a while, now. And we're both going to go along with you on this. If you want to leave, we will."

Owen nodded in agreement.

Suzie couldn't have loved them more in that moment if she'd tried.

She couldn't, however, help but notice they'd all fallen back onto calling each other by their old names so easily. Which meant it wasn't so much pressure as they both believed.

"Alright," Suzie Costello said, for the first time in a very long time comfortable in her own skin, "let's do this."