"We don't have a choice," Gwen argued with Jack about their situation. "How many people have to die before you realize that?"
Gwen's been arguing with Jack for the past hour since the team arrived back at the HQ after spending much of the night chasing after Vena across Montreal.
She hadn't killed anyone last night, but from Ripley's description, it sounded like Vena further mutated.
Vena's teeth replaced with razor sharp jagged teeth, her clawed hands, it sounded like the mutations gradual, but slowly, she's becoming almost like the originator.
Alas, the originator looked almost human while Vena's regressing into a feral ghoul more than something from a novel.
She didn't go down from the six rounds Ianto put into her, which should've done so nights ago, sounded like her skin's thickening.
"What do you want me to do, tell him his girlfriend's responsible for killing those people and almost another?" Jack argued back.
He only meant well, Lee's under stress as it is, the last thing he wanted was Lee to become further stressed about Vena's transformation into a feral vampire.
"He's going to find out one way or another. I don't have to tell you how badly he'll take it when his own captain intentionally kept him in the dark!" Gwen fired back.
Jack exhaled sharply as he sat down at his ruby desk and held hands under his chiseled chin.
Gwen came over to him and said, "You don't know what she's capable of, Jack. There's nothing we can do for her now, other than give her a final death."
Pulling her brunette hair behind her ear, Gwen watched as a look came over Jack and he shook his head, beside himself.
"Get Lee back here," Jack exhaled sharply.
Nodding, Gwen turned and left the office while Jack silently contemplated in his chair.
Gwen past Ianto on his way to check up on Ripley as Ewen tended to her wrist.
She's lucky, Vena's claw didn't sever the vein or tore it, a nick.
Matt stood by Ripley's side, holding her other hand to prevent her from accidentally lashing out against Ewen for the sudden prodding he did on her wrist.
"I'll prescribe some antibiotics and the painkillers, count your blessings, it could've been worse. In a couple of days you'll have to remove the gauze and let the stitches breath. If your body doesn't naturally dissolve the stitches, you'll have to remove them yourself," Ewen gave a quick rundown on procedures regarding Ripley's wound.
He advised Ripley take it easy for a few weeks until the wound heals and go to the nearest doctor if anything happens that causes the wound to reopen and then some.
"Thanks," Matt thanked Ewen for helping Ripley.
Ewen shrugged his wide shoulders before saying, "I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker. You ought be thankful it didn't sever the vein!"
Ianto poked his head in the doctor's office and asked how everything was and Ewen told him the good news.
He's happy to hear that Ripley only has a cut, her vein didn't sever or tear, she couldn't do much for a couple of weeks while it heals, but at least she's still with them.
"I'd figure she'd go after you," Ewen commented on Ianto having only suffered bruises.
Ianto shrugged as he pointed out that Vena knew him and probably just went after Ripley because she wasn't carrying a firearm like Ianto was.
Not to mention, Torchwood couldn't just give a firearm to civilians, even if they're the Doctor, that's against protocols!
"What I don't get is, why she went after you?" Matt wondered why Vena hunted Ripley.
She went to Matt first, but now, she went after Ripley and ignored Ianto.
If her knee wasn't fixed, he'd understand.
"Could be your blood,'" Ewen suggested the possibility that Ripley's blood type roused Vena.
Matt asked what he meant and Ewen informed him that Ripley's AB negative.
It never came up in Ripley's life much, about her blood, she only knew she had the blood type from doing one of those stupid science tests where she had to draw her own blood and use it.
Hurt like hell!
"Blood banks would give you a fortune for your plasma!" Ewen commented on her blood.
Ripley flatly declined on any donation of plasma.
As mentioned, prior, Ripley didn't like doctors much.
Especially, the nurses who didn't know where the vein was when they're giving shots. The only reason she tolerated them, at best, because Matt made her regularly go to the doctors for checkups.
She didn't want to, but Matt made a point that on the account of them being together, it's for her own good as much as his.
Matt had to bribe her to get through the first checkup.
Ripley couldn't stand sitting on that cold slab and the nurse asking uncomfortable questions regarding her personal life.
She answered truthfully, of course, but even then she didn't like staying in the examination room with the same doctor and nurse she visited a couple of times.
The nurse tried to strike up conversation, but Ripley's weary about talking to her about anything much.
If not for Matt's cute face, Ripley would never put up with the checkups.
Eventually, she's able to do them without the need for Matt to bribe her, but she's still wearied all the same.
… Ripley just remembered that Matt scheduled an appointment for her on November 1st so she wouldn't have to worry about it affecting Thanksgiving.
Of course, that's made complicated with the fact that Vena cut her wrist and unless she spends time in the TARDIS, it's not going to heal in time before the appointment.
The last thing Ripley wanted to hear's the nurse asking about the cut and having to come up with a reason.
Perhaps after this, Matt can reschedule her appointment so she has time to heal and avoid the unpleasant details.
As for why Matt scheduled appointments and not Ripley, well, Ripley conveniently forgotten numerous times to schedule the appointments.
Her attempts to avoid the doctor failed because Matt knew her so long that she couldn't pull one over him and he had to take over.
He schedules the appointments and makes sure she goes to them on time.
It's odd to say aloud, but Ripley would've taken dealing with Sputnik and his friends all over again rather than deal with needles.
Alas, Matt said it best, it's for her own good and so far, she's healthy.
Healthy in the sense she's alive, but Ripley digresses.
The silver lining to this, Ripley only has to deal with the appointment and spend December without worrying about any checkups until January. A compromise between her and Matt.
Exceptions, of course, in case something happens, otherwise, she can spend December without fearing the dreaded needle.
"Anyway, you're out of commission," Ewen gave his final verdict as he helped put a sling around Ripley's arm.
Until further notice, Ripley's unable to partake in this mission. She'll have to remain at the HQ until the hostile entity, Vena, ceases.
"I'll be sure to have an area for you," Ianto offered.
Thanking him, Matt saw Ianto off as he left to make space for Ripley.
Looking back, Matt saw an uncomfortable look on Ripley's face and rubbed her back as he told her that he'll help handle this and for her to relax.
Ripley would've argued against the verdict, but Matt would've ensured she couldn't leave the HQ until Vena's dealt with.
Even if he couldn't cuff her, he'll keep her here someway, and only for her own good.
"One little cut," Ripley sighed.
Ewen motioned with his gloved hand that he'd rather her not risk tearing her stitches or worse.
He commented she's lucky that Vena didn't nick the other wrist or else Ripley might've needed hospitalization.
Sighing, Ripley watched as Ewen left to disinfect the surgical instruments.
Since she couldn't go back to the TARDIS, the best she can do is watch the situation from afar.
While they're alone, Matt hugged Ripley tightly.
It's sappy, but Matt couldn't help himself.
"Matt, I'm not dead," Ripley mustered as she felt his chest against hers.
As he pulled away, Matt poked her and ordered her to remain in the HQ.
No ifs, ands, or buts.
"I mean it," Matt wagged his finger at her.
Knowing her, he didn't want her to have any ideas and especially with a cut wrist.
Ripley sighed as she mustered that Ewen wasn't going to let her go anyway.
He'd make sure of that.
By installing a giant Stephen as a guard.
"Just a reminder that this is a two-way street. Don't get hurt, either," Ripley brought up.
If he's worried about her wrist, she'll worry thrice over any nicks he gets dealing with Vena.
"When we get back, I'll reschedule the appointment tomorrow, how's the 16th?" Matt sighed as he held an arm around Ripley.
Ripley frowned as she agreed.
"I don't know how you can handle going to the doctors," Ripley mused that Matt took it in stride when he went to his appointments.
Matt smiled as he admitted that he didn't like telling them about his personal life either, but it's to help him and the doctors.
After going to his appointments so many times, he learned to deal with the needles.
Not to mention, he's the Doctor and dealt with things trying to stab him mercilessly. A needle in the arm paled in comparison to stingers.
"Just take it easy for me, okay?" Matt asked Ripley.
Sighing, Ripley promised she wouldn't do anything she shouldn't. She couldn't promise she wouldn't worry about Matt, but that's a given.
"Oh, by the way, since we don't know much about Vena's transformation, you're under quarantine as well," Ewen popped up after washing off his surgical instruments.
Ripley's caught off-guard as Ewen told her she's the only surviving victim of Vena, as far as the textbooks state, so for now, she's heavily monitored while she's staying in the HQ.
"I mean, she didn't bleed on me," Ripley frowned.
They tussled, sure, but Ripley couldn't get her knife to jab Vena and she didn't see any blood on Vena's claws.
Ewen noted that it's possible Ripley didn't have anything to worry about, but for now, she's remaining in the HQ for observation.
"I'm to ask you some questions," Ewen tells Ripley that he needed to ask questions regarding any changes she might've felt since the attack.
He'll ask them again later in case of any changes, but needed references from her now.
Going through the questions, Ripley shrugged as she said she felt fine, she didn't have an insatiable urge to bite people's necks.
She caught a look on Matt's face and pointed a finger at him.
"No comment from the peanut gallery!" Ripley hissed at him.
Matt chewed on the bottom of his lip as he tried holding back his laughter.
Shooting a look at him, Ripley's attention shifted to Ewen who told her that she'll have to wait twenty-four hours before they know for certain that she's cleared.
"Twenty-four hours?" Ripley's dismayed.
Ewen nods and tells her that they needed to know for sure.
"It's for your own good," Matt reminded Ripley.
Frowning, Ripley sighed, "Yeah, yeah, you sound just like her."
Jodie always got on her case about her health. Always made her go to the doctors for her jabs. Always made her take those nasty cough medicines every time she was sick.
Even beyond the grave, Ripley can still hear Jodie telling her to take her medicine.
Standing up, Matt helped her walk out of the examination room and Ianto waited for them.
He led them to a sequestered area where Ripley can stay for the duration of the quarantine and the mission. She's able to get food and drinks, lounge, overall, she can relax for a little while.
"Thanks," Ripley thanked Ianto for helping her out.
Ianto waved his hand and said that she didn't need to thank him. He should be the one to apologize for allowing it to happen in the first place.
"Hey, I'm not dead and you got her off me, so, I'd say we're even," Ripley looked for the little things.
Taking a seat on the loveseat, Ripley relaxed as much as she could, while Matt told her that he'll talk to Jack.
"Stay safe," Ripley looked worried.
Smiling, Matt reached over and gave her a hug, before planting a long kiss on her lips.
"Don't worry," Matt lightly touched her nose as he pulled back.
Bidding her farewell, Matt left Ripley to speak with Jack.
