Chapter twelve

The start of the end

Owen sat in the lounge, a coffee mug in his hands. Last night he listened to everything Natalie had to say, and it scared him to take all the information in. For the first time he was thinking of something other than himself, and he didn't know how he was going to start to fix the broken girlfriend he loved. He just knew he couldn't sit idly by as she suffered.

He kept looking out as the sky changed from dull grey to orange as the sun was rising in the sky, he drank some of the coffee seeing Natalie walking into the lounge. "Why are you awake?" She was wearing one of his old shirts, rubbing her face.

Owen turned to look at her, "Couldn't sleep," He felt his eyes going from her exposed legs up her body to see her expression, her hair was a mess of waves and tangles.

Natalie could see Owen in a pair of tracksuit bottoms, his shirtless body showing scars that Torchwood had given him over the years, and she sighed. "I guess I gave you a lot to think about..." Her hands playing with each other, her eyes not quite meeting Owen's.

"I never thought of what was going on in your head," He placed the coffee mug on the table. "But yea it's a lot to take in." He watched her taking a step back. "I want to help." He took a step towards her.

Natalie bit the inside of her cheek, her hands playing on the shirt she wore, she didn't know what to say, but the sinking was hard to ignore. "Swings and roundabouts," Her voice was sweet, but Owen couldn't quiet catch her attention. "I wanted to be honest with you, because you deserve that much." Her hands moved to hug onto herself, she didn't know what was going on, but her whole body was going numb. "Now a part of me is regretting it."

For a moment Owen couldn't believe what he was hearing, he rushed from his side of the room to pull her in his arms. He didn't want her to think he was now pulling away, but he wanted her even more. Kissing her, his fingers went into the mess of her hair, feeling her hands run up his back holding herself onto him tightly.

Natalie could feel her breath caught in her chest, her heart racing so fast she thought it was going to burst. Her fingernails working into Owen's hair lightly pulling it, she felt him gasp in her mouth.

Grabbing hold of her, Owen moved his kiss to Natalie's throat, he bit carefully trying not to leave marks, but enough for her to feel his teeth on her skin. He knew the right buttons to press, his hands working from her waist to her hips, digging his fingertips under the bottom of the shirt she was wearing.

She knew where this was heading, Natalie pulled back to catch his eyes, pupils dilated in excitement, it was if his whole eye had gone black, but he didn't shy away from her expression. In her mind Natalie always knew what was going to happen, and she knew it was real. "I..." She started to speak.

Owen stopped for a moment, his hand between her thighs.

"Don't stop!" Natalie didn't mean to snap, but both of them were staring at each other at this point.

"Sorry," He carried on, his fingers working to her core, and he loved seeing the look of pleasure on her face, he brought her closer to him, knowing how quick it took for her knees to get weak.

Natalie felt it building, Owen was really good with his hands, but she couldn't stop the gasps and sighs, her body tensing with the feeling, she knew it was coming, but she wanted to savour the emotions she was feeling in that moment.


Jack glanced to Natalie's screen, she was going over translations. His eyes drifted over her neck, her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, the side of her neck were red marks. "Owen and you gotten pretty close..." He whispered into her ear making her jump.

"Fuck Jack," Natalie turned to face him, "Yes, we have." She was giving him a puzzled expression. "It's not a problem?"

"No," Jack laughed, "I'll have to remind him to be more careful..." Jack placed a hand to her shoulder, he could tell she wasn't sure what he was talking about. "Your neck." He pointed out.

Natalie's hand went up to her neck, then her cheeks went pink. "Oh god..." Her eyes going over Jack face. "Also, Owen and Tosh have just told me they found a DB on the weevil hunt." She could see his interest off her sex life. "They are on the way back with the body." She added getting to her feet taking her coffee mug to the kitchen.

Jack followed Natalie seeing her going to the coffee machine, "You finally opened up to him." He stood in the door frame watching her make herself a coffee.

"Yea..." Natalie held her mug close to her chest, "I shouldn't of let it out in one big crazy burst." She stepped forward, but she knew Jack was beside her as she sat back down at her desk.

Jack laughed, "Little bits at a time," Jack glanced to her computer, "Guess UNIT has reached out." He pointed the incoming email.

Natalie nodded, "Sending a Martha Jones to investigate the DB that Owen and Tosh found." Her head turned seeing it was just Gwen entering. "I better," She quickly got to her feet heading to the bathroom with her make up bag, she didn't want people to judge her.


Natalie stood on the stairs, she could see Owen with Gwen. The body on the table, and Natalie couldn't see anything wrong with it, "So..."

Jack stood beside her, "Documents on the body identify the victim as Meredith Roberts." He walked towards Owen and Gwen now, he could see Owen studying over the body.

He felt like he was going to like this puzzle, "No obvious signs of violence." He kept close to the body, with a quick glance up to Natalie watching him, he gave her a quick wink.

Gwen stood close, she sighed, "Are we saying it wasn't the Weevil?"

"Give me a chance, Miss Cooper. I've only just started." He smirked trying to remember that he was trying to be better. "Would you care to help?" His attention to Natalie now.

"Jack, your VIP visitor is here." Ianto's voice could be heard all around, and everyone seemed to stop what they were doing.

Gwen stopped turning to Jack, "I didn't know we were having a visitor..." She watched as Jack rushed up the stairs and out of the medical bay.

"Suddenly, in an underground mortuary, on a wet night in Cardiff, I hear the song of a nightingale." Jack spoke poetically, "Miss Martha Jones."

Martha stepped into view, she never been inside before. "Oh, it's good to see you, Jack." She smiled looking down to the people all staring up at her.

Jack smiled back up to her, "Toshiko, Owen, Gwen, Ianto, and Natalie. Meet Martha." He felt good about today now.

Natalie felt herself drifting, she could see Martha was coming down to the medical bay as she slipped away, something about the woman made her feel nervous, so she rushed back to her computer to focus on her work that she'd been slipping behind on.

The conversation seemed focused on the body, and while Natalie would feel her attention drift, she came back to the her work seeing that Martha had walked off to have a conversation alone with Jack.

Ianto was slow to walk to Natalie's desk, "You okay?" He asked sitting beside her, for some reason he could tell something was off.

"Good," Her eyes turned to him, for a split second she couldn't bring herself to smile. "Works a lot," She finally smiled. "I mean, Martha Jones..." She got to her feet picking up her coffee mug.

Ianto took it from her, "Let me."

"Ianto," Natalie watched him walking away with her coffee mug, so she found herself going towards the group, she could see Owen holding the damn device again. "I'm gonna go..."

"Don't you dare!" Owen caught Natalie's attention, "I've improved it." He smiled to Natalie now. "I'm showing Martha."

Martha finally got a better look at Natalie, "Hi, I guess we've not spoken..." Her voice was kind, but her eyes were staring at Natalie like she was trying to figure something out.

Taking a few steps behind Owen, Natalie was stood with Martha now, "Last time he used that I nearly lost an arm," Natalie whispered to Martha.

"I can hear you Nat!" Owen turned to see his girlfriend standing next to Martha, and part of him was trying to be impressive. "Yes. Right. Now, all we're going to do is, we're going to vaporise this paper without even scorching the cup." Owen puts a screwed up piece of paper into a takeaway coffee cup.

"This is going to end in tears." Jack tried to keep away from the cup, even if he couldn't stay dead, he didn't want to get hurt.

Owen rolled his eyes, "Okay." using the 'live view' screen on the device to focus through the cup to the paper and fires.

Ianto was joining the group, unaware of what Owen was doing holding a tray of drinks. Something behind Ianto explodes, "Argh!" the tray went into the air, and everything feel to the ground. He held the tray now glaring at Owen.

Placing the singularity scalpel down on the table. "Er, I haven't quite got the calibration right yet." He glanced to Natalie with her eyebrows raised.

"Jack. There's been another attack. Assault with a hypodermic. Only this time, the victim survived. Woman aged twenty seven. She's in the hospital. Medical records wiped, just like the others." He placed the tray down walking away.

"You know, at least you didn't blow Jack up this time..." Natalie glanced to see Martha still watching her.

"I've got some minutes to kill before heading off," Martha was alone with Natalie, she couldn't help but feel fascinated by her. "Jack has told me all about you."

Feeling taken back Natalie kept still, she didn't know Martha, and her guard was up. "Did he..." He eyes shifted to see if anyone was going to be coming back, but they were all busy. "What did he say?"

"Don't worry, I'm just curious," Martha smiled, and she didn't know what to think of Natalie. "Time Lady," She said as more to herself. "Do you mind?" Her hand going towards Natalie's locket.

Not having much of a choice at this point Natalie watched Martha, the other woman was holding the locket in her hand studying it. "The Doctor and Master had fob watches," Her voice was in wonder, "I guess a woman would have a more feminine item to store her essence in."

"I guess so," Natalie's voice dropped, her hand taking the locket from Martha, "Guess Jack isn't the only benefit of coming here..." Natalie started to walk towards the kitchen, but turned seeing Martha was following her.

Martha didn't know why, but she could feel like Natalie was uncomfortable, "I don't mean to intrude."

"Then don't." Natalie stepped closer to her, "I'm not The Doctor, and I don't know your Doctor." She folded her arms across her chest. "I can't help you."

"But I can help you." Martha had to change the dialogue, "I was with The Doctor when he was John Smith." With a quick smile to try and make Natalie less confrontational.

For a heartbeat Natalie was still, she felt her hand going to her throat, she held it there a few seconds before putting her attention back on the conversation. "And what was he like?" stepping closer to Martha, "Did he want to open the biodata module?"

"No," Martha was honest with Natalie. "He fell in love." Her eyes averted away from Natalie. "But the Family of Blood would of destroyed the world." Martha felt bad. Looking towards the medical bay Martha felt herself smiling again. "Owen's smart, quite charming in his own way."

"He's amazing," Natalie let herself grin, "I..." Natalie stopped talking seeing Owen joining them.

Stopping behind Natalie, Owen wrapped his arms around her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder looking over to Martha, "Am I missing something?" His hands running over Natalie's stomach.

Martha laughed, "Just girl talk," She didn't know why she didn't see it. "While I am with Jack and Gwen, you can start getting ready for working out this puzzle."

"Yea..." Owen's face fell a little.

Natalie turned her face a little, but had to step out of Owen's arms to get a better look of his face. "Don't worry," Natalie touched his cheek, "I can give you a hand." She leant in kissing him.

Martha felt awkward watching Natalie kissing Owen, but glanced away trying to figure out what to do. When Owen finished the kiss walking away Martha felt Natalie watching her again. "Do they know?"

"Yes," Natalie bit her lip, "Why do you think I am still human..." She glanced back to the medical bay. "Jack and Gwen are waiting for you..." She pointed away from them.


Tosh walked to Natalie's computer, the fact while everything was going on, one of the thing including Martha heading to Pharm, it seemed that Natalie was more focused on doing old background translations. "Are you not curious?" She asked softly.

"I just have a bad feeling," Natalie was in the meeting, she knew that something called reset wasn't a miracle drug just yet. "Do you ever feel like." Natalie placed her hand on the locket. "I guess I'm being silly."

"Well Owen is watching Martha, it's going to be a long night..." Tosh walked away.

Natalie side glanced to Owen at the computer, she got up heading over to him. "Care if I join you?"

Owen tapped his hand on his lap, and Natalie sat down. He placed his hand on her thigh. "What brings you here?"

"Do I need a reason to spend time with you?" Natalie's hand brushed Owen's cheek, "Guess you've been really busy today." She rested her forehead to his, she closed her eyes feeling Owen holding her close to him.

Owen closed his eyes taking in the small moment, his hand brushed up her back, he lightly kissed her nose. "It's our life now..." He was whispering feeling her fingers playing with his shirt. "And we are working." He couldn't believe he was saying it out loud.

Natalie giggled, "Owen Harper, are you saying you're turning me down?" She joked feeling his hand squeezing her thigh, his other hand lightly on her neck.

"You are tempting..." he kissed her again, "But this is important." He pulled away watching her eyes. "One day..." He held her face close to his, "One day." He exhaled trying to think if they'd ever had a day to themselves, but it seemed with Torchwood it was hard to really have a day off with Natalie.

"I think when that day comes, I'll wear a dress." Her eyes going over to the monitor.

Breaking into a grin Owen couldn't help but laugh, "Oh I will happily buy that dress for you." He could see Jack was making his way over.

"I know I have a relax policy on interoffice relationships," He could see Martha was in a bedroom. "But save somethings for the bedroom." He winked to Natalie as she got off Owen's lap. "I'll go see if Ianto needs any help with..." She pointed away from the computer. "Ianto stuff."


"Stay behind Natalie..." She muttered in the hub, "Too risky for you to be at Pharm..." She was cleaning up the medical bay feeling annoyed, she wanted to help, but Jack didn't want to risk her being exposed.

She couldn't shake the bad feeling in her chest, but as her eyes went up to the sound of the cogs moving, something in her stomach felt hollow. Her eyes going up, and while she rushed from the medical bay to see Jack, her eyes searched them all. Ianto and Tosh, Gwen and Martha. "Where's Owen?" Natalie's voice dropped.

Martha stepped forward, she felt guilty, her eyes focused on Natalie. She went to open her mouth, but seeing Natalie shaking her head. "I'm sorry..."

"No!" Natalie pointed at her, "Shut up!"

Jack tried to touch Natalie, but she pushed him away, "I said no!" She pushed him hard. "Don't you dare!" She felt herself crying, the silent tears were rolling down her cheek.

The others were still in a state of shock, but no one wanted to have to do what Jack and Martha were trying to do, and it wasn't easy.

She didn't want to see their faces, and with that she rushed back to the medical bay, Natalie didn't want to face what was going to happen soon, she didn't want to know anything at this point.

He had to give her a few minutes, Jack asked the others to get Owen's body, he had to get Natalie out of the medical bay. "Natalie..." He placed a hand to her shoulder.

Not looking up Natalie kept still, "I..." She tried to look at him, but couldn't. "I..." Her voice was horse.

"Come on," Jack was careful to lift her from Owen's chair. Her hands held onto him, her head nuzzled into his shoulder as he walked passed the others to his office closing the door.

Jack placed her on a chair, "How did it happen?" She asked him, Natalie couldn't tell what she was feeling, but Jack was taking a drink from a draw, then placing a glass in front of her.

Jack sat down, he wasn't sure if he could have it sink in. "Copley was going to shot Martha, and Owen intervened." He poured a drink for her. "Owen was shot, and he died." He spoke blunt, but it was only to try and stop the pain of losing his friend.

Picking up the drink Natalie drank it carefully. "Trust Owen to die a hero..." She swallowed the pain, but her eyes couldn't bare to look up. "You could of took that bullet Jack." Her eyes finally snapping up, "And lived."

It was worse than a slap in the face, "It happened so fast Natalie, you have to understand..."

"I have to understand!" Natalie put the glass down with enough force to break it in her hand. "Owen is dead, and I." She winched at the pain in her hand.

Jack rushed to her side, he went to take Natalie's hand, but she pulled it back from him. Jack knew she was grieving, but her eyes wouldn't quite meet his. "Why did he have to be so stupid!" Natalie finally let Jack take her hand, he opened her palm to the cut.

"I'm sorry," Jack found himself cleaning up Natalie's hand, "If they're is anything I can do?" He felt worse, but he knew something was going to change, and for now he could only do small comforts for her.

Natalie shook her head, in the back of her mind she couldn't focus. The pain was making her feel hollow inside, and she didn't want to feel pain.