Torchwood: Divergence
Book One: Dychwelyd
Chapter 24
Jack was in the lounge making small talk with Rhys as the man loaded the nappy bag for Ebrill's day at the office with him, and Gwen was in the kitchen drying and putting away the dishes as Ianto washed them. The young Welshman had been thrilled to learn that his old friend used decent whole bean coffee and owned a small grinder, and had happily prepared cheese omelettes, toast, and ham steaks lightly smeared with apricot preserves to go with the brew he'd produced. He'd had his jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled up, and his host's full front apron on pretty much since he and his partner had arrived, managing to look stylish and domestic at the same time.
"What were you and Jack up to this morning so early?" Cooper asked as they finished the clean-up, having noticed a strange set of steadily fading bruises on the twenty-six-year-old's left forearm. "He said you'd already been out on an alert."
"Zombie Raptors," Ianto explained simply, removing the apron and smoothing his sleeves back down into place before pulling his cufflinks from the watch pocket of his waistcoat.
"You're joking," the raven-haired woman beside him laughed, then gaped slightly when he briefly met her gaze and slightly raised one eyebrow. "You're not."
"Nope," Jones stated evenly, shaking both wrists to settle the metal secured cuffs, then straightening his black and grey striped tie. "Three of them in one of those crumbling caves down this side of the bay. They looked like gory, skinned dinosaurs, and were smart enough to understand what we said, but not wise enough to refrain from trying to eat us."
He held up his bruised arm to illustrate the point, then fielded his jacket and slipped it on.
"I'm surprised it didn't take your arm off," Gwen grimaced, secretly glad she'd missed the morning adventure. "In fact, why didn't it?"
"Changeling trick," her friend mock whispered, briefly duplicating the gauntlet he'd manifested earlier. "I just made the sword blade wrap up around my hand and arm instead of remaining in its normal state. I'm not sure it's meant to do that, but it was the first thing that came to mind. It did give a bit when the one tried to take a bite, so I got bruised pretty badly, but didn't lose the arm, break any bones, or ruin my suit... so it worked out all right in the end."
"That does look sharp, by the way," Cooper remarked, reaching out to smooth the dark slate grey fabric over the top of the young brunette's shoulders and straighten one lapel. "Your tailor's a real artist. How does Jack find it?"
"Distracting," Ianto smirked, looking past the woman as his partner entered the room.
"I was sure I heard the sound of someone touching my Hero Support without permission," Harkness frowned, then chuckled when Gwen snatched her hands behind her back like a guilty toddler. "Thanks for letting us invade this morning. You've got quite the nice little place here, the real home you always wanted."
"Lot more fuss than the flat and Penarth's farther from work," the raven-haired woman smiled. "But yeah... it's our own little piece of the dream. This was the place we were supposed to look at the day I went to find Clement MacDonald when..."
She broke off, realising what she was about to say.
"When the 456 situation started," Ianto finished evenly, though he'd gone slightly pale. "I remember you talking about Rhys having to do the walk-through alone, when you called the Hub on your way in wanting a route around a traffic jam. You were sort of rushed and scattered, probably because you wanted to get back to find out if you were really pregnant. I'm glad you were actually able to get the house after everything was over."
"Ianto..." Gwen began contritely, only to be interrupted by a loud mechanical beeping from both of the nearby brunettes.
"Rift alert," Jack warned, silencing the alarm on his wrist strap even as his lover pulled out his PDA and accessed the Hub remotely.
"Serious spike," Ianto informed his companions. "Heavy chronon signature not related to the Rift's energies, no life forms detected, possible alien tech, weaponry, or other artefact... shit..."
"What?" the other two Torchwood operatives demanded in unison.
"It's located about twenty metres into the vacant lot at the back of St. Mary's," the young Welshman explained with a grimace. "Right in the middle of Weevil territory. So take the expletive any way you want."
"Okay..." Harkness began, obviously formulating a plan on the fly. "We hit the Hub first for as much spray as we can carry. Ianto, see if Turlough's made it in yet, if not call his mobile and tell him to meet us at the Millennium Centre or St. Mary's, whichever he's closer to. Let him know we're dealing with possible Time technology and see if he needs any special gear before we make it to base. Gwen, give Rhys and the baby goodbye kisses. Time to go to work."
Within minutes the three alien hunters were in the SUV and speeding back across Cardiff toward the Hub to grab supplies and pick up the other member of their strike team. Cooper phoned Martha and Lois as they drove, wanting the two at the base for possible back up and damage control if one of them ended up Weevil chewed. With the whole of Torchwood mobilized, they prepared to face what promised to be another very busy day.
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AN: At least they got breakfast before the Rift sounded off again.
Double posting… one today, one tomorrow.
Happy Holidays, one and all.
Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM
