We're on the last stretch now ..

Chapter 27: Breakfast for Two

Jack 2 was rested after a few hours and rose around 6am. He showered and dressed quietly, not wanting to disturb Toshiko, and then went into the kitchen. He pottered around examining the various devices: his wife, Angela, would love a kitchen like this – not that she would have known how to use half of the items or what purpose they served. He made himself some coffee and settled at the dining table with a magazine, flicking through the pages and marvelling at the number of consumer goods advertised. He was reading, with vast amusement, an article on global warming – what a surprise those scientists would get soon! – when Toshiko padded into the room

"Morning," she mumbled around a yawn. "Sleep well?"

Jack 2 smiled at her. "Yes, thanks. You look like you could do with a few more hours." He took in her rumpled hair, puffy eyes and glazed look.

"I'm okay. I drank rather more than I should last night, that's all." She joined him at the table. "I'll be fine when I've showered."

"Would you like some coffee?" He rose when she nodded and reached for a mug and the cafetiere which was still half-full. He passed the full mug to her. "Would you like any breakfast? I'm handy with eggs." He smiled suggestively.

Toshiko laughed. "No, thanks. I'll have my usual muesli and yogurt. But make some for yourself if you like." She made to rise but he stopped her.

"Sit down. I'll get it for you."

He proceeded to make her breakfast, adding a glass of juice. When she was happily tucking into her muesli, he whipped up some scrambled eggs for himself to which he added toast and the last two rashers of bacon. Toshiko left him when he was only half finished and had a shower, dressed and put on her make up. When she returned, he was drying up the crockery and putting it all away.

"You're a perfect guest," she said, smiling.

"Thank you. I aim to please." He hung up the damp tea towel to dry. He hesitated, then asked, "Tosh, this may sound a strange question, but I wondered if we ever ... well, if we ever got together?"

"Had sex you mean?" Toshiko was surprised at the question.

"Yeah. You're a beautiful woman and I can't see why your Jack is so hung up on that guy Ianto. He's great to look at, and he makes good coffee, but to me you're far more interesting." He leant back against the kitchen units and looked at her steadily.

She laughed, embarrassed by the compliment. "We haven't slept together," she said. "My relationship with Jack – my Jack – was never romantic. I just never saw him in that way and he never indicated he saw me like that either."

"Oh, pity. I suppose I change over the next 70 years," he sighed. "Do you have anyone?"

"No," she said regretfully. Then decided to volunteer, "I have a bit of a thing for Owen, and maybe we might get together sometime. Don't tell him though, might put him off."

Jack 2 smiled, "Hope it works out. He seems a nice enough guy."

"As we're trading confidences," she asked after a moment or two, "Jack never told us he'd been married. What's Angela like? Do you have a family?"

Jack 2 laughed, "I kinda got the impression that Jack's pretty secretive. What a future to look forward to!" He sighed and continued, "Angela is lovely. Oh, I'll show you." He pulled out his wallet and passed a photograph to Toshiko. "We don't have children and from what I learned yesterday, we won't have any."

Toshiko was studying the black and white photograph which showed Jack and a tall blonde woman smiling at the camera. She was beautiful in a classic, English rose style and they looked very happy together. She looked up at Jack 2, "What did they tell you?"

"Apparently Angela dies in three years, that's 1937." He looked away. "I really hoped I'd found someone to stay with me for longer than that but it's not to be."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." Toshiko was truly sorry she had asked the question; she did not want to upset him. She handed him back the photograph.

"You weren't to know. I obviously never told you. I'd like to believe it was because she meant a lot but maybe it was because she didn't." For the first time he sounded bitter, as Jack did when talking of his past.

Toshiko was not sure what to say, or if anything she said would make a difference. She opted for saying nothing.