Here's the fourth chapter already. Wow, you are getting spoiled this week. ;-) Anyway, I had some free time, so I decided to post. Enjoy this one.
Warning: There is a bit of a scene at the end, which implies sexual situations. I will change the rating to "M" if anyone thinks this is necessary. There is no graphic detail. However, I want to be as safe as possible when rating this. Thanks!
I also have a fun little guessing game I'd like you all to think about. All of the chapter titles in the story (including this one) have been lyrics from certain songs, or the title of the song itself. Hugs from the Doctor and Jack if you can name the songs. Watch out for chapter 3, though, it's a bit difficult.
Chapter 4: I'm With You
It was gone, completely gone, without a trace. The only thing in front of her now was the rough expanse of Welsh farmland. Alix didn't want to stay there any more, staring desperately at the space where the TARDIS had occupied. Jack rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
"It's all right. I half expected it to happen, anyway." She scoffed, "He can never stay in one place, can he?"
"Well, there's no use waiting around." Jack turned Alix to face him, "He's not going to come back." She gave him a solemn nod, following him back to the SUV.
"You wanna grab some lunch? I know a quaint little café back in that village we just passed."
Alix gave him a grateful smile,
"I would love that."
As Jack drove away from the site, Alix glanced back at the empty lot, wondering for the first time, if Jack was right – they weren't coming back.
Jack was trying everything in his power to keep Alix calm and grounded. He made sure they took a seat by the window, sunlight pouring generously through the glass. He suggested she have one of their world famous milkshakes or even a sundae. He wouldn't miss the opportunity to suggest comfort food, especially in this situation.
Even though Jack was disappointed that he had not been able to give Alix what she wanted, he was secretly overjoyed at the fact that she was staying. All he would have to do now is offer her a job at Torchwood, and, hopefully, she wouldn't hesitate to accept.
"You okay?" Alix's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, but shouldn't I be asking you that question?" Alix had nothing to say to this. Instead, she thumbed through the café's menu, feigning interest. "C'mon. You have to say something about it sometime." Alix glared at him over her menu,
"Why can't we just have a nice lunch and talk about it later? You ever have the chicken salad? That looks good. Oh, or what about chips? I could always go for…"
"Stop it," Jack's voice was low, and his eyes sought out Alix's. She allowed him to lower the menu from her hands, grasping them warmly.
"I took you here so we could talk about this calmly without an audience. You don't want to go back to the Hub to do this, do you?"
"No, Alix answered, weakly.
"Didn't think so. I'm sorry, but there's really not much choice. You're going to have to stay with me. Somewhere along the way, I'm sure I've made a promise to you that I would take care of you," he reached up to stroke her cheek, "and I will."
Alix shook her head, vehemently,
"No, I can't ask you – I can't expect you to do that. I can't make you become someone you're not. I'm sorry." Alix could feel tears gathering in her eyes, and she imagined what kind of scene they were making in this small restaurant.
"You don't need to be sorry." Jack wiped her tears away with his thumb. "We could use another member of the team, anyway."
"I'll have to change my identity, fake a profession, assume a life I've never had."
"You're talking about Torchwood here. You don't think we have ways to get around these things?" Jack gave her a hint of a cocky smile.
"Point taken." Jack chuckled, good naturedly,
"I can see why I like you so much." Clearly, this statement had surprised Alix.
"I was under the impression that I was somewhat of a nuisance to you."
"Well, a minor annoyance at the very least." Alix gave Jack a small smile.
"Wow, that's a first," Jack marveled.
"What?" Alix took a quick sip of her glass of water.
"You smiled. I don't think you've smiled once since you got here."
"Not much to smile about." Jack just shrugged,
"I think being with me is reason enough." He gave her a mischievous wink.
"You would think that."
"In all seriousness, Alix," he took her hands, gripping them tightly, "I'm going to take good care of you. I promise."
"I know you will, Jack. I know." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, planning to diffuse the situation with a bit of humor,
"Now, have I ever told you the story about the time I was on Abraxas 9…"
Ianto looked up from the computer screen at his place in the front end of the "Travel Agency" as the door swung open.
"Can I…oh," he trailed off, catching sight of Alix and Jack stumbling tiredly through the door.
"Ianto!" Jack boomed, "Still minding the store?" He gave Ianto a playful wink.
"Always, sir."
"Ianto." Alix gave him a little wave.
"Miss Edwards."
"Please, Ianto," Alix smiled, "just Alix."
"Ianto, anybody still here?"
"No, we're all alone. Everyone's gone home for the night." Jack didn't miss the implication in his voice. He would deal with Ianto a bit later.
"The extra room ready?"
"Always, sir."
"Great," he smiled at Alix, leading her towards the door that would take them below the earth and into the center of the Hub.
"Bye, Ianto, great to see you again," Alix called back before disappearing around the corner of the hallway.
"Where are you taking me Jack?" Alix asked as they plunged further and further down in the elevator.
"Did I ever tell you I slept here, didn't have a place of my own really?"
"You alluded to it once or twice."
"Well, I have a spare room next to the one I sleep in. You can stay in there for the time being."
"Oh, well, thanks. I really hadn't thought beyond…"
"I know, I know, but that's why you have me." He gave her one of his trademark smiles. "You be totally lost without me."
"Yeah, of course," Alix shot back, sarcastically, while try to weave around the various stack of machinery and file cabinets that littered the high-ceilinged room.
Jack led her towards his office, the only part of the place she was even vaguely familiar with. She saw her dress draped over his couch, water stains and dirt coating the bottom.
"Ugh." Alix stopped, grabbing up the dress to take it with her, "I'll never get that out. I really, really cannot wear nice things like this."
"Why?" Jack asked, genuinely puzzled. "You looked gorgeous in it."
"You said that the last time I complained about formal wear. We ran for our lives after dancing the Tango. I ripped the bottom of my dress, but you didn't want me to take it off. You said it look wonderful on me." Alix seemed to be lost in her memories now, her voice low and monotonous.
"Alix," Jack called her name, softly, guiding her away from the couch.
"I know, I know."
"And don't worry about the dress. I'll have Ianto take it to the dry cleaners."
"What's with you and that guy anyway?"
"What do you mean?" Jack feigned a laugh.
"You know what I mean. I saw the way he looked at you, and…"
"Come on, you." Jack cut her off, suddenly, pulling her along. Alix could only laugh loudly, trying desperately to catch up.
Alix sat up, gasping for breath in the dark. She glanced at the digital readout of the clock on the bedside table. It was 2:36 in the morning. She paused, listening for any clue of what had woken her up. There it was, a faint groaning from the next room.
Alix slipped from beneath the heavy, down comforter. The room was fairly small, so she was able to make it to the door to Jack's room quickly, all the way pulling Jack's oversized T-shirt down around her thighs.
There was a loud moaning now, and a series of breathy sighs coming through the walls. She wondered, briefly, if Jack was having a violent nightmare. This thought prompted her to burst into his room.
"Jack!" she hissed. The only answer she received was a loud groaning from the mass of bed sheets lumped in the middle of the mattress. "Jack are you – oh my god!" Alix couldn't help but scream. The two figures on the bed stopped their rhythmic movements. Ianto peaked his head out from under the sheet.
"Alix!"
"Ianto! I'm – I'm…"
"Save it, princess," Jack spoke up, tossing the sheet off of their naked bodies.
"Sorry I interrupted." Alix wasn't sure whether she should be shocked or amused. "Oh god."
"Care to join us, princess?" Jack flashed her a cheeky smile.
"Uh – no, thanks. I – uh – I only came in because I thought something was wrong and…"
"Alix, I apologize, it was my…"
"No, Ianto, I should have knocked – or something. Oh god," she giggled a bit, clearly in shock. "I should just leave you to it. Uh – sorry for the interruption." Feeling the most awkward she'd ever felt in her life, Alix practically sprinted for the door.
"Good night, then," she called, not bothering to look back.
Alix climbed under the bed sheets again, putting a pillow over her head to muffle the groaning that had started up almost the moment her head had hit the pillows.
"Welcome to Torchwood," she told herself, sarcastically. She had no doubt that her stint here was going to be extremely interesting.