FALLEN ANGEL PART 5

ASHES ASHES, WE ALL FALL DOWN

"Well this is the weirdest DNA I've ever seen." Owen commented from his lab area. Jack was watching him from the door.

"How so?"

Owen straightened up and waved a pipet at his boss. "Are you sure they sent through the right samples? No way is this human."

Jack nodded. "Swanson's team said the same thing. Looks like it is a case for us then after all. Shit, I was hoping not. It means one of us is going to have interview a rape victim, a very distressed one."

"Send Cooper then, she's had training Jack, the last thing that victim will want is to be interviewed by a man..Which leads to me a question."

Jack wasn't liking the look on Owen's face. "Which is?"

"Do we know if she's pregnant? If she is we'll have to contain her."

"I'll find out. I mean the time I'll get Ianto to prepare a cell for her." He was about to turn away.

"Jack?"

"Yes Owen?"

"How's Ianto?"

Jack hesitated and offered Owen a frown. "Odd, you were right the other day. It's like he's watching us." Unconsciously he rubbed at a bruise on his arm. "He's more confident, in control and you know what I think he's stronger. I want you to give him another medical exam."

Owen nodded. "Have you spoken to him?"

"No, let's just say every time I try to I get waylaid, in the nicest possible way. Right I'll send Gwen over to the police station. Send Ianto to you in an hour?"

"Yep."

Jack found Ianto by the coffee machine just as he was putting out mugs for the rest of the team. The younger man appeared lost in his task but Jack knew that Ianto was aware of his presence by the slight shifting of his shoulders and the change in his breathing. It was subtle though, almost guarded.

"It's terrible, about that woman at the convent, Gwen was telling me about it earlier." Ianto commented as he worked.

Jack folded his arms across his chest. "Yeah about that. We may have to accommodate her for a spell, if she's pregnant that is. The DNA found on her wasn't human. Owen hasn't been able to identify the species at all." Did Ianto freeze then? Jack narrowed his eyes. "Ianto?"

The younger man faced him with a look of genuine distress. "Jack?" Look at me Jack ! Can't you see me now? He collected himself immediately sucking in a sharp breath. "So what? She was raped by an alien?"

Jack noted the sudden pallor in Ianto's face. "You ok?"

"Yes, sorry. It's just the thought...It's disgusting...that poor woman." Ianto went back to pouring the coffees. Jack was confused, he looked so much more like the Ianto he knew right now, vulnerable and reticent. His hand was shaking as he worked.

"She seems to think her attacker was human, was able to give a description, but it's vague. I'm sending Gwen out to collect and interview her here. Once we've confirmed whether or not she is pregnant, well she'll either have to stay or...well whatever it is that will happen to her. I suppose the church will take care of her."

Ianto hissed out a breath at that. "It's not done her much good so far has it." He responded rather bitterly. He handed Jack a cup of coffee.

Jack nodded, not sure what to say. "Yan, about yesterday. You asking me to move in with you..." He was hesitant, but the truth was he wanted to keep a closer eye on him.

"You've changed your mind?"

"No. I just want to be clear that what we do outside of Torchwood can't impact on things at work."

Ianto sipped at his coffee, the warmth of it seemed to spread to his eyes and his gaze softened considerably. He offered a slightly seductive up curve of his lips. "Jack, it hasn't so far has it?"

"No. I want you to have a follow up medical exam though. I know you hate them...."

"It's fine. I know, you're worried."

JACK! LOOK AT ME PLEASE!

"Yes I am. You seem out of sorts lately."

Ianto nodded. "Can't deny that. We're ok aren't we?" He touched Jack's cheek and Jack hitched a breath at the contact, but there was no lust or even a trace of desire in the touch. If anything Ianto appeared a little bored.

Jack grinned, though he really didn't feel like it. "We're fine." He briefly kissed Ianto's forehead, which felt too warm, sheened with sweat. "You're still a little hot you know."

"Only a little?" It was poor come on. "I'm sure Owen can fix it."

Jack!

Gwen had dealt with many victims during her time with the police force, but nothing had quite prepared for the sight of a beautiful woman, probably her own age wrapped up in a white habit. Her smooth face marred by the finger mark bruising across her cheeks and full mouth. Gwen was certain that there were many more bruises besides. What surprised Gwen was her apparent stoicism and calm as she sat opposite her in the interrogation cell. Jack and Ianto were watching through the two way glass above their heads.

Sister Elizabeth sat there, her hands firmly clasped, resting on the table. She was past wondering why she had been moved from the hospital to this strange place. Her body and soul hurt, but whatever pain she was in she knew that the man who had raped was in a far worse place than she was, something told her that the woman in front of her would understand that.

"Is there anything I can get for you Sister, tea, coffee? Our Ianto can make the best coffee you know." Gwen smiled gently wanting to reach out and touch her hands, offer some comfort.

She was shocked to see Elizabeth smile back. "No really."

"Ok, now please, just tell if at any time you need to take a break or if you want anything."

Elizabeth smiled again, taking in Gwen's deep dark eyes and doey smile.

"Can you talk about what happened?"

"It's really simple Mrs Williams. A demon, wearing the body of a young man, broke into the convent. He murdered Terese and then raped me with the soul purpose of getting me pregnant." She replied matter of fact. The slight tremor in her voice was the only giveaway to the fact that she was a victim.

Gwen did her best not to gape. "So you think he was possessed?"

"I know he was. I know the devil when I see him Mrs Williams."

"Tell me about the man then, what can you remember of him?"

A tear leaked from her left eye and trailed down her narrow face. Gwen couldn't help but notice how pretty she was.

"A young man, early twenties. Very strong, clean, well manicured. His face was shadowed I couldn't see him clearly at all."

Gwen wrote these things down. "Did he speak?"

"Welsh, a local Welsh accent. I'm good with languages, he spoke to me in Welsh."

"Not English?"

Elizabeth shook her head and wiped at the water on her faith. "Mrs Williams. I am not the one who needs help here. He does."

Gwen's head shot up to look into her eyes. "After what...."

"It's not the boy's fault. He was possessed. I know you understand such things are possible."

Gwen looked up to Jack for guidance, knowing he was there behind the glass, his response came over her ear piece. She nodded facing Elizabeth again.

"How do you know?"

"Torchwood, the Vatican keeps it's eye on you. Demons tend to collect around...well things that are out of the norm. You deal with things, protect people. The Holy Father knows of your work and so do I."

Gwen nodded. "I see. Well if you want us to help this man, we need to identify him fist, so anything you can remember?" She asked kindly.

Elizabeth lowered her head. "I'm sorry. Truly I wish there was." She wrung her hands finally losing her composure as sobs escaped her.

Gwen sat there for a moment.

"I'm sorry love. Look why don't we get you a cup of tea, then we'll get our doctor to check you over."

Jack turned away from the observation window and watched as Ianto stood there continuing to stare down into the interrogation cell, a mixture of emotions running across his features. It was a strange sight, what looked like pity and hatred battling for dominance, but he quickly schooled his features into a blank mask when he realised he'd been caught out.

"Yan?"

Ianto looked at him and Jack blanched at the emptiness in his eyes.

"She's beautiful Jack, so pure. It's terrible." He looked away.

Jack sighed. Owen's medical exam had revealed nothing new about Ianto's current behaviour. Jack resolved to speak to the young man that night at home. He watched as Ianto made his way back to the kitchenette, the young man had been hiding away in there a lot recently.

Sister Elizabeth sat on the edge of the metal autopsy table and watched quietly as Owen took her pulse, temperature and blood pressure. A urine sample confirmed the pregnancy and he looked at her apologetically when he confirmed what she already knew. Gwen was at her side, a comforting presence nearby, or so she hoped, as Owen explained the situation and the options.

"Ok, Sister. We need to talk about what you're going to do about the pregnancy.."

She cut him off before he got properly started. "I will keep the child."

"It's not that simple, I'm afraid."

"It is for me Dr Harper. I cannot abort a child. I am it's mother, regardless of the circumstances." She told him quite firmly, her hand going instinctively to her belly. The power of her maternal drive surprised Gwen, she knew she'd get rid of it straight away if it were her.

Owen nodded, trying to understand. "No it isn't. We analysed the er...semen from your attacker. It's not human. You are not carrying a human child. There will be complications and you could be in serious danger."

"None the less it is still a child Dr Harper." There was no hesitation in her voice.

"Look, the bottom line. If you decide to keep the baby...or whatever it is in there, you will have to stay here so we can keep it contained and of course, monitor you."

Elizabeth looked from Gwen to Owen. "I see..."

"It's for your safety Elizabeth." Gwen grasped her arm gently and Elizabeth flinched at the gesture.

"Oh, sorry."

"It's all right Gwen. I suppose I have to be prepared to stay for a bit then."

Gwen had got Elizabeth settled into the secure guest quarters for the night and Tosh volunteered to stay at the Hub for the night whilst everyone else went home. Gwen was relieved. Quite frankly she was so stressed after dealing with Elizabeth that all she wanted was a hot soak and a cuddle with Rhys. Thank fully things between them had calmed down a little. Owen went home via the library and pulled out every book he could find on demonic possession. Jack drove Ianto back to 'their' flat. Both of them sitting in brooding silence on the journey home.