Chapter Four: Of Unsweetened Dreams and Standing of Rooftops
Torchwood Hub:
Jack stopped and looked around him. His teammates had fallen asleep on him. Owen had his head resting on the back of the futon weirdly, he'd have creek in his neck tomorrow morning. Gwen's head rested on Owen's shoulder. Tosh had her arms underneath her head and was splayed out on what was left of the futon with a smile upon her face, probably dreaming of Owen, Jack thought. Suddenly Jack heard a loud snort, looking around Jack found the source of noise it was Ianto. Getting up Jack, picked Ianto up and placed him in the chair that he had just vacated.
"Sweet Dreams, Children." Jack said flicking the lights off in Torchwood and then quietly made his way to his hole like bedroom, which was only accessible by a glaring yellow ladder, which you can still see even in the dark.
Taking off his spenders, his shoes, and unbuttoning his shirt he finally hung up his coat, Jack smelled the faintest smell of lavender and roses as he climbed into bed. Then let the overwhelming exhaustion take him.
Jack started awake trying to catch his breath, he'd dreamed! He hadn't dreamed of since he was turned into the undying man. Usually when he slept, and that was rarely, it was a pitch when place where he could regain energy. He swung his feet out of bed, got dressed and went back to unconventional living room. Leaning back against the futon, he listened to Gwen and Ianto snore wildest dream danced in his head.
In the dream had been a faceless ballet dancer in a dark pink rose-colored dress with a lavender underskirt, dancing on stage then under the Eiffel Tower. Then he was back in Torchwood but instead of the faceless dancer there was a ghost in a white dress, turned away from him. The dancer showed up again, and danced into the ghost. Next the dancer/ghost figure turned toward him and uttered three words.
" Help me... Jack." She had said
"Jack are you okay?" Ianto asked breaking into his thoughts
" No, but can you make me some coffee?" Jack asked
Ianto left to make coffee. By the time he returned with the coffee everyone else was awake.
"Thank you Ianto." Jack said
" Good: morning Owen, Tosh and Gwen." Ianto said
" Ah God I have a crick in my neck." Owen said complaining
" Good morning Jack." Gwen said wiping drool from her mouth.
Tosh just blushed after finding she had ended up resting her head Owen's lap most of the night.
"Ianto you think you could get more coffee down here?" Owen asked
" Sure," Ianto said " you're sure you're all right Jack?"
" What's wrong with Jack?" Owen asked trying to keep the worry from his voice but failing miserably
" Nothing," Jack said " Hey, Tosh do you think you can check something for me? Then I'll take everyone out to breakfast."
" Sure," Tosh said going to the computer " what you need me to look up?"
"Rift activity in Paris, France or around Paris." Jack said
" France?" Gwen asked
Jack was silent.
" Where?" Jack asked
" I don't know, it keeps jumping around. I'll tell you when I can pinpoint it." Tosh said
"Okay." Jack said then went and grabbed his coat off a coat stand and put it on
" Whoa!" Tosh said " Jack you need to this!"
"What?" Jack asked coming out of his office
" All the Rift Activity from France just jumped to New York City, USA." Tosh said
Jack looked at the screen for a second, then ran out the cog door. Ianto, Gwen, Tosh and Owen looked at each other then followed after Jack.
Red Ribbons Diner:
" Hey guys," said a waitress " Jack."
" Lidia." Jack said
" What can I get'cha?" Lidia asked
" Pancakes and orange juice." Ianto said
" Eggs and bacon." Owen, Tosh and Gwen said
"Scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon and grits." Jack said
"Anything else?" Lidia asked
"No." Jack said
"Be right out." Lidia said sadly then walk away
While they waited for their food Gwen, Tosh Owen and Ianto chatted but Jack who usually cracked jokes and made them laugh was silent.
"So what do you think is happening in Paris?" Owen asked
There was a loud screech of a chair and then Jack stormed out of the dinner.
"What just happened?" Tosh asked
"I don't know but I'm going to find out." Gwen said running out of the dinner
"Jack wait up!" Gwen basically screamed at him as he continued to barrel his way though the crowds and down the sidewalk.
"Leave me alone Gwen." Jack said when she yanked on his arm making him stop.
"Jack, what's wrong?" Gwen asked
"What a man can't have a bad day?" Jack asked angrily a scowl on his face
"Yes, a man can have a bad day," Gwen said "but even on your bad days Jack you still flirt with girls. However, today in the dinner you didn't even look at Lidia."
"So What!" Jack yelled
"You're not acting like yourself that's what," Gwen said "and we are all worried about you so, tell me what's going on?"
"1948." Jack whispered then pulled his arm out of Gwen's grasp and quietly walked away
Gwen stood there for a few minutes until Owen, Tosh and Ianto ran up to her with the same look on all their faces.
"What's going on?" Tosh asked
"All he said was 1948." Gwen informed her teammates
"So what happened in 1948?" Owen asked
"Don't worry he'll tell us." Ianto said, "When he is ready."
"I hope so." Gwen said, "I hope so."
Nearly 24 Hours later:
The night sky shone as Jack stood motionless on a rooftop staring up the stars and deep in thought. He stood like that for what seemed like for ages until the first rays of yellowy-pink sun graced the city of Cardiff with her beauty or at least until his cellphone rang. Fishing out his phone from his pocket he answered it.
"Jack we've got Rift Activity at an old dance hall that has been closed since the 1980's and people complaining about how they can hear 1940's music coming from the Hall." Owen said, "Do you think we should cheek it out?"
"Yeah, tell Tosh to get her stuff together and I'll be there in a few minutes." Jack said hanging up
He smiled being on the rooftops always allowed him to clear his head and for that Jack was grateful.
AN: For the people who where wondering the story is set a little before, in, and after the Torchwood episode #12 Captain Jack Harkness