Chapter 44

*at this point Jack has gotten re-dressed*

M: I don't- it's like static, Jack!

J: Help me get them to the medbay. We need Martha, she's an actual doctor, and one we can trust.

M: *carrying them to the medbay*

J: *calling Martha and putting in on speaker so Malcolm can hear too*

MJ: Jack! Hey! What's going on?

I: *coming out of Jack's bunker* Hey how's- what happened?!

J: Martha, you need to get to the Hub as fast as you can.

M: *laying Yan on the table* Something attacked Yan's mind.

I: WHAT?!

MJ: I'm in Dublin on a mission for UNIT. What happened?

I: Are they okay?!

M: *shaking his head* I don't know!

J: You're the only one we can trust and the only one who can help us.

MJ: You're not making any sense. Ianto are you there? Can you tell me what happened?

I: Right, I'm making coffee. I feel like this could take a while. *kisses Jack on the cheek on his way to the kitchen*

M: He doesn't know what happened. Please Martha, we need you to hurry.

MJ: UNIT is monitoring me. You need to find a way to get them off my back and then I can come.

M: *sighs* Alright, I can do that. *kisses Yan's forehead before turning to the nearest computer*

MJ: Thank you. Once that's done, I can get the next flight. It's almost eight hours to drive.

I: *returning with coffees*

M: There, done.

MJ: Good, I can get tickets now. *does so* I'm sorry, the next flight isn't for another hour. I won't reach you for about two and a half hours.

M: *takes a large gulp of coffee* Hold on Yan, help's on her way.

J: *just holding his mug and feeling like it's all his fault* Just get here as soon as possible. *hangs up*

I: *pulls Jack into a hug*

J: *extends his shields around them and leans into him* It's my fault.

M: *pulling up a chair, taking Yan's hand*

J: Should've been able to help stop the creature sooner.

M: Jack, you were unconscious.

J: Once I woke up.

M: I was already there. It's as much my fault as it is yours, more so really.

J: But together we could have been stronger!

M: *hanging his head* Maybe, or maybe it would have been worse for you.

J: We're both already strong!

M: the only reason I knew I had to save them at the end was because I love them with everything I am! I'm not saying you don't love them, but it would have been different for you.

J: I know Malcolm, I know. And I'm sorry.

M: *sighing* We did what we could, I just wish it could have been more…

J: *quietly* I've shielded them…

M: Thank you.

I: *gently rocking side to side, holding Jack close*

J: It's the least I can do.

M: *smiles at him weakly, exhausted*

J: *goes over to sit next to him* You did what you could, I know they're thankful for that.

M: *nods* Yeah… *watching them for any sign*

J: *finally realizing Malcolm's shirtless* Where's your shirt?

M: *looks down, having forgotten about it himself* Oh, it had blood on it. It's in the wash.

J: I'll get you one of mine in the meantime.

M: Thanks Jack. *turning to look at him* For everything.

J: Haven't done much. *goes to get him a shirt*

I: *sits down opposite Malcolm, taking Yan's other hand*

Y: *some of the energy from Jack's shield is seeping into their mind*

J: *comes back* Here you go. *hands him a blue shirt*

M: *puts it on, smiling at the memories that came with wearing a blue shirt again* Been a while, thanks Jack.

J: Of course. Feel a bit like your old self again?

M: *laughs, slightly bitterly* No.

J: It's okay, we all love this version of you too.

M: *shrugs, not sure what to say to that*

J: You and I, we're always going to be flawed and more than a little broken. But people like Yan and Ianto, who love us, will always keep us going. You'll have them again, I'll make sure of it.

M: *quietly* Thank you Jack.

J: *hugs him*

M: *hugs back*

I: *gets up to join the hug*

MJ: *finally getting on the plane*

Y: *Jack's shield gave them enough energy to wake up*

M: Yan!

Y: Malcolm.

M: You're awake! How are you feeling?

Y: *groans* It hurts.

I: *confused* Like a headache?

Y: It hurts in my head. I think my mental self is dead. They're not moving and they haven't been breathing since you were forced out.

M: *worried* Then how are you awake?

Y: Jack's shields. Jack, you have to remove them. It's feeding me too much energy and taking yours.

J: *tiredly* No, you need the protection.

M: *extremely confused* But Yan, if your mental self is dead, then you would be too.

Y: Then how am I alive? My mental self isn't breathing or moving.

M: *way out of his depth* I don't know…

I: You said that Jack is the reason you're awake. *turns to Jack* Could it be like Owen?

J: Don't know.

J: *slumps tiredly* Has to have been the creature's doing, shields don't give off so much energy…

M: *thinking, trying to find a different way* Jack…I think you need to stop.

J: They have no…protection..nn

M: Jack! It's literally draining you, you have to stop! *having checked their pulse* They aren't even alive right now!

Y: Jack, please! Stop!

J: Then how-

M: It's you, using your life to keep an echo there. Jack, please stop, they can't come back like that.

J: *falling forward*

I: *catching him* Jack!

J: I can't…withdraw the shields…

M: What do you mean you can't?!
J: Not working.

MJ: *arriving at the Hub and calling Jack*

I: Down here, Martha!

MJ: *leaving a voicemail* I need someone to let me into the Hub, I'm outside.

M: How?! Can you…*grabs his hand and taps against his mind* Come on come on come on!

I: I got it. *hurries up to her*

J: You can't- get in…

M: Let me in, Jack! You need to let me in!
J: I'm trying!

MJ: Ianto, what's going on?

I: First, Jack was hit by a frostbite bomb, though that's over with now. Second, Yan was telepathically attacked and is currently mostly dead. Third, Malcolm is trying to help Jack stop shielding, but it's not working too well.

MJ: Shielding? Telepathic attack?

I: It's a very long story and I know very little of it.

MJ: Okay, let me see Jack and Yan.

I: *leads her to the medbay*

J: Malcolm, just break through. You have to-

M: That's gonna hurt like hell, Jack.

J: What choice do I have?!

M: *steeling himself* Right, here goes. Sorry in advance.

J: *braces himself*

M: *forcibly busts down the equivalent of the door to Jack's mind*

J: AGHHH

I: *worried* Jack?

Y: Malcolm he Jack mind shield

M: *Your mind is a mess, Jack. You really need to organize in here.* *trying to find a way to help*

I: *nods despite not having a clue but trusting Jack and Malcolm*

J: *Don't criticize my organization skills!*

M: *noticing the shields are starting to retreat, smirks evilly* *This place looks worse than a bomb site, Jack!*

J: *The chaos is calming.*

Y: *lifeless again*

M: *laughing* *We always were terrible at cleaning. You know, our room on the TARDIS still looks like a hurricane swept through it.*

J: *How do you know? I thought the Doctor abandoned us.*

M: *Oh yeah, the Doctor really screwed us over. However, despite popular belief, the TARDIS does actually like us.* *frowning in thought* *Said something about a kid I think…*

J: *That's a small comfort. Who said something about a kid?*

M: *The TARDIS, but I have no idea what she meant by that.*

J: *Dunno either.*

MJ: *getting to the medbay* Jack! Wait, how are there- what the heck Ianto?!

I: *sighs* An even longer story. The one with braces is Jack.

MJ: Where's Yan?

I: The table. Dammit, they've died again!

MJ: Again?! Someone needs to explain everything!

I: Long story short, everyone in Torchwood is immortal. We can explain everything later. *crosses to to check on Yan*