Christmas Eve- day twenty four
It was the Christmas Eve and as expected the Torchwood 3 Hub in Cardiff was empty. Empty from anything but the occasional Weevil in the cells and the head of Torchwood Captain Jack Harkness. He was the only member of Torchwood who actually lived there in the very place. So naturally the only pathetic enough to be there on the Christmas Eve, he thought. Everyone was with their families or relatives, or at least somewhere else. He did have a daughter and a grandson, however he wasn't much welcome there, so Captain Harkness preferred to stay in the Hub alone instead of being just about tolerated at home.
Ianto was the last to leave him, the sweet tea boy was almost ready to stay there with him, but Jack firmly sent him home to his sister. Ianto at least had someone who loved him to go to. The first to leave was Gwen logically. Jack could see that she was impatient to do it through the whole day. She probably would have preferred to stay home with Rhys all the time. But she still came to work frowning at the clock and imagining the time when she would be back with Rhys cuddled on the sofa. Jack was sure that he could almost read her mind and see the images of them with the wine and warm blanket. So he sent her home early that night.
Tosh wasn't too eager to leave, she did not have anyone to go to but she still left. Probably hoping that she would be able to find a way to contact her mother. Jack pitied her but could not fulfil her wish; she was a UNIT prisoner when he rescued her, and now a Torchwood operative, no place for families. It was too dangerous to allow her contact with her mother. Owen on the other hand was still eager to leave, even though Owen did not have anyone to go to either. He was sure that Dr Harper would come back to work with one of his hangovers. It was given that Owen would spend his Christmas Eve in a bar getting shit face drunk. What else he had left to do anyway.
Jack took out his own bottle of whiskey and wished that alcohol had an effect to him; still he could try he thought. Beside he could just imagine the next day ahead that would be no less lonely than the night. Jack doubted that anyone in their right mind would come to battle aliens on the Christmas Day. Still if the files were right the Doctor just might make an appearance and if Jack was really, really lucky he just might do it in Cardiff.