Chapter Twelve
Trace looked up, trying to smile, and replied, "I think I'll live." Owen shook his head while Jack fixed the girl with a glare. Her face instantly fell.
"What the hell were you thinking? I told you I was coming over to try and get to know you and your aunt. Instead of being welcomed, I find a woman screaming at me, a door slammed in my face, and a call from you reporting trouble!" Jack started chewing her out.
"And when we get here, instead of seeing you out of harm's way, I get the privilege of seeing you lying bloodied, crumpled on the ground with the weevil advancing towards who I'm assuming was its original target! So I repeat, what were you thinking?"
Once the man finally stopped speaking and caught his breath, his eyes were fixed firmly on his daughter. The Captain did not notice his team staring at him with expressions of surprise, compassion, amusement (Owen), and curiosity.
After a minute of silence, Trace looked up from her shoes and stared her father in the eyes. Jack was a bit taken back at how cold they looked. When the girl finally spoke, her voice was low and hard.
"What was I thinking? Hmm. Let's see. Perhaps I was thinking that my estranged father, who decided it would be better to tear my mother's heart out thinking he was dead than to let her down easy about leaving, who's team randomly runs into me, who decides out of nowhere that he will be a part of my life, who decides to try to force his way into my home, does not deserve the honor of being my father.
"Perhaps I thought that rather than suffer through a disastrous dinner with the man who decides to turn my world upside down and my intolerable aunt, it would be better to take off with someone who I am ready and willing to tolerate and have some fun in this town I have been forced to move to.
"And then, when I am actually, truly enjoying myself for the first time since my…what do you think happens? I, once again, run into one of your weevil-things. Now, I could have grabbed Todd and walked away after calling you, but no, I decide to do the honorable thing and try to help that poor man.
"And when you finally decide to come in and save the day, instead of thanking me for my courage, telling me I did good, that you are, god-forbidden, proud of me, you decide to yell at me because I didn't want to deal with you.
"So, no. I'm not okay. Knowing that at any moment you could be watching me, at any moment you could appear around the corner or out of the shadows is driving me insane. You say you want to be a part of my life, that you want to be a good father? Well, you can stop trying, because you will never be a father to me, nor will you ever be a part of my life."
When Trace finished speaking, she grabbed Todd's arm (as he had finally climbed down) and marched out of the alley.
Once the two teens were out of sight, the team turned to look at Jack. Upon seeing the defeated look upon their Captain's face, all of them (including Owen) felt sorry for the man. Owen, Tosh, and a reluctant Gwen headed back toward the SUV while Ianto walked up to Jack, laying his hand on his shoulder.
Wordlessly, Jack let Ianto lead him to the car. Everyone could tell that he was deeply affected by the girl's words when the man wordlessly climbed into the passenger's seat, leaving Owen to drive.
Meanwhile, after Trace had managed to drag her companion about 10 blocks away, she finally stopped.
Todd, who had remained silent the entire way, finally turned to face the girl and opened his mouth to ask if she was okay when he found himself pulled into a deep, needy kiss. However, knowing the circumstances, the boy could not make himself enjoy it. He kissed her back, but only because he knew that she needed this. Kissing was probably the best, and safest, way to get her frustrations out.
After a minute, she finally pulled away due to a lack of oxygen. The two just stood there, panting for breath.
Once her breathing returned to normal, Trace quietly said, "Thanks." When she saw the look of confusion on Todd's face, she clarified. "For not saying anything, for the kiss, for letting me drag you out of there, for everything. You're," she paused for a moment, "You're a good friend. See you tomorrow?"
When the boy nodded his confirmation, she moved to leave before turning around and pecking him on the cheek. Her own cheeks a bit flushed, she finally walked away.
Todd continued to stand there for a minute, watching her retreating form before turning in the direction of his own home. Once he convinced his legs to move, all he could think of was the creature she called a "weevil," of the girl's father, and the fact that she said they were friends.
Trace took her sweet time walking back to her aunt's house. She really just wanted time to think. She couldn't believe what she said to Jack. Yes, a lot of it was true, but the girl was actually secretly thrilled to have some family other than Clarice, and to know where half her DNA comes from? Amazing.
Don't get her wrong. She really was angry with the man. He doesn't ask, he pushes; and if he doesn't push, he takes. But, there was a part of her that wanted to know him. Trace couldn't help but wonder if she ruined all chances of ever having a functioning relationship with her actual father.
For a brief minute, the girl considered calling him, but that idea was quickly squashed. She's too proud to do that. No, if he really wanted to know her as much as he made out to, then he could call her.
When Trace finally looked up, she realized that she had reached the house. With a sigh, she started up the sidewalk. However, before she could go off to the back of the house, the front door opened.
Surprised, the teen stopped and watched as her aunt stepped outside, a glass of some kind of alcohol in her hand. That wasn't the worst part: her aunt was smiling. No, she wasn't smiling, she was grinning, triumphantly.
When Clarice waved her in, the girl tensed and cautiously walked up to the door before stepping inside. As her aunt closed the door behind them, Trace noticed several bags in the doorway. Before she could ask what they were for, Clarice spoke.
"I had the most lovely conversation with your father today."
The teen flinched, spun around, and stared at the woman with wide eyes. He actually got inside and they talked? She knew there was no way that could be good.
Her aunt only grinned wider. "Yes, definitely an interesting fellow. And alive, too." Trace resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
That was when Clarice's face changed. The only way the girl could think to describe the look was pure evil. However, instead of continuing her informing little speech, the drunk opened the front door once more, brushed past her niece, and threw the bags out the door one by one before pushing Trace herself outside.
"So now you can go live with him. Have a nice life!" her aunt slurred before slamming the door shut, laughing like a maniac.
Trace stood there, staring at the door, thinking only one thing. Crap.