Jack
Today had already seen the three of them releasing and saving the Ood from captivity. They had broken the circle of pylons which had produced a wave of electrical energy, stopping the kind and trusting race from singing. Rose had managed to escape some hand cuffs and freeing her friends from the advancing Ood, her wrist badly damaged in the process, meaning she had a bandage which was securely placed around her wrist. They had made their way back to the TARDIS and instead of continuing on their adventures they had decided to take a rather relaxing lazy afternoon in the TARDIS. They had already eaten lunch on a distant holiday planet called Profainien 2, admiring the two moons which were lit up by the close sun, the warmth of the planet causing them to enjoy the small amount of time they had spent there. Time spent wandering around the small streets, looking at trinkets and jewellery while they waited for their table.
But after gorging themselves with exquisite food Rose found herself sitting on the Captains chair with her feet resting on the console with an Advanced Physic's text book in her hand, a pencil placed in her hair, Donna engulfed in a heat magazine next to her while the Doctor was simply absentmindedly tinkering with the TARDIS, the loud and constant humming from the TARDIS engulfing the large dome ceiling with life, the simple noises of pages turning in a magazine, the scratching of lead on paper or the tweaking or clicking of dials and wiring being altered.
But Rose had just placed her pencil in her mouth before everything in her body ran cold. The sensation running from her mind all the way down to her toes, causing her too shiver. The Doctor's eyes simply rose to his wife before going back to his work. Rose removed the pencil from her mouth and placed it back into her hair concentrating on the constant feeling of pure emotion in the back of her mind, she frowned slightly before falling back into her mind. An overwhelming sense of sadness filled her mind. The feeling of pain and despair, the feeling of total and utter sorrow crammed her mind with a great sense of loss. Rose placed her hand to her forehead, her hearts sinking in her chest as the emotions filled her being. She had never experienced anything like this amount of emotion transfer. Rose had a connection to her husband and they were frequently connecting themselves together, weather it was a simple task of showing their emotions to each other, or weather they wanted a sense of closeness, knowing that when both of them could feel the other in their minds comforted them considering everything they had gone through. But she knew her husband wasn't feeling like this, she also knew the TARDIS was content, even if she was a bit miffed with the Doctor tinkering with her systems. But something was afloat, the feeling in her mind didn't feel like the Doctor and the TARDIS. It felt like something different. Like a small tremor in time, the feeling that something was calling out to anyone listening, the feeling travelling along time and space.
But Rose shook herself from her mind and looked around at her surroundings. Donna was still engrossed in her magazine, reading up on Katie price who had once again gotten herself engaged to some Italian model while the Doctor was still facing them across the way. His figure looking down at the console around the central column, both of them unaware of Rose's sudden unease. But once again Rose shivered causing her to have her mouth hanging open while her eyebrows were in a frown, her unease and worry finally settling in her stomach causing her to close her text book and talk over to her husband with a frown on her face
"Can you feel that?" Rose voiced, causing the Doctor to look up at her, his hands still present on the console while Donna had flipped down a corner of her magazine. The TARDIS's hum suddenly changing pitch
"Feel what?" The Doctor asked slightly puzzled, one of his eyebrows raised, his head shaking to the side slightly as he looked over at his wife who was perched on the edge of her seat, her eyebrows raised, mouth open, her back deadly straight, her eyes focused on a point in the distance as she concentrated on what she was feeling. Wondering why both his wife and ship could feel what they were feeling and he could not.
"That" She said motioning towards her head which caused Donna to loose interest and go back to her magazine while the Doctor then fell back into his mind, his own face turning into a frown. His uncertainty and unknowing getting the better of him
"You're right what is that?" The Doctor voiced but suddenly Rose had a sudden wave of familiarity, the feeling she got whenever she was only with someone she knew. Someone she knew better than anyone else besides her husband.
"It's Jack!" Rose voiced worried, her realisation shocking her to the core. The Doctor simply rising to his full height, knowing the implications and seriousness of the situation
"You sure?" The Doctor asked again, his eyebrows in a frown, his head angled down towards her, the sudden shift in the conversation had caused Donna to remove her magazine from her face and look over at the Doctor and his wife.
"Positive, something's happened Doctor" Rose expressed confidently. The Doctor simply nodded before turning from his wife and flicking switches and pulling dials while Rose joined him, her concentration and determination on arriving at their destination present in her features, the constant feeling of total grief always present in her mind.
"What are you two clowns up too?" Donna asked as she swayed from her roost on the chair, her face showing one of a frown
"Rose can feel something, something in her mind which is not me or the TARDIS" The Doctor continued to say as he bolted around the console, Rose and the Doctor once again in sync
"What do you mean 'you'?" Donna asked, confusion present on her features
"Me and the Doctor are connected by this sort of connection, a connection which binds our two souls together in time and space. Connects are minds together so we can feel each other always, sense each others emotions, know what their thinking and send thoughts across it" Rose voiced as she flicked switches embedded in the coral panel
"Can anyone be linked like this?" Donna asked again
"No" The Doctor said shaking his head "Which is the troubling thing. A connection like this is only formed between two telepathic beings. Two people who share a deep understanding and a strong emotion for each other which forms the link"
"Like love" Donna said standing from her position
"Exactly" Rose smiled, taking a brief look up to Donna
"Me and Rose are connected to each other in so many ways are connection cannot be easily broken. After all she was calling out to me via our link for 10 years. I didn't really have a connection like this with my wife back on Gallifrey" The Doctor stated, his eyes never leaving the console
"But this Jack...?" Donna said over to them
"Is a man very close to me, he's rather like my brother than my friend. But he is not telepathic. Something terribly wrong must have happened which has caused the tremor for me to hear and pick up" Rose said just as the TARDIS shuddered to a halt. Rose and the Doctor grabbed their coats in a hurry pulling them on as they left the door, Donna having to run to keep up with them. Donna looked around at her surroundings. A large open space, a monumental large pillar of metal and a large community centre lining the sides. A place she was familiar with as Cardiff. Donna shook her head in bewilderment, her mouth hanging open before she moved her eyes over to her friend's forms which were slowly disappearing around a corner. She looked at her surroundings again before running after her companions.
Rose and the Doctor were hurrying towards the wall which was placed by a staircase of stairs next to the harbour, the water lapping up against the pillars as the Doctor and his wife walked determinedly towards the wall. Rose quickly pressed a button which enabled the door to eject itself into view. Donna finally having caught up, her mouth hanging open at the sight in front of her. Rose turned the handle and quickly strode into the building. She walked past a desk and into a metal elevator. Donna looked at her before she pressed the 'B' button and she felt the elevator move. The elevator doors once again pinged open revealing a large metal shaped clog door spinning away, the alarms blearing while it moved. The Doctor and Rose impatiently jumping on their feet before Rose leaned forward through the door and walked through it. She skipped up some stairs, her eyes concerned and worried for her to come face to face with two people she knew and loved very well.
Captain Jack Harkness, a large and well built man with brown hair, a strong chin and high cheek bones was looking at her completely deflated, the love and flirtatious sparkle which constantly shone in his eyes had been extinguished causing Rose's hearts to drop. His world war two coat was not present leaving his pale blue shirt and his braces.
Ianto Jones, a shy but very perceptive young man who was wearing a clean and professional suit was also looking over at her, his face was soft and pale, his blue eyes large and full of grief as he looked over at her with a frown, mirroring the expression of his boy friend.
"Rose?" Jack said barley audible his voice breaking slightly as he took in the comforting and gentle look on the woman who meant so much to him face. He took in the encouraging and loving expression she held on her face and he couldn't stop the tears and the heartbreaking sobs which exploded from his heart and his mind. Rose simply smiled a weak upsetting smile, her head slightly to the left
"Oh Jack" She whispered before taking a few large strides and engulfing the man she cherished so much into a hug. Her arms moving around his shoulder as he placed his head in the crook of her neck, his body wrenching with sobs and all Rose could do was rub his back, whispering soothing and kind words in his ear while Donna and the Doctor looked on sadly, knowing the ex time agent was in good hands.
It had taken another 10 minutes for the captain to finally calm down, causing Rose and her husband's worry to increase. Rose pulled away from her friend and looked over at him, her hands still firmly placed on his shoulders. Jack sniffed slightly before looking up at Rose whose fringe was hanging loosely over her face while she held a comforting smile on her face.
"You ok?" Rose asked gently, her voice soft and comforting. Jack simply smiled, nodding his head, rubbing his nose against the back of his hand while Rose rubbed her thumb across his high cheek bone whipping the tear stains across his cheeks.
"I will be" Jack managed to say pulling away slightly. Rose moving her hands back towards her own, her eyes soft as she looked over at her shoulder towards her husband who was looking on in worry as he watched the retreating form of his best friend. He caught Rose's eye and showed her his feelings of sadness and worry for his friend via their link. Rose slowly walked up a few of the steps and in to the TORCHWOOD hub, her friends following her. They had walked into the main area. Computers littering the open area, lights flashing and blinking into life, a rounded staircase present around the ceiling leading up to Jack's office and the briefing room. Ianto had disappeared during Jack's moment of weakness and made mugs of coffee, following them up the stairs as they followed Jack, awaiting the reason and discussion to why Jack and Ianto were so emotional.
Rose walked into the room to find a long dark wooden desk littering the middle of the room while chairs were either side of the wooden table. Concrete walls present either side as the group filled the room. Jack sat with a downcast posture while Donna sat next to him. Rose and The Doctor sat next to each other, looking at each other in the eyes as they perched on their chairs. Ianto placing mugs of steaming coffee in front of them. Jack having the usual, Donna having an exquisite cup of coffee while Rose and the Doctor enjoyed a cup of tea just the way they liked it. The Doctor and Rose trying to make general conversation, trying to engage Jack and Ianto into the conversation but their hearts and minds seemed to be in a different place. Rose was cradling her mug of tea while she looked at the warm liquid, her hearts heavy with sadness while her husband looked down at her with worry. He grasped hold of her hand and she looked up at him, her eyes heavy with emotion as she looked at him. The Doctor moved his lips into a small smile before placing their clasped hands together.
"Brilliant mug of joe Ianto" Donna chimed happily as she placed her now empty mug to the table, Ianto only smiling a small smile
"What happened?" Rose voiced, finally having enough of the sombre mood, needed to know how she could help her fiends. Jack simply shrunk further into his chair
"Jack, its not good to keep it all locked up you know, you need to talk to someone" The Doctor stated causing Jack to look up at him, who knew his friend was right, but it also caused Rose to shriek back slightly.
"You're right" Jack said nodding, bringing in a huge lungful of air
"I'm always right" The Doctor joked with a large smile, Rose elbowing his in the ribs, muttering to him for being rude. The Doctor simply rubbing his ribs through his suit jacket, Jack smiling at the pair of them. Jack looked over at Donna who was rolling her eyes over at her friends as they continued to bicker. The Doctor complaining about why Rose had elbowed him, while Rose was telling him to be more considerate. Jack was smiling over at them, loving the fact that even after all this time they could still act like they always did. Their relationship was stronger than it had ever been, their love shining through the things they said, by the things they did. Donna was looking over at Jack who was looking over at the pair of them, an adoring smile on his face as he watched his two closest friends who deserved everything they had in front of them.
"Brilliant... isn't it" Donna said as she looked at Jack who moved his head to face Donna.
"What is?" Jack questioned. Donna simply smiled before cocking her head towards the Doctor and Rose who were now laughing and joking with each other, completely oblivious to what the other people were doing
"I have to live with that nearly everyday" Donna started with a smile "I'm not complaining. This Doctor is so much happier than the last time I met him. After all he had just lost Rose." Donna said smiling a sad smile, Jack looking back to the table knowing what she meant "But looking at them now seeing what the pair of them are like with each other I'm so glad they finally managed to find each other" Donna said to him. Donna noticing the things they could not. Jack simply turned around to see that the Doctor and Rose were now trying to defend themselves from wandering hands for Jack to finally smile and laugh at them to stop it.
"Alright, ill tell you" Jack smiled, causing Rose and the Doctor to finally face them, smiles on their faces, Rose having her arms wrapped around the Doctor's arms, whose hands were clasped together placed on the table top. Rose had her head rested on the Doctor's shoulder as he had one of his eyebrows raised, a smirk on his face as he looked over at Jack. Their small plan having worked. He winked over at Rose who had her tongue poking between her teeth.
"You can tell us in your own time" Rose said gently as she looked over at Ianto who had his own smile on her face.
"It was my brother" Jack started. "Grey was using my friend John against me. Blackmailing me to give myself up. They had planted 25 nuclear bombs beneath the surface of Cardiff, exploding them one by one causing havoc to ensure around Cardiff. Gwen rushed off to the police station, Ianto and Toshiko going to the unstable nuclear power station"
"Weevils began to exit the sewers" Ianto started
"Weevils?" The Doctor voiced
"Humanoid looking creatures with sharp teeth, grainy skin. We try to keep them locked up in the sewers. Very dangerous if in contact with humans" Jack voiced "Rose met them only for a short time but it seemed to cause them some distressing amounts of pain" Jack finished, just for the Doctor to frown and look over at his wife. Rose simply smiled slightly before returning her eyes back to her husbands.
"We believe or more I thought the reason they could become agitated when they were in my presence was because I was very time sensitive. They were pained by the disruptions in the space time rift which has been pulling them through the rift that travels through Cardiff." Rose said intelligently, the Doctor nodding as he understood the concept.
"Do they just wonder the streets?" Donna asked with worry, Jack simply smiled at her gently while shaking his head
"They live mainly in the sewers. Their primary food source is there but they do wander to the surface and they have brutally attacked humans and eaten them before"
"But their activity seems to be increasing due to reasons we don't understand" Ianto informed causing the Doctor and Rose to frown over at him. "But when we study their behaviour they seemed to be very territorial and they seemed to attack when their homes are threatened"
"Can the reason they are becoming more aggressive and curious is because they are running out of territory?" The Doctor asked, Rose now holding on to his hand which was lying on the table in front of them
"Maybe but we don't know. They like to live in dark and damp conditions which make the sewers a perfect place, but there are so many of them we cannot risk going down there" Jack said concerned. The Doctor and Rose simply nodded in understanding while Donna moved her head, her mouth hanging open to everyone who was speaking.
"Can you communicate with them? Telling them you mean no harm?" Donna asked
"Unfortunately not. They have a very low level of language we don't even know if they are able to talk to anyone" Ianto said to them
"But however when I did meet them last time I was curious about weather they spoke telepathically." Rose informed looking up to her husband who was looking at her with understanding.
"I'm not being funny but what does this have to do with Grey?" Donna asked
"Oh come now Donna, everything is important when we talk about things like this" The Doctor chimed, his eyebrows rising from their neutral position into a raised position, his mouth hanging open in protest while Jack and Rose smiled over at him.
"Anyway" Jack said dragging out his words "Things got messy, Gwen was trying to warn people that the weevils were on the loose and the nuclear plant went into melt down meaning Ianto and Tosh couldn't stay there. They were struggling to get past the weevils which had been brought to the surface meaning Owen who had been killed, brought back to life via a glove making him the king of the weevils. I was sent back in time due to Johns Vortex manipulator so I was stuck in the morgue of TORCHWOOD, not knowing that Tosh had been shot by my brother while Owen was stuck in the plant. Own died due to the radiation but Tosh was slowly dying in the infirmary. Gwen and Ianto had found me again but by the time we found the trail of Tosh's blood she was almost gone. She died in my arms only moments later" Jack said. His voice slowly dropping, his hearts becoming heavy, the sadness and grief falling into his heart once again. Rose and the Doctor suddenly looked at each other sadly as they knew what this meant. Rose feeling the brunt of the emotion as she had met and known the pair of them quite well during her short stays at TORCHWOOD.
"What about Gwen? Is she alright?" Rose asked, The Doctor looking down at her slightly worried, his other hand resting on the top of hers as she looked worried and panicked over at Jack
"She's ok Rose. She's with Rhys" Jack said reaching over and clasping hold of her hand which wasn't encased by the Doctor's, a small smile was present on his features. Rose nodded her head a weight falling from her shoulders knowing at least one of them was ok.
"What are you going to do now?" The Doctor asked weakly, looking over at Jack who was looking down at the table.
"We need to sort out their things" Jack said sadly
"We can stay and help" The Doctor said, causing Rose to look at him curiously not expecting him to say that "monitor the rift activity, monitor alien movements while you sort yourselves out" The Doctor said to him.
"If you don't mind" Jack said over to them. Rose and the Doctor simply smiled and nodded to them. A depressing and upsetting mood had overcome the group of them. Rose understanding what Jack and Ianto were going through. After all Tosh and Gwen had been the ones to help her last time. Rose solving a problem which was causing Owen some frustration. Even though she was someone outside of their group they had all made her feel welcome. They had all helped her and now thinking about a TORCHWOOD without them upset her. Thinking about coming to visit Jack without them here was causing Rose some sadness. Looking over at the depressed posture and feelings of Jack made things even worst. She wanted her happy go lucky Jack back. The man who she could joke with, laugh with and generally talk to him about matters which were bothering her. But right now her concerns were helping him and she was so glad the Doctor had volunteered in letting them stay and help.
The first job on their list was to sort out their flats. To sort out their belongings and sell their things. Ianto and Jack had volunteered in doing that while The Doctor went straight to the computers. Rose rolled her eyes as she watched her husband turn into a big kid while Rose grasped hold of Donna's arm and moved her over to the cleaning cupboard, the pair of them trying to remove the blood stains from the floor. They were currently on their hands and knees, both of them scrubbing in silence as Rose found herself lost in her own sadness and grief. The effect and impact of loosing two very intelligent and brilliant people came crashing down on her hearts. Her eyes were filled with excess water as they scrubbed at Tosh's blood which was on the floor. Donna having noticed her sudden change in emotions and she became concerned for her friend
"You ok?" Donna asked, Rose simply smiled slightly and nodded
"I'm fine, it's just being here without Tosh and Owen seems slightly unreal" Rose said to her sadly.
"Were you close to them?" Donna asked, Rose simply smiled slightly
"While I was looking for the Doctor I came to visit TORCHWOOD every now and then, wanting to see Jack, needed some sense of comfort and all of them had given it to me. Tosh and Owen letting me in with open arms, comforting me, supporting me and we became close friends. Now hearing that they gone causes my hearts to feel heavy. Both of them were such brilliant people and now knowing that they are gone and not coming back makes me so upset. I can't even imagine how hard this is for Jack and Ianto" Rose said, her voice full of emotion, her voice breaking slightly and a single tear falling from her eyes. Donna looked over at Rose and smiled at her gently before pulling her into a hug as she comforted the other lady who was slowly trying to compose herself as she over came the shock and the grief of loosing two of her close friends.
The Doctor was watching from the sidelines as he looked over at his wife who was being comforted by Donna. He knew how hard this must be for her. After all he had seen how close she was with the pair of them. But his hearts were jumping out to her. She had to push her own emotions and feelings of sorrow and grief deep down inside her as she had to remain strong and comforting for Jack. He needed her right now more than anything and so she needed to be strong. She needed to show him that everything was going to be ok even if it meant locking up her own emotions. The Doctor knew then that he had to be there for her. So she could lean on him for support. So she could talk to him, receive the comfort she needs as she struggled with her own loss.
So the Doctor was trying to shift through thousands of files and programs which needed to be deciphered and de coded if they were ever going to get into Tosh's computer. She was clever. Very clever. Making the Doctor to fall at most of the hurdles making him frustrated. He had placed his glasses onto his nose as he looked down at the monitors in front of him. He ducked so he was sitting on his knees and pulled out the sonic screwdriver from his blazer pocket and placed it to the computer system. He switched on the device causing a blue light to be emitted from the tube, a buzzing noise falling to his ears. But his own frustration began to boil when he realised that plan of action wasn't going to happen either.
"AGH!" The Doctor sighed angrily which caused Rose to look up at him with a frown. She and Donna placed their buckets back into the cupboards having finished their job and walked over to him
"What's the matter?" Rose asked as she angled her body so she was facing him but her face looking at the computer screen. The Doctor was holding the keyboard in his hand, his eyebrows in a frown as he concentrated, raking his mind for ideas.
"This Toshiko is clever. She's deadlock sealed her computer so I can't use the sonic screwdriver on it, and deciphering all these codes and passwords is going to take me forever!" The Doctor whined causing Rose to smile slightly.
"Sounds like Tosh" Rose voiced sadly.
"I know I've met her before" The Doctor said smiling slightly which caused Rose to look up at him in shock
"What do you mean you've met her before!" Rose said to him shocked
"You remember the slitheen right?" The Doctor asked looking down at her, the keyboard placed back onto the desk. Rose simply nodding a small smile on her lips as she thought back to the incarnation she had met the Doctor in. "And you remember the genetically modified pig?" The Doctor asked again, Rose smiling up at him once again. "Well Tosh was the woman studying it"
"Ah, right" Rose voiced again. Jack and Ianto then striding through the room, both looking rather disheartened, their eyes puffy showing Rose and the Doctor how hard this must have been on them. Rose looked up at the Doctor sadly, the Doctor smiling a sad smile down at her while Jack and Ianto walked over to them.
"Well their flats are cleaned out, keys are returned and they have been reported dead" Jack voiced to them sadly. Rose simply grasped hold of his hand and squeezed it in comfort.
"It's all going to work out in the end Jack" Rose said to him comfortingly, Jack smiling over at her slightly just for Ianto and Jack to pull out some boxes.
"I really hope your right Rosie" Jack said barely a whisper before dropping Rose's hand and following Ianto back to his office. Rose watched as Jack left, her eyes filling with unshed tears as she looked at the broken man in front of her. Her hands moved to her mouth trying to stifle the sobs which were threatening to fall from her mouth. Fighting her emotions so she stayed strong for Jack, but as every second past she found it harder and harder and before she knew what was happening her cheeks were wet with tears; the Doctor had placed his arms around her form and moved her into his chest. His head resting on hers as he held her as she cried.
It had taken a little while for Rose to calm down but as soon as she had she pounded up the metal steps, taking two at a time as she stalked towards her friend. The Doctor and Donna watching her as she walked around the gratings. She shoved open the door and then looked right at Jack. Jack was sitting on one of his chairs; Ianto was completely out of sight while Jack had his head in his hands. Rose looked over at him and he suddenly snapped his head up towards her
"Rose... I didn't know you were standing there"
"It was a quite approach" Rose simply stated. Her eyes heavy and puffy from her crying
"You've been crying" Jack said to her. Rose simply smiled knowingly and nodded her head
"Glad you noticed"
"I'm sorry, I've been a bit distracted" Jack said standing up and walking over to his desk
"It's alright hun, you've been though a lot" Rose comforted as she watched Jack leaning on his desk, face facing the top, bottom half of his body leaning away from him. "It's going to take a lot of getting used too" But Rose jumped when Jack suddenly flung his hands up in the air in anguish. His computer screen went flying, papers floating to the floor as he shouted over to her.
"But what if I don't want to get used to it?" Jack yelled, his eyebrows in a frown, eyes looking right over at her "Tosh and Owen were brilliant. No one could replace them. Time after time I have to hire new people. Get them used to fighting aliens and I'm sick of it."
"Jack Please. Just stay calm" Rose said slightly taken a back. Her voice breaking as she watched her best friend act like this
"And why should I do that? The universe seems to hate me. I'm sick of the betrayal, sick of the lies, sick of having to fight for a better life when I have none of it. All I have is the heart ache and pain" Jack yelled pacing around his office yelling at her, flinging and pushing things in torture, his emotions getting the better of him
"Jack stop" Rose said teary
"Why? Why should I stop?" Jack yelled again, turning to face her to see her form shaking slightly, her eyes filled with unshed tears
"Because you're breaking my hearts" Rose said weakly, her hands going to her mouth, eyes closed as she sat back to the chair she had moved over too. Jack's face and hearts immediately softened. He took a few steps over to his friend and moved to sit next to her, his arms going around her as he pulled her into a hug. Her emotions and tears suddenly falling
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do that"
"I know" Rose voiced "But I know what your going through. Everything your feeling right now is what I felt when I had been pulled away from the Doctor. I felt like giving up, to curl up and watch what the universe did around me. But I had to find the Doctor again. I had to because he was my reason of living. Jack you still have everything to live for. Ianto and Gwen need you. They need you to guide them, to help them. I need you. I need you more than I ever say, now more than ever and I can't bare seeing you like this" Rose said to him passionately. Her hand squeezing his as she spoke, trying to give him the best comfort and guidance she could. Jack simply looked at her. Of course she would be right. After everything she had been though this couldn't compare. Loosing people you care about most is an everyday occurrence but something still stung his heart.
"It's just, knowing what my brother said to me. Knowing that he blamed me for everything that happened. For him to hate me with such a passion my judgement was clouded, knowing that my brother was the reason for Tosh and Owen to die, I don't think I could ever get over such a blow as that" Jack said to Rose who was smiling over at him gently, listening to every word he said so she could find way to encourage and help him.
"Thing happen and they define the people we become. Grey had things done to him which clouded his heart and mind with hate. He didn't know what to do so he channelled all his pain, all his suffering to hatred for you to help him get through it. I know it's not what you want to hear but people deal with things differently.
"Your right. Of course you are but it doesn't get the image of Tosh smiling at me weakly as she died in my arms. Her eyes showing me so much love and devotion, so much happiness that I was there for her. The look in Grey's eyes as he told me about what happened, the way he struggled and looked at me as I placed the cloth over his mouth" Jack said, looking back down to the chair, eyes filling with tears "I can see it even now" he said barley above a whisper "Running into the hub, rushing up the stairs and noticing the trial of blood down the stairs. Everything in my body running cold. Calling her name, hoping she was alright but then I saw her. Lying there against the chair, her hand pressed to her stomach, blood rushing out of her wound. Gwen and Ianto come running as I call for them, rushing to her side as she looked at me weakly. Yelling for help. I remember grabbing her shoulders and pulling her into my arms, a soft smile on my lips while Gwen ducked to her other side. She was smiling at me. Her breathing weak, body heavy, but she continued to look at me. Gwen giving her another shot of morphine, Ianto talking about Owen at the plant. Tosh smiled over at Gwen and then she looked back up to me. Her head resting on my shoulder while I pressed my hand to her cheek. I was struggling to keep my emotions in check. A lump in my throat, eyes full of unshed tears as she continued to look at me, continued to stare at me as she left this earth. Gwen sobbing next to me; causing my own emotion to fall, my face scrunching up in such agony and pain, my sobs raking my body as I clung to her body closer to me. Ianto and Gwen not able to control their own emotions. All grieving for the loose of Owen and Toshiko" Jack explained. His emotions high and Rose found herself feeling her friends emotions. Her eyes were watering as she listened to the accurate account Jack was telling her "Even now, every time I close my eyes I can see her. I can see the look on her face, knowing the pain she was in and it makes me sick to know that my brother caused her death" Jack said before a few stray tears fell down his cheek again. Rose just smiled at him gently clasping her hand to his cheek, rubbing her thumb against the tears and whipping them away.
"Toshiko and Owen were two perfect people. Each of them knowing what to do in situations, knowing what you needed to hold onto. Each one of them being brilliant friends. I know Jack that even now it may look like things can never be the same again but you will move on. Get on with your life but they will never be forgotten, they will live on in your memories meaning the pair of them will forever be with you. As long as you hold them here" Rose smiled as she placed her hand to Jack's heart. Jack smiled at her weakly before nodding. Rose smiled over at him once again before pulling him into an embrace.
When Rose and Jack emerged from the room Rose noticed Ianto standing by one of the computers. He had the TORCHWOOD files open, looking at Owens. His face was downcast, his eyes staring intently on the computer image which held Owen. He was typing away on the keyboard, under a close eye from the Doctor who was still working at Tosh's old station. Jack had moved swiftly over to another surface, his mouth in a harsh line taking hold of Owens's things as he cleared his desk. Rose simply watching the pair of them sort out the tasks on their own, both of them lost in their grief. Rose standing next to Donna as they looked at them in sadness. Jack's eyes were full of unshed tears. He had placed Owens stethoscope and medical equipment in his hands before he had placed them into a box; he was looking up slightly as he tried to find it in his heart to pack them away. He then hugged Owens's lab coat to his chest, struggling to compose himself while Ianto at the same time was struggling with confirming Owens's death. Rose found herself pulling out another silver box and walking over to her husband's side. She thought it might be easier for Jack and Ianto if she placed Tosh's things away. The Doctor looking over at Rose sadly as she pulled one of the photo's from the stand. Rose smiled at it gently before looking up at the Doctor sadly who simply pressed a kiss to her forehead in comfort. Ianto struggling to log Owen out of the database for the last time. Jack having tears flowing down his cheeks as he finally locked the silver box for the final time. Jack whipped his cheeks and his nose before moving the box from its position. Ianto having brought up Toshiko's file. Tears now falling down his soft skin. Ianto continued to stare at the screen again. His breathing was becoming rapid as he tried to control his tears as he looked at the final box that was looking at him. But he suddenly clicked the box and closed his eyes with sorrow. Rose had finally finished packing away Tosh's things and moved it over next to the place Jack had placed Owen's things.
But suddenly the Doctor snapped his hands away from the keyboard on the computer he was working at as it suddenly flashed to life. His eyebrows were raised in shock as he looked at the young woman he recognised, knowing this was her final goodbye.
"Jack! Ianto" The Doctor yelled which caused his wife to snap her head over towards him and walk over to his side; the Doctor looked at her gently before wrapping his arm around her shoulders, hers going around his waist so her head was resting on his chest. Ianto and Jack had also walked over to them and listened as they watched Tosh talking to them.
"Ok. So... if you're seeing this, I guess it means, I'm... well, dead" Tosh said rambling slightly Jack and Ianto hanging off her every word, both of their eyes rather puffy from their built up emotions "Hope it was impressive! Not crossing the road or an incident with a toaster" She chimed causing Jack to let out a small laugh. Rose and the Doctor smiling slightly as they continued to watch Tosh. Rose now had her hand covering her mouth slightly as she continued to watch her friend. Her eyes filling with unshed tears, the Doctor rubbing his thumb against her as he tried to comfort her "I just wanted to say... it's OK. It really is. Jack, you saved me. You showed me all the wonders of the universe and... all those possibilities. And I wouldn't have missed it for the world." She said smiling. Jack was smiling slightly, his head looking into the distance as he watched, his eyes beginning to fill once again "Thank you. And Owen, you never knew." Rose began to look down, and the Doctor did not fail to notice Ianto and Jack looking extra sad, knowing that their insides had dropped once again "I love you." Tosh said with a smile which caused Jack to close his eyes with sadness, Rose moving closer into the Doctor's as she realised what this meant. The Doctor pulling her closer as she began to shed her unshed tears "All of you. And... I hope I did good." She smiled causing the three of her friends to smile through their tears, Rose watched as she reached forwards and hit a key, making her form fade away for the last time.
"Now we carry on." Jack stated, looking at Rose and her tear stained cheeks. He grasped hold of her hand and she smiled. Jack looked up at the Doctor who was still holding his wife and the time lord smiled over at his friend proud and comfortingly
"I don't think I can, not after this." Ianto managed to say through the lump in his throat.
"You can." Jack said moving his other arm to hug him, moving him closer as he pressed a kiss to his forehead "We all can. The end is where we start from." Jack said before he pulled Ianto into a proper hug and the Doctor did the same with Rose while Donna looked on at them sadly.