Story disclaimer: I own none of the following. Many of the references in this story are owed to the writers and the rest of the team(s) involved in the creation and production of Torchwood and Doctor Who. Without them, this story would not be possible. My character Teya owns me. I am making no money from this or any of my other fics posted on this site.

Author's Note : So this is it. Last chapter. Can't believe it. Think I've covered every plot hole I created for myself. This was really hard work! Thanks for reading! Hmmm, don't think I've dedicated this story yet... Well, I guess it has to be for a friend I let down very very badly. So this is for you, as a thank you for everything you did for me, everything you taught me. I miss you, and hope some day you can forgive me x

Scene Seventeen – Cardiff, Present Day

All such warm and friendly thoughts were banished as Feroc snarled, reaching for her in a manner that was far from friendly. She saw that he was brandishing a knife, but as she twisted desperately away, Feroc jerked forward suddenly as another of the group threw himself onto the large Everlarth's back, Arkas's arm wrapping tightly about Feroc's neck. "'Ware treachery, my lady! He means you to die!" The rest of the Everlarths joined the fray, the two loyal to Feroc trying to pull the second Everlarth from their master's back. Leukon snatched the knife from Feroc's hand, to plunge it into his attackers back. The Everlarth shrieked in pain, but clung on like a ferocious dog to a bone, protecting his mistress to the last.

Jack only paused long enough to watch Teya's reaction to all this. She had twisted away from the first attack, her face dropping in shock. She turned back towards the fray, shouting in anger and hate as the stabbing occurred. She, too, launched herself into the fight, throwing a mean right hook tough enough to knock aside Leukon. The Everlarth's head connected with the floor with a crack that could be heard over the rest of the fight, making Jack wince in sympathy. Stunned, he lay staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. It was as she turned on Dromak that Jack stepped in, sniping three bullets into Feroc's chest. From the far side of the room, Ianto and Gwen also fired their weapons, both hitting Dromak in the back. Dromak shrieked in protest, falling alongside Feroc who was on his hands and knees. Arkas rolled away from Feroc, curling up in a ball, confident that these newcomers were friends.

"Jack!" Teya snapped the word, more with anger than with relief, as if he had intruded. Jack had no time to react, for Teya did not even pause to look at any member of the Torchwood team. She kicked Feroc in the side, causing the Everlarth to roll away from her and into Dromak. The two lay dying, and for a moment Teya watched them, conflicting emotions crossing her face. Then, with a blank face, she looked to Jack, arms spread wide. "You'll have to kill me too Jack, I won't go back to a life of imprisonment."

"Aranteya…" Arkas's voice was weak, but cut off anything Jack might have replied. While Ianto and Gwen covered the dying Everlarths, Teya crouched beside her dying friend.

"Hush, Arkas, save your strength. We are safe now."

"Your father asked… asked me to protect… you." She knew the truth of the matter in the way he said the words, that her father was dead. She swallowed deeply, unwilling to acknowledge the fact. "He warned you not… not to return… home… Things have changed so much at home, you have few friends there now…"

"I understand, Arkas." The words were quiet, subdued, all her dreams destroyed with that message. Never again would she walk the flush fields of crops, ride through the forests of her family's grounds… She gripped Arkas' hand between her own as if she could keep both him and her dreams alive by sheer will alone. The Everlarth died quietly and with dignity, his eyes never leaving Teya's. Teya remained quiet throughout, reaching out at the end to close Arkas' lifeless eyes. "Fare well, old friend. Tell my family I am safe in this world…"

She glanced at Jack, wondering if the message she had just sent to her family was a lie. Their eyes met, locking in a private moment between them, and she had her answer. Jack knelt beside Teya, placing an arm about her shoulders. For a moment, she stiffened, as if ready to push him away, but then she seemed to change her mind. Resistance fleeing her, Teya leant against Jack, feeling him shift in order to maintain their balance. They stayed like that, with Ianto and Gwen watching over them, for several minutes. With his support, his body warm beside hers as it always should have been…

The four of them left the building some time later, Jack's arm wrapped comfortably about Teya's shoulders. In turn, her arm rested about his waist. Both were aware of Ianto's jealous sideways glances, but neither was tempted to act on them. It was enough for both that they were together, as both felt they always had been.

"I never realised," Teya commented later as they were stood next to the great silver fountain, secreted from the world around by the invisible lift, "that my drinking from you had connected us. I see the world through your eyes so often, Jack… so much pain and suffering…"

"It's not all bad." Jack actually blushed as certain thoughts crossed his mind.

"I know." She touched his cheek gently, smiling with him. "And I'm glad. You deserve some happiness, Jack Harkness."

"So do you." He couldn't imagine what life had been like for her, running for so long from everything and nothing. Running from him… Jack tilted her chin up towards him, then frowned as she pulled away.

"Jack, don't." She glanced down at her feet, but he instinctively he knew that it was not embarrassment but a reminder of the two people that needed him. "They love you, Jack Harkness, more than that they know more about you than anyone else in the world."

"Except you."

"Except me." She agreed with a small smile.

"You could stay, you know, become part of the team."

"We both know I could never do that. Torchwood holds too many nightmares for me." She grinned mischievously. "Besides, I don't think Ianto would be too pleased."

"He'd deal." Jack shrugged, but he could not look at her, and the both knew he was lying. Instead, Jack reached out to pull her into a hug. She melded herself to his body, resting her head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of him and how well they fit together. In that moment, it was as if nothing had ever come between them, so much so that Teya lifted her head to kiss him. She kissed him tentatively, afraid that he would deny her. On sensing his willing response, she kissed him as hungrily as she had the first time, lacing her fingers in his hair, an involuntary shiver running through her as his hands ran the length of her spine. She broke away reluctantly, unwilling to let him go, but knowing that she must.

Jack groaned softly as she pulled away, unsure whether the regret he was feeling was at the kiss or at her breaking it. When he finally found the courage to open his eyes, she was gazing at him with a soft, mellow smile, one that made Jack understand that he was, at last, forgiven for his betrayal. He returned the smile, taking her hands in his, as if he could keep her close forever that way. Yet he knew that any moment now, she would turn and walk away.

"Here." She pulled a hand away to dig something out of a pocket. She handed him a set of keys, the keys to her SUV. "You should have these back. It belongs to Torchwood, after all."

"Keep it." Jack smiled, curling her fingers around the keys gently. "You deserve it."

"I'll look you up if ever I'm in town." She offered the words with a sense of finality, and Jack was sure she would never return to Cardiff. It was too painful for him, for both of them. He leant forward to kiss her again, one last time, to which she submitted for a few brief seconds, before pulling away. "Goodbye, Jack." He opened his mouth to return the farewell, but no sound came out. She smiled one last wobbly smile, before turning away and walking to her SUV. Jack watched her go, wondering if it were possible for him to die of heart ache, stayed staring at the spot where the SUV had been parked long after she had driven away. With a sigh, he finally lifted his wrist and pressed the button on his vortex manipulator to make the lift descend back into the Hub.

(Roll credits…)