AN: Another verse, same as the first: Torchwood – don't own, ain't making no money from it. Summary: Eva tells more – and shows Jack, Ianto and the others a thing or two…

Torchwood: Archangel

Chapter Five: Burning Angel

She awoke to sorrow. The dream fell apart as she shook herself awake. It…felt like she was being sent a message. And the message sender was almost consumed by sorrow. Eva sat up in her bed and found tears on her face. She had been crying. She hoped fervently she hadn't disturbed Ianto.

It was getting to the point that she thought about getting her own flat because of her dreams, but both men and Gwen said it was best to keep things as they were. Ianto knew about her dreams – and asked her to stay because he knew it would hurt her more to try and deal with the aftermath of the dreams alone. They were afraid for her…especially Jack. She knew that the new Torchwood London had made inquiries concerning her. Both Jack and UNIT told them in no uncertain terms to get stuffed, she heard Gwen say to Ianto one morning.

WHATEVER DID I DO TO GET UNIT'S APPROVAL? She asked herself as she quietly walked back to the room she had used as her dressing room. She had since fixed it into a sort of meditation room with comfortable furniture and items she had found all over the Hub.

MICKEY AND MARTHA, Jack answered into her mind.

~~TW TW~~

Three days before their UNIT guests were to leave, a Rift Alert showed a large object passed through to the marshes area on the outskirts of the city. It was decided Gwen and Ianto would stay at the Hub and Martha and Mickey would go out with Eva and Jack. Eva had said no other help was required; she could deal with the situation alone. But Jack had other ideas.

When they reached the area, Eva was on full alert. 'They are not here by accident,' she said as she, Jack and Mickey happened upon a damaged spaceship. Martha remained with the SUV, maintaining contact with the team and the Hub.

'Report Archangel,' Jack said forcefully.

'The damage the ship has suffered is from battle, not a Rift Storm. They landed to effect repairs – and to collect…FOOD,' she said, grabbing Jack and Mickey by their shoulders and tossing them twenty feet behind her. She then turned to face the threat.

The two creatures were humanoid and heavily muscled. They turned to Eva; her eyes trailing up their forms cataloguing everything she saw about them: tall, angry and all sharp teeth and talons. They had swords that glowed a sickly orange and burned through anything like slicing through warm butter. The two rushed Eva, one slashing at her throat, the other moving to bite the hand that she raised towards them. She made a waving motion, as if she were batting away pesky flies, and the two were thrown back to their ship, colliding loudly into its hull. They howled with anger and readied for attack again, two others came out of the ship and joined their comrades. Mickey armed with a large laser double pulse rifle and Jack with his Wembley stood by Eva's sides as she raised both hands to her attackers and uttered one word: 'STOP.'

All four creatures froze, looking at her curiously. 'You can speak our language?' One asked.

'I can speak all languages,' she said softly. 'You must effect repairs immediately and leave this world. You are in violation of Galactic Law concerning the landing and/or disembarking of spaceships with technology beyond that of a Level 5 planet.'

'We require specialized parts that we can not acquire or repair here,' the One replied. 'I am Called Cathen. We are of the planet La-Ren, in the Parvus Cluster. We fell under attack – raiders against raiders.'

Eva bowed respectfully. 'You honor me with the truth, Cathen of La-Ren. I am Called Archangel Eva Tovar of Torchwood. This is my Lord, Captain Jack Harkness,' she said, motioning to Jack. He simply lowered his weapon and nodded. Cathen and his comrades lowered their weapons and bowed low to Jack, then to Eva. 'Perhaps I can repair what is damaged enough to help you make the jump to your system. There you can send a distress signal to your planet and get help,' she offered.

'You honor us, Great One's Archangel. The stories of your exploits are known to us,' Cathen said meekly. 'We…we also require food, if that is possible. We would not take the Kai of this world, but perhaps their beasts. Chicken and beef…we like them very much.'

'Are you hungry now, Cathen?' she asked. He and his men nodded. 'Do you require liquids as well?' Again they nodded. 'I will do what I can. Rest, brave warriors. Be well. You'll be heading home soon enough.'

Four hours later the ship was patched up enough to make the jump back to their home world. Eva made sure they had enough food and water to last them until help arrived for them. She also gave them a universal signal to call in the event they needed to make planet fall on Earth again.

Cathen and his men again thanked them, boarded their ship and were off forty five minutes before sunrise. Gwen and Ianto were very happy to see everyone back, safe and sound. Martha and Mickey were animatedly describing the whole event and extolling the virtues of Eva and how she got the aliens to do what she wanted. Jack simply hung back, watching Eva climb up to Myfanwy's lair as he added bits to the story when Martha or Mickey needed a little help.

As everyone was packing it in after the long night and longer morning, Ianto found Eva sitting on the roof of the Millennium Center, Jack's favourite perch to watch over the city. She had worn gray trousers today with a burgundy silk jumper and black wool sweater coat. She was an incongruous spot of color on the copper roofscape. Ianto walked over and sat next to her, offering her his hand. She took it without hesitation. 'I am well,' she said after a time. 'I am…I don't really know what I feel. I am happy they got to go home…I am sad that I could not.'

'You don't have to explain yourself to me, Eva,' he answered softly, squeezing her hand. 'I…have been through enough in my life that I understand.' He then turned to her. 'Archangel Eva Tovar of Torchwood? Jack was very proud, I hope you know. He said they could understand the aliens as well. He said you used the vortex energy to do that. Are you doing that now?'

She looked deeply into Ianto's eyes. 'No. The first time we met, yes. But by the time we made it into the SUV I had already mastered your language – and about 45 others, by way of the Mainframe. Where is the Captain? And everyone else for that matter.'

'He's sent everyone home and kipped himself into his bunker. Want to grab some breakfast takeaway on the way home?' Smiling, she nodded. Ianto stood and offered his hand to Eva. Eva smiled and rose without Ianto's help.

'Can I show you something, Ianto? Memories of what I can do are still coming to me. Last night and this morning awoke so many things within me. I feel like…I am a sunburst. Like I am…being reborn. I need to show you this. But just you…only you, Ianto Jones.'

Ianto smiled, nodding his head. 'Anything, Eva. I trust you.'

She gave him her hand. He took it immediately. 'Hold on, do not be afraid,' she began. 'And do not let go!' She then started to run across the copper roof…to the edge! Ianto was at first afraid and began to slow down until he realized – Angel! Angels FLY! He held onto her hand and increased his speed as they both leapt off the edge and she wrapped Ianto in her embrace, the both of them laughing as they floated down. She lighted them gracefully onto the pavement below. It was almost lunchtime in early spring and people were milling all about the Plass. Yet no one even batted an eyelid in their direction. Eva let go of Ianto and he smoothed his suit jacket down and adjusted his tie.

'Well, that's one way of getting down,' he said dryly, then gave Eva an ear-to-ear grin. 'No one noticed,' he said looking at the people still just walking around them. 'You have the ability to project perception filters?'

Eva nodded, smiling. Ianto suddenly laughed out loud. Eva's smile grew wider as she realized she liked the sound of his laugh. 'You are a kind and wonderful soul, Ianto Jones. I am grateful the Maker saw fit to leave me in the care of such lieges,' she said softly. Ianto, blushing a bright red, offered her his arm which she took without hesitation.

'Let's go get breakfast…and if you're up to a little window shopping, we'll walk home.' Once they arrived at the shops district, they decided to eat at the sidewalk restaurant rather then rush home. As they were leaving, Ianto reached into his jacket and handed Eva two credit cards.

'One is your own Torchwood account. The other is set to a checking account,' he said in explanation. 'Your pay goes directly to that one, which to date is three weeks worth. Just don't go mad shopping,' he finished, smiling broadly at the expression on her face.

She stared at the cards in her hand, and then suddenly looked to Ianto. 'I must pay you for my food and lodging,' she said, walking towards an ATM.

'No,' said Ianto, stopping her. 'There is no need. Torchwood is covering those expenses.'

'Then how am I to acquire an abode of my own?' she asked.

Ianto looked deeply into her eyes. 'You've only been here for three weeks, Eva. We have a few Torchwood flats we can set you up in. I…WE don't think you're quite ready to be on your own yet. Don't tell me you're already tired of me,' Ianto said, trying to mask his concern with humour. 'Come on. I think that dress you were mooning over last week may be on sale.'

That was almost four months ago…and she still was living in Ianto's flat. She had spoken to Gwen in private about the situation and asked her opinion. Gwen had told her of the deaths of Tosh and Owen, the moving of the Earth to the Medusa Cascade and how Jack kept Ianto and herself very close until recently.

'They just want to make sure you are safe, Eva. Both of them – Ianto worries for you a great deal. If it bothers you, you have to tell them, sweetheart. They are men…and sometimes the male species of Human can be pretty thick.'

'But I am like the Captain. I will never die, my Creators made me in the image of true Archangels,' Eva explained. 'Why would they worry for me?'

'Because… Well, honestly. They care for you very deeply – and with that emotion comes the want and need to protect,' Gwen answered.

Eva stood there looking at Gwen, and then covered her hand with her own. 'That is something I can understand.'

~~TWTWTW~~

Since her arrival, Jack hadn't died once. But she had; twice.

The first time was a Rift Spike in an abandoned building near Splott. The structure was scheduled for demolition. As Jack and Eva stood outside of it, Jack commented that if they waited long enough, the building would fall down all by itself. Gwen scanned the building from the SUV and concluded the item there were looking for was on the third floor of the building. Eva made a quick survey of the building and concluded the interior was too unstable but the exterior walls were suitable.

'Suitable for what?' Jack asked. Eva simply smiled a small smile that Jack realized she had picked up from Ianto. She then stepped back and launching herself into the air and landed on the wall just below the third floor window.

I WILL RETURN SHORTLY, MY CAPTAIN. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE STRUCTURE, she said as she climbed through the window and recovered the object. She removed a bag from her belt and put the hand-held device into it. Attaching a small wire to it from her belt, she threw it out the window to Jack below, who caught it deftly. As Jack was removing the wire, there was a loud splintering sound inside the building, following by a resounding crash. The wire in Jack's hand whipped back up to the window and disappeared into the building. 'Eva!' he yelled out loud, then projected it through the PDT. His PDT received a chilling response.

UNIT NOT RESPONDING. UNIT OFF-LINE. REBOOT REQUIRED.

He ran pell-mell in through the doorway of the building and into the foyer. The stairs were caved-in; he turned to the right and saw a massive hole in the ceiling that went all the way to the roof. He saw the mess of broken roof tiles, plaster and copper plumbing on the floor and a bloodied hand sticking out of the detritus. He started digging through it all when Ianto appeared at his side with a shovel.

'Don't argue,' he said roughly to Jack. 'Let's just get her out,' he continued, handing Jack a pair of protective construction gloves.

Twenty minutes later they were able to remove enough of the debris to pull her out. Pieces of wood and piping were sticking out of her torso and chest. Her body made a sick sucking sound as the items slid out of her as they lifted her up and out; blood covering everything. The worst was her eyes. They were wide open and looking unseeing at the heavens. Ianto lifted her up to Jack, who then carried her out of the mess. Gwen was nervously pacing outside by the SUV when they met her. She held her hand to her mouth, swallowing a scream. One thought kept repeating in her mind: Oh, God! Not like Tosh! Please not again…

'We've got the tech. We have to get her back to the Hub,' Jack began when Eva's body suddenly began glowing. Putting her down immediately, Jack pushed Ianto and Gwen away. The golden cloud fizzled around Jack, then Ianto and finally Gwen before zipping back to Eva and settling over her prone form. Before their eyes all of her wounds began to heal. Ianto and Gwen looked to Jack for an explanation.

'Nano-genes. Haven't seen those since….I was in London during The Blitz,' he said softly, staring at the golden cloud doing its' work. 'It was when I first met The Doctor…and Rose. My ship had them. But why did they…cheeky Angel!' Jack suddenly exclaimed. 'She programmed them to check us first, make sure we were okay, then to return to her and make whatever repairs are necessary.'

The glow vanished and Eva suddenly gasped, her eyes flickering as life entered them. Her hands went up and Ianto deftly caught them, steadying her. Jack's PDT flared to life sending him a message.

REBOOT COMPLETE. UNIT IS ONLINE.

'Eva,' Ianto said softly, lifting her off the ground. 'Welcome back to the Land of the Living.' Jack, however, was not as forgiving.

'You KNEW this was going to happen,' he said accusingly, motioning towards the house.

'There was a 91.8 percent probability,' Eva answered.

'So, you allowed that structure to kill you in order to recover the alien tech!' he yelled.

'No, my Captain. I was the only one who could recover the item. I will do whatever I need to in order to ensure your survival and the survival of the rest of the team. You are my Lord,' she said pointing at Jack. 'They are my lieges and are true Kai,' she said, pointing to Gwen and Ianto. 'They are the most fragile and therefore most precious. You all are what I protect. I fall before any of you. That is the Code of The Archangels,' she said quietly, but with determination. Jack looked at her fiercely, then turned back towards the SUV.

Gwen quickly stepped up to look Eva over. The nano-genes even repaired her clothing and cleaned off all the blood and dirt. Gwen suddenly gave her a bear hug. 'We worry about you, Eva. Jack…well, he may be angry now, but he'll get over it. Come on, let's get back to the Hub, order some Chinese and try to figure out the tech,' she said as she and Ianto walked Eva back to the SUV. Eva took the backseat next to Ianto while Gwen sat in the front next to Jack. Jack was still brooding as he turned the car on and put it into gear.

'I know what the tech is,' Eva said quietly.

'Please don't leave us in suspense,' Ianto said sarcastically.

'It is an explosive device. I deactivated it when I took hold of it.' She then turned to Ianto. 'Does this mean we aren't going to have the Chinese takeaway tonight?'

The laughter of her team mates wafted from the open windows as Jack drove the SUV to the Hub.

~~TWTWTW~~

The second time Eva died it was because of a Hoix. The Hub Mainframe flagged several 999 calls and sent alerts to everyone's PDA's and to Jack and Eva's PDT's. Jack narrowed his eyes as Eva rounded a corner from the archives. She had been helping Ianto catalogue unidentified objects that had come through the rift.

'Forgive me, my Captain,' she said, knowing exactly why he was displeased. 'I gave it the access codes to both our PDT's in passing. I will correct that.'

'Just tell it to give me unlimited access to its' memory files, but alerts are to be sent to my PDA and cell phone only. Transmissions to my PDT are to be done as a last resort.'

'Understood,' she said closing her eyes and bowing her head. A few seconds later Jack received a confirmation of new orders.

When they arrived at the location the reports indicated, Eva got out of the SUV with Jack. He then told Ianto and Gwen to circle and to be careful – it was close. Eva had an ear comm on and a weapon – but she kept it holstered. Both she and Jack split up, Rift monitors in hand. Eva was using her own internal sensors as well.

'It is confirmed as a Hoix. Male – Hunter class. It will not surrender,' she said into her ear comm. 'Make weapons at the ready – signal is acquired.'

'Where is it?' Jack asked, running back to where he and Eva split up.

'Sensors indicate it is 6 meters…above me,' and she was cut off by a blood thirsty scream.

Jack saw as the Hoix suddenly jumped down from a light post, dragging the high-powered lines down with it. The SUV lit the area up with its' headlamps as Eva caught the lines in her hands and held them up into the Hoix as it descended upon her. The Hoix screamed in pain as the voltage hit it. It then slashed the lines out of Eva's hand and grabbing her head, twisted it to a side and bit into her soft neck. She grunted harshly as she twisted her neck into a further unnatural angle and snapped the Hoix's neck. As it fell to the ground in a heap, Eva fell on top of it.

Jack was there instantly, throwing the electrical lines away as Ianto popped out of the SUV with an emergency med kit, pulling out a gauze pad and holding it to Eva's neck. She tried to stop him; to tell him it was okay, but she couldn't speak, her throat was partially ripped out and her larynx was damaged. The blood kept flowing as her eyes dimmed. Jack took hold of her other hand.

WE ARE HERE, EVA. YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS. I AM HERE AND I WILL BE WAITING WHEN YOU GET BACK.

Ianto let go of her hand and went to help Gwen put the Hoix in a body bag then into the boot of the SUV. He returned to help Jack carry her back to the SUV. They both sat her in the back seat, Jack still holding her hand as Ianto held the other. He had been through this enough with Jack that he understood it – but it was still hard to see someone you cared about very deeply die so bloodied and torn.

Suddenly Eva's body went into a spasm and her eyes went dark. A familiar message was sent to Jack's PDT.

UNIT NOT RESPONDING. UNIT OFF-LINE. REBOOT REQUIRED.

The glow of nano-genes rose from Eva's body then went to Ianto first, then Jack, then Gwen as she stood next to Jack. The nano-genes then returned to Eva, she glowed brightly for a few seconds and it vanished. Eva sucked in a deep breath and her eyes glowed slightly as she held tightly onto the hands that held both of hers.

'I'm here,' Ianto said softly, tears suddenly filling his eyes.

'Forgive me, Ianto Jones,' she whispered, as she raised her own hand to caress his face. Jack's PDT received a now familiar message.

REBOOT COMPLETE. UNIT ONLINE.

Gwen then pushed him out of the way so she could give Eva a hug, the same she would give to Jack when he returned from death. When Gwen had released Eva Jack simply stared at her, then gathered her into his embrace. WHEN WE GET BACK, WE NEED TO TALK, he said, holding her tighter still. WELCOME BACK.

Eva hugged him back in returned. UNDERSTOOD, MY CAPTAIN, she whispered. IT IS GOOD TO BE BACK.

~~TWTWTW~~

Two hours later Gwen had gone home and Ianto was finishing up the last of the filing as Eva and Jack sat in opposite chairs facing each other. He moved his up until their knees were touching, then he reached out and brushed her face with his hand. He chuckled softly.

'Whatever in the world am I going to do with you, Tovar?' he asked softly.

'You have questions, my Captain. Ask of me what you will. If I can answer, I will,' she said softly.

'Two months ago, you and Ianto were on the roof the Millennium Centre. Then from the CCTV you were on the sidewalk within seconds. How?'

'I have the ability to project perception filters. After the encounter with the La-Ren, I discovered more of my Gifts.'

'So what did you do with Ianto? Teleport him to the sidewalk?'

At this Eva smiled. 'No,' she said softly. 'I showed him I can float.'

Jack simply stared at that remark. 'But…he's afraid of heights.'

'Not with me,' she said. 'You stand on the building tops throughout Cardiff as a conquering warrior; proud and lordly looking over all the lands that you survey. I do no such thing. I simply sit…I see…I try to understand. To become part of this new world, this different universe. In a way, I showed Ianto that as powerful as I am, I am more than willing to share what I can do with him. Sometimes, my Captain, you are a presence that engulfs as you attempt to protect. In the end…you simply suffocate. I know this is not your intention, it just simply is. Just as I am.' She stood and turned away from Jack to look down at Ianto cleaning the Hub in his methodical and precise manner.

'My masters created me as a template that other Archangels would be designed by. I was not the last…I was the first. Their intention was to create soldiers that would never die; that could be used as an ultimate final solution to whatever war they were fighting. I was sent into battle once…and let us just say I did my function well. So well in fact my Creators decided to have me decommissioned. It was then they realized I truly could not die. The Nexainians were like the Gallifreyans in that they could regenerate, but unlike the Gallifreyans, they could choose whether or not they changed their physical appearance. I never changed. I simply was - am a permanently fixed point in time and space and that horrified them. Except for the Queen. She saw something in me and took me into her heart. So my memories were altered and a new history was created. I was made the bodyguard of the Royal Family. When the Queen died, I was made Personal Bodyguard of the Prince. This was the only history I thought to be true until the final battle where King Keln Tovar removed all the failsafes within my mainframe and I knew the truth. I was a monster. I wiped out whole tribes at the inception of my creation. I was Charon - the Archangel of Death.' She sighed deeply, turning away from the windows looking back at Jack.

'All of my Gifts have awakened within me. But I know how far I can go – and I know not to go beyond them. I can not say I will not die again, like you. But for Ianto – and you, I promise I will keep it as a final option.' She then sat down in front of Jack, taking his hands in hers. 'How to say what happens next, my Captain,' she whispered. 'I have to ask Ianto something. Only Ianto. If he accepts, then we will tell you. But until then, my Lord Captain, please know that my burden can be shared with no one.'

Jack held onto her hands tighter. 'I have had my own secrets,' he said softly. 'They almost destroyed this city and killed two of my team. That secret was my brother Gray. If your secret is anything like that-.'

Eva's hand immediately went to Jack's mouth, covering his lips. 'Gwen and Ianto told me much – the Mainframe as well. You were buried in the earth and had to endure death and rebirth for over one thousand years, my Lord. You are made of far sterner stuff than I, my Lord. Hush, you are my Lord. Both to my heart and my programming. It is what I shall always see you as, it is a title you may not have been born into, but you are worthy of.' She slid her hand to his chin as he looked into her eyes. They were more green then brown as he studied their clear, churning depths. 'What I hold within me is nothing so devastating. If anything, it may be seen as wondrous. And it is a matter that will be discussed very soon. I promise, my Lord Captain.' She then leaned forward and kissed him on his lips.

Jack smiled softly. 'Okay, you win. For now.'

~~TWTWTW~~

She was walking back from the kitchen, glass of water in hand, when she registered movement in the lounge. She turned and saw Ianto sitting on the settee looking at her. 'Did I wake you, Ianto?'

He thought for a moment to deny it, then nodded. Honesty with Eva was always the best policy. 'Are you having nightmares?'

'Forgive me,' she said, sitting next to him. She took in his appearance. His eyes were smudged with dark circles; she could tell he was not sleeping well himself. 'Poor Ianto,' she said softly.

'What?' Ianto asked.

'You also are having difficulty sleeping. Is that not why you are sitting here in the dark?'

'Nice deflection,' he murmured. 'But I think I asked you first.'

'They are not nightmares. I…I am not certain what they are. They may be messages…and the sender is almost mad with grief,' she said softly. She then put her hand on Ianto's. 'Are you having nightmares, Ianto?'

'Yes,' he whispered. 'I was supposed to go to the power station, not Owen. I was supposed to be in the nuclear reactor station when it went critical. It was supposed to be me…and sometimes…sometimes I dream it is…-.' He crumbled then, Eva cradled him in her arms, holding him close. He pulled her close and cried into her shoulder until her shirt was wet. She simply soothed him; rubbing comforting circles into his back and cradling his head with her other hand.

'I am here, Ianto Jones,' she whispered softly. 'I was not here before when you needed help most. But I am here now – and I will never forsake you. Nor will the Captain.' At that, Ianto started to chuckle. 'Have I said something funny?'

Ianto pulled himself out of her embrace and wiped his eyes on his tee shirt. 'No,' he said softly, looking into her eyes. 'You reminded me of when I first started with Jack. I always called him Sir – even after he had asked me time and again to call him Jack. I…sometimes feel like I haven't done enough to deserve to live,' he said suddenly. Eva put her fingers to his lips.

'Never say such things, Ianto Jones. You more than most know how precious life is. If we feel unworthy, know that you are in His plan…and at the end of all things, you must trust in Him,' she whispered softly, smiling tenderly. Ianto looked into her eyes, those beautiful hazel eyes that hadn't changed in their brilliance since she arrived.

'My faith has taken a pretty bad battering over the years with Torchwood,' Ianto began. 'I'm not sure what I believe in anymore.'

Eva was about to answer when she suddenly gasped, standing upright immediately.

'Eva!' Ianto yelled. 'What is it?'

At that moment, she began to glow until she seemed to be lost inside the swirling light. Ianto ran to the kitchen, fetching his fire extinguisher. When he returned, the swirling light vanished but Eva's eyes glowed with the light, her slightly dark skin taking on the color of burning bronze.

'Eva?' Ianto called. 'Are you all right?'

His PDA suddenly went off, signaling a Rift Alert. Eva's PDT also reported the disturbance, the look on her face was a mixture of joy and absolute sorrow. 'Yes, Ianto Jones,' she said softly. 'The dreams that I've been having were not dreams. They were messages. This Rift Alert has stated that an object has been deposited at the Hub. It's a package for me. It's from home!'

AN: Well…hoped you like it. Please review – the Muse Bunnies are looking a tad thin and they eyeing my Itty-Bitty-Kitties….