Two in one day, but i've had this written for a long time now, I just want to say thanks a lot to my lovely readers, and reviewers. i appreciate it loads. i hope you've had as much an enjoyable time reading it as i have writing it. Thanks A lot.
The tardis landed on the Plass. Everyone made their way out in silence. Tears still staining their faces.
"Do you want to come in," Jack asked the Doctor.
"Ok," He said.
Jack took the Doctor down on the invisible lift, the rest went in the normal way.
As they got into the hub, the Doctor looked around.
"Wow," He said.
"Yeah," Jack nodded, no emotion in his voice.
Myfanwy flew across, looking around, noticing the one missing. She shrieked.
Llewellyn wandered to greet Ianto he let out a sniffling sound as a hello.
"Hello Lou," Ianto muttered.
The fire lion looked around, he let out a call. Then looked up at Ianto, repeating the sound. Ianto merely patted the lion on the head and went to make coffee.
Lou kept making the sound, calling out again and again.
"What's a matter with him?" Jessica asked.
"He's looking for his mum," Jack said sadly, following Ianto. He walked past Gwen, Owen and Tosh, who were curled up on the couch. He left the Doctor to look around.
Ianto was slumped against the kitchen counter. Rachel's mug in his hands, the mug was incredibly large, considering she had half coffee half hot chocolate and a lot of whipped cream, she had a large black and white mug, with a lion on the front.
"Ianto," Jack asked, Rachel and Ianto had grown very close once she had moved in.
"What do we do now," Ianto chocked out.
"We have to carry on, keep saving the world," Jack said, going to him, hugging him tight. "It's what she'd have wanted."
John was down in the mini gym, it had been Rachel's sanctuary, her healing place. On the table were the gems that she concentrated on when doing yoga, there was a box next to them, John went to it. It was open so he looked inside.
A disk lay in a clear case. It Rachel's hand writing it read. "For after I am gone," He took the disk back upstairs.
"Guys," He called. "I found this, it was Rachel's. it says For after I am gone."
He gave the disk to Tosh. She put it in, Ianto and jack gathered around with the rest.
The screen was filled with Ianto's flat.
Then Rachel sat down, facing the Camera.
"Ok, right, I am dead or about to die, hundreds of years in the future, millions of miles away.
I knew this was going to happen since I was 12. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so soon, I've only just sorted my life out, but, as I speak you lot are running around the hub like headless chickens, it's pretty funny to be honest, none of you actually need it, I don't want any of you to come but you will. I've mysteriously disappeared to come here and sort some things out.
So I might not have had a chance before, so this is a real chance to say goodbye.
Jessica, you did effectively ruin my life, but, you are keeping John happy, and in the long shot, you're probably better for him than I am, also you're an annoyingly good mechanic, a perfect replacement. So look after them for me.
Toshiko, you are the most intelligent human I have ever had the pleasure to meet. You are lovely and absolutely fantastic, I honestly don't know how you've not gone insane surrounded by Jack and Owen and myself, so thank you, for being my rock.
Gwen, if I've not already said so, you're going to be a brilliant mum, I don't think you know so sorry for ruining the surprise. But I know you'll be brilliant, you're so loving and kind and strong, I'd have loved you for a mum, you took care of me and thank you.
Owen, I'm sorry I couldn't find the cure. I said I would and I broke my promise, sorry. But you are a brilliant doctor, dead or alive, you surrounded by people who love you, and I hope you know I do to, no matter how much of an annoying twat you can be.
This is the bit where it gets harder.
My Ianto, my little twinkle toes, my Mr. Jones." Rachel sighed.
"You are the most beautiful and fantastic person on the planet. Maybe the whole universe, you took me in and put me back together, something that all the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't. for that I am eternally grateful. At least your flat will be cleaner now, you always said I made it a mess."
Rachel looked around the flat. "As always you were right, you do make the best coffee in the universe that is fact, you beat star bucks ass anytime. Thank you for everything Ianto, really.
Captain Harkness. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove I wasn't just a criminal, thanks for making me a hero, and thanks for letting me in your world. You're not as cold as you think, you need Ianto, and he needs you, you best look after my family for me jack, else I'll come and haunt you.
Doctor, I know you'll be there, that was part of the deal, so thanks for getting them home."
Rachel looked desperately at the clock.
"John," She sighed. "I want to hate you with all my heart, I want to tell you that you are a bastard and I wish I had never met you, but, you can tell when I'm lying so there's really no point. It hurts trying to say goodbye to you, I've had to do it more than once but this is rather final. So, I love you with all my heart, I have never stopped loving you and I never will. Captain John Hart, you were meant to be my Knight in shining armour, and you were, but I wasn't you're princess, I hope you're happy in your new life and I want to let you know, all of you, this isn't your fault, none of yours, fate is a bitch, and only the fantastic heroes die at the end.
Just a last minute note," She said looking up at the clock. "I've left you all a present, something to keep me in your hearts, but…I'm not going to tell you what or where it is, think hard enough. And you'll find the clues yourself. I love you all and I hope you live a long and happy life." the screen went back to its original blue screensaver.
Tears were pouring again.
Toshiko was playing solitaire, the rift seemed to be grieving as well, nothing big or exciting had come through, even the weevils were quiet, Lou had long stopped calling for his mum.
The atmosphere in the hub was solemn and sad. No longer did music reign across the speakers, or the team spontaneously burst into dancing because Rachel had blasted ABC by Jackson 5 across Cardiff. Jack was no longer constantly calling for her ridiculous pranks to be stopped. Owen had no one his match to bicker and torment the team with. Rachel had had more of an effect on them than they had realised, even when Rachel had been so low the atmosphere was a happy one. She had been like the sun, keeping everyone, even when she wasn't herself, happy.
As Tosh placed the last card on the pile a map appeared on screen, a map of the hub, a blue light blinking. Tosh looked at the map. The light was blinking at the garage.
She stood and went to the garage, no one noticed, they were to wrapped up in their own misery.
In the garage, Tosh looked around, on the lump of metal Rachel was supposed to have been trying to open was a blue light flashing.
Tosh went to it, it was a button. A note on top saying.
Toshiko Sato. Press the button for your present.
She pressed it. The top of the mass of metal opened, inside was a book. Tosh opened the book. A piece of paper fell out.
You didn't think it would be that easy did you? I wrote this in code, only me and the people who raised me know the code, try and crack it and my secrets are yours but I pray, you tell no one, these are for your eyes only. I know how you like a challenge, lots of love. Captain Rachel Falcon.
Owen was sat in the medical bay, he didn't want to speak to anyone. So he sat on his own.
"think hard enough. And you'll find the clues yourself," Rachel's words echoed in his head. He looked around the room. In the fridge he could see different things from different aliens.
In the very back he could see the purple pulsating thing from Mega Croc's stomach, from so long ago.
"Touch it, I dare you to touch it," Owen remembered Rachel's words.
He took it out of the fridge, wearing gloves. Placing it on the table.
He took of a glove, and poked the ball.
It blew up. Purple tar flying everywhere, where the ball had been in one piece was a piece of paper, covered in the purple substance.
Everyone had heard Owen's cussing and the popping noise of the ball exploding, and had come to have a look.
"What does the paper say." Jack asked.
Owen picked it up and brushed off the tar.
"This is not your present, the thing is the bladder of the mega croc. I just wanted you to get covered in crocodile poop. Ha!" Owen read it out.
There was a smattering of laughter from the team, a rare occasion, of course Rachel would leave a prank.
Owen went downstairs for a shower. On top of his locker was a note.
Doctor Owen Harper.
He opened his locker. And his jaw dropped. Inside was a sculpture, of a Falcon, mid-flight. It was sculpted out of a diamond.
Sorry for the prank Owen, here is your present, a Falcon from a Falcon. And if you sell it, you'll get about three million pounds. Lots of love, Captain Rachel Falcon.
Gwen was sat at home with Rhys, Rachel had been right, Gwen was pregnant. This did provide some complications with work and money. There was a knock at the door.
"Who could that be?" Rhys wondered aloud.
Gwen stood and walked to the door. A delivery boy simply handed over a box, then turned and left.
"What is it?" Rhys asked.
"It's a box." Gwen said.
"I can see that."
Gwen sat down with the box and opened it. Inside was a SatNav, a key and an envelope.
Gwen picked out the envelope as Rhys picked up the key.
On the envelope it read.
Williams family.
Gwen opened it, inside was a letter.
To Gwen, and Rhys and Family to be.
I found out a while back that my families will had left me a house and a generous sum of money, with some tweaking of records and a bit of hacking I learnt that it is left abandoned, so it has been my project to clean it up. There's actually not much I can do with it now, and I was never going to live in it in the first place so I did it up for you, it was going to be a Christmas present but I didn't quite make it that far. The address is on the sat nav so just turn it on, and follow the directions. I hope you enjoy.
Captain Rachel Falcon.
Gwen turned on the SatNav.
They followed it to a little way into the country, not to far from town.
"Oh my God," Rhys whispered.
They followed the lane to a country cottage, two floors up, fully restored, the garden was sheltered by trees and a neat lawn.
Inside the house was beautiful and brand new. Upstairs there was a Master bedroom, with an en-suite a gorgeous tiled bathroom and a smaller child's room. Painted a neutral sky blue.
John was at his apartment.
It's all your fault, this is your fault, she's dead and to her she thought that she was just something to pass the time. You disgusting excuse of a man, she loved you with all her heart and you destroyed her.
His head was pounding.
There was a note on the bed.
Captain John Hart.
I didn't know what to get you, I just want to say, that even after everything I love you. It's quite annoying, you stole my heart and never gave it back, but you can keep it. It's yours and it always has been, my charming Captain. I'll see you in hell.
Jack was in his office, he hadn't come out of it much since they had come back. Nor had Ianto, he mainly stalked around the hub.
Jack was doing paperwork, rare, but he either did that or get overwhelmed by his misery, another member gone. He opened his draw to file something away.
A note there caught him by surprise.
Only now is when you do paperwork, typical. Go where I would, and find your surprise.
It read.
Jack thought hard.
Then he wandered down to the small gym. No one had been here since…
Jack sighed, looking around the cold room, the usual atmosphere that Rachel seemed to bleed was gone. On the treadmill was an envelope.
Jack, I want to thank you for everything, you made me realise that I could be so much more than what I was branded as. You gave me meaning and reason, and it was best thing of all. If there is anything I have learned in my surprisingly short stay in Cardiff, and all I have been through, its that some things are worth holding onto, and some, if you loose the opportunity, never come back. So here's the gift, open the box over by the wall, and do me a favour, hold onto the most important thing you have. He's the only thing you've got when it all comes down to it.
Jack went to the wall, a delicate blue velvet box lay in the corner. Jack picked it up, opening it, a delicate ring lay among the cushions. A note was next to the box. It was addressed to Ianto.
"Hey," Jack greeted Ianto.
"Hi," He said quietly.
"I found this," Jack said, giving him the note.
Just say yes. Lots of Love, Rachel. xxxx
Ianto looked up, past the note, Jack was down on one knee, a sparkling ring in his hand.