"What do you need it for exactly…?" Toshiko asked hesitantly, not exactly sure she wanted to hear the answer t all. Knowing Jack though, he was going to tell her or keep it a secret- and he usually kept it secret.
"It's none of your concern," Jack shrugged it off, running a hand through his hair, then broadened his grin once he saw Gwen, "Nice to see you actually bothered coming in today!" Gwen felt herself blush and she nodded- why was she so nervous?
"Yes, uh…. where's Ianto?" she asked. Jack shrugged.
"Gave him the day off," Jack said simply. Owen gaped, his brows furrowing into angry points, his brown eyes narrowed in disdain.
"And yet we're stuck here?!" he barked, crossing his arms, "are you daft?"
"Nope, I'm busy," Jack replied, running up a flight of stairs to where Toshiko kept the pterodactyl: a cage at the top of the tower, a red button on the wall to keep it hidden from sight. Owen rolled his eyes, groaning.
"Don't get mad, Owen," Jack chastised him, "besides, what else were you gong to do today?"
"Much to your ignorance, I have plans and i would rather not spend my time cooped up in this hell-hole with you, mate!" Owen complained. Jack let out a laugh: a low, heart boom that was intimidating yet welcoming and warm all at the same time.
"Like what? A date?" Jack asked, slamming his hand on the button. A siren began wailing as the doors slid open, a red light sweeping the area. The pterodactyl crawled hesitantly out of the room before sniffing, widening its scaly wings. With a loud screech, it jumped, soaring around the institute, keeping close to the ceiling.
"As a matter of fact, yes!" Owen yelled back, trying his best to be heard over the pterodactyl screeching, "so put the fossil away and let us all go!"
"No can do, buddy!" Jack yelled down at them, "I need Gwen and Tosh to stay here, man the fort and all." Toshiko and Gwen exchanged curious glances- if they were staying in Torchwood, what was Owen going to do? Not that there was that much to do- all she and Owen had been doing before Gwen had arrived was stare at the computer screens, watching security cameras like they were reality television shows.
"Then what's Owen going to do?" Gwen called up, cupping her hands over her mouth as Jack took a few steps back from the railing. With a few bounding leaps, Jack hurtled himself over the balcony.
"Jack!" Gwen screeched, her heart leaping in her chest. Toshiko placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing tentatively as the three of them stared up at the balcony. Owen was hunched over, knees bent as he waited for something- anything to crash to the ground on him. Before they could shout his name a second time, the pterodactyl flew past, and on its back was Jack, who had a smug grin on his face.
"You fucking bastard!" Owen shouted with relief, "you could have well bloody died you know!"
"And i was not about to clean up that mess, let me tell you," Toshiko said under her breath to Gwen, who let out a nervous chuckle.
"But I can't!" Jack countered to Owen, giving him a small wave as a hatch in the ceiling opened, revealing a dark nighttime sky. Stars decorated the blackness like rhinestones on velvet, creating maps and constellations of all sorts. A look of worry crossed Owen's face when Jack had shouted that last sentence- What does he mean by that?
"Anyway- Gwen and Tosh! Man the fort while I go back!" Jack ordered, "and Owen! Enjoy your date!" Owen gave him a suspicious look as they watched Jack steer the creature towards the sky, disappearing into the night. The metal groaned as the hatch slid closed.
"Bloody insane, he is," Owen commented with a shake of his head. Gwen grinned, crossing her arms.
"Does he do that often then?" she asked, watching as Owen pulled over a chair, collapsing into it with a heavy sigh.
"Usually no," Owen said, "I've never seen I'm do that before." Toshiko nodded in agreement, her mouth a thin line- clearly, she was impressed, lath ought it was a bit difficult for Gwen to tell.
"Why do we even have that thing?" Toshiko asked, more to herself then either of the others.
"He said something weird though…." Owen trailed off, clicking his fingers against the plastic arms of the chair, his nails digging into the cracked design.
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked.
"When I was shouting?" he suggested.
"About him killing himself by jumping?" Gwen said. Owen nodded, continuing, "Yeah, that. When I was shouting that he was going to kill himself by jumping, he said the weirdest thing…"
"Well, instead of hinting about it, just get to the point then, will you?" Toshiko said, rolling her eyes. Owen waved his fingers at her as if he were swatting away a fly buzzing annoyingly in his ear.
"I was getting to that!" he snapped, then coughed, saying, "When I said he was going to kill himself, he said 'But I can't!' with that stupid grin of his and then flew off!" Toshiko cocked her head, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"But I can't?" she echoed. Owen nodded.
"What did he mean by that?" Toshiko said. Owen shrugged, pursing his lips.
"How am i supposed to know?!" he exclaimed. Gwen shrugged.
"Then why bring it up?" Gwen said.
"Well, i work with you, I thought you might want to know!" Owen said with a sarcastic drawl, brown eyes bugging out.
"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure he's joking," Gwen said, a little uneasy, She knew what Jack had meant by that statement- but did the others? Obviously not, Gwen thought, they didn't see him get shot and come back like I did….
In fact, the memory was still clear as day: Susie Costello (Torchwood's former mechanic) was about to shoot her with a gun. But then she had shot Jack instead….
….And he had survived the bullet to his head, smack in the middle of his forehead. But instead of dripping blood, he had simply… absorbed the bullet…..
"…..Earth to Gwen?" Toshiko's voice broke through her thoughts, and Gwen found them giving her concerned glances.
"S-sorry," she stuttered, shoving her hands nervously in the pockets of her leather coat.
"What was that, love?" Owen inquired, "you look like you saw a ghost for a second!" Gwen shook her head, biting her lower lip.
"It was nothing, don't…. don't worry about it," she said simply. Owen shrugged- it was better sometimes, to accept things ins tea dog pushing for answers- as the case he usually and with women.
"Anyway…" he said awkwardly, sucking in his already sallow cheeks, "I should probably get going, so, good luck here and all!" With a few polite farewells, Owen was about to stalk down the hall when Toshiko called after him, "I hope you don't mmd me asking, but who's the lucky lady?"
"The Devil Himself," Owen joked.
"Come on, really!" Toshiko begged, "who is she?"
"A fiery redhead named Natasha," Owen answered, a look of whimsy glinting in his eyes. Gwen laughed, waving him away.
"Well, go meet Natasha," she said, "I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to be stood up by the likes of you!" Owen rolled his eyes, swiveling on his heels and walking down the hall, the door slamming behind him as he disappeared around the bend. Sighing, Toshiko gestured to the computers.
"Shall we start then?" she said.
"I assume so!" Gwen agreed, occupying the chair that Owen had been sitting in only a few moments before, watching as Toshiko plopped herself down and began rapidly typing, her fingers almost a blur as she pulled up a few more videos along with some articles, filling Gwen in on everything she could about the Avengers.