Chapter twenty-two: All of me

Well, as always in Torchwood, dinner never truly went down as planned. Jackie had done up her popular bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado salad, biscuits, fried chicken and gravy. Everyone ate the food at odd shifts while dashing madly about conducting tests, making theories, looking for missing then a second victim was found. Ianto and Gwen had gone out to investigate the following morning. Everyone had gone more than 24 hours without sleep and they all looked terrible.

Jackie let out a moan as she stepped into the shower and under a stream of warm water. She exhaled deeply as her muscles relaxed and her body began to feel refreshed. Then, the shower door opened and Jackie whipped around to see Jack enter the shower with her. She tried to look stern, but she failed miserably. "I should have known."

"Well," he said with a smile as he reached in front of her to get his cloth wet. "I was planning on taking a shower today. So, imagine my surprise to find my bath already occupied. Surely you saw my clothes on the counter?"

"Yes, I did," she frowned. "wonder why it only registered now."

"Does it really matter?" Jack questioned as she stepped away and began washing up while he stepped under the water spray. "After all, you need someone to scrub your back."

"Well, I guess you're elected." She said with a smile as she reached for their bar of soap and began to lather up the washcloth. "But no sex or anything in the shower Jack, everyone is somewhat privy to our actions and I'd rather not add more to their dirty little minds."

"We're husband and wife." Jack said as she began washing her neck and collarbone. "It's a fact of life that we're going to have sex with each other." She looked up at him and shot him a strict look. Jack exhaled and pulled her against him. "But, your wish is my command; we'll tone things down for a bit."

"Thank you." Jack's arms circled her hips and he lifted her up into his arms. She knew that look in his eyes and felt her entire body quiver in his arms. "Jack. I don't want my hair-

He silenced her with a kiss and she groaned as he backed her up, under the shower spray, getting her hair wet. She mentally groaned in disappointment as Jack began massaging her wet skin under his hands. "God," he groaned as he slowly let her back down on the ground. "did I ever tell you that you feel amazing like this?" she nodded her head as he began placing those open mouth kisses down her shoulder. "All hot, wet, and slippery."

She smiled as she traced lazy circles on his shoulders with her fingertips. "You don't feel so bad yourself."

His mouth traveled down to her breasts. Instead of feeling pleasure, Jackie felt some pain and hissed lightly. Jack paused and looked at her curiously. "Did I hurt you?"

"No." She assured him. "I'm just…a little sensitive for some reason lately."

Jack exhaled and studied her gaze. "Jackie, promise me that you'll let Martha examine you."

"But Jack-

"Please," he placed a finger on her lips. "let me finish." She nodded. "I love you more than I've loved anything or anyone in the hundreds of years I've lived. I want to give you anything your heart desires and I wish…I could give you the child you want, even though you deny it." he placed his hand on her stomach. "I feel like a failure towards you in that area since it's something neither of us have control over. So please, do this for me. You've been throwing up, your body is sensitive and you've been tired lately. Please, let me take care of you to the best of my abilities for as long as we have together."

Jackie let out a shaky exhale. "I can't…argue with you when you say things like that to me." she nodded and exhaled. "Very well, I'll let her examine me and set your mind at ease." Jack kissed her on the mouth deeply and she held onto him tightly as she ran her hands up his smooth back. After several long kisses, they pulled away and she turned the water off. "We need to go."

"Yeah."

Miraculously, they were able to dress, dry off and head back up stairs without surrendering to temptation. Ianto, Owen and Martha were all just entering Jack's office. "Jack," Martha informed him. "Marie's had some sort of seizure, so Owen and I are going down to investigate."

"I'm going too." Jackie said as she reached for her jacket, which was hanging besides Jack. "I need to get out for a bit."

"You haven't eaten yet." Jack pointed out as he fell into step beside her. "You need to eat first before traipsing around a hospital."

"I'm not hungry." She shook her head. "It's too early for my stomach." She stretched up and kissed him. "I'll be fine. Now, don't worry about me, I can take care of myself husband."

"I doubt it." he said, giving her a pointed look, which caused her to flush.

"We'll look after her Jack" Martha promised. "We'll return her to you back in one piece."

Jack didn't look too convinced, but nodded. "Alright, make sure you bring all of her back. No exceptions!" As she walked away, he added. "Especially the best bits!"

Jackie let out a growl as Martha whispered. "Is he always like that?"

"Always! Trust me, some days he's so insufferable," she spun around to see Jack standing there in his office smirking at him. "I wonder how he got me to marry him!"

"Easy!"Jack called loudly. "I asked and you said 'yes.' Simple as that!"

The ride to the hospital had been merry. Martha had filled her in on how she'd met Jack and a few of the details as to why Jack had jumped out after the Doctor. He'd wanted to become normal again. Martha said that when they parted ways that Jack had mentioned wanting to be able to grow old with someone, but, he'd been upset that he couldn't. Jackie hadn't known that last bit of information, as Jack hadn't told her that piece of information.

The hospital staff eyed all of them with a rather curious eye, but they had full clearance so no one could object. They came into the room to find Marie was sweating and she wasn't very responsive. Jackie connected with Martha and shuddered at the creepy crawly feeling, like dozens of ants crawling all over, her body assaulted her.

"Marie?" Martha questioned as she flashed a light in Marie's eyes. "Marie, can you hear me?"

Marie let out a moan and moved Martha's hands away from her face. "Yeah."

"Okay." Owen said, taking control of the situation. "You've got something in your blood that we don't recognize, all right?" Marie glanced at Owen, concern in her pale face. "And we think it's behind your current illness, and we need to know what's been happening to you so that we can help you."

Marie rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Well, you're the doctors. You tell me."

"It's not quite that easy." Owen stepped away to answer something. Jackie cleared her throat as Marie sat up on the cot. She and Martha helped her up. "You appear to have a type of blood infection that is new and abnormal." Marie's eyes widened. "They need to know."

"Thanks, Ianto." Owen cleared his throat. "Right, listen, Marie, you're gonna have to level with us." He stepped towards her, his tone firm. "This could be a matter of life and death. Have you ever had a serious medical condition?"

Marie shook her head and muttered. "Too good to be true."

"What do you mean?" Martha questioned as she stepped forward.

"I had HIV." Marie admits, avoiding eye contact.

"You're perfectly clear of antibodies." Martha shakes her head slightly as she states. "That's not medically possible."

"That's the Reset." Marie said wearily as she rested her head in her hand. Jackie stepped towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Reset?" Martha glanced towards Owen. "What are we talking about, a drug?"

Owen shakes his head. "Right, I'm not familiar with Reset," he questions married. "so any idea of a chemical name?" Marie lets out a laugh before she starts coughing. Jackie pats her back while Martha steps towards her. "Where'd you get it from, Marie?" Owen demands firmly.

"I got it from the Pharm." She says as her coughing slows.

"The farm?" Martha asks. "What farm? Marie?"

"No," Marie bats Martha's hand away in anger as she spells out. "P-H-A-R-M. The Pharm. It's a medical research place, all right?"

"How did you get it from there?" Owen demands.

"They gave it to me." Marie sounds insulted that she'd get it any other way. "They paid me a lot of money. They said I should to keep quiet about it because it was part of the contract."

"Are you saying you were a clinical trial subject?" Martha says as she brushes back a strand of Marie's hair from her face. Jackie felt everything well up in Marie as she flops back onto the bed with a moan. "Marie?"

"Convulsing." Owen shouts.

"Marie!" Martha calls loudly as Marie's body starts to convulse.

"Her insides are on fire." Jackie reports. "Her blood…there's something there."

"I'll give her another ten mil." Owen says as he pulls out the needle.

"You're all right." Martha says as she holds onto Marie, trying to keep her calm. Jackie feels Marie's heart stop and her body stops moving just as Owen jabs the needle into Marie. Jackie shakes her head and steps away from Marie as Martha relays to Owen. "She's dead."

That sick feeling wells up in Jackie again, she's somehow still connected to Marie. As the sensations moved from her body to her mouth, she shook her head. "You two, step away from the body, now!"

As soon as those words left her mouth, a swarm of little insects comes out of Marie's mouth. Jackie instinctively throws a protective bubble around Martha and Owen and one for herself. The creatures fly at them, bouncing off the bubble. Owen is able to sound the alarm. "Emergency! Clear the area!" Martha and Owen pull their surgical masks over their faces in case Jackie loses her focus. A few moments later, the things drop out of the air, like snowflakes, dead.

Jackie shudders as she releases the bubbles. "Oh, that was…disgusting."

"Oh my God, that was amazing." Martha says as she stares at Jackie. "How did you do that?"

Jackie shakes her head. "I've no idea. I just have it."

"Well, now I see why Jack always wants her around." Owen exhaled as he leaned over and picked up one of the tiny creatures. "I think I want Jackie nearby for this case."

Martha pats her on the back. "I owe you one."

"Well, I've promised Jack that I'd let you examine me later, so, we'll call it square."

But there was so much going on that there was no time for the examination. The parasite turned out to be an alien larva that was incubating in human bodies. The PHARM was using some form of alien creature as a type of drug. It would return the human body to a state of perfection. Except, the problem was the parasites inside the drug, which would then hatch, traumatizing the people. So, Jack, Jackie and Owen were now headed to the PHARM to ask the man in charge, Aaron Copley, quite a few questions.

They were immediately stopped at the security checkpoint. "Torchwood." They were instantly allowed through without any fuss. Jack frowned as they moved forward. "That was easy."

"Way too easy." Jackie stated. "but then, we were expected." Jack chuckled sarcastically. "Jack, would you take my ring off?"

Jack frowned, but did as she asked. "Why do you want it off?"

"Well," she explained. "I figured a single woman is better at manipulating men than a married woman."

"No!" Jack snapped possessively. "No way Jackie! You are not flirting with the director!"

"Oh come on Jack!" She said with a smile. "I'm great at it."

"I don't care." He stated as he jerked his eyes away from the road to glower at her. "Now, put your ring back on!"

"I will in a bit." She laughed. "Oh, I love it when you act like this. Don't worry," she said as she patted his leg. "why would I want a burger when there's a steak waiting for me at home?"

"You hate red meat." He points out. "That's not making me feel any better."

She pats his cheek and murmurs. "It's all about the price Jack."

"I am still in the car, you two," Owen said from the back seat. "in case you'd forgotten."

"No," Jack said. "but maybe we're paying you back for making out with Tosh in the kitchen."

"Well," Owen said dryly. "at least we don't have sex where food gets prepared!"

"Do not answer him Jack," she said firmly. "otherwise, this whole conversation will go in a direction, I really don't want it to go!"

Jack muttered and grumbled as Jack parked the SUV in front of the building before getting out. Jackie grabbed her notepad, pen and briefcase, looking like the perfect secretary. Jack slammed the door and came around beside her. "And you don't get too much into this role. He's an old man and probably won't even be interested in you."

Jackie chuckled as two security guard approached them. "Oh sugar, you have no idea of the depths of my appeal."

Hello everyone. I'm just giving a shout out to fellow friend/writer, 'Fanficqueen306' who's writing a Doctor Who story that is fantastic! It's called 'My blue eyed girl' and it's an 11th Doctor romance with an OC. It's Brilliant!