Chapter twenty-five: Confessing

Jackie muffled a yawn as Tosh drove Billy's land rover, by remote, through the check point at the Pharm. Jackie couldn't believe how stupid people were. How could they not notice Billy's mouth was hanging open, his eyes were vacant and he had his hands tank-taped to the steering wheel? Oh well, they were human. Still, she couldn't believe that this had been Tosh's idea! Ianto was right; she could be warped on the inside.

"Tosh, Gwen, Ianto, check out Zone A." Jack said as they all vaulted out of the car. "Jackie, Owen, we're going after Martha. Let's go."

Jackie nodded and fell in beside Jack at a run. She wondered if she should be running because she was pregnant. She'd have to ask Martha later. Jackie realized that she didn't know anything about children or pregnancy outside of what she'd seen in the movies because she hadn't intended on getting married! Then, when she'd gotten married, she hadn't anticipated getting pregnant!

They found their way to examination room easy enough. Jackie followed symptoms of Martha struggling like a bloodhound after a fox. All three of them drew their guns as Jack kicked the door open. "Hands above your head!" Dr. Copley was leaning over Martha, who was struggling weakly against her bonds. Owen put his gun down, stripped off his backpack and went to help her. "What have you done to her?"

"Tell me that's not Reset." Owen asks with dread.

"She's survived the larval stage." Copley says, as if Martha's no more than a speck of dirt to him. "The only subject ever to do so. It's fascinating." Jackie rolled her eyes in irritation, sorely tempted to tell Jack to shoot Copley now and just get it over with. "Turns out these bugs practice sibling cannibalism. Only the strongest individual is left now. God knows what happens next."

"Put a stop to this."

However Owen's attempt to plead to Copley as one doctor to another, failed. "I can't." Jack shifted the gun in his hand, aiming it at Copley's head. "I don't know how."

Jack turned to her for confirmation and she groaned as she put her gun away. "As much as I hate to say it…he's telling the truth."

"Great." Jack shoved his gun back in his holster.

"Believe me; I'm less thrilled than you." Jackie jumps as the mayfly begins moving around inside Martha. "Owen."

"I know. Jack, this thing's killing her." Owen inhaled raggedly. "I don't know what I can do."

"Owen, stay calm." Again, Jack's calm and always in control voice had a soothing presence on everyone. "There has got to be something."

Jackie turned to Copley and shook her head. "You're going to pay for this."

"Oh all of this was legal, I assure you," he stated proudly. "we've got her signature on the papers." He did that look that caused her skin to crawl. "A shame you owe your loyalty to Torchwood."

Jackie chuckled before sneering. "I owe no loyalty to Torchwood. My loyalty is to my husband, who just happens to be Torchwood."

"Understood, Ianto." Jack said as he touched his earpiece, fury starting up inside him. "Tell Tosh to go for total shutdown." He stared Copley down as he slowly lowered his hand. "This place is a torture chamber."

Copley turned his head aside. "I don't need to debate medical ethics with you."

"You abused the Mayflies." Jackie knew this tone that Jack was using. He was going to relax the person he was mad at, before giving them hell. "You turned them into parasites."

"We didn't understand how the Mayflies reproduced." Copley explained feebly. "We tried to limit the damage."

"What, by murdering people?"

"They were going to die anyway. We're on the edge of the greatest discovery in history. It's got to be worth a few sacrifices."

"Spoken like Joseph Mengele during World War 2," Jackie stated calmly. "who'd experiment on the Jews just to make 'medical history' according to him."

"Don't be so vulgar." Copley rolled his eyes. "That was years ago. It doesn't matter now. You must understand that, Jack," Jack whips his head around in indignation that Copley would suggest that he'd even begin to understand this. "you're involved in alien research.

Jack shakes his head. "Not like this."

"My husband," she state firmly. "as he's currently married to an alien, treats all forms of alien life with the greatest respect and always has." She turned to Jack and dipped her head. "Go on and say those words, I really need to hear those words now."

Jack smirked a bit before stepping to stand in front of Copley. "I'm closing this place down."

Copley chuckles in denial. "In your dreams. This is a state of the art, official facility."

"Oh, I'm not going to do it by sending a memo." Jackie smiles as Jack's words wipe the smug look off Copley's face. Jack steps towards him, his stride slow and confident. "We're in control of your IT systems. As we speak, we're crashing your data banks, wiping your records."

"That's cyber terrorism." Copley growls out.

"Oh, and that's just for starters." Jack states. "We're going to trip the systems of your fire, radiation and biohazard safety networks. The power will be cut, sprinklers will be activated, and a large part of this facility will be sealed and flooded with inert gases."

"The aliens will die." Copley says.

"They're already dying." Jack fights back the temptation to wring Copley's neck. "This way they'll be put out of their misery."

"For God's sake," Copley's voice becomes desperate as he realizes that Jack isn't fooling around. "we're on the same side!"

"No. Combating hostile aliens is one thing, but this is slavery, exploitation, a war crime!" Jack bites out. "I've seen many things, but nothing like this."

"Jack, I need your help!" they turn to find Martha's body's going into a state of convulsions. Jack moves to go hold Martha still.

"What the hell are you doing to her?" Jack questions as Martha begins gagging for air.

"This is the only way we'll save Martha." She and Jack realize that Owen is holding the singularity scalpel. "I think I understand how it works."

Copley makes his escape and Jackie runs after him, but pauses in the doorway. They'll get him and she didn't want to leave in case the two of them needed her help. She stretched out her hand and slammed Copley to the ground, hopefully knocking him out.

"You'd better be sure because it's never worked before. Owen, are you sure it's safe?"

Martha begins gasping for air as Owen shouts. "Okay, Jack!"

Jack moves away from Martha. "Owen, tell me you're sure. You could kill her with that thing!" Jack shouts as Jackie grabs a hold of his arm. "We're losing her!"

Owen presses the button and Martha bolts upright, breaking the restraints, eyes wide as she gasps for air. She sits there, frozen for a moment and then she falls back, unconscious. She flat-lines.

"What have you done?" Jack asks, his voice breaking.

"Jack," she said as she moved forward. "she may not be dead. Owen. Come on." at that moment, Martha coughs and the monitor starts beeping again. Jackie exhales. "I rest my case."

"Oh, bloody hell," Owen said in relief. "it worked."

"Thank God for that." Jack says as he moves Jackie aside to get to Martha. She smiles at his concern. He pulls Martha up from the bed and moves her towards the door. "Let's get her out of here."

"Easy Jackie, she was dead for a moment." Jackie reminds him as Owen slings Martha's coat around her shoulders and they head for the nearest exit.

"What are," Martha rasps out. "you doing here?"

"Saving you." she says shortly. "And, I'm off to find Copley."

"No you don't!" Jack and Martha chime together.

She rolls her eyes and quickens her pace and Jack follows suit. They hurry out the front door, ignoring Owen and Martha communicating in lower voice together. They come out to find almost everyone rounded up. Gwen has Doctor Plummer at gunpoint, forcing her to move towards the car. "Arms up on there." She then begins searching Doctor Plummer for weapons.

Tosh looks to Jack for permission to shut down the facility. He nods his head curtly and says firmly. "Do it."

Jackie exhales as the lights blare and the automated voice for the base begins to blare loudly over the speakers. Facility shut down program. All personnel must evacuate immediately. Facility shut down in progress. All personnel must evacuate immediately.

She exhales deeply as Jack places his hand on her shoulder and speaks loud enough to be heard over the sounds. "Okay, let's go."

"Did you really think," Dr. Copley's voice causes them all to turn around and find him pointing a gun in their direction. Jackie brings her alongside to get her gun carefully out of the holster, using Jack's body as a visual shield. "I was going to let you just walk away?" Copley points the gun at Martha and Owen steps in front of her. "You've ruined everything I've worked for."

"Now, let's not be stupid, okay?" Owen said, attempting to reason with him. "We're both rational men, scientists."

Jackie whispers. "I've got my gun out."

"I noticed." Jack hissed back. "Can you get him?"

Jackie doesn't even bother to answer. She heard Copley planning on which members of Torchwood he was going to pick off. She saw him planning to shoot Owen in the heart and she reacted instantly. Without answering or waiting, she brought her gun up, barely bothered to aim and shot Copley in the forehead and then the chest.

She shrugged as everyone watched as Copley's body crumpled to the ground, stone dead, and then turned to stare at her as she put her gun back. "Waiting is so overrated."

Gwen stared at her. "You just…shot him in the face."

"He was going to kill Owen." She stated firmly as she put her gun back in its holster. "I can read men's thoughts, remember?" she smiled at Tosh as she hurried towards Owen. "Can't have Tosh losing Owen, now that she's finally got him."

"Jackie," Tosh exhaled and wrapped her arms around Owen's waist. "I'm so glad you know how to do that."

"Easy Tosh," Owen said and he gently patted her shoulder. "I wasn't going anywhere."

Martha shook her head in admiration. "I'll say it again Jack, she is one impressive lady."

"Don't I know it." Jack stepped towards her in amusement. "Well, sexy brain," she rolled her eyes as he gave her a peck on the mouth. "why don't you tell me what I'm thinking now?"

Jackie placed her hands on the sides of his head and immediately began blushing at the graphic thoughts running through his mind. She pulled away and gave him a gentle shove. "God, someone needs to wash your mind out with soap!" everyone laughed loudly at them as she turned. "Come on, let's get back to work."

An hour later,

Jackie smiled as she stood beside Jack, watching as each member of Torchwood said his or her farewells to Martha. Jackie exhaled. "you know, I'm going to miss her."

Jack chuckled. "I kinda figured you would."

Owen kissed Martha on the cheek and then gave her a hug. Jackie smiled. Owen and Martha had gotten along great together professionally and would have been an ideal couple, if they didn't have somebody else.

After releasing her, Martha moved to Gwen and hugged her. "You take care." Gwen said.

"Thank you." Martha then hugged Ianto, who also planted a kiss on Martha's cheek. Martha turned and sauntered up to Jack, a big smile on her face. "Well, it's been…interesting."

"Oh, it's been fun." Jack attempted to sound gruff, but as always, his dancing eyes and smirk caused his 'act' to fail. He smiled sadly and nodded at Martha. "You know it has."

Martha suddenly stretched up on tiptoe and kissed Jack on the mouth. Jack stood there, eyes wide open, while glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. After two more smacks, Martha pulled away. Jack tilted his head to side and looked at Martha questioningly. She shrugged, slightly embarrassed as she explained. "Well, everyone else has had a go." She said with a laugh, causing everyone else to grin and laugh. Jack kept looking at her, as if expecting her to react. Martha turned to Jackie. "Sorry about that Jackie."

She shrugged as Martha stepped towards her. "Oh, no, problem. I'm the one he shags every night," she added in a confident, teasing voice. "and at least twice a day."

Jack let out a groan of embarrassment as Martha hugged her while everyone smirked at him. "No wonder," Martha whispered. "you're pregnant then?"

Jackie nodded. "No wonder." She pulled away and smiled at Martha. "I'll keep you updated."

"Oh please do!" Martha said. "I hope to come back again soon, if it's allowed."

"You can so come back any time." Jack assured her as he placed his hand on Jackie's waist.

"Well, maybe I will. One day." Martha promised with a smile. She stepped away and saluted Jack, who straightened up and returned the salute. They watched as Martha walked away, suitcases in her hands until she was gone.

"So," Jack said as he placed his hand on her waist. "since you blabbed to everyone about our nightly activities, shall we go in?"

She nodded. "Yes, but, I need a shower," at the light in his eyes she added. "alone." He shook his head. "I'm serious Jack. I'll also get some food ready too, so no snacking."

He waved his finger under her nose. "You're up to something, aren't you?"

She smiled. "Yes, I am. Which is why, you're going to follow my instructions to the letter. And be sure, once you've showered, that you're dressed to impress before you come downstairs."

30 minute later,

Jackie set the plates on the table, mentally turning on the music of Jeff Steinberg's 'I'll take romance' album. Fortunately, the evening was still somewhat young for them. The food they had wasn't fancy, but Jackie was able to whip up somewhat of a French bistro style dinner with ham, crackers, cheese, grapes and simple green salad. She lit the two candles when she heard the lift approaching, signaling Jack was coming down the lift.

She turned to see him holding the clothes he'd worn earlier in one hand and an orange rose in one hand. He arched his brow approvingly as he surveyed the change in the room. "What is all this?" he questioned. "Candlelight, music, dinner….my wife dressed in an exotic silk robe, hopefully wearing nothing underneath it."

"Sorry Jack, I am wearing something."

He shrugged, dropping his clothes by lift. Jackie rolled her eyes as he shoved his hands in his pockets and approached her. "What is all this for?"

"Well," Jackie smiled teasingly. "I just felt like having a nice dinner with my husband, alone, for once."

Jack chuckled as he leaned forward to kiss her. "Well, I'm happy to take advantage of every possible moment with my wife." He wrapped his arm around her waist. "I suppose everything can wait until the morning."

"It better." She looked down at the rose in his hand. "So, tell me husband, what does this one mean?"

"Enthusiasm," he said slowly as he ran the tip of her rose around her face. "desire and fascination."

She moaned and pulled away from him. "Easy on me Jack," she stepped back over towards the table, taking his hand and pulling him after her. "or we'll forget we're hungry."

"So," Jack studied her, eyeing her deep, blue, silk robe. "what are you wearing under there?"

"A dress," she said as she undid her sash to reveal the red dress that she'd worn on their first date together. "I just didn't want to spill something on it."

Jackie flushed under Jack's roving and approving gaze. "I remember. You were the sexiest woman to ever walk the planet." Jack placed his hand on her firm stomach, causing her to pause. His hand on their forming child, without him knowing, was such a powerful feeling that she stopped breathing. Jack had leaned forward to kiss her, but her reaction to his hand caused her to stop. "What is it?" He questioned as he studied her carefully. "Are you alright?"

She inhaled raggedly and nodded with a smile. "Yes, I'm fine Jack." She worked on her tone, she sounded like she was lying and he'd know. She didn't want to tell him yet. "Martha gave me a clean bill of health."

"I've never doubted her judgment until this moment." he stated as she moved towards the table. Jack reached out and grabbed her wrist, turning her to face him. "Did she say what was the matter with you?" Jack asked. "And don't say that there was nothing wrong with you, because clearly, there was."

Jackie turned and placed her hands on Jack's waist. She'd wanted to tell him after dinner, but now, she wanted to set his mind at ease. "Jack," she said softly. "there is nothing that Martha can do for me."

Jack grabbed her shoulders. "Jackie?" The panic in is voice was endearing. "What are you trying to say?"

She gripped his elbows before saying. "Jack…I'm pregnant." His grip went slack and her heart began to pound as she absorbed his emotions.

Jack shook his head slowly, trying to absorb the information. "What?"

"And I'm…having twins."

He ran his hand down her face. "Oh honey, is she sure?"

Jackie nodded. "Saw it myself. I'm six weeks, well, one month and two weeks actually."

He shook his head as excitement began to build in him. "And…what sex are they? Do you know yet?"

"One of each Jack."

He shook his head in amazement before wrapping her in a tight embrace, lifting her off the floor. "I can't believe this is happening. I love you so much." She moaned as he held her close against his body before moving against her ever so slowly. "My dearest wife," he said through slow and heady kisses that he began to bestow on her neck. "I shall show you how much of a treasure you are to me. You thought you'd tasted pleasure, but now, you shall taste it to the fullest extent."