Chapter twenty-nine: Botanical sex

Three weeks later,

A multitude of emotions caused Jackie to carefully waddle her way up to the conference room. She wasn't supposed to be climbing up stairs. Owen and Jack had both noticed that she seemed tired and Owen had examined her. While he hadn't found anything unusual, he deduced that it was the stress of her first pregnancy and had declared that, she take it easy, stay out of missions for a while and not climb any stairs, which she did anyway.

As she neared the conference room, she could hear Gwen speaking, rather passionately. "Cardiff has an epidemic of missing persons, totally out of kilter with any other comparable city. And it's all down to the Rift."

"Are you sure," Ianto asked carefully. "they aren't just normal missing persons? People do go missing for other reasons."

"No." Gwen shook her head emphatically. "Toshiko cross-referenced the locations with the Rift spikes. The people we've identified here are definitely victims of the Rift."

As if sensing her, Jack turned around and stood up. "Hey, did you climb up the stairs again?"

She nodded and held onto her stomach. "I'm fine, Jack, honest."

"I told you," Owen repeated to her again. "that you needed to get some rest in a stress free environment." She shot him a telling look as Jack guided her to his seat. "Which, would, probably be best if you didn't live in Torchwood." Jack situated her in his seat and sat down beside her, taking her hand. Owen then directed his attention back to Gwen. "What do we think happens to them?"

"Scattered through time and space," something in Jack's voice caused her to look at him. "I guess." He looked at her and shook his head. he knew she could sense that he was hiding something, but didn't want her to call him on it.

"Cheery thought," Owen said blandly. "thank you."

"This is good work," Jack said to Gwen who smiled brightly at him. "but I don't know what you want us to do."

"We find a way to prevent it." Gwen stated.

Jackie frowned. "But, we can't control the rift Gwen."

"Toshiko," Jack asked. "can we predict when the spikes are gonna happen?"

"No," Tosh shook her head. "and they're gone in a matter of seconds."

Jack folded his hands and then stated the unwanted obvious to Gwen. "Then I don't know how we combat them."

"Jack, we have a duty here." Everyone began shifting uncomfortably. Gwen never knew when to stop. "These people are victims of the Rift. If they've been attacked by a Weevil-

"Weevils we can catch." Jack reasoned with Gwen, his voice tight. "If they're victims, we fix their wounds. But this….. we don't know when it's gonna happen. We don't know where they end up. Seriously, Gwen, practically, tell me what we should do."

Gwen paused only for a moment before responding solemnly. "We help those left behind." Jack dropped his head in silence, signaling that his answer was going to be 'no.' Gwen's voice immediately rose as she demanded. "Why not?"

Jack exhaled and replied calmly. "It's nothing to do with us. Move on."

"Jack," Gwen pleaded. "you should see these people."

"Some things we can't fix." Jack pointed out.

"He's right Gwen." Jackie said. "This has nothing to do with Torchwood. It is something that we cannot control and cannot prevent."

"So, we don't even try?" Gwen demanded.

"Look, Jack's right." Owen said rationally. "They need counseling, support. That is not us."

"Ah, okay, is that what you all think?" Gwen planted her hands on her hips and surveyed the group. "We are the only ones who know the truth. We can help them. We don't have to be this hard." Jack rose slowly from the table. "It's not a badge of honor, jack."

Jack jabbed a finger at Gwen and ordered firmly. "Close this down." And with that, he turned and walked out of the room without a second look.

"Jack!" Gwen called after him as Jackie carefully pulled herself up from the chair and waddled after him.

"I'll go talk to him." she inhaled. "But he isn't going to change his mind Gwen, so you're going to have to let this go."

"So, is that it, then?" Gwen shouted after her as she hurried after Jack. "We sweep it under the carpet?"

"Jack?" she called after him. "Jack, wait up!"

"Look," he spun around; his expression was tired and cross. "Jackie, I don't want to hear anything, this discussion is over."

She smiled softly at him before asking. "Help me back down the stairs?"

He blinked at her and exhaled, some of the tension leaving his face. "I'm sorry, that was inconsiderate of me." he took her arm and guided her down another passage, which had fewer steps. "You shouldn't be up here."

"I know, but, I sensed that you were upset, so I came up." she glanced at him. "You still are," he shot her a slight glower, which she ignored. "but, I'm not going to ask you any questions."

He nodded his head. "Thank you." he exhaled deeply and shook his head. "Gwen isn't going to let this go though."

She smiled at him. "I wouldn't bet on it. I sensed defeat on her part, she'll probably be back tomorrow with an apology."

"You really think so?"

She nodded as he swept her up into his arms. "I really do." She sighed as he walked down the stairs. "I should have visited the botanical garden while I was up there." he paused and turned around upwards in the opposite direction they'd come. "I wanted to see if the Hievhis had bloomed yet." Hievhis was a beautiful red flower that released a wonderful scent.

Jack chuckled. "I actually has. But, it's late and you need to rest." She pouted and stuck out her lower lip. "But, if you're a good girl, I'll take you up a little bit later tonight to see it and possibly," he grinned at her. "a little more than that."

She laughed. "Alright, I promise, I'll rest up."

He chuckled before whispering in her ear. "You're going to need all the rest you can get."

Later that evening,

Jackie tore her mouth away from Jack as he moved her back against the botanical table. "Jack!" she cried as he began moving harder inside her. "Jack!"

"Oh, God!" Gwen's voice caused Jackie to shout in a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure as she lost control of her body. She gasped and grabbed a hold of Jack's shoulders. "I'm sorry."

Gwen shut the door as Jack breathed hotly into her shoulder. "This is getting to be…a common occurrence with her, isn't it?"

"Yes." She inhaled deeply as he kissed her on the mouth. "Oh God." He gently broke the kiss and carefully exited her and allowed her feet to touch the ground again. thank God, Owen said that they could still have sex, or she'd have gone insane! she inhaled and reached for her robe and pulled it on before moving slowly towards the door. "I'll go…see what Gwen wanted."

"Yeah. I want a word with her too." Jackie wobbled slightly off balance, catching herself on the table causing Jack to laugh. "If you can even walk a straight line over to her."

"Shut up Jack!" he only laughed louder and harder at her as she pushed the door open to see that Gwen was waiting a short distance away.

"Jackie," she stammered. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize-

"It doesn't matter." Jackie assured her with a light hand wave. "Jack and I are used to you walking in on us, at the most inconvenient times by now."

"I wouldn't have come in if I'd known."

The door opened and Jackie whipped her head around to see Jack had gotten dressed, somewhat. "Always room for one more." He placed a hand on his hip, shooting Jackie a pointed look. "We could've used you an hour ago for naked hide and seek."

"Don't." Jackie pleads. "You promised…no more talking about our private business. And besides," she protested. "you cheat!"

"Yeah, you always light up so sexy." Jack said in a light, soothing and playful voice, causing her to blush. Jack turned to Gwen. "Was there something you wanted?"

Gwen paused for a moment before saying. "Jonah Bevan. The missing boy." Jack inhaled. "I'll make it my own special project. My responsibility, nothing to do with anyone else." With a shake of her head, Gwen firmly stated. "I'm not letting it go."

"No." Jack and Jackie stated in unison.

"What?" Gwen stared at them, as if surprised to get her demanded request denied.

"I don't know how I can be any clearer." Jackie noted Jack's voice tightening, a sign he was running out of patience.

"Oh. Well, Tosh has her projects, so does Ianto. Why can't I?"

Jack straightened. "Leave it alone."

"I can't." Gwen said firmly.

Jackie sensed he wanted to argue, but because she was there, he wasn't going to. He inhaled turned to her. "Coming back in?" his tone, though cordial, was somewhat forced. "Work to do."

"Yes." She pulled her robe around her and moved towards him.

"Jack," Gwen said firmly. "we're not finished."

"Yes, we are." Jack returned to the botanical room.

She started to follow, but paused to tell Gwen. "You know, Jack has been the leader of Torchwood for over 100 years, the least you can do is show him the respect that he deserves! He's the boss, not you!"

"Jackie!" Gwen called after her as she opened the door to the botanical room. but Jackie slammed the door on whatever it was she was going to say.

Jack turned towards her as she entered the room. the playful expression was gone from his face, but he was determined not to let her know. "Now," he asked as he stepped towards her, placing his hands on her waist. "where were we?"

She exhaled before saying. "You're going to tell me what happens to the people who make it back to earth after the negative rift spike." Jack's expression paused and he studied her closely. "I'm not a fool Jack. all I can do around here is lie in bed and read files. The fact is that you were there 45 minutes later and you told Gwen you were picking me something to eat. But I never got anything from you this week, so that tells me, that you know something. Am I right?"

Jack's jaw clenched tightly before he spoke. "How long have you known?"

"Since…last night, this morning, maybe always, I don't know." she shrugged her shoulders. "I know you, so, I just know." she bit her lip before asking. "Are you terribly angry with me?"

"I forget at times that…you're telepathic." He shook his head. "How could I be angry with you?" he crossed his arms and looked down at her. "Make another educated guess, why don't you?"

She paused, reading him for a moment longer than necessary. Her powers seemed to be on hold as her pregnancy advanced. What she read and sensed from Jack, moved her deeply. "It's your project," she asked him softly. "looking after those who've been hurt or damaged?" he nodded. She reached up and hugged him, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I love you so much. But, why didn't you just tell Gwen that?"

Jack exhaled and pulled away. "How about, I show you why? It'll be easier for you to understand." His gaze narrowed. "Is today a good day or, are you feeling a little tired?"

She arched a brow at him. "I'm pregnant Jack. I'm always going to be a bit tired, but I feel pretty good now. Besides, you can help me if I get tired."

"It's in the middle of the Flat Holm Island, so, I'll have a boat standing by for us in the morning."

"A boat!" Jackie's face brightened. "That sounds wonderful."

"Well, we'll see. If you're strong enough to go, we'll go." Jack kissed her forehead. "Now, to bed. Ianto is coming over in an hour to do some weevil hunting. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Will you be with me when I wake up in the morning?" she asked him gently. "You haven't for the last few mornings."

He nodded and kissed her again. "That I can promise. Come on; now let's get you back to bed."

"All I do is spend time in bed." She whined. "Jack."

"And then, once you're holding our beautiful babies in your arms, you'll thank me for trying to give you as much bed rest as possible. You won't be sleep as well after they've been born."