Chapter thirty-two: Control
"Jack?" Gwen's voice echoed in the room, causing Jackie to start in surprise for a moment. "Jackie?"
"In here!" Jackie shouted from where she sat behind Jack, pulling the concrete off his chest. "I found Jack!" Gwen and Rhys ran into the room, they both headed to Jack without blinking. "Tosh went the other way. They're all at some far corner of the building." Rhys leaned over and looked for Jack's pulse before shaking his head at Gwen.
She almost commented, but Jack picked that particular moment to revive. Jack grabbed a hold of Rhys' wrist before letting out a shriek. "He was dead!" Rhys shouted in a panic. "I checked his pulse. He was dead."
"All right." Gwen shushed Jack who was dividing his looks between Gwen and Rhys. "Jack, what has happened? Where are the others?"
Jack released Rhys's hand to jab a finger in Rhys's face, as he demanded. "What is he doing here?"
Jackie shook her head and smiled as she carefully crawled back around to free Jack's legs. "Look, I was late, okay?" Gwen explained. "He gave me a lift. You okay?"
Jack nodded as he pushed a huge block of concrete off his legs. "Yeah, yeah. Toshiko. She went the other way." His eyes flashed as his mind registered that she was in here. "Jackie, what the hell are you doing in here?"
"I was-
"Get the hell out of here!" He shouted at her. "Now, I do not want you in here in your condition." Jackie ignored him and began to pull off a huge chunk of concrete that was holding him down. "Jackie! Stop!" He shouted. "Gwen, I'm ordering you to stop her now!"
Jackie stopped right where she was and stared down at Jack. "Don't…shout at me!" Her voice broke. "You and my friends are hurt! I can't stand idly by!"
"Oh yes you can, and you will!" Jack let out a shout as he hauled himself up from the last bit of rubble. He moved towards her on shaking legs and grabbed a hold of her shoulders. "You can help, by getting out of here with our children! I forbade you to come in here! Now get out! Understand?" She nodded as a hot tear dribbled down her cheek. At that moment, the anger left his voice completely. "Baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He exhaled and hugged her tight. "Look, it's not safe for you in here and I can't be worried about you. Please, can you go outside and wait? Can you do that for me?"
She nodded and wiped her cheek. "Yes Jack."
"That's my girl." Jack kissed her soundly before guiding her towards the messy exit. "Now go, see if you can find any kind of life signals anywhere. Also let us know if anything else unusual has been reported."
She nodded and carefully made her way back outside. The rubble shifted under her feet a few times, but she was always able to maintain her balance. It had taken her 10 minutes to get in the building and ten minutes to get out. Jackie came out of the warehouse to find the SUV gone again. She groaned and carefully moved to sit down on a patch of green grass. She grumbled and huffed, as she was able to get down and find a position comfortable enough for her. Then, she opened her purse and began looking her cell phone. Fortunately, it had an internet connect, so she was able to check all news outlets for something abnormal, but so far nothing.
About 20 minutes later, Jack and the others finally emerged from the dusty building. "You okay?" Jack shouted to Owen and Gwen who were running out of the other end of the building. Jackie got to her knees and carefully got up.
"Yeah, you all right?" Owen then spotted Tosh and ran up to her. "Tosh, what happened?" it did her good to see Owen so concerned for Tosh, remembering a time when he did not care for her.
"Broken arm, bruised ribs. About an inch away from being crushed by a girder." Owen leaned forward kissed Tosh's forehead, careful to avoid her injuries. She smiled softly as she assured him. "I'm alright Owen."
"You were lucky." Owen said quietly, giving Tosh the once over. "It could have been worse."
"We all were." Ianto stated as he brushed off his dusty suit.
"Jack," Gwen asked. "who's done this?"
"And where's the SUV?" Ianto asked.
Jackie exhaled. "It was gone when Rhys and Gwen arrived. Whoever did this, must have stolen it when I went inside after all of you.
"And you've got to stop doing such foolish things." Jack stated with an arched brow. "After all, you're giving birth in three weeks." He looked around. "You shouldn't even be walking even."
He probably would have picked her up, had his bracer not gone off informing them that someone has left Jack a message. A few punches and the last person she expected to see again. Captain John Hard.
"Oh, no." Ianto groaned, stating what was clearly on everybody's minds.
"Jack," Gwen asked. "what does he want?"
"Let's hear the message first." She said as she sidled up next to Jack.
Oh, déjà vu, John drawled. Or did I say that already? Hey, team. Of course, there might be a few less of you by now. Don't know if you liked my little gift. Jack's jaw clenched, stating that he was running out of patience. Of course, you can't die. And with all that life, all that time, you can't spare any for me. She rolled her eyes. What a child this man was! Oh. Say hi to the family.
At that moment, John pressed a button on his bracer, causing it to project another hologram. A young man in handcuffs. The implication was enough to cause Jack to start shaking his head. "No way. It can't be." Jackie gripped his arm, giving him support as Jack's face went pale in shock.
Been a while since you've seen your brother, eh, Jack.
"Gray?" The confusion and desperate hope was painted with a touch of denial in Jack's voice that tore at her heart.
Okay, here's what's going to happen. Everything you love, everything you treasure will die. I'm going to tear your world apart, Captain Jack Harkness, piece by piece. Starting now. Maybe now you'll want to spend some time with me. And just like that, the message ended.
Jackie looked to Jack and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's time Jack." She said quietly. "It's time that he learns that you don't mess with the Harkness family. We may be few in numbers, but it's our love and family bonds that make us a force not be reckoned with."
Jack looked to her; his pale face was regaining some color. He nodded at her. "Excuse me," Ianto said as he looked down at the tracker he always kept on him. "it looks like he's driven it back to Torchwood."
Jack nodded. "We need to go."
"I'm getting readings of rift activity all over the city." Tosh added. "Major rift flares at St Helen's Hospital, the Police Headquarters and the Central IT Server Station."
Gwen got a phone call. "Hey, Andy?" They all headed towards Rhys' car. It was going to be a tight squeeze for all of them, but that couldn't be helped. "Okay, I'm on my way, all right?" Gwen hangs up and turns to Jack. "This is him, isn't it? This Captain John, or whatever he likes to call himself."
Jack ignored her questions. " Rhys, drop Owen at the hospital. Tosh, Ianto, cover the Central Server building. Gwen, the police station, and take me to Torchwood."
"You think we're all going to fit in here?" Rhys questioned.
"Yeah, we're going to have to." Jack said. "Gwen, I'm going to drive. Jackie, you'll have to take the front passenger seat."
"Jack," Tosh surmised. "these are traps."
"So be careful. You know what he's capable of."
"What about you?"
"I'm gonna go reason with him."
"He just tried to kill us."
"Everyone tries that Owen." Jackie stated. "Why should he be any different?"
"I was the only one who could ever control him." Jack pointed out. "That's why the Time Agency partnered us."
"Did you just say Time Agency? Don't tell me that's based in Cardiff too."
"No. Everyone in the car." Jack ordered. "Also, as far as John is concerned, Jackie is not my wife."
"Jack," she said incredulously as she gestured towards her very pregnant stomach. "I'm obviously pregnant."
"You create a husband or you can claim that someone assaulted." Jack stated. "Those are the only two options. He knows you were prickly enough with him to know that you wouldn't take a lover."
"Oh fine then, let's say assaulted." Jack helped her into the front passenger seat. She added in a lower whisper. "It's close enough to the truth anyway when we're alone."
"Why Mrs. Harkness," he said with a playful smirk. "what a dirty mind you have!"
"Guess who polluted it!" She shot back as he closed the door.
"Seriously you two," Gwen said impatiently as Jack hurried around to the driver's seat. "now is not the time to begin flirting!"
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Jack and I always flirt with each other, but you're right." Jack got in the car and started it. "Is everybody in?"
"Yes." Ianto said. She glanced back, Tosh was sitting in Owen's lap and Gwen was kinda sitting in Rhys's lap. "It's not as bad as I thought it could be."
"Good." Jack said as he started the car and pressed down on the gas. "Now, let's talk strategy."
"Why's he doing this, Jack?" Owen asked. "What does he want?"
"That's what I'm going to go ask him." He turned to Jackie and reached for her hand. "I'm sorry."
"What are you…no, Jack." She pouted as he pulled her wedding ring off and slid it over to her other hand. "I hate it when you do that."
"Sorry baby, but I'm not taking any chances on you getting hurt." He exhaled. "In fact, I'd like you in a safe place until this is decided and calm."
"But Jack-
"I don't want you going anywhere near John until I know what's going on in his head."
"We'll look after her Jack." Ianto said.
"Ianto, can Meryl watch her until this is over?"
"No." Jackie said firmly. "I'm not hiding."
"Honey," Jack said. "you're hiding and that's that. No arguing with me. Ianto, can you call Meryl and make arrangements with her?"
"Hi, Meryl?" Jackie smirked, realizing that Ianto again, was two steps ahead of everybody.
Jack rolled his eyes in mock irritation as he realized Ianto was ahead of everybody. "How does he do that?"
"Look, Sweetie, I need a favor from you."
Jack made a face. "Sweetie?"
She swats his arm. "Look who's talking! You still won't stop calling me baby or honey. Sweetie is adorable!"
"I thought you liked it when I called you honey!" Jack says indignantly.
"I do. It's baby that drives me crazy!"
"I thought you liked it!"
"Don't worry Captain," Meryl assured Jack as Jackie came around to the driver's window. "I'll watch out for her."
"Good." Jack tugged her forward, asking Jackie step closer to him. "Hey, are you going to be a good girl and stay here?"
She sighed and pouted. "If I must."
"You must, it's only for a few hours."
"Alright, but you be careful darling."
"I will." Jack nodded and kissed her. "Love you. take care of you," he gave her a pointed look at her belly. "all of you." and with that, he started the car rolling again back in the general direction of Torchwood.
Jackie sighed and crossed her arms. "Sometimes I dislike that man….and this isn't one of those times."
Meryl laughed. "I know, Ianto is the same way at times. Come on inside for some tea. I was watching a Charles Dickens program from the 1908's. 'Our Mutual Friend.' Have you seen it?"
"Yes, which part are you at?"
"Oh John is being fired for declaring his feelings for Bella."
"Oh, let's get in then." Jackie said anxiously. "I love Charles Dickens works and I love that scene! I wanted a man like John, but I got Jack. Still, a girl can dream."
8 more chapters, then this story is finished. Sorry about the delay, but I was working and planning out the final chapters. 10th Doctor shows up in 5 chapters from now.