He wanted to chase after her.
He really did.
Rose bloody-infuriating Tyler had run off in the middle of the case. She could handle herself, he had no doubt of that. In some cases she had saved John and him without stretching a muscle, but that's when they had all the information. With any luck, Rose and Alec would be working together and he wouldn't let her come to any harm. He was sure of it. Alec may be a cold-hearted robot in some respects, but Rose was melting the ice away, allowing the gears to work properly.
John always said she was a beautiful woman with a spark inside her that burned like the sun. She made him a better a man and he would always be indebted to her for that. Now it seemed, Rose was doing the same for Alec, destroying the darkness that clouded his memories and bringing the good man out into the light.
Nevertheless, Rose had her moments when she wandered off and ignored simple orders. And worse of all, the blonde was not answering her phone. It kept going straight to voicemail. Jack settled for leaving an angry message. He ended the call and from the corner of his eye, could see Ellie whispering to herself as the neighbours poured out of their homes to see what the commotion was about. Trying to block out the noises, she continued to comfort Becky, stroking her back, helping her through her shock.
"Useless fucking coppers!" One man flailed his arms about to get the attention of the crowd, shouting at the top of his voice.
"What's happened this time?" a middle-aged woman said, with her arms crossed, wearing a disgusted expression.
Idiots like that sickened Jack to his stomach. Loyalty meant nothing to these people. Ellie Miller had lived in the town for years, protecting the citizens and the minute Joe's name was announced, they threw her to the dogs. They refused to listen to the facts, or see what was in front of them. The woman's life was ripped apart, shredded by scandal.
She was a strong woman, no doubt, but Jack daren't leave until they had calmed down. While backup still had not shown their faces, the neighbours hurled abuse and insults her way. Captain Harkness stepped forward to confront the residents of the town as the tension rose to an unbearable level.
"Has someone been killed?" inquired an elderly gentleman. But that comment ignited a catalyst in the crowd and it quickly caught alight.
"Has another kid died?"
"Kids? Again? This town isn't safe for anyone."
"Least we know the murder isn't sleeping in her bed this time." yelled another man.
Jack's patience snapped. His heart was racing, matching the loud drum beat of the rock music from the pub. He was good with people, he had been known to charm the pants off anyone when he put his mind to it even if sometimes he didn't mean to. But his temper could show with a flick of a switch. When an innocent person, especially someone he respected was under threat, he would not hold back.
He stormed towards the man who made the last remark and towered over him. He was skinny with yellow teeth and the stench of alcohol on his breath. Jack glanced down at his blue track suit and smirked.
"Would you like to repeat that?" he said in the most polite voice he could muster.
The man swallowed hard and then mumbled something under his breath.
"I can't hear you." Jack told him.
"Who are you?" the man asked trying to sound tough, but his eyes darted to the ground showing his fear.
"No one. But anyone can see that the police need quiet to help that young girl over there." he pointed at Becky staring down at the ground, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably as she sobbed. "She is petrified! Keep your opinions to yourself. Got it?"
He was met with a fearful silence from all of them. Satisfied, he turned back to Ellie who gave him a grateful smile.
"Thank you." she mouthed.
Jack winked at her and then glanced up as he could see flashing lights the ambulance on the approach. That was one problem sorted, now for the other.
The paramedics jumped out their vehicle to deal with their new patient while Ellie updated them on the situation. Wrapping a blanket around her, Becky regained some colour in her cheeks.
Jack picked up his phone and dialled Rose's number again. No answer. Now would be the time to run after her, but then his phone beeped.
I'm okay. Trouble. Shot alien. But Alec saw it.
Relieved, Jack ran his hands through his hair, puffing out his cheeks. Thank the heavens, he thought. Her mother would have killed me, one Tyler slap at a time. I just want to go home, cuddle up with Ianto and watch the box.
Box?
His eyes widen and his mouth open and closed a few times, no words coming out.
Home?
Jack picked up his phone and dialled the hub. His grin returning to its rightful place. An idea hit him, one that could give them a huge advantage.
Alec took a couple of notes from the owner of the pub and told him that he would be back to talk to him the following day so he could make a formal statement. When leaving the pub, he saw Rose leaning against the wall, slipping her phone into her pocket, humming to the sound of Bad Romance playing from inside.
"Problem?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She shook her head. "Jack wanted to know where I was."
Without saying anything they walked down the road, turned the corner and in the distance saw the ambulance parked outside the rental house. People from down the street had gathered to watch the spectacle, and Rose distinctly heard Alec groan next her. A small giggle slipped past her lips, earning her a menacing glare from Alec though it quickly diminished.
"How can you be a police officer when you are you bad at dealing with people?" she asked.
"I cope." he replied.
"Yeah, like swimming with a bag of bricks strapped to your back."
"Thanks." Alec rolled his eyes.
She nudged him in the side with her elbow, beaming at him. He shook his head, but then grinned back at her. Rose gulped. The man should smile more, she thought. Damn, that's a good smile.
"Why do you let everyone think you're such a moody git?" Rose muttered, trying to take her mind off the feel of his lips and the heat of his body pressed against hers. Keep it clean, Tyler.
"'Cause I am." he retorted.
"You're not though. Not all the time." she told him.
He sniffed the air and glanced at the floor, feeling his cheeks turn red. Not wanting to push the matter any further, Rose glanced around their surroundings, the cool breeze tickling the back of her hands.
Broadchurch was like another world compared to London or Cardiff. Not in a bad way, but it was so quiet. If she was walking back to the Powell Estate from a pub, she would have heard beeping cars, deafening music blasted from the flats and slurring drunks parading the streets. Broadchurch was so peaceful and it relaxed her. In a way, she could understand why the aliens chose the town.
"Do you miss living in cities?" Rose suddenly wondered out loud. "Do you miss the noise of traffic and things?" she clarified when he gave her a bewildered look.
"More than I care to admit."
"Where I used to live, it was this council estate and it had trouble and everything, like you would expect it to, but I kind of miss it now and then."
"Why did you move?"
"Too many bad memories." Rose admitted. "Why did you stay?"
"Nowhere else would have me. Press. Worse cop in Britain." he reminded her. "After Danny's case, I had nothing left but this town."
"It's not the bad place to end up in. The cliffs and the beach are beautiful." Rose muttered, her arms wrapping around her waist.
He grumbled in agreement, but then added. "Still hate it sometimes."
"Never satisfied, are you, DI Hardy?" she said, tongue poking through her teeth.
His dark eyes flickered from her smile to her neck where he sucked the skin and left a faint red mark peaking from under her golden hair. "If we are remaining professional, can you not do that?"
"Do what?" she inquired innocently.
"The tongue thing." Alec informed her. "It teases me."
Her breath hitched as he overtook her, aiming for Ellie standing by the ambulance. Jack saw Rose and ran to her. Grabbing her into a hug, she had to slap his arm to get him to let go, the pain in her shoulder searing back in life.
"So you weren't worried then?" Rose said, sarcastically, rubbing her arm.
"Don't do that again." He looked over her shoulder to see Alec and Ellie deep in their own little conversation and he lowered his voice. "You fired your gun?"
"Yep." Rose said. "And I was right. They knew about Torchwood."
"What did he see?"
"Not much. It's face was covered, but he did see it teleport." Rose explained.
"I think you mean 'he'." Jack countered.
"Huh?" Rose murmured, confused.
"The two aliens are partners. Male and female. I think the one that attacked you is the male and probably the one you shot. And that's not the kicker in the tale," he paused for dramatic effect. "They came to Earth to have a family."
"That's why it… I mean, he went to the park." Rose mumbled. "The female must have been here all along, and she was the one that killed Billy and all those sheep. Meanwhile the male was the one that travelled back to recover the box and killed Stewart Hallway."
"So the problem is now," Jack whispered. "When is the little ones due?"
"What else did they…" Her voice trailed off as Alec and Ellie trudged towards them with determined expressions. Now he was going to be asking for answers.
Ignoring Jack, Alec looked to Rose and said. "I need you to come into the office and explain to me what's been happening."
"What is there to explain?" Jack interrupted.
"The truth, Captain." Alec growled.
Rose bit her lip, nodding. "We'll come in the morning."
"Now! I'm not leaving this."
"Torchwood has been withholding information. We could arrest both of you right now." Ellie said, her tone losing its gentleness.
"You won't though." Jack smirked at Alec. Well, not Rose anyhow.
"Three," Karicole whispered in awe. "Three is a good number."
Her body was weak from labour, throbbing in agony. She might have done this before, but it didn't become any less painful. This was her last chance to have children. Her species were only fertile for a decade before her body clock – such a human phrase – was over. Her first attempts at conceiving were futile. Then the pressure came from her peers as they started families of their own. Years later, her children died while in the womb before they could even feel the air on their skin, but she still had to deliver them. The last birth, four children were born but an attack on their home killed them before they could reach their first birthday.
"You did so well, my love." Faricus told her, before gently kissing her head.
She gripped his hand, feeling tears fall from her eyes. "We can't lose them again."
"We won't." he told her, pulling her to his side.
"I'm allowed to be paranoid." she sobbed. "I just hope I've done it right this time."
Faricus pulled back and gaped at her. How could it ever be her fault? Some things were beyond their control. "I never blamed you, Karicole." he said firmly.
She wiped her tears and shrugged. "A wife is meant to give her husband children. It's my job and I can't do it right. Every time we lose them in one way or another." She closed her eyes, her emotion boiling over. "it breaks my heart."
Sighing, Faricus pushed his lover, his best friend, to the sofa where three large eggs sat. Their shiny black shells glistened from the light in the room. They were the size of footballs, one sitting on each cushion. Since she had laid them, they had occasionally rocked from side to side, bumping the other sibling. The shell would protect them from danger, the cells stronger because the fresh meat that Karicole had digested in the last few days. Billy was a large man and his body would do well to help the children along their way.
"What if we turned to a human to help us?" Faricus suggested.
"Excuse me?" she hissed. To even say such a thing was horrific. Humans were the ones that were trying to kill him. Silly little apes that stumbled along the planet, burning their natural resources and for what? More fuel for their fancy cars. But at this moment, Karicole would try anything. "Who?"
"There is a human woman in the town that could be of help to us. She is a mother with two young children." he explained. "She would understand what it means to protect her own."
Karicole debated the idea inside her mind, whispering to herself the pros and cons. The children had to stay in their eggs for another twenty-four hours before they hatched. In that time anything could go wrong. She needed to give them the best chance. Finally agreed, "Then bring her here. Tonight."