Chapter 8

Jack's lifeless body fell against the table. Blood spurted from his chest, and the white tablecloth slowly turned a deep red. I was so stunned. I heard a small yelp from beside me, turned to see Ianto.

The man had been shot in the shoulder, but managed to grab his gun and shoot towards the attacker. He wrapped his hand around his shoulder and sat beside Jack.

I couldn't move. This was nothing like when we had gone after that shape shifter. Someone had deliberately come here to hurt us. I was so frightened. My mind screamed at me to do something. Whether it was help Ianto, or help Jack, I needed to do something. I still did not move.

How can you be Torchwood if something like this scares you?

How can others put any trust in you if you are going to just stand there?

DO SOMETHING!

I heard Jack's heavy breaths as he woke up. Tending to Ianto, he called me. His voice was soft at first, but it grew louder as he tried to break me from my trance.

My eyes were locked on the pooling blood. I felt so stupid. I felt like I was useless, and I suppose I was.

Jack's hands gripped my elbows, and he looked into my eyes. "JESSICA!"

I finally snapped out of my frozen state and met Jack's gaze. He looked so worried. The man helped me to stand up, and then hugged me close.

I wanted to apologize, I wanted to cry, and most of all, I just wanted to go home. "I'm…I'm so…" I couldn't manage anymore.

Jack hushed me, and kissed my forehead. "Don't think like that. Things like this happen. Torchwood is not exactly loved by everyone."

"But I froze. I have never frozen like this before. I actually couldn't move. What if Ianto had been hurt worse? I should have been able to help him!" My voice shook with anger at myself. "How can anyone have any trust in me if I freeze at such a serious moment?"

"You know," Jack had sat down in front of the chair I was now sitting in again. "You are still just thirteen. You don't need to conquer the world. You also can have these moments. We all have."

I was so angry with myself, but I needed to let it go for now. I knew I would pay for it later, but Ianto needed help. Jack was assessing his shoulder.

"I can't tell where it hit exactly, we'll have to talk to Owen." The American man pulled away from his employee and looked him in the eye. "Are you alright, Cariad?"

Ianto nodded and gave him a fake smile.

I stepped forward. "Can I see?" I placed a hand beside the now napkin-covered wound.

He tried to tell me no, but I was relentless. I cautiously removed the napkin, and felt around the injury.

"It hit at an awkward angle. The bullet slightly fractured your collar bone, but it ricocheted off and stopped about an inch from your rotator cuff. You are not going to want to move a lot. It will be very painful if those tendons get severed." I looked him in the eyes, and then replaced the napkin.

"Its times like this when I realize how much we need you." Jack chuckled slightly in amazement. "How did you know that?"

I didn't answer him. I turned from the man with a satisfied look on my face. I had slightly redeemed myself.

When my eyes locked on the blood again, I walked back to the captain. He looked at me strangely as I circled him. I found the holes in his coat and searched him for bullet holes. Only small bruises remained.

I knew he would heal, but I wanted to reassure myself. I needed to be sure the blood had stopped coming from him.

"I should go see what it was," I said as I pulled my gun from beneath my dress. Both men looked at me in a scolding way.

"You brought your gun to dinner?" Ianto asked as he searched for pain medicine at a hostess station a few feet away.

"So did you!" My accusation wasn't fair, seeing to the fact that I probably would have died without him shooting.

Jack placed a hand on Ianto's good shoulder. "We should go look, but then we need to get you back to the hub."

We walked over to find a collapsed blowfish on the ground. It was still alive, but was dying from Ianto's last attempt shot. It had hit its stomach.

Jack looked at Ianto, then at me. His took his gun and shot it. The captain seemed furious with the creature.

Jack pressed a button on his comms, and told Gwen where to pick the body up. We then proceeded down the hallway, gasping at the thirteen lives the blowfish had taken. I soon found that each man had taken one of my hands.

I feel so much younger than I really am here. I see things that scare me, so I feel immature. I feel like I could have much more potential. I guess I also feel better when I am comforted. People have never seemed to care enough to really help me when I am afraid.

With Jack now protecting me like his daughter, and Ianto like I am his little sister, I can finally feel protected.

I wriggled free of their grasp, and walked around to each of the victims, feeling for a pulse. Finding none, I sighed. This was disappointing.

TWTWTWTWTW

Just as we reached the exit, there was a noise behind us. There was a rustling sound, then footsteps, and then more gunshots. Both men fell to the ground again, but I knew I couldn't be weak this time. There was no time to feel sorry for myself.

I picked up my gun, as well as the one Jack had dropped. I prayed they were both Ok as I ran after the attacker. I shot at the spiky red face as it disappeared around a corner and out the door. I barely heard Jack wake up and yell Ianto's name as I ran.

Looking around, I did not see it anymore, but I was determined to find this blowfish. I kept on my path, and eventually found myself near a retaining wall in front of a shop. The creature was parallel to me across the street. I was not that good of a shot.

Just shoot.

Don't let it get away.

What if I miss?

I shot, it fell, and I ran. I ran all the way back to the restaurant where I found Jack hunched over a writhing Ianto. He looked relieved to see me, but then he looked at his blood-covered hands with grief.

"Where was he shot?" I practically yelled, stripping the sweater from my shoulders.

"He was hit near the stomach. He lost a lot of blood." I saw the man trying to keep his 'Captain Jack Harkness, Leader of Torchwood' look on, but I also saw fear. He hated seeing others injured.

Jack took my sweater and held it tightly to Ianto's injury. He then proceeded to pick up the younger man in his arms. We ran to the SUV, and placed him in the back seat. I sat beside him, and tried to keep him talking.

"Tell me about when you joined Torchwood three."

"I begged Jack for this job." Ianto smiled wryly. "I suppose I don't regret it, but no one likes being shot."

I saw Jack's face fall further in the mirror. "What was your first day like?"

I kept him talking most of the way back, though he faded in and out of consciousness frequently.

At one point, when he was unconscious, I told Jack not to worry, and that Ianto would be OK. I couldn't promise anything, but it was more of a reassurance to myself, than to the captain.

We arrived back at the hub. Ianto had started talking about nothing.

"I'm sorry!" That was the last thing he shouted before he was emerged in and endless cycle of sobs.

Please be OK, Ianto. I begged him in my head.

Chapter 8 is done! This one is not my best, and it is kind of depressing, but it will get lighter eventually, don't worry. I just wanted to show how much Jack really cares for Ianto in this one. Thank you everyone who has reviewed! Please still review! I want to know what you guys think. Am I making Jessica seem too weak? Just please let me know how you feel about it. Ok, thank you! Bye ~Lexi~