Time Doesn't Always Run Straight
Meat
Part 3
Part 3 of 6. Thank you once again to everyone who has been supporting this story. It really means a lot to me. Hope everyone isn't too sad from the Christmas special. Just remember while we lost Matt Smith, we've gained Peter Capaldi. So excited to see how he plays The Doctor, if only we didn't have to wait so long. Warning: Some violence but nothing too bad this chapter. Next chapter is when it starts to heat up. For anyone who is interested I have a Christmas story up. Two chapters, nice and short and fluffy.
Owen stands in front of the computer monitors, looking at the image of a large creature. Tosh comes up to him carrying a plate of sandwiches.
"What's that?" She asks looking at the screen.
"Oh, it's just an idea of what it looks like. Had it made up from the genetic makeup." Owen explains.
"Looks lovely." Tosh mutters sarcastically.
"Hm." Owen replies.
"You're just a big softy, really, aren't you?" Tosh grins at Owen.
Owen shakes his head.
"I brought you some sandwiches."
"Thanks, Tosh." Owen sighs, it had been a long day.
"It's okay, just cheese and pickle. I can keep you company. I'm not tired." Tosh offers.
"Nah, if Jack will let you, you should go home. At least one of us should get some sleep." Owen replies.
"That's another big lump out of its habitat." Owen gestures to Rhys on the couch as he sits down to eat the sandwiches.
Tosh shakes her head at Owen. "You know it won't kill you to be nice once in a while."
"How do you know, it just might." Owen teases. Tosh just rolls her eyes.
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"You ok?" Ianto asks Jestine as he offers her some sandwiches. He had located her deep within the archives after the meeting.
Jestine shakes her head at the offered food. "Of course I'm ok, I'm always ok." Jestine replies. "But what about you?"
Ianto frowns. "Why wouldn't I be ok?"
"When you came back, you seemed sad." Jestine comments.
Ianto shrugs. "We had an opportunity to help the poor creature but couldn't because of Rhys." Ianto explains.
Jestine shakes her head. "No, it was more than that. When you were at the location, did you feel anything unusual?"
Ianto pauses as he thinks back. "There was something." He mutters. "I don't know. Just had a strange feeling around the place. Probably nothing." Ianto shrugs.
"Did it feel like you were overwhelming sad for no reason? Or in pain?" Jestine asks.
Ianto nods. "A little. How did you know?"
"Theory." Jestine explains as she ponders Ianto's answers.
Ianto shrugs before helping himself to a sandwich, used to Jestine's strange statements. "Just stop flirting with Rhys. You aggravate Gwen enough without adding that."
Jestine grumbles but doesn't argue.
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"You wanted to talk?" Jestine asks as she enters Jack's office.
"I want to reiterate the plan for tomorrow." Jack informs her.
Jestine rolls her eyes. "I know the plan, you don't have to tell me again."
"No guns, no knifes and no swords." Jack repeats himself anyway. "No lethal weapons of any kind." He adds. They hadn't done an inventory of Jestine's weapons but he knew from experience that she would have a wide variety of weapons.
"I know, you've already told me." Jestine grumbles.
"I'm making sure you understand. No violence. If we run into anyone stun gun only. If I catch you even taking anything else I will suspend you from the field indefinitely." Jack threatens.
"I don't agree with the plan but you are the boss." Jestine reluctantly corporates. "Still, are you sure it's a good idea having Rhys be part of it?"
"He isn't going to be part of it. All he'll do is drive the truck there, get it loaded and then he leaves. He won't jeopardise the mission." Jack explains.
"He's not the one that will screw it up." Jestine replies. "You really think Gwen is going to operate to maximum efficacy when she's worried about Rhys?"
"He'll be gone before there is any issue." Jack tries to persuade Jestine.
"This is Gwen we are talking about and her love for Rhys is a huge liability." Jestine argues.
They look out just as Rhys and Gwen kiss. Jestine frowns when Gwen opens her eyes and looks towards Jack's office.
"Love is not a liability." Jack sighs. "Gwen is professional enough to not let Rhys distract her from her job."
"You might be right." Jestine stuns Jack with her sudden attitude change. "She clearly doesn't love Rhys that much so it shouldn't be a problem."
Jack resists the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm sure Gwen love Rhys enough but is still a professional."
Jestine gives Jack a pointed look. "She was looking at you when she was kissing him. She doesn't love him. Why else is she always making sexual advances towards you?"
Jack doesn't try arguing with Jestine. He knew Gwen still flirted with him and he still hadn't worked out a way to discourage her. "How about you worry about your job and Gwen will worry about hers."
Jestine raises an eyebrow. "This mission is child's play, why would I need to worry? Now can I go find something remotely interesting to do instead of listening to you?"
Jack nods his dismissal. He just hoped Jestine kept to her word but part of him doubted she would.
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"So what's the story with Jestine?" Rhys asks as he and Gwen eat takeout on their couch at home. Jack had declared that there was no reason for them to stay so the Torchwood team and Rhys had cleared out to prepare themselves for the next day. "You've told me a lot about everyone else but you never tell me anything about Jestine."
"There isn't much to tell. She won't tell us. She's hiding things." Gwen mutters in reply.
"Not everyone is an open book like you." Rhys sooths Gwen.
"No Rhys. You need to listen to me carefully. She is dangerous. You cannot trust her. She has killed without remorse. She almost shot me." Gwen tells Rhys gravely.
Rhys looks at Gwen in shock. "She almost shot you? Why is she still on the team? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was protecting you. She's convinced Jack that she can be trusted. She claims to have known Jack in the past." Gwen explains. "Jack's missing two years of memories." She fills Rhys in on a little of Jack's back story. "The same two years Jestine is claiming that she knows him from."
"But why did she shoot you? Regardless of how she knows Jack, she should not be allowed to almost shot you." Rhys starts to rant. "I don't think you should be working for a place that allows that kind of thing to happen."
"She shot the alien that was holding me hostage." Gwen hates to defend Jestine but she didn't want Rhys to try and make her leave Torchwood. She needed Torchwood and Torchwood needed her. "The bullet barely missed me. Just be careful tomorrow. She's dangerous."
Rhys shakes his head in shock. "Never would have guessed. She was strange but I didn't think she was dangerous."
"Well she is." Gwen snaps. "Stay safe tomorrow."
"I promise I will keep out of the way tomorrow. Although I wish you would do the same." Rhys looks at Gwen in worry. He was glad that she wasn't keeping secrets from him anymore, but now he was frighten about her safety.
"It's my job Rhys. I save the world. I can't just stop because you don't want me doing it, they need me." Gwen lets out a sigh of frustration, maybe it had been a good thing Rhys not knowing, he just couldn't understand how important what she did was.
"I know. It doesn't mean I will worry about you any less." Rhys gives Gwen's hand a squeeze."
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Jack pulls Gwen aside as they get ready to head out. "Are you sure you are going to be ok out on field with Rhys there?"
"I've already told you, Rhys shouldn't be involved." Gwen glares.
"That's not what I'm asking. Rhys is part of the plan whether you like it or not. I want to know if you can do your job properly when Rhys is there." Jack asks firmly.
Gwen huffs. "Of course I can do my job."
"Good." Jack nods before bringing up the next topic. "I need to talk to you about what happened yesterday between you and Jestine."
"That wasn't my fault. She was flirting with Rhys and mocking me." Gwen screeches.
Jack flinches slightly. "Doesn't mean you should push her. I know you two don't get along but you need to stop heckling each other. You claimed you were the leader while I was gone. How about you show that leadership and stop fighting with Jestine."
Gwen huffs but has learnt to not argue with Jack when he is in Captain mode. "You just make sure that she behaves herself." She storms off to see Rhys.
Jack sighs. He had a feeling today was going to be a very long day.
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Rhys and Jack ride back from Rhys' work in an awkward silence.
Rhys eventually clears his throat. "So Gwen told me about how Jestine almost shot her."
"Jestine didn't almost shoot her." Jack replies irritated. It had been dealt with and he was sick of it being brought up constantly. "Gwen is exaggerating."
"What happened then?" Rhys tries to keep his anger in check.
"The alien that we were dealing with grabbed hold of Gwen. Jestine shot it before it could hurt Gwen. There was no possibility of Jestine hitting Gwen. You might not believe me but Jestine is very experienced with weapons and wouldn't have taken the shot if she thought Gwen was in any danger." Jack lies easily.
Rhys glances at Jack in the corner of his eye before turning his attention back on the road. "I don't like it but if it was to save Gwen." He trails off. "Is that why Gwen thinks Jestine is so dangerous?"
Jack sighs. He didn't want to explain it to Rhys, even if they were going to wipe his memories at the end of it. "Jestine and Gwen have two very different perspectives on how things should work at Torchwood. This causes them to butt heads occasionally." Jack settles for that explanation.
"But she's not actually dangerous? Gwen told me she killed without remorse." Rhys comments.
"Jestine isn't from here. Her past is very different to anything you could imagine, not in a good way. This means she does what she thinks needs to be done, with no regard to morals." Jack explains.
"So she is dangerous?" Rhys worries.
"Not to us." Jack tries to convince Rhys but isn't sure himself.
They fall into an uneasy silence for the rest of the trip back.
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"Gwen, Tosh and I will take the main area. Owen, Ianto and Jestine, cover the corridors and small rooms." Jack orders as they ride in the back of the truck towards the warehouse.
As the team move to go, Jack takes Ianto aside.
"Keep an eye on Jestine. She says she will listen to orders but it wouldn't hurt to watch out." He whispers to Ianto who nods. "And be careful."
"You too." Ianto gives Jack a quick peck on the lips before the truck comes to a stop.
"Right, lets go." Jack orders
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Owen, Ianto and Jestine walk through the packing room to find huge chunks of meat hanging around the place.
"Mmm." Ianto mutters sarcastically as he moves his wrist to his nose to block the smell.
Jestine eyes Ianto. "Watch out. Just keep your mind on the job and don't think about what is happening."
Ianto frowns slightly. It was a strange warning, he was experienced and Jestine knew he didn't need warnings. "You too." He decides to let it go as they move to different doors.
Jestine just nods before disappearing through the door.
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Jestine curses as the door opens right in front of her, giving her no time to hide.
"Who are you?" The man asks her, stunned to see anyone else here.
"I'm here to give a message to one of the workers." Jestine glances at the ID badge that the man is wearing. "His name is Mark." She flutters her eyelashes at him.
"That's me." Mark answers as he takes in the woman in front of him.
"Well Mark, it's your lucky day." Jestine tells him as she walks seductively over to him.
"What's the message?" Mark asks as he subconsciously licks his lips.
Jestine smiles as she reaches the man and leans in.
She leans in so close her lips are brushing his ear. Mark closes his eyes in anticipation. He shivers as her breath tickles his ear.
"I know what you are doing and you're going to pay for it." Jestine murmurs in his ear.
Mark jerks his head as he process what Jestine had just said but before he can do anything she stuns him with her stun gun.
"You're just all so predictable." Jestine laughs before pressing some buttons on her wrist strap. "Guys, they're armed." She informs the team before grabbing the guy's gun and searching for a place to hide the body.
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"Just not my day is it?" Jestine mutters as she enters the packaging room to find Dale pointing a gun at her and Greg and Dave watching over Ianto and Rhys.
"Eh eh eh eh! You looking for someone?" Dale asks as he steps forward. "How many more of you?"
"Just us." Jestine answers as she reluctantly moves forward.
"You thought the three of you could take us out? Nah. You're not that stupid." He searches her.
"Came well armed though." He comments as he pulls out a stun gun, the gun she had taken from Mark as well as two more guns.
"Greg, help me tie them." Dale orders. "I want every door locked, inside and out Dave. Nobody leaves the building till this is sorted."
Owen watches from behind some shelves in the sedative room as Dale pushes Jestine roughly to the ground after tying her wrist. "How many are there of you? And I want the truth." He pushes her backwards as she gets up.
"You stupid or something. I told you, only three." Jestine replies harshly.
"Tell me the truth." Dale yells before punching her. The force knocks Jestine slightly but she doesn't flinch.
"Oi, leave her alone." "Stop it." Rhys and Ianto shout together. Greg watches by, uneasily.
"I asked how many?" Dale pushes Jestine violently to the ground and kicks her in the side when she doesn't reply.
"I think that's enough." Greg doesn't want to watch any more.
"Not until she tells me the truth." Dale kicks Jestine again. Everyone but Dale flinches at the crunching sound. Dale had managed to break Jestine's ribs.
"Big man, beating up a girl." Jestine mocks.
Dale sees red and repeatedly kicks her in the body and the face.
"What are you doing!" Greg pushes Dale away. He checks on Jestine. Her mouth is bleeding and she seems to be struggling to stay conscious.
Dale just sneers at Jestine. "I think they need to see the cash cow." He waves the gun at Ianto and Rhys. "Now you are going to obediently walk into the other room, or I'll beat you up too."
Rhys and Ianto comply as Greg drags Jestine along.
Thank you so much for reading. Please let me know what thought. In Advance, Happy New Year!