Time Doesn't Always Run Straight
Meat
Part 4
Major warnings for these chapter. Things are very very intense and violent so be prepared. Thank you to everyone for your support. It has been just amazing how many people have been reading each chapter, especially as I know this story does drag at times, so thank you so much. Again, warnings. Lots of violence. Two more chapters to go and then onto Adam. I need some advice for Adam. Jestine will not being appearing with the team so she makes no difference but I wasn't sure if I should keep it similar to the episode anyway, or change it up. What do you think? Please let me know if you think I should keep it the same as the TV show or changes things up and if so, what should I change.
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or any characters you may recognise. If I did I might not be so worried about unemployment but I don't so I am.
Jack curses as he sees Dale, Vic and Dave enter the main room. Gwen flinches as she notices the gun held against Rhys' neck. Jack's heart starts to pound when he sees the gun pointed at Ianto. He tries to block out the sight of Jestine being dragged in, knowing he could only help her by getting out of this situation
"What is it?" Ianto asks as he gapes at the huge creature in front of him.
"The lads call it the cash cow." Dale laughs at the creatures moaning.
"Dale, what are you doing?" Vic asks as he comes running in.
Dale pushes Jestine to the ground as he answers. "Couldn't bear to see us making money, Vic. Fancy some for yourselves, huh? Thought we'd be a pushover."
"Mate, you're so out of your depth." Rhys tells Dale.
Dale responses by pointing the gun at Rhys. "Funny, I was just thinking the same about you."
"Dale! Don't be an idiot." Vic warns him.
Dale just ignores him and shouts out to the warehouse. "Show yourselves or I shoot the delivery boy!"
The team all curse as Gwen steps into view.
"Okay!" Gwen calls their attention to her as Rhys looks on desperately.
"There's no need to make any threats." Gwen tries to calm them down.
Ianto looks at Gwen in disbelief while Jestine spits in disgust, blood mixed in with the saliva.
"Just the three of you," is it?" Dale taunt. "Gun down, kick it over here."
"I don't have a gun." Gwen tells as she steps forward.
Dale scoffs. "Them two both had one, so you must have!"
Gwen sighs as she pulls her stun gun out from her back and holds it up.
"Okay! Okay. Okay." She puts the gun on the ground.
"Any more of you? And before you answer, have a proper think. 'Cause if you lie ...I will shoot you." Dale threatens as he points the gun at Gwen.
Ianto and Rhys both look at Gwen, Rhys shakes his head, wondering how things got so bad so quickly.
"It's just me." Gwen convinces them.
Dale waves the gun at the drum. "Get against the drum."
Gwen starts forward. "We can help you, Dale." Gwen tries to diffuse the situation, they were sure to listen to her, everyone always did.
"Yeah. Help yourselves, more like." Dale bitterly replies as he pushes Rhys towards Gwen.
"Stand next to her. You too." He motions to Ianto. Ianto walks slowly over to Rhys and Gwen as Dale kicks at Jestine who is still lying on the floor where he had pushed her.
"Dale, two more!" Greg shouts from the second floor catwalk. Gwen grabs Rhys and pushes him behind her.
"Far corner - they can't get out, it's locked."
Dale grabs hold of Ianto and pulls him back with his gun pointed at Ianto's neck. "Kick out your weapons! Stand where I can see you!"
Jack is pissed. Gwen had disobeyed orders and now Ianto was in danger and they had no choice but to hand themselves in. Jack and Tosh step out with their guns and hands up in the air.
"Drop your weapons." Dale orders.
Jack tosses his gun aside as Tosh puts her gun down and slides it towards them.
"You know what you've got here, Dale?" Jack asks as he steps forward.
"Shut up, now!" Dale orders, which Jack immediately ignores.
"It's an alien, a creature from another galaxy. It came through a rift in time and space, and it was unlucky enough to find you." Jack explains as Vic's eyes widen.
"No, no way." Vic shakes his head in disbelief.
"Do you really think it originated on this planet? You ever seen anything like it before?" Tosh asks.
"It can't be. Can it?" Vic asks, no way could it be true.
"Look at it." Jack orders as the creature wails and opens its eyes. The more they look at it the more they freak.
"It's just meat, that's all." Dales shakes his head.
Ianto works at the ropes tied around his wrists as they are distracted.
"You're carving up a sentient creature! And you've got to stop." Jack orders.
"And then what have I got? I'm making money. This is my business." Dale snarls as Vic seems to break down from the sound of the creature's tortured cries.
"For the first time in my life, I've actually got something for myself." Dale waves his gun around.
"Dale, stop. You can still walk away from this." Gwen tries to stop him.
"No." Dale answers as the creature cries. "You lied to me." Dale points the gun at Gwen. Rhys steps in the way.
"No!" Dale shoots at Rhys, hitting him.
As the empty bullet casing clinks to the floor Ianto grabs Dale's wrist and wrestles him for the gun. Jestine tackles Dave to the ground, attacking him anyway she can.
"No!" Jack shouts as Ianto and Dale wrestle for control over the gun and it fires several times.
Some of the chains around the creature break free as Vic runs out of the main room.
Jack grabs his gun and aims for Dale. He quickly puts it back down as he realises he can't get a shot with Ianto in the way.
The creatures rolls to the side knocking over the stacked items around it as Ianto knocks Dale to the ground. Tosh and Jack become trapped by the creature's movement. All Jack can do is watch as his lover fights with Dale.
Ianto straddles Dale and punches him as wires become frayed and come loose, Jack and Tosh narrowly miss being hit by one.
Dale lands a punch and knocks Ianto off to the side. He quickly gets up, grabbing the gun and points it down at Ianto.
"Die!" Dale sneers as Jack's heart stops.
He fires but the gun clicks, empty.
Jack can barely breathe for a moment as he registers what had just happened.
"Shit!" Dale exclaims as he looks at the gun before backing away and running.
"Ianto, go! After them!" Jack tries to get his mind focused on the job. "Jestine you too."
Jestine had managed to knock Dave out during the commotion. She staggers after Dale and Vic.
Jack quickly activates his comm. "Owen! Rhys has been shot! The creature's coming loose. We need that sedative, now!"
Gwen sits cradling Rhys in her arms, oblivious to the fight going on around her.
"Open your eyes. Come on, you can do this. Open your eyes for me, now."
Jack pushes Tosh back behind him as more wires come loose.
"Owen, we need you! We're trapped. The creature's breaking free. If we try and get past, we'll be crushed."
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Dale empties the safe in the back office, dumping the cash into a duffle bag.
"You went and shot him, bruv!" Greg exclaims as Dale zips up the bag. Dale pays Greg no mind as he slides the bag over to Greg and turns to fill another duffle bag. Greg picks up the bag and heads for the door.
As Greg reaches the door Jestine kicks it in, knocking Grey to the wall. He drops the bag and staggers back. Jestine punches Grey, knocking him out before he crashed to the ground.
Dale grabs the gun on the desk. Jestine kicks it out of his hand and knocks him to the floor.
Jestine looms over the man, her eyes burning with fury. "You fucking bastard. I think it's time I teach you a lesson." She pulls out a knife from a concealed holster on her leg.
"All that pain you caused. That poor creature, being slowly carved up alive. Just so you could make a quick dollar. How would you like it?" Jestine sneers at Dale who is looking at her in terror.
Jestine straddles the man and rips open his shirt. "Just imagine the pain, as the knife first pierces your skin." Jestine goads as she runs the blade lightly over Dale's bare chest, enough to give him shivers but not break the skin.
"The agony as your flesh is cut apart, your synapses screaming as your nerves are severed." Dale screams as Jestine pushes harder on the knife. Blood starts to trickle from the shallow wound Jestine has made.
"Muscle and fat being pulled from your body. The mental overload as everything burns with pain." Jestine holds the knife above Dale's heart.
Ianto bursts into the room, his eyes widening as he takes in the scene.
"Jestine, stop now." He yells as he runs over to her.
He grabs the knife and Jestine gives it up without resistance. She pulls out a stun gun and rams it into Dale's groin and zaps him. Dale's eyes roll to the back of his head before he hits the floor with a thud.
"Shit what did you do?" Ianto asks Jestine.
"Thought he deserved a taste of his own medicine." Jestine smirks.
Ianto is too shocked to respond. She scowls at Dale before leaving. Ianto gives one more glance around the room before he leaves to join the others.
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Owen runs into the main room with the container and pump-like syringe just as Jestine also appears in the room. He stops as he sees the massive creature.
"Bloody hell!" He gasps.
He swears as he sees Jack and Tosh still trapped on the other side of the creature.
Jestine reaches out a hand and places her palm on the creature, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow.
"I'm sorry." Owen whispers as he stabs it with the pump and injects it.
The creature rears up and slams back down.
"Owen, you're making it worse!" Jack bellows as the creature growls loudly. Owen refills the pump and re-injects the creature. It growls again in response but then appears to calm down.
"Looks like it's working." Owen sighs as he backs away. The creature wails pitifully,
"What did you do?" Jack demands.
"Mercy killing." Owen mutters as he kicks the air in frustration.
Jack looks sadly at the creature. He had really thought that they could save the creature, that after everything it had been through maybe things could work out for it. What the poor thing got for being unfortunate enough to land on earth.
Jack closes his eyes with grief as the creature's cries grow weaker.
Jestine mummers softly to it in a strange language.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Owen mutters to the creature as Tosh puts her hand on his shoulder. He holds her tight.
The creature stops wailing and quietens, its eyes closing and then it stops moving.
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Jack immediately goes to his office with Ianto following.
Rhys is leaning on both Gwen and Owen as they make their way to the medical bay, Tosh close behind.
Jestine staggers slightly to the old couch and sits down, cringing slightly in pain.
Ianto is pushed against Jack's office door the moment he enters.
Jack pulls him in for a long deep kiss, trying to pour all his emotions into it.
"I was so scared. When he had that gun over you and pulled the trigger. Thought I was going to lose you." Jack pants as they pull apart for air.
Tears start to run down his cheeks.
"I was so sure that I was going to lose you today. I'm so sorry." Jack whispers into Ianto's neck.
Ianto clings to Jack, he had been so sure himself that he was going to die in that warehouse.
"It's ok Jack. I didn't, I'm still here. It wasn't your fault. You didn't make them take that creature and turn it into a living meat factory." Ianto tries to sooth both his lover and himself.
"But I should have been able to protect you. He had you hostage and all I could do was watch. And then when he almost shot you, I made you run after him." Jack mumbles.
"You did the best you could. Jack I chose to work for Torchwood and I chose to go on the mission. You can't blame yourself for the dangers. You did the right thing, you are the leader and we rely on you to keep a cool head and give us the right orders. You couldn't think about me and us out in the field. You're too good a leader to let personal stuff get in the way." Ianto tells Jack.
"I just wish I could protect you, that I could keep you out of danger." Jack inhales Ianto's scent.
"Jack, we both know you could never do that while I work for Torchwood and I could never leave it."
Jack nods as he continues to inhale Ianto's scent. Ianto pulls Jack closer, letting his warmth and smell surround him, remind him why he did it.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope I haven't disturbed anyone too much. Please let me know what you thought and what you think I should do for Adam. Thank you so much!