19

Jack chose a restaurant he had never been to before, nervously plucking at the tablecloth as he waited, a bourbon and coke sitting in front of him as he forwent his whiskey neat, had to have a clear head bit some Dutch courage is never a bad thing either… right? He knew he would sip this. He was dressed in a jumper and jeans, not even looking like himself.

Finally, he looked up and gave a sigh of resignation, rising as Rose approached with her hair flying about her shoulders as she grinned widely, already talking to him about the bloody traffic this time of day. "Weird time to meet but OK… Jacky… a drink? It's only three in the afternoon!"

They settled in their chairs as she kept talking "Never been here before, have you? Heard about it, I wouldn't have picked this place as your taste and as for your style today, did HE dress you? Look at you, like a librarian, all you need is glasses."

The waiter approached and she ordered a Manhattan, then grinned at him again, "so… you said the photos came back? Is that envelope for me?"

"Yes. Yes, it is." Jack nodded, the plain manilla envelope by his plate winking at them both as he shifted in his seat and the waiter reappeared. They ordered, both of them curious as to the food quality and as she continued her questions about Frankie, her small talk about the day and a rude man who cut her off for a park, Jack seemed to be waiting for something.

The food came out and as expected it was her style as she gushed happily, Jack not so impressed as this as definitely not a place he would bring Ianto to on a date. His little button nose would definitely show dislike for all the spices and the overwhelming smell of pepper in everything.

Anyway, how's your love life?" she asked then was suddenly silent.

Jack continued to pick at his food as she devoured hers and (not for the first time) he wondered if they were really related at all. He had a deep thought abut that ya know. Then he thought about a few other things as she now placed her knife and fork down to stare at him, canting her head and repeating his name.

Jack finished his last swallow of the drink. He slid the envelope over and she snatched it up with glee while slamming down her second glass she had just finished, giggling as she ripped it open and removed the papers to stare at with open confusion "What…. What's this?"

"A Protection Order that covers my family. You have been served. You cannot come near us, our property and if in public must stay at least 30 feet away at all times." Jack replied "So… funerals and such can be attended but at opposite sides of the room I guess."

She stared at them, still confused "Is… is this for mama?"

"No. She has hers already, why she needed you to try and destroy my marriage. Here" he slid a single photo over of Rose looking devastatingly gorgeous as she held the baby in her arms, his face hidden by her hair that had fallen forward as the shot was taken. One Ianto had discarded to one side and the only one Jack was now willing to give his sister. "This I all you will get of France. Here. The others are amazing, shame. Ianto will not put any of those with you in them up now. We will not release them in the press release about his name either. Waste. But… we know he might wonder who you are if we had one up in his room with ours and we would have to explain that you are the auntie who did not love him enough to want to be in his life."

She stared at the photo, then the papers "I… I don't understand."

"This is the last time we will talk as brother and sister. I am only telling you for my own safety and the safety of my family that our wills are ironclad. You and your mother will NEVER touch a penny of our money. You will NEVER have claim to anything including our children. I loved you, I fought for you… you did not love me back the same way. What's the saying? I would fall on a grenade for you, only you might be the one to throw it?"

"Jacky… I…"

"Goodbye Rose."

Jack rose from the chair and he flicked his napkin over one of her discarded glasses as he lifted it gently from the table while she continued to stare at the photo with confusion, signaling to the waiter that he was done and he handed over the credit card to pay the bill, pulling his coat from the back of the chair and walking confidently to the counter to retrieve his card leaving his sister at the table with her empty glass, dirty plate and look of complete confusion.

"Pity" the waiter said as he handed over the card and receipt, "She's a looker. Is she a bunny boiler or something?"

"What?"

"Well, you are not the first to bring someone here to break up with them ya know. We had bets on you." The man winked and Jack suddenly felt amusement in the moment.

"She's my little sister actually."

"Oh… shit." The waiter looked horrified.

Jack laughed "And I did sort of break up with her. I just disowned her. Same diff, tight?"

The waiter made a face "Sorry bro. Family…. The real family are those you choose, not the ones you had no say over."

"You said it" Jack smiled, slipping a bundle of fifty-dollar notes into the man's hand with a wink "And we all know... in the end… we choose better families when it's with love not blood. Let's keep this one between us family guys… OK?"

The water slipped the notes into his pocket and watched the handsome man leave then realization hit that it was Jack Harkness, the TV Star that had just winked and tipped him so well. By that evening, the newspapers still had nothing from their creeping, their attempts to learn who Jack had met, why and even the offer of a twenty for security footage laughed at. The waiter stood defiantly on the TV screen "Who? Nah, it wasn't him. He never comes here, nah. I don't know what she was on about, but she ate here alone. We never saw anyone with her! And she stole one of our bloody cocktail glasses to boot!"

Jack was learning.

He had to.

Had a family to look after.