Ianto clicked off the phone. "She's on her way…" His eyes trailed over Hally's attire. "The evil villain getup might not go down so well. You should change, it'll make you look less threatening."
Hally looked down at the all black suit and matching black cape and offered him a small smile of agreement as she rose to her feet. As Jack approached her, silver band in hand she simply helped moved her hair out of the way as he secured the biodampener around her neck, the pair of them sealing it with their fingerprints.
"Why are you wearing that?" He voiced from behind her, his eyes burning into the back of her head as he surveyed her outfit.
"The Doctor thought it looked mysterious." She offered, quietly.
There was a moment when Jack was silent before he asked the question that had no doubt been burning within him ever since River had suggested that The Doctor had 'kicked' her out. "What did you do?"
She couldn't get into this with him now. There wasn't enough time, so instead she offered. "Nothing he didn't ask me to."
She could hear him, grinding his jaw as he considered whether he believed her or not.
"Follow me." He muttered from behind her, moving away towards the bottom of the stairs. Wordlessly, she complied, following him upstairs into what she assumed was the master bedroom. He opened one side of the large wardrobe that spanned across the whole wall, pulling from a drawer a set of dark grey tracksuit bottoms and a navy blue sweatshirt. He handed both to her, leaving the room to allow her to change. By the time she'd uttered her thanks, he'd already closed the door. No doubt hovering just outside.
She changed quickly.
Ianto had, of course, been right. She looked a lot less imposing dressed in the oversized casual clothes.
She looked pathetic.
Lost and homeless.
She exhaled a soft sigh towards her reflection in the mirror before moving towards the door, pulling it open. Jack's eyes trailed over her in impatient approval and he hummed. She was about to move back downstairs, but his arm blocked her. Her gaze moved up to meet his, a silent question across her face.
His eyes twitched as he observed her. "Why are you doing this?"
Her forehead creased with a frown.
"Why bother handing yourself in? You could probably hide yourself away somewhere… we both know it wouldn't be impossible for you to avoid all of this mess if you wanted. What do you gain from this?" Suspicion laced his words, his eyes never leaving her face.
She straightened, sucking on the inside of her mouth as she tried to find the words.
"Because it's not just me." She gave him.
His eyes flicked from her face down towards her swollen stomach and she shifted uncomfortably.
"Because I need to fix this so that my daughter can grow up and be… ok." She cleared her throat. "So that I'm there. And we're safe and she can know, she knows every day that we're ok, that I love her. I could live the rest of my life on the run. But I'm not going to do that to her."
Jack's face didn't soften, he barely reacted. He simply nodded after a few moments and lowered his arm, letting her pass.
Hally descended the stairs slowly, her mind racing. "Take a seat," Jack ordered from behind her, following as she moved back into the living room. She hesitated for a moment, then sat down, sinking into the cushions. Jack remained standing nearby, his posture taught with alertness. In the hallway Ianto moved to the front door, his expression calm, but his movements deliberate. He opened it just a crack, peering out into the night, waiting for Kate and whatever backup she'd brought. Hally glanced at him, noting how both men had subtly positioned themselves to seem as unthreatening as possible. It was smart, she realised. This way, the looked in control and she looked small, vulnerable. A calculated move to keep the situation under control.
Lights moved across the closed blinds, slowing and coming to a stop. Multiple sets. Hally's hearts began to race. Tension rose in her chest, tightening like a vice. Was this stupid? Was she being stupid?
Handing herself over to UNIT—had she actually thought this through? She didn't even know this Kate. Who was she, really? What power did she hold within UNIT? The last thing Hally wanted was to end up in the hands of someone like Colonel Mace. He'd lock her in a cell and forget she existed, no questions asked. And this time, she couldn't just think about herself.
"Relax. If you're tense, they'll be tense. Take a breath." Jack murmured from above. His tone wasn't comforting. He was giving her an order.
She tried her best. Pushing the unhelpful thoughts out of her mind.
No. She was doing the right thing.
It was going to be ok.
A female voice greeted Ianto at the door. "…Evening Ianto, or I guess it's morning isn't it. Apologies about the small entourage, I brought as little firepower as I could given the… threat level. Where is she?" Ianto must have motioned Kate through towards the living room because moments later she was moving through the door. She was tall, blonde with a sharp, confident air about her. Her hair, cut just above the shoulders, framed her face despite the fact that it was 4 a.m., she was impeccably dressed in a tailored pantsuit, every detail carefully considered. She was strikingly composed for someone who had likely been hastily pulled from sleep.
Right behind her came another woman, slightly shorter and noticeably younger. A brunette with a softer demeanour, she wore dark jeans and a colourful jumper that clashed gently with the seriousness of the atmosphere. Her glasses perched on her nose. If it weren't for the circumstances, neither of them would have seemed like they were with UNIT at all.
That illusion shattered when two armed soldiers entered after them, a man and a woman, both dressed in full tactical gear. The soldiers held their guns across their bodies in a tense, ready stance—casual enough to seem non-threatening but poised to escalate in a heartbeat. It was a silent message, clear as day: they were here to ensure compliance, one way or another.
The blonde woman, Kate, paused and glanced back over her shoulder, giving the armed pair a subtle, wordless command to hold their position just inside the doorway. Then, she turned her attention back to Hally, her expression softening into a small, tight-lipped smile. Her eyes flicked briefly up to Jack, acknowledging him.
"Harkness. Nice to see you again." Kate's voice was steady as she extended her hand to Jack. He grasped it firmly.
"Kate," he acknowledged, his tone warm but measured.
Kate's gaze finally settled on Hally with an intensity that was both reassuring and disarming.
She gestured to the young woman standing beside her. "This is Osgood. She's currently one of my scientific researchers."
Osgood gave both Jack and Hally a tight, polite smile, her hands occupied with a thick, black box held by a sturdy handle. There was an earnestness in her eyes, though she seemed somewhat out of place amidst the tension in the room.
Kate's expression softened yet remained resolute. "While I am here to arrest you, we're quite happy to do this quietly if you are?"
Hally swallowed, her throat dry as she nodded. "Erm, yeah… go ahead… arrest away…" The words tumbled out awkwardly, and she nearly winced at her own clumsiness. But neither Kate nor Osgood seemed fazed by it.
Kate turned to Jack, her gaze dropping pointedly to the silver band encircling Hally's neck. "I'm going to assume that's the biodampener Ianto mentioned on the phone?"
Jack nodded, his expression darkening slightly. "It is. Knocks out her power. Makes her useless."
Wow…
Useless.
Gee, thanks, Jack.
He shot her a look out of the corner of his eye, evidently goading her. She kept her face as neutral as she could. Glaring at him wouldn't look good. So she'd have to put up with Jack being a minor prick for now.
Kate gave a thoughtful hum and turned back to Hally. "Is that correct?"
She offered a nod. "Yes. It blocks any externalisation of energy."
Kate acknowledged her with a nod. "Thank you for putting it on. It's appreciated." She exchanged a glance with Osgood before turning back to Hally. "However, since it's an item of extra-terrestrial origin and not UNIT-tested, we'd like to implement our own device as well. It will be locked around your neck and measures the amount of temporal energy being emitted by you. Should the level reach above a certain threshold considered dangerous, it releases a tranquillizer into your bloodstream with immediate effect. Can you confirm you understand?"
Hally forced herself to take a slow, steady breath. "Yes."
"Good." Kate offered her a small smile. "I know it might seem like a stupid question, but I have to get verbal confirmation that you understand the mechanism. Now, we will be attaching the device with or without your consent but I'd really rather do it with." Again that smile. It wasn't unkind. On the contrary, it was an implicitly kind smile but something about it was also slightly cold, slightly, authoritative. Kate was in control here, but she was trying to be as nice about it as possible.
Hally gave her another nod, although this time it was shorter, her tension evident. She really didn't like all these damn collars. A necessary evil. Humans and their preventative measures.
"Thank you." Kate looked to Osgood, who stepped forward and knelt down beside the sofa where Hally sat. She placed the black box on the cushion next to her, then unlocked it with both of her fingerprints. The lid popped open, revealing the collar inside—black, thicker, and bulkier than the biodampener. It was clearly of human design, lacking the streamlined elegance of alien tech. Lights flickered on its surface, a locking mechanism visible at the back.
Osgood carefully lifted the collar from the box, her movements precise and unhurried. Hally, making her movements evidently slow and non-threatening moved her hands up to move her hair out of the way. Osgood moved in closer, her hands gentle as she secured the device around Hally's neck. There was a soft click, followed by a brief hiss as it locked into place. Osgood retrieved a key from the box and used it to secure the bolt, ensuring the collar was firmly in place.
"There. All done," Osgood said, her voice calm as she closed the box and checked the device. A steady green light reflected in her glasses. Satisfied, she stepped back, allowing Hally to let her hair fall back into place.
"I'm not going to cuff you," Kate continued, her tone firm yet reassuring. "I want to ensure we get you to HQ safely, but if it becomes necessary, you will be restrained. Understood?"
Again, Hally nodded.
Kate nodded to Osgood before looking to Jack. "I made the assumption that you're going to be accompanying her. There's a space for you in the vehicle."
There was a momentary flash of something like irritation behind Jack's eyes. Hally wasn't sure if he just wasn't doing well with having someone else tell him what to do, or whether it was his own realisation that he had indeed already decided that he would be accompanying her, either way, his gaze cooled and he nodded.
Kate smiled at him, looking back to Hally. "Shall we?"
Hally nodded and again, nice and slowly, she rose to her feet. Immediately thankful that Kate hadn't decided to cuff her as she'd required both her hands in order to push her pregnant self up off the sofa.
Kate turned, creating space for Hally to pass by her and motioning for her to do so. She stepped ahead, the two soldiers flanking the door turned and filed out, Hally following behind them with Kate and Osgood behind her. As they exited onto the street Hally noticed the dozen or so black vehicles that lined both sides of the road. Twenty or so visible soldiers hovering nearby.
'Minimal firepower.'
Hally hadn't realised she'd stopped walking until she felt Kate's hand press gently against her back, urging her forward. She let Kate guide her toward the black van parked across the street. The soldiers moved with practised efficiency, opening the back doors to reveal a small, secure seating area behind a cage.
Jack slipped past her, entering the back first so he could hold out a hand to help her up, the step up just slightly uncomfortable due to the swell of her stomach. She thanked him, although he didn't react and placed herself down on the right-hand row of seats, she watched as Jack took the seat opposite on the left.
One of the soldiers moved forward, shutting the cage door with a decisive clank and locking it securely. Hally felt a slight shift in the atmosphere, a prickling sensation crawling up the back of her neck. The reality of the situation sank in—she was being caged, transported like a dangerous animal.
Kate's voice cut through the low rumble of the lock sliding into place. "We'll reach Tower Bridge in about 25 minutes. Luckily, traffic isn't as bad at this time in the morning…"
Hally didn't respond. Sensing her silence, Jack gave Kate a small nod as the back doors of the van were closed, sealing them inside. Six small, circular lights embedded in the roof flickered on, casting a dim glow over the cramped space. The van's interior felt claustrophobic, the thick walls cutting out any noise from the outside world. An uncomfortable chill ran up her spine, the sensation of being trapped settling in her chest like a heavy stone.
"Put your seatbelt on." Jack's firm command cut across to her.
It took her a moment to register his words, but she did as she was told, clicking the seatbelt in place. The silence between them stretched for a few minutes before the slight rumble under their feet indicated that the van was moving. Hally felt a sudden, overwhelming wave of gratitude. Despite his frosty attitude, Jack had come with her. The idea of sitting inside this metal cage, almost in the dark and in complete silence, alone, would have been unbearable. Her hands gripped the edge of her seat, and she focused on taking slow, deep breaths. She could feel Jack's eyes on her, but he stayed quiet, perhaps sensing that she was just teetering on the edge of keeping it together.
His eyes dropped to her stomach, a slight frown creasing his face. It was clear he was thinking, questions swirling in his mind, but he wasn't voicing them—at least, not yet.
Hally didn't press him. She was fine with travelling in silence, preferring instead to focus on her breathing. In and out. She found herself wishing that River was still there. Although, she supposed River had to take the others home too…
"Is it his?" Jack's voice broke through her thoughts.
Her eyes snapped up to meet his, and she couldn't help the way her face shifted, one eyebrow raising as she stared at him with a look that clearly communicated how incredibly stupid his question was.
"Yes, of course it's his," she snapped back.
"Just checking," he clipped, his tone sharp.
She shifted under his heavy gaze, shooting him a glare.
"So then, where is he? The father of this child?" The question was genuine, but it carried an obvious goading undertone.
Anger flashed behind her eyes. "Stuck on Gallifrey."
"Huh. Seems convenient."
"Oh, fuck you."
"Darling," he leered unkindly, "out of the two of us, the one who is well and truly fucked, in any sense of the word, is you."
"Oh, you're just loving this, aren't you? I bet you've been dreaming about this moment for years. Go on, say it. I can tell you're dying to say it. 'I told you so.' You got what you wanted, Jack. I chose him, and here I am, all alone. Just like you said I would be," she spat back, her own rage seeping into every pointed word.
"I didn't want this to happen to you. I told you he would leave."
"He didn't leave!" Hally snapped back quickly. "He got stuck. He sacrificed his idiot self to save your precious Doctor. To save me. To save our daughter. So get off your high horse, Harkness."
His anger simmered beneath the surface as he glared at her, cooling momentarily at her words. "…I never wanted this for you," he repeated, pressing his point.
She shook her head. "No. No, you never wanted me to be this person, Jack. That's the difference. You don't want me to be someone who could love The Master. You don't want me to be someone who could possibly consider betraying you, who could possibly outsmart or overpower you. Someone who could be so desperate that they might do terrible, horrible things to the people they care about. But you can't control who I am or what I do. That's down to me. That's on me. The things I've done are my responsibility. And you, you need to decide what that means for us. Because you can't change me, Jack. And I'm not saying that you should be ok with the things I've done to you, because you're right not to be. I have done things I'm not proud of. Things I didn't like doing. But you need to choose, because I know you're angry at me and you're totally valid in being angry with me and to be quite honest with you, I'm not sure you're ever not going to be angry at me, but you need to choose what that means for us. You can hate me, Jack. I'd understand. I would. Or, you can choose to move the fuck on and we can start from the bottom. Because I have always loved being your friend and that isn't going to change. And I have no idea if you feel the same way, or if you're just here out of some weird feeling of duty you have to protect me? Or if you're just here out of respect for my dad? But I'm telling you, that you don't have to be here if you don't want to be. I mean… don't get me wrong. I appreciate that you are… I really, really do. But you're not bound to be my jailer or my sentinel or babysitter or whatever the fuck it is. Because, this isn't just me anymore. Because, my life is about to get pretty messy… messier. More complicated, whatever, and I won't chain you to me if you carry no fondness for me anymore. It's not fair on you. I just want you to be my friend, Jack. That's all I've ever wanted. And I know… I've been a shitty friend. I've been the worst friend… but… I want to start again, but this time… you can choose to be my friend. Knowing every dark thing about me… knowing exactly who I am and what I'm capable of…and-"
"Oh my god, shut up." Jack snapped, his voice cutting across hers like a slap to the face.
Her mouth hung open, still stuck on forming what were going to be her next words. Jack let out a long, loud sigh, running his hand across his face. "Do you really think… that I'd be here with you… in the back of a fucking police van at 4AM if you weren't my friend?" His voice was low, angry and full of exhaustion. "Of course we're friends you moron." He clipped back. His words and his tone not marrying at all. "I'm disappointed in you. I'm disappointed for you." He huffed and shook his head. "You deserve better. You are better. You have fucked up so gigantically, multiple times, and as idiotic as I might be, I am here as your stupid friend to help you get through it and find whatever path it is you need to be set onto to not destroy the whole bloody universe because I care. Because, for some dumb reason I care enough about you to not just take you out. Because you are good. You're complicated… but inherently… inherently you are not a bad person. You've just… you've done bad things... And don't mistake this for forgiveness young lady because it's not even fucking close…" He growled. "I am so angry at you. I don't trust you and I can barely stand to look at you." Venom fizzed behind every word. "But I am here, because I want to be here." He spat. "Clear?"
She closed her mouth and swallowed, giving him a short hum of acknowledgement. "Crystal…"
The rest of the journey was intensely silent.
She was quite relieved when they stopped and the back reopened. Jack, wordlessly, reversed how they'd gotten into the van and hopped down himself, helping her with the step down.
Kate greeted them, with Osgood no longer in sight. More soldiers had gathered, forming two solid lines on either side of her, creating a corridor of uniformed escorts. Kate moved through them, stepping in front of Hally.
"I'm afraid I'm probably going to have to cuff you now," Kate said, her tone almost apologetic. "UNIT HQ—they'll get a bit stroppy if we don't." She took a pair of thick metal cuffs from one of the soldiers.
Hally offered her wrists without comment, keeping them steady while Kate clicked the cuffs into place. Once secured, she turned and nodded to the soldier, who gently took her by the arm and began leading her forward. The entourage moved in unison, soldiers both ahead and behind, as they made their way toward the entrance of the building.
Kate and Harkness slipped in just behind her, striking up a casual conversation as though Hally wasn't in the middle of being arrested.
"So, Harkness, perhaps this might encourage you to take me up on those collaboration offers?" The smile was audible in Kate's voice.
Jack snorted. "You've already taken the best from MI6 and MI5, leave my team alone."
"Oh, come on, it's not 'taking' it's collaborating. We'll simply be working together. Combined forces. You know it makes sense."
Jack yawned. "I'll think about it."
"Sounds like a yes to me."
"It's a resounding, 'I'll think about it.'"
The building was mostly empty, as to be expected at 4 a.m., with only a handful of armed soldiers present. Their eyes stayed trained on Hally, though she sensed that most of them were relatively at ease. Whether they trusted the technology around her neck or simply deemed her cooperative enough to not pose an immediate threat. She moved, escorted, through the foyer, down several corridors, and past numerous security doors that were swiped open.
"Where are we headed…?" Jack finally voiced the question that had been lingering in Hally's mind as well. She was beginning to wonder where they planned on placing her.
"The Zero Room," Kate offered informatively.
"Figures," Harkness hummed in response.
A small frown creased Hally's face as she walked ahead of them, Kate seemed to sense her curiosity and elaborated. "It's an energy depression chamber. Once sealed, nothing can get in or out. Sound, energy, light. We've been using it to test environmental effects on some extra-terrestrial weaponry. But it'll do for a holding cell…"
Hally's eyebrows twitched upwards. The room, along with the biodampener and device around her neck would effectively mute her powers threefold. She was almost flattered.
"The room itself has its own lighting and airflow, of course. You'll be perfectly comfortable," Kate assured her.
"Mmhmm," Hally hummed in response.
They continued down the corridor until they reached another sealed doorway. Kate swiped her card, and they entered across a glass bridge that led to another door, this one made of glass. Again, access required a swipe of Kate's ID card. Hally stepped across the threshold, followed inside by Jack. Most of the room was constructed of glass, an almost floating prison. Hally assumed that although it looked perfectly see through, it would in fact most likely be incredibly thick. Block-like ceramic white edges enclosed each glass wall. A bed had been placed towards the far corner, along with a table, chairs and other bits and bobs. Stepping inside, nothing seemed too out of the ordinary at first. It wasn't until Kate closed the door behind them, leaving the soldiers outside in the corridor, that Hally noticed the almost eerie stillness of the room. All sound from outside completely cut off. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed that through the glass walls, Hally could see other windows farther away, on the other side of the dark space in between, the faces of humans watching her. She wondered if this was how goldfish felt—or maybe hamsters. She felt like a hamster. All she needed now was a giant wheel attached to the wall.
Kate kindly pointed out the cameras within the room as she removed Hally's handcuffs. "You have the intercom next to the door to contact us, or there's a button next to your bed. Press either if you need anything. Anything at all."
Hally hummed softly in acknowledgement, while Jack surveyed the room. He seemed to approve.
Hally knew she was about to be alone. The knowledge circled her like a looming shadow, not entirely comfortable but necessary—and most likely temporary. She could occupy herself. Eat. Sleep. She could certainly do with a lie-down.
"We'll be back in the morning," Kate said.
Hally considered quipping that it already was the morning but decided against it, nodding instead.
"I promise to keep you as in the loop as I can. We're entering unchartered territory and we want to get this right, for you and for us…" Kate levelled a look towards her. "I acknowledge the vulnerable position you've put yourself in…" Kate's gaze didn't move from Hally's face, but Hally understood her meaning. "And I want to personally assure you, that no harm will come to you both." She smiled. "Now, you should probably get some rest." She nodded, turning and indicated to Jack to head out. He caught Hally with a quick look, before the pair moved back out of the room, the door sealing behind them.
The silence of the room was unlike any silence she'd experienced.
Pure nothing.
Hally circled the room, her footsteps muffled by the eerie stillness that seemed to permeate every corner. The nothingness was the same all over—an oppressive, unsettling deadness that hung in the air like a thick fog. She couldn't fathom how she was supposed to sleep in such a disquieting environment, but she might as well try.
She moved to the bed and sat down on the edge, feeling the firm mattress beneath her. Reaching for the large glass of water that had been provided, she took a long drink, the cool liquid soothing her dry throat. Afterwards, she picked at the food that had been left for her, barely tasting it as she nibbled on a few bites. Her appetite was minimal, but she knew she needed the energy.
Once she'd eaten enough to satisfy her for the moment, she slipped into the bed, the soft duvet a small comfort in the sterile room. Turning onto her side, she tried to find a comfortable position, her mind racing. The lights were almost painfully bright, and she wondered how she was supposed to sleep with them blazing down on her. But just as the thought crossed her mind, the lights flicked off, plunging the room into darkness.
The sudden absence of light made it easier to see outside the glass walls. She could now make out the empty space between her enclosure and the windows beyond. Shadows moved in the distance—people watching her, others milling about, moving through the corridors. It was strange that she could see them so clearly, their figures outlined against the dim glow of the hallway lights. Perhaps it was intentional, a design factor meant to allow anyone in the room to remain somewhat connected to the outside world, perhaps if cut off completely, it might drive the inhabitant insane.
Hally lay there, snuggled in the duvet, feeling its warmth against her skin as she watched the figures through the glass. They seemed so distant, yet so close, and she found herself studying their movements, imagining what their lives might be like outside this room. The silence was heavy, but not entirely unwelcome; it allowed her to focus, to observe.
Hours passed as she remained there, people-watching in the quiet darkness. Eventually, the weight of exhaustion began to pull at her eyelids, and despite the strange, lifeless atmosphere of the room, her eyes slid closed. Somehow, against all odds, she managed to fall asleep.
He loved coming into work.
It was all so adorable.
White walls and key cards and lab coats and team meetings.
The team meetings.
Oh, how he'd love to take each member of his research team and rearrange them.
Oh.
He loved coming to work.
Why wouldn't he?
He. Loved. Aliens.
All things extra-terrestrial.
Loved it.
And here at UNIT, he could spend ALL day researching Aliens to his heart's content.
And his favourite of all Aliens…
Well, that had to be the Time Lords.
Oh, now he thought they were magnificent.
He was a FAN.
He'd read all the stories. All the files.
He had pictures.
And today, well, today was going to be the BEST day.
Because, today, there was going to be an actual, living, breathing Time Lord in the office.
Well, Time Lady.
Ok, also, perhaps not 'in the office'. She was definitely locked, nice and secure, inside the Zero Room.
Osgood had sent him a text at 5am.
'YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHO'S IN THE ZERO ROOM!'
He had never dressed for work so quickly.
It was going to be the BEST day.
Oh, he couldn't wait.
The usual, mind-numbing monotony would have been worth it, for this.
He had waited for AGES.
He dressed in his favourite cardigan.
Oh, he was a cardigan man.
For, certain.
He thought about donning a bow tie, but figured it might be a little too much. Plus, there was a high chance Osgood would already be wearing one and they couldn't match.
No, no, no, that wouldn't do.
He arrived at the office earlier than usual.
Would anyone notice?
Maybe.
But, oh, he was excited.
He made his way through the security gates, flashing his usual awkward smile towards the security guard. It didn't take him long to find Osgood. She was exactly where he'd expected her to be. Hanging out in laboratory 7C. He knew he'd find her there and he knew why. The same reason that he wanted to 'hang out' in laboratory 7C. Lab 7C had a window. A window that looked out onto the Zero Room. He moved over to her, coming up beside her. "Oh, wow."
Osgood turned to him, her face split with a beaming grin. "I know right? Oh, she's wearing it. She's actually wearing it. The device we built. She let me put it on." Osgood practically melted with excitement. "And now she's here." She looked back through the window, watching as the Time Lady paced slowly around the outside of the perimeter of the Zero room, doing mostly nothing, pacing, every now and then she'd take a sip of water, a bite of the food left out for her before she'd circle again. Like a hamster. "I was thinking about wearing the scarf… you know… my scarf… but then I thought that might annoy her… do you think it'd annoy her?" She looked towards him, eyes alight with serious intrigue.
His eyes widened momentarily. "Ahh, maybe. I'm not really sure… best not." He offered to her. She nodded, her forehead relaxing out of the frown before she looked back through the window. He couldn't see her in great detail from here. Too far away. But it was definitely her. He knew from the pictures. His eyes moved to the swell of her stomach.
"Kate wants us to go in with her, just after this morning's briefing." Osgood interrupted his gazing.
His mouth dropped open as he stuttered. "What… us? In there… with her?"
"Yep." Osgood popped the 'p' excitably. "She wants us to calibrate the collar. But… we need to play it cool."
"I can play it cool…" He exhaled.
"Oh… sure you can." Osgood snorted knowingly.
Hally wasn't sure what time it was. It felt like many hours had passed. She was bored. Pacing. Circling. Lying down was now too boring. She tried to not look out of the glass towards the windows. Doing so reminded her of how very watched she was. It was unnerving.
Waiting for Kate to return.
Or anyone.
She'd take a visit from anyone at this point.
One-hundred and forty-nine more laps of the room later the door finally unlocked from the other side, sliding back to reveal Kate. Hally almost jumped with excitement, moving towards the human. Jack followed Kate, which despite their 'it's complicated' status, almost immediately put her at ease. Then, behind them through the door came Osgood and then, someone else? A man. He and Osgood were both wearing white lab coats over the top of their clothes. Her eyes narrowed, the presence of the coats making her feel ever so slightly like a 'research' project.
Her eyes moved back to Kate who gave her a smile. "Morning."
"Is it?" Hally murmured back, it had felt much later, trapped inside the box of nothing.
Kate gave her a knowing smile. "Ah, yes, time has a funny way of bending in here."
Hally offered her a grimace in return.
Kate made a point of looking towards Osgood and the newcomer. "If you don't mind, they need to take a look at the monitor around your neck. We need it calibrated without the biodampener in place, just to ensure accuracy, then we'll re-secure both."
Hally looked between the pair, before offering Kate a shrug of acceptance.
"Oh, Osgood, go ahead."
Hally took a seat, perching on the edge of the bed as the pair approached. Jack circled behind her and the two lab coats waited patiently while she and Jack pressed their fingerprints into the biodampener, letting it unlock. Jack gathered it into his palm, hovering nearby. Hally kept her hair held out of the way as the pair fluttered around her. Osgood moved around behind her, clicking the key in place while her 'nameless' colleague knelt down in front of her, his large, dark eyes focused on the front of the device, watching the lights flicker and pulse.
The device was clicking, a soft beep emitting from it every few moments. She could feel it warming against her skin as Osgood voiced numbered settings to her colleague.
Kate watched, she offered Hally a smile as Hally's gaze moved away from the pair well within her personal space to look 'elsewhere'. "My two best scientific researchers." She offered. "Oh and, well, you've already met Osgood."
"And does your other best scientific researcher have a name?" Hally clipped, feeling more and more like a research project, the man's face way too close to her neck for comfort. He seemed to reverse at the clip in her tone.
For a brief second, a moment of confusion passed across Kate's face before she broke into a smile, a smile that made Hally feel like she'd missed something obvious. "Oh."
Hally just stared at her, confused.
The man in front of her cleared his throat, a blush creeping up his neck and across his cheeks. "Oh… like… the letter… oh… not 'oh', but O. That's my name. O."
She blinked slowly, her face scrunching. "Right…"
He seemed to deflate slightly, as though embarrassed by the misunderstanding and silently went back to calibrating. She rolled her eyes, her gaze landing on Jack who mouthed sternly, 'Be nice'.
She exhaled and reset her face.
"So…" She started, attempting to extend an olive branch. "I suppose I have you two geniuses to thank for this?" She motioned towards the device they were currently engrossed with around her neck.
O blushed again.
Kate spoke for them. "You do. They also designed this room."
"My two new favourite humans." Hally lilted, her eyes flashing with a playfulness that could have been mistaken as threatening.
O swallowed and stumbled to his feet. "All done."
Osgood hummed in confirmation as the device clicked with a decisive lock. Jack moved back behind her, draping the biodampener over her neck as the pair sealed it back in place. O was staring at his shoes, his dark hair flopping across his face, hiding his eyes.
"Thanks both." Kate gave the pair their cue to leave and they complied, white lab coats disappearing through the door. Kate turned back to her once the door had slipped closed. "There's going to be a trial. It was agreed that it'd be the fairest way to decide a suitable outcome for all involved."
Hally's eyebrow twitched at the very diplomatic way Kate was describing Hally's murder of thousands…
"Of course, there's never been anything like this before. There's no 'prosecutor' or 'defendant' so to speak. We just… want a fair outcome." She cleared her throat. "Each one of your actions will be analysed, argued and it will be up to a select… impartial council to decide the best course of action."
Hally wasn't entirely sure how anyone could be impartial but she didn't bring it up.
"But, we want to ensure you're represented, that your version of events is heard and taken into account. Granted, not many… no, no lawyers specialise in extra-terrestrial representation, but we've improvised." She offered her a smile. "He'll be here shortly to discuss everything with you. Please just… tell the truth. Your truth. Your story. I think we want the same thing." Kate gave her a confident nod. "But, before that, I need you checked over. A quick medical, baselines, blood samples, the usual." She gave her a smile that told Hally it wasn't really optional.
"The usual." Hally quipped back.
Kate picked up on the sarcasm, the smile not moving from her face, before she turned to Jack. "Right then, work to do."
Jack hummed with bitter resolution, heading back out of the cell with Kate.
And again, she was all alone in the silence.
Hally was lying on the bed, half awake, half lost in the haze of her thoughts, when she heard the door to the Zero Room slide open with a soft hiss. The sound was out of place in the muted space, drawing her attention immediately. She turned her head, expecting to see another faceless UNIT soldier or perhaps Kate again. Instead, she was greeted by a familiar voice, tinged with its usual sarcastic edge.
"Went and got yourself pregnant, did you?"
Hally blinked in surprise before a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She knew that voice. "Hello, Owen."
Dr. Owen Harper stood in the doorway, a smirk on his face, hands casually stuffed into the pockets of his white coat. He looked exactly the same as she remembered—sharp eyes that missed nothing, a certain arrogance in his posture, but also a hint of something softer, something he rarely showed.
He sauntered into the room, letting the door close behind him. "Well, when I heard there was a damsel in distress who managed to get herself knocked up and arrested, I figured it could only be you."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile. "Flattered you thought of me. But I'm not quite the damsel in distress."
Owen pulled a chair over to her bedside, dropping into it with his usual lack of grace. "Oh, it's always distressing when you're involved. So, shall we get this over with?" He held up a small case of medical equipment. "Kate's got me playing doctor, so I might as well do it properly."
"You are a doctor." Hally smirked at him, shifting on the bed and propping herself up. "So, Kate dragging the whole of Torchwood into this? Or, did you draw the short straw or something?"
He snorted, setting up his equipment on the small table beside her. "Nah, nothing so heinous. Kate's been pushing to combine UNIT and Torchwood for a while now. Something about streamlining resources, mutual interests, and saving the world together. You know how it is. Blah, blah, blah. Most of us had moved down to London anyway, so I don't really mind. Plus, gives the pay packet a boost." He shot her a wink.
Hally watched him as he prepared a syringe. "Lucky me, then."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah, well, you always did have a way of getting people mixed up in your messes. Arm, please."
She held out her arm, and he swabbed the inside of her elbow with an antiseptic wipe. "Gee, thanks Doc." As he carefully inserted the needle, she barely felt it. Owen was efficient, his movements quick and precise, as he drew several vials of blood. "What about Gwen?"
"Nah, she and Rhys stayed up in Cardiff. Holding down the fort." He grinned. "Oh, they've got a kid." He hummed, motioning towards her pregnant stomach. "Girl. Anwen." He tugged his stethoscope up and into his ears, pressing the bell against her chest. "Take a deep breath for me…"
Hally's face broke with happy surprise. "Oh wow, that's wonderful." She spoke, before doing as he'd asked.
He hummed, smiling with agreement. "And then there's still Torchwood America…" He shifted the bell onto the other side of her chest, repeating the instruction, listening.
Hally frowned with confusion. "They do know that wasn't really, real, right?"
He chuckled and nodded. "Oh yeah, but once you up and left they figured that it was actually a pretty good idea. Your two boys went underground, so UNIT set up their own Torchwood division over there." He flicked the stethoscope back around his neck, taking a moment to inspect her hands and eyes.
"Huh…" Hally mused, the side of her mouth curving with a smirk of amusement.
Owen packed away the blood samples. "Speaking of, daughters. Let's have a look at the little one, shall we?"
Hally nodded, her expression dropping as she shifted slightly on the bed, pulling up the bottom of the sweatshirt to allow him access to her stomach. Owen retrieved a handheld scanner from his kit, his demeanour shifting into something more serious.
"This might be a bit cold," he warned, before placing the scanner against her abdomen. The device emitted a faint hum, and the screen lit up with an image.
Owen's eyes flicked over the readings, his expression unreadable as he analysed the data. After a moment, he nodded, satisfied. "Everything's in perfect working order. Heartbeat's strong, growth is right on track for what we have estimated. No abnormalities that I can see."
Hally let out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding. "Good."
Owen pulled the scanner away, wiping it down before putting it back in his case. "You're doing alright too, by the way." He offered her a smile. "Although, I imagine you could do with a visit from our favourite consulting therapist." He gave her a knowing wink and she snorted.
"Thanks, Owen." She pressed, amusement seeping into her tone.
He barked a laugh, standing up with his usual cocky grin. "I'll be seeing you." But as he looked at her, the twinkle in his eyes softened, his smile fading into something more genuine. "Look after yourself, alright? I don't know how messy all of this is about to get, but as your doctor, your wellbeing is my priority. So, if you need anything, you ask. If you need help, if you need a minute, if you're overwhelmed, you say so, okay?" His tone had dropped into something serious, his gaze locked on hers, full of concern.
Hally tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. "I will, Owen."
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. Then, without another word, he reached out and gave her hand a brief, reassuring squeeze. The gesture was uncharacteristically tender for Owen.
As he turned to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. "And Hally?"
She looked up, meeting his eyes.
"No matter what happens, remember you're not alone in this." His voice was steady, a promise wrapped in a command.
With that, Owen gave her one last nod before slipping out of the room, the door hissing shut behind him. The silence returned, but this time, it was perhaps slightly less oppressive.
Hours later, the door to the Zero Room slid open once more. She looked up, semi-expecting it to be another soldier with dinner. The figure who stepped inside was neither a soldier nor a doctor. He was tall, with neatly combed dark hair and a warm, reassuring presence. He wore a tailored suit, exuding a calm confidence that immediately set him apart from the others she'd encountered since being confined.
The moment she saw him, recognition flashed in her mind. That awkward moment, realising that you know someone, when perhaps they don't know you, and realising, even more awkwardly, that the reason you know them, is because you've spent countless hours stalking their family because you accidentally killed their wife in an alternate timeline.
This was Henry Pearce—Alina's husband.
Seeing him, it seemed rather obvious now. He was a lawyer. She remembered that much.
He stepped forward, offering her a polite smile. "Ms. Hally. Henry Pearce. I'm here to discuss your upcoming trial." He offered her his hand, and with a polite smile, she shook it. All of sudden, she felt strangely underdressed, sitting on the bed in her sweatpants with this man in his perfectly tailored suit.
Hally cleared her throat, nodding. "I know who you are…"
Henry's smile widened slightly, and he chuckled. "Yes, Alina mentioned that you might…"
How, utterly embarrassing.
"Then hopefully, you'll know I'm here to help." His eyes sparkled kindly.
Hally studied him for a moment before nodding.
Henry gestured to the chair Owen had vacated earlier, waiting for her nod of approval before he sat down. He placed a sleek briefcase on the table beside him, opening it to reveal a series of neatly organised files. He took one out, glancing at it briefly before setting it aside.
"The trial, well, it's not really a trial, but that's what we're going to call it," he began, "will be conducted in a very structured manner. First, the council will present their full evidence against you—every charge, every crime they believe you've committed. It's going to be comprehensive, and it will likely be difficult to hear. They're going to push you and press you and it's not going to be comfortable. After that, we'll have the opportunity to present. This is where your side of the story comes in."
Hally listened intently, shifting from the bed into the seat opposite him.
"Here's the most important part," Henry continued, his tone serious but gentle. "You need to be as honest as possible. I won't lie to you—they might try to rip you apart. They'll pull apart your character, question your motives, and likely bring up things from your past that you'd rather not discuss. But the truth is your best defence."
Hally's hands clenched, but she nodded. "I've never been good at lying anyway," she admitted quietly.
Henry offered her a small, encouraging smile. "Good. That will work in our favour. The council isn't necessarily against you—they're trying to determine the truth of what happened, and therefore the appropriate form of consequence. Your honesty will be crucial in helping them see the full picture. The more information you provide, the better our chances."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers with a sincerity that was hard to ignore. "They could still decide to leave you in here for good, Hally. But we're going to do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen."
For a moment, the weight of his words settled heavily between them. Hally took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, trying to calm the anxiety that had begun to bubble up inside her. "What's the plan, then?" she asked, her voice firmer now.
Henry reached into his briefcase and pulled out a few more files, laying them out on the small table between them. "We're going to go through the evidence we have on you, piece by piece. We'll discuss what they're likely to bring up, and then we'll work out how to counter it. I'll be with you every step of the way, making sure you understand what's happening and what to expect.
She nodded and they began.
For the next few hours, they went over everything. Right from the start. From Gallifrey, to the Valiant, Torchwood to Naismith mansion. Henry was thorough, methodical, and patient, answering every question she had and offering reassurance whenever she faltered.
As Henry packed up his files, he caught her gaze. "Your friends are working really, very hard to ensure the best outcome for you. Don't waste it."
She took a breath and nodded. Henry turned and left her to the quiet of the room.
Her friends.
Friends.
Somehow, she wasn't alone in this. For some reason, she had people in her corner, fighting for her.
It wasn't just herself, now there were others.
Hally burned with intent.
She couldn't let them down.
Hally woke up early. Despite the room's sterile atmosphere, she could see more activity outside. People were moving with purpose, their silhouettes flitting across the glass panels, as if the entire facility was coming to life in anticipation of something.
She stood up, stretching out the stiffness from a restless night. She hadn't slept well. A combination of being full of baby, guilt and worry.
The door to her room hissed open, and Hally turned to see Kate walking in. The woman looked tired, dark circles under her eyes betraying a lack of sleep. Hally imagined she didn't look much better herself.
Kate gave her a small, weary smile. "Good morning, Hally.
"Morning," Hally replied, her voice thick with the remnants of sleep.
Henry followed Kate into the room. He looked as polished as ever, but there was a seriousness in his demeanour that hadn't been there the day before.
"It's time," he said simply, meeting Hally's gaze.
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Hally took a deep breath, nodding. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
Kate stepped closer, her voice dropping to a more personal tone. "Remember, Hally—tell the truth. Be honest, no matter how hard it gets. It'll make it easier in the end."
Hally swallowed, giving Kate a small nod. "Okay."
With an apologetic smile, Kate held out a pair of handcuffs. "I'm going to need to restrain you again, I'm afraid."
Hally nodded with understanding, offering her wrists to Kate as she secured the cuffs in place.
With that, they exited the room, flanked by armed soldiers who fell into step around them. The walk through UNIT headquarters was sombre, the usual buzz of the facility now tinged with an edge of anticipation. Hally kept her gaze forward, focusing on the task ahead, but she could feel the eyes of the personnel they passed, their curiosity seeping in towards them.
They stopped outside a large, imposing door. The soldiers came to a halt, standing at attention as Kate turned to Hally and Henry. "Are you both ready?"
Henry nodded, his professional demeanour unshaken. Hally gave a more hesitant nod, her hearts pounding in her chest. The door in front of them seemed to loom larger with each passing second.
Before they could proceed, Henry cleared his throat, drawing both Kate and Hally's attention. "There is one thing…" he began, his tone careful, as if choosing his words with precision.
Kate looked at him with a hint of curiosity.
Henry turned his gaze to Hally, his expression serious but not unkind. "Hally, there's something you should be aware of. It might be helpful. Sometimes, when you feel threatened, you get this look on your face… sort of annoyed, a bit murderous, if I'm being honest."
Hally blinked, caught off guard by the comment. "What?"
Henry's lips twitched with the hint of a smile, but he remained earnest. "We need you to avoid that look today. Vulnerability will work in our favour—anger, not so much. So, if you can… fix your face."
Hally stared at him for a moment, then let out a short, dry laugh. It was absurd advice, but she understood the truth behind it. "I'll do my best," she replied, shaking her head slightly.
Kate's lips curved into a tired smile. "You'll do fine, Hally. We're with you."
Taking a deep breath, Hally steadied herself. She straightened her posture, mentally preparing for what was about to come. "Okay," she said firmly, "let's do this."
With that, Kate pushed the door open, and they stepped inside.