Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 26

Jack and Ianto were already up and prepared for the new Archive rework plan when the rest of the team arrived in the morning. The pair had really enjoyed their mini-marathon of 'Benny Hill', having needed the long stretch of mindless foolery and laughter after the past couple of weeks. And the extended bit of rest had found the younger man's right leg feeling healed enough for a good round of creative though careful "dabbling" once they'd made it back to their room. The uneventful night that had followed, had afforded both men the chance the fully catch up on their sleep in spite of uneasy dreams, so they were more than fit to face the day.

"Okay, kids," Harkness called evenly, gesturing to where his partner was taking a tray of coffee cups into the Boardroom. "We've go a plate of pastries waiting and new plans to discuss. So, put your stuff where you want it and come take a seat."

Once everyone was settled in their usual spots with the morning treats, Ianto brought up a chart on the big monitor screen behind their leader. The team looked over the new plan, then at the two men who'd apparently set it up.

"I don't see my name on there," Martha pointed out, raising a curious brow. "And I didn't know we had one scissor-lift, let alone more than that."

"UNIT was kind enough to gift us with some equipment they weren't using anymore," the Captain explained. "Team Eight dropped it all off at 5:00 this morning. Ianto already has the working hovers, lifts, and trolleys in place, so once we go pick up the driving cabin from Harwood's, we can get started. And your name isn't on the Archive work list, Dr. Jones, because there's another body for you to try to look at and identify. UNIT has it and the car it's in at their base outside Newport, so you get to take a road trip. They volunteered to supply any tools and helping hands you might need."

The monitor screen now displayed the video footage of the rain-washed Vauxhall, though Ianto stopped it at the point when Jack asked him to get the door open.

"I thought your Scieron were supposed to be blocking the Rift," Gwen stated with a frown. "Doesn't seem like they're doing the job. And I don't recall it raining last night."

"This was another future generated Rift Storm," the young Welshman across the table supplied quietly, trying to ignore the casual slight against his Otherdimensional 'family'. "Not something Mother Shadow's presence could block. Came in with a very localised weather pattern just like the last one, and time-shifted a large chunk of masonry into a car where it was pulled alongside the kerb a couple of blocks northeast of the original incident with Sergeant Abernathy. That and the fact that there was a strong smell of whiskey when I opened the driver's door, makes me think they trace back to the same event, which appears to have splintered randomly through Time."

"So, you did get the door open," Cooper nodded as she took a bite of her second pastry. "Why'd you stop the recording?"

"Not something you want to see first thing in the morning," Harkness insisted, his expression grim. "Especially when you're eating. Trust me."

"Sounds lovely," Turlough commented dryly. "And it seems you two didn't get to relax for the evening after all."

"No rest for the wicked," Ianto half-smiled, finishing his chocolate filled croissant. "Actually, we did have a nice quiet night after we got back from that mess. And a very good dinner before."

"Which means you saw it right after you'd eaten," Lois blanched, deciding not have another pastry. "Just seeing the window from the outside was enough to put me off. I can't imagine being able to keep dinner down if I had to actually look inside the car."

"Then we won't tell you what he had to clean off his boots after he got the door open," the Captain remarked, casually munching on a cream cheese muffin.

"That's just evil, Jack," Turlough smirked. "Keep torturing poor Lois that way, and you'll never get her out on the field."

"I'm good with that," Habiba put in quickly. "Though I think my coffee and I need a bit of fresh air at the moment."

"Sorry," the immortal American called as the young black woman rose from the table. "It's been quite a few years since I've had a straight civilian on the team, so I don't always remember to 'play nice'."

"I'm getting better," Lois reassured as she headed for the door. "It's just easier when it's mangled aliens… humans are a lot harder still. But I know I'll have to get used to it working here."

"Hope not," the young Guardian to Jack's left stated soberly. "You learn to deal with the carnage, but you never get used to it."

"Definitely," Martha, Gwen and Turlough agreed in unison.

"What happens if you do get used to it?" Habiba queried with a slight frown.

"You get locked in the Vaults with the other rogue Weevils," their leader stated flatly, his eyes showing that he was completely serious. "Or put into permanent cryo. Because if you truly get used to the horrors we have to face, it's too easy to cross the line and cause the same kind of suffering. I've seen it happen, and I will never allow it again."

There was silence in the Boardroom for a moment, at least two of the team knowing that the Captain was referring to Suzie and his own younger brother.

"Air…" the blue jean and jumper clad receptionist in the doorway squeaked, wide-eyed and rattled. "Back in a minute…"

"I'll… go make sure she isn't traumatised for life," Ianto offered, rising from his chair and going around behind Jack to unobtrusively give him a comforting rub on the back as he passed. "And I'll ring Rhys, so he knows we're coming. Martha, van's prepped for your drive to Newport. I loaded anything I could think of you'd need, but you'll probably want to make sure I didn't miss something. I'll clear the table in a bit."

Then he was out the door, leaving the rest of the team to finish their coffee and pastries.

"Turlough," Martha called quietly. "Come give me a hand checking equipment so I can get on the road, yeah?"

The redhead nodded and prepared to follow her out, helpfully grabbing the plates closest to him as well as the tray of leftover baked goods when he went.

"You okay?" Gwen asked their leader once the others had disappeared. "That was a pretty intense answer."

"Hey, at least I apologised for ruining her breakfast," Harkness pointed out, finishing his coffee and rubbing the back of his neck with one hand to loosen the tense muscles there. "And I've never been the type to pull punches. You should know that by now… think of all the times you've yelled at me for it."

"You and Ianto have a row about something?" Cooper prodded, sensing that the American was out of sorts about more than the conversation with Lois. "One of you get hurt dealing with the problem with that car last night?"

"He twisted his bad knee again getting the door pried open," the Captain admitted with an arched brow. "But it was fine after a couple hours of 'Benny Hill' and some hot coffee. No, we both had bad dreams last night… nothing either of us could remember after, but we both felt like we should be looking over our shoulders constantly when we first got up. And I tend to get ugly when I'm feeling uneasy. Ianto knows that better than anyone. What I said to Lois just kind of came out before I thought about it. Doesn't make it any less true though."

"Is it these future generated Rift Storms that've got you two on edge?" the former PC asked as they rose and both started to pick up the rest of the plates and cups from the table.

"Yeah," Jack nodded with a frown. "Because it means we're going to be dealing with something pretty catastrophic at some point down the line. No idea when or exactly what, but it's bound to be really bad to produce Time ruptures like this. And the fact that there is obviously some kind of explosion involved makes it that much worse."

"And knowing whatever it is will happen," the woman walking beside him stated slowly. "Doesn't mean we can prepare for it in any way, because we don't know when it will happen or even what it is."

"Exactly," Harkness sighed, heading for the kitchenette to deposit the items he was carrying. "Doesn't make for very relaxing contemplation. Add the fact that something that major could do an incredible amount of damage to parts or even all of Cardiff, and stands a strong chance of being lethal to a lot of people, including the team… not a good scenario for Ianto and me to think about."

"Bloody hell," Gwen breathed, a chill running down her spine. "I didn't' think about that. Shit… No, that's not good to think about at all. Especially since there's nothing we can do to stop it without knowing the when and what. Guess who just joined the high-strung sleepless nights club…"

"Sorry," the American half-smiled. "I'd say misery loves company, but I honestly didn't mean to put you in the same boat with the two of us. And like you said, there's nothing we can do without more information. So, for now we concentrate on the Archive rework, take things one day at a time, and hope we get a little warning before all hell breaks loose."

All Gwen could do was nod as she moved to help Jack get everything cleaned up from breakfast, silently praying that they would indeed be granted that tiny bit of grace that would allow them to save the world instead just having to watch it burn.

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AN: It is easy for the others to forget that Lois doesn't have the kind of experience they all do with the more unpleasant side of what Torchwood faces. She was never a Companion, and what she witnessed during the 456 debacle was horrible but in no way comparable to being up-close and personal with what the Rift brings to their door.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM