Torchwood: Divergence
Book Four: Hatchweliad
Chapter 31

Once the T3 team made it to the base, there was a quick flurry of activity. The body was divested of as many protruding pipes as possible and stored in a cooler until morning, the camera and PDA evidence downloaded for Ianto to create a file, and Lois brought up to speed on the latest incident. Then the majority of the team made a damp exit to head home, the Hub's normal residents finishing up a few details before retreating to their room for a rub down with warm towels and a change of clothes.

After they were dry and dressed, the pair settled at Gwen's workstation with coffee and Ianto made a file for the most recent Rift Storm. Then they brainstormed the cover story for the body, using it to help cover for the previous victim as well.

"Okay," Jack began soberly. "We pull a male body from the morgue, do what we need to for the death by electrocution story, make sure he isn't a known missing person from the last year of so, but a criminal record's fine. Next, we find a female that could pass for our Vauxhall driver, mangle her enough to fit in a large tool box. We have Martha write up reports to identify both for the police, say our mystery man must've kidnapped the woman from her car and killed her, broken into what he thought was a demolition posted building to dump the remains and made a fatal error."

"Two victims with one story," Ianto nodded, accessing the morgue files to find suitable bodies. "Neat and tidy, yet incredibly ugly and messy at the same time. A very Tosh worthy solution."

"And one I'll do the really nasty part of," Harkness insisted. "Just find me a big empty tool box or other rolling bin to stuff the results into. It's my twisted idea, so I'll handle it."

"No arguments on my end," his partner stated quietly, glad the older man hadn't asked him to do it this time. "I'll take care of the electrocution victim. Oh… perfect. We have the never charming Mr. Evan Myles in the drawers. Owen pulled one of those fluff ended 'Super Diet' parasites out of him, but he died anyhow a week later because some of the filaments were lodged in his brain. Criminal record that included stalking, attempted rape, and several prison worthy counts of assault. Had a writ posted for his arrest when we made him disappear for sexual assault and attempted murder. Wouldn't take much to push that type to mutilation. So, there's our electrocution candidate… and he's on his way up to Cooler 2 in the Autopsy Lab."

"Good call," the Captain stated approvingly, somewhat surprised at how quickly his Archivist had found a suitable body. "Question is, do we want to take care of all the nasty stuff tonight? Or deal with it in the morning before the team turns up?"

"I'd say it's best to do it now, while we have the resolve and luxury of a long hot shower after," Ianto murmured with a slight grimace. "We can console ourselves with a few episodes of 'Coupling' or more 'Benny Hill' before bed. Found the 'Avengers' library too… nothing like a bit of John Steed and Mrs. Peel to improve the mood."

"Sounds good to me," Jack shrugged, watching as the Changeling used Denise Rotham's driver's license photo and basic physical specs to track down a possible match in the Torchwood body bank.

"Here's yours," the Welshman announced after another minute or two. "One of our Jane Does, Weevil victim from about four years ago. Never did match her to any missing person reports, and she's pretty torn up already. Less for you to do, though you will have to bollocks dental and fingerprint ID potentials, just in case the ME gets tetchy and doesn't take our word for who she's supposed to be. They won't get clearance to run DNA for this kind of thing, but I'll flag the system to shunt the report to Martha first if by some strange chance they do. She's on her way to Cooler 3."

"Tell you what," Harkness frowned. "You go take care of our criminal, then you can hunt up a container for me while I do the grisly work on her."

"I suggest one of Owen's old hooded hazmat jumpsuits, so you don't end up a mess," Ianto stated evenly. "And the new containment curtain to keep the equipment spatter free. I'll hose down the area once you're done. Just like the old days… in a stomach turning, really haven't missed it kind of way. Hurray for nauseating nostalgia."

"You're still enough of a kid to find some tiny bit of humour in the worst possible situations," the American beside him half-smiled. "Always, since we first met. I haven't been very good about appreciating it though, yelled at you about there being a time and place. But I think not seeing the lighter side of things is half of why I'm such a misery so often. Don't lose that boyish ability to laugh at life, death, and whatever else the Universe throws at you… otherwise you'll end up just like me after the first hundred years."

"So…" Ianto began slowly, turning to meet his lover's gaze with a painfully serious expression. "Next time you have a go about misplaced levity, I should remind you to lighten up or risk dating your own evil twin when you turn me into a potentially cold-blooded, overly internalised, secret hoarding, guilt wallowing cynic?"

The older immortal stared at him for a moment like a deer dazed by headlamps, one hand going to his chest as though he'd been mortally wounded.

"Ow!" Jack finally protested, looking torn between laughter and tears.

"I take that as a yes," the young Welshman smiled, patting his partner on the shoulder, then rising to head for the Autopsy Lab. "I'm thinking that putting some copper wires across Mr. Myles' palm, and touching the defibrillator to them on maximum charge should produce the correct results. Hopefully it won't arc on me. If it does, just shove me over by the stairs till the Scieron send be back and I'll black bag our villain after that."

"Hey, I'm still emotionally wounded," the Captain called as he rose to follow the Scieron Guardian. "There will be no corpse handling till I've been properly treated for it."

"Ah… the sharp edge of truth strikes another harsh blow," Ianto remarked with raised brows, then smiled softly and offered an embrace. "Will a hug do for now?"

"I think it needs to have a kiss attached," Harkness pouted, pulling the younger man closer. "And it may even take a foot rub later just to be sure."

"Yes, sir," his companion nodded, more than willing to provide a very promising kiss and tight hug.

After several minutes however, the older man didn't give any indication that he intended to end the embrace, simply standing with his face pressed against his lover's neck.

"Jack…" Ianto called softly, tightening his arms slightly around the undying American. "I honestly didn't mean to hurt your feelings…"

"Shush…" the Captain interrupted. "I'm working up a good guilt wallow."

"Regarding… what exactly?" his young partner queried hesitantly.

"The fact that I've been wishing the two of us could just disappear and enjoy our lives for a while," Jack sighed. "Pay Turlough to take us somewhere far out in the Universe so we could slowly work our way back, or just keep going. Leave Torchwood and the Rift to Gwen, and find a new life without all of this because I don't want you to end up like me. But I know this is home for you, and I can't shake the feeling that there's no way the team could handle the Rift without us, even with UNIT for back-up. It's been getting more and more volatile since what happened with the Undertaker's Gift, then the damage to the Manipulator when the Hub was destroyed, and now there're the Storms to worry about on top of that."

"I'd miss the Earth, and Wales, Cardiff, the family and friends we have here," Ianto stated quietly. "And I agree that the Rift is too much for the team to deal with right now. But if some day it quiets down, or there's a way to better prepare the world to handle what it spits out, and you still wanted to go… I wouldn't say no. I'm a Scieron Guardian, but the Earth isn't the main thing I was created to protect. You are, Jack. Wherever you want to go, I'll follow… whatever, whoever you value, I'll be there right beside you to shield and defend. That's why I was Chosen. For you and the future."

"Have I told you how much I love you lately?" Harkness growled, kissing the twenty-six-year-old on the side of the throat and earlobe.

"It's been a bit," the Welshman half-smiled, drawing back far enough to claim another solid snog. "You can take care of that tonight when I rub your feet."

"And we've got corpses waiting," Jack chuckled, finally releasing the younger immortal. "Come on, Tiger Pants… let's get this over with."

"Yes, sir," Ianto nodded, turning toward the stairs to the medical bay once more.

Time to get back to work.

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AN: Torchwood and the Rift aren't as 'secret' as they used to be, there are still things that need to be covered up to avoid public panic that can require very unpleasant methods.

The site is still karked. Sorry… please keep trying.

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