Jack: June 6th, 2009, part Three
Oct. 8th, 2009 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericadawn16Title: But Time Didn’t Stop
Characters: Jack,Gwen,Lois
Rated: TV-14 ANGST COE Spoilers
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Lois tells them some surprising news...
Previous Segment: June 6th, Part Two
Masterlist for series:
http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/63337.html
June 6th, 2009, part Three
“Ianto told me that he wanted Standing Order 2 followed,” he told her and motioned with his head towards drawer number seven.
“So, that would be…uh, signing him out of the system, boxing up all his belongings for storage and,” Gwen said, crossing her arms, “and freezing…his body.”
She grimaced and so did he, but he was able to force himself to nod.
“Do we know where it is at this moment?” Jack asked and she shook her head, but added, “I can call Lois.”
She pulled out her mobile and made a face. Pulling out his, he saw the problem.
“No reception, let’s get out of here,” he suggested and she nodded and held out her arm as last time. After taking it, he wondered about it. They had never done that before and then as they reached the rubble, he had a memory come to him. Gwen and Ianto were smiling as they came out of the crypt and they were arm in arm. When he glanced at her face, tears were falling down it again. He sighed and led the way out onto the remains of the Plas. Jack helped her onto the concrete and she whipped out her mobile; pressing a few buttons.
“Hello, Lois, this is Gwen,” she spoke and Jack hissed, “Speakerphone.”
After the press of another button, Lois’ voice came through, “…are you doing?”
Both of them hesitated. Their supposed leader had no idea how to answer that and she chose to ignore it as the Welshwoman said nothing about it. Instead, she asked, “Where are the bodies being held? Are they still at Thames House?”
“No, they’re being held in a special room at Northwood…”
“Northwood?” Jack interrupted, “Why are they even bothering to follow protocols now?”
“The public is demanding it. This is the worst debacle in British history. Everything is being followed to the letter now, including transferring everything to Northwood. Only those with the highest level of clearance are even allowed to enter,” Lois’ voice answered, “It was an alien virus. Thames House is being stripped and decontaminated. Last I heard they wanted to schedule the bodies for incineration unless they can prove that they aren’t dangerous.”
“No!” Gwen exclaimed and Jack inhaled sharply.
“They’ve only allowed one body to be claimed…” Lois’ voice held a definite hesitation before she continued, “Steven, his mum arranged with a local mortuary…I think they’re wanting to turn him into some sort of national hero with the state funeral and everything.”
What little he’d eaten in the last twenty-four hours threatened to work its way up his throat.
“You mean they want to use a ten year old boy’s death to deflect bad press away from the Prime Minister being forced to resign and the government planning on sacrificing ten percent of our children?” Gwen asked the question that he couldn’t bear to say. Upon hearing it spoken aloud, he lost his resolve and threw up on a crushed concrete pile.
“Yes,” the voice on the other end confirmed.
“Alice,” he started in a hoarse tone, coughed but it was no better, “Alice would never stand for that.”
“No, she doesn’t want any special attention so they’re trying to bribe her,” Lois’ voice spoke, “They’re offering her a new life in the States; new name, identity, allowance and no way for anyone to track her down.”
“Namely me,” said Jack and wished he had a drink. Gwen put an arm around his waist and inquired, “But if we could just prove that the virus was no longer a threat, we could take him home?”
“Yeah, it’s my impression,”Lois agreed and he remembered what had happened in 1965. They hadn’t spoken through children, it was an alien virus.
“We already have the antidote. We traded the children for it in 1965,” Jack told them and he could hear Lois gasp in shock because she hadn’t heard it before.
“That’s right so it has to be stored somewhere,” Gwen stated and he realized how they needed to go somewhere with a laptop.
“I’ll see what I can find on my end,” Lois promised and the Welshwoman confirmed, “We’ll be in touch.”
“Your place,” Jack suggested and she nodded. However, she added, “Rhys dropped me off.”
“The carpark survived, I still have my car there” he said and they walked over there. When he took his keys out of his pocket, her expression was quizzical.
“How do you have your keys?”
“They’re not, they’re Ianto’s,” he explained and hit the button to unlock it.
“What exactly are we looking for?” asked Gwen awhile later as she sipped her special tea and he drank coffee. Unfortunately, nothing could ever be as good as the way Ianto made it.
“Some sort of epidemic. They buried it under another name. There was something that actually happened that they could blame the victims’ deaths on without arising suspicion, but I can’t recall what that was unless I hear it,” Jack answered her and took another swig. He should return the dead laptop to Rhi and buy another one, but that would mean actually facing her and he wasn’t sure he could do that yet. They’d never even met and he’d understand if she slugged him in the face on sight. It was all his fault. If he had just figured out it was the 456 earlier or thought that they might need an antivirus this time as well…he could have saved him. He didn’t need to die.
Jack stood up and made his way to her bathroom. He couldn’t sit another moment. Once inside, he wasn’t sure about this idea. The more he thought about how needless it was, the more upset he became. If only the Prime Minister hadn’t tried to hide the original encounter, they should have had the antivirus on hand at all times…but they were Torchwood, why didn’t they have more safety measures for dealing with airborne toxins? Instead, they always had the same plan: Send Jack in, he’ll always come back. They should have developed ultra-portable masks or vaccines to have on hand at all times. He looked around but there was nothing to vent his frustration on. Everything was so breakable. The only thing he could think to do was strip off his clothes and take a freezing cold shower.
Jack walked towards Gwen, buttoned the last one on his shirt and ran a hand through his hair. Despite it being damp and sticking in all directions, he didn’t care. Even Gwen’s smirk couldn’t get a rise out of him.
“What’d you find?” he asked as he sat down.
“Rubella in the states, Chikungunya in Sri Lanka, El Tor which was worldwide…”
“That’s it,” Jack interrupted and she smiled.
“I thought you’d say that so I started looking for where any vaccines or strains would be stored in Britain and I got this,” Gwen said and moved the laptop towards him.
ACCESS DENIED blared in red letters across the screen and below: Security Clearance Insufficient.
“My turn then,” he agreed and logged her out while logging himself in. In no time, he had clicked on the same button she had and was about to make a “tada” sound when this appeared: ACCESS DENIED Security Clearance Insufficient.
“What? But I’m only outranked by the Cabinet!” Jack yelled at the screen. Gwen’s laughter stopped when he glared at her.
“But you have to admit it’s a little funny,” she maintained, “It’s funny to me.”
“We’re going to need a member of the Cabinet,” he said and sighed because that was easier said than done. It’s not like they grow on trees. The young woman stood up and leaned against the sofa.
“Most of them were watching the whole thing with the Prime Minister. They were the ones deciding which kind of genocide was acceptable,” she spoke with distaste and he hadn’t liked it either. Still, that could make it easier to prey on their guilt.
“What about Green? When does his resignation take effect?” Jack asked and she gave him a look. His blue eyes stared at her brown ones; not backing down.
“Tomorrow at 6 PM,” she informed, “But Jack, you can’t be serious…”
“Let’s take a trip to London,” he interrupted and got out his car keys. She gathered up the labtop and followed after him.
Next Segment:
June 6th, Part Four
edf
Characters: Jack,Gwen,Lois
Rated: TV-14 ANGST COE Spoilers
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Lois tells them some surprising news...
Previous Segment: June 6th, Part Two
Masterlist for series:
http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/63337.html
June 6th, 2009, part Three
“Ianto told me that he wanted Standing Order 2 followed,” he told her and motioned with his head towards drawer number seven.
“So, that would be…uh, signing him out of the system, boxing up all his belongings for storage and,” Gwen said, crossing her arms, “and freezing…his body.”
She grimaced and so did he, but he was able to force himself to nod.
“Do we know where it is at this moment?” Jack asked and she shook her head, but added, “I can call Lois.”
She pulled out her mobile and made a face. Pulling out his, he saw the problem.
“No reception, let’s get out of here,” he suggested and she nodded and held out her arm as last time. After taking it, he wondered about it. They had never done that before and then as they reached the rubble, he had a memory come to him. Gwen and Ianto were smiling as they came out of the crypt and they were arm in arm. When he glanced at her face, tears were falling down it again. He sighed and led the way out onto the remains of the Plas. Jack helped her onto the concrete and she whipped out her mobile; pressing a few buttons.
“Hello, Lois, this is Gwen,” she spoke and Jack hissed, “Speakerphone.”
After the press of another button, Lois’ voice came through, “…are you doing?”
Both of them hesitated. Their supposed leader had no idea how to answer that and she chose to ignore it as the Welshwoman said nothing about it. Instead, she asked, “Where are the bodies being held? Are they still at Thames House?”
“No, they’re being held in a special room at Northwood…”
“Northwood?” Jack interrupted, “Why are they even bothering to follow protocols now?”
“The public is demanding it. This is the worst debacle in British history. Everything is being followed to the letter now, including transferring everything to Northwood. Only those with the highest level of clearance are even allowed to enter,” Lois’ voice answered, “It was an alien virus. Thames House is being stripped and decontaminated. Last I heard they wanted to schedule the bodies for incineration unless they can prove that they aren’t dangerous.”
“No!” Gwen exclaimed and Jack inhaled sharply.
“They’ve only allowed one body to be claimed…” Lois’ voice held a definite hesitation before she continued, “Steven, his mum arranged with a local mortuary…I think they’re wanting to turn him into some sort of national hero with the state funeral and everything.”
What little he’d eaten in the last twenty-four hours threatened to work its way up his throat.
“You mean they want to use a ten year old boy’s death to deflect bad press away from the Prime Minister being forced to resign and the government planning on sacrificing ten percent of our children?” Gwen asked the question that he couldn’t bear to say. Upon hearing it spoken aloud, he lost his resolve and threw up on a crushed concrete pile.
“Yes,” the voice on the other end confirmed.
“Alice,” he started in a hoarse tone, coughed but it was no better, “Alice would never stand for that.”
“No, she doesn’t want any special attention so they’re trying to bribe her,” Lois’ voice spoke, “They’re offering her a new life in the States; new name, identity, allowance and no way for anyone to track her down.”
“Namely me,” said Jack and wished he had a drink. Gwen put an arm around his waist and inquired, “But if we could just prove that the virus was no longer a threat, we could take him home?”
“Yeah, it’s my impression,”Lois agreed and he remembered what had happened in 1965. They hadn’t spoken through children, it was an alien virus.
“We already have the antidote. We traded the children for it in 1965,” Jack told them and he could hear Lois gasp in shock because she hadn’t heard it before.
“That’s right so it has to be stored somewhere,” Gwen stated and he realized how they needed to go somewhere with a laptop.
“I’ll see what I can find on my end,” Lois promised and the Welshwoman confirmed, “We’ll be in touch.”
“Your place,” Jack suggested and she nodded. However, she added, “Rhys dropped me off.”
“The carpark survived, I still have my car there” he said and they walked over there. When he took his keys out of his pocket, her expression was quizzical.
“How do you have your keys?”
“They’re not, they’re Ianto’s,” he explained and hit the button to unlock it.
“What exactly are we looking for?” asked Gwen awhile later as she sipped her special tea and he drank coffee. Unfortunately, nothing could ever be as good as the way Ianto made it.
“Some sort of epidemic. They buried it under another name. There was something that actually happened that they could blame the victims’ deaths on without arising suspicion, but I can’t recall what that was unless I hear it,” Jack answered her and took another swig. He should return the dead laptop to Rhi and buy another one, but that would mean actually facing her and he wasn’t sure he could do that yet. They’d never even met and he’d understand if she slugged him in the face on sight. It was all his fault. If he had just figured out it was the 456 earlier or thought that they might need an antivirus this time as well…he could have saved him. He didn’t need to die.
Jack stood up and made his way to her bathroom. He couldn’t sit another moment. Once inside, he wasn’t sure about this idea. The more he thought about how needless it was, the more upset he became. If only the Prime Minister hadn’t tried to hide the original encounter, they should have had the antivirus on hand at all times…but they were Torchwood, why didn’t they have more safety measures for dealing with airborne toxins? Instead, they always had the same plan: Send Jack in, he’ll always come back. They should have developed ultra-portable masks or vaccines to have on hand at all times. He looked around but there was nothing to vent his frustration on. Everything was so breakable. The only thing he could think to do was strip off his clothes and take a freezing cold shower.
Jack walked towards Gwen, buttoned the last one on his shirt and ran a hand through his hair. Despite it being damp and sticking in all directions, he didn’t care. Even Gwen’s smirk couldn’t get a rise out of him.
“What’d you find?” he asked as he sat down.
“Rubella in the states, Chikungunya in Sri Lanka, El Tor which was worldwide…”
“That’s it,” Jack interrupted and she smiled.
“I thought you’d say that so I started looking for where any vaccines or strains would be stored in Britain and I got this,” Gwen said and moved the laptop towards him.
ACCESS DENIED blared in red letters across the screen and below: Security Clearance Insufficient.
“My turn then,” he agreed and logged her out while logging himself in. In no time, he had clicked on the same button she had and was about to make a “tada” sound when this appeared: ACCESS DENIED Security Clearance Insufficient.
“What? But I’m only outranked by the Cabinet!” Jack yelled at the screen. Gwen’s laughter stopped when he glared at her.
“But you have to admit it’s a little funny,” she maintained, “It’s funny to me.”
“We’re going to need a member of the Cabinet,” he said and sighed because that was easier said than done. It’s not like they grow on trees. The young woman stood up and leaned against the sofa.
“Most of them were watching the whole thing with the Prime Minister. They were the ones deciding which kind of genocide was acceptable,” she spoke with distaste and he hadn’t liked it either. Still, that could make it easier to prey on their guilt.
“What about Green? When does his resignation take effect?” Jack asked and she gave him a look. His blue eyes stared at her brown ones; not backing down.
“Tomorrow at 6 PM,” she informed, “But Jack, you can’t be serious…”
“Let’s take a trip to London,” he interrupted and got out his car keys. She gathered up the labtop and followed after him.
Next Segment:
June 6th, Part Four
edf
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 05:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 09:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:11 am (UTC)I'm really hoping to have several chapters where you don't cry although I think you'll need tissues for the one I just posted, June 7th, 2009, Part Two...sorry.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-01 06:37 am (UTC)Thanks for sharing!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-06 02:58 am (UTC)Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-27 11:23 am (UTC)I do like detective work. :D But this is definitely reminding me how much heartstring pulling they were doing in COE.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-06 03:23 am (UTC)(hugs)
Thank You