Crash Landing
Apr. 4th, 2010 10:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericadawn16Title: But Time Marches On
Characters: Gwen, Rhi, Jack, Iefan Jack/Ianto
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE Spoilers MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Gwen discusses with Selene her fears about Jack.
Author's Note: The Sequel to But Time Didn't Stop
Happy Easter!
Previous Chapter: Zipper was Stuck
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/113396.html
Crash Landing
December 20th, 2017
Gwen's boots sloshed along the wet pavement before ending up in a puddle that was larger than she expected. With a sigh, she pulled her foot out before sticking her hands out of her coat pocket. It was still raining: had been for days. The wreckage was strewn all over. She knew it should be a relief that it had happened in such a remote location, but she didn't care for the countryside. Sometimes, she'd still have nightmares.
"Lyra, what do you have for us today?" she asked with a forced smile towards their police liasion.
"A couple of the constables were in the area, saw what looked like a huge meteor and came to check it out. When they saw what it was, we contacted you immediately," Lyra explained, "Come take a look."
Two other PCs were standing with umbrellas over something. It was large, bipedal and dressed in clothing that suggested a desert terrain which could be any number of planets. Despite the leaking wounds, it was trying to talk.
"Selene, do what you can," Gwen ordered although she could tell it was dying, "Bernie, you have the translator?"
"What?" he asked as the wind picked up.
"The translator so we can tell what he's saying, which species and what time we're dealing with," Gwen explained as Selene put on gloves and tried to stem the blood-loss.
"I didn't," Bernie replied, "I didn't bring it."
Oh, he couldn't be serious...
"Please tell me you're having a go at me," Gwen hissed and he shook his head.
"We haven't used it in months so I stopped bringing it every time. Jack always translates for us," he told her.
"Well, Jack isn't here right now, is he?" she snapped and took out her mobile. She could at least record whatever the alien was trying to say. She'd deal with Bernie later.
The alien had died at the scene and they'd bought back the body along with what they could of the wreckage. The ship could be helpful later. Lois was working on the translation and she'd given Bernie his punishment. There was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she announced and it opened to reveal Selene.
"Weevil duty?" the doctor asked.
"For a month," Gwen confirmed, "that should help him to remember it next time."
"Why? It was a mistake, but understandable," she spoke, "Jack has been in charge of translating."
"We can't depend on Jack for everything," Gwen said, taking some papers from her inbox.
"Because he's rustier in recent months?" Selene asked, sitting down, "Or because you don't trust him?"
Those words made everything stop. Rhys had implied and Lois had watched her closely after his return, but no one else had come right out and asked her about the obvious. She looked at the photos of Tosh, Owen and Ianto.
"I trust Jack with my life when we're tracking down a Weevil or fighting aliens," Gwen started and crossed her arms, "but...he leaves. It's what he does. The first time, it was me, Owen, Tosh and Ianto and we managed but it was hard. The second time it was just me and Ianto against Daleks. If it wasn't for Tosh' time-lock, we would have died. Then, there was a third and fourth time...that last time, he left for over seven years. I can't have my team, including you, depending on him only to have him leave and we're fucked. Today can't happen again."
Selene put her hands together and tapped the two fore-fingers.
"What was he like then? Owen didn't write down anyone's emotional state," she explained and Gwen hadn't thought about that in awhile. Jack's voice from long ago came to her.
"'Pizza. Ianto. Save the world a couple of times.' That's what he told me once. Ianto was the same way. I didn't even know he had a sister until he died and it was around that time that Jack revealed his daughter. Jack and Ianto had each other, but they were both married to Torchwood. They were usually the first to come in and the last to leave. Jack even lived under his office for seven or eight years," Gwen told her, "That's why he always made sure I'd go home to Rhys and have a life outside Torchwood...because he didn't."
Selene took off her light purple frames and rubbed her temples before putting them back on.
"That is interesting," she spoke, almost to herself except Gwen could hear it.
"What?" she asked because of that and the look on her doctor's face.
"Well, the Jack you describe and the one I've worked with, it's as though they couldn't be more different," Selene said and Gwen didn't understand, "Apparently, Jack used to be a workaholic with little time or inclination for personal relationships apart from Ianto. However, if you really saw Jack for what he's become...he's the last to arrive and the first to leave. I remember more than once when you had to order him to stay when the Rift Predictor was pinging. He does his job, but you can tell that he also loves getting home to that baby. He's also maintained friendships with people outside work, namely Rhi and her family...he's even taking off for personal reasons at that moment. Would he have done that before?"
Was Selene right? Was she still judging Jack for what he used to be and not how he had changed? If she was true to herself, she had noticed that while Jack enjoyed chasing down Weevils and saving the world, he did have a knack for leaving at five on the dot. Maybe worrying about him leaving was the wrong thing to worry about. Now, she wondered if he had to worry about him being preoccupied. She wasn't the most concientious when her son was the same age either and that was while leading Torchwood. It was easier as they got older so she would just keep an eye on him.
"Thank you, Selene, for pointing that out," Gwen told her and the other nodded before leaving. She was glad she'd hired her.
December 21st, 2017
Rhi sat beside Jack who had Iefan on his lap.
"Come on, one more bite, it's good," Jack said with a forkful of pasta in front of his son's mouth. Iefan shook his head.
"Vroom!" Jack said, moving the fork around, "The plane wants to come in but we have to open the hanger. Vroom!"
Iefan kept his mouth closed and shook his head again.
"I could try," she suggested and Jack shook his head as well.
"No, I want to do it," he stated, just as stubborn as the toddler, "Plus, you look tired."
She'd hoped that she put on enough make-up to cover the bags from not sleeping well. Her appetite was lacking, too.
"Do you want the rest of this, Iefan?" she asked while holding up the rest of her pizza slice. He shook his head again.
"Well, if you don't want it. I'll have to eat it all myself," Jack said and put the food in his mouth before chewing very dramatically.
"Want it," Iefan spoke and stuck out his hand toward the plate. His fingers grabbed a strand and he put it into his mouth.
"Ah, success...sort of," Jack spoke, "Should have packed your utensils."
"Can't remember everything," Rhi told him and he looked up. Those blue eyes were puzzled.
"Are you sick? You didn't use a single 'Dumbo' or anything," said Jack as Iefan continued to feed himself, "You don't seem yourself today."
She really should tell someone. It would make sense to tell Johnny but that would make it real and she wasn't sure how she felt about that yet.
"I think I might be...be pregnant," she admitted before taking a large gulp of coke so she wouldn't have to say anything.
"What?" Jack cried in surprise, "but...what?"
She shrugged.
"Have you gone to a doctor or a chemist?" he asked while playing with his own drink.
"No," she admitted, "but I've been through this twice before. I know the signs: missing cycle, tired, backaches and now my appetite's gone."
Iefan must have been finished again because he started piling the strands on the top of his head.
"Have you told Johnny then?" Jack asked as he took them off and wiped the toddler's head with a napkin.
"No, just sorted it out this morning. You're the first person I told," she said and saw his surprise look come back, "Not sure what to think about it. I'll have it; of course, it's not that...it's just..."
"David is grown and Mica will be in a few years. You're about ready for grandkids, not round two," he supplied for her and she nodded...except for the grandkids thought. Surely, she wasn't that old? However, David was only a couple of years younger than she was when she had him.
"I'm glad David and Emyr can't get pregnant the way you can. I'm not ready to be a grandmother yet," she said and shook her head. Then, she noticed Jack's expression had soured.
"At some point, they'll wish they could though...their own child that's both of them combined? That's all most parents want," he uttered and he did have a point.
"I don't mind the concept if they could plan it, it's the surprise part that gets complicated," Rhi explained and nodded.
"Those kinds of surprises usually turn out for the best though," Jack said, hugging Iefan.
"Yeah," Rhi spoke and hoped this one would work the same way.
"Do you think you'll be able to look after the new baby and Iefan? I could try to make other arrangements, Jack suggested and she hated the thought. She loved watching Iefan and as much as he was able to play with the other kids at the playground, she wasn't sure how he would do with more exposure on a regular basis. For example, he always won at their games because he knew what they were going to do before they did it.
"No, two shouldn't be that much worse than one," she said in a firm voice.
What's Better than a Ring?
Characters: Gwen, Rhi, Jack, Iefan Jack/Ianto
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE Spoilers MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Gwen discusses with Selene her fears about Jack.
Author's Note: The Sequel to But Time Didn't Stop
Happy Easter!
Previous Chapter: Zipper was Stuck
Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/113396.html
Crash Landing
December 20th, 2017
Gwen's boots sloshed along the wet pavement before ending up in a puddle that was larger than she expected. With a sigh, she pulled her foot out before sticking her hands out of her coat pocket. It was still raining: had been for days. The wreckage was strewn all over. She knew it should be a relief that it had happened in such a remote location, but she didn't care for the countryside. Sometimes, she'd still have nightmares.
"Lyra, what do you have for us today?" she asked with a forced smile towards their police liasion.
"A couple of the constables were in the area, saw what looked like a huge meteor and came to check it out. When they saw what it was, we contacted you immediately," Lyra explained, "Come take a look."
Two other PCs were standing with umbrellas over something. It was large, bipedal and dressed in clothing that suggested a desert terrain which could be any number of planets. Despite the leaking wounds, it was trying to talk.
"Selene, do what you can," Gwen ordered although she could tell it was dying, "Bernie, you have the translator?"
"What?" he asked as the wind picked up.
"The translator so we can tell what he's saying, which species and what time we're dealing with," Gwen explained as Selene put on gloves and tried to stem the blood-loss.
"I didn't," Bernie replied, "I didn't bring it."
Oh, he couldn't be serious...
"Please tell me you're having a go at me," Gwen hissed and he shook his head.
"We haven't used it in months so I stopped bringing it every time. Jack always translates for us," he told her.
"Well, Jack isn't here right now, is he?" she snapped and took out her mobile. She could at least record whatever the alien was trying to say. She'd deal with Bernie later.
The alien had died at the scene and they'd bought back the body along with what they could of the wreckage. The ship could be helpful later. Lois was working on the translation and she'd given Bernie his punishment. There was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she announced and it opened to reveal Selene.
"Weevil duty?" the doctor asked.
"For a month," Gwen confirmed, "that should help him to remember it next time."
"Why? It was a mistake, but understandable," she spoke, "Jack has been in charge of translating."
"We can't depend on Jack for everything," Gwen said, taking some papers from her inbox.
"Because he's rustier in recent months?" Selene asked, sitting down, "Or because you don't trust him?"
Those words made everything stop. Rhys had implied and Lois had watched her closely after his return, but no one else had come right out and asked her about the obvious. She looked at the photos of Tosh, Owen and Ianto.
"I trust Jack with my life when we're tracking down a Weevil or fighting aliens," Gwen started and crossed her arms, "but...he leaves. It's what he does. The first time, it was me, Owen, Tosh and Ianto and we managed but it was hard. The second time it was just me and Ianto against Daleks. If it wasn't for Tosh' time-lock, we would have died. Then, there was a third and fourth time...that last time, he left for over seven years. I can't have my team, including you, depending on him only to have him leave and we're fucked. Today can't happen again."
Selene put her hands together and tapped the two fore-fingers.
"What was he like then? Owen didn't write down anyone's emotional state," she explained and Gwen hadn't thought about that in awhile. Jack's voice from long ago came to her.
"'Pizza. Ianto. Save the world a couple of times.' That's what he told me once. Ianto was the same way. I didn't even know he had a sister until he died and it was around that time that Jack revealed his daughter. Jack and Ianto had each other, but they were both married to Torchwood. They were usually the first to come in and the last to leave. Jack even lived under his office for seven or eight years," Gwen told her, "That's why he always made sure I'd go home to Rhys and have a life outside Torchwood...because he didn't."
Selene took off her light purple frames and rubbed her temples before putting them back on.
"That is interesting," she spoke, almost to herself except Gwen could hear it.
"What?" she asked because of that and the look on her doctor's face.
"Well, the Jack you describe and the one I've worked with, it's as though they couldn't be more different," Selene said and Gwen didn't understand, "Apparently, Jack used to be a workaholic with little time or inclination for personal relationships apart from Ianto. However, if you really saw Jack for what he's become...he's the last to arrive and the first to leave. I remember more than once when you had to order him to stay when the Rift Predictor was pinging. He does his job, but you can tell that he also loves getting home to that baby. He's also maintained friendships with people outside work, namely Rhi and her family...he's even taking off for personal reasons at that moment. Would he have done that before?"
Was Selene right? Was she still judging Jack for what he used to be and not how he had changed? If she was true to herself, she had noticed that while Jack enjoyed chasing down Weevils and saving the world, he did have a knack for leaving at five on the dot. Maybe worrying about him leaving was the wrong thing to worry about. Now, she wondered if he had to worry about him being preoccupied. She wasn't the most concientious when her son was the same age either and that was while leading Torchwood. It was easier as they got older so she would just keep an eye on him.
"Thank you, Selene, for pointing that out," Gwen told her and the other nodded before leaving. She was glad she'd hired her.
December 21st, 2017
Rhi sat beside Jack who had Iefan on his lap.
"Come on, one more bite, it's good," Jack said with a forkful of pasta in front of his son's mouth. Iefan shook his head.
"Vroom!" Jack said, moving the fork around, "The plane wants to come in but we have to open the hanger. Vroom!"
Iefan kept his mouth closed and shook his head again.
"I could try," she suggested and Jack shook his head as well.
"No, I want to do it," he stated, just as stubborn as the toddler, "Plus, you look tired."
She'd hoped that she put on enough make-up to cover the bags from not sleeping well. Her appetite was lacking, too.
"Do you want the rest of this, Iefan?" she asked while holding up the rest of her pizza slice. He shook his head again.
"Well, if you don't want it. I'll have to eat it all myself," Jack said and put the food in his mouth before chewing very dramatically.
"Want it," Iefan spoke and stuck out his hand toward the plate. His fingers grabbed a strand and he put it into his mouth.
"Ah, success...sort of," Jack spoke, "Should have packed your utensils."
"Can't remember everything," Rhi told him and he looked up. Those blue eyes were puzzled.
"Are you sick? You didn't use a single 'Dumbo' or anything," said Jack as Iefan continued to feed himself, "You don't seem yourself today."
She really should tell someone. It would make sense to tell Johnny but that would make it real and she wasn't sure how she felt about that yet.
"I think I might be...be pregnant," she admitted before taking a large gulp of coke so she wouldn't have to say anything.
"What?" Jack cried in surprise, "but...what?"
She shrugged.
"Have you gone to a doctor or a chemist?" he asked while playing with his own drink.
"No," she admitted, "but I've been through this twice before. I know the signs: missing cycle, tired, backaches and now my appetite's gone."
Iefan must have been finished again because he started piling the strands on the top of his head.
"Have you told Johnny then?" Jack asked as he took them off and wiped the toddler's head with a napkin.
"No, just sorted it out this morning. You're the first person I told," she said and saw his surprise look come back, "Not sure what to think about it. I'll have it; of course, it's not that...it's just..."
"David is grown and Mica will be in a few years. You're about ready for grandkids, not round two," he supplied for her and she nodded...except for the grandkids thought. Surely, she wasn't that old? However, David was only a couple of years younger than she was when she had him.
"I'm glad David and Emyr can't get pregnant the way you can. I'm not ready to be a grandmother yet," she said and shook her head. Then, she noticed Jack's expression had soured.
"At some point, they'll wish they could though...their own child that's both of them combined? That's all most parents want," he uttered and he did have a point.
"I don't mind the concept if they could plan it, it's the surprise part that gets complicated," Rhi explained and nodded.
"Those kinds of surprises usually turn out for the best though," Jack said, hugging Iefan.
"Yeah," Rhi spoke and hoped this one would work the same way.
"Do you think you'll be able to look after the new baby and Iefan? I could try to make other arrangements, Jack suggested and she hated the thought. She loved watching Iefan and as much as he was able to play with the other kids at the playground, she wasn't sure how he would do with more exposure on a regular basis. For example, he always won at their games because he knew what they were going to do before they did it.
"No, two shouldn't be that much worse than one," she said in a firm voice.
What's Better than a Ring?
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Date: 2010-04-09 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 05:12 am (UTC)