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Peja's Wonderful World of Makebelieve Import
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Published:
2020-11-05
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1/1
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A Single Soul

Summary:

While trying to track down an assassin, something comes through the rift with a connection to Jack's past.

Work Text:

A Single Soul

"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies."

Aristotle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Kelly chased after the bastard that had shot at him. He kept his prey in
sight, barely registering when they moved into the older section of the city,
the houses closer together. Alan knew that he had to get the man soon before
the sun went down or he'd lose him completely.

He knew there were people who held grudges against him or just plain hated the
Alliance. Somehow he had become its unofficial poster boy and it was akin to
becoming a target. Hence the assassin.

 

 

Suddenly he sensed a literal change in the air. It seemed as if it was becoming
solid, Jell-O starting to set. He felt if he stopped he'd be caught in it
permanently. Breathing slowly, he forced himself forward and broke out the
other side.

 

 

Disoriented, he looked around and immediately noticed four things:

 

 

1. It was now daylight when it had been near sunset.

2. The area was an open plaza when he had been running through narrow streets
of row houses.

3. He could smell the sea and hear gulls when he had been in a land-locked
city.

4. He had lost his quarry.

 

 

Aware he was garnering odd looks, Alan stepped into the mouth of a close and
looked at the machine on his wrist. It was blank. "C'mon, damn it!"
he hissed as he slapped it. Still nothing. It always let him know what time he
was in down to the second. With the machine acting up, there was no way he'd be
returning home soon.

 

 

**************************************************

 

 

"Jack, I'm picking up another energy signature like the one a few months
ago!" Toshiko Sato called from her station.

 

 

Jack Harkness sighed as he reached for his greatcoat. Something new had fallen
through the rift and they still hadn't caught the last one. "Where's it
now?"

 

 

She pointed upwards to the plass.

 

 

"OK. We'll need to cover the exits and surround it." He strode
through the Hub towards the lift at the base of the water tower. "Owen,
you take the area around the Centre, Gwen, the National Assembly, Tosh, the
Quay, and Ianto, Pierhead. When you get a fix, notify the rest of us. This
might be a killer like the last one."

 

 

"Jack, there's no proof that there's a connection to the murders,"
said Gwen Cooper as she headed for the main lift.

 

 

"There's no weapon on Earth today that can cause such damage." He
stepped onto the lift. "Just be careful!" he called after them as it
started to rise.

 

 

His own position was right in front of the water tower where he could watch
unobserved thanks to a perception filter. He scanned the plass, taking in
tourists with their cameras and the locals going about their business. Nothing
seemed out of place. His wrist computer beeped, alerting him to an anachronism.
There was material out there from the 23rd century. He then pinpointed its
location.

 

 

"Owen, it's heading in your direction."

 

 

"What is? I need to know what I'm looking for."

 

 

Typical Owen. "Human male."

 

 

"Oh, that really narrows it down."

 

 

"He should be passing you...now," came Tosh's voice.

 

 

"Right. Got him."

 

 

"Remember, Owen. Just follow. Don't engage."

 

 

"'E won't know I'm there."

 

 

Jack knew Owen Harper could be too cocky and hoped that this time it wouldn't
jeopardize the mission. He looked down at his computer and saw the dot that was
the target pick up speed and head into the alley alongside the Millennium Centre.
Owen might need help.

 

 

"Everyone, the alley to the east of the Centre!" Jack yelled as he
raced across the plass, dodging pedestrians as he did so. Gwen reached the
entrance to the alley at the same time and he motioned her through. Guns drawn,
they crept forward and soon saw Owen on the ground rubbing his jaw and another
man standing, his back to them.

 

 

"Arms on your head!" Gwen ordered. "Face the wall!"

 

 

The man did as instructed without a fuss.

 

 

Owen stood just as Tosh and Ianto Jones arrived a little out of breath.
"Is everyone all right?" she asked.

 

 

"Everything is under control," Jack answered as Gwen cuffed the man's
hands behind his back. "Owen just needs more practice following
people."

 

 

"You told me to follow. I did."

 

 

"I also said not to engage."

 

 

"Jack?" The voice was questioning, unsure of itself. It was also a
voice Jack hadn't heard for years. Not since before his first trip to Cardiff.
Before the Game Station.

 

 

Jack turned as Gwen pulled the man away from the wall and nearly fell back in shock.
"Alan?"

 

 

***********************************************************

 

 

Gwen looked over at Jack's office for the twentieth time in the last ten
minutes. They had brought the man-Alan-back to the Hub without even trying to
hide its location. Jack then had Gwen remove the cuffs and asked Ianto to make
coffee. Then he and Alan entered his office and shut the door.

 

 

"How do they know each other?" she asked.

 

 

"Dunno," said Owen removing the ice pack from his jaw. "We still
don't know a thing about him."

 

 

Tosh was clicking away at her keyboard. "He is definitely what came
through the rift."

 

 

"From?" Owen prompted.

 

 

"According to what we found on him, I'd have to say the future." She
looked up at them. "Maybe 200 years."

 

 

"But Jack knows him." Gwen could not believe the thoughts going
around in her head. "Does that mean Jack's from the future as well?"

 

 

"It would explain his wealth of alien knowledge," said Ianto as he
joined them carrying the coffee tray bound for the office. "Perhaps he
came through the rift himself and was recruited by Torchwood once they felt he
wasn't a threat?"

 

 

His delivery of this theory made Gwen wonder if Ianto really knew the truth
about Jack. Then again, it could be a simple logical hypothesis based on
the--or lack of--evidence at hand.

 

 

Gwen looked to the office yet again. "I just wish I knew what was going
on."

 

 

*****************************************************

 

 

Alan sat across the cluttered desk from Jack. It was the last place he pictured
Jack-a desk jockey, especially at Torchwood. Yeah, he had caught that logo
everywhere, and, if he had missed those, there was no missing the large sign on
the wall. He was bursting with questions but waited as the man in the crisp
suit and tie came in with a tray bearing two coffee mugs, sugar and cream.

 

 

"Will there by anything else, sir?" he asked with a soft Welsh
accent.

 

 

"We're set, Ianto. Thanks."

 

 

Ianto gave Alan a questioning look as he walked past on his way out.

 

 

Once the door had closed, Alan looked at Jack. "It's good to see you, but
what are you doing here? Last time I saw you with the Doctor and Rose, you were
a team."

 

 

Jack cradled his mug in both hands. "We were. We'd do anything for each
other. Then came the Daleks. You know them?"

 

 

Alan merely nodded, not wanting to interrupt.

 

 

"The Doctor had a plan to stop them but he needed time. I organized some
defence so the Doctor could finish. I was cornered and out of ammo when they
shot me."

 

 

"How the hell did you survive?"

 

 

"I didn't. I died up there, Alan. Thing is, I came to surrounded by piles
of dust. I ran back to the control room where they Doctor had been only to see
the TARDIS dematerialise."

 

 

"There is no way he would have left had he known, Jack. That isn't his
style." He took a sip of coffee. "I take it you haven't seen him since."

 

 

"Not that he'd recognize me. I don't know what I'd do anyway."

 

 

"Punch him or kiss him?"

 

 

"Exactly," he agreed with a crooked grin. He leaned back in his
chair. "So what were you doing when you got caught in the rift?"

 

 

"Now the interrogation begins."

 

 

"Think of it more as catching up with an old friend."

 

 

"Do you like what you do, Jack?"

 

 

No answer.

 

 

"If I remember my history correctly, this place thinks of the Doctor as an
enemy. Do they know you travelled with him?"

 

 

Still nothing.

 

 

"I will get it out of you, you know. Get you talking so much you won't
even know what you're saying."

 

 

Jack sat up straight. "You gonna tell me what you were doing?"

 

 

***************************************************************

 

 

Ianto made his way to the Tourist Information Centre that doubled as Reception
and stepped into the back office. He slipped off his jacket and placed it on a
hanger before switching on his computer monitor.

 

 

The man they had brought back was familiar to him-both name and face. He sat
down and opened the Torchwood Archives, somehow knowing that was where he had
spotted the name while working at Canary Wharf.

 

 

Being a third generation employee of Torchwood made him familiar with some of
the stories. He couldn't help but smile when references to Jack came up. One
thing about having the name Jones: it was so common, no one connected him to
Torchwood 3 or Jack, and he liked it that way.

 

 

He keyed in the name and the search engine showed him as a "Person of
Interest" with four definitive sightings. The first entry chronologically
was Christmas 1888 which he spent with the family of a well-to-do Harley Street
physician. The second was from 1900 after the relief of Mafeking. The third
entry was composed mainly of army records dated 1917 and told the story of a
pilot named Alan Kelly who was shot down behind enemy lines and made it back to
base unharmed a few days later. The last was the most unbelievable and proved
he didn't know Torchwood was watching him. There were a number of photos with
this entry spanning most of the 1960s and showed Alan Kelly as a member of a
band called The Competition.

 

 

Going by the evidence the only conclusion he could draw was the man was a time
traveller from the future. One of the early directors commented in the file
that Kelly might be connected to the Doctor. Ianto printed the file to show the
others downstairs. Hopefully this information would keep them from questioning
Jack's background.

 

 

*****************************************************

 

 

Jack preceded Alan out of the office and heard the creak of three chairs as his
team tried to pretend they hadn't been watching. He also wondered how much they
suspected. A man from the future fell through the rift and claimed to know him.
And I didn't even try to think of a plausible cover story. I must be losing
my touch. I guess I'll be making a few retcon cocktails when this is over,

he thought.

 

 

He looked over at Alan who merely shrugged. He had said that he would follow
Jack's lead. Jack just had to figure out what that was. The truth might be nice
for a change. The all-out truth, holding nothing back. Those cocktails would
probably need to be doubles.

 

 

He cleared his throat and three faces turned to him. He heard the lift door
from reception open and Ianto walked out to join them. Must've been
monitoring from upstairs waiting for us to be done.

 

 

Jack made quick introductions, just using Alan's rank. "OK, we're all here
so I have some information for you. The man who came through the rift months
ago is from the future. Alan was chasing him when he fell through as
well." He wouldn't give more information than he had to.

 

 

"Why such a gap between arrivals?" asked Gwen.

 

 

"The rift is always in flux," answered Tosh. "The difference is
due to the distance between them during the chase."

 

 

"So why should we believe him?" asked Owen. "He could be in it
with this guy."

 

 

Jack heard a snort of poorly disguised laughter and knew Alan was enjoying
this. Too bad I can't tell them that they're in the presence of Earth's most
decorated hero.
"Because I know him."

 

 

Owen latched onto that like Jack knew he would. "How do you know him? He's
from the bloody future."

 

 

"He is named in the Archives as a Person of Interest," supplied
Ianto. "There are at least four mentions of you throughout history since
1879," he said to Alan as he handed the file to Gwen.

 

 

Jack wondered why he hadn't caught that. Must've just been looking for the
Doctor.

 

 

"A Person of Interest, eh? In good company, am I?"

 

 

"There's only one other," said Jack, knowing Alan would catch on.

 

 

"So these are all you?" Gwen asked going through the file.
"1888, 1900, 1917 and 1965?"

 

 

"Guilty. It's my job, observing the past and trying to keep a low
profile."

 

 

"You were in a band in the 60s and you were friends with the
Beatles," commented Tosh. "That's not exactly 'low profile'."

 

 

"I didn't always succeed."

 

 

"So you met Jack on one of your missions?" questioned Gwen.

 

 

"I was in the States a few years ago and Jack saved my life."

 

 

"As I recall, you returned the favour."

 

 

Alan pulled up one of the wheeled chairs and sat down. "So, what did I do
to become a Person of Interest for Torchwood? I didn't blow up anything or
cause a major incident."

 

 

"It was believed at first that you were someone else," Ianto
answered. "Then it was thought you might lead them to him."

 

 

"You've read his file so you know he's not a psycho," said Jack.
"Do you want to hear his story now?"

 

 

Alan looked at them all. "Short version. The man I was chasing and the man
you have here is Korwyn, a well-known assassin who has never missed a
contract."

 

 

"That's just friggin' wonderful," commented Owen. "We've got out
own Terminator."

 

 

"Oh, he's human, just well-trained."

 

 

"Do you have anything we can use to track him?" asked Tosh. "Our
sensors can't pick up a thing."

 

 

"You found me pretty quickly."

 

 

"When someone comes through the rift they give off energy. The longer they
stay, the more it dissipates."

 

 

"So he's been here quite a while then." Alan looked at Gwen.
"How long?"

 

 

"About three months. Since you have no way to help us track him, I guess
we should get back to going through his victims."

 

 

Jack knew that going through the minutiæ of files was one of Gwen's strengths
as a result of her police background. She always came at things from the side
of the victims while the rest of them approached via the perp-alien or human.

 

 

"All military and government types, right?"

 

 

"The most recent was a couple of days ago," Jack replied. "She
was an opponent of the current Minister of Defence."

 

 

"Could it have been contracted from there?"

 

 

"You wouldn't think it to look at him. He says he's acting for Earth's
benefit but I don't know. There's something not quite right about him."
Even looking at photos made Jack's skin crawl. He just couldn't place the
feeling. Just when he thought he had a finger on it, it slipped away. They had
never met and no one Jack knew through his contacts had this same feeling. He
gave himself a mental shake to get back to the conversation.

 

 

"Are there any known opponents in the area or heading this way?" Alan
was asking.

 

 

"Plan to head him off?" Owen asked snidely.

 

 

"Owen," Jack warned.

 

 

"I thought stopping another senseless death the right thing to do. 'I will
maintain the utmost respect for human life.' Isn't that what the Declaration of
Geneva says?"

 

 

Owen didn't have a comeback. Nice one, Alan!

 

 

Ianto looked up from Gwen's computer. "No one will be in Wales until next
week."

 

 

"At least it'll give us more time to catch 'im," declared Owen.
"We'll need it."

 

 

"But how can we find him now?" asked Tosh. "We still have no way
to track him."

 

 

"There is a way to bring him to us," said Alan slowly.
"Assassins have large egos. Reputation is what gives them work and a
missed target is a blemish on his record. That's why they keep trying until
they succeed."

 

 

Jack knew what he had in mind. "No way."

 

 

"He hasn't had any misses," said Gwen. "There's been nothing but
deaths."

 

 

Jack did not like Alan setting himself up as bait. He had to make sure that
everyone was involved and that meant everyone needed to know the truth.
"There is one who got away," he said with a pointed look at Alan.

 

 

****************************************************************

 

 

Owen polished off another pint of Brain's Dark. "Well, it's not proper
beer. But it's the best you sheep-shaggers can do," he remembered
commenting at Ianto's raised eyebrow. Who would've thought that all those
pub-crawls he had done back in med school would come in handy now? He looked
across at Jack and Kelly who were throwing back whisky like there was no
tomorrow, which was unusual. He had never seen Jack drink before. Ianto sat
there sipping wine; the only sign he was not at work being his missing tie.

 

 

The two friends got more vocal, boisterously swapping stories. Some of the
people Kelly had met sounded like a Who's Who of history.

 

 

Owen cast his eyes about the pub and noticed that almost every woman was
looking their way. 'Course, it's those two, he thought. I'd never get
any action if I hung around with them every night.

 

 

He went to take another drink of beer then remembered it was gone. "Same
all around, then?"

 

 

Jack looked at him and Owen could tell he was totally sober. "Thanks,
Owen."

 

 

He gathered up the empties and walked back to the bar. He placed the orders
then turned around to scan the room. He saw Tosh and Gwen in a small nook
talking away like they were having a relaxing girls' night out.

 

 

"Excuse me?"

 

 

He turned to see a gorgeous redhead who was practically falling out of her
low-cut little black dress. He gave her a winning smile. "Yeah, luv?"

 

 

"I was wondering...I was watching your table and..." She took a deep
breath. "Your friend in the suit, is he attached?"

 

 

Owen's confidence crumbled. Shoulda known if a bird approached me it would
be for someone else. But Ianto?
His cruel streak surfaced. "Sorry,
luv. The sandy-haired bloke is off for London in the morning and the other two,
they're a couple."

 

 

He paid for the drinks and head back to the table, scowling.

 

 

"Strike out again?" asked Jack.

 

 

"You severely cramp my style," he said as he set the drinks on the
table before sitting down. "How much longer anyway?"

 

 

"Most criminals like being around 'real' people and feeling superior
because no one knows their secret," spouted Ianto,

 

 

"He's here," Kelly said in a near whisper. "Laugh like I'm
telling you a dirty joke. I need to get a better idea of where he is."

 

 

They laughed as requested and Owen wondered what they hell he was doing. How
could he tell where the man was without looking around?

 

 

*******************************************************

 

 

Alan knew this would be an ideal time to use his "special" ability.
He learned by chance that he could literally put himself in someone's position.
He could see through their eyes and witness all they did. In rare cases he
could delve into memories and emotions. Thankfully, that wasn't needed in this
instance. He did not even want to contemplate the inner workings of an
assassin's mind. While still carrying on his side of the conversation, Alan
used his ability to slip into the head of the assassin. Looking through the
man's eyes he could see Jack and Ianto's faces and Owen's profile which meant
he was behind them.

 

 

"Behind us to the left there should be a man about 30 with blond hair,
maybe 5'10", 180 pounds, watching us."

 

 

Jack looked while tossing back his drink. "Got him. Not bad," he said
with a crooked smile.

 

 

"Down, boy. Assassin, remember?" He sipped his whisky. "Time to
let Tosh and Gwen know."

 

 

Owen stood. "Why is it always me who plays the cad?"

 

 

"Because you're a natural," Jack answered.

 

 

Owen glared but didn't say anything as he sauntered over to Gwen and Tosh and
pretended to chat them up. Acting insulted, Tosh slapped him-unfortunately on
the same side where Alan had already punched him. He refused to take the hint
and would have been beaten to a pulp by the two rugby players who came to the
women's aid if Ianto hadn't quickly pulled him away and out of the pub.

 

 

"Step One is complete."

 

 

"Yeah, but was it successful?"

 

 

"We'll know in a bit."

 

 

Continuing their act, Alan and Jack stumbled out the door and into the quiet street.
Ianto and Owen were out of sight, waiting in a designated spot. Alan knew
Korwyn couldn't resist the bait being offered and, as far as he knew, Alan
wasn't aware of his presence. Jack said they'd keep him locked up in the
Torchwood cells until his machine started working again.

 

 

"You know, we won't be considered well and truly drunk until we sing loud
and off-key."

 

 

Alan looked at Jack and knew he was right. He sang the first song that popped
into his head. "I've been a moonshiner for many a year.."

 

 

"And I spent all my money on whisky and beer," Jack joined in
enthusiastically.

 

 

When the hell is he gonna make his move? We're running out of verses. Maybe
he needs another sign.
He tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground
nearly taking Jack with him. They laughed drunkenly as Jack helped him stand
after a few tries.

 

 

"What the hell are you doing?" Jack hissed.

 

 

"Giving our friend a bit more time." He let Jack hold him up a bit as
he checked on Korwyn. "OK, he can see us. Let's go."

 

 

They turned the corner into an alley that was wide enough for manoeuvrability
yet narrow enough to contain. Somewhere ahead Owen and Ianto were waiting.

 

 

Korwyn followed them and Alan watched through the other man's eyes as he
brought up his hand to shoot. Timing it as he pulled the trigger, Alan
staggered into Jack, pushing them both out of the way. The energy bolt
shattered a hole in a wall spraying bits of brick and dust everywhere.

 

 

Jack stood there holding him, acting both drunk and stunned. "What the
hell was that?"

 

 

"Even when you're pissed you're a hard target!" Korwyn strode
forward, weapon aimed at Alan's head. "Why couldn't you have left me
alone? How the hell did you find me anyway?"

 

 

Alan pretended to overcome the alcohol. "You-you were the assassin who tried
to kill me. It's your bloody fault I'm here." He straightened and looked
Korwyn in the face. "Hear you've landed on your feet, got yourself a good
job. What's your title, Consultant to the MOD?"

 

 

"Something like that. You, however, are a bonus. Unfinished business I get
to resolve."

 

 

"Won't this bring extra attention to you, your paymaster?" asked
Jack.

 

 

Korwyn looked at Jack, his gun still on Alan. "Don't think I wouldn't
enjoy killing you, Captain, but it would just be a waste of time." He gave
them a crooked smile. "Oh, yeah, I know all about you and your team. My
employer thought it best that I know who might try to stop me. So the rest of
you can just come out and join your leader here!" he called out.

 

 

Ianto and Owen walked up behind them while Gwen and Tosh joined them from the
mouth of the alley. Korwyn motioned for them to join the men. "Place your
weapons on the ground and kick them towards me." Six different guns
clattered across the road. He kicked them further behind him.

 

 

This was not how Alan had planned it to go down. He hadn't counted on Korwyn
knowing about Torchwood. Whoever his boss was also knew Jack couldn't die and
that's what worried Jack most. How long before this mystery man exploited that
for his own purposes?

 

 

"Saxon must be paying well," said Jack conversationally. When Korwyn
didn't respond, Jack kept going. "C'mon, it's easy. You're bumping off his
opposition one by one and he's probably the only one out there to accept and
use a man of your 'talents'."

 

 

Saxon. Saxon. Why do I know that name? Minister of Defence...the
Valiant...Christ! He becomes the Prime Minister and kills the President of the
United States!
He looked at Korwyn "What did he promise you when he
becomes PM?"

 

 

"Harold Saxon, Prime Minister? You've got to be joking," Owen
muttered.

 

 

"Sorry, not joking." Alan never took his eyes off Korwyn.

 

 

"Simple. I advance with him. Enough of this."

 

 

As he changed his aim, Jack and Owen rushed him, throwing him off-balance. Alan
felt the concussion of the blast as it threw him to the ground and that was it.

 

 

***********************************************************

 

 

Tosh watched the monitors with Gwen and Ianto as their prisoner ranted and
roared against his captivity. Korwyn had been quickly tackled and restrained so
they could transport him back to the Hub.

 

 

This event had brought two items into her sphere that she wanted to study.
Unfortunately Jack locked up the assassin's weapon stating it wasn't alien and
therefore not something that fell into their purview. Besides, it would be
returning with Alan once his machine was working properly.

 

 

Her eyes strayed to the medical lab where Owen was examining him. Oh, how her
hands itched to study a true time machine. What tech geek or physicist
wouldn't? Again, she would probably be forbidden, as it would corrupt the time
lines or some such.

 

 

"I can't believe we're going to let him go," said Gwen. "He's a
murderer."

 

 

"We have no proof," reminded Ianto. "Just his word, which he can
easily deny later."

 

 

"From what he said, Harold Saxon ordered these deaths and becomes Prime
Minister? We can't let that happen."

 

 

"As I understand it, if we prevent this, Time will find another way for it
to happen," said Tosh. They both stared at her. "That's how it
happens in books," she defended.

 

 

At that moment, they heard a whistle and a few choice words carry from Owen in
the lab. They rushed over to see what could draw such amazement from the
normally dour Londoner.

 

 

Tosh arrived to see Alan sitting on the examining table while Owen peered at
his left hand like it was something he had never seen before. Wait. That was
the hand that took some of the blast. It should be a mangled stump. How is it
still whole?

 

 

"Tosh, you should take a look at this," Owen called.

 

 

She made her way past Ianto and Gwen, down the steps where she stopped by Jack
who was watching the whole thing with a knowing look on his face.

 

 

He grinned when he saw her hesitate. "Go ahead."

 

 

She smiled in thanks before joining Owen.

 

 

Alan looked at her. "Knock yourself out but remember, no dissection and
you can't keep it."

 

 

A flap of skin on the wrist was open revealing intricate circuitry. His hand
was artificial! That could explain why the assassin's weapon didn't destroy it.
"The work here is amazing," she said. "How long ago did it
happen?"

 

 

"Five years ago. It was a rescue mission and my hand was sliced off."

 

 

"Does it retain feeling?" asked Gwen. "A sense of touch?"

 

 

"It does, but I can turn it off when the need arises."

 

 

"Like landing a ship when the controls are on fire," put in Jack.

 

 

"For example, yes."

 

 

Tosh heard a soft beeping. "What's that noise?"

 

 

Owen looked at her questioningly. "What noise? I don't hear
anything."

 

 

"Sshh, there it is again." She realized it was the machine on his
other wrist. "It's this," she pointed.

 

 

The smile that spread across Alan's face was so...endearing in its childlike
quality. I guess when you feel you're never going to go home again and then
the chance arises that you can, that would be the look.

 

 

Owen closed up the skin before going to a cabinet and dug out a sling for
Alan's now useless hand. "Guess you're on your way home, eh?"

 

 

"I'll be out of your hair in a little bit." Alan got down from the
table.

 

 

Tosh looked at Jack and for a moment she thought she saw hurt and even longing
in his eyes. She remembered how he was in the pub, laughing and joking with an
old friend, true joy in his eyes. She didn't think she had ever seen him that
way before. Would he take the opportunity to go with this man or would he stay
with them?

 

 

************************************************************

 

 

Jack walked back to his office and switched on the radio that was always set to
Big Band classics. He grabbed the whisky bottle and glass before sitting at his
desk. He poured a large one, this time wanting to well adn truly feel its
effects. He stared at the glass. Someone else was going to go off and leave him
stuck in this one place and time when he had been used to travelling anywhere
and anywhen.

 

 

There was a knock on his door and he looked up to see Alan standing in the
doorway. Jack waved him in. "You wanna glass?"

 

 

"No, thanks. Don't think I could handle any more right now. I just wanted
to know if you'd care to join me. The others would love to see you. Or maybe we
could meet up with the Doctor and Rose somehow."

 

 

The strains of Moonlight Serenade came from the radio and Jack thought
back to dancing with Rose on an invisible spaceship in the middle of an air
raid. "She was so worth fighting for."

 

 

"What was that?"

 

 

"The last words I spoke to her. The last words I'll ever speak to
her." Jack looked up at Alan's puzzled face. "She died in the Battle
of Canary Wharf."

 

 

"Christ!" Alan exclaimed. "How did you find out?"

 

 

"She was listed among the dead along with her mother and boyfriend."

 

 

"Did you ever think that because the Doctor was involved that she might
not be dead?"

 

 

Jack had once held on to that hope but knew from personal experience that death
was inevitable when the Doctor was around-except for that one time when
everybody lived. "Everyone at that Game Station died. Even me. Canary
Wharf was practically the same thing."

 

 

"You survived that by unexplained means. What's not to say that Rose may
have survived some way as well?"

 

 

"I hope she had an easier time of it if that's the case." He took a
deep breath. "After I saw the TARDIS leave, I checked for other survivors.
501 levels and I was alone. Not wanting to hang around and answer the questions
once the Earth got around to sending someone, I decided to use my vortex
manipulator. I thought the 21st century would be the best place to find the
Doctor but I kinda overshot and ended up in 1869. The manipulator burned out
making it completely useless. I had to live through the entire 20th century
waiting for the right Doctor."

 

 

And in that living, how much dying was there?"

 

 

"Starting at Ellis Island in 1892 when I was shot through the heart, at
least eight times before I gave up counting."

 

 

"Jack, I'm sorry."

 

 

Jack knew he meant it but he didn't want to go that way right now. "I set
myself up here knowing he'd come to Cardiff again at some point."

 

 

"But Torchwood?"

 

 

"I decided to make myself useful while I was here. After the fall of
Torchwood One, I restructured it, keeping it defensive yet not as
weapon-dependant, if that makes sense."

 

 

"It does." Alan looked at the glass of whisky. "You told me more
than I thought I'd get and you weren't even drunk."

 

 

Jack chuckled. "Don't think I need it now."

 

 

"Good." Alan picked it up and downed it in one gulp, smacking his
lips when he was done.

 

 

"Hey, I thought you said you couldn't handle any more?"

 

 

"I lied." He set the glass back on the desk. "So, I take it
you're gonna hang around a bit longer?"

 

 

"Yeah. I kinda feel like I'm here for a reason-besides waiting for the
Doctor."

 

 

"Saving-the-World kinda thing?"

 

 

"Who knows with this place? More likely to keep them from killing each
other." Jack stood. "Doesn't mean you can't drop by every now and
then."

 

 

Alan rose, facing him. "Now that I know where to find you, of course I
will."

 

 

Jack embraced his friend and childhood hero. Alan returned it and Jack took
comfort in that moment. "Give my regards to the others," he said upon
breaking the hug.

 

 

"Sure. I guess I should get Korwyn from your cells and be on my way."

 

 

"Here. You'll want this." Jack walked to his safe and removed the
weapon. "I think it'd be better off with you."

 

 

Alan took it and placed it in the waistband at the small of his back.
"It's dangerous enough in the 23rd century. I don't want to think about
widespread use now."

 

 

Jack took him by the arm. "C'mon, let's get you down to the cells. I don't
trust myself with you right now."

 

 

"Why, Jack Harkness. I'll have you know I'm not that easy," he
teased.

 

 

"You and the Doctor," he joked back.

 

 

The rest of the team followed them down to the cells. Owen aimed his weapon at
Korwyn as the door opened to make sure he didn't try anything while Alan put
the bindings on his wrists.

 

 

"Thank you all for your help. I'll try to stop by for another visit."
He programmed his machine. "You take care of each other. Your lives depend
on one another now." With his dead hand resting on Korwyn's arm, he
activated his machine, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

 

 

Jack couldn't help but smile at the looks on their faces. He was tempted to
physically close their mouths

 

 

"Bloody hell!" declared Owen.

 

 

"Is that how he...travels?" asked Gwen.

 

 

"It must take an awful amount of energy," said Tosh.

 

 

Ianto merely looked at him, knowing what he had passed on.

 

 

"OK, back to work. Ianto, Tosh, make up a story and some evidence
regarding the unfortunate demise of our killer. Owen, you'll need to create an
autopsy report. Gwen, you can liase with the police and tell them we've caught
the killer and that they will get all the pertinent paperwork."

 

 

They all walked ahead of him along the corridor while he paused a moment to
look at the empty cell. He felt better about his situation than he had in a
long time. Maybe Rose was still out there and maybe the Doctor would be able to
explain what happened to him. Until that time came, he had a job to do.