Hard choices leave you with nothing [for slayers_desire]

[fractured_agent]

It's been a while since Jack needed a stiff drink, and he usually abstains in case the Doctor picks that moment to return. But after a day like today... sometimes he can justify letting himself slip a bit.

The rest of his team is sent home, and the Hub is empty, save for Jack and the pterodactyl roosting in her eyrie. Leaving him alone with only a drink and his memories for company.

He looks down at his wristcomp. Very few times has he been able to call anyone for help, since his time at Torchwood began. And it still doesn't quite work... but he's spent too much time with only his thoughts for company. He's terribly lonely, in the way that only the immortal truly know, and right now his heart is aching for the loss of Estelle.

He calls up April's number, before he can talk himself out of it.

Comments

[fractured_agent]

He forces a faint smile, standing in the doorway to his office, recessed a bit from the main area but fairly open. "Welcome to the Hub."

There's a skrawww from overhead as a large winged shape flies out from a hole on the wall, and glides around the sculpture. The pterodactyl tilts its head to the side to look down at the newcomer curiously, its primitive brain wondering if April is food, but it's not aggressive.

[slayers_desire]

The pterodactyl catches her attention, before April looks in Jack's direction. She can sense its hunger. Her own predatory side recognizes a more formidable predator.

"Interesting welcome you have here..." She smiles, a little nervously.

[fractured_agent]

His smile becomes a tiny bit more genuine. "That's just Myfanwy. Don't worry if she's eyeing you up. She won't eat anything unless it's coated in a special barbeque sauce."

[slayers_desire]

"This place is amazing Jack."

[fractured_agent]

"It's a good place," he agrees, looking around himself, as if trying to see it with her eyes. He's seen it expand from a tiny carved-out space to an elaborate, sprawling underground base. The Hub goes far deeper than she sees, down into the cells, the morgue, and even deeper into rooms that haven't been used in decades.

He steps forward to offer a hand down from the lift, and pulls her into a hug. "It's good to see you again."

[slayers_desire]

She hugs him tightly, not sure why he is so upset yet. But knows that he will open up on his own.

[fractured_agent]

He stays in the hug for a few moments, before stepping back and inviting her into his office. There's a few chairs in front of his desk, and he of course sits behind it in his own chair. There's a bottle of whiskey and a half-full glass on his desk. "Can I get you anything?" he asks, sliding over an empty glass.

[slayers_desire]

"I don't really taste liquor like others do."

[fractured_agent]

"We're well-supplied," he says, still smiling faintly. "Water, soda, all the fixings. Or coffee or tea."

[slayers_desire]

"Orange juice should be fine." She doesn't think he would have her usual drink preference stocked.

[fractured_agent]

Her guess is mostly correct. There is a half gallon or so of alien blood in the autopsy room's fridge, but it's not known to be safe for consumption.

He fetches her some juice, before settling back into his chair. Part of this feels like he's just delaying the conversation he wants to have, but on another hand, he's just appreciating the company. Pretending that he's just invited her over on a social call.

[slayers_desire]

April senses that Jack is delaying the conversation, but doesn't want to pressure him. "Where is your team?"?

[fractured_agent]

"I sent them home for the night. We had a difficult day today." But of course, he's still here.

[slayers_desire]

"What happened?" She gently squeezes his hand.

[fractured_agent]

He looks down into his drink. "What do you know about faeries?"

[slayers_desire]

"In my home dimension, they are diminutive humans with insect-like wings. There are four races. All four live underground."

[fractured_agent]

"Not here. That's what people think they look like... they don't want to know the truth. They're as old as the Earth, and have no name. A mysterious force of nature, that we know nothing about, and have no defense against except to stay away from them."

[slayers_desire]

"Did something happen with a fairy?"

[fractured_agent]

"With all of them." It isn't the first time that he's encountered faeries. But it's worse than last time.

"They choose children, usually little girls, to become one of them. I tried to save her, but they would've killed everyone if I hadn't handed her over." That's the real reason he sent his team home. They're too furious with him to listen to his orders. He doesn't blame them for being angry. But he knew there was no other option.

[slayers_desire]

"What happens to the little girl, when they choose one to become like them?" It sounds like Jack had to make a hard choice.

[fractured_agent]

"They protect her until she's old enough... then they take her. Regardless of what her parents or friends want for her. After that, I don't know." His only consolation is knowing that the girl isn't harmed.

[slayers_desire]

"You feel like you failed this girl?"

[fractured_agent]

"No. I know there was no other way. They'd already killed to keep her to themselves. And... their victims weren't just the people trying to stop them." They're getting to the heart of the matter now, and that immortal loneliness festers in him now. "Someone I loved."

[slayers_desire]

She aches for him when that loneliness is felt. And she squeezes his hand again.

"Tell me about your love, Jack."

[fractured_agent]

Thinking of those old memories hurts, but not as much as it hurt last night to hold her cold body in his arms and know that there was nothing he could do to bring her back. "Her name was Estelle." He smiles a little as he thinks of her as she was back then, so young and full of life. "We met in London at the Astoria Ballroom, a few weeks before Christmas. She was seventeen years old, and she was beautiful."