fractured_agent | Hard choices leave you with nothing [for slayers

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Hard choices leave you with nothing [for slayers_desire]

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.

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"It's just too bad she didn't come through with a mate to keep her company of her own kind," Jack says. Not all beings need someone of their own species to feel at home, but a pterodactyl isn't advanced enough to think about that sort of thing. "Then again, maybe we'd be drowning in babysaurs if we did that."

"Cute when they are small, but dangerous when they grow up."

"Exactly. And introducing new lives that weren't in the timeline before can be dangerous." And unavoidable, sometimes. Jack's broken that rule of time travel a few times himself. "But either way, I'm going to miss her too when she's gone."

April knows that he is talking about death. She doesn't think about death often, but knows it weighs heavily on Jack.

"You should enjoy her presence while it is here."

Jack thinks about it all the time. It's hard for him not to, since he knows that by all rights he should have died years ago, if only from old age. He gives Myfanwy another pat on the neck before the pterodactyl decides she's had enough, and flaps her wings to take off again, slowly circling the sculpture as she gains enough altitude to reach her nest.

"Believe me, I do. Most nights it's just me and her anyway."

April watches Myfanway fly back to her nest. "This is your home, as well as your office?"

"Yeah. I don't sleep much these days, but I have a bed under my office. There's a manhole behind the desk."

"Well you know if you ever need a place to sleep, where you are surrounded by people who care about you, that we do have a place for our friends."

He smiles faintly. "Thanks, but somebody has to stay and monitor the Rift. Might as well be me." He will keep that in mind, though. He's not sure what will happen once he catches up with the Doctor. And even Torchwood can't last forever.

"Well the offer stands." She will always try to be there for him.

"I appreciate that." He's an independent kind of guy, but he also is very lonely. Friendships are very important to him, and April's has been one of the longest lasting he's had in his long lifetime.

April gives him a hug again. She knows that her friendship is important to him. And hopes that she won't be going anywhere on him... for a long time.

And she hugs him again.

Jack hopes so too. And maybe one day, that's a conversation they'll be able to have. But for now, he just accepts and returns the hug, glad to have friends like her.