Captain Jack and Captain Jack [for slayers_desire]

[fractured_agent]

It's been a few months since the team got their first lessons in psychic shielding, and once again, the Hub is open to April's expertise. Though he knows they're having guests, Jack doesn't push anyone to clean up the clutter so it looks better. The Hub is still a work space, and a chaotically changing one at that. They're all used to it by now, and Jack knows April won't mind.

Ianto is manning the tourist information office upstairs, as usual, and he knows that April is coming.

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"The Captain doesn't have any one woman..." April gently takes George's arms, smiling softly.

"Besides, he really must stay on duty." She is hoping that George might assume that Tosh is part of Jack's assignment.

[fractured_agent]

"No one's on duty tonight, luv," George says, in a sort of are-you-stupid tone. "This is a party."

Well, this isn't going how Jack wanted it to. But then a new voice enters the conversation, one that stands out because unlike everyone else here, it has an American accent. "Settle down, kiddo. Like you said, it's a party." The speaker is a tall young man, with blue eyes and brown hair, also dressed in an RAF uniform. To Jack's experienced eye, he also notices the flight captain's bars on the uniform, marking his rank.

[slayers_desire]

April tries really hard not to react to George's tone. And is glad for the interruption from another Captain.

"Your loss... George." And she simply declines her previous offer with those three words.

[fractured_agent]

George looks angry, but a word from the newcomer sets him straight. "Go have a drink with the boys, George. I'm sure the lovely ladies will be up for a dance later."

The airman looks a little resentful, but does as he's told, moving back to join some of the other men in the unit. Better yet, he doesn't hold a grudge against either Tosh or April.

"Sorry about that," the newcomer says. "The men are a bit lively tonight. It's the last day of OTU tomorrow."

[slayers_desire]

April is a little afraid now to ask any questions, in fear of looking out of place for her lack of knowledge.

"We appreciate you stepping in, Captain."

[fractured_agent]

Jack can tell April is unsure, and provides a running 'translation' for her. OTU is operational training exercises. Practice flying, pretty much.

"No problem," the captain says with a smile. "Your accents aren't from around here. Are you a volunteer too?" The last part is mostly directed towards Jack.

"Yeah," Jack says, slipping back into the part he played decades ago.

[slayers_desire]

April knows that airplanes were the huge difference in the Second World War.

"We just stopped in for a night off, ourselves."

[fractured_agent]

The captain assumes that Jack is on leave and taking his women out for a night on the town, which isn't a bad thing to assume. He reaches out and shakes Jack's hand in a warm greeting. "I'm Captain Jack Harkness, 133rd squadron."

Jack's smile freezes on his face and his heart drops like a stone. Tosh's eyes go wide as she looks back and forth between them.

[slayers_desire]

April is a little confused herself, but is sure that Jack will explain to her later. You can use my father's birth name, if you have too... William Pratt. You sound British enough, it might do...

[fractured_agent]

It's been a long time since Jack's frozen up so badly, and for several moments he doesn't even know what to say. Tosh is stunned and confused, but quickly fills the awkward silence. "Toshiko Sato," she introduces herself.

[slayers_desire]

"April Kent." She too is able to introduce herself easily. She gently gives Jack mental support, so he can recover.

[fractured_agent]

Jack gives himself a mental shake, and grasps for the name April told him. "Captain William Pratt, 71st," he replies, trying to put that smile back on his face. It's difficult, looking at this man and knowing who he really is now. Tosh won't be able to tell what's going on under the surface, of course, but April will. Shock, guilt, even a hint of panic and grief.

The other Jack doesn't seem to notice either. "Seventy-first, that's where I'm hoping to be posted."

[slayers_desire]

April does sense all of Jack's internal emotions. And knows they are related to the man in front of them.

"When do you leave, Captain?"

[fractured_agent]

"We're still waiting on orders, but we expect to get them soon," Captain Harkness says easily. "Probably escorting bombers over the Channel." He tilts his head towards the bar. "What's your poison? I'm buying."

Jack is vaguely aware he might sound rude, but he wants to get out of this situation before he says the wrong thing. "We'll have to take a rain check, sorry. We were in the middle of something." Even as he says it, he knows there will be no avoiding this the longer they stay.

[slayers_desire]

April wonders if part of the reason they were sent back to this date has to do with the real Captain Harkness. But she wisely says nothing when Jack makes an excuse to leave the situation.

[fractured_agent]

As soon as they're away from the main party, Tosh can't hold it in any longer. "Why does that man have your name?"

Jack searches for an answer that would make sense, and comes up dry. He very rarely gets caught flat-footed, but this is a doozy. Something he'd never in a million years prepared himself for.

[slayers_desire]

April doesn't think they could use the 'inherited the name' excuse. The original Jack doesn't look anything like thier Jack.

"It is a long and complicated story."

[fractured_agent]

That answer just frustrates Tosh more. "I can tell you're holding back on me!" she exclaims, knowing that they're both hiding something. Jack has always played up being mysterious but now she needs to know.

Jack finds his voice. "It's not my name. It's his."

[slayers_desire]

"And I assuming that you borrowed the name of someone who died in the War? So it would never be connected..."

[fractured_agent]

Tosh is still upset, but she's listening. "Why? Why would you need to use the name of a dead man from this war?" She pauses a moment, and puts a few things together. "You look like you fit in here."

He knew he couldn't keep it a secret forever. But he was hoping to pretend to be as normal as Torchwood would let him for a while. "I can't explain how, but I served in the war in 1941. I was undercover and needed a false identity." It's not a total truth, but it's not a lie either.

[slayers_desire]

"And for now, while that Jack is around, we just will have to use another false identity."

[fractured_agent]

"But why him?" Tosh asks.

"It was convenient... our physical descriptions were similar enough. And an American with the RAF was too good an opportunity to pass up." Jack tries to break the tension with a typical Jack comment. "I just didn't realize he was so hot."

[slayers_desire]

"That's our Jack..."

"He is still the same man, even with this strange development."

[fractured_agent]

At least on the surface, anyway. Underneath that flirtatious smile is still the guilt of knowing that he stole a man's identity and never even bothered to learn more about him as a person. When he first took the name, he only looked for what was the most convenient. Never bothered to think about the real person behind the name.

"You chose his name because he dies in battle," Tosh says, growing concerned now. "When?"

And that's the worst part about it for Jack. "Tomorrow."

[slayers_desire]

April flinches. Because this is the problem with time travel... being presented with a situation you want to stop... and not knowing if you should or not.

"Dammit..."