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

[fractured_agent]

He deliberately pretends to misunderstand what she's getting at. A necessary ruse during this time. "It's pretty rare to come across another American here. One that's volunteering, as well. I think I haven't heard those sweet Midwest tones since I shipped over a few months ago."

[slayers_desire]

"I am sure you both have stories to share." April plays along with the ruse. He seems like such a nice man. And it is such a shame they can't change his destiny.

[fractured_agent]

"Don't forget about yourself," Captain Harkness tells her. He may not be truly interested in women romantically, but he's interested in her as a person. Both because of her own supposed background, and because of the company she keeps. "How long have you been overseas?"

[slayers_desire]

It is sort of funny, that both Tosh and Jack had someone interested in them tonight. April wonders how the story would have been different without her.

"Not long... but long enough."

[fractured_agent]

That's pretty vague, but he thinks he understands. "Yeah, I hear you. The war's only just started and already it feels like it's been going on forever."

[slayers_desire]

She has to vague. Since she doesn't know much about this timeline.

"It must be so hard... fighting for your country, and not knowing what will come next."

[fractured_agent]

"That's war," he says reasonably. Inwardly he's terrified of what's to come, but he can't show it. A captain has to be strong for his men. If he panics, they panic. And if you panic, you die. "The boys are pretty eager to get out there."

[slayers_desire]

April wants to give him one good night, since he will be gone tomorrow.

"They will get there. Let them enjoy tonight."

Jack... She projects across the room to her Captain.

[fractured_agent]

"Believe me, I am," Captain Harkness says, looking over the room full of men and women, all of them having a good time despite the circumstances.

Jack and Tosh are just approaching one of the groups of men who are standing around socializing. "So, who's the best navigator here?" Tosh asks, pretending to be enthusiastic about their roles in the war.

Jack doesn't react outwardly, but answers in kind. Is something wrong?

[slayers_desire]

I think your namesake would rather be sitting here with you. Do you think you can handle that?

[fractured_agent]

Jack tries not to freeze up at the thought again. He's spoken to plenty of doomed people before. That's nothing new. But this one is different. Personal, in a way he'd never expected to find this far back in his relative past. ...give me a few minutes.

[slayers_desire]

"What about your happiness, Captain?" April returns her attention to the man at her side.

[fractured_agent]

Captain Harkness looks politely puzzled by that. "My happiness?"

[slayers_desire]

"If this was your last night, what would you do?"

[fractured_agent]

The captain thinks that's a somewhat fatalistic question, but he can't deny that he's thought about it before. "I don't know. Make the most of it, I guess."

[slayers_desire]

"That is a good suggestion." April chuckles lightly. She knows that during war time that his possible death weighs on his mind all the time.

[fractured_agent]

"Tomorrow will be fine," the captain says, and part of him truly believes that. "It's just a routine training exercise. I'm hardly gonna die."

[slayers_desire]

"Tomorrow always has its surprises, Captain. You never can predict what fate has in store." And when you do know, as April does, it makes it harder to not have a slight sadness in her voice.

[fractured_agent]

He hears that sadness and assumes she's speaking from experience. "Who did you lose?"

[slayers_desire]

"A good friend. Named Carter." April goes for personal experience. "We never saw it coming. I had thought it would be a normal day..."

"And the next thing I knew..."

[fractured_agent]

The captain can't tell if her friend died in the war or some other reason, but in the end, it doesn't really matter, does it? "I'm sorry about your friend. Good men are taken too soon."

[slayers_desire]

"I think that is why we should hold onto our good men, when they are still here."

[fractured_agent]

The captain looks over at his men, most of his thoughts on them. He knows there's a good chance that not all of them will see the end of the war. Some of them, like the navigator Tosh is chatting with, are just barely old enough to serve. Little more than boys still. "That's why we have nights like this."

[slayers_desire]

April is glad to see that Tosh has found a navigator. They are one step closer to their achieving their mission.

"I am glad you have nights like this..."

((bed))

[fractured_agent]

He'd expected her to use the word we instead of you, so that seems a bit odd to him, but he thinks maybe she just means those who are serving in the military. A beautiful dame like herself wouldn't be included in that, of course. "Any excuse for a party."

On the other side of the room, Jack has just about gotten up his nerve to come over and talk with the man whose name he stole. But before he can take more than a few steps, the sound of air raid sirens fills the air. Bringing back both memories and old habits. Nobody needs to say out loud to head to the shelter, they just all pick up their drinks and head down to the basement, the party atmosphere dulled for the moment. But there's no panic.