shattered_fics (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shattered_fics) wrote2008-04-11 12:38 am
shattered_fics) wrote2008-04-11 12:38 am
Entry tags:
For A Day (Part I)
Title: For A Day (Part I)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/Character(s): Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness & Ianto/OFC
Summary: A girl mysteriously shows up on Torchwoods front step.
Warnings: Spoilers Throughout Season Two (Up To Adrift)
Length: Long
Word Count: 4,406
Chapter #: (I/III)
WIP or Complete: Work In Progress
Author's Note: This story will be a total of Three Parts, mostly because right now the word count is currently 11,000 and climbing. Story takes place somewhere in Series 2, probably between Adrift & Fragments, so spoilers up to Adrift.
By![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
daydreamgraphix
"She's waking up," Toshiko said looking up at the CCTV of the vaults below "The sedative seems to be wearing off of her now." She added as the girl started to toss and turn on the tiny bed.
"Gwen" Jack said walking out of his office, hands in his pockets as he surveyed the team before him "Go get her some new clothing. She can change into them after Owen is done looking over her." With a nod she grabbed her purse and was out of the room. "Ianto!" Jack said loudly as the young man walked into view from up top.
"Yes sir," Ianto said nodding.
"Can you get her some food for me?" Jack asked smiling up at the younger man.
"Of course," Ianto said quickly looking at the image of the girl before retreating from view.
"Owen," Jack said quietly to him as he lounged at his station. "Prepare for anything. Let's get her side of the story before we have to see what we have to do. We're not even sure what happened here."
"Do you want me to come down there with you?" Owen asked biting the top of his pen smirking at his boss.
"I think I can handle her," Jack said smirking back.
Leaving his office he traveled down the winding stairs into vault one. They had to move one of the Weevils out of the cell in order to put her there. Ianto had argued with the team for almost an hour about not putting her in one of the lower vaults. He didn't want her to be buried and lost within the labyrinth of the cells if it looked like she would be staying with them until they figured out what was wrong. Opening the vault door Jack slowly walked to the end of the hall. Leaning against the wall, he stared into her cell waiting for her to wake.
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The sounds to her ears didn't sound like her home, they didn't sound like Cardiff and they didn't sound human. Groaning she turned her head to the side, a shock of pain ran through her body as she was jerked awake. Her eyes flashed around her surroundings. She was underground; she could smell the salt and the musk of being under the bay. She sat up suddenly feeling eyes on her. A man stood staring in at her watching her intently. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered being pulled into an alleyway, she started to scream.
"What's your name?" Jack said calmly.
"Are you one of them? Did you attack me? Where am I? What are you going to do to me?" She
asked past hysterics crawling back on the bed to get as far way from Jack as possible.
"What's your name?" He asked again sternly, almost reassuringly.
"Nat--" She hesitated for a moment "Natalie."
"Are you all right?" He asked slowly as he watched her still back toward the wall. "I'm not
going to hurt you."
"Aren't you the one who dragged me into the alleyway?" Natalie asked bringing her knees up to
her chin staring at Jack.
"No," He said shaking his head "I'm not the one who hurt you. The one who did left you here."
"Where is here?" She asked quickly
"Are you hurt?" Jack asked again.
"My head is killing me," She said absent mindedly rubbing the side of her head "Maybe some
cuts, and my stomach feels odd. Where am I?"
"We're going to have to give you an exam, to make sure nothing is wrong with you." He said
slowly.
"Please," Natalie said slowly uncurling herself. As she stepped forward Jack noticed her
clothing was in tatters, mostly around her stomach area and her jeans were ripped. Her face
was smudged and covered in grime. Faint bruises were appearing on her wrists and around her stomach. "Where am I?"
"Torchwood," Jack said simply.
"What happened?" She asked slowly standing in front of Jack now.
"I was just about to ask you that," He said slowly pushing himself off of the wall so he was
closer to her. "What do you remember?"
"Nothing really," She said breathlessly after a moment "I can't remember anything. I was
walking home from the shop, around the corner from my flat. I wasn't paying attention, my
mobile rang and I went to reach for it when I felt a tug on my arm. I was facing the streets
as something was put over my eyes. Then I felt a pinch, then that was it."
"That's all you can remember?" Jack pressed "Nothing else? Not if you felt like you were moved else where? Being dropped off here? Anything?"
"No," She said tears brimming in her eyes "Nothing, I can't remember anything."
"We're going to figure out what happened," Jack said quietly "Try to figure out why you were
dumped here and not the police."
"Can I go home?" Natalie asked slowly tears leaking down her cheeks.
"No," Jack said simply "You can't."
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"Think she's telling the truth?" Tosh asked quietly as they stared at the screen watching Jack talking to young Natalie.
"I don't know why she would be," Gwen said quickly "I doubt someone would make up being attacked."
"Why us?" Tosh asked "Why put her outside our door?"
"It's something we've got to figure out," Gwen said sighing as Jack opened up the cell door letting her stagger out into his arms as he helped her along the hall.
"Is Jack coming with her?" Owen asked coming out of the autopsy room as he pushed the plastic out of his way.
“He’s bringing her now,” Tosh said nodding to the stairwell “She’s incredibly weak. They must’ve really done her in.”
“Well hopefully what ever they did to her is traceable, I was enjoying a slow day,” Owen grumbled returning into the autopsy room.
“Owen!” Tosh said shaking her head.
“He can be so cruel,” Gwen signed folding her arms across her chest “Can’t he just hope what ever it is we can help her?”
“That’s Owen for you,” Tosh shrugged returning to her work as Jack appeared from the stairwell supporting Natalie.
“Hello Natalie,” Gwen said smiling brightly as Jack brought her to a halt in front of her.
“This is Gwen Cooper,” Jack smiled at Natalie.
“Hi,” She said quietly looking around the Hub.
“Where’s Owen?” Jack asked looking around for him.
“Autopsy room,” Gwen said motioning toward the plastic doors.
“What’s he going to do?” Natalie asked Gwen as she led her into the hospital looking room.
“Some simple tests,” She smiled reassuringly “Nothing to be worried about.”
“Can’t I go to the hospital?” Natalie asked quickly as she walked down the stairs and to the
bed where Owen was waiting for her.
“They wouldn’t know what to do,” Owen said smirking at her.
“And you do?” She snapped at him, causing Jack and Gwen to snigger.
“Maybe,” He said slowly glaring at her as he prepared the needle “I need to draw some of your
blood.”
He didn’t wait for her to answer him as he stuck the needle in the crook of her arm not even bothering to look for a vein. She winced at the sudden pain. He quickly removed the needle from her arm as the syringe was full of her blood. Natalie sent daggers at Owen as she rubbed the now sore spot on her arm. She watched him intently as he fiddled with her blood putting it into various machines and equipment. She couldn’t begin to fathom why all of those machines were necessary for this simple blood test.
“What are you doing?” She asked him quietly.
“I’m testing your blood,” He said staring at the computer screen before turning to look at
her “For anything alien.”
“Foreign things?” She inquired.
“You can think about it that way yeah,” Owen laughed smiling before returning to the computer.
“Are we done?” She asked anxiously fidgeting in on the bed look around the room. It was then
she noticed that both Gwen and Jack had left the room.
“Not yet,” He said slowly moving himself from the computer by rolling his chair to the other
side of the room. “One last thing I have to do.” He said reaching into a bin pulling out something that looked like an old TV antenna.
“What’s that?” She asked quickly ready to run away from what ever he was about to do to her.
“It’s okay,” He said quietly standing up holding his hands up “It’s not going to hurt you. It’s just going to scan you, a simple scan that’ll take a second. It’s one swoop across your body that’s it.”
“It’s not going to hurt?” She asked slowly.
“I promise,” He smiled “Now I just need you to lay down and stay still for one second.” He
quickly turned on the antenna and a low buzzing sound emitted from it.
Natalie laid back slowly not taking her eyes off of Owen. Flipping a switch on a board beside the computer he hovered the instrument over her head and quickly down to her feet. The readings flashed across the computer screen as he turned off the machine. He looked at the computer screen.
“This isn’t possible,” Owen said shaking his head.
“Anything?” Natalie turned her head quickly and saw Jack standing on the stairs looking down
at them. She wasn’t even aware he entered the room again.
“Nothing,” Owen said taking off his doctor’s coat and throwing it onto the table shaking his
head. “I can’t see anything foreign in her at all. Are we sure this just wasn’t a mugging?”
“Muggers wouldn’t drop her on the front step of Torchwood,” Jack said crossing his arms
staring down at them. “We’ll sort it out.”
“You mean you can’t figure out if anything is wrong with me?” Natalie asked sitting up looking between Jack and Owen “If nothing is wrong with me, let me go home!”
“I can’t let you go,” Jack said simply as he walked down the stairs. “It’s more complicated than you can imagine.”
“I can imagine a lot,” Natalie said jumping off the table, she winced slightly grabbing at her stomach as Jack rushed to her side.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“Just too quick a movement,” She said shaking it off “I’m not used to have blood being
drawn.”
“Well maybe some food will help you with that,” Jack said wrapping his arm around her
waist “I think Ianto is back with the food.”
“Finally,” Owen said running up the stairs leaving Jack and Natalie alone.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked helping her up the stairs “You look pretty faint.”
“Wouldn’t you if you had the same thing happen to me?” She asked smiling weakly at him.
“Suppose you’re right,” He grinned holding open the plastic for her.
Jack didn’t want to let go of her, her could feel her weakness on her and knew if she
was left to stand on her own she would possibly collapse. He slowly looked down at her wondering how she had fallen upon them. There was something about her that he could not quite place his finger on. It had been bugging him since Ianto called him up to reception saying sarcastically that a package had been dropped off. He pulled her into a hug, which she reciprocated by leaning her head against him.
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Ianto walked into the main area of the Hub his arms full of chips and burgers; he figured everyone would like a change from pastries and Chinese food. With a quick scan he surveyed his colleagues but his eyes went directly to Jack and the young girl who was left on their door. He tried not to let his jealousy show as he saw that Jack was holding the girl close, hugging her to his chest. His eyes went directly to her waist where Jack’s hand was currently sitting.
“Ianto,” Owen snapped “Are you going to give us the food or we going to have to fight you for it?”
“What?” He said quickly taking his eyes away from Jack’s hand and looked over to his friends who were all staring at him.
“The food Ianto,” Gwen said smiling as she got up and took the bags from him. “You okay? You
look a little sick.”
“I’m fine,” He smiled brightly as he walked toward the couch and stood by it.
Gwen put the bag of food on Owens desk as she began to hand out the food. Ianto
couldn’t take his eyes off of Jack and the girl. Folding his arms he couldn’t help but glare, there was a closeness to them that bothered him, a connection. And obviously he was the only one that could see that.
“You want to sit down?” Jack asked Natalie as she nodded to him. She leaned on him as he led her to the couch sitting her down he smiled at Ianto. “I don’t think you two have been introduced; Ianto this is Natalie, Natalie this is Ianto Jones. He’s the one who found you.”
“Suppose thanks are in order,” Natalie smiled kindly at him. He stiffened and could only nod at her. She looked at him for a moment as he avoided her gaze
“Hungry?” Gwen asked Natalie which caused her attention to be dropped from Ianto.
“Starving, thanks,” She smiled taking the food from her. Unwrapping the burger she hungrily bit into it not bother to ask if there was anything to put on it. She avoided the gaze of the staff as they chatted happily enjoying their food.
Her eyes snuck a glance as Jack and Ianto. Ianto has taken a seat on the couch after he had carefully placed a napkin in the collar of his shirt. He was sitting as far away from her as possible and that bothered her a little. Jack was sitting on the edge of the couch arm, as close to Ianto as he could be. Jack smiled to her as she quickly turned her gaze back to the pile of chips in her lap. Jacks hand rested of the back of Iantos neck, he loosened up for the first time since Natalie had seen him. Her heart fell as she picked at her chips trying not to look at the couple sitting next to her.
She was an outsider in a close nit group and she could tell. Not one bothered to even glance at her as they chatted happily and ate. Occasionally she could feel eyes on her; she never wanted to see who it was. Natalie was surprised how when everyone was finished they just left their food piled up on the tables chatting merrily still.
“Natalie,” Gwen said kindly as she took a seat next to her. For the first time in half an hour she looked up from her lap. She noticed that Ianto and Jack had gone while Tosh and Owen had gone back to work. “I picked up some clothing for you, I’ll show you to the shower and you can change.”
“Thanks, I could really use one,” She smiled pushing herself off of the couch happy for once that her stomach didn’t bother her as she moved.
Gwen handed her a bag of clothing and motioned for Natalie to follow her. She led her to the stairwell but instead of going straight down they took a right at another staircase and went down that one which led directly to the bath. It looked like a locker room, with multiple shower stalls. Natalie assumed they would use this if they didn’t have the chance to get home.
“Well here ya go,” Gwen smiled leading her in “Fresh toiletries in the cabinet, help yourself. You’ll find the towels in there as well.” She said turning to leave.
“Thanks,” Natalie slowly walked into the room placing the bag on the wall bench. “Gwen.”
“Yeah,” She asked quickly turning around in the doorway.
Natalie bit her lip. Her mind raced with questions about Torchwood, about Jack, about Ianto, Jack and Ianto, if they were going to be able to help her, how long she would be stuck in a cell, if they would ever let her go. She swallowed and smiled.
“Will you guys ever figure out what’s wrong with me?” She asked quickly.
“We’ll try,” Gwen smiled “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re not staying?” Natalie asked her heart racing. She didn’t want be to be left alone in
a place she wasn’t familiar with, surrounded by aliens for the rest of the night.
“Na, but Jack stays here,” She smiled reassuringly “You won’t be alone.”
“Thanks Gwen,” Natalie said again as Gwen smiled before shutting the door.
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Natalie stood under the shower head for what felt like hours. She felt so dirty for not knowing what happened to her, and almost scrubbed herself raw with the facecloth. Shutting off the water she realized that she was crying. Wrapping a towel around herself she collapsed to her knees and continued to sob. She wasn’t sure how her life seemed to turn around in a matter of a day. All she wanted to do was get home from work, but now she wasn’t even sure if she would see her home again. As the silent tears continued down her face she dressed in the clothing that Gwen had bought her, a blue skirt that went down to her knees, a white top and a mini jacket. She looked at herself in the mirror and tried to make it look like she wasn’t crying as a knock sounded on the door.
“Natalie,” She heard Jack’s voice through the door.
“I’m good,” Natalie said trying to wipe the fresh tears from her face.
“You don’t have to lie to me,” Jack said opening the door and smiling at her. “I heard you
crying.”
“How long were you out there,” She asked blushing as he walked closer to her.
“About five minutes,” He said coming to a stop in front of her. He looked down at her and smiled as he wiped the tears away “Its okay. It must be scary.”
“I just want to get home,” She said avoiding his gaze.
“We’ll try to get you home as soon as possible,” He said pulling her into a hug. “I don’t
want to have to lock you down in the vaults. So you’re welcome to sleep on the couch if you
want, or in my room.”
“With you?” She exclaimed backing away.
“Only if you want,” Jack said laughing “I’m not that big of a sleeper and the couch isn’t
that comfortable so the options open.”
“What time is it?” Natalie asked slowly.
“Half past ten,” Jack said looking at his watch “Everyone’s gone home. Except for Ianto, I think he’s making his second round with cleaning.” He added with a laugh. “I’ll leave you be so, when ever you’re ready just come back up.”
“Thanks Jack,” She smiled as he left the room.
Natalie only stayed in there a few minutes to compose herself and to stop the tears
from flowing. Looking in the mirror she was satisfied with how she looked, using her hair tie
she put her hair up in a high ponytail before leaving the room and heading back up into the Hub. Her heart was in her throat as she slowly climbed the stairs.
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Ianto surveyed the conference room one last time and was satisfied that it looked neat. Grabbing the bin liner on the way out, he headed out of the corridor. Today had been the first day in a long time that he wanted to hurry home as fast as possible. Obligations to Jack made him stay. He walked around the desks looking for anything he might’ve missed, sighing he picked up some crumpled up papers from Toshiko’s desk.
“Hello Ianto,” His stomach dropped as he tried not to show his tension.
“Natalie,” Ianto said not bothering to look at her. “What are you doing here?”
“Jack told me I could sleep on the couch,” He could hear the smile in her voice “Or sleep in
his bed which ever I wanted.” She added it as an after thought, almost as if she was testing
him.
“His bed, what do you mean his bed?” Ianto asked quickly turning around looking at her for
the first time and his breath caught in his throat.
“Ianto are you okay?” She asked rushing to him as he tried to regulate his breathing.
“You look different,” He said slowly, he realized a moment to late it was a stupid thing to
say.
“I sure hope so,” Natalie grinned straightening her jacket. “I don’t look like I got mugged
anymore.” She said kindly as Ianto tried to revert back to his cold demeanor he was trying to
keep on. “You want help?”
“Sure,” He was going to try to be nice to her as he handed her the bin liner “Just tie that
up and we can take the other bags outside.”
“How messy do you guys keep this place?” She asked following him quietly.
“Very,” He smirked picking up the two full liners before heading up toward reception.
Natalie followed him quietly, she was curious as to where he was leading her. As the
elevator opened she followed him down the hall straight to the end. He opened up the door and threw the trash into the dumpster. Taking her bag he did the same. Silently he walked back down the hall, half way through another door opened and she followed him through it.
“Where are we?” She asked looking around the dingy touristy looking place.
“Reception,” Ianto smiled walking behind the counter, through the beaded door.
Natalie watched the beads swing back and forth wondering if she should follow him or
not. Slowly she walked around the tiny room trying not to laugh looking at all of the decoys that were placed about the room. Picking up a postcard of the Wales Millennium Centre, she smiled fondly at the picture. Hearing a cough from the office she quickly put the picture back. Looking up she saw Ianto standing in the doorway.
“What are you doing?” Ianto asked smiling.
“Do you hate me Ianto?” Natalie asked quickly ignoring his question “Because you seem to hate
me. You’ve been cold to me since I met you. How can you hate someone you don’t know?”
“Natalie Ackart, daughter to Magdalene and Tanner. Born on May 12, 1985 in London and moved to Cardiff when you were four. You are attending The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, while working part time in a clothing shop down the street from your house. You had a fiancée named Riley but he died a year ago in an automobile accident when going to Glasgow for the weekend.” Ianto finished smirking.
“That’s a little stalkerish,” Natalie said slowly.
“It’s my job,” He said shrugging.
“To find out as much about me as possible?” She inquired.
“More or less,” Ianto said retreating back into the small room.
“What’s up with you?” Natalie said following him this time past the beads and into his small
office.
“Are you always this straight forward with people you only met three hours ago?” He smirked
leaning against the wall.
“Not usually,” She said looking around the room. It consisted of a small desk, which was in
neat order. A lap top sat on top of the table. A high backed leather chair was placed under
the table. There were random posters and pictures on the walls, from various years. She looked over toward him and noticed a door to the right of him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”
“It was a trying day,” Ianto said quietly. “I can image the kind of stress you are going
through.”
“You never answered my question,” She said sitting on top of the desk.
“Do I hate you?” Ianto smiled as she watched him closely.
“Ya,” Natalie said crossing her legs. “Do you?”
“Like you said it’s hard to hate someone you don’t know,” He shrugged.
“Yet it seems like you do,” She said sternly folding her arms across her chest and looking away from him.
“Actually,” Ianto said pushing himself off of the wall and slowly walked up to her “I don’t hate you, far from it in fact.”
“Are you always this straight forward with people you just met?” Natalie said slowly mirroring his earlier question, as he stood in front of her. He placed his hands on the desk
and leaned toward her.
“No,” He said wrinkling his brow “I’m not, which makes this even more complicated.”
“What about you and Jack?” She breathed out slowly as he was an inch from her face. “I though you and him.”
“Nothing exclusive,” Ianto said quickly his lips inches from hers.
“Ianto,” She started but he cut her off as he brushed his lips lightly across hers. Threading
her fingers through his soft hair she pulled him in for a deeper kiss. Slowly he backed his
head away but she kept her fingers laced in his hair “We can’t.”
“I want too,” Ianto breathed quietly as he cupped her face in his hands “I don’t know what’s
come over me.”
“I don’t either,” She said brushing her lips against his slowly “I just feel something.”
“A pull,” Ianto said smiling against her lips. “Something natural.”
“I haven’t felt this since--” Natalie said slowly leaning back. “Ianto what are we doing?”
“Well I was trying to confess something,” He sighed backing away from her as his hands dropped to his side. “I’m not sure what you were doing.”
“I’m sorry,” Natalie said hopping off the desk and slowly walked to the other side of the room. “It’s just, it’s hard.”
“I understand,” Ianto said quietly after a few minutes. He slowly walked toward her wanting to wrap his arms around her but stopped. Instead he rested an awkward hand on her shoulder “I
lost someone too.”
“And are you past them?” She asked turning around her cheeks lined with tears.
“I’ll always love her,” Ianto said cupping her face in his hands again, wiping the tears away with his thumbs “But I still have to live my life.”
“I’m scared,” She whispered.
“Me too,” He said kissing her again.
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Preview For Part II
His mind went back to that morning; he was ready to head down into the Hub to see if anyone would like coffee and donuts for breakfast. He heard a thump on the door. At first he thought it was just some punk but something nagged at him and slowly he went to the door. Opening it Natalie fell at his feet. She was helpless and unconscious. His heart beat with worry, kneeling down he cradled her head in his arms trying to wake her.
Part II
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/Character(s): Ianto Jones/Jack Harkness & Ianto/OFC
Summary: A girl mysteriously shows up on Torchwoods front step.
Warnings: Spoilers Throughout Season Two (Up To Adrift)
Length: Long
Word Count: 4,406
Chapter #: (I/III)
WIP or Complete: Work In Progress
Author's Note: This story will be a total of Three Parts, mostly because right now the word count is currently 11,000 and climbing. Story takes place somewhere in Series 2, probably between Adrift & Fragments, so spoilers up to Adrift.
By
daydreamgraphix"She's waking up," Toshiko said looking up at the CCTV of the vaults below "The sedative seems to be wearing off of her now." She added as the girl started to toss and turn on the tiny bed.
"Gwen" Jack said walking out of his office, hands in his pockets as he surveyed the team before him "Go get her some new clothing. She can change into them after Owen is done looking over her." With a nod she grabbed her purse and was out of the room. "Ianto!" Jack said loudly as the young man walked into view from up top.
"Yes sir," Ianto said nodding.
"Can you get her some food for me?" Jack asked smiling up at the younger man.
"Of course," Ianto said quickly looking at the image of the girl before retreating from view.
"Owen," Jack said quietly to him as he lounged at his station. "Prepare for anything. Let's get her side of the story before we have to see what we have to do. We're not even sure what happened here."
"Do you want me to come down there with you?" Owen asked biting the top of his pen smirking at his boss.
"I think I can handle her," Jack said smirking back.
Leaving his office he traveled down the winding stairs into vault one. They had to move one of the Weevils out of the cell in order to put her there. Ianto had argued with the team for almost an hour about not putting her in one of the lower vaults. He didn't want her to be buried and lost within the labyrinth of the cells if it looked like she would be staying with them until they figured out what was wrong. Opening the vault door Jack slowly walked to the end of the hall. Leaning against the wall, he stared into her cell waiting for her to wake.
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The sounds to her ears didn't sound like her home, they didn't sound like Cardiff and they didn't sound human. Groaning she turned her head to the side, a shock of pain ran through her body as she was jerked awake. Her eyes flashed around her surroundings. She was underground; she could smell the salt and the musk of being under the bay. She sat up suddenly feeling eyes on her. A man stood staring in at her watching her intently. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered being pulled into an alleyway, she started to scream.
"What's your name?" Jack said calmly.
"Are you one of them? Did you attack me? Where am I? What are you going to do to me?" She
asked past hysterics crawling back on the bed to get as far way from Jack as possible.
"What's your name?" He asked again sternly, almost reassuringly.
"Nat--" She hesitated for a moment "Natalie."
"Are you all right?" He asked slowly as he watched her still back toward the wall. "I'm not
going to hurt you."
"Aren't you the one who dragged me into the alleyway?" Natalie asked bringing her knees up to
her chin staring at Jack.
"No," He said shaking his head "I'm not the one who hurt you. The one who did left you here."
"Where is here?" She asked quickly
"Are you hurt?" Jack asked again.
"My head is killing me," She said absent mindedly rubbing the side of her head "Maybe some
cuts, and my stomach feels odd. Where am I?"
"We're going to have to give you an exam, to make sure nothing is wrong with you." He said
slowly.
"Please," Natalie said slowly uncurling herself. As she stepped forward Jack noticed her
clothing was in tatters, mostly around her stomach area and her jeans were ripped. Her face
was smudged and covered in grime. Faint bruises were appearing on her wrists and around her stomach. "Where am I?"
"Torchwood," Jack said simply.
"What happened?" She asked slowly standing in front of Jack now.
"I was just about to ask you that," He said slowly pushing himself off of the wall so he was
closer to her. "What do you remember?"
"Nothing really," She said breathlessly after a moment "I can't remember anything. I was
walking home from the shop, around the corner from my flat. I wasn't paying attention, my
mobile rang and I went to reach for it when I felt a tug on my arm. I was facing the streets
as something was put over my eyes. Then I felt a pinch, then that was it."
"That's all you can remember?" Jack pressed "Nothing else? Not if you felt like you were moved else where? Being dropped off here? Anything?"
"No," She said tears brimming in her eyes "Nothing, I can't remember anything."
"We're going to figure out what happened," Jack said quietly "Try to figure out why you were
dumped here and not the police."
"Can I go home?" Natalie asked slowly tears leaking down her cheeks.
"No," Jack said simply "You can't."
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"Think she's telling the truth?" Tosh asked quietly as they stared at the screen watching Jack talking to young Natalie.
"I don't know why she would be," Gwen said quickly "I doubt someone would make up being attacked."
"Why us?" Tosh asked "Why put her outside our door?"
"It's something we've got to figure out," Gwen said sighing as Jack opened up the cell door letting her stagger out into his arms as he helped her along the hall.
"Is Jack coming with her?" Owen asked coming out of the autopsy room as he pushed the plastic out of his way.
“He’s bringing her now,” Tosh said nodding to the stairwell “She’s incredibly weak. They must’ve really done her in.”
“Well hopefully what ever they did to her is traceable, I was enjoying a slow day,” Owen grumbled returning into the autopsy room.
“Owen!” Tosh said shaking her head.
“He can be so cruel,” Gwen signed folding her arms across her chest “Can’t he just hope what ever it is we can help her?”
“That’s Owen for you,” Tosh shrugged returning to her work as Jack appeared from the stairwell supporting Natalie.
“Hello Natalie,” Gwen said smiling brightly as Jack brought her to a halt in front of her.
“This is Gwen Cooper,” Jack smiled at Natalie.
“Hi,” She said quietly looking around the Hub.
“Where’s Owen?” Jack asked looking around for him.
“Autopsy room,” Gwen said motioning toward the plastic doors.
“What’s he going to do?” Natalie asked Gwen as she led her into the hospital looking room.
“Some simple tests,” She smiled reassuringly “Nothing to be worried about.”
“Can’t I go to the hospital?” Natalie asked quickly as she walked down the stairs and to the
bed where Owen was waiting for her.
“They wouldn’t know what to do,” Owen said smirking at her.
“And you do?” She snapped at him, causing Jack and Gwen to snigger.
“Maybe,” He said slowly glaring at her as he prepared the needle “I need to draw some of your
blood.”
He didn’t wait for her to answer him as he stuck the needle in the crook of her arm not even bothering to look for a vein. She winced at the sudden pain. He quickly removed the needle from her arm as the syringe was full of her blood. Natalie sent daggers at Owen as she rubbed the now sore spot on her arm. She watched him intently as he fiddled with her blood putting it into various machines and equipment. She couldn’t begin to fathom why all of those machines were necessary for this simple blood test.
“What are you doing?” She asked him quietly.
“I’m testing your blood,” He said staring at the computer screen before turning to look at
her “For anything alien.”
“Foreign things?” She inquired.
“You can think about it that way yeah,” Owen laughed smiling before returning to the computer.
“Are we done?” She asked anxiously fidgeting in on the bed look around the room. It was then
she noticed that both Gwen and Jack had left the room.
“Not yet,” He said slowly moving himself from the computer by rolling his chair to the other
side of the room. “One last thing I have to do.” He said reaching into a bin pulling out something that looked like an old TV antenna.
“What’s that?” She asked quickly ready to run away from what ever he was about to do to her.
“It’s okay,” He said quietly standing up holding his hands up “It’s not going to hurt you. It’s just going to scan you, a simple scan that’ll take a second. It’s one swoop across your body that’s it.”
“It’s not going to hurt?” She asked slowly.
“I promise,” He smiled “Now I just need you to lay down and stay still for one second.” He
quickly turned on the antenna and a low buzzing sound emitted from it.
Natalie laid back slowly not taking her eyes off of Owen. Flipping a switch on a board beside the computer he hovered the instrument over her head and quickly down to her feet. The readings flashed across the computer screen as he turned off the machine. He looked at the computer screen.
“This isn’t possible,” Owen said shaking his head.
“Anything?” Natalie turned her head quickly and saw Jack standing on the stairs looking down
at them. She wasn’t even aware he entered the room again.
“Nothing,” Owen said taking off his doctor’s coat and throwing it onto the table shaking his
head. “I can’t see anything foreign in her at all. Are we sure this just wasn’t a mugging?”
“Muggers wouldn’t drop her on the front step of Torchwood,” Jack said crossing his arms
staring down at them. “We’ll sort it out.”
“You mean you can’t figure out if anything is wrong with me?” Natalie asked sitting up looking between Jack and Owen “If nothing is wrong with me, let me go home!”
“I can’t let you go,” Jack said simply as he walked down the stairs. “It’s more complicated than you can imagine.”
“I can imagine a lot,” Natalie said jumping off the table, she winced slightly grabbing at her stomach as Jack rushed to her side.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
“Just too quick a movement,” She said shaking it off “I’m not used to have blood being
drawn.”
“Well maybe some food will help you with that,” Jack said wrapping his arm around her
waist “I think Ianto is back with the food.”
“Finally,” Owen said running up the stairs leaving Jack and Natalie alone.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked helping her up the stairs “You look pretty faint.”
“Wouldn’t you if you had the same thing happen to me?” She asked smiling weakly at him.
“Suppose you’re right,” He grinned holding open the plastic for her.
Jack didn’t want to let go of her, her could feel her weakness on her and knew if she
was left to stand on her own she would possibly collapse. He slowly looked down at her wondering how she had fallen upon them. There was something about her that he could not quite place his finger on. It had been bugging him since Ianto called him up to reception saying sarcastically that a package had been dropped off. He pulled her into a hug, which she reciprocated by leaning her head against him.
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Ianto walked into the main area of the Hub his arms full of chips and burgers; he figured everyone would like a change from pastries and Chinese food. With a quick scan he surveyed his colleagues but his eyes went directly to Jack and the young girl who was left on their door. He tried not to let his jealousy show as he saw that Jack was holding the girl close, hugging her to his chest. His eyes went directly to her waist where Jack’s hand was currently sitting.
“Ianto,” Owen snapped “Are you going to give us the food or we going to have to fight you for it?”
“What?” He said quickly taking his eyes away from Jack’s hand and looked over to his friends who were all staring at him.
“The food Ianto,” Gwen said smiling as she got up and took the bags from him. “You okay? You
look a little sick.”
“I’m fine,” He smiled brightly as he walked toward the couch and stood by it.
Gwen put the bag of food on Owens desk as she began to hand out the food. Ianto
couldn’t take his eyes off of Jack and the girl. Folding his arms he couldn’t help but glare, there was a closeness to them that bothered him, a connection. And obviously he was the only one that could see that.
“You want to sit down?” Jack asked Natalie as she nodded to him. She leaned on him as he led her to the couch sitting her down he smiled at Ianto. “I don’t think you two have been introduced; Ianto this is Natalie, Natalie this is Ianto Jones. He’s the one who found you.”
“Suppose thanks are in order,” Natalie smiled kindly at him. He stiffened and could only nod at her. She looked at him for a moment as he avoided her gaze
“Hungry?” Gwen asked Natalie which caused her attention to be dropped from Ianto.
“Starving, thanks,” She smiled taking the food from her. Unwrapping the burger she hungrily bit into it not bother to ask if there was anything to put on it. She avoided the gaze of the staff as they chatted happily enjoying their food.
Her eyes snuck a glance as Jack and Ianto. Ianto has taken a seat on the couch after he had carefully placed a napkin in the collar of his shirt. He was sitting as far away from her as possible and that bothered her a little. Jack was sitting on the edge of the couch arm, as close to Ianto as he could be. Jack smiled to her as she quickly turned her gaze back to the pile of chips in her lap. Jacks hand rested of the back of Iantos neck, he loosened up for the first time since Natalie had seen him. Her heart fell as she picked at her chips trying not to look at the couple sitting next to her.
She was an outsider in a close nit group and she could tell. Not one bothered to even glance at her as they chatted happily and ate. Occasionally she could feel eyes on her; she never wanted to see who it was. Natalie was surprised how when everyone was finished they just left their food piled up on the tables chatting merrily still.
“Natalie,” Gwen said kindly as she took a seat next to her. For the first time in half an hour she looked up from her lap. She noticed that Ianto and Jack had gone while Tosh and Owen had gone back to work. “I picked up some clothing for you, I’ll show you to the shower and you can change.”
“Thanks, I could really use one,” She smiled pushing herself off of the couch happy for once that her stomach didn’t bother her as she moved.
Gwen handed her a bag of clothing and motioned for Natalie to follow her. She led her to the stairwell but instead of going straight down they took a right at another staircase and went down that one which led directly to the bath. It looked like a locker room, with multiple shower stalls. Natalie assumed they would use this if they didn’t have the chance to get home.
“Well here ya go,” Gwen smiled leading her in “Fresh toiletries in the cabinet, help yourself. You’ll find the towels in there as well.” She said turning to leave.
“Thanks,” Natalie slowly walked into the room placing the bag on the wall bench. “Gwen.”
“Yeah,” She asked quickly turning around in the doorway.
Natalie bit her lip. Her mind raced with questions about Torchwood, about Jack, about Ianto, Jack and Ianto, if they were going to be able to help her, how long she would be stuck in a cell, if they would ever let her go. She swallowed and smiled.
“Will you guys ever figure out what’s wrong with me?” She asked quickly.
“We’ll try,” Gwen smiled “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re not staying?” Natalie asked her heart racing. She didn’t want be to be left alone in
a place she wasn’t familiar with, surrounded by aliens for the rest of the night.
“Na, but Jack stays here,” She smiled reassuringly “You won’t be alone.”
“Thanks Gwen,” Natalie said again as Gwen smiled before shutting the door.
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Natalie stood under the shower head for what felt like hours. She felt so dirty for not knowing what happened to her, and almost scrubbed herself raw with the facecloth. Shutting off the water she realized that she was crying. Wrapping a towel around herself she collapsed to her knees and continued to sob. She wasn’t sure how her life seemed to turn around in a matter of a day. All she wanted to do was get home from work, but now she wasn’t even sure if she would see her home again. As the silent tears continued down her face she dressed in the clothing that Gwen had bought her, a blue skirt that went down to her knees, a white top and a mini jacket. She looked at herself in the mirror and tried to make it look like she wasn’t crying as a knock sounded on the door.
“Natalie,” She heard Jack’s voice through the door.
“I’m good,” Natalie said trying to wipe the fresh tears from her face.
“You don’t have to lie to me,” Jack said opening the door and smiling at her. “I heard you
crying.”
“How long were you out there,” She asked blushing as he walked closer to her.
“About five minutes,” He said coming to a stop in front of her. He looked down at her and smiled as he wiped the tears away “Its okay. It must be scary.”
“I just want to get home,” She said avoiding his gaze.
“We’ll try to get you home as soon as possible,” He said pulling her into a hug. “I don’t
want to have to lock you down in the vaults. So you’re welcome to sleep on the couch if you
want, or in my room.”
“With you?” She exclaimed backing away.
“Only if you want,” Jack said laughing “I’m not that big of a sleeper and the couch isn’t
that comfortable so the options open.”
“What time is it?” Natalie asked slowly.
“Half past ten,” Jack said looking at his watch “Everyone’s gone home. Except for Ianto, I think he’s making his second round with cleaning.” He added with a laugh. “I’ll leave you be so, when ever you’re ready just come back up.”
“Thanks Jack,” She smiled as he left the room.
Natalie only stayed in there a few minutes to compose herself and to stop the tears
from flowing. Looking in the mirror she was satisfied with how she looked, using her hair tie
she put her hair up in a high ponytail before leaving the room and heading back up into the Hub. Her heart was in her throat as she slowly climbed the stairs.
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Ianto surveyed the conference room one last time and was satisfied that it looked neat. Grabbing the bin liner on the way out, he headed out of the corridor. Today had been the first day in a long time that he wanted to hurry home as fast as possible. Obligations to Jack made him stay. He walked around the desks looking for anything he might’ve missed, sighing he picked up some crumpled up papers from Toshiko’s desk.
“Hello Ianto,” His stomach dropped as he tried not to show his tension.
“Natalie,” Ianto said not bothering to look at her. “What are you doing here?”
“Jack told me I could sleep on the couch,” He could hear the smile in her voice “Or sleep in
his bed which ever I wanted.” She added it as an after thought, almost as if she was testing
him.
“His bed, what do you mean his bed?” Ianto asked quickly turning around looking at her for
the first time and his breath caught in his throat.
“Ianto are you okay?” She asked rushing to him as he tried to regulate his breathing.
“You look different,” He said slowly, he realized a moment to late it was a stupid thing to
say.
“I sure hope so,” Natalie grinned straightening her jacket. “I don’t look like I got mugged
anymore.” She said kindly as Ianto tried to revert back to his cold demeanor he was trying to
keep on. “You want help?”
“Sure,” He was going to try to be nice to her as he handed her the bin liner “Just tie that
up and we can take the other bags outside.”
“How messy do you guys keep this place?” She asked following him quietly.
“Very,” He smirked picking up the two full liners before heading up toward reception.
Natalie followed him quietly, she was curious as to where he was leading her. As the
elevator opened she followed him down the hall straight to the end. He opened up the door and threw the trash into the dumpster. Taking her bag he did the same. Silently he walked back down the hall, half way through another door opened and she followed him through it.
“Where are we?” She asked looking around the dingy touristy looking place.
“Reception,” Ianto smiled walking behind the counter, through the beaded door.
Natalie watched the beads swing back and forth wondering if she should follow him or
not. Slowly she walked around the tiny room trying not to laugh looking at all of the decoys that were placed about the room. Picking up a postcard of the Wales Millennium Centre, she smiled fondly at the picture. Hearing a cough from the office she quickly put the picture back. Looking up she saw Ianto standing in the doorway.
“What are you doing?” Ianto asked smiling.
“Do you hate me Ianto?” Natalie asked quickly ignoring his question “Because you seem to hate
me. You’ve been cold to me since I met you. How can you hate someone you don’t know?”
“Natalie Ackart, daughter to Magdalene and Tanner. Born on May 12, 1985 in London and moved to Cardiff when you were four. You are attending The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, while working part time in a clothing shop down the street from your house. You had a fiancée named Riley but he died a year ago in an automobile accident when going to Glasgow for the weekend.” Ianto finished smirking.
“That’s a little stalkerish,” Natalie said slowly.
“It’s my job,” He said shrugging.
“To find out as much about me as possible?” She inquired.
“More or less,” Ianto said retreating back into the small room.
“What’s up with you?” Natalie said following him this time past the beads and into his small
office.
“Are you always this straight forward with people you only met three hours ago?” He smirked
leaning against the wall.
“Not usually,” She said looking around the room. It consisted of a small desk, which was in
neat order. A lap top sat on top of the table. A high backed leather chair was placed under
the table. There were random posters and pictures on the walls, from various years. She looked over toward him and noticed a door to the right of him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”
“It was a trying day,” Ianto said quietly. “I can image the kind of stress you are going
through.”
“You never answered my question,” She said sitting on top of the desk.
“Do I hate you?” Ianto smiled as she watched him closely.
“Ya,” Natalie said crossing her legs. “Do you?”
“Like you said it’s hard to hate someone you don’t know,” He shrugged.
“Yet it seems like you do,” She said sternly folding her arms across her chest and looking away from him.
“Actually,” Ianto said pushing himself off of the wall and slowly walked up to her “I don’t hate you, far from it in fact.”
“Are you always this straight forward with people you just met?” Natalie said slowly mirroring his earlier question, as he stood in front of her. He placed his hands on the desk
and leaned toward her.
“No,” He said wrinkling his brow “I’m not, which makes this even more complicated.”
“What about you and Jack?” She breathed out slowly as he was an inch from her face. “I though you and him.”
“Nothing exclusive,” Ianto said quickly his lips inches from hers.
“Ianto,” She started but he cut her off as he brushed his lips lightly across hers. Threading
her fingers through his soft hair she pulled him in for a deeper kiss. Slowly he backed his
head away but she kept her fingers laced in his hair “We can’t.”
“I want too,” Ianto breathed quietly as he cupped her face in his hands “I don’t know what’s
come over me.”
“I don’t either,” She said brushing her lips against his slowly “I just feel something.”
“A pull,” Ianto said smiling against her lips. “Something natural.”
“I haven’t felt this since--” Natalie said slowly leaning back. “Ianto what are we doing?”
“Well I was trying to confess something,” He sighed backing away from her as his hands dropped to his side. “I’m not sure what you were doing.”
“I’m sorry,” Natalie said hopping off the desk and slowly walked to the other side of the room. “It’s just, it’s hard.”
“I understand,” Ianto said quietly after a few minutes. He slowly walked toward her wanting to wrap his arms around her but stopped. Instead he rested an awkward hand on her shoulder “I
lost someone too.”
“And are you past them?” She asked turning around her cheeks lined with tears.
“I’ll always love her,” Ianto said cupping her face in his hands again, wiping the tears away with his thumbs “But I still have to live my life.”
“I’m scared,” She whispered.
“Me too,” He said kissing her again.
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His mind went back to that morning; he was ready to head down into the Hub to see if anyone would like coffee and donuts for breakfast. He heard a thump on the door. At first he thought it was just some punk but something nagged at him and slowly he went to the door. Opening it Natalie fell at his feet. She was helpless and unconscious. His heart beat with worry, kneeling down he cradled her head in his arms trying to wake her.
Part II