I saw a shimmering light- part nine
Title: I saw a shimmering light (Part 9 of ? )
Rating: PG-13 Gen fic
Fandom/Characters: Torchwood/ Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper, Gwen Cooper
Outline: The team make their bid for freedom.
Notes: Inspired by the Hotel California rpg plentyofroom (it triggered the plot bunnies off and this is the result, so it's all their fault).
Set during series 2 but before Reset.
In the Hotel California rpg room 105 belongs to Jack Harkness.
Thanks to capj_harkness for background information.
Disclaimer: I have no ownership of these or any other characters connected with Torchwood or any other copyrighted work mentioned or alluded to.
The team made their way cautiously down the staircase and into the Lobby, no one surprised to find it deserted and silent.
Ianto led the way towards the door, ignoring the urge to look around him for one last time (at least he hoped that was what it was going to be), he still wasn't convinced that when it came to it, whoever had trapped them would be willing to release them quite so easily!
Toshiko stared at the newly built piece of tech that she held in her hand, it wasn't powerful enough to tell her anything about what was going on beyond the doorway, but at least she'd managed to turn down the alarm that Owen's tracker triggered. Instead of an ear-splitting scream, it now made a soft strangulated tweeting noise. She smirked, it sounded (to her, anyway) just like a rather exaggerated kiss.
Jack walked crab-like across the Lobby, Webley in hand, occasionally checking that Owen hadn't been spirited away. He was still in two minds about leaving so quickly, perhaps they should have investigated more of the bedrooms, he was curious about what kind of person went on holiday with an axe and a wooden stake in their luggage! He was also wondering about what he guessed were public rooms, leading off the hallway beyond the lifts. Maybe he'd get the chance to investigate some other time, right now all he wanted to do was get all of his team safely home.
Detouring towards the reception desk, he took his mobile phone from his pocket, then surreptitiously slipped it towards the back of one of the pigeon holes. It wasn't very likely that it would provide any information at all, but it was worth a try.
Owen didn't take much notice when Jack change direction, all he wanted to do was get the hell out of this damned place, any curiosity he may once have had about it, had died a very rapid death, from the moment that whatever it was, had moved through his body (and yes he was convinced that was exactly what had happened).
Ianto had never been so relieved to see the SUV, it stood exactly were he had left it, waiting for them. The keys were already in his hand and the familiar beep from the alarm sounded before he had reached the last of the dilapidated steps.
Jack was still crossing the Lobby when he heard the beep, he smiled and lengthened his stride to catch up with the others.
Claiming the keys from Ianto, Jack settled himself in the driving seat, leaving him to take the front passenger seat beside him. Owen reluctantly got into the back with Toshiko.
"What the hell is that noise?" He finally demanded.
Toshiko did her best not to look evasive. "It's your tracker," she said, glancing out of the window.
"No, it's that bloody box of tricks you've got there. Can't you stop it from doing that?" He grumbled, as it twittered incessantly.
"Sorry," she replied, not sounding in the least bit sorry at all!
Owen looked sulkily out of the window and said nothing.
"Look on the bright side," Jack said cheerfully from the drivers seat, "It sounds like something loves you."
Ianto glanced at Jack an amused look on his face, Toshiko pressed her lips together, fighting off the urge to giggle. Owen just glared across at him, mumbled, "Yeah, very funny," then looked pointedly out of the window again.
The SUV sped towards the place they had first entered the trap, occasionally bouncing alarmingly when it hit an uneven piece of ground.
"Okay, people. We're nearly back where we started, you all know what happened last time. Toshiko... keep hold of Owen," Jack announced, then smirked and waited for his response.
Owen took a breath then said nothing, instead he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Jack, at the same time folding his arms tightly across his chest (or as tightly as his seatbelt would let him).
Toshiko grinned cheerfully at him, then leaned across and patted his arm. "Don't look so worried, Owen. I don't bite."
"Chance would be a fine thing!" He mumbled cryptically, then shifted closer to the door. what the hell was Jack playing at? Telling Tosh to take care of him, well actually not take care of just keep hold of... why? Opening his mouth to demand to know exactly what was going on that he didn't know about, the SUV suddenly stopped and as usual with Jack's driving, the inertia seatbelts didn't quite manage to kick in quickly enough. Distracted by having to avoid bashing his head on the back of the passenger seat, Jack was outside before Owen had a chance to say anything more.
* * *
Gwen finally got back into her car and wound down the window, listening for the sound of anything approaching. Daylight was slowly beginning to fade and because of where they were, it wouldn't be long before the only lighting would come from the headlights of passing cars on the carriageway the street lighting was designed to only illuminate the roadway, so once night fell, she would be (literally) in the dark about what was going on.
Meanwhile on the other side of the forcefield, the rest of the Torchwood team were standing in bright sunlight.
"This has to be where we were before," Ianto said, looking around at the marks in the sand, obviously made by the SUV.
"What kind of readings are you getting?" Jack asked urgently, glancing towards Toshiko.
"Near as I can tell," she paused, tapping at the makeshift control buttons. "There seems to be a gap, when I say a gap, it could just be a weak point in the field, trouble is, I can't tell how weak it is, I doubt we could just walk through it, but it might be possible to drive through."
"So how come we can't see anything?" Owen grumbled, staring at the black expanse of nothing directly in front of them. "The other cars should be there, not to mention Gwen, unless she's gone home for her tea."
Fed up of Owen's incessant grumbling, Toshiko finally said. "Look, Owen, you know as well as I do that...." Whatever it was that either of them did or didn't know, she never got the chance to mention, because without any warning they were standing in total darkness. Panicking in case this was how Owen was going to be spirited away from them, she lurched towards him, then took a firm grip of the first thing that came to hand.
"Oy! Tosh, do you mind?" Then suddenly uncertain, added, "Erm, that is you, is it?"
"Sadly, Owen, I'm all the way over here," Jack's voice said, from some distance to the left of him.
"And I'm over here too," added Ianto, amused at Owen's sudden wary response.
"Yeah, well, you would be, wouldn't you?" he responded, then peered in the vague direction of a soft trilling sound. "That is that bloody machine of yours and not you, is it?"
"Yes, it is," she replied, wearily. "Why? Would you rather it was me?"
Owen said nothing.
"I can see lights," Ianto announced suddenly.
"Oh, yippee!" Owen's voice grumbled out of the darkness.
"He's right, there are!" Jack said, turning around and groping his way back to the SUV, he turned on its headlights. Ianto's car was now clearly visible.
Toshiko was standing slightly behind Owen, gripping tightly to the bottom of his jacket.
"I think you can let go now, thanks all the same," he said, glancing over his shoulder at her.
"Right, sorry," she replied apologetically, then reluctantly let go.
Convinced she had heard the familiar sound of the SUV engine, Gwen got out of the car and peered around, it was now too dark to see anything properly, then suddenly part of Ianto's car was illuminated, she tried to see where the light originated from, but couldn't.
"Jack? Jack, that you?" She yelled, moving forward and then stopping, not wanting to go any nearer.
Jack shushed the others. "Thought I heard something," he said, holding up his hand for silence.
Gwen called again. "Tosh? You there?"
"Gwen!" Toshiko yelled back, overjoyed to hear her voice.
"Gwen, don't come any closer," Jack warned. "Put your car's headlights on, we need see what's going on here."
Gwen leaned through the open window and hit the switch, then shifted them to full beam. "That any better?" She yelled back.
The area directly in front of Gwen's car was bathed in bright light, the two other cars clearly visible, along with most of the dirt track.
"Okay, everybody get back into the SUV, Tosh whatever you do, don't take your eyes off Owen," Jack moved back as he spoke, swung open the drivers door and got in behind the wheel.
Fed up of of being grabbed by Toshiko, Owen sidestepped her and dodged around the front of the car, then got into the passenger seat beside Jack. "That's better," he said cheerfully, then fastened his seatbelt.
Shrugging, Jack glanced into the back, making sure the other two were on board, then put the SUV into gear and gunned the engine until it screamed. "Hang on everyone," he yelled above the din, then released the brake and hurtled towards where (he hoped) the forcefield would allow them through.
The sound of scraping metal filled the air, sparks flew in all directions and Ianto clenched his teeth, trying not to imagine the damage that was being done to the paintwork. One final bounce and the SUV finally cleared the forcefield tipped alarmingly to one side and then stopped inches away from the bumper of Ianto's car.
Jack sighed and pulled on the handbrake, seconds later Ianto was standing beside his car, peering nervously at the gap between it and the front of the SUV.
"Think someone might need some tranquillisers," Owen mumbled, cheerfully, as he undid his seatbelt and swung open the door.
Ianto just stood in silence, pointing at the gap and staring accusingly through the windscreen at Jack.
"Good job his foot didn't slip," commented Owen, as he walked towards his own car.
As soon as Gwen saw the SUV appear, she hurried forward, then stopped and turned away, eyes closed, expecting it to collide with the car. When nothing happened, she looked up, relieved.
"Everyone alright?" She demanded, as Owen walked towards her.
"Yeah," he replied, as he searched his pockets for his car keys. "Ianto might need a change of underwear though."
Gwen giggled, then glanced towards Ianto, who was still standing in front of the SUV, looking at the gap between its front bumper and the wing of his car then back at Jack.
Jack pushed open the door and stood on the running board. "Okay, if everyone can head back to the Hub?" He said, then swung back inside and slammed the door closed.
"You okay there?" He asked, glancing at Toshiko's reflection in the rear view mirror.
"Yes, thank you," she mumbled back, forcing a smile. "I'll be glad to get away from here."
"You and me both," he replied, then smiled. "All over now."
Toshiko nodded, she just hoped he was right.
Continued here