Ficathon: The Fury of a Storm, 1/? (gen)
This fic is completely finished. I'm pretty sure it's going to work out to five chapters: I'll try and post one a day. This is in answer to the prompt: Sarah Jane and the kids dealing with events from Torchwood: Children of Earth.
A hundred million thanks are due to averita who made this a hundred times better, and katie_9918 for cheering and handholding! You guys are brilliant!
Rating: Gen
Characters/pairings: All SJA characters, all Torchwood characters. Canon pairings.
Warnings: NA
Spoilers: General for Torchwood: Children of Earth
The Fury of a Storm
The first Sarah Jane knew about the 456 was when Luke stumbled into the attic, hands fisted and pressed against his temples. He tripped coming down the steps, pitching towards her, and she sat down hard under his weight.
"Mum," he gasped, voice tight with pain.
"Luke, what is it? What's wrong?"
He shook his head, pressing harder against his temples. She could see his skin whitening from the pressure. "It's so loud." His body was twitching, jerking as he fought against whatever was happening.
"Mr Smith, I need you!" Sarah Jane gasped, trying to hold him steady.
Obviously already aware of what was happening, Mr Smith was scanning Luke before he'd even opened fully. "He is receiving a telepathic transmission of incredible power."
"Can you block it?" Sarah Jane demanded.
"I regret it will take some time."
"Hurry up and get started, then."
"Of course, Sarah Jane."
Luke arched against her, completely rigid, and then collapsed bonelessly. "It stopped," he mumbled, forcing his eyes open.
"Are you all right?" Sarah Jane asked, smoothing his hair back.
He laughed breathlessly. "I'm completely..." He tried to lift one hand and managed about six inches before it fell back to his side. "That was so hard."
"What was it? Could you tell?"
He shook his head again. "I'm not sure. I've never felt anything like that before. It was - they weren't even trying. I mean, they weren't pushing. I don't think they ever noticed I was fighting back."
"So it wasn't aimed at you."
"I think it was aimed at everyone."
Rani burst in, eyes wide. "There's a report on the -" She stopped dead, staring at them until Sarah Jane caught her eye. "What's wrong?"
"What report?" Sarah Jane asked. Luke was still completely limp, and she didn't trust herself to get him upright without hurting him.
"Mr Smith, BBC News has an emergency report. Can you display it, please?"
"Certainly, Rani."
"...explanation as yet," the harried looking newsreader was saying. "But we are beginning to get reports from around the world and they all agree. At ten thirty GMT every child in the world stopped what they were doing and began screaming. When they stopped they all spoke, in unison and in English, one sentence."
"We are coming," Luke murmured, a beat ahead of her.
"What's going on?" Rani came to kneel on his other side, taking his weight so Sarah Jane could stand.
"Mr Smith?"
"I'm afraid I have no theories yet, Sarah Jane," he said. "This incident does not match any in my memory."
"There was another - earlier, around half eight, I felt weird for a moment. Nothing like that. I thought it was 'cause I hadn't eaten." Luke wilted under Sarah Jane's glare. "It was only for a couple of seconds, Mum."
"I will compare all readings taken at that time," Mr Smith said.
"Try UNIT, they'll be on this," Sarah Jane ordered, pacing restlessly. "Don't let them see you looking, though. Luke, let's get you off the floor. How do you feel?"
"Exhausted." He wavered when he stood; Rani hastily propped him up, helping him to the couch beside Mr Smith. "Mum, what about Torchwood? If this is all over the world, they'll be looking too."
"No," she said firmly. "We are not dealing with Torchwood."
"I thought you liked Captain Jack."
"Captain Jack is fine. I don't want Torchwood getting near you."
"Mum." Luke caught her hand, tugging gently until she stepped closer. "Every child in the world, Mum."
"It doesn't matter!"
"It does matter. You know it matters." He looked desperately at Rani, who nodded quickly.
"Probably they won't know anything anyway. There's nothing wrong with pooling information, right? They don't have to get anywhere near Luke."
Sarah Jane buried her face in her hand for a moment. "All right. All right. Rani, go and find Clyde, please. And if I'm still talking to Torchwood when you get back, don't come in. Wait outside until I tell you it's safe, understand?"
"I've got it, Sarah Jane," Rani promised. She squeezed Luke's hand as she stood; he smiled faintly, propping himself up slowly.
"I have Torchwood," Mr Smith announced.
Sarah Jane shooed Rani out and turned to face the screen. Luke couldn't see it, and Mr Smith quietly redirected the feed to the laptop on the desk near the couch so that Luke could watch.
"This isn't a good time, Sarah Jane." Captain Harkness - Luke recognised him from the Subwave Network - was obviously busy with something; he hadn't even looked up at the screen.
"What's going on, Jack?" Sarah Jane asked.
"We don't know yet." He looked up finally, stilling when he saw her face. "What do you know?"
"I know whatever it is it almost killed my son."
"Luke? He should be too old, it's only hitting pre-pubescent kids."
"I'm two." Luke stood, wobbling across to stand next to his mother.
"You're fifteen," she said sharply.
"I was born - made - two years ago. Maybe that's all that matters."
"Sarah Jane, have you been keeping secrets?" Jack physically backed away from her glare, holding up his hands apologetically. "All right, sorry. Luke, can you tell us what happened?"
"I just - it was so loud. I couldn't hear myself talk. I couldn't hear myself think. There was pressure - my brain was expanding, or my head was shrinking..." He leaned harder against Sarah Jane, shaking. "It didn't even notice me fighting," he said softly. "I thought I would die and it wasn't even a fraction of its strength. It didn't see me."
"Good," Jack said briskly. "Then they don't know anything about you. Did you get anything from them? Do you know who they are?"
"You know who they are," Luke echoed, repeating more loudly, "You know who they are. You're dealt with them before."
"Have I?" Jack studied him intently. "Why do you say that?"
All Luke's confidence drained away and he stared uncertainly at the screen. "I'm...I don't..." Turning wide eyed to his mother, he whispered "I don't know why I said that. I don't know why...Mum?"
"It's all right, Luke, it's all right." She pulled him into a hug, feeling him tremble against her. "He's exhausted, Jack."
"I'm fine," Luke said into her shoulder, but since she was all but holding him up it wasn't very convincing.
"Sarah Jane, I need to see him," Jack said.
"I am not bringing him to Torchwood!"
"No. I suppose not." Jack sighed, thinking quickly. "Okay, then can I come there? You're not in school today, Luke?"
"In service day."
"Good. Sarah Jane, can I bring my team?"
"All of you?" she said, alarmed. "I'm not sure...hang on a minute. Clyde!"
"I'm not listening!" Clyde said from just outside the door. Luke laughed helplessly, still clinging to Sarah Jane.
"Come in here," she ordered. Clyde edged in, eyes widening in alarm when he saw Luke. "Take Luke downstairs - carefully - get him something to drink and let him sleep."
"Sure, Sarah Jane. C'mon, Luke." He took Luke's weight easily. "You should eat more. You're too skinny."
"Taller than you," Luke murmured.
"Taller, yeah, but skinny. We need to get you buffed up some. What d'you want to drink?"
The door closed behind them and Sarah Jane turned back to the screen. Clyde hadn't looked at it or made any comment about it, and Jack had completely ignored the interruption.
"There's only three of us now," he said, faintly bitter. "Sarah Jane, I really need to talk to him. Whatever this is, it's serious. Please?"
"All right," she agreed reluctantly. "But it's off Torchwood's books, understand?"
"I understand," he agreed quickly. "I'll make sure they do, as well."
"Thank you. I'll see you soon."
***
Luke, ensconced on the couch with everything he could possibly want and several things he couldn't piled around him, looked up dreamily when Sarah Jane came into the room. "Hi, Mum."
"How are you feeling?" She brushed his hair off his forehead, sneakily checking his temperature at the same time. Normal - normal for Luke, anyway. He usually ran a little cooler than most people.
"Completely worn out. Do people often feel like this?"
She lifted his hand, watching it flop back to his side. "Not this badly, no. How's your head?"
He shrugged, looking away. "Not so bad."
"Luke," she said warningly. He was terrible at lying.
"It really hurts," he said in the exact same tone. "It doesn't matter. I can't take anything for it."
"We could try," she suggested. She was wary of giving him painkillers, and so far he hadn't needed anything much, but this was clearly special circumstances.
"It's not real pain. I mean, it's not something medicine would help. It's just - psychic aftermath."
"What can we do for it?"
He shrugged again. "I'm just so tired, Mum."
"Get some sleep," she said, brushing his hair back again. "Do you need anything?"
"No." He caught her wrist when she started to rise. "Don't go. Please."
"I won't," she promised, settling back beside him.
"Is Captain Harkness coming?"
"He's coming. Get some rest, Luke. I'll wake you when he gets here."
"Liar," he murmured, smiling.
"Get some rest," she said again, absently stroking his hair.
Clyde came in, hesitating when he saw them; Sarah Jane gestured him in, signalling silence. He nodded obediently, picking up his sketch pad and slouching into the armchair.
"If you're drawing him like this, he'll never forgive you," Sarah Jane said softly.
Clyde grinned. "Genius At Rest. Or maybe In Repose. I haven't decided. I could do a whole series. Genius At Work. Genius At Play. Genius Baffled By Modern Life. Genius At Housework..."
"Genius Trying To Sleep Except His So Called Friend Keeps Talking," Luke said, voice muffled by his cushion. Clyde grinned, bending over his sketch pad again.
The doorbell rang almost three hours later. Luke was asleep and didn't stir; Rani rose to answer the door. Clyde shut his sketch pad, laying it to one side and standing in front of the couch.
"Sarah Jane? Do you want me to let them in?" Rani called.
"Go ahead, Rani!"
Rani came in first, joining Clyde in front of the couch. Jack followed them, glancing around the room before focusing on Sarah Jane. "Good to see you again."
"Circumstances could be better," she said with a faint smile. "Introduce me."
"Gwen, Ianto, Sarah Jane Smith."
Clyde snorted softly. Sarah Jane swatted him gently.
"Clyde and Rani. And Luke."
Jack stepped carefully around Clyde and Rani to hunker by the couch. "Is he all right?"
"Exhausted. He really needs the sleep, Jack."
"We need to know what's happening."
"Not yet," she said firmly.
Jack sighed, rocking back on his heels. "Ianto, how about drinks all round?"
"Yes sir," Ianto agreed.
"Rani?" Sarah Jane said quietly. Rani nodded, heading for the kitchen with Ianto on her heels.
"Okay, if he can't talk to us himself yet, can you tell us exactly what happened?" Gwen asked, perching on the edge of the armchair.
Sarah Jane recounted everything she knew. Jack listened closely, still studying Luke.
"And...earlier, he said he was only two," Gwen said carefully.
"That doesn't matter," Clyde said quickly.
"It might. It might be very important. Please?"
"You can trust us, Sarah Jane," Jack added.
She laughed a little. "Can I? Torchwood?"
"We're not here for Torchwood, you know that. There's nothing going in any reports. But this thing is worldwide and Luke can help us understand it. Help us understand, Sarah Jane."
Sarah Jane sighed, nodding. "Luke was created by a race called the Bane. Do you remember Bubbleshock?"
"That stuff? It was horrible," Gwen said. "Rhys loved it, though."
"You're why Luke was created," Clyde said, finally giving up on his guard post and wandering over to lean on the wall. "Two percent of people weren't affected by it. They took samples of everyone who visited the factory and made Luke out of them. Archetypical human. They were going to use him to figure out how to get that two percent to accept the drink."
"But he woke up early, before they meant him to," Sarah Jane continued. "He ran from them. Born running, he calls it. I found him. The Bane tried to kill him when he wouldn't help them. They made him with a conscience, you see."
"Always a mistake," Jack agreed. Sarah Jane smiled faintly. "So you adopted him."
"If I hadn't, UNIT would have taken him. You know that, you know what they'd have done to him. He'd have been locked away somewhere running battle plans and designing weapons for them, if they hadn't just dissected him straight away."
"UNIT or us, you mean."
"Torchwood One was only recently gone down. And I was not going to let Yvonne Hartman or anyone like her get her hands on him. Can you imagine? Luke is a genius, Jack. A true genius. He could fix your wrist strap without trying, but he doesn't - he gave the Slitheen the formula to turn off the Sun because he thought it was a school science project."
"He's getting better," Clyde protested.
She smiled. "Clyde's been teaching him about the world. But he really is only two."
"But he's human?" Gwen asked.
"Yes. They made him human. He doesn't get sick and he doesn't dream, but apart from that he's perfectly normal."
"That and the genius," Jack added. "How was he able to fight off whatever this was?"
"He has the latent potential of ten thousand minds. He pulled the Moon out of orbit a couple of years ago."
"That was him?" Gwen said in surprise. "He turned off the Sun and pulled the Moon down and you just let him live here?"
"They weren't his fault. The Slitheen were behind it, both times." Sarah Jane folded her arms firmly, hating the way Torchwood could always get her on the defensive. Luke wasn't dangerous, she knew it with every bone in her body.
Jack glanced at Gwen, who subsided. "All right. Sarah Jane, I need to set up our computer. We can link to the Hub and we'll be told if anything else happens."
Sarah Jane nodded. "Go ahead."
Ianto and Rani reappeared with trays of drinks. Rani settled by Sarah Jane, watching the Torchwood team work at the computer. "You okay?" she murmured, voice low.
"Yes. It's all fine."
"Sure?" Rani asked doubtfully. They could all see how close to the edge she was.
"It's fine." She glanced at the team. "Stay with Luke for a minute? I need to talk to Mr Smith and I don't want them following."
"Yeah, of course. Go ahead."
Mr Smith was active in the attic. Sarah Jane tried vaguely to remember whether she'd shut him down earlier, and then decided it didn't matter. "Mr Smith."
"Sarah Jane. How is Luke?"
"Sleeping. Jack and his team are here."
"Yes."
"We'll need your help to find out what's going on. But I don't trust Torchwood."
"I know. Do you want me to refuse to follow their orders?"
"If I'm here. Otherwise..." She sighed. "Use your best judgement, I suppose."
"I understand." He whirred for a moment. "Sarah Jane, I am still trying to find a way to help Luke."
"Thank you." Glancing at the door, she added, "I should go back down. I'll send Clyde or Rani up to check in with you."
"Please let me know if I can help in any way."
"I will."
**
Luke finally woke late that afternoon; Sarah Jane came in from the kitchen to find him leaning against Rani and answering Jack's questions. Sarah Jane paused in the doorway, watching them; Gwen caught her eye and crossed quietly to stand beside her.
"He's being careful," she murmured. "Ianto keeps stepping on his foot when he pushes too hard. Your boy's amazing, you know."
Sarah Jane smiled faintly, pushing away from the door. Rani moved to let her sit down and Luke melted against her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
"Better. Tired." He glanced at Jack. "They have a pterosaur, did you know?"
"No. A real one?"
"A pteronodon. It came through the Rift, Mr Jones says. It lives in their base."
"Ianto," Ianto corrected absently.
Sarah Jane looked over his head at Jack. "Anything?"
"He doesn't remember anything."
"Sorry," Luke added.
"Don't be sorry." She smiled, jostling him lightly. Luke jostled back, rising to his feet and crossing to the window, leaning his forehead against it.
Clyde came through with a tray of drinks; Sarah Jane took hers, smiling at him. "Thank you, Clyde. You and Rani should go home, now."
"Sarah Jane!"
"It's late," she said firmly. "I doubt anything's going to happen tonight. Go on."
"Clyde, wait. Captain Harkness?" Luke said quietly.
"What is it, Luke?"
"There's a government SUV down the road."
"That's not ours," Ianto said, straightening.
"No. That's why I said it."
Jack crossed to the window, looking casually out. "No one I recognise," he said finally. "Ianto, want to take a walk?"
"Yes sir," Ianto agreed, following him towards the door.
"Is that wise?" Sarah Jane asked, following him.
"Probably not. But it's very Torchwood." Jack grinned at her. "Wait here."
"No," Clyde said abruptly as they left. "Sarah Jane, we have to go out there."
"Why?"
"Because why haven't they come in here? They're looking for some of us. They haven't come in because we're too many for them, we...just come on!" He tugged her towards the door.
"I'm with him," Gwen agreed, following them.
Clyde and Luke stopped by the gate, loudly starting a conversation with Gwen, who played along. Looking over his shoulder, she watched Jack and Ianto talk to a woman backed up by two soldiers. The woman clocked them, looked annoyed, and kept talking.
Rani joined them, adding equally loudly, "Hey, Mum!"
Gita looked up from where she was watering the garden, waving. Rani gestured her over, saying softly, "Gwen, I'm really sorry about this."
"Just let her talk, it's safest," Luke added. "Mrs Chandra, may I introduce Gwen Cooper? She's a friend of my mother's from Wales."
"Wales!" Gita exclaimed in delight. "What a beautiful country. I was up there once on a holiday, my darling, and I remember thinking how beautiful it was. Tell you what, I saw some beautiful wild daffodils up there and I have some fine specimens in my shop. Blooming Lovely. I'm a florist."
"How nice," Gwen managed.
"Oh, what a lovely accent! Say something Welsh, my darling."
"What a strange little woman you are," Gwen said obligingly.
"It's such a beautiful language. You must meet my husband. HARESH!"
Sarah Jane joined them and Gita said brightly, "You always have such interesting friends, Sarah!"
"Jane," Rani murmured, mostly out of habit.
"Yes, I love my friends," Sarah Jane agreed distractedly. "Jack! Come and meet Gita!"
Jack waved from further down the path, smiling as another man joined the group. "So, Agent Johnson," he said, turning back to the woman, "are you planning to snatch us in front of all these nice people?"
"Could be traumatising," Ianto pointed out.
"It could, yes," Jack agreed. "That could be trouble."
Johnson rolled her eyes. "I could shoot all of them," she said mildly.
"Murder two families in broad daylight on a suburban street? Who taught your undercover class? Whoever it was, they missed a few points." Jack's smile dropped away. "Go home, Agent Johnson. Tell your boss you failed."
She gestured her men to back off. "This isn't over, Harkness."
"Oooh, a cliché. Standoffs just never feel complete without a good cliché, do they, Ianto?"
"I know I always miss them."
"I'll say hi to David and Mica for you," Johnson told him. Ianto didn't react, watching her climb into her car and drive away.
"David and Mica?" Jack said softly.
"My niece and nephew."
He nodded. "Have Gwen call her friend, PC Andy Pandy."
"Think he'd be able to stop a woman like that?"
"You can go back..."
"No. It's fine. Also, sir, just to point out, this isn't broad daylight, it's dusk. Shading towards night."
"Jack!" Gwen called, sounding a little frazzled.
"I'll take care of that," Ianto murmured. "You should warn Sarah Jane. Johnson's not going to give up."
Jack nodded. Ianto jogged down to the group on the path, smoothly inserting himself into the conversation. After a moment Sarah Jane stepped back and headed towards Jack; Luke trailed after her.
"What's going on?" she asked quickly. "Who was that woman?"
"Agent Johnson."
"A government agent?"
Jack smiled humourlessly. "Some part of the government, yes. Here to take me into 'protective custody'."
"Why?"
"Who knows."
"Shouldn't you have gone?" Luke asked uncertainly.
"Torchwood doesn't answer to any branch of the government," Jack told him. "And we have a better chance of figuring this out if we have access to our own systems. Johnson didn't have any information from anyone whose name I recognise." Looking at Sarah Jane, he added, "She's not likely to give up."
"If she tries something in our house, she'll be surprised," Sarah Jane promised him.
"We should send the others home," Luke murmured, turning to head back to the group. Jack and Sarah Jane followed, catching up in time to hear his cheery, "See you tomorrow, guys!" Gwen had already vanished back into the house. Ianto followed Luke, smiling apologetically at Gita.
"They're quick," Jack noted, impressed. Rani, catching on, was leading her father back towards their house, loudly discussing what they might have for dinner and drawing Clyde along with them. Luke was lurking by the front door, watching as Rani and Clyde vanished into her house. Sarah Jane touched his shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist and steering him into the sitting room.
"Jack," Ianto said quietly. "Gwen's found something."
"Something good?"
"Don't think so," Gwen called from the computer. "Luke, you couldn't get us something to drink, could you? I am parched."
"Sure." Luke wandered into the kitchen.
The others gathered around Gwen's computer, watching as she pulled up police reports. "I tracked Johnson back," she said. "She's been around the country today. And I've found two death reports in towns she visited."
"Suspicious deaths?"
"No ruling yet. But they were both UNIT - retired, though, so I guess ex-UNIT."
"Three," Ianto said, leaning over her to open a new window and pull up another report.
Sarah Jane scanned the names. "No one I know."
Jack grinned suddenly. "Sarah Jane, we've been taking up all of your time. There must be other friends you'd like to check in with."
"UNIT friends, I assume?"
He nodded, more serious now. "The only person I trust in that organisation isn't there at the moment, and no one will talk to us. If there's anyone you trust won't lie to you..."
"He won't lie to me, but I'm not sure how much he'll know," she said thoughtfully. "Tell me, Jack, have you ever met the Brig?"
**
Mr Smith tracked Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart to UNIT headquarters in London, but he wasn't able to help much. "They're keeping him out of the loop," Sarah Jane reported. "He'll look into the deaths for us, but he's being sidelined."
"Anything he can tell us will help." Jack glanced up as Luke's phone rang and he quietly excused himself. "Ianto, have we gotten hold of Frobisher?"
"No, I keep getting that Spears woman. Frobisher's in his office, but he's ignoring us."
"That's not a good sign," Gwen murmured.
"John Frobisher? The Home Office Secretary?" Sarah Jane asked.
"He's Torchwood's liaison," Gwen explained. "Things like this happen, he's supposed to be the person we can talk to. Spears is his PA, been with him for years. We've never had any problems with them before."
Luke burst back in, eyes wide. "Mum, put the TV on."
"What? Why?" She glanced around, fishing the remote from between two cushions.
"Clyde's on the phone, he says..." He cut himself off when BBC News flashed up.
"...explosion at the Roald Dahl Plass. There is still no explanation as to what caused it..."
Gwen dug her phone out, dialling rapidly. "Rhys? No, we're fine, we're in London..."
"Johnson?" Ianto said, turning to the computer.
"Probably." Jack scowled, studying the screen. "I should have killed her."
"Jack!" Sarah Jane said sharply.
"She's trying to cripple us, Sarah Jane."
"We don't kill people." She glanced deliberately towards Luke and back at Jack.
"No." Jack took a deep breath, forcing it out calmly. "No, of course not."
"We still have access to all the servers," Ianto said, typing rapidly. "Whatever happened, the explosion didn't touch them. She obviously couldn't get deep enough."
"Not with it locked down," Jack agreed. "Gwen, can you check in with PC Andy?" Gwen waved, still talking Rhys down.
"They didn't get anything important," Ianto said softly. "The Archives are still there, and they'll be buried now. Everything's safe." Jack nodded sharply, still staring at the screen.
Luke nudged Sarah Jane gently. "Clyde wants to know..."
"They're not to come over here," Sarah Jane said sharply. "If this Johnson woman really is after Jack, I want them well away." Luke nodded, heading back out into the hall.
"I don't think she'd hurt them," Jack offered. "Use them as hostages, but not hurt them."
"That's very comforting."
"Sarah Jane, we may be imposing on your bountiful hospitality for a while longer."
Sarah Jane smiled thinly. "I'm sure. Excuse me for a moment." She went out after Luke.
"How dangerous is this woman, Jack?" Gwen asked, phone in hand.
"More than I thought, not enough for us to worry. She doesn't want civilian casualties and she can't afford to be seen. As long as we stay visible, she can't touch us."
"Jack, I need a favour," Sarah Jane said, coming back in.
"Oh?"
"I need to borrow your TARDIS key."
"My what?" he said flatly.
"Your key. I know you have one. Mine isn't enough on its own."
"Enough for what?"
She shrugged. "Perception filter. Mr Smith thinks if we hang them outside, we can keep the house off the radar. Hopefully no one else will figure out you're here." Jack frowned and she added, "You'll get it back."
"I'd better." He tugged the chain off over his head, tossing it to her.
"Thank you." She vanished again.
"Will that work?" Ianto asked.
"Might do. It's enough to hide a person, more or less. It's worth trying, anyway."
Luke wandered back in, watching Ianto work and quickly getting embroiled in helping him with the databases. Gwen checked in with Andy and a few other people around Cardiff; Jack excused himself to the kitchen to check in, briefly, with his daughter Alice and warn her about Johnson. She wasn't happy, but she agreed to take her son Steven for a brief holiday. Just in case, he wanted her well out of Johnson's reach. Ianto did the same with his sister Rhiannon, eventually persuading her to take the kids away for a couple of days.
It was dark out, and Sarah Jane was just starting to think about where to put everyone for the night, when Luke stood so suddenly his chair fell over. He stumbled backwards, hands going to his temples. "Mum, it's happening again..."
"Again?" She rose, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Hang on, Luke..."
"Luke." Jack caught his shoulders, holding him steady. "Listen to me. I need you to lower your hands, okay? Trust me. Let go."
It took a couple of false starts but Luke lowered his hands, gripping Sarah Jane's arms tightly. Jack touched two fingers to the boy's temples, watching him closely. "Good man. Keep fighting them, Luke, okay? Listen, we're going to build a wall. Can you see what I'm doing?"
"I...yes..." Luke closed his eyes, groaning, and Sarah Jane winced as his grip tightened. Catching her look, Ianto pried Luke's hands free and let him grip his arm instead.
"Good. Keep it going. Just wall them off, let them yell in their corner. Can you see it? It's getting easier, right?" Luke nodded, eyes still closed. "Good man. Keep it up. That's it."
Gwen slipped out to the kitchen, picking up a towel and wetting it. By the time she came back in Luke had relaxed, fit over; he'd let go of Ianto, though he was still hanging onto his mother.
Jack was crouched in front of him, watching carefully. "Did you get the message, Luke? What were they trying to say?"
Luke flinched, rubbing at his forehead. "We are coming...back."
"Put your head down, Luke," Gwen said softly. He obeyed and she draped the cloth across his neck; he shuddered, reaching up with his free hand to hold it in place. "Want some tea?"
"I'm not in shock," he said, voice muffled.
"He'll drink it," Sarah Jane said. Ianto rose to his feet, heading for the kitchen.
"I'm not in shock," Luke said again, more loudly.
"No, but your headache's coming back and this might help. Keep your head down."
Gwen quietly reached for Sarah Jane's arm; it was already bruising where Luke had gripped her. She wrapped another cloth around it without saying anything.
"Who's coming back, Jack?" she asked as she worked.
"I don't know yet. Luke, any hint of a timeframe?"
"No."
Sarah Jane caught his eye. "Is that going to last, Jack? Whatever you showed him in there?"
"Probably not," Jack admitted. "It's only short term, it's not designed to hold up for long. Just to get your mind clear."
"I can do it again," Luke said. "I'll remember it."
"Good man," Jack said again, but he was watching Sarah Jane and the look on his face was clear.
"Where did you learn that?" Gwen asked. "I've never seen you do that before."
"It doesn't work with everyone. There has to be a certain level of ability."
"Luke's not..."
"It's latent," Jack said quickly. "He can't use it. But it's there. It's a Time Agent technique, it's supposed to give you a breathing space to figure out what to do." He caught Sarah Jane's eye. "If they figure out he's hearing them, if they push, it won't hold. It's not designed to. There's other techniques I can show him, but they'll have to wait until it happens again."
Ianto came back in, tray in his hands. "Drinks all around," he said brightly.
Gwen peeled the cloth off Luke's neck, letting him sit up, and passed him his cup. "Drink it all," she told him.
Luke took a sip and made a face. "There's more sugar than tea in here."
"It's good for you. Drink it all."
Sarah Jane glanced at him. "Luke, I need to talk to Jack for a minute. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he assured her, but he had to concentrate fiercely to loosen his grip on her arm. Gwen settled next to him, aware that just having someone there would be some comfort.
Ianto was flipping through the TV stations, finally settling on BBC news. "...every child in the world," the newsreader was saying. "There is still no answer as to why they should be speaking in English. Once again, this evening's message was 'We are coming back.' There is still no clue who these strange messages are coming from or when they may have visited before."
In the hall Sarah Jane settled on the steps, cradling her cup. "Did you see anything in Luke's mind?"
"Enough to know he's amazing. But the messages - no. He was shielding me from them. Fighting them off took everything he had and he still took the effort to protect me. He's a wonderful boy, Sarah Jane."
"He's a boy, Jack. He's my boy."
"Yes. I know." He sighed, settling on the step below her. "I'm trying my best here, Sarah Jane."
She nodded quickly. "I know you are. Thank you. He seems better this time."
"We'll figure out a way to keep him safe. I promise."
She nodded, taking a deep breath to collect herself. "I don't have a spare room, Jack, but there's the couch..."
"We'll manage. We've been worse places. Got a couple of blankets?"
"Yes. I'll get them for you."
She didn't move, though, and Jack settled in to wait with her.
A hundred million thanks are due to averita who made this a hundred times better, and katie_9918 for cheering and handholding! You guys are brilliant!
Rating: Gen
Characters/pairings: All SJA characters, all Torchwood characters. Canon pairings.
Warnings: NA
Spoilers: General for Torchwood: Children of Earth
The Fury of a Storm
The first Sarah Jane knew about the 456 was when Luke stumbled into the attic, hands fisted and pressed against his temples. He tripped coming down the steps, pitching towards her, and she sat down hard under his weight.
"Mum," he gasped, voice tight with pain.
"Luke, what is it? What's wrong?"
He shook his head, pressing harder against his temples. She could see his skin whitening from the pressure. "It's so loud." His body was twitching, jerking as he fought against whatever was happening.
"Mr Smith, I need you!" Sarah Jane gasped, trying to hold him steady.
Obviously already aware of what was happening, Mr Smith was scanning Luke before he'd even opened fully. "He is receiving a telepathic transmission of incredible power."
"Can you block it?" Sarah Jane demanded.
"I regret it will take some time."
"Hurry up and get started, then."
"Of course, Sarah Jane."
Luke arched against her, completely rigid, and then collapsed bonelessly. "It stopped," he mumbled, forcing his eyes open.
"Are you all right?" Sarah Jane asked, smoothing his hair back.
He laughed breathlessly. "I'm completely..." He tried to lift one hand and managed about six inches before it fell back to his side. "That was so hard."
"What was it? Could you tell?"
He shook his head again. "I'm not sure. I've never felt anything like that before. It was - they weren't even trying. I mean, they weren't pushing. I don't think they ever noticed I was fighting back."
"So it wasn't aimed at you."
"I think it was aimed at everyone."
Rani burst in, eyes wide. "There's a report on the -" She stopped dead, staring at them until Sarah Jane caught her eye. "What's wrong?"
"What report?" Sarah Jane asked. Luke was still completely limp, and she didn't trust herself to get him upright without hurting him.
"Mr Smith, BBC News has an emergency report. Can you display it, please?"
"Certainly, Rani."
"...explanation as yet," the harried looking newsreader was saying. "But we are beginning to get reports from around the world and they all agree. At ten thirty GMT every child in the world stopped what they were doing and began screaming. When they stopped they all spoke, in unison and in English, one sentence."
"We are coming," Luke murmured, a beat ahead of her.
"What's going on?" Rani came to kneel on his other side, taking his weight so Sarah Jane could stand.
"Mr Smith?"
"I'm afraid I have no theories yet, Sarah Jane," he said. "This incident does not match any in my memory."
"There was another - earlier, around half eight, I felt weird for a moment. Nothing like that. I thought it was 'cause I hadn't eaten." Luke wilted under Sarah Jane's glare. "It was only for a couple of seconds, Mum."
"I will compare all readings taken at that time," Mr Smith said.
"Try UNIT, they'll be on this," Sarah Jane ordered, pacing restlessly. "Don't let them see you looking, though. Luke, let's get you off the floor. How do you feel?"
"Exhausted." He wavered when he stood; Rani hastily propped him up, helping him to the couch beside Mr Smith. "Mum, what about Torchwood? If this is all over the world, they'll be looking too."
"No," she said firmly. "We are not dealing with Torchwood."
"I thought you liked Captain Jack."
"Captain Jack is fine. I don't want Torchwood getting near you."
"Mum." Luke caught her hand, tugging gently until she stepped closer. "Every child in the world, Mum."
"It doesn't matter!"
"It does matter. You know it matters." He looked desperately at Rani, who nodded quickly.
"Probably they won't know anything anyway. There's nothing wrong with pooling information, right? They don't have to get anywhere near Luke."
Sarah Jane buried her face in her hand for a moment. "All right. All right. Rani, go and find Clyde, please. And if I'm still talking to Torchwood when you get back, don't come in. Wait outside until I tell you it's safe, understand?"
"I've got it, Sarah Jane," Rani promised. She squeezed Luke's hand as she stood; he smiled faintly, propping himself up slowly.
"I have Torchwood," Mr Smith announced.
Sarah Jane shooed Rani out and turned to face the screen. Luke couldn't see it, and Mr Smith quietly redirected the feed to the laptop on the desk near the couch so that Luke could watch.
"This isn't a good time, Sarah Jane." Captain Harkness - Luke recognised him from the Subwave Network - was obviously busy with something; he hadn't even looked up at the screen.
"What's going on, Jack?" Sarah Jane asked.
"We don't know yet." He looked up finally, stilling when he saw her face. "What do you know?"
"I know whatever it is it almost killed my son."
"Luke? He should be too old, it's only hitting pre-pubescent kids."
"I'm two." Luke stood, wobbling across to stand next to his mother.
"You're fifteen," she said sharply.
"I was born - made - two years ago. Maybe that's all that matters."
"Sarah Jane, have you been keeping secrets?" Jack physically backed away from her glare, holding up his hands apologetically. "All right, sorry. Luke, can you tell us what happened?"
"I just - it was so loud. I couldn't hear myself talk. I couldn't hear myself think. There was pressure - my brain was expanding, or my head was shrinking..." He leaned harder against Sarah Jane, shaking. "It didn't even notice me fighting," he said softly. "I thought I would die and it wasn't even a fraction of its strength. It didn't see me."
"Good," Jack said briskly. "Then they don't know anything about you. Did you get anything from them? Do you know who they are?"
"You know who they are," Luke echoed, repeating more loudly, "You know who they are. You're dealt with them before."
"Have I?" Jack studied him intently. "Why do you say that?"
All Luke's confidence drained away and he stared uncertainly at the screen. "I'm...I don't..." Turning wide eyed to his mother, he whispered "I don't know why I said that. I don't know why...Mum?"
"It's all right, Luke, it's all right." She pulled him into a hug, feeling him tremble against her. "He's exhausted, Jack."
"I'm fine," Luke said into her shoulder, but since she was all but holding him up it wasn't very convincing.
"Sarah Jane, I need to see him," Jack said.
"I am not bringing him to Torchwood!"
"No. I suppose not." Jack sighed, thinking quickly. "Okay, then can I come there? You're not in school today, Luke?"
"In service day."
"Good. Sarah Jane, can I bring my team?"
"All of you?" she said, alarmed. "I'm not sure...hang on a minute. Clyde!"
"I'm not listening!" Clyde said from just outside the door. Luke laughed helplessly, still clinging to Sarah Jane.
"Come in here," she ordered. Clyde edged in, eyes widening in alarm when he saw Luke. "Take Luke downstairs - carefully - get him something to drink and let him sleep."
"Sure, Sarah Jane. C'mon, Luke." He took Luke's weight easily. "You should eat more. You're too skinny."
"Taller than you," Luke murmured.
"Taller, yeah, but skinny. We need to get you buffed up some. What d'you want to drink?"
The door closed behind them and Sarah Jane turned back to the screen. Clyde hadn't looked at it or made any comment about it, and Jack had completely ignored the interruption.
"There's only three of us now," he said, faintly bitter. "Sarah Jane, I really need to talk to him. Whatever this is, it's serious. Please?"
"All right," she agreed reluctantly. "But it's off Torchwood's books, understand?"
"I understand," he agreed quickly. "I'll make sure they do, as well."
"Thank you. I'll see you soon."
***
Luke, ensconced on the couch with everything he could possibly want and several things he couldn't piled around him, looked up dreamily when Sarah Jane came into the room. "Hi, Mum."
"How are you feeling?" She brushed his hair off his forehead, sneakily checking his temperature at the same time. Normal - normal for Luke, anyway. He usually ran a little cooler than most people.
"Completely worn out. Do people often feel like this?"
She lifted his hand, watching it flop back to his side. "Not this badly, no. How's your head?"
He shrugged, looking away. "Not so bad."
"Luke," she said warningly. He was terrible at lying.
"It really hurts," he said in the exact same tone. "It doesn't matter. I can't take anything for it."
"We could try," she suggested. She was wary of giving him painkillers, and so far he hadn't needed anything much, but this was clearly special circumstances.
"It's not real pain. I mean, it's not something medicine would help. It's just - psychic aftermath."
"What can we do for it?"
He shrugged again. "I'm just so tired, Mum."
"Get some sleep," she said, brushing his hair back again. "Do you need anything?"
"No." He caught her wrist when she started to rise. "Don't go. Please."
"I won't," she promised, settling back beside him.
"Is Captain Harkness coming?"
"He's coming. Get some rest, Luke. I'll wake you when he gets here."
"Liar," he murmured, smiling.
"Get some rest," she said again, absently stroking his hair.
Clyde came in, hesitating when he saw them; Sarah Jane gestured him in, signalling silence. He nodded obediently, picking up his sketch pad and slouching into the armchair.
"If you're drawing him like this, he'll never forgive you," Sarah Jane said softly.
Clyde grinned. "Genius At Rest. Or maybe In Repose. I haven't decided. I could do a whole series. Genius At Work. Genius At Play. Genius Baffled By Modern Life. Genius At Housework..."
"Genius Trying To Sleep Except His So Called Friend Keeps Talking," Luke said, voice muffled by his cushion. Clyde grinned, bending over his sketch pad again.
The doorbell rang almost three hours later. Luke was asleep and didn't stir; Rani rose to answer the door. Clyde shut his sketch pad, laying it to one side and standing in front of the couch.
"Sarah Jane? Do you want me to let them in?" Rani called.
"Go ahead, Rani!"
Rani came in first, joining Clyde in front of the couch. Jack followed them, glancing around the room before focusing on Sarah Jane. "Good to see you again."
"Circumstances could be better," she said with a faint smile. "Introduce me."
"Gwen, Ianto, Sarah Jane Smith."
Clyde snorted softly. Sarah Jane swatted him gently.
"Clyde and Rani. And Luke."
Jack stepped carefully around Clyde and Rani to hunker by the couch. "Is he all right?"
"Exhausted. He really needs the sleep, Jack."
"We need to know what's happening."
"Not yet," she said firmly.
Jack sighed, rocking back on his heels. "Ianto, how about drinks all round?"
"Yes sir," Ianto agreed.
"Rani?" Sarah Jane said quietly. Rani nodded, heading for the kitchen with Ianto on her heels.
"Okay, if he can't talk to us himself yet, can you tell us exactly what happened?" Gwen asked, perching on the edge of the armchair.
Sarah Jane recounted everything she knew. Jack listened closely, still studying Luke.
"And...earlier, he said he was only two," Gwen said carefully.
"That doesn't matter," Clyde said quickly.
"It might. It might be very important. Please?"
"You can trust us, Sarah Jane," Jack added.
She laughed a little. "Can I? Torchwood?"
"We're not here for Torchwood, you know that. There's nothing going in any reports. But this thing is worldwide and Luke can help us understand it. Help us understand, Sarah Jane."
Sarah Jane sighed, nodding. "Luke was created by a race called the Bane. Do you remember Bubbleshock?"
"That stuff? It was horrible," Gwen said. "Rhys loved it, though."
"You're why Luke was created," Clyde said, finally giving up on his guard post and wandering over to lean on the wall. "Two percent of people weren't affected by it. They took samples of everyone who visited the factory and made Luke out of them. Archetypical human. They were going to use him to figure out how to get that two percent to accept the drink."
"But he woke up early, before they meant him to," Sarah Jane continued. "He ran from them. Born running, he calls it. I found him. The Bane tried to kill him when he wouldn't help them. They made him with a conscience, you see."
"Always a mistake," Jack agreed. Sarah Jane smiled faintly. "So you adopted him."
"If I hadn't, UNIT would have taken him. You know that, you know what they'd have done to him. He'd have been locked away somewhere running battle plans and designing weapons for them, if they hadn't just dissected him straight away."
"UNIT or us, you mean."
"Torchwood One was only recently gone down. And I was not going to let Yvonne Hartman or anyone like her get her hands on him. Can you imagine? Luke is a genius, Jack. A true genius. He could fix your wrist strap without trying, but he doesn't - he gave the Slitheen the formula to turn off the Sun because he thought it was a school science project."
"He's getting better," Clyde protested.
She smiled. "Clyde's been teaching him about the world. But he really is only two."
"But he's human?" Gwen asked.
"Yes. They made him human. He doesn't get sick and he doesn't dream, but apart from that he's perfectly normal."
"That and the genius," Jack added. "How was he able to fight off whatever this was?"
"He has the latent potential of ten thousand minds. He pulled the Moon out of orbit a couple of years ago."
"That was him?" Gwen said in surprise. "He turned off the Sun and pulled the Moon down and you just let him live here?"
"They weren't his fault. The Slitheen were behind it, both times." Sarah Jane folded her arms firmly, hating the way Torchwood could always get her on the defensive. Luke wasn't dangerous, she knew it with every bone in her body.
Jack glanced at Gwen, who subsided. "All right. Sarah Jane, I need to set up our computer. We can link to the Hub and we'll be told if anything else happens."
Sarah Jane nodded. "Go ahead."
Ianto and Rani reappeared with trays of drinks. Rani settled by Sarah Jane, watching the Torchwood team work at the computer. "You okay?" she murmured, voice low.
"Yes. It's all fine."
"Sure?" Rani asked doubtfully. They could all see how close to the edge she was.
"It's fine." She glanced at the team. "Stay with Luke for a minute? I need to talk to Mr Smith and I don't want them following."
"Yeah, of course. Go ahead."
Mr Smith was active in the attic. Sarah Jane tried vaguely to remember whether she'd shut him down earlier, and then decided it didn't matter. "Mr Smith."
"Sarah Jane. How is Luke?"
"Sleeping. Jack and his team are here."
"Yes."
"We'll need your help to find out what's going on. But I don't trust Torchwood."
"I know. Do you want me to refuse to follow their orders?"
"If I'm here. Otherwise..." She sighed. "Use your best judgement, I suppose."
"I understand." He whirred for a moment. "Sarah Jane, I am still trying to find a way to help Luke."
"Thank you." Glancing at the door, she added, "I should go back down. I'll send Clyde or Rani up to check in with you."
"Please let me know if I can help in any way."
"I will."
**
Luke finally woke late that afternoon; Sarah Jane came in from the kitchen to find him leaning against Rani and answering Jack's questions. Sarah Jane paused in the doorway, watching them; Gwen caught her eye and crossed quietly to stand beside her.
"He's being careful," she murmured. "Ianto keeps stepping on his foot when he pushes too hard. Your boy's amazing, you know."
Sarah Jane smiled faintly, pushing away from the door. Rani moved to let her sit down and Luke melted against her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
"Better. Tired." He glanced at Jack. "They have a pterosaur, did you know?"
"No. A real one?"
"A pteronodon. It came through the Rift, Mr Jones says. It lives in their base."
"Ianto," Ianto corrected absently.
Sarah Jane looked over his head at Jack. "Anything?"
"He doesn't remember anything."
"Sorry," Luke added.
"Don't be sorry." She smiled, jostling him lightly. Luke jostled back, rising to his feet and crossing to the window, leaning his forehead against it.
Clyde came through with a tray of drinks; Sarah Jane took hers, smiling at him. "Thank you, Clyde. You and Rani should go home, now."
"Sarah Jane!"
"It's late," she said firmly. "I doubt anything's going to happen tonight. Go on."
"Clyde, wait. Captain Harkness?" Luke said quietly.
"What is it, Luke?"
"There's a government SUV down the road."
"That's not ours," Ianto said, straightening.
"No. That's why I said it."
Jack crossed to the window, looking casually out. "No one I recognise," he said finally. "Ianto, want to take a walk?"
"Yes sir," Ianto agreed, following him towards the door.
"Is that wise?" Sarah Jane asked, following him.
"Probably not. But it's very Torchwood." Jack grinned at her. "Wait here."
"No," Clyde said abruptly as they left. "Sarah Jane, we have to go out there."
"Why?"
"Because why haven't they come in here? They're looking for some of us. They haven't come in because we're too many for them, we...just come on!" He tugged her towards the door.
"I'm with him," Gwen agreed, following them.
Clyde and Luke stopped by the gate, loudly starting a conversation with Gwen, who played along. Looking over his shoulder, she watched Jack and Ianto talk to a woman backed up by two soldiers. The woman clocked them, looked annoyed, and kept talking.
Rani joined them, adding equally loudly, "Hey, Mum!"
Gita looked up from where she was watering the garden, waving. Rani gestured her over, saying softly, "Gwen, I'm really sorry about this."
"Just let her talk, it's safest," Luke added. "Mrs Chandra, may I introduce Gwen Cooper? She's a friend of my mother's from Wales."
"Wales!" Gita exclaimed in delight. "What a beautiful country. I was up there once on a holiday, my darling, and I remember thinking how beautiful it was. Tell you what, I saw some beautiful wild daffodils up there and I have some fine specimens in my shop. Blooming Lovely. I'm a florist."
"How nice," Gwen managed.
"Oh, what a lovely accent! Say something Welsh, my darling."
"What a strange little woman you are," Gwen said obligingly.
"It's such a beautiful language. You must meet my husband. HARESH!"
Sarah Jane joined them and Gita said brightly, "You always have such interesting friends, Sarah!"
"Jane," Rani murmured, mostly out of habit.
"Yes, I love my friends," Sarah Jane agreed distractedly. "Jack! Come and meet Gita!"
Jack waved from further down the path, smiling as another man joined the group. "So, Agent Johnson," he said, turning back to the woman, "are you planning to snatch us in front of all these nice people?"
"Could be traumatising," Ianto pointed out.
"It could, yes," Jack agreed. "That could be trouble."
Johnson rolled her eyes. "I could shoot all of them," she said mildly.
"Murder two families in broad daylight on a suburban street? Who taught your undercover class? Whoever it was, they missed a few points." Jack's smile dropped away. "Go home, Agent Johnson. Tell your boss you failed."
She gestured her men to back off. "This isn't over, Harkness."
"Oooh, a cliché. Standoffs just never feel complete without a good cliché, do they, Ianto?"
"I know I always miss them."
"I'll say hi to David and Mica for you," Johnson told him. Ianto didn't react, watching her climb into her car and drive away.
"David and Mica?" Jack said softly.
"My niece and nephew."
He nodded. "Have Gwen call her friend, PC Andy Pandy."
"Think he'd be able to stop a woman like that?"
"You can go back..."
"No. It's fine. Also, sir, just to point out, this isn't broad daylight, it's dusk. Shading towards night."
"Jack!" Gwen called, sounding a little frazzled.
"I'll take care of that," Ianto murmured. "You should warn Sarah Jane. Johnson's not going to give up."
Jack nodded. Ianto jogged down to the group on the path, smoothly inserting himself into the conversation. After a moment Sarah Jane stepped back and headed towards Jack; Luke trailed after her.
"What's going on?" she asked quickly. "Who was that woman?"
"Agent Johnson."
"A government agent?"
Jack smiled humourlessly. "Some part of the government, yes. Here to take me into 'protective custody'."
"Why?"
"Who knows."
"Shouldn't you have gone?" Luke asked uncertainly.
"Torchwood doesn't answer to any branch of the government," Jack told him. "And we have a better chance of figuring this out if we have access to our own systems. Johnson didn't have any information from anyone whose name I recognise." Looking at Sarah Jane, he added, "She's not likely to give up."
"If she tries something in our house, she'll be surprised," Sarah Jane promised him.
"We should send the others home," Luke murmured, turning to head back to the group. Jack and Sarah Jane followed, catching up in time to hear his cheery, "See you tomorrow, guys!" Gwen had already vanished back into the house. Ianto followed Luke, smiling apologetically at Gita.
"They're quick," Jack noted, impressed. Rani, catching on, was leading her father back towards their house, loudly discussing what they might have for dinner and drawing Clyde along with them. Luke was lurking by the front door, watching as Rani and Clyde vanished into her house. Sarah Jane touched his shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist and steering him into the sitting room.
"Jack," Ianto said quietly. "Gwen's found something."
"Something good?"
"Don't think so," Gwen called from the computer. "Luke, you couldn't get us something to drink, could you? I am parched."
"Sure." Luke wandered into the kitchen.
The others gathered around Gwen's computer, watching as she pulled up police reports. "I tracked Johnson back," she said. "She's been around the country today. And I've found two death reports in towns she visited."
"Suspicious deaths?"
"No ruling yet. But they were both UNIT - retired, though, so I guess ex-UNIT."
"Three," Ianto said, leaning over her to open a new window and pull up another report.
Sarah Jane scanned the names. "No one I know."
Jack grinned suddenly. "Sarah Jane, we've been taking up all of your time. There must be other friends you'd like to check in with."
"UNIT friends, I assume?"
He nodded, more serious now. "The only person I trust in that organisation isn't there at the moment, and no one will talk to us. If there's anyone you trust won't lie to you..."
"He won't lie to me, but I'm not sure how much he'll know," she said thoughtfully. "Tell me, Jack, have you ever met the Brig?"
**
Mr Smith tracked Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart to UNIT headquarters in London, but he wasn't able to help much. "They're keeping him out of the loop," Sarah Jane reported. "He'll look into the deaths for us, but he's being sidelined."
"Anything he can tell us will help." Jack glanced up as Luke's phone rang and he quietly excused himself. "Ianto, have we gotten hold of Frobisher?"
"No, I keep getting that Spears woman. Frobisher's in his office, but he's ignoring us."
"That's not a good sign," Gwen murmured.
"John Frobisher? The Home Office Secretary?" Sarah Jane asked.
"He's Torchwood's liaison," Gwen explained. "Things like this happen, he's supposed to be the person we can talk to. Spears is his PA, been with him for years. We've never had any problems with them before."
Luke burst back in, eyes wide. "Mum, put the TV on."
"What? Why?" She glanced around, fishing the remote from between two cushions.
"Clyde's on the phone, he says..." He cut himself off when BBC News flashed up.
"...explosion at the Roald Dahl Plass. There is still no explanation as to what caused it..."
Gwen dug her phone out, dialling rapidly. "Rhys? No, we're fine, we're in London..."
"Johnson?" Ianto said, turning to the computer.
"Probably." Jack scowled, studying the screen. "I should have killed her."
"Jack!" Sarah Jane said sharply.
"She's trying to cripple us, Sarah Jane."
"We don't kill people." She glanced deliberately towards Luke and back at Jack.
"No." Jack took a deep breath, forcing it out calmly. "No, of course not."
"We still have access to all the servers," Ianto said, typing rapidly. "Whatever happened, the explosion didn't touch them. She obviously couldn't get deep enough."
"Not with it locked down," Jack agreed. "Gwen, can you check in with PC Andy?" Gwen waved, still talking Rhys down.
"They didn't get anything important," Ianto said softly. "The Archives are still there, and they'll be buried now. Everything's safe." Jack nodded sharply, still staring at the screen.
Luke nudged Sarah Jane gently. "Clyde wants to know..."
"They're not to come over here," Sarah Jane said sharply. "If this Johnson woman really is after Jack, I want them well away." Luke nodded, heading back out into the hall.
"I don't think she'd hurt them," Jack offered. "Use them as hostages, but not hurt them."
"That's very comforting."
"Sarah Jane, we may be imposing on your bountiful hospitality for a while longer."
Sarah Jane smiled thinly. "I'm sure. Excuse me for a moment." She went out after Luke.
"How dangerous is this woman, Jack?" Gwen asked, phone in hand.
"More than I thought, not enough for us to worry. She doesn't want civilian casualties and she can't afford to be seen. As long as we stay visible, she can't touch us."
"Jack, I need a favour," Sarah Jane said, coming back in.
"Oh?"
"I need to borrow your TARDIS key."
"My what?" he said flatly.
"Your key. I know you have one. Mine isn't enough on its own."
"Enough for what?"
She shrugged. "Perception filter. Mr Smith thinks if we hang them outside, we can keep the house off the radar. Hopefully no one else will figure out you're here." Jack frowned and she added, "You'll get it back."
"I'd better." He tugged the chain off over his head, tossing it to her.
"Thank you." She vanished again.
"Will that work?" Ianto asked.
"Might do. It's enough to hide a person, more or less. It's worth trying, anyway."
Luke wandered back in, watching Ianto work and quickly getting embroiled in helping him with the databases. Gwen checked in with Andy and a few other people around Cardiff; Jack excused himself to the kitchen to check in, briefly, with his daughter Alice and warn her about Johnson. She wasn't happy, but she agreed to take her son Steven for a brief holiday. Just in case, he wanted her well out of Johnson's reach. Ianto did the same with his sister Rhiannon, eventually persuading her to take the kids away for a couple of days.
It was dark out, and Sarah Jane was just starting to think about where to put everyone for the night, when Luke stood so suddenly his chair fell over. He stumbled backwards, hands going to his temples. "Mum, it's happening again..."
"Again?" She rose, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Hang on, Luke..."
"Luke." Jack caught his shoulders, holding him steady. "Listen to me. I need you to lower your hands, okay? Trust me. Let go."
It took a couple of false starts but Luke lowered his hands, gripping Sarah Jane's arms tightly. Jack touched two fingers to the boy's temples, watching him closely. "Good man. Keep fighting them, Luke, okay? Listen, we're going to build a wall. Can you see what I'm doing?"
"I...yes..." Luke closed his eyes, groaning, and Sarah Jane winced as his grip tightened. Catching her look, Ianto pried Luke's hands free and let him grip his arm instead.
"Good. Keep it going. Just wall them off, let them yell in their corner. Can you see it? It's getting easier, right?" Luke nodded, eyes still closed. "Good man. Keep it up. That's it."
Gwen slipped out to the kitchen, picking up a towel and wetting it. By the time she came back in Luke had relaxed, fit over; he'd let go of Ianto, though he was still hanging onto his mother.
Jack was crouched in front of him, watching carefully. "Did you get the message, Luke? What were they trying to say?"
Luke flinched, rubbing at his forehead. "We are coming...back."
"Put your head down, Luke," Gwen said softly. He obeyed and she draped the cloth across his neck; he shuddered, reaching up with his free hand to hold it in place. "Want some tea?"
"I'm not in shock," he said, voice muffled.
"He'll drink it," Sarah Jane said. Ianto rose to his feet, heading for the kitchen.
"I'm not in shock," Luke said again, more loudly.
"No, but your headache's coming back and this might help. Keep your head down."
Gwen quietly reached for Sarah Jane's arm; it was already bruising where Luke had gripped her. She wrapped another cloth around it without saying anything.
"Who's coming back, Jack?" she asked as she worked.
"I don't know yet. Luke, any hint of a timeframe?"
"No."
Sarah Jane caught his eye. "Is that going to last, Jack? Whatever you showed him in there?"
"Probably not," Jack admitted. "It's only short term, it's not designed to hold up for long. Just to get your mind clear."
"I can do it again," Luke said. "I'll remember it."
"Good man," Jack said again, but he was watching Sarah Jane and the look on his face was clear.
"Where did you learn that?" Gwen asked. "I've never seen you do that before."
"It doesn't work with everyone. There has to be a certain level of ability."
"Luke's not..."
"It's latent," Jack said quickly. "He can't use it. But it's there. It's a Time Agent technique, it's supposed to give you a breathing space to figure out what to do." He caught Sarah Jane's eye. "If they figure out he's hearing them, if they push, it won't hold. It's not designed to. There's other techniques I can show him, but they'll have to wait until it happens again."
Ianto came back in, tray in his hands. "Drinks all around," he said brightly.
Gwen peeled the cloth off Luke's neck, letting him sit up, and passed him his cup. "Drink it all," she told him.
Luke took a sip and made a face. "There's more sugar than tea in here."
"It's good for you. Drink it all."
Sarah Jane glanced at him. "Luke, I need to talk to Jack for a minute. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he assured her, but he had to concentrate fiercely to loosen his grip on her arm. Gwen settled next to him, aware that just having someone there would be some comfort.
Ianto was flipping through the TV stations, finally settling on BBC news. "...every child in the world," the newsreader was saying. "There is still no answer as to why they should be speaking in English. Once again, this evening's message was 'We are coming back.' There is still no clue who these strange messages are coming from or when they may have visited before."
In the hall Sarah Jane settled on the steps, cradling her cup. "Did you see anything in Luke's mind?"
"Enough to know he's amazing. But the messages - no. He was shielding me from them. Fighting them off took everything he had and he still took the effort to protect me. He's a wonderful boy, Sarah Jane."
"He's a boy, Jack. He's my boy."
"Yes. I know." He sighed, settling on the step below her. "I'm trying my best here, Sarah Jane."
She nodded quickly. "I know you are. Thank you. He seems better this time."
"We'll figure out a way to keep him safe. I promise."
She nodded, taking a deep breath to collect herself. "I don't have a spare room, Jack, but there's the couch..."
"We'll manage. We've been worse places. Got a couple of blankets?"
"Yes. I'll get them for you."
She didn't move, though, and Jack settled in to wait with her.