The Storms of Change: Chapter Twelve
Summary: There comes a time in every Sentinel's life when their immortality is revealed. When 21st Century Earth is the epicenter of the change that will decide the survival of the human race. What kind of consequences affect those who are preparing for the change as this immortality is revealed amongst one of their own. Is Torchwood really ready?
Words: 1,014
Title: Children
It was raining, trapping most people inside and relentlessly beating down on the fools who'd ventured out. The room was dimly lit, casting shadows with odd alien like shapes. At the window stood a still figure, staring out with sad green eyes, face devoid of any emotion. On the bed lay another, tangled in the sheets gracefully, gazing at his companion silently. Both were naked, hair messed up and bodies marked.
The encompassing silence was slightly suffocating but still companionable. The man in the bed was patiently waiting for his companion to talk to him, tell him what was wrong and receive his comfort. He could wait forever if he had to, he truly didn't mind because his love for the other was strong and would never not be.
"I had a sister once."
The words were spoken softly but just loud enough so that they could be heard over the rain.
"What happened to her?"
Silence again and it stretched out. The man on the bed closed his eyes as if to sleep but sleep did not claim him. A sense of calmness washed over the room and the man at the window turned to his companion, partner, lover. The man on the bed opened his eyes and smiled, shifting slightly to regain feeling in his right leg. He was joined and they wrapped their arms around one another.
"Carys was my baby sister. She was always quiet and had a passion for nature but one day, when she was seven and I was ten she just disappeared. They don't know what happened to her and all I can remember is a voice that sounded both male and female at the same time."
Children were the future of everything, of every race. Without a next generation there was no way to ensure complete continuality. They were precious, innocent and protected above all else. When Torchwood got wind of a string of missing children with no obvious connection but that they'd all disappeared at approximately the same time on six consecutive days they entered the investigation head on. Someone was taking the children, leaving no trance and somehow rendering the CCTV inactive for the period of the kidnapping and it just screamed "alien".
None of them were in good moods as they ran over each scene with the police. They were remembering the last case that had involved a child and were dreading the outcome of this one. Cooperation with the police was only a little rough as no one wanted to get into turf wars when children were involved but Jack wished he had Gwen to make things smoother. As it were, she was on a vacation with Rhys (his insistence) so he would have to make do with his own charm.
They'd questioned the families of the children except one and they were headed there now. Dylan Jones had been the most recent to be taken and they were going to interview the family now. They'd dropped Tosh and Ianto off at the park Dylan had been taken from, which wasn't far from the house and Jack and Owen would begin the questioning.
The house was two sores though not particularly large and surrounded by a community the rift rarely touched on the north western end of the city. There were several cars already parked in the driveway, Jack guessed family, so he parked on the street.
"This is shit," Owen grumbled.
"I know," Jack replied as they walked up to the front door. "But it’s got to be done."
Jack rang the bell and a young man in his early twenties answered. He had light brown hair that was a little long and dark blue eyes. It took Jack a few minutes to convince him they were investigating Dylan's disappearance and that no, the police could no answer all their questions.
In the living room they were surrounded by all of Rhiannon's family, her brother, parents and step father. It made Jack defensive, especially with the way the mother was staring at him.
"What do you need to know?" Rhiannon asked tiredly. She was young, probably only twenty. She'd had Dylan as a teenager, fifteen or sixteen as they boy was only five years old.
"Did you son have any medical conditions?" Owen asked. Experience had told them that it was better to start with, instead of the behavioral stuff.
Rhiannon frowned, "No, he was healthy, very healthy. Why? Why is Special Ops involved"?
"You've heard of the other missing children?" Jack asked and she nodded. "We believe they're all connected even though by typical standards they don't seem to be."
"And what are you atypical standards? Why my son?"
"That's what we're trying to find out," Jack told her softly.
"So you can use whatever it is that's special about these children for your own gain?" Rhiannon's mother asked darkly.
"Mother," Rhiannon said outraged. "They're trying to help."
The older woman shook her head, "I'm sorry baby but Torchwood doesn’t help. They take and they exploit until there is nothing left."
Jack scowled, "Whatever experience you've had with Torchwood ma'am, we're nothing like that. I promise you, we're only concerned with getting the children home."
"Jo," Rhiannon's father said. "He's probably right."
"How can you say that after what Torchwood had done in the past?" she demanded.
"Because we're not like bloody London," Owen snapped. "We actually have morals so if we could get back to the actual issue at hand we'll be able to find your grandson faster."
Finished with that, Owen turned back to Rhiannon, "One of the aspects that links the children together is that they're quiet and tend to keep to themselves, even with family members. And sometimes they act as if they're looking at someone that's not really there, someone in the trees."
Rhiannon looked at her parents, fear in her eyes then at Owen and Jack. "All of that. I thought it was just a phase. Are you saying something supernatural took my son?"
"It was alien," Jo said, "or else Torchwood wouldn't be here."
Chapter Thirteen
Sentinels Guide