Flashes of the Past Part 12/12
Title: Flashes of the Past, Part 12/12
Rating: Errrr 15 for language probably.
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Owen, Zara, The Doctor (ten)
Spoilers: All of series 2 except exit wounds to be on the safe side.
Summary: Set early on in series 2. Zara is alive, but her saviour is also her curse. Final part in this series at last!!!!!
Disclaimer: Regrettably I own nothing, none of the characters, zip. Wish I did though. Except Zara, guess I own her.
Author’s Notes: Just a random idea I had that grew into a fic. Comments are always loved and adored. Feedback is life lol. Can’t say how much I appreciate people reading this! :D Also thanks to everyone who’s stuck with the whole fic!!!! You’re all fab :)
“She’ll never age?”
“No, she’ll never age.” The Doctor nodded, frowning slightly.
“But that’s like-”
“Yes Jack, just like you. I’m so sorry.”
Zara could feel the distant swell of machinery around her as she gradually opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, but she could just make out that the small, white room around her contained two figures sat by her bedside. She gasped, suddenly realising that she could see again. The Doctor had done it.
“You’re awake!” Owen laughed, squeezing her hand in a vice like grip. “Doctor, she’s awake!” Looking to the other figure, Zara squinted desperately to focus her sight. Smiling, she saw the warm face of the Doctor lean forward, looking into her eyes.
“Welcome back.” He smiled, reaching across for his stethoscope and listening to her chest. “You seem to be back in the land of the living Miss Talak.” He grinned.
“Thanks to you. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” She smiled, gripping his shoulder with her free arm.
“Ahhhh.” The Doctor paused, remembering. “You’re alive, that’s all we care about right now.” Patting her hand, he stood up, nodding to Owen. “I’ll go find your Dad, I’m sure he’ll want to see you now eh?” He laughed, covering the guilt that he couldn’t help but feel. Leaving the room quietly, his eyes rested upon Owen and Zara, their hands entwined in a silent intimacy. Nothing was ever going to be simple for them anymore; from now on they’d be separated by time, or a lack of it. He closed his eyes, painful memories playing in front of his eyes. Rose.
Outside of the Tardis, Jack was stood by the harbour, the gentle breeze blowing across his face. It was cold, but he couldn’t feel anymore. The pain was too strong, too intense that nothing could get through.
“She’s awake.” Recognising the soft voice behind him, Jack chose not to turn round, choosing instead to keep his eyes fixed on the water lapping at the jetty in front of him. He sensed the Doctor move to his side, seeing his slim silhouette in the corner of his eye. “You’ve got to see her Jack, it’s not her fault.”
“No. It’s yours.” The Captain spat back, feeling familiar tears well up in his eyes.
“It is you’re right. If I hadn’t done anything, she’d be dead now. I suppose that would be better than this in your eyes Jack?”
“No!” Jack gasped, finally meeting his eyes and seeing there were tears there too. “I would never wish her dead…………but this curse…….I know how it feels, to endlessly lose people, to have the only certain thing about life ripped from you. I just…………I would never wish it upon anyone…” He paused, reaching out and gripping the Doctor’s hand. “And I know you never would either.” Giving him a weak smile, the Doctor took his hand, stroking it with his thumb.
“I’m so sorry.” He breathed, tears rolling down his cheeks. “I let you down. I could have done something, no I should have done something, I-”
“Stop.” Jack shook his head, holding the Doctor’s hand in both of his. “This is something that you are not responsible for. You hear me? This isn’t your fault.” Seeing the Doctor crumble in front of him, Jack instinctively threw his arms around him, cradling him as he sobbed. He had rarely seen the Doctor like this, but he knew that he was the one man who knew how Jack felt all too well.
As he held him, Jack reached out with his mind, wanting to comfort the time lord. As their minds touched he saw images of Rose flash into his head. Her smile, her laughter, pictures of her and the Doctor dancing, kissing, words of love forever hanging in the air. He felt a deep stab of pain hit him in the heart. She was so far away.
“She still loves you.” He thought, holding the link between them.
“I know. And that’s the worst part.” He felt the Doctor reply.
Both men wiped away their tears and returned to the Tardis following the winding corridor until they reached one of the medical bays. At the door the Doctor nodded softly at Jack.
“I’ll stay here. You both need some time.” Jack forced him a weak smile, before taking a deep breath, and opening the door.
“Hey Dad.” Zara smiled softly, her face lighting up as she saw him.
“You look beautiful angel.” He breathed, his eyes fixed on her. She looked so alive, so perfect that he couldn’t help but smile. The pain and fever were gone, leaving him his daughter, his beautiful daughter.
“I’m alive. That’s all I want right now.” Watching him sit next to her, Zara saw the traces of anguish in his face. “Is everything ok?”
“I need to talk to you, that’s all.” Jack smiled his hand softly stroking her hair.
“I’ll leave you to it then.” Owen mumbled, starting to stand up, only to be stopped by Zara’s arm.
“No Owen. Whatever this is, you have a right to know too.” She smiled, looking back to Jack. “No more secrets Dad.”
Regretfully Jack nodded, suddenly feeling nauseous. He didn’t have the words to tell her, to tell them that their future was to be as difficult as his and Ianto’s. He blinked to prevent the tears that had started to prick his eyes from falling. He was going to be there for his daughter this time.
“The nucleodactyl has gone.” He smiled softly, continuing to stroke her hair. “And the neurotoxins haven’t done any lasting damage.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Owen was the first to interrupt this time, his hand still tight around Zara’s.
“Your DNA……….” Jack began, swallowing hard even though his mouth was dry. “It’s………It’s…………You’re immortal Zara.” Jack had to blurt it out to stop himself from lying. He watched her face freeze before his very eyes, saw her grip on Owen’s hand tighten as he had said the words. How he wished that it could have been different….
“That’s impossible!” Owen yelled his voice loud and angry as it sounded round the room.
“It is, but it’s happened Owen. Twice now.”
“I won’t believe it. It just can’t happen. Not like this!”
“Owen……please.” Jack soothed, breathing deeply. “I swear to you that this has happened.”
“You did this to her didn’t you?” Owen spat, seething with anger. “You heartless bastard! You got your mate the Doctor to make her immortal so you wouldn’t have to be alone didn’t you?!” Fists clenched Owen moved to stand up, his eyes searing into Jack’s.
“Owen.” Zara finally found her voice, staring her lover in the eye calmly. “My DNA was always at risk, we knew that. It’s not his fault.”
“But-” His anger dissolving into tears, Owen collapsed into his chair, his hands over his face. “What about us? What about what we said?”
“What about it Owen? This might have happened, but I still feel the same, don’t you?” She paused, reaching out to touch him. “We can still be together Owen; it won’t stop us if we don’t want it to.”
“But, you’ll see me die. Could you do that?”
“Yes. It would be worth every second longer I spend with you.” Smiling, Zara leant forward and wiped the tears from Owen’s eyes, her hands soft against his face. Grabbing her hand he slowly kissed it, before looking into her eyes.
“I need time…………time to think.” He sniffed, beginning to stand up. Zara nodded, regretfully watching him let go of her hand and leave.
“Zara.” Turning round, Zara saw her father’s face crumple before her, his face wrought with pain. “I…………..I…………….” He stuttered.
“It’s ok Dad. I forgive you.” Throwing her arms around him, Zara finally was able to connect with the father she’d lost, and the father that she’d gained.
Holding her arms tight around him, Zara finally let go. She cried for the death that she has been denied, for the pain of the nucleodactyl, for the anger that sat inside her. She cried for Owen, for the Doctor, for Xavier. She felt her short existence flash in front of her and she suddenly contemplated the years ahead, the pain and all the misery. But most of all, she cried for her father. He had felt like this, he still felt like this and he had been alone, so alone. Zara remembered the loneliness she felt after Xavier had died. How often had Jack felt like that? Like there was nothing, no one to carry on living for? Gripping him tighter, she cried more, the painful memories stabbing her and heart and eyes with the same force. Not anymore. Neither of them would be alone again……..
Rating: Errrr 15 for language probably.
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Owen, Zara, The Doctor (ten)
Spoilers: All of series 2 except exit wounds to be on the safe side.
Summary: Set early on in series 2. Zara is alive, but her saviour is also her curse. Final part in this series at last!!!!!
Disclaimer: Regrettably I own nothing, none of the characters, zip. Wish I did though. Except Zara, guess I own her.
Author’s Notes: Just a random idea I had that grew into a fic. Comments are always loved and adored. Feedback is life lol. Can’t say how much I appreciate people reading this! :D Also thanks to everyone who’s stuck with the whole fic!!!! You’re all fab :)
“She’ll never age?”
“No, she’ll never age.” The Doctor nodded, frowning slightly.
“But that’s like-”
“Yes Jack, just like you. I’m so sorry.”
Zara could feel the distant swell of machinery around her as she gradually opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry, but she could just make out that the small, white room around her contained two figures sat by her bedside. She gasped, suddenly realising that she could see again. The Doctor had done it.
“You’re awake!” Owen laughed, squeezing her hand in a vice like grip. “Doctor, she’s awake!” Looking to the other figure, Zara squinted desperately to focus her sight. Smiling, she saw the warm face of the Doctor lean forward, looking into her eyes.
“Welcome back.” He smiled, reaching across for his stethoscope and listening to her chest. “You seem to be back in the land of the living Miss Talak.” He grinned.
“Thanks to you. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” She smiled, gripping his shoulder with her free arm.
“Ahhhh.” The Doctor paused, remembering. “You’re alive, that’s all we care about right now.” Patting her hand, he stood up, nodding to Owen. “I’ll go find your Dad, I’m sure he’ll want to see you now eh?” He laughed, covering the guilt that he couldn’t help but feel. Leaving the room quietly, his eyes rested upon Owen and Zara, their hands entwined in a silent intimacy. Nothing was ever going to be simple for them anymore; from now on they’d be separated by time, or a lack of it. He closed his eyes, painful memories playing in front of his eyes. Rose.
Outside of the Tardis, Jack was stood by the harbour, the gentle breeze blowing across his face. It was cold, but he couldn’t feel anymore. The pain was too strong, too intense that nothing could get through.
“She’s awake.” Recognising the soft voice behind him, Jack chose not to turn round, choosing instead to keep his eyes fixed on the water lapping at the jetty in front of him. He sensed the Doctor move to his side, seeing his slim silhouette in the corner of his eye. “You’ve got to see her Jack, it’s not her fault.”
“No. It’s yours.” The Captain spat back, feeling familiar tears well up in his eyes.
“It is you’re right. If I hadn’t done anything, she’d be dead now. I suppose that would be better than this in your eyes Jack?”
“No!” Jack gasped, finally meeting his eyes and seeing there were tears there too. “I would never wish her dead…………but this curse…….I know how it feels, to endlessly lose people, to have the only certain thing about life ripped from you. I just…………I would never wish it upon anyone…” He paused, reaching out and gripping the Doctor’s hand. “And I know you never would either.” Giving him a weak smile, the Doctor took his hand, stroking it with his thumb.
“I’m so sorry.” He breathed, tears rolling down his cheeks. “I let you down. I could have done something, no I should have done something, I-”
“Stop.” Jack shook his head, holding the Doctor’s hand in both of his. “This is something that you are not responsible for. You hear me? This isn’t your fault.” Seeing the Doctor crumble in front of him, Jack instinctively threw his arms around him, cradling him as he sobbed. He had rarely seen the Doctor like this, but he knew that he was the one man who knew how Jack felt all too well.
As he held him, Jack reached out with his mind, wanting to comfort the time lord. As their minds touched he saw images of Rose flash into his head. Her smile, her laughter, pictures of her and the Doctor dancing, kissing, words of love forever hanging in the air. He felt a deep stab of pain hit him in the heart. She was so far away.
“She still loves you.” He thought, holding the link between them.
“I know. And that’s the worst part.” He felt the Doctor reply.
Both men wiped away their tears and returned to the Tardis following the winding corridor until they reached one of the medical bays. At the door the Doctor nodded softly at Jack.
“I’ll stay here. You both need some time.” Jack forced him a weak smile, before taking a deep breath, and opening the door.
“Hey Dad.” Zara smiled softly, her face lighting up as she saw him.
“You look beautiful angel.” He breathed, his eyes fixed on her. She looked so alive, so perfect that he couldn’t help but smile. The pain and fever were gone, leaving him his daughter, his beautiful daughter.
“I’m alive. That’s all I want right now.” Watching him sit next to her, Zara saw the traces of anguish in his face. “Is everything ok?”
“I need to talk to you, that’s all.” Jack smiled his hand softly stroking her hair.
“I’ll leave you to it then.” Owen mumbled, starting to stand up, only to be stopped by Zara’s arm.
“No Owen. Whatever this is, you have a right to know too.” She smiled, looking back to Jack. “No more secrets Dad.”
Regretfully Jack nodded, suddenly feeling nauseous. He didn’t have the words to tell her, to tell them that their future was to be as difficult as his and Ianto’s. He blinked to prevent the tears that had started to prick his eyes from falling. He was going to be there for his daughter this time.
“The nucleodactyl has gone.” He smiled softly, continuing to stroke her hair. “And the neurotoxins haven’t done any lasting damage.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Owen was the first to interrupt this time, his hand still tight around Zara’s.
“Your DNA……….” Jack began, swallowing hard even though his mouth was dry. “It’s………It’s…………You’re immortal Zara.” Jack had to blurt it out to stop himself from lying. He watched her face freeze before his very eyes, saw her grip on Owen’s hand tighten as he had said the words. How he wished that it could have been different….
“That’s impossible!” Owen yelled his voice loud and angry as it sounded round the room.
“It is, but it’s happened Owen. Twice now.”
“I won’t believe it. It just can’t happen. Not like this!”
“Owen……please.” Jack soothed, breathing deeply. “I swear to you that this has happened.”
“You did this to her didn’t you?” Owen spat, seething with anger. “You heartless bastard! You got your mate the Doctor to make her immortal so you wouldn’t have to be alone didn’t you?!” Fists clenched Owen moved to stand up, his eyes searing into Jack’s.
“Owen.” Zara finally found her voice, staring her lover in the eye calmly. “My DNA was always at risk, we knew that. It’s not his fault.”
“But-” His anger dissolving into tears, Owen collapsed into his chair, his hands over his face. “What about us? What about what we said?”
“What about it Owen? This might have happened, but I still feel the same, don’t you?” She paused, reaching out to touch him. “We can still be together Owen; it won’t stop us if we don’t want it to.”
“But, you’ll see me die. Could you do that?”
“Yes. It would be worth every second longer I spend with you.” Smiling, Zara leant forward and wiped the tears from Owen’s eyes, her hands soft against his face. Grabbing her hand he slowly kissed it, before looking into her eyes.
“I need time…………time to think.” He sniffed, beginning to stand up. Zara nodded, regretfully watching him let go of her hand and leave.
“Zara.” Turning round, Zara saw her father’s face crumple before her, his face wrought with pain. “I…………..I…………….” He stuttered.
“It’s ok Dad. I forgive you.” Throwing her arms around him, Zara finally was able to connect with the father she’d lost, and the father that she’d gained.
Holding her arms tight around him, Zara finally let go. She cried for the death that she has been denied, for the pain of the nucleodactyl, for the anger that sat inside her. She cried for Owen, for the Doctor, for Xavier. She felt her short existence flash in front of her and she suddenly contemplated the years ahead, the pain and all the misery. But most of all, she cried for her father. He had felt like this, he still felt like this and he had been alone, so alone. Zara remembered the loneliness she felt after Xavier had died. How often had Jack felt like that? Like there was nothing, no one to carry on living for? Gripping him tighter, she cried more, the painful memories stabbing her and heart and eyes with the same force. Not anymore. Neither of them would be alone again……..