Torchwood/Doctor Who - fic & art - The Torchwood Girls, part 2, Jack, Joan, Tim Latimer, 12
Thank you for all the lovely comments on part 1 :)
Title - The Torchwood Girls
Author - laurab1
Characters/Pairings - Jack, Joan Redfern, Tim Latimer, OCs, Nine/Rose/Jack
Rating - 12 (minor, non-explicit sexual content)
Length - 940 words
Spoilers - TW: general series, DW: 1.9-13, 2.2, 3.8/9 and 3.11-13
Summary - What on Earth has she just committed herself to? Some sort of military organisation, with responsibility for life that is not of this planet?
Disclaimer: alas, none of these people are mine
Feedback is loved and appreciated :) Enjoy!
Thanks to _medley_ for art advice, when I was threatening my PSP7 with a pointy stick :)
Part 1
The Torchwood Girls
by Laura
Part 2
When Captain Harkness has left, Joan looks back at the card he presented her with. What on Earth has she just committed herself to? Some sort of military organisation, with responsibility for life that is not of this planet? She just went along with it, let herself be...seduced by a handsome gentleman with a persuasive smile and knowledge of events that have yet to happen, who needs someone with a cool head.
Which implies that he himself can be the complete opposite.
However, she did negotiate a place at university out of him. Smiling to herself and rising from the sofa, she goes to her desk to write her letter of resignation.
Dear Sirs,
I write to resign my position as Matron of Farringham School for Boys.
I suggest that, over the extended Christmas break, the board makes arrangements for the positions that have made vacant over the last two days.
I have had several happy years at the school, and will miss you all very much.
Yours faithfully,
Joan Redfern
***
With Joan busy, Jack takes charge of the hall. Mentioning Torchwood silences some of the police and army; he gets more information from some of the boys. One or two of the older boys smile at him for far longer than they really should.
He only has so much resolve, damn it.
As he stands in a corner, grateful for a few minutes’ peace, one of the maids comes up to him, a few sheets of paper in her hand. “Sir? Captain Harkness?”
Jack smiles down at her, a tiny blond girl. “How can I help you…?”
“Elsie, sir. I was helping Martha tidy Mr Smith’s study one day, and I found this lot stuck between some of his books, in the shelves.”
“You just kept the sheets, Elsie?”
“He’d hidden them, sir, like he didn’t want anyone to see what was on the sheets, but couldn’t destroy them either. I looked at them, curious, and I knew why he’d hidden them, so I hid the pages in an even safer place, to protect him.” She takes a breath, and whispers, “There are things that aren’t legal in them. Things Mr Wilde was sent to prison for.”
“’The love that dares not speak its name’?”
“Yes, Captain.” She looks away for a few seconds, considering. “Love’s love,” she says, returning her eyes to him. “That’s what I believe.”
Oh. Well, she’s not breaking the law; Queen Victoria refusing to believe that girls like that existed. “Elsie, am I in those pages?” Jack asks, when he can think again.
“Yes, sir. I recognised you from the drawing.” She passes him the sheets, Jack can now see that they’ve been torn out of a book.
“Thank you.”
click x2 for full size version
And there he is, a Possible Thing: smiling; flirting with anyone that crossed his path, including the Doctor and Rose; protecting his friends; fixing the TARDIS, receiving his key; facing down Daleks. The Doctor drew him still wearing his flight uniform and cap, the night he came on board the TARDIS. There are, like the girl says, several lines about the numerous occasions that the three of them made love with each other, either as couples or a trio:
...certain intimate, loving acts, involving myself and Jack, or one of us gentlemen and Rose, or even, on occasion, all three of us...
And then, suddenly, almost inexplicably, after the Games Station, the language turns angry.
Jack has to compose himself before he looks back at the girl. “Elsie, what’s your girlfriend’s name?
She doesn’t even blink, just tells him. “Margot, Captain. She’s beautiful, with black hair and magic fingers.”
“That’s great.” Jack smiles. “You’re right, you know. Love is love. Thanks again, Elsie.”
“You’re welcome, sir.” She curtseys and wanders off.
***
After Elsie’s left, one of the boys approaches Jack. It’s Timothy Latimer. He’s already sensed that Tim’s mind is a little...unusual, like some of the other boys have said.
“You’ll meet him again, Captain,” Tim says, looking up at him.
“Yeah?”
“Yes, sir. But not for another ninety four years; the year of our Lord, 2008.”
“I might have forgiven him for abandoning me on a graveyard by then.” Jack laughs bitterly. “Probably not, though.” His business self comes back. “What part did you play in all of this, Tim?”
“I kept this watch safe, until it was it needed. The Doctor hid himself inside; I don’t know precisely how. It spoke to me of all that he is; I saw the many creatures he has encountered. It and I, we used that power to blind the sister of the Family of Blood, the aliens we were fighting.”
Tim passes him a pocket-watch covered in spirals. It’s Gallifreyan script - the Doctor’s language. “What you saw, Tim, did it scare the hell out of you?” Jack asks, assessing him.
“Some of it, sir. The Doctor did frighten me, until I realised exactly what he is.”
“What is he?” Jack returns the watch.
“He's like fire, and ice, and rage. He's like the night, and the storm in the heart of the Sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of Time and he can see the turn of the Universe. And he's wonderful.”
Beneath his feelings of rejection, Jack knows all of that is true. “Yeah.” He attempts a smile. Swiftly making a decision, he reaches inside his coat for another card. Presenting it to the boy, he says, "Tim, if you survive the war -”
“I know I do, sir.”
“- call me. I’d like you to come and work for us. We could use your... ability.”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you.”
TBC
***
And a snippet of the next part -
...On June 28th, the news wires report that Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip has assassinated Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Duchess Sophie.
That night, swearing profusely, Jack consumes several glasses of whisky, and falls asleep at his desk.
He’s awoken by Joan the following morning, worry and concern all over her face.
“Jack?”
“I’ll be all right,” he lies.
“Yes, I can see.” She rolls her eyes at him. “Just how much did you drink?”
“Joan,” he sighs.
“I know, Jack,” she replies, sighing herself. “It’s started; the Archduke is dead, the shadow is descending.” Her expression swiftly changes, and Joan takes his hand and pulls him out of his chair. “Come along. Sofa, and some tea.”
They haven’t even gone five steps, and he’s drawing her into a hug, needing the comfort. He kisses her forehead as well. Jack’s kind of comfort usually goes much further than that, but this is 1914, and Joan Redfern is a lady, so he tries to be good, continuing on to the sofa, letting her make him tea...
crosspost:
torch_wood
torchwood_fic
dwfiction
new_who
galactic_conman
john_joan
better_with_3
Teaspoon
Title - The Torchwood Girls
Author - laurab1
Characters/Pairings - Jack, Joan Redfern, Tim Latimer, OCs, Nine/Rose/Jack
Rating - 12 (minor, non-explicit sexual content)
Length - 940 words
Spoilers - TW: general series, DW: 1.9-13, 2.2, 3.8/9 and 3.11-13
Summary - What on Earth has she just committed herself to? Some sort of military organisation, with responsibility for life that is not of this planet?
Disclaimer: alas, none of these people are mine
Feedback is loved and appreciated :) Enjoy!
Thanks to _medley_ for art advice, when I was threatening my PSP7 with a pointy stick :)
Part 1
The Torchwood Girls
by Laura
Part 2
When Captain Harkness has left, Joan looks back at the card he presented her with. What on Earth has she just committed herself to? Some sort of military organisation, with responsibility for life that is not of this planet? She just went along with it, let herself be...seduced by a handsome gentleman with a persuasive smile and knowledge of events that have yet to happen, who needs someone with a cool head.
Which implies that he himself can be the complete opposite.
However, she did negotiate a place at university out of him. Smiling to herself and rising from the sofa, she goes to her desk to write her letter of resignation.
Dear Sirs,
I write to resign my position as Matron of Farringham School for Boys.
I suggest that, over the extended Christmas break, the board makes arrangements for the positions that have made vacant over the last two days.
I have had several happy years at the school, and will miss you all very much.
Yours faithfully,
Joan Redfern
***
With Joan busy, Jack takes charge of the hall. Mentioning Torchwood silences some of the police and army; he gets more information from some of the boys. One or two of the older boys smile at him for far longer than they really should.
He only has so much resolve, damn it.
As he stands in a corner, grateful for a few minutes’ peace, one of the maids comes up to him, a few sheets of paper in her hand. “Sir? Captain Harkness?”
Jack smiles down at her, a tiny blond girl. “How can I help you…?”
“Elsie, sir. I was helping Martha tidy Mr Smith’s study one day, and I found this lot stuck between some of his books, in the shelves.”
“You just kept the sheets, Elsie?”
“He’d hidden them, sir, like he didn’t want anyone to see what was on the sheets, but couldn’t destroy them either. I looked at them, curious, and I knew why he’d hidden them, so I hid the pages in an even safer place, to protect him.” She takes a breath, and whispers, “There are things that aren’t legal in them. Things Mr Wilde was sent to prison for.”
“’The love that dares not speak its name’?”
“Yes, Captain.” She looks away for a few seconds, considering. “Love’s love,” she says, returning her eyes to him. “That’s what I believe.”
Oh. Well, she’s not breaking the law; Queen Victoria refusing to believe that girls like that existed. “Elsie, am I in those pages?” Jack asks, when he can think again.
“Yes, sir. I recognised you from the drawing.” She passes him the sheets, Jack can now see that they’ve been torn out of a book.
“Thank you.”
click x2 for full size version
And there he is, a Possible Thing: smiling; flirting with anyone that crossed his path, including the Doctor and Rose; protecting his friends; fixing the TARDIS, receiving his key; facing down Daleks. The Doctor drew him still wearing his flight uniform and cap, the night he came on board the TARDIS. There are, like the girl says, several lines about the numerous occasions that the three of them made love with each other, either as couples or a trio:
...certain intimate, loving acts, involving myself and Jack, or one of us gentlemen and Rose, or even, on occasion, all three of us...
And then, suddenly, almost inexplicably, after the Games Station, the language turns angry.
Jack has to compose himself before he looks back at the girl. “Elsie, what’s your girlfriend’s name?
She doesn’t even blink, just tells him. “Margot, Captain. She’s beautiful, with black hair and magic fingers.”
“That’s great.” Jack smiles. “You’re right, you know. Love is love. Thanks again, Elsie.”
“You’re welcome, sir.” She curtseys and wanders off.
***
After Elsie’s left, one of the boys approaches Jack. It’s Timothy Latimer. He’s already sensed that Tim’s mind is a little...unusual, like some of the other boys have said.
“You’ll meet him again, Captain,” Tim says, looking up at him.
“Yeah?”
“Yes, sir. But not for another ninety four years; the year of our Lord, 2008.”
“I might have forgiven him for abandoning me on a graveyard by then.” Jack laughs bitterly. “Probably not, though.” His business self comes back. “What part did you play in all of this, Tim?”
“I kept this watch safe, until it was it needed. The Doctor hid himself inside; I don’t know precisely how. It spoke to me of all that he is; I saw the many creatures he has encountered. It and I, we used that power to blind the sister of the Family of Blood, the aliens we were fighting.”
Tim passes him a pocket-watch covered in spirals. It’s Gallifreyan script - the Doctor’s language. “What you saw, Tim, did it scare the hell out of you?” Jack asks, assessing him.
“Some of it, sir. The Doctor did frighten me, until I realised exactly what he is.”
“What is he?” Jack returns the watch.
“He's like fire, and ice, and rage. He's like the night, and the storm in the heart of the Sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the centre of Time and he can see the turn of the Universe. And he's wonderful.”
Beneath his feelings of rejection, Jack knows all of that is true. “Yeah.” He attempts a smile. Swiftly making a decision, he reaches inside his coat for another card. Presenting it to the boy, he says, "Tim, if you survive the war -”
“I know I do, sir.”
“- call me. I’d like you to come and work for us. We could use your... ability.”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you.”
TBC
***
And a snippet of the next part -
...On June 28th, the news wires report that Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip has assassinated Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Duchess Sophie.
That night, swearing profusely, Jack consumes several glasses of whisky, and falls asleep at his desk.
He’s awoken by Joan the following morning, worry and concern all over her face.
“Jack?”
“I’ll be all right,” he lies.
“Yes, I can see.” She rolls her eyes at him. “Just how much did you drink?”
“Joan,” he sighs.
“I know, Jack,” she replies, sighing herself. “It’s started; the Archduke is dead, the shadow is descending.” Her expression swiftly changes, and Joan takes his hand and pulls him out of his chair. “Come along. Sofa, and some tea.”
They haven’t even gone five steps, and he’s drawing her into a hug, needing the comfort. He kisses her forehead as well. Jack’s kind of comfort usually goes much further than that, but this is 1914, and Joan Redfern is a lady, so he tries to be good, continuing on to the sofa, letting her make him tea...
crosspost:
torch_wood
torchwood_fic
dwfiction
new_who
galactic_conman
john_joan
better_with_3
Teaspoon