(Untitled)

[beat_death]

Owen had been having kind of a shit day. Of course, those came more often than not on the island, but that didn't make those days any less shit. As a result, Owen was currently tromping though the jungle, just off of the beaten path, on his way to Helen's. If there was one thing that would cheer him up, it was a good shag, and god knew she was good

Comments

[coffee_sir]

The problem with dogs was that they had absolutely no sense of propriety. Ianto knew very well that running into a man obviously in deep thought in a cemetery of all places was inappropriate and rude, but Banon knew no such thing. She only knew that she had no leash to hold her back, that her master would follow and that a familiar scent lay ahead of her.

She came bounding uncontrollably into Owen's shins, having misjudged the ground and yelping in surprise. Ianto jogged up only seconds later, a frown of concern already in place. "Fach? Owen?"

[beat_death]

Under normal circumstances, Owen might have threatened to kick Ianto's little dog if he didn't get him under control, but now, he simply ignored the small animal near his legs.

"...it's her tombstone," Owen said, voice very nearly breaking at the end of his sentence. He didn't think he'd ever even told Ianto about what had happened with Katie, but he couldn't be bothered with explaining at the moment.

Christ. He'd dealt with this once before. He'd moved past it. But now, knowing where Katie had gone, that she gone to where there was nothing, just scrambling in the darkness...

"Fuck."

[coffee_sir]

Ianto didn't comment until he had come closer and gotten a look at the tombstone from behind Owen's shoulder. He had two good guesses as to whom the stone belonged and didn't want to say anything without knowing for sure. Banon, sensing Owen's mood and Ianto's quiet, settled and sat down on her haunches, watching both men with a curious cant of her head.

He recognized the name and fought not to wince. He knew it was coming, had grown to assume a certain degree of cruelty on the island that just seemed horrible chance back home, but that didn't make it an easier to accept or to overcome.

"I'm sorry, Owen," he murmured weakly.

[beat_death]

"Fuck of a lot of good that does," Owen murmured, then kicked at the dirt near his feet. He really felt like hitting something, but that would have to do for now. "It's as if... just when this place finally gets tolerable, something's got to fuck it all up."

He should have just been grateful to be alive. If it wasn't for the island, he'd still be stuck like he'd been back home: not quite living, not quite dead. But times like this made it harder to remember the good things about where they lived now.

[poison_lipstick]

Not being a fan of churches in general, Saffron didn't much go to the one on the island, even though it was so close to her hut. If on occasion, say after she'd had that dream or when she was missing home more than usual, she happened to stroll in that general direction, it was purely unintentional, of course. And naturally she never caught sight of the building and thought of Shepherd Book.

She happened to be walking in that general direction just then, and wouldn't have paid the graveyard much mind except for the fact that she saw, out of the corner of her eye, someone standing amidst the tombstones. It was the way they were standing, almost frozen, that made her turn her head and look.

"Owen?" She frowned slightly, a puzzled and concerned look developing on her face as she made her way over to him. She looked down at the tombstone, and the name was one she'd never heard. "What is it, honey?" she said, laying one hand lightly on his upper arm.

[beat_death]

It took Owen a few moments to even register that he'd been spoken to, and a moment more to realize who it was that had spoken. Still, he didn't turn to look at Helen immediately, eyes still transfixed on the tombstone.

"It's hers," He said, though he knew that he'd never spoken about Katie to Helen.

[poison_lipstick]

Owen had never said anything to her about a Katie Russell, who could have been girlfriend, sister, or mother for all Saffron knew. What was obvious was that it was someone whose loss had affected him. "Who was she?"

[beat_death]

"She was..." Owen started, then stopped, choking up. "Well, she... she died. Alien parasite in her brain."

He couldn't have known. Back then, he hadn't been with Torchwood, so there was no way he could have ever fathomed what was going on with Katie. He'd told himself that time and time again, and still he felt guilty for not having been able to do anything.

He'd been so fucking helpless and he hated it.

"She was my fiancee."

[1000_cranes]

She's been seeing him regularly as her Doctor, but she's not actually looking for him today. She'd come here to spend a few quiet moments thinking about Bobby. There's a paper crane folded in her lap. No grave but a loss as palpable as a death, some days. She loved that old man like a father. It's a long time before she notices Owen and, when she does, she's not sure if she ought to intrude.

She gets up, hand on her bump, leaving the crane in the grass.

"Owen?" she asks, reaching out for him with one hand. "Honey?"

[beat_death]

He hadn't even realized someone else was there until Charlie had spoken, and even then, he didn't look at her right away. Like, if he took his eyes off of the tombstone for even a second, it'd be gone.

"You know, sometimes I forget how much I hate this fucking place." He said.

Despite knowing what was in store for him if he wasn't there, Owen couldn't help but wonder if this was somehow worse. It was ridiculous, but he still couldn't help thinking it.

[captainjack]

Jack was doing some cool down after ITF and his jog took his path over different ground. Every time it was a new route, just to mix things up. Coming through the cemetary, Jack saw Owen just standing there. He pulled up to a halt and gave the man a curious once over.

"What's going on, Owen?" he asked, hands on his hips as he willed his heart rate down.

[beat_death]

The weird part about it was that Owen had almost expected Jack to turn up. At least this time, he didn't think he'd gone insane.

At least no more insane than anyone else on the island.

"Well, I guess that was the only thing missing, wasn't it?" Owen said, not turning to look at Jack. "You, me, a graveyard and Katie's tombstone. I'll bet you're feeling nostalgic."

[captainjack]

Not as much nostalgic as confused. Is this something that happened?" he asked, arching a brow. "Who's Katie?"

[beat_death]

Sometimes it was easier that Owen liked to admit to forget that Jack wasn't the same Jack he'd known back home. So long working near the rift and he it still slipped his mind.

"Someone I knew," Owen said, which wasn't exactly a lie. "Do you know, they almost had me convinced that I'd hallucinated you? And then you showed up, weeks later, just like this?"

[drownondryland]

Meredith didn't come to the graveyard on purpose, not with any intent; it was just somewhere she wound up from time to time, out wandering when she had nothing better to do. She barely paid any attention to where she was going until she saw Owen and started his way. About to say hello, she hesitated, realizing he was just standing in front of a grave, not really moving, and she couldn't be sure he wanted company.

"Owen?"

[beat_death]

"Do you ever think this place is just around to see how much shit it can put us through?" Owen asked, not turning around to face Meredith just yet. He'd recognized her voice, yes, but the moment was so surreal that he didn't want to look away just yet.

He remembered when Katie's parents had picked out that tombstone. He remembered when they'd lowered her into the ground.

And suddenly Owen couldn't help but wonder if it was just the tombstone that had made its way to the island.

[drownondryland]

"All the freaking time," Meredith admitted, still quiet as she stepped forward, moving closer. It had been only a few days since Izzie's disappearance and if that wasn't a test of her strength, she didn't know what was. She'd been through some awful things in her time, but losing people, however it was accomplished, never got easier. "Someone you knew?"

[beat_death]

"Someone I couldn't save," he replied, and finally looked over at her, shoulders slumping with a sigh.

He'd tried everything he knew, sent Katie through every test and procedure there was, and it still hadn't been enough. It wasn't as if he could have known what was really wrong with her, but Owen still couldn't help but blame himself.