Keep Dreaming

Quid Novi - Erin's POV

Moments later, Jack returned with Ianto draped over his shoulder, carrying him easily as easily as one might carry a lapdog. I was silently impressed, but didn't let it show with my demeanour.
"Okay. This way."
Jack motioned for me to follow him and I followed suit. He guided me to a slab of pavement.
"Stand here."
I eyed him suspiciously.
"Why, is it a booby-trap or something?"
He shrugged.
"Not too far off."
I was skeptical, but curiosity got the better of me. I stood on the path and Jack stood beside me. Nothing happened for a second. All of a sudden, the ground growled under my feet and I felt a shift. I looked up at Jack, eyes wide with terror.
"It's just like an elevator. Don't worry."
In my personal opinion, lifts were pretty terrifying - but I swallowed this thought and tried to process whatever was happening. I looked all around me as we descended into the urban utopia, drinking in the sights. There was a mix of city infrastructure and tropical plants all around this underground haven. I looked up at the hole in the roof, early morning sun glinting through. Water flowed into the building, creating a mini biosphere.
"Oh my god..."
I muttered underneath my breath as I realised what this must mean. I sucked in a breath and tried to steady myself.
"But these are the Torchwood Headquarters... from your dreams."
I tried to say at a normal volume, but it came out as a squeak.
Jack looked at me, a proud expression on his face.
"What'dya think?"
I stood, mouth agape, as I tried to fathom it all. We were coming to the bottom of the building, the slab almost fully descended.
Jack took a deep breath.
"Okay, just so you know-"
"Jack, who the fuck is that?"
Jack didn't get time to tell me what he was about to say, but I think I could guess:
Owen Harper.
As the slab settled into the ground, I could see three faces gawking at us from different parts of the room: one peeking from behind a computer, face half-hidden by glasses; one from beside the door, just arrived; one from what looked like a mini med bay.
The man from the med bay was evidently the one who had spoken.
He strutted over and looked me up and down, confused look on his face. It felt almost like I was meeting a fictional character in real life. I gulped as he impatiently awaited a response.
"Oh, I'm Erin. Erin Evans."
I stuck out my hand to shake his, but instead he looked at it dismissively and continued talking. God, he was just how Jack had described him. I couldn't help but chuckle quietly to myself.
"And why, exactly, is she here?"
I was about to retort with the reason why I was there, but I faltered as I realised I didn't know myself. I pointed at Owen as I turned around to Jack.
"Good question, actually. Jack, why am I here?"
Now it was Jack's turn to choke on his words, unsure of what to say. The rest of the team and I looked at him expectantly. The woman who was by the door - whom I believed to be Gwen - piped up, sounding amused at his loss of words.
"G'wan Jack. Tell us."
Toshiko didn't say anything, just shifted her glance from person to person, her brown doe-eyes wide. She almost seemed frightened by the confrontation.
Jack exhaled loudly and raised his eyebrows.
"Okay."
He sighed, sounding decisive.
"Meeting. Now."
I looked around in astonishment and awe as I followed to others to the boardroom. I gawked up at the cascading waterfall, the high ceilings and - a bird?
Or it could be- no it couldn't possibly be - or could it?
I then realised that, yes, it seemed to be the pterodactyl that Jack had described to me in previous sessions! My breath hitched in my throat.

This was certainly the most interesting day I'd had in a while.

When in the boardroom, we all sat down. I looked around awkwardly as I waited for an explanation. We all sat down, except for Jack, who stood at the head of the table.
"I would offer you a coffee,"
Jack began, talking with his hands as he tended to do in our sessions.
"-but you retconned Ianto."
He said in a flat tone. Everyone at the table glanced over as my face turned red-hot from the attention.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I just had a feeling he put something in my tea so I swap-"
"Doesn't matter right now."
Jack interjected.
"What matters is me explaining why you're here."
He inhaled deeply and massaged his temples.
He faced the rest of the team.
"It's no secret that things have been a little... difficult here recently. And I thought that, maybe, I just wasn't a good enough leader - until I remembered that it isn't my job to make sure you all get along with eachother. I'm not running a kindergarten."
It was the team's turn to look sheepish now - bar Owen, who sniggered at the metaphor until Jack shot him a look.
"Sorry."
He muttered half-heartedly. Jack turned to look at me now.
"That's why I started going to you."
I was puzzled. I didn't quite understand what he was saying.
"You came to me... to make you better at resolving conflict? But we only ever talk about your dr-"
I then remembered that the "dreams" were a reality.
"Well, we have talked about work, technically - but I haven't given you any strategies or advice or-"
"Hold on."
Owen chimed in, an amused look on his face.
"Are you saying that he-"
He pointed at Jack.
"Has been seeing a shrink?"
Gwen and Toshiko didn't say anything, but looked to Jack with curiosity, as though they were dying to find out whether this was true or not.
"No- well, yes I have technically been seeing a shrink. But it isn't because I have a problem."
He explained, rather defensively. Owen snickered.
"That's what they all say."

Jack sighed.
"Erin, can I talk to you outside for a minute?"
I nodded timidly, still not completely sure of what was going on. I felt eyes burning into the back of my head as I walked out of the room, hushed whispers already beginning. As we were going out the door, Jack turned and gave the team a disapproving look. I didn't want to know what he might have heard.
He closed the door gently behind him and then walked a few paces. I followed close behind.
"Erin, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be open-minded. Do you think you can do that?"
I realised as he towered over me, just how tall Jack Harkness was. I was so small in comparison, the usual comfort I felt in our sessions had dissipated. I looked up at him- wide-eyed, and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll try."
His eyebrows relaxed and he looked at me with a smile that was almost-smug in nature.
"How would you feel about working for Torchwood?"