Ghosts

Forest of the Dead

I wake up before Jack and Ianto, but I don't get up. I snuggle deeper into the blankets and cast fearful glances at the shadows.

Jack wakes up a while later. He looks at the light, still turned on, with the sheet draped over it. Then he gives me a questioning look.

"I got scared," I say indignantly.

"Of the dark? Come on, Hazel, we're Torchwood." This is the first time he's talked down to me.

"Not of the dark," I huff. "Of the vashta nerada. I dreamt of them last night, and I'm almost certain that's what we'll be dealing with by tonight."

"You do realize they can't hurt you?" 

"The fear is real," I whisper dramatically. Going back to normal volume, "Do you have any idea what to do about them?"

Jack slowly shakes his head.

"Then we should call the Doctor." I declare, and Ianto wakes up. I think it was the tone of my voice, because I hadn't said that any louder, and I'm quieter than Jack.

"Alright," Jack agrees, turning and smiling at the sleepy Ianto. "But let's get breakfast first."

*~*

Over the hotel's complementary breakfast (thank Chuck for those) we discuss what we know. Which is very little, so we do more eating than talking, which is okay, because it is breakfast. And not a bad breakfast either for some random hotel.

When we get back to the room (we use Tosh and Owen's because they have the fancy equipment) Jack calls the Doctor. He puts the call on speaker so we can all hear.

The Doctor picks up on the tenth ring.

"Hello?" He asks, slightly out of breath, I take it we got him mid flight. 

"Doctor!" Jack exclaims. I shush him, we are in a hotel, not the hub.

"Jack!" The reply is enthusiastic, but worried.  He knows it's not a social call and Jack wouldn't call about something small. "What's wrong?"

"So quick to assume the worst..." Jack starts to joke but trails off at Ianto's glare. "There's a situation in LA. We're 99% percent sure the city will be swarmed by vashta nerada tonight."

There's a silence (silence will fall) (I'm sorry I had to) from the other end of the line. And this side, for that matter. Then finally, "What's the date?"

Jack gives it to him and he hangs up. "No warnings about the ghosts then?" Tosh inquires.

"Who knows," Jack shrugs. "He might be able to see you."

*~*

I'm sorry. This is the first time I've been late posting, so please forgive me. You probably won't, considering I have camp all next week and won't be able to write until Monday (the 20th) but will still be recovering from camp (I help out I'm not a camper) so maybe the Tuesday after? If we're lucky? Ugh and this is short too I feel terrible. This is why I should write the whole book before posting because then it will be done and there's no wait for you guys, but you guys are my motivation so I probably wouldn't get far. There's no solution (besides actually motivating myself but seriously come on here people I'm a procrastinator).