Nightingale: Agent of Torchwood

Day One [7]

The Torchwood team burst into Eddie's flat only to find dust on the bed.

"We're too late," Nightingale noted.

"Tosh was right, though." Jack said, "She went for the ex-boyfriend. Lucky she's young. Work through my back catalog; we'll be here till the sun explodes."

"Not something you brag about,"

"So what's our next move?"

"Stop the entire city of Cardiff from shagging," Owen suggested.

"Put bromide in the water supply," Toshiko said.

Jack shook his head. "No. Too hit and miss,"

"Yeah, and the water company got pissed off the last time we did that," Owen reminded.

"It could've picked anybody in Cardiff," Nightingale spoke up. "Why her?"

"Just assumed it was random," Toshiko shrugged.

"Demanding Carys's life to get what it needs," Jack said.

"So what else do we know about her to give us leads?" Owen questioned.

"Anything you can think of?" Jack asked Nightingale.

"Conway clinic," Nightingale noted.

"You're joking!" Owen laughed.

"What's the problem?"

"It's a bloody fertility clinic. Sperm donors. An unlimited supply of orgasmic energy without all the build-up,"

"Perfect hit," Jack said.

***

Jack handed Nightingale a handgun.

"What's this for?" Nightingale questioned.

"You need a diagram?" Jack asked.

"Like my brother, I don't use guns. Even on Asgard, we only used swords and knives,"

"Carry it. I'll make sure you don't need to use it,"

"What do we do if we find her? How are we going to get that thing out of her?"

"Judging by the test results, the gas needed a host because prolonged exposure to our atmosphere is poisonous, but our bodies are the perfect environment," Toshiko explained.

"So if we isolate it from Carys's body..." Jack said.

"It won't survive for long," Owen finished.

"Sounds like we have ourselves a plan,"

"Force it to die?" Nightingale frowned.

"Just like it did those poor blokes," Owen claimed.

"What about Carys?"

"We better start praying we get to her in time," Owen said as they arrived at the clinic.

"Come on," Jack led the team into the clinic. "Out! Out! Get as far away as you can!"

The men in the clinic left as ordered.

The team searched the building for men and Carys. They entered rooms, guns leading, searching, but in each room, they found only piles of ash.

"In 'ere!" Owen called out, causing the team to enter a room and surround Carys.

"Nowhere to run," Jack pointed his gun at Carys.

"All the sex, all we see, all we think. There is so much beauty and so much fear. We want it, but we're so afraid of..." Carys cried out and collapsed onto the floor. 

Nightingale moved to her to assist her.

"The strain on her body is too much. Any second now, she's rat jam," Owen said.

"One more. Each time is less, and each time, the feelings are weaker. Once more, make me feel alive. Make me feel human," Carys shook Nightingale, desperate.

"Gale..." Jack started.

"I've got some surplus of a life; I'm giving it away." Nightingale looked Carys in the eye. "You really want to feel something?" Nightingale kissed Carys, and Carys glowed with golden energy.

"What's she doing?" Owen wondered.

Carys passed out.

"Her body won't last much longer,"

"Use me." Nightingale said as she put her hands behind Carys's head, "Leave Carys. Take my body as a host. Just let her live,"

"Gale?" Jack took Nightingale's arm to stop her.

Nightingale turned towards Jack. "I'm stronger than she is. I'll last longer,"

"Jack. You can't let her," Tosh whispered.

"Come on, then. Do it. Leave her,"

Carys's eyes opened, and the pink gas came out of her mouth. It headed for Nightingale, but Jack casually tossed the portable cell device onto the floor, and it was trapped inside.

"How long can it survive in there?" Owen asked.

"It was pretty weak. Why?" Tosh questioned.

"Bit worried how long that battery'll last for,"

"It's dying," Nightingale pointed out as the gas disappeared leaving a pile of dust behind it, the battery died in the cell just after. She picked up a handful of dust and let it trickle through her fingers. "Travel halfway across the universe for the greatest sex and still end up dying alone,"

Jack bent down next to Nightingale. He leaned over, put his hand under her chin, lifted her head slightly, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

Nightingale got up and walked away. Once well away from the group, she breathed, placing a finger on her lips.

***

Nightingale was gazing into the container that held her brother's hand.

"Still here?"

Nightingale jumped at the sound of Jack's voice and turned to look back at him.

"Everybody else is off doing whatever it is they do when they're not here,"

"How long have you been there?" Nightingale asked.

Jack took a seat next to Nightingale. "Long enough,"

Nightingale leaned her head against Jack's shoulder.

"Do me a favor, Gale. Don't let the job consume you," Jack got up to leave.

"Do you think he'll like me?" Nightingale voiced.

"Who?"

"My brother. You think he'll be proud of who I am?"

"I think he'll find you fantastic,"