Nightingale: Agent of Torchwood

Ghost Machine [8]

Jack handed the other half of the machine to Toshiko as they all stood in Bernie's flat. "The other half,"

"Alien rock. Alien money," Nightingale noted as she looked at the items on Bernie's desk. "How..."

"Driftwood," Jack reasoned, "washing in through the rift,"

Nightingale nodded.

"So, Bernie, was this thing in two halves when you found it?"

Bernie looked away from Jack when Toshiko managed to snap the machine together.

"I got it," Tosh cheered. "Like clicking Lego together,"

Nightingale moved over and took the machine into her hands "You split this into two pieces, didn't you?"

Bernie didn't respond.

"Come on, you lot," Owen reasoned.

Toshiko grabbed the dish of rock and money "We'll take these, too, if you don't mind,"

"Are you going to arrest me?" Bernie asked.

"No. We're not the police," Jack admitted.

"But I robbed that,"

"I know,"

"And you're gonna rob it back off me?"

"So call the cops,"

Bernie grabbed Nightingale's arm. "Don't go!"

Nightingale gasped. "This shouldn't be..." she felt a substance and saw the red on her hands. "I couldn't stop it. He's dead...." her vision came back to the present as the Ghost Machine dropped from her hands.

Jack came in and forced Bernie to the wall. "What did you do?!"

Bernie ignored him and looked at Nightingale. His eyes widened in fear. "I'm going to die,"

"What're you talking about?"

"He's Clairvoyant," Nightingale breathed as she finally regained her composure. "It's why the machine works for him..."

"What did you see?"

"I murder him,"

***

"There was nobody else there, Jack," Nightingale reported as she sat across from Jack in his office. "I didn't see anyone but me,"

"Bernie said he saw himself dead in that street. You saw yourself with bloody hands," Jack sighed.

Nightingale nodded.

Jack grabbed the Gallifreyan's hand. "That was one future. One of many possible futures. Whatever you saw, what Bernie saw, might not happen,"

Nightingale scoffed and shook her head, discouraged. "I wish we'd never found that bloody machine." she stood up in a huff.

"Where are you going?"

"Down to the range to blow off some steam,"

"Now, who likes guns?" Jack teased playfully.

"Find me a sword, and then we'll talk," Nightingale said as she walked by Tosh's desk when the woman stopped her.

"I found your Ed Morgan earlier," Tosh spoke up. "Did a trace,"

Nightingale nodded. "What did you find?"

"His medical records. He's claustrophobic, paranoid, depressive. Got a couple of recorded attempts of suicide. He's barely left his house in years,"

"Look, Nightingale, if Jack finds out..."

"Our little secret. Girl code, right? I think that's what you humans call it. Is there even a girl code?" Nightingale paused. "If Jack asks...I'm running errands," she hurried out of the hub.

***

Nightingale knocked on Bernie's door. "Bernie, it's Nightingale,"

Bernie came to the door.

"Can I come in?"