The Wife of Captain Jack Harkness

Saved Again

 The entire world was laid low, weak and half dying after a long five years of fighting. The influenza was the final assault. One day I suddenly remembered Merak’s words the unstoppable plague and millions that will die… I felt icy shivers running through my body as his taunting words returned to me, a sickening fear in the pit of my stomach. All I could think about was my son and protecting him. Through my brother’s knowledge I’d learnt about influenza and how infection spread. I kept Peter at home, David knew the government was covering up the full extent of the fatalities and agreed entirely with my actions. I went about my business cautiously, as a mother, the carer and protector of my family I knew I had to remain strong. My son and husband remained untouched by the influenza, it never occurred to me that I would be struck down by influenza. And no one knew at first that this particular outbreak would prove fatal to my generation…

 “I can’t be dying… I can’t die. Peter!” Those were the words I repeatedly uttered in my delirium as I lay thrashing in bed, my body battling against the raging fever. I had never known anything like it, my whole body had turned against me. I remember little from that time, I rely on the account of my husband who remained at my bedside constantly nursing me. We hoped that if I survived the fever then I would begin to recover, no one could have foreseen the infection on my lungs which would follow later. I had found the happiness I’d been searching for my whole life. It had been mine for a brief time. I had a husband and young son dependent upon me and I suddenly found myself on the threshold of joining my two babies and being taken away from the living.

 “Am I too late?”

 I was so weak, I had difficulty recognizing the people around me but that voice above all others I knew… It was Jack Harkness. My angel had returned to me, had he come to say goodbye? No Jack had come to try and save me… I felt his hand gently stroking my brow and the next moment I remember being lifted and held in his arms, a bottle placed to my lips.

 “You’ve got to take this Bella. It will help you fight the infection. It’s your only chance.”

 I wasn’t in my right mind, I was resistant at first, confused as the vile tasting liquid was poured down my throat. But I listened to Jack’s voice, a spark of light in the darkness, willing me to live.

 “That’s it Bella, you’ve got to live for your boy…You’ve got to.”

 After I’d finished drinking he held me close for a moment then placed me back in the bed. I lost all notion of time, how long Jack Harkness stayed I don’t know. Though when I next woke Jack was gone and David was beside me. It was my husband’s presence of mind which had brought Jack Harkness to me and it seems he had contacted him just in time. I was beginning to feel better, under Jack’s instruction David gave me more of the magical liquid, my personal elixir. So it wasn’t a dream, Jack Harkness had come to me in my hour of greatest need. In the coming weeks I began to gain strength and was on my way to a full recovery. Jack Harkness had saved me again. After sending him away, did I deserve saving? I often wonder whether he should have saved me. Although he stayed in constant contact during that time, I did not see Jack Harkness again. But how did Jack save me? I later discovered from one of his letters which I destroyed after reading that Jack had saved me with a drug which had not even been invented yet. It’s called penicillin and one day, not so very far from my future it will change the world. You may wonder how this was indeed possible. But Jack was from the future, he had visited this time before and in his pre-immortality days he had left behind important supplies hidden away for emergencies. I had survived and I would always be grateful, yet my joy was accompanied by guilt. I sought God’s forgiveness, for I had cheated death while millions had died the world over.

 That was Jack’s final gift to me. Jack Harkness retreated back into the shadows and left me alone to live my life. A fortnight later I was strong enough to finally rise from my bed. As soon as he saw me, my little boy came running towards his mummy. I held young Peter tightly in my arms and rejoiced in the feeling that I was alive. From that day on happiness and laughter reigned in our family and there was one prayer which I have held fast to my whole life. Until the end of my days I will never stop seeing the beauty and wonder in this life. It is a miracle any of us are here at all. And a miracle the day Jack Harkness came into my life. David and I lived out our remaining years in contentment, we watched our son grow to become a fine, young man. I hope David was happy with me, I remember the quiet relief and joy on his face when he knew I was saved. David died five years ago and all the song has been driven from my heart. When someone good is taken from you it’s only then that you begin to appreciate their true worth. My family are my greatest consolation and joy but the day David Jenkins left me all hope was gone from my world, only to be replaced by an aching loneliness.