The Weeping Angel

Chapter 4: Torchwood

CHAPTER 4: TORCHWOOD

"So you work for this 'Torchwood' Then?" I asked Jack. We sat on the bar-stools in a pub just down the road from where I had first woken up. I was already buzzed after a couple shots, I had never been able to hold alcohol. I never really drank at all, so a few shots later and I was already feeling the effects. The bar was dimly lit and a loud, warm chatter filled the air to create comfortable atmosphere. The back wall was lined with bottle upon bottle of alcohol and drink mixes and glasses hung from racks on the ceiling. 

"Yep." He said curtly. I downed another glass and stared thoughtfully at the bottom of the cup.

"Did you say your hair is naturally grey?" He asked. I looked up and squinted, tyring to decide why he would ask such a random question.

"Yeah." I said, going for another glass. Jack watched my every move.

"The thing about the Doctor is he dosen't take someone with him unless there is something about them. A trait that stands out." Jack explained, his expression hard and observing. "And I have a couple explinations on why he might have taken you." He said coyly. 

"Have you seen the Doctor lately?" I asked after a while, in an effort to change the subject.

"No, I'm still looking for him." he said, taking a swig of his drink. 

"yeah, then I guess that makes two of us." I said. I looked at my glass and swirled around the clear liquid before downing it. 

"Don't get yourself too drunk." Jack said with a grin, his demeanor changing suddenly.

"I'm not drunk." I insisted, my voice slightly slurred. Jack laughed and pulled the glass gingerly from my fingers. "Ugh, give it back!" I demanded. 

"That's not going to happen!" He snorted, giving another hearty laugh. After a few seconds his expression slowly grew serious again.

"Est?"

"Hm?

"Do you have the necklace with you?" He asked, recalling information from the story I had told him earlier.

"Not with me, no. Is it important?" I asked, suddenly sobering. He let out a sigh.

"It might change your life." he said grimly. I gulped down my fear and spoke again. 

"How so?" I asked, my knuckles white with my grip on the table.

"How about I take you back to Torchwood to meet the team, and then run some tests?" He asked. I nodded slowly in agreement. Fear gripped my heart at the mention of 'tests.' I was never one for needles... Never one for surprises. But what the hell, my life couldn't possibly get more screwed up than this. Jack stood and offered his arm. I stood slowly, still pondering the prospect of 'tests,' and took his arm. He led me out of the bar after letting a banknote flutter from his grip and land like a leaf onto the table. 

 ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Jack gave my hand a re-assuring squeeze as I gazed at the Torchwood team. 

"Est, this is Torchwood. That's Gwen Cooper, Doctor Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato, and Ianto Jones. Torchwood, Esther Raven." Jack said with a proud smile. 

"Hello." I greeted sheepishly. Jack's hands rested on my shoulders as his face appeared over my shoulder.

"You're going to go with Owen and he will run some tests. Tosh will stand by the computers and Ianto, Gwen, and I will be right here if you need us." He said. I gave a forced grin.

"Brilliant." I breathed.  Jack gave me an encouraging push forwards and I followed Owen down some stairs that lead into what looked like a hastily set up clinic. A morgue table sat in the middle surrounded by white tables, tools, and various gadgets.

Owen was average height and reasonably lanky, he had short brown hair and crooked but handsome features. He had a yellow sort of aura about him. Humorous, logical, intelligent, fun. The auras never failed me, and I could tell a person's personality from a glance. 

"Hi, Esther. I'm Owen." Doctor Harper greeted me with a crooked smile. I managed to smile back. 

"So tests, eh?" I asked, keeping my composure. He nodded as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves and sorted through some surgical tools. I grabbed for Jack's hand again and laced my fingers with his. I didn't care if I barely knew him, there was something comforting about him. I looked up and he grinned down at me. 

"Nothing to worry about. Some blood tests, just need a look at your geno, DNA, et cetara." Owen said. "Not scared of needles are you?" Owen asked, pulling a surgical mask over his nose and mouth. I winced as he pulled out a syringe. 

"Just a tad." I admitted. His chocolate eyes softened a bit.  Gwen gave me a smile from her seat in the room as I admitted my fear.

Gwen was pretty, straight bangs and raven hair, a slender face with doll-like eyes, and a casual outfit.

Ianto, who stood next to her, has a rounder face with soft features,  short brown hair, and wore a suit.

Tosh, who was upstairs, was Japanese, with a round face and distinctive features, she had been wearing a purple dress with glittery silver eyeshadow. 

"Just a bit of a prick." Owen comforted me, his voice muffled by the fibers of the blue mask. He wiped a patch of skin on my arm with a towelette and I felt a sharp prick. I watched the glass chamber of the syringe fill with dark ruby blood. I felt nauseated, black shapes danced over my vision. And before I knew it, I had passed out, falling into Jack's arms in a dead faint. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"Est? EST!" 

I woke up suddenly, the blackness receding. I saw Jack's face above mine, our hands still laced together. His worried expression melted away and a grin tugged at his lips. I sucked in a deep breath. 

"I don't like needles."  I stated. He chuckled softly.

"We ran a couple more tests while you were out." Jack informed me. 

"When will I get the results?" I asked, my fingers gliding over the skin where the blood had been drawn. 

"Not for a little while." He said.

"Fat lot of good you are Jack Harkness." I teased. "Anything from the Doctor?" 

"Hold on- Doctor? Jack, is that the same Doctor your always on about?" Owen asked, cutting into the conversation. Jack sighed. 

 "Yes, the same Doctor." Jack said, as he helped me to sit up.

"Jack! Owen! You have to come and see this!" Tosh called from somewhere upstairs. Owen was already up the stairs by the time Jack had helped me to my feet. I made my way up the stairs and around a wall to see Tosh, Owen, Gwen, and Ianto all gathered around a large computer screen. 

"I managed to get the results early." Tosh said. "And she's not human. Not even a little." Tosh went on. "These results are off the charts and I'm having a hard time matching them to any aliens in our data banks. I only have one result and we don't have any information on that race." Tosh was quiet for a moment as she stared intently at the screen. "She appears to have been gene spliced."  Jack walked over to the group and stared at the screen as charts and graphs pulled up.

"What is the one result, Tosh?" Jack asked grimly. Because I think I know what the second could be." Tosh glanced up at Jack.

"We only know one thing about them and that's their name. The Lonely Assassins."

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Another Cliffhanger! Thanks for all the support guys I can't believe I have 20 votes already! Sorry for those of you who did't watch Torchwood but the Doctor will return soon! Please Vote and Comment! I love hearing what you guys have to say! And maybe fan if you feel so inclined? :)

Lotte xx