| Date: 17 January 2008
Characters: Gwen Cooper, Jack Harkness Location: hallway Link to IJ: thread #39369 |
 Back and forth, all this shifting back and forth. There had to be a way to stabilize something so that doors didn't randomly open and let people stumble in and out, between the limbo of this place and hours or days or years somewhere else.But that would take Tosh, at the very least. And Jack for guidance. Or to shake his head and tut when they messed it up again, but it had to start somewhere. And Jack, in his greatcoat, just down the corridor ahead of her, was where she'd start. "Jack!" She ran to catch up. |
 Jack paused at the sound of an unknown voice calling him. Or, at least, his name, which didn't necessarily mean him.Hands shoved into his pockets, he turned, continuing to walk, but backwards, facing the stranger. A woman. Young woman, attractive, nice curves, pretty eyes. "Do I know you, or do I just want to?" |
| Of course. It couldn't be that easy, could it? Spot Jack, have it be the right Jack. No, that would be far too convenient. She stopped jogging but kept walking, now that she didn't have to shout. Expression wry, she said, "Either you've hit your head or I've just found yet another in the Jack collective." She looked him up and down. "Very stylish." |
| "Thanks." He tilted his head to one side, and let his grin spread. "Likewise. Nice jeans." But, she'd known his name. Still, so had Brant, before knowing him. "I guess the question is, do you know me?" |
| "Thanks." She folded her arms. "I suppose that depends on whether you're all just splinters of one self, or individuals. I know Jack. A Jack, living and working in the 21st century." She uncurled one arm and offered her hand. "Gwen Cooper." |
| "Hey!" Jack protested, offended. "I am one complete, entire Jack Harkness. Not a splinter of anyone. Twenty first century is me, plus at least one other guy round here." He still took her hand, though, with the trademark smile and wink. Never hurt to make a good first impression. "Good to meet you, Gwen Cooper. Maybe we should get a little more specific in the twenty-first - when do I get to meet you?" |
| "I'm part of Torchwood." She watched his expression to see if he recognized the name. |
| Ah. That kind of knowing. Jack stopped walking, smile fading away to leave perfect seriousness. "I'm sorry to hear it." |
| And apparently he did, though that was an interesting reaction. She tilted her head. "Sorry? Why's that, Jack?" |
| "Torchwood isn't kind," he replied bluntly, looking her straight in the eye. "Get out if you can." |
| She tilted her head. "Not kind?" |
| "Look, no offence, you seem like a nice kind of girl." Which so far, yeah, mostly from looks, but she didn't have the hardness he'd seen grow in Suzie. "Torchwood destroys nice girls. Get out, find yourself a safe life. Be normal, Gwen Cooper." |
| Oh yes, he really was Jack. Just: "It's a bit too late for that, I'm afraid. Maybe I should have met you a few months ago." |
| "If you're working for Torchwood, you probably did." And the corridor probably wasn't the best place for this conversation. He nodded in the general direction of the lobby, and walked back towards her. "Let's grab a coffee and you can tell me how long you've been there." |
| "If I'd met you, in particular, wouldn't you remember?" She hadn't yet quite worked out the whole time-jumping thing. She turned to walk beside him, though. |
| "I'm Torchwood now." He shrugged, falling into step. "Maybe I've not met you yet, maybe I'm a different place. Hit me with a year?" |
| "2006." She said it almost like a challenge. |
| "2007," he shot back, and grinned. "Must be another reality again. So, what do you do for Torchwood, Gwen Cooper?" |