Weird Al (aeron_lanart) wrote in highwood, @ 2008-01-15 22:17:00 |
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Title: The Mystery We Are
Author: Aeron Lanart
Rating: NC-17 in the last third, though most of it is PG-13
Genre: Torchwood crossover with Highlander. Drama.
Pairings: Jack/m in later parts
Summary: Jack learns more about immortality
Warnings: m/m smut in the last third
Spoilers: takes place after Episode 5 but before Episode 6 of Torchwood
Disclaimer: None of the Known characters belong to me.
Torchwood stuff belongs to the BBC and RTD
Highlander stuff belongs to Panzer-Davis
No copyright infringement intended, and no profit made.
Original characters belong to me, as does the story
Title from the song of the same name by All About Eve.
Torchwood. Separate from the Government, outside the police, beyond the United Nations...Guardians of the Cardiff Rift, and protectors of humanity from the alien, the supernatural and the downright odd. A group of highly specialised and unusual people, all very busy doing…Nothing.
“It’s got to be the weather.” Owen lolled back in his chair, twisting his head to watch Toshiko as she wandered around, stretching her legs he presumed.
“What?” She stopped mid stride and stared at him.
“Keeping the bad guys away. The weather. It’s too nice for them at the moment…” He grinned; Toshiko could not help but smile back at him.
“So you’re trying to tell me that when it starts raining again, we’ll have aliens and the usual weird things cropping up all over the place?”
“Something like that.”
“Come off it, Owen. We’re just having a quiet spell.”
“Shhhh. Don’t say the Q word!”
“Quiet. Quiet. Quiet.”
“Tosh!”
“Look, I’ve got work to do even if you haven’t.” Toshiko made her way back to her own workstation, and pulled up the files she had been working on, becoming quickly engrossed.
“Tosh?”
“Hmmm?”
“Need a hand?” The offer of help was unexpected enough to get her attention again. She gave Owen another smile.
“You must be bored!” Owen quirked an eyebrow at her, and Toshiko stifled a giggle. “I’m sure I can find something for you to help with if you’re desperate enough to ask.” Owen scrambled out of his chair and dragged it over so he could sit next to Toshiko.
“So, what do you want me to do?”
They were still working closely together when the others came back, armed with pizza, with Gwen and Jack more than ready to offer a few choice remarks about Owen actually working for a change. Ianto remained silent, and Watched.
~*~
*Screeech*. The noise almost jolted Siannon out of her seat in surprise. She glared balefully at the peacock that appeared to be after the remains of her cream tea. Peacocks in
~*~
“Has it ever been like this before at Torchwood? I mean, it’s all been so hectic since I arrived and then now - nothing. It’s almost like the World is holding it’s breath, or something is waiting…” Gwen had gone into Jack’s office with some paper work, and now perched on his desk. The question was one she had wanted to ask for days, but really hadn’t wanted any of the others to hear. Jack leaned back in his chair and turned his full attention to her.
“Now that is a good question…”
“And?”
“I don’t have a good answer to go with it. Everything concrete tells me there is nothing to worry about, that this is just one of those times when things *aren’t* so busy…”
“But?”
“It doesn’t feel right. There have been times when the rift is quiet, and nothing new is discovered for a while, but I don’t get that feeling right now. It’s almost…” He paused, and shrugged helplessly.
“Like the calm before the storm?”
“Yeah.”
“I wish the others felt like that, they’ve been accusing me of being as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof over nothing. Well, Tosh and Owen have. Ianto says I might have a point but I should enjoy not being rushed off my feet while I’ve got the chance, rather than looking for trouble.”
“Sounds like good advice.”
“It is good advice, but I can’t help the way I *feel*…” Jack scrambled up out of his chair, gently laid his hands on Gwen’s shoulders, and gave her a tiny shake.
“Don’t dwell on it. Things will either happen or they won’t, and neither you nor I nor anyone can do anything to change that. Now grab your bag, we’re all going out.” He gave her shoulder one last pat and strode out of the office, yelling at the others to call it a day, and come on out.
~*~
Siannon tilted her head back, feeling the warmth of the sunshine on her face. It had been a good week, but she knew she had to start thinking about getting back to her normal life. Still, there was time to enjoy the sun and the peace of the cathedral precincts. Holy Ground always had a special feeling, particularly when it had been used as such for as long as this old cathedral had been. She relaxed into her seat, felt her eyes drift shut and let that feeling permeate through her, almost as if it were cleansing her. Gradually she became aware of another feeling, a tingling on the edge of her mind, which slowly became a more recognisable buzz. In an instant she was not relaxed, but ready, although she had not changed her position at all, and her eyes darted round, to see if she could identify the source of the ever-strengthening buzz of another immortal approaching and discover if it was friend or foe. She didn’t get a clear look at the other immortal until he sat beside her, but that look told her she didn’t recognise him which meant one thing; head-hunter. He passed her a slip of paper, and spoke without once trying to make eye-contact.
“You will be at this address tonight.”
“And if I’m not?”
“Then you will know no rest, for I will not stop hunting.”
“Tonight, then,” she agreed. With a curt nod, the unknown immortal departed as quickly as he had arrived. Siannon sighed; it was times like this that she missed the contact she used to have with the Watchers in Seacouver, or more accurately Joe Dawson. Back there, she would have been able to find out who the guy was, how old he was, how many heads he’d taken and what level of skill he had. Now she was alone, and had to rely on herself. Once again, she found herself wishing she’d been a bit more persuasive in getting Joe to grant her access to the Watcher database. She shook her head as if to clear it, she knew following that path would do her no good, dwelling on regrets never did. She was here, that other immortal was here, and by tonight one of them wouldn’t be. She glanced down at the paper, which showed the address of a warehouse in the more rundown dock area, a time and the word ‘alone’ in block capitals. She chuckled softly; empty warehouses seemed to attract immortals like flies…
Continued in part 2