Torchwood: Recruitment

[fajrdrako_fic]

Title: Recruitment
Author: fajrdrako
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Captain John Hart, Gwen Cooper
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, no claims, all property of the BBC.
Notes: My post-series 3 ficlet. Cross-posted to my lj, my Dreamwidth account, and to guns_n_poodles.


Recruitment

Captain John Hart knew the moment Jack Harkness left the planet. He'd had their wristbands synchronized since - well, for a long time now.

It wasn't the first time Jack had left him behind.

Some men take to drink when the troubles hit. John Hart took to sobriety with a terrifying suddenness.

He went to Cardiff, because he knew it was the last place on Earth Jack had been. He went to the Plass, and saw the work being done, saw the hole where once Torchwood had been, thought of how terrible it must have been for Jack to lose it. He'd been so proud of his lair here, his Hub, his ferret-warren of goodies.

John didn't know the real story about what had happened during the crisis. He knew the bastards had blown up Torchwood, and Jack with it. Hah! That trick never worked.

He knew Ianto Jones was dead. Rest in peace, Eye Candy. He must have been good in bed, the way Jack was so fiercely protective of him, so fiercely proud.

Jack had never liked being alone.

He could have come to John. John had made that clear. Day or night, whatever, however, if you want me, I'll be there... And Jack didn't call him.

Bastard.

Behind him, Gwen Cooper said, "Should I kill you, or offer you a drink?"

He turned to look at her, expecting to see the muzzle of some feeble 21st century weapon aimed at his nose. Instead, her face held both warning and welcome, and her hands were empty. Same old black leather jacket, same boots, but she was visibly pregnant now. Well, well, well. Jack's kid? He wouldn't bet against it.

John tried honesty. He had nothing to lose, now.

"He's gone," he said bleakly.

"Gone. Yeah."

"Bastard."

"He had his reasons." So she was still defending him - Jack, the man who abandoned her.

He looked down at the pavement. Somewhere near here there'd been a chameleon circuit. He coveted one of those. Always had. Legendary devices. He'd only ever seen one in action once - on this very spot.

"Miss him?"

Her face eased into a smile. "We all do."

The pause was awkward. He turned away. "Well, then. Be seeing you." Not that he expected to. Nothing kept him on Earth now. Jack was gone. He knew a few Hargulian smugglers living undercover in London. He could hitch a ride somewhere, for a price.

"John?"

Was she calling him back? He stopped, without turning.

"Want a job?"

He turned slowly, studying her. She smiled. Her smile was false, but cute.

He said, "I only wanted to work at Torchwood because I wanted to be with Jack."

"So did we. Sorry, can't offer that now. But there's a whole planet here who needs us, and for past century or so, Torchwood has had a Time Agent on staff. Why stop now?"

He studied her, thinking.

"Maybe you've had a better offer," suggested Gwen.

Torchwood was Jack's. He was bound to come back. Wasn't he?

"Right," he said. "I'll come work with you. Trial basis. If I like it, I'll stay. If I don't, I'm gone. You'll have to put up with my habits."

This time, Gwen grinned as if she meant it. "After Jack? We can cope. Welcome to Torchwood, Captain Hart."

- end -