Destruction: Chapter 5 - Saving the World
Aug. 10th, 2009 06:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aviv_b_artworkWORDS: ~ 1500
CHARACTERS: Ianto, Owen, Jack, Ocs - Sam Shuster, Molly, Brigadier Hamilton
SPOILERS: None, Not canon. This Chapter set pre-Series 1.
SUMMARY: A life is saved.
He who destroys a life destroys the whole world; he who saves a life, saves the world entire. (The Talmud)
The recovery team was furious when they discovered that Owen had climbed into the collapsed building structure. Jack and the Brigadier came out and ordered him to exit the space. Owen refused. “I don’t care if you retcon me or put me in front of a firing squad, I’m not leaving him. I found him and I’m going to see him out of here safely.”
Jack pulled Hamilton away from the others. “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but just let him stay down there. We can’t afford to waste time and I think he really needs to do this…even if it costs him his life.”
Brigadier Hamilton turned to the others. “All right, let’s get the survivor out. Be careful for the medic, but your first priority is to get the survivor out safely.”
Owen inched his way over to the trapped man. “I’m Dr. Owen Harper. And you are…” Owen coached. The man just stared at him. If he didn’t blink, Owen would have thought he was dead. “Right, so you know you’re at Torchwood One, what was, uh, is your job?” Owen knew he sounded like a lunatic but the man just continued to stare, expressionless.
Owen shined the torch in his eyes. He realized that the man’s pupils were totally dilated and non-reactive. That couldn’t be good. Shock or maybe he needed some daily medication, or maybe Yvonne managed to bring some Zombies along with the Daleks and Cybermen.
He lifted a water bottle to the man’s mouth. “Can you drink a little, its just water?” No response. Owen poured a little water onto his fingertips and reached over to rub them over the man’s lips. “Come on, just take a little water.” Something instinctual made Owen go through the motions of opening his mouth and bringing the water bottle to his own lips. Something changed in the man’s eyes. He opened his mouth but still stared straight at Owen. Owen smiled. “Ok, just a drop.” He dribbled a few drops in his mouth. “Careful, don’t want you choking on it.” A few moments later, the man opened his mouth again. Owen chuckled, “Good, I think we’ve got an understanding now.”
Owen could hear a whirring noise very close by. “Dr. Harper,” a voice yelled, if you can hear me can you tap directly over where you are positioned? Good, can you tap directly over your survivor’s head? The man reached up and scraped the ceiling. Owen tapped in the same place for good measure.
“We’re directly over the two of you. Can you tap overhead somewhere you are not under but within a foot of both of you?” Owen reached beyond both of their heads and tapped. “Cover your faces as best you can, this next cut will be through to you and will kick up some dust. Owen covered his face with one hand and the man’s face with his other.
The loud whine from a tool was emanating from just above beyond their heads. A hole about 5 inches in diameter dropped out of the concrete ceiling. Concrete dust was floating in the small space temporarily blinding him. He could make out part of a face looking in at him. He could have reached out and touched the firefighter looking in.
It took another two hours to free the survivor from the concrete. Once they cut a hole big enough, they pulled Owen out so that a firefighter could slip into the space and assess how best to free the man’s right side. Using small drills, and yes a chisel the firefighter slowly chipped away pieces of concrete from around the trapped man. Finally, the firefighter was able to slide the man sideways from under the concrete that had held him. As carefully as he could he slid him over to the open section. Four sets of hands lifted the man out and set him on a backboard. The firefighters secured his head and limbs, lifted him and ran to the waiting helicopter.
Owen wanted to go with them, but Jack wouldn’t let him. “Owen, you did your job, let the EMTs do theirs. We'll check on him later, I promise.”
Owen looked around and realized that it was the starting to get dark. Must be around 2100 hours, he thought. Two survivors found in two days. That brought the number up to 27. As bad it felt to realize how many had died, Owen couldn’t help but smile when he thought about his survivor, his patient. He said goodbye to Sam and Molly as they all made their way back to the tent. Sam praised Owen for his bravery, calling him heroic.
“If anyone’s a hero, it’s Molly. I hope she’s going to get a special treat for her hard work.”
Sam laughed, “I think there could be a hot dog in Molly’s future. This has been quite an experience, the last few days, not what I was planning when I came down to see my family, but time well spent nonetheless.” The men shook hands for the last time and went their separate ways.
Jack and Owen drove back with Brigadier Hamilton to the nearby base. “We’ve decided that the chances of finding any more survivors are slim to none. So officially, the search for the living ends tonight.”
Hamilton continued, “Dr. Harper, you are an insubordinate bastard, but you have my congratulations – you did a heroic job today. You’re free to return to Cardiff tomorrow. Unfortunately, you’ll have to find your own transportation back. You may just want to rent a car; Ms. Costello will be driving back here to assist with artifact recovery once you’re back at Torchwood Three. Your colleague Ms. Sato is doing an exceptional job with her face recognition software. We’ve go about half of the non-converted casualties identified already. ”
“But what about Gramps?” Owen snapped. Jack and the Brigadier both gave Owen a puzzled look. “You know, the survivor… I want to be able to see how he’s doing.”
“I’m going to brief both you and Captain Harkness on his condition tomorrow before you leave. And assuming he pulls through, I’ve arranged for the hospital to send you daily updates. But we really do need you back in Cardiff. Your Captain let me know that you are very talented with lab work and can process DNA samples much faster than our lab. I’m not going to ask how, but your assistance would be much appreciated.”
Owen told him he’d be glad to help. Jack smiled to himself. The Brigadier certainly knew how to handle Owen. He wondered how if he could charm a belligerent weevil as well.
“We’ll meet at 0700 hours in the mess for that briefing.”
Jack and Owen headed over to the mess hall looking for some vending machines.
“My favorites,” smirked Jack. “Peanut butter on crackers and undrinkable coffee.”
Owen stared at his coffee and crisps. “A stiff scotch, no let me revise that, several stiff scotches was what I was hoping for.”
“You know, you really were a hero today, Owen. The firefighters were so angry when you climbed down in there, but I think you did exactly the right thing.”
“Yeah, well thanks. Hell, I’m really tired Jack, I’m going to turn in if that’s OK.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
Owen went to his room, showered, put on sweat pants and a T-shirt. He was exhausted but didn’t think he’d sleep. He lay down on the small bed and looked at the ceiling. He thought about the randomness of fate. His fiancé gets parasitic aliens in her brain. That old guy from archives, his silly suit, pocket watch and fob; he should be home with his wife and kids, maybe even grandkids. Owen hadn’t cried since he lost Katie, but thinking about all the people lost at Torchwood One, not Yvonne Hartmann and her lackeys, but the other employees, the accountants, and lab technicians, the food service personnel, hell the girl who sorted the mail, all of them gone, he couldn’t help but cry at the loss, the waste.
He prayed that the old guy from the archives would live. Maybe if he did, the years of misery and self-destruction could end. He’d have paid his debt for letting Katie die and he could move on with his life.
Jack left the mess hall not long after Owen. He also showered and got into bed. He had never felt so proud of Owen. He knew there was great potential, maybe even genius that could flourish if Owen could just forgive himself. ‘Who knows,’ thought Jack, ‘this could be a new start for him. But if that guy from the archives dies, I don’t want to think about what will happen. I’ll have to be prepared either way.’
He smiled a little at that, ‘I’m always telling my team that the 21st Century is when it happens and they’ve got to be ready. Maybe I should start teaching them that facing life everyday can be harder than an alien invasion, and you’ve really got to be ready for that as well.’
Chapter 6 is here: http://aviv-b.livejournal.com/3190.html
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Date: 2009-08-11 12:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-11 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-11 01:02 am (UTC)I can't wait for the next part and hope it's up sometime this week (If you can aim for Wednesday I'd be in your debt, I have to see my kid off to the first day of Kindy and I think I'll be all in tears all day)
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Date: 2009-08-11 03:32 pm (UTC)I will do my best but it probably won't be until Wed PM, US time.
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