Title: Fallout, Part Thirteen

Author: Emma

Characters: A whole bunch of folk.

Rating: Starts PG, but hey, it’s got Jack in it!

Disclaimer: Oh, please. If I owned them, would I let some of those idiots write the scripts? And if I were making any money off them, would I be where they could find me?

Author’s Note: For those of you who do not know, this fic is absolutely, positively CoE compliant. So, yes, it can be done!

            “Whoah, Nellie.” Martha stared at the man walking into Jack’s office. “I didn’t really believe Gwen when she told me.”

            “Doctor Martha Jones, meet Ifan Owain, also of the Jones tribe. Ifan, this is my nightingale, Martha Jones.”

            “I remember. Hello, doctor Jones.”

            “You remember me?”

            “Bits and pieces only.” His eyes twinkled merrily. “I associate you with dabbling and UNIT caps.”

            She laughed then turned abruptly serious. “I understand you have some reservations about being my patient.”

            “I’ll leave you two to work this out.” Jack stood up and headed for the adjoining office. “Kathy and I have some files to review.”

            “That’s a new one on me!”

            “He has been very careful not to intrude in my life.” Ifan sighed. “Maybe a bit too much.”

            “He needs to find his own peace with this. Ianto was very important to him.”

            “You think I don’t know that?” Absently Ifan started to straighten out the papers on Jack’s desk. “I also know how important Jack was to Ianto.”

            “Do you?”

            “One of the not so pleasant side effects of the tinkering the Master did in my brain is that most of my memories surface first as dreams. A few times in the last two months, I’ve… hell, this is embarrassing.”

            “So you think I haven’t encountered the medical term nocturnal emissions somewhere during my training?”

            They stared at each other for a moment before bursting into giggles.

            “Point to you, doctor Jones. So, can you handle this? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. I’m carrying the DNA of someone who probably still gives you nightmares. Some of his memories, too.”

            “You’re also carrying the DNA and the memories of someone who became a very dear friend.” Martha said firmly. “Now, let’s tell Jack everything is straightened out.”

            “Hold on a minute.” He reached for the TARDIS coral on Jack’s desk. “This should really be under the lights.”

            As he touched it there was a faint flash of light and a soft hum. He stared up at Martha.

            “Is it supposed to do that?”