Author: Emma

Characters: Canonical Torchwood Three members… sort of.

Rating: Some chapters definitely not safe for work.

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?

Summary: A young girl’s mysterious history could bring disaster to Cardiff and Torchwood Three…

            When Jack and Ianto returned to the Hub at four in the morning, they found Gwen and Tosh at their terminals.  

            “How’s Estelle?” Gwen asked.

            “Still in ICU but holding her own,’ Jack said. “Owen’s with her. Gwen, how did you know?”

            When she had finished her story, he gave her a considering look. “We’ll discuss this again. Still, that’s for another day. The Herald was certain Mab was coming?”

            “Enough that King Gwynn has started mustering his troops.” She shivered. “I looked at Jasmine’s records. Her twelfth birthday is tomorrow. I don’t know how it is with the Courts, but for the Tylwyth Teg that is the day they leave childhood behind and swear allegiance to the Sovereign. ”

            “It’s the same. If Jasmine is here tomorrow, King Gwynn could claim her for his own. Mab would move heaven itself to get her back before tomorrow night.”

            Tosh came up to them carrying a printout. “I know what happened! Turns out Lynn Pierce had trouble conceiving. Several doctors turned her down for fertility treatment because they felt she was emotionally unstable. Finally she got pregnant on her own, but the baby was born extremely ill, with multiple problems, including severe deafness and limb deformities. Lynn Pierce blamed elf-shot.”

            “Any signs of that?”

            “None. They went to several Healers but the answer was always the same. The baby was born like that naturally. Lynn was put under psychiatric care. Three months later, the family disappeared.”

            “So you think she stole the baby and when he found out, they ran.” Ianto said.

            “Would you trust Mab’s kindness? I’ve read some things about her that, well…”

            “Don’t mistake Mab.” Jack said. “She’s been known to be kind a time or two.”

            “Maybe not this time, Jack.” Gwen said. “About the same time the McCrimmons’ baby was born, the Ambassador to the Fair Kingdoms filed two memoranda with the PM implying ever so discreetly that Mab was facing serious unrest in the ranks. Three months later he was asked to retire for unprofessional involvement in the internal matters of the Fair Kingdoms. All very sub-rosa. It made me curious.”

            “Breaking into Downing Street’s secret files? I’m impressed. And?”

            “The Ambassador died three years ago. An expert was called in to appraise some of his property.  The man found a letter inside some sort of writing desk, and emailed a friend about it, all excited. Wanted to make a big splash with it. He implied the Ambassador had been involved in some plot against Queen Mab.” She made a face. “Several days after he sent the email he was found dead in his flat. He had been tortured before he was killed.”

            “Jack, I think we should let Kathy know what’s going on,” Ianto said. “If the two factions decide to battle it out over the girl, we could have a disaster on our hands.”

            “Hold on a minute, Ianto.” Tosh said. “Lynn and her fiancée went to London yesterday but are booked to return on the morning train. They’re throwing a combined surprise birthday and engagement party this afternoon.”

            “I’ll notify the PM as well.” Ianto said quietly. “Just in case.”

             Owen returned a little after sunrise, with the news that Estelle was out of intensive care and would make a full recovery. Jack ordered him to bed. “There’s nothing you can do now, but I’ll need you functional in a few hours. Get some rest.”

            They spent the rest of the morning getting ready. Kathy Swanson called at around noon. “Lynn and Roy just got off the train. Are you sure you don’t need some help?”

            “The fewer targets for Mab and her Host, the better. Besides, if we fail youwill all be busier than you have ever been in your lives.” He closed the call. “Ianto, wake Owen up. You know what you’ll need. Tosh will coordinate from here.”

            When Jack and Gwen arrived at the house preparations for the party were in full swing. Lynn’s fiancé, Roy, and some of his friends, were in the yard setting up tables. They could hear music blasting loud enough to have people in nearby houses popping their heads out their windows. They knocked on the door. A few minutes later a woman opened it.

            “Yeah?”

            “Mrs. Pierce? We’re Torchwood. We need to talk to you about Jasmine.”

            The blood drained from her face, leaving it a pale mask with big dark holes for eyes. “What’s she done?”

            “It’s better if we talk inside, yeah?” Gwen said in her most soothing tones.

            She led them to a sitting room filled with cheap modern furniture and crammed with knickknacks. “What has she done? Tell me!”

            “It’s not what she has done,” Gwen said. "It’s what you did eleven years ago.’

            “I didn’t do anything! Get out of my house. Get out!”

            “Mrs. Pierce,” Jack said bluntly. “Jasmine’s grandmother is on her way here to take her back. You know what she can do.”

            She sat down as if he had sliced through the tendons in her legs. Curling her arms protectively around her swollen belly, she rocked, eyes blank with terror.

            “Mrs. Pierce!” Jack shook her slightly. “There’s no time for this. Please….”

            A crashing noise came from outside and men could be heard running and shouting. At the same time, Tosh’s voice sounded in their ears. “Jack! They’re here!”

            They ran out to the backyard. The sky, which had been a glorious blue when they walked into the house, had turned a deep grey, and clouds moved across it in massed banks. The wind howled, scattering the picnic tables as if they were toys. Figures could be seen moving through the woods, and small animals fled before them in terror. The sound of horses’ hooves shook the ground, as if a great host were moving towards them.

            “Jasmine!” screamed Lynn Pierce. “Jasmine, where are you?”

            The young girl came out of the woods. She seemed unfazed by the commotion as she glided towards them.

            “Stop them! Make them stop!”

            “I can’t do that, Mother.” She sounded calm and distant. “Nobody can do that.”

            The sounds of horses became louder and riders could be seen coming, ghostly figures that hovered above the ground. They came to a stop directly facing the woods. The first line, five riders in close formation, urged their horses down. As the hooves touched the ground both they and the riders became solid. Jack was watching the girl, and she saw the faint smile on her face and the sly look she cast towards the woods. The middle rider guided her horse forward. Lynn Pierce screamed and collapsed into Gwen’s arms. Jack bowed deeply.

            “My Lady Mab.”

            “Jack Harkness. Do you come to stop me, then?”

            “No, Your Majesty. I come at the bidding of King Gwynn ap Nudd. He bids you accept the return of your granddaughter.”

            A faint, chill smile touched her lips. “I thank His Majesty.”

            He waved towards the woods as Ianto and Owen emerged, holding fairy bows and chivvying a fae Lord in torn and muddy clothes. “He also bids me tell you that there are those in your Court who have attempted to use your loss against you.”

            She made a gesture, and a number of riders moved out of the formation hovering behind the Queen and made for the group. Jack noticed the girl’s fleeting frown. He was certain now. The little monster had made a play for her grandmother’s throne. At eleven. You have much to learn, Princess Jasmine. I hope you survive your education.

            “A Queen knows when to cut her losses.” He murmured. “Especially one not yet certain of her throne.”

            She looked at him with absolutely no expression, and then moved to lay a hand on the Queen’s stirrup. “Are you in truth my grandmother?”

            “Grandmother and Liege Lord.” The faint smile touched the Queen’s lips again. “And it may be that you shall inherit my Throne should I depart these lands.”

            “I don’t care about that. I just don’t want to be here. I want to go home.”

            “And the woman who stole you from us? What shall we do with her?”

            The girl looked not at her mother, but at Jack. He gave her a smile that was all teeth and warning. She returned it, but nodded. She took Lynn’s hand in hers. “I’m going home, Mum. You know I was never happy here. You’ll have the new baby, and Roy, and everything will be all right. You’ll see.” She kissed Lynn’s cheek and moved back to the Queen. “I am ready.”

            “Wait!” Lynn threw herself at the ground in front of the Queen. “My son. What has happened to him? Please. I know I have no right, but… please.”

            Mab waved her hand. An image formed in front of them. A boy about Jasmine’s age lay in a hammock. His legs and arms were twisted into unnatural shape, and his head was elongated and deformed. He was surrounded by a small army of sprite maidens. One of them was blowing bubbles in his direction, and he batted them away, laughing.

            “His mind did not grow above two human years. I do not offer him back, for he would be a burden to you. He will be well cared for until he leaves these lands.”

            Lynn bowed her head. “Thank you.”

            Mab looked around one last time. Her eyes fell on Ianto. She stared for what seemed like a long time, then raised her hand slightly in salute; he repeated the gesture, startled but managing to cover it well. Then she turned back to Jack one last time.

            “Come visit me next time you are in Alba. I am weary of bards and knights.”

            He smiled brilliantly up at her, and bowed, but said nothing. She clapped her hands; a pony was led forward and Jasmine helped on to it. “You may have made an enemy today, my Jack. I will endeavour to teach her the meaning of caution, but I make no guarantee.”

            “You still see everything." He said. "Teach her who I am. It will be enough.”