Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lily blinked open her eyes and found herself looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling. With a groan, she planted a hand against the cold cement floor. She was about to haul herself up when a mechanical click echoed in the space. Her heart hammering in her chest, she turned her head towards the sound to see a man training a gun at her. A man she knew, but unfortunately, did not know her. Well, at least I know where I am, and that I haven't been kidnapped, Lily thought. Out loud, willing her voice to come out steady, she said, "Hello. I promise I can explain who I am and what I'm doing here if you would just point that elsewhere."

The man blinked at the sound of her voice and peered down at her, shinning a flashlight in her eyes. Lily squinted against the light as he took in the sight of mismatched pajamas and her bare feet. His narrowed eyes returned to Lily's face and whatever he saw there caused him to flinch, an emotion darting across his face too quick to catch before it was gone again. Slowly, he pointed the gun and flashlight towards the ground, though he did not relax his stance. "Alright. Let's hear it then. How'd you get in here?" 

"I'm going to sit up, is that alright?" Lily asked instead, waiting for Owen Harper to scowl and nod, making a slight gesture with the gun that she tried not to recoil from. Sweeping her twin blonde braids behind her shoulders and wishing she had worn her hair down tonight, Lily took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Lifting her eyes to meet Owen's, she found suspicion and caution, but, to her surprise, no outward hostility. "My name is Lily Adams. I'm a friend of Jack's. I don't know exactly how I came to be here, but last thing I remember is falling asleep in my bed. In the United States." Lily refrained from letting slip that she was also from the year 2018. That could wait until after she'd talked to Jack and ensured he still remembered her after all this time. For her, it may have only been a few months, but for Jack, it had been over a hundred years. She wasn't convinced she was that memorable.

Lily expected Owen to scoff or argue with her. Instead, he nodded, like he understood what had happened (and Lily was confident he did not). Reaching a hand up to his ear, he tapped at it then said, "Owen to Harkness." He waited a beat then continued, "I found what caused the rift spike in the archives, and you'll never guess what it is," he said. He paused for a moment, then rolled his eyes with a sneer. "You're an absolute twat, Jack, you know that? I don't know why we let you go anywhere. Yeah yeah, you're the boss. Anyway, it's a teenage girl in her pajamas. Claims she knows you. Said her name is Lily Adams."

Lily bit back a protest at being called a teenager. As much as it rankled to be seen as a child, she reckoned that it may be the only reason Owen wasn't currently being a raging asshole. She didn't know when, exactly, she was, but considering Owen was a dick up until the moment he died, and he certainly didn't look like a corpse at the moment, it was clearly sometime before the beginning of 2008. And as such, him being a somewhat decent person to her was confusing. Lily felt a surge of guilt at her thoughts when Owen nodded to something she couldn't hear and holstered his weapon with a little smile her way. 

"Jack's going to meet us at the start of the archives, if you'll come with me.” He didn't give her a hand up, instead keeping a respectful distance as she got to her feet, brushing dust and cobwebs off her clothes.

"Are you going to tell me your name?" Lily asked as they started walking, knowing full well Owen's name, as well as a handful of other things he would likely hate her for knowing about him.

"Ah, right, my bad. Doctor Owen Harper, at your service." Owen started to reach his hand out to her for a handshake and then quickly retracted it with a grimace, like he had just remembered something. Lily followed the motion with a raised eyebrow and wondered if Jack had warned Owen not to touch her. If she hadn't already seen The Doctor again and ruled out her reappearance as the result of alien influence, she'd fully agree with this course of action. Even knowing she wasn't a danger to Owen or anyone else, she respected Jack's diligence.

"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Harper. I think," Lily added, looking around at the shadowed walls of the hallway.

"As long as you promise not to try to kill me, you can call me Owen," he said, a darkly amused smirk on his lips.

Lily let out a startled laugh, turning her head to look at Owen in the dim light. He looked rather pleased with himself, though whither it was for his joke, or getting her to laugh, she didn't know. "I promise not to kill you, Owen," Lily said, returning his smirk. That honor goes to someone else, she thought, and then felt a jolt of guilt. Owen had been nothing but courteous to her so far, and here she was, thinking about his inevitable death with amusement. I'm a terrible person.

"So, how do you know Jack?" Owen asked, voice curious and trying not to be too eager, completely oblivious to Lily's inner turmoil.

Pushing away her guilt, Lily's mind drifted to how the team all compiled their limited knowledge of Jack in these early days. She huffed a laugh. "Jack's known me for a long time," she said simply. 

Owen raised an eyebrow. "How old are you, exactly?" he asked, voice skeptical. "Fourteen? Fifteen?"

Lily scowled and tugged at the hair tie on one of her braids. "Eighteen," she said, pulling out the tie and raking her fingers through the braid to unravel it. 

Owen glanced sideways at her and chuckled, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Sorry, sweetheart, didn't mean to insult you. So has Jack known you since you were little or something?"

Lily pulled the last hair tie out of her hair and tucked a newly freed strand behind her ear. Looking up at Owen, she fixed him with a flat stare. "Or something," she said.

Owen bristled at that, something in her voice or perhaps her expression making him defensive. Before he could say anything, however, a sound ahead of them heralded the arrival of one Captain Jack Harkness. As he turned the corner, in all his glory, looking just as he did when last she saw him, something in her chest unclenched.

With only a momentary glance at her, Jack turned to Owen and scolded, "I thought I told you not to let your guard down in case she was lying about who she was. Come on, Owen, you know better."

Lily looked to Owen in surprise, pushing away the wave of hurt at Jack's distrust. He was just doing his job. Their first meeting wasn't under the best of circumstances. Besides, she had known that he wouldn't be the same Jack she once knew, that the years had changed him and made him harder. What surprised her more was Owen putting his gun away when he had been instructed not to. But then again, it's not like Owen always followed orders.

Beside her, Owen shrugged at Jack, looking altogether unconcerned. "I didn't touch her, like you said, but other than that, I didn't see the point of treating her like a criminal. Maybe if you told me why you thought she could dangerous, but I mean, look at her, Jack. She's in her jammies. She had pigtails until a minute ago. Anyone can see she's unarmed."

Lily shot a look at him at that. "I could be a hostile alien masquerading as a defenseless girl. Or possessed by one. Believe me, you wouldn't know."

At her words, Jack smiled. "I certainly didn't."

Lily felt herself relax, a grin on her lips. "So you do remember me. I was worried you might not."

"Oh come on, Lily, how could I forget you? You left quite the impression. You will forgive me, though, if I wait to hug you until after you've been given a through medical scan by Owen here."

The constant ache in Lily's bones spiked at the reminder of her introduction to this universe, and she rubbed at her arm. "Fair enough, Jack," she said with a smile.

Owen frowned, looking back and forth between them with confusion and suspicion. "Do I even want to know?"

 "It's a long story," Lily said, not looking away from Jack, who returned her gaze steadily, "ask me again later, and I might tell you.”

Owen pointed at her as he walked around her to go up steps to the main hub. "I'm going to hold you to that." Under his breath, Owen added, "Just what we bloody need, more secrets."

Lily bit back a smirk at that, following after Owen. You have no idea.

Chapter Text

Lily watched Owen expectantly as he bustled about her, taking scans and running tests on her blood. At last, Owen looked up from his display and nodded to Jack. "She's all clear, Jack. No alien presence detected."

Lily rocketed out of her seat, her eyes finding Jack's. He opened his arms with a smile and Lily ran into him, throwing her arms around him. "I thought I'd never see you again," Lily murmured into his shirt.

She felt him press a kiss into her hair. "Neither did I."

"I missed you," Lily said. It felt like a confession, for all that had happened and all that was yet to come.

Jack gave her a squeeze and let her go. He reached out and brushed her hair behind her ear. "I missed you too." Behind her, she heard a muffled snort and Lily shot a glare Owen's way. Jack followed her line of sight and smiled. "Why don't we go up to my office and catch up?" Jack asked her, wiggling his eyebrows.

Lily groaned and laughed despite herself. "How do you make everything sound like an innuendo?"

Jack gave her his winning smile. It wasn't as bright as it used to be. "It's a gift."

"Fine, but no flirting. I can and will report you for flirting offenses," Lily teased.

Jack's eyebrows raised in genuine surprise that he covered up with a suggestive leer. "Oh yeah?"

Lily lightly swatted at Jack's arm, barely making contact. "Yes. I can fill you in upstairs."

"Then right this way," Jack said, sweeping his arms towards the stairs out of autopsy. Lily snorted and lead the way up the stairs, stepping to the side at the top so Jack could take the lead to his office. Above them came a loud screech. Lily craned her neck back and caught sight of a swooping Myfanwy. She was absolutely breath taking in real life, and Lily had to shake herself and continue after Jack, a smile on her lips.

As they walked past the main area of the hub, Lily felt eyes on her and saw Gwen and Tosh watching her. Lily gave them a little wave. "Hello," she said shyly. Jack turned back to look at her.

"Lily Adams, Toshiko Sato and Gwen Cooper. I'll introduce you to Ianto later. Are you coming?" Lily rolled her eyes and hurried after Jack, tossing a  "nice to meet you" over her shoulder at them. She suspected that Owen, whom had followed them out of autopsy, would fill them in on what little he knew.

"You could have introduced me better than that, Jack," Lily scolded as she entered Jack's office, Jack closing the door behind them.

"Excuse me if I want to hear about my friend I haven't seen in years more than I want to deal with the employees I see every day," Jack countered. Lily made a mental note of the fact that Jack didn't specify how many years. He's not sure that I know, then.  Jack pointed at her. "You weren't surprised by the pterodactyl," he said, like he was connecting dots in his head.

Lily raised her eyebrows with an amused smile. "I wouldn't say I wasn't surprised, Myfanwy is bigger than I expected. Prettier too."

Jack heard what she didn't say and nodded. "This is a show too, then?"

"Yup. Called Torchwood."

"Not a very creative name," Jack remarked.

Lily laughed, taking in the many sights of Jack's office. "No, but it is accurate."

"TV shows aside, tell me what's been new with you. It must be a shock, being back here again?"

"Here at Torchwood, yes. That is unexpected. Back in this universe? Not exactly, this has happened a few times now. Same as before, I've been waking up in the Tardis randomly. I wake up back home with no time past, but I get dropped here in no particular order for a few days at a time. The Doctor thinks the Tardis might be bringing me across somehow? No idea how or why though. Waking up here might disprove the theory? Or it might not, due to the rift, I honestly have no idea." Lily explained.

"You've been traveling with The Doctor," Jack said, an odd note to his voice. Lily turned back to face him with a hum and found him sitting on the edge of his desk, watching her closely. Lily swallowed. Serious conversation time.

"If I ask what you know, will you tell me?" Jack asked after a long moment, his tone light but an odd undercurrent to it that made Lily's stomach twist.

"About your past, of course. Things relevant to your future? No. I can't."

"Nothing's changed then," Jack said with forced levity.

"I wouldn't say nothing. But it hasn't been very long for me. Only three months. I've had less time to change. But I have it on good authority that I will." Lily's lip quirked up in secret amusement.

Jack's eyes narrowed for a moment, but he didn't comment. Instead, he asked, "What can you tell me?"

Her smile slipping away, Lily swallowed. "I know what happened on the game station. The Daleks. I know that you died, and that you woke up again. I know that you used your wrist strap to get back to early 2000s Cardiff to find The Doctor. I know it malfunctioned and sent you to the 19th century instead. I know that you've been at Torchwood Three since 1899 because of it. You're waiting for The Doctor, the right version of him, so you can get answers." Lily watched Jack closely as she finished her list. His jaw was clenched and she was worried he was going to break the pen in his hand.

"Anything new you can tell me? Like why I can't seem to stay dead?" Jack asked, his gaze intense.

Lily looked down at her hands, twisted together. "No, Jack. I can't tell you that."

"But you do know why." Jack's voice had gone flat.

Lily nodded, aware of her guilt and regret showing on her face. She may not be able to tell him what he wanted to know, but she wasn't going to lie about it. "Yeah, Jack, I know."

"I've been waiting over 100 years, and you won't tell me?"

"I'm sorry, Jack," Lily whispered, her eyes shut as she thought of all the things she could change by telling Jack right here and now that he was a fixed point in time. He would never leave the team, The Master would never be awoken, The Year That Never Was would never have to happen- but no. No. She couldn't change those things. As tempted as she was, to spare Jack, The Doctor, and Martha that pain, she had met the Face of Boe. And he had experienced that Year. It was already fixed. One of the things she wanted to change most and she knew without a doubt: she can't. It made her feel helpless. She hated being helpless.

Opening her eyes, Lily flinched at the way Jack was looking at her. "I want to tell you, Jack. Please believe me when I tell you that. But I can't. I'm not the one who tells you what you want to know," Lily said, desperation leaking into her voice. She just wanted him to understand that she wasn't trying to be cruel.

"You're basing that off a TV show?" Jack asked, his voice cold as ice.

"No!" Lily shouted, frustration bursting out of her. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Lily tried again. "No, Jack. I would have told you already if that was all I was going off of. I met and talked to someone while traveling that knows things, and he- you don't find out yet, Jack. Not from me."

Jack was silent for a long minute, watching Lily with an expression she couldn't read. At last, he said, "So I do find my Doctor."

"Yes. He'll look different, but you'll find him. You'll get your answers from him."

"There's really nothing else you can tell me?" Lily's heart twinged at how tired Jack sounded. In that moment, she made a decision, potential ramifications be damned.

"Only this," Lily said, walking over to where Jack was perched and taking his hands in hers. He allowed it, watching her with cautious curiosity. "Rose survived Canary Wharf. She's safe, in a parallel world with Jackie and Mickey."

"You're kidding," Jack said, even as she saw the hope kindled in his eyes.

Lily shook her head with a smile, and she gave Jack's hands a squeeze. "She's alive, Jack." Jack pulled Lily in for a bone crushing hug with a cheer. Lily laughed in delight, ignoring the spike in pain at the hug.

"I'm guessing you weren't supposed to tell me that, either?" Jack asked as he released her from the hug, studying her closely.

Lily shrugged. "Probably not, but I don't think it'll break time or anything. Maybe just ask The Doctor about her when you see him again, just in case."

Jack kissed her forehead, looking the most relaxed she'd seen him since the Tardis. "Thank you, Lily."

Lily shrugged, her cheeks hot. "It doesn't feel like enough. I wish I could tell you everything."

"I know," Jack acknowledged, and it was in that moment that Lily knew he'd forgive her for the secrets time wouldn't let her share.

Lily turned away from Jack to gather herself. Movement drew her eye to the desks below. Lily muffled a snort in her hand at the sight of Gwen slowly lifting her head back up from behind her computer monitor. Gwen made eye contact with Lily and froze, her eyes blown wide at being caught. Lily bit her lip as she silently shook with laughter and waved down at Gwen. Gwen cautiously waved back.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked from behind her.

Lily turned to face Jack, her eyes alight with amusement. Instead of answering, she asked, "Should we tell them?" While Gwen had failed to be covert in her staring, Tosh was far more subtle, stealing occasional glances over her glasses at the office. If Owen had spared the office a glace, Lily hadn't noticed. Ianto was nowhere to be seen.

"Tell who what?" Jack asked, confused at the sudden subject change.

Lily turned her back to the glass and rolled her eyes at Jack. "The team. About me. Time traveler from an alternate universe that watched a TV show called Torchwood and now I know the future."

"Why would we do that?" Jack asked, looking even more baffled.

"Because they're going to ask what my deal is. Owen's already asked how we met. Even if he doesn't follow up, I'm sure Gwen will. And unlike you, I don't take delight in outright lying to people. Besides, I think it would mess with them more to tell them."

"You're not telling them about The Doctor," Jack said, his voice hard and unyielding. She might even go so far as to call it an order.

"Of course not. Tell your team about your past? Perish the thought." Jack crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at her. That struck a nerve then. Good. Lily snorted at him. "Relax, I know what I'm going to tell them, and it will keep your past murky as ever to them. You do know it won't kill you to tell them things though, right?"

Jack gave her a smirk. "It could!" Lily somehow managed not to burst out laughing. I may love you, Jack Harkness, but you are a dumbass.