Out of Time No More

[donutsweeper]

Title: Out of Time No More
Pairing/Rating/Warning: no pairings or spoilers, rated G
Word Count: 200
Summary:  Jack wasn't the only one at Torchwood out of their time and place
Author's note: Un-betaed, written for jadesfire2808, who says this needs a 'bring tissues' warning.  Sorry!
 

It was hours before Jack finally spotted the pterodactyl.  She was lying in a heap not far from the tangled mess of barbed wire she must have crashed into, having been unable to see them in the storm.  He knelt down carefully, unmindful of the mud and muck, but trying to avoid getting tangled or cut himself.  Poor old girl, all she’d wanted was to stretch her wings and soar, to remember who she’d used to be, in another time and another place.  That was something he could understand, in more way than he’d care to admit.  She didn’t deserve to have this happen to her.  He began stroking her scaly side, whispering soothing noises intermixed with empty promises of taking the pain away.  She was fading fast, her coos and caws barely audible over the rain.

Then, with a slight shudder, she was gone. 

He needed to radio the team, to let them know what happened, but that would make it final; she would be gone for good.  And he wasn’t ready for that yet.  So, he just sat there, absentmindedly petting her, letting the rain pounded down on them both, washing away both her blood and his tears.