Epilogue

Lisa eventually met the rest of the Torchwood staff: Gwen Cooper and Toshiko Sato (whom she thought looked oddly familiar), Ianto Jones (who made a mean pot of coffee) and Owen Harper. She could immediately sense their suspicions and Owen’s “mad at the world” vibe, as if something had just recently happened to him. In fact, all of them had that sense about them.

She wasn’t going to pry, however. It was none of her business. Unfortunately, she had to deal with everyone grilling her for dirt on Jack when he wasn’t in the room, from where he came from to – much to Lisa’s embarrassment – his sexual preference. She had a feeling Jack wouldn’t want her divulging the little she knew about him, so she played dumb and told them she didn’t know him long enough to find out that much, which was partially true.

Lisa told him this when they had a moment alone. He simply smiled and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, and told her of the staff doing the same thing to Gwen when she joined.

“Isn’t it hard for you,” Lisa asked, “to keep so much from them?”

“Lisa, I don’t know the reason for half of the things that happened to me. Why I was resurrected…those lost two years of my life…”

“I’ve no idea on the last one…but I can only assume Rose brought you back when she had the vortex in her. She did say, ‘I bring life’ and I heard you breathe again. The Doctor rushed us away…” She couldn’t add that he’d run away on purpose. “I’m sorry, but, like I said, you will see us again. The Doctor sent me here to be with you, and here I am. I’ll stay for as long as you need me.”

“And what happens when I do see him again? What will you do?”

She looked away. “Move on. He’s already dead to me. I’ll go home, stay there for a while, then continue my life like I usually do.”

“You wouldn’t even say anything to him?”

“I’m already there, remember? Hell, you didn’t even mention me. I think I told you not to, so, I’m telling you, now: Don’t tell me that I came back to you. Let the Doctor do it, like it’s supposed to happen.”

“How do you stand it?” he asked, fixing her with his eyes. “How do you cope with immortality?”

Lisa thought he sounded like that man, John, who had asked him that very question, albeit in a different context.

“I have a lot of help,” she said, almost whispering. “I go home, and my friends help me through. And there are the memories…and the things they left behind. The Doctor’s TARDIS, for example. She’s sitting next to my house, powered down, but still alive…well, in her own way.”

He lowered his gaze. “I don’t have that…”

She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Now, you do.”

The End

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