Challenge 568 - Harsh lessons

[m_findlow]

Title: Harsh lessons
Author: m_findlow
Characters: Jack, Torchwood team
Rating: PG
Challenge: 568 - Privilege at tw100
Notes: Jack has a harsh lesson to teach the team. A double drabble.

Jack scowled at his team clustered around his desk, each one emptying their pockets and handbags of items they'd borrowed from the hub for various reasons. It didn't matter what those reasons were, only that they had expressly gone against his orders. After tonight's events, he wanted to make that order abundantly clear.

'We lost one of our own tonight,' he began, trying to keep his own emotions out of it. 'Suzie died because she couldn't separate her life from her work anymore.' He didn't care how cheap it felt saying that when he himself could no longer separate the two.

'These things stay here for a reason,' he said, gesturing to the items littering his desk. 'Because we don't know what their long term effects might be. We need to study them, but in a safe environment.' He studied the four pairs of downcast eyes. One hadn't even been here to take anything, but the lesson was a good one.

'Working for Torchwood, doing what we do, is a privilege and not a right. You forget that, overstep the line, or take advantage,' he added, staring at Tosh, Owen and Ianto in turn, 'then Suzie's fate will become yours.'