Fffc Bingo Card - Off to church

[m_findlow]

Title: Off to church 
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Owen, Suzie 
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,000 words
Content notes: none 
Author notes: Written for Bingo Card Prompt 23 - Church at fffc
Summary: The team are off to help one of Jack's old friends. 

‘Churches always give me the creeps,’ Owen said, scowling as he hefted his box of equipment out of the back of the SUV. 

Suzie leaned over him, reaching for her own gear. ‘Why doesn't that surprise me? I'll bet you were one of those kids who hated being dragged to Sunday services. But I'll bet you looked so cute in your little choir robes.’ She smirked at him and he sneered in reply. 

‘We never bothered with all that church bollocks. They're just creepy, all those old blokes who swear they've taken a vow of chastity. Fat chance. You can't tell me God is more satisfying than a good looking bird.’

‘You're so crass, Owen.’

Jack leaned over their shoulders. ‘Have you two kids finished? Only it'd be good to go and check out these rumours of ghosts sometime before Christmas.’

Owen waited until Jack was out of earshot before rolling his eyes. ‘Speaking of someone who wouldn't know the meaning of chastity if he fell over it,’ he muttered. 

Suzie patted Owen on the shoulder. ‘I don't even think Jack would be desperate enough to shag a saggy old priest.’ 

Owen snorted. ‘Don't count on it. Probably get struck by lightning when he steps over the threshold.’ 

‘Hurry up!’ Jack barked, leaning in the doorway. 

‘You were saying, Owen?’ 

He trudged up the path and through the sandstone double doors of the small parish church. The interior was just how he'd pictured it, flagstone floors and wooden pews held together by polish and prayer alone. What he didn't expect was to find Jack pumping the hand of an exceedingly youthful looking pastor. He was probably of an age with Jack, or perhaps a year or two younger, but very handsome, even standing next to Jack. 

‘I really appreciate you coming, Jack.’ 

‘Anything for an old friend.’ He gestured toward Owen and Suzie. ‘These are my colleagues, Owen Harper and Suzie Costello. This is pastor Huw Morgan.’ 

‘A pleasure to meet you.’ 

‘Mind if we take a bit of a poke around?’ Jack asked. ‘Anywhere in particular we should start looking?’ 

Pastor Morgan shook his head. ‘Nowhere in particular. It's just strange voices that seem to float in and out at odd times.’

‘God communing with his supplicants?’ Jack said in a teasing way. 

‘I wish that it were. More like the work of the devil. I've only heard it once myself but it was troubling.’ 

‘Okay, well Suzie and I will start over there, Owen, why don't you check the main public areas? Check for Nelson seepage and other thermographic disturbances.’ 

‘On it, boss.’ 

‘Get Huw to help you.’ 

‘Er... sure.’ He gave a skeptical look towards the pastor, pulling a scanner out of his kit and calibrating it. ‘Just wave that around a bit. If this line spikes, let me know.’ 

‘No problem.’ The pastor moved to the first row of pews and began methodically working his way down its length. 

‘Old friend of Jack's?’ Owen asked, raising a curious eyebrow. 

‘Believe it or not there was a time before I had the calling to serve God. Meeting Jack was definitely an eye-opener. He smirked in a way that told Owen all he needed to know about what happened after.’ 

‘And knowing about Torchwood and all that hasn't made you reconsider the existence of a higher power?’ 

‘Not at all. It proves there are things beyond what we understand or can observe.’ 

‘So, you and Jack were…’ He didn't really want to picture it. ‘Doesn't God frown upon that kind of thing?’

‘Only if you follow the strict word instead of the spirit. But that’s all long in the past. Jack comes to seek guidance just like any of my other parishioners.’ 

‘Confession? Jack? Jesus Christ,’ Owen swore, forgetting where he was. ‘That'd take a few hours, wouldn't it?’ It'd make the toes curl for any poor bugger that had to hear all of that. Owen heard more than he wanted most days. 

The pastor gave a coy smile. ‘Jack has many things to unburden himself of, but that is between him and God. With all of the things that you must see, can you not imagine how that must eat at a man's soul?’

Owen pulled a face. ‘I don't think some ephemeral forgiveness would make me feel better, if that's what you mean.’ 

‘You might be surprised. Sometimes you just need a friendly ear to listen. God can hear you wherever you are, but some like Jack, prefer to hear his message from someone they can see. Reassurance is a powerful tool. A necessary one for those who oftentimes feel alone in the world.’ 

Owen let his gaze wander around the church. Suzie studied her PDA in one corner. Jack had disappeared behind the pulpit, snooping. Jack didn't strike Owen as the lonely kind. He was forever telling tales of his conquests, even if it seemed like he practically lived at the hub. 

‘Found it!’ Jack yelled out, breaking their conversation. ‘No ghosts here, Huw, just one alien radio stuck behind your church organ getting sketchy reception from about three million light years away.’ 

‘Thank God for that,’ he said, staring unsurprised by the small rectangular object now inside a plastic snap lock bag. ‘I'm impressed you located it so quickly.’ 

Jack smiled. ‘Well, when you start hearing ads in Galactic Standard offering discounts on Mark Four fabricators, you know you're either going mad or God has a really warped sense of humour.’ 

‘What's to say the Lord doesn't?’ 

‘Your department more than mine,’ he replied. ‘Okay, folks, that's a wrap. Get this packed up and we're outta here.’ 

Suzie took the bag and wandered out towards the suv. Owen followed her slightly swaying hips.

‘You're always welcome here at time, Owen,’ the pastor called out.

He nodded noncommittally, turning away but not before he spied Jack resting a familiar hand on the pastor’s arm. Owen shook his head. Jack was just all kinds of weird.