fh_alumni | The fifty-first century: The Forest and beyond

The Forest of Cheem. It was Jack's first stop in the fifty-first century. It was dark and cool, and Jack held the plant close as he made his way down the path. The Forest was alive in more than the usual sense, the leaves rustling without wind to move them.

Humans weren't precisely unwelcome, but they were certainly discouraged, not that that had ever kept Jack away from anywhere. It did, however, make him cautious, and he stopped near a towering tree, waiting for the Elder. "It's okay, plant. He'll be here soon, and then we'll see about finding you a permanent home."

	The Elder took his time, laboriously making the journey from wherever he'd been before Jack had arrived. There was no reason to rush and the human could certainly wait a few moments. Soon enough, he was approaching Jack, a blank expression on his dark face. "You have come here why?"
	Okay, he may have spent time - and more - with one, but Trees were damn hard to read. Jack held up the plant and bowed at the same time. "I'm here on behalf of my companion," hey, he figured it would go over well, "to petition the Trees of Cheem to accept it into the Forest."
	The Elder gave both Jack and the plant a long, criticizing look. "Why should the Trees of Cheem accept this...plant?"
	Jack knew it was his imagination, but it felt like the plant bristled at the implied insult. He lowered it and held it against his chest. "Good question." He hadn't thought this far ahead, but he could improvise. "Two reasons. The first, this plant's from twenty-first century earth, which means it contains genetic material that doesn't exist in this form anywhere else in the universe. It would be a valuable addition to the diversity of the Forest."
	That was an interesting development, one that the Elder hadn't expected to hear. He'd expected praise and gushing from the human extolling how much he loved the Trees of Cheem. Science was not usually used in these matters. "And the second reason?" the Elder asked calmly.
	Jack looked down at the plant, stroking one finger along a leaf, smiling a little. "Because it deserves a place where it will be cared for," he said quietly, then lifted his head to meet the Elder's eyes. "It's been of great significance in my life. It was a catalyst. It has been a companion." And he realised that was true, no matter how strange it sounded. "It shouldn't have to live out its life in a pot, and the Forests of Cheem are renowned far and wide for their magnificence."
	If one side of the Elder's mouth lifted, it was extinguished before Jack could see it. "Tell me of the significance," the Elder demanding not unkindly. "Everyone has the ability to tell stories of such greatness. We require specifics."
	Jack did not shuffle his feet, and he did not look at all embarrassed, because he was Jack, and he just didn't do things like that. He did clear his throat, though. Several times. "It was a gift," he finally said. "From someone who thought I needed a plant." Mentioning the dead one seemed like a bad idea. "Someone I hardly knew, but his gift made me see things, see him, in a different light." He shrugged. "I love him, and if it wasn't for his gift, for this plant, I doubt I would have had the chance."
	The Elder regarded him quietly. He seemed honest, almost to the point of embarrassment and the Elder could detect no signs of lying or fallacy in his body language. "Why do you come to us?" the Elder asked. "If this plant is so significant, why do you not keep it with you?"
	"I can't." He looked back down at the plant. "It wouldn't be safe with me. I did leave it behind once, with him, and he cared for it, would keep caring for it. But if it can have an even better life, where it can be something more..." Jack grinned and looked back up at the Elder, then waved a hand at the Forest. "If something you loved could have a chance at a life like this, wouldn't you try for it?"
	"Yes," the Elder admitted after a moment's quiet. "We will grant you this request. Your plant may remain here to be cared for by the Trees of Cheem. It will have safety and it will have long life."
	He let out a breath he hadn't know he'd been holding and hung onto to the plant a little tighter. "Thank you," he said quietly, sincerely, then laughed in relief. "Seriously, thank you. If there's ever anything Jack Harkness can ever do for you, for any of the Trees of Cheem, it's yours."
	"We will remember your name," the Elder promised. "And should we have a need for a human then we will call upon Jack Harkness." The Elder looked at the plant and then back to Jack. "I will lead you to the clearing where you may leave your plant. You can say goodbye there."
	Jack glanced down at his ~~death~~ grip on the pot and laughed again. "Thanks. Sometimes it's not that easy to let go," he said, then moved to follow the Elder.
	"You are welcome," the Elder said, walking towards the clearing in the distance. "You will be allowed to visit, of course, should the need arise." The clearing the Elder indicated was small, surrounded by larger trees and protected from the elements by the larger trees. "It is here, Jack Harkness."
	Jack took his time, surveying the space, before nodding his approval. It felt oddly serene, and he went to his knees in silence, carefully settling the plant onto the ground. Disregarding the presence of the Elder, he spoke to the plant directly. "There. You'll be safe here, and you can have lots of little plantlets and be happy." His smile was a touch sad as he stroked a leaf between his fingers, because he knew he'd never be back. "And no taking over the planet," he added as he got to his feet. "Not even a little bit."
	It was a private moment, the Elder knew, so he turned his back, giving Jack and his plant a modicum of privacy. When the speaking ended, he turned back around. "It will be safe," he promised. "You have my word as the Elder of the Trees of Cheem. It will be safe."
	"I know," he said, and grinned. "And now I'll get out of your leaves. Unless there's a more personal way I can thank you? The Elder just gazed at him serenely, and Jack smiled and headed out of the Forest. He didn't look back.

* * *

The Time Agency Hub - a day later

Jack was in a good mood. A very good mood, in fact, and he was whistling as he wandered through the empty hangar. The plant was safely tucked away on Cheem, he'd met a charming couple on his way back, with whom he'd spent a very entertaining evening, and it looked like Jason had covered up his little side-trip to the twenty-first century.

If Jack had known he wasn't alone in the hangar, he wouldn't have been so cheerful.

He was about to find out.

	"Harkness."
	He spun around, backing towards cover before he registered who it was. "Kane."
	"Bit jumpy tonight, aren't you?" Kane made his slow way across the echoing space.
	Jack backed up a step. "I thought that's what you were training me for?"
	"Good point." He kept moving, casual, almost an amble, but heading unerringly for Jack. "Feel like telling me where you've been?"
	Something in the way he asked it raised the hair on the back of his neck. "Nowhere special, just having a bit of fun."
	"I thought you would have got your fill of that on Paradise Five."
	Oh, shit. He knew. Jack didn't know how, but he knew. "Guess you don't know me as well as you thought."
	"You'd be surprised." He stopped, inches in front of Jack. "Where were you, Harkness." It wasn't a question
	Jack lifted his chin and didn't answer.
	Kane smiled briefly, and lunged forward.
	He threw himself backwards, trying to get away. Instinct dragged his hand away from his gun, some part of him recognising that would be a lethal mistake.
	Kane followed, eyes cold, frighteningly quick, hands hard.
	He tried, scored a good hit or two, but Kane was just better, faster, and in a flurry of movement, he found himself on his knees, arm twisted painfully behind him, cheek pressed against the cold concrete.
	"Now, let's try that again. Where. Were. You."
	Jack gritted his teeth and tried to throw him off. He failed.
	"Your hand seems to be miraculously healed up." He jerked Jack's arm higher. "What the hell were you thinking?"
	"I'm not telling you anything."
	"I know where you were, I know what you were doing, I know your little pal Jason tried to cover it up. He failed, by the way."
	Jack went very still.
	"No, I didn't do anything to him. Yet."
	Grunting, he bucked and twisted, and all he managed to do was smack his head into the concrete.
	"And I won't, if you behave." Kane shook him. "Little idiot."
	"I had to," he ground out. It had to have been his imagination, but for a heartbeat, he thought Kane sagged. Suddenly, he was free and he scrambled to his feet, panting as he whirled to face him.
	Kane shoved him backwards until he hit a wall, hands fisted in his shirt, getting right in his face. "Don't do it again. You know what comes next if you do."
	It took him a minute to understand. "You're not..." Not going to wipe my memory, but he couldn't say it.
	"No. Not this time. You get a free pass." He let go, but didn't step back. "You won't get another one," he added flatly, then turned on his heel and walked away. "And I did what Jason couldn't."
	Jack watched him go, one hand pressed to his jaw, trying to figure it out. It didn't make sense. "Why?"
	Kane paused but didn't turn. "Guess you don't know me as well as you thought."
	He stayed where he was until he was certain Kane would be long gone, and then limped out of the hangar, heading for his quarters.