THE HIVE

Chapter Thirty Three

Rose was amused as she helped the Doctor and Julian with their work. The Doctor was definitely in his element now and he and the other doctor were analyzing their notes, comparing them and debating on what to do to enhance the antidote. Ianto managed to find a large white t-shirt and after cutting a hole in the back, they managed to carefully get the wings through them before the Doctor put the shirt on. Rose had to admit the t-shirt and trousers looked odd on him but she wasn't about to say anything. So far, no actual work had been done, just comparing of notes and arguing over the fine points. Both men seemed to have found things the other hadn't and they were trying to find a way to blend the two men's notes into one.

While they were arguing, Jack came into the room.

"How's it goin'?" he asked, walking up to Rose.

"They're discussing their findings and trying to blend them together," Rose said to him.

"Yes, because I think we both have pieces of the puzzle, it's fitting them together that's tricky," the Doctor said to him.

"I was going to ask you if it's possible to make the antidote into a kind of gas," Jack asked him.

The Doctor and Julian shared a glance and conferred softly for a couple of minutes before Julian looked at Jack.

"I believe we could do that, given enough time. Unfortunately, time isn't a luxury here."

"I understand that but I was thinking, we know where the Queen's hive is. Perhaps if we created a kind of smoke bomb that would carry the antidote to the wasps inside..."

"And what would happen when the Queen realizes what you're doing?" the Doctor cut in, "she could sting them again or sting to kill."

"Yes, but here's the thing. Torchwood has a gas bomb that can knock someone out. If I go into the hive and throw it at the Queen..."

"Jack, the Queen's throne, so to speak, is at the back of the cave and there are wasps everywhere. You'd be stung before you got to her," the Doctor said.

"Not if I stung myself first."

Everyone stared at him.

"I'm sorry?" the Doctor said.

"When we had Jeremy here, we took samples of the toxin from his stinger. I could make myself into a wasp and fly in the gas bomb before I became a full wasp and then you lot could go in with Torchwood and set off the antidote gas which would cure everyone, including me."

Everyone stared at him in silent shock.

"Jack, the transformation is painful, take it from me," the Doctor said.

"I know but I've suffered pain before and we're running out of options. You can block my mind from the Queen, same as you did for Rose, right, so she can't control me?"

"Well, yes, but the more you become a wasp the greater the pull of the hive mind becomes. I can't guarantee that if I put up mental barriers when you're a human they'll stay that strong when you're a wasp."

"It's a chance I'm willing to take. We just got in reports and nearly a quarter of the UK is infected now and it'll only speed up with more and more people transforming. We need to take out the Queen. She's the one directing everything. With her gone, the other people will become confused and won't know what to do and it'll be easier to take care of them. I just need you to try to find a way to make the antidote and put it in gas form. Even this half antidote would work since it would allow the humans to take back their minds and the Queen couldn't control them."

The Doctor and Julian conferred again for another moment and then the Doctor turned to Jack.

"I'll do this because you're right, we don't have much time and not many options but I hope you know what you're doing," the Doctor said.

"Like I said, I'll take the risk and if I get out of control, you can kill me," Jack said. "Just block my mind before I inject myself with the toxin."

The Doctor shook his head.

"Sometimes I wonder about my companions' sanity," he said to Julian. "I think I like choosing people who are more bonkers than I am."

While Julian continued to study both his and the Doctor's findings, the Doctor went with Jack back to his office. Jack sat in the chair while the Doctor stood beside him.

"I still think this is a daft idea and I just hope you know what you're in for," the Doctor said to him. "It's not a pleasant transformation, especially when the extra arms come out of your body and the stinger comes out of your rear."

"I understand that," Jack said. "I've suffered through torture before and I know how to deal with it. Just go ahead and block my mind."

"I hope you're right about this, old friend," the Doctor said before putting his fingers to Jack's temples.

After he finished, the Doctor stood by and watched while Jack injected himself with a yellowish serum that had been taken from Jeremy's stinger. While he did that, the other members of the team and Rose hovered outside the office door, watching silently.

"Now, he's gonna need someone to look after him," the Doctor said to everyone. "Not to mention he should be given sedatives to ease the pain of the mutation."

"I'll do it," Ianto said. "Everyone else has work to do."

Jack stood up and Ianto walked with him to the spare room that they used when they spent nights at the Hub and needed to sleep. The room was largely unfurnished except for a couple of old twin beds, some wooden tables, a couple of lamps and a bookcase that had books chosen by all members of the team. While everyone else went back to sleep, Ianto walked with him.

"You sure this was the right thing to do?" Ianto asked him.

"I'm not sure it was the right thing to do but at the moment it's the only thing to do," Jack replied when they walked inside the spare room. "It might take some time for the Doc and Julian to come up with a full cure and we need to stop the Queen now. Out of everyone here, I can afford to die so I'm gonna be the guinea pig."

"Just... come back to us safely."

Jack stared at Ianto for a moment before he took his hand. He drew Ianto near to him before giving him a soft kiss on the forehead. He held his hand while he laid his forehead against Ianto's.

"I have so much to live for," he said softly. "I'm not about to give that all up and become a giant wasp. Besides, the stinger might be a bit painful during lovemaking, if you know what I mean."

Ianto laughed at that and Jack gave him another soft kiss on the forehead.

"The change isn't instantaneous, why don't you get some sleep, at least for an hour or two. You have a long night ahead of you."

Ianto nodded and Jack cupped his face with his hands and smiled as he took in his handsome face. He noticed the worry in his lover's eyes and he leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. Ianto returned it and gave his hand a squeeze before he went off to get some sheets and a blanket from the linen closet. Jack watched him go and when he was out of earshot, he let out a sigh and shook his head.

"I must be insane. Life was so much simpler before I met the Doctor. It was a hell of a lot less dangerous being a con man," he muttered to himself as he slipped off his coat and laid it on one of the tables.

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