Title: Mad World
By: Craig
Pairing: gen
Fandom: Torchwood/Misfits/Being Human
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Russell Davies created Torchwood, Toby Whithouse created Being Human and Misfits screens on E4. This is nonprofit fanfic.
NB: This is set after the current Torchwood S4 AU in my fanfiction.
Summary: Three groups of grieving friends deal with their private grief at the loss of loved ones- and encounter unexpected friendships.

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Jack looked across the table at the others, and the gaps around it made him ache, as they always did. Martha sat staring bleakly into space, and Rex was entangled around Cam. And the gulfs...the emoty spaces, the vanished friends and companions. He knew it was a high-risk job doing what they did, but he had Ianto. After his glimpse into hell, he was more grateful than ever for that. At long last, he was beginning to truly heal himself after Gwen's death at Kent House.

"So what do we do now?"

"Rex and I need to take some time away with each other. Martha, you're welcome to come with us. Don't worry, Jack. We'll return at the end of the month."

"No thanks, boys. I need to be with my family right now. You understand, don't you, Cam?"

"Beers ahoy!" Ianto said, with a trayful.

At the other end of the room sat a group of three late adolescents. One wore a green tracksuit, the other had hair plaited severely around a ponytail, and spoke in a gruff East End accent. Next to her was a bloke who held her protectively. Like the Torchwood group, they were misfits. Over a year ago, a teratogenic cloud had engulfed them and they had gained freakish abilities. Originally, there had been five of them. And then there had been the murder.

"What's takin' Rudy so long wi' the booze?" Kelly growled.

"I think he's sinking a few himself, love." Seth said, as she snuggled into him. Tough as she was, he was her anchor and one of the few good things that had happened to them all.

Curtis said bleakly: "I wish he'd hurry. Wouldn't mind downing a few meself. A few dozen. Still can't believe it. Alisha, dead, just like that. Simon, gone back in time to start it up with her. I expect them to walk through the door, an'..." His voice trailed off, as he spotted the beautiful young woman who'd just walked in with the two men. One had his ID checked, while the other two walked onward. Then he noticed her absence of a reflection, and shadow. Across the pub, so did Jack and Cam:

"Shit. She's a ghost. And I'm getting two mindsets from the young fella. Usually that only happens when I'm around people with dissociative identities, or..."

"Are they hostile?" Ianto whispered.

"I know the lady. Annie, Annie Sawyer. But those aren't the same two guys she had with her last time."

"What woman?" Ianto asked, puzzled.

"She's spectral, mate. I can see her, courtesy of my Rom blood. Jack can 'cause he's immortal, Cam's a telepath, so he picks up psi from 'er."

"Let's invite them over." Jack said. Cam nodded and sent out a telepathic message.

On the other side of the bar, Rudy jerked awake as Kelly almost dropped her drink. After what had happened to Simon and Alisha, she'd recovered her earlier telepathic ability, in order to protect Curtis and Seth. Yet she had been unprepared for what had just happened:

"That big blond bloke over there? He's a telepath too, yeah? I just got him inviting that ghost over. Sorry, Seth, love." She placed her hand to his temple so he could see Annie as well.

"Hey, lady." Jack said as he hugged Annie. Hal and Tom stood by, and Hal had a queasy stomach as he shook Jack's hand.

"Oh, Jack. It's so good to see someone familiar."

"So where are George and Mitchell these days?"

-[Uh, excuse me. Big blond guy? You are a 'path, yeah? Same here.]

Cam's eyes widened, as he turned toward the distant table and the younger woman waving at him

-[G'day. Cameron Grant, Cam to my mates.]

-[What'cha here for then?]

-[A wake. A couple of friends. We're Torchwood.]

-[Oh right. The people in that SUV from the city. Well, I'm Kelly Bailey an' this is me fella, Seth. Bloke's Curtis. The sleepin' pisshead is Rudy. Same here.]

-[Look, come over and join us. Let's get utterly wasted together. Can't believe it, though. Other 'paths are rare as back in this time...]

Tom sat down opposite Rex:

"Hey."

"Hey. Sorry if I'm not good company. Used to be in a security firm, Sureforce. An' then..."

"We lost people too. George and Mitchell." Tom said.

Jack swallowed: "Oh shit. Annie, I could kick myself. When...?"

"Last year. It was so damned unfair, Jack. Him and Nina, there's only their baby Eve left. I need some advice from you, though. Are futures immutable?"

As the conversations continued, Ianto cleared his throat: "Okay, everyone. To absent friends."

Curtis raised his glass: "To Alisha and Simon. Rest in peace."

Annie responded: "To George, Nina and Mitchell. I miss you all so much..."

Jack concluded: "To...."

[Sorry, no spoilers!] END

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