Turn Around

[jooles34]

Title: Turn Around
Author: Jooles34
Sin: Pride
Characters PC Andy
Word count: 750
Rating: PG 
Spoilers: Some events of Exit Wounds
Disclaimer: Torchwood does not belong to me
Summery: PC Andy is on the sidelines. Again.

 

PC Andy stood at the end of the dark alley in the rain. That was the thing about being a copper in Cardiff; there was a lot of standing in the rain. Right now he was standing in front of a strip of crime scene tape with his back to the Torchwood team. He knew that by now they would be leaning over the dead body doing whatever it was that they did that no-one else was allowed to see. It was only a few minutes ago that they had stridden past him in that way they had, the big American telling him to keep the spectators away.

Yes, because he needed to be told what to do; how to do his own job.

Anyway, in this rain no-one was mad enough to bother coming to see what the police were up to. So he was resigned to standing here staring at the inky darkness, listening to whatever was happening behind him. He hunkered down into his jacket to fend of the wind that tried to blow the icy rain down his neck.

He longed to turn around and watch them work, but refused to let himself, no matter how much he wanted to. And he did love to watch them work. To watch Gwen moving with that look of concentration on her face. The quiet Welshman who always followed a step behind the other two, but then seemed to be everywhere at once. And the Captain, who, and he hated to admit it, oozed authority and control and charisma. He always stood there directing the others, directing everyone, smiling, somehow getting everyone to do what he asked.

Then there was him. Standing on the sidelines. Again.

He knew a bit about what Torchwood did, certainly knew what they were capable of. He knew that they could swan into any crime scene they liked and take over without explanation. He knew that they could make entire case files disappear, make witness statements disappear. God, they could even make suspects disappear.

He really wanted to turn around.

Andy blinked as a gust of wind blew rain into his face. Torchwood would be off and gone again soon. Sweeping off enigmatically in their big black car to wherever it was they went. And where would he be? Still standing here in the rain, that’s where. And tomorrow would bring more standing. More rain too no doubt. While they ran around in their shiny car chasing their weird and interesting cases he’d be back with lost dogs and wallets.

There was a beeping sound from behind him and Gwen’s voice went up a pitch. Andy couldn’t make out the words, but heard the sudden interest in her tone.

God, he wanted to turn around and see what they were doing. Maybe he could help them? He was sure that he could help them, if only they would give him a chance.

He had asked to join them once. When he and Gwen were working together again on the disappearance of that lad Jonah. He had asked her if they had any vacancies, if she would put in a good word for him. She had said maybe, but of course he had never heard anything again. He thought he had stood a chance when the other two had died. He felt a little guilty about seeing the opportunity in such a tragedy, but still. They would need someone new now wouldn’t they?

But no. They still hadn’t asked. Hadn’t he proved himself to them yet? To Gwen? Oh he knew what most people thought of him. Good old PC Andy. Bit simple, easy going, mostly harmless. Good only for crime scene guarding, keeping non-existent spectators at bay. But he was so much more, he just needed someone to see it. He thought Gwen would have seen it by now. Especially after all that business the night Cardiff was bombed.

But apparently not. Nope, here he was again, no better than the “hoards” of spectators he was guarding them from. He really wanted to turn around and watch them work; walk over there, offer to help, offer to do anything they wanted.

He took a deep breath, sighing out into the rain. No, he wouldn’t turn around, and he wouldn’t ask again. No matter how much he wanted it, he would not ask again. That would be like begging. PC Andy may not have had much, but he did have his pride.