Hello. Well, it's been years. No, literally, years. I started this story in around 2008 when I was about 15 and then I just kept writing and writing and writing until I finally had the confidence to put it up on . it finished in 2013 when I finally headed off to university in Wales and suddenly had too much to do and more ideas for original stories then for my fun little stolen world.
Since then I know people have re-read it (including myself) and new people have stumbled upon it in their browsing through the Doctor Who sections. Quite a few people have commented on the roughness of it. The spelling mistakes, the self-service segments which don't fit the moment or just things that are plain wrong. So, about half way through March 2018, I decided to launch into something daft. I'm going to edit "What's in a Name".
I can't promise it will suddenly be good if you hated it before. I can't promise all the bits you loved will still be there. (Rest assured I will have an original copy too so if you miss a bit then let me know and I'll see what we can do.) I also can't promise to catch every little thing. However I hope this goes some way to making this story that little bit more pleasurable to read. Both for the old and the new readers.
Here we go…
Obligatory disclaimer: Don't own any of this other than Winter/Nemo, Pip and a few other random side role characters.
Ain't it crazy how you think
You've got your whole life planned
Just to find that it was never ever
In your hand?
Sugarbabes - Change
Everything Changes: Part 1
'Owen Harper! If your hand "accidentally" touches my breasts one more time, I'll garrotte you with your stethoscope!'
Jack smiled, letting out a muffled chuckle as his team struggled to get into the SUV. Well, technically only two of them were struggling. Toshiko and Suzie had sensibly chosen to sit in the back seats but Owen and Winter had just engaged in a little race to get the front seat and neither were willing to relinquish the handle. He glanced over to see the young woman of twenty one glare murderously at Owen through her think dark brown hair as Owen patted her on the head condescendingly. She bristled and rose to her full height, a not so impressive five foot.
'Don't flatter yourself shortie, they just happened to be at the height of my hand as I reached for the handle.'
She took a step forward and Jack knew by the hand that was fluttering towards the knife concealed in her belt, that it was time to cut in. 'Owen, get in the front seat before we have to test the glove on you. Nemo, why don't you go help Ianto feed the pterodactyl.'
Winter turned to Jack with a look of shock that slowly morphed to a glare and then, without a sound, she spun on her heel and stormed back through the door leading from the garage to the main Hub. He sighed quietly as Owen buckled up and the door to the garage rolled open before pulling the SUV out into the pouring rain.
TTT
Winter sat at the very top of the hub with a large bucket of fish. Lately this had been all she had been doing. There had been less and less for her to do ever since Suzie had worked out the use of the glove and they'd needed to do less ground work. Why go hunting for clues when you could just ask the dead guy?
She surveyed the cavernous hub that was her home, she knew almost all the ins and outs of it but even now it struck her with a sense of pride. That feeling she had when Jack first walked her through the doors, only days after approaching her for, 'a little help finding a guy with a tail, whiskers and very large sabre teeth'. From the moment she saw him she had known her life would be different. Back then she'd been homeless, with no family other than a small group of misfit kids from bad homes around Cardiff or living rough themselves. When he had brought her back here and told her she was welcome to stay, she had almost fainted.
A loud, disgruntled squawk from her side brought her out of her daydream and she looked over at the pterodactyl perched beside her. 'Come on then.' She pulled herself to her feet in one fluid motion and made her way to the feeding area.
Once upon a time it had housed the Torchwood boat but after that sank, way back in the 1950's, it was left to rot and now it made a great area to feed and clean the pterodactyl. Winter chucked fish after fish in the air and, as she did, the large reptile would swoop over and grab it before swallowing each one whole.
Is this really what she had been demoted to? The pterodactyl keeper.
'Hey Winter'.
She turned sharply to see Ianto sticking his head through the doorway.
'Jack's back.'
Throwing the remainder of the fish into the water, she followed Ianto back to the main area.
'I don't care who she was, she shouldn't have been so nosey. All the other officers get it why can't she?' Owen's blunt tone cut through the near silence that had fallen on the hub as Suzie and Tosh followed him inside.
Ianto disappeared from Winter's side to make some coffee but she stood, leaning on the metal railings watching from afar, still hurt at being left at the hub while the others got to go out.
'You can't really blame her Owen. We turn up at the scene and everyone scatters for us. Someone was bound to become suspicious eventually,' Suzie replied.
Winter's interest was piqued, someone had been poking around in what the team had been doing.
The door to the hub rolled back once more and revealed the Captain in all his glory. He stopped just between Owen and Tosh's desks and Winter watched, amused, as he scanned the hub (presumably for her). Eventually his eyes reached the post she held high above them all and he gave her a charming grin. Winter suppressed the urge to grin back and held his gaze, forcing a bored look onto her face. It didn't faze him. Without a word he produced the object he had been concealing behind him. A lolly-pop. Her eyes grew wide and he dangled it in a taunting way, as if trying to lure her down towards him like the pterodactyl. Oh no. That was not going to work.
Jack let out a sharp cry of shock as a little hand flew out and grabbed the lolly from his grasp. He could only watch in frustration as a capuchin monkey raced up a series of ropes and bars, that had been set up for both him and Winter to relax on, and handed the sweet to Winter. He was rewarded with a large walnut which he instantly set about trying to crack open with his teeth, occasionally spitting shell out at Suzie who worked beneath them.
Winter smirked as she popped the lolly into her mouth and swung herself over the railings, grabbing one of the fireman's poles and sweeping down to the ground. She swept past Suzie's desk, ignoring her tutting, and over to the Captain. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, to show no hard feelings, then plopped down on the sofa and picked up the book she'd left there the previous day.
Jack smiled at her before heading into his office. The team knew that there were several all-important rules for working at Torchwood. The official such as:
Don't tell anyone what you do.
Don't take artefacts home.
The less official such as:
Don't feed the Pterodactyl in the main hub.
Don't touch Ianto's coffee machine.
Then there was the one rule that Jack prided himself on keeping, the most important, day to day, rule he had. His own personal goal:
A happy Nemo, is a happy hub.
Jack had always been closest to Winter. Possibly because he was the one who found her, and then there was also the fact that they lived in the hub together. When she first came to live there she had a camp bed of her own, just down the corridor from the armoury, but night after night he would walk past and hear her night terrors. Several times he carried her back to his room, letting her curl up against him and cry. Sometimes his own nightmares broke through and slowly they started to share, both their stories, and their room.
Co-existing that way made them very close companions. She kept sleeping in his room and, when he slept, he would stretch out in the bed they had assembled together (a task that turned from a disagreement to an argument to a bottle of wine and some unsteady dancing).
However, their closeness also meant that he really felt it when she was giving him the cold shoulder. Luckily it didn't happen often but sometimes he had to do things that she didn't agree with and drawing the line between best friend and boss was sometimes a lot harder than he had originally planned.
He looked over at the couch where the monkey had now joined her. She leaned over and absent-mindedly scratched his belly as she read, an expression of deep concentration on her face. Jack's mind wandered to the day he'd brought her home.
TTT
Jack threw his coat onto the coat stand as water dripped from his nose and hair. It was pouring outside and the girl next to him had refused, point blank, to run anywhere because she was tired from chasing the catman he'd asked her to help him hunt down.
Her excitement had been obvious when he asked her to come back to the hub with him but he could still see the tension in her body, as if she was a coiled spring waiting to escape at any moment. She didn't trust him and he didn't really blame her but the look on her face as she stared around the hub made him grin like a mad man. Truth be told she looked a bit dizzy.
'Blimey', she murmured as she stared up at the ceiling.
The team made an appearance at this point. Jack had already told them they would be acquiring a new member but that was pretty much all he had let slip. Owen had been the first to speak.'She's a bit short, don't you think?'
The look of wonder had disappeared from the girl's face and she had turned to glare at the offending man.
'Just saying.' He raised his hands and sat in his chair.
Toshiko had slipped forward and offered her hand to the girl who took it after a nudge from Jack.'I'm Toshiko, I work with the computers,' she smiled and took a step back, looking a bit uncomfortable when she didn't get a reply.
Jack sighed and decided to introduce her himself, 'Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato, Suzie Costello and Ianto Jones.' he motioned to each as he said their names, Owen didn't seem bothered, Toshiko still looked a little uncomfortable, Suzie looked put out but Ianto gave her a slight smile. 'This,' Jack continued, 'is Nemo.'
At this the whole team moved a little. Owen however sat up, suddenly interested. 'What?' he laughed. 'What kind of a name is Nemo? Don't tell me you're named after a fish.'
The girl growled and made to step over to him but Jack pulled her back.'It's Latin,' she spoke finally, 'for "no name"; I haven't got a name so I'm called Nemo. I like it.'
Owen still smirked, 'Yeah well, I'm not calling you Nemo, it's stupid.'
'We could always give you a name, you don't have to be nameless.' Toshiko said kindly.
Nemo looked up at her suspiciously. 'What did you have in mind?'
They sat around for hours trying to come up with a name that suited the girl and eventually decided that a Chinese break was needed. At some point someone had switched the news on and as it flicked over to the weather Ianto broke the silence. 'What about Winter? We found you in winter, and you said your birthday was in December.'
Jack turned to Nemo who looked deep in thought for a while but then a smile graced her face for the first time, since she'd walked into the hub and she accepted. That had settled it. From that day on everyone called her Winter and she slowly settled in with the team.
He just couldn't get used to it though. When they had met she had been Nemo, the name must have come from somewhere. It had a history to it and he knew all about changing names. So, unlike his team he had stuck to calling her Nemo, she never seemed to mind.
TTT
The ringing of Jack's phone pulled him out of his daydream and he realised not only had Nemo given up on the book and joined in the conversation about the young police woman at the crime scene but she had also noticed him staring and had probably been staring back for a few minutes. He gave her a cheeky smile and she rolled her eyes as they both turned away to get on with what they should have been doing.
TTT
The next day started like every other day. Jack woke up first and slipped his arms from around the sleeping girl who proceeded to pull all the blankets around her and kick Jack in her sleep. He smiled through the pain as he changed and made his way up to his office.
Ianto was first in; he popped down with coffee for Jack and Winter. Tosh then arrived to boot up the computer systems. Winter made it up just before eight then Suzie at nine. Owen ambled in just after ten cussing at everyone until Winter appeared behind him with two aspirin and a large coffee from Ianto. Nothing much happened until lunchtime, when Tosh poked her head around the door of Jacks office and interrupted him halfway through a long and winding story that both Winter and the monkey sat on her shoulder had totally forgotten the point of. 'Sorry Jack but we have reports of what sounds like a weevil at the hospital, it could be Janet, do you want us to check it out or...' she trailed off as Jack stood up and grabbed his coat.
'Nah let's all go, I'm sure Ianto won't miss us for a while.'
Winter perked up. 'Does that mean I'm coming?'
Jack turned to look at her with an expression that clearly said 'duh'. She squealed, hugged him and almost dived down the man hole to find a suitable jacket.
They arrived at the hospital in good time and Jack talked them through the plan as they drove through the gates. Tosh had deduced that the Weevil was on the top floor and she'd packed away some police tape and construction shields to keep people out.
Winter was stationed on the right side of the building at the back with Suzie. This didn't fill her with confidence, she was well-aware Suzie wasn't at all fond of her.
Peregrine the monkey chattered quietly on her shoulder so she handed him a dead tarantula treat to keep him busy for a while and told him to wait in the SUV. The creature immediately jumped through the open door and rolled up the window himself. Suzie was already off walking towards the right of the building so Winter had to follow at a quick pace to catch up. She hated hospitals. With the exception of the maternity ward no one ever went there for a good reason and even that was bad sometimes. Obviously it had been with her, what else would have made her mother leave straight after she was born with no one but… This train of thought brought with it a dark look that Suzie noticed. 'What?' she asked mockingly. 'Upset your dear Captain didn't choose to go with you.'
Winter scowled at her and shook her head. They steadily made their way towards the top of the building, slipping into the lift and standing in silence for a few moments.
'I know about Andrew.'
Those four words and the motion of the lift shuddering to a stop co-incised perfectly. To Winter it seemed as if the whole world had stopped. 'What?' she whispered, her voice having deserted her. Suzie shrugged and pulled out a can of weevil spray from her pocket.
'You heard me.'
Winter pulled Suzie back to face her. 'What are you telling me for?'
'Simple. Jack. Ever since you arrived my company means less and less to him, he spends all his time with you. My views and authority mean nothing. I want that back. I want control.'
'What do you expect me to do, leave?'
Suzie stayed silent and Winter realised with a sinking feeling that this was exactly what she wanted her to do. 'No,' she replied stubbornly.
'Well then, I hope you're prepared for all the pain coming when they realise what you did. They'll hate you for it. You do realise that don't you? Torchwood is about protecting people and saving lives. How do you think they'll feel to learn they're working with a murderer and a coward?'
Winter snapped. She grabbed Suzie by the front of her clothes and threw her up against the opposite wall of the corridor but the older woman was stronger and she thrust her knee up into Winters chest sending her sprawling on the floor just as they heard the growl of a weevil.
The noise distracted Suzie enough to let Winter send a fairly good punch her way but not long enough for the hit to make contact. Suzie dodged as they heard a woman ask for, 'a man in a big grey coat.'
This time Suzie's boot collided with Winter's chest. A man had entered the corridor and was now talking to the woman. Suzie pulled Winter's hair and slammed her head against the wall before taking off down the corridor to tackle the weevil that had just attacked one of the two people Winter had heard. She could vaguely hear Jack shouting, 'Go!' over and over but her head was spinning and it was a struggle just to stay conscious.
After a few moments she heard Jack questioning Suzie as to her where about and she realised she had been missed. She hauled herself up and staggered towards the voices but her walking wasn't quite right yet. Thinking better of it, she changed her course heading in the opposite direction towards the lifts.
She stumbled out of the building and wrenched the SUV door open, immediately falling into the seat behind the driver's so Jack wouldn't be able to study her over his shoulder.
Within minutes the others were forcing the whining weevil into the boot and piling into the car. Jack took a quick glance at Winter and then started up the engine. They swerved out of the hospital car park, sounding the horn as they turned. Winter couldn't see why because she had closed her eyes as soon as they set off and was now pressing her head against the cool window, trying desperately not to throw up. The last thing she needed right now was vomit on the carpet, Ianto had only just cleaned it.
'I don't believe it, she's following us,' Owen complained.
'This one just doesn't give up does she?' Suzie agreed. Her voice grated on Winter's mind.
'Alright who wants to take the car inside?' Jack asked.
Suzie volunteered and Winter felt her climb past to get to the front. She opened her eyes and saw Jack, Toshiko and Owen get out of the car. Peregrine clambered into her arms as Jack opened the door for her. He looked determined as he helped her out of the car and tucked a hand carefully under her arm, in case she fell.
'Oi! You lot!'
Winter heard the woman shout but followed Jack's lead in ignoring her as they all piled onto the invisible lift. Once there, Jack's expression changed to one of concern as he wrapped both arms around Winter. As the lift descended he lent down to check her over as best he could on the limited space. Suzie was waiting at the bottom with a squirming weevil and a smile that, to Winter, meant trouble.
'Take Janet back down to the cells. Owen I want Nemo checked out now.'
Winter stopped walking with Jack as he spoke. 'I'm fine. I just need a rest, I'm tired,' She argued.
Jack looked at her for a moment but, seeing the determination in her eyes, he gave in. She hugged Peregrine close and walked slowly over to his office. He watched her solemnly, something was wrong and she wasn't telling him and he wasn't sure what to do. He stood over at Toshiko's desk and watched as Gwen Cooper sat in her car in the rain and as her partner joined her. He watched until they left and his mind was over-run with thoughts.
TTT
She had slept for about two hours but now Winter was wide awake. Her normal nightmares had been replaced by Suzie's revelation and the calm look on her face as she smashed Winter's head against the wall.
She took a quick shower and then switched her clothes for some less crumpled ones so by the time she was up in Jack's office she looked like nothing had changed. Peregrine scampered along beside her and jumped up onto Jacks chair. He looked up at her and smiled. 'How are you feeling?' he asked and she shrugged in response.
'So, so.'
He looked a little worried for a moment. 'Think you're coming down with something?'
'Nah, other than mild cabin fever.'
He smiled, 'Well, in that case how do you fancy being a part of our little joke?'
His eyes glinted with excitement and Winter laughed as she sat in the chair opposite him, propping her feet up on the table. 'Any time now a Miss Gwen Cooper will be walking through our door. She's at the pizza place now.'
'How did she know we were customers?'
'I'll be asking that later. Anyway, we're going to put on a show for the lovely PC Cooper, everyone at their stations but I was wondering if you'd like to... hang around for a bit.'
Winter's face lit up as she bounded over to the door. 'You'll get my Oscar winning performance, don't you worry. Come on Pip.'
She made a dramatic bow and as she bent forward Peregrine jumped onto her shoulder. Jack laughed and began working out his own special act.
Just to note that from now on I will keep bits of the old authors notes. Mainly ones that include what I was up to at the time of originally publishing this story. Old authors notes will be found between square brackets. For example: [Please review!]