I have never done a cross over fic before, so this should be interesting. I don't recommend reading if you are only a fan of one of the shows though, it won't make a lot of sense to you, and there are frequent references to past events in both universes. The first chapter will focus entirely on Torchwood, second on Criminal Minds, and we will see where we go from there.
This isn't essential to know before reading, but if you are picky about canon like me: with regard to the universe used, obviously the world of Criminal Minds is like our world; they do not know about aliens, whereas in the Torchwood, (Doctor Who), universe, everyone has seen aliens, or at least knows they are in existence. I have tried to have the best of both worlds in the sense that the public do not know about aliens, including the BAU, but the governments and their organizations such as Torchwood all know, and alien incursions do happen, so there are a lot of conspiracy theorists and alien believers.
In terms of canon timelines, in the Torchwood timeline this is set between series 2 and Children of Earth, (hence only contains Jack, Ianto and Gwen.) In Criminal Minds, it is fairly none specific. It is some point after Rossi and Prentiss join, but before anything about Prentiss' past is revealed.
Please enjoy, read and review!
"Sir!"
Captain Jack Harkness stopped mid-sentence to turn and smile as Ianto Jones ascended the stairs to his office hurriedly, and walked out to meet him. Gwen Cooper, to whom he had been talking, would have previously been annoyed, (or jealous), at the attentions given, but for some reason she found herself simply amusedly exasperated. She followed, and he glanced back down at her as Ianto continued to approach, coughing and deliberately slouching slightly to appear as if he had been casual the entire time. He met her eyes, and she rolled them. He smiled customarily cheekily, but not before a flash of discomfort passed across his features. That was also the norm.
"Where's the fire?" the Captain said, leaning on the railing.
"Don't joke," Ianto said lightly, indicating they should go to the computers, "Do you not remember the Pyrovile that came out of Mount Erw y Ddafad-ddu?"
"That was a good weekend, and I got to hear the both of you in your beautiful Welsh vowels saying the name of that mountain… volcano thing."
"Sorry, what was it called?" Ianto hid his laugh by turning his head to face the screen, logging on to present their mission which their contacts at UNIT had delegated. The other two stood behind him, Jack perhaps a little closer than was strictly necessary.
Ianto fumbled slightly over the keys, and Jack could have sworn he heard the man of little words irritably mutter something about pheromones.
He got the details on the screen, and there was a collective sigh of annoyance bordering on anger.
"I thought that was gone for good!" Gwen said with exasperation, a hint of sadness and concern lining her features as she remembered the creature they had encountered before.
"These things never really go away." Jack's voice was low and quiet, and both of his remaining team looked up at him sadly, reminded once more of his age and what came with it.
He had been seemingly fixated on the screen, but appeared to physically snap out of it, covering his face in the comforting grin which he flashed toward both of them. Gwen was appeased at least, but Ianto simply swallowed his vowels, saving them for a moment which they would be accepted.
"It apparently just took a trip across the pond," Ianto said flatly, the dry remark delivered without wit.
"America?"
"Virginia, specifically."
" But... they must have people, surely?" Gwen said, moving forward to read further on the screen.
"They do, but none equipped to take this one. They like guns, the Americans, and this can't be dealt with by guns. To be honest, I don't know what they expect us to do alone."
"They knew that I would know," Jack spoke up, a genuine glint of adventure in his eye, "They know I know people. I did actually live there for a while you know."
"Is there anyone you haven't known?" Ianto had his eyebrows raised just slightly, the amusement only visible to those who knew him well, and he looked directly into Jack's eyes when he spoke, daring him to try and make him jealous. Jack's glint increased with something else as his grin subsided into a curled smirk.
"I have plenty of time for them," Jack quipped casually, "and not necessarily one at a –"
"Okay so does this mean we are going to America?" said Gwen quickly.
"Nope." Jack took the steps two at a time back up to the balcony above them as he spoke to throw food to Myfanwy who was flying round the centre hub.
"No?" Ianto called, laughing slightly at the childlike reactions of the dinosaur to his boss's trick throws of chocolate.
"Me and you are Ianto, but not Gwen. She made too much of a connection with this one, and you know what that thing does with that." He turned to her slightly, pausing in his attentions to Myfanwy and said more gently, "You know what it does with that."
She opened her mouth to respond, and felt Ianto's eyes on her too.
They didn't even know what the alien looked like, not properly. According to Ianto's research, it was described in folklore as the Shadow Devil, or the Black Heart. In actuality it was a creature that came from a race of celestial, mostly gaseous creatures that generally do very little unless confronted by other species. Their purpose is to belong, and they are single minded in this approach – the first intelligent being that they encounter and its thoughts and more importantly emotions are the sole focus of the rest of their lives, and they will take possession of whatever other mind to do it.
This one had ended up on the top of a block of flats in Swansea, for reasons unknown, and had encountered a man running from the police. This man was a serial killer. (Ianto's reaction remark to this had been Owen Harper reflective in its resigned incredulity. 'Of course he was a psychopathic serial killer. Of bloody course.')
It had killed seven people horrifically before they were able to stop it, but it could not be contained. It had possessed Gwen, but she had managed to talk it down, access the human reasoning that it had taken along with the psycopathy. It took possession of a passer-by, and went back to the roof, jumping off.
This had been three months ago, and still it remained one of their oddest and most chilling encounters.
"Maybe you're right," Gwen said, forcing a smile. "Anyway, someone's gotta look after the Rift and the Rhys."
"You sure you're okay?" Jack descended the stairs again, Myfanwy appeased, to look her in the eye close up.
She laughed slightly, and quite honestly replied in the positive.
After they had dispersed again, and Ianto had gone to find out everything about the people Jack said they would be working with, Gwen sidled up to Jack working, nodding toward Ianto with a knowing and happy look in her eye.
"Have fun, won't you."
He looked at Ianto directly as he looked back, and winked before replying.
"I always do."
Intriguing? Tell me what you think so far. I don't usually continue very far if there are no reviewers, so even if it is to say you would read on, or to point out a mistake or room for improvement, please go ahead and make my day! :) Thanks for reading anyway!