Title: Stuck in Cardiff
Rating: T
Pairing: Jack/Gwen
Spoilers: Nothing specific
Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood If I did Gwen and Jack would be together and Tosh and Owen would still be alive.

Chapter 1

All was quite in the hub. Owen was down in the autopsy room dissecting some odd alien life form, Tosh was at her desk monitoring rift activity, Ianto was by his beloved coffee machine and Jack was up in his office looking out over his team.

All of a sudden the cog door rolled open and in stormed Gwen. Her hair was a bit of a mess and her make-up was smudged but other than that she looked quite nice. Jack came racing down the stairs, to meet her.

"Where have you been Miss. Cooper?" He asked playfully but Gwen just stared up at him her eyes full of sadness and guilt.

"Not now Jack, I'm not in the mood" Gwen said mournfully, she tried to walk away but Jack held her firmly in place.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, turning more serious.

"It's nothing" Gwen said, a stray tear escaped her eye but she quickly brushed it away and gave him a small smile.

It made Jacks heart melt to see her like this, to see her so unhappy and tearful. Why did she put up with that ogre of a boyfriend if all he does is yell at her? Surely she wants to get out. He had to use all of his will power and strength to keep back from killing that stupid whale.

"Come here" Jack said, pulling her into a loving embrace. Jack felt a small sob escape her mouth and he held her tighter and she buried her head further into this chest, the sound of his heartbeat strangely soothing her. They stayed like this, for what seemed like hours, until jack placed his hand under her chin and brought her face up to his, so that their faces were inches apart. She could feel his breath dancing against her lips, all she wanted to do was kiss every last bit of life out of him but she couldn't, it would be selfish.

"Gwen" Jack said quietly.

She couldn't take it anymore, the sound of her name on his lips just made her melt. She slowly brought her lips to meet his. But before they could quite brush together, Tosh raised from her seat.

"Jack, manger rift spike" Tosh shouted.

Jack and Gwen sprung apart. Jack gave her a wink, which made her blush, before he jumped back into the role of the boss.

"Ianto!" he yelled

"Yes, sir?" He asked, coming into view.

"Get the SUV round front, Owen!" He shouted, Owen emerged from the autopsy room.

"What?" He asked
"Get ready, rift activity" Jack replied, running up too his office to get his coat.

I wasn't long before they were all crammed into the SUV and on their way too their destination.

"Left at these crossroads and carry on then after 3 possible turnings turn right" Tosh shouted from the back seat.

"Right" Jack said swivelling the car left.

"When you turn left there will be an old warehouse pull into there,"

"Why is everything always at an abandoned warehouse? I mean were torchwood can't there be aliens at the playboy mansion or something like that!" Owen asked.

"Shut up you twat, none of them would sleep with you anyway!" Gwen said finally speaking up.

She had been quite up until now, she had been thinking about her previous encounter with Jack. Why did he make her feel as if she had just stepped from a cloud, Why was it that she wanted to hear him say her name all the time. Shouldn't she feel that way about Rhys? I mean she loved Rhys, Didn't she?

Owen interrupted her thoughts.

"Why is that you're such a moody cow Gwen?"

Jack pulled in to the warehouse. He turned round and glared at Owen, you know the kind of look that makes you wish you weren't born.

"Right, Sorry Gwen, that was out of line" Owen apologised.

"Thank you, now children let's get on with it shall we?" Jack said getting out of the SUV.

Everybody got out of the car, Jack immediately went over to Gwen to see it she was ok. How dare Owen give her such verbal abuse! Everyone knew Owen was a twat but Gwen was a caring, creative person not a 'moody cow'. He would have a word with Owen later.

"Right, Gwen you're with me, Owen and tosh search upstairs, me and Gwen will look down stairs. Be careful it could be anything"

and with that they split up.

"Gwen, are you ok?" Jack asked once they were away from the others.

"I'm fine Jack" She answered giving him a fake smile.

He grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall, not so roughly that it hurt her but enough to shock her out of struggling.

"Tell me the truth" Jack said looking at her sternly.

"I'm fine" She repeated, avoiding eye contact.

"Gwen I know you!"

"It's just everything its Rhys, its Torchwood...."

"It's you" She finished under her breath.

"What was that?" Jack asked, holding his breath slightly.

"It's ......."

She was cut off by a loud piercing scream.

Tosh and Owen were not having any luck they had searched half of the upstairs and done that in silence.

"Tosh?"

"Mm?"

"Is it just me or is Jack getting way too attached to Gwen?"

"You are an idiot sometimes Owen"

"Why what have I done know?" He asked defensively

Tosh took a deep breath.

"He loves her, isn't it obvious? Even you can't be that blind"

"Well I hadn't really thought to be honest" Owen replied thoughtfully, that's what he loved about Tosh, her ability to observe people and understand the complexity of the human mind.

He personally thought they had just become shag buddies. He wouldn't have thought it was Love.

"You know Tosh, you are an incredibly intelligent woman" Owen complimented

"Thanks" She replied, a deep flush over taking the natural complexion of her cheek tone.

"No I mean it" Owen insisted.

Tosh looked up and smiled lovingly at him. Even she had to admit Owen was a twat most of the time but in a strange way that's what she loved about him.

"Tosh, Owen we have found the source, we're in the last room of the left hand corridor." Jack said over the com.

"Jacks found it" Owen said grabbing Tosh's hand.

"What's it?" She asked jogging along side him.

"I don't know" He said as they ran down the stairs.

Tosh and Owen came crashing through the door guns at the ready.

"Guns down." Jack said calmly.

Gwen stood aside to reveal a small girl. She looked no older than six. She had long auburn, curly hair, that glistened when it caught the light. She had big hazel eyes and she wore a cream dress and carried a teddy.

She looked frightened beyond belief and looked up to Gwen with tearfully eyes.

"Where's my mummy?"

A/N - Hello That's the end of the first chapter hate it, love it? Please review. (: