Hello again :) well I think you lot have waited long enough to deserve a new chapter of something. So here you go. This is a joint effort with 'Rachy Babes' continuing her own story 'wonderland' and my story 'What's in a name'. This takes place just after the stone angel 'killed' winter and before Winter is sent to Rome. Please not that it is an 'M' rated story for later chapters.

Well this is…different

Winter picked herself off the ground and shook her head lightly. Wasn't she supposed to be dead? And where had the forest gone, the angels, the clerics, the Doctor? She frowned examining her surroundings and suddenly smiled. Cardiff. HA! Well, of all the places to be separated from the Doctor this was possibly the best one. The angels must have been listening to the conversation, maybe she'd been caught by a merciful one, more likely it didn't have enough strength and thought it could use her for a top up. She sighed and strolled forward making her way to the water tower 20 meters away. She would have to find Martha, she'd have the doctor's number on her, one call and she'd be back in the TARDIS. Maybe she could visit Gwen while she was here, maybe… She shoved herself back behind a pillar as Ianto walked off the invisible lift. What? But he was… he was dead! She shook her head and studied him as he made his way over the plaza. He turned and waved as the SUV pulled over beside him and the window wound down, Jack motioned for him to get in and Winter's mouth fell open. When he opened the door she caught a fleeting glimpse of the passenger in the back seat…Fawks.

She span around with her back to the column in shock. Well the downside to this situation was that the Doctor couldn't get through because this was most certainly the wrong universe… But the upside, Winter watched the car drive away, the upside she liked very much.

TTT

The sewers would have been a lot easier but she didn't want to stink when she finally broke into the hub, so instead she had trekked all the way to the hole that she knew lead to the pterodactyl cave. It was slippy and the bow kept catching on rocks above her head but eventfully she managed to peer over the side into the main hub. Hmm, no one in, well that was fine with her, all she needed to make an entrance was time to think.

TTT

Fawks frowned at John as he opened the boot of the car for her. It was his fault she'd spent the whole drive shoved in the back. If he hadn't thrown the bomb into Ben's car they would have been fine. She strode into the main hub after Jack and watched as they all scattered to their desks. 'Maybe next time we should just ask nicely.' Gwen commented.

'What? Hello mister alien would you mind moving on because your BO caused several people to drop dead.' Jacky snorted at Jess's comment.

'How about, I'm sorry sir but would you mind moving your space ship onto a more convenient planet.' Ben called over.

'Only one problem with that.' Jack yelled as he strode over to the coffee table.

'What would that be?'

'It was female.' Everyone laughed and Fawks looked up in shock. She knew that laugh. Jack looked at her concerned.

'Fawks.' She smiled and closed her eyes, turning slowly before opening them and grinning like a maniac.

'Are you going to stand there gawking all day or are you going to kiss me.' Fawks ignored the rest of the team who had pulled their guns out and were now watching the pair with interest. She launched herself forwards and threw her arms around her friend in such a tight hug that Winter swore she stopped breathing. After a few moments of elated laughing Fawks pulled back and crushed their lips together. She was here, she came back to her. A growl and a yelp from Winter caused Fawks to pull back and look down on Lou who was pawing at the new arrival. Winter smiled and ducked down to scratch behind his ears.

'And you must be Lou, she talked about you all the time. Although you're a lot bigger than I thought you'd be.'

'I missed five years.' Fawks explained, unable to wipe the grin off her face.

'Five years?' Winter repeated. She attempted not to show the worry that coursed through her at that thought. Five years passed in one universe when only a few months passed in the other. That couldn't be good for her predicament. Fawks grabbed her hand and started to pull her towards the door.

'Come on, there's so much to show you and you have to tell me how you got here and…'

She broke off when she noticed Ben had stepped in front of the door. The grin slid off her face and she frowned.

'Move out the way.' She demanded.

'Sorry, no can do?' Fawks' frown deepened.

'Why the hell not?'

'Because I said so.' Jack replied. Winter sighed as she looked at him. Same body, same voice but she could tell this wasn't her Jack.

"When the hell do I ever listen to you?" Fawks scoffed.

'Who is she and how did she get in here.'

'And what's up with her eyes?' Jess asked rather rudely.

'Excuse me,' Winter replied, butting in, 'she, happens to be standing in the room with you as is perfectly happy to answer questions when put to her politely. So you Jack Harkness can either get some manners or get no answers.' Jack frowned but lowered his weapon. Fawks seemed delighted at Jack's reaction.

'I think you'll find it's my job to give the orders around here.' He told her coldly.

'That's all very well but I'm perfectly happy to resort to blackmail so you might want to think carefully about how you talk to me.' She commented.

'I doubt you'll have anything on me that would surprise me.'

'Well you have choice.' She told him, 'maybe I'm lying, maybe I'm not,' she grinned, 'you've just got to ask yourself one little question.' Calmly and smoothly she strolled up to him and looked into his eyes. 'Do you feel lucky, punk?' Jack suddenly blushed and his mouth opened slightly. She smiled and turned on her heel, taking Fawks' hand she sidled straight passed Ben and they escaped into Cardiff. Fawks let out a howling laugh.

'What was that all about?' She giggled once she had calmed down slightly.

'I caught Jack practicing his aim in the shooting range. Turns out he's quite the movie buff and that's one of his favourite quotes to practice with. It's hilarious.' Fawks smiled and pulled her over to a bench looking out over the water.

'Go on then, fill me in! How did you get here?' Winter sighed and bit her lip.

'What's happening for you here? I don't want to give anything away.'

'Oh come on Win, you can tell me.' She smiled at the nickname having not heard it in so long.

'I was travelling with the Doctor only I got caught by something called a weeping angel.' Fawks' gaze hardened and she reached out for Winter's hand instinctively.

"The Doctor never really thinks ahead, sledge hammer. Though not the easiest thing to carry around, smashes them up into dust." Winter rolled her eyes but carried on.

'I honestly thought it was going to kill me but the next thing I know I'm on the concrete outside the millennium centre.'

'You were travelling with the Doctor? What about Torchwood.' Winter took a deep breath and began her story right from when Fawks had left. She managed to get through Tosh and Owen's deaths without crying but Ianto's name got caught in her throat and she stuttered through her murder of the five soldiers. Her friend nodded carefully and pulled her into a hug as they reached the end of Winter's exit from her universe.

'And I thought I was having a shit time before I switched universe.' Winter laughed half-heartedly and scrubbed at her eyes.

'I don't want to go back in there.' She told Fawks, motioning to the hub. 'I can't look at it without remembering and the fact that… he's there.'

'Toes?'

'Yeah, I just don't know how long I could handle it without going crazy.'

'Then let's not go back then.' Winter looked up at her confused. Fawks grinned and pulled out a key. 'Fancy checking out my flat?'

"No cottage?"

"Unfortunately I gave it to Gwen and Rhys when I died, but come on, it's awesome."

Fawks took Winter's hand and dragged her along the plaza.

Reviews are much appreciated by both myself and 'Rachy Babes'!