This is a story based in a parallel universe. It takes place when Jack Harkness runs off to find his doctor. You may find some similarities to actual canon Torchwood events, and sometimes I will borrow from them. Please remember this is being posted without the benefit of a Beta.

Torchwood and Torchwood characters belong to BBC and RTD.

This story belongs to me.

Owen Steps in….

They entered the hub holding the cup of coffee Jack wanted them to bring back to him. There is paper strewn everywhere. They start calling out his name but receive no response. Ianto walks down to the archives and storage areas calling him and still no answer. He returns to the main area meeting up with the others who also had no luck. Tosh decides to check out the cctv pulls up the footage, after scanning through it she sees the image of Jack running towards a blue box he lunges towards it and disappears. She rewinds and zooms in on the box the word police box is written across the top. The others are standing behind her and watching the same footage looking confused. Gwen speaks first.

"Maybe that's the Doctor that Jack is always talking about." She points at the box on the screen.

Ianto looks at it. "It's quite possible. Jack has told be about him and the blue box he travels in."

Owen states the obvious, "Why didn't the doctor wait for him? He looks to have been clinging to the box."

"Maybe the doctor didn't know he was there", Tosh offers a reason to them.

Owen not convinced," Well then this doctor must not be as good as he says he is."

Ianto sighs, "I am not sure but it looks like he has finally found his doctor and I hope the answers he's been looking for. "

"I hope you are right Ianto, but he could have at least said good bye." Gwen turns away from the screen.

"Well he does look as if he was in a hurry, he is running towards the box," Owen looks at Gwen.

Tosh turns off the monitor. "I don't think it really matters if he did have time; we all know he's never been very good at saying good bye.

The next morning they all return to the hub to begin another days work as they walk in they see Owen running around from screen to screen looking at them then at papers in his hands. He wasn't wearing his normal attire; his khaki pants were clean and pressed as was his dark maroon collared shirt which was a stark contrast to his white smock.

Gwen smiles at him as she speaks. "What are you all dressy for going to a wedding or something?"

Ignoring her comment he looks at Ianto. "Ianto I could really use a cup of that terrific coffee you make."

Ianto looking confused because Owen never gives him any compliments ever. "I will get you one right away."

"Thanks Ianto."

Thanks, Owen doesn't thanks to anyone. Still confused Ianto rushes into the kitchen.

Gwen walks over to Owen and speaks loudly. "Okay who are you and what did you do with Owen?"

"Look I don't have time for this we are a man down and if this is correct then we are about to get a huge backlash from the rift opening. Looks like there are going to be several smaller residual rifts popping up all over the place." He goes to one of the computers and pulls up the program he has been working on. Ianto walks in and hands everyone a cup of coffee and looks at the screen as well.

Thank you Ianto he takes a sip," this is great" and continues on, "According to this he points at the screen. There are going to be bursts all over town, how big or how long they will last I haven't been able to determine. We need to be prepared for them and see if is possible to tell how risky each one will be if we have several open at once we need to know where to concentrate our efforts.

"Let me look at these." Tosh sits in front of the screen and taps away at her keyboard. "I think I might be able to create a way to measure the intensity of them as they come through", Just then her screen lights up as the rift alarms go off.

"What have we got Tosh?" Owen sounding very official.

"Two locations", she points at the screen," one here in the northwest section and one here in the east."

Owen asking, "Can you tell the intensities?"

Tosh responds, "No not enough data yet."

"Okay then you stay here keep working on it, Gwen you take Ianto and head northwest I will cover the east."

"Wait who left you in charge?" Gwen sounds a little indignant.

"Well Gwen if you have a better plan I'd like to hear it if not let's load up and get moving."

Gwen looks at Ianto who nods," works for me." "I have no problem with it.

Owen yells, "Then let's move people."

Owen grabs his gear and heads for the rolling door which is already opening then down to the garage and out into the city. Ianto and Gwen aren't far behind as one vehicle turns left the other right. Tosh monitors both their movements as she tries to zero in on the rift anomalies.

Owen arrives at his destination first. He rushes out of the vehicle and looks around. "Tosh where is it?"

"According to my readings it should be right in front of you."

"I don't see anything." He looks around again and notices a small grey object about 3 meters ahead of him and walks towards it. He carefully picks it up and examines it, the object makes no sound or movement it looks to almost be a common smooth stone, but the casing is metal.

"This must be it Tosh."

"Yes you have it. What is it?"

"Unknown I am going to secure it in the vehicle and go then meet with Ianto and Gwen."

"Alright I will let them know you are coming."

Owen secures the object in a box in the back of the SUV then gets in and speeds off in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile on the other side of town Gwen and Ianto are not fairing as well. When they arrived they saw a weevil and went in to retrieve it, but unknown to them it was 5 weevils they were taken by surprise acting quickly they managed to get away and hide in a nearby warehouse but during the brief battle they both lost their earpieces and have no way of notifying Tosh. Tosh tries to contact Gwen and Ianto and receives no response.

Tosh Frantic raises Owen, "Owen I have tried to contact them and I am getting nothing from either of them. "

Owen speaking calmly as he is driving, "I am on my way will let you when I arrive."

Tosh sounding worried, "Please be careful Owen."

Owen arrives to find an empty vehicle; he draws his weapon and calls out to them as he speaks with Tosh.

"Tosh I am here the SUV is empty I don't see anyone around. I am going to keep looking for them."

"Alright Owen keep me informed."

Owen continues to look around as he gets further away from the SUV he can see scratch marks on the ground. He thinks to himself, oh great Weevils. He continues to call out for both Gwen and Ianto, still getting no answer from either. He sees an open door to a nearby warehouse and heads towards it still calling out for them.

In the warehouse 5 weevils are circling and a cage like elevator; inside standing in the middle are both Gwen and Ianto. They have their guns drawn but hesitate to use them knowing weevils are not always easily killed.

Gwen whispers, "Was that Owen?"

Ianto Quietly answers her, "I think it may have been."

Gwen feeling more at ease, "Then he is looking for us."

Ianto looking around as he speaks, "Yes I suppose he is trying to find us, but I am not sure we should yell for him these weevils seem to be agitated enough already."

Gwen watches the weevils, "I noticed that they seem unusually aggressive this time, like something is spooking them."

"Gwen, Ianto where are you?" Owen enters the warehouse looking cautiously around he sees some movement as he rounds a corner of crates that are stacked to the ceiling. He ducks in back behind the crates then slowly pokes his head back around hoping to be able to assess the situation. As he looks past the crates he can see 5 weevils circling what looks to be a freight elevator. Trying to peer through the darkness he sees two figures and instantly recognizes them.

Shit, He taps his ear piece. "Tosh I need the layout of the #42 warehouse stat."

"I am on it Owen did you find Gwen and Ianto?"

Owen whispering, "Yes and five bloody weevils."

Tosh her voice raises in concern, "Are they okay?"

Owen reassures her, "Yes they are safe for now. "

Tosh finding the building plans she was looking for, "I have the layout. You should be receiving it now."

Owen pulls his phone from his pocket and starts thumbing through it. "Got it Tosh I just need to come up with a plan. Standby."

Looking at the small screen and then back at the warehouse he looks to his left for the room he spotted on the diagram. He quietly walks over to it being careful not to alert the Weevils. Down a short hallway at the end is a huge refrigeration storage unit. As he walks by one of the open offices he sees a set of two way radios on the desk. He grabs them and smiles knowing they will be just what he needs. He then tiptoes down the hall and opens the unit. Propping the door open with a crate he found across the hall he places the radio inside and goes back to the first office. He's ready now. He sticks his head around the corner and starts yelling

"Hey you dirty scaly bastards over here. Come on you smelly buggers get your lizard arses over here!

Gwen jumps when she hears Owens voice. "What the heck is he doing?"

Ianto sounds puzzled, "I am hoping he has some kind of a plan and a brilliant one at that."

Owen did have a plan as he continues to yell at the weevils until they were almost on him, not seeing him they continued down to the end hall and once they were out of earshot he yells into the radio .They follow the noises right into the refrigeration unit Owen watches as they disappear inside, then he bolts from his hiding place and kicks the crate out of the way slams the door and locks it. He can hear them angrily beating at the door.

Owen speaks to himself proudly, "That should hold them for a little while. " He walks over to where Gwen and Ianto are. "Are you two alright?"

"Yes I think so just a few bruises." Gwen walks out of the freight elevator first followed by Ianto.

"Where did the weevils go?" Gwen asks curiously.

I have them locked away in a refrigeration unit it should hold them until we can decide what to do with them. Owen looks at Ianto who has some scratches across his neck and chest. "I should take a look at those."

"It's just a few scratches I will be fine. I don't think my shirt and jacket fared as well." He pulls at the ripped material.

"Look here Tea boy, I am the doctor here and I will decide what is fine and what isn't. When we get back to the hub I won't to take a look at those and get them cleaned, understood?

Ianto looks at Owen like he is crazy;" Yes Sir clearly."

Gwen just laughs at them as they climb into the SUV's and head back to the hub.

Reviews would be greatly appreciated.